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  Bonded to the Alien Centurion

  Warriors of the Lathar

  Mina Carter

  New York Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author

  Copyright © 2018 by Mina Carter

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Also by Mina Carter

  About the Author

  1

  “Tell me about these human females.”

  Holy draanth. He was in the same room as the emperor himself. Sardaan K’Vass blinked and resisted the temptation to pinch himself. Standing as he was just behind his commander, Fenriis, no one would notice if he did but that wasn’t the point. He was a warrior with a headful of braids. He had a reputation to uphold. Still, he couldn’t help the awe washing through him as he looked around the room. It was filled to the brim with legends.

  Warriors from the other vessels crowded the room, all facing one way. Emperor Daaynal K’Saan stood there next to his sister-sons, War Commander Tarrick and Lord Healer Laarn, his grim face and scarred body a sight to behold. On the other side of the emperor was his champion, Xaandril, one arm in a sling, and, surprisingly, a human female.

  Sardaan watched her from the corner of his eye. Dressed in a curious mixture of warrior’s leathers and human attire, she seemed to be with Xaandril himself. That in itself was a surprise. The big, gruff champion was not known to frequent the pleasure houses and the story of how he’d lost his mate and child, and his reaction, was the stuff of legend.

  Yet, he appeared protective and possessive about the little human female, glaring at any male who looked at her for too long. It was an unspoken challenge that the woman was his. If he hadn’t claimed her yet, it wouldn’t be long. Sardaan certainly wouldn’t take him on. Even though the champion was recovering from injury, it would still be suicide.

  “We have the human vice president, Madison Cole, onboard,” Fenriis said, his deep voice filling the briefing room. “There seem to be some political issues. The human male, Hopkins, seems to have orders from above her, from the president himself, indicating promises she makes will not be honored.”

  Daaynal frowned, a deep crease between his brows. His braids, more than Sardaan had ever seen on a warrior, brushed his shoulder as he looked at Fenriis. “You think she intends to play us for fools?”

  Danaar, next to Fenriis, rumbled in the back of his throat, but the commander lifted a hand slightly to silence his second in command. Sardaan watched the interplay with interest. Danaar’s feelings toward the human female were no secret. Hadn’t been since the moment she’d stepped aboard their ship.

  “Unsure. I do think she’s being cut out of their command structure. Hopkins spouted off something about reprisals when she returns home because of her stance toward us.”

  There was another grumble from Danaar but he didn’t speak. Like Sardaan, he knew better than to interrupt such males in conversation. But Sardaan didn’t miss the tiny flicker of the emperor’s gaze toward the big warrior. Shit. If Daaynal took offense…

  “Her stance toward us?” the emperor continued, his attention once again on Fenriis. “A good one, I take it?”

  Fenriis nodded. “Seems level-headed and open to both negotiation and the possibility of integration of our two species.”

  “One species,” the Lord Healer interrupted. “Humans are a subspecies of Lathar. They literally are us. But smaller.”

  “And we still have women,” the woman at Xaandril’s side interrupted, something that made more than a few males around the room frown. But neither the emperor nor the lord healer seemed annoyed, instead nodding in agreement as the woman spoke.

  “Madison Cole is a good woman,” she continued. “Fair and level with good policies. She’s always fought for the people, even against overwhelming odds, and it doesn’t surprise me that she’s being reasonable about human-Lathar negotiations. Nor does it surprise me,” she stressed quickly, “that the asshats in Terra-command are moving against her. They’ve been trying to discredit her for years. She’s good people.”

  Sardaan watched her openly now, along with most of the room. Daaynal smiled. “Gentlemen, please let me introduce Kenna Reynolds, one of our delightful Terran guests. She has been most gracious in aiding our understanding of her people.”

  Sardaan easily decoded the emperor’s words. The woman had to be one of the women taken from the first Terran base the Lathar had discovered. Stories had been going around about them since their discovery. They were all supposed to be military women. Now, having seen her and others on the human ship just off their port bow, he finally understood what that meant.

  Kenna lifted her chin, looking around the room with a slight smile on her lips as she nodded in acknowledgment. “Gentlemen.”

  “So… you think dealing with the vice president will get us nowhere?” the emperor demanded of the human female, who shrugged.

  “Without knowing more about the situation and speaking to her, I can’t say that. I’ve been out of the loop for a while.”

  She flashed a grin at Xaandril, and Sardaan was surprised to see the slight softening of his features as he looked at the tiny female. Yeah, the champion had it bad. Why hadn’t he claimed her yet? She was right there, and much smaller than the champion. There was no way she’d be able to win in a challenge fight.

  “Who else are we dealing with?” Daaynal transferred his attention back to Fenriis. To his credit, the war commander didn’t even flinch in the face of the emperor’s harsh manner, but Sardaan hadn’t expected anything else. They were all K’Vass, the best warrior clan out there.

