Dominance Fury

Trigon Rituals III:

Dominance Fury By

Angelia Whiting

Trigon Rituals III: Dominance Fury

Angelia Whiting

2

© copyright by Angelia Whit ing, July 2011 Cover Art by Eliza Black, Ju ly 2011 ISBN 978-1-60394-506-6 New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

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Chapter One "Command Control, star jet two- four-one ready for docking." "Two- four-one, you're clear." The star pilot smiled widely and readjusted her ear-bud. "That you, Claire?" "Affirmative, Lieutenant Laurens. Reduce your speed and bring 'er on in." "Initiating." Sydney Laurens flipped several switches on her flight panel, now feeling even more anxious to complete the docking. They hadn't seen each other in months, and the last time they'd spoken, Claire announced she'd been assigned to the International Space Station but didn't know when her arrival would be. What a day! Sydney was ecstatic. Not only had she just completed her first solo Earth to ISS flight but her best friend, Lieutenant Claire Thomas had arrived sometime during the week-long span that Sydney had spent back on Earth. "Sensors confirmed, you're in position," Claire reported. "Two minutes to contact." "Yes!" Sydney pumped a fisted hand in victory, her ego inflating a bit at her perfect alignment with the interface. On her first try no less! She sighed with relief when the docking ring clanked in place over her vessel's hatch. "Command Control to star jet two-four-one," Claire announced. The cheeriness was apparent when she spoke. "Hook-up complete. Glad I'm here to see it, congratulations, gal pal." "Nice, job Lieutenant, welcome back." a male voice spoke next. "I'll see you in debriefing." It was Major Thomas, Sydney's commanding officer and flight trainer. He was also Claire's husband. "Thank you, sir," Sydney returned, as she unsnapped the chin guard to her helmet. A tremendous sense of pride filled her. She'd done it. Against all odds and in defiance of the skeptics who said she couldn't do it, Lieutenant Sydney Michelle Laurens had overcome her demons and was making a success of her life. The canopy on her ship hummed open, revealing the oxygenated interface tunnel that led to the interior of the space station. Gravity still eliminated she floated to the hatch at the opposite end. The red light above flared on, and an alarm buzzed. "ISS inner hatch secured." A platform crewman radioed. "Opening outer hatch, stand clear." There was an echoing clank, the hatch opened and Sydney drifted through. "Clear," she said while giving a thumb up to the security cams at the same time. The hatch closed behind her, sealing Sydney inside of the small mid-chamber where artificial gravity would be activated. Stabilizing her feet in the anchor straps on the floor, and grasping the hand bars on the wall, Sydney waited. Transitioning from weightlessness to heaviness was less than a comfortable thing, and it often left her nauseated. "We can fly men to Mars." Sydney mumbled. "You would think they could find a better way to gravitize without making someone sick." "What was that Lieutenant?" "I said I'm secure for re- gravitization." "Check…Initiating."

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A whirring sound was her only warning before it felt as if a rock had plummeted in her stomach. The downward, heavy tug on her organs, muscles and bones had her gasping a breath, but because of the extensive training and conditioning she’d gone through, her body adapted quickly, other than the queasiness now settling in. That would subside slowly, lingering in her stomach for at least an hour or so. Chamomile tea usually helped a little and that she would seek as soon as possible. There was another buzz and the inner hatch released. Sydney stepped through and entered the international space station where she was greeted with congratulatory claps from the tech crew inside. The smile that beamed from her lips was a mile wide. Without a hitch in her pace, Sydney pulled off her helmet. She tossed it to the Chief Engineer who stood to her right. He saluted her. “Nice job, Lieutenant. “Hey thanks,” Sydney said proudly and continued toward the hatch on the opposite side. Claire was standing in the open entranceway to Command Control. In her hand she held a steaming mug that Sydney knew was filled with the much needed tea. “What a great surprise!” Ignoring the forbidden public display of affection while in uniform Sydney wrapped her arms around her friend. "Oops! Careful." Claire balanced the mug she held. "You'll spill the tea." Sydney pulled back to get a look at her friend, the smile she carried with her from the docks stretching more widely. “I didn’t expect you here so soon, Claire.” “Rowan pushed up my transfer so I could watch your maiden flight.” Claire handed the mug to her. “Maiden,” Sydney harrumphed dolefully. Claire winced. “Sorry sweetie, poor choice of words.” She knew Sydney’s chastity was a touchy subject particularly since her last attempt to get her maiden condition to take flight left her completely humiliated. The guy was a prude anyway. So what if she wanted his buddy to join them. Nothing odd about a virgin wanting two men at once, right? Claire laughed her ass off claiming she always knew that Sydney had a wild streak hiding somewhere inside of her. “Awe Claire,” Sydney brushed away the memory and wrapped her hands around the mug welcoming the soothing heat from the cup that warmed her palms. “No worries gal pal. You know I love you and appreciate how you’re always here for me.” She took a sip of her tea, the herbal aroma caressing her nose. It smelled wonderful and the temperature was perfect. “So, hubby actually did something nice?” Now it was Sydney’s turn to taste her foot. Only recently had Claire discovered her husband’s infidelities, and the wounds still splayed raw. “I threatened to reveal his dirty little secrets to his superiors. You know how he prides himself on his impeccable reputation.” Claire’s devious smirk and nonchalance belied the pain that prickled beneath the surface. One thing was for sure, had Sydney been aware, she would’ve most definitely informed Claire, right after she pummeled the crap out of Major Thomas the tomcat, Rowan, superior or no superior. Risking court martial would be worth defending her best friend. "When are you off duty?" Sydney changed the subject--enough of the reminders that both of them had shitty luck with relationships. "We'll have to catch up." "In four hours." "I'll probably be out like a light by then." Claire shrugged. "Well I'm not going anywhere for awhile."

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"I'll catch you later then, gal pal." Careful to keep the mug level, Sydney wrapped her other arm around Claire and hugged her again. "I'm so glad you're here. I've missed you." "I've missed you too, Sydney," Claire returned. Sydney released her. "Okay, I've gotta get to debriefing." Turning, she began heading down the hall, sipping her tea and listening to the rhythmic clanking of her boots on the metal grid walkway beneath her feet. Her attention snapped to an observation window she was passing, the view she had of the Arctic Ocean and the most northern edges of the earth’s land masses drawing a chuckle from her. Sydney felt as if she was on top of the world, and technically, she was. What a great day. "It was detected at these coordinates." Major Rowan Thomas was standing at the front of the debriefing room speaking to four civilian mission specialists, when Sydney entered. He was pointing at a star map. He acknowledged her presence with a glance as she took a seat in the row behind the rest of the crew. She sat quietly and listened as the Major continued to speak. "Anyone have a clue?" "Ser, dar vas a change in electromagnetic energy." Landon Mihailov reported, his Russian accent thick. "That would explain the flash," the Major returned. His attention shifted to another of the scientists. "Frenchy, any input?" Rena Chabot tapped the keyboard on her palm wizard. She studied the screen. "There was un shift in la density." "I got the same readouts," added Leo Jacobs, who sat in the seat next her. "Negative mass." "A vormhole?" Landon smirked, and Sydney was suspicious that he was mocking his colleagues. "Vere dar vas never vun before?" "One we nevair detected before, monsieur." Rena chided, her eyes narrowing. The tension between them was almost palpable. "Just keep monitoring it." The Major's attention shifted toward Sydney after making his comment. "Laurens, anything unusual happen when you were on the perimeter of the docking lane?" Sydney stared at him pensively. Unusual…? On approach to the ISS, Sydney felt the uneasiness in her stomach, but there was something else. She experienced the distinct lightheadedness that preceded the fainting spells she used to have, those that were followed by the appearance of… No. No, no, no, no , not even going there. "No sir, nothing," Sydney told him. It was just the over-excitement of flying solo for the first time, and nervousness. Yes, that's all it was, and nothing more. I hope. "Fine then, report for duty at o- five-hundred," Major Thomas returned. His gaze then passed along each crew member. "Keep me abreast. Otherwise, dismissed." Oh snap! Sydney grimaced as she scratched the back of her neck. O-five-hundred. That would give her about four hours of sleep. She watched her commander exit the room while the others stood murmuring amongst themselves. So much for catching up with Claire. Rena turned her head rather abruptly and grinned at Sydney. "Congrasulasions, lieutenant." "Vun of da most perfect dockings I have seen," Landon returned. Approaching he patted her on the left shoulder. "Glad you veren't sucked through dat vormhole." Jonah Matthews, the fourth missions specialist piped in, "I wish she had been. It would've shut that skeptical pie hole of yours."

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Landon snorted. "Did you hear vhat he said, meess?" Qia qrau! Bastard! "Bastard?" Sydney mumbled. She scanned the room. Who said that? Overhearing her curse Rena laughed. "Did she just call me a bastard?" Jonah feigned indignation. "What?" Sydney looked at him. That odd uneasiness she hadn't felt for years began to resurface. "Hey, don't blame you, Sydney." Leo sided with her. "He just wished that you had been sucked into outer space. I'd call him a bastard, too." "No, I didn’t mean…" Sydney frowned and then put the mug she was still holding to her lips, gulping down the rest of her tea. She could swear she heard someone yell the word bastard. "Hey listen, I'm going to head to my quarters for some sleep." Sleep, yah. That’s what I need. A faked yawn emerged from Sydney’s mouth. At the same time she stretched out her arms as if tired. With the mug still dangling from her hand, Sydney headed toward the door giving a backward wave to the crew. Once outside she leaned against the wall feeling faint. Air rushed from her open mouth allowing denial to edge out her worse fears. Just stress and exhaustion, that’s all it is. She'd been taking her medication as prescribed … mostly as prescribed. There was no way the voices were coming back. "Hey lieutenant, congratulations." Sydney started at the unexpected voice. Major Paula Dobson, one of the station's physicians was coming up the hall. She stopped and gave Sydney an inquisitive look. "I assume you're on your way to me for your physical?" "Ah, yes ma'am. I was about to do that." It was a lie. Sydney had forgotten the routine examination she was supposed to have when she docked. Her mind was preoccupied. "You okay, Lieutenant?" Paula was still staring at her. "You look like a ghost." “You mean I look like I’ve seen a ghost?” “Uh no, you look like a ghost. You’re as pale as one.” “I’m fine.” Another lie. Sydney wasn't fine. The ghosts of spirits from long ago were buzzing in her head again, and apparently turning her into one of them. "Come on I'll walk with you," Dobson said. With a nod Sydney followed her, allowing the casual conversation--how's the parents, did you see the latest show of Intensive Makover: Cool Styles for Outer Space edition-distracting her and relaxing her a bit, bringing her back to reality. “So what do you think about the producers of that reality game show wanting to maroon contestants inside of a Mar's eco-settlement?” Trihb vergi! Your mother…! The voices again .… "Get out!" Oh snap, she'd said that out loud. Sydney's eyes flicked towards Paula, her mind quickly shifting from focusing on the subconscious voices to the outside world of reality. “No it's true," Paula said. Stopping at a doorway, she pressed a button on the wall and then waved Sydney through when the door slid open. "Everybody's talking about it." What the hell was Paul talking about? Sydney rewound the conversation. Oh yah, that popular reality game show people had been consumed with for years. "I hardly believe that the International Space Administration will grant it." "Pft, I'd be very surprised, but you know Hollywood, endless cash flow and people to

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bribe." Paula patted the cushioned examining table. "Have a seat." Sydney climbed atop the table to sit on her bottom. Nestrik aja be ve! …the voices…No, not now, not ever! Get out of my fucking head! "Unzip," Paula instructed, waiting for Sydney to comply. Sydney blinked, her mind becoming disconnected from her surroundings. "Lieutenant?" "Huh?" Sydney shook off the fog. “Uh…oh." She unzipped the front of her flight suit stopping at her stomach, and then sliding the garment from her shoulders so it pooled around her waist. "Are you alright?" Paula pressed her stethoscope to Sydney's chest and listened. "You're zoning." "I'm fine," Sydney returned. "Deep breath." Paula moved the stethoscope to different areas of Sydney's back. Inhaling, Sydney complied while tacking her thoughts onto the tangible around her and ignoring the voices. It had been eons since she’d had to deal with appearing sane while dealing with the concurrent non-reality taking place in her head. She was out of practice. "Another deep breath," Paula requested. "I think if the price is right, the Administration will consider just about anything." "The price of what?" Sydney frowned. "The game show?" Paula answered. "Mars?" "Maybe," Sydney returned generically, watching as the doc recorded the medical data into her handheld. "So, do I get a clean bill of health?" "Well you're not dead, yet." "Yet?" Sydney forced a chuckle. "Are you sure? You said I looked like a ghost." "I want you to chilax for the breeding." Paula grinned at her. Sydney stared at her. "Wha…?" Chilax for the breeding? "Say again, doc." "I said that I want you to get some rest after the debriefing." Paula answered. "Your pulse is a bit fast and your blood pressure is up, but I'm sure it's just the stress over your solo. I'll check it again later." She forgot sweaty palms. Sydney gulped. Her palms only got sweaty when they were wiggling around inside of her brain. Flattening her hands on her thighs, Sydney rubbed them dry, readjusted her flight suit and then slid from the examining table. Chilax for the breeding…Sydney snorted inwardly. Damn her mind was playing tricks on her. She bid a see-ya-later-doc to Paula and went to her quarters relieved to be away from the others and in the privacy of her own space. She'd play catch- up with Claire later. At the moment, Sydney thought at least a few hours sleep might do her some good. The tiny, eight-by-eight chamber was designed for efficiency with everything built into the walls, much like the sleeping spaces on a Navy ship. Sydney had prettied up the place a bit, disguising the never ending black and steel gray that coated ninety percent of the this floating space bucket’s innards, including much of the furniture. She’d stashed the boring, gray military issued bedding in her foot locker in favor of lavender sheets and slept under a plush and cozy multi-colored, flowered comforter. Above her bed she’d draped a rich-colored, purple lace sheer. A couple of Marten Jansen abstracts--reproductions of course--Sydney wasn’t rich, some printed digitals of friends and family were sticky-tacked around the place, and a bud vase stuffed with fake flowers were placed on her desk. Viola! Call it home. Well sort of. Okay, maybe not,

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but it was the best she could do with the diddly-squat she was allowed to transport to the station. Sydney plopped onto the rose colored cushion covering the steel gray seat on the only chair in her room. She fished for the meds she kept in the inside pocket of her flight jacket. Her head was starting to pound and the nausea was still irritating her stomach "My life savers." She spoke to the bottle as if it were a beloved friend, popped the lid off and swallowed a pill without water, something she'd grown accustomed to doing. "I can't believe I forgot to take these." Going to sleep seemed like the next best option because Sydney suddenly felt exhausted. Unable to even muster the energy to amble down the hall to the woman's bathroom, Sydney gave her teeth a once-over with her sonic toothbrush and paste, rinsed with the bottled water on her desk and then swallowed it. She then stripped to her underclothes and snuggled beneath her comforter. Grasping her pillow, she cuddled it while waiting for her meds to take effect, wishing she hadn't skipped the last two doses. She'd been too distracted with her upcoming flight and had forgotten, or maybe hoped it wouldn't matter. Denial really, she'd hoped she was cured. "I need to stop testing that," Sydney mumbled. It was a foolish thing to do because the last thing she needed was to become ill. If NASA found out about it her career would be over. She'd be sentenced to ground duty, banned from flying. All washed up at age twenty-six. Thank goodness her family doctor who provided her with the meds had agreed to keep her sickness private. With a yawn, Sydney's lids closed heavily and her mind began to drift, a downward spiral into peaceful oblivion, to a place of rejuvenating rest, or at least it should've been. Lips touched her neck and then someone nipped her left butt cheek. A hand cupped her breast while another slipped between her knees before meandering along her inner thigh wandering closer to where she was suddenly feeling a grave and lusty need. Fingers rubbed her pussy through the material of her underwear, moisture seeped and she moaned. The pressure was perfect despite the fact she was still wearing her underclothes. It never felt this good when she was playing with herself before. Sydney's eyes popped open. She wasn't playing with herself. "Oh my god." She dragged her fingers through her hair. "It was dream." One she'd had many, many times before, one that left her with a frustrated yearning, and screaming for more. "I'm so damn horny," she mumbled. Sydney drew up her knees and spread her legs open. Slipping her hand down the front of her panties she rubbed her pussy vigorously, the intensity of her arousal pushing her to a rapid peak within seconds. She gasped and then moaned at the needed release, though less than completely satisfying. Rileste! Ijrka fe shou! Sydney sat straight up in bed. She clenched at the covers blinking several times. It had been ages since she'd dreamt about them, but right now…"Oh snap, oh snap!" She wasn't dreaming. Her heart began pounding in her chest, and she sucked in and released several breaths as if she'd just run a marathon wondering how long it would take to banish them this time. Sydney's reaction to the thought took her by surprise. It hurt. Sweet Tina…

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"Do you miss me, too?" she whispered. A soothing, familiar feeling of love and protection wrapped her as snugly as the blanket she huddled under. Unbidden, they used to only come to her in dreams--her handsome rivals. Not that Sydney even knew what they looked like. They emerged more as shadowy figures than tangible forms, but she just knew they had to be handsome. Eventually she began hearing them while she was only resting, during times when she was awake but engaged in little activity, like during meals or when playing on a swing. When she was little, Sydney had enjoyed their company. In fact she enjoyed their company to the point of distraction at times, which was particularly inappropriate in places such as school, during lunch, or taking note s--during exams when she murmured to them aloud and she was given detention for talking in class. Once she'd even been accused of trying to cheat on a test. Not to mention the laughs and teasing she received from her classmates and the very few friends who loved her despite herself. Still, Sydney couldn't help it. They made her feel good inside. They just felt so…so nice. Mmmm, nice, she murmured as one by one her taut muscles relaxed. Sydney exhaled, releasing the anxiety she held and reclined, nestling under the covers. “Yes,” Sydney took a deep breath and began to drift to sleep. They'd returned. Her childhood, imaginary friends had come back, trying to worm their way back into her life once again. And they were still fighting!

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Chapter Two “Qia qrau!” Calem roared and swung his talon arc, the blade nearly scraping the side of Arjim’s neck, but the warrior ducked. In retaliation, Arjim swung his weapon low and with like skill Calem jumped, springing off of two feet and avoiding the pass of the blade. At the same time he swept his talon in an arc and it circled downward, aimed directly at Arjim’s chest, but Calem’s opponent blocked it with his weapon. Frustrated by his inability to disarm him, Calem slammed his talon to the dirt and lunged at Arjim who responded in like, tossing his weapon aside and lifting his arms to brace against the force of Calem’s body driving toward him. They both rolled to the ground to the hoots of the other warriors around them who were backing further away, creating a wide circle around the two brawling men to watch the fist to fist battle that ensued. Rubbing his chin, Tren, High Chief of his planet’s regiment and respectfully titled Commander ot Alea, observed his two sentry as they threw angry fists at each other, wondering what concern lay between them that they acted in such a way--wondering if there was any issue at all other than a severe personality conflict. It had been going on for many phases. Both Tertani men came highly recommended and Tren was immensely pleased to have their loyalty and their membership amongst his warriors. But ever since the dawning of their arrival, the animosity that marred their relationship was keenly apparent. The taunts they tossed at each other from the very beginning seemed inexhaustible. In fact, of late, the ferocity between them seemed to be getting worse. Adding to that, a good number of Tren’s other sentry warriors had chosen sides. What do you make of this? Tren mentally asked Rjant, who stood at his side. I’m thinking that it’s a good thing the blades are blunted. Rjant returned in unspoken words. “I get the sense they would kill each other if it was permitted,” Tren responded aloud, his voiced tight with concern. "I don't believe they require anyone's permission, Commander." "Hmm," Tren nodded in agreement. "Your belief is likely factual." They watched as both Calem and Arjim sprang quickly to their feet, and just as they did Calem buried his fist in Arjim’s gut. A woosh of air escaped from Arjim’s mouth. Ka! That had to hurt. Rjant winced. The battle ensued and Arjim retaliated kneeing Calem in the groin that drew a pained yelp from him. With a twisting maneuver, Arjim then threw Calem to his back. He landed with a thud that was accompanied by a grunt. In concurrence with the grimaces from the warriors who watched, the sight drew a frown from Tren’s lips. Have you any notion as to why they fight as they do? Both are from a long and pure bloodline of Tertani descendant--the ancients. Their clans live across the Bay of Jewel, north of here. Rjant folded his arms as he watched the scuffle and shook his head. From what I understand both clans breed quite arrogant warriors, but they’ve always been cordial to each other. There seems to be no apparent reason for this, particularly

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since they share family ties. “What family ties?” Tren asked, his brow wrinkling with inquisition. “They’re cousins.” “Hmph,” Tren grunted. “Discord is an unusual thing in common bloodlines, yet this dispute that lingers between them, was it rooted from a childhood conflict? Having no answer to Tren's question, Rjant shrugged just as Calem sprang to his feet and cuffed Arjim with a backhanded fist to his jaw. The smack from the impact drew several more groans from onlookers and a few mumbled words of instigation. It’s ridiculous that they hold such hostility toward each other, especially over an unknown concern. Tren inhaled a long, hardy breath, his chest expanding as his longs filled. He released it slowly. At least one unknown to us. They fight as though they are enemies. They fight like two brethren in the throes of the Dominance Ritual. An interesting observation, Tren looked at Rjant, his expression pensive. But one would think the Changeover would've occurred by now--if they were brethren that is. As far as it seems they haven't linked, and they speak of no woman. Nor have I seen or heard that they were seeking to locate the one whose heart summons them. Rjant concurred. “No better moment than the present to humiliate yourself.” Arjim retaliated, answering Calem’s strike by slamming his fist soundly to the side of Calem’s jaw. The impact caused his head to snap sideward. "Your face is your humiliation, warrior,” Calem rasped out as he swiped at the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “The ugly imps must favor you." He reciprocated with another punch. “Then you should feel right at home." Ducking, Arjim dodged the strike. He laughed heartily. “Enough!” Tren’s patience thinned. When there was no response he stalked toward them while signaling his other sentry, irritated that the men, preoccupied with their issues were ignoring him. “Cease and desist!” Approaching Calem from behind, Tren snatched the warrior’s arms, looping his own through them, and yanking Calem’s arms behind his back, thus restraining him from attacking further. Two of Tren’s other sentrymen stood to the front ready to take Calem down should he break free and attempt to continue his scuffle. Rjant in like restrained Arjim, and the warrior kicked out his feet in resistance forcing the sentry who stood in front of him to grab his ankles in order to subdue him. "If I was as ugly as you, I would need to go into hiding." Calem pulled against the hold Tren had on him. "Lest I traumatize small children and squeamish men." “Don’t let your mouth run faster than your feet, nebula brain!” Arjim yelled. He, too, struggled to free himself. “The only thing my feet will be doing is burying themselves up that big black hole in your ass where your skull resides!” “I said cease!” Tren bellowed. “Stand down this instant or the two of you will be reporting to the gridmaster for zapping!” Ignoring his commander, Arjim continued to spew his insults. “I hear your cock went flaccid while you were trying to fuck Jezil on last eve.” "Damn, nattering wench," Calem murmured and then more loudly, “From what I hear, your dick was in a coma when you tried to fuck her two eves ago."

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To the laughter of the warriors who continued to stand around watching, Arjim’s face flushed red. Though it was difficult to determine if it was anger or embarrassment, Tren sensed it was the latter. Their claims caused him concern, for lack of his warriors to be able to satiate their lusts could affect both physical and mental well-being. It might explain their recent increased aggression toward each other. Or not, he wasn't sure. As to their bantering however, Tren had listened to enough. “This is my final warning warriors. Stand down!” Though Calem and Arjim continued to wrench against their Commanders' grips, neither of them uttered another word. Their eyes however, remained locked with heated glares and sneers that revealed their heightened provocation. “Settle this conflict peaceably or there will be consequences.” Rjant added and then gestured an order to release the grip on Arjim’s ankles. Arjim’s feet slapped to the ground and Rjant eased back his grip on the sentry’s arms. He was prepared to restrain Arjim once again should he decide to do the opposite of what was commanded. Pulling from Tren’s now slackening grip, Calem pressed his lips into an angry frown, but reined in his ire. He brushed himself off and moved to retrieve his talon, sheathing it behind his back, his heated glare remaining firmly fixed on Arjim as he did so. Arjim in like, glared back but was the first to break eye contact when he turned to face Tren and Rjant. “My apologies Commanders.” He nodded to each of them while respectfully presenting the delta salute. "Your feeble attempt at kissing ass is pathetic, Arjim." "No more pathetic than your feeble attempt at pretending to be a man,” Arjim growled in return. Tren’s eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them. The anger in their expressions was still apparent. His attention then swept around the training field and to the warriors who stood by. Some silently watched, while others continued to murmur. Inhaling a deep breath he kept his face stern as his gaze returned to Arjim and Calem. Discourse between his sentries wasn’t good for morale. "Two full dials of zapping is warranted for this insubordination, warriors." Calem gulped and Arjim shifted with discomfort. "Report for one full dial. This time…" Tren paused. "As long as the two of you can find a way to abstain from further temptation to avenge your hatred toward each other or the next punishment will be more severe." "Thank you, sir," Calem returned. You thank him for punishment? Arjim growled inside of Calem's brain. What a puckerhole sniffer. "Don't make me regret my decision." Tren rolled his shoulders attempting to ease the muscles tension building in his neck. He then turned to his regiment and barked. “Fall in!” Immediately the warriors fell into line, rigid in their stance and composed, their sights trained forward with steadfast gazes. Tren scanned the formation, twenty men aside and ten rows deep. They were only a fraction of the sentry under his and Rjant’s command. Calem and Arjim stood amongst them, taking obedient attention within the ranks, their tempers seemingly under control. At least for the moment, Tren considered. “Take an interval for the midday meal and be back on the platform in two dials for space flight training!” With that Tren began to stalk away, but realized that none of his men moved. He cast a

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glance over his shoulder. “Dismissed!” The warriors dispersed immediately. Rjant came to stand at Tren’s side. "I'll contact Arjim's and Calem's fathers to relay our concerns." Tren nodded in agreement. “See if you can get their feedback on how we might remedy this situation.” "Separate duty assignments likely," Rjant answered as he turned to exit the practice field. The suggested solution was far from a resolution, Tren sensed. Putting distance between the two would resolve nothing. There was more to his warriors' hostility than met the eye. They were stirred by more than arrogant pride. The animosity between them rang of a familiar tune-dominance--and yet there was no female. Perhaps she died and the link between them is yet unbroken, Rjant transmitted the answer to his brethren’s silent thoughts. Unlikely. Tren returned. The transdelta link between them would've been instantly broken. Perhaps they suffer a genetic disorder that has kept the link intact? Rjant pondered as began walking away from the training field. Then again I have never heard of such a thing. It may simply be that they hate each other's guts. **** It was a strange thing really, the way they fought all of the time, except with persistent concentration on Sydney’s part. When she did this she could attract their attention, and they talked to her directly. Singing a soft tune, she quickly discovered, calmed them, quelling the conflict that seemed to always be simmering just beneath the surface, a conflict that seemed to have something to do with her--rivals for her heart, maybe jealousy? All she ever wanted was for the three of them to share a good friendship. It was exasperating that they played tug-o-war with her when she had enough in her heart for both of them. "Now what was that tune?" Sydney wracked her brain trying to remember what she sang to them. She drew a blank and frowned at the forgotten memory. The last time she sang it, she was so young, age seven or maybe eight. "Strike group in formation." The voice of the combat squadron's leader tossed Sydney back into the task at hand--back to reality. "Shit," Sydney cursed at herself. Quit the daydreaming and concentrate on what you're doing! She looked around as four jets passed over her, billions of stars as the backdrop to their space war games. Not that there was anyone to fight, but damn! Space was such an awesome training ground. Could life be any better? Sydney smirked. She felt great. Everything was great. Even her hair had turned out pretty damn great today, and nothing could beat a good hair day. "SJ one-one- four, all systems ready." The voice, Captain Ellie Pratt came through on her radio. "SJ three-nine-one, ready." Sydney too, was double-checking her controls and coordinates in preparation to take up position as part of the group of star jets that would take up the rear. She chuckled silently before reciting her identification number. "SJ two- four-one, check." She'd fantasized all of her life about the two for one. Them being the two. She being the

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one. How ironic. "Aces from where I'm parked," Major Thomas reported. He, too, was flying but only to monitor the practice. "Cover squad in formation." That was Sydney's cue. Maneuvering toward the target position, she along with three other fellow pilots began to converge. It would be a tricky feat with their wing tips coming to within a hairsbreadth from each other, at least in terms of space jet proximity. One wrong move and kaboom! "Way to go, Sydney." Claire spoke from Command Control. "You're in perfect align … what the hell is that!" A blinding flash caused Sydney to reflexively jerk and her star jet went into a roll. My god! Had she just hit somebody? Alarms pierced her earpiece. Her console buzzed and blinked bright reds warning her she'd executed a dangerous maneuver. "Lieutenant Laurens … what the fuck!" the Major cursed. Scrambled voices, panicked voices shot through her earpiece. Her vision blurred as she fought with her controls but it was as if they had a mind of their own. "Mayday! May ... oh my god!" Sydney's muscles seized, including those controlling her tongue. She couldn't speak. Paralysis stole her hands leaving her helpless to do anything except hold on for dear life! Oh this is so not good. She was spinning … round and round .… "Shit!" Sydney's insides shifted and smacked and compressed and bounced. "O-o-o-o-oo-h sh-h- i-i-t! Colors burst forth--a rainbow of colors corkscrewing inward, drawing her, sucking her vessel toward it like an oversized straw. "Two- four-one, retreat!" Claire screamed, the shrill of her voice pricking Sydney's eardrums. "Eject?" Sydney responded lethargically. "Oh hell no, I said retreat!" Yes, hell no. Ejecting into outer space was not an option. "Pull back Laurens!" Major Thomas ordered. "Retreat!" "Sydney!" The voice of Lieutenant Claire Mariana Thomas echoed, and then Sydney heard it fade. Oh snap. Her ship was heading toward the lights, and there was nothing she could do about it. What had the doc said about ghosts? God I'm so not in the mood to die today.

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Chapter Three “Chicken,” Rjant said. “What?” Tren stared at his brethren’s profile, his expression questioning. “It's an earth game.” A smirk appeared on Rjant's lips as he turned to stare at him. Rjant himself was a dare hellion and the rush of excitement that leapt from his mind to Tren’s, coupled with the glimmer in Rjant’s eyes was explanation enough. “I see.” Tren glowered at the ground where the two groaning men were lying. His attention shifted to the tree where the mangled mass of metal that once was a hover cycle wrapped like a bow around the trunk. Further beyond that lay the remains of a second cycle. After cart wheeling nose to tail several times it had crashed and smashed to a halt against a boulder that sat on the training grounds where the failed exploit took place. “An asinine game of stupidity.” A snort escaped Rjant. Have you contacted their fathers? I did. And? Their fathers informed me that they are as befuddled by their hatred as much as we are. And they said nothing else? They told me that ever since Calem and Arjim were born it was impossible to keep them apart. Likewise it was impossible to keep them from conflict. Even as infants they scratched and clawed and pushed at each other. Left a few good teeth marks on each other as well, from what I'm told. It sounds like they were a handful, Tren responded. The healthteks Tren had called for had arrived and he watched them hovering over his fallen warriors examining their injuries. I was told that as children, frequently there was need to separate them. Rjant continued his report. As they grew older the competitiveness between them intensified and they often battled until both were bloodied. Tren lifted a brow, watched the healthteks exchanging bloody gauzes for clean ones. Apparently not an exaggeration. Indeed, Rjant agreed. Calem's father said that there was an incident where they both almost drowned during a race across a wide, treacherous river, but were rescued by a nearby angler and dragged into his hover boat. Even still they lashed out at each other, throwing fists and nearly capsizing the vessel. "Sir?" Melaj, one of the teks stood and faced Tren. "Status?" Tren asked. "Flesh wounds, no broken bones, no internal bleeding, no brain damage…" "That last one is questionable," Rjant interrupted. "Are they ambulatory?" Tren took the compu-sheet Melaj held and visually scanned the results before handing it back. His sentry would be sore for a few days but they were otherwise undamaged, physically speaking. "On your feet warriors!" he commanded.

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Both men gingerly rose to their feet, doing their best to stand at attention but failing miserably, Calem struggling to a half kneel while Arjim teetered on his feet. Tren studied them. Calem's mouth was bleeding, a bruise already forming on his chin, and Arjim, his uniform jerkin was torn open revealing a jagged, bloody line on his left shoulder, now sealed shut by the med team where a nasty gash in his flesh had been. "I cannot allow this disruptive behavior to continue." Tren looked at them sternly. “The zapping appears to have had little effect on their behavior, Commander.” All amusement aside Rjant’s expression went serious, his decorous manner exemplifying his rank as Chief Loyal. “An alternate approach to this situation seems to be in order.” “It would appear,” Tren returned as he watched Arjim shaking the apparent fog from his head, and Calem wincing as he brushed himself off. While he was perturbed, Tren was equally relieved that both were able to vault from their hover cycles in time to prevent more serious damage to their physical well being. Their mental status however was under question. "I believe spiritual meditation may be in order." Calem and Arjim exchanged questioning glances and then Arjim asked. "Sir, you want us to pray?" Tren strolled to his nearby hover cycle and straddled it. "Was my directive unclear, sentry?" "No sir," Arjim returned. Tren tipped his face toward the bright, pink skies above, tinged by only a few pinkish clouds. He paused to absorb the warmth of the red, sparkling sun shining through. "Then carry-on," he said as his fingers found the ignition button on his cycle. The engine revved, and the vehicle lifted, hovering a couple of feet above the ground. Tren snatched his helmet from where it hung at the cycle’s side and buckled it onto his head. He flipped down the face shield and grinned, thinking about how he and Rjant had taken their She’mana Alea over the cycle on the dawning following their Triconjugal Hunt and mating. Shifting his thoughts to his duties Tren’s demeanor turned serious. He revved the engine of the hover cycle once more and sped off, heading toward the docking platforms to obtain the fleet inspection reports. The fighter vessels needed to be properly prepared for the late dawning's drills. Flight training was a dangerous practice. So much could go wrong, mechanical malfunctions being one of them. Of course pilot error being another. Tren accelerated, his thoughts turning back to Calem and Arjim. He most certainly couldn't permit them to pilot in this condition. Their combativeness toward each other might haphazardly erupt into a nother challenge of--what was it Rjant called it, Chicken? Such a thing on hover cycles was bad enough, but in outer space? The consequences of such impulsive behavior could be devastating. Instead of a resolution between his two highly decorated warriors, he might find himself burying the dead. **** Reality check …. Sydney sat in her pilot's seat, mouth agape and eyes fixed open. She exhaled a quick, sharp breath of air before finally blinking. "There has to be another explanation …," she whispered. Oh snap, oh snap! "This is absolutely, without a doubt, incomprehensibly nuts!" Pausing Sydney stared out the forward window of her star jet. "No way, this isn't happening." She did a quick inspection of her communications equipment and then attempted to radio the space station. "Command Control, this is star jet two-four-one, copy?"

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Silence answered, and she wasn't surprised. "No one is going to believe this." Well, half of them would believe it. A choked cry hiccupped from Sydney's throat, part fear, part reluctant realization that she wasn't in Kansas anymore. She'd gone through that faux wormhole the engineering crew argued about. Except it wasn't faux. When her star jet shot through the tunnel of spiraling colors and was coughed out on the other side, the disorientation had cleared quickly, and Sydney saw more than stars. In front of her was the most ginormous space station she'd ever seen. At first she couldn't believe her eyes, but there it was, skyscraper tall, and wider than the Great Divide, and it wasn't as if she'd zoomed by it with only a flash of time to process what she'd seen. Her jet had slowed to a turtle's speed, and she was just sort of hovering and staring at the structure, staring at the thousands and thousands of windows glowing with the lights from inside. There the structure hung suspended in space, its needled top and bottom attaching to absolutely nothing and turning round and round, slowly, slowly rotating clockwise like a rogue top in space. The traffic was incredible! Space craft of every shape and size moved to and from what she assumed were docking portholes. It made Europe's hectic MAGLEV Terminals look like a turtle parade. Rar tsif yaucre sideen "Wha…?" Strange, alien sounds came through her intercom, and Sydney wrinkled her brow. Should I reply? Deciding it was the logical thing to do, she pressed the radio button on the side of her helmet to attempt contact. "This is Lieutenant Sydney Laurens, star jet two-four-one, of the planet earth .…" god that sounded so sci-fi. She felt almost silly saying it. "I mean you no harm…" Sure, like she could even put a dent in that monstrous space station with her puny craft. "I come in peace .…" Rar tsif yaucre sideen! The voice was more emphatic this time, more stern. She could hear other voices in the background, messages being relayed, and strange beeping sounds. Rar tsif yaucre sideen. Sith sroug lanyi fwinan! There was silence as they were seemingly awaiting her next response, but Sydney didn't know how to respond. English didn't appear to be their first or second language … or third. Instincts told her that backing away might be a better choice than flying closer, especially when she started hearing what sounded like alarms coming through her head piece and the communications between the alien voices occurring more rapidly, frantically even. Within moments she saw what looked like fighter jets launching from the space station and zooming towards her. She reacted like any good starfighter should. Sydney's fangs came out. "Come on bastards, you wanna fight!" Her vision sharpened, and she felt the surge of adrenaline rush through her blood. Every muscle in her body tensed as she prepared to do battle. Quickly she checked her artillery and then realized ... . "Oh shit." The fleet had been on practice maneuvers and her ammunition wasn't live. Why would they be? It wasn't like they expected Martians to come out of nowhere. Her eyes flicked to her radar screen, and she could see they were closing fast. Martians were coming out of nowhere. And it would be quite nuts to engage in a dog fight with …. "One, two, three, four…" Oh fucking snap…six bandits on her tail. Sydney revved her star jet. "I really don't think I care about who your leader might be right now!" For all she knew, she could be lunch. Yikes! With her balls to the walls-- if she had any--she skedaddled, but the precision

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maneuverability and swiftness of their crafts was astounding. It made Sydney feel as if she was steering a horse cart. With no horse attached. It didn't matter that she was moving. Attempting to dodge the laser blasts the alien crafts fired at her was a futile hope as the speed of her star jet was no match for theirs. She was like a sitting duck … and the quacking sound was ugly …. "Oh god, I'm dead." The alarms that blasted from her console rang in a disturbing mismatched harmony that made her want to cringe. They'd zapped her butt. The humongous, pink planet with its amber and rich wine-colored land masses came up on her quickly. Her jet was going down, and its keister was completely in flames.

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Chapter Four Arjim was in the temple when Calem arrived. Immediately, they were both irritated by the other’s presence. Neither could fathom why their Commander thought a full da wning of meditation would remedy their animosity towards each other. It is perhaps his solid belief that we’ll not desecrate the spiritual grounds by battling, Calem sneered at Arjim knowing full well his thoughts would be clearly heard. That we will be forced to face our demons instead of slaying them? If so, then he would be correct, Arjim commented mentally reining his nettled sentiments. Agreed. Calem spun to leave, needing to distance himself less he commit the very crime his Commander unwisely believed would be avoided in such a sacred place. I will not desecrate the temple no matter how badly I’d like to use your face to polish the floor. “Don’t go,” Arjim requested aloud, his voice even yet somehow bidding. Without turning around, Calem halted. Closing his eyes, he pressed his fingers to his brow. He winced at the throbbing in his head caused partly by the half dial of zapping they'd endured, but also a persistent affect from phases of discord with his childhood nemesis. He was in no mood to go another round with Arjim. Both were weary of it. When Arjim failed to speak further, Calem turned toward him. Arjim’s body quaked briefly. His lips pursed and his nostrils flared repeatedly. Suddenly he stalked toward Calem, who stiffened, expecting yet another quarrel to jell. At the same time he became unnerved by how close to blasphemous it was to show anger within the temple walls. Indeed their spiritual integrity was being tested. Much to Calem’s surprise, Arjim didn’t draw back his fist as he approached. Instead he grasped Calem to each side of his skull and planted less than passionate, less than platonic lips on Calem’s mouth. The hard contact, which was more of a punch than a kiss caused Calem to recoil. “Uch! Ka! Bluk!” he spewed, swiping at his mouth with the back of his hand. Straightening his head, he shot feral eyes at Arjim, his expression snarled with disdain. “What in hades blazing star pits did you do that for?” Arjim glared back unmoving, other than the lifting a brow. “I take it you didn’t like my kiss?” “Like it!” Calem furled his own brows. “Why would I like it? You kiss like a slurping gluber. That was deplorable. It’s no wonder you lack in pleasing the females.” “Then why does it arouse you?” Arjim’s sight dropped to eye the obvious bulge in Calem’s crotch. Calem’s shoulders drooped. He was troubled. “You know the answer as well as I, cousin.” "Shall we explore it further?" Arjim implored, his expression unreadable. "Though you obviously take pleasure indulging in your effeminate nature," Calem snorted. "I dare to say that I find you rather unattractive to put it mildly." “Thank the holy Divinities!” Arjim threw back his head and laughed. “The feeling is

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mutual. If ugly were tears your face would be a tidal wave, to put it less than mildly.” “We still have an issue however.” With a grunt Calem's gaze dropped to Arjim’s hard-on. Mentally he perceived the warrior's arousal, and it was feeding his own. He looked up. “It’s past due time we discussed this ongoing sexual bond between us.” Arjim nodded in agreement and then drew a heavy breath. He paused briefly before exhaling just as heavily. Over the phases as their mental link became stronger, so too did their animosity towards each other. Born first out of denial that gave way to anger and spells of depression, it was shame that in reality fueled the inferno of hatred between them. Or so they thought. The aggression that followed and persisted had grown to such monumental levels both Arjim and Calem had nearly lost sight of the reason for its beginnings. Born only a dawning apart they were raised in kinship. Even as infants they were drawn to each other though no one in their clan understood it as being more than family affection … … or discord depending on the particular situation. Being constantly in close proximity to each other, the call to the Trigon manifested inherently, and at a very young age. It went unrecognized by their kin because it was rare for brethren to be of the same clan. With no one the wiser Arjim and Calem had linked by transdelta at the age of seven, and the process of Changeover to become like in mind was triggered. Elemental instincts propelled them into a telepathic journey. The purpose was to search for their Tina. Across the galaxies they found her, but because she was still a young girl, and they were still merely boys, the primal mating urge had yet to manifest, and the Edification was never begun. Still, they were captivated by her, loved her profoundly in as much as children can love, a divinity blessed union on three that were much too young. “We desecrated the dictates of the rituals.” The tightness in Calem’s chest as he spoke was equally felt by Arjim. "We linked too early." Both retreated into quiet introspection while warring to push the other's thoughts away. As it had been during their growing times and all of their adult lives, it was nearly an impossible feat. Neither had learned to block the other completely, and the persistent cerebral probing nearly drove them insane. They warred with each other persistently, their battles becoming increasingly violent as the phases passed. Both their clans remained unaware that two young brethren were shifting towards the Ritual of Dominance--a perilous state of being with no Tina present to ease them through it. Do you still dream of her? Calem asked, his mind, his emotions seeping uncontrolled into Arjim’s brain. You know I do. The muscles in Arjim's neck bunched in discomfort when his transmitted answer involuntarily reciprocated. "The guilt has been suffocating," Calem expressed out loud, retreating from the mental connection. "Her tears of sorrow as she faded from our minds still haunt me," Arjim returned. "The pained sound of her voice as she said goodbye …." "Unbearable…" The same memories stabbed at Calem and his face twisted with sorrowful regret. "Our once pleasant dreams…" "But they weren't pleasant for her," Arjim replied bitterly. "We treated her like a toy, played wrench-battle with her as if she were a prize to be won. We failed to ease her fears of us and who we were." Calem sighed, his voice humbled. "How do you think she died?" Did he really want to

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know? An accident or maybe she took her own life? "I don't want to know!" Arjim bellowed, his retort echoing throughout the temple--loudly, too loudly--eerily. He didn't want to think about the few stolen links they'd had with her in the age pubescence, the few innocent caresses and kisses they had shared with her, attempting the Edification until that final dawning they'd barely reached full manhood, that horrible, final dawning when she'd completely vanished, when she had said goodbye. The two warriors stared at each other, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Over the phases, neither had had the courage to seek help from their parents, from the elders, from the Tribunal members--definitely not from the Tribunal. Fear of severe retribution for disobeying the dictates, for linking and seeking her before the age of reason, before the age of pubescence kept them from revealing their transgression. They hid it. Over the phases that fear subsided but by then they were both living in shame and aggressive denial. We frightened the life from her. Calem's heart sank, and he closed his eyes. He released a choked breath. There was never a moment in his life where he felt like crying except when he thought about her. "We killed her!" Again, Arjim's voice boomed through the air around them, repeating the self-condemnation several times as the sound grew fainter and fainter. He lowered his voice, sadness filling him and remarked woefully, "And yet there are moments when I think I can still hear her." "It is nothing but our imaginations, our hopeless hoping!" Calem growled. "The urges, the drive and the draw toward you and to her, have been impossible to suppress!" He pivoted and then stomped away putting distance between himself and Arjim, halting when he reached one of the columns inside of the circular chamber. He pressed both palms against it, his gaze following the line of it upward to where it joined the ceiling high above. He concentrated on the massiveness of the stone composition attempting to harden his sorrow. Despite his efforts to ignore Arjim’s presence, he could feel the rhythm of the sentry’s breathing, hear every thump of his heart, read nearly every thought. "It's maddening to be bonded like this to you with no woman, no child to give purpose to our linking." Arjim spoke the truth. Despite their grievous loss, the linking remained intact, each having privilege to the other’s thoughts, emotions, pains, pleasures--though there were very few pleasures to conceive of. Still, the mere thought of detachment caused angst in both of them. It made no sense that they continued to be linked. "The more time that passed, the more difficult it became to even speak of her aloud." Lowering his head, Calem allowed the pain to seep through him before shutting it away, rejecting its existence like he--they had always done before. "You’ve had little trouble transmitting your fury into my brain." The tone of Arjim’s voice changed matching the coolness of the pillar that Calem was stroking, his provoking intention clear. As always, it worked. Calem tensed. For a brief moment he stood motionless--frozen, continuing to face away from Arjim. He then turned and leaned back against the column. He folded his arms and crossed one ankle over the other. His demeanor appeared collected, but Arjim knew better. The warrior's cockiness was on level with his own. "Considering the density of your skull…" A smirk formed on Calem's lips matching the amusement that was gleaming across his face. "It’s quite the feat." Arjim allowed the comment pause before speaking, He mirrored Calem's stance, but the affect in his voice remained flat. “I have very little difficulty relaying to you, though my

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thoughts nearly die of loneliness roaming aimlessly through your brain. Tell me…” He cocked his head to one side and then continued to speak to him mentally. How do you tolerate the emptiness? Akau! No one to greet you? Calem lifted an arrogant brow. The switch from verbal conversation to mental wordplay was decisively instigating and behaviorally typical of both of them. It never failed to rile. “Pardon my rudeness…” …but your arrival in my head is always insignificant… I’m surprised you caught my meaning. Arjim pressed his own thoughts into Calem’s head with the same intrusive intent. Considering there’s nothing but an echo between your ears to even capture my words, not alone comprehend them. "Ka! Such sharp wit. You need to take caution with such pointed things, Arjim less you fatally cut yourself." Calem paused, allowing a moment of feigned pensive thought. “That reminds me. I’ll need to hone my blade for the next time we’re sparring.” “Mine will be blunted to match your cock,” Arjim returned. “Unable to penetrate anything.” “Better blunt than none to speak of.” Both their gazes dropped to the other’s groins. Each glared at the perpetual erections that ever since reaching adolescence had tortured them incessantly. Coupled with the mental and emotional meshing, they felt more chained than linked--trapped. As it was many, many times before, frustration and sexual angst clutched at them. “Must you do that?” Calem snarled. “Do what?” Arjim spoke between clenched teeth. There was no need for explanation. He already knew what the comment was about. “Push your spirits bedamned, lusty compulsions into my brain every time you get a rise!” Calem reached for his talon arc, immediately realizing that because they were ordered to relinquish their weapons before entering the temple, it wasn’t there. Arjim in like reached for his own missing blade. "If I had a choice, I’d slap the mental gates shut, you illogical idiot. You’re a hindrance to my efforts with the females!" "Be sure to stick your head in that slapping gate and spare me your annoying and dimwitted thinking," Calem snarled, his voice conveying annoyance. "And by the way, when was the last time you were able to think logically about any of this?" "I promised myself I would think about it logically if ever you got laid without my assistance." Taking a threatening step closer to Arjim, Calem glared at him accusingly. "Getting laid without your presence would’ve been much less demanding had you not been sniffing up my asshole every time I showed interest in a woman." "My assistance was necessary," Arjim sneered undauntedly. "You’re as exciting as a corpse in a swing." Calem snorted. "That was you I saw in the play park? I wondered where that rotting smell was coming from." "Ka!" Arjim sneered at him. "You are mistaken. It was drifting from your mother’s open legs." The smacking sound of flesh being struck was hard enough to make a zombie cringe. Even across the galaxies the yo momma insult was a tasteless dig and one Calem did not take lightly. Arjim took the punch to his jaw like the sturdy warrior he was. His retaliation was

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equally as sturdy, the bloody nose Calem was swiping at testimony to the strength of the impact. It mattered little that one felt the pain of the other. They welcomed it, for pain deadened the heartache of a love now lost and a passion for her that neither of them seemed able to smother. Your blame is misplaced. Arjim gritted his teeth as the pair closed the gap between them one gripping the other’s neck--squeezing. Calem gagged through his partially constricted airway, his grip tightening on Arjim’s throat ignoring the reciprocating affect of his own infliction. She’s dead because of you…your insistence at pushing into her brain. Perhaps, Arjim croaked. But it was you who insisted on speaking to her. His knee came up and he delivered a full blow to Calem’s groin with the full thrust of his knee. Both yelped. “Fucking starblasters!” Arjim fell back, his doubled over posture matching Calem’s, his balls throbbing as if he himself had been crushed there. Technically by his own actions he had been. A ferocious growl rumbled from Calem’s throat, and he charged at Arjim, vicious intent burning in his eyes. They collided, wrestled, fell apart, Arjim swinging a fist at Calem's jaw but finding air as he missed the ducking warrior. It was then Calem's turn. He drew back his arm to strike, now uncaring of their sacred surroundings. His fury was blind. "Cease!" Someone echoed from the dark recesses of the temple. They halted, recognizing the voice that gave the command, though their feral eyes remained fixated on each other, their chests heaving with their angry intakes of air. "Would you shame your families by shedding blood within these sacred walls?" The Pontiff Jer appeared, his omnipotent presence stifling to the anger passing between Arjim and Calem. Immediately they both sobered, but their expressions were more blank than humbled. "This … this thing between the two of you …." Jer waved a casual hand as if brushing something diminutive. Turning, he laced his fingers behind his back and paced a few steps. "Why do you fight what most see as a divine blessing?" "It is no blessing to be bound as such with no purpose Pontiff," Arjim answered. "No purpose?" The Pontiff spun around. The silver color that rimmed his irises flickering wildly as he glared at them. "Perhaps you miss what the divinities deem fitting." "No disrespect," Calem spoke this time. "But there is nothing, no one for us." A slight but astute grin appeared on Jer’s lips as he stepped closer to them both. He pressed a palm to Calem’s shoulder. "Do not seal the tomb before the heart ceases to beat." "But the silence…," Calem began saying. He hushed when the Pontiff’s grip on him tightened. "The truth often speaks in whispers." Jer's gaze slid from Calem to Arjim and then back to Calem again. "All you need to do is listen." With that, the Pontiff backed away. He reached for the hood on his robe and covered his head with it, his face becoming a barely recognizable shadow beneath the large folds. He turned, and soundlessly departed, leaving both warriors staring after him. Arjim and Calem stood quietly for several moments. It was the most undisturbed their minds had been for as long as either could remember. The calm was a welcomed relief. "When was the last time we linked by transdelta?" Arjim stared ahead, avoiding eye contact with Calem. His chest began to heave, the familiar arousal stirring in his groin. "The last time we were able to truly connect to her, to attempt Edification?" "Eight phases past, when we were both twenty phases." Calem's face contorted at the heartbreak stabbing his chest.

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"This dawning," Arjim clenched his teeth, tamping the fear of searching once more and finding nothing. "We link once again." A shudder rippled up Calem’s spine in reaction. Clenching his teeth, he tamped the fear of another failure threatening to surface. Neither moved, silence ticking through their hesitation. Their gazes finally shifted toward each other and locked, pushing at the dread as they grappled with hope. "Sit," Calem lowered to the floor, his eyes remaining solidly fixed on Arjim. Crossing his legs he tailor sat and waited, knowing what they needed to do but fearing the truth would remain as they had always believed it .… That our Tina is dead. Arjim shared the thought. His heart pounded. Yet he, too, grappled with trepidation and the need to know what the Pontiff hinted at. He sat in the same position, opposite Calem and facing him, knees touching. Their irises narrowed in pinpoint connection, irises sparking. Briefly each felt the twinges of anger but it dissolved quickly. Arjim lifted his right hand, his thumb and fingers forming half of a triangle--half of a delta, calling Calem to the transdelta linking. His hand quivered. Calem raised his left hand, his thumb and fingers mirroring Arjim’s. The beat of their hearts synchronized. Arjim gulped back the fear, swallowing Calem’s along with it. As he inhaled, Calem exhaled his somatic presence, seeking the spiritual rhythm that would bind them as one. "Our last experience with her in linked, sexual arousal .…" Angst at another failure curled through Arjim's insides halting his words. Calem opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead he closed his eyes, remembering the piercing sound of silence that had followed that last encounter and the emptiness it stirred within. They'd linked with their Tina, attempted to touch her body, and her heart, to bring her into harmony with their souls and their minds. She was there, but her presence was so brief that they believed they'd imagined it. Taking a deep breath he redirected his mental awareness toward Arjim. He opened his eyes and they locked gazes. Their hands connected forming a full triangular pattern. Their minds were immediately melded as the transdelta linking shared by males called to the Trigon was initiated. A discomfort jolted through each of them. Unfamiliar by avoidance, invasive yet compelling, the gap of singularity faded. The power of mind and spirit surged. Two souls began to intertwine as their life forces linked, bringing both to a blended state of mind. At first they sensed nothing, apprehension pushing the urge to uncouple, but they held it together, driven by yearning and need. Twinges of resentment and anger rose and then waned, solidarity becoming their guide to their search. But the search found silence. She’s dead. Arjim felt Calem’s effort to withdraw their link but forced the twining, tightening the mental seam. Wait … listen. Calem relented and they waited, snatching patience, allowing the continuum of space and time to carry their essence to the far reaches of the universe. Still there was silence and more silence, but instead of becoming discouraged, their meditation intensified, determination an innate drive of the joining. They heard a faint voice. Tina. Calem beckoned first.

