“I’m grateful to the goddess he survived and I mourn our two brothers who did not.” His voice was firm.
“Yes, but it bothers you he gave his oath to someone else. I can tell. And to the best of my knowledge there’s no way to undo the pack bond.” She was determined to pursue her train of thought despite his slightly off-putting response.
“I’d never ask that of him or any man. An oath once given must be honored.”
“I watched the way my friends reacted to you too. Friendly, respectful but I get the impression you wouldn’t be able to impose your will on them, would you? I mean, I’ve seen Aydarr do it but I guessing something about the blood oath makes them impervious to another Alpha taking them over. I think you’re going to have to make your pack swear fealty to you, maybe even before we leave for the valley, after the fight is over. Aydarr’s not going to let a hundred unsworn soldiers wander in his territory.”
“You’ve been thinking about this issue a lot.”
And why was he surprised? She was on his side after all or didn’t he fully accept that? “Well, yeah, I want things to go well for you and for the valley.”
“Are there any Alphas who haven’t sworn fealty to Aydarr?” he asked.
Flo considered. “Only the Tzibir—remember I mentioned them? The reptile DNA strain? But they’re not our allies either.”
“We should get some sleep,” he said. “Just because we think we’re safe here, the situation could change and we both need to be rested and ready to fight if necessary.”
Flo was hurt he didn’t want to pursue the subject of giving Aydarr an oath further but maybe because it was a Badari thing, he didn’t feel it was proper to discuss it with her? She rolled onto her side and was reassured as he put out one arm to gather her close, as he spooned behind her with all the lovely body heat. Closing her eyes, she hoped MARL didn’t need to talk to her any time soon. Darik had one of the alien AI’s actual manifestations on site so MARL could talk to it and leave her alone.
CHAPTER TEN
When Flo woke up, the other side of the bed was empty and Daegan wasn’t in the cell. She sat up and stretched, steeling herself to look at her injured leg. When she gritted her teeth and slid the limb in question outside the sleeping bag, she whistled in surprise, because the leg was back to normal and the red dots were faded, although still visible. “All right, thank you, Badari blood cells.”
She decided to take a shower in the small bathroom at the far end of the cell, encouraged to see a towel and liquid soap waiting there. First she rummaged in their gear for the backpack Jill had sent her; glad to have privacy to unpack it. “Bless you, woman,” she muttered as she took out a black tee shirt in her size, a pair of camo utility pants also her size and a pair of regulation boots, which would adapt to her foot size exactly. There was a spare set of tee shirt and pants, a few toiletries, and then at the bottom Jill had added a lacy bra and matching panties in pale green, which was Flo’s favorite color. The right size too.
Flo was stunned because the gesture was unlike the tough Alpha’s mate, who was ex-Special Forces. But then she remembered the gossip she’d heard that when Jill was kidnapped from the colony, she’d been wearing a hot little pink nightgown with black lace, which was the item she had on when Aydarr first saw her. Of course Jill had been battling a monster predator with her bare hands at the time as well, so she’d impressed him on many levels no doubt. I guess under the camouflage we’re not so different after all. Maybe I could swing being an Alpha’s mate. Wait until Daegan sees these. She smiled in pure female satisfaction when picturing his reaction.
Padding to the shower on bare feet, she got the water warm enough and stepped into the stream of droplets, blessing MARL12 for getting the plumbing going. For a few minutes she simply luxuriated and then began washing her hair, which seemed to have a lot of sand in it. As she went through her ablutions, she considered the topic of Daegan and the challenge he presented. Hearing him say he loved her the day before had been thrilling and terrifying in equal measure and she was in a quandary. The Badari mated for life and she’d never been the kind of person to put down roots and stay in one place, not when she was growing up, not in the military and not as a mercenary. Even here on Ushandirr as the planet had newly been named, she realized she’d been assuming once the war was over and the Sectors arrived to save the day, she’d go back to the mercenary trade. Gabe getting mated had been a blow because it meant she couldn’t work for him any longer. He’d never leave this world now he was bonded to Keshara and ranked as an enforcer in her pack as well.
