Page 21 of Whispers of the Void (Voidborn Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 21

RAIZ

* * *

T he sound of Neev sleeping beside me eases all the strain from the past few days. Listening to her joke with me was a balm to my soul. The thrumming from my chest started quickly after she dozed off, and I believe the continued vibration and sound are helping soothe her into a peaceful sleep.

I indulge my instincts and move my body closer to hers, allowing the heat from our bodies to be shared between us. Someday soon we’ll share more than a bed. I might not have any certainty about our future, but I do know she wants me. Every time she looks at me, desire scents the air.

It makes me want to bury my face between her legs and taste every inch of her body. I want to memorize every swell, every fold, every hole. I want to drown in her juices. The book I read on human pleasure was a wealth of knowledge, from sex organs to procreation. I might know more about her body than she does.

Knowing that I’ll be the first male to be with her makes me want to beat my chest in the most depraved, primal way. My cock hardens at the thought. I reach down, squeezing it tightly and willing it to relax back down. She’s not in a position to even be considering fucking. I have to remember to take care of her first, physical release comes last.

A whimper draws my attention to her face where her eyebrows are pushed together. Her body shakes as she whines and shakes her head slightly. I watch concerned as her eyes move back and forth behind her eyelids. I don’t know what to do but cup her cheek out of instinct and whisper her name.

She doesn’t respond, just keeps shaking beside me.

“Neev,” I say a little louder this time as a tear rolls down her cheek. “Wake up.” My chest tightens as I catch the tear with my thumb and wipe it away. Zeahirians don’t leak from their eyes when they’re sad like humans do.

Her eyes flutter open and she blinks a few times to orient herself. “Thank you. I was having a nightmare.”

“About the attack?”

“Yes.” Her voice is meek as she rolls away from me. “Will you hold me?”

I thrum for her as the mate bond awakens. She feels safer with me near her, and nothing in all my life feels as fulfilling as that. I slide my arm under her head and mold my body against hers. Being meticulously careful I put my other hand over her hip where I know she has no injuries.

“Is this okay?” I ask once I’m settled.

“Yes.” She kisses the arm that’s curled under her. “Thank you, Raiz.”

I wait to even attempt to fall asleep until her breaths even out. The warmth of her body pressed against mine seeps into me. If it were up to me, this is how every night of the rest of my life would be spent.

With her.

There’s nothing more important to me. Even when I consider how much work there is to do to save my people. A part of me could walk away from it all, just to have a chance at life with her.

We have to figure out who wants her, and why. Even with everything that’s happened down on the planet, I can’t stop thinking about the man she’s spoken with in her head. The way she describes his eyes as being identical to hers doesn’t make sense. Humans generally don’t have violet eyes from what I and Hyva have read. Her seeing someone with such a unique feature makes me wonder if whatever form he’s taking isn’t just mimicking her own.

There are a lot of beings across the galaxy that have that skill, though none are able to mind walk that I know of. But the galaxy is vast, and there are portions we still haven’t explored yet so who is to say it isn’t possible. Anything is possible when there are so many stars in the sky left to travel.

By the time I finally drift off, I know I’ll only have a few hours of rest before Altis and Vynia arrive to debrief me. The best I can hope for is a deep and dreamless slumber with my mate snug in my arms.

* * *

The next morning I’m sitting at the table finishing a late breakfast when Vynia and Altis arrive along with Hyva. I asked Mydax to join us as well, but he hasn’t shown up. I’ve closed the door to the bedroom so Neev can continue to rest, but Hyva goes in to check her vitals quietly while he’s here.

“Are the arrangements made for Uzold?” I ask while it’s just the three of us.

“Yes. The pyre will take place the night before we leave for the temple.” Altis pulls out the chair across from me and sits.