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Her terror shot through them, but it wasn’t aimed toward them. Something was terribly wrong. No matter how diligently they tried, Calem and Arjim were unable capture her mind. It was as if a barrier was hindering their connection to her. All they could grasp at were hints of a female voice, and fleeting emotions, but no image, no sense of familiarity, no assurance that she was really there. If they hadn’t been seeking it with all the fervor they could gather, they might not have heard her at all. She groaned again, louder this time. The spiritual summoning consumed them, the pull of it compelling, inescapable. Her form manifested, a beautiful image of an exquisite woman they had known only as innocent youths and eager young men. She was captivating though they detected no details. It was merely the perception of her that drove Calem’s and Arjim’s desire. They wanted to, needed to, craved to touch her, the distance between them and their Tina making them wild to close the gap, to claim and make her their own. They had to find her. Simultaneously Arjim and Calem dropped their hands, both visibly shaken by the discovery. The feeling was so overwhelming it was almost painful, nearly unbearable. Retreating, they each shifted into an esoteric trance, withdrawing from their web of thoughts and suppressing the link between them. They sat quietly for several mins. “Brethren …,” Arjim finally whispered. His heart was pounding so fiercely it felt as if his ribcage would splinter. Phases and phases had passed since hope had spoken. “There is still a woman between us.” Calem heaved several breaths, his body going rampant as his salacious needs took flight. She was alive. He nodded to Arjim and then flashed a cocky grin. “It seems we’ve always had something to Flaunt for my cousin.” A slight smile appeared on Arjim’s lips but the joy was abruptly interrupted. An alarm pierced the air around them. It was a call to arms. Both warriors were instantly on their feet and scrambling to the temple doors. Outside, nearby sentry stood frozen, trepidation filling them. Civilian Tertani scattered, some snatching up small children and tucking them under their arms as they rushed to find shelter. Calem and Arjim had also gone still, their full attention now on their superiors who were rushing up the path. Arjim felt the color drain from his face, could feel Calem’s heartbeat accelerate with the adrenaline that surged through his bloodstream matching his own. They knew what was happening, for there were few reasons to sound that alarm. Tertia was either under attack, or the planet’s security had been breached, and they were now under quarantine. Either way, it spelled imminent danger and possible death to all.

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Chapter Five Jardia shifted atop the large boulder she was perched on, her hearing alert, her vision keen. She listened while her gaze darted across the clearing in front of her. Sighting a crobas was a difficult task since their fur so evenly matched the plum-colored foliage and plum-colored mossy ground. They had a keen sense of smell as well and seemed to know when a predator was about, avoiding by instinct what they perceived as a dangerous situation. The crobas were easy to track once spotted however, since their stumpy legs failed to allow them to scurry very fast. But they were extremely dangerous if cornered, becoming ferociously aggressive. And though the crobas were slow runners they could strike as quickly as a lightning bolt. Not something anyone wanted to be the target of as they had extremely long and acuminating teeth. A single bite could take one’s hand off. Snaring one was worth the toil it took however, for the meat was tender and sweet, a favored delicacy amongst the Tertani clans. For two dawnings now, Jardia had been hiding in the brush near the known mating grounds of the crobas. And though she was weary with the wait, she remained determined to snag one of the creatures to take home for supper. Jardia sighed. So far she had yet to spy one. It seemed at least a few would’ve ventured from the brush hungry for the prikkies that dwelled within the field’s spiky grasses. After all, how much mating could any creature endure before the gullet begged for fulfilling as well? Perhaps the keen animals sensed her presence causing them to instinctively remain hidden. Still, Jardia would persist, believing one or maybe a few would appear sooner or later. "Hal al beohj," she called to the Mahatma divinities as hunger roared through her stomach. Now on a six dawning of fasting and sleep deprivation to enhance her spiritual strength and discipline, her thoughts were becoming muddled from lack of sustenance and rest. Taw was all she'd consumed for hydration. After completing her last day of her fasting it was time to eat, and crobas it would be! Jardia's ability to capture the elusive creature lent credence to the strength of both mind and body, a requisite that had earned her the respected status of a great hunter. Squinting, Jardia narrowed her gaze on the subtle shifting of the wispy tewha plants that blanketed the great plain in front of her. Something was shuffling in a meandering line through the brush. Abruptly, her vision blurred, and her head nodded. She was falling asleep! "Ka!" Jardia shook her head, attempting to rouse herself. Focusing was excruciatingly difficult. Slumber seemed so much more preferable at the moment to anything else. "Perhaps if I close my eyes only for a…" Tilting her face upward, her lids closed, and she inhaled the heated air while bathing in the warmth of the Tertian sun. A slight breeze brought the scents of nearby jumider flowers to her nostrils, soothing and sedating. A dreamy sensation came over Jardia and her body felt light, as if it were floating. "Ka!" She needed divine assistance. Raising an arm skyward, Jardia shook her wooden talon arc. "Oh Mahatma spirits I beseech you!" Silence followed. She would need to be patient. She would need to be … . Her eyes fluttered and Jardia fought against it. Yawning, Jardia felt the drifting sensation of sleep taking

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over. Strength, will of the spirit …. A remote sound suddenly cut through the air around her, disturbing Jardia's near lethargic condition. Something was growling. A crobas! She scanned the grasslands in front of her, thinking the sound came from the brush. The boulder she stood on quivered. The sound surrounded her, consuming everything, rapidly growing louder and louder, roaring inside of her ears, forcing Jardia to drop her talon arc to cover them. Frantically her gaze darted everywhere as she tried to locate the source while considering where she could run to, where she could hide should what was coming attempt to attack her. And then she saw it, a large creature bursting through the skies. Jardia recoiled, her heart pounding fiercely with alarm, her eyes widening. "A great spirit bird!" Fearfully she watched as it tore across the horizon, its body casting a great shadow on the ground, the scream bellowing from it so painfully deafening that Jardia was sure her ears would burst open. "Ayn, ayn!" She cried out in pain, her fear escalating to sheer terror. It vanished into the horizon as swiftly as it appeared, the thunderous wail fading so quickly that Jardia had to question if she'd really seen it at all. Blinking, she stared at the point in the sky were the spirit had gone. Why had it come in the first place? Jardia felt her vision sharpen as she searched the skies, her body readying itself to fight, her chest tight, her breath heavy with trepidation. Perhaps it was a warning about her near fall to sleep. Perhaps she'd angered the …. What was that? A sound--something…where? Jardia shrieked. From nowhere as before, the bird thundered forth, this time lower in the horizon, much, much lower. It was swooping in on her! Instinctively Jardia covered her head with her arms, preparing for its angry claws to clench onto her. But it didn't. Instead the spirit bird scaled the skies over her head. It roared angrily and caused the ground to shudder more violently than before. Peeking from beneath her sheltering arms, Jardia saw that this time the spirit bird didn't disappear. It soared upward and then curved back around, descending, more slowly than before, though its speed was still quite fast, it's horrible shrieks still piercing her ears, its body casting a mighty shadow all around her as it passed overhead. It continued to fly, circling, scrutinizing perhaps, Jardia thought. Does it see me? Curiosity overshadowed Jardia's fear. Straightening to a full upright position, she cupped a hand over her brow to shelter her eyes from the mid-dawning sun and studied the creature. It took only moments for her to realize that there seemed to be something wrong with the bird. It was injured or ill. The wings were stiff and unmoving, lifeless, as if dead, and a fire spewed from its tale! Thunderous, pained cries boomed from it, growing louder and louder until Jardia once again was forced to press her palms to her ears. Fret seized her. The spirit bird was coming down from the skies! Lower and lower it glided, approaching the ground until it was sliding on its belly across the field at an incomprehensible speed. In that same instant the top of its skull blew off and it spit something from its brains. Whatever it was shot straight upward and disappeared into the heavens. "Ka!" Jardia shouted, gnashing her teeth in horror as it spun and smashed against a cluster of boulders that were blocking its path. "Woe, woe!" Frozen in place, Jardia could do nothing but watch, her heart pounding in terrified beats the spirit bird’s screeches increasing, fire combusting and consuming it as the tail was torn apart! "Great spirits, I beseech you!" Jardia lifted her arms and focused on the rosy skies above.

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"Show mercy on the creature and end the pain it suffers quickly." Grimacing at the horrid burning smell permeating the air, she continued to stare upward wondering if what went up would come down. And then Jardia glimpsed movement. It appeared as a tiny dot at first but grew larger as it drifted downward. She stared, her gaze transfixed, scrutinizing the object, tracking the thing as it floated gently toward the ground. Briefly she worried it would come to rest within the flaming carcass, but soon realized the gentle breeze was carrying it further into the field and away from the fiery danger. Grasping her talon arc, Jardia leapt from the boulder, landing on the turf in a squatted position. A thunderous burst shattered the air, and jolted Jardia to the bone. In an instant she was flattened on the dirt, taking cover. Pieces ruptured from the blistering inferno and torches of fire were hurled everywhere. The burst of flame was so massive it lit the already bright dawning, sending heat across the field that was so intense, sweat immediately consumed her body. The spirit bird was no more. For a moment Jardia stared. And then grief over the sacred destruction struck her. Standing, she brushed the dirt from her loin cloth, her sight still fixated toward the fiery death that once was life. She quietly recited a bereavement prayer before her interest returned to the drifting castaway. "Ka!" She whispered a curse, frozen momentarily where she stood, hesitating, unsure if approaching the thing when it landed would be wise. Finally deciding she needed to investigate, Jardia moved across the open field vigilantly, almost noiselessly, the knee-high foliage brushing her legs, making only wispy sounds that were barely audible. In the distance, hunt forgotten, she heard the cry of a crobas, but her interest was now elsewhere. With visual acuity as keen as a stalking raptor, Jardia studied the descending creature, noting the long tentacles that came from its back and spread outward in a c ircular pattern where they attached to a single, domed wing that appeared to be the reason for its floating descent. Jardia winced when the creature thudded to the ground, the impact much harder than she would've expected, though not forceful enough to cause significant damage. With her eyes riveted to its landing spot, she waited for movement--a reaction of any sort from the thing, but there was only silence as the large, round wing whipped and spread in gentle waves as it came to rest atop the thing, covering it, concealing it from her probing eyes, as if it were constructed for such an intentional purpose--camouflage. Raising her talon arc overhead, poised to strike, sight, smell, sound, every one of her senses honed, her body tense ready to defend. She crossed one leg over the other, half crouched, stepping closer and closer until she was near enough to touch it. With trepidation Jardia leaned slightly forward and stretched out her weapon, poking at the lump under the wing with the blunted end. There was no sound, no response from the creature beneath, the only movement coming from the rounded wing, the edges curling slightly as the breeze caught and lifted it. "Greetings spirit creature." She poked the lump again. No sense in being unfriendly. There was a low moan. It lives. Unsure if the thing would attack, Jardia's muscles bunched in protective preparation, her talon raised again, her elbow reared back and ready to strike. When nothing happened, Jardia stooped. Reaching with her empty hand she skimmed a heedful palm over the top of the wing, mulling over the pliable, smooth surface and how it felt more like cloth than supple, living flesh. It was thinner than she expected but supposed it was necessary to catch the air and bring the creature safely to the ground. Was it really safe? The stillness of the creature was unnerving,

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perhaps a defensive ploy or tactile maneuver to catch her unaware? Yet Jardia couldn't abandon the thing. It was of the spirit bird that now lay burning across the field, death now its keeper. Still clinging to her weapon, Jardia gently peeled away the wing, careful not to damage it. No blood was apparent as of yet, but there still might be injuries to what lay beneath. It looked like a bug. Tipping her head askew, Jardia stared at it inquisitively. What she had uncovered was the oddest looking insect she’d ever seen. The creature’s head was a rounded, shiny, white ball with one big, foggy eye in front. She leaned in for a better look. “Eyaka!” Jardia shrieked as she recoiled. There was a face below its surface! She froze, staring at the face and then blinked, leaning in once again to study it. She then snorted, realizing it was her own reflection she saw in it, albeit a distorted, curved image. She examined the creature further. A black shell covered its back. The rest of its body was white as were its hands, but the feet were thick and black with no toes or claws to speak of. It was big, too! By far it was the biggest and strangest bug Jardia had ever seen. It moaned again--a muffled sound that came from a mouth unseen. A slight jerk of its body had Jardia sucking in a gasp as she reflexively sprang back once more, her breath hitching. She waited. Nothing--nothing happened so she stepped closer but stiffened offensively when the insect began to squirm. One of its arms reached for the other and tugged on the end the claw there. Jardia’s eyes widened. She thought it had just lost a piece of its limb but soon realized it had merely shed an outer skin revealing flesh beneath. Fingers like her own clenched and unclenched as if testing their strength and dexterity. It was a hand! What was happening here? She watched as the now bared fingers curled around the tips of the opposite appendage and yanked. A second hand appeared from beneath the outer covering, it too stretching and flexing. Was it molting? One of the hands came up and gripped at straps crossing its chest. It gave Jardia pause, and she raised her talon arc, prepared to defend should the creature become wicked or be concealing a weapon. With her empty hand she fingered the cord that crossed her own chest, the strap attached to her own weapon’s sheath which rested against her back. There was an odd sound that came from the strap when the creature pulled on it. The strap loosened and then came apart, and the creature rolled, the movement causing Jardia to gasp and spring backwards. She watched as it separated itself from the shell on its back. She frowned. Curiously the shell looked much like something one would sit in. There was another muffled groan that once again came from an unseen mouth somewhere on its head. Correction--its now removed head! “Gehu a Mahatma!” Jardia fell to her knees as she cried out to the divinities. She was witnessing a metamorphosis. A spiritual birthing! Awestruck, Jardia admired the exotic appearance of the soft feminine face that hatched from the harder looking shell that covered it just moments before. Long, dark lashes graced the curved edges of her closed lids. The jaw line smoothly angled, framed supple, pink lips that pursed tightly. A petite and pretty nose turned up slightly gave the birthling an almost child- like, innocent appearance as did its skin, unmarred and appearing as smooth as the cloths woven from the siaa leaves. Slightly darker than hers, it had a natural tone unlike sk in that was bathed in sunlight as was Jardia’s own flesh. Her hair was cut short in even lengths at her neckline…oh

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what a silky, dark tress it appeared to be! Jardia craved to touch it. The creature, she was beautiful! There was another groan, and it was then that Jardia noticed the trickle of blood oozing from one ear. Now more awestruck than afraid, she moved closer and reached, turning the face of the goddess to inspect the other ear. Indeed blood filled the crevice of that one, as well. “Ka! Eviata!” Jardia breathed out, the words a heavy whisper. Compassion seized her heart. “Setfa!” The creature was hurt. A sensation, struck Jardia’s insides, and immediately she knew. The dawnings of fasting and sleeplessness, of the sacred prayer had finally brought her the answer. And it was in this creature. Brought to the Tertian soil, spewed by its mother who came from the heavens, a divinity was delivered to her in the flesh! Jardia exhaled an awestruck breath. They would seek her endlessly, driven by their lusts! No male would be sane enough to resist her charms. This was the divinity bird's virgin offspring and Jardia had to protect her. This was her destiny!

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Chapter Six "We wish no harm to the clans of Cu’cjani." Tren stepped forward, speaking in the Tertian vernacular that had survived from the dawnings of old. With his arms extended forward he presented the delta to indicate their spiritual unity and to express that their intentions toward the tribe was peaceful. "We look for an intruder who seeks to harm us all." Calem shifted uncomfortably, watching silently as the Commander interacted with the indigenous Tribunal leader. The ancient tribe of Esotar might be agitated by their presence, but he was suffering from some agitation, as well, in the form of a raging erection that wouldn’t retreat no matter where his thoughts went. Our Tina is close, Arjim slid into his brethren’s head. His balls were swollen with lack of release, and he had a torturous hard-on of his own to deal with. Amongst the direct descendants of the ancients? Calem questioned. How can that be? Our Tina is from a faraway planet. That much we have determined. He indicated the primitive tribe with a nod in their direction. Arjim thought about that for a moment. My cock and my senses tell me otherwise. She’s here. Your cock would sense a ruk jobbin hole for a mate if you were horny enough, brethren. A growl pierced inside of Calem’s head, but he couldn’t deny the physica l and instinctive mating reactions stirring within. They both felt their female’s presence. But where was she--who was she? They scanned the tribe gathered before them a near desperate search for the female who caused their brethren bonding. She cannot be amongst those who accompany the Tribunal, Arjim returned. His gaze dropped to the chain of interlocking circles the females wore on each ankle. Look at them. They are all mated triples. She would not be with them here. It was true. Each female present wore the fetter charms that confirmed they indeed were already bonded in a Trigon. Their worst fears were realized, but it was Arjim who mentally gulped the words. She is the intruder we hunt. From what we perceived during our transdelta linking it would seem so, Calem silently responded. But where is she? There was no sign of her near the wreckage we found, and we know she is hurt or at least in some kind of distress. Arjim had no answer. Mentally he sighed, the angst of his frustration matching Calem's. So near, and yet still unreachable. We need to keep linking with her to find out more. If she's with any of the Tribes in Esotar, Calem paled. They might kill her… The She'amatina might have found her first. They would likely protect her. The thought of their Tina running with the virgin, female tribe gave Calem only a margin of relief. If she was with them, finding and retrieving her would be a challenge since the highly nomadic women were elusive and exceptionally practiced at hiding, particularly when a Triconjugal hunt was occurring. Still, they would have to find her. It is high moon, brethren. Arjim reminded his cousin. The males called to the Trigon are beginning the hunt.

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It is a sacred event. The tribes will be disturbed by an outsider's presence. Returning their attention to Commander Tren, Calem and Arjim listened to the exchange he was having with Cu’cjani tribe's Mahatma leader, Pontiff Gre'aecha. They struggled to comprehend the ancient Tertian language he was speaking, a language the modern civilization used little but was learned by all, though fluid interpretation proved difficult. "You tread on sacred ground, stranger," the Pontiff spoke, his feral warning to keep away clearly apparent in his expression. Identifiable by the maroon hooded cape draping his body, he was one of four tribunal members who accompanied what was estimated to be about sixty or so clansmen from Cu'cjani, an ancient Trigon tribe-- mated triples that packed together in Esotar. They'd been the first to intercept the sentry who assaulted their sacred grounds. Better them than the more aggressive tribes of Sh'emati, the unmated male packs who had a tendency to attack without question. "We seek an enemy who travels in your lands, Pontiff Gre'aecha.” Commander Tren ot Alea took a step forward. “A dangerous enemy." He spread his arms, his modern, metal talon arc gripped in one hand, the blade facing backward. The stance was a long-understood gesture of amity. The twenty-five sentries, including Calem and Arjim assumed a similar stance, though their weapons were sheathed. Traditionally only the leader of a tribe or group held his weapon when war was questionable. "You demean us by suggesting we know not of an intruder in our own lands?" Gre'aecha narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the outsiders standing before him. He rolled his shoulders with indignation as he returned his gaze to the Commander. "Be gone with you!" He waved his hands to shoo them, but the Commander did not heed him. Instead he crouched and set his weapon on the ground, an indication of his deference for the Tribunal superior. Standing, he bowed his head before beginning to explain that their lives, that all of their lives might be in danger. The exchange of words that continued between them was lost to Calem and Arjim. Both were quietly moving to the outside of the group, desperate to locate their Tina. We’re under active orders, brethren, Arjim responded when he realized they were both contemplating deserting their own regimen. First and foremost they were sworn to their military duties. Such an action was a certain invitation to severe reproof. Aside from that reprimanding would delay finding our Tina. This is fated by the divinities, Calem argued. Our presence here in the lands beyond Esotar, a place where we have never been permitted to tread is a certain indication. Arjim couldn’t deny the truth. Forty and some primitive tribes dwelled in the massive and unspoiled territories. Protected and heavily guarded, life remained unmarred by contemporary times. Trespassing was strictly prohibited with violators facing harsh penalties. If we remain with our regimen cousin, Arjim attempted to be the voice of reason. And apprehend the intruder, and our Tina is the intruder, then we will have her. But what if our Tina is not the intruder? Calem chuckled silently at Arjim’s conveyed logic. Besides my brethren, if she is the intruder, I have issue as you should have with standing by while watching our Tina arrested. We must find her, make her our She'mana and mate with her as quickly as possible. Beneath his brethren’s sense of duty he heard in his mind the primal growl, felt the shudder of feral anticipation running the course of Arjim’s spine and the way his shaft now stood rigid and unbidden. Calem’s cousin was no more immune to the potent yearning to hunt their Tina than he was. Thoughts of his hard erection sinking into their woman’s wetness, taking her

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body, the sweet smell of her, the taste of her stirred every primal Tertian instinct inside of him. Groan … Arjim tightened his thoughts, focusing on his warrior pride. The mastery of one’s own spirit is measured by his self-control, cousin. He who tortures his spirit with excessive self-control loses sight of his passions. Calem’s lips turned up into a snide grin. And in particular, his mating passion s… uyo, I see you’ve succeeded in your lack thereof. Tipping his head askew, his gaze dropping to Arjim’s throbbing erection, Calem snickered. Our Tina is found after all these phases of silence, her body aching with need for us. Self-control has little to do with much at the moment. Arjim sent Calem a mental growl and then barked silently, We are under orders! With or without you, cousin I will find our Tina. Calem sighed. To kiss her sweet mouth … finally. You will stay with your regiment, warrior, and since I outrank you, that’s an order! You outrank me by mere a single dial, brethren, my promotion coming only shortly after yours. Pressing his lips tightly together, Arjim attempted to ignore the lusty thoughts coursing through Calem’s brain. He instead concentrated on the task at hand, their orders to find the intruder who threatened the health and safety of the Tertani pe .… Mmm … Images of running his tongue along their Tina’s female crease caused Arjim to quake. What would she taste like? What would she …? Cease, warrior! Arjim bellowed through the dense material his brethren called a skull. He was instantly annoyed. The ruminations assaulting his brain were extrinsic. They were Calem’s and not his own. Still his nostrils flared as he thought about their Tina’s scent and how her flesh might feel when he laid his lips upon her. Would she moan with …? Calem laughed aloud, catching the lusty sensations coursing through Arjim’s blood, drawing the attention of several comrades. Sobering immediately to avoid drawing further attention, he internalized his amusement, pulling his brethren toward his inward thoughts, feeling the tension of Arjim’s muscles going rigid as if they were his own. Integration problem brethren? Calem jeered, referring to the blending of their thoughts, sensing the tightening of Arjim's mind against the mental link that bound them together, and knowing the effort was futile. Arjim retorted, If you lack the discipline to take lead of your musings, you will be feeble in managing your behaviors! Is your shaft hard, Arjim? Mine is pulsating, craving to slide between her heated, wet labia. Enough! Calem’s lips quivered as he bit back a smile. A vision of beauty she’ll be as her legs slowly spread open, inviting us to enter her. The Triconjugal Hunts in this land are about to begin brethren. We should be a part of it. This time Arjim physically turned his head and glared at his taunting brethren, only to catch the mental picture as Calem imagined moving his fingers in and out of their woman’s sweet, hot opening, inviting and wet for the second set of fingers, for his. Arjim’s jaw clenched, and his balls tightened. Abruptly he turned and stomped away from Calem, from his regiment, from his orders. Where is it that you are going, brethren? Calem cracked a smile. "To take a piss," Arjim grumbled as he headed straight for the forest.

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Calem glanced toward Tren ot Alea and saw that his commander was still bargaining with the tribunal head. Only Aurus, another Tertani warrior who stood nearby paid them any heed, staring curiously. Calem shrugged at him and then turned, reacting in the only way that seemed natural. He followed after his brethren, catching up to him just inside of the forest’s periphery. "You lie, my cousin," Calem said to him. Arjim halted and spun around, his eyes intense, the gold that encircled his irises sparkling with carnal purpose. "What would you know about my bodily functions?" As he folded his arms, Calem returned a smug expressio n. "Such denial to the obvious answer. If you had to piss, your urge would’ve unpleasantly edged my brain." Again Arjim grumbled. It was true. Still irritated, he clenched his jaw and began to gnash his teeth, knowing it would echo inside of his cousin’s skull. Calem reacted with a nervefraying shudder, and Arjim smiled deviously. "Being of linked mind has its advantages." Ever since they were small tots, Calem hated that sound, and Arjim relentlessly harassed him with it, torturing his brethren from the inside out. What’s good for the gruke is good for the other gruke. Calem shook the grating noise from his head and then snorted menacingly. He began clucking his tongue with a rhythmic beat knowing the habit would annoy his cousin. Arjim ignored him…for all of half a min before stepping closer to Calem, coming almost nose to nose with him. In return, Calem retracted his shoulders and sucked in some air, the action causing his chest to puff up. They locked gazes, the fires of passion burning in gold speckles around their identical irises. The Changeover began seeping through their veins, fanning the flames of the primal obsession to hunt their mate. Calem’s nostrils flared, and Arjim sneered. Unbidden arrogance was revealed in the bearing of their teeth. Snarls resonated, first within their skulls, and then blazed from their throats in heavy guttural tones. Neither of them moved as intellect battled visceral, reality becoming hot in their minds. They were both sharply aware that without their Tina present to cool their less than demonstrative condition, a battle between them now could result in horrendous and irrevocable consequences that neither wanted to be the cause of … a winner in Dominance with the other's blood on their hands. Unmoving they glared for what seemed like an endless amount of time. Finally, Arjim released a relenting huff that contradicted his internal battle to unleash his rising aggression. Without another sound, he turned and began to stalk away, leaving Calem staring at his back. “Going to take that piss now, brethren?” Calem asked, his voice low and deceivingly calm. Again Arjim halted, his chest heaving with heavy breaths, his fists tightly clenched as if preparing to strike, but he didn’t turn around. Instead he conveyed a mental thought, Your interest behooves me, cousin. Interest in what? Calem asked. My cock and what it is want to do. Reaching for his crotch, Arjim readjusted himself, attempting to find a better fit for his raging hard-on within the confines of his uniform trousers. Perhaps another male might satiate your interest. Calem laughed out loud, ceasing when both their bodies quaked simultaneously. His expression sobered, his own cock swelling uncontrollably. Mirroring Arjim he clenched his fists warring against the raw animalistic craving within. The urge is upon us, brethren. We are beyond the Flaunting. Arjim’s heart thumped hard, driven by the equal force of Calem’s heartbeat synchronizing with his own. Immediately

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they repelled each other. The Dominance battle grows near. We must claim our Tina. We hunt, Calem felt the driving desire of untamed lust coursing through his veins. Uyo, we hunt, Arjim answered. And then I kill you.

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Chapter Seven Jesus, lord almighty! The pain in her ears was about as pleasant as having an ice pick jammed in each ear. Damn landing gear. It was Sydney's third last thought before considering egress. Damn, frickin' rocks ... she was speeding right towards them, and they were big … holy shit they were big! That was her second last thought. Slamming her fist on a switch, Sydney jettisoned into the air. At least she hoped it was air. Ugh! Inverted G's are so not a picnic in the park. That's when her ears blew. She had no choice. The billion dollar starcraft was going up in flames. God I hope I die because the Commander's going to kill me for losing his bird. That was her last thought before she blacked out. Silence .… She was drifting. Sydney knew her parachute had opened, felt herself floating, swaying dropping downward. A thud .… My god, my ears are fucking killing me! Could be worse. Her necked could've fractured if she'd struck the canopy or anything else as she was being catapulted from the wreckage. Or Sydney could've been burnt to all hell--a crispy critter--had her egress equipment failed. She couldn't hear squat. That was the bad news. The good news? If she could feel the pain slicing through her ears it meant her head was still attached … or it might be bad news once NASA got hold of her and stripped her of all rank and honors. Sydney struggled to listen but heard only a buzz in her ear. Damn frickin’ shit. I’m deaf. Did somebody say something? Shit. She couldn’t hear, but at least she was breathing … and smelling, the odor of burning fuel and metal wafting through the air. Her lids fluttered open in time to see her parachute being slipped off of her. Someone leaned over her. Long flowing hair framed the head of a shadowy figure backlit by the sun, the bright halo around the form making whoever it was seem ethereal. Maybe the doc was right. She was seeing ghosts. “Where am I?” she mumbled to her rescuer, noticing her own words sounded muffled and distorted to her own ears. Ugh. Sydney groaned. The pain was unforgiving--so fucking excruciating! Mercy, how am I going to bear this? Oh god I'm going to puke. Where was she? How did she manage to crash land on earth when only moments ago she was in outer space ? Was it even moments ago? There was a flash of colors and her craft spun. It was then that Sydney became disoriented. She was able to regain her wits long enough to land the vessel, albeit recklessly. Wait, there was something else …. There were other things Sydney saw … in outer space … things that shouldn't have been there. I'll think more about that later. Decidedly at the moment her situation could be critical, particularly if she was too close to her jet. Yah, I really don't want to get caught in that mess. She pulled off her gloves, reached for the buckle on her harness, and with a click, released herself. With muscles straining, she rolled out of the cockpit-turnedjettison seat. It was then she saw the person standing over her. “Who are you?” Sydney asked her rescuer. She struggled to separate her helmet from her head. It felt as heavy as a two ton bowling ball. Now free from some of her flight gear,

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Sydney tried to focus on the woman standing over her. She appeared to be non-military. Or at the least she wasn’t on duty, otherwise her hair would be tied back in a knot as per regulations. Plus she’d have more clothes on. A maroon-colored bathing suit top and matching loin cloth were hardly approved as military apparel, especially one with pinkish tiger stripes running through it. Then again it was a camouflaged pattern … snort, that's not nearly enough material for a uniform … alrighty then, I'm disoriented … and apparently I think it's funny. Tina …. Sydney drifted, seeking comfort in the arms of old friends. They were with her and she needed them, something familiar to cling to right now. Oingin abadonn--We will never let you leave us again …. Time floated. Sydney felt her body being lifted, moved. As much as she wanted to know what was happening, equally she just wanted to shut down--to sleep. She chose to give in to sleep and the surreal existence that claimed her. Time … space … voices … time … Sydney shifted to shake her confusion. Oh mother! Her muscles, her body … the groan she expelled echoed in her skull, and she grimaced at the cruelly painful ear throbs that followed. Again, she tried to move. Her bones felt like steel rods imbedded in cement. Every inch of her felt rock heavy and sore. It was as if she’d been hit by a train. Aw snap, train wreck, plane wreck, at this point, what was the difference ? Sydney had taken a particularly long dive from the sky. The pink sky. Pink? Tina …. "Oh no, no, no," Sydney murmured as she closed her eyes. Go away. Contrary to her earlier opinion, they were the last thing she needed to interfere with her coherency right now. Of course they didn't listen. They never had before, so why start now? A strange sensation brushed the length of her body. Her skin tingled, the warmth she felt spreading, heating her within. It wasn’t a woozy feeling, and Sydney didn’t feel as if she was fainting. In fact it was almost as if she was sinking into an alternate state of perception, her mind being swept to a different time, or a different place, just as it had been years ago, whenever they came to her. Shadows emerged from darkness, two figures familiar to her memories, yet somehow not the same. They were different, larger, yes they were larger, grown, the energy that sizzled between them more powerful than ever, more intense than she could remember. It consumed her in a way that naivety could not know, appealing to her, not to her child's heart but to that of a woman. Our mate … fosu'obua eonja--you are stunning to our eyes. Sydney sucked in a breath. They were all over her, around her, seeping through her. She could feel the warmth of their presence, sense their emotions--distress, mixed with joy, voices unspoken yet audible in her mind, deep, gentle, soothing her. Ut reah tseba--you are alive. Don't answer them. Don't answer. DO NOT answer. Maybe they'll go away … Oh snap … Yes, I survived the crash. Or had she? Was she dead and these were her angels coming to retrieve her, to take her to heaven? Two hands grazed Sydney’s belly, two more on her legs, teasing her inner thighs, causing her to gasp, the frisson of heat on the flesh where they touched so real, so arousing, it dulled and then eclipsed the pain in her ears and the soreness in her body. A wave of delectable sexual desire began to simmer inside of her, an ache of need that intensified with each of their

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caresses. Oh no, no these were definitely not angels from heaven. They couldn’t be because with all the lusty thoughts they were causing to run amok through her brain Sydney most definitely was not going to heaven. She was going straight to hell! Oh hell yes! Fingers slipped between her legs, grazing over her clothes and sk imming along her labia, awakening her clit. Without giving it a second thought, Sydney drew up her knees, and parted them, begging for the contact to increase, to give her more. Awareness became an inner, somatic thing as her effort to regain a conscious existence faded. The tension inside of her melted away with the caress of her two lovers, the sense of their warm bodies veiling around her and stirring a wanton hunger deep within, a craving she had sensed even as a small child. Eah crog wot--I’ve missed you both so much. It surprised Sydney that she could remember their language. Years had passed since she’d spoken the foreign words they had taught her. Wase ve eah ut--as we have longed for you, precious Tina. Lips, a perfect fit in shape and form, warm and comforting, arousing yet soothing wrapped hers. Calem …. Years had passed since Sydney had spoken his name, and his essence still felt just as good as always. Evala'luso--our hearts' passion. Hot breath danced along the side of her neck as a different voice washed through her head. Arjim …. Sydney would know him anywhere. Ve eddo ple she' ami--you have grown into a beautiful woman. Wrapped in the essence of both of them, her body stirred, awakened, sought those whose beginnings early in her life had become so intertwined in her heart and soul they'd stripped the promise for any other suitors. Sydney had forgotten how much she needed them, how much she wanted them, how much she'd missed--grieved for them. Despair met her when she let them die. The memories were something she'd buried but had never forgotten. We’re coming for you, he whispered. Arjim gently nipped her shoulder and Sydney’s body shuddered at the wave of sexual pleasure curling through her. “Oh yes,” she mumbled. Yes, cum …. I want …. Her loins quivered with unanticipated lust. She craved it, craved them, but how … why? Deep in the recesses of her mind the answer was lurking but logic kept her from acknowledging it. Denial had always helmed her life--denial and societal dictates as to what made one normal. Memories pushed to the surface, and she began to reminisce. We will find you, our woman …. They left her. Almost as abruptly as she heard and felt them, they retreated, leaving Sydney feeling vacant and yearning. Forcing her eyes open she saw the vastness of the pink sky, and dots of rose-colored clouds drifting in lonely puffs above her. Pink …. There it was again. It wasn’t the pink of an earthly dawn or sunrise. Something was different or perhaps her vision was skewed. Either way the thought was sharply disrupted with the return of pain that jolted through her. She squeaked. It echoed in her brain, which began to throb unforgivingly. "Lord, I hope I don't have a cracked skull," Sydney mumbled to herself. Muffled words that were not her own spoke to her, coming somewhere from her left … her right … her left … her … snap. With a push of physical determination, several grunts, groans and what felt like muscle-screaming spasms, Sydney sat up and the covering o ver her fell

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to her thighs. She looked down, and lifted the cloth draped loosely over her torso, breasts bared. Her cheeks instantly flushed. Butt naked …. Sydney was as bare-assed as a baboon’s bottom. Hopefully it wasn’t as red as one. At least she was relatively sure she didn’t have a concussion. After blinking several times her vision was clearing and now that she was sitting up, her thoughts were becoming more lucid as well, clear enough to realize that someone had placed her on a stone slab that lay low to the ground, an altar she speculated, as if she'd been put there as a virgin sacrifice. “Good god!” she yelped while fingering the covering, and then took note of its crudely woven quality, hand- made and dyed with irregular patterns of …. She frozen mid-thought and the unnerving sense that she wasn’t alone sharpened her awareness of her surroundings. There was a breezy sort of hum, the sound, she suspected was louder than she could actually hear, given her busted eardrums. Her attention shifted to the ground around her, and her body jolted in surprise. Three forms sat cross- legged at the foot of the slab, their bodies bent far forward nearly in half, heads bowed, arms extended outward and toward her, their fingers forming a triangular pattern. She'd seen that symbolic gesture before-the delta. I'm so not going to entertain that right now. "Who are you?" Sydney asked. The sound of her own words were obscured by a slight ringing, making her wonder if she’d spoken loud enough for them to even hear her. They did. Three heads popped upward. Three female faces filled with awe and surprised eyes that seemed to shimmer with gold fixated on her. Sydney stared back, not knowing what to think, say or do, other than to slap her hands over her naked breasts. Murmuring sounds came from their mouths, wispy and indecipherable. It didn’t matter. Sydney had a feeling they weren’t speaking English anyway. The jungle-pattern wraps they wore, bare feet and a quick examination of the tropical surroundings was a pretty good indication that she was somewhere foreign--or alien. Oh snap … not happening … don't go there! Fighting against her protesting muscles, Sydney struggled to her knees while gathering the drape to cover her needless exposure. She glared at the uninvited company. All three seemed to shutter and gasped in sync. Simultaneously they dropped their heads as if gazing upon her was blasphemous. It made her wonder if snot was hanging from her nose or if perhaps her zipper was down. Ah, but she had no zipper …. Because she had no clothes on damn it! "What the hell?" Sydney mumbled while tying a knot with the top ends of the thin cloth to hold it in place above her breasts. She scooted from the slab, wincing at sore muscles forced to stretch in what seemed like the completely wrong direction. With her teeth tightly clenched and her eyes remaining fixed on the three subjects Sydney struggled to remember her training. Protocol--What is the military protocol when taken prisoner? She scratched her head while doing a mental run-through of the memorized military handbook--name, rank, and social security number. Sydney studied the natives and the lowered postures they had assumed. It appeared she really was being revered. She snorted aloud with the thought, which was followed by the gritting of her teeth. An anguished groan followed as pain ran sharp in her ears. To add to Sydney’s discomfort, her head was beginning to pound. It occurred to her then that she had some pain

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killers along with her .… My meds! Oh my god, my meds! Panic shot through her. Sydney's prescription meds were in the pocket of her flight suit. Without her precious meds she was doomed! DOOMED! First priority … locate flight suit--just as soon as she got a clue as to where in the stars she was and how she might go about doing that. At the moment her instincts told her it would be best to refrain from pissing anybody off. She also sensed that when in Rome … yadda yadda … might be a good rule of thumb for the time being. Lifting her arms, Sydney held her hands in front of her face and mimicked the triangular pattern the natives created with their thumbs and fingers, something she'd done hundreds of times as a child … something she again wasn't ready to entertain the thought of. "Take me to your lead…y-e-e-o-w-w-w-w-w!" Sydney yelped and pressed her palms to her ears seeking relief. Three sets of peepers widened further at her tormented cry. Oh agony! The pain was a bitch! Talking loudly wasn't such a good idea. Tears welled in Sydney's eyes, but she swallowed them, determined to refrain from showing any signs of weakness or incapacitation. A streak of fear zipped through her chest, however, when the woman in the middle stood and rushed toward Sydney. She halted at nearly arms length away, her body stiffened, hesitating as if coming any closer might be unwise or improper, or something. She spoke. Buzz, buzz buzz buzz buzz? At the same time she averted her gaze in an almost subservient manner. Sydney stared at the woman's mouth, wishing she could read lips. The words were a muffled mess. "I can't hear." Sydney pointed to her ears, whimpering at the pain her own muffled whisper caused. "They hur…" "Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz." The woman pointed to the sky and then flapped her arms like a bird. "You're the woman who found me," Sydney surmised. It didn't take much consideration to realize the indigenous female must've seen her ejecting from the crashing star jet and thought it was a bird. But who did the native woman think she was? "Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!" The woman raised her voice and pointed to the altar. Sydney’s head throbbed harder. Her ears pounded, and she groaned as her already sore body suddenly felt weak. What little energy she had rapidly drained away, and suddenly it didn’t matter who these people were or who they thought she was. She just wanted to sleep. "Yes," she swayed while reaching for the slab to steady herself. "I need to lie down." Sydney plopped her butt back onto the altar and the woman smiled slightly as if she was pleased to see that Sydney was going to rest. Stepping closer, she leaned over and brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen over Sydney's face. It was then that Sydney was able to get a good look at the woman’s eyes. Pastel green, or something similar to that, but a color like she had never seen before … at least on Earth. Sydney blinked slowly trying to comprehend what she was seeing. …Or imagining. A circle of silver framed her irises--sparkling like the garland used on Christmas trees. Sydney decided to think about the oddity of her eye color later. At the moment she was in too much pain. With a grunt, she reclined to her side and drew up her knees. She expected the flat stone to be cool, but it wasn't. Instead, she felt comforting warmth that strangely seemed to also be medicinal. Her pain seemed to fade. A sigh escaped Sydney with the welcomed relief. Pink skies, weird eyes--Oh, Sydney groaned. Her visual perception was making no sense. Propping

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to her elbows she stared across the lengthy field of burgundy grasses. The Delta … this isn't happening. I must be dreaming. Her eyes drifted shut and then opened again. She closed them once more. Her mind drifted into and out of consciousness but she was aware that time was passing. She slept and then awoke, her lids lifting, her head pivoting from one side to the other to focus on the reality around her. She inhaled and stilled, her sights training on the open field to make sense of what she thought she might be seeing. Sydney saw movement and blinked a few times before realizing that there were people moving toward them, sauntering almost, slowly, like wildcats creeping up on prey, except they walked upright. Sydney blinked again. They were male, at least ten of them. She knew because … she saw sculpted chests and bulging biceps, strong thighs and …. Sydney gulped … penises, hard penises, and their balls, nesting in tufts of hair. Oh shit, naked, aroused, savages. This can't be good. Women shrieked clearly panicked. Chaotic bellows filled the air. The males who stalked toward them were moving faster, and before Sydney could comprehend what was happening she was surrounded by native women who seemed to come from nowhere. Their loud shouts sounded more like the screech of air rushing through a wind tunnel, the noise causing shards of pain to jab in her ears. Sydney wanted to scream, but she didn’t dare. Bringing attention to herself at the moment seemed like a very bad idea. The entire scenario was confusing if not frightening. Correction, it was an I'm-going-to-piss-my pants kind of terrifying--If she were wearing any pants that is! Clothes or no clothes .… "I'm getting the fuck out of here!" Since Sydney had no idea what this was all about the only thing that made sense was to run. Adrenaline pumped through her blood pushing the fog from her brain and stimulating her state of alertness. The re-emerging pain and soreness took an about face becoming dull, though it didn't completely subside. Sydney sat fully upright. It was then that the woman who'd rescued Sydney jumped on the plinth standing with her feet straddling Sydney's thighs. She held a bowed stick with a wickedly jagged blade attached at one end. Raising it into the air she shook it while yelling something Sydney couldn't understand. Sydney peeked around the woman's thighs. One of the other women, who'd been on the ground in front of her, shrieked and then ran. Several of the men gave chase. Two caught her. The others with them drew weapons similar to the ones the woman had and in pairs began clanking them together. More men came from the brush. Bellows from the rest of the women continued, each shaking their arced weapons in the air. Some held torches--tiki lanterns of some sort, lit by what looked like fire that cast glowing, blue bubbles instead of flames. Blue bubbling flames? Oh snap, oh crap. What if this was some kind of ritual or perhaps they were preparing for a feast. Oh double snapping crap. If she was the feast, her goose was cooked. Or it was about to be. Sydney scanned all around her and was able to determine readily that it would be impossible to escape unnoticed. Her heart became jammed with escalating fear and began pounding wildly in her chest, and her breathing turned shallow her breaths coming fast. Pure fear gripped at Sydney as she came to grips with the fact that it seemed she had jumped from a fire, and directly into another fire. Was she truly about to become dinner? It wasn't dinner. It was a melee. In a blink blades were slicing the air, men pitted against woman it seemed. Wild savages at war, a battle of the sexes and amazingly the larger brawn of the males didn't seem to be an advantage. The females were quite apt--Oh shit, maybe not apt enough! Sydney gasped as two men closed in on her. Her bodyguard began swiping her weapon

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through the air. Another male jumped on the plinth while the first two grabbed Sydney. One tipped her head back and she snarled, though the only thing that bounced in her mind was that she was in deep, deep doo doo. He laughed and then mumbled something to the other that she couldn't understand. They released her and then moved onto another woman who ran by laughing …. Laughing? …and for a moment Sydney felt indignation that maybe she wasn't good enough for them. Oh fuck this! Sydney dropped to the ground and began scrambling on hands and knees. She saw another woman scamper off only to be chased by several more males. They caught her and much to Sydney's dismay and rising fear, one tore off her clothes. Sydney crawled faster, heading for the brush, hoping if she reached them she could make a run for it, or at least hide. Another woman stepped in her path however, and Sydney halted to look up. The woman's mouth was agape, her expression fearful, and when Sydney followed the line of her gaze she saw two more male savages glaring her way, lecherous gleams in their eyes. Simultaneously they lifted their arms. Their fingers connected forming a triangular shape. The woman blinked, swayed and then crumbled to the ground, landing in a heap. Well, Sydney wasn't about to wait and see what happened next. She crawled over the woman and then managed to scramble to her feet. Without looking back, she took off running. Something tugged at her. She fought, but its pull to take her deeper was stronger than her capacity to stay awake. It drew her inward, stealing her from consciousness, delivering her to cataleptic surroundings--a quieter place, and yet she still had a vague awareness of what was going on around her. Her pace slowed, her mind beginning to bend, and despite trying to move her feet became firmly planted. Hello sweet Tina Huh … wha … who is that? It is I, Calem. Fine time for you to show up. Sydney didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out who was speaking. Any time would be a fine time with you, woman. At the moment it would only be a fine time if you can get me out of this shit-out-of-luck predicament! She barked back silently. He was in her head--no they were in her head. She could feel the presence of them both. Though she tried to fight it, Sydney knew it was hopeless, knew what was coming next. As expected, always as before, wooziness took hold of her, and she had only a split of a second to gather the sense that the ground beneath her was coming up. No, she was going down … Aw snap. Someone grabbed her from behind--someone large! A sinewy arm slipped around her waist, and Sydney felt her one-hundred and forty- five pound, five- foot, six inch frame being lifted as effortlessly as a tissue. The next thing Sydney knew she was being tossed over a naked shoulder, her upper body and head hanging upside down. "Hey! Let me … Ouch, goddamn it!" As much as she wanted to see who had her, she couldn't open her eyes. Her body was too sluggish, her mind too much in a tailspin for her to care about anything at the moment. Briefly she let go, her body further going limp, her head throbbing and bobbing as she was being carried away, her arms like soggy noodles, dangling towards the ground.

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It pissed her off. Adrenaline crashed through her blood, infusing her with a blast of strength and energy, pushing away the pain and fatigue. "Put me down you mother fuck … ouch!" Did he really just smack her bottom? It stung, too! Heat suffused the flesh of her right buttock and Sydney was about to release another string of curses when her attention suddenly went elsewhere. She became fixated on the bare feet that were following behind them. Her gaze shifted upward to two well- formed calves and very masculine thighs. The sheen on his honeygold skin emphasized the subtle flexing of his toned muscles as he continued his stride. Sydney struggled to look higher. She was rewarded with a very nice view of loin-covered hips, the cloth riding high enough to almost see his .… "Oh my god!" She didn't need to almost see it, because it was right there, hard as a steel bar and sticking straight out from between the gap in the cloth. Well maybe not straight out. His … er … uh … member, had a slightly downward curve that reminded Sydney of an old fashioned divining rod, bouncing, pointing in her direction as if she was the precious wa ter it was seeking. Well, she was feeling a little moist, except the moist part was on the other side of the body that was hauling her about. He sniffed her. As if on cue with her thoughts, the guy who held her turned his face into her bottom and inhaled. The licentious groan that followed rumbled directly from his chest and rippled through Sydney's body, specifically her crotch, which likely increased her pheromone release, which likely intensified her scent, which likely he was aware of, since he sniffed her again and groaned more loudly. Why the fuck was this turning her on when what she should be doing was puking up her guts! The lusty sound her kidnapper made was repeated by the guy behind her. Sheesh! Could he possibly smell her, too? Increasing his stride, he jogged closer, his stiffy of course leading the way. Sydney arched a brow and then twisted her head to try and get a look at his face. It was rather difficult with the way she was being jostled about, but she did manage to get a glimpse of the chiseled, masculine, magnificently bronzed face that matched the chiseled, masculine, magnificently bronzed body that flexed and stretched with his stride. Sydney's heart thumped. That face … something was familiar …. The one in front of her abruptly stopped. He immediately set Sydney onto her feet, and when he did her fight or flight instinct instantly kicking in. Sydney began swinging, her fists blindly making contact with hard male flesh that she knew there wasn't a cold snap's chance on the sun she would put a dent in. She tried to scramble away but one of them grabbed her around the waist again, the strength in his arm powerful enough to stay her. At first she struggled against the restraint, her nails digging into the firm, muscled skin of his forearm. Hair brushed her face. He pulled her firmly against his bare torso as he wrapped his strong arms around her, effectively pinning her arms between their bodies. She could feel his breath fanning her face, his chest heaved, and it was blatantly clear that he had an erection because the damn appendage was poking her in the belly. Preparing to defend her virtue Sydney tensed and sucked in some air. She froze. Her nostrils flared and she sniffed. What … is that him? She sniffed again catching a pleasant scent that reminded her of geraniums, but not quite. There was something a little more accentuated about it, more sensual. Oh my word this guy smells awesome. A hand skimmed along the side of her right thigh. It was the other one taking liberty touching her. He leaned closer to her while his hands roamed up the sides of her a body. A new

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fragrance floated around her, teasing Sydney’s nose, prompting her to inhale again. The scent was like … what was it like? It was like fresh rain. Euphoria caressed her. "Wow," she murmured. This one smells fabulous, too. Sydney closed her eyes, and as strange as it was, she was able separate and follow the aromas as clearly as if she could see them. They drifted around her, geraniums and fresh rain, closing the gap between them. In a swirl they made contact, courted, and began to mate. Sydney inhaled more deeply, her senses seeking, craving their scents like it was a desperately needed drug. The fragrances blended, altered, becoming a single bouquet that was so exotic, so erotically tempting she couldn’t hold back from moaning in ecstasy. They both pressed more tightly against her and began to grind, their stiffened cocks massaging in rhythmic circles, one in front and one from behind. Sydney half opened her eyes. Their hands were touching, fingertips to fingertips, thumb to thumb, a triangle, the delta. She knew that sign, and somehow she knew it was the reason she was now whoozy. Sydney …. Evala'luso …. They spoke to her silently, soothingly. Sydney tried to pull back, tried to force open her sentient mind but all she could do was sigh, her subconscious reaching out, the familiar seeping through her, a yearning she'd fought against all of her life. They kept her pinned between them, two hard male bodies, locking her to them, holding her tight, and Sydney clung to them, alerted to them, prepared herself to completely surrender to them, let them take her in any way they wanted. Her eyes fluttered and she fought between the sleep they tried to induce and her eagerness to see her captors, but a female voice shrieked, shattering her reverie, jolting her back to reality. Both men drew back, though they didn't release her. The one behind still held her upper arm while the one in front clenched at the wrist of the opposite arm. Sydney only had time to see a shadow of figure moving rapidly before she ducked. A woman, her new gal pal was leaping towards them, one of her legs driving forward to deliver a powerful kick aimed directly to the temple of the man in front of her. His head wrenched sideways, and he released her completely. Coming quickly to her senses, Sydney reacted and jammed her fist into the groin of the one behind her. His pained oomph verified she'd aimed correctly. He let her go and Sydney turned her head around staring up at the man she'd just attacked. His eyes rolled back in his head and the excruciatingly twist of pain in his expression almost made her feel guilty. Simultaneously she heard a crack and turned in time to see the pieces of wonder-warrior woman's weapon splintering over the other man's head. He began to teeter. “Lord in heaven … timber!” Sydney attempted to flee the collapsing man, but her effort was futile. He fell on top of her, knocking her to the ground and landing crosswise over her back. Air whooshed from Sydney’s lungs. She felt her ribcage bow against his crushing weight sure it would shatter but thankfully it didn’t though her attempt suck in air resulted in nothing. “So much for breathing,” she coughed out through gritted teeth. Holy crow, he was as heavy as a horse! Said horse, snorted, and oddly, the sound of it registered as familiar to Sydney. A thud had her staring at the back of another man’s head, his red-brown mane in disarray, some of it strewn across her face. It smelled rather pleasant, considering it was attached to a big, sweaty barbarian. What an odd thing to be thinking about. Considering her imprisoned state, what she should’ve been thinking about was trying to escape. The weight pinning her suddenly rolled away, and then her gal pal was tugging at her to stand. She was shouting while pulling at Sydney, the rough tugging causing her to clumsily trip

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over her own feet. Managing a quick glance around as she regained her balance, Sydney saw men rushing through the bushes. They weren't dressed like the savages. Instead they wore more modern clothes, black trousers and boots, maroon-colored vests, uniforms that looked well-sewn. That was all Sydney had time to assess because as she made her escape with the woman, her gaze stalled on the two fallen barbarians. One of them was lifting his head. He looked directly toward her, and his eyes riveted to hers. The other began stirring, as well. He also locked his eyes with hers. Sydney's breath hitched. How was it possible for her to stare intensely at the two of them simultaneously? A gulped reminded her she'd forgotten to inhale and her constricting lungs protested. Even then the air she drew in was strained and shallow. Her body was too engrossed in quaking with amorous excitement to care about something as trivial as breathing. The pull she felt toward them was so staggering that Sydney could barely resist the incredible urge to yank herself from the warrior woman's grip and throw herself at them pleading take me, take me now! That of course would be quite insane. Then again everything about this situation was insane. People everywhere seemed to want a piece of her. Hmm …. She’d be more than willing to give those two hubba hunks a piece of her. A spontaneous, flirty grin formed on her mouth. She licked her lips. They answered with a pair of dazzling, sexy smiles of their own. Wow, wow, and double wow! Her libido began hip hopping all over the place, amazing because Sydney didn’t even like the classic sound of hip hop music popular a few decades ago. An insanely bizarre notion of having sex with them popped into her thoughts. Talk about leaping from purity to prurience. Even weirder was that by merely looking at the two of them, Sydney was struck with the same sense of trust she had felt with the childhood playmates from her past. The sentiment had to be as imaginary as her playmates. It had to be … because they were imaginary… Weren't they?

