Claimed: Unchartered Territory

by Nia K. Foxx

  “Dal’las!” Nola’s ear piercing scream registered with her through her own sadness.

  She looked up through tear clouded eyes in time to see several guards swarming the girl, easily wrestling the weapon from her hand and dropping her to the ground. She could easily be crushed to death beneath the warrior horde.

  “Get a transport down here now,” Dallas yelled to no one in particular but was glad when a member of his personal guard issued her orders over a com link. “And do not hurt the girl, she’s with me.”

  Dallas switched her attention back to her bond mate. Her heart stopped in her chest to see his lids closed as if in an eternal sleep.

  “Remar,” she said trying to rouse him. With every ticking second of unresponsiveness she became even more frantic. Two guardsmen came to help her to her feet as another half dozen came to the aid of their fallen leader. Dallas willed him to move. He had to live. As his lifeless body was hoisted onto an automated gurney Dallas felt as if a vital part of her were being ripped from her body.

  Her soul screamed in gut wrenching agony. The sound traveled through to her very core with such force her world tilted and went black.

  ***

  “Dal’las,” the voice repeated her name softly. She wanted to ignore it but the owner of the feminine sound was insistent. “You must awaken Dal’las.”

  Why, she wanted to ask as the unwanted memories came back to her in an agonizing wave.

  There was nothing for her in the waking world. In sleep she could have the pretense of happiness, in sleep she could be with him.

  “Dal’las.” This time the call was followed by the gentle touch of a hand on her forehead. A small feminine hand.

  “Go away,” she mumbled turning away from the bothersome feel. If they went away she might be able to recapture her dream. She and Remar were sitting by the falls, hand in hand. Happy.

  Remar.

  The reality, that was the nightmare of her waking life nagged.

  Dallas whimpered softly. Why didn’t they just leave her alone to sleep?

  “If you do not awaken he will come to you, and the physician says it is not good for his condition,” the voice explained.

  Rabika, her mind connected a name to the sound.

  Dallas opened her eyes slowly. The familiar sight of the room she shared with Remar came into view. The fog of sleep faded as her gaze registered the things around. She breathe deeply inhaling. His masculine scent filled her nostrils and she just wanted to hold the bouquet of him inside her.

  “Did you hear me Dal’las, if you do not come to him now he will injure himself coming to you?”

  “What are you talking about?” she muttered her voice was rough, her throat dry.

  “Remar-”

  “Is dead. He died rescuing me.” There was probably a better way to break the news to his little sister but she wasn’t exactly her normal self. In fact she didn’t think she would ever be normal again.

  “That is what I am trying to tell you. My brother lives.”

  Impossible.

  “I saw him die,” she muttered dejectedly.

  “Do you wish to lay there and argue with me or would you prefer to see the truth with your own eyes.”

  Dallas pulled herself up slowly and turned to look at her sister-in-law. She looked her regular jovial self, not as if she were in mourning for her eldest brother.

  “Remar… is… alive?”

  Rabika nodded. “He said if you look within you would know the truth of it even without seeing him. He said, and I am not sure how this is possible, that you are soul companions. If what he says is true your soul should recognize that he is still among this world.”

  Dallas frowned. She didn’t have time for mystical mumbo jumbo. If Remar was alive she wanted hard scientific proof.

  “Take me to him.” As she spoke she was scooting herself around Rabika and sliding off the side of the bed.

  “Would you like to freshen up first?” Rabika suggested.

  Dallas shot her a look in response.

  “Or after, yes after will better.”

  “How long have I been out?” She asked. Rabika rushed to catchup as she headed out the room.

  “Two days.”

  Dallas didn’t pause in her stride but gave the woman a curious look.

  “The physician thought it would be best. You were not… yourself.”

  “It’s not every day a woman watches her husband… killed in front of her.” Just saying the word stung.

  “I am sorry you witnessed it.”

  “But you are sure he’s alive?” Dallas asked.

  “Yes.”

  She knew what she saw that night, but something inside her confirmed what the younger woman told her. With every step she took she felt even more certain it was true. Dallas moved faster until Rabika had to jog alongside her. By the time they walked into the medic center Dallas was downright giddy with excitement. She giggled aloud as if sharing a private joke with herself. If Rabika noticed she kept quiet.

  “On whose authority do you think you can order me to remain in this bedja?” Remar’s bellow could probably be heard outside of the facility.

  She couldn’t think of a sweeter sound.

  Tears of joy filled her eyes, but she quickly dabbed them away before entering the room. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest at her first sight of him.

  “How about on mine.” Dallas answered watching as her bond mate tried to stand on wobbly legs.

  “You came?” He said in a near whisper dropping back to the bed.

  “Of course, when I heard about all the fuss you were making I really didn’t have much choice. A woman can’t get a decent sleep with all of your threats. Now how about you lay yourself back down on that bed?” Even as she spoke she came to his aid along with the physician to get him in a comfortable position. Her gaze roamed his bare chest for any sign of injury. It looked as it always had, firm musculature riddled with markings of his class and achievements.

