“She’ll suck you into her stomach, Trant,” a boy warned. “That’s what they do. She’ll wrap her skin suit around you and suffocate you.”
“Throw it!” another yelled.
“Throw it, Trant!” a young voice added. “Before it kills you!”
“Throw it! Throw it!” the chanting started.
Mirek ran out of the fortress. The boys had gathered before the front opening carved into the mountain’s base. He smelled their aggression tinged with panic. Trant, one of the oldest, rushed forward in his shifted form and hefted a large stone to Mirek’s right.
“They’re our mines,” one boy shouted.
“We’re not scared of you, Tyoe,” another added.
The female screamed and he turned just in time to see the stone thunk Riona on the side of her head. The boys cheered in excitement at their bravery.
“Riona!” Mirek growled, the word barely discernible in his dragon’s voice. The boys instantly silenced. He darted forward to catch his wife as she fell. Blood ran over her temple. Her eyelids fluttered briefly before closing.
“No. What did you do?”
“My lord?” one of the boys asked, the sound soft and timid. “Did we get it?”
Mirek cradled Riona to his chest. In the brighter daylight, her skin took on a sickly green color with patches of ugly red. The blisters had lessened but the tiny bumps still marred half her face and neck, her hands and arms. Her hair had dried as she’d slept and now stood on end. Her physical appearance, coupled with the fact she wore a kind of alien garb the boys would never have had the occasion to see, made their mistake understandable.
“We finished off the alien, didn’t we?” another added. “She was attacking the fortress. We saw her wounded from battle within. Do you need us to fight, my lord? We are ready to defend your family.”
Mirek tried to relax. The boys’ words would have been endearing if not for the fact they just tried to kill his wife. He concentrated on Riona. She breathed. Her skin was warm.
“What is the commotion?” Cenek came from inside the ceffyl stables. His voice naturally gruff, he scolded, “I thought you were going to help me.”
“Cenek,” Mirek let his body shift back to human form. He cradled Riona.
“What happened?” Cenek advanced through the now-worried boys.
“We thought she was an alien attacking. We know the ships come in here,” Trant answered. “We’re defending our homes.”
“Trant threw it, not us,” a young boy tattled.
“Quiet,” Trant warned, balling his fists. “You told me to because you were too scared to do it yourself, coward.”
“Cenek,” Mirek repeated, louder.
The man nodded in understanding and corralled the boys toward the stables. “Stop playing around and get your chores done. If I see one ceffyl in need of a meal, I’m feeding the laziest boy to her.”
Hugging his wife to his chest, Mirek rushed to bring her inside. Under his breath, he whispered, “Your pains should be mine. I am the one who disobeyed the gods, not you. I don’t understand why they have not accepted my atonement.”
Her eyelids fluttered and she looked at him. He held his breath, hoping beyond anything that she’d say she forgave him. She made a weak noise and closed her eyes, whispering, “Aer in the mountains.”
“Air in the mountains?” he questioned. “M’lady? I don’t know what that means.”
She had again lost consciousness.
Mirek brought her to the isolation chamber and laid her down. A servant had cleaned the blood from the floor and as a result the room smelled heavily of soap. Instantly, the medical unit turned on and began scanning her. He stepped back, watching the dance of green lasers against her forehead as the examination took place.
“Air in the mountains?” He shook his head. Was it a message from the gods? Was that how to keep her safe? And if the gods were giving him a clue, what in galaxy did it mean?
“Mountains,” she mumbled the second the lasers finished their initial exam. Two metal plates slid up beside her head to fix the injury. He saw a blue light flash and had to close his eyes to the brightness of it.
“As you wish, my lady. We will find air in the mountains.”
Her body seemed to visibly relax at the assurance.
Whatever that means, he thought, resuming his normal place seated on the floor against the hard wall.
* * *
Riona jerked violently as she came to full consciousness. Her head hit a medical panel. “Ow, blasted!” She lifted her hands to automatically cup her forehead and she banged her wrist onto the opposite side of the head panel.
