was I able to understand how you felt about me. I was
nearly convinced before I linked with you. She
wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her
head against his chest. A lifetime of feeling
inadequate is hard to overcome, Kaylen.
"I love it when you say my name." He pulled
back and bent to capture her mouth with his lips.
Only after he'd kissed her long and deep enough
to have her swaying on her feet, did he raise his
head to whisper against her lips. "It's your turn,
aliante."
He grinned when she licked his taste from her
lips. Her face grew a lovely shade of pink. Taking
a deep breath, he gave her a slight squeeze then let
her go. "I love you, mate. You stole my heart the
moment I saw you standing in front of your
shuttle with your brother convincing him not to
kill my people. I was so relieved not to have to kill
him to obtain you. He seems like a nice guy."
"I'm sure he would say that's impossible."
"Perhaps, but never stand between his dragon
and his mate. I would have hated to make your
brother crispy. What's the point? We don't eat
other shifters," he said with a laugh. "Now go get
your device implanted. " He turned her around,
gave her a gentle push toward the chair and
swatted her rear as she left him.
"Hey!" she turned and glared at him, rubbing
her right ass cheek. "That hurt."
"You two need to stop playing," Damir said
helping her into the seat. "It doesn't hurt and it
works. I can hear communications between
several of the Triads. They're making plans while
we're in here playing around."
"Sorry, Damir," they chorused. Brandy waited
for the technician to implant the device behind her
ear.
She frowned after a moment. "What happens if
this doesn't work after I change?"
"It will work, your brain won't change. You'll
only grow a few more organs." Kaylen squatted
next to her and patted her hand. "And it won't
hurt much either."
"It won't hurt much?" Her eyes widened.
"What won't hurt much?" she hollered.
"Done," the tech said. "You can rejoin the
others on the bridge now if you'd like."
* * * *
It wasn't until they were on their way back to the
bridge that the first blast of a plasma weapon hit
the ship. It lurched slightly almost knocking
Brandy to her knees. Both Damir and Kaylen
grabbed her, sandwiching her between them. If
they fell, all the damage would be to one of her
males as they both wrapped themselves around
her like human shields.
"I won't break, you know," she said on a gasp
as Kaylen scooped her up just before he and
Damir put on a blast of speed and headed for the
bridge. "Com on..." Brandy said, hoping the
nanite chip worked. She wanted to now what was
going on.
"We're grossly out numbered. Even our
superior firepower isn't going to help us against
seven armed vessels. At least our shields are
holding. They haven't been able to hit us with
anything that will do more than shake us up a
bit."
She tried to place the voice. It was either Dare
or his brother, she was sure of that. She just wasn't
sure which one, since their voices were so eerily
similar even when spoken audibly.
"I have an idea. I think we need to concentrate
on joining our forces. Our life forces. I think...for
some reason, I'm sure that is the way to defeat
them."
"Jaynee, this is a time for action, not
meditation."
Brandy was sure it was Dare who spoke that
time.
"I'm serious, Dare. If we let our crews do their
jobs while we concentrate on becoming one, we
can defeat them. It's what She wanted. It's why we
are here wearing these amulets. I can't believe we
weren't meant to work together. The Lady
Goddess said three times three is a powerful
us to work together."
It was then that Brandy understood.
Concentrating on her words to travel over the com
system she agreed with Jaynee. "Jaynee's right. I
know it. We must allow our auras to surround us,
as we become one. That is the only way we can
defeat this many ships. My grandmother intended
for us to work together. That is why the amulets
all bonded with each other. They will again, and
when they do, it will destroy our enemy."
"Okay, we'll try this your way, but if it doesn't
work, we may be consigning the whole galaxy to
hell," Dare finally agreed.
When they finally reached the bridge, Dare, Luc
and Jaynee were sitting cross-legged on the floor,
holding hands with their eyes closed. Brandy sat
between her two males and they mimicked the
other Triad, trying to tap into the common
consciousness of the Triads.
Brandy didn't know why, but she felt she must
watch the view screen as she opened her mind to
the power of the Triads. It is good to be the
granddaughter of the Goddess. Your mind can
compartmentalize your thoughts. You will learn to do
more and more as you progress. You have my powers
within you, you merely need to learn to use them.
