Page 10 of Tara's Warriors

Glancing around at the huddled group of Ciltin younglings staring at them, Phin gave a Karwin a sardonic grin. “Safe and away from prying eyes.”

Karwin’s fangs flashed as he returned Phin’s smile. “That as well.”

Above them, the Hive advanced another level and both men’s smiles faded.

“Before the Lord of Life,” Karwin said with a husky growl to his words, “I swear to stand at your side as your blood brother, to welcome you as my blood and kin, to protect you as my mate until the end of time.”

Holding Karwin’s teal gaze, Phin repeated the sacred words then bit his lower lip hard enough that the blood welled and dripped.

Karwin’s wide nostrils flared, and he groaned deep in his throat before biting his lip as well.

The dark reddish purple blood filled the cut, the scent calling to Phin. The both moved as one, their mouths pressing gently together, their blood mixing. Parting his lips, Phin took in their combined taste, the walls around his soul falling. For an eternal moment, he floated, suspended in time as their souls merged. Karwin was strong, both mentally and physically, and Phin could feel his psychic shields strengthening as Karwin freely shared his essence with him.

Karwin’s emotions filled Phin, and he smiled against the other man’s mouth, their happiness growing together until he wanted to throw his head back and laugh with the fierce joy filling him.

Around them, the Kadothian Warriors all roared out their congratulations, their voices drowning out the sound of battle. His cock hardened at record speed as he sucked gently on Karwin’s tongue, the pleasure his blood brother was feeling echoing back through their bond. Tearing his mouth away from Karwin’s was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do, but they’d run out of time.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Karwin took a step back and his visor flashed into place, hiding his face from Phin.

He paused, and Karwin’s love—new and fragile, but very real—rushed over Phin in a heated wave before the other man turned away and shut down his side of the bond.

Phin could only stand there and watch him walk out of the theater, knowing how slim his chances of survival were. Not only were they outnumbered, but the Ciltin that remained were mostly elderly or children. The adults, along with a great many Kadothian Warriors, had already perished.

He wished he could accompany Karwin, but the Captain had his orders and Phin had his.

The Kadothians who remained sent him quick congratulations on his crystal implant, but they were all focused on their goal.Stay alive and protect their charges. A Negotiator and Warrior in their blue and black armor huddled together, no doubt planning their defense. Phin returned to his patients and lost himself in healing.

What felt like days later, Phin gave himself a quick injection of a vitamin complex that would help keep him awake for at least a few more hours.

He’d finally arrived on the massive Kadothian Battle Carrier currently orbiting the plant. An immense debris field littered the upper atmosphere of the planet—the remains of the Hive army. The far wall held a vast projection of the view from the ship showing the surface far below. Every once in a while, a larger piece of wreckage would get sucked down toward the icy world, becoming a brief flaming purple and gold meteorite.

Closing his eyes against the view, he turned away and took a deep breath, trying to banish thoughts of how many Warriors had been lost, men he’d known and considered friends.

From deeper within the ship came a sensation of caring, of a mental hug and reassurance.

Phin was stunned as he opened himself to the affection he so desperately needed. His soul drank in his blood brother’s support. The burden of the sorrow, the guilt he was carrying around with him grew lighter and he swore he felt as if a physical weight had been lifted from him by Karwin’s presence.

“Congratulations, Senior Healer,” came a voice nearby, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Giving the smiling Warriors a nod, he turned and continued on. A new sense of urgency filled him. Karwin was waiting for him, his blood brother was waiting for him, and Phin opened his mind further, mentally embracing the man who was both a stranger and a friend. The man that he’d share the golden-haired beauty with. Finding his blood brother put him one step closer to reuniting with the other half of his soul, and he began to smile as hope filled him.

Chapter 3

Karwin

Standing in the middle of his quarters on the ship, Karwin paced nervously before he checked yet again that the offerings to his blood brother were in order.

Against the far wall, a table made of the massive, carved thigh bone of a giant ice bear sat piled high with different foods and drinks, as well as a treasure that proved he had much to offer both his blood brother and their future Matriarch. Jewels glittered among fresh fruit, the entire display carefully arranged by his own hand. Anxiety hit him deep in his stomach as he took in the offerings, wishing they were back on Kadothia so he could properly welcome his mate.

In an effort to compose himself, he’d turned off all communications and refused visitors. His family had found out that he’d bonded Phin on the battlefield and had flooded him with congratulations and well wishes. He was the last of fourteen sons to find his bondmate, and his parents as well as his brothers and their Matriarchs had all been praying for him. Not only so that he might experience the same happiness they did, but also because they feared he would be lost to the madness. Having a blood brother to bond with would greatly increase his chances of surviving long enough to find their bride.

The Lord of Life had picked an amazing man to be Karwin’s husband. Phiniar was a highly decorated healer, a man with a stellar reputation and good family. He had seven surviving brothers, having lost two during battle. Phin’s mother was from planet Hybrion, a civilization famed for their empathic abilities and calm nature. Phin had certainly inherited those characteristics from his mother, and Karwin was grateful.

Karwin needed someone to balance him, to keep him calm when his rage tried to escape him. Phin’s soul was like a cool, refreshing herbal drink on the hottest of days, energizing and soothing. For a moment, Karwin opened his side of the bond and let his blood brother’s healing aura surround him. He had no idea how injured he’d been deep inside his soul, how many cuts had marred him from the constant strain and loss of battle. Phin’s gift had soothed those hurts, giving him a feeling of profound relief.

Standing before the alter, he let his eyes roam the colorful display of his ability to provide for his family. It was a tradition that came from his mother’s people, a more primal race who settled their differences in battle. He tried to imagine what it would be like when their families met, and worried whether their mothers would get along. Both held large territories on different sides of the planet and were politically ambitious. They would either be great friends or formidable enemies.

Phin’s presence drew closer, and Karwin took a moment to inspect his outfit. His black pants had red embroidery around the loose legs clung to his upper thighs, displaying his manhood. The sleeveless black shirt he wore fell to his waist, slit on the sides for ease of movement. It was the traditional clothing a Kadothian male from the region where he’d grown up, something worn when meeting his blood brother for their bonding ceremony. Though the bonding itself had already happened, Karwin still wanted to honor his blood brother.

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