The guilt of not informing his family myself, as well as making all the arrangements for his pyre, has been weighing heavily upon me the past few days. As the Lord of House Aste, as well as his superior, it falls on me to take responsibility for all those tasks. But I can’t leave my mate to fend for herself, even with those I trust the most. It goes against my nature as a male, a warrior and provider, to not be here for her.

“How is Neev?” Vynia shoots a worried look toward the bedroom.

“She slept well and seems to be in good spirits when she’s awake. Hyva gave her several shots of the bone healing serum. Hopefully when she wakes the residual pain will be gone.”

The door opens, and Mydax enters. He greets me with a salute which is customary, but as far as I’m concerned unnecessary in this scenario, so I wave a hand for him to sit and relax.

“How is everything on the bridge?” I ask.

“Nothing to report.”

I nod. “The way I like it.”

Hyva appears, quietly closing the door behind him and taking a seat next to Vynia. “She’s almost back to new. All her bones have mended, and her concussion has healed entirely.”

My shoulders drop in relief as the heavy weight of the unknown evaporates from my shoulders. I have to dig the tips of my talons into my thigh to hold back the thrumming building in my chest. If Mydax weren’t here, I’d feel comfortable releasing it. He doesn’t need to know that she’s my mate, I’m not sure he’d be able to keep the news to himself. Nor would he know how to act around her.

I’m not going to tell her until after our mission is completed. We need to have her translate the tome as soon as possible. Especially now that we know someone is on to us. The quicker we do so, the safer everyone will be. I refuse to lose anyone on my watch this time around.

“Go ahead and share everything you know,” I instruct Altis.

He gives a run down, most of which I already knew. He’s sent two of our most trusted intelligence officers out into other territories to see if there is word of what happened to Neev floating around on the surface. So far no one is talking about the attack.

None of us can figure out if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It brings comfort to know that no one knows exactly who Neev is or why I have her. At least they don’t seem to even want to find out. But that leaves the question of who the two males worked for.

I hear movement from the bedroom seconds before the door opens and Neev steps out. She pauses when she sees us all gathered around the table. Her eyes meet mine in question, and I give her a slight nod, letting her know she’s welcome to join us. Aside from the mate bond, there will be no secrets between us ever.

She slowly walks over to the table and pulls out the chair between Vynia and Mydax. Pride fills me as she shows no fear, even with Mydax’s earlier attack. It was only a few weeks ago but somehow feels like a lifetime. It’s as though I’ve never lived a life without her. The strength and speed and depth of my feelings for her is overwhelming in the best possible way.

Mydax inhales, and his eyes flare, his gaze shooting to mine questioningly. My scent is all over her, and, whether she’ll ever be able to tell, our mate bond is, too. It will give her protection and the same level of deference and respect I’m afforded as she is now my equal in all things. I give him the slightest of nods to confirm while Vynia leans over and speaks softly to Neev.

The rest of the meeting goes swiftly. Plans for our journey to the temple are confirmed. Altis will remain on board the ship with Mydax on the off chance the ship is needed by the Sovereign. Hyva and Vynia will accompany Las, Neev, and myself to the temple. No one outside of the six of us at this table knows about our ultimate goal.

Neev stays seated as the rest of the group files out. She’s quiet and looking out into space.

“How do you feel?” I pull the chair beside her out and sit.

Her lips tilt upwards in a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’m good. I barely have any pain left, it’s miraculous.”

“But?”

“Are you reading my mind?” She gives me a wry grin.

“No. I don’t need to when I can see your worry written all over your face.” I use my knee to spin her chair until she’s facing me. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I guess I’m just wondering what happens to me once I finish translating.”

“What do you mean?” Hope surges within my chest. Is her melancholy because she doesn’t want to leave after she finishes? “You can go back to the Order. You can stay. We can help you find a new place to go.”

“You’d want me to stay?” Her eyes search mine.

Stars, yes, of course I want her to stay.

But I don’t want her to feel obligated. Staying with me has to be her idea. I drag in a deep breath before answering.

