Pirate's Gold (Argurma Salvager Book 2) Read online

  Pirate’s Gold

  Argurma Salvager Book 2

  S.J. Sanders

  Contents

  Intergalactic Files

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Other Works by S.J. Sanders

  About the Author

  ©2020 by Samantha Sanders

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission granted in writing from the author.

  Editor: LY Publishing

  Cover Art: Sam Griffin

  This book is a work of fiction intended for adult audiences only.

  Intergalactic Files

  Argurma Biology Data:

  Access Granted

  The Argurma species evolved as a skilled predator in their desert world of Argurma. Possessing inner secondary membranous eyelids, an internal purification system that allows them to filter their air and siphon out sand from expulsion areas beneath the jaw, and highly adaptive internal thermoregulation that allows them to remain cool in extreme heat, and to tolerate extreme temperature drops at night, they have evolved to survive hard conditions that would kill many other species.

  Males and females stand within the same height range, although they show noticeable gender dimorphism with the presence of mammary glands and a paler crest of vibrissae on the females. The vibrissae are sensory receptors like in most species, but among the Argurma, they evolved to be thicker, with protective layers so that they resemble tentacles. They have a prehensile quality that allows them to vibrate and move in different ways, not only for gathering information, but also for defense and mating purposes.

  When it comes to natural defenses, both males and females have hard scales everywhere, except the vulnerable areas around the belly and genitals, where they have soft flexible scales. Horns grow at several defensive areas on the body, protecting them sufficiently from many dangers, including predators. Although infants are born with soft scales and are more vulnerable until their juvenile scaling comes in around the third revolution, the species overall is difficult to kill with many weapons, which was the case even prior to technological advancements and the Argurma cybernetic revolution, which infused the species with tech implants and nano cybernetics, the full functions of which are still unknown.

  The Argurma’s ability to survive in varied terrain without protective gear, outside of those that are among the colder zones, also owes to the fact that the adults can go long periods without requiring food or water—a period of three weeks has been recorded in some extreme circumstances. While infants and juveniles require more regular feeding, their calorie needs decrease after reaching adulthood. Some adults will calorie load, however, if they know that they will not be able to eat for days at a time, in preparation for mating and in females when carrying young. A male Argurma will calorie load if he can twice a day when mated to assure that he has enough energy to care for and protect his mate.

  On whole, it is the recommendation of the intergalactic survey team to suggest that the Argurma species, while possessing a keen intellect and strong forces that can be powerful in an ally, be avoided. It must be noted to especially avoid confrontations with mated Argurmas, and never get between a male and his mate.

  Prologue

  Terri strode through the space station, trying not gawk. It was difficult not to. Everything was just so… shiny! After a lifetime of scraping by in shambles and filth, seeing so many new wares, flashy bright lights, and the scents of so many interesting things sparked an ember of avarice in her. She was greedy for it all! She wanted to taste, smell, touch, and experience everything.

  She watched as credits were exchanged between flashing wrist comms and merchandise was bought. So that was what all Veral’s fuss was about…credits. Credits acquired things. She was practically giddy with excitement as she took it all in. Males and females of peculiar species and varied appearances enticed her with colorful baubles and food that teased her senses.

  A male waved around some sort of meat on a stick as he called out to those passing by him. Terri’s stomach growled plaintively. It was torturous to stand among everything so tantalizing while Veral spoke to a male he apparently recognized. No doubt his contact for the furs he brought to trade. His head was lowered as he spoke in quiet tones, his dark form standing out against the brilliant colors of the hub. Terri didn’t want to interrupt him, but she was starving. She didn’t have any credits, and she felt a prick of guilt, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She was hungry, and the male had more than plenty. Surely, he wouldn’t miss one skewer. She would be quick—while the merchant in front of her was distracted.

  She licked her lips, her muscles shifting as she prepared. She would be in and out before the male even knew what happened. She tensed and moved in for the kill.

  Her foot slid forward on the floor when a hard hand closed around her shoulder. Her breath left her in a rush, emitting a slight squeak as Veral yanked her back against his abs, and she wheezed as her mate made a sound that was suspiciously close to a growl. Catching her breath, Terri leaned her head back against his hard body and met his piercing gaze, a slow, innocent smile spreading over her face.

  “Done already?”

  Veral rumbled, his vibrissae moving around his head with a bit more snap than its normally languid movements. His glowing eyes narrowed on her. “Did I not instruct you to not get into trouble?”

  She gaped up at him. “I’m not in any kind of trouble. I was just here, observing all the interesting things in the—what did you call this place—a market?” She looked around once more, a heightened pleasure stirring in her breast as she took it all in.

  Yes, she liked this place.

