Hearts prisoner dark wor.., p.24
Heart's Prisoner (Dark World Mates Book 1), page 24
"I'm okay," she said. "I'm alright."
Not totally convinced apparently, Xerus kept his head bent so that he could watch her every reaction carefully as he moved against her. He went excruciatingly slow at first, only the smallest of strokes. Lana could feel the tip of him hitting some secret place in her and her body reacted almost instantly. Loud moans escaped her throat and she writhed under him, her body desperate for more. Her hips moved and her back arched, her soft skin grazing against his scales, leaving small stinging cuts. Her bandages tore and ripped as they ground against his sharp skin. It didn't phase her. What she felt inside was more raw and intense than any small pain she might receive in return. It was a small price to pay for the pleasure.
Xerus barely moved on top of her, as if waiting for some sign from her. When she moaned again and called out his name in hungry desperation, he lowered his arms to lock around her waist, pinning her hard in place. His lip curled, showing the tips of his fangs, and a low growl escaped him, his eyes turning into glowing red slits. He brought his hips out then plunged back into her and Lana gasped, a blissful cry ripping from her throat.
He moved on her then with such a bestial urgency that Lana was forced to grip his arms to try to keep in place. The fire in her was reaching its peak, each spark shooting through her center with every stroke. She felt it from her core up to her belly, her heart about to burst. She clamped her teeth together despite each cry that tore through her lips. Xerus didn't slow as if he couldn't, already too lost in his own drive, too ravenous to stop. His hips slammed into her thighs and Lana winced, her grip tightening around his arms. The harder he moved the closer to her climax she got. There was a ripping sound as his nails dug into the sheets below them. They were both engulfed in their own inner flames.
As she shattered beneath him, Xerus still didn't slow. He was far gone in his wave of need. His growls grew louder, sharper, his fangs bared, eyes nothing but glowing slits. He looked like a savage beast above her.
Coming down from her high, Lana released one of his arms to place her hand on his chest. In response, Xerus shot his free hand out and cupped her jaw. A few more beats against her and he let out a long, sharp hiss. He moved inside her and Lana felt his liquid heat filling her. He released her face, panting hard, his body shuddering. It was the most Lana had seen his body react and it left her staring in shock.
"Xerus..." She could feel his heart beating against her palm, the same rhythm she felt in her core. Xerus huffed some more, his face twisting. He groaned and his body relaxed. He lowered himself on to her, sheltering her below his chest and stomach, making sure not to crush her under his weight. Breathless and sweating, Lana lay under him until his heart was back to its normal slow rhythm. She patted his side and he rose off her, slipping out of her. Instantly there was a gush of wet heat between her thighs and Lana tensed. Sitting up slowly, she looked down and quickly closed her legs.
"Oh." She looked away, a little embarrassed.
Xerus' mouth widened, looking pleased. He reached out his hand, stroking her cheek then curling a lock of damp hair behind her ears. When his eyes dropped down her body his face fell.
"Ah, cisa nifil, xi silla. I have hurt you." His voice turned deep, angry with himself. His fingers slipped down to the cuts on her thighs and the bandages in shreds. Lana took his hand in hers.
"It's fine. I'm fine." She smiled. Though she knew she was going to be majorly sore.
Xerus said nothing as her other hand stroked his face tenderly. His eyes closed, still hungry for her touch. That low purr sounded deep in his chest as she caressed him.
"I wouldn't mind a shower though," she said finally, her hand dropping. "Seeing as..." Her legs shifted as she tried to keep from soiling the sheets more than they already were. Xerus' mouth twitched. He gathered her up and carried her out of the inlaid bed.
"A better idea," he said. "Another bath."
Chapter Twenty-Six
"There's nothing yet," Lana spoke through the headset, watching Xerus intently on the screen. "Though I'd be careful of the rooms on your right, I saw some odd movement."
A static-filled hiss of laughter sounded in her ear. "It's likely no threat." Xerus turned down one passage and Lana switched the feed so she could see him.
Lana smiled. "Not to you anyway. But I thought you should know."
There was a grunt in response and Xerus slipped into a large supply room. "I'm going to place one in here. Shouldn't take long."
"I'll keep my eye out," Lana said. She watched him briefly as he set the device in his hands to the nearby wall, connecting wires accordingly. She was still astounded by his ability to use the environment around him, even if unfamiliar, to his every advantage.
Though it wasn't like he hadn't had decades of experience training to utilize anything and everything around him or enough time to study "simple" human technology. Still, she couldn't help being impressed. Even she hadn't expected him to know how to construct bombs out of the machinery and bots scattering the whole base. When he had shown her, she could only stare at him in bewilderment. But now it seemed obvious and she scolded herself silently for her lack of observation.
"Almost done," Xerus said as he put the last wires in place, making sure the bomb was secured fully to the wall. Lana flipped through the feeds quickly to make sure there was nothing about to creep up on him. She had insisted on being Xerus’ extra eyes, to make sure nothing tried to attack him by surprise while he concentrated on setting his bombs. Though he could easily defend himself, he needed complete focus to make sure the bombs were connected accordingly. When she saw the way was clear, she switched back to Xerus.
