Chasing Violet Read online

  “Cadoc?”

  He groaned as his thoughts were interrupted. “What?”

  “Our sensors indicate another cloaked vessel. Their sensory is somewhat primitive. The vessel is smaller than ours. Cadoc, it might be a slaver vessel.”

  “Espionage. A ruse to get flowers on board then steal them?” he wondered aloud. No, the creatures at the table were interested and he detected no weapons. The ship wouldn’t be allowed to operate under the guise of possible mates for brides. Cadoc wondered how real the danger was.

  “Something tells me we’ll be on alert in less than five seconds,” Talpin drawled.

  “Red alert,” Cadoc demanded. “If anything boards that vessel, I want to know.”

  “The flower ship is designed to stop any weapons from entering,” Talpin said.

  “Really?” It was Cadoc’s turn to drawl.

  “Oh, yeah, that.”

  Cadoc slipped into bed naked. He would need to be rested for dinner. His mind centered on Rose. Again he wondered why his father thought these beings were a threat. She was so small, he’d tried to be gentle. Rose’s stunned surprise was apparent when he took care of her needs at dinner. The wild abandon she displayed made him ache to fulfill her. But like his planet’s females, he was expected to be gone after the pleasuring was over. Cadoc would have liked to settle beside her, to hold her. For the first time in his life, he had to tear himself away from a female. Memories of her sweet mouth invaded his thoughts. Her tongue, so smooth and satiny. The warm wetness between her thighs was a magnet. Her cries of delight and release filled his ears. Cadoc ached to feel every inch of her until his rock hard cock could…

  Cadoc groaned in discomfort. Flowers were dangerous. Not for a second had he stopped thinking about Rose. He was going to spend every second with a hard on. Great.

  * * * *

  She was there, Cadoc saw her immediately when he transported into the safety of the greenery in the dining room. So was the horned demon devil. Cadoc should have realized if Rose gave a hand job to one alien then let another carry her to her room, all the males felt certain to get lucky. That wasn’t happening. Ever. She was his, even if she didn’t know it.

  Rose noticed him the second he stepped forward. Her color seemed a bit high—he wondered if she was too warm. He’d have to remember to check her temperature. The horned devil demon wasted no time and slipped his hand into Rose’s, trying to make a claim known. Demon spawn. Rose pulled back but the demon refused to let her go. Cadoc was there in three long strides. The demon wrist he gripped was large and strong, but not stronger than Cadoc.

  The demon roared in fury when he was forced to release his grip on Cadoc’s flower. “The female showed interest. We were intimate last night. Everyone saw.”

  “Wait, what?” Rose sounded confused and not entirely happy.

  “He’s right, Rose.” One of the women said, the one with hair the color of poppies. “It was pretty ballsy to give a hand job at the dinner table. I tried to call you last night, but your line was busy.”

  Rose’s mouth opened wide in stunned surprise.

  Cadoc sighed. “Did you happen to read the manual provided? This beast derives great sexual pleasure from his horns.”

  From her expression he felt he knew the answer.

  “Um, well.”

  “Reading the manual is mandatory.” Demon spawn roared. “Ignorance is no excuse. You will be mine for the night.”

  “Not happening,” Rose said. “What does the manual say about forcing a female?”

  Touché.

  She was quick, his little flower. The horned beast shrugged Cadoc’s hand off and skulked away, glaring dangerously at Rose. Cadoc reacted. A female was never to be threatened, not with words or looks. In seconds Cadoc had the demon by a fleshy erect horn, sending the alien to his knees squealing in agony. Cadoc leaned in close.

  “If you look at her sideways once the rest of the night I’ll remove—by hand—your reason for living. Understood?” Cadoc squeezed harder. The flaccid appendage was utterly disgusting but there was to be no fighting. Only a show of force and zero tolerance to using any item deemed in a harmful or threatening way.

  “Agreed.” The demon moaned.

  Cadoc went back to Rose. She eyed him and glanced down. “You’re, um, going to wash that hand, right?”

