“It was not a part of my orders,” Vallarr snapped.
“I am making it an order, Commander. This is not for debate. As head of our security, I would think you would want to learn their language.” Jyl eyed him with clear challenge. “Unless you are unable to learn or afraid.”
What little pride Vallarr still held onto, Jyl clearly insulted. Vallarr’s temper flared, but he clenched his fists and held them by his side. I will not harm my fellow Kelons. No, he would save it for the training room.
“I am capable.” He shoved past Jyl and followed the others out of the meal room. He would soon wipe the smug smile off the leader's face while in training of hand to hand combat. His grin turned feral at the thought.
His gaze scanned their surroundings as they traversed the corridor before the men filed into a room. Vallarr was the last to enter. All the men gathered around and appeared to be staring at something. His view was blocked by their wide bodies.
“For Elron’s sake, do not stand there—sit down. Now!” Vallarr bellowed at them. They parted, each quickly finding a seat, but their gazes did not leave their new source of fascination.
Vallarr’s view fell on a small human female. Her soft blue eyes widened while she stared up at him. Shock stunned him into being nailed to the spot. He reviewed every single personnel file, so he knew who should be here and who should not. There were two older human females working in the kitchens and one who worked for the Colonel, but this woman’s face he had not seen before. Vallarr glanced at the human soldier who stood arms folded, glaring at Vallarr. This soldier he had seen.
Vallarr frowned. “What is she doing here, where is the instructor?”
“She is your instructor, appointed by the Colonel himself. Have fun.” The captain, clearly amused, grinned as he turned and walked out the door.
The female moved forward. She leant heavily on the side of her desk. “If you’ll please take a seat with the others, Mr Vallarr.” She inclined her head towards an empty seat.
Her soft, throaty voice startled washed over him and his body reacted against his will. Sudden arousal spread through him, making his cock thicken and his pants feel restrictive and uncomfortable. He swallowed and took a step back.
“Sit down, Vallarr,” Jyl commanded.
He forced himself to move, and grab a solid chair at the back of the room and sink into it. He closed his eyes. Get yourself under control, Vallarr, remember your training. He could not show weakness in front of his fellow Kelons.
A slight clank made him snap open his eyes. His gaze along with everyone else’s watched as the human female took hold of a long metal stick the height of her waist, threaded her arm through it and leaned heavily on the stick while she moved her left leg.
She was injured? Who harmed this beautiful, fragile female? Was she a victim of the—No! Fresh memories of another wide-eyed human female, hurt, injured, flooded into his mind. His breath seized in his lungs and he fought to keep his body from shaking.
He suppressed his growls, not wanting to draw more unwanted attention.
“My name is Emily and I’ll be your English language teacher.” Her soft, pink lips tipped up in a smile, making her round face go from pretty to utterly beautiful.
“I understand you’re not used to having a female for a teacher, but here on Earth it is common for human women to work, which is their choice. If any are you offended by having me to teach you, please feel free to leave and I will have the Colonel make other arrangements, but I can assure you, I am qualified and have been teaching for many years. I will also be your human studies instructor, to help you learn about our ways.” Mirth sparkled in her eyes. “Being human is complicated. Trust me, I was born one and I’m still trying to figure myself out.”
Several of the men chuckled at her soft humour. Not one Kelon made a move to leave. From the straight, attentive body language, no one wanted to leave, considering she was the first human female they met. No doubt, they were now entertaining notions of how to court and claim the lovely female.
“I don’t have a translator implanted, but I know you can understand. So, please, just nod if you understand for now.”
Everyone nodded. Her gaze moved to the back where Vallarr sat, meeting his gaze head on. Like a blow to his solar plexus, with just a look, she knocked the breath out of him. Sweat broke out over his body. The air around him suddenly felt thin, and he struggled to draw in even, measured breaths.
