"When will the things we've chosen be delivered to the house?" Daria asked.
"In about three cycles," Lia said. "We'll go over and supervise the workers when they bring them."
"There's so much I need to learn. I'm looking forward to it and that reminds me. Thorn asked what I'd do with the baby when I'm working."
"The babies' mentors do that or we ask a friend or family member to do that kind of thing," Lia said.
"Oh, then I guess I'll just have to take her with me"
Lia smiled. "Her?"
Blushing, Daria said, "I just call the baby her because it sounds better than saying 'it' you know?"
"Borg could tell you if the baby is a boy or a girl when you go to his clinic for your first checkup. Would you like to know?"
Daria had forgotten about the appointment. Would Borg be able to tell that she'd lied to him about how far along she was? Surely two or three weeks couldn't make that much of a difference. Could it?
"Daria?"
"Yes, I'd like to know if the baby is a girl or a boy."
"Wonderful! This is so exciting. You don't need to worry about who will take care of her when you're working. Valan and I always wanted a granddaughter and now we'll have you and maybe if we're lucky a little girl to spoil."
Tears flooded Daria's eyes and rolled down her cheeks as guilt overwhelmed her. She should tell Lia the truth about the baby.
"Daria, have I said something to make you unhappy," Lia whispered.
"No, no," Daria sobbed. "I'm just so confused, right now." Sniffing, she added, "About Thorn and the baby."
Lia hugged her. "You don't mind that we think of you as our daughter, do you?"
Daria shook her head.
"We'd like you to think of us as grandparents to your child. Will you do that?"
"I'd like that, Lia. More than you'll ever know."
"Good, then I'm telling you that it's time you had another snack And, I'm warning you, Valan can be a real nuisance when it comes to things like eating, resting and exercising."
"So, the two of you are planning on driving me crazy?" Daria smiled.
"Yes. It's for your own good, though." Lia laughed.
"I've heard that before. From my father," Daria said. "Alright, let's go to the kitchen. I'd really like some of that herb bread with cheese," Daria informed her, rising from the couch and pulling Lia to her feet.
They fixed two trays of the herb bread, then sat on tall stools in the kitchen, eating it. As Daria popped one of the tasty rolls into her mouth, she noticed Lia watching her. She swallowed it. "I've been so hungry lately," she admitted, embarrassed by her greediness. "And, look at me." She turned sideways and rubbed a hand over her belly. "I'm already showing."
Lia laughed. "You'll be a lot larger before the baby is born."
Daria studied her. Lia and Valan looked so young, sometimes it was hard to believe they had a son Thorn's age. Seeing the wistful look in Lia's eyes, she nodded her head. "I'm looking forward to it but I'm going to need some bigger dresses."
Lia smiled, her jade eyes glowing. "I love shopping. I'll ask Valan to take us but first it's time to take a walk in the garden."
Smiling, Daria climbed off the stool. "Exercise time, huh?"
Smiling, Lia hooked her arm through Daria's. "Yes."
# # #
That evening, Daria was already in bed and almost asleep when Thorn arrived. She frowned as he closed the door and began undressing.
"What are you doing?"
"Undressing." He sat down on the bed and pulled off a boot, dropped it to the floor and heeled off the other one.
"I heard what you said to your Father this morning," she said, accusingly.
"I know. He's spoken to me about it." He stood, unlaced his pants and shoved them down his legs as he looked at her. "I want to make sure you know how to control the fever."
"I can't control it and you know it but tonight I don't want you." Daria crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at him.
"Maybe I want you. Has that occurred to you?"
"What! The great and heroic Thorn Valanson actually wants a pregnant female he refused to claim?"
"That's enough, Daria."
"No, it's not enough. I've told you and told you that the baby is yours but you won't listen to me." She shoved him away, and sat up, wrapping the sheet around her. "I want you to leave. Now."
"Fine, but I'm warning you, don't push me too far. You won't like the consequences."
