“Now, my male.” Shards of silver flashed in her eyes, lightning bolts illuminating a stormy sky. Her fingernails pressed into his skin, the bite of pain stimulating him farther.

  He pushed into her, advancing slowly, tormenting both of them with the leisurely slide. Wet warmth rushed up his shaft, the snugness of her intimate grip stripping his restraint.

  She lifted her hips, taking him faster, deeper, until their bodies merged, meshing into one entity. They were cyborg and human, male and female, different yet destined to be together. Only she could fit him like she did. She was designed for him and he was designed for her.

  Her feminine folds touched his base and he stopped, his jaw clenched, his cock fully inside her, his female, his universe. “You’re mine.” And he was hers. She owned all parts of him, the enhanced humanoid and the machine, his brain and his processors. There would never be anyone else for him.

  “I’m yours.” She squeezed him and he made a hurting sound, clinging to his restraint by a strand.

  He pulled back, drove forward, pulled back, drove forward, breeding with her as though he had an eternity to reach fulfillment, wanting it to never end. She met him stroke for stroke, rising upwards.

  Beads of sweat sparkled on her form, decorated her eyelashes. The droplets reflected the light, causing her to glisten. She panted, the sound echoing in the chamber.

  Stealth grunted, adding his deep tones to her song. The sleeping support bounced against the wall as their pace quickened, an urgency building within him.

  Her breasts smacked against his chest. Their hips collided and then parted. Warmth radiated from where they connected.

  He held her gaze as they ravished each other, focusing on the encounter, on the two of them. They held many roles—parents, providers, protectors—but in their chamber, during the rest cycle, he was her male and she was his female.

  He pistoned in and out of her, intent on pleasing the being he adored. His balls ached. His circuits pulsed with need, with desire. Her inner walls constricted around his shaft.

  “Yes.” Her voice stretched with wanting. “Yes.” She tilted her head back, her form lifting into his. “Yes.”

  She was tight, hot, wet, her juices slicking his cock, scenting the air. He sucked on her chin and pounded into her pussy, breeding with her harder, faster.

  “Please.” Her plea for release pulled at him. “Now.”

  He responded, thrusting up to his hilt and swiveling his hips. She screamed, clenching around him, snapping his restraint. It was too much, too good. He roared, arching his back, unable to hold back.

  Cum blasted from his tip, ripping another scream from his female’s throat. She raked his chest with her fingernails, the hurt amplifying his ecstasy.

  Sensation engulfed him, overloaded his machine. His processors went dark for a heartbeat. His systems shut down and then immediately reset. She writhed under him, her pussy squeezing and releasing his shaft, coaxing every last drop from him.

  Having nothing left, he collapsed. He landed on his curvy female, her softness cushioning him, her body welcoming him. Although he was larger, heavier, she didn’t protest, didn’t push him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, keeping him where he was.

  “I have you,” she murmured, quivering. “You’re safe.”

  Her words served as a reminder. As he rested in her arms, he scanned their surroundings. The only other lifeform he detected was their son.

  Vow continued to practice crossing the branch. He muttered about the possible manufacturing of baby brothers and how he’d rather not hear that process. She was his mom, for fuck’s sake.

  Stealth’s lips twitched. “We’re all safe.” He rolled, taking his female with him.

  “We’re all safe?” She lifted her head, her eyes widening. “Oh, fuck. Our son heard us, didn’t he?”

  “He always hears us.” Stealth hooked his arms around her, holding her in place. “He’s a cyborg, can detect when my skin brushes over yours.” He drifted his fingertips over her cheek. “A whisper or a scream of release makes no difference to him.”

  “It feels wrong.” She propped her chin on his chest, her blue eyes troubled.

  Their son muttered that it was wrong. Vow had been raised as a human, wasn’t accustomed to the sharing of private information.

  “He’ll become accustomed to it.” Stealth wasn’t concerned. “There are many couples on the Homeland now. He’ll hear them breed also.”

