Warlord Unarmed

By Cynthia Sax

Protected by the Barbarian Warrior
* * *
Murad, a technology-loving Chamele Warlord, has to track down and eliminate a rogue warrior before that male ends Murad’s reign. Permanently.
When a pieced-together wreck of a ship enters the sector without authorization, Murad assumes it is piloted by an ally of his enemy and decides to blow the battered vessel out of open space.
Then he hears the voice of its sole occupant and his orders and his priorities immediately shift. The captain of the ship is his gerel, the one female he’s genetically compatible with—the light to his darkness, his future, his everything.
He will protect her...even if it costs him his life.
Bounty hunter Gale doesn’t want or need protection. She has entered Chamele space on a rescue mission. A tall, muscular, half-naked barbarian with humor-lit eyes and gentle hands won’t distract her from that purpose, no matter what he tries.
A broken ship and an enemy focused on revenge do interfere with her plans. Gale’s goal changes from saving a friend to saving herself. The only being who can increase her chances of survival is the one Warlord she can’t resist.
* * *
Warlord Unarmed is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a warrior hero and a BBW heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes violent universe.
Warlord Unarmed is the third of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cynthia Sax
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781987971286

Cynthia Sax

Cynthia Sax lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say, “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever. Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago.

Book preview

Chapter One

Murad had found his gerel, the one being he was destined to bond with, the sole female who could give him offspring. He heard her voice in an intercepted communication, had known instantly she was his, his cock hardening, all of him bellowing to claim her.

Before he traveled across the universe and retrieved his gerel, he had to eliminate possible threats to her in the Chamele sector. He and his brothers needed to neutralize their sole remaining enemy.

That would be easier to accomplish if Murad was flying the most advanced warship available and not the obsolete model he was currently occupying.

Gegeen sent another message. Sartaq, his second-in-command, relayed that information. They had to move the ship again. It was blocking manufacturing.

If we delay much longer, Head of Ship and Weapons Design will charge me a storage fee. Murad joked about the situation.

The warriors on the bridge laughed.

It was the third time Gegeen and Renzong had moved the ship.

Murad and his warriors were supposed to take possession of it a shift ago.

But the early-warning system for an academy had failed, and protecting Chamele 3’s children was more important than taking ownership of a new warship. Defeating the enemy and retrieving his gerel would have to be delayed for one shift.

He checked their current location. Their final destination didn’t yet appear on the monitoring systems. On the main viewscreen, yellow vegetation swayed, the tops of the shafts kissing the clear blue sky.

The older warship they were temporarily utilizing was flying at its top speed but it would be several moments before they reached the manufacturing facility.

Ship, contact Warrior Gegeen. He instructed the system.

Contacting Warrior Gegeen, my lord.

The robotic voice irked Murad. It was a reminder of the age of the vessel.

The system in his previous ship had sported almost human tones. It had been faster, had upgraded defenses, better programming. He clenched his jaw. His enemy, Tolui, had stolen that ship.

My lord. Gegeen’s face appeared on the main viewscreen. Renzong stood behind the older warrior. Both males were grinning.

All of his warriors were excited about the new ship. They loved new technology as much as Murad did.

Fly the ship to the old test field. Communications should be secure, but Murad wasn’t taking any chances. The warrior knew where that location was. There was no need to send coordinates. We’ll meet you there.

That would save time, allow more test flights to occur before Chamele’s solitary sun set.

Gegeen blinked once, twice. "You want me to be the first being to fly the new ship, my lord?"

Renzong appeared as stunned. The entire bridge of Murad’s current ship was deathly quiet. They were all listening to the conversation.

Each of them took turns at flying the new ships. They tested the systems and handling and top speeds, trying to best the previous pilot.

But the order had always been highest to lowest rank.

He, as their Warlord, had always been first. You will be first, Warrior Gegeen.

I’m first. The male glanced at Renzong.

The other warrior nodded.

I’m first. Gegeen’s chest heaved as though he had run a long distance. I’ll be worthy of this honor, my lord. I won’t let you down.

"You have never let me down, warrior. Zondoo. If Murad had known what it meant to the older warrior, he would have relayed that duty solar cycles ago. I trust you with my lifespan…and with our ship."

We will fly it directly to the old test site, land it there, and wait for you, my lord. Gegeen straightened. I won’t leave the ship. It will never be unaccompanied.

Warriors jabbed their elbows into Sartaq’s stomach. Murad’s Second had left the previous ship unattended. That was how Tolui, their enemy, had stolen it.

We’ll meet you there shortly, warrior. Murad ended the transmission.

We’ll never hear the end of this. Sartaq’s grin belied his grumbled words. Gegeen will be boasting for solar cycles about being the first to fly it.

The warriors laughed.

Gegeen deserved any honor Murad could bestow upon him. Like many of the males on the bridge, the older warrior had fought fiercely by Murad’s side during the brutally violent Succession Wars.

They had emerged victorious, their combined efforts earning Berke, Murad’s eldest brother, his rightful place as Warlord.

