New Species 09 Shadow (17 page)

“They are here to bond.” The female sounded less irritated. “Didn’t someone tell you that? She’s curious about the male. They were sent here to see if she wanted to share sex with him.”

“Shit,” Torrent groaned. “Nobody told me that. I just saw him on top of her and thought she was being forced.”

“She showed an interest in that male and resents being protected from his attention,” Bestial announced. “Breeze had the Gift sent here so they could spend some alone time to give them the opportunity to see if they’d like to share sex.”

“Everyone was told,” Creek protested. “We had a meeting about this when we learned they were visiting.”

“I wasn’t here,” Torrent protested. “I had that wolf cub to collect with my team and had to pick up a lion cub. I’ve been gone a lot.”

“Shit,” Jaded groaned. “Let Creek handle this. Take the medic inside with you. We’ll wait out here.”

Shadow struggled to his feet when they stopped talking and staggered a little when the room spun. He stopped, took a few deep breaths and made it to the window by the door. He fisted the curtain, tore it from the rod and wrapped it around his waist.

Someone stepped onto the porch just as he reached the door and unlocked it. He swung it open and had to lean heavily against the frame to stay upright. Torrent hadn’t attacked to take Beauty away. That dulled some of his rage but he was still furious over what had taken place.

The tall female wore jeans and a T-shirt instead of NSO Security gear. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her dark gaze swept over him from head to foot. “You poor thing.”

Shadow winced. He must look hellish and pathetic to get that response from a female. The human male carrying a medical kit hesitated behind her. Shadow glanced away to take in the scene outside. Four Jeeps were parked in front of the cabin and two council members had arrived with the female and medic. Torrent sat on the grass in front of them. The male’s cold blue eyes turned his way and held his attention.

“I’m sorry,” Torrent stated. “I thought…well, she’s Gift. Nobody told me you were allowed to touch her. You were really upset when I saw you last and I thought you might have snapped.”

“What are you talking about? What happened?” Creek put her hands on her hips, glancing between them. “What else has happened here?”

The human cleared his throat. “May I approach him? Is he a Wild Zone resident? Do you need to calm him down before he’s treated?” He stepped from behind the female. “I’m here to tend your injuries. You’re bleeding. I’m not the enemy or here to hurt you.”

“I’m not a resident or feral,” Shadow growled but then softened his tone. “Just angry but you may approach. I’ve worked with humans for a while now.” He shot a glare at Torrent. “You could have asked what was going on before you threw me out a window.”

The female stepped closer, effectively blocking his view of the male who’d attacked him. She reached toward him and he instantly recoiled, jerking away, and nearly fell on his ass when he slid away from the doorframe. She gasped, backing away. The medic tried to step around her but she gripped his arm.

“What is wrong with you?” She flashed fang, looking wary. “Don’t attack.”

“You can’t touch me.” He righted his body by gripping the frame again and waited for the world to stop spinning as his vision adjusted.

“You need to be treated.” She inched closer and tried to touch him again.

He growled. “Not you. I don’t think Beauty would want another female to put her hands on me.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she grinned. “Okay.” She stepped aside. “He’s all yours, Mike.”

The medic advanced with determination. “You fell out a window?”

“I was thrown.” Shadow backed inside the house and leaned heavily against the wall. “I struck my head on the way down. I was punched a few times in the face too. I’m pretty certain I have a concussion.”

“I’m Mike.” The human set down his case, bent and opened it. “Can you sit? You’re pretty tall and I need to examine you.”

Shadow just slid down the wall to sit on the floor, careful to keep the curtain around his waist since he could sense the female hovering in the doorway. He glanced at the stairs as he strained to hear any movement from above. Beauty was still up there. He began to worry. It shouldn’t have taken her long to throw something on and return to him. She might be hiding from the human.

He remained quiet as Mike looked him over, only slightly growling when the medic touched his sore head, finding the lump. The medic used a bright little light to look into his eyes to check his pupils’ responses next. The male sighed.

“I need to take you to Medical. I think you’re right about the concussion but we need a doctor to take some scans to see what’s going on inside your skull. Are you dizzy? Nauseous? In pain?”

“All of the above,” Shadow admitted softly. “Creek?”

