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  “Surely even the most powerful witch cannot hold sway from such a distance,” Saskia protested, frowning at her mate. “Don’t frighten Emily by making her think that awful old female still has power over her!”

  “Forgive me, my love—I just want her to be safe,” Xen’dex said.

  “You need have no fear about Emily’s safety,” Tragar said, lifting his chin. “I have pledged my life to protect her. I’ll keep a watchful eye on her—you may be sure of that.” He put an arm around Emily protectively and she pressed against him, glad for the heat of his big body. God, why was she so cold all of a sudden? It was as though the mention of Grandy See-er had sucked all the warmth out of the room.

  “See that you do,” Xen’dex said. He clasped arms with Tragar and they squeezed each other’s forearms tightly in a warrior’s grip. “Be well my student,” he said to Tragar. “Remember that the Goddess loves all of her children—even those that have strayed.”

  “I doubt she’d care much for one who has strayed as far as I have,” Tragar growled. “Still, I thank you for your thought—and for your hospitality and advice, my old Master. Be well and may Fortune favor you.”

  “You as well,” Tragar’s old master said. “Go with the Goddess.”

  The ride up to the ship was a silent one. Emily was biting her lips and looking out the window at the fast retreating planet. She could feel the big Kindred glancing at her from time to time but she kept her eyes averted. She didn’t want him to ask why she was so fidgety and nervous. All she could smell was his warm, spicy scent and every breath she took seemed to make the throbbing ache between her legs worse until she thought she would go crazy.

  As soon as the shuttle docked with the ship, Emily was up and through the airlock in a flash. She had to get away from the big Kindred and his maddening scent. Her breasts ached—they were fuller than ever—but they were no longer her primary concern. Now she just wanted to get to the bedroom as soon as possible and see if she could figure out what was wrong between her legs.

  She hurried down the long metal corridor to the bedroom Tragar had put her in before—his bedroom which was probably the last place she ought to be but Emily didn’t know where else to go. Her jog down the corridor irritated the affected area and jiggled her full breasts painfully but she couldn’t slow down—she had to find out what was going on now. The door slid shut behind her and she went over to the huge bed, barely noticing that the fire bubbles in the fireplace had turned a tranquil blue.

  God, I’m so sensitive! She winced as she raised her long pale green skirt and looked down at herself. What’s wrong with me? Is it the aftereffects of that star-silver dildo thing kicking in?

  Whatever it was, the problem was certainly severe. Her outer pussy lips were full and swollen and the little pink pearl of her clit was thrusting out prominently, as though begging for attention. The aching need she felt seemed to center there, in her clit.

  Looking at herself, Emily felt that if she could just have an orgasm, she might be able to alleviate the strange craving she felt growing in her. Come to think of it, maybe an orgasm would help her nectar flow too. She felt so pent up inside—like a bomb waiting to go off. She needed to release all this tension and then she’d feel better.

  Eagerly, she reached between her legs, ready to take care of all her problems in one fell swoop. But the minute her fingers came in contact with the swollen folds of her pussy, she gasped in pain.

  “Ow! What the Hell?” The sharp burst of agony was so unexpected her knees almost buckled and she nearly fell off the side of the bed. What was going on? Certain that it must have been a mistake, she tried again—more gently this time.

  But the moment her fingertips made contact with her pussy she cried out in pain. It felt like she’d been stung by a bee and the stinger was still in her, making every touch pure agony.

  “Khalla? Are you well?”

  Tragar’s deep voice behind her made her jerk and gasp. Quickly, she smoothed down her skirt and turned to face him.

  “I…uh…” She cleared her throat, trying to think of an explanation and hoping he hadn’t seen her groping between her legs.

  “Are your breasts full of nectar again?” He frowned at her, eyeing the way her round globes were thrusting out under the pale green flower petal top. Her nipples were especially prominent—tenting the gauzy material and showing clearly through the ultra light fabric in a way that was both pornographic and painful. Honestly, her breasts had gotten so sensitive that even the light fabric hurt them but Emily had been so preoccupied with the pain and urgency in her pussy she’d barely noticed until now.

