Beast's Beauty: A Xeno Sapiens Novel (Genetically Altered Humans Book 4) Page 15
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, bounding up to kiss her. He tasted like cinnamon. “Don’t tell me a thing about your visit. Let’s grab food, and we’ll have our discussion in the gazebo with the”—he grimaced— “bodies.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t go,” she hedged. “It didn’t go well.”
He placed a large finger against her lips, hushing her. “Shh. Not a thing. Besides, if it was me waiting for some word about you, I’d want to know it all. Even if it doesn’t go well.”
She nodded. He was right, of course.
They ate quickly, visited with a few of their people, but it seemed everyone was a bit tense. It was like no one knew quite what to do over the Heather situation. And Jett and Brax were on everyone’s minds.
“I have to know,” Sunny blurted out to Blaze, who was in a conversation with Beast. “Which way is Renegade leaning with her?”
Blaze knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Death. It’s more humane,” he said. “At this rate, she’ll kill herself slowly and will suffer. She’s not interested in rehabilitation. She wants punishment. With Brax and Jett down, at least if she is gone by the time they rouse, they can mourn and move on with their lives. This way, they will always be in the hell of purgatory.”
“It doesn’t seem right!” Sunny said.
“It’s the best way to go,” Blaze said.
Sunny’s rage and despair were palpable, the air growing thick as heat licked up her neck. But then her paired mate was right there in her face, his beautiful new skin changing to the lighter shade with his worry for her.
“Baby? Come on. Our dinner is done. Let’s get to the gazebo and visit with the twins before heading home. Blaze will clean up for us.”
Blaze nodded sadly.
Beast scooped her up in his huge arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and stroked the tight bulge of his biceps with one hand. “Now I know why Robyn named you Beast,” she said.
“I look less beastly without my hair and my darker skin.”
“You’re still exactly the same to me,” she said, kissing his skin. “Besides, you know when your skin goes dark again? Right before you come,” she whispered into his ear.
“Sunny!” He pretended to be appalled, looking around with wide eyes as if someone might hear.
She laughed at him, letting him bring her out of her foul mood. The mind-boggling strength of the man was astounding. He carried her the entire way through the forest, her nibbling on his ear, and never broke a sweat. Never breathed any harder—it was like she weighed nothing.
But then they reached the gazebo, and he set her down on her feet, clasping her hand in his. He let her lead the way as they sat on the benches near the cocoons.
“We’re back, guys,” she said softly. “I went to visit Heather today. She’s not doing so good. She hardly eats. She’s lost weight, but more than that, her skin looks sallow. Her eyes look dull, and she no longer cares about…living. I took her a plateful of food, and she ate maybe a tablespoon full, certainly not enough to thrive. I told her I’d bring her grandmother to visit her, and she adamantly refused. She didn’t want her to see her that way.”
“Was the session recorded?” Beast asked abruptly.
“Yes,” she whispered. “All visitations with prisoners are recorded.” She understood as well as the next person what that meant. A visitor’s wishes were granted before trial. If she did not wish to have visitors, the policy would be adhered to. Her grandmother would never be allowed to see her—even if she was marked for death.
“I don’t think she can hang on very long. Not without the will to live.”
“She was so full of life,” Beast said.
“Not now. The guilt over everything”—Sunny reached up, touching the stubble of his hair—“has eaten at her. She believes she’s guilty, as bad as those kidnappers. And as long as she believes that way, she doesn’t have a chance in hell at telling her side of the story truthfully.”
Beast rubbed her back. The only sounds were the birds overheard, the leaves rustling in the wind.
“I’m sorry, guys,” she whispered to the twins. “I can’t even visit with her anymore. I can only bring her food and leave it.” Her head dropped, dejected that she failed.
“Come on, Sunny,” Beast said suddenly. “I’m taking you home. I’m going to take care of my mate.”
His voice rang out and strangely, seemed to echo in the small gazebo. It was as if he chastised the twins for their hibernation. Then she was scooped up again, and hugged to his chest.
The walk home was quiet.
“Don’t worry, my love,” Beast whispered against her hair. His breath was warm and sweet. “Everything will work out. I promise.”
Sunny pulled her head up from his shoulder to look into his eyes. “I love you so much.”
He looked down into her face. “I love you just as much, my sweet. Let me take you inside and show you just how much.”
This time, when he loved her, it was the sweet, tender way he used to.
Epilogue
“Heather Ann Marlow. Please rise.” Renegade’s voice echoed through the gladiator pits.
Heather rose slowly as he commanded, looking tired and scared and so very alone.
“Do you deny you entered Xenia on false pretenses?”
“No.” Her voice was small and quiet. “I agreed to apply for the position with the intent of gaining trust and then kidnapping a Xeno Sapien.”
“Are you aware of giving up your Earth citizenship by entering our gates?”
“Yes.”
“And are you aware that we can impose any punishment we deem justified, including death?”
“Yes.” Her head hung low with acceptance.
“I impose a lifetime of servitude to you, with probation. If your probation is violated, your death sentence prevails. No longer are you free to leave our gates or view the outside world. You will work off your debts to society.”
