Claimed: The Warriors of Nur by C.C. Coats Page B

Muda was vicious, a trait learned from their father.  Once claimed, a female was under the protection of her mate and subject to his…pleasures.  She would suffer under his brother, as she had in the brief time with his father.  Even more so. 
    “Others will come to witness this, Leo’Nya, and you must not be seen.”  He cautioned anxiously.
    “What do you mean?  Why can’t I be seen?”  She finished the last of the fruit and started on the meat.  “What kind of fruit is that…been meaning to ask you.”
    “Tangeli fruit…You are exotic to us, and just as my father stole you, so will another want you too.”
    Dropping the meat back to the thin metal dish, she rubbed at her stomach, feeling the fruit settle into a large lump.  The archived memory came rushing back.  She remembered all too well the day she been stolen…, and the bloodied body left behind.
    “I understand.”  She said, laying her palm gently against his cheek.  Staring into his earnest brown eyes, she imagined seeing him, dead and bloodied, killed while trying to protect her, and shuddered.  “I’ll stay inside where no one can see me, if you promise to take me outside…just for a little while,” she added, seeing the objection on his lips.  “Humans…like me, we need sunlight to stay healthy.  I won’t die without it, but we absorb nutrients through our skin, and it can be damaging to our…um…ability to think clearly, if we are kept inside too long.  It’s called ‘cabin fever’.  Beside, I’m chained.  Where will I go?”
    Frowning, he began to gather the empty dishes.  “You won’t be chained after the mourning is done.” 
    Surprised, she sipped slowly from the remaining fruit.
    “I do not want you to contract this ‘cabin fever,’ so I will take you into the sun, but not until after the rite is complete.”
    “Deal!” she smiled, and helped gather the dishes.
     

     
    Erol stared into the dense canopy above him.  His whole body ached. 
    Goddess Mother!  What in the darkest shades of The Seven Gates…
    “ Mati !” he called, jacking into a sitting position.
    Strong hands restrained him, pulling him back down.  He fought wildly, feeling his body begin to phase. 
    “Calm, brother!”
    He whipped his head in the direction of the deeply rumbled command.  Crimson eyes narrowed to focus on the male that kneeled beside him, pinning him to the ground by his shoulder.  On his other side, another male did the same. 
    Lost in phase, he didn’t recognize them as brothers, but as males keeping him from his female.  He continued to struggle, teeth snapping at the hands that held him down, a continuous growl of aggression rumbling from his throat.
    Neron struggled to hold Erol.  In his weakened state, he should not have been able to fight both him and Atif, yet both struggled to restrain his thrashing body. 
    “He’s phased, Neron!?”  Atif ground out through teeth gritted in an effort to keep him down.
    They both stared in amazement at the almost instant change in their brother.  One moment, he had been resting quietly, the next, they were holding down a fully phased male.
    “Brother…listen…” He tried again to reach him through the confusion of his phasing senses.  “Calm the fuck down!  You’ve been ill…are newly healed…”  It was as Erol didn’t hear him.
    “They’re released, brother…the Goddess now holds them…your Mati is safe…” Atif interrupted, shrugging as if to say, what could it hurt , at Neron’s frown.
    To their relief and confusion, Erol began to calm, his struggles lessening until he lay still, the only movement the rapid rise and fall of his chest.  Slowly his body began to change, his fangs and claws shrinking to their natural size, still sharp, but less dangerous.  His skin smoothed to its normal creamy brown color, his eyes draining to their equally odd, but less disturbing, grey-white.
    “We found you brother--half dead--among the remains of