Elm: A Phoenix Warrior Romance (Phoenix in Flames Book 8) Read online

  Phoenix in Flames series

  Book 8

  Elm

  By Catty Diva

  Edited by Eagle Editing

  Cover by Deniz_Creationz

  2018 Copyright by Catty Diva

  This book is a work of fiction. All contents, including names, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to persons, living or deceased, businesses, locations or events are completely coincidental.

  None of this work may be used, reproduced, exchanged or transmitted by anyone but the person the book was purchased for. Any reproductions of this book in any part or any form must be done with the express written permission of the author or not at all.

  Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

  This series is a spinoff from the 10 book series The Mating Games.

  The Mating Games series

  Book 1

  Razar

  Razar needs a mate, but on his planet, there are nine males to one female. Humans look like they are compatible, but if they find out the secrets of his kind they will refuse to send them mates.

  Lista needs money for her mother's operation or she will die. Her sister has volunteered her to be a bride for an alien. If she wins the mating game, she will be free to keep the money and return home.

  Can she outwit him or will he claim her heart before it's game over?

  Phoenix in Flames series

  Book 1

  Roar

  He’d volunteered for this mission, but why? He’d felt the need to go after the abducted female. It was almost like an obsession which made it scary. Roar was afraid to even guess what he’d do once he found her.

  Treva was hurting all over and scared. She didn’t even hold out hope anyone would come to save her. It was time to save herself. Once she got herself free, she would get to Oison somehow. There simply wasn’t a choice.

  Book 2

  Blaze

  He’d always considered Roar his best friend and they’d hung out together a lot. That was now in the past because Roar had fallen in love and it hit him hard. He was mated and it was hard to tear him from his mate’s side. Only the new priority of aiding in the lab raids had managed it, but his mate came with him. Blaze hoped he never lost himself that completely even while he was a little jealous of their obvious happiness.

  Lab born and raised, Felicity never expected to be freed. She would live and die in misery just as her mother had. When these people came and whispered they would soon be free, she didn’t believe them. When the man came and told her he planned to free her, she wanted to believe everything he said.

  Could fate finally be working in their favor to give two jaded people the chance of a lifetime?

  Book 3

  Tar

  He’d found the facility that was supplying all the labs. This would be the chance to shut it all down. His biggest problem getting the children out. That and the labs special project, Patty. He wasn’t even sure exactly what she was, but he was undeniably drawn to her.

  She was a science project that wasn’t even thought of as a person, much less a woman. Now for the first time ever, a male had made her feel like a female. Could she help him safely bring the lab down so they could leave here together? If they did, would they even be able to have a future?

  Book 4

  Pyre

  All he was doing was escorting a lady to the outskirts of the galaxy to check on a station because of some unexpected activity. He didn’t have to get involved with her and fall in love.

  Ladonna thought this new guy, Pyre, was hot. If it wasn’t for all the trouble she was expecting at the station she and Patty had just bought, she’d pursue a relationship and keep him. After all, he’d been her first. But business had to come first.

  Pyre tried to avoid Ladonna, but he was too drawn to her. Now what the hell did he do?

  Can two lovers settle a whole bunch of trouble and work things out? Only time will tell.

  Phoenix in Flames

  Book 5

  Glint

  Who is George anyway? He’s drawn to the shy female who sinks into the background so most don’t even notice her.

  George agrees to accompany Glint on a mission to assure her place on the ship permanently. Now she finds she likes him a little too much and males usually don’t even know she’s there.

  Can two people looking for love find it with each other?

  Book 6

  Flicker

  Teresa was a human caught up with aliens. She’d escaped a world on the edge of Mazlan space with critical information that earned her a place on Oison. Flicker had been assigned to her and he was handsome and courteous. That wasn’t good enough when he made her panties melt.

  Flicker was a tad irritated that he’d been out in charge of a human spy. Sure, she was beautiful and intelligent. He even felt a strong pull toward her but he wanted to get back on his ship where he could prove his worth.

  Two confused people drawn together in an unusual situation. Will love grow or get stomped to death?

  Book 7

  Oak

  It wasn’t what he’d expected, this mating thing. Still, he wasn’t going to stop until he’d claimed his mate. She wouldn’t be easy to claim and she’d been through a lot, but he didn’t know how to give up.

  Angel had been through hell and back. The big guy, Oak was sweet, but she was damaged goods and he needed to let her go. It didn’t seem anything she said made a difference and everyone she had around her seemed to be on his side.

  Mr. Perfect and Miss hot mess, how could they ever manage to work things out?

  Book 8

  Elm

  The dark and distant Dr. Mike pulled him in until he couldn’t hold himself back. She didn’t mind sex as a stress reliever, but it was nothing more to her. Unfortunately to him it was everything.

