Zade looked at Boca and smiled.
“Hi, Dorian,” Boca cooed. “I’m mated. It’s not so bad.”
“Hi, Boca,” Dorian replied, mirroring her singsong tone. He looked at Chiang. “You look like you’ve been in a fight, Doctor.”
Chiang snorted. “I’ve learned it’s dangerous to mate a damn warrior,” he said pointing to Boca, who giggled.
“He said I could bite him back. He said it was only fair,” she whispered. “I waited until he was exhausted with pleasure, and then I did it.”
Dorian and Malachi both laughed when Chiang looked at her and sighed. “I meant you could bite me one time, A mea. One time—not a dozen.”
Boca shrugged. “I didn’t hear that part.”
Zade and Malachi laughed again, but Chiang saw Gwen was still frowning. “She is my mate—officially and in every way, Commander. I will see to it that Boca doesn’t roam around alone until the euphoria has passed. I’m sure she will develop a tolerance over time.”
Gwen pulled her weapon from her hip and pointed it at Chiang. “You damn well better make sure it does.”
Chiang swung a glare at Zade, who laughed loudly. “You’re laughing? Really?”
“I’m just glad it’s not me on the end of her weapon this time,” Dorian said.
Boca looked at Gwen. “Don’t be mad, Gwen. You should be happy. I’ve seen them both naked and I still prefer Chiang.”
“What?” Chiang bellowed, turning to glare at Zade, who suddenly found himself staring down both the angry Greggor and the end of his mate’s weapon again.
“It was nothing. I was merely dressing for meditation,” Dorian said, shrugging his shoulders, fighting the twitch at the corner of his mouth. His mate’s glare was so very tempting. The Greggor’s claiming vibrations had nearly driven him out of his mind. Now he would have a chance to use their effects himself.
Synar’s voice came over the intercom. Apparently, an unknown shuttle was asking permission to dock. It had a Peace Alliance logo, but after recent events, they weren’t inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to any strange craft.
“Zade, you and I are going to talk.” Gwen put her weapon back in the holster. “I like her, Chiang. Fix this shit.”
“Fix what?” Boca asked.
“Nothing,” Malachi said, patting her arm, snatching it away when Chiang growled. “Oh stop that noise. It’s creepy. No wonder she doesn’t like it.”
“Keep your hands off her,” Chiang said. He walked to the table. “Come here, A mea.”
Boca scrambled out from under the covers, launching herself into his arms. Chiang held her close, while she planted quick little joyful kisses all over his face.
Gwen shook her head in disgust as she walked out, followed closely by a grinning Zade, who turned back briefly to give Chiang a thumbs up.
“She is not harmed, Gwen,” Chiang yelled after them, defending himself. “She is just extremely happy. The Sirens can do this to their mates as well. It’s not my fault Zade chose not to do it to you.”
“That’s because he doesn’t want his ass fried,” Gwen said, walking fast to fight her temptation to turn around and plow her fist into Chiang’s face. The only reason she didn’t was that she might hurt Boca, who was clinging to him like a child.
“I think you and your mate might want to lock yourselves into your quarters today. The medics and I can take care of things,” Malachi advised.
Chiang slid a giggling Boca up and over his shoulder, grabbing a tunic on his way out. She might need another later. He didn’t want to risk Boca running around naked again.
“Will you explain this to Captain Synar—I mean medically?” Chiang asked.
“If it comes up,” Malachi said on a laugh. “I’ll have some food sent to your quarters. It might tone down the effects of this a bit.”
Chiang nodded and carried his happy mate back where he could keep her safe.
Chapter 28
“Kefira is a remarkable female. You must be very proud,” Ania said.
“Yes, I am. And I am most anxious to see her,” High Ambassador Jilco said, his gaze trying to stay on Captain Synar and Peace Keeper Looren, but it kept straying to the door.
“Kefira insisted on spending the sleep cycle watching over one of the members of her rescue team who was injured. It was Lieutenant Seta Trax,” Synar said.
