Fighting Syndrome (Stand Alone Tales Book 13) Read online

  He caressed her breasts. “Here.”

  She blushed, but the fabric moved away at his touch. He lifted her up and teased her breasts and nipples with his lips and tongue, the occasional graze of his teeth causing her to catch her breath.

  He stroked his hand down her belly, and she shifted the fabric away along the path that his fingers travelled until he was sliding one long finger into her and curving it upward to rub against a sensitive spot.

  She shivered, and her breath came faster. When the tension growing inside reached a critical point, she moaned, and her body jerked in his grip.

  He pressed his lips to her collarbone and crooked his finger again, causing another spasm of contractions to run through her. Ebra could see him licking his finger after he withdrew it from her, and then, he was reaching between them to open his trousers to access his erection.

  She shivered as he entered her with a groan. She grunted slightly as he slid in and worked his way deep with a series of slow thrusts. Taking him was enough to send a heavy shudder through her body, and her skin started glowing with sweat. He rocked into her, and she lifted her legs, bracing one on the chair next to her so she could lift her hips to meet his inward push. He nuzzled her neck, and she felt his teeth for a moment, and then, she relaxed, he licked at her neck and shoulder, and then, she felt the pressure and the sharp flick of pain.

  With the pain came a wave of pleasure, and she shrieked softly as her body tightened and held him in an intense grip.

  He groaned and gave a few more thrusts before he shuddered, and she heard him swallowing. He kept his mouth clamped to her before he slowly relaxed his jaw and licked at the skin of her shoulder. It seemed he didn’t want to waste a drop. “You taste amazing.”

  She shivered. “I would thank you, but it had nothing to do with me.”

  He kissed her, and she tasted her blood. His erection was hard inside her again, but he pulled out of her, and he moved to one of the walls and exposed a lav. When he returned with a warm wet cloth, she blushed as he tidied her up.

  He returned to the lav, and when he emerged again, she had her clothing back on and in place. His outfit had been returned to respectable lines.

  He paused. “I really wish we had more time, but we have to check out the colony.”

  Ebra nodded and eased herself to her feet. Tonos caught her in his arms and checked her shoulder. “Sorry. I got a little enthusiastic.”

  She blinked. “All I remember was a flicker of pain, then extremely pleasant fire, and then a blast of light.”

  He was staring at her, and a blush covered his face. “I am so keeping you.”

  She touched his face and smiled slightly. “That was always the plan, wasn’t it? I mean, when I was little, I thought you were kind and very pretty. That was enough for me at the time. I wasn’t very bright.”

  He snorted and stroked her cheek. “I think you were very intelligent. I am glad that as a brainless teen, I was paying attention.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, well. Thanks for remembering.”

  She kissed him quickly, which turned into a longer kiss as he threaded his hand into her hair.

  They were still standing there, joined at the lips, when a knock sounded on the door. They slowly parted, and he looked to the door. “What?”

  Asshat opened the door, and he grinned at their position, still pressed together. “We are entering the colony space. The Urnets are long gone.”

  Ebra morphed her clothing into a baggy ship suit. “Right. Are you going to visit the colony?”

  He looked at her and blinked. “Uh, yes. Of course.”

  She smiled brightly. “Good.”

  He looked at her and scowled. “Are you using a glamour on me?”

  So, he could feel it. Interesting. “No, just really keen.”

  He kept an arm around her. “Come on, we are heading to the shuttle to assess the situation.”

  Ebra sighed. “I have to go with you?”

  “Do you have somewhere else to be?” He raised his brows in surprise.

  “Ah, I guess not.” She went with him down the halls and out toward the shuttle bay. Weller and Asshat were with them when they settled in the shuttle full of emergency supplies. Ebra looked at the supplies, and she knew she couldn’t leave quite yet. She had a few days to get where she needed to be, and the destination was only sixteen hours away via gate. She could get there in time.

