For the most part, Zane kept his distance, but Bay caught him studying her occasionally. There were times when Zane came from his room looking harried, and he just sat and held her, stroking her long hair and crooning in a quiet manner. It was bittersweet at those times—him wanting the comfort of a pet and she wanting simple contact.
After a while, Bay felt she was growing on him. Zane was the one who made certain she had enough to eat and drink. After the disturbing incident with the vicious bugs, he had gotten rid of them. There were even times Zane showed her a modicum of affection—he seemed to like the way her skin felt under his rough hands, and her hair fascinated both father and son.
“I think it’s time to tell your father I am not a pet,” Bay said. She struggled with a few of their words as some rolled; others were more of a grunt, growl and click.
Draven looked a little disappointed. “But I love our games. Father looks so silly.”
“I know, but it’s not fair of me to have you keep my secret, now that I can talk to him and make him understand.”
“All right,” Draven agreed. “I guess it’s not much fun to eat from the floor or father’s hand and sleep on a mat.”
“The mat isn’t so bad, but it would be nice to be welcome on your furniture.” Bay didn’t really even mind Zane offering her different things. There were times some of the food looked a wee bit iffy—okay, scary. Zane never forced anything at her. If she backed away from what he held, he never offered it again.
“I guess.”
A screaming growl caught their attention. Bay looked at Draven curiously. She wasn’t too concerned; the fence was very high and extremely thick. Draven went white. The red of his eyes glowed; he looked terrified, and Bay became concerned.
“Draven?”
“A bangore,” he whispered.
“A what?” Bay whispered back.
“Bangore, it must have gotten through the outer fence. It’s early for them to be out; the Holiday must be coming. They are cruel creatures that eat children.”
Holiday?
Draven was stumbling as he backed up. Bay screamed when a hideous monster crawled over the high fence. The creature was the same size as her except it was covered in long red fur. Black beady eyes settled onto Draven. It hissed, exposing three black fang-like teeth, top and bottom. Gooey, bubbly saliva dripped from a pig-like black snout, soaking the fur beneath. Four thick black scales protruded from the creature’s back as it moved forward, springing from within. Draven yelled for his father.
The bangore came at Draven with a vengeance. Draven grew in height, but he was still no match for the broad-chested creature. It ignored Bay and circled the boy. Three sharp black talons on either claw glistened as it made a swipe for him. Bay reacted. A large stick Draven drew in the soil with found its way into her hands and she smashed the bangore across the face, grimacing as its nose made a gruesome squishing noise. It bellowed in rage and swung at her. Bay shoved the stick into the bangore’s throat. The talons of the creature sliced at her weapon, making inch-long gouges in the hard wood. Another solid blow was thrust up between its legs, sending it to its knees where it gurgled and gasped.
Bay heard an ungodly bellow from behind and Zane was there. His normal six-foot-six was now over seven feet in height; his red eyes blazed so blindingly the bangore’s fur sizzled and caught fire. One swipe of his hand and the bangore was smashed against the wall. Zane was enraged, and Bay knew the creature was as good as dead. Bay didn’t know how she lifted Draven, but he was in her arms and she raced for the glass that would envelope them. Nothing else was allowed in. When Bay had first come, Zane had scanned her body with a small device and she was allowed entry and exit at her own will.
The two of them collapsed onto the large overstuffed furniture, with their arms wrapped around each other, watching the battle. Zane had the bangore in his arms and slammed the creature across his knee, breaking its back. Bay gasped. The razor-like scales on the creature bent double when meeting Zane’s hard flesh; two snapped completely off. Bay knew without a shadow of doubt if her flesh had come into contact with those scales, across her vulnerable skin, she would have been cut in half. Zane grabbed handfuls of the creature’s thick fur and flung it over the wall, higher than the tree tops. Spread eagle, the creature spun in fast circles. Bay was amazed; she didn’t think she’d ever seen a baseball hit for a homerun fly so high and far.
By the time Zane raced back into the home, his body was returning to normal; the threat had passed. He scooped Draven into his arms and held him tight, rocking his son, Zane was shaking; it looked odd coming from such a powerful man—male. Bay could see his devastation.
“He’s all right,” Bay mumbled.
“Bay saved me,” Draven whispered, he wasn’t injured, but was still an odd white when his face was normally a tanned color a few shades lighter than his father’s tone.
Zane looked confused for a moment and looked from his son to Bay. “You spoke,” he finally said.
“It took me a while to heal enough and learn your language,” Bay said.
“Pets don’t speak.”
“I’m not a pet. I’m a woman and intelligent enough to learn your language. How is it you can be so narrow-minded as to think there isn’t other intelligent life out there?”
“I’m aware of other intelligent life; it’s just that I’ve never seen a human female. I’m a warrior, a mercenary; when we wage war, we do not fight the enemy’s females if they have any. We find females take care of their own battles. Normally, the creatures we come in contact with are of both sexes.”
“On Earth, we call them hermaphrodites. It’s rare in humans, but apparent in plant life and other things. In humans, children’s parents pick a sex, making them either or.”
