Before leaving in the early evening, Star pulled River to one side. “I’ve been working on more clothing. I have special ‘gowns’ we can wear.” She smiled mischievously when she noticed Torak looking at her.
“You are not planning anything, are you?” Jazin asked suspiciously when he caught Torak’s look.
“Why would you think that?” Star asked as she looked up at him with an innocent smile.
Jazin looked at her a moment before groaning. What have I ever done to deserve a woman like this? he thought with a sense of forbearing.
As the days got closer to the dinner the men spent more time away giving the girls more time together. River took Jo and Star down to the training room where they practiced intensely. Two of the newer elite force members were assigned to watch them as Kev Mul Kar was busying finalizing plans with other members who would form the tighter core group of first responders.
Both men watched with appreciative silence as all three females worked out. After stretching, they would flow through all the obstacle courses moving silently up and over walls, across beams and down ropes, sometimes upside down, other times pausing halfway before doing a flip and landing on silent feet on the mats below before coming up with a weapon in their hand to strike out at an imaginary opponent.
It was only when the females started practicing with the weapons did the men pale. Today, River and Star were practicing a routine River’s parents had been famous for. The men watched as Star pulled a compact crossbow off her waist, flipping a release to open it and loaded six arrows into it shooting them at River in rapid succession. River dodged them, bending, rolling, and twirling at the last second before the last one came at her. The men heard Star gasp watching in horror as the last arrow came at River’s chest as she was turning away from the last one. The men started running yelling into a com device as they charged towards River.
Within minutes Torak, Jazin, and Manota were rushing into the training room. They found River on the floor next to the two elite force members, Star and Jo standing over them
“Breath, okay. Just put your heads between your knees and take a steady breath. You’ll be okay. The dizziness will pass.” Torak heard Jo say softly.
“What in the name of all the Gods and Goddesses happened?” Torak roared paling as he saw both men sitting on the floor with their heads between their knees, River patting them gently on the back.
“It’s okay, Torak. They’ll be alright in a few minutes once the dizziness passes.” River said looking up while she continued rubbing the men’s backs.
“You okay, honey?” Star asked one of the men who looked like he was about to pass out again.
“Honey?” Jazin growled. “You call him honey, while all I get is called…”
Star blushed. “Not now. Quit being such a jerk. I’m just trying to make him feel better.”
“Jerk.” Jazin stuttered. “She wants to make him feel better and I get called a jerk for being worried out of my mind!” Jazin pulled his hair on each side of his head before letting out a loud roar that resounded off the walls. Jazin glared at Star for a moment before walking with slow determined steps towards her.
Jazin gripped Star’s wrist glaring down at her. “Enough, Star. You are mine. I am going to do something I should have done long ago. Computer record: I, Jazin Ja Kel Coradon of the Third House of Kassis, claim you, Star, for my house and as my mate. I claim you as my woman. No other may claim you. I will kill any other who try. I give you my protection as is my right as leader of my house. I claim you as is my right by the House of Kassis. Computer end recording and file.” Without another word he swung Star into his arms, turned and stormed out of the training room leaving everyone behind them standing in stunned silence.
“Well, of all the nerve.” Jo said sputtering. “Just who in the hell does he think he is?”
Manota glared at Jo. Jo, seeing the look on his face, stumbled backwards holding up her palms. “Now, don’t you go getting any ideas! I already told you it wasn’t happening.” Jo let out a squeal and turned to run only to be grabbed from behind and swung her over his shoulder.
Growling Manota started speaking, drowning out Jo’s protests. “I claim you, Jo. I should have done it weeks ago. You are mine. Let it be known I, Manota Ja Kel Coradon of the Second House of Kassis, claim you, Jo, for my house and as my mate.” Jo struggled kicking out at Manota. She let out a howl of rage when he slapped her ass hard. “I claim you as my woman.” He slapped her ass again when she didn’t stop struggling. “No other may claim you.” Slap. “I will kill any other who try.” Slap. “I give you my protection as is my right as leader of my house.” Slap.” I claim you as is my right by the House of Kassis.” By the fifth slap Jo had quieted down, her ass burning and her pussy wet. Manota growled again when Jo tried to speak rubbing his hand on her burning ass. Jo stiffened for a moment before relaxing over his shoulder, not fighting any more.