“Ah yes. . .I recall your explanation. What is the condition of the Lieutenant’s sibling?” High Ambassador Jilco inquired politely.
“We are not sure she will survive,” Synar said.
“Kefira could not help?”
Synar shook his head. “She helped Seta. Rena’s situation is more severe.”
The conference room door opened to let in the officers, followed shortly by Seta Trax and Kefira, who rushed to embrace her father when he opened his arms.
“Praise the Creators,” High Ambassador Jilco said, uncaring how emotional his voice was.
“Praise Captain Synar and his amazing crew,” Kefira added. “They have been most kind to me.”
High Ambassador Jilco turned and looked at Liam Synar. “My personal gratitude is without adequate tribute to offer, but I can show my professional appreciation. You are to be given a Guardian level vessel. It’s not in the best condition on the outside, but it’s been completely overhauled internally. It has a name, but you may choose another.”
“A larger ship would be most welcome. What is its name?” Synar asked, proud that his attending officers didn’t embarrass him by shouting out their joy.
“There was a time when ships were just named for the series and numbered. It is called the Guardian 13. I assure you the old-fashion name does not do justice to its refurbished condition,” High Ambassador Jilco said.
“The name is just fine,” Synar said. “Thank you, High Ambassador.”
“Is Malachi coming?” Kefira asked. “I would like to say goodbye to him.”
“Ah…the friendly demon,” High Ambassador Jilco said dryly.
“No need to be concerned,” Ania said softly. “Malachi is not typical. The Xendrin collars for the Lotharians were actually his idea.”
“The males have become animals on leashes for the females who wished to stay with their mates,” he said. “Remarkably, there were a lot more than we imagined. I think some just wanted retribution. I am still not sure that was the appropriate measure.”
“Feeling the consequences of one’s actions often leads to redemption,” Ania said.
“Indeed. Let us hope that is the case with the Lotharians.”
“Seta and I will walk with you to Medical so Kefira can say goodbye to Malachi,” Synar said, rising. “He’s watching over Seta’s sibling, who remains in stasis.”
When the door closed behind them, Gwen turned to glare at her mate. “You are never to get naked in front of any female other than me ever again unless it is a medical emergency.”
Ania laughed. “I warned you, Dorian.”
“Does Synar know you’ve seen his best friend in the buff?” Gwen demanded of Ania.
“Liam has seen me often enough without clothes. I doubt it would surprise him,” Dorian said.
Gwen rolled her eyes, her hand dropping to her weapon. She raised it again, pushing temptation away.
“So has Chiang. The day she had her first trance, I dressed Boca back in her clothes to hide Chiang’s family’s mark from him. I had to dress myself after he got there. I don’t see what the problem is,” Dorian said with a shrug. “I am how the Creators made me.”
“I ought to strip and walk down the hallway naked right now. See how you feel about it,” Gwen said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dorian said with a grin. “You just had me lecturing the ensigns for staring at Boca. You’d make us both look like idiots. And I will refuse to chastise the ensigns for being innocent bystanders of our fight.”
“This is not a fight,” Gwen said. “This is a warning. Don’t. Get. Naked. Again.”
Dorian grinn
ed. “Sorry. I can’t promise that.”
Gwen rose, kicked her chair, and stormed out.
“I hope she stuns you again,” Ania said. “I’m tempted to do it for her.”
“Tomorrow my mate will be singing sweeter than Boca,” Dorian supplied.
Ania shook her head. “You would enchant Gwen out of her bad mood with Siren pheromones?”
“Chiang’s claiming has inspired me to try,” Dorian said.
“You better hope it works then.” Ania stood and sighed. “Praise the Creators I didn’t choose you for a mate. You make the stoic Liam Synar look like the best male alive.”
“I would never harm her,” Dorian said softly.
“You continue to underestimate the mate you picked. Don’t make me explain to Sarinnea why her only child was sent home as a pile of ashes.”
But Ania had to smile at the wicked pleasure on Dorian’s face.