  She sat next to Tonos as they descended and prepared to play the part of his wife, which—if she thought about it—she was.

  The colony was like a stirred hive of bees. Citizens were running around, there were blast marks scorching the ground, turned-over vehicles, and the occasional pool of blood.

  She shifted her flight suit to her habit, and she and Weller headed for the medical tent. This was another skill she had gotten under control. Medical aid was the thing they started learning the moment they hit the abbey.

  The medics took in their habits, and an expression of relief crossed their faces. “Sisters, please help. This man needs his limb straightened before we can put it in the unit.”

  The man in question was unconscious, which was good because his leg was sticking out at a right angle. Weller took a look at the scans, and they discussed the method for a moment, and then, Weller grabbed the upper thigh, and Ebra eased the limb into a better position before she pulled it straight and then lined up the bone. The medics went into action a moment later, sliding the man into a machine to allow for an internal scan while they worked to repair the limb.

  Ebra smiled, and she and Weller went up and down, applying first aid, stitches, regenerative skin treatments, and burn salve. Things were pretty basic, but that was fine. Ebra could work with basic.

  When they finished with the medical issues in the tent and stabilized who they could, they went out and went looking for trouble. They passed the control center, and Tonos and Asshat stared at them. Her husband walked out to her. “Ebra, why are you wearing a habit?”

  “Folks trust it at first sight, and it doesn’t show a lot of blood.” She smiled. “Plus, we are not from that kind of abbey.”

  She heard a sharp whistle from Weller. “I have to go. Did you want to find me later?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, I will.”

  She hopped up and kissed him quickly. “See you later.”

  She went off to find Weller with the taste of him on her lips. They went and helped the locals move a flipped vehicle off the well head. The rest of the day was spent moving heavy objects and finding missing people who had been scattered and wounded in the attack.

  It wasn’t a great thing to do, but these people were in need, and she and Weller were trained for the job.

  She found one man with an injured leg and pulled him over her shoulders, walking into the colony with him and right to the medical tent. The medics grabbed him and treated him immediately.

  Ebra turned to go back out in search of the missing, and Tonos blocked her path. “Have you eaten?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Have you?”

  He cupped her chin. “Yes. Hours ago, plus, I had you on the ship.”

  She blushed and deflated slightly. “No. I forgot.”

  Tonos nodded. “Come with me. We will get you something.”

  Ebra felt tired the moment that she stopped her crisis mode. She needed a shower. “Is there somewhere I can bathe or something?”

  He nodded, concerned. “I think we can find something.”

  “Good. I am covered with all kinds of stuff.”

  He wrapped his arm around her, and they stopped at the command center. He kept her close when he spoke to the governor of the colony, and he introduced her. “Governor Akker, this is my wife, Ebra.”

  Ebra smiled and inclined her head. “Governor, it is good to meet you.”

  The Kiidar’s eyes widened, his striped mane stood up in agitation. “Uh, it is good to meet you as well, Sister.” />
  She snickered, and her clothing shifted into a jumpsuit covered with blood. “I thought that my habit would be easier for me to get around in.”

  “You are married?” he seemed to be grappling with that.

  She grinned. “Yes, I am from a celestial abbey. Vows of celibacy don’t go along with the habit.”

  Tonos muttered, “Thank the stars.”

  She elbowed him lightly. “So, is there somewhere I can wash this blood off? There are also other substances covering me that I would like to get rid of.”

  “Of course. There is an emergency shelter set up just down the road. The shower facilities should be up and running thanks to the well being rescued.”

  She inclined her head. “Thank you.”

  Tonos and the governor walked down the street with her. The shelter was sparsely inhabited, and she was able to get into a shower in short order. She started with her clothing facing the water and washing the crafted fabric before dismissing it and washing her body. Her skin was stained with the blood of others, oil, and dirt. She scrubbed a few times before she was able to get the discolouration from her body.

