Lovers of the Galaxy, Book Two: Bounty Hunters of the Heart Read online

  “This is complete schizma!” he roared, his face turning even paler with fury. “I cannot stand to be in the same room with you right now.” He spun on his heel and stomped to the exit.

  “Please wait!” Miln called out, rushing across the room.

  “Stay away from me!” He stormed out of their chamber, his big leather boots thumping down the corridor.

  Miln reached the door just in time to see Oshki trans-shift himself. The shimmers of his dispersing body floated to the ceiling where he vanished. Oshki liked the rooftop at night, so he would leave him alone with his thoughts and stinging emotions. Perhaps the night sky would calm his mate.

  Chapter Three

  “Miln?” The door creaked open, followed by, “Can I come in? Volund and Jaxxon are worried, and so am I.”

  He turned to find Venus standing on the threshold. Behind her, in the corridor, his brother-friends looked at him with worry and curiosity.

  “Is everything all right?” Concern brimmed in her pale brown eyes.

  “Yes,” he barked and stalked into the eating area. “Oshki and I had a disagreement, but that is all.”

  “I can’t understand you,” Venus replied.

  He suddenly remembered they had been speaking in their native tongue. He reached behind his head and pressed the chip at the base of his skull. “My apologies,” he told Venus. “We have a tough time with all the hard tongue sounds—or consonants, as you call them—of your language. In private, we converse in Azutuan. I often forget that, although the chip converts your language to Azutuan, you cannot understand me in return.”

  She shut the door, leaving her mates outside, and strode over to him dressed in only a tiny undergarment and a big shirt of some sort that revealed the outlines of her nipples. Voices in the hall alerted him to the brothers’ continued presence. He knew them well enough that they wouldn’t pry, but since it was often a female’s duty to mediate between the male kin, he sensed it would be only moments before Venus began delving into the matter.

  She followed him. “Care to talk about it?”

  He shrugged and sat at the table again.

  She settled across from him and met his gaze with wide, curious eyes.

  “There is not much to talk about.” He placed his forearms on the tabletop, hands down, and stared at them. “Oshki wants to finish consummating our relationship, and I fear doing so because of the Ruling Body of Planets, more precisely one ruler, Tapio.” The ache in his chest grew stronger by the second. “He does not believe me, but he is much younger and has not developed patience, nor the ability to tune in on subtle things with much meaning. He tends to think with his heart first and allows his wants and needs to overwhelm his rational mind.”

  “I didn’t realize you were older than Oshki.”

  “We do not age like humans, so it is difficult to judge our years. In comparison to Earth time, I am roughly twelve years his senior. “ He smiled wanly. “He thinks I am giving him excuses, that I do not truly want him as my mate.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes, very much so, but I know how sly Tapio is, and if we are not careful here on Earth, it is quite possible the Ruling Body of Planets’ security will arrive to take us back to Azutu and either imprison us again or worse, sentence us to death.”

  “What?” The shock in Venus’s voice must’ve carried out into the hall. A soft rap on the door reached them, followed by Volund asking if all was well. “We are fine, Volund,” she called and returned her attention to Miln.

  He couldn’t help but smile at her outraged expression.

  “I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” she began, “but how is it possible for this Tapio person to keep track of you and Oshki?”

  Quickly he explained to Venus what kerks and kerkviaa were and how they were used. “So, you see, these tools are very intricate, advanced technology. Only the Ruling Body of Planets has access to them. Our everyday communications to other worlds, such as Azutu, can travel through time and space, but there is a delay of about two dientorics before the receiver gets the message.”

  “Dienotorics?”

  He paused and did the mathematics to convert Azutuan measurements into Earth’s. “A dienotoric is roughly two Earth weeks, so the delay would be about a month your time.”

  He met her gaze for a long moment. He could almost see the intense thoughts dancing and whirling in her mind.

  Finally, she tipped her head to one side and frowned. “If Tapio has kerks in your belongings, how can you know he won’t come after you right now? If he can see or hear you, even if it is delayed time, won’t he send security to claim you and Oshki based on what has happened here tonight?”

  He shook his head. “It is possible, but too hard to prove. A same-sex couple must be caught in the act. Tapio already imprisoned us for six dienotorics on the suspicion of our relationship, but it could not be proven, so we were released.”

  “I am so sorry,” Venus said.

  “Our love is worth it.”

  “Then you need to tell Oshki the same thing.” She stood and looked down at him. “I have an idea. You said kerks could be attached to your belongings?”

  He nodded, curious.

  “What about your ship?”

  “No. We were in suspended animation for the duration of the trip here, so Tapio would not need surveillance during the space travel.”

  “What about your Slicers, Trans Shifter rods, and the like?”

  “No again. Kerks must be able to adhere to fibers such as clothing, wires, and circuits. The innards of our Slicers and other personal tools are too small and too intricately detailed. The kerks would pull things apart when they adhered to them.” He studied her for a second. “What are you thinking?”

  “Oh, just that maybe you should enjoy your first night in the Old West.” She beamed at him and nearly danced in place with her enthusiasm.

  “I do not understand.”