As Brandy watched, the amulets of both Triads
began to glow. Staring at the three dimensional
view screen, she watched wide eyed as the enemy
ships pummeled the three Savari vessels. It was
only a matter of time before the shields gave way.
A strange white bubble formed around one of
the Savari ships, expanding out to surround each
vessel until they were all enshrouded in its
protective shield. The enemy's weapons merely
bounced off the shield, no longer even giving the
ships the slightest quiver. Silvery lights, thin as a
spider's web drew the three ships together, joining
them into one huge triangular-shaped ship
It wasn't until the ships were bound tightly
together that she saw the white light emanating
from each point of their triangulated position. The
joined ships spun in a slow circle. A wave of
energy pulsed from behind their shield,
destroying each Banart and Hienial ship as the
Savari ships rotated in their direction. Brandy
stared with awe as she watched the ships destroy
every one of their enemies using their combined
powers.
Within ten minutes of the battle's start, it
ended. Brandy could see debris floating in space,
huge chunks of the enemy ships, all that was left
of their adversaries. She stood, walked over
toward the view screen, watching as the body of a
Hienial slaver drifted by her. One of its legs were
missing and part of an arm, but he was still easily
identifiable by his furry face and twisted,
misshapen limbs.
She shivered, knowing deep in her gut this
attack wouldn't be the only one they faced before
reaching Carrillian airspace. She could feel the
trouble coming as though someone was
whispering it in her ear.
Brandy crossed her arms, rubbing them as she
continued to stare out into space, though she
wasn't looking at the debris in front of her,
couldn't even see it as she tried to process the
information somehow bombarding her
subconscious.
"Com on," she thought, and at once she could
hear the others on the other two Savari ships.
There was much she had to say, but there was no
guarantee they would believe her.
Behind her, she heard the others moving
around. Within seconds, Kaylen and Damir were
on either side of her. They each reached for her
hands. Needing the connection, she held on tight,
threading her fingers through theirs. There is
another battle coming, this one much larger than the
one we just faced. We must defeat or evade the
combined Banart and Hienial fleets and make it to the
main temple on Carrillia where the Priestesses are
initiated into the Lady Goddess' service.
Why? Jaynee asked, her voice heavy with
concern.
Brandy shook her head. That I do not know, only
that we must make it there. All of us if we are to win
this war.
Next to her, Damir squeezed her hand. Then
make it we shall, aliante.
Do you know how many ships are in the enemy
fleets? Dare asked.
Brandy nodded, though only those on the
bridge of The Freedom with her could see the
movement. Yes, there are nine Banart warships and
six heavily armed Hienial Slave transports between
here and our destination.
Within her mind, the voices of the other Triads
began to speak over what another, making it
difficult to hear whatever the universe was trying
to tell her.
Beside her, Kaylen stiffened. His voice, harsh
and impatient, overpowered all the others.
Enough, you're just making it more difficult for Brandy
to function.
Her mind grew silent, not even the
otherworldly voice that had warned her of the
impending attack spoke to her. "Now what?" she
asked aloud, knowing no other answers would be
forthcoming from the universe.
Damir turned her, pulling her into his arms.
"Now we prepare for another battle."
Brandy nodded against his chest. She only
hoped that the voice that spoke of the enemy fleet
didn't remain silent for long. Against such a force,
they could use all the help they could get.
* * * *
As the hours passed and the ships drew closer to
Carrillia, the tension on the ship increased. Damir
hated that his mate was upset. He didn't want her
in this battle at all, but he understood that without
her, the enemy would continue to plague their
known universe, and that couldn't continue. Not
when they had the power to prevent it. Knowing
that still didn't stop him from worrying, however,
that his mate felt responsible for all of them
because of her relationship to the Lady Goddess.
This waiting had begun to get on everyone's
nerves, not just his mate's. He wanted to shift into
his Dragon form and raid the sky, destroying their
enemy one by one. Perhaps, before all was said
and done, he and Kaylen could do just that. He
turned to watch his mate, now asleep on the divan
in their quarters. Kaylen sat next to her, her head
on his lap. Kaylen looked up, met Damir's gaze.
He could see that his Triad mate's need for action
was just as great, if not greater, than his own.
As Damir made his way toward the couple, the
ship shuddered beneath his feet. It didn't take a
moment to realize the second battle had started.
Brandy sat up quickly, no trace of surprise on her
face.
