Taliff's Cure Read online

  TALIFF’S CURE

  BY

  BONNIE ROSE LEIGH

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Taliff's Cure

  Copyright ã 2007 Bonnie Rose Leigh

  ISBN: 1-55410-762-8

  Cover art and design by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

  Look for us online at:

  www.extasybooks.com

  This book is dedicated to two very special people, my husband Chris and my critique partner, Tianna Xander. Without their support, advice, and shoulders to cry on, my stories would never have seen the light of day.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “You can’t send him, your highness. How will it look?”

  “I don’t care how it looks, Curran. He’s the only one qualified to fly deep space. He’s going and that’s final.”

  “I really think…”

  “I know what you think. You’ve been telling me nonstop since I announced my decision at the council meeting two moons ago.” Hunter Shi’Lan stood, pushed away from his highly polished Senach wood desk, and headed for the nearest door. Time grew short and he wanted to wish his brother a safe and successful journey.

  The halls were empty as Hunter made his way to his personal transport. It left him free to think about the possible repercussions of his actions. The truth is they didn’t have enough women to go around. Drastic action was necessary. If he lost his throne, then so be it. He’d made his decision.

  Guards followed on his heels, determined to keep him safe despite their disapproval of his actions. Every man on his security detail was without a mate, due to the genetic flaw that prevented most female cubs from taking root in their mother’s womb. Chantrean scientists have yet to determine the cause, hence the need for this mission’s success.

  When he finally approached the landing pad where his personal transport hovered, he breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t missed him after all. Taliff, his brother and head of his personal guard, slouched against the craft, a ready smile on his face. “I was beginning to think you’d miss seeing me off.”

  “Not a chance, little brother.” Hunter grasped Taliff by the forearms, then pulled him into a hug. “I shall miss you. You take our hope with you.”

  “I won’t fail. If there is another colony of Lionese out there, I will find them.”

  Hunter nodded, then stepped back. “Everything is ready aboard the Wanderer?”

  “The only thing it needs now is its pilot.”

  Hunter knew he had to let his brother go. He took a deep breath, looked him in the eye. “Come home in one piece. I’m giving you one solar cycle, then I’ll come after you myself.” With one last glance at his brother, Hunter turned around and went back inside the palace. “Goddess speed, my brother. Goddess speed,” he muttered. Hunter shook off his melancholy and went back to his chambers. Pressing matters awaited him.

  * * * *

  Taliff Shi’Lan watched his brother walk away. Somehow, he didn’t think Hunter would need to come for him. Times were too unsettled here on Chantrea right now for his brother to leave anyway. He knew his duty, and so did Taliff. Find the Lionese that disappeared from their home world millennia ago and bring them home.

  Or at least bring the women. His mission, scouting for the lost colony, was too important to let petty political squabbles get in the way. If he happened to find his own mate along the way, all the better.

  Well, no time like the present. With one last glance at his brother’s retreating back, Taliff turned on his heel and headed to the Wanderer. His ship, a star class cruiser, usually held a compliment of over a hundred men, but with the urgency and need for secrecy behind this mission, he would be traveling on her alone.

  He’d arranged to have the ship stocked with supplies, the energy core inspected and charged to full capacity, and his personal affects placed on board, while he conferred with his second in command, and met with Hunter. Everything appeared ready when he arrived at the spaceport. The only thing left to do—clear Central Space Command.

  He ignored the massive size of the vessel he’d inhabit alone and boarded quickly. His footsteps echoed down the silent halls as he made his way to the command deck. He placed his palm on the identity pad, leaned into the laser recognition device to allow it to scan his features, and gave his authorization code. “Authorization code Shi’Lan seven-six-three-four-eight-seven.“

  “Authorization approved,” the computer purred. “Welcome home, Commander Shi’Lan.”

  “Thank you, Shoshoni.” He glanced around the empty deck, sighed. “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Have you analyzed the data from the ancient records?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “What have you concluded?”

  “Probable’s suggest The Adventurer headed toward deep space, quadrant four.”

  “Possible locations?”

  “I’ve narrowed it down to ten possible solar systems.”

  “Which is the most likely?”

  “System Omega Three.”

  “Shoshoni, plot a course to system Omega Three. We might as well start there.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Oh, and Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander?”

  “How long will it take us to arrive there using the star drive?”

  “Approximately four moon cycles.”

  “Thank you, Shoshoni. After we clear the defensive shield, I’ll be heading down to the stasis chamber. Wake me on approach to Omega Three.”

  “Yes, sir. Course plotted.”

  “Engage engines. Let’s get out of here.” Taliff walked over to the main view screen and watched as the planet below slowly disappeared from view. “Shoshoni, follow Deep Space Protocol and interrupt stasis at the first sign of trouble.”

