Cadari Lover (Tagratis Book 1) Read online

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication July 2017

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/)

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Cadari Lover

  Cara Carnes

  Chapter One

  “The aquamarine stones have suppressed what they can of her urges, but the damage is irreparable I’m afraid. She is a tagratis now.”

  Kandos Strabuquar glanced over at the doctor and allowed the murderous rage to flow through his body. Solvan’s phenomenal medical skills were legendary across the galaxies, and even he couldn’t undo the damage. Kandos had killed the sick bastards responsible moments after capturing them, but the need to do more damage still coursed through him.

  “Treatment with aquamarine is still in the development stages, but it has proven quite effective.” Silence engulfed the room for a moment before his friend continued his rambling. “I will do everything I can to ensure her comfort.” Rina Daniels. Her brothers wished her to remain unknowing of his people’s ways, and that included their enemies. Now she was doomed to a life of constant sexual arousal because he had failed to protect her.

  His people, the Cadari, had battled the Zacoris for centuries. The sickness the Zacoris manifested destroyed entire worlds, and they went from galaxy to galaxy wreaking havoc. They preferred to create chaos on the Cadari homeworld, Cadar, whenever they could.

  “Rina should have never shown up here. Why the hell didn’t her brothers stop her? They know we have been plagued with turmoil for years now. I told them just two months ago that Zacori attacks and forced conversions were at an all-time high. I should have sent her away the second I saw her on that landing pad.” He slammed his fist into the white computer table in front of him. The miniature office assistance robot he barely missed retreated to the far end of the table.

  Great. The last thing he needed were those damned artificial intelligence devices to begin gossiping and boycott him. It had happened before, when fits of rage would cause him to throw things across the room. It was impossible to get anything done on Cadar if they were upset with you.

  “You cannot blame yourself, Kandos. You did everything you could do. You even broke one of the highest commands by killing them rather than bringing them before the Council.”

  The robot’s clicks and beeps echoed through the room. Wonderful. It was upset enough to warn others about his mood. Just what he needed to deal with. He muttered an apology to the assistant that had managed to lodge itself into a cowering position behind the oversized medical monitor. He really hated those things.

  “Please stop irritating my robot. I still remember the last time when I had to do all my medical transcription the old-fashioned way and type it in. Do you have any idea how archaic that is?” The doctor’s derisive snort filled the room, but the clicks and beeps continued to dominate the space.

  “They are far too conceited for machines. They must learn that Cadari are different from their emotionless race and sometimes express themselves. It is bad enough we are stuck with them merely because we do not wish to offend other races.”

  Of all the off-world technology he was forced to adapt to, those vile little pests were by far the worst. They were too advanced to interact with other alien devices but too archaic to handle interfacing with Cadari equipment. Cadar was the most advanced, richest world in existence, and that was why they battled the Zacori and defended any planet needing it. If only he had taken her home with him when she first got here, none of this would have happened. Tourists were the favorite targets of the Zacori, but he had failed to take that into consideration.

  “Are you done with the ‘pity Kandos’ party? There’s a young woman about to wake up in the next room who has a little more to be upset about than you do.” The statement was just like his friend, blunt and to the point. “When you are ready to start acting like the soldier you are and the man she expects, let me know. Quite frankly, this sullen child I see glaring through that glass is the last thing she needs to see right now.”

  The harsh statement was met with a glare. “You know me too well, Solvan.”

  “Perhaps not well enough. I hadn’t realized until this evening how much Rina meant to you. I thought she was just your friends’ sister.” Kandos felt the tenseness in his shoulders and clenched his fists.

  “What makes you think it is more?”

  “The Kandos I know would not break Cadari law to save anyone he didn’t love.” He allowed his gaze to slide over her sleeping form once more.

  “We are allowed to kill when necessary. The Council would never question my decision to do so. They have more than plenty of Zacori in restraining facilities off-world to perform all duties needed.” Laughter followed the statement.

  “Do you really think that justifies it? Cadari haven’t killed anyone outside war in centuries, yet you did for Rina.” The accusation was flung across the room as Solvan sat down in his chair.

  “They declared war the moment they took her, but you are right. I must remain calm for her sake.” Kandos walked toward the door, but his friend’s voice stopped him.

  “I did not explain anything to her.” Solvan never could handle emotional tasks. His empathic nature made it far too difficult. Kandos nodded, knowing he was being read but not caring. “She fought hard. You got her here quickly, and I was able to prevent a full conversion.”

  Her petite frame did no justice to the proud fighter spirit she possessed. Recordings of her capture showed she fought harder than any human female when they injected her. They outnumbered her though and the vile drug began to invade her system, changing her into the sexual creature known across the universe as a tagratis.