Daria felt him rise from the bed. "Thorn?"
"What?" he demanded as he laced his pants.
"I promised your Mother I would talk to you before you left. Your parents want us to stay together."
Thorn stomped his feet into his boots and grabbed his vest. "That's never going to happen."
Daria forced herself to tell him one last time, "The baby is yours."
"Really? Then prove it to me. We'll go to the Council Building and you can repeat that while you're standing on the truth sensor. How about it?"
Looking away, she thought about it. At least afterwards, he'd believe her but what good would it do? She'd spend the rest of her life having to prove everything to him. No matter what she said or did. She gasped when he grasped her arms and pulled her to her knees in front of him. His face was dark with fury.
"Don't ever lie to me again." He grabbed her hand, jerked the band from her left arm and slid it back onto his arm.
"Why did you do that?"
"So everyone will know I don't accept you as my bondmate."
His answer stabbed into her and she pulled in a deep breath and fought to keep from crying. "I wish I never had to see you again, Commander."
"Not as much as I do. Just remember my fever will always be with you. Making you want me."
"You'll always want me too, Thorn."
"No," he said as he stepped through the door, "I've never wanted you."
Daria searched his eyes, and saw that he meant it. Before the door closed, she slid down in the bed and curled onto her side. Desperately, she cleared her mind and concentrated on her breathing and the future with her baby.
# # #
The next evening, Valan and Lia took Dane and Dev to the Invincible to see Thorn before he left on his journey. They'd been gone for about twenty micro-units when the front doorbell chimed. Daria opened it and found Eirik and Borg standing on the front porch.
"You just missed Valan and Lia. They've gone to say goodbye to Thorn."
"We've come to keep you company. If you don't mind," Eirik said.
"No. Not at all. Please, come in." She directed them to the dining room. "Make yourselves comfortable and I'll ask the server to prepare three food trays."
"Borg and I would like some wine with our dinner, Daria."
"Alright, Eirik. I'll have her bring two glasses." After informing the serving female what they wanted Daria joined them in the dining room.
"How has your appetite been, Daria," Borg asked. "Are you eating enough?"
"Yes. Lia and Valan are constantly bringing me food. If I don't watch it, I'll gain too much weight."
"You're too slender," Eirik said. "Borg and I have a wager on whether you'll have a boy or a girl."
"We'll find out when I visit your clinic, Borg," Daria said. "Lia said you could tell me."
"Did you hear that, Eirik? Let's run the tests tomorrow. If it’s a girl then by this time tomorrow night I'll be the proud new owner of a Zylian crystal," Borg hooted, as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"You haven't won yet. Although this is one bet I won't mind losing." Eirik smiled at Daria. "Has Valan told you what we've found out about the situation with the Witvians?"
"No, he hasn't." Daria leaned forward, eager to find out what was going on. "What will happen to them and the men from Earth, Eirik?"
"They will be judged. If they are found guilty of harming others they will be imprisoned for a very long time."
"But, they won't ever be returned to Earth will the
y?" she asked.
"No. While they serve their sentence they will be rehabilitated. Later they will be sent to another galaxy to live but they will be monitored for the rest of their lives."
"Do you think the person who murdered the med-tech has left Zarronia?"
"He was captured early this morning and has been sent to the Universal Assembly."
"So, I'm safe now?"
"Yes, we've also arrested the Zarronian traitor."
"Will I be allowed to write about what happened? Someone on Earth should know what those men did to Emma. And, me."
"We will allow you to write about it sometime in the future but not right now. The people on Earth fear us and it would only scare them to know that there are other races in the universe who can't be trusted."
Daria nodded. Eirik was right. She could only imagine how the people of Earth would react if they knew what she knew. They'd be terrified and mistrustful of the Zarronians' ability to protect them. "I'll wait then until you give me permission to tell them."
"I knew you would understand our position, and I promise you someday you will be able to tell your people what happened to your friend."