  “The human ship TSS Defiant originally arrived commanded by a General Hopkins, but after his attempted attack on us, command transferred to a Major General Black. Female. I can’t tell how old she is, I…” Fenriis shrugged a little. “My exposure to females has been limited. If I were to guess, I would say she’s a warrior in her prime.”

  The image of the beautiful Terran woman formed instantly in Sardaan’s mind when Fenriis mentioned her name, and he kept his expression level only with hard-fought control. As communications officer, he’d been the first to speak to her and had been instantly captivated. She was tiny and beautiful… her direct gaze affected him on levels he’d never experienced before, and he instantly wanted more. He’d kill to get her into a challenge circle and claim her.

  “Wait…” Kenna butted in, her expression rapt. “Did you say Major General Black?”

  Fenriis nodded, the males around the table looking at the human female. She certainly had all of Sardaan’s attention. Any information he could glean on Black was good. If he ever managed to meet her, he wanted as much intel as possible to further his interests.

  “You know this name?” Daaynal asked.

  Kenna whistled, and nodded. “Oh yeah… I know Black. Everyone in the service knows Black.”

  “Explain.” The emperor’s demand was brusque and would have made a lesser warrior quake in their boots but Kenna’s lips merely quirked.

  “Black is a l
egend in her own lifetime. Like a seriously scary lady. Been in just about every conflict…like ever. Totally badass.”

  His human female was a warrior like him.

  Sardaan couldn’t help the small grin that passed over his lips. Badass. Even he could work out the human word was a good one. Black would make a worthy mate indeed… once he got near enough to claim her. He cast a quick glance at the males around the table. Half looked as interested in information on Black as he was. Draanth, he’d probably have to fight for the chance to claim her.

  He gritted his teeth as determination filled him. He would do whatever he had to. She was his. It would be good to have a mate, someone to share his life with. She would soon adapt to life on board a Latharian vessel.

  “Good. Then we need her on-side, preferably mated to one of our warriors,” Daaynal announced, looking at Fenriis.

  For a moment Sardaan’s heart almost stopped in his chest, but then he remembered that Fenriis already had a mate, the lovely Lady Amanda. “Commander, you are the only one of us who has actually spoken to the female in question at length. Opinion?”

  “She’s a capable warrior and in my opinion, nobody’s fool. She will not be easily manipulated. However, during the conversation I had with her earlier, she did betray interest, a very small interest, in one of our warriors.”

  Sardaan blinked, replaying the conversation in his mind as he tried to figure out who Fenriis was talking about—and, more importantly, who he’d have to kill to get a shot at the female he wanted—but came up blank.

  There had been interference on the line during the communication, so he’d had to pay attention to his systems to keep it cleaned up. He’d taken his attention off the screen a couple of times.

  “Who?” the emperor demanded.

  Fenriis turned to the side slightly, leaving Sardaan himself in the spotlight. He half turned before he realized there was no one behind him.

  “Me?” His voice betrayed his surprise, and then pleasure flooded his system. Black had shown interest in him? Perhaps this would be easier than he’d thought.

  “Yes, you. Your Highness, this is Sardaan K’Vass, a kinsman of mine.” Fenriis gave a small smile as he urged Sardaan to step forward. “There was a slight flicker of her gaze toward him during our communication and in a woman like that…”

  Sardaan nodded, stunned at both the fact Fenriis had named him as kinsman and the revelation of Black’s interest. Sure, he was distantly related to the war commander—they shared a cousin—but to have the male confirm their link in front of the emperor, no less. It was a step up for sure. Then to realize the woman he’d been so affected by had apparently noticed him as well… Black had been so controlled during all the communications that such a lapse was telling.

  “Excellent!” The emperor beamed. “Sardaan K’Vass, you will be the major general’s escort for this evening. I want you to stick to her like pelaranss. Ply her with drink and get into her bed. If you can get her to accept your claim over her, even better. Do not fail us on this. Understand?”

  “Yes, sire,” he said with a bow. This time he couldn’t stop the slow grin that spread over his face. Seduce the woman of his dreams with the emperor’s blessing? He was all over that.

  “I won’t let you down. She’ll be mine before sunrise.”

  2

  “Well, don’t you scrub up well?”

  Danielle Black, Dani to the rare few she called friends, grinned at the wolf-whistle as she entered the shuttle bay dressed for dinner aboard the Latharian vessel.

  Shannon Taylor, her second in command, leaned one shoulder against the shuttlecraft that would take Dani over to the alien vessel. She was still in her duty uniform, the rank of Lieutenant Colonel glinting at her collar. Like Dani, she was career army, practically born and bred into uniform. Also like Dani, she’d been a colony brat, going into service as soon as she’d hit sixteen to escape a life of menial work in the colony factories. Neither of them had looked back.

  “Sexy boss lady,” Shannon winked as she pushed off and approached. “You’ll have them eating out of your hand. You mark my words.”