  “I…they are. Yes, they are,” she said quickly, forgetting she’d been trying to conceal this problem earlier. Now she was more concerned with hiding what was going on between her legs—it was so damn embarrassing.

  “Why did you not tell me?” Tragar demanded, coming to sit on the bed beside her. “Are you in pain?”

  “A…a little,” Emily confessed, biting her lip. This close to him, his warm, spicy scent was really hard to ignore and it made the throbbing between her legs so much worse she could hardly stand it.

  “You should have asked for help.” Tragar was already slipping off the bed to get on his knees before her. He was so tall this was much easier than if he’d simply tried to bend down while they were sitting side by side. But it put him between her legs, or it would have if Emily hadn’t closed her knees and shifted her hips to one side. The action put almost unbearable pressure on her incredibly sensitive pussy but she couldn’t help it—suddenly she would rather do anything than let him between her thighs.

  “Emily, are you all right?” The big Kindred looked at her, eyebrows raised questioningly.

  “Fine just…just my breasts hurt. That’s all,” she lied quickly. Part of her knew she ought to tell him something was wrong between her legs—he would probably understand it better than she would. But it was so embarrassing and weird and she kept having flashes of memory—Jason from high school saying that they should try something new…that she would like it…No! She pushed the thought away hastily. To distract Tragar, she fumbled clumsily with the adjustable straps on the pale green top, shortening them until the hem of the light garment was well above her nipples.

  The big Kindred’s expression darkened.

  “Your breasts are even fuller than they were last night! They must ache, my Khalla.” He cupped one full globe and traced the swollen pink peak very gently with his thumb.

  Emily bit back a moan at the answering surge in her swollen pussy. God, he was driving her crazy—even more so than he had the night before! And with every breath she drew in his maddening scent which made her squirm with unrequited lust. God, this was torture!

  “Are you certain the nectar build-up is the only thing bothering you?” Tragar was watching her restless movements with a skeptical look in his golden eyes.

  “Of course.” Emily forced herself to hold still, even though his light touch on her nipple and his warm scent were still driving her crazy. “I just didn’t want to ask you for help because I know you feel like it’s wrong…wrong to, you know, suck the nectar out of me.”

  “It is considered a grave offense,” he said, nodding. “But I believe it is a worse offense to leave you in pain…” He sighed. “Which I am guilty of doing. For that, I must ask your forgiveness.”

  “What? What do you mean? You didn’t know,” Emily protested.

  “I suspected. But I hoped I was wrong.”

  “Why? Because this is a sacrilege—blasphemy? Isn’t that what you called it?” She nodded down at her full breasts. There was a tiny golden droplet on the one he was cupping now—it was almost as if her body was anticipating his touch, as if her breasts were ready to give up their nectar but only for his touch.

  “Not for that reason.” Tragar looked troubled. “You have never asked me why it is considered blasphemy to drink a Khalla’s nectar. It is because draining a Khalla’s breasts and swallowing her bount
y forms a very strong emotional bond between a Khalla and her chosen mate. So strong that it makes him jealous and overprotective—unwilling to share her with anyone. But a Khalla must belong to the whole world—all of Rageron must benefit from her healing ways.”

  “I see.” For some reason Emily found she had to blink back tears. “And you…you don’t want that kind of bond with me. I understand.” She looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

  “It’s not that I don’t want a bond with you,” Tragar said fiercely. He lifted her chin so that she was forced to meet his steady golden gaze. “It is only that you deserve better than me, Emily. I didn’t want to form a bond for your sake.”

  “Right. It’s not me, it’s you. Never heard that one before.” She shook her head. “Look, you don’t have to do this. We’re almost to Rageron and I know I’ll find help there so just…just go drive the ship.”

  He frowned. “Just go and leave you aching and in pain? Is that what you mean?”

  Emily shifted uncomfortably. God, he smelled so good.

  “I’ll be fine, really.”

