Intensity Read online

  The blasts emanating from the surface had similar properties to fireworks back on Earth in the way that they separated halfway to their target, but the spread of the energy didn't have any other points of similarity. Each individual spread bored holes in the sides of the ships as they were struck and after a two-hour firefight, two of the ships were gone, leaving one larger ship and the remaining small one.

  The guns on the surface were not suited for close-quarters fighting, so it was up to Orell now.

  Raine watched via the monitors on the surface of Yosh and while Orell managed to down the smaller ship with a stream of emerald fire, the larger ship closed in on the resort.

  "One ship left. It is approaching the resort from the north and firing on Orell." She kept the Vendu informed in a low monotone as the fight grew closer.

  As they approached, a sense of worry for the dragon overtook her. Raine pushed her mind out, past Orell and into the ship's systems.

  She ran through the data streams of the Baku ship and was horrified to find that they were drawing a bead on Orell. In desperation, she reached through the ship and used her ability to shut the ship down, weapons first. The ship rocked and careened out of control, driving nose first into the ocean.

  With the hull already pierced, there was no chance for survivors to escape. As the ship shut down completely, Raine pulled her control back to the resort and sat in the chair, in silence.

  The Vendu were looking at her, watching her closely.

  She sat up and returned their gazes. "The final Baku ship crashed in the sea. No detectable survivors, but someone might want to check."

  Minya came forward, her arms empty of weapons and away from her body. "Madam, what did you do?"

  "I pulled their ship down. Why is everyone staring at me?" Raine could smell blood, but she knew she wasn't injured. With shaking hands, she removed her couplings from her skull. A coppery taste ran into her mouth and she touched her upper lip with her hand. It came away stained with blood.

  "A nosebleed? Is that what all the fuss is about?" She swiped again, but there was more blood coming. No one said anything.

  Orell walked into the room and lifted her in his arms without a word.

  "I don't see the fuss in a nosebleed." She tried not to touch her gown, but blood had already dripped on it. Ah well, no loss.

  He took her into the spa area and to a medical centre within. He placed her on an exam bed and started a diagnostic scan. "It isn't the nosebleed that has freaked them out. It is the eye bleed that is causing the problem. Raine, what did you do?"

  "I brought the ship down, sort of. I shut them down one system at a time and they pitched into the ocean."

  "When did you remove yourself from the system?"

  "When it was shutting down. Why?"

  He grunted. "Your body is shutting down. You caught their computer's death."

  The darkness she had felt came back to her. Not that of killing fifty people who were trying to kidnap her, but the darkness of the dying ship.

  She held his hand as he gave Minya a series of commands. The words that came to her were Udell and Flame.

  When he turned back to her, he gave her an encouraging smile. "We need to put you in stasis to stop the shutdown. When you wake up, healing will commence, I promise."

  She smiled weakly, knowing it would look horrid. "I know. Do what you have to do. I will be here when the healer has arrived. Don't worry. I will be fine. We can't have waited this long to have it end before it starts."

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead and when he straightened, he was blinking away tears. The machines were sending out signals that she was in distress and the next moment, Minya was pressing a hypo to her neck and the last thing she saw were those glorious aqua eyes, solemn and glowing.

  I will be here.

  Chapter Nine

  Orell visited his mate every day, pressing his hand to the plexi arch that surrounded her and touching her mind with his. She greeted him each time, asking how things were going and ignoring her own slowly deteriorating state.

  It had been one month since the attack. One month since his life began to shut down with hers.

  "Sir, you need to sign these work orders to repair the defence stations." Minya had remained at her lady's side, but all of the business of the resort still flowed through her.

  "Why? They won't come for her like this and we have nothing else worth taking." He was grim.

  "Because she would not be pleased to know that you had suspended everything while she was in stasis. When she wakes, she will demand an accounting and you will have to face her small but determined wrath." General Minya Dorfelling crossed her arms and scowled at him.

  Small but determined, yes that suited Raine. He removed his hand from the plexi and authorized the repairs.

  "Anything else?"

  "Flame will be here within the day. He regrets the delay, but he was on assignment and could not get here earlier." Minya took the data tablet with her and left him alone with his mate.

  Did you hear that?

  Raine's chuckle ran through his mind. I don't hear much in here.

  Flame is on the way.

  I still am not sure what that means.

  The Sector Guard has a number of specific and healing talents, but the others are unsuitable for someone with implants.

  So, Flame can cure the system shutdown?

  Orell paused and dragged in a breath. I am hoping that he can.

  Raine sent waves of reassurance to him. If not, then I am glad of what time we did have.

  Don't talk like that! I haven't waited centuries to let you slip out of my fingers.

  There was silence between them for almost a minute. When I get out of here, I am going to kick your ass or hire someone to do it for me.

  He paused for a moment before he started to laugh. And I will bend over and take it. I hope to see you soon, love.

  On the psychic plane, she blew him a kiss that hardened his cock and made his palms sweat. Aroused, aching and lonely, he left her side and walked to the guesthouse.

