Valan's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 1)

by Mardi Maxwell

  He crept forward until he could see into the cave. Two outlaws stood near the entrance. A third stood towards the back jiggling a bag of coins in his hands and staring into the darkness at the back of the cave. Valan signaled to Cam, telling him how many there were when Lia's scream shattered the silence.

  Valan charged into the cave, firing at one of the nearest outlaws while attacking the other. His weapon dropped to the ground as they struggled. He picked the outlaw up and threw him against the wall, hearing the sound of his skull hitting the stone. The third outlaw threw a fireknife and buried it in his thigh. He jerked it loose as Cam fired his stunner. The outlaw clutched at the smoking hole in his chest and fell forward onto the ground.

  A deep voice came from the darkness at the back of the cave. "Zarronian, I have your female."

  Momentarily startled by the fourth voice, Valan grabbed Cam and drew him into the shadows at the side of the cave. His eyes scanned the darkness for movement. "Is that who I think it is?"

  "Sounds like One-Eye." Cam kept his voice low, hiding their location. "Do you think he's already taken her mind?"

  "Yes." Valan reset his weapon to stun. "One-Eye, release her and I'll let you live."

  "Ah, Commander, we meet again. I know your reputation. I warn you if you kill me now she'll be no use to you. Unless, you like your female very willing and very obedient."

  "He's already scanned her mind. I can't kill him yet."

  "I offer you an exchange. You let me and the female pass and I'll leave her at the bottom of the hill."

  "No! You aren't taking her anywhere." Valan shook with rage. He couldn't take a chance on letting the Witvian take Lia out of the cave. "Cam, contact the starship. Tell Mikel Thornson to lock onto this area and secure it. The second One-Eye steps out of this cave with Lia, he's to transfer them to the shuttle bay on the Invincible. Tell Hugh to get a security detail in there to hold One-Eye, but under no circumstances are they to kill him. Order the transfer officer to stand by to transfer us as soon as we're clear of these rocks."

  Valan waited a few nano-units for Cam to leave the cave and relay his orders to the Invincible. "One-Eye? You take her from this cave. I'll come after her in one micro-unit. If she's hurt when I find her, I'll track you down and kill you."

  Cam returned. The starship crew was ready.

  "Go now, One-Eye." They heard a movement at the back of the cave, then the Witvian stepped into the light with Lia in his arms. The large eye in the center of his forehead watched them intently as he carried her towards them. He sidled by them and out into the night. There was a flash of light and he and Lia disappeared as they were transported to the Invincible.

  Valan and Cam stepped out of the cave and disappeared as they too were transferred and reappeared in the shuttle bay of the Invincible. One-Eye and Lia were surrounded by a group of hard-faced warriors. He strode through them and faced One-Eye. "Put her down, carefully."

  "Ah, Commander, shame on you. You lied to me."

  "Return what you've taken and I might yet let you live, Witvian."

  "Commander, you know I can't. I was willing to let you keep her body."

  "Cam? How full are the disposal tanks?" Valan saw One-Eye's shudder of revulsion. Witvians were surprisingly fastidious creatures and couldn't stand to be unclean.

  "Almost full. It's been a long journey."

  "Now, Commander, there is no reason to get carried away. I offer you a bargain. She has a very interesting mind and I like it. I'm willing to return part of it, but not all." He rushed on when the Commander would have interrupted him. "Just think, Commander. You could have the most willing female in the galaxy. She would do everything you told her to do, anywhere you told her to do it, without argument."

  Rage engulfed him. The Witvian had assimilated Lia's mind and now knew everything he'd done to her and asked of her. He raised his stunner, targeting the eye.

  "Valan, don't!" Cam grabbed Valan's arm and tried to push it down.

  "Return her mind to her before I blind you."

  "If you do that I won't be able to return even a small part to her," One-Eye said.

  "No. But, I'll still have a willing body, while you will be helpless when I transfer you into a Zylian nesting den. How long do you suppose it will take their young to devour you?"

  Even the warriors around Valan shuddered with the image his words invoked.