“Other species embrace having both sexes, the best of both worlds, and at times are full of their superiority. You look so tiny and are so frail, I just assumed you were a pet; I’ve never come across a species so delicate.” Zane was mumbling, his look incredulous. “And you’re female, just female.”
Bay felt herself ruffle at his callous words. “Are your females pets?” she demanded.
“No, our females are bigger and stronger, that’s why I thought you were a pet. Also, the affection you show towards my son is uncanny. Zargonnii females want nothing to do with our male children, and pets accept anyone no matter what they look like or their sex. You just seemed so accepting and kind. I’m not used to that in a female.”
“It’s easy to love a child, no matter what they look like, especially Draven—who is cute, thoughtful and sweet.”
Zane set Draven back onto the furniture and began pacing. “How did my brother acquire you? We are not a race of slavers; he was also under the impression you were a pet.”
“Blu saved me from a Tonan who captured me from the planet Ulsy. I am from Earth, which is, I’m guessing, very far from here. Our planet is dying; we were told Ulsy was our salvation, but the Tonans captured the women and killed our men. Almost all our males, except male children, were obliterated.”
“You say that like it hurts you. About your males, I mean.”
“The Tonans practically slaughtered an entire race, of course it hurts me.”
“Draven, why don’t you go get yourself a treat?” Zane said.
Draven looked from Bay to his father. “She’s not a pet Father, but you are still not to hurt her.”
“I won’t hurt her; she saved your life.”
Draven gave his father a hard look before smiling at Bay; he left them alone. Zane looked as though he were trying to digest what was happening. Once Draven left, he perched carefully beside Bay.
“What do your males look like?” he finally asked.
“Something like me except most of our men are bigger; they have the same anatomy as you, um, down there.” Bay pointed below his belt and felt herself color.
“Your males are larger than your females?” Zane looked incredulous.
“Many, but not al
l.”
“Forgive me when I say that I thought perhaps your tiny size was an oddity to your culture. It must be frightening for your females when you come into heat and the males search you out; you have to be the most defenseless creature I’ve ever encountered.”
“Earth women don’t come into heat; we bleed once a month, but our men don’t normally have sex with us during that time—we can get a little cranky.”
“Sex is mating?”
“Yes, but something tells me your females are different from Earth. Do you only mate during a cycle of some kind?”
“Yes.” Zane went back to pacing. “Once a year, every other year, female Zargonnii go into heat. Male Zargonnii are drawn to them if they have become of age. Our mating isn’t always pleasant. Our females are larger and stronger and dominant. It’s hard for a warrior to be dominated. Many older females aren’t as bad, but the younger ones can be deadly.”
“Then why would you mate with them at all?” Bay was incredulous. Their females were bigger? They must be giants.
“A male Zargonnii can feel the urge to mate as strongly as a female; some of us take the risk. The older we get, the stronger the urge. Also, some males want a son.”
“What happened to Draven’s mother?”
“She is still out there. I guess. I haven’t wanted to mate since finding Draven. I can’t chance leaving him an orphan for the sake of an urge.”
“Since finding him?”
“Our females wean our male offspring at a month old and leave them in the jungle near their father’s home.”
“How can they do that?” Bay jumped up, outraged. “That thing that attacked was hideous; how can a mother leave her child alone and defenseless?”
“They aren’t left all alone. The mother watches her child until she is certain he is safe. She then goes back to her own area which is hundreds of miles away. We do not co-exist. The females have their lives, we have ours.”
Bay sat back down. “It doesn’t sound very nice. Women giving up their children, not going near men for years and when they do they’re cruel.”
Zane sat beside her. “I don’t think they are normally cruel. It’s something about their season, hormones. Finn would know—perhaps you could tell he is a healer?”
“Yes, he was very nice to me. I think he wanted me to stay with him.”
“It would break Draven’s heart if you left. He remembers his mother. A female Zargonnii is very affectionate with her offspring during his first month. Much like you are with Draven all the time. Finn treated a female Zargonnii once; she was wounded in a battle with a cyron beast. He learned a great deal of their mannerisms and the female body. She was with child but dying. Finn tried his best but was unable to save her. It was a shame. It was the first time he had ever seen an infant female—he couldn’t save the babe either.
“I don’t know why our species cannot coexist for longer than a mating every two years. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to live with a female. If you haven’t guessed, I find you fascinating and am relieved you’re not a pet. Tell me of your people.”
“Like you, we have managed space flight. At least we did; if anyone is still on the planet, they’re doomed.”
“No, I wish to know of your mating rituals. Do you and your males cohabitate?”
Bay wondered if it was such a good idea to discuss mating with a big alien who now looked interested in her; as well, her Zargonnii had been improving, but she was still uncertain as to all the proper words and terms. She and Draven never discussed sex, obviously. She would have to incorporate some of her own language and hope he understood.
“Our men and women do at times cohabitate; we form families and bond with one another, we trust each other—love each other in a respectful way. When human men and women have sex, or make love as we like to call it, the men are very gentle.”
Zane’s eyes widened in surprise. “Gentle?” he whispered.
“Very gentle.”
“I suppose that makes sense; your anatomy is too small for a male to be rough with.”
“When your kind mates, do you look the way you did when you were fighting that bangore thing?”