She turned her curious gaze back to the other men and continued. “I know you have questions, especially about this.” She leaned on one leg and lifted her stick. “I have a disability and can’t walk without the assistance of this crutch, but I’ve learned to live with it and function quite normally. Having a disability does not make me helpless. So banish thoughts of pity—I’m an ordinary, independent woman.”
“I would disagree, I would say exceptionally beautiful human woman,” Barr spoke in Kelon, smiling and nodding at her. The others murmured in agreement.
“Questions are fantastic, and I look forward to answering yours, when you ask them in human English.”
More eager nods followed.
“Good. Just so you know, this is Lieutenant Simmons.” She waved to where the human soldier stood watching them. He gave the Kelon men a nod. “He is my guard. I am also Colonel Morland’s daughter, so I am not without family. I remind you again—I do this teaching because I choose to and I enjoy it. I know in your culture things with women are different, but I ask you to respect how things work here on Earth as well.”
“I want to learn how to use English words to court her. She is the prettiest female teacher I have ever had,” Gillron, their electronic computer expert, said.
“The only female teacher we have ever had. I am really enjoying being on Earth,” said another.
“I will show her my skills, she will see how smart I am, and then she will not refuse me when I ask to court her.” One of the Healers grinned like a fool.
“There will be no courting or claiming!” Vallarr snapped. Everyone fell silent and turned to stare or glare at him, including Emily.
“Respect her as you would any teacher,” Jyl ordered.
“But, she is female, and I see none of those human ring things they use for claiming their females on her fingers,” Healer Hurr said.
“She is the Colonel’s daughter,” Jyl reminded them. “You will upset our alliance if you dare to court her without his permission.”
Emily’s wide, silvery blue gaze followed each as the Kelons argued. She did not appear afraid—only curious.
“Are we done?” Emily’s voice raised in a more authoritarian tone. Silence descended when her gaze again met Vallarr’s.
He tasted bitter smoke and ash as a film descended over his vision. So many he’d let die, their screams still ringing in his ears. His body shook racked with pain, he could not move. You have killed us, killed us all! Run, escape, pain, death, Run, run, run! He shot to his feet, growling and he moved towards her.
Her eyes widened in clear fear. Lieutenant Simmons moved to stand in front of her. “Stay out of my way,” he snarled. The human could never protect her if he really intended harm. Disgusted, he swept past them and out into the corridor, slamming the door shut behind him.
He needed air, needed to breathe, needed to escape, though here on Earth, he knew he never could while the constant reminder of his failure and pain surrounded him.
Chapter 3
Her hands shook from the first moment she met his gaze. So tall, so full of anger. Emily didn’t know how she held it together enough to smile and talk.
He was huge, bigger than the others, at a guess six-foot-six or seven, while his fellow Kelons stood only slightly shorter. Vallarr had broad shoulders and thick arms. Without a doubt, he could bench press her car and not break a sweat.
His frown was fierce and dark. His almost black intense eyes, speckled with light, stared at her. She knew there was something different and dark about the biggest Kelon st
anding in the room. Being in and out of hospitals so much, she recognized the red scar tissue of recent burns, running up the side of his neck. She couldn’t help wonder how many more he had and how he got them.
Somehow, she knew this was the so-called ‘head of Kelon security,’ Vallarr, Lieutenant Simmons gossiped about.
The way he growled and snapped made her want to crawl under her desk and hide. She stood riveted to the spot until he moved and sat down.
Drawing in a deep breath, she smiled and gave her little speech, getting returned smiles and nods from all, bar one, glaring at her from the back of the room.
Some of the men entered into a growling conversation, some turning to glare at Vallarr, before he snapped and jump to his feet. Again, she couldn’t move, only stare like a stunned kangaroo. Vallarr snarled something and bypassed her, storming out the door. It slammed shut behind him, making her jump.
With him gone, she let out a breath of relief. The tension in the air melted away.
Clearly, the Commander didn’t like her, or approve of her being his teacher. Why it tore at her, she didn’t know.
