The Demon Master's Wife (Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE) (39 page)

Synar walked in and over to the growing group now surrounding Gwen on the table. He was still emotionally numb, but he was too busy trying to find the supply ship to dwell on his own problems.

“You look horrible, Jet. You still letting Dorian call all the shots? That’s not like you,” Synar teased, hoping to lighten her spirit.

“Billiards analogies? That’s all you got, Synar? We’re talking about letting your demon possess me so he can look for Zade, and you’re making jokes,” Gwen said, angry with her leader for his teasing. “Your spiritual counselor is not on my good list right now. I’d leave him with his captors, but I feel like I’m dying without him.”

Synar turned his exasperated gaze towards Ania. “Can you translate this into something less emotional? I’m fighting the urge to tune out Gwen’s complaints.”

Ania explained Malachi’s plan, ignoring the disapproval she saw on Synar’s face. “Unless you have another way to find them, it is all we can think to do.”

“Dispatch tracked the supply ship for a short time, but then it disappeared. They’re probably cloaked and trying to wait until we give up looking,” Synar said.

He turned to look to look at Malachi. “Can you really do what you suggest?”

Malachi shrugged. “Not sure. It’s not a complete chord yet, but I think there’s enough of it to follow. Someone will have to care for my physical body while I am out of it. Without me, it will become defenseless again.”

Synar’s sigh of resignation could be heard throughout medical. “Is there no other way?”

“We can wait and see if Zade can send his location to Commander Jet later,” Malachi answered. “This might help find them sooner. I will do as you ask.”

Ania put a hand on Synar’s arm in entreaty, dropping it when he turned to glare at her. She lifted her chin.

“I have a sense we need to act urgently,” Ania said.

“Fine. Do what is needed,” Synar said. “You can guard the host body for him. I have other things to see to.”

Ania sighed internally as Synar walked away. It wasn’t hard to see he was still angry at her, still hurting every time he looked at Malachi. But she couldn’t fix him or hurry his grieving along.

She looked at Malachi and nodded. “Let’s try it.”

Malachi walked to the nearest empty medical table and lay down on it, taking great pains to arrange his body comfortably. Finally, he was satisfied and lifted out.

Tell Boca to move away. I find her tempting, which makes her distracting. My energy wants to go into the wrong female,
Malachi sent.
The Sumerian is quite delectable.

“Boca, move away from Gwen for now. Her body needs to be isolated,” Ania ordered, not mentioning why and hoping Boca wouldn’t challenge her.

Ania watched with relief as Boca nodded and slid off the medical table, patting Gwen’s shoulder as she did so.

Malachi entered Gwen’s body quickly afterwards.

Gwen’s body shook and she glared at Ania. “You could have warned me how cold it feels when he does that.”

Ania shrugged. “Never bothered me much. I didn’t think of it.”

“Malachi didn’t affect me much either,” Boca said quietly. “Are you okay?”

“Is there any female on the Liberator the demon hasn’t been inside of?” Gwen demanded.

“Calliope,” Chiang said without thinking, then he looked at Boca guiltily, his face flushing as she turned away.

Gwen rolled her eyes at Chiang when Boca’s back was turned. The Greggor was never going to get far if he kept mentioning other females every time he saw Boca.

“When I can stand to look at you again without wanting to kill you, we’re going to have a little chat,” Gwen told Chiang, reaching out a hand to him again.

She felt Chiang sigh as his large hand enveloped hers. Guilt for her mean thoughts about him was swift and immediate.

Tears followed and streamed down her face. “Shades of Kellnor—I’m sorry, Chiang. I’m not myself,” Gwen said, ashamed of not being able to control her emotions or her tongue.

Chiang drew closer to the bed and put his free arm around Gwen to hug. He leaned over and kissed the top of her hair. “When you are yourself again, I’m going give you bloody hell every time I open my mouth. If you say anything in retaliation, I’m going to remind you that you cried endlessly over every small thing that happened today.”

