Defying the General

by Maddie Taylor

  And though he’d done most of the work, and was likely exhausted from his long mission, he carried her upstairs. A good thing, too, because she couldn’t have put one foot in front of the other without falling flat on her face, let alone climbed the stairs.

  Once in the bedroom, he didn’t spare a glance at the bed but went straight to the bathing room. With her curled on his lap, they held each other, as in mere seconds, the swirling, warm water filled around them.

  TRASK WASHED HER LONG hair, loving the feel of the silky strands running through his fingers. When he moved on to her body, he skipped the bath sponge, opting to use his soap-slick hands instead. He couldn’t miss the toll her recent illness had taken. She'd lost weight, visible in her breasts, still round but smaller, and the way her hip bones stood out more prominently. But he didn’t comment, enjoying the quiet closeness of the moment, putting off the explanation of what had occurred while he was gone as long as possible. Something he didn’t expect her to take well.

  “Your mission, was it successful?” she asked, circumventing his plan the next moment.

  “It was.”

  “You captured the ones responsible for the explosion? That’s a relief.”

  “Yes and no.”

  She twisted enough to look at him in question. “Which is it?”

  “We identified some of those involved, and exonerated others, but the underlying threat has not been eliminated.”

  “Is that the reason for the guard at our door? You thought I was at risk?”

  “Yes, there is a small faction among our people who do not want us to mate and breed with yours. I worried, with many of the warriors gone after the females, they would come after the ones who remain.”

  “I don’t understand. What females?”

  “Your crew, Lana. With the help of this faction, explosives were planted in the mine as a diversion for their escape. They made it to the spaceport, onto your ship, and were gone by the time we realized what had occurred.”

  She stared at him while this information sunk in, and he gave her time. When she looked away, tears in her eyes, he realized it had.

  “Lana.”

  “They left me here,” she whispered. “Why would they do that?”

  “I have not asked.” Then he posed the question which had been plaguing him while he was away. “Would you have gone if they had come for you?”

  Staring down at her hands, she shook her head, which gave him ease. The feeling didn’t last long because she said after a moment, “I don’t know.” Her head came up, her eyes a liquid pool of brown, blue, and green. This blended trait, a mixture of them both, was as unusual as it was beautiful. “In all honesty, I really don’t.” She averted her gaze again and murmured, “She asked if I drank the Kool-Aid.”

  “Who asked?”

  “Eryn. I ran into her in the park, before I got sick. It’s a reference to a long-ago Earth tragedy, it means to blindly follow. She thinks those who have complied and transformed have been brainwashed, seduced into the romantic notion, by whatever means, that fate has brought us together as mates.”

  “It isn’t a notion, Lana. You have transformed. You are mine.”

  She didn’t agree or disagree, nor did she look at him when she changed the subject, both of which bothered him.

  “What will you do with the crew?”

  “They are being cared for, as before.”

  “But will they be punished? Charged with crimes related to what happened at the mine? How could they be involved, Trask? Eryn was guarded constantly, as was I. Eva too. You don’t suspect Mailynn, surely. She’s pregnant.”

  “The females won’t be punished. The Prima has seen to that.”

  “Eva? How?”

  “She was charged with treason for leaving her fated mate, the Princep, to die.”

  “I don’t understand. She hadn't even transformed when I saw her.”

  “It is hard for us to comprehend, too. But they are fated, by leaving Kerr, he fell ill to the separation sickness. We brought her back in time to save him, but she admitted her guilt. She shouldn’t have, she was shot and forced to go.”

  “Oh my God! Someone shot her. Is she all right?”

  “It was a superficial blaster burn, and she has recovered. It will take a bit more time to recoup from her public punishment, though Kerr is seeing to that.”

  “Wait. You’re joking.” Her voice was rising steadily with her mounting agitation. She pushed off from his chest, splashing water everywhere as she put space between them. “You said she was shot and forced on the ship. But still she was punished? The victim of a crime? What kind of justice is that?”

  “Calm down, Lana.”

  She stiffened, moving further away from him in the water. “You’ve told me that before. But very often with an Earth woman, telling her to calm down is a surefire way to get the opposite effect.”

  He caught her hand before she could exit the tub in a huff, her intention to do so unmistakable. Though she resisted, he pulled her back to him. “Would you discuss this rationally and let me fill you in on the rest? Or, continue in this manner and get your bottom warmed for a disrespectful attitude?”

  She yanked on her hand, but he expected this as well, and held firm. “You can’t threaten to spank me every time we argue.”

  “I can, especially since it has been quite effective so far. Besides, I gave you another option.”

  She glared at him, but stopped fighting and said nothing when he put her back in his lap.

  “The reason she was punished is for admitting her guilt to the council. She did so and was sentenced before Kerr arrived. He tried to dispute it, but it was pointed out the people saw Kerr carried out of the mine, they also saw Eva walk voluntarily to the shuttle port. Emotions are high, a punishment was expected. She made a bargain, a punishment as Prima and a member of the crew, which stood for all of them. Kerr did it with compassion.”