  "What guarantee do I have you will release me, unharmed, if I return her mind?"

  "None. But, I guarantee you will die very unpleasantly if you don't. Time’s up. Choose!"

  Slowly, One-Eye lowered Lia to the floor and knelt beside her as he focused on her. For a moment, she was still, then her eyes opened and she stared up at him. After several seconds she blinked her eyes once, then twice and the color returned to her pale face. He stood and moved away from her.

  Valan went to her and picked her up. "Lia?"

  "She won't be herself for several cycles, Commander. Two or three."

  Valan tried to discern the truth in his words. He could put him on a truth mat but they didn't work very well on Witvians. "If you've harmed her I'll come after you and I won't stop until you're dead."

  "Agreed, Commander."

  "Cam, return One-Eye to Lanteria. Somewhere in the wilderness. The long walk back to Tarva will do him good."

  "What they say about you is true, Commander. You have won my respect."

  Valan carried Lia to the Med-Center. Blood ran down his leg marking his passage with every step he took. Behind him robot cleaners scrambled out of their storage bins and efficiently wiped up the smears. Lia's skin felt cool to the touch. She lay perfectly still and relaxed in his arms. Her breaths were soft against his neck.

  Doctor Mikelson waited by the med-op for his arrival. Valan laid her down and stepped back while the doctor lowered the scanner over her.

  "It will take about fifteen minutes, Commander. Let me repair your leg while the med-op does its work."

  Valan nodded his agreement. He removed his pants and laid back on the med-table. Doctor Mikelson cleaned the wound, then closed it with a laser. "These fireknife wounds are always serious, Commander. The heat of the blade causes blisters as it slices through the flesh. The laser stops the bleeding and numbs the area around it, but I want to see you again in two cycles."

  The screen above the med-op lit up and began sending a diagnosis of Lia's condition. Doctor Mikelson glanced at it, then turned back to Valan and bandaged his leg. When he finished, Valan dressed again. A moment later Cam and Minda walked into the room.

  "How is she, Valan?" Minda asked.

  Mikelson's exclamation of surprise interrupted them. "This can't be right!"

  They joined him. Valan placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder. "What's wrong? Is it Lia? My son and daughter?"

  Doctor Mikelson ignored him as he keyed an order into the med-op and waited for the result. The screen responded. "Tor! This is a disaster."

  "What is it, Mikelson? What's wrong with her?" Valan squeezed the doctor's shoulder. Had One-Eye lied to him? "Answer me."

  "She has a slight concussion and a few bruises. Her brainwaves are slightly below normal, but they should be alright. It's the last line of information I can't believe."

  Valan grabbed the diagnostic scanner and finally understood what had the doctor so upset. "This isn't possible."

  "Do you know what this means for our future, Commander? We must notify the Council and have all of the bondmates tested immediately!"

  "Test Minda now. If the results are the same, then we'll contact my father and the Council." Valan looked at Cam for his permission and Cam nodded. While Doctor Mikelson helped Minda into another med-op, Valan pulled Cam aside and told him what was happening. "Cam, order the navigator to plot the fastest route back to Zarronia, then come to my quarters."

  Cam left for the bridge and Valan turned back to the doctor. "Is it safe to move Lia to our quarters?"

  "It would be better to leave her here for tonight. One of
my med-techs can stay with her."

  The screen above Minda lit up and sent the same message Lia's had sent. Valan beckoned to the med-techs and ordered them to keep the new information to themselves before he had one of them escort Minda to her quarters. "Doctor Mikelson, we'll use the secure link in my quarters to contact the Council."

  He and the doctor left the Med-Center and hurried to his quarters arriving at the same time as Cam. As soon as the door closed behind them Valan went to his desk and punched his security code into the communicator. Within seconds his father's face appeared on the monitor.

  "Valan! What's happened? Why are you using the security frequency?"

  "Father, I have alarming news for you and the Council. Lia was injured on Lanteria…"

  "Is she alright?" Eirik's face darkened with concern.

