Chapter 15
“Peace Keeper Looren is still resting. Commander Jet, if you would just sit down for one moment…” the medic began.
“Even hear of multitasking? It’s a valuable skill, Ensign. Follow me and you can work on my hands and feet while I visit with Peace Keeper Looren,” Gwen ordered. “Look, she’s awake. I bet she’d been expecting me.”
Ania snorted and rolled to face the medical table Gwen had hopped up on. The medic was grumbling and demanding she hold still as he treated the soles of her feet, but the female was buzzing with too much energy to do so. And it wasn’t just Gwen’s normal restless energy either. Anyone familiar with a Siren claiming would easily be able to see what was going on. Ania was amazed that Dorian had even let Gwen out of the room, much less out of his sight.
“The ensign was just doing as I asked, Gwen. Since I’m not allowed up again today, I thought I’d just spend it sleeping. You look worse than I do, but also different. Is that what you’re dying to talk about?”
Ania laughed when Gwen gave her a dangerous look that threatened death if she dropped any more hints about her newly mated condition in front of the medic. She let her teasing drop and brought her attention to Gwen’s wounds. “What happened to your hands and feet?”
“Slaves on Terris Rein aren’t allowed to wear shoes, and their ground is covered with sharp stones that cut. Not fun on bare feet, let me tell you. Then Zade scraped my hands on the side of a building when we were looking for Sarinnea. He didn’t mean to, but we had one of our typical battles for control. I won the battle but lost the skin on my hands in the process of eluding a local. Zade was primed to kill him. Some of the drugs amped up his aggressive side. He didn’t have a lot of control over himself,” Gwen said, wincing at the sting of the protective skin covering the medic was applying, but she knew once it dried it would allow her to work while her real skin healed underneath it.
“I heard Dorian has memory problems. Is that true?” Ania asked.
“Yes. It’s true, but honestly I’m not really minding it. You wouldn’t believe how much nicer the forgetful version of Zade has been to me. Almost zero condescension. If it wasn’t for the fact that he can’t remember anything about his job or his life, it would be really tempting to just let him remain like this,” Gwen said, bowing her head to the medic who sighed in relief that he’d finished.
“Now let it dry before you try to do anything,” he ordered, taking a moment to glare at his temperamental commander who was never an easy patient even though she was frequent one.
“Thank you, Ensign,” Gwen said kindly, watching the male stop his exit to stare at her in shock. “What? It’s not a commendation for your job performance, just simple gratitude. Don’t patients always say thank you?”
She just laughed as the junior medic rolled his eyes and stomped away, mumbling ‘not you’ under his breath.
“Gwen, the worst thing I’ve ever experienced was Malachi hiding memories of my past from me. It’s like all my energy was taken up by trying to recall my life, and coping when I couldn’t. That’s no way for anyone to live,” Ania said sincerely. “Don’t make Dorian do it.”
“I know I can’t leave him like this. I’m just—enjoying a brief respite before I look into what can help. He’s adjusting to the Liberator—and me. I don’t want to rush him,” Gwen said. “I’ll do the right things to help him. I swear I will, even if I get the old, condescending Zade back.”
“Good. Now are you going to tell me why you’re in such a rare, good mood today?” Ania asked.
“How many reasons do you want to hear? Zade’s back and okay. You’re still alive. Plus, I managed to find and rescue Sarinnea as well. That’s good enough for me any day,” Gwen said sincerely, shaking her hands to speed up the process. Already the pain was receding. “How are you doing?”
“I feel weak still, but mostly fine. Malachi refuses to leave my body until I’ve reached a certain stage of healing. I got tired of arguing, so I just decided to sleep and ignore him. It still hurts to lie on my back, so I twist from side-to-side to keep from going numb. It’s annoying more than painful,” Ania said.
“That knife was buried in you to the hilt. Boca pulled it out cleanly, but it still left a big hole,” Gwen said. “Speaking of Boca…”
“Were we? I was really more interested in hearing what happened between you and Dorian last night,” Ania said on a laugh. “From the look of you, I’m guessing his lack of memory didn’t stop the two of you from consummating your mating.”