“I want you to do what feels right. I support you entirely, whatever makes you happy. Staying with me, with us,” I motion around around the room, “is something you are absolutely welcome to do.”

“What would I do?”

“I’m sure we could use your expertise on missions. Universal translators only work on verbal communication. Your skillset is invaluable.”

“And if I stayed, what would become of us?” Her cheeks flush pink, but she holds my gaze.

“Anything you want.” My answer hangs in the air between us.

“What if what I want is you?” She moves toward me, pulling that electric current that connects us.

I grab her hips and lift her into my lap. “You have me.”

Her arms wind around my neck while her eyes dance back and forth between mine. “Good, because you have me, too.”

My chest wants to burst open with happiness as her lips meet mine. She shifts her weight, rocking her hips forward. The heat of her core settles over me while the scent of her arousal fills the air. I want nothing more than to push my pants down my hips and release my cock for her to ride, but I don’t want to hurt her.

“We should slow down, you’re injured.” I manage to get the words out as her lips travel across my jaw and down my neck. My fingers flex against her hips when I feel her teeth nip my skin.

“I feel almost as good as new. The only part of me that aches is the emptiness only you can fill. Listen to my thoughts if you need. They’re yours as far as I’m concerned.”

I’m undone by the trust she gives me. My hands scoop her up, kneading the globes of her ass as I carry her into the bedroom. Our lips meet once again in a tangle of tongue and lips. I never realized how sexy kissing someone could be, and now I can’t stop. I don’t want to.

She lowers her legs and slides down my body. My cock is already out, pushing against the stiff fabric of my pants. I can’t wait to slide inside her body.

“I need to feel your hands on me.” She speaks into my mind as she pulls her shirt off.

The peaks of her nipples poke through the thin material holding them in place. She gasps when I run my thumb over one of them. I watch as she reaches down and pulls the tight garment over her head. Her heavy breasts bounce free in a display that makes it hard for me to remember my own name.

Three black, elongated markings sit between her breasts. I run my fingers over her inked flesh. Goosebumps ripple over her soft skin under the caress.

“I lost a bet and had to get them when I was younger,” she says, watching me.

“I like them.”

She runs her fingers through my hair with a lopsided smile. “I’m glad you do, because I don’t. I should have found something with meaning instead of a random, meaningless design.”

I look up into her eyes as I slowly move forward, my lips taking one of her nipples into my mouth. Her violet orbs darken as her head tips back when I nip at one of the tightened buds. I flick it with my tongue and then move to the other side, repeating the same touches. Her breasts are so full and perfect in my hands. I could spend hours just worshipping them alone.

My fingers hook in the waistband of her pants and tug them down her legs until she stands before me in nothing but her beautiful, perfect flesh. The heady scent of her arousal fills the room around us. My lips cover each newly revealed patch of skin, my tongue swirls over her skin until I’m kneeling and pressing my face into the apex of her thighs. I look up, my eyes seeking permission even as I lift her leg and set it over my shoulder.

She captures her lower lip between her teeth and nods her consent. A small patch of soft, dark curls sits atop her mound, but the rest of her is pink and perfect as I run my finger along the seam of her sex. Her arousal coats it as I find her clit and circle the nub the same way that made her moan before.

Needing more, to know all of her, to see all of her, I lift my other hand and spread her open. Seeing her pink petals open isn’t enough. I need to taste her. I lean forward, inhaling her sweet scent and dragging my nose along her folds. A deep, feral moan comes from my throat as her flavor explodes on my tongue when I flick it over her clit.

The most beautiful cry of pleasure fills the room as her fingers slide through my hair. Her hips arch toward me like an offering as I fight through my haze of pleasure to remember everything I read. There are places within a human female that bring immense pleasure, so I slide my fingers deep within her.

“Yes.” Her fingernails scrape along my scalp, the ferocity of the movement pulling my beast closer to the surface. “Stars, yes.” Her hips buck against my fingers and face as she chases her pleasure.