"So it has begun," she whispered. When Kaylen
reached over to comfort her she gave him a weary
smile then stood.
Damir couldn't protect her, couldn't lie to her.
"Yes."
"Then I suggest we get on the bridge before
they manage to do any damage to the Savari
vessels. We all must arrive at the temple."
Damir nodded, reaching for her hand as she
passed him. Kaylen, was right behind them as
they ran down the corridors. The ship continued
to shimmy and shake as they made their way to
the bridge, once knocking Brandy to her knees.
Shit. They had to hurry. Com on...
What's the status of the enemy fleet? Have we taken
any serious hits? Damir demanded.
From the bridge, Dare's voice was harried. Not
yet, but not from lack of trying. We need you three up
here and we need you here now.
We're thirty seconds away.
Thirty seconds later, they reached the bridge.
Damir's gaze jumped to the viewport. Ships were
everywhere. Green plasma bursts lit up the black
sky. Brandy squeezed his hand then pulled him
toward the other Triad who'd already taken their
places on the floor.
Damir took his position across from Dare.
Brandy sat to his right across from Jaynee, while
Kaylen took his place to the right of Brandy and
across from Luc. The two Triads joined hands,
linking them together.
Once again, the amulets of both Triads began to
glow. As one, they turned to stare out the view
screen. As their ship moved into position with the
other Savari vessels, Independence and Liberty,
the white bubble coalesced around their ships.
Prepared this time for the strange phenomena,
Damir didn't react, simply joined his power with
the others.
Again, the enemy's weapons were unable to
penetrate their shield. It didn't matter that they
were outnumbered five to one. The enemy
continued to fall to the Savari weaponry. Several
powerful plasma bursts hit their shield, but they
didn't waver, keeping their focus.
Damir could feel the goddess's power
channeling through his amulet. The stone grew
warmer the longer the battle raged, nearly burning
his skin. For hours he held his concentration,
staying linked to his Triad mates and the other
five Triads. Sweat poured off his body but he
refused to break the connection to wipe it away.
He would stand by them, stand by them, no
matter his discomfort.
Another blast hit their ship and he felt their
shield begin to dissipate and waver. No we must
continue. We cannot give in to the fatigue. Look inside
yourselves and find your power, he demanded
through the link.
A surge of power ripped through his body. The
shield flared, once again growing strong. Beside
him, Brandy's sp
ine stiffened and she grimaced.
He couldn't blame her. Channeling the power the
way they were was not only exhausting but
painful--it felt like your nerve endings were on
fire.
Finally, the last Hienial ship floundered in
space, spiraling out of control. They couldn't allow
the ship to run, to find some planet to put down.
With their last bit of energy, Damir and the others
focused on the flailing ship. With seconds, the
Hienial slaver exploded into thousands upon
thousands of pieces, littering the sky above
Carrillia with its debris. Seconds after the ship
exploded, Brandy collapsed against him.
Damir stood on shaky legs, lifted Brandy into
his arms then both he and Kaylen headed off the
bridge, intent on getting Brandy to their quarters
where she could rest until they reached Carrillia
and the Lady Goddess's sacred temple there.
* * * *
The next dawning, Forest of Tranquility,
Carrillia
Brandy surveyed her surroundings. Tall trees
blocked the light of the sun, lending the forest an
eerie feel. She could feel the whisper of power in
the air, as though they walked on sacred ground,
sacred burial ground--and perhaps they did.
She could feel the power beneath her feet, in the
very air she breathed. But something evil was
suffocating it, tainting it. Brandy stopped where
she was, holding her hand up for the others to
halt. Com on... There is evil near, both Banart and
Hienial. Be prepared for anything and look beyond
what can be seen with the eyes.
As they grew closer to where the temple should
be, Jaynee and Laynee, the Carrillian witches and
their mates took over the lead. Brandy didn't
mind, it gave her more time to find her center, find
the power and strength inside her because she
knew, before this day ended, she would need to
call on all her power and the power of her
bloodline.
Less than an hour later, the six Triads slowed
when they reached the line of trees surrounding
the temple. The sense of evil grew thicker. She
could smell the Hienials on the air--there had to be
dozens of the creatures surrounding them.
Before she could let the others know, her lungs,
her chest began to burn. Her fingers and toes felt
on fire. She turned to Damir and Kaylen, unsure
what was happening to her.
"What is happening to me?" she whispered, not