  Her life wasn’t the kind you invited others into. She’d even warned him but still he wanted more. Her past was dangerous and she liked him enough to want him to stay safe.

  Two people who both felt something stronger but couldn’t agree on what to do. Would they throw love away or fight to keep it?

  Prologue

  He’d met the mysterious Dr. Mike and he was hooked. There was no way any other could satisfy him now that he’d had her in his arms and kissed her. That’s all they’d done, but he wanted so much more. Sex was alright, she’d said. But she refused to have a relationship with anyone.

  They were through with their latest week off after the most dangerous mission they’d had and Teresa and Flicker were leading them on a new mission. When they were done, new members of the crew including their brother Ash, would join them.

  Meanwhile, he would wait to find out what their latest mission was while he pursued his interest in the woman that someday would be his mate and his wife. Now he approached the shuttle with Oak, his brother, and Angel, his sister by mating. Inside, he was both excited and nervous as he wondered what this trip would bring.

  Chapter 1

  The Mission

  The shuttle had just arrived at the ship carrying the second load of the command crew. They had all been summoned to the meeting room where they would get the mission details. He wasn’t sure why Nila had come along with them because she wasn’t even an officer as far as he knew. Not that he really cared, maybe she had something important to contribute to this particular trip.

  Mike was a captain, just as he and Oak were. Oak was the senior most of the three of them. Angel was a Lt. as several of the others were. Rank only mattered in the more extreme situations or in the
mission planning sessions like this one. All officers were privy to the planning sessions and expected to contribute something of value.

  Niles, the engineer, and Angel had certainly given their best on the last mission. They had assisted the rest of command in keeping Oison in one piece. The bonus had been a generous one. Razar recognized value and he gave it back to them in spades. Everything he did for them, not just the pay, earned him the loyalty of everyone on the ship.

  Right now, he sat next to Mike who shot him an irritated look. She’d probably wanted to sit by Angel rather than him. Too bad. She might as well adjust to his presence. He’d made up his mind and she was his. Oak had asked why. A fair enough question, but he couldn’t answer it logically.

  “Brother, I look at her and my heart aches. I feel like I will only ever be complete once she is at my side. Both parts of me agree that she is ours.”

  Oak smiled. “Sounds like the perfect answer to me. I wish you only the best on your mate hunt.”

  “Thank you. Brother.” His mate hunt, an ancient term from the days his people had been more primitive than they were now. A term that stuck and was still used today. It seemed that term would never go out of use.

  “I want to address all of you about the latest mission and thank you again for your hard work on the previous one.” Flicker began.

  Several screens were down around the room showing a space station. It was an odd cobbled together thing and he was unfamiliar with it.

  “You may realize this is not in one of the more known territories.” Teresa said. “Razar is concerned because this backwater station seems to be a breeding ground for traitors and discontents. It will take us three weeks to get there so we considered hitting a smaller less threatening station halfway there. Razar is agreeable but has left the decision up to us. It will stretch our time in space out longer than usual. The majority will rule and all of the crew will vote.”

  “Now let’s get back to our main mission.” Flicker suggested. “We will be raiding Space Station Endurance. Surprisingly, it is a station originally built and put in place here at the end of known space at the time by Earth. Its condition reflects the circumstances Earth, its colonies, and those space station still connected with Earth are in. This one has recently, the last few years or so, been taken over by the worst types of renegades, rebels, and thieves. Slavery thrives here as does any kind of illegal activity and many underground type of organizations. Our missions is clear, free anyone kept unwillingly, take down as many criminals as we can, secure anything of value to cover our costs, and shut this place down. There is a ship that will leave after we do and they will come in to clean up the dregs of the universe once we have taken out the worst of them. Questions?”

  “Why did this place catch Razar’s attention?” Masters asked.

  “They have slavery, death matches of all kinds, and traitors he wants taken out hide here. It is also a haven for pirates and criminals of all kinds. This will send them a message, nowhere is safe for your kind.” Teresa replied.

  “Makes sense to me. I have those who enslave others and death matches make me ill.” Angel commented. Everyone nodded.

  “What kind of defenses do they have?” Elm asked.

  “We have some information. You need a code to dock. If you can’t get one, they have a weapon to destroy a ship. They wrongly destroyed a pirate ship on our most wanted list a month ago. It hurt their business but just briefly.” Flicker admitted. “I’m sure they have guards that are armed, but those don’t worry me as much as the possibility of an automated weapon that works against ships.”

  “How will we get a code?” Oak asked.

  “We have to take down one of their regular customers and go in on that ship.” Teresa said. “Communications is going to have to work hard to get that information for us.” She nodded at Angel and Nila. Those were their two communications people.

  “What then?” Elm asked.

