Free Blood Ties by Cathryn Fox Page A

blood. “I crave you, Janaa. Crave to be inside you, to make love all night long, but first I must present my findings to the council and ask permission for you to travel back to Earth with me. Dari needs you.”
    Janaa finger-combed Ayden’s hair and gave him a warm, loving smile. “Yes, I thought the same thing.”
    Ayden linked his fingers through hers. “Come, my sweet, let us take care of this business quickly so I can make love to you as I’ve longed to do.”
    Hours later, after Ayden had updated the council on the situation, he stood in the great council chambers and asked permission for Janaa to accompany him, explaining that he would need Janaa’s assistance to accomplish his mission, and Dari would need her help and support in order to come to terms with her newfound knowledge.
    Caddarick, one of their noble battle leaders stroked his fingers over the long, fine white hairs on his chin. “You both must work quickly and bring them home to us. Failure is not an option.”
    Ayden stood firm, legs spread, hands braced at his sides. “Failure is never an option,” he assured Caddarick. “Together we will succeed and reunite Mikel and Dari with their family.”
    “You cannot let Mikel know who you are, Ayden,” he said. “Not until he has learned to block his signature and shield his thoughts. If Grayson ever captured Mikel, he’d surely discover our colony through him,” Caddarick said, repeating and reaffirming what Ayden already knew in order to emphasize just how critical this was.
    “I understand.”
    “Very well then, Janaa may accompany you.”
    • • •
    Night had closed in on them as Dari filled the huge marble bathtub with hot water and eased herself in. The heat felt soothing against her tired body and her battered emotions. She glanced out the window and stared at the bright stars twinkling in the dark night sky. Did life exist on those distant stars as well? In less than twenty-four hours, her life as she knew it had shifted. It was not easy to discover a whole other world existed outside the one she had known.
    Her thoughts traveled to her dream man, Mikel. She could feel him, in her body and in her mind. Now that they were in close proximity, the bond between them grew stronger with each passing moment. The sense of belonging filled her with warmth. He was inside her head, calming her, helping her come to terms with what she was.
    She could not hold on to her anger toward him and had let go of it many hours ago. Mikel had only done what he thought was best for her. And for that, she had to forgive him. It gave her comfort to know how deeply he cared for her, and to the extent he’d go to in order to protect her.
    A soft tap on the door pulled her from her musings. Mikel . Her heart clenched in her chest as she shifted in the tub. She’d never had anyone dote on her quite so much. He’d barely left her alone for a minute since she’d discovered her true nature.
    “May I come in?” His deep voice played down her spine arousing her feminine desires.
    “Of course,” she called out.
    Mikel eased the bathroom door open. With him, he carried a steaming mug. The scent of fresh herbs and spices reached her nostrils. She inhaled the enticing aroma.
    “I thought you’d like something hot to drink.”
    His thoughtfulness warmed her. A fine tingle worked its way through her blood stream as she perused him. Her lip caught between her teeth as need spread like wildfire through her body. His dark hair hung forward, gray eyes bored into hers so deeply, he ignited a flame of passion in the depths of her womb. He stepped farther into the large room. His corded muscles bunched and relaxed with his easy movements. Her lips itched with the need to taste him, her body ached to join with his.
    She smiled up at him. It was the first genuine smile she’d had in a very long time. When Mikel smiled back, his dark gaze held her captive and she nearly liquefied in the tub. She reached out and touched