Now it was Dorian’s turn to snort. “Then what would you have me advise you? You are dangerous in this condition. Do you want to be locked up? If not, you need to speak to her and find another compromise.”
“No—of course I don’t want to be locked up,” Chiang said, running a hand over his hair. “Let me talk to Boca, tell her what is happening. Perhaps we can reach another accord.”
“Whether you do or not, she must be trained. Her survival—not to mention yours—is at stake,” Dorian said flatly, steeling himself not to be sympathetic to the Greggor’s wince of shame.
“I know. I agree she must be prepared to face any challenge,” Chiang said quietly. “It’s just very difficult to watch her be hurt and not be able to do anything.”
“I understand,” Dorian said. “Any mated male would understand, including the captain. Truth be told—even the demon understands. Malachi has a special relationship with Boca. He was having similar problems watching her be hurt, but he also sees the balance. Perhaps you can talk to him and see how he restrains his urges.”
“Sure. More advice about Boca from the demon. Malachi got me into this mess in the first place,” Chiang said.
Dorian’s eyebrows rose high. “How so?”
“Malachi told me how Boca really felt about me, and warned me to act on it before he found a way to seduce her. The thought of her with any other male…” Chiang let the words drift off as he put his tools in what was left of the incubator. “How badly did I shame her with my actions?”
“Shame her?” Dorian said in surprise, letting his disbelief show. “No—Boca was not ashamed. She was just saddened, resigned to your disapproval. For her, it was just what she expected.”
“I am not like her Sumerian mate,” Chiang said harshly. “Nor like the Lotharian bastard, either.”
“Well, no,” Dorian said. “The Lotharian does not count, so release that fear. A Greggor mate is just territorial, but a Sumerian male is into control and obedience. Sumerians see their female mates as an extension of themselves. Her Sumerian mate felt no regret asking her to cease her warrior training.”
“I would let you lock me up before I did that to her again,” Chiang said softly. “Plus—I gave her my word.”
“Even if you mate Boca, you’ll still want to hurt those that hurt her. It is a biological imperative of most males. You are going to have to work at finding a way to deal with watching her fight her own fights when necessary,” Dorian said.
“Is that what you do?” Chiang asked.
“Gwen received two physical gifts once our energies were joined. One was additional strength. I think that happened both because I feared for her and to help me control my desire to kill others who I perceived as a threat to her,” Dorian explained, shrugging at the words. “Gwen is a warrior in spirit. The Creators made her that way. It is not my place to change that part of her, no matter how challenging the reality is to live with. You have a similar challenge. Boca is also a warrior in spirit, but her healing compassion causes conflict. It weakens her.”
“Aye—I have felt that conflict within her,” Chiang said, realizing it was that knowledge that caused his concern. “Boca is a healer by nature as well. Does she have to lose her compassion to save herself?”
Dorian shook his head. “No, her compassion is part of her. How do you do it, Chiang? I see the same conflict within you. You trained to be a warrior, but you chose to walk a different path in your work. Engineering was just the place you hid while your spirit made its decision.”
Chiang hung his head. “Is there no secret I can keep on this ship? I broke a male’s back during my warrior training. I helped heal him, but his injury was too grave for him to continue the path he chose. It is arrogant to assume you can both hurt and heal at will. I committed to healing, but hurt people doing that as well. People died no matter how hard I tried to save them.”
“Your mate has not made her choice yet. Her healing path has been chosen for her—until now,” Dorian said.
Chiang nodded. “My spirit resonates with what you say. I know you speak the truth of the matter.”
“Train Boca yourself,” Dorian suggested. “If she can bring herself to fight you and do what is necessary, your mate will not hesitate with anyone else. Both Ania and Gwen say her lack of self-confidence is her weakest point.”
“I am not a fighting teacher,” Chiang protested.
“Your female doesn’t fear arguing with a demon, but she is frightened of your disapproval. She was not mad at you today, and she should have been. Instead, she was sad and hurt. Teach her not to concede to you—neither in words or in deeds,” Dorian said firmly. “It would be an act of great compassion on your part. It would also be the first time a male ever empowered her.”
“What if I fail with her too?” Chiang said darkly. “Then she will be worse off. I do not want her to fear me.”
Dorian shrugged. “Don’t think of failing. She is returning to Lotharius. If you want to truly help her endure it and survive, then fix your mate’s confidence.”
“I will try,” Chiang said.
“Set an intention to do so and be faithful to it,” Dorian ordered. “And mate the female. Mark her with your energy. It would be a great relief to all of us.”
Chiang grinned. “You’re not still worried about Gwen missing me in bed, are you?”
“Shall I ask her to share her opinions on that matter with you?” Dorian said, lifting his chin. “It is best for you to focus on a female you can actually please in bonding.”
Chiang snorted and laughed. “I don’t want Gwen—not that way. I just like seeing you getting irate about my former relationship with her. I thought you said marking a female helped tone down the possessiveness.”
“It does,” Dorian said flatly. “Do you need more proof other than that you’re still walking and breathing?”
Chiang shook his head, laughing again. “Thank you for coming to talk to me, Lieutenant.”
