Despite the threat, he still hadn’t moved, but then again, neither had she, and she realized that they were at a standstill. In order to get away from him, she would have to lift the knife, and she suspected that as soon as she did, he would go for it. Her chances of keeping it away from him were slim at best. She didn’t think she had the stomach to seriously injure him, and she tried desperately to think of an alternative. Her arm was already getting tired.
He smirked down at her and she suspected he was getting ready to try and seize the knife. His legs tensed, but before he could move, a big body came out of nowhere and smashed him into the wall.
A’tai had found her.
A’tai curled his limb around the slaver’s neck until his eyes bulged. He was shaking from fear as much as anger. He had come so close to losing Kate.
He had still been staring in disbelief at the empty bedroom when Uauna had found him.
“I’ve been looking for you, sire. Did you know that Lady Kate was returning to the market? Alone?”
His eyes closed for a second in horrified despair before he turned and raced down the stairs, Uauna following close behind. He had been an idiot to try and confine her.
“You didn’t try and stop her?” he snapped.
“I am not a jailer,” Uauna said reproachfully.
The other male was right, and he would have to apologize to him later, but right now finding Kate was the only thing that mattered.
“She is wearing a green cloak,” Uauna called after him as he charged out the door.
Not sure where else to go, he headed for the stall where he had found her earlier. His chest ached when the vendor described her purchase, and he realized that she had bought it for him. But then the male told him that after buying the scroll, she had been escorted away by an Ithyian male. His blood ran cold. Even if it wasn’t her original captor, the Ithyians were notorious slavers.
He frantically scanned the market, looking for any trace of a green cloak. He thought he caught a glimpse of green and started after it, only to collide with an elderly female. As he steadied her, he saw a piece of green paper fluttering at her feet. He automatically noted it as part of a Namoan scroll, then froze. Could it be a piece of the one Kate had purchased?
His heart pounding, he started searching for other scraps. They had been scattered by the constant activity, but enough remained to lead him towards the edge of the market. He almost missed the last one at the entrance to the alley, but then he saw a flash of green and saw the Ithyian leaning over Kate.
Now this bastard was going to die.
“Wait,” Kate said, clutching his arm. “Don’t kill him.”
“You wish to save his life?”
“Not at all. But he said he knew what happened to my friends.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” the Ithyian sneered as A’tai reluctantly loosened his grip.
“Yes, I would.” He slammed him up against the wall again. “And if you wish to live, you’ll tell me.”
The male gave him a sullen look, but when A’tai tightened his grip again, he finally muttered, “I don’t know. The trackers seem to be defective. The captain sent one of us to each of the planets in the system. Waste of fucking time. But this one just walked right into me. Stupid female.”
He automatically slammed the male against the wall again at the insult, but he was more concerned about the fact that Kate’s face had paled.
“Other planets?” she whispered.
“Are you all right, amali?” He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he couldn’t let go of the Ithyian. He settled for curling a limb around her back.
“They could be anywhere.” A tear slid down her cheek, and his heart ached for her.
“There are only two other planets in this system. We will find them.”
“Only two?” she asked with a despairing laugh.
“Yeah, good luck with that,” the Ithyian sneered.
A’tai growled and tightened his limb around the male’s neck until his body went limp. He had no further use for the bastard.
“Is he dead?” Kate asked, but she didn’t seem particularly concerned.
“No.” He let the male’s body fall to the ground, then wrapped his arms around her. “Unfortunately. But I will pass him over to the Imperial Guard. He will spend the rest of his life on one of the prison planets—and he will undoubtedly wish that I had killed him.” She pressed closer to him as he continued. “But he no longer concerns you. We at least know that your friends are in this system and not prisoners of the Ithyians.”
“I just feel so helpless. Three planets to search.”
“We are already searching here on Mafana—and I will have my mother spread the word as well.”
“That should thrill her,” she said dryly.
“You might be surprised. She told me I was not treating you appropriately. And she was right. I was coming to apologize when I found you missing.” He bent his head, his forehead touching hers. “I was terrified that I would lose you forever.”
“I was going to come back. I don’t want to lose you either.” She sighed. “You were right about the market, but you can’t treat me like a child. I thought you were overreacting again.”
“I wasn’t, but I can see why you would believe that. I know you are a strong, intelligent female—but you are also fragile. My instincts will always demand that I protect you.”
She started to speak, but he put a gentle finger across her lips. “I promise that I will do my best to restrain that instinct as much as possible.”
“Good. Because I would hate to have to keep escaping.”
He growled and kissed her. She melted happily into his embrace. By the time he lifted his head, his skin was edged with gold and he caught the sweet scent of her arousal.
“Does the idea of chasing me down excite you?” she teased.
“Perhaps. Does the idea of being caught excite you?”
He unfurled two of his limbs and gripped her arms. The delightful pink washed over her face, but she shook her head.
“We can talk about that later. When we’re alone,” she added as the Ithyian groaned. “Tell me about these other two planets.”
