“That’s stupid,” Georgie told her. “I couldn’t hate her. She did what she had to in order to keep Hunter safe. Tell her I don’t blame her or hold her responsible.”
We don’t.
“Zandar says the same.”
Keely let out a deep sigh and gave her a smile. “Thank you. That will be a huge relief to her. She’s been really worried.”
Georgie waved a hand. “The person at fault is that asshole captain. Hope he was dealt with.”
“He was,” Que said darkly.
“Good. Jerk. Twunt.”
“Twunt?” Keely asked.
“It’s a mesh of twat and cunt.”
Keely smiled. “Oh, I see.”
Georgie yawned. Whoops.
Mate, you tired. Sleep.
Soon. Your brother is here.
If you not go with him, then tell him go away.
Zandar! That’s rude.
“Georgie, you are tired,” Que said.
“Um, yeah.”
“You come home with us. Sleep. Eat. Shower.”
He’s almost as bossy as you.
Good.
“I’m fine,” Georgie told Que. “I’m going to stay here in case Zandar needs me. I’m the only way he can communicate.” Plus, she didn’t want to be apart from him.
“You look terrible. You come home with us.”
“Que,” Keely moaned. “You can’t just tell someone they look terrible.”
“Why not? It is truth.”
Keely shook her head, looking over at Georgie. “I apologize for him.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I have one of my own. I know what they’re like.”
And what are we like, trouble?
You’re arrogant, dictatorial, and think you’re always right.
I am always right.
She rolled her eyes. Then she remembered that Que and Keely were still there. “Uh, sorry. Private conversation. Thanks for the concern, but I’m staying here.”
Que and Keely shared a look of concern.
Mate? You are all right?
Concern flooded the bond.
I’m fine. Just worried about you.
I will be fine. Warrior. Tough.
Sure, big guy. You’re real tough.
“If you change your mind, just let us know. We’ll be back tomorrow.” Keely stood. “Try to eat something, okay?”
She smiled and watched them leave. Truthfully, she did feel awful. But nothing would wrestle her from Zandar’s side.
Rest, trouble. All will be well.
* * *
She wasn’t sure what awoke her. She only knew something was wrong. Very wrong.
She sat up in a rush, her hand clutched protectively around Zandar’s. A gasp escaped her as she saw someone leaning over her mate from the other side of the bed.
“Who the fuck are you?” she demanded
“Do not be alarmed, human.” The way he said “human” made the back of her neck itch. It was sneered. Said as an insult. Whoever this asshole was, he didn’t like humans.
“Who are you? What are you doing in here?”
“I am Ferhard. I am a healer here. You must leave.”
“Like fuck. If anyone is going to leave, it’s you. I’ve never met you. Moroco is Zandar’s healer.”
“Moroco has gone home. I must examine Zandar. Leave.”
Mate? Are you well?
“No. You leave.” Maybe it was because he obviously didn’t like humans. Or perhaps it was the way he just barked out commands as though he expected to be obeyed instantly, but she didn’t trust him and she wasn’t going to do anything he said.
“I am trying to save your mate. You are in the way.”
“Nobody else seemed to think I was. I don’t know or trust you. I want you to leave.”
“I have something to fix your mate. You would rather I did not give it to him?”
He raised his hand and she saw a syringe in his hand with some bright yellow liquid inside it.
“What’s that?” she demanded.
Mate? What is wrong?
I woke up to find some guy in your room. He claims to be a healer.
“It is a cure for what ails your mate,” he explained. “I give it to him.”
“No!” She stood up abruptly. Something felt off about all of this. Very off.
What is his name, trouble?
Zandar’s voice was calm, soothing. She glared at the healer.
Ferhard.
Ferhard? I. . .I believe I might know that name.
So it’s safe to let him inject you? You think he really does have something to help you? But why would he just appear in the middle of the night? Where is Moroco? Why is no one I know here?