"Coast is clear."
Xerus looked over the bomb one last time. Then, when he seemed satisfied, he nodded and left the room. "I'll put the next one in a room on the opposite end," he said.
If a month before someone had told Lana she would be helping an alien to set bombs to destroy the entire base, she would think they needed to visit medical. Yet here she was and she still found it surreal. And honestly terrifying.
The night he had told her about the bombs after completing his first set from the wires, metal, and chemicals he had found from various bots on eight, she had been a little mortified to say the least.
"You told me you would try to save those who aren't infected," Lana had said.
"Eti xi neesh," and I shall, he said.
Lana had crossed her arms, a hard set frown on her face. "Then how does destroying the whole base help exactly?"
"I will get to as many of the uninfected as I can once I set the bombs," he had said, placing each bomb next to the other on the table meant for dining, " but after, the base must be destroyed. "
"Let me guess. In case you missed one?" Lana said.
Xerus nodded. "It will be easier too. Instead of having to go through every part of this place just to find each of the infected and destroy them. This way it can be done quicker."
Lana couldn't argue with that. And the quicker it was done the sooner they could get off the planet.
Xerus' plan was to set bombs on every floor starting with the lowest. With twelve already gone he hadn't bothered so he started with eleven. He had found the headset that allowed them to communicate while he placed the bombs on each level so she could help alert him to any "danger" as he went about his task. For now he only focused on the bombs, getting them ready for when the time came to detonate. Then, as he promised, he would look for those uninfected and lead them away.
Currently, he was on the lower levels which were mostly empty. The saferoom she had been in on ten was the lowest one and everyone from there was gone. The only possible life-forms left were any last surviving creatures that had yet to be obliterated by Galger's team.
"This is the last bomb here," Xerus said. "Eleven and ten are set. I'm coming back and will prepare the others for levels nine and eight." He took up his now empty bag and tied it around his neck.
"Alright. See you soon." Lana watched until he slipped out onto the emergency stairs then shut off her headset. She checked the feeds and found that most of the activity was on the upper levels per usual. Galger and his men had split up, some guarding their trove on level three, others back on level five for some reason, possibly looking for anything that made it in the destruction that they could salvage. Lana couldn't watch long, too sickened by the bodies still left all around. Many of them had burned but Lana still remembered and she shuddered thinking of her lost friend now nothing but ashes. She switched away when she saw nothing of value and flipped over to level one. Nothing was new. The people still huddled around, waiting, guards distributing food. The saferooms were still locked, although one did open briefly for scouts to go out and check the area. She watched them for a moment and was thankful when they returned quickly without incident.
She turned the feed off and placed her headset on the bar. Beside it, she picked up the scale Xerus had shed, now woven between bits of silver wire. She had thought to turn it into a necklace or bracelet but she had never been very good at arts and crafts. For now, it was just a red shard wrapped in a silvery cage. Before Xerus came through the door, she hid it in one of her pockets.
The door closed behind him and Xerus nodded toward her as he placed his bag on the ground. Smiling, Lana stood and greeted him.
"Nothing to report yet though there were a few sightings of stragglers, most everyone has kept to the upper levels," Lana said, wringing her hands as if somehow nervous.
Xerus grunted. "The rest of the bombs shouldn't take me long to assemble." He stepped around her to where he had left his tools and scraps of parts on the long table now pushed to the right wall in the main room. He went through the parts carefully. He picked up one particular device and showed her.
"This is the detonator. It is already paired with assembled bombs. The rest will follow suit." He gripped the narrow device firmly, the switch at the side meant to be pressed like a trigger. Xerus set it back down carefully. "When the time comes I will set it off. There will be about a three-second delay before the bombs go off."
Lana nodded, understanding. "I suppose we will be out of the base before they go off...if we can get to a ship."
Xerus' eyes flickered over to her. "I am not worried."
Lana wished she felt the same. But danger and fear still settled deep in her subconscious. As confident and assuring as Xerus was, anything could still go wrong.
"Will you go back out tonight?" Lana asked.
Xerus twisted to face her, his eyes glittering with something savage. "Nil," he said. He moved to stand close to her. "I will make the rest of the bombs. But first," his tail slipped around her back, bringing her against him, his clawed finger brushing the side of her face delicately, "Xi na Essha," I am hungry.
Lana suppressed a grin, her face heating. "I will fix you something," she said in a low voice, her eyes half-closed.
Xerus growled, showing off the tips of his fangs. His face came down and his tongue grazed the side of her neck. Lana shivered, her hands coming up to grip the sides of his arms. She craned her neck upward so that he was given better access, allowing his tongue to trail fire along the center of her throat up to her chin. A purr rumbled in his chest, vibrating against her.
Ever since their first night together Xerus had been much more needful in his wants. No longer suppressing his desire for her. And she never denied him even when she was sore. She wanted him too. In more ways than just physical. But she feared to voice those wants.
Even now that they were together she still feared the possibility of being tossed aside by his duty for his people and his right of passage to becoming a Predomis. And what that entailed. But now wasn't the time to think about that. At least that's what she told herself. She had him now and what was important was that they got out of Lazris alive.
