Bondmate by J.J. Lore Read Free Book Online Page A

and find another if one was unwilling. But that was before he’d lost
himself in Avanelle. She wasn’t interchangeable; she was irreplaceable.
    “I
can’t leave her here.”
    “Then
we won’t.” His bondmate held his gaze a moment longer, cementing their commitment to take what was theirs. They were civilized,
disciplined, but some impulses went to the primal heart of a man. “There won’t
be another woman for me.”
    “Nor for me.” Bynton opened
the hatch to a driving, cold rain. Slender Avanelle, out in
this weather. Her core body temperature would be dropping to unhealthy
levels by now. They had to hurry. Mateen dropped past the steps and ran to the
hover, starting it just as Byn reached the mount and
pulled himself up.
    “We’ll
find her.”
    ****
    The
thick socks she’d found back at the Alphan ship were
sodden and cold around her feet, but they’d protected her from the worst of the
sharp rocks as she’d made her way back to the camp. The gate was open for
deliveries that never came, and she slipped in amongst the inhabitants just as
the rain began. Ducking into one of the community modules, she edged close to a
heater and waited for her body to warm even as her mind dulled.
    She
didn’t want to think about what she’d done. Seeing the pictures of Mateen and
Bynton spattered with gore, their features transformed into the demons she’s
thought them to be, had shattered whatever fragile trust she’d placed in them.
She’d emerged from the warmth and comfort of their bed because it was her usual
time to wake, and not wanting to disturb them, had crept out to the living area
to think about what she was going to do. She knew they wanted to take her away
with them. Every gesture, every conversation was leading to that declaration.
As she’d sat in the dim room, much of her was inclined to say yes to them,
agree to this bond they so desired with her. What was holding her to Earth?
She’d been discarded and thrown away by her society. There was no opportunity
for her to rise above a sad life of scavenging and picking up whatever labor
jobs she might find. But to travel past the stars to a world she knew nothing about with two men who spoke of forging bonds so easily
wasn’t a commitment she could undertake lightly .
    She’d
noticed the glowing cube and picked it up quite innocently, attracted to the
image of a pale stone house with wide windows. Theirs, most
likely. The images had changed as she handled the cube, each picture
enticing and impressing her, until those awful few appeared. The ferocity and
gruesomeness had hit her like a hammer, and she’d fumbled it with suddenly numb
fingers, fear icing through her. Better to flee while they were asleep than
risk declining them when they were awake was her only thought after that.
    Fear
had driven her into the night and followed her with every step away from their
ship. Now she’d live with fear of a different kind, fear of a slow death to
stalk her rather than some violent end on a faraway planet.
    As
her feet and hands warmed slightly, she wondered if she’d missed her
opportunity for that day’s meal, worried her small bundle of belongings had
been stolen while she’d been gone. Perhaps in a few days, once the drudgery of
life returned, she’d be able to forget her interlude with the Alphans . Forget how treasured she’d felt for a few hours,
appreciated in a way she’d never had before, before she saw what they were
capable of.
    A
woman she knew well enough to nod to passed by and advised her that rations
were going to be distributed soon. With a sigh, Avanelle rose and made her way
back outside. She was still wet, so more rain wouldn’t matter. Getting a packet
of protein did. People gathered around the kiosk as one of the camp
administrators keyed in the security code. Just as the panels slid down, there
was a popping sound and then many high pitched screams from the distance.
    A
press of people fleeing from the sound of violence jostled