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Chapter Eight Aurus ot Tijan pushed at Calem’s back with one hand, his other hand gripping the wrist shackles that held the sentry’s arms restrained behind his back. Arjim, led by Vean was in a similar predicament, as well. The brethren were directed through the arced opening of a domed structure, the pergola that was serving as a make-shift command post in Esotar while the regiment was in search of the renegade that had crashed through the atmosphere. Inside, Chief Loyal, Rjant ot Alea and the Pontiff Gre'aecha stood face to face. They were engaged in quiet conversation. Rjant abruptly stopped speaking and turned his head to look at them. By the expression on his face it was clear he was less than pleased. Much, much less than pleased. For what seemed like an agonizingly long period of time, he glared at them, saying nothing. He then sighed heavily. "Violation of article diz, tero dash fin, Leave Without Permission is a serious and punishable crime, warriors." He wasn’t kidding. Ten phases in the Quadrants digging for silience power stones was the minimum sentence for LWOP. Of course Arjim and Calem already knew that, but the pair gawked at the Chief Loyal as if they were oblivious to what he was saying. "The Commander and I grow weary of this incessant rivalry, sentry." Rjant pressed his palms atop the table in front of him and leaned forward. He examined his half naked warriors covered only by the loin cloth remnants fashioned from the Tertian uniforms they'd torn. "Explain this negatively charged relationship the two of you seem to share." "Negatively charged," Aurus mumbled under his breath. "That's putting it mildly," Vean snorted at the remark. The Chief fired a warning look at both of them. They composed themselves quickly, their postures becoming stilted, as they stood at attention, eyes straight forward. Rjant's gaze snapped back to Calem and Arjim. "Do either of you care to speak?" This is your fault crick-wad. Arjim gave Calem a mental shove. Shut your gas hole imbecile. Calem shoved back. The air is leaking out, and it’s the only thing that's keeping your head from imploding. "Sentry," the Chief's voice became slightly louder when the pair returned only silence. They seemed to stare right through him as if he wasn’t even there. I tried to keep your ungrateful hide from LeWop-ing you breg turd, Arjim growled mentally. Oh really? That wasn't a whirly bug whipping by me when we spotted her, Calem retorted. Though your breath smelled as bad as a decaying one. "Are we having issues warriors?" Rjant asked, his eyes narrowing into suspicion- filled slits as he studied them. Silence… "Somebody say something!" The Chief’s patience was growing thin. Aurus cleared his throat. "Well …." "Not you sass ass," Rjant groused at his wisenheimer warrior. He returned his attention to Arjim and Calem, obviously annoyed. "What in hade’s flames is distracting the two of you?"

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Silence… "That’s an order sentry!" He finally bellowed having had enough of the insubordination. "Explain this erratic behavior!" No sooner had Rjant issued the command when he realized that--Divinities be dammed! They weren't going to obey him! What followed would've been completely uproarious if it hadn't been so blatantly defiant of a superior's command. His two warriors, Arjim ot Triadel and Calem ot Karisi, hands bound behind their backs were slamming against each other. As his She'mana Alea would say, they were belly fighting. For a moment the Chief Loyal could only stare, eyebrows raised, while listening to the grunts and groans and the shuffling sounds of men scuffling with one another. Equally, his sentry, Aurus and Vean stood nearby, appearing somewhat puzzled by the bout but also smirking with amusement. When the slamming turned into kick battling, and particularly when Arjim's mouth latched onto Calem's neck, and it became apparent he was trying to rip his opponent's windpipe out with his teeth, Rjant had no choice but to react. It was time to settle this! With the agility of a gobzian primate he leapt the portable desk he stood behind to intervene in this nonsense. Aurus and Vean were in closer proximity, and thank the stars just as large and strong. Yet despite being able to restrain the battling warriors, they couldn't pry Arjim's teeth from Calem's throat. At the moment it seemed the wiser choice to let him be rather than attempt to tear his teeth from the flesh he was crunching into. With the exception of the heavy breathing of full grown men entangled and struggling, the room went silent. Rjant stood only a hairsbreadth from them, watching the air rush in and out of Arjim's flaring nostrils and the feral expression on Calem's face as if daring his biting attacker to continue gnawing into him. "Proceed warrior, bite down harder," Rjant whispered the words, his lips close to Arjim's ear. He saw the shift of surprise in the two sets of anger- filled eyes that glared at each other, and the slight wincing of their tensed muscle. Arjim's jaw clamped harder. Both their brows became sweaty, and Rjant's mouth pressed into a discerning smirk. Arjim reacted as if he, too, was receiving as much pain as he was delivering, which because of the transdelta linking, he was. That was all Rjant needed to see. "I suspected as much." "Suspected?" Vean frowned. Ignoring him, Rjant continued to address his combative sentry, “Have you located her yet?” “Who?” Calem rasped through gritted teeth. To Arjim he growled, attempting not to move because the shit brain was biting harder and it was beginning to really fucking hurt! “Your Tina.” “Is she the intruder we hunt?” Commander Tren ot Alea entered the tent. He was accompanied by three others, two females, and a male. One of the females was an Allegiance official, identifiable by the metallic orange starburst on her gray lapels. Her expression was marred with a grim, disdainful frown. "It would seem so," Rjant answered. He exchanged a knowing glance with his brethren Tren and then stepped back, giving him room to pace around the entanglement of sentrymen. Aurus and Vean who still had their arms wrapped around their respective charges were straining to hold them at bay. They gave the Commander imploring looks. All were sweating from the struggle. With a wave of his hand he signaled Aurus and Vean to release them. Both sentries did as they were told, standing at attention but nearby, just in case. Tren paused in front of his men, his gaze shifting from one to the other before coming to rest at the point of contact where Arjim's teeth met Calem's flesh. He

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shook his head slightly and scoffed at them. "Cease with the nonsense, Arjim." The Commander turned away and acknowledged the Pontiff Gre'aecha's presence with a nod. With his back still turned he continued, "There are more serious things to consider than chewing out your cousin's throat." He and his brethren Rjant were clearly exchanging mental notes, as the expressions on their faces revealed that the news was apparently not good. "The penalty for circumventing Angard and crossing into Galactic Allegiance territory .…" At Tren's words, terror struck Calem and Arjim to the core. Sobering instantly, Arjim pulled back, releasing his bite from his brethren’s throat. Calem gasped a toiled breath and then swallowed hard, the gulp causing him to hack. Arjim shared the sensation and coughed a few times. He then cleared his throat before addressing Commander Tren. "Surely they wouldn't …," he began, croaking out the words between his own coughs. The woman from the Allegiance stepped forward. "When we find this intruder, he or she will be tested, and pray to your divinities or pixies or whatever entity it is you abide faith in, that the examination proves negative. Or else, Tertia will be under quarantine indefinitely." Arjim and Calem stiffened, angst clear in their tightened expressions. They looked at each other and then to their Commander hoping there was an alternative answer, yet knowing that with the Allegiance, generally there was none. In return, Tren pursed his lips as he stared at both the sentry. Other than that he showed little emotion. "These two have been sent by the ISDS." He indicated the others, officials from the Intergalactic System for Disease and Sickness Control, who still stood at the entrance. "Shardantin," the Commander deferred to the Allegiance official who had just spoken. "If they could prove that this intruder is their mate and was brought by spiritual divination…" "It has already been ordered, Commander," Shardantin interrupted, her voice quite gruff and assertive for such a scrawny woman. "And you know how the powers that be are about … about …" Her words were instantly hampered. The color drained from her face when she caught the ferocious glares of Arjim and Calem as she paced in front of them. She gulped. Finally she stiffened, her chin raising a notch as she regained her composure. "…about regulations," she stated firmly. Playing on her obvious fear, Calem growled low in his throat. With her brows lifting in surprise, Shardantin shrank back. "Oh my," she gulped and pressed her hand to her sternum, watching in obvious unease as Arjim drew himself up, his chest puffing dauntingly on an intake of air, his presence becoming large and ominous. He hovered over her. Shardantin's mouth dropped open, and she ran a shaky bronze hand through her glossy, purple hair, her face turning a tarnished silver color. "I think the Rizoniat woman fears us my brethren," Arjim tipped his head at a cocky angle, his tone threatening. "Enough!" Tren demanded. He leaned back against the table and folded his arms watching as Arjim and Calem stood at attention. He then turned his attention to Shardantin. "Shar, if this is true, if this female is their Tina, it is a bequest of our divinities. She shall be found free of Brit's Scorn. I am sure of it." Shardantin sighed as she cast unreadable eyes first at Calem and then Arjim. Her nose twitched and she blinked several times, a trait characteristic to the Rizoniat when thinking.

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“The orders …,” she stated in a manner much more timid than before. "You'd be condemning a fertile female," Rjant added. "Fertile …." Shardantin frowned and blinked several more times. She jerked her head to one side as if shaking something off and then headed toward the opening in the pergola, but instead of leaving right away she stopped and turned around. "For the sake of a rare fertile female, I will see what I can do, but be warned, there could be other charges." The collective sigh from Calem and Arjim that followed the comment was clearly audible. It likely went unheard by Shardantin however, as she was already gone, as were the two ISDS medics who accompanied her. "Don't express your relief prematurely," Rjant spoke up. His thoughts were capture by Tren who turned and stared. All knew they were speaking to each other silently. After a few moments Rjant spoke aloud again. "Word has spread to the tribes of Esotar that," Rjant paused as he glanced toward Gre'aecha, "…perhaps I should let the Pontiff explain." All gazes fell to the tribe's spiritual leader. He remained silent for a moment, his impassive affectation reminding them of their own spiritual leader, the Po ntiff Jer. The hood of the maroon, woven robe he wore still covered his head though it was pulled back to reveal his face, an indication he was at least neutral to the matters at hand. Had his hood been fully pulled forward and concealing his face then any concession they might be seeking would most likely fall on deaf ears. Gre'aecha formed the delta with his hands, and his breathing became rhythmic. His expression however, remained flat. "Che wis rutib on a'lejer…" As before, he spoke in a thick, ancient dialect that wasn't immediately recognizable by Calem and Arjim. They absorbed the phrase, silently repeating what was said, the words they'd learned during their schooling phases bouncing back and forth between their heads until the translation sank in. It is by oral word we have learned her ears are dead …. "Dead?" Calem asked. Arjim's brow furled as he thought about that for a moment. He nodded when he realized what likely happened. "Egress from her craft …." "Ka!" The Pontiff separated his hands and curled his fingers into a claw, the gesture clearly conveying that he was vexed about being interrupted. He pierced Calem and Arjim with a disapproving glower and then waited several moments emphasizing his warning before speaking again. "Jardia, che zees oftisa lerkitcha …. Gre'aecha spread his arms to gesture the air around them and they all listened carefully as he conveyed the story of the spirit bird's plight and how it gave birth to the goddess after it tumbled to the ground. When he was finished, the Pontiff pulled his hood forward to cover his face. "Release their restraints." Commander Tren indicated the cuffs around Arjim's and Calem's wrists. He waited until Aurus and Vean freed the two brethren before continuing. "Your Tina is under the protection of the She'amatina." Arjim rubbed the side of his head and winced. The now bruised, egg-sized lump there was reminder enough. He looked at the Commander. "We have complete confidence we can claim our Tina from amongst the female tribes." Tren sighed. "No doubt, warriors, but even still the virgins are on high alert. Their mating rituals have commenced and the brethren males are on the prowl. The She'amatina are

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moving about quickly." "Again, Commander," Arjim implored. "Why is this an issue for us?" "It isn't, in regard to the mating rituals, but Shardantin is prepared to dispatch Allegiance liquidators to eliminate her if we don't find her first.” Tren glanced at Gre'aecha. "However, the Cu’cjani Tribunal will not tolerate more intruders and are vowing to find her first and turn her over. The Pontiff informs me they have no concern about her condition when they do." "You mean dead or alive?" Calem mumbled, his throat tightening. For the first time since they were very small children the animosity between him and Arjim began to soften. They shared a mutual emotion--fear. Now that they had discovered that their woman still lived after so many tormenting phases of empty existence without her, the thought of having her ripped away from them again was horrifica lly unbearable. "We must find her quickly." Arjim gulped attempting to breathe against the angst causing his chest to tighten. He sensed the same in Calem. "It would be wise," Rjant agreed. "The Allegiance will exterminate your Tina without reservation if they locate her first. Likewise, the Tribunal of Esotar is angered at the intrusion on sacred ground, complicated by the rising fear of the tribes particularly with the Triconjugal hunts commencing. They fear their own Tina's lives will be at risk." "Is she safe with She'amatina?" Arjim asked. Rjant nodded. "The tribal virgins believe her to be divinity sent and a sacred blessing to their commune. They will protect her as much as they can from any males that attempt to take her." "Which brings another thing to my attention," Tren began. "Have you Flaunted?" Arjim opened his mouth to answer but decided otherwise and clamped it shut. Calem spoke in his place. "We have only just discovered she still lives, Commander." "You've linked and sought her, found her." Tren rubbed a palm across his chin as he considered his own comment. "I'm assuming you are in full Edification with her at the least?" "Not exactly." "Then what?" Tren asked. "You've been in a dominance battle phase after phase. It will continue to worsen until the changeover takes place, until you become like in mind and accept each other as equals." "We attempted to capture her away from the tribe," Calem began. "But this Tribunal subaltern, I believe it was this Jardia the Pontiff spoke of …." "Kicked his scrawny ass before we were able to snatch our Tina away." Arjim snickered. A growl rumbled from Calem's throat. He puffed up his chest, while moving closer to Arjim, attempting to loom over him threateningly. "I believe it was you she felled first, cousin." Tren watched them guardedly. His agitated sentries were nose to nose and snarling, their aggressiveness toward one another re-emerging. He signaled Aurus and Vean to stand in alert, just in case their muscle was needed again. "You have eased into her subconscious I assume?" "Uyo, sir," Calem answered though he kept his steely glare on Arjim. "She has a perception of us." "Then she knows why you seek her?" When neither of the brethren answered, Tren glowered at them. "Does she know where you are from?" Arjim and Calem both swallowed, their gazes still locked. "Does your Tina even know where she is?" "Sir," Calem gave him and inquisitive look. "We know she crashed, but exactly how did

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she get here?" "A cloaked wormhole," Tren answered. He then addressed Rjant. "Intelligence informed me there's a possibility that the Radicals are aware of its existence. Zupol Egrin's fleet is positioned in the Ward to guard the area. Egrin's own star vessel is poised to slip through it should the need to prepare the inhabitants on the other side becomes vital." After explaining the situation to his brethren and Chief Loyal, Tren redirected his attention to Calem and Arjim. "We need to use your link to locate and inform your Tina of the danger she is in. Hopefully your Tina will come to us. She does know where she is correct?" Calem responded this time. "We began to tell her Commander, but …." "She is not a Tertani woman," Tren interrupted. "Surely she at the very least knows that you indeed exist and aren't just a figment in her mind?" The brethren dropped their heads, shoulders slumping as if deflated. The anger inside of them faltered. Arjim answered, "We have sort of told her." "Sort of?" Tren furled his brow. "Our link to her is defective, Commander," Calem dolefully informed him. Aurus snorted and then mumbled. "This is getting interesting." "Defective … how?" Rjant asked. He glanced at Tren who shook his head in the negative, indicating he hadn't a clue as to what they meant by that. "Despite our transdelta linking being strong there seems to be a deficient connection to her," Calem responded. "She fades to and from our thoughts beyond our co ntrol." "Fades?" Tren gave them a curious look. "I have never heard of such a thing. How can this be?" "We do not know, though we have managed to begin the Edification to a degree." "Without her knowing a blazing hades thing about you?" Tren's brow lifted. "Ka! The poor female must be completely confused." "She knows us from her -- our childhood, sir." "At least she will flee in earnest," Rjant remarked. "The Triconjugal Hunt should be a pleasurable one, particularly with the Prowlers stalking her in the traditional way." Arjim's wrinkled his brow. "Traditional, Chief?" A slow smile eased across Tren's face as Rjant's transmitted explanation materialized in his brain. "It would appear my Chief Loyal and esteemed brethren have been presumptuous." "How so Commander?" Calem asked. "I was relatively convinced," Rjant began. "That this intruder was the Tina you were seeking." "Quite insightful, brethren," Tren remarked. "Uyo, was it not?" The smug, nonchalant façade Rjant presented was unconvincing, and they all stared at him. In answer, he shrugged. "What?" When he was met with skeptical expressions, Rjant laughed and then confessed, "Ka, so maybe not so insightful, the Pontiff Jer informed me." "How would the Pontiff know what transpired between us?" Calem exchanged glances with Arjim. "He overheard it in the temple," Rjant told them. "The two of you talk aloud while you're linked." "That's embarrassing." Aurus chuckled. "Regardless," Rjant nodded in Gre'aecha's direction and then continued, "The Pontiff and the Esotarian Tribunal have agreed to remain at bay to allow you to prowl for your Tina."

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"This is a good thing." Arjim smiled. "Under a certain condition," Rjant began. "It is demanded that if we are to hunt your Tina in tribal territory, we do so in the traditions of old as their clans are doing so now." The mere mentioning of a traditional hunt had Calem and Arjim groaning impatiently. Every Tertani male alive adored the primal nature of the Triconjugal stalking, and it would be especially erotic to engage in the Trigon mating rituals by dictates of the ancient ways. It was just what Calem and Arjim needed to help ease the growing combat between them. "I have no concerns with Gre'aecha's request," Tren remarked. "However, once you have your mate captured she must be held in quarantine to be tested for Brits Scorn." "Understood," Calem returned. "You do also understand it is likely the Allegiance will serve charges upon her? Our only hope of exonerating her is to convince them she indeed is a Tertani mate and that her manner of dissension upon us was by divinity offering and of no threat to the Allegiance and our galactic cause." "Uyo, sir." "In light of that," Tren continued. "And you will comply." "Uyo sir?" Calem exchanged a look of apprehension with Arjim. Ka, I'm getting a very uneasy feeling, brethren. As am I, cousin, Arjim answered Calem's unspoken concern and then aloud he asked. "And that would be, Commander?" Tren's gaze shifted back and forth between them, his long hesitation increasing their edginess. The discomfort worsened when his expression seemed to fill with sympathy. "Choose your Trigon Prowlers," Tren stated. "Capturing her will be easier with the Triconjugal mind-link." "We can do that, Commander," Arjim answered, and then mumbled I think. Calem mentally reflected the same concern to his cousin. The problems they'd had with linking to their Tina had them worried that perhaps the Triconjugal link to prowling brethren might not work either. Tren exchanged glances with his brethren, Rjant and then spoke to Calem and Arjim. "You will also bid the Esotarian Sh'em to the linking. The additional Prowlers chasing after her will hopefully speed her capture. "But how can we gain the Esotarian's cooperation if we cannot gain their trust, Commander?" Arjim frowned. "Gre' aecha, will inform them that you are brethren on the prowl, one in the divinity spirit. He wants her removed quickly from these lands. They will cooperate." Tren's expression became pensive as he rubbed his chin. "I can only hope the alteration in what is expected following her capture will not disconcert them." "Disconcert?" Calem glanced worriedly at Arjim and then returned his attention to the Commander. Tren winced. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, closed his mouth briefly and then finally issued the order. "There will be no mating." At first Calem and Arjim stared at Tren in disbelief. If they didn't mate with their woman soon, they would surely try to slaughter each other, and this time one of them might succeed. No mating? Arjim repeated silently. No mating meant an escalation in their battle for dominance. They might actually kill each other. "No mating, Commander?" Calem asked, needing verification for Tren's

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incomprehensible statement. Tren reiterated, "You are forbidden to mate with her." "But …," Arjim began to say. You heard me!" Tren's voice grew louder and even more unyielding. No mating!"

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Chapter Nine "Damn it, Tren!" Alea yelled into the commlink unit. "She's from Earth. You can't do this!" Tren's brow creased at his She'mana's distressed reaction. He didn't like it when she was upset. "I think you should've kept your mouth shut, brethren," Rjant, who stood next to him, remarked. "What about the Trigon Rituals?" Alea pressed him for answers. "That's sacrilegious!" Tren couldn't hide his guilty expression. "I agree, brethren." Rjant folded one arm over the other. "It is rather deplorable of us." "So you have no intention of including me in the Triconjugal hunt?" Alea continued. "With the savage tribes roaming about, and the possibility of Liquidator intrusion Alea," Tren explained. "It's too dangerous for you here. You could get hurt, or worse." "But what about Bligh? Her mates, Bjead and Larimon have been chosen as Triconjugal Hunters and she's there!" "Alea, Bligh is a trained sentry. She knows how to fight." Alea glared at him, and then his motive dawned on her. Her lips separated and she was at a momentary loss for words. "Does Bligh know about this?" "Alea…" Tren began. "You haven't let me finish explaining. We are using the hunt to…" "She's an earth woman, Tren. She is one of my own. How could you!" "Alea, we are at war." "And your rituals have nothing to do with this war!" Alea had had enough. At her wits end, she slapped off the switch and disconnected from her Sh'em. Tapping her foot rapidly, she thought for a moment and then turned toward her mother- in- law, Dmor, and stared at her in clear frustration. Dmor didn't say a word. She merely picked up Alea's son, her Ashe'aem, her grandchild, and set him upon her waist. "What should I do?" Alea implored. One of Dmor's brows lifted and she looked at Alea as if the answer should be simple. "What do you think a true-natured Tertani woman do?" "How should I know I'm an Earth woman?" "Are you Alea?" Dmor lifted a brow. "Are you not one of our own?" Alea pursed her lips and became pensive. After a short time her expression relaxed. A sly grin spread on her mouth. "You'll stay with the children?" "Of course," Dmor answered her. Alea nodded. "I am a Tertani woman!" Hear me roar! She then stomped from the dwelling she shared with Rjant and Tren. Once outside, she headed toward Tren's hover cycle, straddled the vehicle, and revved the engine. Grabbing the helmet that was attached to the side, she shoved it on her head and sped off. She'd be damned if she was going to let them turn the Trigon Rituals into a fallacy. They wanted a hunt? Well she'd

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give them one! **** It rumbled through her like a wooden rollercoaster car, and it seemed just as jolting and noisy. Fast and furious Sydney felt the intense magnetic draw to… What? What on mother earth was it? After the warrior woman had jerked her from the chaotic scene, she along with several other women traversed the territory making camp at night and climbing along mountain crevices and pushing through a series of forests. The entire way Sydney felt as if she was half in a stupor, the voices plaguing her mind almost every step of the way. Now they rested, and Sydney found herself surrounded by nothing but strangely painted forest greenery. Or should she say maroonery? Snort, I’ve been marooned. Sydney looked around before her gaze stalled on some nearby shrubbery. Her attention then darted from one tree trunk to the next--brick red tree trunks--and then she tipped her head upward to examine the octagon-shaped leaves hanging from the tree branches above. Well, some of the colors were maroon … ish … but a lot of the shrubbery around her had hues that were closer to a deep-purplish-red, and they were absolutely, prehistoric-sized ginormous! Even weirder was that Sydney didn’t see any growth that was green. Not one little leaf anywhere. Zip, nada, nothing. Sydney curled her bare toes into the soft, warm dirt, noting its rich, amber color. With a frown on her face, she considered the scene and categorically decided that this was proof positive she was on an alien planet. She took a whiff. The air smelled like wet grass, but it wasn’t humid or moldy smelling. It was refreshing and unpolluted. Sydney grunted as her attention shifted to where the female warrior woman was. Her name was Gardenia, or something close to that, if she’d read the wo man’s lips correctly when they attempted to chat. Sydney stared at the woman’s ass. Not because she wanted to but because it was the only body part sticking out of the wall of bushes they were hiding behind. The other women were out hunting she supposed. They always came back with food or their flasks filled with that pinkish drink after disappearing, but as for her, Sydney, she sat for what seemed like hours, with nothing to do but focus on the pain in her ears. She was getting a little grumpy. Releasing a sigh, she fingered the collar of her flight suit that lay on the ground next to her. Gardenia had retrieved it along with her boots and underclothing from beneath a rock--a honey-yellow rock, after Sydney used every charade she could think of to co mmunicate that she needed to have the garment back. The six loose tablets of over-the-counter pain killers were still in the pocket, and she readily downed eight hundred milligrams. It dulled the pain to a degree, enough to make it barely tolerable. As for her prescription meds, much to Sydney’s dismay, they were gone. Leaning back against the trunk of the tree behind her, Sydney smoothed her hands along the thin cover still tied around her waist. She was wearing the white, cotton tank top she always wore beneath her flight suit. She'd also donned her panties for modesty and safety's sake, but had chosen to keep wearing the thin cover for the time being since the weather was so warm, and the running had her sweating, and she was still trying to cool off from it. Aside from that, it would make her look less inconspicuous to the natives of this world, or at least she hoped it would. Sydney rested the back of her head against the tree trunk and sucked in a breath, wondering what was going to happen next. As she exhaled her mind began to bend and she was suddenly woozy … she was suddenly drifting …. A humming in her head began … male hums.

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Our woman …. “Wha…?” Sydney struggled to bring her subconscious mind to state to the reality's surface. She didn't want to be drawn to them, didn't want them clouding her judgment, making her believe …. “Please go away.” She gasped in exasperation, but much to her relief, they at least weren't bickering this time. Something else was happening. Male voices hummed in her mind, beginning softly and then growing louder, until it became clear they were chanting. Arkis umdja ohal fe asi lehiamen. Sydney understood the words--By the grace of the Mahatma Divinities we open our hearts …. Rajel egruam elo dgesmail agrakisi mudia alaihj greamu. Lfer kesisata pg'achiel suost ambiaq veiso udal em felio tiai eamba wai lej… …our minds, our spirits for these rituals … bind us brethren of the Trigon, bring us a prosperous hunt and blessing in what thou has begun we humbly accept this linking to complete this sacred hunt and tripling …. Tripling? Is that anything like a coupling? It is time, Sydney, our woman. We come for you. Only death alone has the power to put our conjugate asunder. Once young and boyish they had raided her thoughts, chatted with her and teased her. Within the dreamy state in which Sydney interacted with them, they gave her comfort when she cried, held her hands, kissed her cheek. She missed the hugs and the silly games they had played--their bickering, always, always were they bickering and wrestling with each other, as if they had something to prove. Sydney sighed. She had missed them painfully when they were banished from her brain. Did she really want to banish them again? Sydney thought about the scarce few times she'd relented and let them meander through her mind, the last few times before this recent return. She was on her first menses during one of those earlier instances, and they'd been somewhat wild and insistent with her. It scared her a little, well sort of … okay it scared her a lot. They were sniffing her all over, fondling her and making sexual advances. She was torn between surrendering to them, allowing them to have their way with her, allowing them to fully inhabit and captivate her mind, but she chose sanity, and pushed them away. In truth her heart was shattering. She allowed them mental access only one time after that, when she was barely an adult, believing that she could handle it, but she couldn't. They were overwhelming, larger, even more sexual, more frightening to her. It wasn't fear of their carnal aggressiveness toward her that turned Sydney away, however. What had her retreating was her own lurid thoughts and how badly she obsessed over them to the point of being unable to get involved with anyone else-delusional fantasies! It was then she made the decision to prohibit them from ever invading her life again. Yet the loss of them was so devastating that she nearly overdosed on sleeping pills that night she made the decision to permanently send them away, else she be put away for being looney. My god I was so young. Sydney's thoughts drifted from past to present, and she couldn’t help but grin. Their sexy, deep, voices, their trespasses on her body, now roused her in a way she was reluctant to resist. They were tormenting her libido, teasing her lust to a craving ache that she wanted to satiate. To make matters worse, they were louder and clearer and even more intense than ever before. Oh get a grip, Sydney! She chastised herself for the ridiculous musings. You’re behaving like a nutcase, talking to and fantasizing about imaginary mates.

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Yum … two imaginary mates. Mates? It was how she felt about them. We are not imaginary, Sydney. One of them said. We are coming for you, woman. Get in line. You are in distress, Tina. Nice guess Einstein. A sensual male voice chuckled. Who’s Einstein? Apparently not you, Sydney answered. And why are you rubbing my leg? You feel exquisite, Tina. The other male spoke. You… Arjim… Could you please stop pinching my nipple? I don’t think so, Arjim returned. We crave to touch you. Well I crave, I feel … oh! Though Sydney couldn’t quite see him, she sensed a presence. The entity pressed along the length of her backside--intangible, yet perceivable, his warmth wrapping her, permeating her, charging her insides. A firm, muscled arm swept around her hip, the palm of his hand slipping between her legs to caress her inner thigh. Slowly he moved in an upward motion, his gentle touch so stimulating it caused Sydney’s breath to hitch as she paused to savor the heady feeling. It was then she realized the ringing in her ears had ceased. So had the pain. Hey, I don’t feel anything! They misinterpreted what she meant. A palm flattened on her lower belly enhancing the needy ache that was blossoming down below. He increased the pressure, the slightness of it still enough to cause her clit to tingle, and her inner muscles tightened. Wetness began to seep from her vagina when he pulled her firmly against his body. Her female muscles clenched tightly, begging for the unmistakable throbbing mass of male hardness that had taken up residence in the crease of her ass. Do you feel that, Tina? He cocked his hips, allowing the rigid shaft to slide against her backside. It was Calem. How she knew that without actually being able to see him was amazing, but nevertheless, she did. His touch was so familiar it was as if he’d never left her. She wanted him, needed him, craved him. She wanted them. The notion was crazy! Yet there it was. Her sexual urges were crazed to experience the touch of both men … together, one without the other somehow seemed incomplete. Now how in haywire libidos is that supposed to work? Sydney attempted to relax her mind and body, as in the past it would give them the ability to access her mind. With her thoughts open, ready to speak, it occurred rather abruptly to Sydney that she was too lucid to be asleep, and if that was true, then what planet of consciousness did she happen to be on? Not the planet Earth, sweet woman, Arjim spoke. You are departed from your planet, from you entire galaxy. The Divinities have brought you to us so that we might claim you. Before she could respond his lips took pleasure on her mouth, his tongue dipping in to taste her. A longing that spanned her life time stirred memories of an earlier day when they had once kissed her sweetly and with innocence. Yes, in the past she could always tell them apart. She could tell them apart now even though she could only feel their presence. At the moment Sydney couldn’t care less as to how or why. Her libido was too busy going rampant at the exquisite arousal created by mouths and hands that indulged themselves all over her body. Yes, she gasped as his hand slipped between her legs, and since she barely had any

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clothes on, he was able to easily brush the cloth aside to deftly rub his fingers on her pussy, the push on her clit as he rubbed her so perfect that Sydney couldn’t help but squirm. Soon I will lick you here, Tina. Now would be good, Sydney rasped out, thrusting her pelvis at him. She drew up legs and opened for him. He hesitated for several tormenting seconds but finally obliged her, moving his head downward, finding and suckling on one of her labia, and then the other. Sydney groaned, gyrating her pelvis in a quest for more. Lips touched her throat. Calem… So lovely in passion, he whispered. His hand slid over her lower belly and he began a slow circular pattern, massaging the concave area above her mons, teasing an ardent response from her g-spot, his massaging fingers working in tandem with Arjim's tongue, now licking her inner lips and swelling clit while circling a finger at the outer edge of her vagina. Sydney’s head fell back, and she moaned. Oh damn they had some skills … and if they continued as they were … I’m going to cum. Lovely, virgin woman, Calem growled low and nipped the flesh where her shoulder met her neck, just in the place where her nerves were most sensitive. She shuddered, the sensation spreading, a euphoric yearning devouring her entire body. Sydney arched her back, thrusting her breasts upward. She could feel her nipples stiffen, jutting, begging to be touched. Our mate, Calem suckled one of them, wetting the material of her top. Impatiently he untied the knot that held the cloth together, his mouth seeking her now naked breasts. They both moved on them, each drawing a breast into their mouths, their fingers now urging her on, Calem rubbing her clit, Arjim prodding her opening, gently sliding in and out of her, yet avoiding her hymen. My playmates, Sydney gasped at the gloriously erotic sensations. Without reservation she slid her hands downward, aching to touch them, to stroke the erections prodding her. They felt wonderful. Hard and hot, she ran her thumbs over the heads of their shafts, wetting the tips with the moisture seeping from them. Their growls of pleasure thrilled her, encouraged her, and she pumped their cocks, relishing in how hard they were and the opposing shapes of their shafts, Calem's curving upward and Arjim's curving down. She hungered to fit them together, fit them inside of her. I’ve missed you so much. As we have missed you sweet Tina, Arjim whispered. Now cum for us lovely woman. She was almost there … almost …. Sydney rocked against Calem's stroking hips, tried to bear down on fingers pumping in shallow thrusts inside of her, but it wasn't enough and she whimpered in frustration. Sensing her desperate need, Calem sucked her nipple one last time before sliding his lips to plant kisses along her flesh, moving over her stomach and then lower, to her thigh, and then across her mons as Arjim moved his hand aside. They both licked at her clit briefly, two tongues, wet and seeking, lapping her pussy, urging her excitement, drawing her closer to orgasmic release. They shifted with Calem settling his face fully between her thighs. He began lapping at her, rhythmic strokes with his tongue against her swollen bud, and she cried, her pleasure rising. Arjim slipped alongside her, cupped her chin, kissed her mouth. "Such beauty, our Tina," he whispered. His hand sought her breasts and he massaged her nipples, rolled them, pinched them gently, and she panted, strained, pushed at Calem's mouth as he licked her steadily. Sydney clenched Arim's hair and he wrapped his arms around her, angling her upper body against his chest, holding her firmly as she arched, her body stiffening, and then gasped out

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as her body seized and shuddered in climatic ecstasy. Oh my god … oh my god, Sydney gasped, listening to Calem groan as he lapped at her juices now flowing from her. Arjim nuzzled her neck, kissed her chin, her breasts and drew her closer, cradling her to him as she continued heaving for air before finally drawing in a long breath and sighing. She went limp. I always, I never … She couldn't finish the words. All she could do was savor the after burn of sexual desire now gratified. Come to us, She'ami, Arjim whispered low. As he spoke his arms slipped away from her. Calem’s did the same, his head sliding from between her thighs, and she could feel them receding. No, please don’t go. Stay and play with me …. no don't let go …. Sydney! Who are you talking to? A voice from the distant past infringed on her thoughts. No one mommy. I’ve told you honey, you have to stop this. Kevin, I’m worried. Sydney grimaced at the echoing recollection of her mother’s concerned words and her father’s frown as he looked down upon her. She'd felt so small then, so, so tiny, swallowed by her parents' disappointment. Something was wrong with her, and it was their mission to determine what it was. Multiple visits to the shrinks and brain scans that found no abnormalities, the constant poking and prodding and persuading her there were no voices that Sydney was so convinced she could hear was enough in and of itself to drive her over the edge. The terrible anxiety that followed, marring her tenth year--the year they had to disappear. By her own hand, the decision left Sydney devastated. What if they didn't come back this time? What if they truly, truly abandoned her? Sydney stretched her arms and cried out for them. We are here for you now and will never again leave you … we are soul spirits … we are the Trigon ot Sydney ... . Calem … Arjim…, she beseeched them. A voice shattered her stupor and Sydney's eyes popped open. She forced her consciousness away from the strange non-slumber, half sleep plane of awareness and stared at Gardenia as she backed out of the bushes and stood. The woman tipped her head in question and it was then that Sydney became aware of her own trembling. Fear … anticipation … excitement, a need to find out the truth, to find them. A gamut of emotions raced through her, conflicting and anxiety provoking. "Oh god, I need my meds." Gardenia frowned and then spoke garbled words that Sydney sensed were supposed to be comforting. “Sure, if you say so.” Sydney scratched her head, took a deep breath and held it, attempting to calm her nerves. She released the breath in futile exasperation. Gardenia spoke again, but the buzzing words were lost on Sydney. “Imagine that,” Sydney replied, completely clueless. She shook her head. The returned, blank stare was a sure indication that Gardenia had no inkling as to what Sydney was babbling either. Sydney huffed out a lengthy sigh. At least the pain med continued to work, dulling some of the discomfort in her ears--sort of. Instead of ice picks jammed in her canals, it now merely felt like she had toothpicks poking around in there. Totally tolerable--as tolerable as a root canal … without anesthetics. Gardenia's attention shifted, and Sydney followed the line of her gaze. Eight of the other women had returned and they were saying something to Gardenia. A full-blown conversation

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ensued. Unable to hear them, coupled with struggling to tolerate the pain was very frustrating for Sydney. Additionally, she knew she'd have no say in whatever it was they were plotting. She watched the intense verbal exchange. Occasionally one of the women would wave a hand or point. At the moment none of them seemed to paying her any heed. Sydney rose to her feet. She had to pee. Glancing at the group she realized they didn't seem to notice her movement. With a shrug, she slipped into the bushes and went in search of a good spot to relieve herself. It would be unwise to go very far since it was quite clear she was a hunted woman, and she still wasn't convinced that her hide wasn't on the menu. She continued to wandered further and further into the forest, unwisely further away from Gardenia and her group, considering she couldn't hear, but Sydney didn't care. It was almost a reprieve to be alone, meditative even, so she kept going. Abruptly she stopped in a small clearing, deciding it was a good place to relieve herself. Someone nearly did the job for her. From out of nowhere, a screech caused Sydney to jump, and then a woman swept by her, nearly knocking Sydney from her feet, still screeching as she passed. She'd sped by so quickly that Sydney barely had a glimpse of her, but it was definitely a woman, completely naked and apparently fleeing from something, or someone. The someone or rather someones, weren't far behind. Two males burst through the trees, startling her. Sydney screamed and then cowered having no time to jump out of their path. They leapt over her, and as they did Sydney caught an unexpected eyeful of muscled legs, penises and gonads. "Good god!" she yelped, blushing belatedly at the naked men, but they'd already vanished, giving chase to the woman. Sydney remained crouched for a moment, unsure if others would follow but there was no one. Cautiously she rose to her feet, the incident leaving her jittery and concerned. Summoning her courage, Sydney pushed back her fear, and then her anger reared. Bastards! The woman needed help! Without hesitation Sydney ran after them, but slowed her pace while trying to consider how in god's creation she was going to find the strength to face-off with two very powerful and obviously determined men. Aside from that she couldn't hear! What choice do I have? She couldn't let them rape the woman! Sydney narrowed her eyes. Up ahead and through the trees, she thought there was movement. She crouched and took cover behind one tree after another, peeking from behind each one until she was close enough to see what was happening. Sydney recalled her military training, visualizing all the defensive maneuvers she'd learned, ready to put them into action. She only hoped she could save the woman without getting herself killed in the process. Cautiously, Sydney took refuge behind a tree trunk and then peered around it, bracing herself to see something deplorable taking place. She furled her brow. The woman was … smiling? At first Sydney wasn't sure if she was misinterpreting an alien expression so she waited and watched. It shortly became clear that the woman indeed suffered from no distress. She stood with her back to the two men and wriggled her naked ass, which had to be the universal gesture for come-and-get-it right? The woman then flashed them a seductive grin. At the same time she shook her leg and laughed. Sydney looked toward the woman's foot and saw that around each ankle she wore bracelets of some sort, and as the woman shook the other leg Sydney sensed that there was some significance in the jewelry. The woman then laughed again and began scooting around. The two males chased her, caught her and then sandwiched her between them. A blush flooded Sydney's cheeks, embarrassment mixed with a touch of voyeurism and a heavy dose of fascination as they began pawing the woman's body, stroking and kissing her all

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over, and without a bit of further resistance from her. In fact she seemed to be enjoying it, if the smile on her face was any indication. One of them lifted her leg and then… Holy snap, crackle, and romp! They thrust their cocks into her. At least that’s what Sydney thought they had done. From where she stood it was difficult to tell, but from the manner in which their pelvises all moved in cadent accord it certainly appeared as if they were having intercourse! Was that even possible? At first Sydney looked away but temptation got the best of her. She lifted her eyes and watched, her body heating with intense arousal. The woman was moaning, her eyes were closed, her expression glowing with pure delight. A yearning ache seated itself low in Sydney's belly at the sight. She craved to know what it was like to be trapped between two hard, male bodies … for real and not by fantasy. Where they here … here in this alien world? Could it be that she was brought to them by some higher mystical power? They'd always told her they were real. She studied the mating trio, unable to pull her gaze from the fascinating scene. Although Sydney had never considered engaging in voyeurism other than a dirty movie or two, amazingly the inhibition she initially felt dissipated quickly. In fact, watching the woman being fondled by the two men was only serving to enhance her own excitement. That is until one of the males spied her through the trees. She gulped and stiffened, thinking he might come after her for spying on them, but his lips turned up in an arrogant smile and there was a lecherous gleam in his eyes. Sydney blushed again and cast her eyes in a shy, downward gaze, but the lure to observe the enticing scene was too powerful to resist, so she raised them again to have another look. His eyes were still on her and his smile widened as if inviting, as if enjoying that she was watching them. Feeling vulnerable and a little bit embarrassed again, Sydney turned and ran, sprinting down a rough path through the forest. She didn't think she was being followed, nevertheless she ran a little further until remembering there was another issue. She still had to pee. "Well this looks like as good a place as any." Sydney stopped. With another quick look around, Sydney peeled down her underwear pushing them over her thighs and down to her ankles. She squatted down, hoping something didn't bite her in the ass while she was taking care of business. Sydney thought about all that had happened since she'd crashed. One thing was clear. There was definitely a lot of running and chasing going on, and it seemed to be for the purpose of mating. Come to us, sweet Tina …. Sydney gasped, her gaze darting around. No one had spoken aloud, she realized. They couldn't have because she was deaf. It was them again, fucking with her head. Her thoughts wandered to the two barbarians that had tried to capture her. As much as she wanted to deny her suspicions about her childhood friends from this reality she'd been caught up in, Sydney couldn't help but admit that those two barbarians were more familiar to her than anyone she'd ever kept company with. What about those uniformed men? They weren't naked like the rest of the men so what was their intent? Were they rescuing her, or maybe trying to arrest her? The latter seemed more likely. Maybe those weren't military uniforms at all. Maybe they were some kind of spiritual garb and she really was the sacrifice … or the feast! Were they cannibals? A tribe of savages that want to eat me and two hunky men messing with my head who want to … er … eat me. “I think I prefer to go back to the dreaming,” she mumbled.

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A pleasant scent drifted into her nostrils and Sydney closed her eyes. Geraniums … and fresh rain … mmm … uh oh. Her sleepy lids lifted slowly, and she saw bare feet--large, male, bare feet. She had an unnerving sense that they weren't the only pair of feet around and glanced over her shoulder. Shit … there was also someone behind her. Her head jerked forward to see the face of who stood before her. A shudder rocked through her. It was him, one of the barbarians who'd tried to nab her when she was trying to escape the melee, and he was just as hot close-up and personal as he was from a distance. Except this time he wasn't even wearing a loin cloth. This time he was as was naked as a sphinx cat.

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Chapter Ten "Well ain't this is a bit awkward?" Sydney gulped. Caught like a fool with her panties on the ground … ugh! She didn't even want to think about what the one behind her was getting a gander at. The one in front watched her with intense blue eyes imprisoning her within their glittering gaze. Even from her humiliatingly awkward position she could see the gold shimmer around his irises. They remained fixed on her even as he reached to the side and tore a large leaf from a nearby bush and then offered it to her. "You want me to wipe with that?" Should I do it, or just drip dry? She was desperately trying not to peek at his groin, instead forcing her attention to remain fixated on his incredibly gorgeous face. He stepped a little closer and crouched down in front of her and extended the hand that held the leaf. Despite her misgivings, Sydney snatched it from him. Amazingly it felt as soft as real tissue but she didn't dwell on that overlong. Instead she quickly, trustingly, maybe a little too trustingly used it to take care of things. Oh god this humiliating. She dropped the leaf and intended to make hasty work of gathering up her panties. Belatedly she started to worry about breaking out with some horrid rash from using a plant to swab her nether region. She could already feel her pussy starting to heat. In fact, not only was it heating, it was also tingling … rather pleasantly. "What the hedon's pastime did you give me?" Sydney asked him as she stood, but he only stared back at her, watched her … hungrily, she thought. Hum … such sexy, eyes he has …. Slowly her eyes drifted shut, the fires of lust beginning a slow sensual burn inside of her, but when the man behind her palmed her ass, Sydney jolted in surprise. She let out a little squeak but was too shocked to move, hoping these two didn't have some kind of pee-pee fetish. She was even more surprised when he tugged up her underpants to cover her up instead. Oh this is really, really freaky. She squeaked again when he slipped an arm around her torso and picked her up, setting her on her feet. When he released her, Sydney spun. The sudden motion caused needle-point shards of pain to shoot through her ears. "Oh," Sydney whimpered as the ground tilted beneath her. For some gawd- awful, unexplainable reason her upper limbs forgot their protective function, remaining firmly plastered to her side … useless appendages! She was going down … face first. Oh, this is so going to hurt. Arms caught her, Phew! And he gently steadied her against his body, her cheek resting against his warm, smooth chest, and Sydney thought she could rest there forever, inhaling his scent, drinking him in. Ah …. "Hr, hmr mr abhr shn," his voice vibrated, and Sydney's eyes lifted, seeking the pleasing sound that made her forget she was supposed to be leery of him. Dense blue eyes met her gaze, his expression tight with concern. He cupped her cheek with his hand. "Hr, hmr mr abhr shn." Sydney didn't reply. All she wanted at the moment was to hear that sexy sound hum sweet nothings in her ear, which actually wouldn't be such a feat since barely nothing was what she was hearing. Agonizing pain speared her again.

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"Oh just kill me now!" Sydney cried, her face contorting with the agonizing pain spearing her ears. "Chop off my head or something. Just make it stop!" A tear trickled from the corner of her eye. The one who had been in front of her that was now behind her stepped closer. Pressing his palms to her shoulders the heat from his touch draping her skin, seeping into her, he whispered something in her ear as he caressed her neck. "I can't hear," she whimpered, her voice sounding quite disheartened. The one in front shook his head. She watched him raise his right arm while steadying her with a single-armed grip. The one behind her moved his hand, slipping it sensually along the curve of her back stopping to give her firm support on her right hip. He raised his left arm. Their fingertips and thumb met creating a triangular form. Instantly the pain and dizziness faded and her head did another kind of spinning. Sydney felt drugged, but she didn't fall completely under. Instead memories again surfaced, memories of old, of innocent days when she heard t he voices of faces unnamed, of times of anticipation as she waited for them to come and play, and the aches of craving them when they went away. It couldn't be … could it? Her mouth fell open. "Calem?" Her eyelids drooped and she forced them open, clinging to that magnetic, blue-eyed gaze and winsome face. His smile was beguiling-- full, sensual lips that had Sydney longing to be devoured by them. Lips she knew would taste heavenly delicious if she ever got close enough to … oh-h-h yah … She was close enough. He kissed her. Without giving it any consideration, Sydney parted her lips, ready to savor his flavor. His tongue slid into her mouth, and she met it with her own. He tasted as good as he smelled, an instant aphrodisiac, an analgesic to the last smidgeon of pain she felt, and Sydney wanted more. Her body shuddered when he took her hand, enfolding it within his own. Like a favored blanket his gentle grip gave her comfort, oddly, made her feel safe. Safety took on a new meaning when he drew her hand between his thighs, and she allowed him to do it. She felt the heat from his loins first, bathing her palm, and then … something warm and soft. Involuntarily her fingers closed around it, and she felt two, rounded nuggets. His balls? If widened eyes were a universal gesture he surely must've read them because the gleam she saw appearing there at her reaction was primal, as if he was devouring her innocence. He groaned his approval. Heat flushed her cheeks, and Sydney broke the kiss. Yet oddly, she didn't want to pull her hand away from his groin-- yah right, Sydney knew precisely why she didn't want to pull her hand away. She'd masturbated for years thinking about being able to do this very thing. Touch him … touch them in a sexual way. "Calem?" Sydney breathed out, repeating her question. He nodded, and with his confirmation, her heart skipped a beat. That could only mean one thing, that other …. "Hr, hmr mr abhr shn." The one who held her from behind murmured indecipherable sounds, his voice an engaging hum that bathed her, soothed her, captured her with just as much ease as did Calem's gaze. She turned her head to look at him, her other--dare she even believe it, her other playmate. "Arjim?" Oh what gloriously handsome men they'd grown into. He nuzzled his face to the side of her neck, the warmth of his breath wiping against her skin, the scent of him--there it was again--fresh rain and Calem…geraniums and Arjim, the now

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entangling fragrances boggling her sensibilities. Her mind alerted to only one thing, the provocative smell of their mingled scents and the seductive allure of their body heat. Well, okay that was two things, but nonetheless they were causing her sexually deprived, aching anatomy to quake with unbidden need. "Psh sh mpf?" He asked her a question. At least it seemed phrased as a question. Sydney furled her brow and shook her head. She couldn't decipher what he asked. That reminder brought her attention back to her ears and consequently to refocus on the pain she was feeling. Tugging at her lobe, she grimaced, hoping he would understand the nature of her injury, and apparently he did. They broke the link their fingertips kept and rising rapidly to a full state of consciousness, the pain slammed her. "Oh Jesus!" Sydney gritted her teeth. With a yelp, Calem jerked. Arjim laughed. Oops! Apparently she had a death grip on his gonads. Sydney yanked her hand back. Oh my god I'm such a spaz! She offered an apologetic look while clamping her hands over her exploding ears, trying to focus on something other than the pain, something more pleasant. She focused on Calem's marvelously chiseled chest. It was then Sydney realized he wasn't completely naked. He was wearing a baldric of some sort, the end of one of those curved weapons sticking up from in back. How had she not noticed this before? Duh … getting caught peeing, two naked sexy men and two cocks jutting hard in front of her … that pretty much said it all. Calem reached into a sack attached to the strap that circled his waist. He pulled out what looked like a syringe. What he was about to do didn't register with Sydney immediately. If she'd had any sensibility, she would've seen it coming but ah, alas Sydney really had no clue at all. Before she could react, he took the syringe- like device and crammed it into the orifice at the side of her head, and much to her dismay, a hiss painfully filled her skull along with what felt like a blast. "Holy shit, that hurts!" Sydney shrieked. "You asshole!" Talk about a mood killer! Hot something--she couldn't quite tell if it was liquid, goo or air shot into her ear canal. Was it electricity? She tried to reach for the contraption but from behind, Arjim grabbed her arms and restrained her. Much to her horror Calem moved the thing to her other ear and repeated the process, drawing another shriek from Sydney. It felt like the insides of her ears were rapidly swelling, the pressure so intense she thought they would burst. Impossible! They were already busted. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, and what the hell was that leaf you gave me to wipe with!" How odd to be horny and in pain at the same time! She squirmed and Arjim tightened his grip. There was nothing she could do but grit her teeth and ride it out. The ride was short- lived. Within seconds, like a quick shot in the arm, the pain vanished, giving way to an annoying itch, which dissipated swiftly. Arjim released her, and Sydney jerked her arms away as if it was she who was breaking through the restraint. She whimpered a sigh and rubbed her ears, and then swiped the tears that flowed freely from her eyes. "Is that better, Tina?" "What?" Sydney lifted her head, drawn to the lulling sound of Calem's voice. She was suddenly feeling light, as if being released from a great burden. "The aurifuser doesn't seem to have worked, brethren," Arjim expressed his concern. "She is still unable to hear." They were speaking the secret language they'd taught her when they were children, and

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Sydney could understand every word. Amazing! She could also hear as sharp as a nail. Or was that clear as a bell? Arjim cupped her chin and tipped her head back to look at her face. "Can you hear?" Oh yum, he was sumptuous looking, his face, his nose, his eyes, equally as enticing as Calem's … sigh …. "Woman?" Calem said. "Do you hear us?" "Huh?" A lopsided grin appeared on Sydney's face as she tipped her head toward Calem. She licked her lips, her eyes dropping to his mouth, his very tempting mouth. She'd remembered his youthful kisses, innocent, little pecks mostly on her cheeks, boyish playfulness, but despite their ages, lovingly nonetheless. Arjim and Calem, both were affectionate and loving, even as boys. When they weren't fighting that is, which seemed to occur more than the affection did. "I administered it as instructed?" Calem frowned as he stared at the med tube in his hand. "You used it incorrectly. I should've handled the med." "I'm not an imbecile, you imbecile," Calem retorted. "I can follow a simple direction." "Oh for the love of Pete!" Sydney interjected, speaking English. "I can't believe the two of you are still fighting." "What is Pete?" Calem asked, also in English. "And why should we love it?" Sydney straightened and stepped out from between them. They both stared at her, and she stared blankly back. "Wha…?" Sydney blinked. Who in history was Pete, and why should they love him? The thought was derailed with her next inhale. Their now fully blended scents charged the air and sexually assaulted every nerve in her body and then … … As instructed? Recall broke the spell. "Now wait just one cotton-picking minute!" Sydney began to protest. "What is a cotton-picking minute?" Arjim asked her. "Uh …." "Perhaps it is something Pete loves?" Calem suggested. "Well at least our Tina can now hear." "You're damn straight I can hear, and stop distracting me!" "What is a damn …." "Knock it off, Calem!" Sydney demanded. After all of these years they were both still a couple of goof-balls! "And you knock it off, too, Arjim!" "Knock what off of where, lovely?" Arjim gave a look of confusion. "I'm not wearing much to be knocked off." He glanced at Calem. "And neither is he. Unless you refer to our weapons." "Or our naagis," Calem added, referring to their man-nuts. "Grr!" Sydney vocalized her frustration. Weapons … it was the weapons between their thighs that seemed more deadly than the ones at their backs … and that fucking leaf! Calem frowned. "You seem a bit irritable, lovely Sydney." His eyes remained fixed to hers as he directed his question to Arjim. "Does she not seem a bit irritated?" "I'll show you irritated." Sydney shook a fist at him, the juvenile gesture reminding her of days gone by, of times when she was constantly getting on them for their smart-ass behaviors. "Perhaps you should explain, She'ami," Arjim suggested in calm whisper. He lifted a hand and palmed her breast, the soft compression causing her breathing to quicken and her heart to race. Her body responded with a spontaneous wave of sensual warmth, so natural and

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unrestrained it was as if it was accustomed to reacting to him in such a way. "What?" Sydney blinked again. Calem grinned and she was suddenly aware that his hand was grazing along her thigh, gliding closer--closer to her …. "Oh my…!" Sydney jolted as his fingertips reached the crotch of her panties to skim across her scantily covered clit. A dream was one thing but these two were flesh and blood real! Just to be sure, however, Sydney reached up pinched the crap out of Arjim's earlobe, digging in her fingernails to see if truly he was real. He yelped and pulled back, staring at her with a look of disbelief that she'd actually hurt him. Calem bellowed a hearty laugh, rubbing his own ear at the same time, catching the sting through his brethren mind-link. "Explain, yes." What was it that she was so concerned about right before they'd decided to start fondling her? Oh wait, yah! "What kind of leaf was that?" "It is called a twittle leaf, the Esotarian leaf," Arjim answered. Twittle leaf?" It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out his meaning. "You gave me an aphrodisiac?" "It is an ancient ritualistic practice used by to prepare the Tina for the mating." "I see," Sydney commented rather coolly. She was feeling a bit perturbed. She balled her hands and with a resounding thud pounded them once against Calem's chest. Still clenching her hands into two tight fists, Sydney gritted teeth, her nostril flaring. Where she should've been elated to know the imaginary playmates that plagued her childhood were as real as she had always hoped they'd be, she was instead pissed! "Damn you! Damn them to hell!" Sydney cursed. "And what would happen if you weren't around and other males were?" "Tina." Calem reached for her, but she slapped his hand away. "It only enhances the Tina's attraction to her mates, not other males." "Well isn't that convenient," Sydney growled. She huffed out a breath. "Do you even realize how confused I am already?" How dare they try to add to her already confused mental state by artificially manipulating her libido! "And what makes you think I need any help with that anyway!" Sydney began to pace. "It's like adding insult to my injuries!" Which actually thanks to them, she now didn't have. Sydney shook her head, trying to clear it of the lusty fog they'd induced. There was something else she was curious about. Think, Sydney, what was it? Oh yah! "You did as instructed. What was that all about?" "And what about that aurifusion thing or whatever you called it." "What about it?" Calem asked. "You said that you used it as instructed. Are either of you a doctor?" "Ayn," Calem answered--no. She readily understood the foreign word, and frowned as she looked at Arjim. He shook his head in the negative. "Are either of you nurses?" Sydney shifted her gaze between them. Again they both shook their heads. "Any kind of medical personnel at all?" Calem and Arjim exchanged confused looks once more, and then their expressions changed once they were able to interpret her earthly words. "No, we are not healthteks either, Tina," Calem answered her in English. Sydney went silent. They all went silent. She glared at them incredulously for a

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moment, and they stared back at her saying nothing. "Then what the fuck are you doing messing with my ears!" Sydney balked. She raised her fists again, this time to strike Arjim, but he caught them in the palm of his hands. Our mate is a feisty little thing, he transmitted to Calem. She always has been, Calem returned silently. "It is why she is well-fitted to us." "Let go of me you turd!" They responded by moving quickly and sandwiching her between them, but Sydney wiggled free and out from in between them and quickly scrambled further away, putting herself a good distance away from them, or at least out of their arms' reach. "You're not going to do this to me again!" "Do what, our love?" Arjim furled his brow. "Fuck with me!" Sydney returned. Out of frustration she reached up and clenched a fistful of her own hair in each hand. "Ever since we were little kids that’s all you've done is messed with my head, with my life …." Calem grinned and stood, as well. "Fuck with you is precisely what we have been aching all of these phases to do to you, woman." That comment should've pissed her off further. Really it should've, but now seeing them standing side by side, for the very first time she really began to take in their appearance, and was too stunned at the resemblance between them to be thinking about anything else. They were remarkably identical. She paused, her mouth agape. She snapped it shut but it dropped open again. "Sydney?" Arjim stepped toward her but when her eyes grew wider he abruptly halted, fearing they were frightening her. She looked from one man to the other and then gasped. Their muscled frames and towering heights making her feel very small--helpless. Stepping back a few paces, Sydney tipped her head upward and scrutinized them more fully. She stared at them, studied them. Arjim's eyes were exactly the same shape, the same creamy blue color as Calem's. Their faces, their jaw lines angled the same way. They both had the same straight, pristine noses, and their softly waved hair was a copper brushed with shades of blonde. Arjim's was cut just to his shoulders and Calem's a bit longer. They stood to nearly the same height, and their muscles…oh so very, very nice, lean, but toned, and…oh my god! Their cocks were both still very, very hard. Sydney's mouth fell open again. Calem's was curved up, Arjim's was curved down. "Do you want a taste, Tina?" Arjim rubbed his groin, and before Sydney even had a chance to swipe at her dribble, he stroked the magnificent form. "Uh…" Her eyes quickly snapped to his face as her cheeks flushed crimson. What in her virginal mind was she supposed to think, to say, to desire? They were only supposed to be imaginary playmates! "Are the two of you twins?" "We are cousins," Calem answered. Cousins? Oh my gracious! Sydney's libido slapped her cleanly in the face … er … crotch … boobs. Talk about fantasy sex! Calem smiled approvingly, as if knowing what she was thinking. It set Sydney's insides ablaze, and she smiled back, her attention now clinging to his smooth, full lips--lips she wished her own lips were clinging to once again. "Ayn, ayn!" she protested her physical reaction to them, speaking the word in their language, a language that over the years had become as natural to Sydney as her own. "Ayn?" Calem asked. "We are not cousins?"