  “We go pirate and take over the ship.” Flicker explained with a grin. “Every young males dream, Aye?” They all laughed. Many books for teenagers did romanticize pirates. That changed when a young male or female entered law enforcement or the military and realized how many people were hurt by pirates.

  “Is that all the questions? Don’t worry, we’ll have several meetings before we take any action on the mission.” Teresa assured. “Let’s all go eat lunch now.”

  Dismissed, everyone hurried to the cafeteria except a few slow pokes. Mike was one of those and he, Oak, and Angel hung back to walk with her. “This will be a tough and challenging mission.” Angel observed.

  “Especially for you and Nila.” Oak said with a worried expression.

  “Maybe. But I’ve tracked pirates many times when I worked with my dad to be sure our ship avoided them. It may not be so hard after all.” She grinned. Oak seemed less worried after that.

  “This mission will stretch our abilities. That’s not always a bad thing.” Mike commented.

  “No, moving forward into unexpected areas and relationships can be good. Testing the waters so to speak.” Elm grinned at her. She shut up immediately. There was no doubt what he meant and he knew there was no good response she could give.

  They entered the cafeteria where most tables were full, but Angel claimed a table for four in the corner of the room. Oak knew what she liked and he would get her lunch for her. He enjoyed that anyway because he would get her more food than she would on her own. It was a point of disagreement between them but his brother was winning. Angel looked healthier these days. Life with Oak was good for her.

  His Mike looked healthy enough, but not very happy. She needed him to love and relax her. He needed her too because he wanted a mate in his life and he wanted it to be her. They’d filled their trays and Mike sat down by Angel. The seat on her other side beckoned him. There was no place he’d rather be then right by her side.

  “Cook has outdone herself. This beef in wine sauce is amazing.” Angel said.

  “She’s been adding new dishes to the menu to please all of us. Cook is very young to be in charge of a kitchen like she is. Teresa said she was an overachiever and good at self-defense if someone was dumb enough to attack the kitchen staff.” Oak observed.

  “She’s so pretty and delicate looking.” Angel described.

  “Looks can be deceiving. She came from a rough place on Earth where you learn to fight or become a victim. As one of the traded females, Razar allowed her to choose her position as long as the one in charge approved her. We are lucky to have her and the kitchen staff she chose. Hopefully, we’ll not need them to, but they can all fight well.” Mike admitted.

  Elm stored away that information. It was good to know the abilities of his fellow crewmates. That could come in handy with the danger they were all exposed to. Not that Teresa wasn’t making sure everyone, even support staff, knew how to fight and were constantly increasing their knowledge and abilities. With long trips like this one, everyone worked out regularly, ate well, and got training. It was not just in fighting, but in the areas of their expertise. Some, like the engineer and Angel, received training online since they were already highly trained and capable.

  All of them also got training in a secondary or even third skill. Oak was trained in weaponry and now was also training in communications with his mate. He was trained in transportation, but had now volunteered to train with mike to be a medic. That was something he didn’t believe she knew yet. Hiding his grin, he imagined what her reaction would be when she found out. For his part, spending time with her would be incredible. Hopefully, he would make advances in their relationship. First, they would become friends.

  Oak had worked magic on Angel and now he would do the same on Mike. He felt energized and ready to charm his mate. The food was amazing and everyone at their table ate with appetite. Once the food was gone, they would all go their separate ways. Angel and Oak had their own quarters now. His was the same two bed unit he’d shared with Oak and soon would share with his younger b
rother Ash.

  Ash was excited to have been accepted as part of the crew. This ship had the best reputation and only took those Teresa approved. Ash had been trained in several things that would be helpful and was an amazing warrior as most Phoenix were. They had abilities they couldn’t use except in life or death situations. Their birds burned too hot for a human or even any race except another Phoenix in bird form to survive.

  A few of the royal lines had a third form that had less heat they could take when threatened but unable to take their full form for fear of harming innocents. Flicker had such a form as did his own family line. It was an amazing advantage in battle to be able to direct fire much like a flame thrower when needed. While he’d not needed it yet, it was good to know it was available.

  Having eaten, he watched Mike walk away before he turned to go to the command deck. He would be in weapons for six hours before his shift changed. The weapons console was empty with one person handling most of the consoles. Now they went to eat, as others came in to take over each of controls. Soon, they would be out of Mazlan space and the risk would be higher. His position was only as needed in case they were attacked. Oak was with Angel, learning about communications.

  Mike would be on call with medics covering medical most of the trip. Several had already received training and his training was reading a manual which he was doing right now. Next to him, Ranger was covering navigation which required he be watchful and alert to not any ships nearby. He also kept their path to their destination straight and sure. The male was a human, at least mostly. There was something unusual about him that Elm couldn’t quite figure out.