She could go lone wolf, no problem. Her reputation was solid.
Only why did the prospect leave her cold and sad?
But Daegan was already hinting he wanted to claim her as his mate. Part of her wanted to accept the bond and claim him as hers in turn—she’d happily murder any woman who looked at him twice—but nothing was simple. Bond with him and become the Alpha’s mate in a huge pack…no, correction—a huge yet-to-be-organized pack, which she could see already was going to have its run-ins with Aydarr. Which brought up another issue—she couldn’t imagine Daegan would be accepting of her continuing to work for Aydarr as a pilot and soldier. Split loyalties weren’t his style. She only had to remember his pained greeting to Kierce in the flyer.
Sure in any joint military operation she could probably still be part of Aydarr’s team but it wouldn’t be the same.
Nothing would ever be the same.
Flo flipped the controls off, realizing she’d become a prune or whatever the legendary wrinkled Terran fruit was called, and stepped out of the shower, grabbing her towel to vigorously dry her hair. She stared at the mirror, leaning close to scrutinize her face as if she was hiding answers from herself. “Do I want things to stay the same?” She couldn’t be a mercenary forever. Her reflexes and skills were top notch now but inevitably age would slow her down. Maybe there was something to be said for stability, a man who loved her and new challenges. “Yeah but do I fit the bill as mother figure for an entire pack of Badari?”
Her mirror image had no answer. Grinning at the concept, she walked into the cell area with the towel wrapped around herself and retrieved her fresh clothes. I wish Jill was here so we could talk, woman to woman. She respected Jill, who was a kickass fighter. Probably the closest thing to me on this damn planet. Although Jill had had had a loving family and younger twin sisters she was close to. Flo might as well have been an orphan until she found home in the military. She shuddered and blanked out thoughts of her dysfunctional family.
Jill would give her the straight talk about being at the top of a pack and how she dealt with her stubborn Alpha mate.
She had the sure knowledge in her heart Daegan wouldn’t wait to press his claim to be mated either.
Flo sat on the bed to comb her hair. Loving him wasn’t the issue. He already had her heart whether she wanted to admit it or not. Living with him, with the future being settled and totally different than she’d ever imagined…there was her challenge.
She buckled on the stolen weapons belt, noting she still had the pulse gun and the knife. Going unarmed in enemy territory, even as safe as they were here, wasn’t in her nature.
Drawn by the lights, the sound of men’s voices and the smell of food, she headed through the corridor to see what the day had to offer. Daegan and Kierce were off in the corner, deep in an intense conversation over steaming mugs of the Badari tea. Gabe, Darik and Camron were playing cards and greeted her loudly.
“Thought you were going to sleep all day, Florenzia,” Gabe said, gesturing at her with his cards. “Get your breakfast and join us. These guys are no challenge for my skills.”
“You can’t handle us, you mean.” Camron threw his cards on the table. “How’s the leg?”
“Doing fine.” She strolled to the kitchen area and put together a plate of what was on offer, including a thick slice of the valley’s homemade bread. Daegan came over to join her while she brewed a cup of tea.
He took her in his arms for a hug and a quick kiss. “You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t have the heart to wake you, so I got up quietly.”
“I appreciate the consideration.” He was dressed like the other Badari today, in the black tee shirt, the camo utilities and boots, but she could sense the aura of an Alpha, setting him apart. “What are you and Kierce talking about?”
Daegan glanced across the room. “He told me more of what happened to our two brothers who were taken to the northern lab when he was and now we’re discussing life in the valley. What Aydarr’s like. Things Kierce has learned about Badari history we never even suspected here.”
She felt a little shut out. “Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not.” He took her tray of food and walked with her to the table.
Flo ate her breakfast with gusto, indulging in seconds. The conversation was somewhat desultory, as if the two men didn’t want to say too much in front of her and eventually Kierce excused himself and went to join the card game.
“I didn’t mean to drive him away,” she said, setting down her second slice of bread and watching the soldier take the cards he was dealt.