  The anger raged within him as he remembered the tape. Her screaming his name. The guilt ate away at his heart as he walked into the stark white medical chamber and sent the nurses away with one scowl. He looked around the large chamber, the panels of the room covered with monitors that quietly did the tasks of a fleet of doctors. He saw three artificial medical assistants cowering in the corner of the room, their red laser eyes roving from side to side as they watched him. Clearly they had already been told about his transgression earlier and chose to remain out of his reach.

  His eyes adjusted to the amber-tinted lighting in the room. It was supposed to create a calming tone for the patient, but the anger in him refused to accept that fact. The bed sat in the center of the room and was elevated slightly. It looked uncomfortable, but he knew from personal experience that it was like floating in air.

  “Kandos. You’re here.” The soft voice caught him off guard. He pulled the long, silky, golden curls from her eyes. She had yet to open them, but he knew he’d no longer see the beautiful, sparkling topaz color he had become obsessed with. He prepared himself when her lids fluttered.

  The shimmering gray depths held pools of unshed tears and her lower lip began to tremble. He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently pulled her into his arms. “Do not cry, Rina. Dying a thousand deaths would be easier for me to deal with than seeing you cry. You are alive, and that is all that matters.”

  “What happened?” Her sobs continued, her body convulsed in his arms. He knew she knew. She just wasn’t ready to accept the truth.

  “I should have forced you to stay. This is my fault because I should hav
e protected you better.” Breathing became difficult when her hands found their way under his uniform top and kneaded up and down his skin. Her nails sliding down his skin gathered the blood in his cock.

  “I didn’t know those evil creatures existed. Before I could turn around and go back they had me. What did they do to me?” Kandos suppressed a groan of need as his cock swelled. He hated himself even more for responding to the seductive body that rubbed against him.

  “The creatures that took you were Zacoris, our enemy. The drug they gave you has changed your body chemistry.” He couldn’t force anything more out of himself, staring into those murky-colored eyes.

  “Is that why I feel so…” The blush on her cheeks increased his need to take away what happened.

  “You are a tagratis now.”

  “No! You are wrong! There’s been some mistake!” The pain-stricken look on her face stabbed straight into his soul. Kandos looked away, unable to handle the horrified expression on her face. The fear-laced words cut through his resolve.

  “I’m sorry, but the damage cannot be reversed.” He watched one of the machines lurk forward and inject her with something. Maybe those robots weren’t so bad after all. At least they were intelligent enough to use the translating microchip they had and sense severe emotional trauma when they saw it.

  “I’m doomed to a life of constant wanting and depravity at the hands of any man willing to have me for one night simply because I didn’t want to admit my attraction to you.” She looked away from him, her softly uttered words carried by the natural echo of the room.

  His cock swelled, his pulse raced and her admission filled his mind. She wanted him. That was why she ran out. “This is not your fault, Rina. I swore to protect you and failed. Had I known you wanted me half as much as I have hungered for you, this would never have happened.”

  Rina allowed the tears to openly stream down her face. Kandos wanted her. Years of secret glances and vivid fantasies filled her mind, causing her nipples to ache and moisture to pool between her legs.

  Kandos was the fiercest protector of the Cadari. Her brothers had met him five years ago while hunting a renegade and she had lusted for him ever since.

  “I thought you looked at me like your friends’ little sister.”

  “Never.” The throbbing began once again, pooling more liquid heat between her legs. The material of the thin, white gown she wore clung to her damp skin and it became harder to breathe. She reached out and clung to Kandos.

  The cool skin under her heated hands inspired images of his naked body pressed against her, and she stifled the urge to moan. “Take me home, Kandos.” Her lips tasted the flesh at the nape of his neck and she heard his groan.

  “It would be best if you remained here under Solvan’s care.”

  “I’d rather be in your bed under you.” She slid her hands under the back of his uniform top, sliding her nails down his back. She had one chance to have him before they took her away to the tagratises retreat.

  Images of the retreat filled her mind. Isolated on a beautiful planet devoid of all visitors except those sanctioned by the Protectors of the Realm, women and men forcefully turned into tagratises lived their lives. Stories of their misery and longing for sexual contact with a non-tagratis spread like wildfire across the galaxies. Few visitors were allowed access.

  “I can’t believe I have become the very thing my father spent his life trying to cure. I’m glad he is not alive to witness this, but I pray my sister does not find out. She can’t, Kandos.” Rina heard the urgency in her voice when she looked up into his eyes.

  “There is no way to prevent that. You know she is at the retreat carrying on your father’s research work. She will find a cure.” Sadness welled up in her.

  “My sister will never forgive me for being so stupid, and my brothers will never see me again.” Kandos’ strong arms wrapped around her. “I should never have left that facility.”

