Ull (Tornians Book 7)

by M. K. Eidem

  "By Daco."

  "Yes, as soon as we realized what had happened, we began to intervene where we could."

  "What do you mean where you could?"

  "What my Goddess means is that most Gods or Goddesses interject themselves into a world so mortals will worship them."

  "But aren't you worshipped by both the Tornians and Kaliszians?" Trisha looked to the Goddess.

  "I am, but that is not the reason I respond."

  "You blessed the Tornians because they assisted you when Daco stole you," Trisha told her what she knew.

  "I did, but it wasn't only because of that. My sister found her True Mate with the Tornian that helped save me from Daco, King Varick. Rawnie was much like you, Trisha Burke. She was always concerned and cared about the welfare of others. When she discovered her True Mate was mortal, she didn't react the way I did. She chose to join her life force with Varick's, and in doing so, she became more than mortal but less than a Goddess. Because of that, when Varick died, so did Rawnie. I vowed to her that I would always watch over her offspring and the offspring of their offspring."

  "And the Kaliszians?" Trisha got to voice this question.

  "They are the descendants from my blood brother, Jadi," Raiden told her.

  "Which is why their eyes glow as yours do."

  "Yes, it is something from the past that has survived despite Daco's best efforts."

  "As your multiple colors survived in the Tornians, just individually."

  "That is truth."

  "So, what of you survived here on Earth?"

  "Very little," Raiden told her regretfully. "Daco seems to have concentrated a great deal of his wrath here for some reason. While your people believe they come in many different colors, they are just shades of one."

  "I don't agree," the Goddess chimed in. "While externally humans don't resemble your people from the past, internally they do. They are resilient, strong, creative beings who, despite everything Daco has done to them, can care about other beings. That was the heart of your people's strength, Raiden."

  "Truth."

  "Which is perhaps why Daco struck here so hard. When you destroy the heart of a being, the body soon follows."

  "They do seem to be the heart of so many, don't they?" Raiden gave Trisha a considering look.

  "Which is why they are so vital in helping to stop what I created."

  "You're referring to the Great Infection."

  "Yes. The end has begun thanks to the influence of Earth females like Kim, Lisa, Mackenzie, Jennifer, and Abby. But unless all recover their honor, it will not continue."

  "I will do what I can, but not all Earth females are going to want to Join with a Tornian Warrior."

  "Of course not, for you have many males who are also fit and worthy. The heart will decide that. I was referring to the Ganglians."

  "You're telling me the well-being of the Known Universes and the end of the Great Infection relies on the Ganglians becoming honorable?"

  "Yes."

  "Shit!"

  "You take care of your Tornian and your people and leave the Ganglians to us." Trisha stood as the Goddess walked over, placing a kiss on her forehead. "It is time for you to return."

  With that, Trisha's world went black.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Are you ever going to answer your comm?" Zo carefully asked when it began ringing again. He'd lost track of the number of times it had rung since Ull had placed the female in the deep repair unit.

  "Until I know what to tell him, there is no need to respond."

  "Her manno will not appreciate that."

  "He's not Trisha's manno. He's her mother's brother. He also happens to be the President of the United States of America. A great area on Earth comparable to the Etruria Region on Tornian."

  With each revealing sentence, Zo's eyebrows rose higher and higher, his gaze going to the vapor filled unit. This female belonged to a powerful male. A male, the Tornian Empire needed for its survival. What would happen if she didn't survive?

  "All the more reason for you to answer him."

  "I already vowed to him that I would. As soon as I knew anything." Ull lifted his gaze to Zo. "Do we?"

  "No."

  "Then there is no reason to respond to his call."

  Zo disagreed, but Ull had been given complete authority on everything concerning Earth, by the Emperor himself. So, after giving Ull a small bow, he left the room.

  Ull didn't know how long he kneeled beside Trisha, trying to see through the vapor for the slightest glimpse of her. Goddess, he'd thought being far away from her and not seeing her was torture, but to be this close and still not be able to… Being cast into the darkness couldn't be any worse.

