Pan’s Legacy Read online

  It was nice to be cuddled against him, but she knew it wouldn’t last. “Grandpa Peter said he had seen her trying to destroy the crystal. He stole it to keep it safe.”

  “As a child, it was his only option. I understand that now.” His hand smoothed lightly down her hip. “I suppose I owe you an apology, I should not have taken my anger out on you.”

  “It wasn’t all bad.”

  He quirked his eyebrow, “Really?”

  “Really.” She was seven shades of scarlet, but she kept to honesty.

  “Then I think you may be just what I need in a new assistant.” He unsnapped the chain from the collar and removed the leather. “This world has a lot of new inhabitants and they need to know what to do, how to live.”

  “Plus, there are the pit fights to deal with. Was I the only one who was kidnapped from my home and forced here, or were there others?”

  Huek’s mouth tightened. “You were kidnapped as well?”

  “Yeah, a little guy from the Alliance…wait it was probably T’nk. Anyway, they offered to take me to the Alliance as a Volunteer, but I declined. That was when I felt a sting on my neck and then I woke up on the ground in the jungle. I spent months learning to work with the locals and had just become one of their hunters when I was tranked again. Then I woke up here.”

  “Will you take on the position as my assistant?”

  She thought about it. It did have a little more dignity than being his pet. “Yes. But what do I call you. Huek K’ptain is a bit of a mouthful.”

  “Huek in public, and Ikil in private. K’ptain is my family name.”

  “Fine, so what do I need to do as your assistant?”

  “Find out what the hell that little fairy was up to. If she has lied about most moments in my life, she probably continued lying long after I was in the regeneration chamber.”

  He sounded so lost, Pandora couldn’t help it, she hugged him. The reaction that she received was a little more than she had planned on—he returned her hug and pressed her up against a wall.

  The kiss he gave her was savage and claiming, but also desperate for a little forgetfulness. His hands lifted her skirt and opened his trousers, his erect cock rubbing against her in seconds. Ikil reached between them, spread her folds and drove two fingers into her in a hard and fast beat. His thumb worked her clit and she came in under a minute. The instant that her cries broke through, he replaced his fingers with his cock and hammered upward into her. She had nothing but him to hold onto, so she dug her fingers into his shoulders and she bit his neck as he pounded against her.

  He picked up speed, his hips blurring faster and faster as he rocked into her, not stopping until she screamed again, this time his roar joined hers.

  Panting, she unlocked her legs from around him and slowly slid off his dwindling cock to the floor. Her legs were wobbly, so she held him tightly until she could firm up the recently stretched muscles. His forehead was resting on her shoulder, his moist breath coming quickly.

  “I am sorry I was so abrupt. I will do better by you next time.” He leaned down and licked a rivulet of sweat off her neck.

  “I don’t know if I will survive a next time.” Her voice was shaky, but she was strong enough to stand on her own.

  Ikil gingerly tucked his cock back into his pants and held his arm out for her to take. Bemused by the courtly behaviour when he was just screwing her against the wall, she took the proffered limb. They walked back to the hub and he introduced her as his new assistant to the guards and other functionaries. The sly looks that some gave her were well deserved considering the semen sliding down the inside of her thighs.

  She had done enough basic management back on Earth to assess the situation quickly. The majority of the employees would obey her, but she identified the ones that would not. She would keep an eye on them and get them somewhere out of the way, preferably off world as soon as she could.

  When they got back to Ikil’s quarters, Pandora cleaned up in the lav and then got down to the tasks as he assigned them to her. She checked his investments, saw that they had all gone back into this planet and to her surprise, she saw standard Alliance licensing for the pit. It was classed as a semi-professional exhibition facility. Completely legal.

  “You own the planet free and clear. The colonists are here at your sufferance, but there are a few intelligent species here that need a little bit of protection.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. They taught me to hunt, fish and fly. I had a home in their village and they kept me safe until T’nk needed me. I hope they are alright.” She had been trying not to fret in the months that had passed. No one knew anything about her little people, so she was waiting until she was able to ask for the time to go and see if they were all right. Mind you, she wasn’t even sure she was on the right world. There was a cluster of orbital bodies, including moons. She could have been on one of them when she met her villagers. There was no way to know. T’nk’s files were sealed and her private guard was not talking.

  Ikil was contacting the Alliance to explain her absence and her desire to return to Terra. They were shocked at the behaviour of one of their cooperating operatives, but they would get back to him as soon as they had come to a decision.

  With a head full of information that she was having trouble absorbing, Pandora left the terminal to lie down.

  “Is something wrong?” Ikil was at her side in an instant.

  “Just a headache. I think I forgot to eat or something.”

  “How often does your species eat?”

  “Three meals a day when possible.” She held out her hands and cupped them. “About this size with a mix of vegetables, starches and proteins.”

  “When was your last meal?”

  “Yesterday, before the fight I think.” She lay back and massaged her temples. “I need to replace the calories that I burn or this happens.”

  “You are weak?”