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Her gaze shifted from his face to where Arjim's erection was still exposed freely, jutting in her direction as if declaring its claim on her, and oh snap her eyes got stuck there, the direction of her thoughts momentarily faltering. Hum … He had such a pleasant-looking… PRICK! Sydney's vexation pushed through her tawdry fascination with his boner. "You will not do this to me again, damn it!" "Do what, She'ami?" Arjim asked. "Appear in my life at your own free will, uncaring of how you might be affecting me and my life, and then … then to keep vanishing like that!" Sydney spit angrily, glaring first at him and then Calem. "And stop calling me your woman." "Let us explain, Tina." Calem took a step forward. "No!" She held up her hands to stay him. "I want to know something." "Ask anything She'ami," Calem returned. "What is thing you do in my head?" Sydney tapped her forehead. "Are you controlling my emotions?" "That is beyond the capabilities of the linking, Sydney," Arjim answered. "But the pain in my ears, and the … the, you know …" Sydney pursed her lips. "Your horniness?" Arjim grinned. Her sudden coyness about the sexing was delightful. It made him, both of them, desire her more. "Well, yes that!" Sydney huffed. "At certain sub-cortical frequencies we are able to induce certain situations," Calem told her. Sydney's irritation escalated. "You mean manipulate?" It was a known fact back on earth that mental states could be affected by low level electromagnetic waves. In fact it was used for many psychological interventions. Arjim and Calem exchanged glances, and then Calem continued, "I suppose it is a means of manipulation, fear, sadness, euphoria, it depends on the subcortical frequency we decide to link at." "We have been able to ease your pain, Tina," Arjim added. "You have no right!" Sydney yelled. "And I forbid you to do it again." "It is in our Tertian nature!" Arjim's voice raised an octave. His reaction was out of fear more than anger. Their experience with the link had been shaky at best and they both were now wondering if she actually had some kind of power to reject them. "And we link with you for as long as it is necessary." Sydney folded her arms and glared at them. "You played a wicked and cruel game." Arjim reached for her. "We were mere boys playing with rituals we were not yet mature enough to …" "NO!" Sydney yelled. She recoiled, avoiding his attempt to touch her. Her body quaked with distress. For a moment she was silent, but when she spoke again her voice was lowered, the tone of it icy cool with warning. "I will banish you both again … forever." All of the emotions she suffered from years ago, suppressed but unresolved came crashing in, along with the pain and a torrent of confusion. Their seizure and then retreat from her mind, her impressionable, young mind had been traumatizing, the withdrawal she'd suffered, from their absence in her life, from the drugs she so desperately needed to wipe her mind c lean-oh god, she'd thought she'd made peace with all of that. Every muscle in Sydney's body went rigid--denial or resignation? She wasn't crazy. Had passing through the wormhole been destiny fated?

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"I knew it." she finally relented, her shoulders slumping. Her chest tightened, and she swallowed back unbidden tears. "The whole time I just knew it!" Calem frowned, concern etching his expression. They could tell she was close to tears. "Knew what, Sydney?" "That you were real." Sydney glared at them as if daring them to deny it. "I'm real." Arjim grinned. Imitating Sydney he pinched Calem's ear drawing a threatening glare from him. "Are you sure of that, brethren?" Calem retorted by grasping Arjim's nipple between his thumb and index finger. He twisted it hard. Both men tensed, feral growls emerging from their throats, and it was clear a fight between them was imminent. "Oh fuck this shit," Sydney murmured. Let 'em kill each other for all I care. "Thanks for the ride gentlemen." She began to turn away but stopped. "But I have an alien leader to find so I can get back home." Like hell she was going to find the alien leader. Unprepared to deal with all of it at the moment, she just wanted to get away from them so she could muddle through this without distraction. No such luck. As soon as she turned to run, a hand clasped her wrist, and Sydney knew he was digging in his heels because her feet continued to move but her body was going nowhere. Annoyed, her lips pursed tightly, her gaze dropping to inspect where she was being held before snapping upward to look at Calem's face. Arjim came up from behind him. "You have yet to truly experience the ride, evala'luso," he said, and Calem showed his agreement with licking his lips as his eyes meandered the length of her body. The endearing words unexpectedly warmed her insides, softened her anger. Not to mention the way they were looking at her heightened her arousal. She liked the idea of being mated to them, but Sydney wasn't going to let either of them know that. Jerking her hand from Calem's grip, she was pleased that she'd escaped so easily. Alright, maybe he allowed her to escape easily. Nonetheless she was free and ready to take advantage of it. With that, Sydney turned and glanced over her shoulder. Both their grins widened, golden sparks in their eyes igniting as their randy gazes remained fixed on her. It was if they were eagerly anticipating what she was about to do. "You might think of me as your woman, and that surely might be true." Sydney's heart thudded, the excitement building inside of her as subconscious memories of their boyhood desires surfaced, of how they fondled her body later in their lives when they older. She dashed down the path yelling as she left them behind her. "But you'll have to catch me first!"

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Chapter Eleven Sydney gazed upward, observing the figure crouching on the rounded peak of a burgundy-colored rock. Some thirty feet up she perched, weapon in hand, keeping watch. If nothing else, Gardenia was diligent … diligent and dedicated to her cause--her cause being protection. She'd made that sharply clear after she intercepted Sydney while she was dashing away from Calem and Arjim. They had chased after her when she bolted only to be ambushed by the women she was travelling with, which was likely the only reason she'd been able to get away. Sydney had no idea what happened after that because she didn't stop to find out. She knew they were okay though because they were making every attempt to get cozy in her brain ever since she ran from them. Gardenia seemed to be aware of what Calem and Arjim were doing. Every time Sydney began to fall into a stupor Gardenia would shake Sydney back to reality. In regard to her bathroom break, she'd scolded Sydney for the hours and hours it took to trek the mountain trails, traverse the open fields, and then hike a large open path that brought her and the other tribeswoman who travelled with them to this estrogen-filled encampment she was now being hidden in. Sydney skimmed her palm over the soft, warm grass she'd parked her rump on--the maroon grass. The blades felt like velvet. "This sure beats the scratchy crab grass lawn I have at home in Florida." She glanced around, observing the others. All of the people in the nomadic tribe were female, most exceptionally fit and quite capable of self-sustaining. "Hrias jgaih erfre." Dingy, or whatever her name was, murmured, but to Sydney, the words sounded like a mish- mash. Sydney studied the tribeswoman who sat beside her and shrugged. Despite her hearing being back to normal, Sydney still didn't understand most of what was being spoken by the women. They were speaking a dialect different from the one Calem and Arjim spoke, although she did pick up a word or two here and there. "Hrias jgaih erfre," the woman said again. "Haven't got the foggiest," Sydney shrugged…or maybe not. She didn't understand any of those words. Dingy gave her an understanding nod and then returned to plucking at the orange spikes sticking out of the yellow fruit she was holding. Bored, Sydney picked her own piece of fruit from the hand-woven basket, handling it carefully to avoid getting pricked by the sharp protrusions. She gingerly began twisting off its spines. There were a few things Sydney had figured out. First and most importantly, she'd probably been sucked through that wormhole because Calem and Arjim apparently had some control over her body and they must've made it happened with whatever magical powers they had. Sydney thought about her lost prescription. She'd been taking them for so long that not having them now left her feeling vulnerable. Her thoughts turned dark. It was Calem and Arjim's fault. Sydney's nostrils flared and she huffed out her irritation. How could they have

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failed to explain what they'd been doing with her all of those years? They nearly destroyed her life! Her parents … oh god. Wait until they found out that her imaginary friends were real! Sydney frowned. Her parents … she closed her eyes, imagining her mother's grievous wail when the military knocked on her door to inform her that their only daughter had been killed in the line of duty. Sydney's heart twisted at the thought. At least her father would be proud. A military man himself, he'd always said that serving your country was the only way to go. Of course he was now retired. But she wasn't dead! Moreover she wasn't insane either! Now, because of Calem and Arjim her parents would never know. The anger fired up inside of her and stuck in her craw. Blowing out a gust of air, Sydney attempted to push her emotions aside. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life living with spite. She glanced down. When she'd wandered into the forest, she'd left her flight suit and boots behind, and Gardenia wouldn't let her go back to get it. So here she sat in her underwear, a sarong tied around her waist and a tank top. At least the weather was warm and having some clothes was better than being naked like she was on that altar. Mmm … an altar… and your naked body to worship as we please …. Sydney froze. Uh-oh, they're back. Our Tina. We are close …. We are coming for you, our mate …. "O-o-h…" Sydney was suddenly woozy. Cumming … yes …. We long to hold you, kiss and touch your body, all of it, all over …. I just … you can't …, Sydney protested in thought. No, not now … I'm supposed to be pissed off at the two of you. Phase after phase we've craved to touch you, to smell you, to taste you … your lips …. Yes … I mean no …. Your body …. No …. The sweetness that is between your legs …. N … what? Oh yes! A lust-filled and very male groan drifted into Sydney's brain. She gulped with anticipation. A breath, hot and enticing teased the flesh of her neck and then he nipped her gently. Sydney's libido shot from zero to mach five in a nanosecond, the wave of carnal passion blazing through her. Oh my ... . I'm so horny. He chuckled lightly. We will pleasure you then, woman. Did I say that out loud in my head? Sydney frowned. Did that even make any sense? Your thoughts cannot be blocked from us during transdelta Edification Tina. Well, I guess that answers that. How silly of me … and what the snap dragon is a transdelta Edification! Arjim chuckled again and Sydney had no doubt it was him. She knew them both. She knew them both about as well as she knew the back of her own hand, which she'd like to slap them with. The thought gave her pleasure, and then she wondered. If given a choice out of several hands, would I really recognize my own? So analytical our Tina, always the inquisitive child, always so curious, Calem murmured, his voice low yet arousing, reverberating through her, seizing her amorous senses, causing a slow, deep desire to begin its agonizing burn. You told me that I asked too many questions. Sydney whispered as her body relaxed,

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settling into the seductive sensations. There was much back then that we could not answer. His breath fanned her cheek. He was closer. Warmth wrapped around her, soothing the years of agony her heart had suffered after they were forced to leave her life. She never forgot, never quite got over her best friends … her best imaginary friends! An image at this moment, Calem said. Though not imaginary as we have shown you. But… The rest of the thought failed to materialize when the incredible sensation of a mouth on hers thwarted her intention to rationalize. He suckled her bottom lip, his fingers threading through the locks of her hair holding her to the kiss. So soft, so sexy our woman. It was Arjim, and she could taste him, smell him, feel the warmth and softness of his lips as he pressed them against hers. This was no little boy anymore. Likewise, neither was Calem. She sensed him, as well, his essence moving closer, the sultry heat of his body intensifying, caressing and surrounding her. Calem stretched his body along her backside and cradled her to him, his presence as tangible as if he was truly with her in the flesh. Sydney sighed, delighting in the exquisitely sensual feel of being caught and held between these two men. It was as if a grievous loss had been restored, righting a world that had turned topsy-turvy. It was like coming home. She realized then that anywhere her hot, sexy mates were was truly home. Calem slid his hand to the back of her knee and he lifted her leg spreading her open, offering her to Arjim for exploration. Warm fingers slipped beneath the waist of her panties, and slid over the curve of her mons. Arjim pressed them against her labia and began massaging her in an easy circular motion. Her clit flushed to life, throbbing, and with it the rushing of her juices. So wet, Tina, he said as his fingers dipped into her, gently opening her. He drew up her wetness, gliding his moist fingers over her pulsating clit, rubbing it. Sydney's thighs parted further, her pelvis rocking, thrusting, craving …. His erotic whispers ambled through her mind, bathing her in sultry warmth that heightened the sexual tension building within her. Sydney squirmed seeking firmer pressure, and he obliged, pressing just a little bit harder, rubbing her clit just a little bit faster, causing it to swell with need. A second hand skimmed along the front of her thigh, but it wasn't Arjim's hand. It was Calem who touched her, his fingers joining Arjim's beneath her panties. With a single finger, he stroked her opening, further smearing the moisture seeping from it, and then slipped just the tip of his finger inside. Oh god! Sydney moaned. No one other than her ob- gyn had touched her there … no one … except them. For the first time she fully understood the hunger her friends had talked about, that crazed need, the wanton agony, the intense sexual arousal and abandonment that the touch of a lover … or two … could stimulate. She had a torrid need to be penetrated … by both of them. The inner walls of Sydney's vagina contracted at the thought, and she felt herself gush. Calem uttered a sound of pleasure and stroked her clit, now engorged and slippery. Open up our love, Arjim groaned in her ear as he nuzzled her neck, his hand skimming over the slight swell of her belly and then upward, leaving Calem to continue playing between her legs. We desire to enter you with ease, to give you pleasure. Molding his hand around her breast, Arjim skimmed his thumb over her stiffened nipple, the titillating sensation causing sparks to bolt straight to her crotch. Sydney shivered, every nerve in her body was being teased to life. It occurred to her then, they'd stripped off her clothes--save her undies, and she'd been

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unaware of it happening. She didn't care. All that mattered was that they were both there, her dream makers, her fantasy friends--childhood playmates who were now her grown-up friends…friends with benefits--sexy, exciting benefits. How could she ever let them go again? We want to feel your orgasm, lovely Tina, Arjim said as he brushed his lips against hers. His breath on her face was warm, soothing yet arousing, the scent as pleasant as the morning spring air after the rain, clean and fresh. Sydney whimpered, her arousal intensifying. Tipping her pelvis upward, she sought relief … and got more than she bargained for! Calem's tongue swiped at her clit. Sydney gasped. He swiped it again and then stuck his tongue in her opening, swirling it around. Sydney tensed, the muscles between her legs contracting hard as she spread her legs wider. And then he took her to the edge. He lapped at her swollen bud, licking her over and over again in rapid, short strokes. Sydney exploded. She couldn't stop it! Not that she wanted to. The orgasm was unexpected, fast and frenzied. It flared in her groin and convulsed through her insides, and something, something she'd only heard about … something she'd never even experienced while masturbating … incredible … she was squirting her cum. Reaching with one arm, she sought Arjim's face. The other she stretched downward wanting to touch Calem. There was nothing. Empty air greeted her. Like a flash of lightening, they'd been there and then they were gone … gone …. "Ouch!" Sydney yelped and jerked her hand back, dropping the fruit that s he'd been holding. A small drop of blood began to bead on her thumb. "Damn prickers." She stuck her wounded digit into her mouth and sucked. I wonder what it would be like to suck on their pri …. A string of murmured words interrupted her thoughts, and Sydney's head snapped up. Dingy was staring at her. She murmured something again, the expression on her face giving Sydney every indication that she was horribly disturbed by … something. Oh friggin snap! While Sydney was nursing her wounded finger, she had been completely unaware that her other hand was inside of her own panties! She was playing with herself in front of all and sundry! Well okay, in front of Dingy, but still, that was mortifying enough as it was. Sydney eased her hand from her underwear, the scent of her own arousal coating them, and awkwardly swiped her fingers on her makeshift sarong while staring at Dingy with complete chagrin. It was then she saw Gardenia bounding toward her, weapon in hand and shouting. Fear was etched across her face. "Eger asgha verja!" Gardenia waved her arms in the air and then sheathed her weapon. She glared at Sydney with a deadly serious façade, before slashing her fingers across her throat before forming an 0-shape with them. Sydney stared at Gardenia, concentrating on the movements. "Danger is all around. Okay I got it." Duh … no kidding warrior woman. I've been running for my life since I bounced onto this planet. "Bera djidha!" Gardenia continued giving her a stern look as she thrust her pelvis forward. Sydney bit her lip, trying like the dickens to tamp her amusement. Yet she couldn't quite wipe the smirk from her face, particularly when Gardenia continued by cupping two hands around her breasts.

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"Boobs." Sydney snickered. "Yah I got a couple." She mimicked the position by giving her own tattas a little squeeze. Gardenia then stretched out her arm, indicating the area the y'd travelled to. "Yah, yah, I understand." Sydney nodded. "I'm safe here, with the women. Stay put or else." Why Gardenia decided at this moment to remind her of these little tidbits, just after she'd gone into her diddling daze … Oh gawd! Gardenia must have seen her with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar playing with her …uh … er … cookie. Sydney felt her face flush but it quickly subsided. Instead she completely lost it, bursting into laughter at what Gardenia did next. The woman thrust her pelvis again and waggled her hand at her crotch as if she were holding a guy's weenie! Gardenia, however, was less than amused. She slapped her forehead as if frustrated. "Wirsodha efre!" She spewed her warning. Retrieving her curved weapon from the sheath at her back, Gardenia began a series of tactical maneuvers, and then drove the blade forward as if stabbing at something. "Got it," Sydney pursed her lips though the muscles in her face still twitched with unshed laughter. This was serious business after all! Lifting her arm she gestured an a-okay with her fingers. "Defend ourselves." At least they were no longer staring at each other like a couple of numb brains. During their travels together Sydney and Gardenia managed to develop a somewhat crude system of charades between them in order to communicate. They were actually becoming quiet efficient at speaking by gesture and were able to convey several things. First of all, Sydney was able to express to Gardenia how important her meds were, which was why the woman had gone and found her flight suit. Sydney in return had learned several things about surviving on this planet. Things such as which foods were good to eat, where the water was, which animals were dangerous, and specifically, the one animal that Gardenia was concerned with the most. She'd warned Sydney to beware of the men. For whatever reason, all men were bad, bad, bad!

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Chapter Twelve "We are bad, brethren, bad, bad, bad!" Calem pressed one hand against a tree while his other stroked his cock. He watched his cum spew and then rubbed his naagis, grunting at the much needed release. The sexual tension had been tormenting, the restraint unbearable. "I see no other way cousin," Arjim responded as he released his now softened member. He, too, had just finished spilling his lust. "We are ordered not to mate, but there is no reason we cannot give our woman pleasure." "I agree," Calem returned. "Aside from that, by way of ancient tradition the Tina was always given pleasure during the mind linking. It is only in our modern times that we have come to view it as a violation." Arjim lowered his head and grunted, staring at the ground. "We allowed her to escape from us. The Commander will not be pleased." "It is an innate part of who we are as brethren seeking our mate. We could think of nothing else but the chase." Calem grimaced and then pressed his fingers to his forehead, thinking about the pummeling they had gotten by the She'amatina. He shook his head. Had he and Arjim heeded more carefully they might have been able to dodge the warrior women, but they were too focused on prowling. "What confuses and concerns me even more is why our link to her is suddenly strong and connected." Arjim plucked a dargenberry from a nearby bush and popped the sweet fruit into his mouth, swallowing it. He continued his thought, "Of late we've been in complete control of our transdelta link to her." "Why do you see this as a problem? Perhaps now that she is on our planet it has righted itself." Calem studied his brethren with a concerned frown. Arjim plucked another berry and ate it. "What if our link to her disassociates when we need the connection the most? The Allegiance will take her from us." "I have no answer, cousin." Calem mulled that over for a moment. "All I know is that our link with her is now strong and our ability to p roperly edify her is giving me a much needed reprieve from my undying desire to shove my foot up your ass on each and every dawning." The craving for her grows even stronger. Calem turned his gaze skyward, his mind drifting peacefully into his brethren's head. It was an unusual state of being for both of them. Arjim sighed, the tension in his muscles he'd become accustomed to beginning to slip away. Her fall from the stars is both our blessing and our fall from grace. We did well to keep from mating with her when we found her in the forest. That, my brethren may have been difficult at best anyway, as she was somewhat pissed at us when she fled. Arjim lifted a brow, the tranquility he was beginning to feel disintegrating quickly. "It didn't help that you gave her a twittle leaf to use, you flippin' half-wit, and her arousal nearly drove me over the edge." "I could not help myself, brethren." Calem grinned. "It was there within reach and the She'amatina were nearby. I was hoping we could quickly pleasure her in the flesh for the very first time before the females reached us. They are man-eaters and not in the way we like."

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Arjim shook his head at his brethren. "I have greater concerns with the liquidators the Allegiance is threatening to send," Arjim replied. "The female tribes are much less worrisome." “Never underestimate the ferocity of the females from the ancient clans, for they are fearsome and take no prisoners,” the Pontiff Jer interrupted. He had an uncanny knack of appearing, seemingly from nowhere. “Is it not like that with all females?” Arjim snorted. His humorous reply was not received lightheartedly. The Pontiff's icy blue, silverrimmed eyes stabbed him with fierce warning, "Beg your pardon, Pontiff." The smirk on Arjim's face instantly evaporated. He returned a humbled bow to the revered Pontiff and presented the delta. "This is a momentous lore for the female tribes of Esotar, warriors," Jer continued. "To disarm the Sh'emati of their ability to link." "I know of the spirit bird fable." Calem frowned. "But it says nothing about the spirit bird laying an egg." Arjim chuckled and then commented silently to his brethren. I'd like to lay that egg. I'd like to eat that egg, Calem returned, the thought turning his cock instantly hard. "Warriors," Pontiff Jer lifted a brow, eyeing Calem's growing bulge. With a sigh, his gaze then shifted upward. "Remain focused. Your Tina's life is at stake." "What would you have us do?" Calem asked. "We seek dominance, and controlling the need to battle will delay our becoming like in mind, which must occur at the time of mating. Add to that the tripling frenzy that continues to seize us and the restraint we must gather to keep from mating with her …" Arjim continued where Calem trailed off, "It's frazzling our nerves, Pontiff." "Uyo, a consequence of your premature linking." Jer rubbed his chin as he considered the situation. "And if you mate with her, your link to her and the Prowlers will be severed. You will have no proof to give the Allegiance that she is truly a Trigon mate. This is a dilemma." "Pontiff," Calem beseeched the spiritual leader for advice. "We are impassioned by our Trigon urges more than by our duty to the regiment." "Calem and I truly fear that the need to take dominance will lead one of us to murder the other if we don't mate with her soon," Arjim added. "How can we follow the dictates of Trigon and keep her virginity as thus?" The Pontiff merely stared at them pensively. He then closed his eyes and formed the delta with his hands. A meditative chant vibrated from behind closed lips growing louder and then slowly fading away. He opened his eyes again, his chest rising and falling in deep, unvarying breaths. His gaze shifted back and forth between Arjim and Calem, the crease between his brows deepened with whatever he was considering. This strained appearance remained for half a min before his expression began to relax. Even then he tarried in speaking, though his gaze still remained steadily on them. Finally he inhaled heavily, filling his lungs and then releasing it slowly, before he spoke. "You are still able to mind link with her." It was a statement rather than a question, but still Arjim answered. "Uyo, at the moment our link with her seems intact." "If you fail to capture your Tina, if she remains with the Esotarians overlong," Jer warned, "there will be a great uprising when the Allegiance liquidators descend on sacred lands. The ancient Tribunal will order her execution to be rid of intruders. I fear bloodshed, yours and your woman's." "Pontiff," Arjim furled his brows. "What can we do other than what we are doing?"

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Again Jer hesitated before speaking, and when he did, his words made no suggestion whatsoever. He merely questioned, "How have you been ordered to Prowl, brethren?" "The ancient tribunal has ordered that we do so in the ancient way. It is why we are attempting to Edify as such." Arjim indicated his unclad body. "We prowl nude, and we have given her pleasure during the linking, in the same manner as the ancient hunts." "Is it?" Jer asked, still making no suggestions. "In the manner of the ancient hunts?" Calem thought about that for a moment and then answered, "The Flaunting was not and still is not practice by tribes of Esotar." "And is this what you still attempt to do?" Jer returned. Calem and Arjim exchanged confused glances and then Calem spoke, "Pontiff, we are not sure of your meaning." "You are still forgetting the manner of ancient Trigon mating lusts!" The Pontiff bellowed, his expression harsh. "The males of the antiquated clans remain aggressive with the rituals. Would it also not serve you well to behave as such?" "But Pontiff …." Calem’s gaze darted toward his cousin, feeling the mating hunger surging forth and blending with his own. Their pupils dilated and their blood began to roil with the ancient instinct that compelled all Trigonal males of antiquity--forced seduction. "That would mean that during transdelta linking … are you suggesting?" "I make no suggestions, warriors." Jer raised his hand and Calem went silent. His voice now calmed. "I merely ask the question, and will now ask you this. Are the two of you not at a dire impasse?" Reaching back, the Pontiff retrieved his oversized hood and pulled it down over the top of his head, his face still visible to them. "Now, if you'll excuse me, sentry, there is someone that I must seek." The two brethren watched the Pontiff retreated, walking backwards a few steps before turning and then disappearing beyond the thicket of foliage surrounding the small clearing Arjim and Calem were standing in. Thoughts shifted back and forth between them as they sorted through the counseling they just received. Calem made a questionable determination and silently commented to his cousin. Did he just give us permission to mate with our Tina during the transdelta linking? Not exactly, Arjim countered. But he suggested… He did no such thing. It is wishful thinking on your part, brethren. Quit the sanctimonious slop you give me, my endearing cousin. You are thinking the same thing! Arjim snickered in response. What is it you find humorous? You called me endearing. So what? You are fond of me. Again Arjim snickered. Uyo brethren, as fond as a fifon's teeth latched to my naagis. You are fond of me. Hardly. Admit it. When pigs fly. Arjim wrinkled his brow. "What is a pig?" he asked aloud.

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What was a pig? Calem tried to recall where he'd heard of the creature. He remembered and smiled fondly. "Our woman, she told us the story of the three little pigs, Curly, Larry and Moe." "Ka! I remember. The pink, pudgy creatures that were always picking on each other." "Uyo, they were stupid because the wolf creature ate them." "Because they kept throwing the sticks and stones they built their house with at the beast and when they ran out…" "…they had no protection so the wolf gobbled them up." Calem continued with the story. "Was she calling us stupid?" Arjim frowned. It was Calem's turn to snicker this time. "Ayn, cousin. She was calling you stupid…stupid." "Those pigs did not fly." Arjim scratched his temple. "There is something amiss about this childhood tale our Tina told us." "Ashu." Searching through the many moments they'd spent with their female as children, Calem pulled a memory forward. He grinned fondly. "She referred to the sticks and stones." "Sticks and stones?" A memory was nudging Arjim too. He repeated the words several times before he recalled the entire phrase. "Sticks and stones may break our bones…" "…but names will never hurt us," Calem finished for him. "Uyo!" Arjim laughed and gave Calem a friendly slap to the side of his shoulder. Calem's smile broadened. "Our mate was attempting to sooth the beast within us even then. I always enjoyed her many tales." "We used to chat with her for dials when we were tods." Both of them sighed simultaneously as they reminisced about their times with their future She'mana. …before she faded from us… …before she died. Calem studied Arjim for a moment. "She did not die, brethren." "Ayn, she lives." A rush of pleasure filled Arjim's heart, the sensation seemingly overflowing as he sensed Calem's own pounding heartbeat and a mind that was reveling in the same elation he was feeling. I love her, brethren. Even in the silent transfer of Calem's thought, Arjim could hear the breathless tug of pure joy. A long-overdue affinity for each other began to take root, the animosity that had flourished between them becoming slightly dimmer. Their gazes meshed. Pupils dilating the trigonal mind-blending began its ebb and flow, and the compelling drive to connect seized them. Calem lifted his right hand, his finger tips prickling, seeking transdelta completion. Arjim mirrored the position with his left and made contact, instantly triggering the link. Blood pumped heavily through their hearts, their beats synching. As one inhaled, the other exhaled, and their innermost, vulnerable thoughts lay bare while one essence entangled with the other. Arousal, passion, seeking… Uyo…Tina… Yes…My heart aches. I can't breathe. Breathe with us. I love you … my two dearly missed men. Touch me. I need you ... both of you. Our love, our woman … we take you this night.

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Chapter Thirteen His breath was hot upon her, giving her life, awakening her senses, soothing her mind. Sydney rolled toward him, lying on her side. His hand settled in the small of her back, pulling her close, pressing her tight against his hips and chest, his erection, hard and hot between their bodies. The other molded against her from behind, his mouth teasing the flesh of her neck, her jaw, the tip of her earlobe, his hand easing around her ribs sliding upward to cup the bottom of her breast. Sydney shuttered, her arousal blossoming from deep within, swelling, radiating. Her knees would've buckled, her balance giving in if she wasn't already horizontal. Still she melted into them, melded, feeling their essence diffusing around her as she breathed them in. She couldn't remember them coming to her the way they usually did, easing into her personal space, into her vulnerable mind. Tonight, they were just there, embracing her, touching her, their naked flesh keenly hot against her, and her naked flesh against theirs. They'd never been nude together and yet, here they were now without a stitch of clothing, and Sydney had no recollection of being stripped by them. How… Sydney began to ask. My clothes … I don't remember. Our linking to you is…" Arjim began. I'm not sure how to explain. We are able to link with you in varying degrees of consciousness Tina, Calem told her. and on many levels of arousal. Remember, we explained this to you? What does that have to do with my missing clothes? Shh. Calem silenced her by pressing a finger to her lips. All we ask from you now, is do you approve? Do you permit, our woman? Arjim corrected. We must be sure you will accept us in this manner. In this manner? In times of antiquity males plundered their females during the transdelta link . Submission was expected with no consent needed. You invade my thoughts, my dreams and no consent seemed to be needed then. It remains in our culture as one of our most pleasurable means of courting. Calem explained. As for the transdelta mating, over time it was deemed as a form of rape, and our spiritual laws were changed forbidding any form a sexual fulfillment prior to the Triconjugal Hunt and actual physical mating. Then why do you ask for my permission now? Arjim answered her this time. We cannot inflict ourselves upon you this way, She'ami. We will not risk the phases of love and respect and friendship that have endured within us for you. You love me? We love you sweet Sydney, with all the life within us, with the spirit of our souls that transcends eternity. Arjim's answer rendered Sydney speechless. Still she reached for them, pushing aside the years of denial that they existed, years of sexual frustration over wanting only them and no one else, the anger--anger over their uninvited intrusion into her mind. None of that seemed to

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matter at all anymore. And what do you intend to do? Sydney asked, her heart beginning to race, her body aching with need. She knew perfectly well what they intended to do, but wanted to answer them properly. Mate with you, woman. We intend to mate with you. She wanted them, yes, she had always wanted them. Her mind, her body, her heart had yearned for them from the very first time they'd stepped into her life so, so many years ago-when she was just two--two years of age. She was eating dessert in her highchair and fell asleep with her face in the bowl… We were just tods ourselves, Tina, four phases old. Arjim told her, catching her thoughts. I thought you were going to steal my chocolate pudding. Sydney chuckled at the memory. How could she still recall something that was so far in the past? The first time we touched your mind is as clear to me as if it happened on this dawning. Calem's mouth grazed her cheek as he whispered. Your pudding as you call it was the last thing our appetites were seeking. Sydney tipped back her head. Her lips parted and she gasped out in breathless desperation to be made love to. He kissed her neck. The soft yet passionate sensation caused shivers of delightful arousal to flicker along her flesh. Pudding is more important to a child than the unknown hungers of lust. Not lust She'ami. Arjim pressed his palm between her breasts, over the area of her heart. It is the passion for love that all Tertani men seek. True love knows no age or boundaries, sweet Sydney. Calem whispered in her ear as he nuzzled against her temple. She could feel his warm breath on her flesh. Our devotion to you has been infinite and undying. She understood. When they were children their love was naïve and undefined yet the yearning had been there from the beginning. It had continued to be there as time went on, always, and nothing had fully erased it from her mind, erased them from her mind. Knowing you, loving you, Sydney began, her body trembling as they their hands began roaming her body, caressing her skin, touching her lightly all over. Sh-h-h, Calem soothed. Speak no more, Tina. This eve we make you ours, this eve we mate. He brushed his lips across the top of her shoulder before continuing a seductive journey to the swell of her breast. Gently he drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked it tenderly. She felt both of her nipples go erect and moaned when Arjim drew the other between his lips, his tongue playing in tiny circles on the tip. Shivers of pleasure tingled from her breasts, and she arched, thrusting at their mouths, panting at their hands caresses and the excitement building in her groin, wet and begging for fulfillment. A finger stroked her clit--Arjim. He moved from her breast to kiss her mouth, delving his tongue inside to taste her, urging her to taste him in return. Your beauty shines brighter than the greatest of stars, our woman. Arjim whispered in her ear and then pressed his mouth to hers once again. She accepted the kiss as if it were an obsession, her tongue gliding with his, entwining, mating. The fingers of one hand laced through his hair and she grasped at it, the other hand resting beneath his strong chin, feeling the movements of the muscles in his jaw flexing as his mouth moved over hers. Calem released her other breast, his lips skimming along her abdomen, her fingers curling to her inner thigh to gently her legs further apart. She readily complied, opening for him, and he too liberty on her tender flesh, his mouth grazing down the inside of her leg, over her skin

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of her hairless mound and then up the other side. Sydney's hips jerked and he chuckled at her needy response. Quickly, he obliged kissing the folds of her sex as passionately as Arjim kissed her mouth. He inhaled and sighed, his breath hot on her flesh as the wispy sound conveying hunger, and he feasted, licking over the crease of her labia and then separating her untouched lips with the tip of his tongue. He pushed Arjim's finger aside and took possession of her clit licking it softly. We've have hungered to taste you, sweet Sydney, Calem whispered, and then continued his oral exploration of her, dipping his tongue into her vagina. Her wetness caused him to groan with a quivering lust- filled sigh. Sydney awakened with a rush of passion and love, the years of longing and heartache melting away. My spirit mates, she murmured when Arjim freed her of the kiss. By the grace of the divinities we humbly accept the gift of this tripling. Arjim spoke quietly in her ear. With open faith, Calem added, as he moved to position himself along her length, molding his body around the curves of her backside. We freely give to you Sydney our patience, our loyalty and our understanding. Always, Arjim added. What lovely words, Sydney's heart pattered in rampant beats. She wished dearly that she could see them. They were but mere shadowy forms in the recesses of her of her subliminal vision, and the most she was given, the most she'd ever been bequeathed was the heat of their presence, the sensual sound of their voices and their touch. Always she could feel their touch. We will lay down our lives to protect you, Sydney. Thank you…I guess? She chuckled nervously. And accept all offspring you gift us, with unrelenting joy. Sydney shuddered at their heartfelt words. She was suddenly nervous. Something important was happening here, but she wasn't quite sure what. We wait not longer, Arjim told her. Accept us. Uyo, Sidney answered simply. Yes. He nuzzled his cheek between her breasts, his hand meandering along her side, smoothing over hip and then between the swells of her vaginal lips, his finger dipping inside. She felt them both shift, Calem turning her to press his chest to hers, Arjim shaping his body around her from behind. Arjim slid his hand to the front of her thigh and then betwe en, while Calem slipped his hand to the back of her knee. He lifted her leg and wrapped it around his hip. Arjim shifted even closer to her. Their rods were stiff and probing, each thrusting forward and then receding at the same time, in unison, the heads gliding along her slit becoming slick, rubbing her clit, now throbbing with unyielding desire. Sydney laced her fingers through Calem's hair and he suckled the flesh of her neck. She turned her head aside and caught Arjim's lips with hers his tongue delving, his cock now pushing at the opening of her vagina. It occurred to Sydney belatedly that Calem too was beginning the press of his erection. Joining Arjim he too sought her wet heat, both stretching her at first gently and then persistently, fitting themselves, sliding deeper and then deeper still, their lusty groans filling her ears, her pussy clamping around them causing her to gasp at the fullness of their penetration. Oh … no, you won't … you can't. We can … we will … And Calem hooked her behind the knee with his arm, lifting her leg further as Arjim

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slipped his hand to the front to cup her breast, his thumb skimming her nipple. Oh stars they fit! Sydney screamed, but not from pain. Her body quaked, her heart pounded an erratic beat and she panted shortened breaths as her hips began a grinding rotation on their erections now seated deep inside. I never knew a wet dream could feel so good! Sydney crooned. They joined her in the sensual rhythm, their cocks shifting within her and growing even harder. Ka, so tight, Calem gripped her buttocks and pulled her partially on top of him. But not a dream, She'mana. Her legs spread around his hips, the position increasing the pressure to her clit, giving Sydney perfect alignment to feed her wanton yearning. Arjim rose over her from behind. Still embedded with his brethren, he propped over them both holding his own weight on extended arms. His pelvis beginning a gentle grinding that filled them all with heightening ecstasy. His balls, swollen and full, mashed with Calem's, pushed at her labia, and Sydney cocked her hips and rode them faster, squeezing her vaginal muscles around their erections, her body going stiff, her breath in heavy pants as she took them further and further in, nearing her climax. Take us our lovely, She'mana. You feed our pleasure. Arjim moaned. Calem moaned. Waves of ecstasy poured over her, and Sydney gasped out her cries releasing her orgasmic juices, her mind, her flesh her insides quaking and finally, finally bursting, an eruption of pure, exquisite bliss that matched the exquisite, orgasmic release that was now seizing Arjim and Calem. A daze washed over Sydney. She listened to her own heavy breathing and the pounding of her own heart beating, a sense of desperation to cling to them as she felt them begin to slip away. No, don't leave me. Never, She'mana, she heard Calem's promise in her head. The essence of their presence faded, and as always she reached out for them her soul begging them to stay. Idle words Calem ! Sydney cried her silent claim. You are both retreating again! Come to us. How…where? Come to us. Yes, her soul gave her no choice. They were firmly entwined. Calem and Arjim were as much a part of her as she was a part of her own self--undividable. They dwelled in every nuance of her being, every waking thought, every dream. And if…if this was merely a dream, she wanted to sleep forever. If they were real then yes, she would search for them until the end of time.

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Chapter Fourteen Sydney's eyes popped open and she was pissed ! They'd done it again. No cuddling, no warm conversation, no after-play whatsoever, nothing but wham, bam thank you ma'am and off they went. Assessing where her hands were, she sighed with relief when she discovered they were not down her panties this time. Turning her head first to one side and then the other she realized it wouldn't have mattered. It was still night, and she'd been sleeping in a dark recess away from the bonfire where the other women were dancing. Figures. She propped up onto her elbows and yawned, and then mumbled sardonically. "Apparently I only masturbate when people are awake and watching." But something down below just didn't feel…how did it feel? Her pussy and in particular her vagina was still in spasm from the after effects of fullness and pe netration and sudden withdrawal that left her abandoned and craving to be filled again. Arjim and Calem lay clear in her mind, and if their making love to her hadn't really happened, then her mind had a starship's load of an imagination because when it came to the actual sensations of sexual intercourse, it was like the blind leading the blind. Yet there it was a keen awareness of what a penetrating cock…two penetrating cocks, erect and thrusting felt like. Refocusing her attention on her surroundings, Sydney watched as a shadowy figure approached. It was Gardenia. She wore a cloth around her waist that was tied at her hip in a knot. On top she was nude except for the strap that sheathed her wooden weapon, much more crudely fashioned than those worn by Calem and Arjim. Sydney glanced down at herself. She still had her tank top on, and her skivvies, and the short sarong that Gardenia had kindly supplied her with. Her feet at the moment were bare, and although the women here were barefoot most of the time, the soles of Sydney's feet being unconditioned were becoming raw from traveling around without shoes. Thankfully Gardenia had given her a pair of ankle boots fashioned from what appeared to be a hide. Searching the ground around her Sydney found the footwear and slipped them on. They laced up at the side and provided a fair amount of cushion to her sore feet. "Tjani an gry?" Gardenia held out a small, bright orange bread ball. Sydney smiled accepting the food from her. "Thank you." It had the consistency of a sponge. She took a bite surprised to discover it had a mildly tart flavor, but tasted good. Gardenia sat next to her and they both watched the other woman as they danced. The bonfire was large, at least five feet high. The crystal blue flames didn't swirl, but bubbled upward and floated shrinking and thinning as they rose, before either bursting with a popping sound or merely fading into the air. Around the bright flames, the woman chanted while moving their feet in rhythmic steps that reminded Sydney of line dancing, except they were performing it in a circle around the fire just like one would imagine a backward tribe would be doing. Some of the woman held their weapons shaking and turn them in synchronous patterns. Others held blue-flamed torches. One woman standing about fifteen feet in front of Sydney, held a stick that rattled. The rattle was…it was…

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Could it be? Sydney blinked several times, in disbelief. Her eyes caught sight of something very familiar. No way! She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Sydney handed the bread to Gardenia and stood. "Iscka asa fej hasu?" Gardenia asked her something but Sydney ignored her. Instead she moved closer to the woman with the staff to get a better look and make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. It was made of wood, she assumed. Pointed directly upward Sydney saw that it was carved with an intricately woven pattern. Though an unnatural color, it was similar to the brick red bark on the trunks of the trees that grew everywhere. At the top, the staff split into two smaller branches. The small woman who held the stick was shaking it, and Sydney really wanted to laugh. Tied between the two offshoots was something very, very familiar to her. Something she absolutely had to get her hands on. Sydney stepped even closer, and she could clearly hear the rattling of the pills inside and could only assume it was what attracted the new owner. Well thank goodness for secure medicine bottle caps! She hoped the meds weren’t getting pulverized by the shaking motion. Even more disconcerting than that however, was trying to figure out how the hell she was going to get it back ! Maybe she should march right up to the woman and just take it. After all, it did belong to her first, and Sydney wasn't about to subscribe to finders-keepers. A split of a second later, Sydney was shifting thoughts. The roar of male voices boomed from somewhere outside the tribe, the rant so loud and so intimidating it sent the female tribe to running amok in an attempt to escape the oncoming attackers. The event was timely because the woman who was holding the staff attempted to make her escape by passing where Sydney stood. Instead when she turned, she ran smack into Sydney. Caught by surprise, the woman, who was a head shorter than Sydney, fell backward on the ground, her shock at the unexpected jolt revealed by wide eyes as she stared up at her. Sydney however, was only mildly thrown off balance, her attention fixed on the staff, which lay on the ground nearby. “Gotcha!” Sydney exclaimed as she reached quickly to snatch her prize while the native scampered away. “T’chsna!” A large hand encircled her elbow before she could grab the bottle. Gotcha! At the same time fighting around them erupted. Female versus male, the war cries rang out and the clanking of wooden weapons shattered the once festive atmosphere. Sydney turned to see who had snatched her. By the light of the fire his face glowed blue. His expression seemed to hold more amusement than it did fierceness. Oh happy snap, just as the other males, this one was naked too. Whatever it was that he found humorous was short- lived. There was a thud, his grip loosened and down he went, leaving Sydney staring at a very ferocious looking Gardenia, her hair a messy mop, her skin sweaty, her chest rising and falling as if she'd just been engaged in exertive activity--likely she'd just fought her way to rescue Sydney--again. Opening her mouth, Sydney meant to thank her, but above the noisy ruckus a whirring sound came out of nowhere. Sydney spun. Through the darkness, through the forest trees she saw an oval ring of white light moving rapidly toward her. It skidded sideways--air-skidded sideways--and came to an abrupt halt just three feet in front of her. "Get on!" A woman shouted from her…floating motorcycle? Sydney hesitated. Who the hell was this? The sound of clashing weapons, shouting women, men growling, the sense of them getting closer had S ydney scanning the area to find Gardenia fighting two naked males. The other women were scattering. "NOW!" Screamed the women. Crazy woman on floating motorcycle or naked men with sharp weapons and wagging

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dicks? Crazy woman it is. Sydney scrambled onto the cycle and gripped the seat. "Hang on!" the woman shouted and Sydney's grip tightened. They sped off, the cycle accelerating so quickly that she nearly toppled to the ground. She realized belatedly that she'd left her meds behind. "Where in god's name are we going?" Sydney yelled. "I have no frickin' idea," the woman turning her head slightly to the right shouted back at her. "Glad you have a plan," God I hope I'm not about to be turned over to some mad scientists intending on experimenting on me Roswell style. "I'm Alea," she shouted over her shoulder again. "Whoa!" Sydney yelled as the cycle tipped sideways and the woman--Alea dodged a tree. "Just watch out!" She maneuvered like a rookie star pilot with a blindfold on! Even more frighteningly, she was doing it in the dark with only an intense single headlight brightening their way. The craft rocketed forward dipping and tipping and curving around bushes and tree trunks, hurdling over rocks and through crevices that crammed the mountain forest all around them. Sheesh! Sydney wished she had a helmet on right about now…and a crash pad wrapping around her body, and bubble wrap. Yikes! Maybe a parachute? "Maybe I should drive!" Alea chuckled. "I'm not driving." "What?" Had Sydney heard her correctly? "I'm not driving!" Alea repeated more loudly. "It's on programmed piloting, complete with obstruction avoidance encoding!" "Is there an ejection seat, because I'm about to check out!" It was then that Sydney realized the woman had been speaking to her in English and that gave her pause. Had she learned it from Arjim and Calem? It was something she would ask Alea about later. For now her main concern was keeping her food in her stomach and her hide intact through this runaway train of a ride…without the tracks. The cycle began to slow, and much to Sydney's relief it came to a gliding stop. Alea hit a switch and the humming motor slowed before fading off. The vehicle lowered, setting itself on stable ground, and Sydney didn't hesitate. She scrambled off so fast one would've thought the seat was on fire. "Holy cold snap in hell!" She stared at the vehicle, the hover ring encircling it still glowing and lighting the area around them. "Sorry," Alea apologized as she hoisted a leg over the craft and planted her feet on the ground. She leaned back and parked her rump against the seat. "I didn't mean to scare you." "Scare me?" Sydney leaned back against the large boulder behind her while crossing one arm over the other. "That was kickass! Where can I get one?" "Well I'm sure the ancient tribunal leaders won't think so if they find out I brought a modern machine into Esotar." "Why is that?" "Protected lands," Alea answered. She paused for a moment and then smiled. "So you're Sydney." "How do you know who I am?" "Calem and Arjim."

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"Did they send you?" Sydney asked. Her heart thumped at the thought. "Which reminds me, how is it you're speaking my language?" Turning, Alea depressed a button on the hover cycle. A horizontal flap on the side of it receded revealing a storage compartment. She reached in and retrieved what looked like a dshaped handle. It illuminated. Holding it up to her face she stepped closer allowing Sydney a better look at her eyes. No gold around her brown irises. Sydney's brows lifted in surprise. "Are you from Earth?" "You betcha!" "But how?" "They came and got me." "Who?" Sydney furled her brow. Who? "My Sh'em, Tren and Rjant." From Earth? "Your mates…aliens…we've had…but…" If she even knew what question to ask first, Sydney's tongue certainly wasn't cooperating. "You understood the Tertian word for mate." Alea glanced around the area as she asked the question. "Yah, well I've known Calem and Arjim for a long, long time." "So I've heard," Alea returned speaking the words amidst a yawn. She reached into the storage compartment once more and pulled out a cube that was about a foot long on all sides. "Well I'm sure you have a ton of questions, but how about we get some shut eye first. I've disengaged the tracker on the cycle so we should be safe for awhile." "Safe from what?" Sydney watched in amazement when Alea rolled her oversized dice across the ground. It stopped about five feet away, gave off a few clicking sounds and blossomed into a dome-shaped…tent? "Oh now that is frigid cool!" "Just one of many modern conveniences on the planet." Alea chuckled and walked over to the tent, peeling open the cloth door. "Shall we?" Suddenly exhausted, Sydney nodded. She crawled inside and Alea followed. There was already bedding inside and she settled quickly onto them sighing at how exquisite it was going to feel to actually sleep on other than the ground as she'd been doing for whatever it was, a few weeks now? She couldn't remember. "You didn't answer my question." "What did you ask?" Alea settled into the bedding next to Sydney placing the glowing Dring illuminator between them. "Who are you keeping me safe from?" "That is a complex issue, but I'll explain that tomorrow." Alea's eyes closed and she yawned. "For the moment I'm following Trigon tradition." "And that would be?" As tired as Sydney was, she wasn't going to sleep until she had a few answers at least. "The Triconjugal Hunt…" Alea murmured. "It's tradition for the brethren, who are your future Sh'em to link with Trigon males of their choice and to hunt the female for the mating." "Those naked guys were the hunters?" "Yes, there's four of them we must evade, Tren and Rjant, my Sh'em, Bjead and Larimon who are Bligh's, and then there's yours of course." "I didn't see Calem and Arjim." Sydney frowned. There were more than four who'd attacked. "So who were the others?" "The males from the tribes of Esotar who are prowling. Its mating season you know."