  "Yes. She'll be fine, but when we put her in the med-op we got a hell of a surprise. The babies she's carrying are both male! Do you know what this means?"

  "Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

  "Yes. Doctor Mikelson tested her twice and then he tested Cam's bondmate, Minda. Her babies are both male, as well."

  "We must begin testing the others. I don't need to tell you to keep this information to yourselves. If the results are the same the Council will decide when to announce it to the other warriors."

  "The Invincible should reach Zarronia in four cycles."

  "We'll have the results by then. I’ll contact Borg and have him begin the testing this cycle." He started to disconnect the communicator, then paused. "Journey safely, Son."

  Valan nodded then switched off the monitor and moved to the beverage processor and selected three tankards of ale. He handed one to Cam, one to Doctor Mikelson, and carried the third to his desk. Silently, he drank it, his thoughts in chaos. He wouldn't be holding a smaller replica of Lia in his arms. He hadn't even realized until now how much he'd been looking forward to having a tiny aqua eyed daughter with bright red hair.

  "Do you think the virus the Wrothians released on Zarronia is responsible for this Doctor Mikelson?" Cam asked.

  Valan sat forward and set the tankard on the desk. He hadn't even thought about that possibility.

  "It might be. There's no telling what affect it's had on us over the last ten annuals. I'll talk to the scientists when we get back to Zarronia. I'm sure they've already been notified and they'll figure it out."

  "What a disaster. Now, we'll have twice as many warriors who'll need bondmates. There are enough females left on Zhang for most of the warriors but what about our sons?" Valan stumbled over the last word. It was strange to think of having two sons instead of a daughter and a son.

  "Some of the females may be carrying daughters." Doctor Mikelson's tone sounded doubtful. He drank the last of his ale and stood up. "Well, I should get back to the Med-Center and check on your bondmate, Commander."

  "When can I bring her to our quarters?"

  "After the next sun rising if she does well. I don't believe there's any cause to worry but it’s better to be sure."

  "Valan, if you want to go with him, I'll go to the bridge and take over from Hugh Elofson."

  Valan nodded. "I'll relieve you in two units."

  ***

  Valan found Lia in a recovery room in the Med-Center. The monitors above her kept track of her condition and Doctor Mikelson assured him she would awaken soon. After he left, a med-tech brought Valan a chair, and he too left. Valan placed the chair next to her bed, and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  The words the Witvian said to him kept repeating in his mind. Would he really want her to obey every order he gave her without argument? He thought about the way she teased him and the little things she deliberately did to annoy him. She was feisty and fascinating and he couldn't imagine her any other way. He'd taken all of her feminine weapons away from her and still she'd found a way to fight him. He'd refused to tell her he loved her even though he knew it was already too late and he'd love her until the cycle he died. Leaning forward, he whispered, "I love you, Lia. I loved the idea of you long before I met you. I loved you when you appeared to me in my dreams. I love you now and I'll love you until the moment of my last breathe and Tor willing I'll love you in another life."

  He sat with her a while longer then went to relieve Cam.

  Chapter Twelve

  Early the next morning, the throbbing in her head woke Lia. She rubbed her temple while she looked around the room. Beeping sounds came from somewhere above her head and made the throbbing in her head worse. She moaned and the curtains around her bed parted revealing two men, one older and one younger.

  "Oh, good. You're awake. Bjarni summon the Commander." The younger man left, then the older man picked up her hand, and studied the screen above her head. "I’m Doctor Mikelson. Does your head ache, Lia?"

  "Yes. Did the warriors hurt me?"

  "You mean the outlaws on Lanteria?" Doctor Mikelson asked.

  "No. The warriors in the gymnasium."

  "What warriors, Lia?" The question came from a dark-haired man with light silver eyes. The screen above her lit up and began beeping an alarm. Her heart raced out of control and her breath became raspy with fear. Memories rushed through her mind, making her dizzy. Her eyes fluttered, then closed as she fainted.

  Alarmed Valan slid his arms around her. "What just happened?"

  "She's a little disoriented, Commander. I expected this. There's no need for alarm."