  “No, you won’t. Not until I drain your nectar.” He leaned forward and placed a gentle, open mouthed kiss on each of her nipples in turn. Emily felt a surge of lust and her pussy throbbed so fiercely she could barely bite back the cry that rose to her lips. God, if he only knew what he was doing to her!

  “All right,” she whispered breathlessly, thrusting her breasts forward to give him easier access. “Go ahead…do it.” Maybe if she just let him get it over with, he could go back to the command center of the ship and she could find a way to take care of her other problem—although she didn’t have any idea how. But anything to get the big Kindred and his maddening scent out of here!

  Tragar slipped her right nipple into his mouth and took a deep pull, sucking hard to get the nectar flowing.

  The answering pull in her pussy was more than Emily could bear. She threw back her head and cried out in painful pleasure, her fingers fisting in the bed’s coverlet as the overwhelming sensation rushed over her.

  “Emily? Khalla?” Tragar stopped sucking at once and looked at her with concern. “What is it? What happened?”

  “I…I just…” Emily knew she couldn’t hide it anymore. She parted her thighs, releasing the pressure she’d been putting on her swollen pussy. “I’m having a problem. Here.” She nodded between her legs.

  “What’s wrong?” Tragar was between her knees at once, examining her with a look of concern on his dark face.

  “It hurts,” Emily whispered. She could feel the tears building in her throat but she tried to hold them back. God, this was so embarrassing. But it was painful too—so painful she couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.

  “I can see why you’re in pain.” Tragar had pushed up her long skirt until the top of the slit was almost at her waist. Bending his head to get a better look, he scanned the area between her wide-spread thighs with anxious eyes.

  “You can?” Emily whispered. “I mean…I thought maybe it was just me. I woke up feeling so weird this morning and then it just kept getting worse. Especially when I smelled—”

  “When you smelled what?” He looked up sharply.

  “When I…I mean…” Emily fumbled, trying to find the right way to say it. “Well, you keep telling me that I have a scent that’s going out everywhere but all I can smell is your scent. It’s dark and spicy and amazing—way better than any cologne I’ve ever smelled.” She gestured emphatically with one hand. “And it’s driving me crazy all of a sudden! Even worse than it was when you first brought me up to your ship from Earth.”

  Tragar sat back, looking troubled.

  “You smell my bonding scent, I fear.”

  “Your bonding scent? What’s that?”

  “A pheromone Kindred males put out to attract females to them. It only manifests when a warrior wants to bond with a particular female. It…draws her to him, sometimes even against her will.”

  “Well, at least I know I’m not going crazy,” Emily said. “But…I thought you said you didn’t want to, uh, bond with me. Whatever bonding entails.”

  “I never said I didn’t want to—I said I don’t deserve to,” he said in a low voice. “But my body clearly thinks otherwise. This is what comes of tasting your nectar I suppose.”

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t—”

  “No, don’t say it.” Tragar raised a hand to stop her. “I cannot help it that my body reacts to you this way—any more than you can help reacting to my scent. Usually when a Khalla is on the verge of Vlammen she is already in the Holy Mountains surrounded by the elders and accompanied by her chosen mate. We are in unusual circumstances here and doing the best we can.”

  “Wait—back up…” Emily shook her head. “Did you just say I’m going into Vlammen? Isn’t that the third stage of the Tenrah?”

  He nodded gravely. “It is.”

  “But…I’m still producing nectar!” She nodded down at her full breasts. “I thought that meant I was still in the second stage—Scintil—right?”

  Tragar shook his head. “Not necessarily. Some Khalla stop producing nectar as they near the end of the second stage and enter the third but some continue all through their Tenrah.”

  “But then…how can you tell I’m going into the third stage?” Emily demanded.

  “By this.” He nodded down between her spread thighs to her swollen pussy. “By how sensitive you are and the fact that your pussy has begun to reject your own touch just as your nipples did earlier.”