  When she was finally clean, she took a drying sheet, with her previous outfit, and transformed it into a light dress with knee-high boots. She finger-combed her hair and focused slightly, scraping the water out.

  Dry, clean, and feeling exhausted, she walked back to where Tonos and the governor were speaking with those who had lost their homes in the attack.

  The governor looked surprised when she appeared, and he appeared confused. “Where did you find that clothing?”

  “Ah, I made it. I have a mixed pedigree, and personal matter manipulation is one of my skills.” She smiled. “I can manufacture small amounts of clothing or equipment, but that’s it.”

  Tonos looked at her, and he smiled. “And you are as lovely as a sunrise.”

  She grinned. “Thank you. Now, if you can locate some of the promised food, that will be ideal.”

  “Yes, my lady.” Tonos bowed.

  There was a kitchen and dining hall in the shelter, and that is where she met some of the locals, including two that she had found and assisted back to the colony.

  She was almost sorry to be leaving it.

  Chapter Eight

  She flicked the controls and changed her dress to a flight suit. “Weller, are you ready?”

  “Ready.”

  They glided through the gate, and Ebra accelerated. “Launch the scrambler.”

  Weller hit the release, and the beacon with the virus was left inside the gate. It would activate the moment that they were on the other side of the gate.

  Inside the passage, Ebra sighed. “I really wish we didn’t have to do that.”

  Weller snorted and sat in the co-pilot’s seat. “Yeah, I think I was really making progress with Asshat.”

  “Oh, did you hold hands?”

  Weller chuckled. “Funny lady. No, but I dodged two kisses.”

  “Wow. He’s trying to move fast.” She checked on their time left in the gate tunnel.

  “I know. Damn, he’s cute.”

  Ebra blinked and thought about the slabs of muscle that had been assembled to make the Sandman. “I am not sure that cute is the right word.”

  Weller grinned. “I think he’s adorable. I wish that I had my family’s authorization to choose him.”

  Ebra paused. “Well, we have a few hours before we arrive. Did you want to ask?”

  Weller blushed. “I... Well, I guess I could.”

  “I am not rushing you. You haven’t seen a lot of men in the last few decades.”

  Weller chuckled. “When you know, you know.”

  “Well, then, as soon as we are out of the tunnel, make the call.”

  Weller grinned. “I will do that.”

  Weller began the elaborate coding that would bounce the call to her family. The moment that they were out of the gate, the call fired up.

  The screens lit with the heavily tattooed face that was very familiar. Weller grinned, “Hello, sis.”

  “Amika! You are looking pale and pasty. Has that wealthy twit been feeding you?”

  Ebra grinned. “I have tried, but she keeps biting my fingers. Hello, Idalla.”

  “Ah, you aren’t dead yet, Ebra? Pity. Seems my sister is competent.”

  Weller grinned. “I need to speak with Mother if she is around.”

  Idalla narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

  Weller blushed. “I think I have found a man, and I want permission to lock to him.”

  “Freak! Is she speaking the truth?”

  Ebra chuckled. “She is. He’s a Sandman and second-in-command to the prince of Altuin.”

  “A Sandman? Excellent. I will give you a yes right now.” Idalla began typing. “Here is your authorization.”

  Ebra looked at the screen and grinned. “Idalla, those twits put you in charge? Nice diadem.”

  The tattooed mark on her forehead glowed. “Thanks, freak. So, what are you doing for companionship? Got tired of flying solo?”

  Weller chuckled. “She married the prince of Altuin.”

  “No, shit. Huh. Well, if you are married, what are you doing with Amika?”

  “We have some business to attend to.” Ebra wrinkled her nose. “We have found the missing cousins. We just have to collect them and fight off an army. It’s going to be a fun day.”

  Idalla perked up. “Where are you headed?”

  Weller sent her the coordinates. “The auctions.”

  “You are going in there alone?”

  Ebra laughed. “It is for the best.”

  Weller nodded. “I have her back.”