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"Really," Sydney scoffed. "I thought it was duck season since that's all it seems I've been doing since I got here." "It is what we're doing, I supposed."Alea chuckled in response. "As for your mates, they were coming up the opposite side. It's likely they were going to snatch you when you ran from the other males who were raiding the She'amatina's campsite. I also saw your mates' Prowlers stalking toward the campsite as I was racing through the forest." "Prowlers?" Sydney question. "The Sh'em your mates have linked with." "Sh'em?" Sydney was really puzzled now. "Why are mated men participating in a mating hunt?" Alea sighed and reached into a container near where she sat. She pulled out a rhytonshaped object that she held upside down--or apparently right-side-up, since the cap seemed to be on the skinnier end. She opened it and took a swallow of whatever was inside and then offered it to Sydney. "I guess I should explain all of it now." "Please do." Sydney returned, a sardonic tone in her voice. She accepted the mug and took a gulp. She then took several more, listening to the sounds of her own hard swallows as she did so. She was only now aware of how thirsty she was. When she'd had her fill, she swiped the moisture on her lips with the back of her hand, as she handed the rhyton back to Alea. "From the time I was a little kid my entire life has been consumed by this invasion in my head. I need to know the truth, all of it." Alea nodded, her expression sympathetic. She began to further explain all she knew about Sydney's arrival and all she understood about the Trigon Rituals. Sydney listened intently, absorbing everything Alea was telling her and becoming increasingly irritated that Calem and Arjim had failed to explain any of this to her. "So they weren't going to kill those women?" "No, of course not. They were prowling.…" Alea paused mid-sentence. Her gaze darted toward the tent's closed flap. "What is it?" Sydney began to ask. "Is somebody…" "Shh!" Alea pressed a finger against her lips to hush Sydney. They heard a rustling outside, and she mouthed. Shit. Sydney opened her mouth to speak again but Alea vigorously shook her head from side to side. Both women listened. Alea's nostril's flared and she sniffed before shifting closer to Sydney. She lightly tapped the tip of Sydney's nose. Responding Sydney sniffed and then shook her head. She didn't smell anything unpleasant or otherwise. "Not my mates," Alea whispered. "Not yours either?" "What do you mean?" Sydney furled her brow, whispering in return. "You can only detect your own men by scent, no one else's." Ah, Sydney understood. The wonderfully delicious fragrance that Calem and Arjim issued was unique to her personal olfactory glands. No wonder they stimulated her libido so much. A grin formed on Sydney's lips but it disappeared quickly. Both women stiffened. They heard rustling around outside again. "If it's any of the Prowlers," Alea began, her voice still barely audible. "We'll lunge together and then you run like mad rabbit." Sydney nodded though she was really clueless about the running thing. It seemed cowardly. She should stay and fight. Still…something…whatever it was, something began gripping Sydney inside, an urging sensation to do exactly that…run. It was a ridiculous notion.

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She hated the five mile runs she was required to do twice a week as part of her military, physical maintenance program. Sniffing again, Alea shook her head. Her eyes snapped and locked with Sydney's, widened, yet alit with what looked like excitement as the flap on the tent lifted. Alea and Sydney crouched on their feet. "Ready," Alea murmured. "There you are!" Sydney lunged, made contact, fell through the tent opening and landed on top of someone. "Starblazing comets!" the intruder exclaimed and rolled Sydney off of her. She spoke the Tertian language, yet Sydney understood her. "Bligh?" Alea crawled outside. She held up the illuminator towards the woman's face. "Okay, I give." Sydney lay on her back staring at the stars. "Do I run now? And who the snap is Bligh?" "Where's the Prowlers?" Alea scanned the area but it was too dark to see much other tha n the immediate, surrounding area. "I could commlink and find out." Bligh said as she rose to her feet, her finger finding a button on her uniform belt. She paused, waiting for an answer. "Ayn, ayn!" Alea returned. "You'll give away our position and I'm going to catch hell for being here anyway." She gave Bligh the once over. "Why are you still in uniform?" Sydney sat up. Indeed the woman was dressed in the same style of uniform, a burgundy vest, black pants and knee-high boots that those other soldiers were wearing the first time she'd woken up in the forest. "What am I supposed to be wearing?" Bligh asked. "Triconjugal apparel?" Alea frowned as she thought about that for a moment. "In fact, if we're to follow ancient tradition, from what I've read, in the buff would be most appropriate, I think." Sydney conveyed her protest to that one! "Oh I am so not running around the jungle without my clothes on. I might…hurt something." Aside from that, she'd had enough of being stripped naked for all and sundry. Bligh eyed Sydney, her mouth twisting to one side as if she was considering something. "This isn't an ordinary hunt." "You're telling me?" Alea rested her hands on her hips, her body stiffening with her protest. She gave Bligh the once-over, examining her clothing. "If I didn't know better I would think you were working for the wrong side." "Now why would I do that?" Bligh's expression appeared indignant. "I am a Tertani woman." "Hmm…" Alea eyed her suspiciously. "Maybe." "I should be insulted by your doubt." Bligh narrowed her eyes. Alea pursed her lips, her face wrenching with irritation. "What they're doing is detestable." "What are they doing?" Sydney asked. Alea apparently had left something out of her explanation. All of this was starting to make her very uneasy, not that she wasn't uneasy about all of this already. "The Triconjugal Hunt." Bligh's chin lifted and her expression went blank. "What else would they be doing?"

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It was Sydney's turn to narrow her eyes in suspicion. "Poker anyone?" The woman did seem to be hiding something. "Whose side are you on Bligh?" Alea asked. "Maybe we should just sleep on this." Bligh suggested. "Maybe you should sleep on it." Alea snapped while pok ing a finger to the center of Bligh's chest. She turned to look at Sydney. "Now what?" Sydney was getting a major headache, regretting she'd left Gardenia. Shaking her head, Alea stalked to the tent touching something on it that Sydney couldn't see. The entire structure collapsed into its original compact, cube-shaped form. Alea picked it up, and then went to the cycle. She tossed it along with the illuminator into the sideboard, storage compartment before straddling the craft's seat. "We're out of here." Alea waved Sydney over as she produced two helmets for them to wear. What else could she do? Sydney certainly trusted Alea more than she trusted this Bligh woman, so she complied. Catching the helmet Alea tossed her way Sydney shoved the helmet onto her head. Alea did the same with her own as Sydney approached the cycle and then straddled the seat behind her. Bligh made no move to impede them. She merely stared as they sped away. "Ya wanna tell me what that was all about?" "Soon," Alea answered. They zipped along, clearing the forest and then soaring across an open field. Within a short time they came to a stop at a crag of jagged rocks. Sydney looked upward and squinted, trying to see how high it was but the crest was in darkness, disappearing somewhere above them. "Where are we?" she asked. "Not sure," Alea answered as she entered some coordinates into the cycle's control panel. "I'm scanning the area looking for a safe haven for the night." The cycle turned and then began to move slowly. It tracked a path along the base of the stone wall before dipping into a crevice and entering a cavern. "Aw shit!" Alea yelled. "Look out!" Both women ducked. The hovercraft's headlight had burst through the darkness frightening the nocturnal creatures that were dwelling inside. They screeched as they scattered, flying horizontally overhead. From the glimpse that Sydney had gotten of them, they didn't appear to be bats. They spun like tops with no wings visible, their echoing shrills piercing the once silent air as they fled, the horde disappearing through the cavern's entrance. "What the demon was that?" Sydney sat up and looked behind her. A lone straggler hit the back of her helmet and fell like a squishy drape over her shoulder. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" She leapt from the cycle and frantically began swiping at herself, jumping around as if her feet were on fire. "It's off, off!" Alea attempted to calm her, pointing an area of the ground lit by the glow of the hover ring. The creature lay dead. "Oh Jesus! I wanna go home. This is really starting to suck!" Sydney grimaced. The thing could've taken an eye out. "Thank god I was wearing a helmet this time." Alea slid off the craft's seat and removed her helmet. She picked the creature up, dangling the pink, rubbery- looking torso from between her index finger and thumb. "I think you broke its little neck."

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"Well I didn't do it on purpose." Sydney too removed her helmet to get a better look at the dead animal. It was shaped like a corkscrew and had a hairless body. Its form seemed to defy all she knew about physics when it came to flying. "So what is it?" "Damned if I know." Alea held it closer to the hovercraft's headlight. "Haven't done much spelunking since I arrived here." "How long have you been here?" Alea reached into the cycle's storage compartment and pulled out the d-shaped illuminator. She pressed a button on it and then pointed the device at the creature. "More than five years, I think." "You think?" "I haven't paid much attention." Alea shrugged and then flung the carcass through the cave's opening. She set the illuminator on the hovercraft seat, swiped her palms against each other and then rubbed her thighs. Picking up the illuminator again she walked over to Sydney, aiming the light at her shoulder. "Well the little monster didn't sink its teeth into you anyway. Good thing because it's bite is poisonous." Sydney frowned at her. "Now how would you know that if you don't even know what it is?" "Here, take a look." Alea handed the light to Sydney. "Modern technology. I speak Tertian fluently but Rjant programmed English into it for me because I'm still having trouble interpreting the Tertian alphabet." Sydney looked at the device. There was a small screen on the side that providing her with all the information on the creature she might ever want. "It's called a…chibiz?" "Apparently so." Alea chuckled as she strolled to the hover cycle. She opened the storage compartment and retrieved two cubes about the size of a ring box. "It's a chibiz." "There's a scanning system in it that identifies objects and their properties." "Now that's convenient." Sydney aimed the flashlight at the cave wall and watched the screen reanalyzing the new target. "Oh very cool. Not only does this tell me what kind of rock this is, it also tells me the bed is stable." "Lucky for us," Alea returned. "Since we're spending the night here." Alea pinched the cubes she held and they unraveled, instantly transforming into two sleeping bags. She spread them smoothly along the cavern floor. "We won't need much else for protection. The weather is always tepid here even at night, though it might get a little cooler in the cave." "I'm amazed," Sydney shook her head. "And I thought the space station I saw when I passed through the wormhole was a magnificent advancement in technology. It had to be a thousand times larger than ours." "Space station?" Alea questioned as she reclined on one of the sleeping bags. "Earth has a space station now? They built that quickly." Sydney reclined on the one next to hers and aimed the scanner at her own face squinting at the light now shining in her eyes. "Not really. It took almost ten years. It's been fully functional for almost two decades now. How long did you say you'd been here?" "Five years give or take." Alea pursed her lips, her expression showing angst. "Or so I thought. Our space program was in threat of financial ruin when I left earth." "Well after Nader became president." Sydney paused as she read the scanner results. Female, home dwelling unknown, galaxy unknown… "Nader, president?" Alea interrupted emphatically, her expression appearing astonished.

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"Ralph Nader finally became president?" "Priscilla…Nader. It was before I was born." Sydney corrected. She set the illuminator aside. "So why can't this thing identify me?" "My Sh'em have taken great measures to keep Earth a secret, to protect our planet because of the war." Sydney nodded, thinking that was good plan. "So who's Ralph?" "You don't know who Ralph Nader is?" Alea frowned. Pondering that for a moment Sydney drew on a recollection. "I think I remember reading that Pricscilla was related to a famous Ralph who lived a few of decades ago." Alea's eyes widened as reality dawned on her. "Oh my god. We're from two different times! How can that…" Alea scratched her head while she considered the inevitable. "Tren told me that Wormholes can bend through time, to specific times in the universe." "Does that mean one of us can’t return to our own time?” Sydney asked. "I don’t think so." Alea answered. "I think it just means we can only take certain paths. For me, it would be the long way around. When Tren and Rjant snatched me we didn’t come here by wormhole." Sydney laughed. "Well, Calem and Arjim apparently needed a little bit of help from the cosmos." "The cosmos brought you to them." Alea chuckled in return. "I think the spirit divinities have a sense of humor." Leaning back against the rock wall, Sydney sighed. "Their brand of humor is starting to get old." Alea harrumphed without agreeing or disagreeing. "It is what it is." Both women fell silent for a time, each with their own thoughts. For Sydney, it was a comfort to now know that she wasn’t alone in this alien world, that there was another Earthling around. It was good to have someone to relate to, who could relate to her and this plight. Even if they were from two different times, she felt Alea was still someone she could trust. Speaking of which… "So why don't you trust Bligh?" Sydney asked. "She's part of the Tertian regiment, sworn by duty. She didn't grow up here, and has had a very hard life. I'm suspicious that instead of celebrating the Triconjugal hunt, she'll just lead the men to us and then…" Alea scanned the area. "We should be safe here for awhile." Curious about the renewed angst she saw on Alea's face earlier, Sydney sat up and studied her expression further, recalling something Bligh had said. "What did she mean that this was no ordinary hunt?" "Uh…" Alea hesitated. "Once they've linked…are you familiar at all with the Trigon Rituals?" "What Calem and Arjim didn't tell me I've pretty much figured out on my own." "During the marriage hunts, the brethren choose their prowlers. They are able to link minds to collectively be at an advantage to find and hunt the Tina." "Okay, and?" Sydney had a general idea about some of that. "They're going to use the link to find you more quickly." "Isn't that the point?" Sydney couldn't suppress her grin. She was being hunted by two aliens who intended to wed and mate with her, two very sexy aliens that all of her life she'd been made to believe were fantasies. She sighed, her mind taking momentary delight in the thought, though when considering everything that had occurred it would seem more logical for her to be

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freaking right the hell out about it all! "It is the point," Alea continued. "But they have no intention of mating with you." "They don't?" Should Sydney tell her they'd already copulated during their mental link to her? After quickly thinking it over, she chose to keep that a secret for the time being. "Then what is it they intend to do?" "They intend to use their own sacred rituals to capture and arrest you." Alea told her. "What irks me is not only is it a betrayal to ancient customs but from what I understand they also linked to a few Esotarian Trigon brethren and are using them as Prowlers as well. It's just damn amoral and sacrilegious." "What?" Sydney was a little stunned and a lot hurt by what she was hearing. "Why are they doing this?" "You're a criminal." "I'm a…" Confusion set. Nothing she wasn't already used to where Calem and Arjim were concerned, but this new tidbit of information was a little disconcerting. "What did I do?" "Well I don't think you're a criminal," Alea reiterated. "But you broke some serious security laws by landing here without first being cleared on Angard." "On what?" "The space station." "Ah, I see." Sydney frowned at first and then became instantly irate. "But I couldn't help that!" Her voice echoed in angry trails bouncing off of the cavern walls. "I know that, and my Sh'em know that, but the Allegiance officials don't." The crease in Alea's worried brow deepened. "And if they catch you and put you on trial you could be…" Sydney stared at her wide-eyed, waiting for her to continue. When she didn't Sydney yelled. "Well don't stop now, Alea. You're on a roll!" Again her voice echoed off of the cave walls, and Alea winced, her worried frown deepening further. Now Sydney was beginning to become unglued, and oh god her heart was breaking. She thought Calem and Arjim loved her. She thought…what did she think? Why the snapping hell had they mated with her in the stupid transdelta linking thing then? Was it to get their rocks off, their jollies, their fucking piece before turning her in? Okay, now she was really starting to freak! "Tell me Alea, damn it!" Alea drew a long breath her shoulders tensing. When she exhaled her shoulders slumped. Her lips tightened and then she answered. "If they find you guilty…" "What? What!" Sydney rubbed her temple in frustration. "Just tell me." "They might execute you."

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Chapter Fifteen Jardia peered through the foliage relieved she'd finally located the divinity. Gehu a Mahatma--Great divinities! Those Sh'emati strangers were so intent on capturing her, but she would never allow the savages to mate with her spirit goddess! They needed to keep her virginity intact else the She'amatina would never be blessed as it was promised in the prophecies, with emancipation from the transdelta linking forced upon them by those filthy, violent Sh'emati. And who was that woman that came barreling into their campsite like a furious demon high on zipping leaves? Perhaps she too was a divinity come to claim the spirit bird's hatchling because Jardia had failed in her task. Raising her talon arc, Jardia prepared to cut through the brush, prepared to retake her charge, but a hand cuffed the wrist of her striking arm. Another swept around her body shackling her to the chest of the captor who now stood behind her. "It is good to see you again, Jardia." Lips whispered against the lobe of her ear, speaking to her in the ancient Tertian language. "You!" Jardia was instantly irked. She knew that voice. "How dare you seek me out after all of these phases, at a time such as this." "At a time such as what, She'ami?" "When deliverance is upon us! The disintegration of the Sh'emati's ability to link to control us, to destroy their ability to brainwash us into the mating." "Is this what you believe?" Jer shook his head. "I would think your wisdom to be far superior than to misinterpret this fable of old." "It is not a fable, Pontiff." Jardia returned, obstinacy stressing her voice. "The appearance of the skybird is augured in the prophecies." She tried to pull free of him, but his grip tightened. "It is augmented in the prophecies, She'ami, fallacy built upon fallacy." "You fear the liberation of Trigon tradition, do you not, Pontiff." Jardia flashed a sly grin. "For such a thing would force you to surrender what lingers with futility in your own mind's wicked desire." "No liberation transcends these lands, Jardia." Jer turned to face her, his voice low, almost menacing. "Your interference breaks with Trigon tradition." "I am rescuing the virgin offspring!" she protested. "It is not your place to rescue her, Jardia," he warned. "She is the Tina of Calem and Arjim. The hunt can only be engaged in by those who are mated." "Your reminder is putrid!" Jardia growled as old, hated memories surfaced. "You pour brine in my wounds!" "Wounds you let not heal, reshena…little princess." The pain stabbed her, but Jardia refused to heed the truth in his words, instead allowing it to peak her anger. "What do you know of wounds when you only know how to inflict them?" She felt his body stiffen, and he released her. Jardia whirled around, while lifting her talon to strike. Silver rimmed irises met silver rimmed irises and sparks of passion passed between them. Jardia gasped. Now face to face with him, seeing him for the first time in more

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than fifteen phases, her determination to ignore her heart faltered. Though he'd aged, the phases had been kind to him. He was as handsome as ever. Yet, there was angst in his expression that reflected her own torment. She ignored it, preferring instead to concentrate on the bitterness she'd thrived on since the dawning they both lost all. "The wounds you self- inflict are far worse and dwell with even greater devastation than any I've ever felt within myself," he said to her. "Finding closure in your heart with what cannot be changed will be the only thing that brings you solitude, She'ami." "Don't call me that," Jardia growled through gritted teeth as she paced in a slow arc coming to stand behind him. She dared not let herself look upon his handsome face overlong, dared not let the false sincerity in his eyes woo her forgiveness. "The Divinity must remain a virgin. It is the word of the ancient prophets." "Ka! Divinities be damned." "Blasphemous!" Jardia returned. "You, Jer! You claim to be of a holy Tribunal and yet…" The Pontiff turned to face her. "You know full well a spirit bird no more coughed her up than it did you or me, woman. You create a fallacy to suite your own trepidation and grief." "But the Divinities…" "Ka! The woman was Divinity sent, uyo." Jer stared at her coldly. "But not for the purpose you believe, Jardia. She is to be mated." "Over my dead body!" Jardia lowered her talon arc and poked the point of it at Jer's chest. Jer's gaze dropped and he fingered the crudely honed blade as if admiring it. A sullen smile appeared briefly on his lips, a flash of aggrieved emotion, but it vanished quickly. "Your interference with the Trigon Rituals is ill-timed, Jardia." "What do you insinuate?" Incensed, Jardia pushed the point of her weapon harder into the Pontiff's chest. "No cruel reminders." Jer wrapped his palm around the shaft of the talon just below the blade and moved it aside. "But it was almost over your dead body once, so many phases ago on this very dawning, reshena." "I am no longer little, Jer." She commented. "I can see that." He crooked a finger beneath her chin, studied her face, and then smiled tenderly when she didn't pull away. "But a princess all the same." His thumb skimmed over her lips and they parted. She released a slow, quivering breath, arousal stirring, reacting to his gentle stroke. "Your bitterness of what was meant that never came to be cannot be the driving force of your hate for this tripling Jardia. Let your heart find redemption." Her heart…her heart…Oh woe…oh woe… Jardia searched the Pontiff's face, his eyes. She lowered her gaze to watch his chest rise and fall with every breath. She remembered how he'd touched her, how he'd… Ayn! Jardia stiffened. Ayn, never! He would never be that to her again. She forced her heart to harden and she snarled at him. "It is my obligation to protect the divinity bird's offspring, a duty to the She'amatina!" "Your duty is with self-preservation and spite." Jer lowered his hand slowly and gave her a sullen look. "I too carry the burden of guilt and blame." "I live with no such thing, Pontiff…" She emphasized the sanctified title as if it were bitter on her tongue. Jer pulled the hood over his head allowing it to drape over his face. He began to back

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away from her. "I will be watching you, evala'luso. I am always watching you." Jardia's eyes closed. The duality in the words she was about to say were well understood before she even spoke them. "And I will run… always I will run." "I am counting on it," Jer answered, his voice carrying to her like a ghostly whisper on a distant breeze. "I am counting on it." **** "Oh this is wonderful." Sydney tipped her head back allowing the taw bubbles from the falls to cascade through her hair. "It feels like I haven't had a good bath in weeks and weeks." The effervescent property of the taw that swirled around her nude body was amazingly soothing, or at least it would be under other circumstances. Outwardly, she was trying to remain calm. Inwardly, after what Alea revealed about how her beloved Calem and Arjim were using the hunt, she was fuming. How dare they play with her body, tempt her, lure her, use their lifelong friendship, make love to her for ulterior purposes. "The taw here is much more refreshing than earth water." Alea skimmed her arm across the pink liquid surface. Scooping some it with her cupped hand, she tossed it in the air watching it coalesce into bubbles and then burst as they hit the pool's surface. She chuckled. "I love it here." Alea pushed up to sit on the edge of the pool, and Sydney studied how her long auburn hair framed a very contented- looking face. Although Sydney was a bit younger than Alea, felt so much older. Alea had a lovely body, rounded in all the right places, and curiously, she had a thick patch of hair between her legs. Back on Earth nowadays, both women and men were hairless everywhere, except on their heads, though some preferred to be hairless there too. "Does it ever grow?" Sydney's gaze shifted upward when Alea spoke. Realizing Alea was aware of where she'd been staring, she blushed. "Uh, you mean the hair on my crotch?" "Yah," Alea's gazed dropped, and she unabashedly nodded downward, indicating an area lower on Sydney where her torso disappeared beneath the taw. "I mean you've been here awhile and you're as bald as a baby's butt. It should be growing back in by now." Sydney laughed. "I guess it's just the style, has been for as long as I can remember. Most people laser it off before they're even adults, armpits too. Same for most men too, armpits, chests, crotches." "Your Trigon mates here have hair on all those places," Alea commented with a smirk. "I've noticed that." Sydney tipped her head downward to stare at the water. She grinned, a visual of their naked bodies forming in her mind. "I actually find that very sexy." "When I was on Earth a lot of people just shaved the hair off. I never did my crotch." Alea leaned back, supporting herself on her arms. She nonchalantly kicked at the taw. "Isn't having that done expensive?" "Not at all. We use a wand at home that’s no more expensive than getting a haircut. "Wow," Alea returned. "That is totally awesome. No more waxing or creams or razors?" "That's archaic." Sydney laughed. "I can't imagine ripping it out like that, ouch!" "I bet there's been a lot of changes I'd be amazed it." Alea returned. "Just the space station you worked at alone." "It must be odd having such a glimpse into the future." Sydney settled back against the pool's stone wall. "I think living here is a huge glimpse of the future!" Alea laughed. "True." Sydney chuckled in return. "I hope I get to see more of the Tertia's technology."

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Glancing upward she watched the effervescence of pink bubbles cascade downward to where it filled the small, rock tank they were soaking in. There didn't seem to be an outlet leading from the pool, and the approximate six foot wide nook was shallow, yet it wasn't overflowing. She wondered where the excess taw went. "The planet is beautiful, the colors, the sunny days, the warmth ... " Sinking further into the taw, Sydney watched her naked, full breasts bobbing on the surface. Sadness filled her. "This planet won't be my home, will it?" "Tren promised he'll do everything to get the charges dismissed." "How Alea?" Sydney gazed at her beseechingly. Her insides began to twist, tightening into knots of dismay and anger. The men who would be her lovers, Calem and Arjim intended on betraying her. "How will he do that?" "I'm really unsure." Alea admitted. "I was so pissed when Tren told me how they intended to capture you that I didn't wait around long enough to find out. Rjant and Tren were going to exclude me from the hunt, and the She'mana is always part of the hunt. I was just incredibly dumbfounded that they would use…" Alea gasped mid-sentence and stiffened. At the same time Sydney sensed that they were no longer alone. Someone was behind her. Sydney turned her head to see who it was, dreading it might be a Tertani soldier. "Gardenia!" Sydney beamed a smile. "You found me." "You know her?" Alea asked watching apprehensively as the Tertani native approached. "This is the woman who rescued me after I crashed." "The She'amatina?" Alea backed away from the pool and began to rise, her posture indicating that she was preparing to run. "I am not here to steal either of you to the pack." The She'amatina reassured her. "You speak modern Tertian?" Alea asked. "It is my second language. I learned the modern language after…" Jardia paused, her gaze falling to Sydney. "Never mind." "I wish I'd known," Sydney commented. "Thanks to Calem and Arjim, I've learned to speak Tertian fluently." "You did not speak it to me." Jardia returned. "I didn't think to." Sydney shrugged. "I was speaking my own language, but the communication between us would've been much easier had I known. How dumb am I?" "It matters not." Jardia moved a bit closer, and Alea shrank back, still leery. "I'm mated," Alea shook one of her ankles, the movement causing the fetter charms locked around it to jingle. Jardia stared at it briefly and then returned her attention to Sydney. "As I said, I am not here to steal either of you to pack." "I'm not sure, if I should stay here either, Gardenia." Sydney told her. "It's not safe for me." "Your mates seek you, and I am not to interfere." Jardia frowned. "My name is actually Jardia." "Oh," Sydney chuckled. "Well if it's any consolation, a gardenia is a very pleasant smelling flower on…uh…where I come from." "You may call me whatever is your command sky spirit." Jardia lowered her eyes and then bowed her head in reverence. "I'm not a spirit, or a goddess, or anything like that, Gardenia…I mean Jardia." Sydney

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corrected. "I'm a person just as you are." "So I have been told." Jardia returned. Alea frowned. "Told by whom?" "Alea," Sydney interrupted. "Do you suppose I should go with Jardia, you know, to be safe?" "Ayn," Jardia replied first. "To hide you from your mates could end in the death of either. I cannot have more blood on my hands." "What do you mean more blood?" Sydney asked curiously. "Not to worry of what plagues my mind," Jardia glanced skyward, her expression appearing strained. "You must be with your mates." Being reminded of her so-called mates and their underhanded intentions renewed Sydney's anger toward them. She looked to Alea for an answer. "What do you think?" Alea was silent for moment, and then she sighed heavily. "Maybe you should hide with the tribe." "Ayn, ayn!" Jardia protested and then reverted back to ancient Tertian. "Ish 'aju gia phedla biatu!" "Huh?" Sydney looked at her with confusion. "You wanna repeat that?" Jardia furled her brows and then spoke the modern Tertian language. "You will be where your mates reside! I cannot take you with me. It is the truth that I meant at first to interfere with your mating but now, I will not. I only meant to bring you this." Reaching into a sachet tied to her loin cloth wrap, she produced Sydney's lost pill bottle. Sydney's mouth fell agape as Jardia placed the medication in her palm. "Unbelievable." Sydney stared her meds. "I was sure these were gone forever." "I knew they were important to you, and I only want to please the spirit bird's offspring." "A spirit bird's ... ?" Sydney chuckled softly at the misunderstanding. "Jardia that was no spirit bird that was…" "Whatever she wants it to be it was!" Alea interrupted loudly, and then murmured to Sydney. "It's a crime to interfere with the beliefs of the Esotarian tribes." Sydney blinked at Alea, her words sinking in. No sense in accumulating more charges against herself. "Never mind." "It matters not," Jardia sighed. She presented the delta and nodded reverently, her eyes closing as she did so. "Kie astu jbant re adgo…may your heart and your soul always find peace and harmony, my sacred friend." "Thank you," Sydney returned as she tightly fisted her medication bottle. "May the force be with you too." Alea who couldn't help but snickered under her breath, and Sydney shrugged as she glanced at her. "I liked that old movie." "I must go." Jardia smiled softly but it faded quickly, her expression turning somber. She turned and briskly jogged away. Turning to Alea, Sydney laughed loudly. She then tipped her head back and shook it pretentiously. "I'm a goddess." "The force be with you!" Alea returned the laugh. "One of my favorite movies too." "It’s a classic," Sydney returned. "So what is that?" Alea indicated the bottle in Sydney's hand. Sobering, Sydney stared down at her meds and pursed her lips considering how she might explain them. "It’s a prescription I've been taking for a very long time," she finally said.

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Alea slipped back into the taw, wading closer to get a better view. "Are you sick?" Sick…hmm…how to answer that one? "Everybody seemed to think so, and convinced me that I was." Except the military, of course. Policy would've prevented her from even putting a single finger on the space station, not alone flying a star jet. With a little help, she'd been able to keep that under wraps. Sydney wasn't about to risk her military career or anyone else's going into the toilet now. There still might be a chance that she could end up going back, and wanted to have something to go back to. "Alea," Sydney decided to change the subject. Bracing her hands on the rock ledge behind her, she pushed out of the taw to sit on the edge. "Do you really believe that Calem and Arjim will turn me in? They told me they loved me." Alea's expression became sympathetic. She too pushed up on the pool's edge and sat next to Sydney. "I don't know. I would hope that their love and desire for you won't be displaced by their duty to the Allegiance." "You think they'll be forced to obey orders." Sydney sighed. Her comment was more knowing statement than it was a question. Being military herself there was no one who understood duty as much as she did. "This galactic war has caused collateral damage to hundreds of thousands." Alea answered. "They may have no choice with the Allegiance placing charges on you. Their hands may be tied, and I'm not even sure Tren or Rjant will have enough pull to get you out of this." "Well then," Sydney's intentions turned toward self-preservation as she popped open her pill bottled and spilled a single tablet in her hand. "Let's try and keep me safe and alive. This will keep them from me, at least for awhile." Sadness filled her. She gulped, swallowing the lump in her throat and then swallowed the bitter pill, grimacing as the dry tablet slowly scraped its way down. Calem and Arjim, as much as her heart ached for them would never be a true part of her life. It was a fact she needed to accept, make peace with, finally bring to a closure. "So what are those for, Sydney?" Alea stared at her pensively. Sydney didn't answer. Instead she stared into the bottle swirling the last pill around the bottom. "I only have one left." "Alright, don't tell me." Alea held out her hand. "But at least let me keep this almighty, important medicine in a safe place for you since you seem to keep losing them." Sydney replaced the cap, hesitated, and then relented, handing the bottle to her. At the same time she sighed. "It's a beta blocker for…" She revealed to Alea. "…for nightmares." "Nightmares, really?" Alea stood without questioning her further. She then strolled over to the nearby hover cycle, her fetter charms jingling a pleasant chime around her ankles. "With all that noise you're making," Sydney commented snidely. "Your mates won't have much trouble finding us at all." Alea glanced down at her ankles. "It's a very sacred and ancient mating tradition. Females for centuries have had the instinctive urge to run from their Sh'em and this is used to not only mark them as mated but to keep track of them." Sydney lifted a brow. "Isn't that a little barbaric?" Alea grinned. "It can actually be quite entertaining." Turning, she placed the pills in the storage compartment and slid the cover closed. "You'd be surprised at how much control you can really have over your mates with these things." A forlorn expression crossed Sydney's face. Barbaric or not she suddenly had a longing to wear a pair.

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"I'm sorry, Sydney." Alea sighed. "I wish there was something I could do about your mates. This should be a time to celebrate." Sydney didn't want to talk about it. Instead her attention went to the cycle. "Maybe I should just hang onto my meds myself." "I promise I'll protect that last pill with my life." Was Alea serious? It was just a stupid pill. Sydney dropped her head in despair. Whatever. It was only one more pill and after that, well maybe Alea could help her find a way home or maybe she could convince Jardia to hide her again. None of this mattered much if she was going to spend the rest of her days without her heart mates, without fetter charms of her own. Especially now that she knew that her men were real. But they intended on turning her over, when what they should be doing is protecting her. They didn't deserve her. She didn't want them, not anymore. "You are as lovely as ever, She'mana," an unseen voice said, his voice low and sensual. "Tren…" Alea gasped. Sydney looked up to see Alea's posture stiffening. Her breathing accelerated emphasizing her rounded breasts with every rise and fall. Sydney groaned knowing the jig was up. A man stood before Alea, wearing nothing but a lecherous smile and a stiff cock that jutted forward. She tried not to stare, really she did, but Sydney couldn't deny he was pretty magnificent to look at. A second man emerged from the trees behind Alea, and Sydney's attention snapped toward him. Just as the first man, he was completely naked, completely, stiffly aroused. Sydney forced her attention from his crotch her gaze darting upward to his face. Blonde wavy hair blew gently in the breeze framing features that were undeniably pleasing. Fiery passion blazed in eyes that were steadfast on Alea. He reminded Sydney of a cat by the manner of his stride, confident yet relaxed as he sauntered closer to his She'mana. "Hello, my sexy Rjant." A soft smile graced Alea's lips as he approached. His arm swept around her waist, his fingers splaying over her belly, pausing only briefly before skimming lower to graze through her pubic curls. "What do you here, our love?" he said to her. Alea exhaled slowly at his touch, her eyes closing as she turned her head to press her cheek to his shoulder. "Just evening the playing field my handsome Sh'em, just evening the playing field." The male that stood in front of Alea turned his head to deliberately look at Sydney. If the one holding Alea was Rjant, this one was likely Tren of course. He scrutinized her briefly, his eyes on her naked body causing her to shift uncomfortably. Sydney crossed her arms over her chest to hide her breasts, and drew up her legs. She lowered her eyes. It was one thing to peruse their naked bodies when their attention was elsewhere, but being the object of the perusing had her feeling awkward and shy. "Do not think to escape Earth woman," he said and Sydney looked up. He pointed a warning finger at her, glaring at her sternly. "You will be caught." Intimidation flickered in his gaze and though Sydney knew she was in a very vulnerable and helpless state, she’d be damned if she was going to let him know that. Sydney’s nostrils flared. She pressed her lips into a defiant frown--cocky bastard--and challenged him-- in his own language. "Ianc uohar ey?" Why would I listen to you? His brow lifted and he smirked. "Would you prefer I pick you up and carry you to your fate?"

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Feeling slightly more brave and a lot more brazen, Sydney gave his muscled, nude body the once over. Not bad. Not as good as Calem and Arjim but still not bad--at least in her eyes. She snorted before replying. "Good luck with that one, bad boy" Why the daft snappers am I taunting him? And yet she continued unable to pin her lips shut. "What makes you think you'll have any success with that?" "We are Tertani men, and that is enough said." He smiled smugly and then started toward her. "Tren ... " At the sound of Alea’s voice Tren froze mid-pace. Lust beamed in his eyes and his cocky smile faded. He turned his attention to his She'mana. His cock twitched several times, and Sydney studied his reaction to Alea with much curiosity. Alea was right. Oh to have such power over a man…or two. Sydney's chest tightened, her thoughts straying to her own Tertani men. Could they possibly be just as enamored with her? She'd seen…felt the evidence of their arousal, knew the hunt was supposed to sexually excite them. Sydney's nipples hardened and her clit began to throb. Despite the hurt and anger she felt over their motives she was completely unable to dampen the fact that she still wanted, no that she needed to mate with them. In fact dampening was exactly what was happening between her thighs just thinking about them. "How did you find us, Tren?" Alea asked. At first Tren said nothing. Instead his eyes were riveted to where Rjant's fingers sensually massaged between Alea's legs. His chest heaved as if he was struggling to remain in control despite his cock jutting proudly forth and twitching. Finally remembering she'd asked him a question, he spoke. "You failed to deactivate the cycle's tracking unit." That tidbit of information distracted Alea from her sexual indulgence. She blinked questioningly at Tren. "No I didn't." There was no response from Tren other than to angle his head as if to say oh really, which prompted Alea to break from Rjant's grasp. With questioning eyes still fixed on Tren, she strolled to the hover cycle and then turned her head away from him, bending to check the dashboard readings, studying them, fiddling with the settings. Straightening she pressed a palm to her sternum and frowned. "I could swear…I'm sure…" She then sighed, her head dropping as if in shame. "I'm an idiot." Tren returned his attention to Sydney. "By order of the Allegiance I place you under…" "Oh Tren…" Alea crooned. "Oh god, Alea!" Now Sydney was really blushing. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The woman was bent in half, her ass in the air, exposing her backside and her spread pussy to Tren's eyes. "They're trained soldiers, Alea. Do you think that will help?" Apparently it helped. Tren groaned and paced quickly toward his woman. At the same time Alea lifted her head, sought Rjant's eager cock and began fondling him. Behind Alea Tren's body tensed as he apparently struggled to resist her, his rogue cock betraying his obligatory intentions. "You should not have come, our love." "Oh, I have yet to cum my sexy warriors." Alea wiggled her ass at him and then glanced toward Sydney emphatically mouthing the word run. "Fuck me. I'm wet and so horny for you my mates." With his chest heaving, his harsh breaths audible, Tren took two more steps forward putting him within reach of her. He stroked the globe of her bottom, and groaned once more before slipping his finger into her vagina.

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"Uyo!" Alea cried, and abruptly she was squashed between them, their mouths, their hands, their bodies beginning a frenzied sexual dance against Alea's flesh that had her hissing in pleasure. She smiled at Sydney. "My Sh'em forget that breeding becomes a compelling urge for the Prowlers linked for the Triconjugal Hunt. Little else will overpower it." "She has us there, brethren," Rjant rasped out before seizing her throat with his mouth. "Ah-h- h, my handsome Sh'em take me." Tren didn't hesitate. He jerked Alea's hips toward him and began pumping with frenzied thrusts inside of her. Under different circumstances Sydney might be tempted to watch the steamy scene, but right now she knew it was her chance to flee. Rising to her feet she sprinted into the woods as fast as her bare feet would move, her mind reeling in fascination from the erotic sight of those two exotic hunks pawing Alea' s body. Would she ever get the chance to feel that from Calem and Arjim in the flesh, to experience an orgasm with her own two men? It may be that they were using the Triconjugal Hunt for deceptive reasons, but Sydney's mind was locked on only one thing right now. Sex… She was insanely hot and wet and ready, and whatever their motives were with the Triconjugal Hunt, Sydney suddenly couldn't care less. She knew they were just as horny as she was. She'd felt their passion when they linked with her, felt their heated bodies and seeking hands all over her skin, felt their hardened cocks, and snap damn they were hard, poking and prodding at her. Come hell's fire or flood waters--and at the moment Sydney was as much on fire as she was flooding between the thighs--she was going to use every trick Alea showed her to mate with them!"

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Chapter Sixteen Calem crossed one arm over the other as he leaned back against the trunk of a tree. He snickered. Our commanders aren't as resilient to their woman's charms as they believed. I'm not sure they believed they were, Arjim mentally returned. Which is why they ordered her to stay home. Did they really believe she would concede to that? I don't know. Calem shifted uncomfortably as the escalating arousal of Rjant and Tren filled both his and Arjim's head. His own member was rock hard, his balls tight and ready to spew. But do they truthfully believe we could resist the charms of our own woman when they could not resist their own? Calem rubbed his balls before wrapping his fingers around the stiffened shaft and squeezing hard. "Hellfires I need relief." "She is our woman, brethren." Arjim remarked aloud. He looked down at his own throbbing member. "Divinity sent to us. We have a right to take her to mate." Our woman is an exquisite creature. Calem panted as he stroked himself. I just don't understand why we are having so much trouble linking with her. I'm as baffled by that as you are, but I have no doubt that she is truly our woman. Arjim smiled gently as he thought about Sydney's beautifully intense brown eyes and her silky dark hair that curled upward just at her shoulders. He ached to thread his fingers through that mane, clench his fingers around her locks and kiss her hard. Thoughts of his tongue exploring her lips, her mouth, her neck, her breasts… Ka, brethren! Calem's protest roared through Arjim's brain. Enough! My cock is about to blow! Arjim closed his eyes, pushing away the lusty thoughts flooding Calem's mind and reluctantly surrendered to rational thinking. If we mate with her in the flesh we lose all certain hope of ever convincing the Allegiance of her innocence. I've been considering that, brethren. If the time is favorable with our link to her we may prove she is our mate, but it won't necessarily exonerate her from the violation of security charges she faces. We may lose her anyway. Then we should stay amongst the tribes of Esotar, where the Allegiance cannot touch her! Arjim growled, the feral sound roaring through Calem's head. Even the Trigon clans are unreceptive to outsiders. Calem released his cock denying his need to release. They may forbid us from dwelling amid the tribes. Even now they reluctantly allow us to partake in the mating rituals. Ultimately they will want us to vacate Esotar. "We are linked with Cu’cjani brethren." Arjim responded aloud. "And they are receptive to our transdelta cohesion. We are one in the brethren with them and they are now aware of our plight." Calem nodded. Arjim was right. In addition the Sh'em ot Alea and the Sh'em ot Bligh, they'd been in communion with two Esotarian Trigons, four males of the ancient tribes. He and Arjim already knew they were welcomed amongst them. "My life is naught without our She'mana."

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"As is mine, brethren," Arjim agreed. He pressed a palm to his aching sternum. Calem did the same, the unrelenting love and passion they had for Sydney gripped their hearts with a severity that even duty couldn't wash away. "We have waited too many dawnings for her and now we must protect her." Your Tina is on the run, Bjead's voice slipped into their minds. Arjim licked his lips, adrenaline and the mating lust quickened in his blood, feeding off of the same urges coursing through Calem's mind and that of the Prowlers. Their pupils dilated, their bodies stirred at the vision of her running, her sleek, long legs spreading wide in her stride. Where is she? Is your She'mana with her? Calem asked mentally. No, Bjead silently answered. But Bligh is attempting to track her. Larimon and I are Prowling after our woman now. And the Commanders? Larimon mentally answered this time. Their She'mana is still keeping them otherwise, he snorted. Occupied. Calem locked gazes with Arjim, It is impossible for any Trigon male to resist the urges when in the Prowling state. Our Commanders are shortsighted to believe otherwise. Both their chests heaved as excitement filled them, feeding off their own primal need and the intense arousal of their chosen Prowlers rushing through the m. Their sexual prowess intensified as the hunger for the hunt intensified. The Commanders had overestimated both ours and their own willpower. Arjim transmitted. Yet they expect us to be even stronger of will than they are able? There! Bjead spoke in their minds. We have a visual on your woman. Larimon answered. Calem frowned at his brethren. In line with the Trigon rituals this would be the time for the Prowlers' She'mana to distract her Sh'em from the Tina. Why was she not doing so? Where is Bligh? Arjim asked. Reality punched Calem and Arjim with Bjead's next comment. Hiding for now, it would seem--from us that is, less we be helpless to resist her. She has done well to obey orders. Stiffening, Calem's outrage reflected in the fury he could see in his brethren's expression. Bligh had led her Sh'em directly to Sydney and then conveniently disappeared to avert the mating urge that would have them chasing her instead. Where is our Tina, Calem transmitted. On Black Taw Trail, heading toward the crags. Arjim released a quivering breath. He straightened the baldric strapped around his bare chest, his cock becoming fully erect in eager anticipation. He smiled. "She is close." Calem however remained concerned with Bligh's betrayal and the thought of Sydney being arrested. "I will kill them if they touch her!" He unsheathed his talon arc and drove it through the air, the mating lust webbing itself to his anger. His reaction fed into Arjim's own erratic emotions and becoming equally riled Arjim stepped forward, but instead of joining Calem in cohesive outrage he instead hurled his body into his brethren's torso knocking him to the ground. The Dominance fury, which had teetered on the edge of their control unleashed. With a rebound Arjim leapt and landed on top of Calem. They wrestled, rolled, Calem now on top, Arjim clamping his brethren's wrist to stay the arm that held the weapon. Calem willingly let it go, freeing his hand to clench Arjim's throat. He sat up, his thighs straddling Arjim’s hips. Naked male against naked male, he drew back his other arm and

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clenched a fist. Arjim bucked and threw Calem from him. He sprang to his feet and yanked his weapon from its sheath. Calem who lay on his back on the ground shifted and rose quickly. His gaze flicked to his abandoned talon. He leapt, snatched it up in his hand and then pivoted, narrowly dodging a slash from Arjim’s weapon. Muscles flexed on their unclad bodies, chests heaving, and they crouched face to face, ready to attack, and they did, two Trigon males, blinded by raw, primal instinct, weapons swinging battled, each compelled to destroy the other and prove his superiority. "Ayn, ayn! Please, no more fighting," A female begged. Sydney… They stilled, both turning their attention to the only woman who had the power to calm the savage beast within, the sound of her voice bringing the clash to an immediate halt. Their eyes roamed her nude, curvaceous body, taking in her sensual glory. They watched her shutter in response to them, and it prompted their instinctive reaction. Lifting their arms, they made contact, finger tips to finger tips, thumb to thumb, to form the delta, to merge with her mind. Nothing happened. Instead she merely blinked at them, her body unresponsive. Frustration seized them, and then yielded to bewilderment. There was a pause of silence between them before their bodies stiffened and savage growls began to rumble in their throats once again. The array of emotions they expressed on their faces was not lost on Sydney, and she knew it was imperative she keep them calm. She had to keep her own fraying nerves calm. Their scents were strong, mingling, swirling around her, captivating and claiming her senses. Her heart pounded against her ribs and began to race again--fear or excitement or a mixture of both it didn’t matter. All Sydney knew was that despite what their motives might be she still wanted them--madly--foolishly perhaps, but at the moment nothing else mattered. Sucking in a breath, she stepped closer to them and pushed her hand between the delta they formed forcing their fingers apart. "Why are you still trying to link with me?” She should tell them it was pointless, and really, she should tell them why, but at the moment thinking clearly was very trying. They were heating her insides to an erotic boiling point and she craved them beyond all resolve. "She’ami." Arjim caressed her cheek. Sydney’s chest tightened and she forgot to breathe. Her eyes roamed his body taking in his naked splendor, lingering at his pelvis to watch his cock now thick and hardened. It was the first time she’d seen it fully as he was usually standing behind her. Briefly her attention flicked upward. His chest heaved, expanding and contracting with each breath. She gazed even higher looking at his face. He smiled warmly, and she exhaled, the simple gesture causing the tension in her body to ease. She smiled in return, though the accelerated breaths she drew in and forced out through her nostrils belied her supposed calmness. Inside her body was going insane with furious arousal. His features were identical to Calem’s in every way. Everything about him was identical, the shape of their broad shoulders, their chests, arms, even the way the muscles formed beneath their skin. Their hips--Damn sexy hips! Sydney craved to wrapped her legs around them, to open her thighs and feel their cocks pushing into her--oh god yes! Her gaze dropped to examine his cock--his stiff, very erect cock. And there she recalled the single difference between them. Calem and Arjim were not completely the same. Where Calem’s cock curved upward, Arjim’s bent downward, the telltale sign--snort--the telltale sign that they were brethren. Remembering the mental link and how

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they’d made love to her, instantly Sydney understood how they would fit physically inside of her. Their shafts would match each other, pair together, as if they were born to be mated that way, and she supposed they were. “Do you like what you see, woman?” Arjim spoke the words in her own language. Sydney looked up. The sexy lilt in his accent as he said them sent a fire of lust blazing through her body. Hell, yah she liked what she was seeing! Her lips parted slightly as if she meant to speak but her voice was lost to the intense arousal blazing through her body. The shimmering rims of gold surrounding his blue irises sparkled more brightly and his smile widened. Sydney licked her lips, her own mouth watering to taste his kiss. Strong hands slid around her cupping the bottom of her breasts. Thumbs skimmed across her nipples causing a luscious tingle to flutter across her flesh. A groan of pure arousal escaped Sydney's lips. Her nipples went rigid, poking hard and erect from her breasts. She felt herself becoming wet with yearning, her vagina squeezing tighter and yearning for penetration. “Calem,” she breathed out, and then gasped a short breath. He’d moved in on her from behind, molded his heated, naked body against her backside, his cock erect and pressing into the small of her back, jutting upward along her spine. "We need you beyond all desperation, woman." He nuzzled her neck, his breath hot against the flesh there. Arjim stepped closer. Calem abandoned her breasts, his hands sliding downward along the sides of her chest to meet at the front of her body, just above the crease of her labia. The fingers of one hand caressed the bear swellings while the other hand came to rest on her hip. The warmth of his palms seeped through her pelvis tormenting the ache that now throbbed beneath the surface. Sydney moaned with unquenched desire. "How can we continue to resist you?" Arjim said, his voice hoarse with arousal. He fondled her breasts, massaging them gently, and then leaning he drew one turgid bud between his lips sucking it into his mouth. "Then don't," Sydney gasped out. Her lids fell shut as she reached for his cock. It twitched and throbbed in her grasp. Moisture seeped from the tip and she ran her thumb over the head, closed her palm and stroked it, his own wetness leaking into her hand. "Don't resist." "You must cease She'mana." Arjim's hips jerked at her touch. He tensed while speaking through gritted teeth, trying to restrain himself. "We must stop." She'mana…Sydney opened her eyes and released him. She shook her head, confused. “Your wife, why are you calling me that?" Lifting a hand to her face Arjim caressed her cheek again and then sighed, his expression becoming strained. "We gave you our vows, claimed you as our woman in the way of the ancient tribes, through the mind link. You are now our She'mana." "We have only to mate in the flesh." Calem added. He too had pulled back from her. "Then why are you still torturing me?” Sydney shuttered, her mouth wrenching with irritation. She couldn’t stand it anymore. Her need for them was so unbearably scorching, that she was ready to burst into flames. They were obviously in the same state. "We must edify you for the taking," Arjim finally responded. "Why?" Sydney demanded. "Tertani males are aggressive lovers," Calem returned and then paused. Turning her head to see him, Sydney discovered he was staring directly at Arjim. She wasn't sure how, but she could tell immediately that they were silently communicating, trying to stall her perhaps?