Gwen inspected her hands, trying to think of what to say that wouldn’t lead to more questions. “The mating cord was causing us both problems with maintaining our distance. We found a mutually beneficial solution.”
Ania laughed hard at Gwen’s clinical explanation, wrapping arms around her sides, which hurt. “So last night wasn’t great just because you’d been waiting for years and finally got a chance to show him how much he meant to you?”
“Did I grill you for particulars?” Gwen demanded.
“Actually—yes. You did,” Ania answered.
Gwen snorted. “Well, if I did—I’m sorry. I can’t talk about last night yet. I had to threaten to stun him this morning just to get out of the room.”
Ania didn’t say anything, just rolled to her back completely, laughing and hugging herself. “It hurts to laugh. I pray the Creators help this heal soon.”
“Okay, go ahead and laugh. You were right. Zade was more outstanding than I ever imagined any male could be,” Gwen said softly. “Now can we please change the subject and talk some business? The bitchy Ambassador Onin says we have to go back to Lotharius. A Peace Alliance official’s daughter has been abducted by Fener Sel’s neighboring group. We’re to get her back, but they’re also intending to shift the balance of power there after we do so. They’re sending two other rescue ships to help us and at least one is rumored to be a Guardian series ship. It’s not known yet if we’re going to instigate any military occupation measures.”
Ania blew out a breath. “Are we sure Ambassador Onin hasn’t tricked us?”
“Synar says she’s telling the truth, but I don’t trust her—intuition or not. That’s why I wanted to tell you…and, well, Malachi,” Gwen said carefully, pressing palms on the table, happy to note the pain was gone.
Ania rolled back to her side and looked to Gwen. “Are there genuine Peace Alliance orders to go back there?”
“Yes, but ours are only covertly to gather information, not to stage the rescue. They don’t want to take a chance on the Lotharians killing the official’s daughter in retaliation if we fail. Problem is that there are only a few people on the Liberator who could go there covertly now. Guess who? The first clue is that it is neither of us because we’re both infamous on that planet. So is Dorian,” Gwen said sharply.
Ania sighed. “Boca is still wired. She refused to have them removed. She must be one. Is Synar really considering her?”
“Yes,” Gwen said, nodding. “And we still have the device that controls her.”
“Shades of Kellnor…is he really thinking about sending that poor female back into that situation again after all she endured? Who would go with her as her mate?” Ania asked.
“We didn’t get that far, but I personally think Chiang might volunteer. Synar wasn’t completely keen on him because there are also two others who could go, such as Malachi…aka Connor Synar, who is the registered mate of—”
“Ambassador Issa Onin,” Ania finished, closing her eyes. “There’s no way Synar will send those two. Neither can be trusted, but for different reasons. I’d trust the demon over the ambassador.”
Gwen nodded. “Right—that’s what he said, but since Malachi can’t go without you or Synar—”
“The only choice is to send Boca and someone else. I don’t get a good feeling about that. She has a warrior spirit, but likely no training,” Ania finished again.
“Well I wouldn’t say ‘no’ training. I would say more like ins
ufficient training,” Gwen reported. “By herself, Boca mortally wounded two Terris Rein guard goons while defending the shuttle and Malachi’s host body. Then she pulled the knives from their mostly dead bodies without a thought, plus the knife from you. She doesn’t need knife training for sure, just other weapons, and maybe some smarter fighting moves. My thinking is that you and I could provide her key points of training in a week if we do it every day and don’t hurt her too much in the process.”
“Do we have that long?” Ania asked.
“Maybe we have two weeks because we have to wait for the other rescue ships. Technically, we have until at least the first one arrives. Then the plan is that we send in our team to find the hostage’s location. The person they originally sent to locate her could only get as far as the outer kingdom alone. The idea is that our team will go in on the pretense of returning Boca while bargaining to return the other seven freed mate slaves for a fee,” Gwen said. “The jewel of the offer being Ambassador Onin who was intended for the leader of this kingdom anyway.”