  “And they’ll hear us breed.” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, fuck.”

  He chuckled. It pleased him that she was thinking of their future.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Midway through the next planet rotation, Zebrina wandered around their agri-lot, watering the not-yet-sprouted seeds. She had replanted most of the garden, replacing the trampled plants.

  The sun shone. Insects hummed. The scent of smoke flavored the air.

  The Palavian raiding parties had been striking closer and closer to their domicile. Stealth believed the humanoids would eventually attack them.

  She hoped he was wrong but drew comfort from his preparations. He would ensure their son would be safe. She would be safe. They had one of the best warriors in the universe protecting them.

  A blurred form cast a shadow briefly over her. Vow ran along the top of the wall.

  She tried not to worry about him. He was a cyborg, was wearing his father’s body armor. If he fell, he wouldn’t break any bones.

  But it would hurt him…a little.

  Pain was part of training, Stealth had told her. He coached his protégé, urging him to move faster. Pride shone in her male’s eyes.

  Their son’s confidence had expanded with his skill set. His posture had improved. He smiled more. His constant searching for who he was had ended. He was a cyborg, a warrior, like his father.

  She suspected he would have found his way eventually. He was physically a cyborg. There was no denying that. And, according to him, he’d always wanted to be a warrior.

  Having Stealth by his side had merely accelerated the process. He had a guide, a mentor.

  That made all situations easier. She glanced at the wall separating their agri-lot from Odoon’s. The Ahkian male hadn’t visited them since he’d been stunned.

  She missed her friend. He was the being who had taught her about growing plants on Waaban Two and, for over two solar cycles, he had been her link to the rest of the beings on the planet, a valuable source of information about the community around them.

  If he had been alone, she would have gathered up her courage and crossed into his agri-lot, attempted to make peace with him. But he hosted more and more Ahkians in his domicile as the attacks on beings continued.

  She’d heard the humanoids chattering happily, their voices audible though the wall. Her males had seen them, verifying their presence. Sometimes she smelled the appetizing aromas of nourishment being fabricated.

  The Ahkians must have been as aware of their proximity yet they made no effort to be social. And she couldn’t approach them or Odoon. They wouldn’t approve of him associating with her, with Vow, or with Stealth.

  Zebrina sighed. She wouldn’t create trouble for her friend, wouldn’t hurt him any more than she’d already had.

  “Don’t look so emotionally damaged, my female.” Stealth called out to her as he stuck tiny flags into the ground. “You can practice next.”

  He insisted she shoot at targets every planet rotation, giving her insights on how to improve her aim.

  “I’m not running along the top of any wall.” She’d lose her balance and fall. “My body isn’t designed for that type of practice.”

  Her cyborg chuckled, that sound giving her joy. “You’re designed for other activities.”

  They had indulged in one of those other activities three times during the previous rest cycle. Her toes curled in her boots. Fuck. She wanted him. Constantly.

  “You’ve warmed up.” Stealth told their son. “When I say go, you’ll shoot the center of each flag.”

  Vow stood on top of the wall he had built. “We’re doing that again?” He rolled his eyes. “I mastered that exercise last planet rotation.”

  “The flags were stationary last planet rotation.” His trainer, her male, grasped a vegetation-blowing tool. “This planet rotation, they’ll be moving.”

  The sides of their domicile were already decorated with projectile marks. Zebrina shook her head, foreseeing many more holes being added to that collection.

  “My female, stand behind me,” Stealth ordered.

  She complied with his command, placing her hands on his flight suit-clad back. “You should be wearing the body armor.”

  Her cyborg planned to protect her with his muscular physique, absorbing any stray projectiles. He’d endure that pain for her.

  “If the body armor fit you, you’d be wearing it.” He leaned back, into her. “You’re a delicate human.”

  “You’re a delicate human, Mom.” Their son laughed like a demented creature, nearly falling off the wall.