  “Let me guess—only my chosen mate can touch me there now?” Emily tried to sound sarcastic but her voice came out breathless instead. She couldn’t help remembering the feel of his cock sliding against her, the broad head rubbing against her sensitive clit…

  But Tragar was shaking his head.

  “Even my touch might be more than you can bear. Look…” Very, very gently he cupped her swollen pussy mound in one large, warm hand.

  Emily bit back a moan as she shifted her hips to get away from him. His touch wasn’t nearly as painful as her own but it didn’t feel good either—it was too intense—too much somehow.

  “What’s wrong with me?” she asked, frustrated almost to tears. “All this time even when I couldn’t touch myself—my breasts I mean—at least you could touch them. And now…this. What the hell is going on?”

  “Your pussy honey simply needs to flow,” Tragar rumbled. “But it cannot—like your nectar, it’s being inhibited.”

  Emily bit her lip. “By the star-silver thing I used, right?”

  “Possibly. For whatever reason, this happens to Khalla sometimes when they enter Vlammen. They grow incredibly sensitive when their honey needs to flow.”

  “So then…there must be a cure, right? Some way to make things all better?” Emily looked at him hopefully.

  He nodded. “There is. It is called the Healing Kiss. Traditionally it is given only by the Khalla’s chosen mate.”

  “Okay.” Emily felt a surge of relief. “So you just need to kiss me? No problem.” She was so eager to feel better that she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the big Kindred’s neck and pulled him in close. His warm scent invaded her senses and she pressed her mouth to his, taking his sensual lips in a heated kiss she could feel all the way down to her toes.

  Tragar seemed surprised at first but then he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, exploring her mouth gently before sucking her tongue into his mouth until Emily moaned with breathless pleasure. God, he tasted good! Hot and spicy like cinnamon candy—the flavor of his mouth was wild and delicious and completely addictive.

  She loved the feeling of being in his arms, feeling safe and protected and wanted but she needed to get closer to him, to thrust against him until she could feel his big, hard body pressed against every inch of hers. More…need more! whispered an urgent little voice in her head.

  But when she pushed closer, the leather of his black vest rubbed against her tender nipples pai
nfully, sending flashes of agony from her pink peaks all the way down to her pussy. Emily gave a little cry and drew back, breaking the kiss abruptly.

  “Are you all right?” Tragar’s voice was a soft growl of lust but the look in his eyes was concerned.

  “Fine, I just…I rubbed against you the wrong way is all.” She nodded down at her exposed breasts. “Sorry.”

  “I am the one who is sorry. I would never want to cause you any kind of pain, my Khalla.” He bent to kiss her hurt nipples gently, sending a shiver through her.

  “So was that right?” she asked, trying to ignore the urgent need she felt to press her breasts to his mouth and beg him to kiss them again. “Am I, uh, healed?” Without waiting for his answer, she reached between her legs to cup her pussy. The stab of pain she felt at her own touch made her gasp and pull back her hand as though she’d been burned. “Ow!”

  “Are you all right?” Tragar asked at once.

  “No! I thought you said the Healing Kiss would help. But I still can’t touch myself and I still feel all swollen and tense.” Emily wanted to cry with frustration. “Why didn’t it work? Did we do it wrong?”

  “It didn’t work because the Healing Kiss is not meant to be applied to your lips,” he murmured. “At least, not these lips.” He brushed her mouth gently with the pad of his thumb.

  “What? What do you mean?” Emily looked at him uncertainly, her heart thumping.

  “You know what I mean,” he said quietly. “I am acting as your chosen mate and that is how your body reacts to me. In order to take away your pain and help your honey flow, I must kiss you Emily—kiss your soft little pussy until you feel better.”

  “I don’t…I can’t…” She felt a stab of panic at the thought of letting him kiss her there—letting him put his mouth between her legs.

  “Master Xen’dex thought it might come to this, though I had hoped we would reach Rageron before you entered Vlammen.” Tragar looked troubled. “I fear it will only increase the growing dependency between us but it’s the only thing that will ease your pain and allow your honey to flow.”