  “If you steal, you will attract unpleasant attention,” her mate growled out. “We are only here to make our delivery, not to draw unwanted notice to ourselves.”

  “I wasn’t going to steal. I would never take what someone else needs to survive. Can’t you see that the male has plenty to spare and is offering them indiscriminately to everyone who passes?”

  “You know exactly how the credit system works,” he replied flatly. “We discussed it at length before our arrival on the space station.”

  He had gone over it until her eyes threatened to cross from boredom. Scavenging was a lot less complicated. You found it before someone else did, and if they had surplus that they failed to protect, then it was fair game.

  “I’m hungry,” she informed him irritably. She was always hungry as of late, her body demanding more and more nutrition.

  “You are angry,” he observed, his head cocking with curiosity as his perceptive gaze scanned her.

  “Angry-hungry,” she corrected.

  In her mind, this was distinct. She wasn’t really angry, just feeling particularly unreasonable
while her belly wasn’t satisfied. Though she was no stranger to going hungry, she found that she couldn’t abide by it now that she knew what a full stomach felt like. A new situation demanded its own word.

  “I’m hangry,” she amended at last.

  “Hangry…” Veral drawled, his brow plate lowering in consideration. “Is this something particular to your species? I have nothing on this in my databases.”

  Terri shrugged. Whether it was or not didn’t particularly concern her. She just knew how she felt. She wanted to eat and felt more irritated every moment as her stomach gurgled and whined at her to be fed. If he wasn’t going to allow her to procure it for herself, why wouldn’t he just get her the damn food she needed? She glared at him impatiently.

  A guttural sigh rattled out him, and he leaned down to press his lips against the top of her head, swaying his vibrissae to hide the gesture from prying eyes. His kind didn’t kiss, but he was picking it up quickly and rarely hesitated to shower her with such affection when they were in private. Only in private. This was as close to a kiss as she was going to get outside of their quarters. In Veral’s mind, kissing was akin to sex in intimacy.

  The gesture still was comforting as his mandibles scraped through her hair a little and his hand smoothed over her belly. “Very well. I understand your irrational instinct. I will provide you with sustenance to sate your angry hunger momentarily. Be still while I finish my negotiations.”

  Terri grimaced and nodded her assent as she entertained herself by glaring holes through the merchant. The male seemed to be in no hurry, but dithered over the promised credits until Terri gritted her teeth so hard that they were on the verge of breaking. She could tell that Veral’s patience was evaporating as well by the way his vibrissae began to move erratically.

  Good. She wouldn’t be wasting any sympathy on the merchant when he got a boot up the ass.

  She was still glowering and had paced a couple feet away to look at a box of fascinating gems to keep her mind off her hunger when a trilling sound distracted her. Glancing up from the box, she found herself staring at a dull brownish-red creature with enormous yellow eyes, the one who’d been selling delicious meat sticks moments earlier. It no longer held tasty snacks. Instead, several tentacles unwound from its neck, moving toward her as the tentacles along its back and sides moved in.

  Terri watched them warily, kicking away one in disgust when it got too close to her boot. What the fuck? She choked out a surprised gasp when a tentacle slithered up the back of her thigh, darting between her legs. Though she was wearing the black armored suit that Veral had fitted her with, she still squeezed her legs together in shock, gripping the tentacle with one hand, attempting to rip it away as it prodded at the strong material covering her sex. The tentacle dripped fluid from small tubes near the tip, and she felt sick as a substance like pale blue cum smeared over her gloved fingers, but still she couldn’t dislodge it.

  Gross!

  She snarled and fought with it as other tentacles closed around her, the male drawing nearer. Another tentacle neared her face, and she sank her teeth into it. It tasted awful, and to her horror, the thing moaned rapturously and moved nearer, its tentacles reaching, stroking, and grasping.

  An enraged roar made her attacker freeze. Veral’s mandibles clicked threateningly as he pulled it away from her, dangling the creature in the air. The tentacle that had been prodding at her sex moments ago was gripped firmly in her mate’s hand, his claws extended through the slits in his gloves. The alien squealed and attempted to break free, but Veral laughed as he held it in place.

  “You dare to touch a mated female? My female?” he growled.

  The alien shook its bulbous head. “I did not know—”

  Veral snarled, shaking the alien in his grip.

  “I am not ignorant of your kind. Male Manvi taste the air, seeking mated and unmated females alike guaranteed to be of breeding age to deposit your seed and breed when opportunity presents itself. Your mistake was daring with an Argurma’s mate,” he hissed, his mandibles widening aggressively.

  The Manvi began to shriek as Veral’s claws dug into his mating tentacle, tearing into the flesh as he twisted and pulled on the limb until it tore free, blue blood spurting everywhere. His screams were so terrible that they drowned out the panicked shouts of the merchants fumbling as they searched for a safe place to hide.