  “Understood, Commander Shi’Lan. Deep Space Protocol established.”

  * * * *

  In the month that Taliff had spent investigating the planet called Earth, he’d discovered many things. Not the least of which, humans appeared to be a bloodthirsty lot, warring amongst themselves with no regard to the sanctity of life.

  He also learned that his species here on Earth had no idea how to treat their women. They didn’t take a mate but procreated with any female who would accept them. They didn’t cherish them, protect them, as they deserved. So he had no regrets about the thirty-five women now aboard his ship, some in stasis, some happy with their situation and therefore free to roam the ship when he was aboard.

  With this one last trip down to the surface of the planet, he’d be ready to head back to Chantrea. So far, none of the women he’d abducted was a mate for him, but others on his home planet might get lucky. His mission has indeed been successful. The Lionese on Earth had none of the problems reproducing females that the women on his planet did. For that, his people could rejoice. They now had hope for their future.

  Taliff sighed, glanced at the control panel of the shuttle. After settin
g the new coordinates, he leaned back, put his hands behind his head. He missed the sweet air of Chantrea. He’d been gone nearly five moon cycles now. If he didn’t leave soon Hunter would worry, and there were enough troubles for him to deal with back home. Now wasn’t the time for him to leave just to look for his little brother.

  Now that the survivors of the Adventurer had been located, Hunter would order other expeditions to travel to Earth. Maybe next time they could negotiate the removal of the women rather than resort to abduction. It would sure make things easier all the way around.

  He’d gone out of his way to choose wisely. He’d made sure that none of the women left behind loved ones and in some cases, he managed to take not only the woman but her children as well. He didn’t want their lives on Chantrea to begin with heartache. An unhappy mate made for tough times.

  He shook his head, amazed at his musings. How would he know what it was like to live with an unhappy mate? He was just going off what he’d overheard among the few mated males he knew. One thing was for sure, his mate would be happy about her situation. He wouldn’t allow for anything less.

  “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander Shi’Lan?”

  “Give me all the data you have on the settlement we’re heading to now.”

  “Settlement Anora. It’s located on the eastern seaboard of the Northeastern United States. Population is currently at two hundred ten. Of that, one hundred and thirty are female. There are twenty-seven infants, of those eighteen are female.”

  “How many women below are without children?”

  “Data unknown.”

  Taliff removed his hands from behind his head, sat up, and looked out the view screen. They were just entering Earth’s atmosphere. This would be the fifteenth raid he’d performed in the one moon cycle he’d been in this solar system. “What kind of defenses are we looking at?”

  “None that I can detect, Commander.”

  “That’s odd. The other settlements at least used shielding technology. Have you drawn any conclusions as to why this one is defenseless?”

  “Yes, sir. Probable’s say they are unaware that they are descendants of a race from another planet.”

  “What, they think they just spawned themselves from ameba?”

  “Data unknown.”

  “I was just kidding, Shoshoni. Begin descent. Land the shuttle five miles from the settlement.”

  This was definitely a complication he hadn’t expected. At least at the other settlements, oral history passed down from father to son spoke of the first ones who crashed on the planet. Each settlement had variations of the theme, but whether they believed the old tales, they were aware of them.

  If the women of this settlement assumed they were descendants of Earth, they were bound to be problems ahead. People of this planet were thousands of years behind Chantrea in technology. Even getting them aboard the ship could be problematic. He rubbed his face in frustration, then stood up and walked to the beverage dispenser. “Shoshoni, give me a mug of water.”

  He watched the mug materialize in front of him. Even this is odd to them. Oh well, at least they’d be on their way back to the home world within a few hours. He’d put the Anoran women in stasis and keep them there until they reached Chantrea. Then it would be someone else’s headache.

  “Arrival at the coordinates in thirty seconds.”

  “Thank you, Shoshoni.”

  Taliff walked back to his seat, buckled in and took over the controls from the computer. Time to finish his mission and get his ass back home where he belonged. He found a clearing about five miles from the village and after scanning to make sure no intelligent life forms were in the area, took the ship down. All he needed to do was land in the middle of a Lionese hunting party.

  He grabbed a backpack, filled it with supplies and headed out of the ship. If anyone spotted him walking in the woods toward the village they would just assume he was just another hiker who’d gotten lost.

  It didn’t take him but thirty minutes to find the settlement. It looked like any other small town he’d seen. A pub stood on the first corner he came to, people loitered out in the streets, couples holding hands looked through shop windows, and antique shops seemed to be bustling with activity.

  It appeared that not only did they not have the shielding technology as the other settlements, but that they lived as humans too. Very peculiar. He’d like to learn more about why they lived so much differently than the other descendants, but now wasn’t the time.

