Free Prime Deliverance (Katieran Prime Series (Book Five)) by KD Jones Page B

escape pod. TarAK felt a desperate need to find her. Up until that day she had always been a happy and adventurous child. After the attack, she became reserved and quiet.
    He stood there helpless, watching as AriELa relived those painful moments and it was almost more than a male could take. He would give anything to protect her from those painful memories. There had been reports that her father might have lived, but they searched and could find no such evidence. He hated the feeling of helplessness he felt. Time seemed to stand still as they all awaited news.
     
    *****
     
    Morin Leader Krosis walked to the docking bay where several of his shuttles had just landed. He waited for the air to pressurize. He watched as his warriors dragged reluctant females from the shuttle.
    They were smaller than their own females. Different sizes and hair color. What fascinated him the most were their eyes. They did not have the gold center irises like Katierans did, or the solid yellow eyes like his own people. These strange females had small black centers to their eyes.
    He walked up to his second in command. “How many were we able to take?”
    “Twenty-two, but two of them died from injuries incurred when we took them. They struggled and had to be restrained. Their bodies are much more fragile and from what I can see, do not repair as quickly.”
    “That leaves only twenty to breed with viable males. What about male specimens?”
    “We were not able to acquire any males.”
    He punched his second in command in the face making the male bleed. “You failed me. What good are having the females if we have so few males to breed with them? Find me males,” he ordered. Then he walked around the group of frightened females looking them over. “Strip them,” he ordered his Lieutenants, who happily complied.
    Before any of the females had time to resist, their flimsy clothing was torn from their bodies. The light shone brightly against one female’s hair. It was light colored, almost white. Krosis walked up to her, looking over her pale skin. She trembled before him, which made him aroused. She lifted her bright blue eyes in fear.
    “Take this one to more personal chambers and bind her.”
    “No!” the female cried out in vain.
     
    *****
     
    AriELa waited impatiently on the landing pad on the top of the Kiljorn Prime building. There had been a huge battle in space between the Morins, the Katierans and the Kiljorns. Now her cousin was arriving back here and she couldn’t wait to see him. Lindsey and TarAK stood on either side of her. She couldn’t help but feel comforted by TarAK’s presence.
    The moment SydEL stepped out of the shuttle, she ran and threw herself into his arms. Tears were running down her cheeks. She could have lost both her cousins to the enemy that took her parents from her.
    “I am fine. We are all fine,” SydEL reassured her.
    “I heard about the battle. Kyd was injured?” AriELa asked anxiously.
    “It is true. But we have Dr. Morris to thank. If not for her skills, we would have lost him.”
    AriELa gave Kat a huge hug. “Thank you, Kat, for saving my cousin.”
    “It was nothing really. I was just glad to be of help.”
    AriELa was surprised when she scented Syd’s scent markings on Kat. She squealed, “You are mated!” She turned to give Syd another hug and verify his scent.
    “We must celebrate. I shall ask Prime Leader KadEN to throw a banquet on your behalf,” AriELa stated.
    “Easy, cousin. It is not official yet.” He looked apologetically at Kat.
    “Syd is my mate, but let’s wait until we get back to Katiera before we have a banquet. That way, the whole family will be there.”
    “Okay,” AriELa said. “Where are Kyd and Jaxon?”
    “Let’s go to my suite and I will fill you in on all that has happened,” Syd said, kissing her cheek.
    AriELa tried not to show her disappointment when TarAK left her with her cousin. She understood that he was giving her time to spend with her