  Terri watched as the blood splattered on Veral, but he didn’t appear to notice it. His teeth bared in a savage grin, he transferred his iron grip to the male’s jaws, forcing them apart, and silenced his screams by shoving the tentacle deep into the gaping mouth.

  Her assailant made a ghastly gurgling sound as Veral finally dropped him and turned nonchalantly to greet a group of males. They were dressed alike, and each possessed an air of authority. She determined that they must be the space station guards her mate hadn’t wanted to attract the attention of.

  Wiping a bit of blood off her cheek, she stepped on the Manvi, grinding her heel as hard as she could into the place where the tentacle was torn free, and wandered over to his stall. Without hesitating, she helped herself to several meat sticks, loading her arms with tasty treats. Sinking her teeth into one and ripping away a deliciously spicy chunk of meat, she returned to Veral’s side.

  One of the uniformed males was grimacing down at the Manvi. “You are fortunate that the species breathes through a low set of gills over their chest or else we would have no choice but to bring you up on attempted murder charges,” he muttered.

  Veral shrugged. “I would not have cared if he died, but I am familiar with the species and know the laws.”

  The male nodded, his eyes sliding over to Terri and her pile of snacks—more specifically eyeing the food. She clutched them defensively to her chest and glared. If they thought they were going to take them away from her after she been assaulted and with her belly complaining, they were going to have to wrestle them away. The male’s eyes narrowed as if debating doing just that until Veral growled. Not wanting to cause an altercation, Terri smiled cheerfully and waved a stick.

  “I think after everything I just had to go through, sacrificing his dignity and a few snack sticks is an appropriate payment.”

  The male, never taking his eyes away from her growling mate, nodded slowly and cleared his throat. “Yes, I can see how that would be reasonable. What is your business on the Xenxinexa space station?”

  Veral’s vibrissae twitched as his mandibles clicked with impatience. “Our business is between us and our employer, a respectable merchant on Xenxinexa.”

  The guard’s eyes sharpened as if weighing whether or not he wanted to pursue the matter. The Manvi gurgled again, and he grimaced down at the poor wretch. “This is going to take considerable time to write up,” he huffed at last. “You and your female are free to go. I trust that you are not planning an extended stay with us.”

  “No,” Veral grunted, grabbing her arm as he turned away. “Our business is concluded. We are leaving.”

  Terri was certain she heard a muttered prayer of thanks as her mate hustled her away, back toward their ship. His eyes cut to her, softening in amusement as she gnawed eagerly on her treat.

  “Are you still ‘hangry,’ anastha?”

  She licked the spices and delicious flavoring off her lips. “I think I’m good. How did business go?”

  Veral grinned as he fingered his comm unit. “The male rethought his bid and doubled the original offer.”

  “Wonderful!” she said. “Before or after you threatened his life?”

  Veral smirked and curled a protective arm around her. “It may depend on who you ask. According to my processors I had not yet threatened, only suggested what happened to males who cheat an Argurma.”

  Terri chuckled as she pressed her cheek lovingly into his side. “I love you.”

  “This I know—which is very fortunate for the other males in the space station staring at you, stinking up their air with their lust.”

  Grinnin
g widely, Terri fed a bite of meat to her mate as she bit off another chunk, chewing happily, Veral’s raspy chuffing surrounding her as they entered their ship.

  Despite his good humor, her mate gave her a sideways glance as they settled into their chairs on the flight deck, his expression turning thoughtful.

  “It may be prudent if you stay aboard the ship next time. The males exhibit too much interest in you. I do not mind exercising my right to protect you and detach their reproductive organs from their bodies, but it unnecessarily alarms security and brings attention on us.”

  Terri frowned at him in confusion. “I don’t see how it is my fault.”

  Her mate’s expression softened, a soft purr vibrating from him. “It is not your fault, anastha, that you attract the attention of males. But I do not wish for my female to be in danger.”

  “But how am I in any danger with you at my side?”

  She had her answer three days later when a group of vaguely familiar males trailed them from the space station and attacked. Veral allowed them to dock and slaughtered each male who attempted to board their ship. Their screams had echoed through the ship into the quarters she shared with Veral, making her hands tighten into fists against the bedding.

  She understood the danger then, but she didn’t think he would follow through with his plan.

  Terri didn’t even think of it when they received an assignment from the Royal House of Grezna to salvage a load that had gone down when the starship carrying it crashed. Although it had been weeks since the incident, and Terri herself had almost forgotten his quiet decision, when they stopped again to take on more fuel, Veral had kept to his word and locked her on the ship for her safety. Bewildered, she waited for him, and he returned with their supplies.