Текст книги "Alien Tyrant"

Автор книги: Ursa Dox

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN Buroudei

“She is very fragile. Very fragile.”

Rika’s voice was stern. We were standing outside of my tent. Zeezee was inside, and all I wanted to do was see her after not being near her for the entire day. Being apart from her was causing me physical pain.

“I know, Rika,” I said impatiently. “But I will protect her.”

Rika frowned, her tail thrashing.

“No, Gahn, you do not understand. She was not created for a place like this. Did you know even the sun hurts her skin? It burns her like fire. That is why she must wear her strange clothing.”

My heart sank. This was worse than I had thought. I had hoped that, after being healed by Rika, Zeezee would somehow permanently be alright. But that was clearly not the case. How was it possible that even the sun was harmful to her? A terrible helplessness clawed at me.

“I will not pretend to be wiser than you, Rika. Tell me what to do.”

I did not like the desperation in my voice. It made me feel weak. Zeezee was a vulnerability like no other. But I meant what I’d said. Whatever needed to be done, I would do it. I could not accept that my mate was not meant for my world. She would be strong. She would survive. I would make it so. Whether through blood or sweat or sheer force of will, I would make it so.

“I wish I knew what to tell you, my Gahn.” There was a pained sincerity to Rika’s voice. “Without being able to speak to her, it is hard to know what she needs.” She paused then, her eyes losing focus, staring out over the sands beyond the boulders. “I did notice that many times throughout the day she looked out across the sand. Towards the place you found her. Maybe she left something behind. Something she needs.”

I clenched my jaw. I had no interest in bringing Zeezee back over the open sands to the scene of the zeelk slaughter.

“It is too dangerous for her. You know that.”

Rika levelled her gaze at me.

“You may not have another choice.”

She said no more, leaving me to brood over her words under the star-pricked sky. I mulled over my options. I could go without her and scope out the site on my own. But then again, I wouldn’t even know what I was looking for there. Zeezee was the only one who knew what she needed. And she could not tell me. I sighed roughly, staring up at the sky. The zeelk were likely lured by the sound of the big flying creature landing. It would have sent vibrations down into the sand, calling them up. If we went quietly, just the two of us, it may not be too dangerous. And like Rika said, I may not have another choice. I did not like this. Not having choices. Not knowing which path to take. Grimly, I entered the tent.

Much of the tension I felt evaporated when I saw my mate’s small, lovely face. She had been seated on my hides, and she scrambled to her feet, speaking animatedly. Then, almost shyly, slowly, as if trying to get it just right, she said our word for “hello.”

My tail thumped the sand, warmth filling my chest. She must have learned that today with Rika. What a glorious thing, to have your mate waiting for you at your tent, ready to greet you like that. Such happiness was almost beyond comprehension. I went to her at once, cupping her jaw in my hands, before lowering my mouth to hers. Her lips parted quickly, welcoming me. But it didn’t last long. She pulled back quickly, saying something rapid in her language before switching to the tongue of the Sea Sands.

“Buroudei to eat meat.”

Her brow crumpled inward, as if she knew that wasn’t quite right (it wasn’t) but I was honoured by her effort all the same. She shook her head quickly, then grabbed a bone plate from the nearby shelf.

On the plate was a choice selection of dakrival meat from tonight’s feast. I hadn’t joined the tribe for the meal – I had been too busy with Galok, planning our raid on Gahn Fallo. I took the plate from her small hand, sitting down, curling my tail around myself, patting the dakrival hide next to me. Her cheeks red, she sat, smoothing the tunic over her knees as she drew them up to her chest. Seeing her in the clothing of our people, with her hair braided like ours, was going right to my groin. I grunted, turning my attention to my meal, eating quickly. Soon, I would have a much sweeter taste upon my tongues.

I finished the food, tossing the plate aside, then leaned over. Zeezee’s eyes got wide as I settled one hand behind her back on the sand, the other hitching at the hem of her tunic, yanking it up over her hips, revealing her soft thighs and that dark patch of hair that was so very odd and so very enticing. Need was coursing through me, hot and hard. I had been away from her too long today. Tonight I will mate her.