“You didn’t, don’t worry. He and I can talk more later.” Daegan nodded at MARL12 hovering in the air next to Darik. “Is that what the implant you have looks like?”
“Mine is microscopic and circular or so I was told.” She touched the back of her neck. “It tingles when I get too close to MARL12 there, which I don’t like. I’m going to insist MARL Prime removes this thing when we’re done here in the south even if I do have to give up my secret super power of walking through force barriers.”
“You have other gifts,” he said, leaning in to kiss her and rubbing her arm. “Have I thanked you yet today for saving my life?”
She raised one eyebrow. “Are you planning to do that every day?”
“And other things,” he said, a purr in his voice and faint amber light in his eyes.
“We gave you guys a private room,” said Gabe. “If you’re gonna sit here with all of us guys without our mates, the least you can do is play cards.”
“Shall we?” Daegan rose and checked with Flo.
“Maybe later. You go ahead but I’m going to take a quick look around the building, familiarize myself with the premises, check the storm. I’ll be back in a while.” She couldn’t put her finger on it but she was restless and not in the mood to join in on the raucous teasing and trash talking that accompanied the card games. Out of sorts, she took her tray and mug to the sink, grabbed a ration bar and stuck it in her pocket and left the room. Glancing back, she saw Kierce and Daegan resume their conversation rather than sitting with the card players.
What is it with me today? Strolling through the corridors of the deserted building, Flo was annoyed at herself but she wasn’t drawn to be with her friends as she normally would have, not with Daegan present, and she couldn’t let down her inner defenses to talk to him right now either. Seven hells, this love stuff screws a person up. He wants to talk to Kierce anyway.
The building was a typical Khagrish design, if smaller than usual. At certain points in the corridors Flo could feel the walls vibrating under the assault of the hurricane winds and even occasionally hear shrieking as the gusts whipped past the perimeter of the building, tearing at any weakness in the construction. I hope Gabe tied the flyer down extra securely. She knew of course he had—for all Gabe’s devil may care attitude on the surface, he was a dedicated soldier who left nothing undone.
Sarl was on guard duty at the front entrance and greeted her with a grin and a salute. “How are you doing today?” he asked.
“So much better, just being indoors and out of Khagrish clutches.” She sat on the console counter next to him and watched the maelstrom of blowing rain and debris outside, transfixed by the violence wind could generate. “Has it been like this all day?”
“So far. I’m glad the portal is made of strong stuff. Had a big tree branch hit square on a while ago and no damage. MARL says the eye will pass over us in a few hours, at which point we’ll make a sortie outside for a bit, check on the flyer.” Sarl sipped his mug of tea. ”And then hours more of this tedium.”
“Yeah, always hard enough to wait for a big operation to kick off, even without sitting through a storm. When’s Aydarr bringing the rest of the pack?”
“Last I heard he was scheduled to arrive right after the hurricane departs. Hit the enemy while they’re getting back to normal after the storm. Lucky this island was here to use as a forward observation post and staging area.”
Struck by a sudden thought, she asked, “When’s your shift over?”
“In a few. Darik’s up next.”
Flo made a shooing gesture with one hand. “You go ahead back to the command center. Tell Darik I said I’ll take his assigned shift. I’m not in the mood for cards or being social right now so I might as well sit here.”
Eyebrows raised, Sarl studied her. “That’s a first. You sure you’re feeling all right?”
She punched him in the shoulder. “I’ll take all your tokens soon enough, don’t worry. I’m wired up from the escape we made from the lab.”
“All right.” He got to his feet, at which point he towered over her. “I’m officially giving you the duty then. I’ll do my check of the building and report back to Kierce.”
“I got it.” She slid into the chair as he walked away and contemplated the storm morosely. Guard duty suited her mood at the moment—solitary and quiet. No need to make conversation. After a while she got up and stood by the door, resting her fingers on the ‘glass’ and marveling at the ferocity of the storm.
“I wouldn’t go outside if I were you,” Gabe said.
Flo jumped and turned to see him grinning at her, holding two mugs of the Badari tea.
