Page 1 of Tamed

CHAPTER 1

Kendra stood at the very edge of the fitness center, feeling small and forgotten. The room was enormous, the arched ceiling soaring nearly thirty feet high at its peak. Her session with the sparbot ended ten minutes ago, but she couldn’t make herself leave. All around her warriors bent and twisted, flexed and lunged as they practiced established routines or learned new skills. They were strength personified, powerful and confident. They were free to make their own decisions, free to define their own life path. They helped secure the future for those not strong enough to defend themselves. And if everything went as planned, they would end this dreadful war.

It had been almost three months since Kendra was brought to the Citadel. Located in the center of Star System 942, the outpost was the primary training center for empowered people. There were four inhabited planets in this sector of space: Altor, Torret, Pyron, and Houkdi. Kendra’s genetic testing indicated that she was from Altor with at least one close relative from Pyron.

Unable to suppress her frustration, Kendra released a sigh. The planet names were meaningless words. She’d been filled with excitement and wonder when she arrived at the Citadel. She wanted to explore the alien worlds, to meet people from vastly different cultures and experience their customs. And most important, she wanted to actively participate in the war efforts. She wanted to help free the people of Torret. Kendra’s mentor had assured her that it would happen. She just needed to be patient and focus on her training. Yet weeks turned into months, and Kendra was still waiting.

She’d been raised on Earth believing she was human. According to the founders, Kendra and the other forty-six residents of Still Water Farms were destitute orphans completely dependent on the farm for survival. The founders fed and clothed them, put a roof over their heads, and educated them. Kendra had no choice but to follow their rules and obey without argument. She owed them everything, and the founders made damn sure she never forgot it.

Then a spaceship arrived and Kendra’s entire concept of reality had been redefined. She was not human. She was a ‘conduit,’ an empowered female destined to be part of a power triad. Power triads were genetically engineered beings who could manipulate magic. Working together, the three parts of a triad—the conduit, source, and controller—formed elemental energy into whatever they wanted or needed it to be.

The warrior nearest her landed an especially hard punch, snapping Kendra back into the present. His opponent’s head whipped around and blood gushed from his obviously broken nose. She gasped and took an automatic step backward. Someone placed their hands on her shoulders and tingling awareness swept through her entire body. Her nipples instantly tightened and heat erupted in her core.

“Steady there, red,” Arcon’s deep voice rumbled from somewhere above her left ear.

She twisted around and looked up at him, and her breath lodged in her throat. Her hair was auburn, not actually red, but he refused to call her anything else. Arcon had mentored Eden, one of Kendra’s closest friends, and Kendra thought he was the most appealing male at the Citadel, maybe in the entire star system. He was tall and blond, muscular yet capable of such gentleness when he chose to leash all that power. His features were perfect: sculpted cheekbones, strong jaw, straight nose, and utterly kissable lips. At least they looked utterly kissable. Kendra had yet to find out. And his eyes. He had the bluest eyes Kendra had ever seen. Concern and confusion shaped his expression, reminding her that she was just staring up at him like a lovesick fool.

“Are you all right?” he prompted. “You turned a little green there for a moment.”

Eagerly latching on to the excuse, she said, “I’ve seen broken noses before. It just caught me by surprise.”

His large, warm hands gave her shoulders a little squeeze, and then he lowered his arms. “Are you waiting for an open square, or are you on your way out?”

The training room was divided into twenty-three squares. They varied in size, providing the appropriate amount of space for the activity going on within them. “I just beat the crap out of one of the sparbots. Now I’m off to have lunch with Ansley and Eden.”

“Congratulations on the win,” he grinned. “Sparbots are not easy to best.”

A vivid blush heated the crest of her cheeks and she shivered. Why couldn’t she stop blushing whenever Arcon was around? Granted her experience with males was limited, but she wasn’t that innocent. “Sparbots provide a great workout, but I’m ready to graduate to a live partner.”

That arched his brows. “Are you now?” He smiled again, but there was nothing playful about the expression. His gaze heated and the curve of his lips turned predatory. “I suspect you’ll not lack for volunteers.”

The hungry expression was familiar. Many of the warriors undressed her with their eyes. She’d just never seen Arcon look at her that way before. She took a step closer and smiled flirtatiously. “Will you be among them?”

His gaze narrowed and his features tensed. “You’re one of my students. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Unsure where the boldness came from, she moved even closer and placed her hand on his chest. “It’s only inappropriate if someone finds out.”

His long fingers closed around her upper arms, and he dragged her out of the training room.

“Wait,” she yelped, tugging against his hold. “Where are you taking me?” Was he angry with her for flirting with him? She flirted with him all the time. No, she hadn’t flirted with him this time. She’d propositioned him, and apparently he took exception.

He scanned open one of the small rooms meant for private tutoring sessions and shoved her inside.

“I’m sorry,” she tried again. “I didn’t mean?—”

He shoved her up against the wall and pinned her there with his body. “That’s the problem, Ms. Harris.”

She cringed at his formality. He never used her given name, never called her anything but ‘red.’

He pulled her hands above her head and shifted her wrists into one hand. “If you look at a controller with those fuck me eyes, he won’t hesitate to accept your offer.” His free hand skimmed over her body, brushing her breasts before rapidly descending to cup her sex. “He’ll shove his cock balls-deep inside this tight cunt before you can convince him that you were only flirting.”

Torn between embarrassment and arousal, Kendra stood there, eyes tightly shut, shaking. Her breasts felt heavy, nipples tight. And her core ached beneath his fingers. Part of her wanted him to release her, so she could escape this humiliating scene. Yet an even larger part wanted him to continue, to tear off her clothes and show her all the wicked things this proverbial controller would do.

This turmoil had been building for weeks. She needed to choose her mates and surrender to her body’s fundamental needs. But she didn’t find any of the males who showed an interest in her appealing. Arcon, on the other hand, made her entire body ache.

She could feel his erection pressing into her belly. Something about her clearly aroused him. Maybe he just needed a push in the right direction.

Kendra forced her eyes open and looked into his, challenging him without words. She arched her back, thrusting out her breasts as she rubbed her pussy against his hand.

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