  “When you go back in time to find Randle, you’ll leave your personal belongings here. I’ll even find you the proper time-period clothing and other essentials to take with you. That way you won’t have to worry about Tapio.”

  He smiled, his pulse slowing and his worry easing. “It is a good idea that may work.”

  Venus playfully swatted his shoulder. “What do you mean may? It will work! Come on.” She pulled on his arm. “Let’s go to the roof right now and tell Oshki the good news.”

  He rose as she hurried out into the hall to her mates. Using his Trans Shifter rod, he administered a new dose to his neck. The feeling that up and down had switched places assailed him as he trans-shifted to the rooftop. Just as he appeared just outside the stairwell door, Volund, Jaxxon, and Venus materialized next to him. He let his gaze wander over the vegetable garden, where he found his significant other sitting in its center. During the night before, blossoms had begun to open on two squash plants, their bright orange blooms vivid in an otherwise dry, drab world. It didn’t surprise him that his mate had felt drawn to the color as well as the symbol of life.

  “Oshki,” Venus called. “Get your Azutuan ass over here. We have an idea.”

  He jumped slightly and then glanced guiltily over one shoulder.

  Miln smiled to himself. Although Oskhi liked to portray himself as a dominant male, he was actually a follower instead of a leader.

  “Now!” Venus’s tone turned to one of a stern mother. “We don’t have all night, and I want to go to bed sometime. Tomorrow is going to be a really long day.”

  Oshki’s sigh reached him from all the way across the rooftop. At times, his mate could be such a little boy. He struggled to his feet, careful to step over and around any plants or blooms. He ambled across the garden, his yellow hair floating around his shoulders and his tilk fluttering about his thighs as the night breeze tossed both about. The moonlight glistened on his skin, the shadows honing the planes and cuts of his muscular body. He stopped a few paces away, his expression sad, beaten.

  Before Miln coul
d even open his mouth, Venus launched into an explanation of her plans for them when they traveled back to the mid-1800s in search of Randle. “So you see,” she finished, “the only things you will take back in time with you will be your period clothing, equipment, and your personal tools such as your Slicers and a few odds and ends that should be kerk-free.” She placed her hands on her hips and looked over at her mates. “Hell, if we want to be really careful, one of you two could take them back in time and then return with the Sky Streamer, couldn’t you? Then after a certain amount of time passes, you could go back for them or at least check in with them, right?”

  “Yes, that is an option.” Volund nodded. “I doubt very much Tapio had kerks put in their ship, but one never knows about that pink-eyed bastard. Tapio cannot be trusted, ever.”

  “We will discuss the issue of the ship more tomorrow,” Jaxxon stated and held his hand out to Venus. “Let us retire for the night so these two can make up.”

  As she started to walk away, Miln reached out and touched her shoulder. She paused, looking quizzically at him. “Yes?”

  “Thank you.” Relief and gratitude filled him.

  She smiled. “You’re very welcome. Until my mates showed up I didn’t realize how awful it was to be alone. I was too wrapped up in surviving to really notice. Now I know that if you have no one to share your life with, it’s an empty existence.” She glanced over at Oshki and winked. “Good night.”

  “Good night, Venus,” Miln said, emotion forcing a lump in his throat. “You are a very special female.”

  “Woman,” she shot back. “Female is my sex. I am a woman.”

  He comprehended her meaning. “My brother-friends are very lucky to have you as their mate.”

  “Good sleeping,” the brothers called out. They sandwiched Venus between them and vanished.

  “I am so sorry for how I acted and what I said,” Oshki began. He approached Miln with a pleading expression, his arms out to his sides, palms exposed in a pose of surrender. “Will you forgive me?”

  He pressed the chip on his skull. “Of course.” Holding out his hand to his comrade, he threaded their fingers together. “And I apologize for making you wait so long for us to be together as true life mates.”

  “It is essential that we do wait. I realize that but hate to accept it. I would rather be cautious than to spend our time together talking through a prison shield.” Sincerity glimmered in his partner’s eyes.

  Touched, he nodded, once. Suddenly exhausted, he said, “Let us retire, too.”

  “I will take the padded bench tonight,” Oshki offered, standing back to back with him as they prepared to trans-shift to their quarters. “You have slept on it the past two nights.”

  “You will not get an argument from me.” He chuckled. “My back is killing me.”

  As they reappeared in the hall outside their quarters, the pleasured cries of the threesome flowed down the hall. Surprised the mated trio was already at it again, he reached for the door just as Oshki groaned in frustration. Miln burst out laughing.

  Chapter Four

  Entering the lab, Miln touched the sensor on his armor. His shields and greaves vanished with a faint whisper. He picked up a tablet by the main computer and updated the information for his midday security sweep. Still out in the field, Oshki would return in two hours, but if he didn’t, Miln would go back out in case he was in trouble.

  He set the tablet aside and stood watching Venus for a few minutes. She ran samples through one of the special machines her father had designed to examine blood. He didn’t know whether to think she was crazy or brilliant. Maybe she was a combination of both, but he had to admire her determination to replicate Dr. Zeon’s antidote for the Bone Eater mutation.