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"We mustn’t frighten you at the first breaching." Calem continued. "If you fight against us the penetration will hurt you." Inside, Sydney was beginning to seethe. Outward, she listened quietly while Arjim spoke next. "The Edification evolved from the ancient practice of taking the Tina by force. It was akin to rape as she always fought the mating with ferocity." "As our society became more civilized." Calem gently grasped her shoulders. The mere contact with his skin caused her breathing to accelerate. He pulled her close and pressed his cheek to the side of her head as he explained further. "Our edicts demanded that we refrain from anything but caressing of the female. This was especially important with so many of our Tinas now being claimed from alien worlds that were unfamiliar with our traditions." "Oh really?" Sydney commented dryly, jerking from his embrace. They were seriously starting to piss her off! "I think you're a little late for that approach." "We prowl as the tribes of Esotar now, Tina, like the Tertani of antiquity." Arjim said. He paused, his expression becoming pensive. "Nevertheless the linking, the Edifying is still meant to ease your fears about the Triconjugal consummation." "Are you joking?" Sydney growled. They were so full of shit! She thought back to the prickly fruit she'd poked her finger with when they'd been playing around in her head. "Reaching up she dug her fingers into the back of their crowns, clenching of fistful of hair on each of them, "I think you're both idiots!" She bashed their foreheads together. "Ka, woman!" Arjim exclaimed as his head bounced off of Calem's. The impact hit them twofold, each feeling the others pain. They both rubbed the area. "You think I want either of you mind- linking with me?" Sydney crossed her arms over her chest causing her boobs to swell above them. Arjim's fingers stilled, and instantly recovered, he licked his lips, lust flickering in his eyes as he stared at her pushed up breasts. "Knock it off!" Sydney wagged a finger at him. "I have a bone to pick with both of you." "A bone, Tina?" Calem continued to rub his forehead as he glanced around, confused. "I see no bones. Are you hungry?" Arjim began to add. "We could have a meal…" "Shut the fuck up!" Sydney bellowed. "It's bad enough I pricked my finger on that stupid pointy fruit while you were linking to me." "We would never hurt you," Calem told her. "You are our mate." "Oh yah?" She huffed. "What about that time I was riding my tricycle and you decided it was a good time to pop in?" "We were inexperienced back then, She'ami." Arjim tried to clarify their actions. "I hit a pole and then I fell over and skinned both of my knees!" Sydney's nostrils flared in ire. "What if I had been climbing a cliff or flying my star jet!" Arjim shook his head as he attempted to explain. "We have the capability of recognizing the danger and would pull back. We did pull back!" "When?" Sydney blinked at them and then remembered. It was right before she did her solo docking at the space station. "We were not linking at that moment, brethren. In fact, if I recall, we were clashing." Calem reminded Arjim. "We only had a sense of her. We thought she was dead." "Then you don't have control over how and when you link to me!" Sydney narrowed her

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eyes accusingly. Calem had the audacity to smile. "Perhaps our bond to her is stronger than we think?" "Oh snapping bullshit!" Sydney refused to concede. "You could've gotten me killed for real!" "We have always felt your presence, even so." Arjim ignored her comment, and instead gazed at her, the sincerity in his eyes, the adoring expression on his handsome face nearly melting her. He shook his head, imploringly. "You are our evala'luso." Our hearts' passion. "We adore you woman." "For you, our She'mana," Calem added. "We would lay down our lives." For the love of sacred anger! Sydney melted. She flew into Arjim's arms, since he was the closest. "Oh the hell with it." Mashing her mouth with his, she forced a wild kiss. Arjim tensed from her surprise attack accepting her weight fully on him, but his muscles quickly slackened, his pursed lips softened and he opened to her. Their tongues collided. They pressed their mouths tighter, each grasping the other's head, Sydney's tipped back, Arjim's hovering, claiming. Sydney took Arjim's hand and placed it atop her breast, and then wrapped her hand around his shaft stroking it. His arms wrapped her back to give her more support, to draw her more tightly to him. Slowly she eased back and whispered. "Do I appear fearful to you?" Behind her, Calem exhaled harshly. Arjim did the same and began pumping his erect shaft through the palm of her hand. Reaching back, Sydney clamped her hands around Calem's sack and fondled it. He groaned, and Sydney's lips turned up into a subtle, but devilish grin. It didn't take a star pilot--even if she was one--to figure out they fed off each other's arousal. And she'd be snap damned, arrest or no arrest, she wasn't going to let them off that easily. Getting them off, now that was another story. "You see," Sydney remarked and then dropped to her knees between them to grasp their cocks, one in each hand. "No fear." She stroked them in unison, licking one swollen head and then the other, alternating between them. Iyo Ka!--Spirits save me! Arjim gurgled, tossing his head back at the exquisite feel of her tongue on him. "Afiana," Calem commented, calling her magnificent. Gazing down at her, he smiled ardently while combing his fingers through her silky, dark hair. His Tina was radiant. "You have truly grown into a beautiful, sexy woman." Though he could feel the same sentiments flowing through Arjim he became irritated with him nonetheless, his state of emotions ebbing into Arjim and the same reciprocating back. Calem growled as his brethren pulled their Tina--his Tina to her feet and turned her, stepping behind her to press his body up against hers. Calem retaliated, discharging a mental, antagonizing threat. Step back, cousin or you'll be dead. Ignoring the warning, Arjim buried his face in the crook of Sydney's neck, inhaling of her essence, kissing her neck, taunting his brethren, Dominance snatching him. Your feeble attempt at ascendancy is laughable at best. He glared defiantly at Calem, daring him to try and take his woman from him. The alpha in both of them turned possessive. Their eyes narrowed angrily. In one provoking move, Arjim skimmed his hand over the flesh of Sydney's abdomen, caressing a breast and then moving upward to crook his fingers beneath her chin. He tipped her head back

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and claimed her lips, his tongue tasting her, dipping between them, taking her mouth in a covetous, devouring kiss. Stepping forward, Calem placed a hand on Sydney's hip and Arjim broke the k iss. Their eyes met and locked as each dragged hardy breaths into their lungs attempting to battle dominance. They forced it down. In their hearts, in their heads, two feral brethren soothed by their woman's presence, began the surrender to their spiritual mating link, began the blending that would bring them to likeness in mind. She was here now, their mate, in their arms, hot and wet and ready to love, ready to be made love to. All would be well, all would become sane again. No mating, damn it, warriors! The untimely words of the Commander Tren echoed in their brains. Ka! Calem bellowed mentally as Arjim grumble several curses back. How unfair that their Commanders, and the other Prowlers had liberty to mate with their own She'manas. Yet here before Arjim and Calem in all her glory their Tina stood, and they were to be deprived! The brethren were at their wits end and insubordination or not they were bedamn the sp irits determined on ignoring their orders. In response, Arjim pulled Sydney closer to his body his hands moving lower to find her clit. It was slick with juices from her opening, and he couldn't resist slipping the tip of his fingertip within her. "Uyo, uyo," Sydney whispered, the eagerness in her voice encouraging him further. He felt her shudder, her body begging for more, but because she was a Tina he pushed no further. "Ickqu," he told her--soon. Iyo ka! Spirits help him! He hoped it would be soon! Duty battled with his honor to his woman and with the lust raging inside of him. His cock engorged even further, prodding the small of her back, and when Sydney reached back to caress his balls he jerked his hips back allowing her hand to slide along his shaft until the head slipped along her fingers. He took her hand then and laced his fingers with hers. His other hand wrapped her waist. Thrusting his hips forward he pushed his erection between her thighs and pushed at her crease, finding the opening to her vagina. It was hot and slick, ready for penetration, and he had no doubt she would accept him inside as she arched her back and began pushing her ass against him. He hesitated, indecisiveness looming, craving her badly yet knowing that taking her could be a grave mistake. He beseeched his brethren. We can still prove she is our mate. Calem gritted his teeth, his licentious condition in as much of a precarious state as Arjim's, knowing his brethren was right, if they waited, if the linking with her worked properly then… Do not penetrate her brethren because I will be helpless but to join you, Calem warned as he dropped to his knees in front of Sydney. Leaning into her, he suckled her labia and then licked between them. "So much time, so much longing," Sydney crooned as she freed one of her hands from Arjim's grip to clench at Calem's hair. "Uyo, She'ami," Arjim told her as he nuzzled her neck, kissing the sensitive skin there. "It has been pure anguish." We must cease, brethren. Calem trembled. It was a feeble notion. He seriously doubted his ability to heed to his own words. When Arjim murmured an incoherent response, Calem's thought disintegrated and he caved. One of his hands slid up to Sydney's breast. He cupped it, allowing his palm to cradle the rounded flesh. His thumb skimmed back and forth across her nipple and Sydney shuttered. Her

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head fell back on Arjim's shoulder, her knees nearly buckling but their strong hands held her steady. Calem continued to lap at her, groaning at her luscious flavor, inhaling and exhaling small intakes of air through his nostrils as he drew in the exquisite scent of her. The sweetness that his tongue was savoring ambled to Arjim's senses their linking allowing him to savor the same pleasures that Calem was experiencing. He murmured with enthusiasm. She felt wonderful, her skin, her hair, her moans of pleasure filling the air as they touched and caressed her and kissed and licked her. Every muscle in her body began to tense. She panted, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow, and the slight undulation of her hips, the way her body swayed, was evidence of her heightening arousal. Arjim tasted her lips. Calem continued to lick, her clit now swollen and pulsing as he stroked it with his tongue. Lifting her leg, he set it over his shoulder, spreading her thighs, giving her the increased pressure against his mouth that he somehow sensed she needed. Her mews grew louder, and she bit down on Arjim's lip while reaching back to clench fistfuls of his hair, pulling it hard. He growled, savoring her raw desire, his erection now slipping easily along the crease of her bottom, wet from her warm and freely- flowing juices. Calem lapped, rhythmic and fast strokes, feeding off the frenzied way she cocked her hips, the scent of her impending climax driving them both to the cra zed edge of their primal need for sexual satiation. Sydney shuttered almost violently, her body becoming completely rigid and still. A cry that sang pure pleasure emerged from her throat as her pussy spilled, and Calem dipped a finger within her, stroking gently in shallow plunges careful to protect her virginity. They held her, loved her, kissed her, their hearts full of elation to be able to bring their woman to such a breathtaking release. "Magnificent woman," Arjim whispered in her ear watching as Calem kiss and suckled, first along her hip and the across her belly, continuing up the length of her body until her reached her breasts, her neck and then finally stealing her mouth. Now standing, he pressed against the front her, his erection sliding between her legs, meeting the tip of Arjim's cock, poised and anxiously waiting for the double penetration. They could think of nothing else but the longing, the ache, their minds focusing on their spirit mate, the woman, Sydney, their evala'luso, now pressed between them after all those tormenting phases of waiting. They had to have her fully. No mating! Commander Rjant suddenly roared in their heads. We're on our way, Tren added. Calem and Arjim froze, their cocks, stiff and throbbing, just fractions from penetrating her. They understood the cost of mating with their woman. They trembled then tensed. Fucking spirits misery! They needed to mate! No mating! And that's an order warriors! We will take flight with her, Arjim spoke in Calem's head. Hide beyond Esotar. Our orders, Calem silently answered feeling the full power of both his and his brethren's battle to decide what was best. They hesitated overlong. Instinct charged them. Their nostrils flared. Narrowing their eyes at each other they snarled. Phases and phases of sexual deprivation, physical isolation and emotional abandonment from their chosen mate had pushed them over the brink. They were still struggling to become like in mind, to concede to equality, to blend their undying passion, love and devotion to this woman they called wife. The alpha within each of them re-ignited. Raspy, primal roars reverberated through the air, the unexpected rumbles causing Sydney to startle and then gasp. The whirr of a blade that came slicing overhead caused her to shriek and shrink back. With flash reflexes Calem swiftly unsheathed his own weapon and their blades locked just inches over Sydney's head.

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They roared again, chests heaving, but there was one thing despite their rising fury that was kept keenly to the front of their minds. Their Tina was still between them and precision with their blades was still sharp in their minds. They would not, could not harm her. Hurting each other…Ka! That was another story. Arjim swung first, his blade slicing laterally, curving around the side of Sydney's body, the point aimed to slash at Calem's chest. Had he recoiled, Sydney would've suffered a gash. He didn't. Instead Calem stood his ground, taking a hard blow to the hand, unable to safely deflect the strike using his own talon else he risk cuffing Sydney in the process. Protection of their woman was first and foremost at any cost. It was likewise with Arjim, for Calem's retaliation forced him to react the same. Sidestepping, Calem had swung low bringing his weapon up between his and Sydney's body, his blade aimed toward Arjim's arm, but Sydney flinched, and when she did, she put herself in harm's way. Arjim's block was so swift, so agile the wound was inflicted before even he realized he'd been cut. "Impressive brethren," Calem said as he lifted his gaze from the red that oozed from skin on the underside of Arjim's forearm. "That you are willing to die for the safety of our She'ami. " "You draw first blood," Arjim growled. "I draw the last!" They advanced on each other, their savage roars renting the air, Arjim swiping at Calem and Calem swiping back. Muscles bulged and stretched. Naked chests slammed. They wrestled and shoved, their talon arcs swinging high and low, locking and unlocking. And like the horns of riled stags in heat they tangled in angry clacks, two alpha males flaunting with dominance fury. As for Sydney, she had come to them freely with full understanding of the consequences, wanting to take them as mates, risking her own freedom, driven by years of unforgettable love, infinite loyalty--and okay, perhaps just a smidgen of horniness--Sydney who'd denied them and denied herself of them, pushed them from her life, who was damn determined to deny them and herself no more, spun around. Like a frantic little rabbit Sydney bolted Oomphf! "Ouch, damn it! She barreled directly into Bligh. The Tertani grabbed Sydney's arm and then twisted it behind her back. Turning her, the woman forced a choke hold on her before she could even consider fighting back. Even then, Sydney's slight resistance caused Bligh to tighten her grip. Oh fucking snap. "Let me go Bligh!" Despite the woman's thin frame, she was as strong as an ox! In front of Sydney, two males, Bligh's Sh'em maybe, were attempting to subdue Calem and Arjim. Tren and Rjant joined the romp, and despite her uncomfortably restrained position, Sydney was fascinated, maybe even a bit aroused by the heap of flexing male muscle and unclad dicks tangling and trouncing on each other. And then a uniformed, bronze-skinned woman with purple hair showed up, followed by two uniformed men who other than having over-sized earlobes appeared a little more human. The three of them marched toward Sydney and Bligh, halting in front of them. "By order of the Allegiance," The bronze woman began, staring directly at Sydney. "I hereby declare you detained." A whirring sound spliced the air, and the still- naked Alea atop the hover cycle came storming in. She leapt from the craft and stomped directly toward them, hands balled and looking very pissed off. "You bitch!" "Ka!" Bligh still gripping Sydney, twisted to the side as Alea pounced on them both and

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they all tumbled to the ground. "What kind of Tertani woman are you!" Alea yelled. "You led them right to her!" Oh what the hell? Sydney just wanted to spit, and she would have if she wasn't gurgling from getting the living daylights choked out of her by the woman who was getting the living daylights choked out of her by Alea, who was now getting pounced on by the woman with the purple mop! "You're not helping, Alea!" Sydney rasped out as she brought her arms up and dug her fingers into Bligh's restraining arm trying to free herself from the bondage. In front of her Calem and Arjim were also being pinned, by two soldiers in uniform and four naked men. Well, wasn't this turning into some kind of ludicrous excuse for an orgy!

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Chapter Seventeen So much for getting laid--for real that is. A myriad of confused thoughts pounded through Sydney's head as she paced around her cell. Pausing she glanced around, studying the blue beams of light that shot up in evenly spaced rods from a base on the ground, creating a cage around her. She sighed heavily and fingered the cloth covering her. Well, at least Alea had provided her with a sarong to tie around her body. Alea had explained the nature of the brethren, the nature of the Flaunting. During the Flaunting the Trigon males were always keenly aware of their Tina's presence, and the blade swinging was more a demonstration of prowess than it was dangerous. Their skills were precise and no Tina had ever been hurt--supposedly. Sydney had grave doubts about that! On the flip side, instinct played a role during the Triconjugal Hunt and just before the mating, the men fought for dominance, and when Sydney had asked if anyone had ever been hurt during that part of the rituals, Alea sharply changed the subject. Uh-huh. Arjim and Calem were beyond Flaunting. What baffled Sydney was something else Alea had said. During this full-out aggression toward each other, only the Tina had the power to stop them. And then they would mate--oh yay! NOT! They'd stop only briefly and then they were at it again. "Aw crap," Sydney considered all of the years she'd blocked them from her head. Pangs of guilt taunted her, but she couldn't help it. Allowing them to live in her head was ruining her life! None of that mattered now. Turning, Sydney stalked to one side of the square cell, the side closest to where the guard stood. She peered out. Growing weary of being confined and bored with all of the waiting around, she was hoping that maybe the guard could tell her something. She clamped her hands around two of the bars…and got jolted! "Shit!" Sydney jerked her hands back, balling them into fists. "Iyo ka!" the guard blurted. "Asulj e'amet!" Sydney opened her hands and then blew on them, wincing at the needle sharp prickles bristling through palms and part way up her arms. "Yah, yah I know!" She understood the Tertian words. "Please don't touch the trammel beams!" That was the second time she'd done that, god damn it ! She pushed her fingers through her hair, turned and began her pacing again, three steps in one direction, an about face and three steps back. She strained to hold in a scream at the lack of room to stomp out her frustration. It felt as if she was going to come unglued. All of this waiting, waiting, waiting! Closing her eyes, Sydney tried to force her thoughts to a happier place--the beach, no…mountains, no…flying her star jet…no. Calem and Arjim… A smile creased her lips as she remembered how Calem and Arjim caressed her naked body. The oral sex and all that tactile stimulation had been pretty awesome, she had to admit. Her smile vanished. She'd waited with both apprehension and eager anticipation along with a hefty dose of anxious desire as they'd poised their cocks to penetrate her. That is until they started fighting. Damn it !

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Of like mind, they called it. Alea had explained that all Tertani men who became brethren had to go through this transition--two become one… "They're both crazy, certifiably, no holds barred, absolutely and without a doub t crazy!" "Lem os'ju arins?" Sydney pursed her lips as she stared at the Tertani guard. Her head dropped and she put her back to him, crossing her arms. She murmured in a low voice "I can't believe I saved my virginity for them!" "All Tinas are virgins," the guard commented. Mountains almighty, had she spoken that out loud? Sydney felt herself blush. Pivoting again, she faced him. "What?" He was grinning at her. Oh yah, he heard, and not only had he heard, he understood. She'd spoken in English and he'd spoken the same in return. "All Tinas are virgins," he repeated. "It's a constant state until they are claimed. They desire no one but their mates." At first Sydney merely stared at him until his words sank in. Sadness filled her, and she thought about her growing fascination with the universe and space exploration after her mates had gone away, and how she would stop at nothing to become a member of NASA's elite team of star pilots. Now Sydney could only confess that her enlistment was beyond a simple desire to explore space. She was obsessed with proving that what was going on in inside of her was something other than just misfiring neurons in her brain. She was obsessed with finding out that life in the universe did exist, and if it did, then maybe, just maybe she could find…them. Nothing, not even her military training had prepared her for anything like this, however. Except maybe all the running drills, which up until they took her into custody had become pretty handy. "Alright, maybe I didn't exactly save my virginity for them," Sydney finally addressed Tertani's comment. "But hell, it was their fault I'd never given it up!" No man had ever matched up in Sydney's ideal book of love. How could they? She'd been pining away for not one man but two. Yet, they never seemed like two to her. In her mind they were one--or at least they should've been, if it wasn't for the god-damn fighting! A small sob of despair escaped her. "Oh what did it snapping matter anyway?" Sydney grumbled. "We wouldn't have gotten very far with having sex even if the two of them hadn't started fighting, because the whole damn population on the whole fucking planet decided to come rushing in!" Sydney huffed and stepped closer to the bars. "Do not touch the trammel beams, Tina Sydney," the guard warned her…for the third time. She stared at the blasted bug zappers, and then shook her head. She rubbed her still stinging hands on her thighs. "You have a name soldier?" she asked, determined to change the subject, to push Calem and Arjim out of her mind. "I am Aurus ot Tijan," he answered. Sydney studied him for a moment, taking in his appearance. The man was large, as large as one might expect a goon to be if he were ordered to wrestle a mad elephant! He wore what Sydney assumed to be the standard issue Tertian uniform, black pants tucked into knee-high black boots and a plum-colored jerkin style vest. Two concentric, silver triangles were embroidered on his epaulets, likely his rank. There was a baldric strapped across his chest that held a weapon, the talon arc sheathed behind his back. It wasn't wooden like the others she'd seen however. His was composed of a smoky gray metal and there was a glowing, green tip on

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the end that was visible. "What's that do?" Sydney asked, curious about its function. Aurus blinked at her a couple times as if considering whether or not it was appropriate to show her. Apparently deciding a demonstration would be harmless, he scanned the floor, and then spied a small stone that was about one inch in diameter. Stepping back about five feet, Aurus unsheathed the weapon and took aim. There was a whir followed by a sizzle that closely reminded her of the crackling she heard when she touched the trammels creating her cage. "Oh snap!" Sydney's eyes widened, her mouth falling agape. A single ball of green light about half the size of a dime had shot from talon arc, struck the stone and disintegrated it without leaving a trace that it even existed. Her eyes shifted upward to Aurus' face and she smirked. "Can I borrow that?" Aurus chuckled. "If I could, I would Tina Sydney." That comment took her by surprise. "You would help me?" Did he understand her plight? "Duty to my planet, to the Allegiance…" "Never mind." Sydney slashed her hand through the air. It didn't matter. She wouldn't expect any good soldier to betray his or her country. With a sigh, she crossed one arm over the other. "Well then Aurus ot Tijan, are you married?" So much for changing the subject. The guard smiled warmly, the golden rings around his sea green eyes seeming to burst to life at the question. "I am." "Aw how nice," Sydney commented sardonically. "And how's that working out for ya?" Jusili erfitte ag eprion itros. A voice began transmitting from a communication device on Aurus' belt. It was a woman's voice, and if Sydney recalled correctly, it sounded like the purple-haired bronze woman who had arrested her. Shardantin, Sydney had learned was her name. She was speaking a language that Sydney couldn't understand, probably Allegiance Proper. As Alea had explained earlier, it was a universal language used in the CalyTron Galaxy. "What did she sa…ouch, you mother f- f-f- u…!" "Please Tina Sydney…" A pained whine escaped her. She'd done it again, grasped the stupid bars! At the pinnacle of frustration Sydney pursed her lips, her hands curling into tightened fists. Every muscle in her body stiffened with disturbed anxiety as she bit back the anger simmering inside of her. She wanted so badly to release the rage at being p urposely left ignorant to what was happening in the other room, but…she glanced around her empty cell. There was nothing in there to take her frustrations out on, no furniture to throw, no wall to beat on, and she most certainly couldn't kick the trammel beams! Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me…or three times…ugh! Tina… It didn't help that at the moment she was being tormented by the voices of Calem and Arjim, who somehow were breaking through the barriers she'd put in her head…and why the hell was Aurus staring at her so intently. "Yerti insto aefa a krile." Aurus depressed the button on his belt and spoke to the voice. Two more soldiers appeared, one a male she didn't know who wore the same style uniform as Shardantin, and the other, it was that betraying, lying bitch, as Alea had called her… Bligh… "You here to drive the final nail in my coffin, Benedict Arnold?" Sydney snarled at her

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speaking partly in Tertian and partly in English since she didn't know the Tertian words for nail and coffin. "Coff…" Bligh furled her brow, obviously oblivious to meaning in Sydney's foreign word, as if she would really care. "We are here to observe." "Observe what?" Sydney narrowed spiteful eyes at her, but she said nothing. "My impending execution?" Bligh averted her gaze, which irritated Sydney. It was a little bit late to feel any shame. "Jand obstre uit revsar." Shardantin spoke again through the communicator, and Bligh looked up. Sydney stared back, wondering what this could possibly be all about. Tina, our woman… Our lifemate…. Sydney's nostrils flared as she bucked up against the untimely intrusion by Calem and Arjim and the intense arousal they were causing to penetrate her body. It is time to mate She'ami. Not now! It was good she presently had some artificial help otherwise Sydney might find herself collapsed on the ground. That familiar haze was attempting to consume her. Furling what appeared to be a concerned brow, Bligh pressed the communicator on her own belt. "C'zlih…nothing." "Nothing, what?" Sydney narrowed her eyes. Bligh had spoken Tertian. Nothing what? She looked at Aurus ot Tijan who repeated the same into his communicator. "C'zlih." Eremi pldeo enu? Shardantin spoke in return, words that were foreign to Sydney's ears. "Daan," the other soldier answered. Had he said nothing too? Aurus shook his head and then removed a small apparatus hooked to his belt that resembled a palm-sized remote. He pressed it with his thumb and the laser bars streaming around the perimeter of Sydney's prison dropped downward, disappearing into the stone planks on the floor. She hesitated briefly before stepping out. Aurus gave her a sympathetic look as he stepped in front of her. He cuffed her hands with a device that snaked around her wrists of its own accord clamping on itself and pulling her hands tightly together. It was the same type of restraint they'd used when they brought her in, and Sydney, having wres tled with the shackle before, knew it was futile to try and escape it. "Come with me," Bligh said to her, and turned, while Aurus and the other Tertani waited for Sydney to obey. Dead woman walking…Sydney exhaled harshly, her heart now pounding with angst. She followed Bligh, her gaze falling to the woman's behind and watching the way it swayed. Sydney sneered wondering what kind of response she would provoke if she shoved her foot up the woman's ass. Behave Sydney. You're already in enough of a predicament, she told herself. Besides, Aurus and the other guard, who were behind Sydney, might not take kindly to that, and she was in no mood to be struggling against another take down. They led her down a short hallway, the hard clack of their boots on the shiny pristine floor striking an ominous beat that undermined her meager, barefooted shuffling. She felt like a nothing in this alien world, insignificant, a prison of war, puny. Would anyone care enough to help her? Probably not.

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Maybe she could make a run for it. Sydney glanced around the outdoor pen they were now crossing. The area, which was no bigger than a couple of basketball courts, was surrounded by a white stone wall, tall and smooth and impossible to climb. There was no sign of an entrance along the walls either, and no sign of their hover craft version of a paddy wagon the y'd transported her in either. In front of them there was a large, red stone building, and that did have a door, but since they were heading in that direction, Sydney could only assume it wasn't the passage to freedom. "Are we in Canyon City," She asked Bligh, referring to the charming borough where Alea described living with her mates, but Sydney couldn't be sure. Her only view as they travelled was through the front window of the vehicle and that was limited because she'd been cuffed to a bar in the back. "We are," Bligh answered, but offered nothing more. She halted in front of the door to the building and then pressed her palm against a rectangular plate on the wall. The door slid open. "In here." Bligh told her. Before Sydney stepped forward, she scrutinized her surroundings once more, and gave up all hope of returning to her fugitive status. There was nowhere to run to. Glancing toward the wall Sydney focused on the sky above it. She gulped and took one last look at what might be her final view of the outside world. The sun now low in the sky cast a dim glow of pink and purplish rays along the horizon, the buildings she saw beyond the walls shadows in its sinking glow. It was an ominous reflection of her now sinking hope and her darkening mood.

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Chapter Eighteen There were several people inside the building, but Sydney's eyes latch onto Calem and Arjim first, and a pained feeling compressed her chest. Standing nearer to the front, it was immediately clear they too had been detained. Hefty collars were clamped around their necks that had chains attached to cuffs that bound their wrists together. The chains continued downward attaching to shackles that secured their ankles. Tiny lights were centered on each of the cuffs that restrained them. Blinking in alternate glows of yellow and white, Sydney had the sense that they weren't just there for decorations. Four guards surrounded them, one each on the outside and two separating the space between them. Their expressions were strained, and there was an angry glaze in their eyes, but as soon as they focused directly on her, the harshness on their faces seemed to soften, though it was marginal. Still she saw it, and couldn't help but smile, the mere sight of them causing warmth to spread through her body and heart. She loved them, always she'd loved them, and she hated seeing them bound that way, like wild animals in need of control. Sydney sighed and canvassed the area to see several Tertian soldiers talking quietly amongst themselves. Just behind Calem and Arjim she spotted Alea, and Sydney felt a small amount of comfort with the friendly, Earthly face. They exchanged worried looks, and all Sydney could hope for at this point was that Alea was still determined to help her escape. She didn't hold much hope in being exonerated. Turning her head forward, Sydney saw that Tren and Rjant, now in Tertian uniforms, stood more toward the front, but off to the side. Next to them, was the dreaded Shardantin, her expression looking serious, maybe even a bit cold. Sydney was led to the center of the room to stand facing her. Calem and Arjim directly behind, and despite her unpleasant predicament, she couldn't help but to be filled with intense desire for them. Would they ever be together now? Sydney sucked in a shaky breath as sadness swept through her. At the moment her entire life seemed pointless. She gulped, tamping the tears that were threatening to surface. "If only we could hold you, comfort you She'mana." Calem leaned forward and whispered in her ear. Sydney's body relaxed a bit, the sound of his voice soothing her. She hadn't even realized until then that she'd been trembling. She took a deep breath, and when she did, Calem leaned in further, nuzzling his face against the crook of her neck. He too inhaled deeply. "Your fragrance is enticing, woman," he whispered. "You are in heat." "Ele sinc!" Shardantin bellowed, and Calem straightened. Sydney sensed the woman was telling him to back away or possibly to shut up. Whatever it was she'd said, Arjim decided to defy the command. Just as Calem had done, he bent toward her. "Our lives for yours, our beautiful woman, we love you with a madness that none will put asunder. We will fight this to the death." "Ele sinc!" Shardantin bellowed once again and glared in their direction. Her steely gaze lagged for a few second before she turned her attention to the small device on her belt and pressed a button. Behind her Calem and Arjim grunted harshly and when Sydney turned to look at them the lights on all the cuffs were beaming a bright white, and her Sh'em were clearly in

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pain. Sydney gasped and a sobbed escaped her at seeing them in pain. The lights turned yellow and they visibly relaxed. Shardantin said something and Sydney turned her head forward again. She studied the alien woman from head to toe. The irises of her eyes were nearly white. She had a poker straight, thin nose that seemed longer than what Sydney would consider normal. Her ears, though rounded were high up on the sides of her head, and she didn't have any eyebrows. The gray jumpsuit she wore did little to complement her purple hair and the bronze tone of her skin. In fact, it made her look like a fashion disaster that would make a blind man shopping in wallie mart cringe. Sydney gulped, reality pounding its way in, reminding her that she truly was in an alien world. What that meant was the rules of the game did not apply. At least in the way she'd learned them. "Cabesca eda." A voice spoke through Shardantin's communicator. It sounded male, but who knew. Sydney didn't. Closing her eyes she concentrated on more pleasant things, like the fragrance of the two males who would be her lovers, now blended and sweeping the air and curling around her. She'd give anything to have them playing around inside of her head right now. "Vas cicanes abietjn ore geroiu cu." Shardantin spoke and continued to ramble on. Sydney stared at the woman as she exchanged foreign words with whomever she was communicating with through her transmitter. Unable to interpret, Sydney's mind began to wander. She was on trial. Her stomach turned over. She at the least had the right to legal representation. Didn’t she? God she hoped so! How else could she defend herself? Was she even allowed to defend herself, and by the way, where the snapping hell was her representation? Apparently in this alien world having a court appointed lawyer wasn't an entitlement. Maybe lawyers didn't even exist in this galaxy. Sydney thought about that for a moment. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing…except now…when she needed one…especially since… She furled her brows as she watched the woman continue her babble. "Wait! I don't understand!" Tren held up his hand, catching Shardantin's eye, and she went silent as he spoke to her. She answered, the dialogue continuing in words that Sydney could not comprehend. She watched them both with confusion, until Tren finally turned toward her. "The charges are being read in Allegiance proper," he explained. "Shardantin is acting as Chief Arbitrator and is in communication with the Allegiance legal council who is monitoring the proceedings from Angard. They do not speak the Tertian language or yours, but we have been given permission to interpret." "Don't you have any devices to interpret for me?" Sydney asked. "It seems incredulous that an advanced galaxy with so many different aliens wouldn't have such a thing. "Not in your language," Tren answered English. "We've attempted to keep all we know of your world a discreet thing. Aside from that Allegiance proper is fluently spoken amongst all of our allies." "What about your enemies?" Tren grinned at her. "You think like a soldier Tina, Sydney" "I am a soldier." "I am grateful you said that in your language," Tren chuckled. "Else the Allegiance council might view that as a confession, but in answer to your question we do have decoders, but as I said, none to decipher your language. Up until now it hasn't been necessary." "Commander," Arjim commented. "Perhaps we can calibrate a decoder for Tertian. She speaks it quite well."

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Sydney turned toward Arjim. He smiled at her warmly. Briefly her gaze shifted toward Calem to see his lifts turned upward into a soft smile as well. God, how she wanted to touch them, how she wanted their arms to wrap around her and tell her that this would be okay. Sydney closed her eyes, and tugged at the cuffs around her wrist, a keen reminder that she may never hug them again. "Never mind," Sydney blew out a gust of air through her mouth. "Just interpret for me. I just want to get this over with." "Very well, then Tina Sydney." Tren replied. He then nodded to Shardantin, and she turned to a large transparent screen hanging on the wall at the front of the room. She pushed the button on her device again and six faces appeared on the screen, all wearing uniforms similar to Shardantin's, though their features were relatively close to human with some minor variations. They didn't look friendly. Staring into the courtroom via transmission, their expressions were hard and unforgiving. They reminded Sydney of military men, hard and war-worn, all seeming to take their duty with the steepest of seriousness. Sydney gulped at the holograph images, the crispness of their three-dimensional appearance making it seem as if they were actually present in the room, present enough to reach out and grab her by the throat if they chose to do so. Shardantin began to speak to them. When she was finished Tren began to interpret. "Galactic violations are as follows, espionage, entering controlled galactic space without permission, failure to register your person and your craft with Angard, resisting seizure and detainment, absconding, unauthorized landing on an Allegiance protected planet, endangerment, neglect, assault…" "Oh my god!" Sydney blurted. Sydney shook her head in disbelief. "What about treason? You forgot treason." Tren translated and then grimaced at his own words as if wishing he hadn't spoken them. Shardantin paused momentarily and then lifted a purple brow. She spoke and Tren reluctantly interpreted. "Add treason." Sydney tossed back her head and laughed contemptuously. "Why don't you just hang me now?" After Tren translated, Shardantin snickered and then murmured something, her eyes lagging on Sydney before turning away. Sydney's attention shifted toward Tren. He winced and then repeated what Shardantin had said. "That may be our…" Tren paused. "…their final intention." "Well aren't we a miss pissy pants," Sydney mumbled. There were a few chuckles from those in the room who understood the Earth language. Shardantin, who did not, wrinkled her brow at Tren. "I think I will censor your words from here on in, Tina Sydney." Tren said. Turning to look at Shardantin, he shrugged as if to say he didn't understand what Sydney had said, but there was a smirk on his lips that he couldn't hide hinting that he knew otherwise. Shardantin's eyes narrowed but she decided to let it go. "The bioscan readouts confirm that the detainee is not only a virgin but free of Brit's Scorn. Quarantine on Tertia is lifted." A collective sigh of relief from the small gathering who were witnessing filled the air as Tren repeated the news in English. "Wow!" Sydney exclaimed. "Does that mean everybody gets a cookie?" Rjant, who'd been quietly standing by, burst into laughter. Shardantin growled a reprimand at him, and then pivoted to glare at Calem and Arjim, who were chuckling as well.

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They sobered immediately. As for Sydney, she didn't see what was so damned funny. She was beginning to become quite irritable at all of this, and oh snap, she was really starting to become extremely bloated! Behind her Arjim sniffed. Another was followed by Calem, and Sydney nearly wrenched her neck as she turned to glare at them. "Do I smell!" she snarled. Arjim's lips turned up into a seductive grin. "Pleasantly." Sydney's gaze dropped to the crotch of the Tertian uniform pants he now wore. He had a hard-on. Her attention shifted to Calem's bulging groin. Uh-huh, he had a hard-on too. "That's a little ill- timed, don't you think?" Sydney whispered. She gave them a sidelong glance, and was suddenly distracted by the aphrodisiac effects of their blending scents. A throb of yearning began prodding her insides. Talk about ill-timed. She was getting horny in the middle of her own trial. Her eyes shifted upward to Calem's face, and then darted toward Arjim's and again back to Calem's face, each time passing over the two guards between her mates as if they weren't even there. Concern was clear in their expression, and yet, she could still see, still sense the passion and love and longing they held for her. Momentarily she forgot her whereabouts, desire burning in her soul, capturing her heart. As much as she loved and wanted them in the past, Sydney ached, yearned for them even more powerfully now than ever before, and she was terrified, so, so terrified that this might truly be the day that her link to them would be eternally terminated. Be careful what you wish for…haunting words reflecting what she'd spend most of her life fighting to gain. "Vige, ahe tcidin," Shardantin's foreign words jerked Sydney backed to reality, and she turned away from her mates to face the woman. Sydney glared at her. "Their longing for her and hers for them is apparent, Flomink," Tren addressed one of the Allegiance representatives rather than speaking to Shardantin. "Desire is not the same as endearment, and still not proof," a burly man with corkscrew beard returned. Flomink, Sydney presumed, the spokesmen of the assembly. "Present the violations against Tertia," he said. Rjant stepped closer to Sydney. This time he interpreted as Tren presented the Tertian charges originally place one her, before they were aware of who she was. "Civil violations are as follows," Tren began. "Trespassing on ancient protected territory and debauching the protected customs and tribes of ancient habitats." "Oh great," Sydney winced as she shook her head. "Now I'm corrupting the poor, innocent indigents. How can one person be so evil? I'm the spawn of the very devil himself." "Fear not, She' mana." Calem leaned forward and whispered to her. "Our Commander will grant leniency." "Your crimes are punishable," Tren continued. "With no less than a life sentence in a location determined by deliberation of the adjudicators present at this trial." "What!" Alea started forward, but was held back by a Tertian warrior. "Tren!" "Well, you were right on target with that assumption." Sydney glared at Calem. Agitated, she slowly turned her head to face forward again, and found herself almost nose to nose with a very perturbed- looking Shardantin. "Ty ista ehbu lediskr ahf arseglistn ae neust," the woman blathered. Sydney blew out an exasperated breath directly into her face, uncaring if it was even rude or stinky. What part of I don't understand the language was this woman not getting? She

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blinked at Shardantin who blinked back. The room became eerily silent. "We will kill before we allow the Allegiance to harm you, our heart." Arjim growled, his voice low and threatening. "Good," Sydney whispered in return. Evidently they were deciding her future, and it didn't appear to include living. "I'm really not in the mood to be dead today." Flomink spoke again to the rest of the Allegiance council while tapping on table in front of him. He then picked up a paper-thin rectangular device. He stared at it briefly and then passed it along to the others at the table, each taking a turn tapping on it. It then occurred to Sydney that the object was likely a virtual touch tablet that they documenting the proceedings on. "Gace all nith abfrede she?" Flomink looked directly at Sydney. "The Allegiance asks if you have anything to say in your own defense." Rjant deciphered. Sydney gulped, her stomach flipping nervously. What in snap crapping hell could she say? "Uh…um…It wasn’t my fault?" Wonderful, Sydney, she chastised herself. You finally get to defend yourself and that's all you have to say? Abandoning any leeway for interpretation Shardantin began a speech of gibberish that left Sydney confused and causing the buzz in the tent to steadily escalate. Tren responded in short retorts that became increasing louder until he and Shardantin became engaged in a fullblown shouting match. The men on the screen began blurting words of their own, and Alea started to yammer what sounded like a protest, likely in Allegiance Proper, since Sydney didn't have an inkling as to what she was saying. The murmurs in the room grew even louder as Calem and Arjim fought against their restraints shoving their bodies into the guards on either side of them and forcing a struggle to subdue them, causing them to receive another dose of jolting that left them yelping once again in pain. Oh this can't be good. Sydney gave Rjant a worried look, while behind her Calem and Rjant continued to push at their guards and bellowing out angry words despite the zapping they were receiving. She was relatively sure that hot water was still pouring over her since Tren was now re-engaged in yet another heated conversation, his arms outspread, pleading it seemed, with the powers on the computer screen. Sydney scanned the room, trying to gage the reactions and facial expressions of the others, and then gave Rjant and imploring look. "What's going on?" "The Commander has given you life confinement to the Tertian planets with no further restrictions." Rjant told her, leaning close so she could hear his words over the continued arguing between Shardantin, Tren and the Allegiance council. "The Allegiance is markedly rigid with galactic laws. Clemency is rare in the vocabulary. The Commander is attempting to appease them." "And how's that going?" Rjant frowned. "Not so good, I'm afraid." "This is so fucking ridiculous," Sydney mumbled low. "I just want to go home." "Your mates are freed," Rjant told her. He then reiterated what he'd said more emphatically. "Your mates have been admonished." With a nod he indicated the area behind her. Sydney frowned at him but glanced behind her immediately. Sure enough the restraints holding her mates were being removed. A sarcastic well goody for them attitude grabbed her. They were free. She was getting hanged…or probably something close to that, like getting her head bit off in some alien prison by an alien ogre.

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"This is not over, our women." Arjim came forward immediately and drew her into his arms. His loving touch overwhelmed her, and Sydney released an unintentional sob. Oh god, she didn't want to do that. It was a sign of weakness. Nevertheless, she sank into Arjim's embrace, and when she felt the touch of Calem's hand pressing in the curve of her back, the combined touch of both of her mates stole her fortitude. She sobbed again and allowed a few tears to flow. "Are you kidding me!" Alea shouted. "She is not a spy!" Shardantin barked out more foreign words, and to Sydney's dismay, she and her mates were pried apart. They refused to let go of her willingly, the countenance on their faces, she saw when she looked up at them, was…murderous. "Is that what this is about? Let me go asshole!" Alea smacked the guard holding her wrist, the clean shot to his nose causing him to grimace. He released his grip on her, and she stalked from her position at the back, fist clenched, marching with determined footing to the front of the room. And then…Calem and Arjim went ballistic. "Damn it Tren! Listen to me." Alea yelled. Tren continued to argue with Shardantin, ignoring Alea, ignoring the Allegiance council who were shouting at the courtroom via the computer screen. In all of the chaos that ensued, Sydney had no idea what the words being shouted meant or who was pounding on whom. What she did know is that if Bligh and Aurus hadn't grabbed her and dragged her from the tent, she probably would have gotten stomped in the uproar. Once outside they hauled her further from the tent, the noise from the commotion inside fading. She assumed they were returning her to her electrified cage, and Sydney sighed heavily, wondering how long she'd be locked up or even worse, how soon they would discard her to meet her fate, whatever that fate might be. "So what was my senten…oh my god!" Thud. Sydney's mouth hung open as she stared down at Aurus, his body limp on the ground.

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Chapter Nineteen Sydney spun and then stared in wide-eyed disbelief at Bligh, terrified the crazy woman was about to off her as well. She held her breath and waited for another green ball of light to discharge from the glowing end of the talon arc that Bligh held raised in her hand. Instead, Bligh sheathed the weapon and then reached out to release the cuffs binding Sydney's wrists. "Let's go." Bligh tossed the cuffs aside. She turned and hurriedly began walking away. Sydney frowned in confusion as she rubbed her wrists. She hesitated only briefly before following the woman while simultaneously second guessing her decis ion to do so. "Is Aurus dead?" "Stunned," Bligh said. "He will awaken in about a quarter dial, probably with a revolting head throb, but that is all." "Oh." Sydney exhaled a relieved breath. "But…" She stopped short of finishing her comment when Bligh grabbed her upper arm and dragged her into some nearby bushes. A hover cycle was hidden there. Bligh straddled the craft and grabbed a helmet. "Get on." Uncertain of Bligh's motives, Sydney crossed one arm over the other. "Where are we going?" "Escaping." Bligh tossed the helmet she held toward Sydney Sydney snagged the helmet with two hands and eyed Bligh suspiciously."So why the sudden change of heart?" "Would you prefer the death they sentenced you to?" Bligh crossed one arm over the other and stared at her with a matter-of- fact expression. Sydney lifted a brow, and then gulped. "Well then," she finally said and pushed the helmet onto her head. She positioned herself in front of Bligh, forcing the woman to scoot back on the seat. "I'm thinking escaping is a much better option, but this time, I'm driving." Surprisingly, Bligh didn't protest. Instead she donned a second helmet and then grasped the back of the seat while Sydney fidgeted with the cycle. The task of turning over the engine, and figuring out the gears was remarkably easy for Sydney. She had studied the controls and the maneuverability of the cycle when Alea had been driving the thing. Within a few short moments Sydney had the cycle under control and moving fast, very fast, curving around bushes and trees, dipping and rising over the uneven terrain the programmed coordinates guiding her. It was an exhilarating ride, and Sydney couldn't help but to laugh at the excitement she felt, the same excitement that filled her when she was soaring through the skies in her star jet. She didn't know how long she'd been driving, perhaps a half hour or so when Bligh ordered her to stop. Obliging, Sydney slowed the cycle and brought it to a halt. She laughed. The thrill of escape combined with the surge of adrenaline was still pumping wildly through Sydney's bloodstream when she climbed off the vehicle and removed her helmet. Bligh on the other hand looked as if she was going to puke. "I'm sorry I drove so fast." Sydney apologized when she saw how ashen her face was when she removed her helmet. Still she couldn't help her cocky smirk at how readily she had

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accommodated to the cycle's controls. She skimmed her hand admiringly along the craft's gears. "But to tell you the truth it handles like a star jet and I just couldn't help myself. I had the utmost of confidence in my abilities." That and the fact she knew the thing was equipped with a collision avoidance device. Sydney chuckled. The technology was amazing, and much appreciated, particularly with all of the trees it assisted her in avoiding. "My balance system has never quite adjusted to speed. I spent most of my life in a subcompartment of my dwelling, my senses gravely deprived." Bligh lowered her feet to the ground and shakily sat on her bottom. She drew up her knees, wrapping her arms around them and blew out a gust of air as she rested her head against the cycle's glowing hover ring, the only light they had at the moment now that night had fallen. "You what?" Sydney questioned. "Assuming you mean a basement…why?" "I was not born on Tertian soil. I lived on a Venuvian outpost." Bligh took another deep breath to rid herself of the nausea. "It is a long story." "It sounds like you had a hard life." "For so many lunar cycles following my claiming by my mates, I felt awkward, always trying to fit in. Becoming a warrior with the regiment seemed a suitable way to avenge what the radicals had done to my life, to my mother's life, considering I…considering I…" Bligh's gaze dropped to the ground and when she looked up again, she was frowning. "I cannot have offspring." Sydney smooth her hands along the length of her sarong and then side-sat on the ground near Bligh. Toying with the hem of the garment she recalled what Alea had told her about Brit's Scorn and how it was wreaking havoc in the galaxy. "I guess I can't blame you for being so angry." "Ayn! Not an excuse." Bligh growled. "To partake of the Triconjugal hunt is considered a tremendous honor. I have disgraced that honor"." "That's why you helped me escape, you grew a Tertian conscious?" "Ayn, much guilt, but also much of it instinct," Bligh's strained expression softened, and then she grinned. "As much as I knew I should continue to follow my orders it has become increasingly impossible to deny my natural Tertani instinct." "And what might that be?" Bligh reached up and behind her to open one of the compartments on the side of the cycle. She withdrew a decanter that looked very much like the rhyton that Alea had, opened the cap on the tip and took a couple sips of the liquid inside of it. When she'd had her fill she offered it to Sydney who shook her head in the negative. Bligh recapped the container and then swiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. "All Tertani females run." "Well I suppose that’s a good thing, considering all Tertani males love to chase." Sydney returned a grin. "Except I really hate running." "You hate…" Bligh blinked at her. "I have never heard of such a thing." Sydney laughed. "Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. Strangely enough, I find being hunted by my mates to be an exciting and invigorating thing." "That is a familiar sensation for a Tertani female." Bligh's smile returned. "It's as if something instinctively basic drives us forward." "Yes!" Sydney answered. "When I'm fleeing from them I feel elated, alive…free. I feel…I feel…" "Horny?" Bligh lifted a brow.

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Sydney's mouth snapped shut and she merely at stared at Bligh for a few moments until the woman chuckled at her, and then she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. She chuckled in return. "The harder I run, the hornier I seem to get." Bligh's smile faded. "I will likely be stripped of my rank, my position with the regiment, a dial or two of zapping perhaps for abetting and fleeing with you. I can only hope the Commanders will understand that I am foremost a Tertani woman before I am a warrior and grant me leniency." "Is there a chance of that for you, leniency?" Sydney had to wonder, since it was clear there was none for her. "Commander Tren is a just and fair leader." "Right now, he's the enemy, mine at the least." "I am very sorry I allowed them to apprehend you." "Well, I'm sure you can't take total responsibility for that." Sydney returned. "Alea did her best but they found us anyway." "Ayn! That was not her fault." Bligh cast her gaze downward and shook her head. "It was I who activated the tracker on Alea's hover cycle. I am ashamed, and I am sorry." "You were following orders. I am military on my planet also, and I would've done the same thing." Bligh looked up and pursed her lips. She drew in a breath, inhaling and exhaling through her nostrils. "You are gracious in your forgiveness, Sydney." "I just want to find a way to survive this disaster I've been tossed into the middle of." "I believe the She'amatina will be the safest haven for you." Bligh began. "We should…" "What's wrong?" Sydney watched the Tertani woman's face flush as she sniffed the air around her. "Bjead and Larimon, are they here?" Panic filled Sydney as she too sniffed, trying to detect her mates as well. She looked at Bligh, who was now on her feet. Sydney also stood and faced her. "Uyo," she whispered. "My mates." "But how…" Sydney whispered in return. Squinting against the darkness, she attempted to bring the surrounding area into focus, but she could only see the immediate area illuminated by the glow of the hover cycle. "We drove so far, and it's dark." There was no moon. In fact, now that she thought about, she hadn't seen any moon at all since her arrival. "Tertani vision is acute." Rising to her feet, Bligh handed the rhyton to Sydney turned toward the cycle. "They're perception unique. It will take the Allegiance awhile to pinpoint your location so you should be safe from them for the time being." "Nothing like big brother watching," Sydney mumbled. Grasping the handlebars on the cycle, Bligh pushed it into some nearby bushes and then powered it down, leaving them both in complete blackness. "Bligh?" Sydney murmured softly. She took a step forward while reaching out, but stopped abruptly, unable to see a damned thing. Something brushed her arm and Sydney jumped, swallowing a squeak that became muted in her throat. "Hush," Bligh warned, and grabbed Sydney's wrist. "Follow me." "Do I have choice?" Helplessly blind, Sydney grasped the back of Bligh's jerkin with her free hand stumbling over the unseen ground as she allowed Bligh to lead her. "I can't see. Where are we going?" "Here, sit." Bligh pushed at Sydney's shoulders, and she quietly obeyed, sinking to the

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ground. "We are in Esotar. Do not move a muscle until the dawning. I will have my mates give chase to me. I will try to get back to you." There was a rustling sound, and then something landed next to Sydney. Reaching cautiously, she felt around and located a boot first, and then cloth, which she determined was Bligh's uniform. "My Sh'em are here," Bligh murmured low. "Abiri ku--gotta run!" "No, wait…" Sydney lifted a hand, reached out, her palm landing on Bligh's naked hip. She jerked it back, remembering that the woman was naked, grateful she hadn't grabbed something else. "You can't leave me now. It's dark out here, and I have no idea where the hell I'm at. "You'll be fine." Bligh told her. "Just keep your nose to the wind." "My…huh?" Sydney paused to think about that one before understanding. "Oh, I get it, their scents," she responded to Bligh, but the Tertani woman was already moving away, the sound of her fetter charms chinking and then fading. Sydney gulped and held her breath, her body stiffening nervously. She listened, hearing nothing at first, but then she heard Bligh's charms again rattling from somewhere in the distant dark. It then became silent once more, dead silent, not even a breeze or chirp to tell her there was life around her. She thought that maybe this was what hell was like, and Sydney shivered at the notion. Exhaling a quivering breath she heard it again, the chinking of the fetter charms, and then Bligh speaking her mates' names. Male voices rent the darkness. Bligh shrieked and then laughed, her fetter charms now chinking like chimes in the wind as she was apparently running. For several long minutes, Sydney sat very still. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that Bligh's plot had been successful. She'd lured her mates away from the area, and now Sydney who could see absolutely nothing, was all alone. For awhile she pondered the question as to whether or not it would be better to lose one's hearing or sight, but she never did come to a conclusion. Unable to do much of anything until dawn when she could see again, Sydney decided it was a good idea to just stay put and get some sleep. She would determine her next move in the morning. With no other options, Sydney took a sip of the liquid in the rhyton she still held, recognizing the taw flavor. She drew in a heavy breath of air and closed her eyes. She exhaled slowly, attempting to calm her fraying nerves and ease into the long overdue sleep she needed. It was a restless and turbulent night. Every now and then throughout the evening everything from subtle rustles in the brush to wisps of air creating a mild breeze had Sydney jolting each time she began to nod off. She was grateful when the first rays of sunshine finally began poking through the trees. Lifting her head and stretching from her less than peace ful slumber, Sydney yawned and looked around. The forest was eerily quiet. Sniffing the air she attempted to catch her mates' scents, but apparently they'd failed to locate her because the only thing she detected was the smell of the foliage surrounding her. She curled her toes watching them as they burrowed into the soft, maroon moss and bit her lip as her stomach flipped. "What if they killed each other? What if the Allegiance put them to death? What if they're both dead?" She felt sick. "What if they couldn't care less?" Sydney's troubled thoughts began to run rampant causing her stomach to twist with abandonment and despair. Maybe they weren't coming after her at all, instead allowing the Tertian soldiers and the Allegiance to pursue her. A rustle in the brush alerted her, and Sydney stiffened. Is it…could it be them? Again she sniffed the air, but still she couldn't detect her mates. My mates…her heart thumped, and her

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breathing became quick and shallow. Calling them that caused a thrill to shiver up her spine, and her nipples went rigid as their touch, the feel of their hot, hard bodies against her caressed the memories in her mind. Despair at the duality of her emotions set, her heart, her desire for them battling doubt and the fear that they felt no love for her at all. Maybe this was just a game to them. The bushes rustled again. Sydney's heart thumped. Quickly she rose to her feet keeping her eyes firmly fixed to the area where the movement was coming from. There…something was definitely there, emerging, but it wasn't Arjim and Calem, or even a person for that matter. Whatever it was, it…a foul odor filled the air. "Ick!" Sydney's face contorted, and she pinched her nose to block the awful smell. A strange, blubbery creature with a reddish, plush coat covering its upper back edged from the bushes. The rest of its body was bare, but the same color as the Mohawk strip of fur striping the top of it. Sydney stared wide-eyed at the peculiar animal but hoping it didn't see her. She had no idea if it would become aggressive or behave like a skunk and spray her, and she had nothing remotely close to a weapon to fight it off with. Snapping hell! She wished she was more educated about this planet and its inhabitants. It would be beneficial to know what to do about this particular situation. Sydney continued to watch the creature carefully as it stretched to nearly four feet long and then slithered along the ground like and oversized slug. Abruptly it stopped, and hunched the middle of its back. Two holes opened up at its snout, and the thing snorted so forcefully a dust cloud from the dirt whirled around it. The blob then rolled into a tight ball just as a potato bug would have done to protect itself, but instead of lying motionless it bounced across her path, disappearing opposite of where it came from, taking the stench with it. "Ha!" Sydney couldn't help but laugh. That was bizarre. "Claire would get the biggest kick out of this planet." Claire…Again her mood darkened as she thought about her best friend. Sydney's chest tightened. Tears welled in her eyes. To never see Claire again? She suddenly missed her terribly. "I have to find a way to get back home." Home…Thinking about Earth as home somehow felt foreign. Tertia seemed more like home to her. Even so, Sydney considered her military obligations. This was the ultimate goal to anyone involved in space exploration, including Sydney herself, and now she was the one who found it, intelligent life on another planet! Well alright, maybe it found her. Nevertheless it was her duty to report back to the United States Government and let them know. "Whoa." Sydney allowed that undertaking to sink in for a moment. Those are damn big shoes to fill! She gulped knowing it was highly unlikely the government could keep this top secret for very long. The media would have a feeding frenzy. Returning to Earth with this kind of information would spread across the globe in nanoseconds. Her private life would be over. "Oh hell, who am I kidding? They’re never going to let me return to Earth anyway." Sydney scratched the side of her head and glanced around. “What the snap apples am I supposed to do now?” She knew that the safest thing to do would be to stay put, and hope Bligh would return for her, but she was thirsty, and her rumbling stomach was poking at her to find food. She emptied the rhyton and then remembered the hover cycle. Sydney approached the bushes where Bligh had hidden it and opened the compartment to inspect it. There was nothing else inside. She activated the hover cycle and then glided it backwards and out of the bushes. She examined the other compartment but it was empty.