  “He did? But I thought she saved his life?”

  “Yes.”

  “That makes about as much sense as punishing her for being shot.”

  “It’s complicated, Lana. And sometimes leaders act for the good of their people, and to restore the peace, which is difficult. This was a sacrifice. And, by taking this on herself, no further action can be taken against 292 of your females, which makes your friend loyal, and very brave.”

  She looked away, and he could tell by her troubled look she was attempting to process all he said.

  “I saw her afterward, Lana. She is fine. He cares for her, and while more than a pat on the bottom, like the punishments I've given you, Kerr did it without harming her.”

  “I don’t understand your world at all. Maybe I never will.”

  “What would you prefer? Imprisonment? Exile? For treason, some societies demand the ultimate price.” He paused, watching as an array of conflicting emotions played across her face. It was a lot to take in. He had lived through it and his mind was still reeling.

  “There is more.”

  She grimaced. “I’m not sure I can take more.”

  “There is something positive to come out of this. Your captain and Kerr met to discuss approaching the Earth leaders with a treaty.”

  “Excuse me? Did you say treaty?”

  “Yes, taking captives has weighed heavily on Kerr and many of us, as I told you. We see and hear your concerns about your people and think through negotiations we can benefit one another. Your captain Maggie sent a message, they are open to talks.”

  “You are thinking of more mates, obviously. What would you offer in return?”

  “Technology, medical advancements, assistance finding a new home, there is much we can learn from one another.”

  “A mate exchange program actually isn’t a bad idea. We have to find a new home anyway, and once women get a load of you—rather, Primarian men in general—I’m sure they will be signing up in droves.” She stopped to clarify. “They will be signing up, right?”

  “Yes, all volu
ntary. Your captain already took a poll and nearly half of your shipmates want to stay on. She’s agreed to act as a liaison between our world and yours, and the others will go home with her, shortly.”

  “This sounds like something Maggie Vohlmer would come up with.”

  “And Max Kerr.” He chuckled when she gave a grudging shrug. “It’s late. We should go to bed, mate. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

  “You mean there is still more to talk about?”

  “Not that I know of, but the way things change from day to day since we embarked on a hunting mission for relaxation not so long ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was.”

  She nodded, rose, and walked sleek and dripping wet up the steps.

  He blew out a silent breath thinking it hadn’t gone nearly as bad as he anticipated.

  Chapter Nine

  OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL days, Lana’s sickness gradually returned. First, with a nagging headache, followed by dizziness even while lying down, and eventually another full-blown migraine. She tried to hide it from Trask, who was busy with the mine investigation, but the only way she could was with medication. It helped because mostly what she did was sleep.

  One morning, at the crack of dawn, Trask whispered goodbye with a soft kiss on her lips. Headed out to the mine, and the site of the explosion, he wasn’t expected home until late the next day. She must have been hiding her illness better than she thought because he wouldn’t have left her overnight if he knew it had come back.

  Later, she was still dozing in and out, when she felt a presence by her bed.

  “It’s almost time for the midday meal, and you’re still asleep. You’re also still sick.”

  “Yes,” she muttered, “to both, now please go away.”

  “I can’t. Jarlan told me to check on you, and if you weren’t better to bring you in.”

  “No more tests.”

  “Lana, if you don’t come with me he’ll go to Trask.”

  “Don’t I get a say?”

  “Yes.”

  “I do?”

  “Mm-hm,” she said as she strode to the closet. “You get to say which dress you wear today.”

  “Funny,” she muttered. “What’s the use of more tests?” she asked despondently. “They’re always inconclusive. I want to stay here in bed and sleep.”

  “You can’t sleep your life away.” Adria’s voice sounded muffled by the activation of the modular closet and Lana had to strain to hear the rest of her comment. “We have to be patient until Jarlan finds a cure.”

  “But a cure for what?”

  “We don’t know,” she stated as she exited holding a sapphire blue dress and soft-soled flats in a pretty dove gray. “That’s why you’re getting dressed and going to the clinic.”

  “What happened to me getting to pick out my dress?”

  She glanced down at the stunning gown. “You don’t like it?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  Adria rolled her eyes, a habit, unfortunately, she had acquired from her.

  Lana glared at her. “Some friend you turned out to be. You’re worse than Trask. At least he’s sweet to me.”

  Adria burst into laughter. “I’ve been here when you’re being stubborn. He threatens to spank you, at least I won’t do that. I’m not above wrestling you into this dress, however. So, what’s it going to be?” She raised the hand with the dress. “Easy, or hard? And let me remind you, I’m bigger than you.”

  “News flash, Adri, 99 percent of everyone on the planet is bigger than me.”

  She arched a black brow and pointed out, “Yet you keep arguing.”

  “Has anyone told you your bedside manner needs work?” Far from feeling her best, she forced herself to sit up on the edge of the bed, resigned to another session of poking and prodding.

