Dark and Light (A Kindred Tales Duet)

“That sounds more like negligence on the part of your staff than any fault of my concubine,” Kane said blandly. “But I can ask her if she saw which way your new concubine went, if you like.”

“Gods damn it! You know fucking good and well that your concubine helped mine escape!” the Overlord roared, his eyes glowing blood-red. “And now you’re going to pay for it, Kane! If I can’t find my concubine within the next twenty-four hours, I’ll be coming for yours.” A slow, cruel smile spread across his thick lips. “In fact, I’ll be coming anyway. Your time with that little auburn-haired beauty is almost up and I want my turn with her next. I’m going to teach her a lesson about how to speak to her betters.”

Kane felt his stomach knot into a fist.

“You can’t do that,” he said coldly. “I told you, I made a vow to her to take her back to her home when my time with her was over.”

“Well, I made no such vow,” the Overlord snapped. “I like the idea of having a concubine that’s had no Calm at all in her system—think how she’ll suffer! How she’ll scream.” He licked his lips in anticipation. “She’ll be mine when you’re done with her, Kane. You’d better get used to the idea.”

And before Kane could say another word, the viewscreen went black.

He sat there for a moment, fighting his rage at the Overlord and his fear for Allisandra. He couldn’t let her be taken and tortured by the sadistic bastard who led his people! But the Overlord did whatever he wanted and no one tried to stop him.

Once there had been checks and balances in their system of laws but when the Overlord had taken power, he had systematically driven away any who would oppose him and put yes-men in their places. He had promoted males who had no business being in positions of power just because they agreed with him and fawned at his feet and he went into fits of temper if anyone even tried to question his corruption.

Truly, their system of governance was broken, Kane mused. He himself had left Earth and elected to stay in his fortress high above the planet when the current Overlord had taken power. He had been hoping to ride out the male’s reign—hoping the Overlord wouldn’t do too much damage to the Earth and its inhabitants before someone came along to unseat him.

Maybe it’s time to stop waiting for someone else to get rid of him, Kane thought. Maybe the time has come to do something about him myself.

But first, he had to make certain Allisandra was safe. And there was only one way he knew how to do that.

It will mean my death, he thought grimly. But he was probably going to die anyway.

At least I will die with honor, he told himself. And I will die knowing the female I love is safe—even if she is safe in the arms of another.

It was all he could do.

Thirty-Three

Alli frowned as she leaned over to straighten up the covers on her bed. She had gotten ready in a hurry that morning and hadn’t had time to tidy up. Of course, she could have just used the speech to matter technology of Kane’s fortress to straighten up, but she preferred to do such mundane domestic chores herself. Living on a spaceship where she could instantly make almost anything she wanted appear just by asking for it felt surreal at times. Doing her own cleaning made her feel grounded.

Not that I’ll be living here too much longer, she thought, feeling a sharp tug of pain at her heart. I’ll be going in just a few days. Should I make up with Kane before I go? Does he want to make up?

He hadn’t Stung her that morning, as he usually did. But the cold silence they had been keeping between them had been broken by their trip to Earth. So it seemed like a reconciliation was possible. Alli wondered if she ought to bother—it wasn’t like the big Kru’ell One was going to change his mind about taking her back to Earth. Making up with him—making love with him—before she left would only make their parting more painful.

Still despite the fact that he hadn’t Stung her, she found she craved his big body and warm scent. If she could just feel his hands on her one more time, she thought, as she leaned far over the bed to twitch the coverlet into place, maybe the memory of their time together would help her endure the rest of her life spent living with Douglas…

Maybe—

Her thoughts were cut off suddenly when a pair of long, muscular arms encircled her from behind and two big, warm hands cupped her breasts.

Alli was still wearing the sheer black dress with just a quarter cup demi-bra and crotchless panties beneath it, so it was easy to feel Kane rolling her sensitive nipples through the thin, silky fabric.