“Sayari is mainly a nature preserve for affluent Tajiri families. They have vacation homes and hunting lodges there, along with a few resorts for wealthy guests from other systems.”
“Hunting? They wouldn’t hunt a female, would they?”
“Of course not,” he said soothingly, hoping he was correct. “I will ask that we be notified if a human is discovered, although the Tajiri are fickle creatures.”
“Why? What are they like?”
“Rich, arrogant bastards.” His mouth curled in distaste.
“Are they princes?” she asked innocently.
One of his arms tapped her bottom, and she jumped, the scent of her arousal increasing.
“No, my amali,” he growled. “They simply have too many credits for their own good. Yangu is their home planet, and the only other habitable planet in our system. It will be the most difficult to search. Because of its natural stores of gemstones, it is very rich and attracts a lot of traffic—not always of the most desirable type. I think it might be best to offer a reward there as well.”
“Can you afford that?”
“I’m a rich, arrogant bastard, remember? And yes, we can afford it.”
She smiled up at him.
“But first, I need to take this bastard to the guard. I will send for an escort—" He came to an abrupt halt, and forced himself to ask. “Will you accept an escort back to the palace?”
“Of course I will—but thank you for asking.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kate curled up in the window seat in their bedroom and stared thoughtfully out across the sea. A’tai had—very reluctantly—left her for another one of his seemingly endless meetings. It had been two days since Eshak had tried to take her and she still wasn’t sleeping or eating well. The feel of his hand dragging her away
haunted her.
A soft knock sounded on the door, immediately followed by E’lofi peeping into the room, her eyes sparkling.
“Hi. Would you like a visitor?”
“Please. I’m tired of my own thoughts.”
The girl walked in with her graceful, dancing step. She really was extremely pretty and it was hard to believe sometimes that A’tai had chosen her instead.
“You look like you have some interesting gossip,” she teased.
E’lofi laughed. “Did you hear? Mafana has banned Ithyian ships. Forever.”
“Really?” An unexpected feeling of relief swept over her. Maybe she could stop having nightmares now.
“Yes. A’tai made a very impassioned speech and I made sure my father supported him.”
“That was sweet. Thank you.”
The girl shrugged. “I’m not sure if it was necessary—no one really likes them anyway—but I thought it couldn’t hurt.”
“Can you stay for a little while? I’ll ring for some tea.”
“Of course. I have to tell you all about my new gowns.”
But when Uauna brought the tray, it contained three cups. She gave him a puzzled frown, but before he could say anything, the door opened again and U’rsul swept in. The room seemed to shrink, but she managed to smile.
“Welcome, Lady U’rsul. Are you joining us for tea?”
“Yes. I brought some of my special blend in case you were low on supplies.”
Kate gritted her teeth. “Uauna makes sure that we are well-stocked.”
“Really? It’s usually a job for the lady of the house. But then again, you have your own… interests.”
Would A’tai object if she threw his mother out of the window, she wondered, as E’lofi stepped into the breach.
“Is that the parjan leaves, Lady U’rsul? My aunt always spoke most highly of it. She said it was the only thing she could tolerate when she was bearing her first child.”
U’rsul gave her a gracious smile. “That’s correct. I’m afraid not everyone appreciates it.”
Patience, Kate told herself.
“Shall I pour?” E’lofi stepped into the silence again.
“Please,” Kate said.
E’lofi performed the small ritual as gracefully as she did everything and Kate saw U’rsul watching her wistfully. When the girl handed her a cup, Kate took it reluctantly. She found most Mafanan teas very bitter, and she suspected U’rsul would be scandalized if Kate dumped a pound of sweetener into her cup. She took a cautious sip, but to her relief it only had a slight lemony taste that was unexpectedly refreshing.
“This is delicious,” she said sincerely, and U’rsul inclined her head graciously.
Kate sipped her tea in silence as the other two females discussed current affairs. She recognized some of the names—E’lofi had been teaching her—but she was content to stay out of the conversation.
“Oh my, look at the time.” E’lofi suddenly jumped up. She shot Kate an apologetic look. “I was supposed to meet Lady R’ian half an hour ago, and I don’t want her to think I’m late.”
Kate laughed. “Then you’d better run.”
E’lofi bent down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Then she vanished through the door, leaving Kate alone with U’rsul.
“Such a delightful girl,” U’rsul said wistfully.
“Yes, she is. I’m very fond of her.”
“She seems to enjoy your company as well.” There was the slightest hint of surprise in U’rsul’s voice.
“I’m nice to the people I like.”
To her surprise, U’rsul laughed. “Now why do I feel as if I am not included in that category?”
“Because you’ve made it quite clear that you disapprove of the fact that I am A’tai’s mate,” she said bluntly. She was tired and her stomach hurt and she didn’t want to play games.
“Actually, I have reconsidered.”
Kate almost dropped her teacup. “What?”