Gwen laughed, sniffled, and closed her eyes as more tears ran down her face.

When Chiang lifted his gaze, it was to be gifted with the most approving look a female had ever bestowed on him. He watched Boca smile and bow her head respectfully. All the while she did so, both his hearts pounded inside him, the rhythm calling her name.

If Gwen hadn’t held his hand so tightly, Chiang would have risen and gone to Boca. His spirit committed itself to her so instantly and completely, Chiang never even saw it happening until the image of them locked in the Greggor mating bond flashed through his mind. He had avoided a mate for one hundred forty-two years, hadn’t wanted to be committed and responsible to any one creature, and had wanted the opposite in fact.

Now he had one anyway—or at least, he was facing the strongest possibility for a mate he’d ever come across in his life.

His frustrated sigh bounced off the walls of medical louder than Captain Synar’s had.

Chapter 32

The energy cord was a direct link, and Malachi found Zade’s unconscious form easily enough. Getting it to cooperate in its drugged condition was a problem. He finally did manage to get the head turned towards Sarinnea.

His eyes glowed red causing her to gasp.

“Do not call out and inform the captors of my presence,” Malachi said roughly, struggling to get Zade’s vocal chords to cooperate. “I have come to ask where you are going so we may attempt to rescue you.”

Sarinnea bowed her head, the only part of her not bound. “I do not yet know. Their minds are shielded and they keep us sedated. Is Dorian okay?”

“Physically, he is unharmed,” Malachi reported. “Mentally he is in anguish to be rendered helpless. Sexually, he is as tortured as the mate he is claiming. He’s going to be one angry, frustrated male when he comes around completely and she’s not available.”

Sarinnea nodded at all he said. “I warned Dorian it would be bad for both her and him. Is she—is Gwen okay?”

“Mostly. She has help from medical to bear it,” Malachi said. “I followed their mating cord here. He got it mostly done before they made him totally unconscious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an energy cord quite so insistent and large.”

“Dorian has a great affection for Gwen in many ways. The chord will keep him faithful to her if he is sold into slavery. His body will not respond to anyone but her now. My offspring takes his mating vows very seriously,” Sarinnea said.

“I cannot stay long or do anything more to help at the moment, but many are working to rescue you. Is there anything else helpful you can share?” Malachi asked.

“They keep talking about a male named Xeno. I think he’s the main slave trader,” Sarinnea said sadly.

Sarinnea would rather die than endure what she had endured as a young Siren again. It was a story she hadn’t told anyone in a thousand years. She was never going to be anyone’s sex slave again.

“I will pass it along. If you get the chance, you might warn Zade that I’ll be doing this again soon. Try to find out where they’re taking you,” Malachi ordered.

“Demon—I mean—
Malachi
?” Sarinnea called as she watched Dorian’s eyes close again. “Thank you for trying to help.”

Since he couldn’t get Dorian’s head to nod, Malachi had no choice but to leave without answering. Yet Sarinnea’s earnest thanks resonated in his energy as he made the trip back to Gwen.

***

“Earthlings have been calling those bends in space ‘warps’ and ‘worm holes’ almost since their science became sophisticated enough to envision space travel,” Malachi explained, staring into Gwen’s troubled gaze.

“So I’m—I’m connected to Zade with an energy cord thing that works like a worm hole for energy beings like you,” Gwen repeated.

“Yes—now you need to work on a convincing tone of voice that says you believe me,” Malachi joked.

“It makes my head hurt to think about you using something inside me to get to Zade,” Gwen said. “I thought Synar was supposed to be back by now with information.”

“Patience,” Malachi urged. “Liam—I mean, Captain Synar is looking up the name Sarinnea gave me.”

Gwen huffed out a breath, lay back, and stared at the ceiling. “So what’s it like to be back in a body again?”