Dorian bowed his head to the grinning Greggor before he left.
Chapter 24
“Must you go today?” Dorian demanded. “I’m not completely back to normal yet. I don’t like the idea of just putting you on some random supply ship that has to drop you off on some unknown planet to catch another shuttle to Rylen. What if the pirates get you again?”
“Dorian—Eli’oh—stop worrying so much. I have to go now. Gwen had the supply ship searched several times, and Captain Synar has arranged for someone to meet me and put me on the final ship that will take me to Rylen. Now embrace me so I can board with a lightened spirit,” Sarinnea demanded.
“But I don’t want you leave,” Dorian complained.
Sarinnea lifted a hand to his cheek. “I will see you and Gwen in two years. It will be joyous to spend time with you again. We will start your family, the three of us together. I will see to the care of the children while you and Gwen work. Just promise me to be careful so it may come to pass.”
Dorian spoke the promise in Rylen and hugged his mother close. He bent to touch his forehead to hers.
“My compassion for you has never been greater,” he said solemnly.
“Nor mine for you, my child. No parent could be prouder,” Sarinnea said, gently easing away.
Sarinnea turned gracefully and went up into the supply ship. Dorian watched until she had disappeared.
“Lieutenant Zade, can we release the ship for take off?” the dispatcher asked.
“Yes. My mother wishes to leave. I see no reason to detain it further,” Dorian said. “Thank you, Ensign.”
The ensign bowed his head and walked quickly to the nearest com panel. Dorian was almost to the elevator when he heard the engines start up. He had his head turned back towards the departing ship and was almost knocked down by the male exiting the elevators in a run.
“Don’t let the supply ship leave without me,” Jordon said, alarmed that it actually might.
Dorian grabbed his arm to stop his flight. “Are you scheduled to
return to Norblade?”
Jordon hesitated, looked to the ship preparing to leave, and looked back at the male whose grip was too strong to break. “No. My Norblade mate is already with another, which is only a relief to me. I want Sarinnea. I know I am not worthy, but—I want her.”
“Because she saved you?” Dorian asked, dragging Jordon with him as they ran across the shuttle bay.
“No. I want her because she has my full compassion,” Jordon declared.
“Stop the ship,” Dorian yelled, pounding on the outer door.
The dispatcher didn’t bat an eye. He just barked orders into the com for the supply ship to halt their departure and open the door.
The supply ship lowered its boarding ramp and Jordon started up it. “You can trust me with your parent. I value her above all others.”
“It is actually your welfare that concerns me. Sirens are not easy mates,” Dorian said.
“Lieutenant—Dorian—there is a child from my mating, a boy who has been as lost as I have been for many years. I intend to have him join me. I wish I had time to explain, but Sarinnea was determined to leave me,” Jordon said. “I cannot let her. I don’t know how this will work, but I must go to her.”
Dorian drew in a deep breath, stood as straight as possible, and bowed his head to the Norblade male. “May the Creators guide you both to happiness.”
“Thank you.” Jordon bowed his head in return then dashed up the ramp.
Dorian ran to the elevator, stepping into it just as the vacuum shield was lowered.
***
“I don’t get it. Why did Jordon spill his guts to you about it all? He could just as easily have lied and followed Sarinnea home without you knowing it. And why didn’t you just stop both of them from leaving until we could talk with them?” Gwen demanded.
“Do we really need to be dealing with more parent problems? When is your father leaving?” Dorian asked.
“My father? Oh fucking hell, I completely forgot about Cahir,” Gwen said fiercely. “How could I forget he’s still on the damn ship?”
Dorian fell backward on the bed and laughed. “Well, you’ve had a few bigger concerns than your father’s petty complaints.”
Gwen came over, sat on the bed, and fell back on it too.
“I should have put Cahir on the same supply ship and sent him off, but that would have only complicated things for Sarinnea and Jordon. Sounds like you’re getting a Norblade step-brother if things work out.”
“Their relationship will work out,” Dorian said on a sigh. “His energy is already on her, and don’t ask me about what Sarinnea’s energy has done to him. His mate would never have made him forget her completely. Males do not get over Sarinnea, except for Chiang. She must have put a block on him remembering her.”
Gwen turned her head and smiled. “Maybe Chiang just wasn’t that good with her. It happens.”
Dorian snorted. “You don’t have to say that for my benefit.”
“Dorian, you’ve raised the standard so high for what I think is good that no other male could possibly hope to compare,” Gwen said sincerely. “Chiang is like that boy I kissed during a wrestling match in high school. He’s a sweet memory and not something I’d ever want to repeat. Probably works that way for Sarinnea with two thousand years of males under her jeweled Rylen belt. Don’t you have females you remember from the days before you mated?”
“No—not really. I hardly even remember my first two mates. They were highly satisfying at the time, but evidently also highly forgettable in sexual prowess. However, I remember the first time I kissed you like it was yesterday. I still get that same level of relief every time I repeat the action,” Dorian confessed.
Gwen closed her eyes and groaned. “Me too.”
Dorian rolled over on her with a laugh, sliding between her uniform covered thighs to tuck himself against her. “Will we ever fight so fiercely again? Or will your thighs open freely for me from now on?”