  They didn’t walk this time; Lana was too weak. Instead, a white-shirted man in a hovercraft took them the few short blocks. At the clinic, Jarlan and a host of his associates, Adria included, came in and asked her a million and one questions, then proceeded to poke, prod, and scan her thoroughly. They also collected more samples, including swabbing her mouth.

  As they filed out, leaving her with only Trask’s sister who was busily entering information on a tablet, she asked hopefully, “Can I go home now? The fresh air on the ride over helped. When I get back, I’m moving to the patio, permanently.”

  “You’ll have to tell me how that idea goes over with my brother. But before you try it.” Adria held up a clear plastic cup. “Do I need to explain what this is for?”

  “No, I know the drill.” Lana sat up and swung her feet over the side of the exam table. When her head didn’t swim, she prepared to ease herself down.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  She looked from the cup in her hand to her frowning face. “Um, to the bathroom?”

  “Not by yourself you aren’t. I’ll take you.”

  “You are not going to watch me pee in a cup.”

  “I’m not going to watch, only make sure you get there safely.”

  Tired of being treated like an invalid—even though she had pretty much been one lately—she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest. “I can walk.”

  “You could also fall on your face, and I’d have to explain to my large, rather intimidating, and sometimes scary brother why his mate has a broken nose. No thanks.”

  “Fine. Then I don’t have to go.”

  She propped her hands on her hips. "Now you're just acting stubborn.”

  “Am I? Or maybe I’m dehydrated from being sick.”

  Adria's exasperation was evident in her narrow-eyed glare. “No wonder my brother so often threatens to spank you.”

  A knock on the door paused their argument.

  She put down her tablet and went to open the door. Lana watched as she spoke with a young man in a black-and-white tunic, like the one her current tormenter wore. Okay, that wasn’t nice, she was only trying to help.

  “Jarlan has ordered an Optimed treatment for Lana. He wants to go over the particulars with you first.”

  Surprise registered on her friend’s face. “She doesn’t have a wound. Why would he order that?”

  The young man glanced her way then back at Adria, giving her a shake of his head, which was far from discreet. “He thinks it may be of benefit.”

  Translation: Jarlan was out of ideas and grasping at straws.

  “Please tell him I’ll be right there.”

  When he left, Lana looked at Adria expectantly. “What’s this Optimed, a last-ditch effort? You seemed surprised by the suggestion.”

  She had equal parts concern and bewilderment in her eyes when she answered. “I am. It’s a healing accelerator for wounds and broken bones. I’ve never heard it used for symptoms like yours, but I won’t know what he's thinking until I speak with him.”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “No, Lana,” she rushed to reassure her. “It’s painless, quite harmless actually, and remarkably beneficial for...”

  “Wounds and broken bones, which I don’t have. But since it won’t hurt, I guess it’s worth a try, right?” She didn’t like the strained look on Adria’s face. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I hope you were kidding about being claustro—Uh...”

  “Claustrophobic,” Lana supplied, while dread began to tighten in her chest.

  “Right, that. You’ll have to lie perfectly still in a long, enclosed cylinder for nearly a full time-cycle.”

  Which on Primaria was roughly equivalent to one Earth hour, about fifty-nine minutes more than she could bear.

  “Of course, I will,” she muttered. “Because things keep getting better and better.”

  “Jarlan’s waiting. I need to speak to him. Maybe he’ll explain his rationale further.” She gave her an encouraging smile. “It’s going to be okay, Lana. I feel sure of it, once we figure this out.” She spun to the door, calling over her shoulder. “I’ll bring you some water, so we can g
et the specimen when I get back.”

  After she left, Lana counted to ten then stood up, slowly. When the room didn’t spin, she grabbed the cup.

  “I’ve had enough humiliation for a lifetime,” she said as she moved to the door. “I’m not adding this to it.”

  Lana had no trouble finding the facilities and doing her business, but on the way back she identified a tactical mistake in her mini-rebellion. She should have noted her room number. Everything down the long corridor was white, and each door looked identical. She knew her room was on the right, but with so many of them, she didn’t have a clue which one it was.

  Halfway down, she stopped in front of one then looked at the doors on either side of it—all one and the same. She glanced back the way she had come, hoping to find someone to help, but the hallway was empty—much different from the last time she’d been here. She stared at the door in front of her again. Did she knock and possibly interrupt another patient, or stand in the middle of the hall like an idiot, a cup of pee in her hand?

  The door slid open right then, and an older man came rushing out. She jumped out the way in time to keep from getting flattened. He skidded to a halt as surprised as she was.

  “I’m sorry, my dear. I was in a hurry and not paying any mind.”

  “No worries,” she told him. “But perhaps you could help me. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten which room I’m in.”

  “If you’re the general’s mate, this is it.”

  She peered at him—white hair and beard, wearing long white robes. What was an elder doing in her exam room? Glancing past him, she didn’t see anything to clue her in.

  He answered her unspoken question by opening his hand to reveal what looked like a data stick. “I just uploaded your medical file from your ship for Jarlan. We had problems with the interface, and it took much longer than expected—days instead of hours. I apologize for the delay.”