“At first, so does the female. But once the mating begins, the dominated male goes back to his normal size while the female remains in battle mode.”
“They sound so primitive. They must be a real riot to come across in space,” Bay muttered.
“Zargonnii females have no aptitude for flight and are thousands of centuries behind us.”
“That must be difficult but understandable as to why you don’t stay together. I don’t think I’d spend much time with a Neanderthal.”
“Just speaking to you and having a conversation with you is remarkable.” Zane did look amazed. “If you coexisted with the males on your Earth and weren’t afraid of them, why were you so frightened of me—of us?”
“You thought I was a pet. And you’re all males, and huge. I had no idea what you wanted me for.”
Zane frowned and then looked enlightened. “You were afraid we would mate with you. That’s why you let me think you were a pet.”
“I couldn’t speak at first. The Tonan hurt me.” Bay’s eyes were downcast. “I wanted to learn to communicate before I tried to speak with you. I was afraid you’d kick me out. Your planet is like nothing I have ever seen before, it’s creepy scary.”
“I won’t kick you out, but this makes this situation a bit tricky. You say your planet is dying. Blu could always have his commander take you back to Ulsy.”
“I can’t go there,” Bay wailed. Panic-stricken, she shot to her feet and dropped down in front of him. “The Castians and Tonans are warring. The Tonans are cruel, evil beings. I was too afraid to go near a Castian. Me and another woman hid from both species. The Tonans killed her; the Tonans kill any female over childbearing years. Your planet is different, but I feel safe here with you. You haven’t been cruel, you haven’t beaten me. Please don’t send me away. I love helping Draven with his homework. Believe it or not, I know how to wash my hands and I can cook. I know how to be helpful.”
Zane ran a hand over his face. “Bay—I must tell you something. Having a female in the house has been hard on me, a male who has reached his cycle. It’s why Draven thought I was acting weird. When I thought you were a pet, I could control myself; but talking to you, knowing how intelligent you are, and that you are not a pet is wreaking havoc with my hormones. You have no idea how appealing a tiny helpless female is to a male who is used to seeing to his own needs and urges. There is no possible way you could fight me off; it could mean death and leaving Draven devastated if I were to keep you here.”
Bay slumped on the floor. He was warning her. But she couldn’t go back to Ulsy; another Tonan might get her. She knew how evil the warriors could be. She would never live if she wandered off into the Zargonnii jungle alone. This was Zane’s home; it wasn’t fair to him, but what could she do? Zane was so big to begin with, but his battle mode was massive. How could she have sex with him like that?
Zane scooped her up under her arms and set her beside him. “I don’t know what to do, Bay. I can’t just toss you out; you would die. If I give you to another, you would face the same problem; you can’t go back to being a pet. My cycle has been triggered by having you here. I’m afraid it could remain triggered; before long, we would need to do something.”
“How much time do I have?”
“Not a lot.”
“Enough to get to know you better?”
“Yes and perhaps no. It would be best for you to get to know me, but it would be best for me to stay away from you as long as possible. So you need to make a choice. Get to know me—fast. Or be prepared for me later.”
“I know some of who you are, and I find it hurtful you would force me.”
Zane cupped her chin in his hand. “I won’t force you; I would die.”
Bay was shocked. “What? Why”
“A Zargonnii cycle is triggered when the
females come near. It doesn’t mean a male doesn’t need release at other times. The last cycle was hard for me to control; I don’t think I can control this one. You speak of our females being primitive; when it comes to mating, so are Zargonnii males. The females are getting closer. I can smell them coming, but they won’t be here in time for me to mate with one. If you won’t have me, my need for release will drive me to insanity, I’ll be forced to fight for release, and the only thing I could take on would be a creature called a cyron. It would kill me.
“If that happens, Draven will lose his father; and you will find yourself in the hands of another Zargonnii male who might not risk his life to spare you.”
Chapter 6
Zane watched Bay as she helped Draven with his homework. Bay was aware he was standing there, Zane could tell. She had become increasingly aware over the week as he strove to show her—him. No more late night spying on her while she slept on the furniture, in the main room. He battled two emotions; Zane was so grateful she wasn’t a pet. When he first felt his cycle begin, right after Bay had arrived, he was confused; and when he felt himself harden when Bay was around, he was mortified. He also damned his brother for bringing her here. Blu wouldn’t hit his cycle for a few more years and was immune to Bay. But Zane was wondering about Finn. Blu had mentioned Finn was interested, almost adamant about keeping Bay. Was the doctor having the same problem? He would be unable to ask until the ship returned; Zane had learned just that morning the warriors had left to enter into battle with the creatures who called themselves Cyborgs.
Zargonnii warriors were hired mercenaries, if the price was right, or the trade was rich, they would battle anything—except Castians. They stayed out of the war between the Tonans and Castians. Zane was wondering how the Castian warriors were faring since finding females after four hundred years. Their own females had been poisoned, a tragedy, but Castians weren’t interested in Zargonnii females. The Castians had to know of humans’ existence if Bay came from a planet they occupied. Zane had never heard of Earth before Bay showed up.
Bay's Mercenary [Unearthly World Book 1] Page 5