  “You do not look so steady on your own legs, lay with me and we can both rest.”

  Dallas gave the medic a curious look but the man’s frown spoke volumes.

  “How about I sit here with you for a while. Hey Doc, can you get me something remotely resembling a chair?” She asked but still was unable to take her eyes off of her bond mate.

  “For a man who narrowly escaped death you look pretty good.” It was the truth. She could see the obvious fatigue in his eyes and the lethargic way he moved but other than that he looked good.

  Dallas practically dropped onto the chair the medic provided and she saw concern mar Remar’s face.

  “When was the last time you ate anything?”

  She had to think. “The night we escaped.”

  “But she has received supplemental injections,” Rabika added.

  “See to it that a platter is brought up for her,” Remar ordered no one in particular but Rabika quickly excused herself to do his bidding.

  “I’m really not that hungry,” she said.

  “Fine, then eat for my pleasure. I am not being permitted to consume anything beyond what is provided to a newly walking youthling,” he said shooting eye daggers at the medic who continued to busy himself with monitoring equipment as if he hadn’t heard his ruler’s gripe.

  “I’m sure it’s all in your best interest.”

  “So I have been told, but the best thing for me is seeing you.”

  Dallas felt heat spread across her face. “You’re becoming quite skilled with the sweet talking?”

  “You know I only speak the truth. When I died I felt every bit of your anguish even as my soul journeyed from my body.”

  Dallas didn’t want to be reminded. “It’s all in the past, you’re here now.”

  “Because of you. I need for you to understand something and then we do not ever have to discuss this unpleasant business.”

  “Okay,” she would indulge him anything.

  “We are soul companions. I have known t
his from the moment I found you on your ship. I dreamt of you many times. At first I thought it was just a defect of my imagination.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  He reached out to take one of her hands in his. “No, do not misunderstand. I did not think it possible for a Chezarian to have a soul companion from off world, but you have proven it to be a fact.”

  “And what exactly does it mean to be someone’s soul companion?”

  “We are two halves of one whole. We exist for each other, know one another better than those who have known us our entire lives. It is how I knew you were still alive after you were taken. I could feel your very existence. The same way you knew when I died. Without you I would have surely passed into the next world, but your soul would not let go of mine. You kept me tethered to this world. You saved me Dallas.”

  “That’s not possible… I couldn’t just will you to live.”

  “But you did. And while we both slept you continued to nurture me back to health. Tell me, did you not experience dreams of us.”

  “Of course, but that was just the way my brain dealt with the trauma of losing you.”

  “No it was you. You kept my soul here in the dream world, allowing me to heal until I could be with you again in our waking lives. Do you remember how we spent our time in the caves of Om or how you begged for my touch beneath the waterfalls in our garden?”

  Dallas looked around for the medic but saw that he was gone and assumed he must have quietly left to give them privacy. Good because the things Remar was reminding her of were definitely private. She could feel her body heating up with the memories. The erotic things they’d done together.

  Wait…

  “That all happened in a dream, I’m sure of it. I know we’ve never really been to a place called Om,” she said confused.

  “No you haven’t. Although I would very much like to make the events of the cave a reality,” he said suggestively.

  Dallas shook her head in denial. “Random people don’t just share dreams.”

  He smiled broadly. She could definitely get used to seeing it.

  “We are not random people.”

  She thought back to the times she dreamt of him before they met.

  “This shared dream thing seems to be pretty selective. Why doesn’t it happen more often?”

  “I cannot claim to understand the workings of the gods only that they have made us for each other.”

  “And this… connection helped you recover?”

  “It saved my life. You saved my life.”

  The sincerity in his eyes was contagious. Could such a thing be possible? Her scientific mind said no, but something deep within shoved at her for compliance. Whatever the cause she was just happy it worked.

  “Who am I to argue? But I do think this means you’re indebted to me for the rest of your life.”

  “I find no problem with that.”

  “Well as my servant, I order you to do whatever the Doc instructs so we can get you out of here and back in our rooms.”

  “So you are truly missing me?” he said it as a statement more than a question.

  She rolled her eyes at the smug expression spreading across his face

  He reached for her hand and the familiar electric excitement coursed through her.

  She welcomed it.

  The door folded open admitting Rabika, the medic and a male servant carrying a platter of food.

  “There’s a change in plan I’ll take my meal in our rooms while Remar rests,” Dallas instructed. When he looked as if he would protest she added. “Heal now and I promise a sparring match in your future.”

  A twinkle of mutual understanding lit his eyes.

  Dallas stood and leaned over Remar to give him a gentle kiss.

  “Yes, I am truly missing you,” she whispered against his lips.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dallas had to remind herself she wasn’t dreaming. She was home. It wasn’t earth but for the first time in her life she felt as if she belonged.

  Yes, this was home.

  They’d dodged the cluster frack Voren had in store for the sectors, not completely unscathed but with their lives at least and a future ahead of them.

