Freeing the Prisoner Read online

  “Speak inside your head?” He pulled her close to him and rolled both of them on their sides so his big body was cradling hers. He was still pulsing inside her but the pleasure was ebbing a little, making it easier to breathe.

  “Yes,” Dani panted, still trying to catch her breath. “Yes, I…I didn’t know that was possible.”

  “It’s only possible between bonded mates,” Ky whispered in her head. “Which we are now, little girl.”

  Dani thought she heard a little hesitancy in his mental tone. Though the bond between them was still new and she was surprised at being able to communicate with him this way, she couldn’t help picking up on the concern in his voice.

  “What is it, Ky?” she asked, trying out her own mental voice. “Are you sorry that we’re bonded?”

  “No, of course not, little girl! But…are you?” He stroked her back gently and spoke aloud. “After what I did on your home planet, are you sure you’re all right being bonded to me?”

  “I’m more than all right.” Dani cuddled back against him. “I love you, Ky—I should have told you that before. I wanted to back when we were together on the Hive world but I was afraid.” She turned her head to look at him. “I’m not afraid anymore of you or of loving you. I’m just happy we’re finally together.”

  “I love you too, little girl. What did I ever do to deserve you?”

  “Nothing except get chained in a cell.” Dani smiled. “I know it was hard for you, Ky but I’m so glad you were captured. We wouldn’t even know each other if you hadn’t been, let alone gotten bonded for life.”

  “And you don’t miss your life as a princess?” he teased gently.

  Dani snorted. “I might have been a princess in name but I was a prisoner on Goshan Prime as surely as you were, Ky. When you came, you freed me just as much as I freed you.”

  “We freed each other, little girl.” He turned her chin and leaned over her to take her mouth in a long, breathless kiss. Then he looked into her eyes. “Wow…beautiful!”

  “What? What is?” Dani murmured.

  “Your new eye color, sweetheart. It’s like honey…or maybe champagne. A really light, clear gold. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Of course, Dani had to jump up to see and Ky followed her into the bathing chamber—what Kindred called a fresher—to watch her look at herself in the 3-D viewer.

  “Oh…” Dani looked at herself in wonder. “My eyes—you really did change the color of my eyes.” She turned to him and stood on tiptoe to throw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Ky. I love you…love you so much.”

  “Love you too, little girl. And I’m never going to stop.”

  Dani wiggled against him. “Why don’t you prove it then? I, uh, know we just…just did it but I don’t think the effects of the bonding fruit have worn off quite yet.”

  “Mmm…” Ky swung her up into his arms. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go back to the bedroom. I want to give you the Deep Touch again—but this time I want to look in your gorgeous new eyes while I’m doing it.”

  Dani sighed happily and pressed her body against his, loving the feel of his strong arms holding and supporting her. She knew in her heart that this was only the beginning of their lives together and she had never been more happy that she had decided to sneak into his cell on Goshan Prime and then to free this particular prisoner.

  But then again, as Ky had pointed out, they had freed each other… and now they would never be apart.

  Epilogue

  “Wow, your new eye color really is gorgeous! I can’t get over it.” Liv leaned closer to get a better look at Dani’s new eyes. “They’re like Lauren’s only lighter.”

  “Hers are more of an amber color,” Elise agreed. “And Dani’s are more champagne.

  “More tea?” Sophie asked. The four of them were sitting around her food prep table drinking the hot Earth beverage brewed from some kind of leaves, according to Liv, and eating sweet confections called donuts. They were round with a hole in the middle and covered in sweet glaze which stuck to your fingers. They were also completely delicious, Dani thought.

  “I’m so glad you convinced me to go to Ky,” she said, smiling at her new friends. “Thank you for pushing me in a direction I probably wouldn’t have taken on my own.”

  “You would have gotten there eventually,” Elise said, smiling. “We just gave you a nudge in the right direction.” Her pretty face grew serious. “So is Kyron feeling better about using his Touch sense the way he did on Goshan Prime?”

  Dani nodded. “Yes, since he got the forgiveness of the Goddess.”

  “What?” Liv looked startled. “What happened? Did you meet her?”

  “She spoke to us.” Dani was still in awe, remembering the experience. “We went to the Sacred Grove in the center of the ship so that Ky could ask a priestess for absolution. And when he knelt before her, we heard the voice of the Goddess.”

  Dani closed her eyes, remembering that moment in the Sacred Grove, entering the green and purple trees…

  “Are you certain this is the right thing to do?” she’d asked Ky as they removed their shoes. The Sacred Grove was holy ground to the Kindred and all who entered had to be barefoot. She didn’t know much about her new people’s deity but the gods she had worshiped on Goshan Prime had been vengeful and angry. It was considered better to try and hide sins from them rather than confess.

  But Kyron seemed to feel this was something he needed to do, in order to be completely rid of his burden of guilt so Dani was willing to support him.

  “It’s the only thing to do, little girl,” he said, arranging his boots beside her own small sandals. “I don’t know why I didn’t think to do it before.” He held out his hand to Dani. “Come on.”

  “All right.” She took his offered hand and they walked into the shadow of the green trees. Their leaves, all different shades of green and purple, were rustling in the light breeze which played through their branches and their shadows soon hid the bright light of the green sun which was at the center of the Kindred Mother Ship.

  The warm scent of growing things filled Dani’s senses and the soft blades of green and purple grass tickled her bare feet. She wasn’t sure what to expect but she had a feeling she and Ky weren’t alone here. There was a presence in the Grove—a feminine presence. It felt strong and wise and just and caring—it made Dani’s pulse quicken and she gripped Ky’s hand tighter.

  Suddenly a woman appeared, coming through the trees to them.

  “And who might you be and how can I help you?” she asked in a soft voice.

  Dani tried not to stare but it was difficult. Though she had gotten used to males who had tan skin instead of blue, this female was something else entirely. She was tall for one thing—almost as tall as a Kindred warrior—and she had strangely lovely green-on-green eyes and green streaks in her long brown hair.

  “Priestess,” Ky said, bowing his head formally. “I have come seeking forgiveness for a vow which I have broken.”

  “I see.” The priestess nodded her head gracefully. “Say on, Warrior.”

  “I…” Ky cleared his throat and Dani sensed this was still hard for him.

  She squeezed his hand and sent a feeling of love and encouragement through their new mental bond. A burst of gratitude and love came back from the big Kindred and he was finally able to continue.

  “I am a Touch Kindred, sworn to never use my Touch sense for anything but the pleasure of my female,” he told the priestess. “Yet I broke this vow and killed with it though I knew it was wrong.”

  The priestess frowned. “This is a serious sin indeed, Warrior. For the details of this act, I feel I must see into you.”

  Ky didn’t look very happy about this but Dani felt a surge of resignation from him, as though he had expected it.

  “Very well,” he said and knelt at the priestess’s feet.

  She went to him and placed her fingertips at his temples but before she could “see into him” whatever