Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2)

by Mardi Maxwell

  Eirik laughed. "Serves him right for the way he's treated her."

  "Daria doesn't want him to know but she said she doesn't know why. I think she feels more for him than she's willing to admit, even to herself," Borg said.

  "I better call the Council together and inform them of the news. Is there anything else I should know, Borg?"

  "Not yet. I'll use the data from the scan on Daria to begin trying to figure out why she's carrying a female, and what, if anything, makes her different from the other Earth females." He paused. "I need to check all the level five females and see what they have in common with Daria."

  "What will you do if that's not the answer?"

  "I'll examine the level five warriors. There has to be a reason this happened. I just have to find it."

  "Use the excuse of the morning sickness, Borg."

  Borg sent him an admiring glance. "Eirik, I've never told you this, but through the annuals I've developed a great admiration for your craftiness."

  "Thank you," Eirik said with feigned humility. "I've often admired your cunning, as well." He prepared two glasses of wine and handed one to Borg. "To Thorn and Daria," he said, copying a custom he'd seen on Earth.

  Borg rose. "To their daughter."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Daria examined a trailing vine on the neighbor's fence then moved on. While she walked around the neighborhood she thought about the research on the geography and the wildlife of Zarronia that she was doing. It was fascinating, but trying to describe the animals for the people on Earth was proving to be very tricky. How could she describe the brightly colored Zarronian antelope-like rodent with the long, elephant-like trunk without sounding as if she was describing a character in a child's cartoon? She'd asked the Council to let her include pictures in her articles but they'd denied the request.

  The most interesting fact she'd learned, and one she couldn't mention, was the way the people and creatures on Zarronia only reproduced one time. It didn't matter what category they fell into, fish, fowl or mammal, all of them produced once then never again. The disc she'd watched had said the Zarronian scientists thought something about the planet itself caused this effect. Daria thought of it as nature's way of controlling the population and she wondered if there were other planets in the universe that did the same thing.

  The research had also helped her to understand why Thorn insisted he wasn’t the father of her child. As Borg had said her pregnancy really was something of a miracle. She'd have to tell Thorn again and have Borg explain it to him but she wanted to put that off for as long as possible. Before she could decide exactly when to do that she heard her name called and saw Ronin walking toward her.

  "Greeting, Madami Thorn. How are you?"

  For a moment Daria was distracted by the name he called her. It was the first time she'd been addressed as Thorn's bondmate. She didn't know whether to smile or frown, so she fell back on good manners. "Very well, thank you Ronin. How are you?"

  "Happy to be home again."

  "You went with Thorn?" she asked as they walked back toward Lia and Valan's home.

  "Yes, to Witvia. We just returned a couple units ago."

  Daria smiled at him but she was thinking that Thorn was back and he hadn't bothered to contact her. He'd been gone almost two cycles and the fever was already increasing in her body. She wondered if he'd contact her soon or let her suffer. Deciding there was no way of predicting his behavior she pushed him from her mind and smiled at Ronin. "Did the journey go well?"

  Ronin chuckled and Daria got a glimpse of the eager little boy he'd probably been long ago. . "We had a great battle. The Witvian's attacked the Invincible. At first there were only several dozen fighters and Thorn ordered our fighters to go after them. Everything was going well until one of their battle gliders came up behind us. They fired on us before we even realized they were there."

  "Shouldn't someone had seen them before they got that close?" Daria asked.

  "Aulunson was too busy watching the battle between our fighters and the Witvians. The glider was practically on top of us, firing away, when Thorn ordered me to shut down the anti-gravity sensors and let the Invincible drop towards Witvia. We fell so fast I wasn't sure we'd be able to pull out of it in time." He laughed again. "Thorn just stood there as Witvia grew larger and larger on the viewing screen then he calmly explained how to pull out of the planet's gravity."

  "That sounds extremely dangerous. Does he do things like that very often?"" Daria asked while wondering if the big oaf was trying to get himself killed.