Gwen snorted, brought her ankles up and bracketed her legs beside his hips. She rolled him over and ended up astride him, looking down into his deep blue eyes. Her thighs probably would always want to part freely for the male beneath her, but she knew her mind and heart might lead her in other directions at times. He was just worth the struggle.
“Kissing you isn’t the only thing I remember from our first time. I remember you lasting about three seconds when I had my way with you,” Gwen declared.
“I believe I would last a little longer now,” Dorian protested.
“Okay. Let’s see,” Gwen said, popping the fastener on his pants.
She slid down his legs until her knees hit the floor, making him hiss at her hands running over him.
“We don’t have time. I have to go to the bridge,” Dorian said, his voice breaking with anticipation.
“Yeah, I have to go find my father, so give me something wicked to think about until you can do this to me,” Gwen said, wrenching clothing out of the way to get to what she wanted. “You promised to show me your tongue next time.”
“When you admit you don’t care, I will show you my tongue. But I want to do something wicked to you now,” Dorian said honestly, drawing in a breath as her mouth closed over him. “Sweet Joy—that’s got to be the most amazing talent you possess.”
Gwen laughed at his declaration, her mouth moving slowly and thoroughly. She could feel the vibration already growing within him, grateful to have learned to time her responses to his.
When his vibration had reached its peak, Gwen hummed and wrapped her tongue tightly around him, holding him within her mouth as a he throbbed in completion. His groan of surrender sounded like an Earth coyote howling at the moon. It made her laugh. Then Dorian’s vibrations washed over her, bringing the pleasure and compassion she always got from their bonding, no matter how gentle or how fierce the lust.
“Sweet Joy. You could give pleasuring lessons to all females,” Dorian said sincerely, the sexual relief Gwen brought him always a bit of surprise.
Gwen eased her mouth off, kissed him sweetly, and then laid her head on one hard masculine thigh. “Too bad you have to go to work.”
“I’d offer to trade you duties, but I don’t want to kill your male parent,” Dorian said. “If he says one more derogatory thing about you, his life will be forfeited. And if he tries to attack you again, not even the Creators could blame me.”
Gwen crawled up her mate’s long body to let him wrap her in his arms. She felt him sigh in contentment, marveling once again that she’d ended up bound to Dorian Zade.
“You don’t have to avenge my virtue, Zade. I mean—Dorian. Sorry. Habit when we’re talking about fighting,” Gwen explained on a sigh, turning her face into his throat. The intimate action made her feel comforted and aroused at the same time. Until him, there had never been a male who could do both simultaneously.
They lay together silently for several minutes. Then the intercom came on, first calling for Gwen, and then moments after, calling for Dorian.
Dorian sighed and sat up, swinging Gwen across his lap. He hugged her close, held her tightly. “I like knowing that whenever I have finished my tasks I will be coming back to where you will be once you have finished yours. I am only for you Gwen Jet, only for you.”
“I love you too,” Gwen said. “Now let go of me so I can go be commander and try to get my annoying father to leave.”
Dorian helped her leave his lap and stand, sighing that he had to let go. But she would return to him. He had to trust that she would always return to him.
“Yes. I will always return to you,” Gwen said sincerely, checking her clothing to make sure everything was fastened. Sometimes when she was with him clothing came undone without her knowing.
“Reading my mind?” Dorian asked, standing and fastening his pants, grinning at his mate’s sigh as she watched and frowned.
“You think very loudly sometimes. And the longer we’re together, the more clearly I see. Sometimes it’s just images, but just now
I saw the whole thought,” Gwen said. “You boosted my intuition when we mated.”
“Well, it’s not like I got to choose what to give you. The Creators read my concerns and gave you what it would take to make me not worry so much,” Dorian explained.
“Strength and intuition,” Gwen said, shaking her head. “Someday you’ll have to tell me what you were so worried about.”
Dorian shrugged, walked to the door, and held it open for her, trying not to get aroused again when she wrapped a weapon holster around one thigh. His body hardened when she chose a weapon from the utility belt hung under the intercom and slid it into the holster.
“The strength was because I didn’t want to hurt you during bonding,” Dorian said flatly.
Gwen gave him a disbelieving look. “Did you give your other mates strength?”
“Not that I recall, but then I was always very careful with them. You often don’t let me keep that level of control over myself,” Dorian admitted.
“Indeed. That is a profound truth,” Gwen said on a laugh, patting the weapon on her leg once more. She wanted to make sure her father saw she was armed and ready for anything. It might forestall one of his crazy attacks on her.
“Gwen? Thank you for answering the Siren’s call. I would have hated to have had to bind you to me unwillingly,” Dorian said sincerely.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Like that would have worked.”
“Oh, I would have made sure it worked,” Dorian said firmly, following her out of their quarters.
“See you after shift, Zade,” Gwen said with a grin, walking away
Dorian watched her hips swinging as she headed down the hall. “Stun Cahir if he attacks you. That will teach him a valuable life lesson about his warrior daughter.”
As he turned smiling toward the bridge, Gwen’s delighted laughter followed him.
### ### ###
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