  She noticed him standing across the room and snorted in amusement. “I hope this serum works, but there are no guarantees.”

  “I have much confidence in you,” he replied. “You are a very intelligent and a determined fem—woman.” Grinning, he hoped she didn’t catch his slipup.

  “Nice save,” she retorted.

  “Let us finish up here,” he crossed the lab, “and then discuss the plans for our mission. Randle has been gone too long, and it disturbs me what changes he might have caused in Earth’s history.”

  “It frightens me even thinking about it.” She shivered. “I do have an idea, however. If Randle has not tampered with your ship’s central brain, can you use the one in my mate’s ship to locate the precise time and date he traveled back in Earth’s history?”

  “Yes, as long as the atmosphere of the time period is not charged,” Jaxxon replied as he and Volund strode into the lab.

  “Charged?” said Venus. “Do you mean like a lightning storm?”

  Jaxxon nodded. “It takes a couple hours for the system to locate and track a ship’s Sky Streamer path, but it can be done.” He glanced at Miln. “We will show you and Oshki how to do it, too. That way, should you have the need to do it again while tracking Randle down, you will be able to locate him.”

  “What is your plan?” Volund asked Miln.

  “To travel back and appear a few minutes ahead of when Randle did—or does.” Glancing over at Ino and Ka, who had just trotted into the room, he motioned the animals over to him. He patted each pet’s head as they nuzzled him. “If we can go back in time before Randle arrives, then maybe we can surprise him.”

  “So what will you do with him once we have him?” Volund shot him a curious look. “Bring him back and imprison him or…?” He quirked an eyebrow.

  “I think that decision depends on what we encounter while dealing with him,” answered Miln.

  “If he is brought back here,” Jaxxon said, “there is always the chance he may figure out a way to break free and hurt Venus and the unbor—the others.”

  “Huh?” She offered him a perplexed expression.

  Quickly, Jaxxon replied, “Those who may be brought back here or converted, should the serum work.”

  A smile tweaked his mouth. He turned, hiding it so Venus wouldn’t see. Jaxxon was going to have to watch what he said and how he acted if he wanted to keep the pregnancy quiet for a while longer.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Too bad you can’t send him into the Jurassic period.”

  Miln looked at her quizzically as did her mates.

  She sighed. “You definitely need to brush up on Earth’s prehistoric history. Jurassic dinosaurs? You know, big reptiles with teeth and claws that hunt for meat? Ones who might have the bad guy for dinner?”

  “I will have to research the era,” said Miln as he tried to recall if he’d studied the dinosaurs during their trip to Earth. “Oshki and I had so much filtered into our brains while in suspended animation it takes time to decipher everything.”

  “Sometimes I wonder how the four of you can be so advanced and yet so clueless.” She paused and shot a guilty look at everyone. “Sorry, guys. I don’t know why I’m so temperamental.”

  He kept his gaze averted as he helped her straighten and disinfect everything. Venus was very perceptive, so if she looked into his eyes, she’d know something was up.

  Volund and Jaxxon went over his last few security entries in the tablet. Once the surfaces where clean and shiny and all syringes and vials put away or disposed of, Venus checked on one Bone Eater she’d been testing for the past two days.

  “I thought she would be transformed by now,” she mused worriedly.

  “Perhaps the ones your doctor friend experimented on were younger?” Miln offered.

  “You might be right.” Gesturing at the creature, she shook her head. “This one has been a Bone Eater for quite some time. You can tell by how long her spine spikes are, how thick, and their dark color.” She drew in a deep breath and then let it out in one big gust. “What troubles me is that the ones who first transformed might need bigger or more doses of the serum—if I’ve followed Dr. Zeon’s notes properly.”

  “We may have to experiment a while longer, little warrior,” s
aid Jaxxon. “It seems cruel in a way, but if doing so will save many lives by returning these monsters to human form, it is worth it.”

  “I agree,” Volund stated, his tone grave.

  Miln hated to see Venus distressed, but she couldn’t expect instant results. The serum might work, but it seemed reasonable its effect would be different for various Bone Eaters.

  “Well, for the time being,” she looked at him, “I think you and Oshki should gather some of the things you’ll need for your trip. Did you both learn about the Old West during your journey here?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “It is more recent Earth history.”

  A shimmer in the air drew his attention, and his partner appeared.

  “Good,” Venus continued, “use the information to help you. Also, in my chambers, there is a reference book on the little table by the padded bench—the sofa. Take it with you.”

  “You are back early.” He addressed his mate. “Why?”

  “It is terribly hot out there.” Touching the armor’s sensor, Oshki breathed a sigh of relief as his protective coverings disappeared. Sweat gleamed on his exposed flesh. “I felt as though I would go unconscious from the heat.”

  Looking over at his brother-friends, Miln groaned inwardly at their disapproving expressions. Although it was clear they were upset with Oshki and not him, he was still the head of security and responsible for his mate’s actions.

  Angered, he snapped under his breath, “You are to protect and secure this area.”

  “What good am I if the Bone Eaters find me unresponsive on the ground somewhere?” his mate snapped back without lowering his voice.

  “Guys?” Venus interrupted. “Can we get back to the matter at hand?”