Berke had then divided the role into three. He’d kept control of Chamele 1, the planet closest to the border of the sector. Khan, the second eldest brother, had been given Chamele 2 to rule. Murad, the youngest brother, had been granted Chamele 3. All of them shared authority over Chamele 4, the hunting planet.

Murad reviewed some system changes to a nourishment fabrication facility as his males joked and teased each other.

All Chameles were warriors. It was part of their nature. But most of the inhabitants of the planet Murad ruled were also agri-lot tenders. They grew nourishment for themselves and many other beings in the sector.

It was his duty to protect them, a duty he took very seriously, despite his public façade of being the lighthearted, humor-loving brother.

There is an incoming multi-being hail routed through Chamele 1, my lord, the ship’s system informed him.

Murad stifled a groan. It must be his two older brothers, checking in on him. They didn’t trust him to rule his own planet.

Quiet. He gave that order to his warriors and they immediately complied, a hush falling over the bridge. Secure the line. Technology was his strength, not his brothers’. And answer the hail, system.

Securing the line and answering the hail, my lord. The robotic voice confirmed that command.

Khan appeared first on his private viewscreen. His scarred face was etched with lines. Those grooves faded as he saw Murad. You’re alive.

Berke’s expression was as dour as ever. He’s alive. His voice was flat.

Yes. Yes. Murad rolled his eyes. I’m alive. His brothers’ overprotectiveness was irritating. I might not be as skilled a warrior as Khan is— No one in the sector could match the Warlord’s fighting skills. "—but I can protect myself and the beings answering to me."

Sartaq and his other warriors grinned.

Tolui stole your ship. Khan reminded him, his tone dry.

Sartaq, the being responsible for that embarrassing mishap, stopped smiling. The other males kicked his booted feet.

Murad’s face heated. That was sloppiness.

There was no other excuse for it. The ship’s security systems hadn’t been activated before his Second had left it unattended.

Sloppiness in battle results in death. Berke shook his head. Return to your most secure location and remain there until you’re told otherwise.

Murad stared at his brother. That command was highhanded even for Berke. I’m a Warlord. He gritted his teeth. I’m not going into hiding because one of my ships was stolen.

This isn’t about your ship. His eldest brother’s expression grew more severe. What was that message Tolui sent you, Khan?

Khan’s gaze lowered. A brother for a brother.

A brother for a brother. Berke’s head dipped. Khan killed one of Tolui’s clones. Our enemy plans to kill one of us in retaliation.

Zondoo. The rebellion whooshed out of Murad. Send me the message. He doubted he could track the source. Tolui had hidden his past communication trails well. But Murad would try his best. That brother could be you, Berke.

I realize that. His eldest brother’s eyes blazed. I’m already in hiding, as you call it, and will remain there until Tolui is dealt with.

"And how are we dealing with him? Murad raised his eyebrows. We can’t locate him."

When he can’t locate you, he’ll come after me. Khan looked smug. I’m ready for him. He extended his claws.

Or he’ll simply send one of his clones to kill you. Murad didn’t trust their enemy. As he did the last time.

Some of his warrior brother’s bravado wavered. We’re changing the laws. That clone will have the option to surrender.

Being a clone was currently punishable by death in the Chamele sector, which meant the warriors in Tolui’s clone army had no option—they had to continue fighting or they would die.

The laws were being amended to ensure the clones had the right to exist. Once those laws were approved, the clones could surrender and live as regular Chameles.

Khan believed that would prompt mass defections, depleting Tolui’s forces, making him easier to defeat.

Murad wasn’t as optimistic as his brother was. Tolui had proven to be a clever and strong adversary and the warriors were his clones. Murad wouldn’t betray his brothers. He doubted the clones would betray Tolui.

He will try to locate us, to deliver on his message. Berke appeared even more grim than he normally was.

Of the three of them, Berke had sacrificed the most since the battles for succession had begun. He had found his gerel, the one female he was genetically destined to be with, and had somehow lost her during the war.

Murad suspected the female had died, and with her, all hope of happiness for Berke had perished also. His brother was facing a lifespan of solitude, wouldn’t experience companionship or have children.

Khan would have all that. Every one hundred heartbeats or so, their warrior brother’s gaze flicked off viewscreen, the gleam in his eyes communicating that Zeta, his human gerel, was close. And knowing his brother, the little bounty hunter was well protected.

Murad’s gerel was also safe. He didn’t know much about her, but he did know her name was Gale, she was a friend of Zeta’s, and she was situated far away, in a secure location, within a peaceful sector.

Once Tolui was dealt with, he would retrieve her.

I’ve prepared for a possible attack by Tolui. The way Berke said that relayed he expected Murad to do the same. My warriors are on high alert.

Murad’s warriors had left their seats and were standing in front of the main viewscreen, chattering.

Once we take delivery of our new ship and test it, we’ll return to base. It was one of the safest places on his planet. That structure is impregnable.

You said that about your ship. Khan would ridicule him about that until the end of time.

Murad loved his brothers but they could be pains in his ass. "My ship would have been impregnable if its systems had been activated."

My lord— Sartaq, the being who hadn’t activated those systems, interrupted them.