  “I should never have put you up in the tourist housing in the first place. You should have been in my home where I could protect you.” Regret laced his words when he spoke.

  “Please give me one night with you before it takes me over completely.” Rina hated the sad tone in the plea but knew what tomorrow would bring. The drug would infiltrate her mind and distort reality, causing her to crave all non-tagratis men. “Let us experience each other just once before I have to let you go for eternity.”

  “Solvan assured me you would not convert fully. We will not know the extent of the damage until the morning.” His voice disguised his concern poorly, and she knew the worthlessness of that guarantee.

  “I know the rules, Kandos. Anyone processed and found to be more than one-third tagratis is required to reside at Hope.” She stood up and walked to the corner of the room and looked out the viewing window. “I’ve seen the horrible existence they have. Your people mean well, but segregating them like that is worse than death.”

  Cadar had been a place of her dreams for so long. Its bright red ground offset the shades of white and beige used for the buildings. The atmosphere reflected the blue, yellow and green colors of their moons and sun. Hundreds of transportation vehicles flooded the air as far as she could see.

  “Don’t think about Hope tonight, Rina.”

  “But it is the reason we should enjoy each other for tonight. We may never see one another again. No one will know. I swear to you.” She whispered the last part in his ear softly, knowing the importance of his position. Taking sexual gratification from a tagratis broke the highest rule of the Protectors of the Realm. He could lose everything.

  The Cadari and three other highly advanced worlds had created the Realm in an effort to provide one body of justice. Led by the Cadari Council, it established inter-galactic laws that were strictly enforced for the good of all beings. Strictly regulated by the Cadari, judgment was swift and severe for all transgressions.

  There were no appeals or any delays. Once a decision was rendered, the sentence was immediate. Kandos was a general for the Realm and held to a higher standard than others. The Cadari led by example and infractions from their leaders meant death.

  “I would gladly risk anything to have you as my own, even if it is for one night only. Are you sure that is what you truly want?” Indecision was on his face, and she knew it went against his character to take advantage of someone in a weaker state.

  “Time is wasting away, Kandos. We only have tonight.” She heard his growl, followed swiftly by his hands grasping her hair, bringing her mouth to his. She tasted him for the first time, and his lips demanded a response she gladly gave.

  Her hands roamed freely over his muscular body. She loved his corded muscular arms, washboard stomach and powerful thighs. His eyes always drew her into the depths of longing and stirred lust deep within her. She wanted to crawl into his soul and learn all the things he guarded so closely.

  A sense of loss filled her when he broke the kiss. She had forgotten about anything but him the moment his lips captured hers. Touching her lips lightly, she willed her breathing to return to normal. The last thing she wanted was to stop because she had waited far too long to savor his touch. “I must go and speak with Solvan to get you cleared. I will be back shortly.” Clicks and beeps from the robots filled the room as he set her back on the bed and turned to leave the room. She was going home with him. His home. Her body responded at the thought, excited to take their guarded friendship to the next level. He had been a friend and protector for years but always remained professional with her in deference to her brothers.

  She had come to visit him as a surprise but was upset that he refused to take her to his home. Instead, he had rented a small two-bedroom condo for the duration of her stay. It was nestled in the center of the tourist sector and was the best credits could afford. There had been a waiting list, but Kandos’ position and massive credit balance secured it with ease. She had wanted to see where he lived, learn more about his private life. Instead, her day was spent checking i
n to the tourist sector’s credit facility. All tourists on Cadar were required to report in and provide information on their purpose for being there and how long their visit would be. Cadar allowed only a certain number of guests per year, and there had been a waiting list of two years. Her brothers had somehow gotten her pushed up, though.

  Cadar even went so far as to give credits to the visitors to use while there. Most worlds earned their income by taking money from off-worlders, but Cadar didn’t. The Council had decided the best way to instill Cadari values and technology on the galaxies was to make it easy to obtain and inexpensive to see firsthand.

  She knew Kandos had lived a hard life early on, but he never shared those dark thoughts. Their precious time together during the summers had been about catching up on the past months, laughing at her brothers’ foolhardy experiences and protecting her as she operated the portal entry on Earth.

  Ancient Earth had one portal remaining, and it sat in the middle of the desert in Old Arizona. The Third Dimension Bed and Breakfast served as a portal between universes. Her brothers had never liked her decision to work at the portal during the summer, but it was the best way to get the alien relations experience she wanted. The summer heat of the desert deterred enough visiting dignitaries and other alien strangers from wandering in to afford her brothers some reprieve from the nonstop bustle. Dane and Tavis insisted on using their vacation time to protect her for one month, but that still left her alone at the facility for two months. That was how she had met Kandos.