  "Yes, but that's why it’s a privilege to serve on the Invincible. Thorn's fearless." He smiled. "Anyway, after we pulled out of the freefall we moved behind the glider and destroyed it. By then our fighters had finished their battle and returned to the starship."

  "Was anyone hurt?"

  "A few warriors in the initial attack and several more when we dropped so suddenly but everyone survived."

  They reached the gate to Valan and Lia's home just as he finished speaking. Ronin opened it then stepped aside. "Good cycle to you, Daria."

  "Thank you. Good cycle to you too." Daria smiled then walked through the gate and heard it close behind her.

  # # #

  Thorn rubbed his stomach, then rose from the med-op. He frowned at Borg. "Why am I experiencing the morning sickness when it's not my child?"

  Borg held back a grin, and concentrated on the monitor until the urge to laugh passed. "It's certainly a puzzle but I'll figure it out eventually." When he'd been contacted the previous cycle with the puzzling news he and Eirik had enjoyed a good laugh at Thorn's expense.

  "Has this happened to anyone else?" Thorn asked.

  Borg grinned, he couldn't help it. Thorn sounded so grouchy and out of sorts. "Some of the warriors have told me that they felt a little ill after bonding with a pregnant female from Earth."

  "So, it has something to do with Daria's pregnancy and her being from Earth?"

  "Perhaps," Borg quickly took advantage of Thorn's suggestion. "I've been wondering about this since the first warrior informed me of his illness and I've worked up a questionnaire I'd like you to fill out." Borg opened a cabinet, removed a thick sheaf of papers and handed it to Thorn.

  Thorn ruffled the edges and frowned. "Have the other warriors completed one of these?"

  "Yes, of course. It's very important, Thorn. I'm researching what all of you have in common." Borg kept a straight face. Eirik had helped him create the questionnaire, and knowing how much Thorn hated paperwork, they'd added about ten pages of questions which had nothing to do with this project.

  "Alright. I'll return it to you in seven cycles."

  "I'd need it back tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow? I'll have to work on it all evening, Borg. I have other things to do."

  "What could be more important than finding out why you're experiencing morning sickness? Of course, if you don't mind suffering, I—."

  "No. I'll return it to you in the morning."

  "I'll save you the trip and join you for breakfast."

  "I'll tell my parents to expect you."

  Borg chuckled and pounded Thorn's back as he ushered him through the door, "Excellent. You do that, boy." After closing the door, he fell against the wall and laughed until his belly ached.

  # # #

  Valan sat down next to Lia and the two of them watched Thorn. He'd been standing at the window for over fifteen micro-units.

  "Are you okay, Thorn," Lia asked.

  "Yes." Thorn stared into the dark garden, his arms crossed over his chest. He'd missed Daria. He'd lied when he'd told her he would never want her again. He burned for her constantly. For the first time in over five annuals he was having to use ZL3 to help him control his fever. The past two cycles had been hell especially after he'd arrived home and discovered that she'd gone for a walk by herself. The only thing keeping him from going after her was the child she carried.

  He'd had a lot of time to think while he traveled
to Witvia. Her culture was different than his and he'd come to teams with the fact that she'd had a lover on Earth. Knowing she'd never see the human male again was an advantage but the baby would be a constant reminder of him. If only he knew if she'd loved the man or still loved him.

  "Thorn?"

  "Yes?"

  "Weren't you going to meet Soren at Dag's?" Lia asked.

  Thorn glanced at the timekeeper, then nodded. "Yes. Did I mention that Borg is coming for breakfast?"

  Valan groaned, and Lia poked him in the arm.

  Thorn gave them an absent-minded glance then left without another word.

  # # #

  Borg arrived the next morning just as they sat down for breakfast. Eirik was behind him wearing a grin from one ear to the other. "Look who I caught sneaking up the path to your house, Son." He pulled out a chair and sat down.

  "He was invited," Valan mumbled. "Who invited you?"

  "Soren did. Yesterday when I met him at the Council Building."

  "Really? He didn't mention it to us," Valan said.

  "Must have slipped his mind." Eirik grinned at Thorn. "Where's Daria?"

  "She's sleeping," Thorn said.

