Cage (Dark World Book 1) by C.L. Scholey Read Free Book Online

demons. But she’s injured and frightened. I need to be cautious around her.”
    “She?”
    “A female. A human from a planet named Earth. I wonder if that is the planet which dumped all that strange garbage in the woods. A tribe of arrogance to be certain. We were lucky no tribe member was injured. If we had space flight, I’d like to visit the planet and return the favor.”
    Zenon grinned. “Female? This is wonderful news. The tribe will be thrilled. We thought all was lost when your mate was nonexistent. Now we have a new female.”
    “I’m not mating that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Would you?” Zenon appeared to ponder a moment which surprised Cage.
    “Yes.” Was Zenon’s reply, startling Cage. “I’m not allowed to mate at all, or perhaps I wasn’t created to think of mating, but since you asked I will answer, yes, I would. I don’t know why I never thought of the idea before. Strange really, stranger still you asked. Only the tribe leader mates and produces a male offspring who will lead and protect the next generation. Simple warriors do not mate, and a tribe leader wouldn’t be expected to protect another warrior’s female. If I could see fears like you do, I would keep her safe.”
    “Well, you can’t see fears. Only the leader of a tribe can. I can’t mate a human female. My son needs to have a gift to see his opponent’s worst fears. My mate was supposed to be created for me, as my mother was for my father. The day of my conception my conscious thought programmed the Mountain of Creation to send me a perfect mate when the time was right.
    “This creature may be female, but I’ll have no son with her. I won’t take the chance he will be inferior. Our females are as important as the males who reproduce the possibilities in our offspring. Who knows what this female will reproduce. She’s vulnerable and afraid and I sense willfulness in her, what female is willful? I have no time to subdue a willful mate. My tribe depends on me. With these new images, I can kidnap another’s intended mate. A real female, one who will listen to her warrior and obey without question.”
    “Kidnap? You mean to steal another’s intended?”
    Zenon looked astounded which gave Cage a moment’s pause. “Yes kidnap, borrow. I need to keep my tribe safe. The only way is to produce another heir—and not with an inferior, willful human female.”
    “You, as leader will pass down your abilities,” Zenon’s tone was chiding. “A female is created for a leader as a companion and a child’s host. A female brings pride to the tribe—proving worthiness, life. You are worthy, Cage. Something must have happened to your mate. I can’t see the Mountain of Creation punishing us. But kidnapping another warrior’s mate will be impossible, not to mention unethical. You will need to steal her, impregnate her and we will have to keep watch every single second until she gives birth.
    “You will be damning a tribe to death. It will be years of constant war. The female’s warrior mate will not want your son, but he will want his mate regardless of the fact she can never give him a child. You know a female can only produce one child. Your son will be responsible for the other tribe once the leader and his mate expire. Will you not reconsider this female and spare both tribes the sadness? Spare other females the suffering you will impose.”
    “I’m not cruel, I won’t hurt a female even one not mine. I will make a female understand why I must do what needs to be done. She may not like it, but she will understand.”
    The look Zenon shot his way made Cage cringe. The warrior crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow.
    “You wouldn’t hurt a female. I agree. But Cage, are you listening to yourself? This is a decision the tribe should make as a whole. Maybe the human female is worth taking another look at.”
    “This human female is inferior. Her color is wrong. The only red part on her are her lips. Her hair