Breeding Ground Part 14

Peac.o.c.k frowned. "I don't see much choice, bro," he quietly reb.u.t.ted. "Between the women warriors of Zala in here, f.u.c.ked in the head though they may be, and the predator s.h.i.+t outside, I'll take my chances with the ladies any day of the week, thank you just the same."

"I agree," John whispered.

Alex snorted at that. "Or so Fija says. We don't even know that these predators exist. It could just be a smart ruse to get us to follow willingly."

"But you don't think so," Peac.o.c.k carefully drawled. "Or we'd be out there instead of in here."

"True enough," Alex murmured. "Still, there is a reason why I forbade you to remove your hands from your Laser-5s."

She might like Fija, but trust was another issue entirely. Trust had to be earned. For all she knew, they could have just been lured inside the stronghold of the very demons the alpha female accused the Xandi of being. She doubted it, but Vlad was correct-they didn't know the Amazon and her males well enough to formulate opinions on their trustworthiness or lack thereof.

"This isn't the time for this," Alex told her crew. "We'll talk later. For now keep your eyes open and your mouths shut."

John nodded. "Will do," he murmured.

Fija's lair was, in a word, surprising. In juxtaposition from the austerity of her personality, the red earthen catacomb she called home was lavish, decadent, and surprisingly airy for being carved out of a part of the black mountainside.

The catacomb consisted of two levels. The lower level contained the kitchens, servant quarters, work chambers, and a huge atrium that opened up onto the balcony gardens for gatherings and festivities. The upper level housed Fija, her harem, and the other females of the dwelling. All chambers of the catacomb possessed tightly packed red soil floors, black metallic walls, and an abundance of vibrantly colored native flora.

The technology, Alex noted, was interesting. The enclave's existence was one of complete communion with nature. Even the electrical source the Takuri used for lighting, heating, and baking was emitted by a curious bright red vegetable indigenous to Zala called veepa. Fija had explained to her enraptured audience that the vegetable could be eaten only upon its death, after it dimmed. While it was alive, the force of its heat was so extreme as to sizzle a person upon contact.

The Takuri did not possess advanced weaponry of any sort in so far as Alex could tell. Neither did they seem to place much importance in the types of conveniences people had enjoyed in her day, such as floor tiling and synthetic foods. But these people clearly knew their natural environment and how to live in unity with it. She supposed they had to have some sort of synthetic technology-the translation device now lodged in her and the crew's brains was proof of that-but the Takuri definitely favored the natural over the artificial.

The same held true for clothing-or lack thereof. Alex's wary green eyes took in the sight of many naked women as she made her way next to Fija up a twisting incline that led to the catacomb's higher level. The males of the dwelling, she noted, were given loincloths to wear, the same as the males of the Amazon's immediate entourage. Alex supposed the Takuri men were only permitted to be non-attired in the presence of the woman they belonged to.

"Who are all these people?" Alex asked, her voice kept low as she followed Fija. "Are all of these women females of your family?"

She shook her head. "No. I've yet to birth a daughter so I've no heir to speak of. These females train under me. When they come of age and skill, they will be warriors and make their own way in the world."

"I see." She hesitated a brief moment, her mind racked with a thousand questions. "You said you have never bore a daughter. Have you ever given birth to a son?"

The Amazon's jaw and shoulders seemed to simultaneously tense. "Yes."

The single word held more chill than warmth. Alex supposed she should have taken the hint and backed off the subject, but curiosity overwhelmed her. "What's his name? How old is he? Where is he-"

"Enough questions!" Fija bellowed, surprising her. She came to an immediate halt and whirled around to face the commander. Clearly this was one subject she didn't care to talk about. She had never seen Fija lose her composure. "His name is Sol, he has seen five years, and he lives below stairs with the other servants."

She glanced away, her gaze distant as her voice lowered to a murmur. "He was weaned from my bosom six months past. Once a boy is weaned he is forced into servitude until purchased by the female who will protect him. Such is the law under the Sacraments of Takuru."