“My son assumed responsibility of our House when his father died, even though he was far too young. He worked very hard and he has been very successful—but he has never really enjoyed it. It did not make him happy.” Cold golden eyes surveyed her. “You, I think, make him happy.”
She had the oddest urge to cry. “We make each other happy.”
“That is how it should be.” U’rsul rose gracefully to her feet. “You are looking very pale, even for a human. Tell A’tai to take you back to Ataian.”
“Really?” Her heart skipped a beat as she thought wistfully of their peaceful life on the island.
U’rsul shrugged a shoulder. “There are no pressing business matters that I cannot handle, and since neither of you appear to enjoy the social season, there’s no real reason for you to remain. I might ask E’lofi to come and stay for a while. She has immense potential.”
“I agree.”
Golden eyes swept over her again. “I will send more of the parjan tea to accompany you.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell A’tai to see me before you leave.”
U’rsul departed in a swirl of perfumed skirts, and Kate breathed a sigh of relief. That had gone better than she expected, but she still found A’tai’s mother overwhelming.
She drank the rest of the tea, watching the birds circling over the water. Her eyes felt heavy, and her stomach had calmed for the first time in days. It must have been because of E’lofi’s news, she decided as she poured herself another cup of tea, smiling as she remembered the conversation.
She continued to replay the discussion as she curled back up in the window seat, then froze.
The only thing her aunt could tolerate…
It couldn’t be possible, could it?
When A’tai entered their bedroom, he found Kate sitting immobile on the window seat.
“Good afternoon, my amali. I heard my mother came to visit. Are you all right?”
She looked up at him, her pale skin even paler than usual. What had his mother done now?
“Do you know a doctor?” she whispered.
Fear raced through him so quickly his limbs almost buckled. He knew she hadn’t been eating or sleeping well, but he had blamed it on the incident in the market. What if something more serious was wrong? He tried to think as he reached down to pick her up. Fuck, she even felt lighter in his arms.
“I’ll take you there right now.”
“No! Wait. Can he come here?”
“It will be faster if I take you.”
“No.” She started to struggle as he reached the door. “Listen to me.”
His body screamed for action but he forced himself to pause. “What is it, my Kate?”
“Can’t he come here instead?”
“But—”
“Please.”
He had promised to listen to her, he reminded himself. “If that is what you wish.”
As he reached for the communicator, she stopped him again. “Is he discreet? He won’t tell anyone?”
He’d never been a huge fan of Physician Hollia because of the way he pandered to his mother, but he had never known the male to reveal any confidential information. “He is very discreet.”
“Then please send for him.”
As soon as he completed the call, he tried to carry her to the bed, but she insisted that he take her back to the window seat instead.
“Will you please tell me what’s wrong, amali?”
“I don’t think anything is wrong—but I want to be sure.”
Her lips curved in an odd little smile, and for some reason, he relaxed a little. The fact that she was curled so snugly in his arms, her body warm against his, also helped to sooth him.
“And nothing happened with my mother?”
“She told me I make you happy.”
“And she is right.” His own lips twisted. “Not something I say very often.”
“I told her you make me happy as well.”
He couldn’t resist, ben
ding his head to kiss her. He was still tasting her lips when the door chime sounded, then the physician rushed in.
“What’s wrong? I understand Lady Kate is ill?”
“Tell him what’s wrong, amali,” he urged.
“A’tai, I know this is going to be difficult, but please trust me. Can you leave us alone?”
Leave her alone? With a strange male? When her health could be in danger? He wanted to roar his refusal, but she only waited, watching him patiently, her eyes warm with understanding.
“I will be outside the door,” he growled, reluctance in every line of his body as he left the room.
He immediately regretted the decision, his hand going to open the door multiple times, but each time he forced himself to wait. Fortunately for the sake of his sanity, he did not have long to wait before Physician Hollia emerged beaming.
“Is she ill?” he demanded.
“Not at all. Go and see for yourself.”
He wanted to wring some answers out of the male, but his mate was more important. He rushed into the room, finding her still on the window seat, her head bowed.
“Kate?”
She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He was going to kill the fucking physician, he decided coldly, even as he kneeled in front of her. He’d had the nerve to smile at him after leaving his mate in tears?
“Whatever it is, it’s fine. We’ll fight it. I’ll arrange for a flight to—”
“A’tai, stop. Everything’s fine. There’s nothing to fight.” She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. “We’re going to have a baby.”
What? He could hear the sound of the sea ringing in his ears as his limbs collapsed.
“A’tai! A’tai! Do I need to get the doctor back?” Kate bent over him, her face worried.
“A baby?” he whispered. “Did you say we’re having a baby?”
“Yes. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“But you said it wasn’t possible.”
She grinned at him. “I didn’t think it was, but I was wrong. Aren’t you happy?”
“Happy?” The word sounded much too tame, too inadequate to express his feelings. “I have never been happier.”
Kate and the Kraken: A SciFi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 11) Page 15
