Engulf [New World Book 5] Read Online Free Page B

been pleasant.
    “Poor creatures,” Cace muttered.
    Raiden scented his warrior mate’s compassion. He knew immediately if they came across humans, female or male, Cace would not leave them behind. Especially after witnessing the males’ frailty. Castian warriors had been warned humans were delicate beings, but witnessing it was an eye-opener. Human bones could actually be crushed.
    “I’m guessing there may be more. Humans rarely traveled to Ulsy in shuttles in numbers less than ten. At least that’s what my brothers’ mates have told me,” Raiden said.
    Cace looked at him, then quickly looked away. Even though large bulbs covered their eyes when in body armor, Raiden could almost taste what Cace was thinking. Loy, Raiden’s brother, had taken care of Raiden after their parents were killed. After the water on their planet was poisoned four hundred years ago by a Tonan spy, all of their females died, taking their mates with them. When a Castian mated he mated for life. He gave half of his essence to his mate giving her immortality through his bite and marking her. Their mates, in exchange, gave the Castians half of their essence, which mixed during their mating ritual. The two became one.
    Raiden had only been four when his parents died. His sister had died earlier. His mother and father only lived until Raiden’s baby shield was replaced with body armor. After that, his mother was no longer indestructible. Sadly, even a Castian male’s armor couldn’t heal their females; there was no way to tell just when a baby shield would be replaced with armor. The deaths were simultaneously occurring events and unpreventable. The shield detected no danger to its host, because there was no danger as long as the female had a baby shield.
    Loy was all Raiden was left with, or so he thought. Another half-brother, Doss, had returned from Ulsy with a mate to become Loy’s new warrior mate. That alone had been a surprise, as Doss was also eight hundred years old, as was Loy. But finding out his new brother was a Tonian hybrid was a shock. The three brothers had the same Castian father—Doss’s mother was Tonan.
    Doss was the only hybrid many Castians had ever seen, including Raiden. Thankfully, his new brother was so elated to have a family after living alone for hundreds of years they had become not only brothers, but fast friends. Cace trusted Doss because he scented Raiden’s love for his brother, but he was still somewhat wary around him. Doss was the only being that could slice the armor off either Castian or Tonan. Doss could kill the un-killable.
    “If there are more humans, they may not have strayed far,” Raiden said, deciding now was not the time to dwell on his older half-brother.
    “This wreck looks old.”
    Raiden agreed, but still he was hopeful. It was a human-made vessel—perhaps one of the early few to leave Earth. With a little luck, the Tonans wouldn’t have discovered other survivors. The lack of more bodies was a good sign. The two moved off together searching the surrounding area. In the distance Raiden saw Moonway. Moonway had recently been introduced to their planet, Bagron. They seemed to be crouched over a pile. Raiden sniffed the air. Food, they were eating food. It seemed to be in a small mound. Moonway didn’t heap their food. It was as though it was left as an offering. The creatures looked comfortable eating where they stood.
    The last thought made Raiden smile. He knew some humans were prone to worship interesting things. Did they think the little creatures were some type of god? Interesting. Or were the beings that left the fare being compassionate? After walking a distance they came to a lake.
    “Look,” Cace’s tone was tinged in excitement.
    Raiden noted the outline of a footprint in the grass. It was small. Another larger one was close. Raiden sniffed the air. He caught a scent that made his heart race until his armor controlled