***
Boca ran barefoot down the halls, laughing as her feet barely touched the cool metal. Outside the door of the meditation room she paused. She didn’t have access. How was she to get in?
Place your palm over the com port, Che’ta. Say Lieutenant Zade’s name.
Giggling Boca put her palm over the device. “Lieutenant Dorian Zade” she said in her deepest voice, laughing at the silliness of imitating him. The door clicked open and Boca laughed more as she walked inside.
“Wow. I no longer need Malachi. Perhaps I am a demon now,” Boca said to the female she saw waiting for her.
“No, you are not a demon,” the emissary said, bowing her head to the smiling female.
“Good,” Boca declared. “I did not wish to be one.”
“Indeed, that is not your fate,” the emissary said, coming close and touching each side of Boca’s head.
It was like an extreme blast of cold, and Boca shook.
“Wow. That was harsh. Was I asleep?” She looked around at the meditation room, at the writing still on the walls. Then down at her nude body and bare feet. “Why am I here in this condition?”
Her emissary’s facial expression changed slightly. Boca thought it must be the species equivalent of a smile.
“We must let the emissary come out of you now. Then you can go back to your mate. I have merely blocked the Greggor pheromone effects for a short time.”
“Wait…you said I have an emissary in me?” Boca demanded.
“Yes. It was expedient and necessary. She was not ready to return to. . .never mind. Details are not important. Close your eyes, Che’ta. The flash is intense,” the emissary said.
Remembering what happened when she received her burning palms, Boca closed her eyes tightly. Moments later, she felt a tug on her middle and saw light behind her eyelids.
“You may open your eyes now,” the emissary said.
Boca did and saw a dancing light of bright colors hovering near the emissary who kept dropping in on her life with pronouncements and gifts that did nothing but cause more havoc. “Is this the energy that was in Rena Trax?”
The emissary bowed her head once. “Yes. She wanted to experience your mating with you. She changed nothing, merely observed it.”
“Why?” Boca demanded, narrowing her gaze at the dancing light.
Her emissary shrugged. “It will aid her in a decision she must make.”
“Malachi wants her back,” Boca blurted out. “I know he’s a demon, but he’s been grieving for her every day. She has his full compassion. Does she care for him?”
Her emissary shrugged again.
“Rena—the emissary in Rena--has no job anymore. Seta Trax and Zorinda are now merged,” Boca supplied.
“We are aware of what has passed. It was for the best,” the emissary said.
“Well, that’s all I know. If you don’t need me anymore, I’d like to go back to my mate. He’s going to be mad when he wakes up and finds me gone again,” Boca said, only to find she was talking to an empty room. “Yeah, goodbye to you too.”
The words weren’t out of her mouth for three seconds before a loud grunt and bang came from the door. The lock popped off and a naked Chiang popped his head inside. “I swear I am going to chain you to the bed.”
“It was the emissary’s fault this time,” Boca said, sliding into the shorter of the two robes Chiang had snagged from the meditation room rack. “There will be hell to pay tomorrow. I’ll have to fix the door and clean the robes to keep Zade from killing me. My guess is that he will not be in a good mood. After the whole naked thing, Zade is probably sleeping alone tonight.”
Boca giggled, but it wasn’t the pheromones this time, though she could feel their effects seeping back. “Are you going to chase me down every time I’m out of your sight, Chiang? That’s going to get really boring, really fast.”
“Only until you adjust to the pheromone’s effects,” Chiang said.
“Well, when will that be?” Boca demanded, laughing.
Chiang sighed. “I don’t know. I’m feeling guilty for letting them loose on you, but I can’t seem to hold back anymore. I like seeing you happy. I like causing it.”
“Okay. We’ll fight about them later. Can we find Malachi on the way back to our room?” Boca asked, letting her mate tug her along by her hand.
“He’s camping out in Medical again tonight. He puts his host body on the medical table and hovers in mist form over the stasis unit all night,” Chiang said.
“His emissary was in me,” Boca whispered. “When she came out, she was a dancing light of many colors as tall as my emissary.”
