Pursued: A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance (Raider Warlords of the Vandar Book 4) by Tana Stone (ebook reader txt) 📗

“You needed this, didn’t you, my bad mate?” he gritted out, the veins in his neck straining. “Needed to be punished.”

I could only whimper in response, as he drove into me without mercy. When my body started to tremble, I scraped my fingers through his hair and pulled his eyes to mine. His claiming gaze scoured my face as I lost control and shattered in his arms, gasping his name.

Lodging his cock deep for a moment as I quivered around him and arched my head back, Bron pulled my face back to him. “My bad girl,” he husked.

Then he pistoned into me with primal fury, roaring as he exploded inside me. My legs slipped down as he sagged into me, and my body hummed from the pleasure of his exquisite punishment.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Bron

“Vaes!” I didn’t turn as the doors to my strategy room opened, but I knew it was Svar, and what he’d come to report.

A quick tap of his heels told me he was standing at attention behind me. “It is done, Raas.”

I stood at the wall of glass, my gaze fixed on the burnished, brown surface of the planet below us. Kimithion III was a class-M planet, with a pre-warp society that had so far avoided war, famine, and imperial rule. It was also the new home of my former battle chief.

I nodded but remained facing the glass. I did not want to see the disapproval on my majak’s face. “You do not agree with my decision.”

He hesitated before releasing a long-held breath. “He gave you no choice.”

“But you would have made a different one?” I pivoted to face him. “If I was still majak, I would also doubt such an extreme action.”

Even Kratos with his dark impulses never exiled a raider, I thought, before pushing the doubt aside.

“The planet is acceptable, and the people do not have any issue with him living among them,” Svar reported, his voice devoid of emotion.

“The residents of the planet are…?”

Svar glanced down at the tablet in his hand. “A mixture of humans and native Kimithions. The natives maintain governmental rule, but the humans appear to live side by side with them and sit on their counsel, although they are not compatible for mating with each other.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“The Kimithions are cold-blooded creatures with scales for skin and an entirely different reproductive system than humans.”

“As long as they can manage to keep the Zagrath at bay,” I said, knowing that Corvak could not endure imperial rule, nor would I be so cruel as to force that upon any raider, no matter their crime.

“I’m afraid there is little of value for the empire to take.” Svar tapped his screen. “Aside from an arid climate that appeals to the cold-blooded natives, it is a barren place.”

I swallowed down the bitter taste of regret. If I could undo my actions, I would, but going back on a pronouncement of exile would be admitting weakness. If I did that, I might as well surrender my horde. Weakness was not something a Raas could indulge. Nor was a challenge as bold as the one Corvak had made.

My majak lowered his device. “He will be safe—if restless—until…”

“You’ve already sent word to the other hordes?”

He inclined his head. “On an encrypted channel, as you requested.”

I pressed my lips together, spinning back around. “Good. He will not go unclaimed for long. He is a tough fighter.”

Although it had not been done in a generation or two, a Vandar raider could move between hordes. Joining a horde was almost always for life, but there were cases of warriors moving from one to another. I doubted that Raas Toraan would have the stomach for such an impulsive battle chief as Corvak, but Raas Kaalek might appreciate the raider’s thirst for battle and impatience to spill blood. Kaalek had always been the least disciplined of the brothers.

Then there was always the fourth Raas. The one who patrolled the hinterlands and was not related to the three Raas brothers. Would the mysterious Raas Vassim trek across sectors to retrieve an exiled raider?

No one had seen him or his horde since he wrested control from the deranged Raas before him. He’d pledged to restore balance to his horde and cease the violence that had earned their reputation as monsters who feasted upon flesh and torched everything in their path. Rumors drifted across space from the far reaches where Raas Vassim wandered—whispers of debauchery so wild that even the empire had avoided contact—but little was known if these were spread by the Zagrath, or the Raas himself.

“Our transmissions have been received by all and acknowledged by all but one,” Svar said.

He did not need to tell me which one. “Corvak might do well with the unknown Raas. If his horde still flies.”

“We would have heard if it had been destroyed. Even so far away, word would have reached us of such a defeat.”

Svar seemed sure, but I was not. It wasn’t that I believed Raas Vassim would be bested by imperial forces. My concern was that he’d gone rogue and no longer patrolled the ominous space beyond the more populated sectors.

His predecessor had gone insane flying through the emptiness that was the hinterlands. Who was to say the same fate had not befallen Raas Vassim? It had been so long since he and his horde had been heard from that they were not even mentioned on Zendaren. Even the old Raas Maassen who seemed to know all just shook his head and glowered at the mention of the fourth horde.

“Then let us hope the fourth horde comes for Corvak,” I said, taking a deep breath. “The wildness of uncharted space may suit him.”

Svar nodded, but he looked as unsure as I felt.

I rested one hand on the hilt of my axe. “We should depart and resume our course.”

“Yes, Raas. Do you still wish to make a stop—?”

“On a pleasure planet?” I allowed myself a small smile. “Yes. Our raiders need