  Showered, dressed and with a returned appetite strong enough to devour everything in the kitchen (well at least that’s how it felt at the moment). There was still one more matter to be addressed before she could live the Chezarian fairy tale.

  She reentered her bedroom and smiled to herself at her waiting meal companion sitting stiff backed.

  “So, Lucy I think you have some ‘splaining to do for shooting my hubby like that.”

  Nola jerked around at the sound of her voice and came instantly to her feet. Her eyes rounded and large crocodile tears threatened to escape.

  Feeling instantly apologetic Dallas went to her.

  “I was only joking,” she said taking the girl in her arms and giving her a tight hug. Nola reciprocated with an equally strong hold. “Hey kiddo, it’s good to see you too,” Dallas said unhooking herself from their embrace. At arm’s length Nola continued to stare as her with wide tear filled eyes.

  Dallas looked down at the girl’s arm to see if she were given the translator as instructed. The glittering piece of jewelry shone back at her.

  Dallas frowned. “Can you understand me?” she asked wondering if for some reason the translator didn’t work on her.

  “Yes,” the girl said after several moments of silence.

  “Good, as much as I enjoyed our pantomiming before I think this will be a more effective way for us to communicate.”

  “Leila Dal’las I am very sorry for causing injury to your bond mate I did not know it was him. He looked like…I thought Voren found us…”

  Dallas raised a stopping hand and the girl’s speech trailed off.

  “There is no need to apologize. Remar is alive and we are safe from Voren,” Dallas said wanting to offer her as much reassurance as possible. She didn’t know exactly what the Cretan had subjected her to but truly wished him a long, painful suffering.

  “Let’s eat but there’s something I want to ask you while we do.” Dallas escorted her to the low sitting table she and Remar had enjoyed so many meals at. Her stomach growled in excitement. “Please don’t make me eat alone,” she encouraged when Nola only sat demurely.

  At her coaxing the girl reached for her utensil and poked into a piece of fruit.

  “I’m not sure if you have other family you would like us to contact in sector four. If not, we have more than enough room to keep you here with us, if you’d like?”

  There was a pregnant pause before she answered. “I would like to stay with you… but what of my aunts?”

  “Aunts? You have aunts back in the sector?” Dallas couldn’t bring herself to call the place home.

  “In the manor, they are…are Voren’s other bond mates?”

  “He bonded with two sisters?” And their niece, she added silently.

  “Yes, he wanted my mother too but she refused him so he made her a servant in the manor but he still… he still…”

  Dallas could see the hurt cross the girl’s face as she struggled for the right words and wanted to dismiss the conversation altogether, but there was something in the way the girl hedged that struck a cord in her.

  Nola’s gaze shifted away from hers.

  “Nola you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to, but do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?”

  After several seconds the girl nodded.

  “He forced himself on your mother?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is-is he your father?”

  Another quick nod. “Yes, he sired me,” the girl said softly not able to make eye contact.

  “I didn’t realize… Kala said you were bonded,” she said feeling some semblance of relief that he was her father and not her bond mate.

  Nola stared down at the untouched food in front of her. “He is that too,” she said weakly.
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  It took Dallas several seconds to process what she’d heard. Appetite thoroughly abolished she made sure to control herself when all she really wanted to do was march back in Remar’s recovery room and demand Voren’s execution.

  The sick son of a bitch.

  “Look at me Nola,” Dallas insisted softly, repeating herself when the girl would have hesitated.

  “Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed for anything this man has done. He, and he alone has a problem.”

  “He said that I looked so much like my mother he would not allow any other to possess me but him,” she admitted quietly. “My mother died birthing me and he… he told me the time was fast approaching for me to take her place.”

  Dallas’ stomach roiled at Nola’s words.

  “I am grateful you rescued me, but what of my aunts. They told me to help you and Kala, they wanted me to leave but now he will punish them.”

  “Believe me Voren is in no positon to punish anyone anymore. But I will have your aunts brought here so you can see for yourself. They are welcomed to stay in the sector the same as you. You will be under my protection.

  The pained look in the girl’s eyes lessened slightly, Dallas counted it as a small victory knowing there were still so many wounds to heal. Voren might not have had an opportunity to start physically abusing her but he’d had no qualms in starting her emotional abuse early.

  “I teach a class of women here, would you be open to joining us in instruction?”

  “Voren would not-“she cut her rushed sentence short. “Yes, I would enjoy that.”

  Nola’s half smile was strained, to put it mildly, but it was a start. Their road ahead would be long.

  ***

  “You are useless,” Rabika whispered in her ear. Having sidled up next to her while she hovered next to a team of students as they worked on an electrical current project.

  Dallas opened her mouth to argue but closed it just as quickly.

  “Go to him. We are glad to have you back but your mind is somewhere else.”

  “No, he should rest, I usually visit later,” Dallas reminded.

  “Yet your mind is already with him, why not let your body follow?”