The female stepped farther inside the cabin.

“Can you please go check on Beauty?”

“Is she injured?”

“No.” He glanced at Mike, then her. He didn’t want to insult the human but he might be the reason Beauty hadn’t returned to the lower floor.

She seemed to understand. “Right. He’s male and human.”

Mike sighed. “Right. She’s Gift. I’m taking him to Medical.”

“I won’t leave Beauty.” Shadow shook his head but groaned at the pain it caused.

“I will protect her,” Creek swore. “You need treatment. She’s safe and two council members are on scene. They will stay outside. You don’t need to worry about anything but getting better.”

Shadow didn’t want to leave but he knew it would be stupid not to see a doctor. His head pounded and he feared he’d throw up.

“Beauty!” He raised his voice. “I will be back really soon. A female is here. Do you want to stay with her or go with me?”

He barely heard her answer. “I’ll stay.”

His gaze searched the stairs but he didn’t see her. She was hiding somewhere near the upper landing though. More guilt stirred inside him. She didn’t even trust him to protect her against a human medic.

“I’ve got this,” Creek swore. Sympathy flashed in her eyes, proving she might even be able to read his emotions. “Just go and return when you are able.”

He watched the tall female Species slowly walk up the stairs. She paused at the top and he knew where Beauty hid as he tracked Creek’s gaze.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hello, Beauty.” Creek was a pretty woman with a nice voice. “Are you okay?”

Beauty hated that she couldn’t seem to move away from the wall but knowing the medic was downstairs kept her in place. The task team might show up next and with them, Shane. She never wanted to see him again.

“Beauty?” The Species lowered her voice. “Do you need to see the medic?”

“No!” She hated the way fear sounded in her voice.

“Don’t worry. He’s very nice. You’re bleeding.”

“It’s not my blood. I bit Torrent and some of it is Shadow’s.” She glanced at her hands.

Dark eyebrows shot up in astonishment. “You are responsible for some of Torrent’s injuries?”

“He attacked Shadow and threw him out the window. I was angry.”
And scared.
She wasn’t willing to admit that though, despite it being obvious.

“That was brave of you.”

She peered up at the taller Species. “You and I both know that wasn’t why I did it.”

“You panicked and just attacked because your instincts took over?”

“Something like that.”

Creek leaned against the opposite wall. “I’ve been there.”

“You have?” That surprised Beauty. “You look strong.”

“Not when I was in chains and still under the control of Mercile.” She hugged her middle. “You weren’t raised inside the testing facilities but the technicians we dealt with were big, burly humans. It was rare to see smaller ones unless they were medical staff.” She shrugged. “The technicians were mostly bullies with upgraded titles who enjoyed terrorizing us.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. That’s in the past though.” A smile curved her lips. “How are you doing?” She cocked her head. “They are taking Shadow to Medical right now. We’ll be left alone for a bit. The males will stay outside. Why don’t you get cleaned up?”

Beauty skirted around the other Species to enter the bathroom. She washed her hands and one look in the mirror had her cleaning her face and neck as well. Torrent’s blood had smeared there. Creek followed but paused at the doorway.

“You look nervous. Relax. No one will enter the house until Shadow returns.”

“Are our men afraid I’ll freak out if they come in here? Is that why they remain outside?”

“Yes. No one wants to traumatize you more. Breeze ordered all males to keep away from you. I’m going to stay until she arrives. They are preparing a helicopter to fly her here as soon as possible.”

“What a mess.” Beauty resisted groaning as she turned off the water and used a towel to dry off. “How could things go so wrong?”

“What happened?”

“You heard. You talked to Torrent and Shadow. My hearing is good.”

“I want your version.”

“Shadow and I were in bed together but suddenly Torrent attacked us.”

“You mean he attacked Shadow.”

“Yes.”

“Did Torrent hurt you?”

She shook her head, calm now that the voices had faded. She couldn’t hear anything from below or outside except a vehicle leaving. That would be the medic taking Shadow away to be treated.

“Torrent didn’t know Shadow was allowed to touch you.”

Anger stirred. “I know.”

“Torrent isn’t a bad male. He thought he was protecting you.”

“I’m so sick of that!” Beauty clenched her teeth and glared at the other woman until she calmed enough to speak again. “That’s why I was brought here.”

