When they returned to the bridge Valan and Eirik parted ways. Valan was anxious to return to Lia and was pleased to find her sleeping when he entered their quarters.
A few strands of Lia's hair clung to the white fur she'd covered herself with. He sat down at his desk and watched her sleep. One of her escorts kept him informed of her progress with the Wrothian females. She'd handled the task he'd given her very well and he was proud of her.
While she slept, he wrote a report detailing the events of the cycle, and then took a shower. When he returned, Lia was awake and smiled at him. Her eyes slowly slid down his body, then back to meet his eyes. She pushed the fur away and beckoned to him. Lowering himself onto the bed, he wrapped her in his arms.
"How did your work go on Zhang?"
He stroked her back and told her of their progress with the inhabitants. "Tamar ad-Lin has agreed to represent his followers. It will take a while, but eventually Zhang will be a good place to live."
"Like Zarronia'?"
"No. Not exactly. They'll have to find their own way of life and we can only advise them. Hopefully they'll accept most of our advice and become a peaceful society."
"Nessa, Minda and I have spoken to the women. Most of them want to go to Zarronia, but a few wish to remain on Zhang."
"We expected that and we're prepared to deal with them."
"Wouldn't it be better to let them stay on Zhang? It might be more trouble than they're worth to force them to go to Zarronia."
"Maybe. You may speak to Father about them."
"Mother said she would tonight, during dinner."
"We better dress then. They'll be waiting for us." He kissed her and she returned his kiss, and rose from the bed. She went into the bathing chamber, showered, and braided her hair. She chose an aqua gown. Valan appreciated the view as she wiggled it over her hips. He smoothed the straps over her breasts then tugged on her braid and planted a kiss on her lips.
The warriors they passed saluted them as they walked to Eirik's quarters.
"I've never seen the warriors salute you before, Valan."
He laughed and hugged her waist. "They aren't saluting me, Lia. They're saluting you."
"Me? Why?"
"Because, little cat, you captured Selik ad-San." He laughed again and pulled her through the door into his father's quarters.
"They wouldn't salute me if they knew how scared I was. So scared I cried."
"Yes, they would because even though you were scared you still acted bravely."
Borg sat on a couch across from Nessa and Eirik and smiled when he saw Lia. "Ahh, here's our little heroine."
Lia blushed and greeted him. Eirik rose and hugged her. "I'm proud of you, Daughter."
"Thank you, Father."
She and Valan sat on another couch and listened as Nessa read from the book on her lap. Occasionally, she'd stop and show them a diagram Catherine had drawn on one of the pages.
"Valan, you won't believe how detailed this book is. This Catherine was a scientist and she studied the stars. With her descriptions we'll be able to find this blue planet."
"What else does it say'?"
"Catherine tells about the people on her planet and about the planet itself. There are seven continents. The people are very diverse and most interesting. Catherine comes from a continent she calls the North American Continent. The continents are divided into many countries. She comes from one called the United States of America but she called herself an American."
Borg turned to Nessa. "Can you teach our linguists to read this language?"
"Yes. It's really a very simple language once you understand its alphabet. There are only twenty-six symbols. Catherine had a much harder time learning to speak our language."
"Only twenty-six? Amazing!" Eirik wondered how they ever communicated with each other with such a limited language.
"Yes, it is, but Catherine used to recite some of their poetry for me and it was beautiful. Beautiful and complex."
"Read some more, Mother." Lia leaned forward. Her mother hadn't read all of Catherine's book before and now she was eager to hear what was written.
"This part tells about the history of her planet. She wrote some of the dates might be wrong as she was not an historian, but the events are as accurate as possible. She also wrote it is not a complete history, only part of it. She wanted whoever read this book to be able to form an idea of what the inhabitants of Earth were like."
Nessa continued to read until her voice grew tired, then she suggested they eat and return to the book later.
Eirik waited until they were all seated with food trays in front of them before he spoke. "We must return to Zarronia as soon as possible. I'll discuss this with Dalyd Gralyn and settle on a time when we'll be able to begin our journey home." He looked at Nessa. "I told Dalyd he could take Selik's house as his own while he's on Zhang."
"That's fine. I never want to return there again. My life will be on Zarronia, now." She and Eirik exchanged smiles.
Valan groaned and his father flashed him an amused grin.
"Are you ill, Valan?"
"Not yet, Father."
Eirik laughed and slapped him on the back.
"Valan, you promised to take me to Zhang tonight," Lia said.
"And, I will," Valan said. "Father has Dalyd already moved into Lia's old home?"
"No. He's moving in tomorrow, so you'll be able to take Lia to the house tonight and let her pack her things."
Lia smiled. "Mother have you told Father about your idea for a females' council?"
"Not yet." Nessa turned to Eirik. "I think the females would feel better if they had a council made up of Wrothian females who they could lodge complaints with and get a fair hearing and judgment."