Murad waved him away. My ship was top-of-the-line.

Tolui now has that top-of-the-line ship. Berke was angry about that.

Murad was also. He removed the tracking device I installed in it. That irked him. We—

My lord. Sartaq stood directly in front of him. You need to see this.

He looked up. His warriors parted, revealing the main viewscreen.

Smoke billowed from a stretch of scorched terrain. An unidentifiable object had been pulverized. Debris littered the ground, the pieces of it alarmingly small. Several small fires burned.

He straightened in his seat. What are our coordinates?

His Second met his gaze squarely. We’ve arrived at the old test site, my lord. He confirmed Murad’s suspicions.

Was that object the new ship? Had Tolui targeted his warriors?

Murad folded his fingers into tight fists, anger swelling inside him. His claws pricked at his skin. Ship, contact Warrior Gegeen.

We’ve attempted to contact Gegeen and Renzong…multiple times, my lord. Sartaq informed him. There’s no reply.

"Then we try again…and again…and again until we do receive a reply." Murad’s tone was brusque.

Gegeen and Renzong would never give up on him. He wouldn’t give up on them.

Head of Ship and Weapons Design has a means to track his creations. Murad told Sartaq. Ask him to locate the ship. Tell him nothing more.

That last guidance was unnecessary. All of his warriors knew not to talk about incidents until they were authorized to do so.

Contacting the Head Of Ship and Weapons Design, my lord. Sartaq tapped on his private viewscreen.

Were you supposed to be in your missing ship? Khan frowned.

I’ve always been the first to fly the ships. Every being on the planet knew that. And every being in the facility would have been privy to the fabrication schedule.

Tolui believes he killed you. Berke stated what Murad already suspected.

Khan tilted his head. That could be useful.

Murad didn’t want to talk about tactics or the enemy or usefulness. He was focused on his two missing warriors.

We’ll discuss this later. He told his brothers.

"Do not land." Berke’s eyes blazed.

He was landing. His warriors could have somehow survived. I’m ending the transmission. He tapped on his private viewscreen.

The images of his brothers disappeared, leaving only a view of the destruction.

System, are any ships within range? He hoped there were. He wanted to blow Tolui, that dishonorable warrior, out of space.

There are no ships within range, my lord.

Son of a Gechii. Tolui had escaped them yet again.

And Murad might have lost two loyal warriors. The weight of those lifespans pressed down on his shoulders. Perform a lifeform scan, system.

There are no lifeforms within range, my lord.

The fires could be interfering with the scan, my lord. Sartaq didn’t believe his own words. Murad heard that in his Second’s voice.

Did Head of Ship and Weapons Design locate the ship? Could there be a chance the rubble had come from something else?

No, my lord. His Second wouldn’t meet his gaze.

Set this ship down outside the debris field. Murad didn’t address the likelihood of his warriors being alive. The drones and bots will roll out first. They didn’t know if Tolui had left explosives on the site. Then we will walk the terrain.

His warriors nodded. They were somber, the joking and laughter discarded. Two of their own might have fallen.

They’d all lost friends and family members in the seemingly endless wars. But Gegeen had been there since the beginning. He’d trained several of the males. And Renzong was as well-liked, could often be found by the older warrior’s side.

They were still together…wherever they were. Pain squeezed Murad’s heart. Zondoo. He hoped they hadn’t yet arrived.

The ship they were flying landed. The doors opened. The scent of smoke and fuel assaulted Murad’s nostrils.

The drones flew over the site, relaying images. Panels, engine parts, seats were identifiable…barely. The size and shape were telling.

It had been a ship.

Bots navigated the terrain. There were no signs of undetonated explosives. Tolui and his rogue warriors had blown up the ship and departed.

Inform me if you spot anything unusual. Murad told his males as they started walking the site.

Wires snapped and slithered on the ground. He lifted a piece of panel. An unoccupied seat was hidden underneath it.

Murad recognized it, had chosen that style for their new ship. Hopes of finding his two warriors alive dwindled.

My lord. One of his males called to him.

All of them moved to the spot. A severed hand lay on the flattened vegetation. There was a deep silver scar on the palm.

Murad recognized it. Renzong deserves our respect. Collect as much of his body as possible.

My lord. Sartaq had lifted a piece of debris.

Hair covered what appeared to be a head. Murad’s stomach heaved as he crouched beside it.

It was tempting to relay the task of identifying the dead to another warrior. But he couldn’t do that.

The males had been his responsibility, his beings to safeguard.

He carefully unwrapped the long black strands from around the face. Gegeen stared back at him, his eyes wide and unseeing.

Grief gripped Murad, digging its sharp claws into his soul. You defended our ship with your lifespan, warrior. His heart ached. I would have never asked that of you. I can replace the ship. I will never replace you. His friend had been one of a kind, a male unlike any other. But I’m not surprised you made that sacrifice. That was the type of warrior you were – brave, fierce, extremely stubborn.

The males gathered around him guffawed uneasily at his weak attempt at a joke. Gegeen and Renzong would have done the same.

But now they wouldn’t laugh again.

I’m honored to have fought with you. Murad straightened, holding