“And your situational awareness is shot to hell if I could sneak up on you so easily.” He advanced to stand beside her, handing her one of the mugs. “What’s going on?”
“Who says anything is?” She sipped the tea, grateful for the rush of energy the drink provided. It wasn’t Terran coffee by any means, but the brew was satisfying.
“Hey, my situational awareness isn’t impaired,” he said, nudging her with his shoulder. “You don’t want to play cards, you don’t want to sit with your new boyfriend and you volunteered for guard duty when there isn’t a chance in seven hells of anything breaking the monotony? Who are you and what have you done with Flo?”
Forcing herself to smile, she shrugged. “Got a lot to think about today.”
“If you want to unload, I’m all ears and no mouth.” He made a zipping motion across his lips.
To her own astonishment, Flo said, “I wish Jill was here.”
Gabe did a double take. “Since when are you and she tight?”
“Not especially but I’ve got…questions.” Hastily she glanced at him and held up one hand. “Not those questions, Gabe Carter. I know all about inserting tab A into slot B, thank you, dad.”
He pretended to cringe. “Now you’re making me blush. But seriously, is this about Daegan wanting to claim you as his mate?”
Jaw dropping, she felt her cheeks flush. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah, kind of. And I’m not even a Badari, even if I am a claimed mate. You seem to care about him—”
“Caring about him isn’t the problem,” she said. “I’m head over heels for the guy but who the seven hells am I to be mated to an Alpha? To be at the top of a pack? What’s it like?”
“Well my mate’s pack is different,” he said. “All women except for me and she’s not alpha-born, although I think she’s grown into the leadership role as much as anyone can. I can’t believe you of all people are questioning yourself and whether you could handle it.”
She leaned close. “I don’t think he’s going to swear blood oath to Aydarr. I think he’s going to want to stay separate. Maybe even to locate his pack down here in the south.”
Gabe
held up a hand. “My mate is blood sworn to Aydarr, so I’d be honor bound to report anything he needed to know. So far I’m only hearing your worries though, nothing official.”
A little taken aback by his warning, Flo swallowed hard. Another thing she’d taken for granted which was now changed with Gabe’s official alliance to Aydarr. “Point taken. But I mean what do I know about setting up a pack? About making rules and establishing order? Daegan’s guys are going to want to have mates and families someday too, like what’s happening in the sanctuary valley and I’m not domesticated.”
Smothering a laugh, Gabe spilled part of his drink. “Neither is Jill. Neither was I. Look, if Aydarr had asked you to plan this operation or to lead part of it, rather than being undercover, could you have handled it?”
Hands on her hips, temper rising she felt insulted. “You know I could.”
“And would the Badari have respected you? Taken your orders?”
Flo fought not to raise her voice in annoyance. “What are you getting at? Of course they would.”
He nodded. “Right because they respect you and your abilities. I’m sure Daegan’s men respect you too, and if not, they will soon, once they hear how you rescued him. My point being, if Daegan wants you to stand beside him, his pack will fall in line and you’ve got the stuff to do a damn good job. To help him navigate being free to make decisions and mistakes, just like Jill and Aydarr. Which brings me to my next point. What was the best part of being in the Special Forces?”
“The team,” she said with no hesitation. “We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we always had each other’s backs. No question, no hesitation. Hell, I knew which foot my battle partner’d step off on if we were doing a patrol in deep cover. Together we got shit done and we all came home. Same as it’s been working for you these past few years.”
“Thanks for the compliment, the feeling is mutual. Well, being the mate of a Badari is even better than being in the teams, trust me. The two of you complement each other and there are no questions.” Gabe stared off into space and Flo waited to hear what he’d say next. “I’d die for Keshara and she’d do the same for me. We saved each other’s lives more than once getting out of the damn lab where she was created. Yes, we’re in love but speaking strictly operationally, we’re an unbreakable team. Sure we have disagreements but nothing touches the bond between us.” He tapped his chest over the heart. “It’s always right here, shiny and golden, telling me she’s okay, we’re okay.”
Daegan Page 15