But, as I should have come to expect by now, my lovely little mate had other plans. Just as I was lowering my head to lap at the goodness between her legs, I felt something small but strong close around one of my ears, halting my head’s descent. I stopped, letting my eyes roll upward to look at Zeezee’s face. One of her hands was clenched around one of my ears, her other hand was wagging her finger in my face in a gesture I did not recognize. I bit back a growl of irritation. Though I did not recognize the gesture, I could understand the meaning. Stop what you are doing this instant.

This woman, my mate, the strange and perfect creature who had brought such renewed meaning to my life, would most certainly be the death of me.

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Cece

It was getting easier and easier to be swept up in Buroudei’s alien seduction techniques. Not that he exactly had seduction techniques beyond you’re here, I’m here, let’s do stuff. But more and more, I wasn’t questioning whatever it was that was between us. After spending the day with Rika, I had been looking forward to seeing him, and when he’d walked into the tent I couldn’t deny that my body had responded immediately – my heart rate increasing, my blood rushing hot, pulsing between my legs. The way he’d kissed me, so immediately, so naturally, had made me just a little too happy. It felt like I was meant to be here, like I belonged, like I had someone. And after losing Grammy and having no one, that was the most seductive thing of all.

So I really had to fight the urge to let my legs fall open under Buroudei’s mouth. But I did so, the quickest way I could see: by grabbing one of his ears.

That did the trick. The look he gave me was a combination of are you serious and I should have known, but I hardened myself, wagging my finger, scooting my bottom back and away from him. We had to discuss serious things. I released Buroudei’s ear, keeping a close eye on him, but he seemed to sense what I wanted, as unhappy as it appeared to make him. He raised his head back up, but did not adjust his position. He loomed over me, his hands on the sand on either side of my hips. His dark eyes swirled with copper stars, just inches from my own. I blinked, shifting my gaze to keep myself from falling headfirst into them. But then my gaze ended up on his mouth, and that was just as distracting. I settled firmly on his chin, face on fire, casting my mind back to the various words I had learned to try to craft my request.

“Buroudei Cece to walk sand.”

Crap. That wasn’t right. Not even close. I raised my gaze, unable to help myself, watching as the shimmering parts of Buroudei’s eyes tightened up as he focused on me.

“Buroudei Cece to walk to retrieve sand.”

Oh, God. I really needed to work on my verb conjugation. And I wasn’t sure about the placement of the objects, direct or indirect. I was trying to tell him that I needed him to take me back out over the sand to the ship so that I could get some supplies. As terrible as it was, it seemed less and less likely every hour that any of my friends were left alive. But I was. I had survived. And I needed to do everything I could to ensure that survival. Buddying up with Buroudei and his people had been a big step towards that, but I needed more – more clothing and extra boots, more sunscreen, and whatever other useful stuff I could pull out of the cargo bay. Even the small amount of time I’d spent without my solar jacket today had left me sunburned, and Rika had had to smear some more of that radioactive milk on me to get things back to normal.

Buroudei hadn’t moved. I could feel the puffs of his breath against my mouth, and my lips parted involuntarily. Focus, Cece. I had to make him understand my request. I knew he wouldn’t let me just walk off alone, and I definitely wouldn’t survive such a field trip alone.

“Buroudei Cece to walk... sand... to retrieve...” I blew out a frustrated breath. Now I was just rearranging the words I’d already said. My vocabulary was failing me. Half the stuff I needed to say they probably didn’t even have a word for. I had a feeling that “space ship” wasn’t something that would translate.

“Come on, I’ll show you,” I said in English, scooting back further and standing. Buroudei’s tail twitched, and for a second it seemed like he was about to grab my ankle and yank me back down.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere without you.” I held out my hand.

He stared at it, then looked up at me questioningly.

“Come on, stand up!” I waved my arms up and down, bending and straightening my legs dramatically so that he’d get the picture. He did, getting to his feet, raising himself to his full, impressive height. I ignored the drying of my throat, the quickening of my pulse, and reached for his hand, taking it in my own. “This is what I was trying to get you to do. Holding hands.” I gave his huge hand a squeeze, and watched in fascination as the specks of his eyes flew outward, his nostrils flaring.