"You allowed your son to be turned into a slave?" Peac.o.c.k hissed, the contempt in his voice apparent.

Fija's eyes narrowed. Her nostrils were flaring, her stance one of challenge. "It is our way, male," she ground out. "Do not question me."

"You said there would be a feast tomorrow," Alex quickly interjected, trying to change the subject. "What story will we give these other warriors about my origins?"

The Amazon hesitated, clearly torn between answering Commander Frazier's question and letting Peac.o.c.k's slight go. Alex was glad when Fija turned on her boot heel and continued walking. She shot Peac.o.c.k a frown, letting him know now was not the time to point out the foolishness of their laws. First they needed a better grasp of the crew's new environment and surroundings. They needed to understand what it was they were dealing with. The loma, the Xandi-it was a lot to take in.

"I do not yet know," Fija finally replied, waving a hand toward the bedchamber where Alex and her men were to be ensconced. "I suppose we will both have our answer at the morrow's noontime repast, little warrior." She handed a skeleton key to Alex and nodded toward the door. "This eve is yours to do with what you will. Be below stairs when the village bells thrice ring, announcing the commencement of noontime." She looked at Alex pointedly. "And be prepared to abide by the customs of our people."

"Customs?"

"You can wear the body-plate of a warrior upon first entering the feasting chamber, but such is not acceptable when sitting down to break bread with other Takuri women."

Alex hesitated, her expression cautious. "What do you mean?"

"It would be viewed as a challenge against my house and the warriors within do you break bread dressed for battle."

She prayed this didn't mean what she highly suspected it did. "So what do I wear then?"

The Amazon's frown was solemn as she turned on her boot heel and walked away. "We dine naked," Fija said from over her shoulder. "Best prepare yourself."

Chapter Eight.

"You are near. I sense you. I can almost taste you..."

Alex stilled, the sensual purr of his voice caressing her neck like soft puffs of cool evening breeze. "Am I dreaming?"

It didn't feel like a dream. It was different from the other times somehow. In her nightmares she felt only fear and hatred towards...him. In this moment, however, terror and desire were at war in her body.

Desire. It consumed her with a ferociousness she couldn't explain.

"...Or am I awake?" she murmured.

She heard a low chuckle, but could see nothing. All her senses but one-sight-were engaged. She could feel his large, callused hands on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, kneading them, tugging at her nipples until she moaned. She could hear his breathing grow heavy from behind her. She could experience every sensation there was to be had except for vision. And she wanted-craved-to see him.

Yet another new facet to the nighttime hallucinations. This was the first time Alex could ever recall wanting to see him.

"Soon, my beautiful," he cryptically answered. His voice was thick with longing. "Very soon..."

Alex blinked several times in rapid succession. Snapping out of the dazed state that had consumed her, her eyes quickly darted around the bedchamber. She released a pent-up breath and sat up in the bed.

She was in Zala, safely tucked in for the evening with her remaining crew. John and Vlad were sound asleep. Peac.o.c.k was still awake. s.h.i.+rtless and wearing the customary loincloth of male Takuri, he stood just outside the room on a small balcony, gazing out into the abyss of reddish-black nighttime air.

Lt. Williams must have realized he was being watched. He blinked, then slowly turned his head until he was looking at Alex. His gaze raked over her, one eyebrow arching. "You okay, Al?"

Her cat-green eyes must have looked as wild and desperate as she felt. Get it together, Commander. It was only a dream. It had to be a dream.

"I'm okay." She cleared her throat, then qualified her a.s.suredness a little bit. "Just never forget our promise to each other."

"Stay together?"

Alex nodded. "But I'm more interested in the part about how if any of us turns up missing, the others pack-hunt until a survivor or corpse is found."

Peac.o.c.k stilled. "I don't forget promises. Especially not ones like that. May I ask why you're bringing this up now?"

"I don't know."