by S. E. Smith
“Now, tell me how you met my son and how you became known as the warrior woman. Saffron could not say enough about how beautiful you are and insisted I come to welcome you as soon as possible.” Cora said.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Cora. Gracie told her about her life back on Earth, the years alone on the moon, and how she almost killed Kordon when she met him. Cora gave amusing tales of Kordon and his brothers growing up that had Gracie holding her sides from laughing so hard. Gracie was just saying goodbye to Cora when Kordon came home with a deep scowl on his face. Cora merely waved away his accusation of her meddling to get him away so she could keep Gracie to herself.
“I will pick you up tomorrow morning. The healer will be expecting you.” Cora said mildly as she stepped into the glider that landed to take her home.
“Healer?” Kordon growled out dangerously. “What healer?”
“Your mate is expecting your child. She needs to be seen by a healer familiar with human anatomy to ensure she and the child is safe and healthy. I made the necessary arrangements this afternoon. You don’t expect me not to protect my new daughter and your child, do you?” Cora looked reprovingly at her older son until he fought back a smile.
“You put father up to this today, didn’t you?” Kordon asked.
“Of course.” Cora said laughing. “Now, I must go pay up.” She added with a twinkle in her eye.
It took a moment for Gracie to catch on and when she did she blushed. Cora bid goodbye and was soon gone. Kordon turned Gracie towards the entrance to their home and led her inside.
“Are you hungry? Helin left dinner in the cooler for us.” Gracie said. “I told them I could warm it up for you. Helin showed me how to work the warmer.”
Kordon wrapped his arm around Gracie and picked her up. “The only thing I am hungry for is you. Can I eat you, Gracie Jones-Jeke?” Kordon whispered against Gracie’s ear.
“Anytime you want.” Gracie whispered back.
Gracie lay curled in Kordon’s arms that night watching as the second moon rose over the ocean. They had made slow, tender love before Kordon took her fast and furious. Gracie fell into a light sleep for about an hour before she woke again. She lay there enjoying the light breeze that blew in through the open doorway leading out onto a small balcony. It was her second night on Zion and she felt like she had never lived anywhere else. A small sigh escaped her as she let go of the fear and loneliness that seemed to have been a part of her life for so long. Kordon’s arm tightened around her.
“What is it?” He asked sleepily.
“Nothing.” Gracie whispered into the darkness of the night.
Kordon leaned up on one elbow. “Tell me about the nothing then.”
Gracie rolled over onto her back. She couldn’t believe how beautiful he was. She reached up and lightly traced her fingers over the pattern of symbols across his brow before letting them run down along his cheek to his neck. Kordon grabbed her fingers as they moved further down along his shoulder.
He pressed his lips to her fingers. “Tell me.” He murmured.
“I was thinking about how happy I am here. It is like my life before was just a dream and this is my home.” Gracie whispered. “Does that sound weird?”
Kordon laid back down and pulled Gracie tightly against his warm body. “No. This is your home. I will do everything I can to make you happy here, Gracie. You are my life.”
Gracie snuggled down. “You’re mine, too. I love you so much.” Gracie said suddenly sleepy.
“Sleep now, my little warrior. I will be going with you to the healer tomorrow.” Kordon said softly.
Kordon ran his hand up and down Gracie’s back until she relaxed and fell into a deep sleep. He lay awake for a few extra minutes making sure she was indeed asleep. Only when he was satisfied she was did he relax.
“I love you, too little warrior. I love you, too.” Kordon murmured as sleep overtook him.
The next day, Kordon and Cora accompanied Gracie to the healer who was very thorough in her exam. She gave a list of things she wanted to Gracie to do. Kordon snatched the list out of Gracie's hand immediately and scanned it. He asked the healer all kinds of questions Gracie never even thought of. The healer was a little concerned that Gracie's blood pressure was elevated and stressed to Kordon that Gracie was to rest frequently. She also gave a list of recommended foods, exercise, and a vitamin supplement. They made another appointment for two weeks.
Cora insisted on taking Gracie out to lunch and on a short tour of the markets afterwards. Kordon growled out in frustration when he received a message from the council and had to leave. He extracted a promise from his mother she would make sure Gracie did not get over tired. With a laugh, the two women sent Kordon on his way.
The next several days seemed to fly by. Gracie spent most mornings helping Helin in the kitchen and the afternoons in the upper level garden. She found she loved working in the garden. It might be because she never had much of a chance to spend outside or play in the dirt. She was almost four months pregnant now according to the healer. Gracie calculated back and determined she must have gotten pregnant the first time her and Kordon made love. A smile curved her lips at just the thought of Kordon. He was attentive to her every need and so tender with her. Helin teased her about the changes in Kordon since Gracie entered his life.
"He hardly ever smiled before and was so cold and distance. Now, I see a smile almost always on his lips except when he has to leave you." Helin said.