“Miss Morland?” A hand touched Emily’s shoulder, making her jump again. She glanced up. Lieutenant Simmons stood next to her, concern in his baby blues. “Are you okay?”
She drew in a slow breath, glanced at her class and all held similar looks of worry, some appeared angry. Somehow, she knew they weren’t angry at her, but at Vallarr’s gruff behaviour and his scaring her.
She took a moment to gather her wits. She didn’t know why one grumpy Kelon man rattled her so much. Despite her thrumming heart, she smiled and smoothed down her skirt. It helped calm her somewhat. Right now, she needed to be professional and get on with her job, not focus on one larger-than-life alien man.
“I’m fine. We have a saying, let not one bad fruit spoil the whole batch. Let’s move on and begin our first lesson?” she joked, trying to make light of the whole incident.
Encouraging nods and smiles met her from the Kelons. “Good, we’ll start with the basic vowel and sound structure of English. It may sound silly, but trust me when I say it will help. Once you can say these sounds, the rest will come easily.”
Lieutenant Simmonds moved back to his post and her heart slowly calmed, seeing how eager the other Kelons were to learn from her.
“The vowels we use in English are A, E, I, O and U. Then there are other sounds such as th, sh and ch. Let’s try and make the sound A.”
The lesson went without further incident and ended all too soon. She was pleased her students were quick studies and keen to please. She was left with many rounds of ‘Tunk yous.’ They smiled and some winked as they left the room.
“Guess you’re a hit. I knew they would love you.” Lieutenant Simmons grinned, rolling his shoulders and appeared much more relaxed. He remained stiff and on guard throughout the forty-five minute lesson.
“C’mon, I’ll take you to lunch; they have some really good chefs working in the new kitchens.” He grinned and offered his arm. Emily couldn’t help, but smile back. Taking his arm, she felt much better now her first class was over.
“I’d be delighted, Lieutenant.”
“Call me Jon, most of my friends do.”
“As long as you call me Emily.”
“Deal.”
* * * *
“How dare you behave that way to our Emily!”
Our Emily? Vallarr scowled at his fellow Kelons. It figured they were already attached and extremely protective of the little teacher. Free from class and other duties, it didn’t take them long to track him down to the training room. He cranked up the human running machine and ran until his legs and chest burned, and then he kept going, needing to feel the pain and flush away the lust and confusion in his body.
The Kelons yanked him off the machine and shoved him hard against the wall.
He would not stop or blame them if they did turn him into their personal punching bag. She had not deserved his harsh treatment.
“Damn fire demons, you scared her! Why would you do that to the kindest and sweetest of human females?”
“Hold him there while we beat some sense into his thick head.”
Despite his skills in hand-to-hand combat and his veteran status, Vallarr could not win against fifteen Kelons.
“There will be no violence here. Take your aggression out on the equipment not the commander. Order and peace will be restored! While the commander and I have words. Alone,” Jyl snapped. The three holding him released their grip. Vallarr leaned against the wall, not moving as they continued to glare at him even as they backed up, no doubt wanting to rip his insides out. “Go have your sun high meal with the humans.”
“Lunch, they call it lunch, not sun high meal,” Barr muttered.
Mumbling their disgust at Vallarr's behaviour, they obeyed Jyl’s command.
Jyl waited until the last Kelon exited before speaking. “I do not know your reasons for your behaviour. I can only guess it may pertain to your last mission.”
Vallarr tensed. “You do not know—”
“No, I do not. All I know is the High Council sealed the files about your last mission. I was only told you needed to be here and guard us. Why, I do not know. I trusted their judgment until today. Your duty, Vallarr, is not only to protect us, but also the humans around us. You failed to do this when you disrespected and frightened the small human female. If you behaved as such on Kelon, you know the punishment would be severe.”
Guilt and shame made his stomach twist. “I know. I did not mean to frighten her, I just could not be there with her.”