  “Stupid manual of rules.” A warrior shouldn’t be reduced to simple hand-to-organ contact. It was demeaning.

  Cadoc was given a hot washcloth by a robot. He wiped his palm and in between his fingers. Demon went to sit at a different table, where one female fussed over his played up whimpers. Cadoc might have done the beast a favor. She looked ready to rub the horn better.

  Before he could move, Rose seated herself. Cadoc poured her a drink and sat beside her. When her meal came she wasn’t as surprised when he cut her meat, then placed a napkin onto her lap. Cadoc ignored the fuming glares of the other males.

  “My dear,” began the alien across from her.

  “Silence.” Cadoc snarled and narrowed his gaze onto the alien until he fidgeted and with a shaky hand, reached for his water. This flower was his. He would tolerate the males at the table because he must, but no other was going to get near her.

  Rose was watching the exchange, her empty fork waved in his direction. “Anything else I should know?” Rose asked as she studied him. “You are a sex-bot, correct?”

  “I told you, I am Docadian. A warrior.”

  She blinked. “A person. I see. And the glow in your eyes?”

  “I control it.”

  “I thought it was a camera,” she mumbled. “For a sex-bot.”

  Did she slouch a little lower? It was apparent something was bothering her. Her cheeks were a little brighter than yesterday. She played with her food, as if she was deep in thought. Every morsel she placed into her mouth made him yearn to be in hers. She chewed so slowly, so…sexily. The welcoming warmth of her femaleness seemed to radiate. The delicate curve of her throat and jaws begged to be kissed. Cadoc moved a little closer. The feel of her thigh against his made him want to grab her to his chest. Did she quiver? Cadoc became alert.

  The snake-tongued alien leaned across the table to reach for Rose’s hand and Cadoc’s move was fast. The eating utensil he held was slammed down between the creature’s fingers of his open hand, missing flesh on purpose, but effective. Rose jumped but remained seated, he suspected she might have known what was coming. She calmed the situation down the other night by committing a faux pas. That wouldn’t happen tonight—except by him, but he was ready. Cadoc gave the open-mouthed alien a friendly grin that didn’t reach his menacing glare. The room was silent. A bot moved forward and began its dictation.

  “No violence. The manual clearly states…”

  “Is the cloaked vessel near this ship in the manual? Because I missed that part,” Cadoc interrupted, his booming voice filled the room.

  “You mean the vessel you’re on?”

  Cadoc turned to see an alien with numerous arms. Every internal alarm in his body went off. He stood and tossed back his cape. The alien took a step back. Eyes wide. He pointed at Cadoc.

  “A Docadian,” he shouted. “Your kind are not allowed on this vessel.”

  “Why?” Rose asked. She stood to stand beside Cadoc.

  “His kind are stealers of innocents,” Demon said. “Innocents for their Berserkers to feed off.”

  Everyone was now standing. Cadoc had never thought of his kind as stealers of innocents, except once. Flowers had been banned since that day.

  “There are no flowers on my planet,” Cadoc boomed.

  “Flowers?” Rose’s expression was utter confusion. “Is he saying you steal plants? Who does that?”

  “Humans,” the octopus spat. “Do not tell me you didn’t know these were human females. No doubt he’s come to take you all. Thief.”

  Rose stepped away from him. Cadoc was bereft. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “I am not here to hurt you or steal anyone
, Rose.”

  His emotions were in turmoil. She couldn’t believe he wasn’t a slaver. After showing her how much he wanted her to want him, she still didn’t understand she was his.

  “What do you want?” she asked, in a wary tone of voice.

  “You.”

  “I told you,” Octopus shrieked. “Stealer of human females. He will feed you all to his Berserkers. His kind have no mercy.”

  “I am not going to steal anyone.” Cadoc’s tone was ice. Part of the statement was in fact true. He fought without mercy. “But whoever is in that cloaked ship better show themselves and state their business. Every flower in here is under my ship’s protection. This isn’t a war vessel. Mine is.”

  “If my name isn’t a flower does that mean you won’t protect me?” a female pouted.