Gracie found out Helin was Kordon's nursemaid when he was younger. Her mate, Josef, served with Kordon's father and fought with him in the early wars before Zion joined with the Confederation. When Kordon built his home, he asked Helin and Josef to watch over it. She told similiar tales of Kordon and his brothers growing up that Cora told Gracie.
"I think I'll head up to the upper garden. There are some plants I would like to transplant. Cora will not be by today. She has some meetings." Gracie said wiping down the last of the counters.
"Go. I will bring you some refreshments up in a little while and see what you have done. I know Josef is happy you are taking over. He has never liked to garden." Helin said with a chuckle. "He is too stubborn, though, to tell Kordon to hire someone else. I think it is from when he was a boy and his father was a farmer."
Gracie laughed and brushed a kiss across Helin's cheek. "Well, I am loving it. I find it to be very relaxing. I'll see you later." Gracie said folding the towel and moving towards the stairs carved into the stone.
Gracie made her way up the staircase. She hummed an old tune as she moved towards the back of the garden near the gazebo. She had left her gardening tools there knowing she wanted to finish the small flowerbed she started yesterday. Climbing the small steps, she was just about to reach for the tools when a feeling she wasn't alone sent a shiver down her spine.
Gracie turned, frowning. "Josef, is that you?" Gracie called out.
"No, not Josef." Krac said stepping out from the shadows of one of the thick plants on the left side of the gazebo.
Gracie started when she saw the unfamiliar face. Frowning, she said. "I don't think you are supposed to be here. If you would like to see Kordon I can get Josef to call for him."
Krac studied the tiny human female in front of him. If he admitted to having feelings, he would almost feel bad for what he was about to do. She looked far too delicate and fragile to survive but orders were orders. Krac took a menacing step towards her watching keenly as she stiffened.
"I am not here to see your mate, Gracie Jones. I am here for you." Krac said blandly.
Gracie turned and ran. She heard the man behind her let out a low curse before he followed. Gracie hadn't taken more than a dozen steps before she felt an arm wrap around her waist at the same time as another cut off her scream.
“I really wish you hadn’t done that.” The deep voice said in resignation a moment before Gracie felt darkness descend as he pressed something against the side of her neck.
Chapter 23
Kordon slammed into the council room in a rage. Within two hours of Gracie’s disappearance a team of Zion warriors had been assembled. Helin heard Gracie’s short scream as she was bringing a tray up to her. When she emerged at the top of the stairs, she found a huge male with dark gray skin holding an unconscious Gracie in his arms. Before she could alert Josef, the man fired a dart knocking her unconscious as well. When she woke, both Gracie and the man were gone. She cried out for Josef who notified Kordon immediately.
“Did you find anything?” Kordon asked coldly to Saffron.
Saffron nodded. “An unknown transport left the planet an hour and a half ago. It registered as a trade ship with mechanical problems. It was docked at the port for three days prior to lifting off. The captain of the ship is registered as Captain Mannew Toc out of the Cumin System. The name checks out as being legit only the descriptions of Captain Toc are different from the description Helin gave you.”
Kordon’s father looked at his oldest son. “Did you find anything at your home?” Bazteen Jeke asked quietly.
Kordon looked at his father and gave a sharp nod. “A message was left.” Kordon pressed a button on the holovid to replay the message that was left on the table in the gazebo.
“Greetings, Grand Admiral. Sorry for taking your mate but she is needed for a little while elsewhere. I can’t guarantee her safety but I will do my best to keep her and your child alive. I’ll be sending you a message as to where you can find her in a few days if all goes well. You can try and kill me then but for now, I have more important things to do.” The deep voice ended.
A muscle twitched in Kordon’s jaw as he fought back the overwhelming fear for Gracie and his child. “The voice was encrypted. There is no identification match.”
“I’ve notified Bran. I am meeting up with the Conqueror in three hours.” Kordon said.
“We will all be there. Gracie is my daughter. She is a Zion female. There will be no mercy for those who took her.” Bazteen said standing and nodding to Saffron. “Call your brothers. We meet on the Conqueror.”
Saffron nodded. “They are already on their way. Malik and Ty are in transit. Rorrak was planet side and will be here within the hour.”
“Rorrak has been working undercover on an issue for the past year.” Bazteen said calmly. “He may be able to give you more information.”
Kordon’s head jerked up at his father’s words. “What aren’t you telling me?” He demanded harshly.
Bazteen sighed deeply. “I did not expect for anyone to be stupid enough to attempt to take your mate from Zion, much less your home. Rorrak came to me over a year ago with concerns about changes and unrest on Earth. As part of the leading peace force for the Confederation, it is my duty to investigate such things. A member of the royal family there, a descendant of your mate’s sister, approached us asking for assistance. Several attempts have been made lately on the lives of the council there, especially the Supreme Chancellor. Rorrak has been working to find out who is behind it. Some of our leads have pointed out former councilman Altren Proctor. Unfortunately, nothing is conclusive. He always has an alibi or is nowhere near the planet during the assassination attempts.”
“You didn’t think this information was worth passing on to me knowing who Gracie is?” Kordon growled out leaning forward on the table in fury.