“Easy, my lady.”
Riona recognized the soothing voice. “What are you doing to me, dragon man?” The panel slid open, letting her see.
“I am Mirek. Your husband. Do you recognize me? You were struck on the head. How is your mind? Do you remember me?”
“Right, Mirek.” Riona was captured by the clear color of green in his eyes. They were striking and the intensity in them left her a little breathless—just like that first moment at the festival had. It was easy to see how he’d managed to seduce her into walking on stage with him. The details were still fuzzy, but she remembered going up there willingly to be presented before the crowd.
“You know me.” He nodded, satisfied by this.
She pushed up so she wouldn’t have to look directly at him. His nearness made her nervous. “Do your people greet everyone with rocks or am I just lucky?”
“They thought you were an alien.”
“I am an alien,” she answered wryly. “Do your people greet all aliens with rocks or am I just lucky?”
At that, he gave a small laugh. “I should have said an alien threat. We’ve had some issue with the Tyoe invading our mines. The boys are from Mining Village where the mines are located so they’ve heard the stories firsthand of what has happened.”
Riona gasped in affront. “I look nothing like a Tyoe. They’re giant balls of gelatinous goo.”
“The boys have not seen them, only heard tales,” Mirek defended. “And I don’t know if you realize it, but you’re not dressed according to your new home. In fact, those clothes are male and don’t even belong to the same alien race.”
“Hey, they fit me and I don’t like dresses. The skirts tangle in my legs and make running hard.” Riona glanced over her attire. Seeing dirt on her arm, she absently brushed at it. The spot held her attention longer than it should have, but she found it easier than looking directly at dragon man’s face.
“I will have breeches sewn for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.” She glanced up through her lashes to look at him. “I don’t have the space credit to pay for it right now.”
“I will take care of it.”
Did he have to be so accommodating? “That won’t be necessary.”
“I will not have my wife without clothes.” A small smile formed on his mouth and his tone dropped. “At least, not outside of our home.”
Riona shivered, not sure what to do with the sexual promise in his voice. She didn’t have the necessary transmitters to exchange pleasure essences with him.
Oh, how she really wished she had the necessary transmitters to exchange pleasure essences with him. Riona tried to suppress the tingling of attraction in her stomach.
“I know you did not come to this planet with much. Galaxy Brides did not have belongings delivered for you as they did with some of the others. Whatever it is you have been through, you are safe here. I hope that you will tell me about it, about this Range you are afraid of, but I trust the gods knew what they were doing. We belong together, my lady. The details will work themselves out. I am just happy to see you awake after so many months.”
“Months?” She looked at her arms. They still looked bad. “What do you mean months? What happened to me?”
Mirek gazed at her as if she was the prettiest woman in the universe. She felt a little self-conscious. Actually, h
ow could he think that? She looked disease-ridden.
“Yes, months, but your readings look very good. I found you in the forest after the ceremony in a patch of the yellow. I had some of the best Medical Alliance doctors here to check on you. They believe it was a severe allergic reaction. In fact, they wish to do a medical study on you now that you are awake.”
“No,” she inserted quickly, holding up her hand. The last thing she needed was her name out on the waves. Range would be scanning for it and medical articles and newspaper chips were easy enough to pick up if you knew the frequencies to watch. “I don’t want them to write about me. It’s a, uh, religious thing. Besides, I don’t want the entire universe knowing my personal business.”
“As you wish, my lady, but I have called them back to examine you. I must insist they follow up your medical care. You were very ill. And as I said, Princess Nadja has sent natural medicines for you to try if you have pain. I’m told she comes from a family of doctors.” Before she could deny him, he added, “So you enjoy running? Is that what you were doing in the forest?”
“Only when someone is chasing me,” Riona mumbled before she could stop herself. She took a deep breath, trying to act confident. She’d seen her appearance. It was hard to act flippant and flirty when her skin was all marred up.