Chiang snorted. “Strange.”
“I know. I was possessed and didn’t even know it. That’s almost creepier than hosting a demon,” Boca said, then surprised herself by laughing. “Every time I look at you I get the urge to giggle. I don’t think I like this.”
Chiang laughed. “Come back to the room and I’ll make you like it again.”
Boca laughed as they veered into Medical, just in time to see Malachi lifting a moaning Rena Trax from the stasis unit. Chiang dropped Boca’s hand and rushed to Malachi’s side as he laid her down on the medical table he’d been using.
“I heard her moaning,” Malachi said. “Then she opened her eyes.”
Boca came over quietly and peered at the female. “She is even more beautiful in energy form.”
Malachi’s startled gaze rose to Boca’s. “You saw her.”
“Your emissary has been in me this whole time,” Boca said. “I just found out.”
Malachi looked back down as the female on the table rolled her face to peer up into his.
“You look so familiar. Do I know you?” she asked.
Malachi smiled. “Welcome back, Emissary.”
Her gaze clouded with confusion. “Why address me so strangely?”
Malachi and Chiang looked at each other.
“The host body probably has good reason to be confused,” Chiang said.
Malachi’s gaze flashed red. The female flinched.
“What is wrong with your eyes?” she demanded.
“Nothing,” Malachi said, pulling back. “Nothing at all. This is not her, Chiang. I think this is the real Rena Trax.”
“Contact Seta,” Chiang told Boca, hoping she would be able to maintain enough composure to do so.
Malachi walked to the stasis container and closed the cover gently. “She truly is free at last. I guess she decided not to come back.” He walked out of Medical, giving no thought to the couple staring after him.
“Call Captain Synar. Tell him what has happened,” Chiang ordered, when Boca reported Seta was on her way. He watched Boca nod but kept his eye on her in case she decided to run after Malachi.
“Where am I?” Rena asked.
“What is your last memory?” Chiang inquired instead of answering, hoping to get some sense of whom he was actually addressing.
“We were on the Paladin, but it was imperative that Seta come to the Liberator. Is this the Liberator?” she asked.
“Aye
, it is,” Chiang answered. “You were injured during a mission.”
“I was injured? Seta?” Rena asked, her voice trembling.
“She is well,” Chiang said. “How are you feeling now?”
“I don’t know,” Rena answered. “I am confused.”
Seta Trax came rushing into Medical, going to the table and throwing her body across her sibling’s, clutching her in relief. “You live.”
“Yes. I live,” Rena said. “So do you. Praise the Creators.”
Chiang pulled back and went to stand by Boca. “Do you have any idea what happened?”
Boca slowly shook her head. “No. But my emissary likes to cause trouble.”
Chiang snickered. “Isn’t this the same emissary who said I was your gift?”
Boca giggled. “Yes, but she was wrong. You are trouble. I can’t go around giggling and laughing all the time.”
“I will spend all my days making you this happy even when you no longer react to the pheromones,” Chiang vowed.
“Give your days to your patients,” Boca ordered. “I’ll take your sleep cycles.”
“Deal,” Chiang said, catching her up in a hug, seeing a frazzled Dorian Zade frowning over her head, giving their robes the once over.
“I don’t even want to know,” Dorian said tightly. “I woke Warro up to fix the lock on the door. I wouldn’t expect him to be your new best friend.”
Boca giggled, turning her face into Chiang’s chest to stifle her laughter.
“Would you believe this is all Boca’s emissary’s fault?” Chiang asked, feeling his mate clutching him as she fought not to dissolve at the excuse he gave for them.
“Take your giggling mate and go back to your quarters, Doctor. I’ll call if the Trax siblings need medical attention,” Zade said.
“I’m happy to, but Lieutenant—why aren’t you in your quarters?” Chiang asked.
Zade pulled his weapon from his holster, pointing it at a laughing Greggor, who picked up his laughing mate and ran.
The Healer's Kiss: Book Four of the Forced To Serve Series Page 31