“No!” The older woman who stood in the bleachers was so frail Robyn and Amanda had to stand also, just to offer her their arms. “No! She was just trying to protect me. She doesn’t deserve to be punished for life.”
Renegade’s voice boomed. “Who is this person to you?”
“My grandmother,” Heather said softly. “Please. I don’t know who let her in, but she shouldn’t be here to watch this.”
“Ma’am, what are you doing here?”
“Mrs. Marlow is my new nanny,” Robyn called out. “I wanted to watch the trial, and need help caring for my son.”
“No!” Heather said, her personality returned instantly. “No! Gramma, you need to leave and never look back! I’ll be fine.”
“Nanna Marlow, please have a seat.” Renegade’s tone had gentled somewhat. Then he hardened as he looked back at Heather.
“Heather Marlow, out of the kindness of my heart and the need to ease your grandmother’s suffering, I will grant her the same protection a citizen from Xenia is entitled to. You will be allowed a monthly visitation from your grandmother for the time being.”
“Oh, yes, please,” Heather wept. “I will agree to anything for that!”
“Anything?” Renegade’s voice was cold. “We must find you a place to live. If there is no sympathy for you here, your sentence will be remanded to the original death sentence for your crimes.” He turned toward the bleachers. “Is there any Xeno Sapien who would be willing to house a traitor such as this in their home?”
No one stood. No one spoke.
Heather’s skin grew pale, her freckles standing out against the sickly pallor of her skin. Her forehead looked slick as the sweat dampened her brow. It was like she’d just decided to live now that she knew her grandmother would be safe.
“Anyone at all?” Renegade’s voice rang out louder, but still there was silence.
“In that case,” Renegade said. “Heather Marlow, you are hereby judged to—”
“Wait.” Though it was Jett’s voice who spoke, both brot
hers came slowly into the pit. Their skin glistened with moisture. Brax’s tail thrashed back and forth in an unsettling movement. The area grew quiet. No one had seen the twins in weeks and they’d just broken their stasis. Bits of shell clung to their clothing. Everyone waited until they spoke.
“We will take her,” Jett finally said.
There was silence as Heather dropped to the dirt. “No! I’d rather die,” she sobbed.
Nanna Marlow gasped.
Renegade’s lips tightened, and he nodded to the twins. They each grabbed one of her upper arms, ignoring her flinch, and dragged her from the pits. Sunny suspected she held her screams only because her grandmother was present.
“What happens now?” Nanna Marlow asked softly as the three disappeared from view.
“You need to give her a month to adjust to her new life before you can visit. It’ll be much easier on her that way. In the meantime, meet Kaden,” Robyn said.
Beast approached the stands even as other Xeno Sapiens left. Nanna Marlow gasped at the sight of the small, silver-skinned infant in his arms. Sunny stood, standing next to him and Kaden.
After her initial shock, Nanna Marlow held out a finger to the baby. Kaden cooed and her face softened. “Hello, sweet thing,” she said.
When Kaden raised his arms, Beast handed him over. Everyone noticed how Nanna Marlow didn’t even blink at the touch of Beast’s careful claws as she took Kaden from him.
“Look at that smile,” she cooed. “Who has the brightest smile in the world?”
Kaden grinned a toothless grin.
“We must insist he is not spoiled,” Steele said, approaching the bleachers and leaning forward to kiss Robyn.
Sunny snickered. “Too late.”
“And the smooching baby talk must be kept to a minimum,” Renegade said, approaching from the other side. “Steele and I are the only ones who refrain from it.”
Next to him, Beast glowered.
“What? You baby-talk, dude.”
“That is untrue. I merely talk softly, just as I hold him gently. If I did not talk softly, my voice would be a natural snarl. A manly growl, unfit for an infant of Kaden’s caliber.”
Kaden gurgled, waving his clumsy fist at Beast.
They all watched him for a bit.
Elsa’s voice was soft when she spoke. “You really think she’ll be okay for an entire month?” Nanna Marlow asked. “She’s really not a bad girl.”
All the men began to laugh. She looked up, confused.
“We know. And we just showed you the most lovesick males of us all. Why do you think Renegade said if no one chose to keep her she would be sentenced to death? They broke their unconscious hibernation for her. To save her. Trust me, they’ll be waiting on Heather with a lifetime of servitude to her,” Beast said. He held a hand out to Sunny, pulling her against him.
Nanna Marlow smiled—a genuine smile that lit her weathered face. “Finally. That girl gets what she deserves.”
Xeno Sapiens
Catch up with the first novel in the series! The original Xeno Sapiens story, followed by the second novel, Earth-Ground.
Futuristic earth finds alien DNA and creates a new species of hybrids in hidden labs. It’s up to two small females to teach these beings they’re worthy, and beautiful, and loved…and to save them from mankind.
My name is Dr. Robyn Saraven. Earth has changed greatly in recent years, the governments of the world merging into one united front, the Global Government. Disease, starvation, and prejudice have been eradicated from our existence, and it appears our growth as spiritual beings is finally on track.