  Her lips twitched. “You’re both impossible.” She loved them with everything she had. “Don’t shoot me or your father, Vow.”

  “I’m shooting the flags.” His eyes rolled again. “You’re nowhere near them.”

  “Prepare yourself.” Stealth activated the vegetation blowing tool, the noise discouraging further conversation. “And go!”

  Their son ran, shooting at his tiny targets. Her warrior varied the angle of the manufactured wind, increasing the challenge level. Zebrina snuggled against his back, stroking her hands over his body, exploring the dip near his simulated spine, the flatness of his shoulder blades.

  Vow didn’t shoot them or the domicile. His aim now surpassed a human’s.

  “You’ll soon run out of things to teach him,” she murmured, impressed with both of them.

  “Nothing is shooting back at our son.” Stealth nodded toward the projectile-riddled flags. “That will affect his accuracy. He is also—”

  He stopped talking. His form stiffened, his muscles flexing tight under her palms. He turned off the vegetation-blowing tool and tilted his head toward the wall. “Son?”

  Vow ceased his shooting. “I hear it.” He turned away from them, gazing into Odoon’s agri-lot. “Ahkians are running, grabbing guns. I don’t have a visual on the attackers.”

  “Get down from there.” Zebrina swatted the air.

  Something dangerous was happening. She didn’t yet know what that was. Their son was a huge, highly visible target, standing on the wall.

  Vow didn’t move, his attention fixed on the action before him.

  “Listen to your mom, Son.” Stealth supported her order, his tone curt. “We have to do a weapons check.”

  That last statement got their son’s interest. He scurried down the wall, crossed the branch he used as a bridge, returned to their side.

  She exhaled deeply. He was close to her, within her reach. She could protect him.

  If Vow would tolerate it, she’d pull him into her arms, cover his body with hers, shield him from the violence, the fighting, the killing as best as she could.

  But he wouldn’t allow her to do that. He believed he was grown now, a warrior. He didn’t know he’d always be her baby.

  She had to trust Stealth to steer him away from peril.

  Her males completed an inventory of their arsenal. Vow retrieved all of the guns and blades they kept in the domicile, including the small knife she used to process roots. Stealth verified the weapons were functional.

  “You get two guns.” Her male stuck them in the front pockets of her flight suit. Their weight tugged the fabric downward. “Those are set on kill. Be careful.”

  “I can only use one gun at a time.” She required both of her hands to grip the handle.

  “If you drop one of them, you’ll have a spare.” He doled out more weapons to Vow, filling the sheaths and holsters on the body armor.

  Gunfire sounded in the distance. She gazed in that direction. “I hear it now.”

  “They’re approaching quickly.” Stealth looked grim.

  Odoon and the other beings staying on his agri-lot were under attack. Her heart pounded.

  “Many of the Ahkians aren’t warriors.” That was why they hadn’t stayed on their planet and fought the Humanoid Alliance. “There are quite a few orphans in the group.”

  The children vastly outnumbered the grown beings. That had been the focus of the rescue flights.

  “We should help them fight.” Their son drew two of his guns.

  “Doing that would endanger you and your mom.” Stealth checked his weapons. “Safeguarding you is my sole priority.”

  If he had been alone, he would be fighting. She realized that. It was what he was designed for, an activity he, like most cyborgs, enjoyed. He was choosing their son, choosing her over battle.

  He was putting them first.

  As she suspected he’d always done. “Safeguarding me on Ahki was your sole priority, wasn’t it?” He hadn’t stayed on the planet to be with his brethren. He’d stayed on the planet to save her.

  “Everything I’ve done or will ever do is for you, my female.” Her cyborg met her gaze, his gray eyes solemn. “You and now, our son. You’re the heart in my chest. I am nothing without you.”

  “Ugh.” Their son made a gagging sound. “Can we shoot someone now?”

  A female screamed, that vocalization of terror yanking at Zebrina’s soul. Beings were dying. Her friend, Odoon, might be hurt or worse.