  "What was she talking about when she asked if the warriors in the gymnasium hurt her?"

  "I'm not sure. She'll be more aware the next time she wakes up and you can ask her."

  So, the Witvian hadn't lied. "Will her memory be exact in detail?"

  "Oh, yes. Everything will untangle itself." Doctor Mikelson added a note to her screen. "I'll leave you alone with her. If she should wake please summon me."

  A unit later Lia's eyes opened and she smiled at him. "How are you feeling, Lia?"

  "Sleepy. Why does my head hurt?"

  "Don't you remember?"

  "Well, I…." She laughed. "I feel so strange." Her eyes fluttered then closed.

  Valan squeezed her hand. "Don't go back to sleep. The doctor wants to see you."

  Valan parted the curtain and beckoned to a med-tech. "Get Doctor Mikelson. My bondmate is awake."

  He turned back in time to see her eyes widen in alarm and her hand slide over her belly. He covered her hand. "The babies are fine."

  "What happened?"

  Before Valan could answer Doctor Mikelson joined them. "Good, you're awake. You've slept for a long time. How are you feeling?" He quickly punched in a line of orders for the monitor and read the results.

  "Do you remember me, Lia?"

  "Of course. You're Doctor…" She concentrated for a moment, then smiled. "Mikelson. Doctor Mikelson."

  "That's right. Do you remember what happened on Lanteria?"

  After a few moments, she spoke. "We saw the silkbeetle trees. Minda was there with Cam. Valan was with us."

  "Is that right, Commander?"

  "Yes."

  "Then, what happened Lia?"

  Valan really didn't like the direction the questions were taking but there was nothing he could do about it. She had to regain her memory.

  "It was so hot and Minda and I wanted to take a bath. Cam took us to the bathing chamber."

  "Where was the Commander, Lia?"

  She thought for a moment. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Valan. "Busy. He was busy, so I decided to take a stroll."

  "Didn't you realize how dangerous that was, Lia?" Doctor Mikelson asked.

  "It would have been more dangerous for Valan if I'd stayed," she said.

  Valan grinned. "She's back. Thank Tor!"

  Dr. Mikelson looked confused. Before, he could ask her what she meant, Commander Eirikson escorted him through the curtains and asked if he could take her to their quarters now.

  "Yes, if you stay with her. I don't want her left alone. Not even for a mic
ro-unit."

  "I'll stay with her."

  "Then I'll give her something for her headache and drop by later to check on her. Keep her quiet and let her sleep as much as she wants."

  As he carried her to their quarters, she silently listed all the ways she'd like to torture him. When he put her down on their bed, and pulled the white fur over her, she forced herself to look away from him and refused to answer his questions.

  ***

  Valan knew they had to talk and the easiest way to get her talking was to annoy her. "I've decided to extend our agreement to the reception room as your discipline for running away."

  He would have laughed at her scream of outrage if he hadn't been so worried about her. She spoke so rapidly, he could only understand a few of her words, but he understood enough to know what she wanted to do to him.

  Finally, she stopped, gave him a killing glare, and turned her back to him.

  "Are you ready to listen to me now?" No response. He sat down on the bed. "I didn't summon them to me. They were waiting in our chamber when I arrived. I wanted to get them out of there before you saw them so I grabbed them and tried to throw them out the door."

  "Hmmph! Likely story, Valan."

  "My feet got tangled with theirs and I stumbled to the floor. That's when you arrived. I didn't touch them. At least, not the way you think."

  "Hmmph."

  Valan sighed. She wasn't going to believe him. He'd have to tell her the truth. "I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Zarronian warriors can only have sex with their mate after they're bonded." His words got her attention and she rolled over and faced him.

  "You mean don't. Don't share pleasure with other females after they have a bondmate."

  "No. I mean can't. Nothing happens."

  "Nothing?" she asked, her eyes going to his crotch as a smile appeared on her lips.

  "You don't have to look so pleased."

  She giggled, then laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. He stood up, moved to his desk, and sat glaring at her.