"That's an excellent idea. I'd like you, Lia and Minda to talk to them again and have each group of females nominate and vote for five council members with one from each group being the contact to our High Council. The High Council will have to approve all of their decisions at first, especially ones concerning females who want to return to Zhang. Eventually they'll be allowed to handle the minor disputes."
Nessa reached over and touched Eirik's hand. "Thank you."
It didn't take them long to finish their meal, and then they bid Eirik, Nessa, and Borg farewell and go to the transfer room. Lia stepped onto one of the transfer plates and waited for Valan to join her. As soon as he stepped into place, the room faded and she was standing in the garden outside of her old bedchamber.
The door to her room stood open. Wondering if someone was inside, she peeked in but the room was empty. Valan stepped in, and she followed him. She lit a lamp and looked around. The room was as she'd left it. She opened her trunk and began sorting through the items inside, setting the ones she wanted to take with her on the bed behind her.
Valan wandered around the room looking at the objects Lia collected and placed haphazardly on the assorted surfaces. A rainbow colored rock caught his eye and he picked it up and examined it.
She peeked around him to see what he held. "It's pretty, isn't it? Minda and I found it by the river when we were little girls."
"Do you want to take it with you?"
"Yes, I think I do." He handed it to her, then she turned to the table and picked up several more items and added them to the pile on the bed. She located a bag in her closet and packed the items. When she finished, Valan took the bag and set it by the door. He gave her a sensuous smile before he blew out the lamp.
"Valan! What are you doing?"
"There's something I've been wanting to do ever since the first night I met you, little cat."
"What's that?" In the darkness, she felt his hands slide over her shoulders and down her back, taking her gown with them. She gasped and stepped back. He gently jerked her against his chest.
"I want to make love to you, here, in your bed."
"Now?"
"Yes. Now, and all night, until dawn." He eased them down onto the bed. "The night I abducte
d you, I wanted to give you to Cam. But, he said you were too wild and passionate for him. He was right."
Lia sat up and glared at him. "I remember that! How could you?" He pulled her back down and held her with an arm around her waist. She struggled and he pushed her onto her back and came over her, staring into her eyes.
"You scratched me! And, you bit me! Remember? I thought I wanted a tame female."
Lia smiled. "And, now? What do you want now?"
"You. Only you, forever," Valan said.
"I love you, my beloved barbarian. I’ll love you, forever." Their laughter mixed with the sweet scent of the coral flowers in her garden and filled the room. When the sun began to lighten the sky, it flooded the room, revealing the two lovers.
***
The Invincible and the three cargo ships carrying the Wrothian females left Zhang ten cycles after the raid. Lia, Minda and Nessa spent most of the journey visiting with their friends on the cargo ships. Two cycles before they reached home, Lia told her mother about the chamber she'd prepared for her. Nessa blushed and hesitantly informed her that she'd be moving in with Eirik, as his mate. The news thrilled Lia and amused Valan.
After arriving at Zarronia, Lia helped her mother settle into Eirik’s home, while he and Valan attended the High Council. Selik ad-San's and Gorm ad-Jai's judgment would take place in sixty cycles before the Universal Assembly. All of the warriors of Zarronia were expected to attend. Lia and Nessa were thankful females would not be allowed to be present for the judgment or whatever came after it.
Lia and Valan settled into their previous routine. He worked in his study in the mornings while Lia spent time helping her mother with the Wrothian females, or sewing in the new arbor Valan built for her. She'd been surprised to see the coral flowers from her garden on Zhang planted around it. Their scent filled the air as they grew and covered the white pillars.
One morning a week they attended the birthing classes Borg Veeson taught. Lia always smiled at the serious expression Valan wore on his face as he practiced coaching her breathing and relaxation exercises.
Every afternoon, she and Valan walked to the training academy where he trained with his warriors and she danced with the other Wrothian bondmates. When she finished, she'd sit on the grass and watch him.
As the bondmate of the High Ruler, Nessa was expected to take an active role with the Wrothian females. She helped the females from each village form their council and present their issues before the High Council. So far, only twenty-three females had asked to return to Zhang and had been allowed to go.
Most of them were happy to remain on Zarronia, especially after they met the rest of the Zarronian warriors. It hadn't taken the warriors long to begin choosing bondmates, although they'd been surprised when they'd discovered they had to be chosen as well. It was a new experience, and Lia and Valan spent many moments amused by their efforts.
When Lia mentioned the coral flowers Valan gave her to one of his warriors, they all rushed out and nearly stripped Kadia of flowers and gave them to the Wrothian females. The Council was quite angry, since the warriors pulled them from the flower beds in the marketplace and Council Chambers.
Cam and Minda dined with them often and were to join them that evening, along with Eirik, Nessa and Borg. Lia was eager to talk to her mother and find out what the linguists and scientists said about Catherine's book. Valan was close-mouthed about it, but she knew he was worried about the future and what would happen if they couldn't find the blue planet. She was worried as well. What would her sons do for bondmates when the time came if they didn't find another compatible race?
"Valan, our parents and Borg will be here soon. So will Cam and Minda."
He looked up from the papers on his desk and smiled at her.
