Remien was new. He'd rescued the shifter at the insistence of his Earth-born mother. The woman had tearfully pleaded with Devon to get Remien off Earth before the Edenian council ordered her way-ward son put to death. Picked on one time too many, Devon knew Remien wasn't evil, just angry and rebellious.
Unfortunately, his rebellious nature was beginning to rub some of the others the wrong way.
Devon pressed his power tighter against Remien's telekinetic wall. Remi, why are you shielding yourself from us? Even though he'd used his most soothing tone, the were-dragon's power still heated up a few notches, obviously becoming riled at being prodded.
"Leave him be." Lucien's voice intruded into Devon's thoughts. "He's been a prick all watch.
Lucien's power always felt like a whirlwind around him, swooshing quickly then withdrawing. Lucien never let any of the males get too close either. Devon suspected he might have been abused. His aura swirled with dark colors of torment and pain, but he never dared ask Lucien such a personal question. When the blond beauty with the almond-shaped ice-blue eyes appeared aboard Alpha 7, Devon thought he'd fallen in love at first sight. There was something about the man that called to his heart, like a long lost love. Devon didn't know what to make of his feelings for Lucien. He'd never been attracted to men before. Wanting to explore these feelings, he attempted pleasuring himself secretly thinking of Lucien, but was surprised to find he wasn't the least bit aroused. It even felt uncomfortable thinking about a passionate embrace with Lucien. He simply loved him in an un-sexual way—a relief for Devon. Had he tried to approach Lucien in that manner he was sure Lucien would have ripped his head off. If he didn't know any better, he'd say Lucien hated men, barely tolerated them.
How the hell are we supposed to link with that bastard blocking us? Seth's snarl startled Devon out of his daydreaming. He couldn't believe how distracted he was. What was wrong with him?
Remi—Devon coaxed, but the wall only intensified. He could feel Seth's anger over the blood dragon's defiance.
Remien Fyre, you're acting like a child—Rowie's voice scolded through their telepathic communication.
Even though Remien only opened himself up to Rowie, since they were all telepathically linked, Devon's jaw dropped when the image Remi shot into Rowie's mind registered in his brain.
How's this for a child! The image of Remi over Rowie, their bodies glistening with sweat as he fucked her, blazed in everyone's mind. Remien's blood-red hair was plastered to his back, partially covering the tattoo he had of a dragon as his hips thrust feverishly.
Rowie's reaction was instant. Devon felt the curl of arousal that made her damp, his own cock hardening in response, then the shock, and outrage.
A slew of curses from both Rowie and Seth made Devon withdraw from the link with a headache. He sensed the others trying to intervene in the ensuing melee. They were supposed to be keeping an eye out for possible danger not fighting like a bunch of unruly children. A sense of unease settled over him.
There were many space vehicles roaming about as was normal, including several Utuduodian vessels. These humanoid aliens were from a female-dominated planet. Devon sensed they were reanimating something.
The feel of apprehension intensified. He was about to investigate the Utuduodian cargo, but a familiar presence stunned him. Lillique approached in her own transport pod. What the hell is she doing way out here? The annoyed tendrils of power emanating from the others wrapped around him like a whip, obviously protesting her return.
Their concern warmed his heart, but he knew he needed to fix this situation with Lillique once and for all.
He was about to speak to her when fire burst upon his skin. Devon screamed in agony and bewilderment as flame consumed his flesh. He immediately shielded himself, but still, his body was gripped in the most excruciating pain he'd ever felt in his twenty-nine years of Earth life.
Oh, God, what happened? Are the others alright? His body began shutting down, slowly losing the capacity to retain the energy of his life force. I-I'm dying. No. I can't. Not yet. I've got to help the others. Is the solar system being attacked? Divine One, give me strength. There was nothing to do but use his powers to heal his body. It wasn't a meticulous job, but he healed the damage enough to be able to send out a pulse of his power in search of the others. What he found startled him. They were gone.