  “Yeah, just don’t let her carve you up. Okay, have you gotten clan clearance?”

  Weller checked and nodded. “Got it.”

  “Excellent. I will look up the Sandman pattern. I don’t think it exists yet.”

  Ebra warned, “He might not want her marked up.”

  “A warrior not wearing their mate’s markings? That isn’t unheard of, but he is going to have to fight for the right to keep your skin intact.”

  Ebra laughed. “I think Asshat would enjoy that.”

  Weller winced. “I don’t know if I want that to occur. I might just take the markings.”

  Idalla grinned. “You run it past your guy. I look forward to meeting him.”

  Weller disconnected the call and shuddered. “Maybe I should just spare him my family exposure.”

  Ebra grinned. “I wouldn’t worry about it. He looks like the sort to enjoy the battle. I am not sure, would he fight your sister or brother-in-law?”

  Weller looked at her and grimaced. “My mother.”

  “Oh. Shit.”

  “Yeah. This isn’t going to be easy, but I just feel like prey when he is around.” Weller sighed. For her, this was a compliment. He had to look past her species and her habit. That took guts.

  “So, when we land, do you want to cause the disturbance or be sold into the auction?”

  Weller grinned. “I will be the disturbance. You can enter the auction.”

  “Lovely. Fine, but you better charge a good price for me. I am not a virgin, but I am prime real estate.”

  “Okay, so you are classified as gently used but in showroom condition.” Weller laughed.

  “Yeah. I will make you a cloak that will give you a bit of a buffer layer and some monofilament weaponry.”

  “Good. I don’t want to show up with just my normal weapons assortment hidden in my clothing.”

  Ebra grinned and headed for the mobile station. She changed her clothing into something lightweight and slutty with a matching cloak. She had to get into the pens, and going in bodily was the only way. Using her looks was a key that would get her where she needed to be.

  Weller had waved her off with, “Make a lot of money for Grandma!”

  Ebra snorted and walked away with the handlers. She had stan
dard med scans, but she was classified as a mutt. Her body put her into the exclusive category, but only because she appealed to a lot of fetishes and those got expensive.

  Her hands were cuffed in restrictors, and she was led to the exclusive pens. The restrictors were just in case she actually had some kind of talent via her mixed bloodline.

  It was a pity that the first thing she did was hollow out the cuffs to make them into decorative objects.

  Ebra sat in the exclusive pen, and she smiled at the collection of young sisters who had been on their way to the abbey. “By the light of the stars, you will get through this.”

  The young women’s eyes brightened, and they murmured, “By the shadow of the moons, we will survive.”

  She grinned and went up to them, touching their cuffs and slicing them in two.

  “You, troublemaker.”

  Ebra grinned. “I think that’s me.”

  It had been eight hours since they landed on the station, and as she was guided onto the stage, she wondered idly what Tonos was doing. Taking off on him had been rather mean, but she had left a note.

  She walked out onto the stage and moved with the grace and acquiescence that would get folks to believe she was passive. Hah.

  The auctioneer began their patter about her beauty, the heft of her breasts, the narrowness of her waist, and the curve of her hips. They brought down a hook and raised her by the arms and hung her in the air with her toes just grazing the ground.

  When she heard the fight beginning in the auction hall, she snapped her cuffs, turned them into blades, and stabbed the auctioneer and the handlers as she headed back to the pens. Ebra collected more materials and increased the blades, but she slashed and hacked her way through the guards until she was back at the pens. She opened the exclusive pens and beckoned to the ladies to follow her. The young sisters-to-be followed her closely, and one kept watch behind them. The standard pens were opened the same way, and the girls were herded back toward the doors that they had entered by. The guard looked at her. “What are you?”

  “Storner Syndrome. I love a fight. Out of the way or die.” She gestured. One of the men attacked, and the other ran for it.

  She checked back, and she had today’s auction of forty souls. Getting them to the abbey was going to be fun.