  “We’ll wait for them to attack us.” Stealth turned toward the entrance to their agri-lot. “Stay behind me, my female.”

  She positioned herself as he had ordered. “They’re killing beings.”

  “That is battle.” Her warrior didn’t sound happy about that aspect. “We know this terrain. We’ll have the advantage.”

  Their son sniffed the air. “I smell blood.”

  Gunfire sounded. Females shrieked. Males shouted. A baby wailed.

  A baby.

  “I can’t do this, Stealth.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I can’t stand here while innocent beings, babies, children, are killed. We have weapons. We should be helping them.”

  “I can protect you here.” He refused to take action.

  “You can protect us from physical wounds.” The screams were shattering her heart. “But not from the emotional damage. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I did nothing to save them.”

  “I’m a warrior.” Their son drew himself up to his full height. “Warriors protect. That’s what you told me. We have to rescue the Ahkians.”

  “I don’t care about the fraggin’ Ahkians.” Stealth’s voice raised. “I only care about you and your mom.”

  “It’s okay.” She placed her hands on her male’s back, trying to calm him.

  “It’s far from okay.” He looked over his shoulder. His gaze met hers.

  She sucked in her breath. Her warrior was terrified.

  “Stealth.” She didn’t know what to say.

  On Ahki, she’d watched as he marched into battle again and again, stoically confronting the enemy, risking his lifespan every time. She’d never seen fear in her cyborg’s eyes.

  Not until now.

  His gaze shifted to their son before returning to her face. “You could die.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “I’ve lost so many beings. If I lost you—”

  “You won’t lose us.” She pressed her lips against his shoulder, wetting his flight suit with her mouth, kissing him through the fabric. “We’ll save who we easily can, directing them back here. We won’t take any unnecessary risks.”

  He hesitated.

  The baby abruptly stopped wailing and her stomach clenched around nothing. Was the child dead?

  That could have been Vow. It could have been their son.

  “We have to help them.” She pleaded with her eyes. “Please, Stealth.”

  He sighed. “You’ll remain behind me.” Her warrior relented on his position. “Vow, you’ll follow your mom, guarding her from the rear.”

  “I’ve got fuckin’ guard duty.” Their son stomped his feet.

  “Language,” she said without thinking.

  “Gain a visual before shooting beings.” Stealth advised their son. “In the chaos, you might shoot an Ahkian. That happens in battle. Don’t process it. Stay focused on protecting yourself, protecting your mom.”

  “I’ll be shooting beings?” Vow’s head lifted.

  “There will be plenty of beings for all of us to shoot.” Her male looked at her. “You’re certain about this, my female?”

  She nodded, positive they had to do something.

  He hooked his arms around her waist, drew her to him. His guns pressed against her back, the coolness of the metal felt through her garment.

  He captured her lips, his kiss demanding, almost frantic. She stroked her tongue over his, seeking to reassure him. They would survive this, all three of them. It was the right thing to do, the only thing beings of honor could do. They had to save as many of the innocent as possible.

  “If you die, I die.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Process that before you take any action.”

  She would leave Vow an orphan if she got herself killed. He’d be all alone in the universe. She swallowed hard. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Good.” He smacked her lips with his and faced the exit to the agri-lot. “We advance slowly.”

  Slowly for her cyborgs was quickly for her. She jogged after Stealth, her palms moist, her breathing shallow. With every burst of gunfire, she jerked.

  An Ahkian female ran along the pathway toward them, a baby cradled in her arms. Her eyes were wild. Her face was flushed dark blue. She was barefoot, her toes bloody.

  The female had been one of the beings who had refused to allow her two older sons to associate with Vow, calling him a killer in front of others, humiliating him.

  There was no sign of her boys. Zebrina’s heart twisted. Were they still alive?

  “Hide in our domicile.” She told the Ahkian. “It’s unlocked and you’ll be safe there.” She hoped that was the truth.