“Not sure I like the look in your eye. Don’t distract me. Let’s go.” I tugged on his hand, leading him out of the tent.

Outside, the night was cool. I pulled Buroudei around the side of the tent, thoroughly enjoying the way he was following without question. I stopped, pointing out over the desert, hopefully somewhat in the direction of the ship. It was way too far away to be visible from here.

“Buroudei Cece to walk to retrieve.” With my free hand, I gestured violently out towards the horizon. Then I turned to look up at him. “Please, please understand me.”

Buroudei said nothing, his face impossible to read. We faced each other in the gloom, and he captured my other hand with his, holding them between us. Then he uttered a sentence, some of which I actually understood... “Something something go something something retrieve...”

I gasped.

“Are you saying you know what I’m asking. You’ll take me? You’ll take me back to the ship?” I pointed out towards the horizon again, and Buroudei’s tail twitched in acknowledgement. He repeated his sentence, and I was even more sure that time that he was agreeing to do what I’d asked.

I gave a whoop, almost as excited about our communication success as I was about actually going back to the ship, and I leaped forward, throwing my arms around his waist. I felt his tail thump the ground, hard, and his own arms wrapped around me, cradling me in a cage of steel. I pressed my forehead into his chest and sighed.

“Thank you.”

Buroudei gave a low growl, then before I knew it he’d yanked me up, carrying me close against his chest, back into his tent. I thought about protesting, and kicking and fighting to be let down, but slowly I realized that I just didn’t want to. I was flying high from the fact that we’d just talked to each other. Well, sort of. I was so excited by our new connection, and about the fact that he was going to help me. Tears burned in my eyes. It finally felt like I was making some kind of progress, that things were maybe starting to go alright after disaster after disaster. I looked up, almost dreamily, at Buroudei’s strong jaw, his fierce expression, as he carried me into the tent.

“What’s the next step up from ‘I’m so happy I could kiss you’? I’m so happy I could fuck you?” God, I felt crazy, and maybe this was crazy, but I knew in that moment that of Buroudei tried something again, I would go for it.

But he didn’t try anything. A soft “oof” of disappointment came out of my mouth involuntarily as Buroudei deposited me onto the collection of hides that was his bed. Then he stood, speaking softly, the only words I recognized being “dakrival hide” and “irkdu.” I frowned, gesturing at the straining behind his loincloth.

“You should really stay and take advantage of this, buddy. I don’t know if I’m going to feel this insane tomorrow.”

Buroudei looked pained, but he spoke again, more quickly this time, his words coming like gruff barks. He bent and brushed his fingertips over my forehead, down my jaw, then down the length of my braid, fingering the smooth tail of my hair. I moved up to my knees, clutching at his hand, pressing it against my neck.

The sound he made was strangled as he pulled away. Without another word, he turned, leaving the tent, the flap falling closed behind him with a finality that made me want to cry.

“Well, fine then. Whatever. Go do whatever alien business is so pressing,” I huffed. With an annoyed groan, I flopped down into the bed, pulling the hides around myself, burrowing down and nursing my pride. If Buroudei came back that night, I wasn’t aware of it. I fell asleep alone, and did not dream.

WHEN I WOKE THE NEXT morning, Rika was waiting for me once again. Similarly to yesterday, she remained glued to my side, and honestly, I was glad for the company. Though we couldn’t understand each other’s words, we were getting used to our unique language of gestures. I liked being around her, and that went for the other members of the tribe I’d gotten the chance to interact with, too. I kept my eyes peeled for Buroudei, unable to help myself. I caught flashes of him now and then, usually deep in conversation with an exceptionally tall warrior (exceptionally tall even by their standards), but like yesterday, he seemed extremely busy. I ignored the little niggle of pain I felt at not being able to spend time with him. Stupid. You should be focusing on more important things. More important things like when we’d be going back to the ship. I realized that Buroudei and I didn’t have a way to communicate when that was happening. He’d said he’d take me, but when? He might not have understood how much I needed to go get my human supplies.

He didn’t join us for the evening meal, and once again I ended up at his tent alone with a plate of food. Why do I feel like I got stood up? My feelings were ridiculous, but they were hurt all the same. When he finally did arrive, long after dark had fallen, I greeted him with a cold shrug, pointing to the plate. He looked at it, then slashed his tail, holding his hand out to me the way I had to him last night.