  “Yes.” He was finally getting the hint. If she was out in the wild, something large would have eaten her by now.

  “I will have food brought at once. Who cared for you before?”

  “The guards of the pit were in charge of my meals. They weren’t good, but they kept me going.”

  “Any particular one?”

  “He had a scar across his forehead and another down his cheek. Rather distinctive.”

  Pandora sighed in relief as he left her alone. Her head was spinning too hard to think and the exertions of the sexual variety had drained all of her reserves. In every way.

  She knew a little about the varieties of sexual personas back on Earth and she was definitely exhibiting sub behaviour. She wanted to please him and she thrilled to the rough treatment. He never actually injured her, even though he took her to the heights of discomfort, pleasure always followed.

  He would see to her needs, she knew he would, once he knew what they were. She was discovering that her needs were a lot more varied than even she had dreamed. Part of her was hoping that the Alliance would take their time with the decision just so she could explore this new side of her.

  Chapter Six

  A platter of food that was more than enough for five meals was placed next to her and a hand gently raised her to a sitting position, supporting her like a small child. A piece of fruit appeared at her lips and she ate, the sweet juices bursting from the fruit and running down her chin.

  Ikil laughed and licked the juice from her jaw. “Eat it slowly. There is plenty.”

  The next berry burst like the first, so she closed her lips quickly, nipping his fingers in the process. She smiled and he laughed again.

  He fed her slowly, bite by bite until she had taken several servings of everything and her stomach was comfortably full. A glass of water was next and she sipped at it slowly.

  “I beg your forgiveness for neglecting your needs. It simply did not occur to me. I have not yet been hungry since I woke from the regeneration chamber. An unfortunate side effect I am afraid.”


  “Well, you own the entire planet. Intelligent primitives are registered inhabitants and the majority will have to remain undeveloped. I don’t know what kind of homes the colonists need, but they will have to build them out of indigenous materials.” She was spewing all the information she had collected in an effort to distract her heart from its heavy pounding as he looked down at her with tenderness in his eyes.

  “I will read your report later. For now, you need genuine rest. Sleep. You will be safe now.” He lifted her so that her head was on the pillows and drew a coverlet over her. She was full, safe and soon, rested.

  * * * *

  Ikil kept his voice low as he ran the com station. “This is Huek K’ptain, reporting as ordered.”

  “Good to hear from you, son. We had given you up for lost until your assistant informed us you were still alive. Your mother is overjoyed. She is planning a list of women for you to meet when you return to us.”

  “Father, I do not think that I will be returning.”

  “What? Don’t be stupid. Your place is amongst the Nevar. Now that you are no longer in disgrace, many young women will line up for a chance at you.”

  “I have found the woman I want. She seems to reciprocate, but she will never be accepted amongst the Nevar. We will stay here and begin a new life.” He paused and eyed his father’s flushed face. “You are welcome to visit.”

  “What the hell is she? A Selna?”

  “No, a new race. A Terran. I want her at my side in all things and the Nevar restrictions on off worlders are too extreme. She would never be happy there.”

  “You are bedding one of those new freaks? Get it out of your system, boy, and get your ass back here where you belong.”

  “I was declared dead, Father. I have not reinstated for active duty. You cannot order me back, General.” He crossed his arms as he glared at his father. The more he tried to push him away from Pan, the harder he wanted to cling.

  He could not believe her response to him, the heat, the wetness that gloved him when he took her almost made him come at the memories. When he looked up, his father was glaring at him.

  “You aren’t even listening to me. I don’t want our line tainted, or worse, to come to a complete halt in the womb of some unknown species.”

  “I understand, but I am not changing my mind. In fact, I do believe you just made my mind up for me.” He pressed the disconnect and leaned back in his chair.

  A soft noise behind him caught his attention. He turned to look at the bed and saw his lover curled tightly in a ball. Pan was disturbed, she cried out in her sleep, sobs that went deep into her soul. He recognized a name from the fight rosters and it filled him with a fury that he hadn’t known in half a century.

  A possessive anger took him over, he had joked about her lack of response with her recorded partners, but a sick feeling filled him as he realized that her reaction to the abuse was far deeper than embarrassment.

  She had trusted him, but that had been the result of his voice code on the crystal. It had recognized him as the means to their release. If they had been able to teach Pan a language, then they would have kept her from fighting. When the fighters had taken her by force, they would have kept her from fighting to keep her from injury.

  Now that the crystal was gone, her full emotional range would be restored. Terror and all.

  “Pan. Pan wake up. There is no danger, no pain. You are safe.” He did not hold her, merely stroked her hair from her face so as not to frighten her.

  As he touched her, she woke with a scream.

  * * * *

  Her heart was pounding and there was a shadow over her. Pain trailed out of her dreams and flared through her body. Pandora winced as she heard herself scream, backing away from the looming figure.

  When her vision cleared, she slumped in defeat. “I am sorry, Ikil. I didn’t mean to scream.”

  “Don’t worry. I understand. Better than you could imagine.” He chuckled and held out his arms.