Bazteen looked at his older son with regret. “The other council members felt there might be a chance to draw Proctor out by using Gracie. If you knew about it, they felt you would not agree.”
Kordon sat down heavily in the chair, his face turning to stone as he stared coldly at his father. “You purposely used Gracie as bait. You purposely put her in danger even knowing she is carrying my child, your grandchild, without giving her additional protection.” Kordon’s voice became harder as he absorbed his father’s betrayal. “Where is the pride of a Zion male who would use another’s pregnant mate as bait?” Kordon asked coldly.
Bazteen paled but did not reply. “The fate of millions, perhaps billions, rested on making that decision. It was not only our father’s choice to do this. He voted against using your mate.” A new voice responded to Kordon’s hard question.
Kordon turned to see his younger brother standing in the doorway. The symbols lining his face stood out against his deeply tanned skin. Rorrak was just as tall and just as broad as Kordon. He was wearing the traditional black uniform of a Zion warrior. Two long blades hung across his back and a set of laser pistols rode low on his narrow hips. His piercing blue eyes, slightly lighter than Kordon’s, looked back steadily.
“Play the holovid message.” Rorrak said just as coldly as Kordon.
Kordon bit back a retort. He knew his younger brother well enough to know he could be as cold a bastard as he was. Pressing the replay, the message played again. Rorrak’s eyes darkened at the sound of the distorted voice.
“Do you recognize the voice?” Kordon asked noticing Rorrak’s reaction.
Rorrak shook his head. “Not the voice but the way the words are spoken. It is Krac. He is a cold son-of-a-bitch on a good day. If he says he will try to keep your mate alive, he will. For an assassin he has a high code of honor. One thing you don’t want to do is cross him or piss him off. I can guarantee you, wherever he is there is going to be a lot of dead bodies.” Rorrak said with a resigned sigh.
Kordon cursed out loud. “I will track that bastard to the ends of the universe and gut him for what he has done.”
Rorrak shook his head again. “Let’s just concentrate on getting your mate back. Tell me everything you can about her and what happened in the council chambers back on Paulus. I know Krac as well as anyone can. I might be able to figure out what in the hell he is up to if I know everything.”
Kordon relayed everything he knew from the moment he first heard Gracie’s voice to her disappearance earlier. By the time he finished, they were on the Conqueror. Bran and Cooraan met them in the landing bay.
“You’re little mate seems to have a knack for attracting trouble.” Bran said as a way of greeting.
Kordon nodded solemnly. “She calls it Murphy.” Kordon responded.
He remembered listening to her talk about someone named Murphy. When she whispered his name in her sleep he felt a wave of jealousy swept through him. He remembered her laughing up at him and kissing him deeply before explaining who Murphy was and what his law was. Kordon pointed out it was Murphy who technically introduced them so he couldn’t be too bad.
“I think I may know where Krac is planning to take your mate.” Rorrak said quietly.
Kordon’s head jerked up at his brother’s quiet statement. “Where?” He asked harshly.
“You said your mate was stranded on a deserted moon for three years, didn’t you?” Rorrak asked.
Kordon nodded frowning. “Yes, why?”
“Krac has an unusual sense of humor for being a bastard. If he didn’t plan on killing her that means he is going to want you to find her. He would know about her history as well. He would know she knows how to survive on the moon.”
Bazteen nodded. “So, he would take her somewhere she is familiar with and knows how to survive until Kordon can get her.”
Rorrak nodded. Bran looked at each of the men with him before barking out a command. “Let’s go get your mate back.”
Gracie woke slowly. Her mouth felt dry and stuffy from whatever the man used to knock her out. She realized she was in a sleek transport of some type. She moved to sit up jerking when she felt one of her wrists chained to a metal bar. Gracie swung her feet over the side of the small bunk. It was like the one in the transport Saffron had.
Gracie pushed her hair out of her eyes with her free hand before letting in fall to her rounded belly. She felt a small flutter inside almost like butterflies. Her breath caught for a moment before she slowly let it out. Her baby was okay. Gracie looked around the small area. There wasn’t much to see. There were some storage compartments, a small door off to the one side, and
a small set of steps leading both up and down from a dark hole in the floor towards the back. Towards the front, there was a narrow corridor and a viewport showing nothing but dark space. Gracie started when a figure suddenly filled the corridor.
“You are awake.” Krac said smoothly. He walked forward and pressed a panel in the wall and pulled out a small bottle.
He walked back to Gracie and held the bottle out to her. “Drink it. You will be dehydrated from the sedative.”
Gracie took the bottle gingerly and sniffed the contents suspiciously. “You didn’t poison this or anything did you?” Gracie asked looking up at Krac.
Krac stared down into Gracie’s dark green eyes and chuckled. “No. I figured if I wanted to kill you I could have done that before you woke up.”
Gracie blushed. “Yeah, I guess you could have done that. I guess that wasn’t the smartest question to ask.” Gracie said huskily before taking a deep drink.