Mirek’s mouth opened as if he’d question her.
“So, dragon man named Mirek,” she put forth, walking out of the isolation chamber. The room was too small and this man too big in it.
“Yes, my lady?”
“Married, huh?” She made a great show of glancing around the room. As far as hideouts went, this one was pretty nice, and the bed beat snuggling into a hard shipping crate at night.
“Yes, my lady, we are married. The elders gave us their blessing. It is done.” He followed her, trying to get close.
Riona kept moving, putting distance between them while trying to act nonchalant. “I don’t remember there being much of a ceremony.”
“It is true, we did not have the night in the tent together. I regret that our ceremony was not as it should be. You deserve better, my lady, but I will spend my life making it up to you.”
“Yeah, I’m not really one for ceremonies,” she dismissed.
“That is too bad. I thought perhaps once you were well, we could reenact the night in the tent.” He looked hopeful.
Riona gave a small laugh. “I bet you would, dragon man.” Then, lying, she said, “Unfortunately, nights in a tent are against my religion too.”
“Then you were not raised like your sister after the Jagranst were destroyed? You were separated and put into a strict nunnery order?”
Riona froze. Her back was to him and she was glad for it. Tears instantly stung her eyes and she felt as if he’d kicked her. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. The way he said her people’s name, so lightly, as if watching an entire planet explode through a viewing portal on a space craft was just some story to be referenced. How could Aeron tell them? No one knew Riona was Jagranst. It was bad enough hearing the horror stories being told like some kind of myth to scare and entertain people. It was bad enough tolerating the jokes people made while having the memories locked away in her brain. “No. I am not like my sister.”
She refused to say more about it. The pain choked her. She changed the course of the conversation. Hardening herself, she turned to face him. He sat on a bench seat near a small dining table.
“You know Aeron?” Riona inquired. This was the best piece of news she could have gotten. If he knew where Aeron was, it would save an aimless search over alien terrain.
“Of course, she married my brother Lord Bron, High Duke of the Draig.”
“And you have spoken to her? Aeron has told you of the Tyoe attack?”
“Yes. The gods blessed us greatly. All three of my brothers found wives this year, as did my four prince cousins. Aeron told us of the attack and is helping us set up new communication networks. Clara, my brother Vlad’s wife, has enlisted the help of her family to negotiate with the aliens and basically force them to leave us alone. She is Redde and their biological makeup hurts the Tyoe. The aliens ran for fear the Redde will destroy them. My brother Alek married Lady Kendall. She is helping us to clean up chemicals the Tyoe put in our mines before we knew of their presence.”
Then there was no reason for her to remain here. She could get Aeron and go.
“The gods had their reasons for sending each bride to us,” he continued. “I am not as familiar with the princesses, but I understand they are lovely ladies. Princess Nadja has worked on your medical problem. Princess Pia—”
“Pia?” Riona repeated, remembering the beast of the man who’d hauled her across the festival grounds on his shoulder. “That man she was with is a prince?”
“Prince Zoran. He is Captain of the Guards near the palace. A very fine warrior.” Mirek continued conversationally. “You might remember Princess Morrigan, they call her Rigan, from the ship as well. And Princess Olena has often asked about you.”
“I like Olena. We spent a lot of time together on the ship,” Riona said absently. Then, holding his gaze with her intense one, she asked seriously. “Is my sister is safe?”
“Yes, my lady, very. She visits you every day. She came to see you when I told her you’d awoken, but you were passed out on the floor. She will be back later when you are up for visitors.”
Aeron was safe. The tension rolled out of her body by small degrees. She took a deep breath, feeling that the pain in her chest had lessened. “I want to see her.”
“I’ll let her know.” The conversation lagged into a slightly awkward silence.
“It sounds like all the brides have been beneficial to your people,” Riona said to fill the quiet, “but the gods had no use for me and made me sleep.” She meant it to be a joke, but she couldn’t quite manage the playful, carefree smile. Riona was instantly sorry.