  'Join me and find out.' Ull jerked, finally realizing the strange thoughts he'd been having, that he'd believed to be his own, weren't. They were from Daco.

  "No!" Ull roared. "I am a fit and worthy warrior. I will not succumb to your lies."

  'Even if it meant your female would live?'

  Ull stilled at that. Females were the most precious thing in all the Known Universes, especially his Trisha. She deserved the chance to find a male worthy of her love. If he had to fall into darkness for that to happen, it would be a fair exchange.

  'Then pledge yourself to me!'

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Trisha's eyes flew open to see a white vapor swirling around her as she lay on her back. She must still be in the deep repair unit the Goddess had told her about. As the fog began to thin, she saw Ull, his arms propped up against the dome, his eyes closed, and his lips were moving as if he were praying. What she heard him praying stunned her.

  "If I give you my pledge, you vow Trisha will live?"

  She suddenly realized he wasn't praying. He was negotiating. With Daco. "Ull, no!" she cried out, thumping a fist against the glass, trying to get it open. “Ull!"

  Ull's eyes flew open at the muffled exclamation to see Trisha's fists pounding against the dome, her eyes pleading with his through the thinning white vapor.

  "Trisha!" Pressing his hands against hers on the glass, he hollered over his shoulder. "Zo! Get in here! Now!"

  Zo rushed back into the room, shocked to see that the female was awake. As extensively infected with the parasite as she was, he hadn't thought she ever would.

  "Open it!" Ull ordered. That snapped Zo out of his shock, and the Healer rushed to the control panel. As the vapor dissipated, the cover retreated, and Ull scooped Trisha up into his arms, holding her close. "Goddess, Trisha."

  "Don't you dare give that bastard your pledge!" she ordered as her arms wrapped around him.

  "What?" Ull lifted his head, taking in her now glowing skin and bright pain-free eyes.

  "Don't you pledge yourself to Daco. Ever. Especially not because of me. Daco lies. You know this because you are a fit and worthy warrior." Stretching up, she kissed him. She'd nearly died. If Ull hadn't returned when he had, if he hadn't had a deep repair unit, she would have. She knew it in her soul. So, she wasn't going to hold back her thoughts and feelings from Ull any longer. If they couldn't work it out, she'd have to deal with it during the long life the Goddess had said she would have, but Trisha was going to do everything she could for that long life to include Ull. Breaking off the kiss, she told him what was in her heart. "I love you, Ull, with all my heart, even though you are abrupt, arrogant, and aggressive sometimes. Which by the way I happen to like when we're alone.”

  Ull's eyes searched hers and found only truth in them. Trisha loved him. Even with all his failings, she loved and accepted him. Never had a lowly Tornian warrior been so blessed by the Goddess.

  'You have been, Warrior Ull. Don't squander what I have gifted you.' The loving, melodic voice of the Goddess made Ull realize just how insidious and dark Daco's had been. He'd never mistake it for his own again. 'Make sure you don't. You have found the one created just for you. Love her. Cherish her. Sacrifice for her, for when you do, you will find you sacrificed nothing that
truly mattered.'

  "I am yours, my Trisha. I will love you every day to the best of my ability. And when the day comes that the Goddess calls me to enter the Promised Land, I will fight to remain at your side." With that vow, Ull recaptured her lips to show her just how much.

  Trisha started to sink into the kiss when the clearing of a throat jerked her lips away from Ull's. Standing a short distance away from them was a blue Tornian, who was avidly watching them.

  Ull growled his displeasure at the interruption. "What do you want, Healer Zo?"

  "Warrior Ull, I understand wanting to be alone with your female, but first, I need to verify the eradication of the Karkata parasite.”

  “You believe she could still be infected?" Ull's arms tightened around her.

  "The readout says she isn't, but since I opened the repair unit before it had completely shut down, I'd like to verify it."

  "What does that entail?" Trish asked, looking back and forth between the Healer and Ull.