“Well, I had forgotten there were limitations to the amount of freedom a person has in corporeal form, but I’m adjusting,” Malachi said, rising from his seat and walking to look down at her. He ran fingertips along her arm. “There are some distinct advantages that I had forgotten. It’s true you don’t fully appreciate what you have until it is gone. To get it back is nothing short of amazing. You have really soft skin, Commander.”

“I’m going to break your corporeal fingers if you don’t stop stroking me. With the exception of Chiang, I can’t bear to be touched by other males right now,” Gwen hissed through gritted teeth.

“Sorry. Forgot.” Malachi laughed and lifted his hands to show he was complying.

Gwen groaned. “Oh no, here comes another one. I lied. I need to touch you. Give me back your hand,” she said, reaching out.

Malachi instinctively wrapped his hand around Gwen’s trembling one, gripping firmly as she squeezed hard.

“Even good things get tiresome when you get them over and over without pause,” Gwen said, panting as the climax finally eased away.

“I wouldn’t know,” Malachi said, laughing as he pushed her hair back from her face with his other hand. Gwen Jet really was an intriguing creature. Part vulnerability and part fierce warrior made for one very volatile female. He could see why Dorian Zade wanted to stake a claim to this one. No male would be bored for a century with her, that was for sure.

“What are you doing to Gwen?” Synar demanded, seeing Gwen’s flushed face and glassy eyes.

“Ease up, Synar, he was holding my hand while I had another orgasm. Stick around more than five minutes this time and you can take the next turn,” Gwen said, letting go of Malachi’s hand to roll to her side as she mumbled. “Thanks.”

“Glad to help,” Malachi answered, looking in shock at yet another female that had chosen to defend him to Liam Synar. He was suddenly realizing he might have underestimated an entire gender. The slightest kind word or deed and strong-minded females were ready to lay their lives and reputations on the line for you.

“Any luck with finding Xeno?” Malachi asked, pulling his attention away from Gwen’s now dozing form.

Synar shook his head. “We found a history of charges brought against him for slave trading, but he’s never been in prison that we could find. There’s never been enough to hold him formally. Every charge listed a different planetary location. I’ve given the search to Ensign Dre to continue, but I think that’s going to be a dead end.”

Ania came back and sighed when she heard Synar and Malachi talking. “Any luck finding Xeno?” she asked.

“No,” Synar said, looking at her. “Any luck getting Ambassador Onin to help?”

Ania shook her head. “No. She’s not afraid of pain so torturing will do no good. I told her about Conor. She said she felt he was gone when she woke up from the trance sleep. Since we can’t give her mate back, there not much else she wants.”

“I still have something she wants,” Malachi said.

Synar glared at him.

“Not Conor’s body, Liam,” Malachi said plaintively, forgetting not to use his master’s given name. “I was referring to Issa Onin’s memories and experiences with Conor. We could make a deal to give them back in exchange for what she knows.”

“Or you could just go into her and look for what we want,” Synar said coldly. “She was conspiring with my brother to kill Ania and me. She is still my enemy.”

“No,” Ania interrupted. “Malachi is right. Issa Onin can do us no further harm and we have harmed her enough. Let him bargain with her. We don’t know for sure that she has information we need. I’m also in favor of letting her return to her old life.”

Synar and Malachi both looked at her with duplicate shock.

Ania snorted a laugh. Seeing two similar faces was going to take some getting used to for her.

“It is probable that Issa Onin has information we need to free the rest of the females on Lotharius. If she reports correctly to the Peace Alliance, they’ll send ships and men to make sure the females are released. Along with the testimonies of Boca Ador and the others, we can achieve a greater good. Then an enemy owes us a debt of gratitude, Synar.”

Malachi arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “No wonder you were courted by every military in every known galaxy. You’re willing even now to ignore your personal vendetta to achieve the greater gain you seek.”

“Exactly,” Ania said.

Synar looked at Ania, holding her gaze as he thought about what she said. “What if Issa Onin joins forces with someone else who might want control of you or Malachi? She now knows the location of a demon.”