"What about my friend Maria and the others on the list? Are they alright?"
"Yes. None of them were harmed and we've notified them that you are with us."
"Thank you. I can't tell you what a relief this is."
"Now, can you stop worrying and start taking better care of yourself?" Borg asked her with an encouraging grin.
"Yes."
"Good," they both said, then Eirik asked her, "Has anyone taught you how to play Dyce, Daria?"
"No. What kind of a game is it?" she asked, suspiciously, knowing she was about to be fleeced.
Borg and Eirik gave her conniving grins. "After dinner, we'll teach you the game," Eirik said.
"Alright, but I warn you, I don't have any credits to lose."
"We'll loan you some. Won't we Borg?"
"Yes."
"Alright, but I feel it's only fair to warn you, I've always been lucky at games of chance," Daria said.
Two units later, as she escorted them to the door, they made her promise to give them a chance the next night to win back their credits. Daria laughingly agreed, then told them goodnight. As she climbed the stairs, she yawned and smiled. Life on Zarronia was getting better all the time.
She'd just begun to drift off when she felt Thorn slide into bed. "Are you going to refuse me?"
"No, just don't talk to me. I don't want to fight with you tonight."
Thorn pulled her into his arms and without another word he made love to her. Afterwards, when she'd fallen asleep, he left her.
# # #
The next cycle Borg greeted her as she entered his clinic, then escorted her into an examination room.
"Has Lia told you about the med-op, Daria?" Borg asked.
"No."
"Come here and slide onto this and lie down." He patted a bed with a clear cover over it.
She approached the machine then laughed when she couldn't pull herself up onto it. "I guess I need some help getting up there." She rubbed her growing baby bump.
Borg chuckled. "Let me help you." Once she was lying down he patted the lid. "
Now, I just lower this over you and the med-op does all of the work. Alright?"
"Yes."
"If you feel uncomfortable or get scared let me know." He lowered the lid, then moved to the control panel. "It will take about two micro-units then we'll know how you and the baby are doing and if you're having a boy or a girl."
Daria nodded and held still.
Borg waited until the screen lit up. He read the information, glanced at Daria and punched in some numbers and ran the exam again. When the monitor lit up, he read it again and rapidly punched in a new order and waited until the screen lit up. He almost passed out when he saw the answer to his inquiry. Daria was only eight weeks pregnant and her baby was not only half-Earthling and half-Zarronian but it was a girl! Borg turned away, thoughts rushing through his head. He had to contact Eirik. Right now! This was impossible. She couldn't be carrying Thorn's child. It just wasn't possible. Quickly, he programmed the machine again and got the same results.
"Borg, is everything alright?"
"Yes. Everything is fine, Daria. The baby is healthy and it's a girl."
Daria laughed. A daughter. She was going to have a daughter with black hair and her violet eyes, she hoped. "How does it feel to be the owner of a Zylian crystal?"
"Wonderful."
"What is a Zylian crystal, anyway?" she asked as he lifted the cover and helped her sit up.
"It's really the chrysalis that their young are in when they're in the first stage of life. They're very rare and extremely hard to come by."
Daria shuddered. "Aren't those the creatures that have the acidy slime?"
"Yes."
"How did Eirik ever find this one?"
"Well, Thorn brought it to him," he told her, watching as her face paled.
"But, how did he get it?"
"Three annuals ago, we were at war with the Zylians, and Thorn was ordered to destroy their starships." Borg decided not to tell her that they kept their starships underground near their nests or that Thorn and his warriors had nearly died carrying out the orders.
"Oh, I see. So they're just lying around, waiting for someone to pick them up and carry them home. Right, Borg?" Daria asked.
"Not exactly, but ask Thorn about it. I’m sure he'll tell you. Right now I have something vitally important to ask you."
Daria nodded but looked around the room, avoiding his eyes.
"You know about the death of our females and that since then we've never had female children?"
"Yes."