  Rose moved closer to Cadoc. “I think he means all female humans. Right?”

  She nudged him.

  “What’s a human?” Cadoc asked. His irritation was getting the better of him. He felt somehow he had been embarrassed.

  “I am,” Rose said. “Why do you think we’re flowers? Is it our names?”

  “You are Rose, that one you called Dahlia and over there is Honey Suckle, or is it Honey or Suckle?” Something was amiss, Rose seemed bemused, and others were quietly talking, pointing.

  Cadoc stiffened when six aliens appeared on the vessel. Octopi and another. A male flower human. Whatever. There were females in need of protection, his female was in need of his warring skills. Within seconds he called up his sword and thrust Rose behind him. The steel of the blade rested on the steel of his armband. The charge was electric and instantaneous. He could see the reflection of his glowing orange eyes as his black pupils elongated. His breath quickened. A female screamed and fainted into the arms of the demon. An alarm sounded.

  “Where the hell did a sword come from?” someone asked.

  “Joshua?” Rose said, her face filled with stunned surprise, then anger.

  “Violet.”

  “Violet?” Cadoc questioned. “Rose?”

  Rose gave him a fast glance, almost looked embarrassed, then shrugged. “I guess no one is who they appear to be. Neither is the piece of cheating human crap standing over there.”

  She pointed to the man that had called her by another name. Cadoc tapped the green button on his wrist band. The room grew crowded as six more Docadians materialized. He gazed at Rose—Violet. Was that her name? Cadoc was going to protect her. Then he was going to get to the bottom of this charade. Cadoc snarled at the others.

  “The first one who tries to touch her will die. That is your only warning.”

  All hell broke loose.

  All Docadians were instantly armed with their weapon of choice. Females were diving for cover, screaming in terror. One’s petal-like skirt flipped upward, baring her undergarments as she dove under a table. The females were terrified. Cadoc saw the immediate problem. His armed warriors frightened the flowers. The octopus creatures fuelled their fear with more shouts of slavery and deceit. Only it wasn’t Cadoc and his warriors who were there on a ruse.

  “Come to me, flower,” Talpin demanded of one female.

  The female fainted again, back into the arms of the huge demon who looked ready to faint himself. His warriors were trained to defend but the normal female dais was non-existent in this environment. They couldn’t float to a safer place. The rest of his warriors were calling for what they believed to be flowers to stand behind them. The females were too afraid. Cadoc couldn’t be heard over the clash of steel. Somehow the many limbed octopi were armed, their arms a whirlwind of motion. Whatever was happening, it was an inside job, and the human male helped. All of the females needed protection, his men sensed it, sending them into overdrive.

  A smashed skull hit the floor beside him. The limbs of an octopus were severed. Blood was flowing, soaking the marbled floors and creating a slippery grid. A female slid into the arms of one of his warriors and struggled to break free while his shield came up within his hands, huge and rounded. The men couldn’t battle while holding terrified females. One of his men was struck and was forced to let his female go. Not knowing where to turn, she fled into the many arms of an octopus who tossed her over a shoulder. Chaos erupted everywhere.

  “Cadoc.”

  He heard his name screamed and spun as an octopus attacked. Six arms, each armed with a blade. Up he sliced, deflecting three blades as another three went for his side. Cadoc clashed back, moved forward and smashed the hilt of his blade into the being’s face. The octopus reeled back as his blood spurted, then flowed like deep purple ink. Another move and Cadoc sliced its throat—he had warned them. Another alien went for Talpin, who was also struggling with a female, trying to keep her behind him when all she wanted was to run.

  This must stop.

  Cadoc grabbed Violet and ran for his second. He thrust her behind Talpin, toward the terrified female.

  “Explain to her we are not the enemy,” he demanded to Violet as both he and Talpin lifted their materializing shields to ward off another.

  Cadoc left Talpin to care for the two females and jumped into the battle. Using the staff he called forward into his hand, Cadoc leaped over the heads of many to somersault into the air. He landed with both feet into the face of an enemy. Weapons clattered to the floor. As he spun, severing the legs of another enemy, he calculated the number in his head of females and warriors. Including the one thrown over an enemy’s back.

