Engulf [New World Book 5] by C.L. Scholey Page B

you as vital to my safety. It was the only way I could lower my shield. It was the only way to tuck you in here with me.”
    “Well, how do we un-mate?”
    “We don’t.”
    To Abri his words sounded ominous.
    “Ever?”
    “Never.”
    * * * *
    Abri’s abrupt silence was all the indication Raiden needed to understand she was far from pleased about being his mate. Raiden’s armor controlled both of their organ functions and for the most part their emotions—becoming too emotional would lead to elevated heart levels. That meant Raiden couldn’t stimulate any secretions. He needed to feel her inside him for him to understand her.
    A dim memory in Raiden’s scent emotion came to mind. Mating was more than the bite. He should have been lying over top of her with his organ thrusting and penetrating her. Well, he had been a little pressed for time. Raiden knew they were mated, but because the bond was formed without her knowledge and without the physical act of connecting—something was missing. He hadn’t exactly had her permission either.
    Damn.
    Raiden searched his scent memories and was relieved to find and feel he would not be shunned for forcing her—it was done to save her life. But there was no doubt in his mind his mating was going to be a very tricky situation. More importantly, why was half of his hearing gone? He could only hear out his right ear and Abri apparently only her left.
    Raiden felt overwhelming relief when Cobra’s vessel appeared—alone. It didn’t take much for a long see-through suction tube to be deployed and Raiden and Abri were scooped from the darkness. Raiden had been trained in the art of landing after such an experience, but after floating for a while he stumbled when his clawed feet hit the soft interior vessel surface. The blasts had been extreme, his armor had been protecting them both, and he would need to regenerate his shield soon.
    “Damn the bastards,” Cobra was howling before he reached Raiden. “I’m sorry about your female. The damned Tonans have altered their cloaking device again. The females’ losses are my fault. I take responsibility. I should have demanded they be brought to my ship. The little one, Tasha, has been asking for you, Raiden.”
    Raiden dropped his armor and Abri slid to the ground much to the obvious surprise of Cobra and the others who had gathered around them. Abri was pressed tight to him. Raiden could now scent her distress. It was overwhelming without the aid of his shield to regulate her heartbeat and emotions. She was half-naked surrounded by massive Castian warriors. She had no idea there wasn’t a male there that would dare touch her.
    “We have Cace,” came a triumphant yell.
    Soon Cace was stumbling onto the tarmac. He dropped his armor and there was Sam pressed tight to him. Sam was muttering in a whimper.
    “But how can we be mated? I don’t even know you.”
    “You will get to know me,” Cace said in a soothing gesture.
    Cace looked as helpless as Raiden felt. Cobra’s look was a cross between relief and annoyance. The mating hadn’t been a normal one—everyone scented it. It was a forced mating—for the right reasons. The scent memory was disturbing all of the warriors as they tried to deal with Raiden’s emotions and the absolute stink of Abri’s and Sam’s fear. It wasn’t natural and the look Cobra sent both Raiden and Cace, they understood they had best fix the situation—fast.
    “Take your new mates to your quarters. Get them in the healing waters just in case there was something your armor missed,” Cobra said. “Then report to me.”
    “Huh?” Raiden yelled, only getting half the sentence.
    Cobra stopped dead in his tracks as he had been walking away, the words tossed back over a retreating shoulder. He moved closer to peer at Raiden. Cobra sniffed him and frowned. He then sniffed Abri who cringed. Doss came forward next. Neither man looked any too pleased. Cace cocked his head to the side and looked