B-but that can't be. Not even their life forces are echoing. If they'd died—he choked back a sob. It's like they never existed. What the hell is going on here?
The stars were all wrong too, shifted out of their normal positions as if... somehow he'd been transported three hundred years into the future.
Chapter one...
Angel felt like a caged animal. She paced back and forth in Lady Thania's reception, feeling hateful stares directed at her. Filth covered her from head to toe. Her platinum blond hair was a matted tangle of dirt and leaves, countless cuts and bruises littered her arms and bare legs. One particularly nasty gash oozed blood down her abdomen. Angel had no idea what had happened to her white robe. When Morana purposefully tripped and upended a bucket full of fetid Morai dung on Angel's head as she weeded Lady Thania's garden, all Angel wanted to do was rip the little bitch's head off. Of course, when she'd lunged herself at the hateful girl, Morana's cohorts tried to restrain Angel. Daggers were unsheathed and clothing was sliced to ribbons as they ended up in a ball of writhing violence amongst the colorful blooms of the garden. It took seven guards to separate the four females; four were needed to hold Angel alone.
What punishment would be heaped upon her this time? Most of the Venushtians had accepted Angel's presence among them, except for Morana, Lyana, and Tanar Because of them, the list of Angel's countless punishments reached the heavens.
Angel glanced over her shoulder at her nemesis. The difference between them was like night and day. The other females were dark, muscular, and large breasted. Angel was as white as a ghost, with pale blue eyes. Although she was tall and athletically built, the goddess had not blessed her with an ample chest. Her breasts were two little handfuls that sat pert upon her chest with tiny pink nipples, the subject of much taunting during the cleansing rituals of the fledgling priestesses. Angel snorted, pushing away the feeling of self-pity with disdain. Her lithe figure afforded her speed and agility during battle. She didn't need curves.
Morana looked up at her through narrowed eyes. Angel smiled with satisfaction. Morana's nose was bleeding and she sported a bruise big enough to have swollen one of her chocolate colored eyes shut. Angel smirked. The girl's face was covered with Morai dung Angel had taken the pleasure at having made her practically eat. That'll teach the stupid little c...
A door squeaking open drew everyone's attention. Lady Thania's copper-colored eyes went over each young warrior in the reception. Her nose flared as her lips formed a straight line. "You four... again." The woman sighed, smoothing her long fingered hand over her brow, making her scarlet robes ruffle in the soft breeze that wafted from the balcony doors.
Lady Thania motioned the other three females into her chambers. Angel stood her ground, waiting for the older priestess to acknowledge her too. The woman's gaze swept over Angel's near nakedness. Angel felt herself blush, her gaze lowering to take in her appearance. A few leaves were still stuck to her skin, one strategically over one of her nipples. Her klowt, silver elastic holding a strip of white fabric between her long legs, was already stained with the blood of the cut on her belly. "Angel, clean yourself up. The high priestess has summoned you to her chambers."
Angel's eyes welled with tears, her head snapping up. The overwhelming need to throw herself at the other woman's feet and beg for forgiveness almost had her swaying forward. The priestess' raised hand stopped her cold.
Lady Thania's gaze went from stern to sympathetic. "Now-now, child. Spare me the tears and do as you're told."
Angel nodded and rushed out to her own chambers. The young warriors she passed on her way stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. Angel mused it wasn't everyday one saw a pale, naked warrior run down the castle corridors sobbing like a little girl.
Her mind reeled, trying to imagine why the high priestess would summon her. Could someone have heard her cries in the dead of night? She'd been plagued with visions of the most unusual sort as of late. The most disturbing vision, a demon coupling with her as she'd seen animals do, made her shudder. What should have been a nightmare caused her to awaken night after night crying out in passionate release. She'd whip herself, to rid her body of its shameful desires, but the following night, she would again succumb to the raven-haired demon's seduction.