  "How's the puking going, boy?"

  Thorn choked on the bite of food he'd just put in his mouth and glared at his Grandfather.

  "Have you been sick, Thorn?" Lia asked concerned. "Borg did you know about this?"

  "It's nothing to worry about. Just a little morning sickness."

  "Morning sickness!" Valan exclaimed. "How can that be?"

  Eirik jumped into the conversation. "Nothing to worry about. Some of the other warriors have experienced it as well. Borg's checking into it. Aren't you Borg?"

  "Yes. Probably has to do with a pregnant female's hormones whether she's carrying your child or not," Borg said.

  "How odd," Lia mumbled. "Would you like me to have the serving female bring you some tea and bread in the mornings, Thorn?"

  "No. I can take care of myself," he growled.

  "It would be no trouble as the serving girl has been taking tea and bread to Daria in the mornings," Lia said.

  "Which reminds me," Borg said. "We need to make arrangements for the birth of Daria's child. Will you be delivering her and doing the naming ceremony, Thorn?"

  "No," Thorn said.

  "Are you sure about that?" Valan asked.

  "Yes," Thorn said.

  Then, Borg you can deliver the baby and Daria can ask Soren to be one of the mentors," Valan said. "He can help her with the naming ceremony as well."

  "Yes. Soren would like that," Eirik said.

  Thorn glared at them and slammed his glass of juice to the table. "It's not going to work so you can stop."

  Lia frowned. "What's not going to work?"

  "Trying to make me jealous. It won't work."

  "Don't be silly," Lia said with a little laugh. "Daria explained that what happened between the two of you was an accident and that you aren't to blame for the way you feel."

  "Oh, really? Then why did she tell me you wanted us to stay together?"

  Lia grimaced. "I'm afraid I made her promise to talk to you. She tried to convince me it wouldn't do any good but you know how stubborn I can be?"

  "So, you've accepted it just like that?" He waved his hand in the air.

  "We'd hoped you'd stay together but we understand, and accept, your need to live apart," Lia said.

  "You said Daria is like a daughter to you." Thorn relaxes and hooked his arm over the back of his chair.

  "We like her. Surely, you don't expect us to abandon her?" Valan asked. "Besides we're not the only ones who like her. Soren already thinks of her as a sister."

  "That's right," Soren said as he ambled into the room. "I think of Daria as my sister and soon I'm going to have a little niece." He grinned proudly at them as he sat down.

  Lia turned to Valan. "We'll have to set up a nursery so we can watch the baby while Daria works."

  "Does that mean another trip to the marketplace?" Valan asked, then grinned. "I haven't done anything to deserve that torture, little cat."

  Lia laughed then patted his hand. "You'll survive the experience."

  "Excellent," Eirik said. "Daria will have to travel for her job so that would be a great help. By the way, I agree that Soren should help name the child and be one of the mentors."

  Soren smiled as he served himself from the tray of food on the table. "I'm honored. I'll start considering names for the baby."

  Thorn looked at the food on his plate and felt sick. As far as his family was concerned everything was settled. Frowning, he rubbed his aching stomach as he rose. "I have work to do on the Invincible."

  "How are the repairs coming?" Eirik asked. "Will the Invincible be ready to go out again soon?"

  "In about four cycles."

  "Good. I might have to send you to recover the females the Witvians sold to the Almarians."

  "I thought the Assembly was handling that." Thorn said.

  "They are but we offered to assist them."

  "Send someone else. The trip would take at least ten cycles. I'd have to take Daria with me and we'd be trapped on the starship together."

  "You can ignore her on the Invincible just as easily as you ignore her here," Soren said.

  "Stay out of this, brother and the answer is still no. That's final." Frowning Thorn walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Several micro-units later he entered the transfer station and nodded at the warrior on duty as he stepped onto one of the plates. "The Invincible."

  "Yes, Commander."

  A moment later, the transfer officer on his starship greeted him. Thorn nodded as he passed him and absently returned the greetings of his warriors as he walked to engineering.