"The entire population of Zarronian would celebrate the birth of a female Zarronian child. It's that important to us." Borg returned her smile when she looked up. "Is Thorn the father of your child?"
"Yes, but he doesn't believe me and I'm tired of trying to convince him."
Borg laughed. "I'd like to say that's because he's a stubborn fool but the truth is this is amazingly unbelievable. If I hadn't done the exam and seen the results with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it either." He took her hand and squeezed it. "Your daughter is a miracle, Daria."
She smiled. "It's a relief that someone else finally knows the truth but I'm scared too. Will your government try to take her away from me?"
"No, they'll only want both of you to be safe, and of course they'll want us to find out why you're carrying a female child. The fact she exists will give us hope for a future filled with daughters of our own. Knowing her father is a warrior who already has sons is another miracle."
"Because it's never happened before?" she asked, then added, "Do I have to tell Thorn?"
Borg chuckled. "Tell me why you don't want to tell him."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Because if I tell him, and things change between us I'll never know if it was because of the baby or because he changed his mind about me." She hesitated, then added, "Although I don't know why I care either way."
"As the mother it's your right to tell him when you choose. When you do I'll back you up. In the meantime we'll figure out a way to investigate this without letting him know what's going on," Borg said. "Do you want to tell Lia and Valan the good news?"
"I want to tell them but if I do won't they feel obligated to tell Thorn? I don't want to drag them into the middle of this." She frowned. "I hate all these secrets. It's exhausting keeping them."
Borg patted her shoulder. "I know but I also agree it would put them in a bad position. So let's make a deal. For now you only tell them you're having a girl. Then, if Thorn doesn't come to his senses in the next two moon phases we'll tell Valan and Lia the rest. How's that?"
"Yes, that will work." Daria let him help her down then escort her into the waiting room. She smiled at Lia. "It's a girl."
Lia rushed to her and hugged her. "Valan, isn't it
wonderful? A girl to spoil."
Valan smiled at his bondmate, then at Daria. "Yes, it's wonderful."
Daria smiled and touched her slight baby bump. "Thank you."
"When will she be born?" Lia asked Borg.
Stunned, Borg realized that he hadn't even checked for the date of birth. "I was so excited, I forgot to check. I'll tell you this evening when I drop by for dinner."
"Nobody's invited you," Valan said.
"Daria did," Borg lied shamelessly. Then, anxious to go to Eirik he ushered them through the door, waving them off as they started down the path. As soon as they disappeared, he told his receptionist he'd be at the Council Building if he was needed.
Ten micro-units later, Eirik jumped when the doors to his office were flung open and Borg rushed through them. He slammed them and began pacing back and forth.
"Borg, it's been annuals since I've seen you move so fast, or appear this excited."
"What would you say if I told you I've just examined the pregnant bondmate of a warrior who already has sons?" Borg dropped into a chair.
Eirik twirled his writing tool in his fingers. "I'd say the med-op was wrong. That's impossible."
"No, the med-op isn't wrong. I checked it for accuracy and I ran the test several times."
"Is the female from Earth?" Eirik rose and began pacing.
"Yes, but that's not all. There's only one child and it’s a female!"
Eirik swung around and stared at him. "A female? Are you sure?"
"Absolutely positive."
"Who is this female? Who is her bondmate?"
"Daria and Thorn."
"Tor! A female child! I can't believe it after all these annuals." He took a few more steps then turned around. "Are you sure the child is Thorn's?"
"I compared the baby's DNA to his and it matched. He's definitely the father."
"Does Thorn know? Valan and Lia?"
"No. Daria doesn't want to tell Thorn for obvious reasons and she doesn't want to put Valan and Lia in the middle."
Eirik nodded. "I'll have to notify the Council." He chuckled. "I wonder what Thorn will do the first time he wakes up with morning sickness?"
Borg laughed. "I'll make sure he thinks it's because he's bonded to her."
Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Page 21
