Star’s Storm

Chapter 2-3

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 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 drifted 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 name 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.

His lips curved as he remembered her petite figure coming to stand in front of him. She had been hesitant to touch him and had glared at him in warning to not try anything. He had been so mesmerized by her pale beauty that all he could think was she was his!

She had cleaned his wound, trying hard not to touch his skin. He, on the other hand, had craved her touch from the first moment he looked into her light blue eyes. Even then she had glowered at him defiantly. She had a stubborn tilt to her small, delicate chin and a look in her eyes that dared him to mess with her, even as she gently cleaned the blood away from his wound. He knew it wasn’t bad. It stung, but he had received worse injuries during the war. Progit had merely been teasing him with what was to come.

He had fought to reach for her, but couldn’t with his arms still shackled to the bars holding him. She had whispered quietly to him. Four simple words, but he would never forget them.

“You are safe now,” her husky voice whispered, burning into his soul as if it was lit from within.

She had disappeared shortly after that. The females had done the unthinkable. They had set Jazin, Torak, and the other warriors free and disabled the huge warship, giving his brother, Manota, a chance to overtake it.

Star had worked her way through the warship disabling the exits to the living quarter levels, trapping the Tearnats so they couldn’t fight. His heart had clenched in fear when the time passed for the females to appear in the docking bay. He had been surprised to find Manota had not traveled alone.

Gril Tal Mod, Trolis’ father and leader of the Tearnats, had come with his own warriors. He was furious, but not surprised, that his second son would disobey a direct order. Trolis had tried to kill him at one point towards the end of the war when Gril wanted peace for his species.

Trolis had escaped and built a small but impressive army of mercenaries, disgruntled warriors unhappy with the peace, and loyal supporters. He had died on the warship when he attacked Torak and Gril. Another victim of the sharp blades his new sister loved to carry.

One dream after another flowed in an endless spiral through time; Star on board his brother’s starship, her face when she appeared in the docking bay before the councilman who would later betray them, the moment when she had felt deceived by him for having his House filled with women. One memory after another floated through his mind. Even her outraged face when he threw her over his shoulder and claimed her officially as his before his people.

She had only begun to warm to him before tonight. She was afraid of something. She refused to tell him, but he could feel the hesitation whenever he held her and murmured words of need. Scene after scene filled the next several hours as he held her tightly in his arms before he drifted into the realm between the worlds of dreams and wakefulness.

Jazin jerked awake when he felt a presence entering the room. His hand moved instinctively to the laser sword next to him under the covers. His eyes moved to his Captain of the Guard as Armet came in. He frowned, shaking his head. Armet bowed and motioned that he would remain outside. Jazin glanced down at the warm figure in his arms and nodded.

He waited until Armet left before he slowly disentangled himself from the body now lying more on top of him than beside. He brushed a soft kiss over Star’s forehead before he carefully rose out of the bed and tucked the covers securely around her. He glanced at her once more before he turned to leave the room. Her face was flushed a dusty rose and a slight smile curved her lips. He wondered what she was dreaming of and could only hope it had something to do with him.