  "You would need to be placed on the diagnosis bed." He gestured to the room behind him. "It will scan you and tell me if you need more time in the deep repair unit."

  "It is similar to the beds Dr. Monroe used to assess your people after using the educator," Ull told her quietly.

  "And you think I should use it?"

  "Yes," Ull said as he carried her out of the room. "Because I never want you to become that ill again, and we need to verify that deep repair units can cure cancer that has consumed so many of your people."

  "Oh, my God!" Trisha's mind raced as Ull laid her down. She hadn't had time to process her being 'cured' beyond how it affected her and Ull. Her conversation with the Goddess of how those who used deep repair units suffered from no diseases floated threw her mind. "Do you know what that would mean to the people of Earth?"

  "It would ease a great deal of suffering." Ull ran a gentle knuckle along her cheek. "For those infected and those that love them."

  "Yes." Her eyes filled at Ull's understanding of how much she still missed her mamá and how watching her die had affected her.

  Zo had been silently moving around the couple as they spoke, checking the readings from the bed while avidly listening to them. He'd never heard a male and female converse before. Yes, he'd seen the recordings of the Joining Ceremony that had forever altered their Empire, but that wasn't this. Here were a single male and female speaking to each other intimately and with great respect. The way warriors did.

  "The unit has repaired all the damage caused by the Karkata parasite, and her readings are normal. The parasite is gone." He suddenly found his gaze captured by a pair of stunning blue eyes.

  "You're sure?" Trisha asked.

  "Zo," Ull growled, not liking the way the other male stared at his Trisha.

  "What?" Zo ripped his gaze from Trisha's to find an angry warrior glaring at him. "Oh. Right. Yes," his gaze returned to Trisha then quickly looked away, "I'm sure. You are completely healthy, although it will take some time for you to return to your optimal weight."

  "Then, I can take her to my quarters?" Ull demanded.

  "I see no reason why you couldn't, but she needs rest and to eat." But Zo was already talking to Ull's back as he was already carrying Trisha out of the room.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Warriors quickly moved out of Ull's way while openly staring at the female he carried. Who was she, and why was Warrior Ull so protective of her? Could he have claimed a female when they'd been told that wasn't allowed?

  Ull pulled Trisha closer ignoring the looks they were receiving. He could almost hear their thoughts and allegations, but now wasn't the time to address them. His Trisha had been through a harrowing ordeal. She needed rest, and he was going to see she got it.

  Entering his quarters that were very different than the ones she'd had on the Searcher, he carefully placed her in the center of his bed along the wall but didn't join her.

  "I'm fine, Ull." She slid over on the bed, patting the space she'd made.

  "Now," Ull growled, reaching into his vest to pull out and shake the bottle she'd forgotten. "But you weren't. You were taking these, and you didn't tell me. You didn't tell your tío!"

  "Because neither of you could have done anything about it!" she yelled, rising on her knees. "So why should I tell anyone when all it would cause is hurt and despair?"

  "And you think your tío isn't despairing now? That he isn't blaming himself?"

  That had her sinking onto her heels to whisper, "He knows?"

  "Of course, he knows. He was there when you collapsed."

  "I collapsed?" She frowned, trying to remember, but it was all a blur.

  "On the landing pad." His voice gentled as he saw she didn't remember.

  "And he let you bring me here?" She couldn't believe her tío would have allowed that.

  "I didn't give him any choice once your Healer said there was nothing he could do except ease your pain."

  "Tío Aaron must have been devastated." She remembered how deeply it had affected him when her mamá had chosen not to continue treatment.

  "He was, which is the only reason he agreed to let you go on the chance that our deep repair unit could help you." Ull's chin dropped for a moment before he lifted it to meet her gaze again. "He is a better male than I, for I know I couldn't have done that."

  Trisha crawled her way to the edge of the bed, then reaching up, cupped his cheeks, pulling his forehead down until it met hers. "Yes, you would have. You would have put my needs first, no matter what it cost you because you love me. Just as I love you."