  The child was the problem. Daria belonged to him and he fought every moment to keep from claiming her completely. She pleased him. In the bedroom she pleased him as no other female ever had. Outside of the bedroom she was intelligent, funny, and sassy. Even his family liked her. He didn't love her but he wanted her and he didn't want to share her with her lover's child.

  That was the root of the problem. Frowning, he thought about how easily Daria had accepted Dane and Dev. Maybe if the child looked like her, and not the man who'd fathered her, it would be easier for him to claim her. He put it to the back of his mind, entered engineering and greeted Garrikson, then listened to his report concerning the progress they were making on the repairs.

  # # #

  "Commander," the communications officer said, "Ambassador Eirikson and Ruler Dagson have boarded the starship and are waiting for you in your quarters."

  "Very well. Tell them I'll join them in five micro-units." Thorn turned to his head of engineering. "Garrikson, make sure the workers reinforce the wall before they install the new shielding on the outside."

  "Yes, Commander."

  The repairs were coming along ahead of schedule. They'd been told they'd have to wait for the new shielding to arrive, but his supply officer had managed to commandeer a shipment intended for another starship. Chuckling, he wondered what the Commander of the Defiance would do when he discovered it was missing.

  The door to his quarters slid open and he stepped through it. His Father sat behind his desk with his booted feet resting on the clean surface. His Grandfather stood by the food processor removing a glass of wine.

  "I could use one of those, Grandfather." He moved toward him and took the glass Eirik held out to him.

  "Sit down, son, I've got something to tell you."

  Thorn pulled a chair out and dropped into it. "Let's hear it."

  Valan glanced at his father then back to Thorn. "Have you heard the rumor about a level six warrior?"

  "Yes."

  Valan hesitated for a moment then said, "There's no easy way to tell you this—it's Soren."

  Thorn jerked to his feet. "No, that can't be true. We're level fives. Check him again."

  Valan moved to Thorn and put his hands on his sh
oulders, squeezing them.

  "Father—." Thorn swallowed to clear his throat.

  Valan slung his arm around him and for a moment they stood together. "We're doing everything we can to find him a mate but the chances of that are very low. He wants to die in battle."

  "The damn fool will do everything he can to get himself killed," Thorn said.

  Valan nodded. "That's what we fear. He wanted you to know but he didn’t want to be the one to tell you."

  "Does Mother know?"

  "No, and I don't know how I'm going to tell her," Valan said. "She'd make herself sick worrying when there's still hope."

  "Hope?" Thorn asked. For a level six warrior there was no hope. Even the scientists said it would be impossible to find a female who could bond at that level. He rubbed his hands over his face only then realizing that his eyes were wet. His father's eyes were red and Thorn knew he was holding back his own grief.

  Thorn felt as if someone had thrust a knife through his chest and for a moment he couldn't catch his breath. Finally, he managed to pull in a huge gulp of air. He was going to lose his brother. The person he'd spent his entire life depending on, living and fighting next to, and the only person who knew him as well as he knew himself. He fisted his hands, holding back the howl or rage and grief he felt. He couldn't lose control now. Not in front of his father and grandfather.

  He stiffened his shoulders. "Will Soren be home this evening?"

  Valan nodded. "Maybe you can talk some sense into him."

  "I'll be there." Thorn escorted them to the transfer room then went to the gym where he ordered the other warriors out before he removed his vest and activated the fighting robot.

  Units later, bloody and exhausted, he lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling and letting the tears he couldn't cry in front of his father and grandfather fall.

  # # #

  Daria was playing in the garden with Dane and Dev when Lia opened the back door and told them that Thorn had arrived. She watched them run toward it and disappear inside. She was happy to see the boys eager to see their father but wished he'd be that happy to see her. As soon as she realized what she'd just thought she questioned her own sanity. The less they saw each other the better. Besides she'd already decided to assure Thorn that she'd accepted that they would not be staying together and she was fine with that. She and, uh, Brianna? No. Melissa? She shook her head. None of the names sounded right. Shrugging, she patted her tummy. "Whoever you are I'm looking forward to meeting you."