  The first order of business—locate the residential area and mark where the houses were that Shoshoni had pinpointed as being perfect for his needs. Then he’d scope out the rest of the town, find somewhere to wait out the hours until he could put his plan into action, and pray that nothing went wrong.

  He was just passing the pub, when the crowd began to part in front of him. Within seconds, Lionese men surrounded him. Some looked like they, what did the American’s say again? Ahh, yes, looked like they bench pressed Buicks. At least he’d come prepared, and had masked his scent so they wouldn’t know he could shift. It was the only advantage he had in situations like this.

  There could be only one reason the males were acting so territorial to a stranger right off the bat. Some of their women must be in their yearly heat cycles. As if he didn’t have enough complications as it was, he had to add one more.

  Taliff wondered which one of these guys was the ringleader. There always was one. Maybe he could reason with them, but the way his luck seemed to be going, it didn’t look likely. He had to try though. “Hello. Can one of you gentleman point me in the direction of a diner, and a place to clean up?”

  A burly man with a row of earrings in each ear, a mane of greasy black hair that hung past his ass, and the belly of a swine, approached him first. Ahh, he found the ringleader. Like any of the women would willingly lay with such a creature. Taliff’s thoughts were confirmed when the man twisted his mouth and spit a wad of tobacco juice onto the street. “Don’t think we can help you, stranger. You might want to head back where you came from?”

  “Look, I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want something to eat and drink. Maybe somewhere to rest for a few hours, then I’ll move on.” The men started to move closer as they tried to box him in. All they really managed is to piss him off, especially the self-appointed leader.

  “Fine, I’ll leave.” Taliff backed slowly away from the mob, turned around, and headed back the way he came. He’d have to come back and reconnoiter after the town bedded down for the night. After he made sure that no one followed him, Taliff headed for the shuttle. He needed to get some rest before he returned. One never knew when the shit would fly and he might have to fight his way out.

  It was almost three in the morning when Taliff returned to Anora. He crouched just on the edge of the tree line, and looked at the quiet little town. All clear. He was just about to step out of his hiding spot when he smelled it.

  Chantrean legends say that you’ll know your mate by the unmistakably inviting scent. Your blood will pound in your veins, your heart will race, and your libido will explode when in proximity to her.

  The strange scent once again drifted his way. His body reacted immediately. His cock jerked in response, his pulse leapt in his throat. Shocked, he stood up, visible to anyone who bothered to look his way. He didn’t care. How could he have found her so quickly?

  Before he could rejoice, he detected another scent layered over hers. The pungent musk of another male. His every territorial instinct went on alert. His hackles rose, his mane of hair fluffed out. This would not do.

  Time to take action. Taliff ducked back into the trees and waited for his unsuspecting prey to approach. It was time for a mate hunt.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “All men should rot in hell. If one more man grabs my ass, accidentally touches my tits, or fondles my crotch, I’m going to geld him.” Eve Roberts was not a happy woman. She didn’t mind being woken up to deliver a child in the middle
of the night. It was her job, as healer. She shouldn’t, however, have to put up with the groping shit from the expectant fathers. They were Lionese, though. What did she expect? Not a one could keep his dick in his pants. They were worse than rabbits when it came to fucking.

  God, she was pissed. It was bad enough half the damn women in town were in heat, and being bitches because of it. She’d be damned if she’d spread her legs for a man because her hormones were getting the better of her. But would they take no for an answer? Fuck, no. The men just have to go ahead and try to force themselves on her anyway. What she wouldn’t give to be able to leave this place, just disappear forever. Unfortunately, the women here needed her and she never turned her back on someone who needed help.

  Lost in thought, Eve didn’t notice the stranger until she’d barreled over him. Before she could apologize, the world began to grow dim. She felt him place something against her heart. Lights flashed, blinding her. She blinked, then opened her eyes, only to find herself stuck inside some kind of glass coffin.

  “What in the hell?” Panic crawled through her. A scream stuck in her throat. This couldn’t be happening. What in the hell was happening?

  Sweat beaded on her brow, her pulse skittered. She looked around, desperate to find a way to escape her coffin. She looked to her left, her right. Women in glass boxes like hers surrounded her. There must be at least a couple dozen of them.

  None of the women moved so much as an inch. They weren’t dead were they?

  Dear God. How many women did this creep need, anyway? “Oh, God…Oh, God…Oh, God. I shouldn’t have wished to disappear.” Panicked, Eve kicked at the lid of her box, slammed her fists against the sides. It didn’t as much as crack. What in the hell was this thing made of?

  “Let me out of here, dammit.”

  No one answered. No one came to see what all of the racket was about. That was the scariest thing of all. There was just no one there to hear her at all. “Please, let me live through this so I can kill the son of a bitch.” With no one there to witness her breakdown, she finally let the tears flow.