  "Goddess, Trisha!" Ull dropped to his knees, burying his face in her neck, his arms wrapping around her as he finally gave in to all the emotion he'd been ruthlessly holding in check as he'd waited to see if she would survive.

  Trisha's arms wrapped around his shaking shoulders. "It's alright, Ull," she soothed. "I'm here, and I'm fine. Thanks to you."

  It took several minutes before Ull lifted his wet face. "Never leave me, Trisha, vow it. I couldn't survive it."

  "I won't, Ull." Taking a deep breath, she reached a decision that she knew would affect more than just her, but after nearly dying, Trisha realized nothing was more important than what she was gifted. Ull's love. "My vow. Where you go, I will go."

  "What?" Ull looked at her in shock. "What are you saying?"

  "I'm saying that you are the first male of a Lord. Your place isn't on Earth, so then neither is mine."

  "You would do that? Leave your people and all you can do for them to go to Betelgeuse with me?"

  "That is your place, so it is mine." Before Ull could respond, his comm began to ring.

  "What?" he demanded, ripping it from his belt.

  "She's gone?" The grief-stricken voice on the other end had Trisha grabbing the comm from Ull.

  "No! I'm here, Tío! I'm fine!"

  "Trishy?"

  "Yes, it's me. The Tornian healer just finished scanning me. We didn't want to contact you until it was confirmed." She looked to Ull, and he nodded he would agree to that story. Neither wanted to admit they'd gotten so involved in each other that they'd forgotten to contact her tío.

  "And?"

  "Cured," she told him, smiling at Ull.

  "So, you're in remission?"

  "No, you don't understand, Tío, I'm cured. According to the Tornian healer, I was infected with what they know as the Karkata parasite. It’s something they've been able to eliminate from the Known Universes with their deep repair units."

  "Is that the same as the unit Ull used on our injured soldiers?"

  "No." Ull took over the conversation. "Those are only for physical injuries. Deep repair units are larger, more powerful units, that clear a body of any impurities and parasites that keep it from operating at its optimal level. And yes, now that we know how drastically they can help the people of Earth, I will be immediately contacting the Emperor to get more sent here."

  "Could the portable units possibly help people until the larger unit
s get here?" Trisha asked, looking to Ull.

  "I don't know. We'd have to discuss it with Healer Zo."

  "Whatever you can do, Ull, would be greatly appreciated. People are suffering all over the world."

  "Trisha has expressed this to me before." Ull looked to Trisha, and while he wanted to keep her to himself, he also knew that while her tío wasn't saying it, he was desperate to see his niece. "We will be returning to Earth shortly. I know your Dr. Monroe will want to examine Trisha to confirm this for your people, but she needs to eat and rest first."

  "I'll inform Dr. Monroe and have a meal sent to her rooms. I'll meet you at the landing pad."

  "I'll see you in a little while, Tío. I love you."

  "I love you too, Trishy." With that, Ull took the comm from her and disconnected the call.

  Stretching up, she gently kissed Ull's lips. "Thank you for this. I know you would prefer I stayed here."

  "He is your family, which makes him my family. We don't allow family to suffer when we can prevent it."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "What?" Monroe looked at the President in disbelief. When the man had entered the room, he'd thought it had been to inform him Trisha had passed on. It was the only outcome he could imagine after how ravaged her body had been.

  "Trisha is cured. The Tornians deep repair unit was able to eradicate the parasite."

  "Wait. What parasite?"

  "According to Trisha, what we call cancer, the Tornians know as some parasite. I can't remember the name. They will be returning shortly. I know you are going to want to examine her, but Ull says she needs to eat and rest first. I just came here to let you know."

  "I need blood," Monroe demanded.

  "What?"

  "I want to come with you and at least draw some blood. Trisha can eat and rest while I analyze it to confirm the diagnosis and compare it to her medical history."

  "That will be up to Trisha. If she says wait, you will wait."

  "Understood."

  With that, both men headed for the landing pad.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Tío Aaron," Trisha rushed down the ramp into his waiting arms.