Lana moaned as he nipped her skin and nuzzled her neck. "Was this morning not enough?" She laughed softly. Her body heated, remembering waking up curled against him in his newly made den. And of their early morning antics.
Xerus grumbled. "Nisa vil shas." It is never enough.
Lana breathed deep and gave in as she always did. She let him lead her down to the ground, too impatient now to make it to the den bed. The heat and power of him at her back was exquisite. She closed her eyes as he peeled off her shirt, feeling his warm hands graze her chest. As they undressed fully and he pressed himself behind her, sliding in deep, claiming her again, Lana's heart fluttered and dropped.
No, she couldn't think about what would happen afterward. Not yet.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Xerus successfully placed the next set of bombs, this time on all levels up to seven. A few incidents and mishaps had occurred along the way but Lana had been there at every step to warn him. A strange reptilian creature with quills on its back had found its way on level eight, spraying out thick, slimy layers of acid from its mouth. As it tried to target Xerus, who was able to dodge in time, the slime instead hit one of the bot-repairing machines with a set of pipes connected behind it, letting out a full layer of steam, making it hard for Lana to see in the room. Xerus took out the creature before it could do any more damage but the pipe was unfixable, belching out endless amounts of steam.
On level seven Xerus encountered a few lurkers. Some unfortunately infected. Lana didn't watch as he destroyed the bodies. Those who were clean he forced into a room and had them locked in. He promised her he'd go back for them later.
"I have one bomb left that I will place on six and will set the rest after my return," he told her as he made his way up to the medical bay.
"Okay, sounds good." Lana looked at the feed for six as well as the level's data. There was a small saferoom on six, one she hadn't noticed before as she had been too busy trying to save Nicole. There were at least a few dozen individuals inside. Those who were able to get in and lock the doors before the raptors got to them.
As Xerus made his way through the debris of six to set his bomb, Lana checked every passage and found it empty. Everything seemed still.
A rattling noise sounded from above her and Lana looked up at the ceiling with a frown. The noise was coming from level three. Curious, she switched over to three on the video as Xerus began to set his bomb.
Galger's team was drilling into the wall beside the saferoom's door on level three. Sparks flew as they drilled into the locking mechanism. Lana shook her head in confusion as she watched them. Why were they trying to get into the saferoom? And why with such force instead of asking those inside to open up?
They punctured a hole into the locking device then one of the soldiers set to fiddle with the wires within. As he went about pulling and connecting wires, several of Galger's men stood back and held their guns at the ready, aiming toward the door. Lana's heart raced and her eyes widened as they positioned themselves. "Oh, god, no," she whispered to herself.
She knew before the door even opened and when it did she jumped back, her chair falling to the ground as gunfire lit the feed and the noise drove downwards from level three into her room. Galger's men shot blindly, bullets spraying every which way into the saferoom. The people nearest the door went down first, then those in the back trying to flee came after. A group of individuals, whether brave or stupid, came charging at the soldiers, flinging their arms and fly into the air, only to be flung to the ground, their bodies going limp. From their faces, Lana could see they hadn't been brave or stupid. They had been infected. Black blood flowing out of their dead lips.
Lana didn't think Galger and his men actually knew whether any of them had been infected or not. They had just planned to break into the room and open fire. And by the looks of it, that was completely true. A few still writhed on the ground in agony, tears spilling from their eyes, blood from their stomachs. They pleaded for their lives but the soldiers didn't respond. With cold stares they did as they were commanded, aimed their guns at the survivor's heads, and fired.
No one was spared. Though they had taken out only a handful of infected, the rest were ordered to die.
Lana watched with tears spilling from her eyes as the men dragged the corpses into a pile into the room, ready to set them ablaze. She fell to her knees, her hand covering her mouth. She barely registered the door opening and closing and the sharp hands dragging her up and encircling her.
"Are you hurt? What happened?" Xerus' face came into view.
Lana blinked up at him in surprise wondering how he had gotten to her so quickly. How he had known something was wrong. She shook in his grasp.
"I could hear your cries, Kissala. Tell me what's wrong?"
She had forgotten her headset was still on. Quickly she dragged it off, letting it fall to the floor. "They killed them," she choked. "They killed them all."
Xerus' face tilted and, when she gestured to the screen, Xerus saw what she meant. The bodies were now a pile of flames. Xerus' eyes narrowed. "You saw this?" he asked.
Lana nodded her head, more tears falling silently. "They opened the door and just started firing. They didn't even look, Xerus. Oh god, they didn't even look." Her body tried to slip down as her knees buckled but Xerus held her firmly.
"Were the people infected?" Xerus said, forcing her to look at him.
Lana gripped his shoulders, taking deep breaths. "Only a few were. The rest..." She shook her head unable to say more. Xerus crushed her to him.
She held on to him as her body trembled, his hand gripping the back of her head gently. "They are going to kill the rest, I know it," she said against his chest. "They will kill any they see because, unlike you, they cannot detect the parasite and are not going to save them."
A low growl rose in Xerus' throat. He muttered something in his language that she did not catch. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her out of the room, away from the video feed. Lana shivered, feeling cold despite his warmth against her.