  Since she had been locked in medical, he had applied to Morganti to borrow their seamstress. The boxes had arrived in the last week and he hoped that they were more to Raine's liking. Planning for their future had kept him from going mad, but if Minya had not given him good news today, he might not have lasted much longer.

  Drai separated from their mates were vicious creatures and he was no different. If Flame did not arrive today, Orell was going to have to find the Guardsman and drag him in by his braids.

  * * * *

  The first thing Raine felt upon waking was fire. She opened her mouth to scream but was not sure if anything was coming out. Her world was wreathed in green flames and her nerves burned. She heard shouting, voices but nothing that made sense to her. All she knew was the pain of coming back to life after a fairly long nap.

  Hands helped her to sit up and she heard the shouting again. Two Drai men were grappling on one side of the room and the blazing aqua eyes of one of them were so blessedly familiar. It took her three tries but eventually, "Orell." croaked out.

  He stopped fighting with the other dragon in that moment, his eyes focusing and fixing on her. "Raine. Let me go, Harusk."

  The other Drai let him go, standing aside to take the arm of the Terran woman at his side. They both wore the clothing of the Sector Guard and clung together as Orell approached Raine.

  You died, love. The Terran brought you back and--

  Who cares, come here. She beckoned him close and when he was in her arms, she let the tears fall. When his lips touched hers, they tasted of his own tears and with a sob, he pulled her tight against his chest.

  A shuffling in the room was unmistakable and when they parted, they were alone.

  Her chest ached. Pain was still a close memory. "That was not fun."

  He pressed kisses to her forehead, "If you ever do something so stupid again, I will lock you in the tower."

  She sighed and
relaxed in his arms. "Only if you are there with me."

  "That is the only way I would ever do it." He shifted her on the metal bed and lifted her into his lap. His wings draped behind him and she was cuddled against his chest. "You suffered from a neural disconnect. Are you aware of what that is?"

  "My brain shorted out. All autonomic reflexes were compromised. It is a risk that we are all made aware of when they train us to use the implants. I never thought I would have a reason to take the chance, but I couldn't let them shoot you."

  He froze in place. "What?"

  "Both targeting systems locked on you. I had to shut them down. I just didn't realize that I was that deeply connected to them." She inhaled the scent that was his alone. "I have missed you."

  "The staff has missed you. They were a little worried about my mood these last few weeks. I am afraid that I lived up to the Drai reputation for madness."

  She chuckled weakly. "I can imagine it."

  He rubbed his chin on her hair. "I visited you every day."

  "I know that. I felt it. Even if everything is rather fuzzy about that time." She snuggled down and let his arms warm her.

  Raine jerked when the door slammed open and a relieved Minya stood there with a swath of fabric over one arm. "Oh, Madam. We are all so happy that you are back with us."

  Orell let out a heavy sigh. "What is it, Minya?"

  "I have a gown for Madam to wear so that she may be properly introduced to the guests." Minya lifted the fabric.

  Orell made a noise that Raine had not heard before. He growled.

  That was a little much. She slapped his chest with one hand. "Oy, knock it off. I promise you can hold me every night from here on out, but tonight or today, I have to get dressed and meet the other Terran in the mix."

  Orell still wasn't happy, but he helped the General of the Vendu army get his mate into a gown of the lightest silk that covered every inch and hinted at everything else.

  She laughed. "You went shopping without me."

  "I did. Well, we did. All of the women on Yosh put their two cents in and we sent an order to Morganti."

  She didn't seem to know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but Raine didn't care as long as she wasn't dressed like an on-duty Companion at an arena fight anymore.

  The gown drifted around her ankles in soft folds. The bodice was wrapped tightly from hip to breast, giving her confinement and support and the colour was the same bright aqua as Orell's eyes.

  He smiled slowly, a wealth of promise in his eyes. "I can see your point. The other clothing was fun, but this is…much more appropriate."

  Raine wished that she wasn't so feeble. The expanse of skirting on the gown made her want to twirl like a six year old. She took a few steps, stumbled and then let Orell support her as she walked out of medical, down the hall and into reception.

  The four Guardsmen were standing in a conversational grouping and when she entered the room, the Terran woman grinned at her and the Drai sighed in relief.

  "Hiya, Mayden. Long time no see." Raine waved weakly at the other human in the room and she gasped as she was treated to a hug.

  The Terran Guardsman squeezed Raine tightly. "I am so relieved. I thought Harusk and Orell were going to actually have a smack down."

  "So, that wasn't my imagination. I came screaming back to the world and my mate was trying to wrestle with another man. I mean, in a dream, sure…and they should have been oiled up…but really, on my first moment back?"

  Mayden was quivering with amusement. "Is Harusk scowling as much as Orell is?"

  Raine made an assessment. "Yeah, pretty much. Shall we get some lunch?"

  "Sure. Jenya? Can you give me a hand with the invalid?"

  The other woman approached and smiled at them. "I am Digger or Jenya. Your choice. You have the clearance, so feel free to use either one."

  Each woman took an arm and supported her to the dining room. "The staff has a lot of Terran preferences."

  Mayden smiled. "We know. We have been here for two days while your mate balled up enough energy to restart you. Of course, we didn't count on your going into cardiac arrest the moment that you came back online. Sorry about the ribs, but we couldn't use most of the powered units in medical, they got shorted out."