  With a grin, Dani did a little twirl to show off. The girlish movement was one she’d only make while alone with someone she trusted. She looked good in her formal uniform, the military collared jacket fitting her like a glove over a tailored sheath dress that made the best of her trim figure. With her hair neatly slicked back and in high heels, she felt good too.

  “Thanks. I certainly hope so,” she replied, her amusement dying away in the face of the seriousness of her visit to the alien ship. “I need to bring Cole back or command will have my head on a damn plate.”

  Of all the damn fool things her previous superior officer, Hopkins, had done while in command, nothing came close to the sheer stupidity of mounting an attack on an alien opponent with superior technology. Not only had he pissed off a species who could wipe out humanity without a second thought, he’d also managed to get himself and the vice president captured into the bargain.

  Which meant she now had to sort that shit show out, up to and including negotiating the release of the captives… all from a severely reduced position of strength. Great. Just fucking great.

  Shannon’s brow creased. “I’m really not sure this is a good idea, boss. You’re the IC… let me go instead.”

  Dani shook her head. “No. I made a connection with that commander the last time we spoke. I don’t want to risk a loss of confidence, especially as it could jeopardize us getting Cole back.”

  Shannon lifted an eyebrow, her expression blank. “And it has nothing to do with the fact the place is filled to the brim with hot as hell men?”

  Dani flipped her the bird. “The day a guy turns my head is the day I resign my commission. They’re pretty and all… but I’ve yet to meet a guy that can keep up with me.”

  For some reason, as she said it, an image of one of the alien warriors filled her mind. Not the commander—he was all darkness and intent focus—but one of the others. The first man she’d spoken to when she’d commed their ship after she’d realized Hopkins’ plan had become the complete FUBAR she’d told him it would be. Tall, broad-shouldered and handsome as sin, with a shock of dirty blond hair pulled back, his bright blue eyes had haunted her sleep since.

  Quickly, she shook her head to clear the image. She didn’t do relationships. Ever. As soon as she made the mistake of falling for someone, they left, died, or simply moved to a new posting on the other side of the galaxy. It all amounted to the same thing. Her being alone.

  So if she was going to end up that way, she might as well start the same way.

  “Huh. You just make sure you stick to that. Okay? I’ve heard stories about their seduction techniques,” Shannon commented as she walked with Dani toward the back of the shuttle where the loading ramp was open.

  There was no pilot. A qualified combat pilot herself, Dani didn’t need one, nor would she risk someone else’s life just in case the Lathar weren’t on the level.

  This time it was Dani’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “And just how do you know that? None of the women the Lathar took the first time have returned, so we’re literally flying in the dark on what they, and their seduction techniques, are like.”

  And they were. So far, even though the return of women who hadn’t accepted Latharian “mates” was on the negotiation table, none had yet made their way back to the Terran systems. So, what they actually knew about the Lathar was very little.

  But Shannon’s expression didn’t alter. “Two words… Jane. Allen.”

  Dani pursed her lips for a second. “Okay. I’ll give you that one.”

  Jane Allen was a marine legend, as hard as nails and not a woman to be easily seduced. The fact that she was one of the women who had married a Latharian warrior had sent ripples of shock throughout the military community. Dani had been sure she’d have gone down fighting rather than cozy it up with an alien lover.

  “So… don’t you dare go and do a
Jane on me, okay? I’d hate to have to write you up as TSTL.” Shannon winked, patting the side of the shuttle as she pushed off.

  “Huh? What the fuck does TSTL mean?” Dani called after the other woman. Shannon was always making up her own codes.

  “Too stupid to live. Because you’d have to be to let some sexy bit of stuff take you down,” Shannon called back over her shoulder, bright red hair a flag against the gray bulkheads as she left the shuttle bay.

  Dani shook her head with a chuckle as she triggered the ramp. Shannon was one of her closest friends, but she had the strangest sense of humor. The image of the sexy alien pushed to the front of her mind again and she shook it away.

  “Yeah, not happening,” she muttered to herself as she started the shuttle’s engines and initiated the launch procedures. “My name’s not Jane Allen.”

  The flight to the alien ship was short, sweet and uneventful, which allowed Dani to concentrate on what she was seeing. The Veral’vias was huge and she easily recognized the sleek lines of a warship. One big enough to wipe out the entire human fleet with ease. And it wasn’t alone. Her sharp gaze picked out another, just behind it, which had arrived at some point this afternoon.

  “Computer, enhance main viewscreen image,” she ordered, a frown on her brow as she focused. She needed to pick up as much intel as she could. Even the slightest little thing could aid them in their understanding of the Lathar. “Focus on sections g-five through k-seventeen.”

  Part of the viewscreen in front of her sectioned off and zoomed in on a view of the second ship’s hull. There were marks there that she assumed were in Latharian, but she couldn’t read them. A ship designation perhaps?