“We have a meeting to go to. It is very important. One of my pack heard something they need to share.”

“What does pack mean? I don’t understand the term.” 4

“It means loyal to me and my family. They are trustworthy and won’t turn on me.

They have earned my trust and that of my family. It is a deep friendship bond. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Ral gripped her face and studied her. “Do you in love with me, Ariel?” She stared up at him. She knew what he was asking her even if his words weren’t exactly right. He wanted to know if she had feelings for him. She nodded. She wasn’t sure how it had happened but she did love Ral. He’d killed to protect and keep her. He made her laugh. He made love to her. How could she not love him?

“I love you.”

“Can I trust you?”

She nodded, never looking away from his eyes. “Yes.”

“I have no doubt but I had to ask. Let’s go. This is very important.” He pushed open the door and grabbed her hand. He walked so fast that Ariel had to run to keep up with him or risk being dragged along. They ended up in someone’s sleep room very similar to the one she shared with Ral. The room was crammed with men. Ral pulled Ariel in front of him, his arms locked around her possessively. The door was pushed shut behind them.

“What has been heard to help us?” Ral’s voice was low.

A man stood up. He nodded at Ral and then his eyes flashed to Ariel. “We can trust her?”

“She is bound to me,” Ral growled. He sounded angry. “Do not insult my woman.” The man paled. “I meant no insult to your woman.” The man lowered his eyes.

“Speak,” Ral sighed.

The man nodded, looking up again meeting Ral’s eyes. “They are preparing one of the large ships. There is a large planet they are going to visit for more workforces. Their plan is to house them inside the ship until they can have us dig out more area for them to move down here with us.”

Ral grinned. “When?”

The man grinned back. “They leave tomorrow morning right at first shift. It is perfect. The plan we overheard was that they will bring back a few hundred workers they are plotting to steal.”

Ral’s grin faded. He eyed the men around him. “Our time has come. This is it. Make all the arrangements and do it very quietly. Do not tell the others what is to happen. We will surprise all. You all know what to do. We will wake two hours earlier than first shift to prepare.” His gaze swung to the man. “Is everything in place?”

“Yes.”

Ral chuckled. “We are so close.”

The men were all smiling. Ariel eyed each one of them. Why they were so excited about new prisoners was beyond her. Maybe they hoped that most of the prisoners would be women. Maybe they were just lonely and wanted new faces. She held her silence until Ral returned them to their room. He shut the door.

“Undress.” Hunger burned in his eyes.

She stripped. Ral suddenly grabbed her to lift her up his body. Their eyes locked.

They were almost nose to nose.

“If I take you facing me while I’m standing will you enjoy it?”

“Yes.”

He growled softly at her. Ariel locked her legs around his hips and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ral entered her in a heartbeat. Ariel loved the feel of him stretching her. He moved, gripping her ass, and slammed her up and down on him.

Ariel threw her face into his shoulder moaning loudly. She wasn’t sure what brought on Ral’s wild streak but she was enjoying the hell out of it.

“Lord of the Moons,” she whispered after she came and Ral exploded inside her hard enough for her to feel.

Ral chuckled. “Exactly. Lord of the Moons was that good.” He eased out of her body and lowered her to the floor. He kissed her before stepping away. “We need sleep.”

Ariel nodded and climbed into bed. She held up the blankets for Ral. “Climb on in.” He smiled and got in. He pulled her into his body until Ariel’s face was on his chest. “I in love you, Ariel.”

She chuckled at his wording. “I’m in love with you too, Ral.”

“I’m in love with you. Better?” He rubbed her back with his fingers.

“Perfect,” she said honestly. Joy tore through her. Ral was in love with her.

Chapter Five

“Wake.”

Ariel opened her eyes. “Damn you get up early. Did we sleep long? How do you know what time it is?”

“I hear. We have patrols in the hallway that call out the time. My hearing is keen.

Get dressed fast. We must hurry. We have much to do, Ariel.” She got dressed. She saw Ral put on a shirt. She watched him. “You’re wearing a shirt today?”

“Where we are going today is colder than down in the cavern mines.”

“Okay.”

Ral grabbed the blanket from the bed. Ariel watched him dump all of his clothes piled on the floor into the blanket. Something was definitely up with Ral but he wasn’t telling her what was going on. He hefted the bag of clothes over his shoulder and shoved open the door. He reached for her hand.

“You stay by me. No matter what, you stay with me, Ariel. You are bound to me. I am bound to you. We belong together.”

“I remember. I am to not leave your sight and I will stay very close to you at all times.”

“Very correct.”

He took her to the bathroom. Four men were ordered by Ral to leave so she could have privacy. When she was done he walked in and used the bathroom. Three different men walked in. Ral pulled her closer to his body and jerked his head at her to not look.

She shot him an eye roll but kept her gaze on Ral. She didn’t want to see three men piss.

She’d give Ral privacy if she thought he’d let her out of his sight. They washed up before leaving the bathroom. Ral took her to the eating room.

“Eat fast.” He handed the plates he filled with food to Ariel. He got them mugs of water. She eyed the room. It was packed, unlike the morning before. The room was unusually quiet. Ral sat on the bench at the end of the table, spreading his thighs wide.