“I know. Breeze filled me in on your situation and how you feel. You resent being labeled Gift.”

“Resent is an understatement. This wouldn’t have happened if everyone would stop treating me as though I were some weak freak.” She paused. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Breeze doesn’t want you left alone. It could be hours before Shadow is cleared to return. It could be longer if he sustained a lot of damage. Medical might want to keep him overnight.”

Worry ate at her. “He seemed okay to you, didn’t he? He was talking and on his feet.”

“I’m sure he will be fine. Our males are pretty tough and recover quickly after they fight.” Creek smiled. “They do it often here.”

“I’ve never seen you at Homeland.”

“I live here full time. I’d already transferred here when you were rescued.”

“Why? I thought they rotated all the women every few months.”

Creek’s smile faded. “I like it at Reservation better and I have excelled at my secretarial skills. The council members assigned here need someone to help them. I volunteered.”

“Is there a women’s dorm at Reservation?”

“I live at the hotel. It’s nice.”

“Oh.” Beauty stepped forward and Creek retreated then followed her into Shadow’s bedroom. “I guess I should clean up the mess before he comes home. I don’t want him to feel he needs to do it but he will.”

“I’ll help.”

“I can do it myself.”

Creek raised her hands. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Beauty. I’m here. What else will I do?”

“You could go home.”

“Breeze would have my ass. No thanks. That’s one female I never want to disappoint. She gave an order and I’m following it.” Creek smiled, her features showing amusement. “You know how she gets.”

“She is very protective.”

“To you maybe.” Creek glanced around, studying the layout of the room. “She’s kind of a bear to the rest of us. We are the ‘soft padding that keeps our males from tearing each other apart’. That’s a quote from her. She expects a lot from us.”

“I’ve never heard her say that. What does that mean?” Beauty paused by the bed, her sad gaze fixed on the broken window frame. “I don’t know what to do about that.”

Creek crossed the room and just closed the window. “It shuts. That’s all that matters. Someone else can fix it later. We have people who do that.” She closed the curtains, effectively hiding the damage and turned back. “You never got the lecture from Breeze about our duties to our males?”

“No. I wasn’t allowed around them.” She decided to make the bed.

“Ah.” The Species walked to the other side to help. “Our males are gruff and not the friendliest if you haven’t noticed. They intimidate others easily. Their soft sides are hard to find but it’s our duty to remind them why they need to become social. Otherwise they’d probably have pissing contests with their fists. There would be so much fighting that not much else would happen.”

Beauty paused, staring at Creek. “Why? We’re all considered family, aren’t we?”

“It’s their nature. Mercile didn’t create them to be feeble. We had a lifetime to grow resentful of authority figures. It’s our jobs as females to give them a reason to unite. They work together to give us a home.” She smiled, tucking in her side of the comforter. “We allow them to do it. We need to be reminders that there’s more to living than seeking revenge on the ones who’ve harmed us.”

“What is your job specifically?” Beauty glanced around the room, not seeing anything else to do. She held Creek’s gaze.

“Breeze just expects us to always be supportive of our males.”

“Is that why you sleep with so many of them instead of settling down with one? There aren’t a lot of us who survived.”

A grin curved Creek’s mouth. “No.” She sat on the end of the bed. “Do you know anything about the breeding experiments they did at Mercile?”

“I’ve heard a little about it.”

“We were taken to males to share sex. Sometimes it would be the same one for a few weeks but mostly they’d take us to different ones. They wanted us to become pregnant and probably thought exposing us to several males would help make it successful. Your heart hardens after a few years of it.”

“I don’t understand.” Beauty perched on the dresser.

Creek’s humor fled as she hugged her waist. “We learned not to become attached to anyone. It was a painful mistake to become emotionally involved. They would use us to punish the males or use the males to attempt to force us to do their bidding without protest if they suspected we cared too much about each other. Arguing against whatever they wanted was never a good thing.”

“What kind of things did they want you to do?”

Fangs dented her bottom lip. “Bad things. I was taken to a male once who’d been tortured. He was in bad shape and I tended to him instead of sharing sex.” Anger deepened Creek’s voice. “As if he were in any condition to do that. He’d been severely beaten. I think they wanted to humiliate him.”

