Free Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout by Skhye Moncrief Page A

them. Way too disturbing.
    My gut twisted with the connection.
    But M'yote said he could put it to sleep. “Is he trying to hypnotize it?"
    "No. Just give him the time he needs to lay a hand on it."
    Touch it? Literally? Sounds more spiritual. Okay. Get on with it M'yote.
    "They're watching,” Solvun added.
    The King surveyed the crowd with his squared jaw.
    I had a moment to take in the stubble on his face. Apparently, he didn't have a daily meeting with a razor. And then there was his topless appearance. The man was as ripped as a !Dakos warrior. Maybe that's how he survived locked away here for centuries. Work out, eat, and survive. A synergism. And what would lifetimes on my world matter to him as time passed? He was immortal. Could he even be killed?
    Solvun anchored a wicked grin on me.
    My skin prickled.
    Not in an all-out crawl. But the King definitely had something mischievous dancing in his head.
    He nodded his flowing golden mane toward M'yote.
    Why? M'yote extended one hand, glowing as bright as a white sun, toward the furry Drod who had turned to look at Solvun. The hand hit the creature's back. The creature flinched, tossing her face toward the greenish sky, and collapsed into a puddle on the ground at M'yote's feet.
    "What did he do?” I demanded of Solvun.
    "He's a Handler. He can turn any mass into what he wants. Even organic matter. He put her to sleep.” He shot me a wink. “My little brother dislikes harming the innocent."
    Who does?
    Not a sound could be heard above the hush of the strong breeze as if everyone was in awe of M'yote's power.
    "That's his psychic power?” I asked.
    "He's a telepath. He's just lucky he was the one born in a billion to harness the power of the elementals."
    I must have looked as awestruck as M'yote did when I tumbled my way across the arena. But my acrobatics held nothing to his powers capable of moving mountains. Probably planets. And some healer back among the cadets was a Handler too? I'd probably never know given my current predicament.
    M'yote strode to my side, never even letting on I'd noticed he'd done something extraordinary, and thrust the knife in his boot shaft.
    What an amazing being.
    The big asinine !Dakos warrior who had been brawling with Flonn immediately disarmed my blue friend.
    M'yote flicked me a weak smile. “I think they'll allow me to live after that display of power."
    Who'd want to risk M'yote fighting for the enemy? But my commander did. So, what did M'yote mean?
    Flonn claimed a spot before me. “I'm sorry, hu'vria , but I must step down as your mate. I have been commanded to concede my claim.” His country-boy face didn't brighten and dimple.
    I felt kind of bad for him. And me! Why? Probably because of his little introduction to !Dakos sex. Poor guy. “Thank you for taking care of me.” Hell, he had every intention of doing so too.
    Flonn knocked into the ugly !Dakos warrior's shoulder in passing and kept angling toward the wall where he leapt onto the edge and disappeared into the crowd.
    Something told me I hadn't seen the last of him. Intuition was kind of nice in that respect.
    The other pissed-off !Dakos monster grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and the back of my waistband and hefted me skyward, over his head where I could almost see stars filling the day's blue sky because of the distraction caused by the fire from my hair accidentally trapped in his grasp.
    Pain. Pain. Searing pain. I tried to clutch his grip to lessen the flames.
    "Put her down,” M'yote yelled. “You'll injure her."
    The big cyborg belly-laughed, deeply.
    Disturbingly. A demented sound, setting off my intuitive radar. What did that ominous sound foretell?
    Everything shifted in another round of burning pain until I hung facing the courtyard and the black boots of the man who'd be choking me except for the v-cut neckline of my leather shirt. “Is that better for your frail female?” the cretin asked.
    No. Not better. My skin ripped where he grabbed it