Ania thought about it for a moment and decided it was in actuality a fairly good way to get close to the reigning monarch without alarming him about the bigger plans.
“Is Synar thinking about being the male that goes?” she asked.
“No, he thinks staying with Malachi is a better idea since you’re not fully recovered,” Gwen said with a frown. “In my opinion, it’s either Jurek, who doesn’t lie well—or Chiang, who can lie but has an unresolved thing for Boca.”
“Chiang’s not a warrior either. He has only basic training and Greggor strength,” Ania said.
“Chiang has more training than he likes to let others know about. He’ll do fine in a fight. But if he doesn’t want to go with Boca, no one is going to make him. Boca’s not going to be keen on him going either, but I think she’s hooked on the idea of helping the Peace Alliance take down the female abduction ring currently at work in that society.”
“If she agrees to the mission, of course I’ll help train her,” Ania said finally. “Though I doubt I could show her anything Jurek can’t.”
“Jurek’s good, but he’s slowed down a lot in his advanced years. Chiang is my pick, but I guess Jurek could do for her mate. In my opinion the ensigns are all too inexperienced to take the lead on something as dangerous as this,” Gwen explained.
“How are they blocking the captured female’s ID? Peace Alliance officials and their families have two of them,” Ania commented, thinking out loud.
“Right. I asked why the larger rescue ship coming couldn’t just scan for the official’s daughter. Turns out Lotharius has an even more sophisticated energy shield surrounding it than Terris Rein. I’m starting to get jaded in my thinking. Seems like any planet with the technology to block scanning has it only because they’re hiding something,” Gwen said.
“That’s probably a profound truth,” Ania said in agreement.
Gwen nodded and slid off the table. As she started to leave, Sarinnea and Zade walked into the area. Zade stepped into her and attacked her lips before she could stop him from kissing her. It took all her strength to pry his fingers off her arms. The male’s grip was strong.
“You can’t just go around grabbing me and kissing me whenever you want,” Gwen protested when her mouth was free, not missing the smile Sarinnea turned away to hide from her.
“Actually, my son is showing remarkable restraint. Normally, a Siren and his mate lock themselves into a residence for a week or two until the initial claiming lust runs its natural course. He is biologically designed to feel the level of desire he does for you, Gwen. You may have to schedule some bonding time during the day if you want to keep him appeased this week while you conduct your normal duties,” Sarinnea advised.
Gwen shivered when Zade put his face in her neck and breathed deeply. “You smell amazing,” he said, his husky voice laden with arousal carrying through Medical.
Ania laughed from the bed.
Gwen turned to glare at her. “Got anything wise or helpful to add to your amusement?” she demanded.
“Take Zade back to his quarters and appease him. Sarinnea speaks the truth,” Ania said. “A Siren’s mate can’t really say no without suffering as well. Why suffer? It serves no purpose. Go.”
“I can’t just go running off in the middle of the day to…” Her complaint died as Zade drew her close and matched their cords. The matching throb in that area opened her second chakra and poured arousal into her entire pelvis.
Then Zade picked up a hand, kissing her arm as he inspected her fingers.
“Thank you for letting the medics fix you. I was worried all morning that your hands were causing you pain,” he said, running gentle fingers through hers to link them together. “Have you had food? Would you like me to bring some to you?”
Gwen looked into his face, hers scrunched up in pain that was mental instead of physical. He was being so damn attentive and nice. “Zade—I have a mission to worry about. I have to relieve Chiang on the bridge. I can’t just…raging fires of Helios—don’t make me say this.”
He leaned close to her ear to whisper. “The lieutenant seems a capable sort to me. Relieve me first, Sweet Joy. I need you.”
“What did you call me?” Gwen demanded, part of her melting even as the other part pulled away in shock.
“Sweet Joy? The term popped into my head this morning after you left me. Sarinnea said it is the English translation of the Siren word for a perfect mate,” Dorian said. “Why? Does it not please you?”