Jyl tilted his head in clear confusion. “Does she offend you?”
“No, it is not her. It is me. I am the one with mind troubles.” Vallarr stared at Jyl, hating to admit any weakness.
“Learn to deal with them, Commander. These humans are not our enemy, especially Emily.” Jyl pulled out a small unit from one of his pockets. Vallarr easily recognised the translating device.
“You caused the damage and you must repair it. Take this, you will need it as you did not stay for the lesson.” He pushed the translator into Vallarr’s hand. “Seek her out and apologise. I never want to see her in fear of you again.”
His fingers curled around the translator. What kind of coward am I who cannot even face one, very soft, lovely little female. One who should never have reason to fear me in the first place.
Jyl was right, he needed to do this. He must fight the nightmare and fear plaguing him.
Vallarr swallowed as a new fear surfaced. “W...what if she does not wish to see me? I may have caused her too much fear.”
“I doubt that. She is sweet and forgiving. Do this more for yourself. You may be our guard, but nothing will protect you from the others if you do not.”
Vallarr nodded. “I will do this, but where do I find her and beg her forgiveness?” She may forgive him for the classroom incident, but she would never forgive him if she knew about his sins against her people.
Jyl smiled. “Gillron has already infiltrated their entire computer system. It is basic and has little defence—another thing we will need to help them with. Go make yourself presentable, and I will have the information for you later.” Jyl's lips pressed together as he moved in closer. “Commander, we all know she is soft and beautiful and fragile. Do not over step your bounds with her. Protect, never harm.”
“I know my duty; upon my honour, she will be safe with me.” He knew the depth of failure. The emotion tore at his soul, leaving him a shattered shell of his former self. He didn’t have any idea how he would crawl out from beneath the weight of the biggest failure of his life, but for everyone’s sake he needed to try.
* * * *
Why hadn’t she taken Jon’s advice earlier and asked for help with her suitcases and boxes? They stared at her mockingly, and she wondered if it was worth the effort and growing discomfort in her good leg to drag them from her car.
They can wait. Her smaller overnight
bag was lighter, and she carried it into the modern, single storey, transportable house she was to call home for the next few months.
Emily’s good leg ached from more use than it was used to, while her other leg remained numb, as usual. The base was large and she was determined not to use her car only to get around. The exercise of walking would do her good, and she could stand to lose a few kilos—well, as long as she didn’t eat in the main mess hall too often.
Setting her bags on the kitchen counter, she examined the contents of the fridge which was stocked with the basics—milk, bread, butter, eggs. In the pantry was sugar and flour, tea and coffee.
Nothing out of the ordinary for military housing.
A box of food she’d brought from home still sat in the boot of her car. She filled the kettle and waited for it to boil.
As she made herself a cup of tea, her mind wandered back over the day’s events. She found Jon good company and, once in the mess hall, she was soon surrounded by other base workers and the Kelons from her class, with the exception of Vallarr, who she dubbed 'tall, dark and grumpy.'
Captain Frank Cutter helped to translate their chatter. She was amused at how proudly they practised what they learned in her class. It was easy to converse with them with their easy smiles and such polite manners.
Two other women worked on the base. Clearly in their late forties, they were specialists hired to provide the Kelons their food. The Kelons were vegetarians.
Cup of tea in hand, Emily set it down and pulled her sketch book and pencil from her bag with her mind and emotions still a jumble from the day’s events.
Her mother once suggested she keep a journal of her thoughts to stop from bottling up her emotions. Emily found it hard to put words down on paper, but images were different. Drawing came naturally, so she poured out images onto blank sheets instead.
Bold strokes and thick black lines, and soon dark, foreboding eyes stared back at her from the page—his dark, strangely tormented eyes. Emily thought back over it and his reactions. She could almost swear, he was trembling. From anger, or something else? One thing was for sure, there were secrets hidden behind his dark eyes.
Embracing Emily (#7 Warriors of Kelon) Page 3