  Sobbing again, she threw herself into his embrace. It felt good to be held after the shock of the dream seeped into her. It had really happened. She was on a foreign planet with strange races and a man who had a huge grudge against her grandfather. She had been raped, beaten, cut up with swords, chained, stripped naked and then watched an heirloom shatter into thousands of fairies. Her life was hers again, the force that had been driving her was gone, but what did that leave her?

  “I want…”

  He raised her chin with the back of his hand. “What do you want, Pan?”

  “My name is Pandora and I want to return to the village.” She said the words in a rush.

  “You agreed to be my assistant.”

  “And I will return to be that, if you still want me. I just need to be myself for a while and I don’t think I can do that around you.”

  Disappointment and something close to sadness flickered in his eyes. “How long do you need?”

  “A few months. A season maybe. I will be back immediately if the villagers don’t want me, but I felt whole there. I felt awake for the first time since I put the crystal on.” She twisted her fingers together, but kept her gaze steady.

  “If it will help, you may go. But come back at the first impulse to return.”

  She laughed lightly. “I will come at the second impulse. The first will be when they hand me a bowl of caterpillars for dinner.”

  Ikil looked a little queasy at that, but added, “I am going to insist on dropping you off so I know where you are. Will you take a communicator?”

  She looked at the large panel and frowned, he smiled. “No. A handheld unit.”

  “Sure.”

  “Will you report to me daily? Let me know how you are doing?”

  She straightened a little and gave him an arch look. “I need to get away. How about twice a week? Near sundown. That is when the villagers part for evening meditation before dinner.”

  “Done. I will take whatever time you will give me.”

  She relaxed in his arms for a moment. Just this one moment and then she would leave.

  “Shaisn, give me back that hairbrush!” She lunged at the hunt master and he laughed and dodged her.

  “I helped you to rebuild your home, I believe I deserve it.” He stroked the bristles across his teeth and she sat down hard and laughed.

  Laughter was coming more easily to her. She was remembering how to feel and how to react to danger. The crystal might have saved her from physical damage, but it had almost crushed part of her soul.

  Ikil seemed to wait eagerly for her communications and laughed with her at her tales of flying disasters, predators and being named Guardian Mother to Shaisn’s littlest daughter, Tiesa. The little one loved the feel of air all around her, so Pandora took her flying as often as she could. It gave Shaisn’s wife a breather.

  The pull between Ikil and her grew stronger with every passing day and she knew the instant that the villagers let her back in that she would not stay long.

  Her green sheath was down to a midriff top and a miniskirt tied on with twine, courtesy of an abdominal strike from one of the predators. She was still wearing more clothing than the littles, but their culture did not demand covering.

  The fairies were frequent visitors to the village. From them, Pandora learned that they were related to the littles from thousands of years of diverging bloodlines.

  With life in the village direct and easy, she could concentrate on the important things, learning affection and how to give and receive it. The infants helped her with that. Each morning the mothers would drop off their littlest littles with food and changing wraps and then they left her while they went to bathe.

  It had been Shaisn’s idea.

  Caressing the tiny, fuzzy heads, feeding the small ones and keeping them out of the adult foods that she had lying around was a trial that she had trouble mastering. They were like rabid kittens, cuddling one minute and biting with their new teeth the next. They taught her patience and confirmed that a
little discomfort would not kill her.

  The women of the village laughed at the mess she presented when they came to reclaim their offspring, Pandora was aware of her matted hair, food-splattered limbs and fresh bite marks everyday. A quick bath in the icy pond took care of the majority of her ills, but she had only to look at the smiling faces around her to know that it was worth it.

  Existing was no longer enough, she needed some meaning in her life and she knew just the man who could help her with that problem.

  The hunt leader realized that she was not trying to get her brush back and came over to the spot where Pandora was sitting bemused and enlightened. She rapidly snapped the brush from him and looked up at his stunned face. “Gotcha.”

  “You are thinking of leaving.”

  She wasn’t surprised by his insight. “I love all of you and will visit as often as you will let me, but I need a life closer to the one I left behind.”

  “You need a mate.”

  “That, too.”

  “The one that you talk to? The whole village can hear the way your voice changes when you speak to him.” He was teasing, but she knew the truth when she heard it.

  “Yes. Him. If he will have me. I will leave the communicator here in case you want to get in touch with me.”

  She didn’t know if he wanted to use the communicator, but he smiled and patted her knee in sympathy. “I will keep you apprised of any changes that Tiesa undergoes. She is due to sprout her second row of teeth any day now.”

  “You are the best and smallest little friend that I have ever had.” She laughed and hugged him, letting him wrestle her hairbrush free and run away with it.

  “Go. Now. Today. Don’t let another moment separate you. If I was separated from Hish for this long, I would go mad. I am amazed you haven’t been clumsier in the hunt than you normally would be.”

  Laughing but blushing furiously, she quickly did the rounds in the village, kissed the top of Tiesa’s fuzzy head before she could snap at her and picked up her spear and knife. The world she was in was beautiful, but it was far from safe.