“Of course it pleases me…it’s just you…damn it, Zade,” Gwen felt her nipples beading against her hygiene straps as his lips traced a trail from her ear to the bottom of her neck, his face pushing against her shirt as much as he could to move it out of his way. Reaching an impasse, he lifted his face to meet her gaze with his.
“What is your concern?” Dorian asked, sensing her indecision.
“You used to call me that. The first time you kissed me, you called me ‘Sweet Joy,’” Gwen said, her voice rough with emotion, raw now with the need he was creating in her.
“Perhaps I was not always a fool about you then,” he said.
When Dorian smiled intimately and stroked her cheek with his hand, Gwen smiled back genuinely in return. Then she remembered they had an audience, and both females were watching with very knowing—and interested—expressions.
“Raging fires of Helios, Zade. Stop trying to make out with me. Your mother is watching,” Gwen said in horror, flushing when Sarinnea laughed without restraint.
“Dorian is more my child in this moment than he would be comfortable knowing. Were he to remember his training and self-discipline, I am sure he would choose not to behave so openly amorous towards his mate,” Sarinnea admitted. “Yet I vow to you that am nothing but proud and pleased for him. I am pleased for both of you. And honored that my child would not hide his desire for you from me. He knows I approve of you, Gwen Jet.”
“Yeah well—I like you too—but I need closed doors. Sorry, but show and tell is over for the perfect mate,” Gwen said, her sarcasm hardly registering.
She left her fingers linked with his and tugged him with her.
“See you later, Ania—Sarinnea. I guess I have to go take care of Zade before he implodes or something,” she said, ending almost on a giggle when she saw his confusion. He never failed to bring out the female in her. Normally, it just made her mad, but today she didn’t even care.
Ania and Sarinnea were both laughing behind the couple’s backs as they staggered away. Dorian was still trying to touch and kiss Gwen, who kept dodging all his advances as best she could.
“When he remembers himself, Dorian will be appalled at his lack of control with her,” Ania said in understanding.
Sarinnea nodded. “Perhaps. But I think the commander is enjoying her mate’s attention more than she wants to admit.”
Ania snickered once more and then sobered. “I am very glad that Gwen found you both. Are you
going to tell me what happened on Terris Rein or make me look for myself?”
Sarinnea sighed and walked to perch on the side of Ania’s bed. “Do not worry for me at this time, Ania Looren. You must focus on your own healing. My child must bind himself to his mate. And when both of these things have come to pass in their fullness, then I will tell you the story of how I gave my compassion to a Norblade male I helped.”
Ania reached out a hand. “I will pray for you until then. Norblade males are nothing but aggravation outside of bed.”
Sarinnea laughed softly. “Then it is a fortunate thing for me that Jordon is already mated.”
“Sarinnea…” Ania said in surprise, her heart saddened as she watched the Siren shrug.
“No matter how many males you let share your body, there are never that many that end up connecting to your spirit. Jordon is only the second male in two thousand years that won it so quickly. Instead of convincing him to stay with me, I must help him return to the female he chose long ago. He’s been a slave for almost fifteen Earth years on Terris Rein. The last two were demoralizing to him,” she said sadly.
“If he is your natural mate, what will you do without him?” Ania said, knowing that once a Siren chose, there was no other.
“I suppose I will become as celibate as my son was before Gwen. My parents tried to get me to make a spiritual arrangement with a male Siren from another elite house. Keloren would have at least been able to offer me solace if I had agreed,” Sarinnea said with laugh, shrugging again. “Now I will have nothing. What can I say? I have always bowed to the will of the Creators.”
“As do I,” Ania said gently, holding Sarinnea’s comforting hand as she felt her mind drifting back into healing sleep. “May the Creators be as good to you as they have been to me, Sarinnea of Rylen.”
Chapter 16
“Remove your clothing if you do not wish it destroyed,” he ordered sharply, hands restless with wanting to strip away the barriers between them.
The Siren's Call (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE) Page 16