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"Not much of a boy scout are you Bligh?" Sydney frowned. "So much for eating." Apparently Bligh had little time to prepare for going on the lam. Sydney climbed onto the hover cycle and picked a direction, steering the vehicle slowly as she carefully scrutinized her surroundings, proceeding cautiously just in case that blobby thing was still nearby. If it reacted anything like a skittish skunk, being doused in that horrible odor was the last thing she wanted. After seeing no sign of the creature, Sydney began to relax a bit, though there was still the issue about this trek to nowhere she embarked on and of course the fact she was being hunted like a rabid animal. Would Calem and Arjim be amongst the hunters? Come to us, Sydney… She gasped and froze, waiting, wondering…their voices…had they spoken in her mind? They couldn’t have. Or could it be the strength of their link was pushing through the now weakening block in her head? She listened again but all she could hear was the sound of her own breathing. A breeze brushed air over her still perspiring skin, cooling her, and Sydney shivered. Her eyes closed and her body swayed with the warm breeze that rustled in the air as her thoughts turned inward and their essence took hold of her. It faded quickly. Opening her eyes, she glanced around, seeing nothing but the trees, and it disappointed her. She should still be angry with them, but her anger was disintegrating. Every fiber inside of Sydney was being beckoned by them, something from within, something visceral and enthralling. It was as if her senses had been honed down to a pinpoint focus, and it was aimed directly on that…that scent. Her secret playmates… those two men whose mingling scent captured her interest even as they were attempting to capture her. Sydney inhaled through her nose in eager anticipation to erase the years of longing and fill the aching emptiness, but she detected nothing. Calem and Arjim were nowhere around. "I love you," Sydney whispered. Oh god at the moment loving them hurt! Sydney tossed her head back and wailed, her voice echoing. "I didn’t ask to come here!" The frenzied shrills of those strange, four-winged birds she’d seen about resonated around her, the flock rising from the trees and flapping frantically as they fled through the air. Crying out loudly had been grave mistake. Movement…He dashed in front of her, male flesh, muscles flexing, black hair flying all around his head--he didn't look at her--or did he? He sprang from the bushes like a cat, the site of him fleeting as he crossed her path. She hit the brakes, her heart now pounding wildly in her chest. That was definitely a man. Staring at the brush he vanished into, Sydney waited, breath bated. Would he come back? He did. A roar rent the air--a flash of movement, and the cycle teetered. Sydney shrieked and hit the accelerator as she found herself staring directly at the head of a very erect penis. Her eyes widened, and then she jerked her head back. A man stood over her, balancing himself on the cycle's hover rim. A Prowler! He smiled lecherously, his irises glittering gold, and when one of his hands reached to grab her Sydney shrieked again while scurrying further back on the seat. They hit a tree. Oops… He fell towards her as she tumbled back somersaulting off of the seat's edge and thumping to the ground. Apparently she'd forgotten to activate the collision avoidance mechanism. Without further consideration of injury to either of them, Sydney sprang to her feet

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and took off running. She failed to get very far. In front her, a man, a stepped from behind the trees and onto the path, someone unfamiliar to her. He folded his arms, his stance imposing and a bit intimidating. He stared at her as if he could merely pin her with his gaze, his eyes on her pointed and intense. Except for the baldric he wore strapped across his chest, he was of course, completely naked. He grinned menacingly and stepped toward her, his nakedness and aroused condition only adding to his formidable demeanor. Panic stole her air and she nearly fainted. She tried to inhale but only managed a terrified squeak. It was then Sydney remembered what she was supposed to be doing. Oh fucking snap! Her own voice echoed in her head. Run! "Run!" Alea appeared out of nowhere and snatched Sydney up by the wrist. She ran with her, and all Sydney could think about at the moment was that she was beginning to feel like a helpless little child who was in constant need of rescuing. Her wrist had been snatched up more times on this planet as an adult than she could ever remember as a child. Alea stopped abruptly, fell back against a tree trunk and gasped for air. She looked right and then left to see of the coast was clear. "Are they Bligh's mates?" Sydney gulped, attempting to regain her own normal breaths. "No, no." Alea drew in another hearty gulp of air and then blew it out. She then dragged her fingers through her hair before continuing. "Prowlers, mated Esotarian males." "Good lord." Sydney exclaimed "Those guys are damn intimidating. No wonder virgins hide from them." "They're all intimidating when they're prowling." Alea gave a pat to Sydney's upper arm indicating for her to follow. "Come on." She then continued on through the trees until they reached a small stream. Alea fell to her knees to scoop some taw into her mouth. Sydney did the same. "I passed over this stream when I came searching for you." Alea coughed and sucked in another intake of air. "I swear I've been running all night." "How the hell did you see?" Sydney asked as she swiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I had an illuminator. Emphasis on had. I lost the stupid thing." Sitting back on her haunches, Alea glanced nervously around. "We can't stay here long." "Where's Bligh?" "Likely staked to the ground by now." Alea rose to her feet and glanced nervously around. "What?" Sydney stood. "By her mates?" "Ancient Tertian tradition during the hunt." Alea chuckled. "Mate and stake, that's what I call it, anyway." "So they caught her?" "Oh probably, the Sh'em always do." "Isn't that dangerous?" Sydney frowned. "Staking her to the ground, that is. What if a wild animal finds her?" "I'm really not sure. I'll have to let you know if my Sh'em do the same to me." Alea sniffed the air. Sydney also sniffed the air for her own mates surprised at her own disappointment when she couldn't detect their scents. Her craving for that alluring fragrance was becoming a delectably irresistible obsession exciting her, coaxing that mellow ache that simmered low in her

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core to blossom fully to life. She pushed the thought of it aside. "Are your Sh'em around?" Sydney asked. "Yes close, but listen, I have something to tell y…oh shit." Alea held up two hands. "Rjant, wait. I need to tell you something." Sydney spun. A naked Rjant was stalking directly toward them, but Sydney had no plans of waiting around to find out if being incarcerated again was about to become her fate. She bolted across the stream. "Tren!" She heard Alea yell. "I have something to tell you!" Sydney glanced back and saw that Rjant and Tren were making quick work of stripping off Alea's clothing. She then sprinted, putting distance between herself and the Tertani soldiers. A grin creased her lips. They would be too occupied with their own She'mana to chase after her. Alea wasn't kidding when she told her that the rituals were a compelling urge and little else could overpower it. At least Alea wasn't upset. Her fellow earthling wasn't upset in the least. In fact she was laughing.

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Chapter Twenty "Get off of my fucking chest." Calem lay flat on his back, gritting out his words, his lungs compressing under the weight of Arjim's bare foot. His hands were clasping his brethren's other foot to keep it from crushing down on the side of his head. "I think not, brethren." Arjim didn't bother looking down. Instead he scanned the area around him, feeling quite smug. "I can see better from the increase in height." Calem snarled. His weapon was just a hair's distance away, and if he could just reach the starblasted thing, he'd split the arrogant bastard in half. It is reprehensible to threaten my naagis, cousin. Get out of my fucking head asswipe! Arjim looked downward and frowned. When word was received that their Tina had escaped, that she was fleeing, only briefly had the discord between them ceased as they stampeded from the building. The treaty between them was temporary, their Tertani male drive to dominate overpowering reason once again. If they hadn't been trying to thrash the blazing hades out of each other as they chased their Tina through the forest they would've capture her by now. Now the Allegiance might find her instead. They should've snatched her before she even had the chance to run, and yet knowing she was fleeing, excited them, their libidos on fire, hungry once again for the hunt. "Solitude of mind would be preferable." Arjim angled his head to inspect the scabbing on his shoulder and the coagulated wound on forearm inflicted by Calem earlier. He stepped to the ground giving Calem the freedom to stand, and when he did Calem snatched up his weapon as he sprang to his feet. They faced each other menacingly, nearly nose to nose, talon arcs raised, ready to strike. "As piss-poor fate would have it." Calem touched the bruised area high on his cheek where Arjim had delivered a hefty blow. "I am annoyingly cursed with you for the rest of eternity. Solitude is a futile hope." Arjim licked his lower lip, swollen from Calem's cuffing. Both were beginning to appear quite battered. "At least you have the benefit of my exceptional wisdom to keep you company. I on the other hand am doomed to suffer from the never ending abyss echoing inside of your skull." Calem narrowed threatening eyes at Arjim. They both sneered, bearing their teeth like two sexually frustrated stags in competitive heat, rivaling for the same female…and they were. Only exhaustion from their persistent pounding on each other had brought them to a standstill leaving them marginally cogent. Still, the drive for dominance continued to loom beneath, their demeanor capable of becoming explosive again at any moment. Ceding to Arjim's latest dig, Calem lowered his weapon. "The Commanders will have our hides if we mate with her." He scanned the forest around them his patience growing thin, knowing that Sydney would soon be bound to them. "I am fully prepared for the consequences." Arjim growled, his mind bending, pushing deeper into his brethren link, seeking the blending that would bring their separate psyches to a state of like in mind. Aside from that we've already attempted to refrain and you saw the results

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of that. The mental invasion caused Calem to jolt and his grip on his talon tightened. Outwardly he remained composed, but inwardly he battled the conflict. Without their woman between them, the mental merging would be impossible to acquire, and yet he like Arjim craved it. "Agreed," Calem finally returned. "I am done allowing the Allegiance to interfere with our sacred dictates, with our dignity, any longer." "With our hearts." Arjim rasped out, uncaring that the consequences for their insubordination would be severe, but they'd had enough. It was time to protect their woman at all costs, even if the cost was with their lives. Both closed their eyes, their arousal surging, their cocks growing stiff as their minds intercepted the channeling of the of their Prowlers, Tren and Rjant, Larimon and Bjead, who were now succumbing to the sexual charms of their She'manas. Where normally the women would hamper the Triconjugal pack from capturing the Tina, Calem and Arjim were pleased that the Sh'em ot Alea and the Sh'em ot Bligh were now occupied by their females. It would buy them time, keep their beloved Sydney from the powers that sought to condemn her. Fe isti'a cro udilit kea she' ste du, one of the four remaining Prowlers, an Esotarian warrior channeled to them. We trail your Tina. Arjim and Calem opened their eyes and exchanged wily grins, their minds now alerting to the mental signals of the four Cu'cjani who were now training their Tina's movement directly toward them. "It is time to claim our woman, brethren." Calem focused on the forest. Arjim did the same. They stalked toward the trees, Arjim leaning against one, and Calem against the next one over. The carnal need to prowl and mate infused their conscious awareness before submerging into inherent thoughts. They grinned wider, lecherously as lust surged within them, wild and predatory. They could taste her, smell her, and soon they would be touching her, kissing and licking her, thrusting, and stroking inside of her, loving her…finally…their woman now coming towards them ... ass first. "We have kept you close to our hearts, She'ami," Arjim's hand slid beneath the sarong she wore to cup her bare bottom. "Oh snap." Sydney stiffened and then gulped. She turned her head, her eyes growing wider as she stared in surprise at Arjim who smiled with amorous delight while he caressed her. She'd been backing away from the Prowlers who had been dauntingly stalking closer to her, never touching her yet preventing her from taking any path except the one they'd kept open for her, the path that had her apparently retreating directly into Calem's and Arjim's arms. "Our beautiful woman, despite believing your spirit had been stolen from us, my brethren and I have always remained bound to each other," Calem said and Sydney turned to study him. He paused to look at his cousin before turning his attention back to her. "And to you." Unexpected tears filled her eyes as he sauntered closer, reaching, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him. The amorous fervor on his handsome face was intense, and the loving passion in his shimmering eyes as he gazed at her was more brilliant than she could have ever imagined. Arjim lifted his hand to touch her face, the slight touch of fingers quivered almost nervously along her cheek, whispering across her flesh, and causing her to shudder. She inhaled sharply drawing in their scents, their deliciously exotic scent, filling her lungs, consuming her senses as though the essence was vital to her survival. A potent wave of lust charged through her

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gripping every nerve along the way. Calem moved nearer to her, and took her hand between both of his, their combined touching of her causing her desire for them to surge even further. Her pussy was instantly wet, her clit engorged and throbbing. Her heart pounded. Her blood heated. She craved them, ached for them beyond her own comprehension, and Sydney began to shake, intensely overwhelmed by the heartrending emotions seizing her. "I didn't even know." She gulped back a sob. "I didn't even know you were alive…were real or else I would've let you in." "The emptiness, the grief has been horrendous." Leaning forward, Calem brushed his lips with hers, his words feathering softly against her mouth. It was intriguing and arousing, yet simultaneously soothing, a balm that soothed her restless spirit. They truly were real. A clacking sound charged the air disturbing the tender moment. As Arjim's nostril's flared, Calem sneered, both clearly tensing. "Not now," Arjim mumbled. Calem scowled. "It is an ancient inclination." "What is?" Sydney furled her brows, uneasiness filling her. The clacking grew louder. "The intrinsic Tertani drive." Arjim's breathing accelerated, even as he gnashed his teeth, air snorting through his nostrils like he was an agitated bull. The noise was coming from behind Sydney, and she hesitated only briefly before glancing over her shoulder--the Prowlers! Those who had surrounded her near the stream, tribal males Sydney knew, because they carried the crude wooden talons, both end s implemented with sharply honed blades. They marched closer, all of them naked and aroused, their weapons lifted and paired, one striking the other in rhythmic clatters, as each of the Prowlers bellowed a throaty mantra in words she could not understand, the tenor almost goading. They formed a wide circle around the three of them, and began to howl sounds that closely resembled the call of wolves, the racket of their weapon clamoring harder. Angst fully took hold of Sydney as her gaze shifted back and forth between her mates. They snarled in response, warning Sydney that she wasn't going to like what was about to happen. Oh god not again! She quaked with dread…Dominance. "No, no!" Sydney blurted. "Ayn!" Her demand was in vain. Their pupils dilated. There was a brief but fury-filled visual exchange between them before the flash of a blade slashed the air in front of her face, only to be blocked with a frightening clang by another. She froze. Arjim spun and leapt, his weapon arcing around her waist, Calem blocking to her left before swinging his blade. It whirred over her head, the clank of Arjim's weapon hitting it somewhere above her. They growled and grunted sparring in close, too close proximity, each protecting her from the other's bludgeoning strikes. The clattering continued all around her, Arjim and Calem spewing curses in their language, Sydney catching, interrupting only a word or two about how one would conquer the other. They roared and their weapons clashed and slashed in every direction aro und her, coming heart-stoppingly close yet not even a splinter touching her, the precision of their strikes, their agile moves more fascinating to her than frightening, though she was indeed still frightened. Abruptly they halted, the ends of their talons crossing one over the, blade to blunt tip and blade to blunt tip, creating an elliptical shape, enclosing Sydney within it. Snagged…They'd made their claim on her. Recalling the little she'd learned about the Trigon rituals, Sydney understood that the modern rites would require her to form the delta with each of them, but in the ways of old she

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would be given no choice. The brethren male would just take her. The thought had her female muscles clenching hard, the ache for penetration by both of them charging through her. They wouldn't need to take her because she was more than willing. Sydney gasped in short breaths as she looked from one mate to the other. Their bodies quaked violently, and her mouth fell open, but she was unable to speak. She heard their pleas, not in so many words but far within the recesses of her mind as they gripped their talons in one hand and initiated the delta with the other, entwining her with them, captivating her subliminal senses, searing her with the power that drove the fierce rivalry between them. It jolted through her system in shockwaves, as her lids fell shut and her body wavered, as she fought to stay conscious and her eyes opened again to see the fear in their eyes, the fear in their twisted expressions, the fear that she would fail to save them from their carnally volatile and vicious condition. Come to us…our woman… Sydney's nostrils flared. A gulp slid down her throat and she inhaled more deeply, alerting to the scent of her mates. She had a potent sense of them inside of her, like a fever that stirred in her blood, hot and consuming. Their link to her was strong, battling the now weakening block she'd induced to impede them. She'ami…Sydney… They called out to her. A wave of dizziness began to wash over her, the muscles in her legs going weak. She allowed her eyes to begin to shut as the clacking of weapons around them grew louder. Sydney fought the unconscious domain they were attempting to hold her in, fought the vulnerability that she knew the connection would bring. Whether it was because of apprehension or habit, resisting the intrusion had become a reflexive reaction for Sydney years and years ago. Her eyes popped open. Calem and Arjim growled at the severing link, still they kept their fingers in contact, their faces expressing a determination to fight the releasing of her mind. Two more Tertani Prowlers emerged from the woods. Though she hadn't met them, Sydney thought that because they held the modern metal talons that they had to be Larimon and Bjead. "Ayn!" She hollered. No! They were coming to arrest her, and she was trapped, by the other Prowlers, by Arjim and Calem who were still attempting to force her mind to slip into sleep. Sydney's eyes shifted left and then right. At the moment she really didn't give a monkey's uncle--whatever that meant, about duties or rituals or whatever else. At the moment what she was trying to do was save her own life. She saw an opening, pushed the talon arcs aside and did what she'd been doing since she'd splatted down on the planet. Sydney fled ... or at least she tried to. She was grabbed, each of her arms imprisoned by very large, very strong hands belonging to two of the Cu’cjani. Without a thought or hesitation, Sydney sank her teeth, grinding on the bones of one the male's hands while jamming her foot into the other's balls. Their yelps echoed louder than a banshee's yowl and she jerked herself free, and tried to run. Another strong male snatched her about the waist, his arm wrapping, jerking her back, her feet completely leaving the ground before slapping back down. He released her and snatched her arm when she attempted to run again. Sydney spun. It was Rjant, bare-butt naked and hanging onto her. Sydney recoiled forcefully. She lost her balance, her feet slipping out from under her. What happened next would've been comical, if the situation wasn't so serious…and embarrassing. Sydney reached out and snatched the first thing she could get hold of to break her fall. Rjant's stiff penis.

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He lifted a brow as he stared down at her, stared down at her because grabbing the jutting appendage hadn't broken her fall at all. She was down on her knees with her grip firmly around his cock. "Oh my god!" Sydney yanked her hand back as if the thing had burned her. She scrambled to her feet and turned only to find herself face to face with Alea's other Sh'em, Tren. Startled Sydney jolted and screeched. "If fleeing is what you truly must do, Tina Sydney," Tren stepped aside, giving her space to run. He extended his arm as if giving her permission. "Then so be it." Sydney blinked and then gave him a sideways look, unsure she'd heard him correctly, but her musing was interrupted by the savage roars of Calem and Arjim behind her. The vicious sounds drew her attention back into the circle. Arjim's nose was bloodied and Calem had just taken a hit to gut that was so forceful he expelled a harsh lungful of air and doubled over. Terror shot through Sydney as she watched Arjim raise his talon, ready to drive the blade straight through Calem. "Stop!" Sydney leapt. All around her she heard the echoes of the chanting Prowlers and their clanking weapons growing louder as she threw her body between Calem and Arjim in what felt like a slow motion gesture. She screamed and tensed, and squeezed her eyes shut, certain of the imminent pain she was going to suffer when Arjim sliced through her instead.

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Chapter Twenty One He didn't. Calem's arm shot around her blocking the strike, and he hissed. Sydney opened her eyes and stared at the blood trickling from where the blade pierced him. It was only a small puncture, just a surface wound. Arjim had pulled back, bridled his fury when he'd seen that she'd gotten in the way. In that moment, the enormity of the Tina's power to soothe her Sh'em struck her. They truly would not…could not hurt her. Sydney gazed first at Calem, and then Arjim, both deadly still and breathing erratically, their expressions strained, but at least their attention was fixed on her at the moment, their eyes beseeching. Sydney knew she had to end this, knew that she alone had the power to demand an end to this dominance rage and coax their mental blending ... but how? Choking back the terror clutching at her, Sydney sucked in a deep breath and fought to calm her nerves. Reaching, she took hold of Arjim's weapon. With the other hand she grabbed onto Calem's, and they both surrender their talons to her. She dropped them to the ground. She then reached for the Arjim's baldric first, unlatched it, slid it from his shoulder, wondering all the while when or if he would hinder her, even as she tossed it to the side. Turning, she removed Calem's as well, apprehensive that one wrong move on her part would trigger the violence between them again. She truly feared for their lives, keenly aware that the aggression was for the sake of having her. Lifting the hem of the sarong she still wore, now tattered from running through the foliage, she tore off a piece of the material, bunched it, and then dabbed at the blood on Arjim's nose. He watched her steadily, still unmoving as if the slightest twitch might send him over the edge and she felt his struggle with an enormity that was almost enigmatic. It was as if he still had a hold of her mind. She began to hum, and tore more of the material after setting the first piece on the ground, this time a longer strip. She wrapped the cloth around Calem's punctured arm, trying to recall the words to the song she'd made up as a child. She continued to hum, and then sang a few of the remembered words. "Somewhere out there beneath the shining stars, they try to reach me to hold me close tonight." Calem's expression softened. At the same time Arjim reached around her and tugged at the knot holding her sarong. It loosened and the garment slipped from her body and settled on the ground leaving her completely exposed. In her shyness, Sydney crossed one wrist over the other and held her arms against her chest, her stomach tying in nervous knots. The chanting and clanking of weapons began again, and coyly Sydney looked around surprised to see that Bligh's mates and both Commanders were also participating. "Somewhere out there," Sydney continued, her voice shaking with fear. Arjim whispered the next words to her song in her ear. "To love and protect you, we'll give your heart a home." He remembered! Sydney sucked in a joyful sob. He'd remembered their childhood song. "Uyo, my beauty," he answered if reading her mind. "I could never forget your sweet

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voice forever etched in my head." He skimmed his palm along the flesh of her belly, and when he did Calem growled low in his throat, a taunt to the male who would be his Sh'em. This time undaunted, Sydney leaned toward Calem, and brushed her lips with his. Her breath wisped against them as she spoke the rest of the words to her song. "And even though the distance keeps us galaxies apart." "The love we share it glows beneath the same brilliant stars." Calem whispered back as he took her hand and pressed it to his sternum so she could feel the strength in his pounding heart. Sydney's lips turned up into a beaming smile. Glancing around the circle of Prowlers, she saw that the Trigon men now sat cross- legged on the ground, their weapons in front of them, their hands forming the delta. They hummed in rhythmic sounds. She chuckled softly. "This reminds of a corny musical where everyone breaks out into song." "You always sang to us as a child, sweet Sydney." Arjim's hands skimmed along her hips as he planted gentle kisses along her neck. "Your favorites were by that dizzy knee." Sydney chuckled at the mispronunciation, her tense muscles relaxing at his touch. She didn't correct him. She was feeling too dizzy in the knees herself at the moment. "I can't believe you actually remembered, that you both were even listening." "You are our mate, Sydney." Arjim pulled her toward him pressing her backside tightly against his chest. "We have always listened." "Even when we thought you to not be there." Calem pressed against the front of her effectively trapping her, holding her between himself and his brethren. "Always, even in our madness we listened for you." He lifted his hand and Arjim did the same reconnecting to form the delta. He and Arjim linked once more desperately clinging to remnants of sanity and finally, without a hint of conflict they felt her reach out and surrender to them, denying them no more. As Sydney's body went limp, a satisfied smile creased her lips, her chest, her full breasts rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath she fully opened her mind to them, absorbed their resonant spirits, mingled with their thoughts and desires Sydney gasped out a quick breath and then closed her eyes, contentment flowing in her expression, contentment beginning to flow through them all. Sing for us our beautiful Sydney… With complete abandonment of all of her fears, she yielded to the ebb and flow of the Triconjugal link, and Sydney did sing for them. And when the silence starts to sing a sad and lonely song, remember that my heart is beating for the joyful dreams you brought. Her voice rang out, dragging in their souls, at memories and countless dawnings when only she could give them ease. Arjim inhaled. At the same time Calem exhaled. She captured the waves of arousal curling through the recesses of their bodies, felt the weaving of separate spirits and the binding of their minds. Silently they opened their souls, pushing away dominance, seeking the mental blending of transcendence to becoming Sh'em in the Trigon. Her beloved mates, the Trigon brethren ceded to her, and one to the other. Sydney felt the muscles flex on their now untroubled bodies, the sheen of sweat that covered them enriching their scents, now tangling and suffusing her senses. It continued to intensify, potent, alluring and arousing. "My playmates," she said as she drifted from the mental linking back to consciousness. Flaming libidos, that word now took on a completely different meaning! The three of them were on their knees together, legs wrapping, bodies entwined. Flattening her palms against Calem's chest Sydney wantonly gazed his length,

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scrutinizing his naked warrior body and then fixating on his erect appendage. He exhaled sharply and his hips jerked when she ran her fingers along the shaft, cupped it between her two hands enjoying the silky heat of it, and the hard upward curve. Slowly she angled a glance over her shoulder to see Arjim who hovered over her from behind. She looked up at him, pleased to find his expression relaxed, his eyes soft but filled with desire. She studied his irises, the specks of gold that encircled them, saw her own reflection in them, her own soul. The sight became overwhelming, and Sydney gasped. Turning to look into Calem's eyes she again studied her own reflection, almost hypnotically, as if he were drinking her in. Sydney began to quake. The chants of the Prowlers grew louder and her attention drifted toward them. "They beseech the divinities for the blessing of our tripling, our love," Arjim explained. "I know the drill." Sydney returned, and Arjim cupped her chin to tip her face toward him. He smiled and then kissed her gently at first, his tongue caressing the crease of her lips in tender laps before slipping his tongue between them. She opened her mouth to kiss him fully, her eyes closing to savor his succulent flavor, the heat of his body against her back, the sound of his erratic breathing, the wisp of his breath on her face. An ache squeezed low in her abdomen as Calem slipped his thigh between her legs, pressing it against her core. Sydney moaned, her hands grasping his hips, and she rubbed her pussy against him. Settling his hands on her bottom, Calem moved them with the rhythmic rocking of her pelvis. He released a guttural sound as the slickness of her sexual juices flowed over his skin, allowing her clit to take leisurely up and down glides along his flesh. He felt it engorging, and groaned, his rising excitement dancing through Arjim's head and reflected in the sound that emerged from Arjim's throat while he continued to kiss their woman. Their cocks became rock hard. They thrust at her eagerly but resisted the fervor to plunder her. It was an arduous task after waiting an eternity to make love to their woman. Instead they relished the touch of her and reveled in her escalating arousal. "She'mana," Arjim whispered. "My Sh'e," she whispered in return. Calem smiled admiringly as he looked into her eyes and then down to her breasts, watching Arjim play with one of them. Bending, Calem drew the nipple of the other breast into his mouth. Sydney pressed harder against his thigh, cocked her hips faster, rubbing her throbbing clit against him. Reaching around him she grabbed his ass and ground into him seeking firmer pressure but released a restless breath instead and then grunted her frustration. Her needy plea was understood. Arjim licked his lips and gazed down at Calem who continued to ravage Sydney's nipple with his tongue. He caught the carnal wave that Calem channeled to him, and they exchanged a fervid chuckle. Calem withdrew, kissed the top of Sydney's breasts and then trailed a lavish path of kisses along her neck until he reached her lips. Threading his fingers through her hair to cradle her head he drew her mouth to his, kissing her passionately, his hunger, Arjim's hunger heightening when she permitted his nudging tongue to slip inside. She sighed out her pleasure, pressing her body tighter to Calem's body as Arjim nipped at her shoulder, skimmed his hand along her back and over her bare bottom. His lips followed, trailing kisses along her spine to the small of her back and her then her bottom. He slid a single finger along her crease, gliding forward, groaning at the wetness seeping from her vagina and stroked over her clit, rubbing it gently. It pulsed as he touched her. Sydney's body caved.

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Gripping Calem's shoulders, she slumped against him murmuring salaciously, succumbing to the sexual inferno that burned within her, desperately needing them to take her, to fill her, to quench the lustful desire blazing inside. Calem turned her, and then lowered her to the ground, his mouth still firmly latched to hers, his tongue still probing and tasting, lingering for only a moment longer before moving to kiss her chin, her neck and then returning to suckle her breast, his hand plying and playing with the other one. Arjim growled, anxious to sip on her sweetness. Calem sent a lusty mental growl of his own to his brethren, urging him on, knowing he too would experience her flavor through their linking, though he intended to also taste her on his own. Arjim needed no encouragement. He was already rapt in the activity. Parting her legs he fingered her pussy, teased her inner lips spreading them apart. He lowered his head, and her hips jerked when she felt the touch of his lips on her mound. "Arjim," Sydney breathed out and then sucked in a gasp of air when Calem began kissing downward, moving over her belly. She clenched at his hair with one hand, Arjim's with the other, and began to pant, eagerly, and with anticipation. Arjim licked her. "O-o-h," she squeaked out as torrents of pure excitement pulsed through her loins. Wet with arousal, Sydney writhed against his lapping tongue. Calem inhaled deeply through his nose, drawing in her fragrance. "The scent of your arousal is potently enticing," he said and then nudged at Arjim to give him room. He could suppress his thirst for her no longer. Skimming his lips over her mons he groaned, and then slipped his tongue into the uppermost part of her slit, just at the juncture of her labia, just above her clit. Sydney gasped, unaware of how sensitive, how arousing being teased there could be. Arjim lifted her leg, holding her at the ankle. Bending beneath it he caressed the back of her thigh with his cheek, moving downward until he reached the crease of her bottom. He gently kissed her there, licked over her opening and then gently nipped and kissed the other side. "You're making me crazy!" Sydney yelped as Calem kissed and licked her juncture, his tongue skimming over her clitoris several times. They both chuckled at her impatience, grappling with impatience of their own, wanting to taste and savor every part of her after waiting such a torturously long, long time for this moment. "You try our resolve beautiful woman," Calem rasped out as he rested his head on her belly. Looking up at her, he smiled affectionately while admiring the flush of heat on her face, the subtle way her lips were parted and how her breasts rose and fell with her excited panting. Reaching upward he massaged one breast and then rolled the nipple between his finger and thumb. Beneath him her pelvis flexed upward, slackened and then jerked upward once more. "Calem, Arjim…please," she implored, her voice a desperate whisper. Splaying her legs wider, Sydney presented herself to them, begging, craving, pleading. She was rewarded with the mind-bending onslaught of two tongues licking at her vulva. "Uyo!" Sydney returned, using the Tertian word, pushing her pussy toward their ministering mouths, rocking, gyrating slowly at first, and then yielding to the erotic waves gaining momentum, pulsing through her flesh. "You are sweeter than the finest of gratas," Arjim groaned and then plunged his tongue within her, drinking her in. Sydney pumped faster, panted harder, sucking in hasty breaths as Calem's tongue flicked rapidly over her clit and Arjim's tongue dipped in and out of her seeping vagina. Her arm's

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spread outward slapping to the ground. She dug fingers, curling them into the ground and arched her back, her breasts thrusting upwards. All around her the echoes of the chanting Prowlers grew even louder, their droning voices amplifying, blending in harmony with her escalating cries, as if they knew, as if they were a part of it. For only a brief moment was she distracted by it, her whimpers for release drowning the sounds, her body inflaming with escalating arousal and the groans of her mates as they sucked and licked, coveting her, taking her to a place where nothing but the sight, and smell and taste and sounds of ecstasy resided. Sydney yelped. Her vagina clamped tightly. Calem pressed his tongue hard against her clit while he and Arjim each inserted a finger inside of her, sliding with her juices, opening her wider. She convulsed and reached out as pulses of orgasmic elation burst from her core, growing hastily, potently, radiating throughout her body. "I want you in me!" she gasped, and then clenched at Arjim's hair. Calem shifted. Keeping his finger firmly next to Arjim's, he turned his body to stretch along her length, his rock-hard shaft pressing against her leg. Sydney released her hold on Arjim and reached for Calem's cock. She wrapped her fingers around it and stroked him hard. He grunted. His hips jerked, and Arjim reacted with an equally fervent sound, his hips responded in steady thrusts, his mind and body absorbing his brethren's arousal. Lifting her leg, Sydney wrapped it around Calem's hip. With a restless sigh she tugged anxiously at his cock, trying to guide it toward her crotch. Calem chuckled at her impatience. Threading his fingers through her hair he cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his, kissing her passionately, hungrily, his love and lust for her gripping him wildly, blending with the wild and heart-pounding emotions of endearment that Arjim was also experiencing. It was time. Arjim slid along her backside, pressing his body up against hers, positioning her between them, preparing her for the Trigon mating. He stroked his erection along the crease of her bottom, while kissing her shoulder, her neck and then nuzzling his face against her, absorbing the fragrance of her skin, her hair. Reaching to the front of her pelvis, he slid his finger through her labia to find her clit. He swiped at it, rubbed back and forth on it, his cock engorging further at the feel of it throbbing beneath his touch. Calem lifted her leg a bit higher, spreading her open for them. They pulled back their hips and both slid their cocks toward her opening, the engorged heads of their shafts poking and prodding, pushing inward, colliding. "We cherish you our wife," Arjim spoke to her in English, and then in the Tertian words. "Fi tinei nocunus ito g'vori ide." Forever and always, in life and in death, never shall we part. "Our spirits are one in the Trigon," Calem added. "We love you beyond our own comprehension, Sydney." He lowered her head to the ground, and with Arjim propped over her from behind, they both gazed into her eyes, admiring the haze of desire that filled them as she shifted her attention between them. She smiled at them, and murmured. Her lips parted and she drew in a breath. Her eyes slowly closed, and when they did, they thrust, sinking into her vagina. "Holy mother of Mars!" Sydney screamed out as her hymen shredded. Arjim and Calem froze. Sydney froze, her lids squeezing tightly. She gritted her teeth, and then gasped in short whimpering breaths of air, grateful they'd stopped moving. She was seeing stars, lots of them. Unbidden tears erupted from her eyes. Arjim and Calem held her tightly between them, still embedded inside of her, entwined and tripled, three now one.

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"Shall we assume those are tears of joy, She' mana?" Arjim grimaced. Sydney opened her eyes and turned to look at him. His face was twisted with distress, his lips pursed as he gazed at her anxiously. Turning, she found Calem with the same expression, clearly upset that they had hurt her. The little demon inside Sydney's head reared its mischievous crown, and even as her body quaked with the pain of their penetration, she said to them. "You promised you would never hurt me." Their mouths fell open, neither knowing what to say to sooth her. They had promised with all their hearts, that they would never ever harm her and now she was crying, shaking, and staring at them, wide-eyed, as if in disbelief. I warned you that we should move slower with her! Arjim pierced Calem's brain. I thought we were! Calem mentally shot back. They both looked down at her and frowned, watching as she chuckled through tears now trickling from the corners of her eyes. "You are alright, our love?" Arjim asked confused by her mixed expression of emotions. "Are the two of you ever going to stop arguing?" Sydney laugh-cried. "We should've…" Calem began to say, and then paused. He tipped his head askew and furled a questioning brow. "How did you know we were arguing?" Sydney expression sobered. "I don't know." She pondered that a moment her expression perplexed as her attention shifted between her mates. "I sensed it…I think." "No matter," Calem returned. "What does matter is that we broke our promise to you and hurt…" "S- h-h." Sydney pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "I was teasing you about that promise. I knew this was going to hurt." "That was not very nice, She'mana." Arjim frowned. "We were ready to fall at your feet and beg forgiveness for causing you pain." "Hmm…On second thought…" Sydney chuckled again. Lifting her head slightly she gave Arjim a peck on the mouth. "O-o-o-h, o-w-w, o-o-o-h…it hurts." "We'll give to you…hurts, our She'mana!" Calem growled teasingly and then nip lightly at her neck while tickling her belly. "Yikes!" Sydney yelped a laugh and then squirmed to his escape him, but found herself in a greater quandary when Arjim shackled her ankle and gave her mischievous look as he threatened to tickle her foot. She stiffened. "Okay, okay I give. Please don't tickle my foot. You know I hate that!" He tickled it anyway, and Sydney shrieked, but they relented in tormenting her, instead returning chuckles of their own. "You forget we have over the phases, learned many of your vulnerabilities." Arjim released her ankle and then caressed the length of her leg until he reached her upper thigh. "I remember that you enjoyed being touched here." Sliding his hand over her hip bone, he massaged her lower belly, his fingers moving in easy circles until he reached the area above her mons. Sydney's mouth fell open, and she closed her eyes, the heat of arousal again swelling inside of her. He was completely on target ... literally. "Oh god, yes," Sydney moaned. "I was only eighteen…or was it nineteen?" "It was the very last time we were able to link with you, wife." Calem cupped her chin,

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his thumb skimming affectionately across the flesh of her lips, and Sydney opened her eyes, as Calem continued. "After that, there was nothing but agonizing silence." The pain that crossed his face, that she saw reflected in Arjim's face when her gaze shifted toward him was piercingly clear. Guilt twisted her insides. "Oh snap, Calem…Arjim," she began to say…to confess. "No matter our woman," Arjim interrupted her. "You are here with us now." "Never to be parted again," Calem added. They began to move inside of her, and the impassioned smiles they gave her, the intensifying sparkles of fevered excitement in their eyes stirred Sydney clear to her core. If only she'd known, if only she'd understood what they were truly all about she might not have fought so hard to block them. Sydney's thoughts shifted to her fugitive status. She glanced around noticing that the three of them were now alone. "The Prowlers are gone," she whispered. "They retreated as soon as we penetrated you, our link to them no longer necessary," Arjim answered. "The physical tripling now completed." "But not satiated," Sydney returned. Reminded of why that was, Arjim asked her. "Do you wish for us to cease for now our woman?" Even as he asked the question, his cock pulsed against her vaginal walls, against Calem's shaft, which pulsed in return. Their shafts began to engorge again, betraying their true desire. "Don't you dare." Sydney wriggled against their cocks drawing a groan from both o f them. "I've waited as long as you have for this. She slipped her arm around the back of Calem's neck to rest her palm on his shoulder and then reaching behind her with the other arm she slid her hand to the back of Arjim's head, threading her fingers through his hair. It felt good to hold them both so close and without reservation. Her mates shifted, snuggling her body tighter, compressing her between them. Sydney mewed a sigh and closed her eyes, basking in their heated flesh, her arousal reigniting as they began to caress her body once again, Calem nuzzling her neck on one side, while Arjim planted kisses along her jaw and neck on the other. She inhaled, drawing in their blended scents, listened to hearts that pounded through their muscled chests and how their rhythmic breathing seemed to soothe and thrill her at the same time. "Make love to me, right now," she whispered. "My playmates, my Sh'em." They both murmured their own husky sounds of approval, their hearts thumping when she called them her Sh'em for the very first time. Rocking their hips, they began a steadier rhythm, their cocks thickening, lengthening even more. "Are we hurting you, She'mana?" Calem asked. He and Arjim both ceased all movement within her. "No, I'm fine," she breathed out, her voice a shaky whisper. Calem frowned as he and Arjim exchanged concerned glances. "Are you sure, our love?" "I'm positive," she whispered again, more adamantly this time. Clamping her vaginal muscles as hard as she could, gripping their cocks. "Do you feel how wet I am for you?" Arjim's growl was echoed by Calem. They felt her liquid fire, felt the throb of desire that pulsed through her core. She moved on them now, gyrating against them, and they stroked within her, shallow and with ease at first, their hands roaming her body, over her breasts, through her hair, over hip and bottom, relaxing her. They continued to plunge as one, pushing a little

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deeper, breaching her a little further until their cocks were fully seated inside of her. Sydney gasped at the perfect fullness she felt, the perfect shape of her mates, the perfect glide of their contours against her insides. "Spirits wisdom!" Calem rasped out. He and his brethren felt it too. "Your shape, your curves woman…" He skimmed his hand over her hip and along the concave of her waist before molding his palm around her breast. "…you fit us like…" "Like a glove," Sydney panted as she rubbed her clit a little faster, a little harder against Calem's pubic bone. "Made to be ours," Arjim whispered from behind her, his voice a sensual hum in her ear. He kissed her shoulder and then reached for her right thigh, curving his fingers around the back of her knee, lifting her leg to spread her thighs further. Thrusting his pelvis he plunged his cock into her while at the same time Calem withdrew. "Uyo," Sydney responded, using the Tertian word. Her breathing quickened, her vaginal walls inflaming at the piston sensation of their rigid cocks dragging and poking her g-spot as they stroked in and out of her sometimes gliding against each other alternating the in and out thrusts and sometimes in unison. "Afiana, She'mana," Calem groaned--Magnificent wife. He and Arjim pumped faster, finding her cadence, their hips, their bodies entwined, the three of them moving, grinding against each other in flawless accord. Sydney's juices flowed freely, and she moaned, her clit distended, throbbing, her vaginal muscles clamping, the pressure low in her belly building as her orgasm began its exquisite, tormenting climb. Arjim and Calem were right there with her--her Sh'em, their balls swelling, smashing against each other as they drove faster and deeper within her. They clung to their woman, tasted her, breathed her in, their hearts pounding a synchronized beat their minds and bodies merging, tripling, as they made passionate love to the woman they could finally call wife. "Cum, She'mana." Calem watched her face, taking in the beauty of her face, flushed with excitement, the glaze of lust in her eyes and the sensual dance of body as it sway with them. His gaze met Arjim's feeling the erotic waves sweeping through him, coalescing in his thoughts and then rushing through Calem's brain, feeding the erogenous waves rippling through his body. Calem buried his face in Sydney's hair at the top of her head, groaning, whispering, coaxing her orgasm. She tipped her face upward and gasped a breath as she their lips met. From behind Arjim nipped her neck. Her body stiffened, fighting for release. She felt them both grinding against her, their cocks pushing, pulsating, her body grappling for completion, her orgasm hovering, mounting taking her to the edge and then bursting from her womb, spiraling through her abdomen, along her flesh and through her limbs. She came with a cry that was muffled by Calem's mouth as he and his brethren Arjim plunged into her and withdrew, driving harder and faster, riding through her climax as she arched and writhed between them, her muscles seizing. They spewed their cum into her. The exquisite explosion of raw ecstasy collided in their minds and shot through their bodies. Even as Sydney writhed between her mates, cried out her release, Calem and Arjim roared, their cocks pulsing through the gripping of her vaginal walls, and they clung to her and to each other, holding her safely between them, their hearts, their souls, three now one in the Trigon, a friendship and love, a passion so powerful and binding that neither space nor time could rip it asunder.

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Chapter Twenty-Two "Untie me damn it!" "We think not, She'mana." Arjim grinned as he placed the final knot on the bonds at her ankles. "You lied!" Sydney groused. "How is that, sweet Sydney?" Calem tested the snugness of the cuffs around her wrists. Assured they were tight enough to hold her without impeding her circulation, he nodded at Arjim indicating that he was ready. "You said you love me." "And we do," Calem paused and looked at her. He smiled gently. "We love you with the passion of endless hearts in time." "Endless hearts…" Sydney's irritation melted, her breath catching in her chest at his amazingly beautiful words. Bending toward her, Calem planted a tender kiss on her mouth and then turned to Arjim and nodded. In one synchronized movement, they hoisted her up. Each settled their talon across their shoulders so that she dangled between them. "Oh my snapping god!" Sydney grunted at the movement and the feel of her own weight dangling against the pull of her wrist and ankle restraints. Her irritation instantly returned. "Well if you truly love me then you will fucking put me down and untie me damn it!" "Ayn." Arjim answered. He licked his lips. With each of her ankles tied to the ends of his weapon, he had an exquisite view of Sydney's pussy, still glistening between her spread open thighs. His mouth watered to taste her once again. "This is ancient tribal tradition." "Fuck the tribe!" Sydney snapped. "You wish to fuck the tribe?" Arjim asked. He and Calem exchanged silent chuckles as they carried their newly deflowered but obviously less than demure new bride down the forest path. "You truly are a naughty wife. Perhaps we should reconsider this decision of the divinities." "You're not going to untie me are you?" Sydney snarled at them. They both snickered in return. "I believe," Calem answering this time as he glanced over his shoulder. "The answer in your earth word would be…no." "But I'm naked!" Sydney protested. "You have been naked almost the entire time since crashing here, She'mana," Calem remarked. "Why should now be of a matter?" Sydney huffed as she stared at her bound wrists, which were tied close to the center of Calem's talon. If she looked up, she could be peek between her arms and get a nice glimpse of Arjim's splendid body. If she let her head hang, she had a perfect upside down view of Calem's perfect ass…She stared appreciatively at his taught, naked backside that flexed enticingly with his stride…He really does have a nice, firm ass…hum…He and Arjim were as naked as she was. Lifting her head, Sydney caught Arjim's gaze. He stared at her intensely, a flirtatious smile curving his lips, and she licked her lips unable to ignore his engaging charm. A haze of

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lust clouded her thoughts as her gaze then shifted downward to his muscular chest. She watched his pecs flex and sighed before her eyes ambled lower to admire his taught abdomen. Sydney's lips parted and she blew out a wisp of air. Her gaze followed the line of hair leading toward Arjim's groin, to his shaft protruding from the tuft of hair, fully hardened before and pointing into a downward, sexy curve, just inches from her pussy. Her libido kicked into overdrive as she watched it bobbing up and down as he continued in his stride, and suddenly being tied to their weapons seemed rather…arousing. "You were saying, woman?" The sound of Arjim's low, sensual voice pulled Sydney's eyes upward. His seductive smile widened when he caught her gaze. "Was I saying something?" Sydney returned. He loosened his grip on one side of the talon and reached for her thigh, his hand skimming along the front of it. Sydney exhaled slowly, her eyes remaining fixed to his, watching the gold flecks sparkle brightly in his eyes as his expression filled with hunger. "You were saying you wanted this." Arjim swung her bottom toward him, the head of his cock poking at her opening. Sydney groaned her approval. Releasing the hold he had on his weapon with the remaining hand he allowed the talon to balance on his shoulders. He grasped both of Sydney's thighs. In front, Calem's steps faltered. Catching the telepathic sensations of her wet pussy coating the head of his brethren's shaft, Calem mumbled something incoherent as his cock hardened. Arjim aimed his cock directly at directly at Sydney's vagina, and impaled her. "Oh!" Sydney gasped out. "My god!" Calem halted. He turned, rotating within the concave of his talon. Sydney looked up at him. His nostrils flared as his erect cock jutted upward, brushing her cheek. Turning toward it, Sydney sucked the tip of it into her mouth and he groaned but pulled back. Instead he lifted the weapon over his head and then hooked it over a low branch of a tree that they'd stopped near. Arjim began to pump. With Sydney tethered between their weapons, he grasped her hips and thrust burying himself deep within her, his pelvis grinding between her thighs. Sydney clenched at him, moaning at his hardness and how the downward curve of him sweeping her vagina prodding and awakening nerve bundles along the back wall of her insides. Lowering to his knees, Calem swept one arm around her ribcage, cradling her upper body to his chest. The warmth of his skin caressed her cheek as the pounding of his heart beating in his chest played in her ear. He bent his head to kiss her, his tongue probing while his hand massaged her breast. He stroked his cock with his other hand, his mind absorbing the enthralling sensations of her wet pussy clenching Arjim's cock as his brethren slipped in and out of her. He mimicked the thrusting motions with his tongue and Sydney moaned, her hips twisting, wrenching with building desire. She jerked her mouth free of Calem's. "Harder…oh god…!" Arjim slammed into her and growled. Sydney whimpered and clamped down harder on his erection. He ground into her, hold her hips firmly and circling his own hips around, massaging her vulva, giving her clit the pressure he seemed to sense she was seeking "Yes!" She jerked her arms and legs, straining against the restraints and then begged. "Let me loose…please." "Ayn, beautiful wife," Arjim returned, his voice hoarse with arousal. "The lust at being as such is clear in your eyes."

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He pinched at her nipple and Sydney yelped, a rush of electric pleasure jolting through her. He was correct. She wanted her hands free to touch her mates, but she was also sexually frenzied at being bound. She was at their mercy, and loving every minute of it! "Then take me as you will," Sydney gasped out. Her Sh'em both chuckled. They too were beginning a carnal climb, the ebb and flow in their minds and hearts surging and forging their brethren bond. Having Sydney finally captured and tied, now finally their woman in the Trigon, having her physically with them to touch, and caress and hold and kiss…to love with all of the passio n that they had for her within them was beyond what they dared to hope for almost all of their lives. "Our love for you for always, She'mana." Calem whispered. He covered her mouth with his own as he continued to stroke himself. Withdrawing, he kissed her chin and then moved along her neck until he reached her breasts. He sucked a nipple into his mouth drawing gasps of delight from Sydney at now having both of her breasts attended to, at having the attention of both her men pleasuring her body. The excitement surged within her and she wrenched, pulling at her bonds straining to find the right position the right movements and pressures that would push her to climax. Her need did not go unnoticed by Arjim who pulled her tightly against him, his hands gripping her hips, his cock fully embedded. She arched, her clit pressing his pubic bone, her breasts thrusting upward and further toward Calem's mouth. "Let me suck on you." Calem's hand went still on his cock. Lifting his head from Sydney's breast he turned to look at her. His breath caught in his chest as he watched her tongue sweep across her upper lip as she stared at him, a hungry haze clear in her eyes. He squeezed the shaft causing the head to swell, felt a bead of moisture seep from the tip, and he groaned. Arjim groaned and began rocking against Sydney's pussy, feeling her hardened bud throbbing with excitement, feeling his erection inside of her swelling against the walls of her vagina, now clamping down hard on him. Reaching, Calem unhooked his talon from the tree branch. At the same time Arjim lowered to the sit on the ground. With Sydney still tied to his talon, Calem placed it across her hips as Arjim pulled her firmly onto his lap. His own talon slipped from his shoulders and fell to the ground behind him allowing Sydney to straddle him. Calem stepped one foot over their hips and faced Sydney. He grasped his erection again and swiped it across her mouth. Sydney chuckled and licked the head of it as he did so, the taste of him instantly wetting her eagerness to suck on him further. Beneath her she felt Arjim pulse inside of her and she undulated on him, her clit in perfect alignment, perfectly flush and pressed against his groin. "Mmmm…" Sydney mewed and then wrapped her lips around the head of his cock. It thickened and elongated further. She closed her eyes and began bobbing her head up and down on his shaft savoring the taste of her Sh'em's juices seeping from the tip of his erection. She sighed again, melting with the feel of her other Sh'em's steel hard cock thrust upward and deep into her pussy, the stimulation of his hands now kneading her breasts, his thumbs skimming over her nipples and the tender way Calem stroked her hair. Four hands, two cocks, two strong males aroused and hungrily focused on her body, she was at their mercy not only by the bonds that kept her restrained by them physically but by the bonds that wrapped her heart. Lifting her eyes, Sydney gazed up at Calem. He returned her gaze staring down at her. His nostrils flared as he watched her lick and suck his cock, the gold flecks in his irises shimmering brightly, his pupils dilated with his arousal. She wanted to Arjim as well but he was

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blocked from her by Calem's body, though she did have a nice erotic view of her pussy lips burrowing into his pubic hair as she rocked against him. Though she'd never had a chance to explore a man hairless or otherwise, she was amazed at how silky soft the blanket of fur on his groin was, and how rubbing her clit through it intensified her excitement. She rode him faster, and heard him grown, felt him thicken and pulse inside of her. It caused her to clamp harder and she grew wetter as her climax approached. His hands dropped from her breasts to her hips and then slid around to grip her buttocks. Calem growled reflecting the ebb and flow of sensations between them. Knowing they shared, that they fed off each other's lust, knowing that what she did to one was channeled to the other was a catalyst for her own orgasmic ascension now swelling to the brink. The three of them moaned, lost in the tripling passion, and they began the rhythmic pant, Calem and Arjim heaving through their mouths, Sydney alternating between her mouth and nose as continued to taste and suck on Calem. Calem came first. On a roar he clenched her hair, and Sydney stilled, allowing him to stroke between her lips, while her tongue lapped at the underside of his shaft savoring his flavor as he spewed his warm liquid into her mouth. She swallowed and continued to tease the tip with her tongue, chuckling when he shuttered and jerked back. He lowered to the ground and sat back on his haunches. Reaching, he skimmed his thumb over her mouth and smiled appreciatively. Beneath her Arjim bucked and gritted his teeth. Calem laughed and massaged his balls, his still cock pulsing and twitching somewhere between semi- soft and hard. "I want to do that," Sydney rasped out her eyes on Calem's groin as she pumped and rubbed on Arjim. "Untie me. I want to play with you." "Ayn, our heart," Calem replied and then grasped the back of her head. He leaned forward and kissed her instead, and she moaned into his mouth, her pleasure mounting, the throbbing low in her pelvis flaring, intensifying as he moved lower to kiss her chin, her neck and then to kiss and lick at her breast. Faster and faster she ground her pussy against Arjim, her clit swelling, throbbing, her body in a rushing climb to the threshold. She pulled at her restraints and then bent her head to nip at Calem's ear, her eyes shifting to watch Arjim's reaction, to see how quickly the sensation leapt from Calem's mind to his. It was instantaneous, his nostrils flaring as he sucked in a breath at nearly the same time Calem murmured with pleasure. It aroused her, fed her excitement, drove her closer to climax, inflamed by Calem sucking on her nipple and Arjim's thrusts beneath her as she rubbed on him. Both men groaned in response, their minds a blend of sexual sensations sweeping through them and driving their bodies. "Cum She'mana," Arjim growled. He drove his hips upward, his fingers still clenching her hips, and she did. "Oh yes…" Sydney arched and threw her head back. In one tremendous surge it hit, igniting, exploding low in her cut and shattering through her insides, and she cried. "I'm cumming!" Arjim followed. With every muscle in his body tensing he gnashed his teeth, felt her clamp down on him, the muscles of her vagina pulsing, her clit swelling and throbbing with her release, pushing him over the edge. He hissed at the explosion of voracious rapture charging through his loins, expelling his load inside of her even as her orgasm burst through her flesh and her juices gushed down on him. At the same time Calem yelled. "Spirits ka!" He pulled back from Sydney's breast, his cock jutting and squirting yet again, this time onto Sydney's belly. His eyes shifted toward Arjim and they locked gazes, their minds and

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hearts swelling and flowing in powerful waves of passion and lust and love for Sydney that heightened and strengthened the brethren fellowship further. The exchange between them was not lost on Sydney. Still panting from her climax Sydney glanced down and grinned before looking in Calem's direction first and then toward Arjim, who she still straddled. She could sense the bond between them, felt the strength of the nexus that twined them, in the harmony of their movements, in the manner of how they touched her, in the gazes they passed between. It wove its way through her as if their link to each other was a link to her soul, and in a sense it was. Even without their ability to link to her brain, the connection she felt to both of them was still just as strong as their connection to each other, no different than that of any true lovers. "That was amazing." Sydney gasped out. She jerked her head to one side attempting to clear the strands of hair that had fallen over her face, over her eyes. When that failed she blew out an upward gust of air from her mouth hoping to clear them that way. The air had little effect other than to briefly cool her sweaty skin briefly. Calem chuckled and brushed her hair to one side. "She'mana," Arjim gasped out between breaths. "You fuck like a wild fifon in a fit of heat. Where did our innocent woman learn such skill?" Sydney laughed, elated she was able to please her men. "Good porn and lots of sex books. I was hoping they were teaching me something handy, along with getting off on them." "This porn warrants further exploration, I think." Calem chuckled again. Grasping his talon he lifted Sydney's arms over her head while Arjim lifted her from his hips. She groaned at the sudden empty sensations as his penis was tugged free of her vagina. What they were doing then occurred to Sydney. "Hey!" Sydney protested as her Sh'em stood and repositioned their weapons over their shoulders so that she was once again dangling between them. "So you still intend on parading me through the tribe like I'm the prize catch of the day?" "That would be the idea, uyo, She'mana," Arjim answered. "I should take offense to that you know," Sydney grumbled. "Considering that I am a modern woman from a world where all are created equal." "Females flee, males chase and capture," Calem remarked "The fettering ceremony has commenced with this tradition in the tribes for many generations. You will be presented." Fettering ceremony? Sydney's agitation disintegrated. Her heart began dancing around in her chest as Calem's words sank in. A huge smile creased her lips, her joyous thoughts continuing even with the uncomfortable ache that was now building in her stretching joints from being tied to and hanging from their talon arcs. She continued to smile even as they entered the Cu'cjani encampment, and the familiar sounds of clacking weapons accompanied by the jovial sounds of male voices could be heard. Being naked and shackled to a couple of weapons and being presented like the trophy she was, seemed to matter very little. Sydney was happy and excited. Her charms! She was going to get her ankle charms! Twisting her head to one side, Sydney attempted to see what was going on. She expected to get a glimpse of the men, but it wasn't the men she saw. It was the women of the tribe who seemed to be greeting them, though greeting wasn't quite an accurate word to be using. Their expressions where less than joyous, much, much less. In fact they looked rather pissed. "What's going on?" Sydney asked as Calem and Arjim halted in front of the woman. "The She'mana of the Cu'cjani are here to present their warning," Calem answered. "A warning?" Sydney lifted her head again trying to get a glimpse of what was

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happening. Lined in two rows, the Tertani woman created a gauntlet of sorts that she suspected Calem and Arjim were expected to tread through. Each woman held a stick that coincidentally reminded Sydney of an earth plant called a pussy willow, except these had fuzzy buds attached to them that were the size of a plum though they were closer to a bright purple in color. "What warning?" "Ka!" Calem winced as they moved forward, passing between the two rows. One as of the tribeswoman lashed him with her stick. "What the snap!" Sydney frowned. "Are they going to hit me too?" "Ayn." Arjim's shoulders tensed as he ducked his head to one side as a branch thwacked his deltoid. "Aey ka! These females strike hard!" "It's an antiquated tradition still practiced by the tribes," Calem spoke over his shoulder. He too recoiled slightly, wincing as one of the women snapped a branch against his outer thigh. "The arba plant is used as a warning to the Sh'em that abuse of the newly tripled female, that would be you, will not be tolerated." "Really?" Sydney laughed. Not that she enjoyed seeing her Sh'em hurt but they didn't truthfully seem to be getting walloped all that hard. "I think I like this tradition." Her smile widened as she noticed Alea and Bligh amongst the woman. They too appeared to be miffed but the expression on their faces faltered slightly as their eyes met hers, and Sydney caught the mirth in them. It didn't stop them from participating in the thwacking that was going on, however, each taking a turn at giving Sydney's mates a lashing. Finally they reached the end of the reception with both Sydney's pride and sense of humor intact though she thought it was less so for her mates who were now hurrying with her to wherever it was they were taking her. She found out quickly. Within moments they were lifting her body and setting her down on a stone slab. "I think this is where I came in," Sydney commented. Around her the tribe's Trigon brethren clacked their weapons together. The Commanders, Tren and Rjant along with Bligh's Sh'em were included amongst them. The She'manas had gathered behind them arms crossed their expressions still grim. Behind the woman she could see the illumination from a huge bonfire lit, flaming blue balls rising from it like a bubble bath gone wild, the fragrance of whatever woods they used to fuel it creating a pleasant aroma similar to cedar. She also saw a waterfall, or should she say a taw fall, effervescing its way downward to splash into a small lake, and she remembered Alea telling her that those to elements were always included as part of the rituals of the Trigon mating, taw to cleanse the spirit and fire to burn eternal passion in the heart. Above her the clouds blocked the rays of the Tertian sun creating a pinkish haze across the skies though it didn't seem to affect the tepid temperature that was the norm of at least this area of the planet. "La'es avi stihin Calem ot Karisi et Arjim ot Triadel." Sydney turned toward the voice. A robed character stood at the edge of the slab surrounded by other robed characters. She couldn't see his or her face but assuming by the stature of the person and the masculine hands she saw sticking out from the cuff of the robe's sleeves that he was indeed male. Sydney also had to wonder why with everyone else being bareassed naked why these guys showed up with way too many clothes on though it didn't take long for her to figure it out that she disliked the lead man immensely when he began to probe her. The first thing he did was scan her from head to toe which sort of annoyed her. He then flattened

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his palm on her belly, which prompted a dirty look from Sydney that she aimed directly at Calem and Arjim because they just stood there. "What is he doing?" She demanded of her mates, but before they could even answer the robed moron bent to look in her narrowed, angry eyes, and then he did something that really pissed her off. He grabbed her lips and bent to look at her teeth! Sydney jerked free. "Get out of my face asshole or I'm going to knock your damn teeth out!" Ignoring her he looked up, directing a question toward her mates. "Y'rid efrim deiam She'mana?" "Reta all rescinn'j hien Sydney." Calem spoke. "Calem, Arjim!" Sydney yelled. "You're dead! Both of you are dead meat!" I think our She'mana is, how would she say, a bit pissed off? Arjim transmitted mentally to Calem. "You're damn straight I'm pissed off!" Sydney growled. Calem furled his brow at her and then glanced at Arjim as the robed molester parted her bent knees and then had a look. "Oh what the hell!" Sydney attempted to scramble away from him but Calem pinned her arms while Arjim pinned her ankles. "Jo'lajn ab agiv." The robed person said. His words were directed toward the crowd as if he was announcing something. It drew a series of hoots from the men, which was followed by several comments amongst themselves. "What the snapping fuck did he say!" "The Pontiff announces your deflowering, She'mana." Calem answered. Well no shit!" Sydney groused. "Half the tribe already knows that I'm no longer a virgin." Calem skimmed her forehead swiping away the strands of stray hair that had fallen across her face. "Please try to relax, She'mana. This will be finished soon. The Pontiff merely follows ancient practice deemed fundamental to the spiritual blessing of our tripling. To that Sydney lifted a brow. She was about to say something snide when the robed holier-than-thou set a folded cloth on her belly. Curiosity kept her mouth shut momentarily as he unwrapped the material and then held up two anklets. A wide grin creased Sydney lips when she saw them. "Seid a he flei dou'cu bensho abal sh trigon ot Sydney." the Pontiff said. Blessing--Sydney caught the translation, or at least she thought she had, and Trigon with her name attached. The Pontiff then handed the fetter charms to each of her Sh'em. Arjim moved toward her feet and chanted a few words as he smiled at her. Calem did the same. Together they snapped the charms in place, one on each ankle. The tribal males hooted, while her mates untied the bindings that had her shackled to their talon arcs. Promptly Sydney sat up, wound up her arm and delivered a firmly planted fist through the opening in the Pontiff's hood and connecting with his jaw. "Asshole!"

