Star's Storm(4)

Shavic recognized that Jazin needed time to deal with what had happened. He could not blame him. If he had a mate as beautiful, fierce, and loyal as Jazin did, he would have reacted the same if anything happened to her. Shavic sank down wearily into the chair next to the bed and studied the delicate face of the human female. Since his first encounter with them, he had been fascinated by their differences to the known species he had treated. There were over twenty galaxies in the Alliance. Each galaxy had their own unique species, some like the Kassis and some vastly different like the Tearnats. The human females were the first that were closely related in features to their own. He gently picked up the delicate hand laying on the edge of the bed and turned it over to study her palm. Her fingers twitched as his light touch. A wave of envy flooded him. To feel hands like these on his body, running their tips….

“I will stay with her now,” Jazin’s hard voice said from behind Shavic.

*.*.*

Jazin kept a tight rein on his emotions. He had taken a brief shower and changed into clean clothing as fast as he could, not wanting to be away from his mate’s side any longer than necessary. A deep fear gnawed at him that he had only dreamed that Star would be alright. When he had returned, a dark jealousy swept through him at seeing Shavic tenderly holding Star’s hand. He had watched Shavic’s face intensely for a moment while the healer caressed it. Emotions of confusion, envy, and desire flowed across the man’s face unhindered by the normally calm mask he wore.

Shavic gently laid Star’s hand back down before he stood; the mask of impassive calm once again on his face. “My lord,” he responded quietly before bowing and leaving the room.

Jazin watched through narrow eyes as Shavic left the room before turning back to his mate. He moved over to the bed and swiped his hand over the panel above it. The bed shifted, expanding until it was large enough to accommodate his larger frame. He pulled back the covers and lowered himself onto the bed, making sure he didn’t jar it any more than necessary. He carefully lifted Star’s body so he could pull her against his long length. He marveled at their difference in size and how she fit perfectly against him. He lowered his head until his chin rested against the sweet smelling strands of her hair. Taking a deep breath, he drew in the scent of wild flowers and sunlight.

He would never get enough of her. From the first moment he saw her on the Tearnat’s warship, he knew he was lost. His eyes drifted shut as relief, mixed with exhaustion from fear and battle, washed through him. His body relaxed as Star turned into his warmth, seeking the safe haven of his arms even in her unconscious state. It had been her beautiful eyes that had first caught his attention. They spoke of love and laughter. Of hope, wonder, and curiosity. Of power and strength. Of peace and forever.

Sleep called to Jazin as he continued breathing in the calming scent of his mate. His mind drifting to the first time he saw her coming out of the darkened corridor. A tiny warrior who would touch not only his heart but his entire world.

Colors and images swirled and solidified as his dream formed. It was as if he were an apparition reliving a moment in time. They had been on a diplomatic mission with the Krail, the current Chancellor for the Alliance. Their shuttle was on its way to intercept Torak’s warship when a rebel group of Tearnats fired upon them, taking out their engines.

Trolis, the leader of the rebel group and second son of Madas and Gril Tal Mod, had killed the chancellor and taken Jazin, Torak and the other eight warriors’ prisoner. Trolis planned to kill them all, starting with Jazin. He wanted to set an example for the other members of the Alliance by eliminating two of the most powerful royals of Kassis.

Jazin remembered waking up, chained between two bars used for interrogation. Progit, a Tearnat warrior Torak had disfigured during the war, came in. Jazin buried his nose deeper into the tantalizing scent of his mate’s hair. He remembered the feel of the sharp blade as it caressed his cheek, cutting a line down it. Progit was bragging about how he was going to kill him. He was going to cut him apart one limb at a time. Jazin had been sure it was his time to die. He had braced himself for the first blow, determined to die a warrior’s death and not give the Tearnat the pleasure of hearing him scream in agony as he was dismembered. Instead, it was Progit who collapsed at his feet…. a knife between his eyes.

Jazin moved restlessly in his sleep, drawing the body pressed against him closer. Star… He had learned her named from the dark haired female that captured his older brother’s attention. River Knight had killed the three Tearnats in the room with several well-thrown blades. She had approached him first to see how badly he was wounded. While she had captured his attention due to her unexpected and unusual appearance, he didn’t feel anything more than curiosity. Nothing had prepared him for his first glance at the one she called Star, though. He remembered the feeling well. It was as if someone had punched him in the stomach. Even now, he still had the same reaction as the first time he saw her.