His expression fell. “That is my fault. I should not have pushed for a wedding so quickly. I should have waited a year. But it is done now, and I hope you can forgive me.”
Mirek stared at her expectantly. Riona slowly nodded, unsure how to respond. She was still trying to get used to the fact she had somehow gotten married—not that she considered this a real marriage. She couldn’t help his customs and what he believed, but she hadn’t agreed to be a wife.
Marriage meant family and roots and love. Those were all things she did not want. If she thought she was in love, she’d run. She’d get on the fastest ship she could find and she’d disappear. Love meant pain. Families died. Roots withered. Nothing stayed as it should be. The only option was to live fluid, cascading over the rocks in her path, never stopping. She was a stream, crashing through the universe. Mirek was a rock, rooted here on one planet. It didn’t matter that he had kind eyes and a handsome face. Soon, like everyone else, he’d be a memory. All she had was Aeron—the last remnant of a sad past—and Riona needed it to remain that way.
“Do you forgive me?” he asked again, as if determining the weak gesture wasn’t enough.
Riona nodded again. “Of course. You were only doing what you thought you had to.”
And I will do what I must to protect my sister and myself, she thought.
Chapter Six
“Ri? Wake up.”
Riona blinked open her eyes at the beckoning of the familiar voice. “Aer?”
“Yes, it’s Aeron.”
A hand touched Riona’s face. Her sister’s face came into view as Aeron leaned over her.
“I found you.” Riona pushed up from the bed and wrapped her arms around her sister. Mirek had left her alone to sleep and, though the light in the bedroom was dim, she could make out her sister’s face. “Are you hurt? I saw that man carrying you off.” She pulled back to study Aeron. “Did he…?” Riona looked down, instantly seeing her sister’s large belly. Aeron was pregnant. “No. What did he do to you?”
“He is a wonderful man.” Aeron grabbed her hands and squeezed t
hem. “I’m so happy.”
“I’ll kill him!” A tear slipped over Riona’s cheek and landed on the green material of Aeron’s dress, darkening it. “You’re dying. He’s killed you.”
“It’s life,” Aeron corrected. “You should feel when the baby moves. I don’t feel like I’m dying. I feel alive.”
Riona withdrew from her sister. The look of pure happiness on Aeron’s face was all wrong. Her sister wasn’t happy, not like this. Then, looking at the stomach, she frowned. “How far along are you?”
“It’s almost time. I was so worried you wouldn’t be awake for it.” Aeron rubbed her stomach.
“All right, we can figure this out.” Riona stood and began to pace. “I’ll take care of you. We’ll find a way off this planet and I’ll help you. I’ll raise the baby. And when you…when you…oh, blessed stars, when you’re no longer with us, I will be there for the child.”
“I’m not on death’s door.”
“You know what having sex does to our kind. We’re Jagranst, Aeron. We’re the last of our people.” Riona stared at her sister, feeling time slip away. “At best you can hope to have, what? Forty, fifty more years?”
“I don’t think it’s true. I think we were always going to die. The elders probably told us that to keep us out of the beds of boys since we were so young. The boys didn’t want to be accused of murder, so they didn’t try to seduce us. My husband has contacted a lot of doctors about it. They’ve looked at our genetics. The Jagranst are an offset of human. As far as I am able to piece together, our ancestors went to the planet to escape the corruption of Old Earth human society. There was nothing spectacular—genetically speaking—about our people. It was but a story to keep kids in line.”
“You called him your husband?” Riona tried to take in everything that was happening. Nothing made sense. “You’ve accepted it?”
“I love him, Ri.” Aeron smiled, looking so hopeful. “These are really good people. I know you’re going to like them as I do. Mirek has been so worried about you. I never thought you’d get married too, but you have chosen very well. Your husband is a good man.”
The Impatient Lord Page 8