“Oh, so you don’t even have time to eat the meal I slaved over?”

That was mostly a joke, of course. I had no idea what I was doing by the massive communal fire, and I just collected the pieces of meat that Rika had set aside for Buroudei. This must be what women feel like when their husbands get home late for dinner. I flushed. Hold on, husband? I hadn’t been here that long, had I? Long enough that I was actually thinking about settling down with an alien?

We’ll think about that one later.

Either way, I still took his hand.

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Buroudei

I was a Gahn, certainly. But by now I should have been regarded as a true god among men for the restraint that I had shown. Zeezee had seemed different last night, like she would have actually welcomed my cock if I had offered it. Perhaps I was a fool for refusing.

A fool. A god.

Maybe both.

But there had been no time. Knowing that I had to prepare for our trip back to the fallen creature on top the looming battle with Gahn Fallo meant that I had to use every spare moment I had. And that had meant leaving her in the tent so I could create her irkdu saddle and her riding garments. I could have assigned the task to one of the women, but it had felt important that I did it myself. The fact she’d gotten so injured the first time she’d ridden my mount with me was still a hot blade of shame in my guts. This was the smallest sort of recompense. I would learn every intricacy of her kind. I would learn exactly how to provide for her. I would spend the rest of my life making sure something like that never happened again.

And so I’d stayed up half the night, working the hides the way my mother had done when she was still alive. And after I’d finished, though I’d longed to plunge myself into Zeezee’s warm, soft body, I’d slept at Galok’s tent. She’d need her rest, too, for the journey.

Now that darkness had fallen, it was time. The zeelk were less active at night, and Zeezee wouldn’t be as susceptible to the sun and heat. We didn’t have many nights left before Gahn Irokai returned with his men. It had to be now.

Zeezee’s hand was so small in mine. It made my heart ache. The full weight of her vulnerability was crashing down upon me. Just existing in my world was a danger to her. And now she was going to be in even more danger as we travelled back to the body of the fallen creature. I did not like it. Not at all. But I knew with increasing certainty that it had to be done. Best to get it over with quickly.

Zeezee said nothing as we walked, which was unusual for her. I’d been half-expecting her to try out any newly acquired words on me, and felt a pang in my chest when she didn’t. Perhaps her mind is on the journey ahead.

I led Zeezee away from the tents, towards the boulders and the peet grass. The irkdu roamed slowly, munching on grass. Some of them slept. I whistled, sharp and low, and my mount roused itself, moving towards us.

Zeezee said something, then, and she sounded unhappy. I squeezed her hand, the way she’d squeezed mine yesterday.

“Do not worry, Zeezee. I have made better preparations this time.”

I moved to where I’d stored our supplies between two of the smaller boulders. Zeezee clutched at my hand, following closely, keeping her eye warily pinned to my irkdu. It was wise of her – though my animal was well-trained and would not intentionally hurt her, it could crush her with one wrong roll of its huge body.

I had already collected everything I imagined we would need. We would likely be back before sunrise, but I had brought Zeezee’s shielding cloak all the same, as well as the hard shells she wore on her feet during the day. The fabric garments she wore between her feet and the shells were wearing thin in places, so I’d fashioned her new ones from the softest, thinnest parts of the dakrival hide. I’d reinforced her leg garments with much tougher dakrival leather along the inner thighs, cutting away the bloodied parts, and had crafted a saddle of sorts using a frame of bone and more heaped layers of leather. We used saddles like these for our cubs when learning how to ride, when their legs were too short to comfortably remain seated, so I already knew the basic design. It was adorable, and terrifying, that I only had to make the saddle slightly larger for Zeezee than we would make them for our tribe’s children. I had valok and dried meat to sustain us, tucked into the pockets of the saddle, as well as long leather cords to lash any other items to the irkdu. I had no idea what we were going back to collect, but we should have had enough to be prepared. Even if we were getting something large, it could trail behind the irkdu, tied with the cords. I had collected weapons, too: an extra zeelk spur spear, several knives, and my axe.