"Come here." He patted his lap. She shook her head. He frowned.
"We don't have time."
"Don't forget our agreement. You can't argue. Now, get over here."
"Oh, alright. But, remember, soon I'll have two warriors of my own to help me when you're being a barbarian."
He hooked her waist and pulled her onto his lap, then ran his hand over her softly rounded belly. "No. These two will be barbarians, just like me. Together, the three of us might manage to keep you out of trouble."
She giggled and nuzzled his neck. "Tell me their names."
***
He looked into her eyes, smiled and told her no. The bell rang and he lowered her to her feet. Placing a hand on the small of her back, he escorted her to the door and opened it. Cam and Minda greeted them and entered, and Eirik's voice came from the back of the house, where he, Nessa, and Borg appeared in the hallway.
Lia hugged her mother and beckoned them to join her in the reception room.
A tray of drinks sat on one of the tables and she and Valan served them. Eirik and Nessa settled onto one of the couches with Cam and Minda across from them. Borg sat on an ottoman nearby. Valan handed him a drink, then pulled Lia down next to him.
Eirik looked around and smiled. "We've had some good news from the scientists. They managed to narrow the location of the blue planet down to one of several galaxies. We've sent explorers to each of them and we’ll know within the five to ten annuals if the blue planet is located in one of them."
"That's wonderful news, Father." Lia squeezed Valan's hand and he smiled at her.
"How are we going to approach them?" Valan asked. "According to the book, they haven't managed to successfully travel very far from their own planet."
"Yes, that's true, Son. We'll have to observe them for a while before we decide on the best method of contacting them. We must be very careful so we don’t influence their development." He looked at Borg. "What has the Health Council of the Assembly decided?"
"If we discover they're compatible we may abduct the females we need. The Assembly has already given us permission as our survival depends on it or we can make contact with them if they've advanced enough."
"Nessa, did Catherine ever tell you how she was taken from Earth, and ended up with the Wrothians?"
"Yes, Cam. She told me and she wrote about it in her book. Catherine and several other scientists were sent into space by her people to do some scientific experiments on what she called a space station in orbit around her planet. One evening, the power on their station went out. They couldn't figure out what was wrong until one of the scientists looked out one of the viewing windows and saw a huge starship approaching. Within micro-units, she said they were transferred to an alien ship. She said her abductors looked human and that she was sold to a slaver, then later to a Wrothian. She didn't know what happened to her companions. One of the males on board was her husband."
"Husband? What does it mean?"
Nessa smiled at Eirik's question. "It’s like bondmate except the warrior is called a husband and the female is called a wife."
Excited, Borg leaned forward. "Then, they must bondmate like we do."
"I know Catherine and her husband lived together without other females. She hated the Wrothian warriors and talked a lot about what she called 'women’s lib'." Seeing their puzzlement, she explained. "The rights of women."
Valan groaned. Lia and Minda laughed, then Lia pinched Valan to get his attention. "I think I might like this place called Earth."
"You are never going anywhere near it, little cat. Our sons will have to deal with these females with rights."
Eirik cleared his throat and pulled Nessa to her feet beside him. "Nessa can tell us more while we eat. I'm starving."
Eirik and Nessa went into the hallway, followed by Borg, Cam and Minda. Valan held Lia back for a moment. Gently tugging on her braid, he kissed her. Then dropped her braid and watched the golden tassel sway across her bottom as she walked out of the room. He wondered if She-Cat would approve of her the next time she visited him. Laughing, he caught up to her and pulled her into his arms where she'd always belong.
Epilogue
The sky was beginning to brighten as Valan stepp
ed out of the house. In his arms he carried two babies. Both of the infants had black hair and looked amazingly like him. He held them up and proudly showed them to the two warriors waiting on the path in front of him.
"This is Soren Valanson and this is Thorn Valanson. My sons."
Cam and Hugh stepped forward. Each of them took an infant and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Then, they exchanged the infants, and placed a second kiss on a second tiny forehead. They handed them back to Valan, then they placed their hands over their chests.
"We pledge to defend these warriors with our lives. To advise and guide them all the annuals of their lives."
Valan smiled and held his sons close to his heart. Upstairs, Lia waited for him to return and tell her the names he'd chosen.
THE END
Books by Mardi Maxwell
Valan’s Bondmate, The Zarronians Book 1
Thorn’s Bondmate, The Zarronians Book 2 (Coming soon)
From Siren/Bookstrand:
To Love and Obey, The Doms of Club Mystique 1
Jackson's Sub, The Doms of Club Mystique 2
Their Temporary Sub, The Doms of Club Mystique 3
Zane's Choice, The Doms of Club Mystique 4
Nate's Naughty Nymph, The Doms of Club Mystique 5
The Ramsey Doms, The Doms of Club Mystique 6
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Excerpt from :Thorn’s Bondmate by Mardi Maxwell
Chapter One
Washington, D.C. March 2055
SENTINEL REPORTER MISSING ... POLICE SUSPECT FOUL PLAY
Valan's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 1) Page 27