None of this felt right. Her gut burned. Just then, Ferhard reached for Zandar, pulling his arm straight.
No! Stop him, mate!
“Stop!” she cried out, diving across Zandar’s body and knocking the syringe out of Ferhard’s hand. He let out an outraged roar and, grabbing her, threw her to the ground. The shock of a hard landing stole her breath for a moment.
But Georgie wasn’t going to be out for long. As Ferhard bent to pick up the syringe, she kicked up with her foot, catching his nose with a crunch. He let out a loud howl and she reached for the syringe, jumping up and stepping back away from Zandar. She yanked the knife from her belt as Ferhard stepped towards her. Blood poured from his nose.
“Help!” she cried out. “Someone get the fuck in here!”
“Give me that syringe,” Ferhard demanded. His eyes were glowing red. “You know not what you do.”
“Stay back, fucker.”
“Put down the knife before you hurt yourself.”
She laughed. “Won’t be me getting hurt, you twunt.”
“What?” He frowned in confusion.
Footsteps finally sounded and the door behind her opened.
“What happens here?”
She glanced behind her to find two unknown males standing there.
“Female, what do you do?” one of them asked.
“She attacked me,” Ferhard complained like the weaselly little worm he was. He grasped hold of his nose. “She is acting irrationally. I fear she has been drugged. We must secure her immediately before she harms herself. See the knife she holds?”
She twirled around so she could face all three males. The other two males stared at her with concern and determination. Shit, they were buying his tale.
Dickweed.
“Oh, you’re good,” she told Ferhard. “But not good enough. Any of you take a step towards me and I’ll fucking gut you.”
The two males who she thought might be guards hesitated and looked at each other.
“Female, put the knife down before you hurt yourself. No one will harm you here.”
“No? Then how come I woke up to him leaning over my mate, about to inject him with this!” She waved the syringe in the air.
“It is a cure. I am a healer. The female is hysterical. You must contain her for her own good.”
“I’ll be coming over there and planting my foot in your mouth to shut you up for your own fucking good.”
Ferhard and the other two males all gave her shocked looks.
Enough of this. They weren’t going to believe her, and if they all rushed her at the same time, she was going to be overpowered.
She pressed a button on her communicator. “Contact Empress Zoey.”
Both of the guards’ eyes flared.
“You cannot contact the Empress!” one of them said.
“It is the middle of the night,” the other added.
Yeah, it was. And under normal circumstances, she’d never do this. But Zoey had told her to contact her at any time.
“Georgie! Everything okay?” Zoey’s voice blasted out of the communicator. A baby screamed. She winced, feeling even worse.
“Shit! Did I wake Cadman?”
“Nah, that kid has been screaming for the last hour. Think the whole palace i
s awake by now. You okay?”
“No,” she said. “I woke up to some creepy healer about to inject something into Zandar that he claims is an antidote. But Zandar doesn’t trust him and neither do I. So now I’m holding off the creep and two of your guards with my knife and a heavy dose of attitude. Apparently, they think I’ve gone off the rails and need to contain me.”
“Dude. That is so much better than what I thought you were going to say. Hey, guards!”
The two males snapped to attention.
“Yes, Empress,” one said hesitantly.
“Nobody touches my girl Georgie or her mate, got me? Keep everyone contained in that room but make sure they keep their hands to themselves. The Emperor and I will be there soon.”
“Yes, Empress,” the same guard said.
“Georgie, hold the fort. We’re coming.”
Georgie couldn’t help but give the three men a superior smile. She wished she could touch Zandar to reassure him. He had to be going out of his mind with worry. But she couldn’t put down the knife or syringe. Although she was certain the guards wouldn’t go against the Empress’ orders, she wasn’t so sure about Ferhard.
“I must go. I have more important things to do than wait around here,” he said arrogantly.
The two guards exchanged a worried look.
“Healer Ferhard, the Empress said you needed to stay in here.”
