Read Online Bonded by Ria Candro - Free Book Online Page B

Valeron stroked their mate’s face. “Think you she’ll be okay?”
    “She’ll be fine.” Provided the Malucons don’t tear her apart.
    They stood a chance of fighting the six men off, now that they had been well-mated and had gained their strength. But there was still the distinct possibility of them losing, and his heart broke to imagine the consequences of their failure.
    “Perhaps even if we fought them and didn’t succeed, they would leave this place without searching further for her,” Valeron murmured, his gaze still on their mate. “You know, if…”
    “If she wasn’t with us.”
    Valeron gave him a grim nod.
    Neichon considered Valeron’s suggestion. It was a good one. Really, the only one they had at this time. “If we tell her we’re going to leave her behind while we engage the Malucons, she will fight us on it.”
    “Yes,” Valeron agreed, his jaw tensing.
    Which meant…
    “We need to leave before she awakens.”

Chapter Eight
     
    Consciousness returned slowly, leaving Inara foggy and confused. She stretched her muscles and an answering twinge resulted between her thighs. A blush heated her face as she recalled the reason she’d lost consciousness to begin with.
    Oh, the delicious things Neichon and Valeron had done to her body. Thank the gods Chiveans healed quickly. She feared she’d be unable to walk otherwise.
    Inara opened her eyes, only to see darkness. She blinked, waiting until her eyes had adjusted, then looked around. She was in the same cave, but Neichon and Valeron were nowhere to be seen.
    What in the name of Chivea?
    S he stood and looked around, then stumbled over to the corridor. Empty. It appeared they’d left her here.
    At least they remembered to put my breeches back on before they abandoned me, she thought wryly. Though the liquids trickling out of her body had dampened them.
    An aftershock of sensation racked her body, forcing her to press her thighs together.
    Gods, that was amazing . Easily the most intense sexual experience of her life. Quite obvious, from the way she’d become senseless toward the end.
    Hell, she couldn’t wait to repeat it.
    Inara glanced behind her. The dim glint of silver on the floor propelled her toward it. Her dagger. She lifted it, still in its holster, and reattached the holster to her thigh.
    Her heart pounded in fear and foreboding. Something was wrong here. Why would both men simply be gone? Her mind refused to analyze why they would have left her. Only one thing to do right now.
    Find them.
    She strode around the cave until her legs no longer felt like jelly. Then, cracking her neck, she wound her way through the corridor. Holding her breath, she entered the front cave. Her hope that they’d be there was dashed when she looked around and saw nothing.
    Where the hell were they?
    On the heels of that thought came the niggling worry—what if they decided I’m not worth the trouble? That I’m not their mate?
    No. She refused to think that way. Even if mating with her had convinced Neichon and Valeron she wasn’t their mate, they still wouldn’t abandon her to the Malucons. She might not have known them long, but she had no doubt as to their strength of character. They were good men with fierce, loyal hearts.
    Heart pounding, she inched her way to the mouth of the cave and peeked out. From this vantage point she could see the wreckage of her jet, but there were no signs of life, whether Spygian or Malucon.
    But then, where was everyone?
    Summoning her strength, Inara dropped to her knees and crawled out of the cave. She sped over to the trees on the edge of the forest, intending to climb one so she could have a better vantage point to search for Neichon and Valeron. That was when she heard the muffled sounds coming from the woods directly to the north. Listening intently, she realized what it was.
    The sounds of battle.
    She let out a loud gasp.
    Those snakes. They sneaked off to fight the Malucons without me!
    A sudden burst of