Free Apparition by C.L. Scholey

they are no longer children. But, a warrior would never harm a
child, especially a female child. Their armor won’t permit it. At least that is
what my Castian memories tell me.”
    “You are half and half. A hybrid of
sorts?” She felt him cringe. “It doesn’t matter to me, Doss. It means
you are neither. You are unique.” She felt him relax.
    Doss began to rise and Zoe realized the shield was
down. It had been remarkable. She had seen right through it. There had never in
her life been a time she felt safer. Doss strolled nude to the replicator. Zoe
watched his ass move. It was a thing of beauty. He pulled out an apple and gave
it to Caveat. Doss stared at the horse hard for a moment. Caveat whinnied,
chewed, stopped chewing, chewed, then his ears went back and the apple dropped.
Sweat appeared on his flanks. His eyes looked a bit wild and then he spun
around and left. Zoe swore his back legs moved so fast he almost ran over his
front ones.
    Zoe narrowed her eyes onto Doss. “What did you do?”
    “I gently explained what a gelding was.”
    “But he’s a horse.”
    “Even horses appear to be susceptible to my
hypnotizing gaze.”
    Zoe shuddered. “I guess a picture really is worth a thousand words.”
    *
* * *
    “You will be fine here?” Doss was skeptical.
    It was early the next day and Zoe had begged him to
see how he could help other female humans escape. Or children, could he at least save a few children? He reminded her that he could only
shield girls, not boys. More females in his cave? More responsibility. Good
lord, more emotion. His Tonan half was having a field day with that one. His Castian half was delighted with the idea. Annoyingly, Doss
had both thoughts.
    Doss’ head was spinning. In a few short days he had
acquired a mate and a herd of horses and now she wanted human children. The Tonans would come after him eventually if he kept raiding
them. Normally, he stayed out of their sight, both preferred it that way. Now
he had killed a warrior and wounded another. It had been worth it he thought
while gazing into Zoe’s anxious brown eyes.
    “Just hurry back,” she said.
    The scent of fear was high on her, but so too was her
determination. Doss cupped her chin. “We are emotionally tied,” he began. “No
matter where you are, I will always feel you. I will always find you.”
    “Always?”
    “Yes. Without you, I will die. We are mated for life.
The connection is as old as time. Even if you were on a different planet,
nothing can break our bond.”
    Zoe moved into his arms. He felt her confusion toward
her feelings for him. She knew he was no liar. She wasn’t in love with him, but
she wanted to be with him. It was enough for now. He couldn’t expect her to
suddenly fall head over heels for him, she didn’t have scent memory toward a
mate. Doss knew she loved making love with him. He knew she trusted him with
her life. Zoe trusted him with her horse’s life and Doss knew that was the
highest honor she could bestow upon him. Doss was hopeful in time she would
love him, he would know the second it happened.
    Doss had replicated her clothing, though he would have
liked for her to remain nude. Her skin tight white top was molded to her
breasts and went slightly higher than her belly button. Her shoulder was
completely exposed to show the world they were mated and she bore his mark. The
mark was a warning that glowed. It would tell any who gazed upon it this female
was protected. It would be death to anyone who would think to harm her.
Gray-white flexible pants matching his rode low on her hips and went a short
way down her thighs. They had bathed together in the healing waters. Her riot
of ringlets reminded him of Caveat’s mane, though when he had said this he
sensed her annoyance. She was beautiful.
    Caveat whickered a warning and Doss tensed. Someone
was outside. Doss’ armor enclosed over Zoe when he snatched her up off her
feet. Her legs were wrapped tight around his middle, her arms