  “Talpin! Lock positions,” he bellowed.

  “Done,” was bellowed back.

  “Transport.”

  In an instant Cadoc, his warriors, and the human females were on board his vessel. The females still cowered, which was a bit comical. They didn’t realize they were beamed. Cadoc was smiling but noted Violet wasn’t amused.

  “So much for not stealing innocents,” she said with a growl, and her eyes flashed with heat. She was gorgeous when angry.

  “I didn’t steal you. I saved you. All of you. Think of yourself as a guest. My ship will remain right here. We are capable of holding off an attack. You are all too precious to be endangered. If any of you wish to be returned to the other vessel, you may do so as soon as we find out what those creatures want and when we determine the environment is safe. Agreed?”

  He waited for her response, fists clenched. She may be angry, but this woman was his.

  Chapter Five

  Violet wrung her hands. “This can’t be real. Jilly, are you sure?”

  Not only had she discovered that she was on a mail order bride ship instead of her pampering cruise ship, but that Joshua was still leeching on, angling for contact to the point he materialized on board the vessel with the other aliens. And on top of it all, Cadoc wasn’t a sexbot. She had sex with a real, live person. And it was magnificent. But the man? He was good to look at, but…odd. He had expected an answer from her immediately. From his possessive gaze, she knew what he expected her say. If she so much as paused, he’d pick her up to carry her. The others on the cruise ship accused him of kidnapping them. She wasn’t sure if it was a kidnapping plot or if he saved them, as he believed. Time would tell. All she knew right now was she was being kept separate from the other girls.

  “Yes, Violet. I did not notify you of any other phone calls from Joshua Seatra, as you requested the block.”

  “But twenty phone calls? In the span of one day?”

  “All phone messages were not to your room alone, Violet.”

  Violet felt her eyes narrow. “He knew someone else on board?”

  “It seems so.”

  Sonofagun. Not only was he cheating on her, but one of the girls here, her new friends, was also having a relationship with the two-timing bastard.

  The only saving grace was somehow, Cadoc’s amazing right hand man, Talpin—as confused as he was, tapped into her computer in her room. The voice of Jilly spoke to her through a speaker box set on the table, linked between the two ships even though the Docadian vessel wa
s cloaked.

  “Who is the other that he’s contacting?”

  “It is Room D-325.”

  She raised her brows. “And?”

  “That is the room belonging to Draconis of Leanthril.”

  Draconis?

  Draconis of the serpent demons knew Joshua? And yet Joshua morphed aboard with the octopus creatures.

  “Jilly? I know this is highly unusual and probably against policy, but do you suppose you might tell me the gist of the conversations between them?”

  Jilly gave that giggle she’d been perfecting. “They actually were not smart enough to program me not to have a policy. Hold on while I replay those messages.” Jilly went silent for a couple of minutes. “The gist of the conversations is not something you’re going to like.”

  “Figured that much. Let me have it, Jilly.”

  “Joshua not only sold personal information to Draconis to woo you, but it is agreed that if you do not choose him to mate you, for whatever reason, Joshua is selling you and the other Earth ladies to the serpent alien planet of Leanthril. They were planning to take over the ship because of your interest in another. A couple of others.” She giggled again. “Considering your handjob and all.”

  “I need to find Cadoc.”

  “The one you slept with? I’ll get a message to his man. Carpin?”

  “Talpin.” She remembered the name, because he was trying to calm Dahlia. As far as Jilly baiting her, she ignored the barb.

  As her door opened, she spoke, knowing it was Cadoc. “You may have been right. There was a plan to kidnap all the females on the cruise ship. Jilly and I are looking into who is behind it.”

  “The demon spawned alien bastard.”

  “Not exactly. My ex.”

  “Your ex what?” His voice was a growl.

  “My ex fiancé. Joshua Seatra. He’s the one who’s been conversing with Draconis. The human who beamed aboard the ship.”