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.She gripped the wheel, pressing her lips tight to swallow the foolish sob that longed to escape.Eight meters…seven…six.Goodbye, my loves.Five meters from the landing door, she caught the blur of motion beside the jet.A second later, Neichon jumped onto the platform.Her jaw dropping, she stared in shock for a moment.Almost too late, she slammed the brake button, and the jet came to a shrieking stop inches from his body.“What are you doing?” she screamed.“Are you crazy?”She’d almost killed him.If she hadn’t stopped, she would have run him over.Or the door would have opened, sending him spiraling out into space.He turned to face the door of the jet, his burnished gold eyes flaming like a pool of molten metal.Though the look in his eyes was totally frightening, she couldn’t get past the fact that he’d made it down here before she’d left.In fact, he’d even had time to put his loincloth back on.How?He gave her a hard glare through the shield before pressing the door panel button.The door slid open.“Get out,” he said, his voice tight.“How did you—”“Out.”Oh gods, was he ever pissed.And could she blame him?Inara flipped the switch off and the safety belt released.Heart thumping against her ribs, she slid out of the jet.She forced herself to stand tall in front of Neichon, when his obvious anger made her want to cower before him.“Why, Inara? Why?”She winced at the stark pain in his tone.It struck her like a fist to the gut.She’d never wanted to cause him, or any of them, pain.The tears came back with a vengeance, and she cursed herself for it.“You don’t understand.”“Then tell us,” said a second voice.Inara turned toward the doors leading to the main part of the ship.Valeron, Reyu and Petros stood there, their bodies stiff and their expressions agonized.“Why do you wish to leave us so badly?” Valeron continued.“Do we not please you?”“No,” she cried out in denial.Wrapping her arms around her waist, she forced herself to calm.“No, it isn’t that at all.You please me.You all please me very much.”“Then what?” Reyu asked, stepping forward with his hands raised in supplication.“What’s so important that you would attempt to sneak out while we were insensible after the most incredible, fulfilling experience of our lives?”Her heart clenched.“I…”“If Reyu hadn’t awoken, hadn’t noticed you missing, you’d be gone by now,” Petros growled.The emptiness, the anger, in Petros’ tone was her undoing.“It’s my cousin,” she cried out, unable to hold the truth back any longer.Her gaze met Neichon’s and his brows furrowed.“What of her?”“You don’t understand.” She hugged herself tighter, trying to dispel the cold that had sneaked into her chest.“My uncle made me promise to watch after her.I can’t rest until I find her.”Valeron made a pained sound and strode toward her and Neichon.“Mate, we will gladly help you find her.All you had to do was ask.”“No, it’s not just that.” When the men looked at her blankly, she lowered her head and confessed.“Cindra wasn’t just another Chivean.She was the daughter of King Joffer.”Stunned silence permeated the room.At last Neichon spoke.“Your cousin was the princess of Chivea? You are…royalty?”She nodded, gaze locked on her boots.“I promised my uncle I would never tell anyone.He wanted to keep us safe.”“Ah,” Neichon breathed.“That explains so much.Why the Malucons sent an entire ship of men after you.”“Yes,” she said brokenly.“You know how the Malucons operate.Their pride will make them stop at nothing to ensure that we’re wiped out, me and Cindra.Not only are we the only ones remaining of our kind, but we’re royalty to boot.”“Oh, my love.” Neichon pulled her into his embrace.She didn’t fight him, but didn’t respond either.Couldn’t.If she touched him again, she would never summon the strength to leave.“Now you know why I can’t stay,” she mumbled into his chest.“As long as I’m with you, you’ll never be safe.”And I could never bear it if you lost your lives because of me.Neichon’s hands closed over her shoulders, and he pulled her back to look her in the eye.“Inara, love, that is ridiculous.”She stared at him, confused.“What do you mean it’s ridiculous?”“Neichon’s right.” Valeron reached for her, his fingers caressing the side of her face and moving her head so she looked at him.“Our safety is the last thing you should be worried about.”“But…the Malucons are strong.Powerful.”“And yet we beat them in hand-to-hand combat, with three-to-one odds,” Neichon said pointedly.Her mouth dropped open as she absorbed his words.She hadn’t thought of it like that.“You’re right.”“Of course I am.” Neichon shook his head.“Why do you think us so weak?”“Neichon has a point,” Reyu said, right beside her.“The Malucons are no match for us, especially now that we’ve mated and gained the vitality that is our birthright.”“And you’ve only met the four of us,” Petros said, stepping next to Neichon.“Once we return to Spygia, we’ll have the protection of all our people.Of our families.”Hell, maybe they were right.She hadn’t considered the fact that her Spygians had stood up to the Malucons and gotten the upper hand.Of course, that didn’t eliminate the element of risk.But maybe, just maybe, they could handle it.“I confess I would like to see Spygia,” she said, moving her gaze to each of the men.“But I cannot do that until I find my cousin.I made a vow to my uncle, and I intend to keep it.”Valeron’s eyes burned with emotion and Neichon’s lips curved into a grin.“And that is one of the things we love about you, Inara,” Neichon said.“Your bravery knows no bounds.”“So…what are you saying?” she asked.Reyu chuckled, and Neichon clarified.“I’m saying you are not alone, love.We will find your cousin.Together.”A little ribbon of hope fluttered in her chest.“Together?”“Together,” the four men repeated in unison.Well, when they put it that way…five heads certainly seemed better than one.Neichon was right, they were strong.Strong enough to defeat a group of Malucons.And truth be told, she could use all the help she could get.The universe was a rather large place to search.“So what do you say?” Valeron asked, cocking his head toward her.“Do you agree that we’ll work as one to find your cousin?”“Do you accept us as your mates, and this as your home?” Neichon added.Home.How many times over the past year and a half had she wished she’d still had one of those? Now, these glorious men were offering her one.Right here.With them.Her heart filled with excitement, so much so that she couldn’t hold back the happy grin from her face.When Neichon reached a hand to her, she took it, knowing he would always be there for her, whenever she needed it.“Yes, my loves…this is home.”About Ria CandroRia Candro is an author of futuristic and paranormal erotic romance.When not dreaming up hot love stories, she enjoys spending time with her family in their home state of Florida.Ria welcomes comments from readers.You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.Tell Us What You ThinkWe appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books.You can email the author directly or you can email us at Service@ellorascave.com (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).Also by Ria CandroMatedEllora’s Cave Publishingwww.ellorascave [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]