“Do you know who I am?” Ferhard stuck his chin up in the air.
She snorted. “Obviously they do, since they just said your name.”
“I am far too important to stand around waiting because a human empress said I must. She is not even a true empress.”
“Whoa, those are fighting words, dickhead. Is your butthole jealous of all the crap that comes out of your mouth?”
Ferhard’s hands clenched into fists, his face growing red as he glared at her. “What? How dare you! Arrest her!”
The guards just gaped at him then turned to stare at her.
“We cannot do that, healer. The Empress—”
“Who cares what that imbecilic, brainless, inferior female says!”
There was a gasp from the doorway and the two guards each moved to one side to reveal Zoey. She was wearing what looked like a pair of fluffy pink pajama bottoms with white bunnies over them and an oversized sweater. Her hair was tied back off her face. And sitting on her shoulder was a chattering monkey. Zoey glared at Ferhard.
But it wasn’t Zoey’s obvious anger that filled the room with tension and fear. It was the man standing behind her.
Her mate. The Emperor.
“Ferhard!” the Emperor snapped.
Finally, that asshole healer looked nervous. “Emperor, I did not realize you were there.”
“That much is obvious.” The Emperor looked at someone behind him. “Contact Koran and Macon. Get them here immediately.” He turned to the two guards. “Cuff Ferhard and take him to Moroco’s office. He is not to leave.”
The two guards nodded. But as one reached for Ferhard, he started to go crazy. He punched out at them, fighting them ferociously. His red eyes glowed.
That wasn’t creepy or anything.
“Do not touch me! Do you not know how important I am? You have no right to do this to me because of a stupid human female! I helped you all! I created a cure for mating fever! Do not dare do this to me!”
The Emperor stepped forward; his face filled with fury. She expected him to blast Ferhard or the guards for not quickly getting him under control. To her shock, he drew his fist back and punched Ferhard solidly in the face. He dropped like a pile of rocks, unconscious.
There was a beat of silence as everyone stared at the Emperor in shock.
“Yeah, baby.” Zoey moved forward, plastering herself against her mate. “You got him good.”
“He spoke ill of my mate.” Dex turned to look at her. “And his voice annoyed me.”
Zoey grinned. Noodle jumped off her shoulder to land on Ferhard’s stomach. Then he blew a raspberry at him before jumping onto the bed and over to Georgie.
“Hey, Noodle, I’m glad to see you.”
“He insisted on coming,” Zoey told her. “I left Cocoa at the palace; he was snoring away. Is he a he or a she?”
“I have no idea,” Georgie said with a tired smile as the guards removed Ferhard.
“Keep him under close watch until Koran and Macon come to get him,” Dex ordered. He then gave Zoey an exasperated look. “Mate, you cannot call me ‘baby’ in front of others.”
Georgie found herself giggling, then she remembered Zandar.
“Oh shit! Zandar must be frantic.” She reattached the knife to her belt and reached out for her mate.
Trouble! Mate!
She winced as he yelled through their bond.
I’m here. I’m here. It’s okay, Zandar.
What happened? What goes on?
That Ferhard dude just lost it. He tried to inject you with something he said was antidote. I got the syringe off him, but he called in some guards. They were going to separate us, so I called in the big guns.
Big guns?
The Empress. She and the Emperor came and Ferhard went mad, insulting Zoey and generally acting like an arrogant pig. Do you know him?
Not really. Not until he touched me. It triggered a memory. He was the healer on the Zerconian ship I was on. The one I stole the pod from. I think he drugged me. It was not mating fever; it was what he gave me.
Okay, hold on. I’m going to tell Dex and Zoey. Oh, and Moroco just arrived. He looks pissed.
“What happened here? Why is Ferhard unconscious and under guard?” Moroco demanded.
“Jeez, Moroco, keep up,” Zoey told him, moving to her side. She placed an arm around Georgie. Normally, Georgie wasn’t big on being touched, but she confessed to needing it right now. “Things move quick around here.”
