Chapter Eight
Kaela
We continued on our journey that day and I couldn’t help but notice how strong I felt. Despite hours of walking, I didn’t feel tired. In fact, I felt like I could continue for hours longer. I didn’t get winded. My legs never felt the exertion. It felt as though I could run for miles. For periods of time, I even felt as I could see better than I ever could before. Even hear better. It began to unnerve me. I could see deep into the woods, with a clarity I definitely hadn’t ever experienced. Sounds were clearer than ever. The song of a nearby bird or the chirp of a grasshopper hummed in my ears. I pondered what it was. I could sense if an animal was close, before seeing even it, or hearing it for that matter. The first time, it was a rabbit. The second time, a fox and the third time, a squirrel. All these changes unnerved me.
I lifted my hand, noticing a glittering area on my palm. I rubbed my thumb against it and it didn’t come off. It was similar to the places on my inner thighs that I’d seen earlier today, when Zane had helped me to dress. I chewed my lip. Staring at it for a moment longer, I lifted it to my lips and dragged my tongue against my flesh. It tasted faintly of berries. It tasted like Tavik.
Those were the same places that my Vakarran captors’ seed had marked my skin. There was no way that was a coincidence. Maybe it was doing something to my senses, making me stronger, more resilient. Maybe it was doing something to me, changing me into something like them.
I wondered if it would last.
When we camped for that night, I casually inspected myself by the red lamp. It was something the Caleb had brought out, which worked similarly to a campfire, although it wasn’t as obvious and provided just as much warmth. My thighs still glittered in its light, evidence of our lovemaking from that morning.
Interesting.
I tried not to give it too much thought as I readied for bed, instead trying to think of what I would say when I saw my sisters again. I missed them. It had been so long since I’d seen them. Alaina and Danika were supposedly safe with the Resistance, with their own entourage of four Vakarrans, but Tavik had said little about Kira except she was somewhere in space on the ISS Starrider. I wondered if I’d ever see her again. I hoped I would.
Valdus sat next to me, placing his palm on top of my hand.
“You seem so far away tonight,” he murmured softly.
“I’m thinking of my family is all,” I answered. Caleb joined us, and I smiled a little at his arrival.
“But you’re also trying to figure out if this is some elaborate ruse, aren’t you,” he asked.
Caleb was more perceptive than I realized. I’d have to be more careful in the future. But, maybe he and Valdus could tell me something more.
“My sisters, Alaina and Danika, they’re with the Resistance then?” I pressed. Tavik had told me mo
st of what happened, that Alaina’s Vakarrans had abandoned their army for her, just like Danika’s. That my sisters were happy, and the men were caring for them like they were their queens, but I still found it incredibly hard to believe.
Even since the aliens arrived, I’d heard nothing but bad things about them. How they bred their women and beat them into submission. How they killed anyone who stood in their path. It had made me angry and had been a big reason why my sisters and I had worked so hard to avoid them for so long. We had succeeded for ten years, but the Vakarrans had proved to be stronger than we’d realized.
I’d underestimated these four myself.
It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume that the Fourth Battalion had a secondary mission. Tavik and the others had said that my sisters had angered the Vakarran leaders. I wouldn’t put it past them to have a secondary mission, to capture me alive and deliver me to their superiors, who would in turn make an example out of me. Maybe kill me or torture me in order to teach their slaves what happens when a human defies them.
I shivered and Valdus took my hand in his. He didn’t say anything then, he just held it. I turned to look at him and he met my eyes.
I couldn’t deny the caring warmth in those depths.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe they were telling the truth. Did I dare trust them though?
Twice, I’d defied them. Twice, they’d punished me for it and still, I was standing, just as strong as ever. Sure, Zane had whipped my ass with his belt, but they hadn’t really hurt me in any way. Even now, thinking about the events that happened after they disciplined, I could feel my pussy clenching in excitement. There was no denying it. I’d enjoyed what they’d done to me, even though it had hurt. Every last second of it.
Maybe they weren’t so bad after all.
Caleb put his hand on my thigh then and squeezed it, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“We should get ready for bed. Tomorrow is going to be another long day,” he said and Valdus nodded.
“Alright,” I replied, rising to my feet and lying down on the mattress that they provided, a handy bed that collapsed and self-folded into a small tube. I had literally no idea how it happened, but I was grateful for their alien invention.
When I was comfortable, two warm forms surrounded me. I protested at first, but Valdus shushed me. Caleb curled his arm around my waist from behind and despite my reservations, their body heat kept me warm. It felt good. The two of them slept with me that night, while Zane and Tavik took alternating watches. I didn’t wake up till the sun rose, sleeping soundly for the first time in a very long time.
* * *
When it was finally time to rise that morning, I did so begrudgingly. With Caleb and Valdus surrounding me, I was so comfortable. I felt completely protected for the first time in my life and I didn’t want to leave that protective little bubble just yet.