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Chapter Twenty-Three "She'mana!" Calem barked. He and Arjim attempted to snare her arms but Sydney dodged them. She scrambled from the plinth, considered fleeing but instead came to stand between her Sh'em. Gasps and murmurs amongst the tribe erupted though Sydney also heard a few female snickers. "The Pontiff has yet decided our standing," Arjim told her, the tone of his voice scolding. "What do you mean, our standing?" Sydney questioned, her gaze shifting between her mates. They grimaced but didn't answer her, or even look at her. Their eyes were fixed widely, worriedly on the Pontiff. Gre'aecha just stands there, brethren. Calem mentally channeled to Arjim. I fear that for the next five phases we may be digging through the muck to capture fruttles. "Fruttles?" Sydney asked. "What the snap is a fruttle?" "It’s a highly nutritious, but slimy…" Calem abruptly quit speaking and stared at Sydney, his brows raised. She turned and saw that Arjim was staring at her in the same way. Their gazes shifted and their brows furled as they exchanged glances with each other. "Ta'ft deaph dagi She'ami!" The Pontiff snarled from beneath his the hood cloaking his face. "What did he say?" Sydney turned to stare at him. "He just called you an obstinate woman." Arjim interpreted. Well tell him to go fuck himself, Sydney thought silently. "Not a good idea, Sydney," Calem said. "What?" Sydney looked at him with confusion. He returned the same, and she scratched her head. "How did you…" "Abiast!" The Pontiff roared angrily, his voice so loud it rattled Sydney's bones. Arjim, Sydney and Calem fell silent. The entire tribe fell silent, their typical jovial behavior suddenly stifled. It made her nervous. What had she done? They stood there. The Pontiff stood there. The tribunal just stood there, and the tribe just stood there, no one saying a word…nothing, not even a murmur. "Are we in trouble?" Sydney mumbled. "I don't know," Arjim mumbled back. Gre'aecha strolled around the platform, around the three of them, and stood in back of them…and then he did something that was so undignified to Sydney that she couldn't possibly hold her tongue. With the back of his hand, he smacked her bare bottom. "Oh that does it, pervert!" Sydney spun and waggled her finger at him, her nostrils flaring, her eyes wide with fury. "Touch me one more time and I'm going to skewer your puny balls and serve them up like shish kabobs! Not that they'd be very tempting anyway because they're probably as shriveled up as that prune face you're hiding beneath that hood. Show yourself you coward!" Calem burst out laughing, but not Arjim. Through the corner of her eye she caught the

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movement in his throat as he gulped hard. She looked directly at him to see that his lips were pursed and he was clearly trying to swallow his own amusement. "Tenachi?" Gre'aecha asked. "Yeebe ferc, ah…" Arjim spoke in answer, seeming to fumble over his own word. "Evor…ah…stih ingif…ah…plag. Asiant arvese ... " "Did you just tell him what I said?" Sydney question. "You traitor." The Pontiff's hooded head moved up and down as if sizing her up. Sydney pursed her lips. He looked her up and down once more. Sydney did the same, looked him up and down and then twisted her mouth to one side as if to say big whoop. The rest of the tribe was so silent that Sydney could've heard a pin dropping into a pile of cotton. They stood there for what seemed like an endless amount of time, enough time for Sydney to consider bolting. Finally, the Pontiff reached up. Sydney tensed, ready to smack him if he made another move to p ut his hands on her, but he didn't. Instead he reached for his hood and then pushed it off of his head. "Oh good, show your ugly…Oh my god…" The Pontiff bellowed a jubilant laugh. A roar rose up from the men in the tribe. Calem and Arjim both blew audible breaths of relief, but all Sydney could do was stare. Where she expected a prune- faced sourpuss of an old man, what she saw was the complete opposite. His face was chiseled and youthful, his honey-colored hair well- groomed and cut short, and his irises, they were as green as the skin of lime but instead being encircled in gold they sparkled with a ring that was so silvery they reminded her of highly polished sterling. And he was still chuckling "The Pontiff finds you amusing," Arjim said. "In fact I believe he finds you quite charming." "I guess that’s a good thing right?" Sydney looked at her mates with a bit of chagrin. "We're off the hook then?" "Teg alishmu adedig." Gre'aecha pointed toward the lake. "Well not quite," Calem stated. He moved quickly toward her. He was grinning. "He has determined you pay a penance for your wily mouth. "A wha…hey!" Calem lifted her from her feet, while Arjim boosted her up from her behind. A gust of air expelled from her lungs as she was plopped over Calem's shoulder. "Penance, what penance! Put me down." The tribal males began clanking their weapons together again as Calem stalked toward the lake. Sydney twisted about to see where he was taking her and caught a glimpse of the woman just standing and watching, Alea and Bligh amongst them. "You're all traitors too!" Sydney yelled at them. "You're supposed to be helping me." "If you desire to run, Sydney we will join you." Alea said. Sydney opened her mouth to speak again but could only let o ut a yap before sucking in a breath to hold it. She was airborne, her body being tossed into the lake. She went under, the blast of gelid taw shocking her system as she kicked and paddled her way back to the surface. Her head broke through just in time to see Calem and Arjim jumping in after her. En masse, the rest of the tribe followed, both men and woman, shrieking and laughing as they all jumped into the lake as well. Sydney however, was scrambling in the opposite direction--to the shore. "Holy shit, this taw is as frigid as three dog night!" She shuttered as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought everything was nice and warm here." Arjim grinned at her. "That would be boring, She'mana, but at least he didn't order you

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thrown into the fire." "That doesn't actually happen." Sydney eyed them. "Does it?" They blinked at her without answering. "I'm serious!" Sydney blurted. "What would've happened if I'd pissed him off?" Arjim finally chuckled, his and Calem's expression softening, humor shining through. "The truth is She'mana, our status in the tribe and our duties would've been affected. Some of which are less than pleasant." Reaching for her leg, he attempted to pull her back into the taw, but Sydney jumped back dodging him. She glanced around. None of the others seemed to mind the cold taw. They were too busy frolicking and playing, tripled off in their private little Trigons. She spotted Alea who was sandwiched between her Sh'em, and it was quite apparent that she was being pleasured by them. Looking downward, Sydney's attention shifting to her ankles, to the fetter charms that Arjim and Calem had just given her. Amber in color, they were made of many interlocking perfectly circular rings that looked like glass, but because she'd examined Alea's, she had discovered that they were some kind of precious metal. They were beautiful, and Sydney would cherish having them, since she knew they were by tradition, handcrafted for her alone by Calem and Arjim. She shook one foot and listened to the chiming sound. In antiquity the charms were used by the Sh'em to track their mates, as the majority of Tertani females were nomadic creatures and were instinctively prone to frequent fleeing. Not only was there nothing that could cut through them making them impossible to remove, but each fetter charm as Sydney learned, had a peal that was unique to each piece and thus became distinctive to the Sh'em that created them. Sydney shook her foot again and grinned. From behind, two arms slipped around her waist. She startled as she was pulled back against a wet, naked body. "You do know that sound arouses us, wife?" Calem pressed his lips to her ear as he spoke. "What this?" Sydney laughed and shook her ankle once more, her fetter charm clinking. Calem growled as his hands slid up to massage her breasts. He nipped her ear drawing a mew of pleasure from Sydney that barely escaped her mouth before his gr ipped on her tightened. "Ayn!" Sydney mewed as Calem leaned his weight forward. With Sydney in his clutches, he plunged them both into the ice-cold taw. Still in his arms Sydney resurfaced with Calem both of them of them laughing. Arjim joined in, and as much as her body shuddered from the icy temperature, her heart blazed with warmth at the sound. The last time they laughed this much together they were all small children. "It is good to see your joy, Sydney." Arjim cupped her cheeks and then pressed a tender kiss to her mouth. "You are happy as are we?" Sydney closed her eyes and sighed. "I am, finally…happy as a clam." "Clam?" Calem asked. He and Arjim exchanged glances both mentally seeking the English interpretation. "I have no idea how a clam can be happy so don't ask." Sydney returned. "No need," Arjim responded. His eyes began to sparkle, and he smiled seductively. Sydney gave him a questioning look but he was already sinking beneath the taw and disappearing from her sight. Beneath the surface he grabbed her thighs and spread them wide, holding them while he rubbed his lips on her clit while thrusting his fingers inside of her. "We think we understand happy clam, She'mana." Calem's hands skimmed over her nipples, his cock hardening and poking her bottom, and Sydney gasped as a shiver ran along her

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flesh that had nothing to do with the cold. "Oh yes," she sighed. "A very happy clam." They both released her, and Sydney whimpered in protest. Arjim resurfaced while Calem pushed up to sit on the lakes edge. He reached for Sydney and lifted her up and onto his lap, and then sliding his hands beneath her thighs Calem lifted her bottom. Sydney planted a foot, one to each side of legs, bearing her own weight, so that she was crouched over him. She glanced behind her to see Calem grasping his shaft with one hand, while the other still cupped her. He swiped the swollen head along the crease of her ass and then poised it at the opening of her vagina. Sydney lowered herself onto it, slowly impaling herself, her muscles squeezing, moaning at the exquisite tingling rush that pulsed through her loins as he penetrated her more and more deeply until he was fully embedded inside of her. Arjim pushed up and onto the shore, and Sydney smiled seductively at him the lust beaming in his eyes as fierce as her own. He slid he hands between her knees and spread her open. Without hesitation his head lowered. "Oh my god!" Sydney rasped out. Calem cupped her chin and tipped her head back. He took her mouth with his own to give her a passionate kiss, his tongue dipping, plying, tasting, just as Arjim was tasting and licking at her clit. She throbbed deep within her womb, a heated frenzy building inside of her. She rocked her pelvis bearing down on Calem's cock feeling him pulsing inside of her. He groaned into her mouth as he continued to kiss her, one hand still cupping her chin, the other stroking her body, caressing her, heightening her senses, as his scent, as Arjim's scent filled her nostrils, mingling and taking hold, marking her desire for them, seeping to the far reaches of her mind. Pulling away from Calem's kiss, Sydney exhaled a lustful sigh and whispered. "I love you." She ran her palms along the outside of Calem's thighs before moving forward to thread her fingers through Arjim's hair, becoming lost in the luxuriously silky feel of it. Mmmm, she sighed, and he too released an elated sigh, lapping at her pussy as if his very life thrived on her flavor. "Sensational woman," Calem skimmed his fingertips over one of her nipples, plying at then, taking turns rolling them between his thumb and fingers. They tingled and went taut. "You bring to us such great joy." "Yes," Sydney purred, and then began an escalating cry, her climax swelling and then pushing through, a molten fire that consumed her core, devoured her with potent waves of profound rapture. "Oh god yes!" Arjim flattened his tongue against her clit while Calem continued to stroke, holding her between them while she rode out her orgasm, her body wrenching with sheer pleasure. When she finally went limp, panting in her post-orgasmic bliss, Arjim released her from his mouth's devouring and then kissed her mons. He continued upward caressing the flesh of her belly with his lips and then higher to her breasts to suckle first one nipple and then the other. Calem groaned and rolled them both to their sides, settling behind her. Arjim stretched along her length and then Calem lifted one her legs and settled it over his brethren's hip. He withdrew from her, and as he did Arjim thrust inside. Sydney moaned. Still reveling in the climatic surge assailing her, his penetration triggered a rapturous response, her body storming into overdrive. He began an easy grind, his pelvis rotating on her clit, his stiff cock rooted, the downward angled of his shaft, embedded deep, the head tormenting the erogenous

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bundle of nerves inflaming them as it dragged along backside of her vagina. He continued to stroke, his shaft becoming slick with her juices allowing him an easy glide, allowing Calem to slip in his shaft as Arjim pulled back and withdrew. "I'm so aroused again." Sydney panted. She wrapped her arms around Arjim's chest curve her arms to grasp his shoulders and clung to him, her heart pounding arduously with her climbing excitement. She could feel the hard thumping of his heart as well. From behind Calem pressed his cheek to hers, his breath fanning hot against her jaw and lips. Sydney began to croon softly, her hips canting forward and back grinding hard against the piston action of their frenzied plunges, alternating, driving into her. A heavy surge pulsed through her loins and she stiffened, squeezed down on her Sh'em, milked them. She began a frantic climb, the need to peak assailing her so ferociously she thought her heart might cease to beat. For a moment she'd forgotten to breathe. "Oh!" Lust seized her. "Fuck me!" They growled at her raw, primal passion and pumped in and out, grinding harder and thrusting faster. Their balls tightened, mashed together, the pressure building, their breathing accelerating, their hard cocks dueling to enter and withdraw from her, one driving in as the other pulled out and then both of them driving in together. All around them the sounds of the others engaged in their own heated desires filled the air, nudging their excitement higher and higher, feeding the carnal riptide gripping their bodies, pushing them to the pinnacle. Arjim and Calem groaned loudly even as Sydney cried out, and as she did, Calem slipped his fingers between them and pressed them low on her belly. Her g-spot swelled instantly, stimulated by Calem massaging her flesh and the poking and prodding by the heads of their cocks, her pussy went into spasm, her orgasm hit with an explosive gush. She came hard, and they felt it. Even as the burgeoning of their erections culminated and they spewed their semen into her womb it bolted through bodies, their minds and hearts. They exchanged surprised glances but Sydney's soft chuckle drew their attention to her and they became absorbed in the satiated grin on her lips and the glowing expression on her beautiful face. All other thought escaped them as they fell into a contented rest, the three of them compressed together, forever in their long yearned for Trigon… "Eag shi neces erten!" A booming female voice rent the air. Several of the females shrieked. Sydney, Calem and Arjim sat up in time to see that all of the tribesman were scattering, though Alea, Bligh and their Sh'em stood their ground. Arjim and Calem both mumbled expletives, while Sydney was slightly more vocal. "Shit!" she said quite loudly and with quite a bit of provocation. "I think the party's over."

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Chapter Twenty-Four "You Commander disobeyed a direct order by the Allegiance." Hands on hips, and body as stiff as a shirt overdosing on starch, Shardantin's expression was just as stiff and less than cordial, much, much less. She paced the floor like she had a poll up her ass. "I think not." Tren folded one arm over the other. Sydney stood between her mates, wrapped in yet another brand new sarong that Alea was allowed to give her when she was returned to Canyon City, hands cuffed, and once again a criminal! This time she was provided with a decoder, a small orb that was stuck in her right ear that was translating Allegiance proper into the Tertian language, and vice versa. "You now have a detailed bioprint on the captive," Tren affirmed. "I am sure the Allegiance has authentication of her reaction to the transdelta linking by her mates." "What's a bioprint?" Sydney whispered questioningly, directing her question to either of her mates. "Your anatomy was scanned when you came through the wormhole," Calem answered. "But they were only able to obtain limited bioscan readouts before you crashed. When you were captured here on Tertia the first time, a more detailed scan was completed. The Allegiance Council on Angard used it to track and locate you when you were fleeing. They would have record of not only your every move, but your physiological and physical state." "Including how I reacted to you and Arjim?" Sydney asked. "Correct." "Proof that I am your true mate." "Hopefully, they will read it that way." Arjim nodded. "Big brother…" Sydney commented. That's what Bligh meant when she told her the Allegiance would try to pinpoint her location. Though she felt a little violated, the technology at the least was quite interesting. If they now had proof of her innocence, then so be whatever the method. It also became keenly clear that being on the lam had been futile. They would've found her anyway. "We cannot deny," Flomink began. He stood and pressed his hands on the table, leaning closer to the screen as if attempting to get a better look at her. "She indeed fell into an alternate state of consciousness just before the tripling." "Then the charges shall be dropped." Tren said to them. "Her intrusion was by Divinity intervention and of no fault under her control." "We are aware of the Trigon credo, Commander, and it is never Allegiance policy to interfere in the spiritual practice of our allies. However…" Uh oh…Sydney gulped at his however. It usually meant that something not good was about to follow. Sure enough, it did. "Her alleged submission to your warriors' supposed link could've been artificially induced with a substance she brought from her home world. We know nothing of this place from which she comes. The woman could be absconding from the authorities there for some heinous crime she's committed." "Ka!" Arjim yelled. "A ridiculous notion!"

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"Stand down, Arjim!" Tren glared at him and then returned his attention to Flomink. "I might agree with you, Dignitary however… Oh…Sydney groaned. Another however. "It would make little sense since she was consuming a pellet that according to our analysis results does the complete opposite." Pellet? Calem transmitted to Arjim. What pellet? Oh my god, that's right, Sydney glanced at Arjim and Calem. Alea had kept her last pill, but what did that have to do with what was going on now? The last one she took was well worn off. "Our own She'mana witnessed her taking one of them. I am sure your scans will show that her mental vulnerability was altered following, causing her to be less susceptible to the mind link." She took a medication to block us?" Arjim channeled to Calem. I am appalled! Oh shit…Sydney frowned at her Sh'em. "I only did it to save my sanity." They both returned questioning looks when she answered their mental exchange. Perhaps it was their expressions she read. "Come forward, She'mana Alea," Flomink waved his hand as he looked at Sydney's fellow earthling. "Explain." "It's true," Alea began, speaking in Allegiance proper. She then glanced at Sydney. "I watched her swallow one and when I asked what it was she told me it was to keep them out of her head because they'd been making her crazy since she was a small child." All these phases! Calem roared silently. Sydney winced, the fury in his soundless words hammering inside her brain. He was pissed. "This pellet," Flomink asked Shardantin. "It has been analyzed as the Commander claims?" "It has, Dignitary." Shardantin answered. "We used our own healthteks to assure the results were valid." How could she! Arjim bellowed angrily, his unheard voice ringing through Calem's head…and Sydney's. Did she not know of our suffering…such pain! Did she not care? Oh shit ! "I did care!" Sydney defended as she looked at her mates pleadingly. Arjim and Calem tipped their heads askew, their expression wrinkling with deep confusion as they stared at her. "Nevertheless," Flomink interrupted. "It still proves nothing. The only reprieve would've come from proving they shared the mental link with her and if I'm to understand the Trigon rites accurately, that was severed at their tripling." Tren appealed to the Council. "I could no longer prevent my warriors from tripling, Flomink. They were fatally close to annihilating each other. I had hoped analysis of this medication would have…" Pausing, Tren's expression turned grim as Flomink sat back down and became engaged in a discussion with the rest of the Allegiance Council. He then turned back to the compuscreen. "We have no choice but to exile the woman…" "Oh my god!" Alea yelled. "NO!" "What's going on. I don't understand?" Sydney asked. The mind link with her Sh'em dissolved after the tripling? She turned toward Calem and Arjim, her brows drawn into a deep frown. You didn't tell me that!

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Again they frowned at her. "For what we know, she may have had another pellet to change her bioscan readouts, " Shardantin added. "Deceiving us into believing she was succumbing to their…what does your species call it, the transdelta linking?" One pill makes them larger and one pill makes them small? Sydney's mouth fell open. Are they off their rockers! "Dignitary," Tren continued to plead. "That is an asinine assumption!" "We know nothing of this woman's capabilities or her intentions in this galaxy. We will take no chances! Flomink pounded a fist on the table. "Detain the woman and bring her to Angard," "No damn it!" Tren bellowed. Shardantin signaled her guards who moved toward Sydney. "Wait a minute!" Sydney yelled. Calem and Arjim rebelled and drew their talons from the ir sheaths only to find Allegiance weapons being aimed directly at their heads. They froze. "Tell them to stand down, Commander!" Flomink ordered as two other Allegiance sentry snatched Sydney, one by each of her upper arms and began to drag her away. "Let me go!" Sydney struggled to free herself. "I have something I need to say." Alea jumped on the back of one of the guards holding Sydney and bit his shoulder. He yowled and released his grip on Sydney. Bligh who was also present punched the other in the face bloodying his nose. He fell to the ground. Bjead and Larimon rushed forward as did Aurus, Vean and the rest of the Tertani warriors in the room. Rjant drew his weapon and Tren did the same, both ready to defend their faith, their people…to defend Sydney. "All of you stand down!" Flomink roared. "Or I will see to it that all of Tertia will be exiled!" "No wait!" Sydney fell to her knees in front of Flomink's image on the screen. "I can do that! I am still linked!" Flomink's eyes stilled on her. "Stand down!" Rjant commanded overhearing what Sydney had said. "Stand down!" He grabbed Tren's arms just as he was about to strike one of the Allegiance sentry. "She's still linked." Tren froze immediately and stared at his brethren briefly, their minds linking, so there was no misinterpretation to what Rjant was saying over the noise. He then bellowed. "That’s an order. Stand down, warriors!" "Stand down!" Rjant repeated. He turned to Shardantin and barked. "Tell your sentry to stand down." "Stand down!" Shardantin yelled. Like the trained warriors they were, all of the sentry froze, with the exception of Calem and Arjim that is, who were still determined to fight for their woman. Having deflected the Allegiance weapons threatening them, they began to scuffle. Rjant and Tren leapt, and with no other choice, aimed their talons at them, pressing the firing ends to their foreheads. "She's still linked!" Rjant growled at them. "Stand down." This time Calem and Arjim stilled, reality dawning on them quickly. They thought it might be true as they'd been hearing her in their minds even after the breeching. Their eyes fell to Sydney who remained on her knees in front of the Allegiance sobbing for her life, her wrists still cuffed behind her back, her body bent forward as she begged for mercy. Their hearts

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wrenched and they tugged free of the hands grasping them. Both dropped their own weapons and they went to her. Calem reached first, one of his arms slipping around her waist. He lifted her to her feet as Arjim took her hand. Sydney tipped her face upward to them. She was clearly crying and they both felt like complete numb-in-the-brains for fighting instead of trying to comfort her. "Then your voice in our heads was authentic?" Arjim cupped her cheek, his eyes searching. "Seems to be," Sydney returned. Behind her Tren was explaining this new piece of information to Allegiance. "This will be tested," Flomink returned. "How can this be She'mana?" Calem press a hand to one of her shoulders. "We have tripled and thus the mind link to you should now be broken." "She'mana Sydney," Tren approached. "For the sake of your freedom we will need to test this." "Commander," Calem implored of Tren. "We have perceived what we suspected to be her thoughts yet my brethren and I were uncertain if it were merely a figment of musings passing between us." "Or perhaps a residual effect of your being linked to her since you were small children," Tren returned, pondering the possibility. "Temporary or permanent, we cannot say, as we have no known testimony of this ever occurring. This could be a first." "Nevertheless," Rjant added. "It could be the divinities' grace for your She'mana's freedom." **** It didn't take long to prove that she was still linked to her Sh'em mentally, and Sydney was especially grateful that they conducted the tests with her Sh'em being removed to another room. They were getting considerably testy with her. Rather than relaying a series of harmless words and sentences, they were grilling her relentlessly forcing her to bare all to the Allegiance as she repeated everything they mentally transmitted to her out loud. It was rather embarrassing. What about the occasions over the phases during which we linked with you? I had gone off my meds because I thought might be cured. Cured? Cured! Of what, your mates' passion for you? The entire time she was being observed, scanned for brainwave signals and being tested for ingestion of artificial substances or hidden transmitting devices. She supposed the same thing was also happening to them in whatever room they'd been taken too. Did you enjoy torturing us, woman? It wasn't on purpose! "This better not be some advanced trick of technology, Commander," Flomink commented at some point during Sydney's exchange with her Sh'em. Sydney continued. But you were driving me bananas. Everyone thought I was insane. I really thought I was going to go insane! Aside from that I wanted to fly starjets, and the military would've barred me from doing so if I they thought I was loony tunes!" That is no excuse, She'mana, Arjim said to her. Look at the bright side. Sydney beseeched them. If I hadn't been flying I wouldn't have gone through the wormhole and you wouldn't have found me. We would've found you sooner, woman! Calem barked back.

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Oops… I think we shall make our woman pay, brethren. Calem said to Arjim. Pay how? Sydney gulped. With much chagrin she hesitated and as she'd been doing all along, finally repeated what they had said for the council to hear, along with every other damn person in the room! I think a spanking on your bare ass will be a good start. "You wouldn't dare!" Sydney said aloud. She was already backing away, and then…"Oh snap!" She turned and ran only barely hearing Flomink dismissing the charges. While trying to calculate how she was going to escape the room, the answer came with a burst of laughter from Aurus, who triggered the pressure plate on the wall. The door to her escape slid open and Sydney darted through. Aurus laughed louder. With their feet pounding against the floor Calem and Arjim race by soon after to pursue her. They were butt naked. **** Nine months later… Sydney glanced about the room. The bed she was reclined on was comfortable enough, if you can consider birthing comfortable, which it definitely was not! "Holy snapping crap!" she shrieked as another contraction hit. Standing in front of her Calem's fathers Gahn and Cas'j ot Karisi paled. Though Sydney enjoyed meeting her Sh'em's family, crotch-watching wasn't exactly an activity she thought she'd be sharing with them. Yet, there they were staring at her crotch. "Try to relax She'mana." Sydney scowled at Arjim. Was he fucking kidding? An alien creature was punching its way out of her womb! "Well, actually it is two, our heart," Calem informed her after reading her thoughts. "Stop reminding me damn it!" Sydney snarled. She peeked over the u-shaped device they had over her belly and then to the screen overhead to study the picture perfect image of her beautiful twins nestled in her womb. Liam and Riley, earth names Sydney and her Sh'em had agreed upon, were facing each other. Their hands clenching and kicking as if they were in an Olympic boxing match. Sydney then turned her irate attention to the two healthteks sitting between her legs. "What the snapping hell is going on in there?" One of the healthteks, Emiez looked up. "They are trying to be born She'mana Sydney." The woman's perplexed expression and the way she exchanged glances with Melaj, the other healthtek, gave Sydney pause, and she was suddenly worried. "What do you mean trying? Are they okay?" "Uyo, I think." Now Arjim piped in. "You think?" He and Calem frowned and then both stepped to the bottom of the bed to take a gander at what the healthteks were observing. What the hell! The more the merrier right? Calem pursed his lips and Sydney struggled to read his mind through the cloud of birthing pains she was experiencing…nothing. She blew out a gust of air. Her Sh'em had become quite efficient at putting their minds in a blank state to prevent her from listening in.

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Often it was because they were trying to keep her from fretting over things like battle plans. Sometimes it was because they wanted to surprise her with a gift, but this was different. This was a hell of a lot different and they shouldn't be sheltering her from it! "Well?" Sydney inhaled deeply. The contractions had subsided for now. Again she looked at the screen to see what her babies were doing. They were still this time but their synchronized heartbeats sounded strong. Bligh patted her hand. "I am sure all is well, Sydney." Sydney smiled at her. Despite Bligh's initial betrayal, she had done everything in her power afterward to help Sydney escape from being tried by the Allegiance, defending her even against her own sworn duties. For that, Sydney was thankful but it went beyond that. Over the next several months they'd spent a lot of time together and had become great friends. "I'm so sorry you were got kicked out of the regiment." Sydney told her. Bligh's punishment for disobeying orders had earned her an automatic discharge. "Truthfully," Bligh smiled in return. "My participation was more for angry revenge on the Krellian radicals. I'd even killed a few, but I am much happier and relaxed now that I am no longer obligated to the harsh ugliness of war and the restraints of training." Alea, who sat next to Bligh chimed in."I for one am glad. I think you're much better off helping me at the school." "I'm enjoying my occupation, uyo." Bligh added. "Well hopefully, after the babies are a little older, there will be something I can do here." Sydney sighed woefully. Now that she was confined to Tertia as her sentence, piloting was no longer an option. "I'm really going to miss fly-eee---eee---yow!" Another contraction gripped her uterus like it was clamped and twisted in a vise. "Oh my god that hurts!" "Breathe!" Alea encourage her, and started to pant as if it was she who was giving birth. t Sydney tried. Really she did, but she began to panic when she felt a stretch and burn in her crotch that she was sure had gone to its ripping limits. "You try breathing while attempting to pass a brick!" Something was wrong. Sydney just knew it! Turning her attention to the foot of the bed she sought an answer. "What the hell is happening in there!" Melaj looked up and grinned. "They're feisty little fifons." "So you're telling me they're trying to gnaw their way out!" Sydney snapped and then yelled out as another contraction topped the other before it could subside. She squeezed her eyes shut but then forced them open to watch her babies on the monitor. Liam on the left had his mouth clamped over his brother, Riley's nose, and Riley had his hands at Liam's throat as if he were trying to choke him. A chuckle escaped Emiez. "Willful. They are battling to be born at the same time." "Our She'mana is not large enough for such a feat," Calem commented. His brow wrinkled with worry. Behind him her fathers- in- law paled further. Both groaned. "Ka!" Karisi, Calem's mother said. "Enough. Out with the two of you!" She pressed the wall plate to the birthing room door and shooed them out, though she didn't actually have to do much to convince them. They practically ran out of the door. At the same time Arjim's mother, Triadel stepped in. His fathers were behind her. "Why don't you just install a damn revolving door!" Sydney shouted.

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Arjim's fathers took one peek at Sydney's face, shook their heads and did an about face. Triadel planted her hands on her hips and shook her head. "They can go to battle and slay a dregwa of radicals…" She spun toward the bed. "Well then what's happening here…spirits!" "Rymma…" Arjim shot her a warning calling by her the Tertian name for mother. "What have the two of you done to her?" Triadel thwacked Arjim on his head. He grimaced and jerked his head to one side. "I'm going to try and shift them so I can deliver one at a time." Emiez commented. "Don't push, She'mana Sydney." "Too late!" Sydney shrieked and tried to bear down. "Breathe Sydney," Alea said. "Oh shut the fuck up!" Sydney growled back. "Uh-huh." Alea said taking no offense. "I think it's time." Arjim and Calem rushed to her side. Sydney gritted her teeth and tried with all of her might to keep from pushing. Her contractions hit painfully harder. "Such a strong women, She'mana." Arjim encouraged her. He planted a tender kiss to her forehead and then skimmed his knuckles along her cheek, smiling lovingly at her. "You give us a magnificent gift, enduring such discomfort." "It hurts damn it!" Sydney snarled. How bad can this be? I think it is not as bad as our She'mana expresses it to be. Overreacting you think? I think… Not that bad? Not that bad? Overreacting! Sydney heard Calem's mental thoughts to Arjim and his returned comments. Apparently they'd let their guard down and had forgotten she could listen in! Bastards! How dare they undermine what she was going through. Well if they'd forgotten to block their thoughts to her, then they'd open the channel allowing her to push her thoughts into her heads then! Another contraction hit and rippled through her abdomen and back like she was being used for a punching bag. "Oh god!" "Push She'mana Sydney," Emiez said. And Sydney did. She pushed, and pushed and pushed, and finding the mental connection with her Sh'em she pushed the sensation of the torturous labor pains directly into their pea-brain little heads. Arjim's breath caught in his throat and his eyes glazed over. Calem doubled over and groaned as he wrapped his arms around his stomach. They both looked as if they were going to faint. Served them right! "One more," Emiez said. Calem yowled a curse. Arjim yowled another while Sydney merely grunted and strained and pushed several more times delivering both the infants into the Tertian world. Emiez and Melaj examined the babies thoroughly. After giving them a clean bill of health they swaddled the infants in blankets and then nestled one in the concave of Sydney's right arm and the other in the left. Sydney moaned and attempted to catch her breath. Elation set him and she chuckled while smiling adoringly at her children, who were now calm, their eyes blinking at their new world and the faces admiring them.

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"They are exquisite, She'mana," Arjim said, his voice quivering in response to the cramping he still felt in his gut. "They will grow to be as strong as their mother." Calem grinned, though he continued to pant like he'd just finished a marathon. He slipped an index finger beneath one of the babe's hands and watched his tiny fingers curl around it. "But they will be as handsome as I am." "I think they more resemble me," Arjim answered in return. Sydney rolled her eyes. The boys were as identical as their fathers. Tipping her head upward she looked at her Sh'em and noticed tears in their eyes. "You're both crying." Her heart melted at their endearing reaction. Arjim swiped at an escaping tear. "We cry because labor pains, what is your earth word?" "Labor pains suck," Calem finished for his brethren. "I thought my naagis were going to rip apart. How does the female endure it?" "I don't know what you're talking about." Alea winked at Sydney. "We don't feel a thing." "Enough, enough!" Karisi said. "I want to hold one of my ashe' aem." "And I will hold the other," Triadel said as she held out her arms. Arjim picked up one of the babies and handed him to his rymma, while Calem lay the other baby in his rymma's arms. Sydney chuckled as her mothers- in-law began cooing and babbling at their ashe'aem, or grandbabies, proving they would be as much the doting grandmothers as any earth grandmother would be. "What is the name of the one I hold?" Karisi asked. "You are holding Liam," Sydney told her. "It is an earth name that means courageous," Arjim added. "Then I must be holding Riley." Triadel planted a kiss atop the baby's head as she rocked gently from side to side. "His name means strong-willed." Calem answered this time. "Which one was born first?" Sydney looked at the healthteks. "Which one is older?" "Ashu! I do not know." Emiez frowned as her gaze shifted between the two babies that Triadel and Karisi held. Looking up she shook her head at Sydney. She lifted a brow as she looked at Melaj. He shrugged at her. "We were too concerned with preventing injury to both the She'mana and the ashe'tods." "Uyo!" Emiez added. "They fought like starblazers to be first, to have the dominant position in the family." Dominant position? Simultaneously everyone's mouths dropped open as all eyes fell to the babies. Simultaneously their eyes widened as Riley suddenly stretched one of his little arms and with his hand fisted reached out crossing the small gap separating the two grandmothers. He smacked his brother in the head. Everyone gasped watching in disbelief as Liam did the same. "Dominant position?" Sydney, Arjim and Calem muttered all at the same time. Their gazes shifted from one to the other and simultaneously they all blurted. "Oh snap!" The End … or is it?

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Trigon Basics and Definitions, Language and Cast of Characters

Call to the Trigon - Two Tertani males mystically brought together for the purpose of claiming a female mate. Transdelta Link - the blending of two Tertani male minds. Males of the same Trigon are constantly linked. They call refer to themselves as being of like minds. During the Triconjugal Hunt, the prowlers’ minds are linked during a Transdelta meditation ritual. It dissolves once the Tina is claimed and sexually mated. This ability allows the Trigon males to become cohesive, bonding in a way that will allow them to fully understand, cooperate and accept each other, thus enhancing their relationship with their woman. Tertani females do not have this capability. Brethren - the nomenclature shared between two males of the same Trigon Tina - female virgin or innocent Sh’em – the two married males of the Trigon She’ mana - married female of the Trigon She'amatina--refers to the ancient tribe of virgin females Trigon - type of marriage common on the planets Tertia and Tertia Minor consisting of two males and one female.

NOTE: In the Trigon, the males take the name of the female. For example if the She’ mana’s name is Alea as in the book, her mates, Tren and Rjant will be known collectively as the Sh’em ot Alea, and the union as the Trigon ot Alea. The Sh’em also attach their female’s name to their own birth names after they marry, dropping their own mothers’ names. i.e. Tren ot Alea. Their offspring will also carry the name of their mother attached to their first names. Edification - the preparation of the virgin female by her Trigon mates to decrease her apprehension and intimidation of the upcoming Triconjugal consummation. During the first sexual encounter with her Sh’em, a female will frequently become overwhelmed by two overpowering warriors intent on ravaging her body. She may become hysterical. The edification helps to increase her trust in her mates and to ease her fears. The edification begins when the brethren link mentally and begin their seduction of the Tina while she is in a dream state. It later becomes physical but the dictates of Edification state a layer of clothing must separate the males from their female. Kissing, fondling, simulated copulation (better known as a "dry hump" ~grin~) culminating in climax is acceptable and encouraged. Flaunting - the initial self- introduction of the Trigon males to their chosen female mate to intrigue her. During the flaunting, the males spar with each other, to demonstrate their masculine

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prowess, and to peak her interest in accepting them as her Sh’e m. The exhibition is performed using the talon arc and is typically a friendly spar between the two males. The Flaunting is followed by the Edification which brings on the Changeover. The Changeover leads to the Ritual of Dominance once the Prowlers and the Brethren are linked and eventually, one Brethren relenting to the other they become of like mind. Triconjugal Blessing – bonding words offered to the Tina by her future Sh’em which precedes the hunt and subsequent mating. Triconjugal Ceremony - The sacred ritual of marriage mating, following the capture of the Trigon males’ female. The Triconjugal Prowlers, after having mated with their own She’mana, bear witness to the consummation. During this ritual the male Prowlers sit encircle the new Trigon sitting cross- legged around them and with their hands held in Delta position. They chant the ancient words that bring health and fertility to the new triple. At this time the transdelta within the group is broken, but not the mental thought sharing that occurs between males of the same Trigon. That blessing remains intact. The Trigon females are not present, but gather in a separate location to continue the celebration and await their males’ return. The wedded males are usually quite randy after bearing witness, much to the enjoyment of their females. Triconjugal Hunt - The pre-mating, predatory ritual during which chosen married females, and the claimed Tina, flee from their mates, to be hunted and captured by them. The Triconjugal prowlers, once they have captured their females, are expected to fornicate, to diminish their frenzy, before witnessing the breaching of the virgin female. Triconjugal Prowlers - The wedded males who are invited by the betrothed Trigon males to participate in the Triconjugal hunt. The hunters must already be mated. In the early days of the planet’s history, while the males lived in organized and domesticated encampments, the females banned together in packs, roaming freely and untamed in the savannas. Despite their lack of civility, the females were quite cunning about eluding their males. Even so, when their pursuing mates did manage to outwit her, the female’s extraordinary running speed and agility often allowed her to avert capture. Because of this, it was the Trigon prowlers’ duty to assist the Trigon males in tracking their Tina through telepathic linking, informing them of her location. The Changeover – an instinctive hostility that develops between the two males of the Trigon as the need to mate becomes more and more urgent. Each male attempts to seize dominance over the other, their hostility toward one another escalating until a battle ensues between them. i.e. The Ritual of Dominance Ritual of Dominance – An aggressive and sometimes violent battle between the Trigon brethren, each fighting for supremacy. In a true Trigon the brethren are equally matched, one cannot defeat the other. In ancient times the males were often so battered by the time they relented, they were incapable of mating until their wounds healed. In modern times, now being less savage in nature, the brethren typically relented before either of them was injured too severely.

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Of Like Mind - During the Ritual of Dominance, the brethren battle one to dominate the other. It typically takes place in front of their Tina and with the Prowlers beseeching the divinities to bless the triple. During this time the Brethren engage in a final conflict to finally relent and concede that they are equals and ready to live compatibly sharing their thoughts as if they were of a single mind, though each retains his own personality. Once this ritual is complete they are free to mate with their female. Talon arc - a curved thin weapon, similar to an archery bow, approximately four feet in length and two inches in diameter, made of a highly resistant smoky colored metal. A talon or claw shaped blade with a single barb is attached to one end. The other end throws laser orbs that can be set on stun or kill. Contact with this same end will cause and shock that when set to high drive will render its victim unconscious for hours. Set on low drive it merely delivers minor jolt that’s uncomfortable but not damaging. The handle is made of a thick leather cord, wrapped to a length of twelve inches. The talon arc is sheathed at the warrior’s back and is attached to a baldric belt. During the flaunting, only the clashing of arcs, similar to a sword fight, is demonstrated, and because the Trigon mates are in constant telepathic link d uring the flaunting it is highly unlikely either of them will be hurt. Tertian - the word properly used to refer to any inanimate objects of the Tertia and Tertia Minor planets. Tertani - the word properly used to refer to the inhabitants of the Tertia and Tertia Minor planets. Delta - The position the hands are held in during meditation and during sacred ceremonies including the Triconjugal Ceremony, often bringing forth a transcende ntal manifestation. Mahatma Divinities - ancient mystical spirits of the Tertia and Tertia Minor planets Mahatma Tribunal - court of law and law makers consisting of twelve Tertani males brought by mystical summoning similar to the way that Tertani men are called to the Trigon. Members of the Mahatma Tribunal are celibate. Credics - the universal monetary device used throughout the CalyTron Galaxy. Each individual had his or her disc and could transfer or receive funds with it. The disc keeps record of all transactions and credit balances and is the means to buy and sell. Wards - the six districts within the CalyTron galaxy consisting of fifty-two inhabited planets and many uninhabited. First Ward: Location of the planet Geminus (Home of Windi Britny) and the planet Krell (Place of Tocol’s heritage) - native planet of the prince who raped Windi Britny resulting in the outbreak of Brit's Scorn

Jonhi,

Second Ward: Location of Puratan - the satellite colonies established for those infected with

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Brits Scorn disease and the planet Junpar Third Ward: Location of the sister planets Tertia and Tertia Minor Fourth Ward: Dormoth (Ruled by the monarch King Dred) Galactic Allegiance: The political system, peace keeping and watchdog group of the CalyTron Galaxy consisting of member representatives of the fifty-two inhabited planets. Their mission was to ensure harmony between the planets and to prevent any single p lanet or planetary system from forcing their own rules of governing on other alien societies. Though each planet maintained their own armed forces, the Galactic Allegiance also maintained security throughout the galaxy with a regiment of warriors enlisted from the various planets. Intergalactic System for Disease and Sickness Control (ISDS): Medical Interplanetary Community in the CalyTron Galaxy that monitors, controls and researches diseases. Krellian Radicals: The race of infected people that sought to control all planets in the CalyTron galaxy. These forces had their beginnings on the planet Krell where Brits Scorn originated. No longer contained to just the planet however, a Krellian Radical is now identified as any person, regardless of planetary origination, fighting on the side of the Krellians. Brits Scorn: Devastating disease that driving the galaxy’s inhabitants into extinction. There is no cure as of yet. By the time the disease was recognized, it had spread to epidemic proportions. Of the fifty-two inhabited planets in the galaxy only twenty-two remained untainted. These planets are under strict regulations by the ISDS to keep the disease from spreading across their boundaries. Persistent scanning of the inhabitants had been ordered by the ISDS is in the hopes of eradicating the disease before it completely consumed those planets and the rest of the CalyTron galaxy. The Krellians have control of six of the fifty-two planets conquered after a massive invasion. All six of these planets are rampant with Brits Scorn It began on Krell, about three hundred phases back. Jonhi, the king’s son, became enamored by Windi Britny, enchantress queen from the planet of Geminus. The queen refused Jonhi's offers. Angered by this, he raped her. In her fury over being violated, Windi Britny cast a barrier fog around her planet to keep outsiders away and then put her people to sleep. And before she died of hemorrhage from her own virginal blood, she cursed all Krellians and doomed them by throwing down her wrath in the form of diseased spores let loose in the Krellian atmosphere. Those that inhaled the spores became infected. Some Krellians did managed to escape the planet before contracting the disease. The Nature of Brits Scorn Disease: -The disease can only be contracted by inhaling the spores or through sexual intercourse.

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-Infected males typically lived to their life’s full expectancy while the disease slowly ate away at their minds, making them violently aggressive, but no less intelligent. A typical sign that someone is suffering from the disease is frothing at the mouth. -Adult infected females do not become aggressive, but usually die within three to five phases. The cause of death is heart failure following a relentless attack of seizures. -Other females might not contract the disease but can become carriers infect the males they had sex with. -Babies born to infected mother are prone to a hodgepodge of anomalies. If they were also infected it was typical for them to die within the first year of life. Others were merely carriers and grew to adulthood, but they were isolated from society and sent to Puratan. -Some babies are born completely free of the disease. Unfortunately, the females were sterile, but for some unknown reason the males were not. As Brits Scorn began spreading throughout the galaxy fewer fertile females were being born, while the adult woman began to die. Krellian inhabitants found themselves in a dire situation, one that threatened to drive them to extinction. For this reason, they looked toward other planetary establishments to save them. Thus, in their madness from being tainted with the disease, they began their reign of war, spreading Brits Scorn throughout the galaxy, instead of turning to the Galactic Allegiance for help. Because of this, the CalyTron galaxy in its entirety, now suffers from a shortage of woman. Puratan: a system of secured colonies, where those tainted with Brits Scorn were banished to live out the remainder of their lives. TIME MEASURES Min- star minute Dial-star hour Dawning- one star day Septdawn- one star week or seven dawnings Lunar Cycle- one month, four Septdawnings Phase- one star year Epoch- century/one hundred years

The Widowe d Sh'em The triple is dissolved, though the remaining male and female do not separate. They merely become a couple. Sometimes another male is called to the Trigon, sometimes not. If the She’mana dies: If there are children they are by edict, bound to stay together. Sometimes they are blessed with

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another mate of the divinities choosing, and sometimes not, but the transdelta link between them remains. Some males prefer it that way, but most Trigon males find new mates, very often ahead of the unwed males who have yet to become brethren If there are no children their mind link dissolves and they often go their separate ways.

Wedding Vows: “By the grace of the divinities do you humbly accept the gift of this tripling?” “With open faith,” “Are you willing to freely give your patience, your loyalty and your understanding to the Tina who stands before you?” “Always,” “Lay down your lives to protect her?” “Without hesitation.” “Accept all offspring she gives you?” “With joy.” “From this day forward, I give my decree that these Trigon brethren will be hereby known as_____________ Together you will be called the Sh’em ot ____________.” “Witnesses, I now present the Trigon ot ___________,” Chant used by the Triconjugal Prowlers when linking for the hunt Arkis umdja ohal fe asi lehiamen. Rajel egruam elo dgesmail agrakisi mudia alaihj greamu. Lfer kesisata pg'achiel suost ambiaq veiso udal em felio tiai eamba wai lej By the grace of the Mahatma Divinities we open our hearts, our minds, our spirits for t hese ritual. Bind us brethren of the Trigon, bring us a prosperous hunt and blessing in what thou has begun we humbling accept this linking to complete this sacred hunt and tripling…

Language Afiana--magnificent Akau -- what? Ashu -- contemplative sound similar to "hmm" Ashe'aem--grandchild Ashe'tod--baby Ayn, Tina, Alea. Tuclure ont Tertani--No, Tina Alea. I am not Tertani Ayn-- no (Opp. Of yes) Canstu ray st’lyrenrpae-- we are safe for now

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Critais --Transport. C'zlih -- nothing Daan-Allegiance Proper Dregwa--thousand Eah crog wot--I’ve missed you both so much Etfa- destiny evala'luso - my/our heart’s passion, our/my love Fosu'obua--stunning. Fi tinei nocunus ito g'vori ide. Forever and always, in life and in death, never shall we part Gehu a Mahatma! Great divinities! Hucm ickqu--very soon. Ickqu—soon Iyo Ka! – spirits save me! Ka! --A mild Tertani curse Laheni-- Take a deep breath Leri asta! Breathtaking! Naagis--male genitals/gonads Onw steb tixe--It is time to leave you now. Qia qrau!--you bastard! Rebned cloth--imported silk-like material woven from the siaa leaves Reshena--little princess Rour abell, Tina?-- What is your name virgin Ryffa--father Rymma--mother She'mana - wife She' ami - woman She'amati -- refers to the ancient tribe of savage unmated males who dwell in the lands beyond the Mountains of Esotar She'amatina--refers to the ancient tribe of virgin females nomads who dwell in the lands beyond the Mountains of Esotar Sh'em - husbands (always plural)

Trigon Rituals III: Dominance Fury

Angelia Whiting

Stuj roftib--Only for awhile Ta het wiev aspec. Tond therob su--We’re in the observatory. See that we are not disturbed. Tanoce--Don’t stop. Tod -- young child ut reah tseba -- you are alive Uyo cledal--Yes, sir Uyo--Yes. Vieg, --More Wase ve eah ut--as we have longed for you

Cast of Characte rs Trigon Rituals I Tren Rjant Alea Zupol Egrin - The Star Commander’s Wife Tocol Avinahi Lemac ot Rean Pontiff Jer Mahatma Tribunal

Trigon Rituals II: Deep Pressure Kordin and Belor and their woman Blue Celyn and her Sh’em Rjok and Mik Tocol Avinahi Calem ot Karisi Arjim ot Triadel Lemac ot Rean Dgor ot Zyat Jesser Tamary Pontiff Jer Rjant Tren Melaj (healthtek) Noa Aurus ot Tijan, Luke and Dallas - Discovery Earth

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Vean (guarded Karen with Aurus) Larimon, Bjead and Bligh Zupol Egrin - The Star Commander’s Wife Mahatma Tribunal

Trigon Rituals II: Dominance Fury Mahatma Tribunal Lieutenant Sydney Michelle Laurens Calem ot Karisi Arjim ot Triadel Tren Rjant Alea Aurus ot Tijan, Han ot Tijan Jek ot Dmor (Tren’s brother) Vean Larimon, Bjead and Bligh Minor roles: Lt. Claire Mariana Thomas Major Rowan Thomas "Tomcat" Emiez--the healthtek Major Paula Dobson-space station physician

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