Page 9 of Tara's Warriors

Just as he finished up with the now unconscious Warrior, a sudden alarm blared through his mind.

Hive.

The Hive was there.

There was a rapid scramble in the room as everyone, even the wounded, geared up as best they could.

According to the reports streaming in via his implant, a band of five Hive warriors had entered the Crater and laid waste to the upper levels. They’d managed to capture the minds of two Kadothian Warriors and were using them to attack their brothers. That was one of the Hive’s most insidious tricks, to become a parasite in another’s mind and force them to commit atrocities. Even worse, the Warriors were trapped inside their own bodies, their agony over being forced to kill their own men only feeding the Hive’s endless need for pain and suffering.

Some would manage to fight them off enough to kill themselves, a mercy compared to what waited for a Kadothian male if he was captured.

The Hive would use them for breeding and torture, taking them back to their cold, dead planet, below the surface where the Warriors limbs would be cut off and he’d spend the rest of his existence in the dark, suffering unimaginable pain until either his mind or body broke.

Terror at becoming one of those men sat like a stone in his gut, but he forced himself to follow the rest of the Kadothian Warriors into battle.

The all ducked as the still burning body of a Qoulin hurtled past. The creatures’ scream reverberated through Phin’s mind, its pain and terror tearing at his mental barriers.

Quickly shoring up his psychic defenses, Phin followed the other men out, stepping onto the launch pad that would take them to the upper levels.

He was almost out of the building with the reverberation hit him again, penetrating the mental healing haze that still clung to his thoughts.

His whole body tingled, and an electric rush seemed to race over his skin. On the screen of his helmet, information about his elevated heart rate flashed by, but he ignored it. Despite the screams and fear saturating the air, a strange silence seemed to settle over him. The world slowed, and he stared at an injured Warrior surrounded by men. His armor was dented and split in places, still covered in drying blood, but none of that mattered as Phin’s heart continued to race.

The other man stared at Phin, ignoring the Warriors around him as he took one step, then another in Phin’s direction.

Without even being aware he’d moved, Phin activated his helmet, the visor sliding open to reveal his face.

The Warrior did the same, revealing a catlike bone structure that gave Phin a strange feeling of recognition.

Their eyes met and the unfamiliar man said in a reverent voice, “Brother.”

A feeling of rightness, of joy and relief, filled Phin as he acknowledged the words his heart already spoke. “Brother.”

“Captain Ti’Mavi! We have incoming on our left flank, Sir!”

Phin gazed into the other man’s blue green eyes, his heart and soul recognizing this stranger on a fundamental level he couldn’t explain.

Ignoring the yelling Warrior, the other man said, “You are Phin.”

He stared at the other man’s handsome face, drinking in the features of his future husband. “How did you know my name?”

“I dreamed of you last night, my blood brother. My name is Karwin.”

Leaning forward, Phin breathed in the hot metal and musk scent of the other man and groaned low in his throat as lust teased his senses.

“Yes,” Phin murmured as Karwin rubbed his smooth cheek against Phin’s beard. “I dreamed of you as well, my blood brother.”

The men shared a breath, their lips almost touching as their souls harmonized with each other, the feeling of coming home, of finding a love he never knew he was missing, searing through Phin. For over a hundred years, he’d been alone, but finally he had at least part of his family.

“Ouralyah,” he said as his lips brushed against Karwin’s full mouth. His cock thickened at the sensation. “Do you know who she is?”

Karwin’s response was lost in a loud blast that had both of their suits of armor reacting and their face shields slid into place. Information poured in through his mental link—help from a neighboring planet was almost there, but they would have to hold on just a little longer. Two of the five Hive members had been killed, but three more still advanced their way down the levels of the crater with their mercenary army.

“How strong is your bond?” Karwin said as his men stood nearby, their training holding them in place, but Phin could feel the fear and battle lust the men projected.

“Not very.” Phin grimaced as more bad news filled his mind.

“Mine is strong.” Karwin met his gaze and said, “Bond with me, right now. It is not the bonding you deserve, my blood brother, but I can share my strength with you. Later, when we are safe, we will celebrate.”

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