But the discovery of alien DNA pairs a prestigious research facility with our government to create new beings. Suddenly our spiritual growth is halted when mankind plays God. Like old Earth, our modern-day world has to deal with prejudice, corruption, and greed.
Or was it always there, lurking beneath the surface?
Book 1—Xeno Sapiens
Book 2—Earth-Ground
Book 3—Siren
Book 4—Beast’s Beauty
Alien Stolen
Rena Marks
Our world is different from anything we’ve ever known. Years ago, aliens came to live among us. They claim to be the good guys, and yet every day, humans go missing—never to be heard from again.
Sian and her family resist the leadership of the new regime, along with dozens of other factions across the world. However, without electricity, they’re at a loss as to how to communicate with each other to band together for strength in numbers. For that reason, they fight alone. When her father and best friend are captured by the military, she pretends to be a pleasure worker to infiltrate the base. Unbeknownst to her, a pleasure worker has been summoned to service a new breed of alien—one with a known weakness. Sex drains his strength.
None of the militia realizes that when a Nisibian comes across his mate, he doesn’t lose his power…but instead transfers it to her.
Drunk on the power of being a female Rambo, Sian decides to steal the massive alien for herself. This much power at her fingertips could tip the scales in the resistance fight for humans.
Abducted
Book 1 in the Blue Barbarian series.
Alien abductions are real.
I was the third female awakened aboard the spacecraft that specialized in kidnapping females. Their mission? To sell us to other galaxies.
Human female Numbers One and Two didn’t make it, but I was lucky. I was able to comprehend the instruction from Drakar, a caged abductee from the planet Blaedonia. I live only because of his warning to me not to fight the aliens who have me on the table. Together, we formulate a plan for escape for both us and the ten other unawakened Earthlings.
Lucky for Drakar, the spaceship crash-lands back on his planet. Unlucky for the Earthlings, we’ll never be able to travel back home.
We’ll have to learn to adapt.
Space Babies
Book 1 of the Purple People Series
Rena Marks
An antiquated ship, rotating through the galaxy of a deserted planet, bears immediate investigation.
Helian Six boards the abandoned vessel to find the long-lost inhabitants in a state of stasis. But the systems are failing, and half a dozen have woken up. The planet below shows long dead bodies, poisoned by the scum of space, a species known as Gorgians.
Strangely, the few who have awakened are much smaller than their planetary predecessors. And not very intelligent. Determined to believe the cute, tiny beings are not pets, the crew of Helian Six decide to train the small warriors to defend the planet. They become the laughingstock of patrol, however, after they commit and realize it will take twenty-two cycles to “rear” the inhabitants.
So they do what any intelligent males would do. Kidnap teachers. And if the females can’t manage to avert their eyes from their buff physiques, well, score!
Artificial Intelligence
Rena Marks
The Sirian galaxy has blown itself up during a war that mimicked that of the destruction of her own planet, Terra. No stranger to slavery, Arian has escaped from the planet Zeta where she’s been raised to breed royalty.
The Artificial Intelligence is a collective unit from the Sirian Planet B. They’d warned the leaders that a civil war would destroy the galaxy to no avail. In order to escape being destroyed along with the rest, they inserted their intelligence into the computer system.
Imagine Arian’s surprise when she encounters a huge piece of chipped planet, which her computer claims to have ancient Sirian artifacts buried in its hollowed core.
Nothing can possibly be alive. The contamination gases from the nuclear war have destroyed everything in sight. But Arian is a scavenger, and these are ancient artifacts…
Unfortunately, her hacked computer never tells her the artifacts are actually metal skeletons whose bodies need to be grown into dangerously hot men.
Stargazer Series
In 1692, a starship carrying volunteers arr
ived on planet Earth near a small town called Salem, Massachusetts. The long journey across many light years caused the female inhabitants aboard drastic memory loss. It was already known when they would arrive on Earth, they would have no memories of who and what they really were. They would be as helpless as newborn lambs.
The goal was to breed with Earthlings, to prevent their own race from dying out. If it was successful, years later more Stargazers would be sent to co-exist with the humans on Planet Earth.
But alas—the females were slaughtered.
Book 1—The Hunter
Dante and Kele
Book 2 —The Enforcer
Diamond and Felicia
Book 3 —The Defender
Hayze and Cassio
Book 4 —The Protector
Neo and Jessie
Book 5 —The Guardian
Vesta and Bay
Book 6 —The Destroyer
Jace and Mia
The Hunter
Prologue:
The atmosphere in the grand council meeting was tense, grim even. In the center of the room, laser lights of green and blue flashed, drawing attention to the enlarged hologram of the speaker. Around the hologram stood dozens of females. They were dressed in odd clothing, obviously not from this world. The fabric looked coarse, and the garments were crudely designed. They consisted of shapeless cumbersome gowns. Some of the women even wore strange head coverings.
And then the voice boomed.
“We are gathered here to review the report on the future of our race. I am Nepa, and I am your general speaker.”