I presented Zeezee with her clothing, then got to work securing the saddle to the irkdu. Because I was turned away from her, working with the saddle, I did not see Zeezee’s reaction to our supplies, and thus was blindsided when I turned around and found her eyes shining, her cheeks wet, her voice coming in short little wails. Rika told me Zeezee had done this in the smoke tent. Rika was fairly sure it was nothing physiological, not a sign of illness, but rather something to do with strong emotion. I abandoned the saddle and was at her side immediately, brushing my fingers across her wet cheeks.

“What is it? What is happening?”

What is happening? A question for the ages. A question I was asking myself far too often lately.

Zeezee was waving the thin leather foot coverings I’d made in the air between us, her words coming thick and fast. The wetness coming from her eyes was unnerving. Losing that amount of moisture in the desert, apart from normal daily bodily functions, was never a good sign. I pressed my fingers to her cheeks, applying a small amount of pressure upwards, as if I could somehow stem the flow. But that only seemed to make things worse.

“Save your fluids, mate, or I will need to collect more valok for our journey.” I wished I knew what she was saying. She was very clearly talking about the foot coverings, and her tone was upset. I frowned, trying to look at the garments as she waved them frantically. I’d copied the design of the ones she’d come with, and the ones I made seemed far better constructed, the fabric softer and also more durable. But clearly I had done something wrong.

“I can adjust them. Give them here.”

I tried to take them from her hands, but she yelped, hugging them to her chest with the ferocity of a krixel defending its kill, before bending and putting them on her feet. I watched her in confusion, and worried that, even if we one day shared the same language, I would never really understand her.

After putting on the foot coverings (that I saw with satisfaction seemed to fit well, despite whatever her protestations may have been) she pulled on her leg coverings. When she noticed my amendments to that garment, her eye leaking was renewed once more. I was at a loss. She didn’t seem to want me to do anything, and I did not like that feeling. She wiped viciously at her cheeks then put on her hard foot shells.

She stood and faced me, and started trying to form a sentence. A question.

“Dakrival hide... Balia?”

I stared at her, confused. She sniffed hard, then tried again, this time pointing to the new parts of her pants, then her feet.

“Dakrival hide Balia? Rika?” She made a motion with her hands that looked like the sewing of hides. Was she asking who had made her garments? I couldn’t see why that mattered.

“I made them last night.” I gestured to myself. She didn’t seem convinced that I understood her meaning, so I copied her sewing gesture then pointed to myself.

Absurdly, this made her face crumple inward in despair and her hands flew up, pressing hard against her eyes as her shoulders shook. Rika must have been wrong. Panic filled me. Surely this is not normal.

I was about to reach for her when she tipped forward, pressing her hands and face into my chest. I grappled at her back, drawing her hard against me, as if by doing so I could undo whatever malady plagued her. And it worked, somewhat. Soon, her shuddering subsided, and she turned her damp face up to mine, saying one of her words that I did not recognize. Then she rose up on her little toes, pulling at my shoulders. She said something in irritation, then pointed at her mouth.

Now what? Something was wrong with her mouth?

She spoke more, then reached up to tap my mouth, then hers again. Her face was drawn tight with determination. She wanted something. Realization dawned, and with a groan, I lowered my mouth to hers. As her wet mouth opened under mine, I tried to remind myself of my ablik will. I am a mighty Gahn. I will be a god among men. I will show such restraint that stories will be told of it round fires forever...

My body did not care about such noble musings. My cock hardened, pressing hungrily against Zeezee’s abdomen. She did not shy away, and her small hands moved back down to lock around my waist as she arched against me. I could not shake the image of replenishing the fluids she’d lost from her eyes with my own. I’d fill her until her cunt was dripping. Or her mouth. I hissed as my cock throbbed painfully in response to that image.

How men with mates got anything done was beyond me.

But, like it or not, we did have things to do. Though it pained me, badly, I pulled back from Zeezee, brushing away the last remaining wetness from her cheeks.

“We must go now.” I smiled to myself, then imitated her garbled wording. “Buroudei Cece to walk to retrieve sand.”

Zeezee licked her lips, her breathing ragged, but she smiled and nodded her head in a way I now recognized as “yes,” her braid bouncing against her shoulder. Without further delay, I helped her up into the saddle.

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