“By having you share sex?”

“He was so injured he couldn’t get up from his mat. They expected me to initiate the sex. You said you don’t know much about our males but they are proud. It would have shamed him to be expected to perform but not be able to.” Her voice lowered. “I doubt he could have gotten it up.” She glanced at her lap, then back at Beauty. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“I knew they’d refuse to feed me for a few days as punishment for not stripping and trying to share sex with him but I worried he’d die. The technician mistook my compassion for an attachment for the male when he returned me to my cell. That bastard threatened the male’s life if I didn’t allow him to mount me.” Her jaw clenched and her dark eyes narrowed. “I broke his nose and kicked him in the nuts when he got too close. I hope it hurt like hell. I was never going to submit to being raped without putting up a fight. The other technicians pulled him out of the cell before I could do more damage or I might have killed him.” She shrugged. “He never tried that again.”

Beauty blinked back tears. “I’m glad you were able to defend yourself.”

“Me too. Not all our females were so lucky.” Compassion filled Creek’s gaze. “Needless to say though, we grew to protect our hearts by not getting too attached to one male. We’re enjoying our freedom. We have so many choices now and no one tells us who we have to share sex with anymore.” Creek hesitated. “Plus, I think some of us feel it would be unfair to just pick one male when there aren’t enough females to go around.”

“Do you feel that way?” Beauty studied her closely, spotting the hint of sorrow in her features.

Creek shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes, I guess. Don’t ever repeat that to Breeze. She’d be horrified. That wasn’t her intention when we moved into the women’s dorm at Homeland. She got us all together to discuss how to help our males with our new lives. It was never implied we should share sex with them but it’s our duty to make sure we care for them as much as they do us. They are protective and shield us as much as possible from the harshness we still endure from the outside world. It seems a small price to meet their needs.” She laughed. “And it’s certainly pleasurable. They take really good care of us in all aspects.”

“Is there someone you like more than anyone else?”

“No.” Creek stood. “I make sure I never spend too much time around any of the males I’ve become intimate with. There aren’t as many as you’d think. A lot of them here are interested in the humans. We have a lot of interaction with the local town.”

“Is that scary?”

“Humans?” Creek grinned. “No.” The smile disappeared and she continued, “I’m sorry for what happened to you. Was it bad? I don’t know your history.”

“I guess it could have been a lot worse. There was only one man who abused me. He was old and he didn’t beat me but he wanted to have sex sometimes. It was a cold and uncomfortable experience but I wasn’t brutalized. The guards he hired were always trying to bribe or frighten me into doing things with them though. I never did.”

“I’m sorry you had to survive that but you don’t need to fear all humans. We have some working here and I’ve made good friends with two of them. You should meet Zandy and Richard while you’re visiting Reservation. I have lunch with them often but not together right now.”

“You’re friends with human men? Do they fight over you? Is that why they need to be kept apart?”

“No.” The question seemed to amuse her. “Zandy is a female mated to Tiger and they have a son. She just had the baby but Richard can’t find out she was ever pregnant. We trust him but knowing classified information might put him in danger if anyone suspects. Zandy had to transfer to another job to avoid him and he was told she’s at Homeland. They talk by phone since they remained friends but I get to see them separately. The baby is adorable. Have you ever seen one?”

Beauty nodded. “Yes. We have a few of them at Homeland. Ellie brings Salvation to work with her all the time. Fury is his father and the baby looks just like him.”

“I want one so bad but it doesn’t seem it will ever be possible.”

“A baby?”

Creek nodded, glancing around. “Let’s go downstairs to clean up that mess.”

The topic was over. The Species fled the room. Her stiff posture and the wistful tone of her voice revealed her pain. Beauty placed a hand over her flattened tummy, wondering how it would feel to be pregnant as she slid off the edge of the dresser. So far none of the women Species had been able to conceive.

The idea of someone being totally dependent on Beauty was a scary thought. She could barely face each day on her own without wondering how she’d get through it. She loved Salvation and Forest, the two babies she spent the most time around, but was glad they weren’t her responsibility. Children needed parents who were knowledgeable of all things and who could teach them how to survive in the world.