Georgie quickly told Moroco everything that had happened up until Ferhard was removed by the guards. Moroco moved to Zandar, checking the machines monitoring him before looking him over. “He appears to be unchanged.”
“That’s not all. Zandar just told me that Ferhard was the healer onboard the same ship as Zandar when the mating fever hit. Only Zandar doesn’t think it was mating fever. He thinks Ferhard injected him with something that caused him to act crazed.”
Moroco, Dex, and Zoey all stiffened.
“What? What is it?” she asked.
“Nearly two weeks ago, we had a number of our warriors show signs of mating fever. They became aggressive and had to be put in stasis,” Zoey said. “Ferhard is the one who came up with a cure.”
“Do you think he could have infected them with something that made it appear to be mating fever?” Georgie asked.
“Perhaps,” Moroco said with a frown. “But Zandar went missing years ago. Why do this now?”
Dex shook his head. “There are many issues with this. Moroco, take the syringe Ferhard was going to inject Zandar with and see if you can figure out what is in it.”
“Actually,” Moroco said, brushing his hand over his face, “I came in just now because I had a thought of a drug to counteract what was given to Zandar. I would like to work on that. I can call Racar in to take a look at the syringe.”
Dex nodded and Moroco moved away from Zandar, stepping outside.
“I will assign guards for outside the room,” Dex told her. “Zoey, you are staying?”
“For the moment. I’ll have to get back to Cadman and Elodie soon.” She sent Georgie an apologetic look.
“It’s okay,” Georgie told her. “Thanks for coming. Ferhard had those guards convinced that I’d been drugged or something and needed to be taken into custody.”
“What a twunt.”
Georgie grinned at her.
“I will have Koran interview Ferhard. And I think it is time that we investigated Ferhard’s private lab. There is a reason he will allow no one entrance. If he infected my warriors just to cure them. . .” Dex’s face grew dark and s
he shivered.
“Wouldn’t want to be in Ferhard’s shoes right now,” Zoey whispered to her as they sat in the chair’s next to Zandar’s bed. “Dex is pissed.”
Georgie nodded tiredly; truth was, now that all the drama was over, she was exhausted. And worried. And stressed.
“Hey, how about I call Que?” Zoey asked. “Get him and Keely to come sit with you when I go back to the overlord, aka my son.”
She smiled at Zoey. “Thanks. That would be great. I don’t think. . .I don’t think I want to be alone right now. Back on Earth, I could only ever rely on myself, but I’ve gotten used to Zandar being there. I just. . .I need him.”
“He’ll be all right, Georgie. I know he will.”
She nodded and grasped hold of Zandar’s hand. Noodle settled down next to his head, patting it occasionally.
All will be well, trouble.
She hoped so. She really did.
20
Something woke her.
Fuck. She sat up. She was getting over this. “Why could I not just wake up slowly, with the sun shining, the birds singing, and my mate squeezing my boob?”
Really? Was that too much to ask for?
A throat cleared and she looked up to see Keely grinning at her from where she sat in a chair on the other side of Zandar.
“Squeezing your boob, huh?”
“That is more than I needed to know,” a deep voice said. She glanced to the end of the bed to see Que standing there. He’d been standing watch all night, even though there was a guard on the other side of the door and Ferhard had apparently been taken away to be interviewed by a really serious guy called Koran. She’d been scared when he’d interviewed her and she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “What’s going on?”
“I believe I may have created a drug to counteract the one in Zandar’s system.” Moroco stepped into the room. Shit, she hadn’t even seen him standing in the doorway. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand. Her other hand was still clasping hold of Zandar.
Get it together, Georgie.
Trouble? You are well?
I’m fine.
Well, other than feeling like she could sleep for a week and being a bit light-headed. She blinked, trying to get the world to straighten up. Maybe she needed to eat something.
Alien Conquest Page 16
