Free Apparition by C.L. Scholey Page B

did it to save her life.
    “She has her baby’s shield so she must be in seclusion
somewhere. Tonans won’t be able to get near her, but
they could have frightened her into a cell if there were many. I have no idea
if they are feeding her. My warrior mate lost his life to keep her and his babe
safe.”
    “You were collared, too,” Zoe said in confusion.
    “By feeding off both yours and my furious outrage, the
collar couldn’t stop the warning to my shield. It was slight, but it was
enough. The smell of blood helped. The human females are safest around Tonans when they bleed. No female is ever bred with a Castian during her blood cycle. Males become increasingly shielding
of females around the scent of blood. It’s why a mated woman only has a blood
cycle twice every four hundred years. It puts a male into deep protect mode to
prepare their must and trigger it.
    “When my armor snapped into place the collar was destroyed
and I was able to battle the Tonan and escape with
you. It’s why the women are forced into submission before they are given to a Castian . They are defeated and it’s all the Castian can sense. Your captor was convinced your beauty
would sway me. I’m eight hundred years old. I don’t sway.”
    “Now what will you do?” Zoe asked.
    “The female of my warrior mate will sense I’m a
relative, a friend. All she needs to do is inhale my scent and give it to the
babe. I can shield her like your mate shielded you. With her own baby shield
she doesn’t need me really, but it would be a comfort to them. The babe’s
shield will protect her, but I must free her. I need to take them to Bagron where I can protect them better.
    “Our leader, Cobra, has an army of warriors that is building
daily. The human male children we free can be bit by a warrior mate and turned Castian for their safety. They are strong and learn fast.
Their anger toward the Tonans drives them. I need to
get my warrior mate’s female.”
    “Did she mate with your warrior mate?” Doss asked. If
she did, there was no hope for her. After the babe was weaned, she would die.
Their races mated for life into death and beyond, so their legends said.
    “I don’t think so,” Loy said. “I scent her; I feel her connection but it’s not as strong as it should be. The babe of
course is female. I feel her more strongly. She is calling for me. She knows
her father is gone and so her attention is focused on me. I’ll be able to find
them. It’s just getting them out that will be tricky. I can’t wait for Cobra.
Her mother is under duress. Once the babe is weaned there will be no more
shield. The Tonans may keep them and feed them. Once
the shield is gone both will be helpless and at their mercy.”
    “But that will take years,” Zoe whispered. “Held in captivity for years.”
    “The Tonans have all the
time in the world,” Loy reminded her.
    “Not any more .” Doss
snarled. “I’m in your debt for saving my mate. I’ll help you get your warrior
mate’s female back.”
    Doss could scent Loy’s earnestness, he wasn’t lying.
Zoe had nothing to fear from this Castian . It was
odd; all his life Doss scented mistrust in Tonans ,
there was no stinking smell of revulsion coming from the warrior. He didn’t
hate Doss because of lineage. Mostly Doss scented urgency, worry. And an odd
scent he couldn’t bring from his memory.
    “What about your mate?” Loy asked.
    Doss thought about that. If the Castian could trail Caveat’s scent on the wind so could others. He couldn’t depend on a
horse to keep her safe.
    “I can go with you,” Zoe suggested. “If we take Caveat
we can save boys as well. Caveat can carry them back.”
    Doss nodded. He could keep a close eye on her. His
shield would protect her. A human female would be better with children, more
comforting. Loy’s warrior mate’s female would feel better with her around.
    “Well, you old ass-biter,” Doss said and looked at
Caveat. “Are you ready to steal more