  "What?"

  "Come on, have a seat and we will explain everything." Jenya had a pleasant smile and a friendly face.

  A cup of tea was in front of her the moment that she sat down and with Mayden and Jenya grinning at her. They told her the story of her return to Yosh.

  Chapter Ten

  As they had tea, the story unfolded of a dragon rising from the sea, gathering his power to give to a Kozue warrior. There was too much power handed over in that moment that every instrument in medical went down.

  The Sector Guard teams had arrived one day early to come up with a plan of attack. Harusk was there to keep Orell calm, because Flame's healing was not a pleasant one and no matter how well intentioned, most mates wouldn't stand by to listen to their woman screaming.

  Flame's power worked by injecting the cells with power. She was so close to dying that it was best that Flame not simply use his own talent. If he had to provide that much energy, it would bind them together forever. It was fine for Jenya to be bound to Flame, but it would be awkward for Raine to be tied to him.

  Orell had volunteered immediately to provide the power. He went to his source, the ocean, and in his dragon form, he swam, gathering power until had had enough biological energy to hand over.

  When they circled around her chamber and the power was exchanged, it blew out all of the mechanicals, including her unit.

  Raine didn't so much die, as simply never started breathing.

  "You are kidding."

  Jenya laughed and the men glared at her amusement. Mayden had banished them to the other table because they had nasty table manners.

  Mayden filled in, "Nope, you lay there like a landed trout. All cold and pasty. I jumped in and let my CPR training take over. Fortunately, Harusk was there to keep Orell back as he flipped out, but as soon as you started breathing on your own, Flame took over and the burning and screaming started.

  "That was when my hubby had a fight on his hands. They took it outside for a while, but your screams managed to spur your mate on to extremes of strength and he pushed back into the room."

  From the other table, Harusk piped up, "I would have held him back if I didn't want to keep from hurting him."

  Mayden rolled her eyes and followed up with, "And the rest you know. You stopped bleeding internally, your kidneys and liver started to function again and before we knew it, you were sitting up and asking for Orell with nasty morning breath. Thanks for drinking the mint tea by the way."

  Raine blushed but took another sip of tea. "You are welcome. So, what is next on your agenda?"

  "Well, after our visit here on Yosh, Jenya will return to Udell and I will return to Teklan." Mayden smiled.

  A thought came to Raine. "Are you in a hurry?"

  The women looked at each other and shrugged. Their partners shook their heads. "No. Why?"

  Minya was lurking nearby and Raine smiled and nodded to her. When the older woman came to her, she whispered in her ear. Minya grinned and disappeared through one of the discreet doors.

  "Because, dear ladies, there is no sense going to a resort and spa without getting a massage and facials." Raine grinned and leaned back as the women's faces lit up. "You, too, boys. The least that Yosh can do for you."

  They continued polite chatting until four Vendu arrived and nodded for the Guardsmen to come with them.

  "I will see you before you leave. Now, have fun and enjoy." She smiled and stood to hug the ladies before they left.

  Raine was feeling stronger with every passing second, but when she resumed her seat and Orell took her hand, her strength increased exponentially.

  She raised his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. He returned the caress and she closed he
r eyes to let the sensation ripple through her. She smiled with her eyes shut. "So you went ape shit when you thought I was in danger?"

  "As was my right as your mate. So, what would you think of having the Sector Guard here more frequently?"

  She opened her eyes to find him an inch from her face. "I think it would be fun. Certainly different, why?"

  "Because with our ability to defend ourselves, we are equipped to offer them a secure vacation spot. Several have children and it isn't feasible to have gatherings on the battle bases or in toxic atmospheres. I also gather that you would like to be able to meet and commune with more of your own kind. If they come to us, it takes a worry off my mind."

  She smiled and leaned close for a kiss. "What use is having a private planet with a resort and spa if you can't invite folks to come for a visit?"

  He smiled and pulled her toward him, his hand cupped the back of her skull and he kept the kiss going until her blood was singing and her body ached. He pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers. "I wish you were up for more, but I can wait."

  She groaned with frustration, the silk between her thighs slid with every restless shift. "Fine. Let's go for a walk. If I can't work off the tension, perhaps I can walk it off."

  They were a quarter of a mile down the beach when she tripped him and pushed him to the sand. He lay on his back, his wings acting as a blanket and he watched, bemused, as she unbuckled his belt and opened his trousers with eager fingers.

  His cock sprang out and she leaned in to lick at the head, loving the feel of his hands in her hair as he fought with himself to pull her away. Raine smiled inwardly as she took more of the salty heat into her mouth. He wasn't going to hurt her and was afraid of making the first move, so if she jumped him, he was in the clear.

  After a few smooth strokes, she sat up and moved her skirt out of the way while she climbed onto him. The wet pressure of his cock against her opening made her lean her head back and groan. Working herself onto him would have been easy if he had helped, but he was too busy digging his claws into rocks and sand.

  Her body slowly gave way to the intense heat of his shaft and as she worked herself up and down, she fought the orgasm that came rushing to her consciousness.