by Marly Chance
Kate appeared in the doorway. Her face was white, and her body was unnaturally rigid. She said tonelessly, “We need to go back now. I’m ready. Take me back.”
Tair moved to her and placed a gentle arm around her shoulders. He said, “Kate, they are working on him. There is still hope.”
She raised lifeless eyes to his and said, “I want to see him now.”
Tair said gently, “Okay, then we will go.”
Jadik said suddenly, “Tair, what if...”
Tair silenced him with a single look.
Understanding washed through Jadik, and he said quietly, “Let’s go.”
Chapter 15
Kate was wrapped and existing in a world of childhood memory. She was conscious of the two men by her side during the trip back to Earth, but she fought to keep the reality of their presence from her mind. She was with Gage, instead, in the past.
Gage was tugging her ponytail, teasing her. His teenaged body was lanky and he was all arms and legs. His blue eyes were lit with laughter as he chided, “Kit-Kate, you don’t know the first thing about men.”
She turned all of her teenage indignation in his direction. With a furious glare, she said, “He’s wonderful. A total landmark.”
Gage raised a skeptical eyebrow and mocked, “Landmark?”
She gave a derisive sniff at his usual and deliberate ignorance of teenage slang. He thought he was too old for it. He was a “man” now. “Yes, landmark – well-built and worth studying.”
She gave him an impish smile, “The kind of sight that makes you want to come again and again.”
Gage gave her a disgusted glare. She said haughtily, “What do you know? You’re not a man. You’re a toad.”
Then, Gage sitting next to her on the steps of the old house, the two of them silent in the eerie moonlight. He was saying quietly, “Kate, he’s not worth it. Not worth one of your tears. I’ll kill him and be done with it. Just say the word.”
Turning to look at him, her young heart broken, but soothed by his words, she said, “Thanks, Gage, but I think we have to let him live.”
She wiped the tears from her face, and sniffed, straightening her shoulders. Then she smiled with sudden weak humor. “But that doesn’t mean he has to live happily. I have a plan…”
In the living room, late at night, the two of them were talking. Gage, his eyes sad and wistful, his face pale and looking grim, saying, “Kate, I hate it. It’s not a gift but a curse.”
The comfortable feel of her brother as she wrapped her arms around his body and held him tight. The warmth as his arms came around her and he wept silent, bitter tears. Feeling tears of her own slide hot and wet from her eyes at his pain.
The memories flooded her mind. Each more precious than the next. The two of them laughing, fighting, and teasing in an endless kaleidoscope of love. Her brother, Gage. Gage.
Tair spoke next to her ear, “Kate, we are here.”
Kate knew she had to respond. His voice was insistent and worried. She looked around and realized with shock that they were at the health building. Suddenly noticing the bright lights and the bustling activity, she demanded, “Where is he?”
Tair left out a breath of relief. She was responding. Her withdrawal had terrified him. She had allowed him and Jadik to take her back with total docility.
At the Pactbuilding, she had remained standing, completely silent as he briefly left her with Jadik to talk with Pactofficials. Even going through the portal, she had barely blinked. It was killing him. He couldn’t stand to see her this way.
Kate saw Sharon coming down the corridor toward them. When Sharon spotted her, she stopped dead and then came running forward. Wrapping her arms around Kate, she said desperately next to her ear, “They’ve gotten him back and lost him twice. It will be a while before we know for sure. Kate, he can’t die.”
Kate pulled back and saw tears flooding down Sharon’s cheeks. In a quiet tone, Kate said, “Sharon, please don’t cry. I can’t handle it.”
Sharon studied her face silently. Bringing her hands up to swipe the tears off her cheeks, she said, “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re right. He’ll be just fine. Crying won’t help.”
That wasn’t what Kate meant, but she couldn’t stand the sight of those tears on Sharon’s cheeks. They threatened to pull her from the safety of her numbness and drag her into a world where feeling existed.
Liken strode down the corridor with two coffees in his hand. Handing one to Sharon and the other to Kate, he ordered firmly, “Drink.”
Kate drank, barely aware of the hot liquid as it made its way down her throat. Liken flashed a worried look to Tair in silent question. Tair shook his head and wrapped an arm around Kate.
Pulling her gently, he led her over to a group of chairs. He guided her into one and sat down next to her, keeping her close within the circle of his arms. She felt so small against him. He forgot sometimes with that huge spirit just how small she really was.
Kate heard Sharon explaining the details of the accident to everyone. Gage had swerved to avoid another transport and struck a wall. His quick reflexes had saved the lives of the family in the other vehicle. The shaken father, whose attention had been preoccupied with one of the children in the back, had been overwhelmed and guilt-stricken at the accident.
The health center had tried to reach Kate, but upon finding out she was off-planet, had contacted Sharon next. In a strange twist, without Shimerian technology, he would not have survived even this long.
A health engineer stepped out from one of the rooms and made his way to them. Looking at the solemn group gathered, he asked, “Which one of you is Kate?”
Kate heard the words and responded to her name instinctively. She looked up and said, “Me.”
He smiled kindly and said gently, “Your brother is quite a fighter. We lost him repeatedly, but he kept coming back. We have him stabilized and in a room now. We’ll need to keep him for a while, but he should be fine in the long run.”
As the health engineer kept talking, Kate heard the words, but couldn’t understand the meanings. She knew at some level he was detailing Gage’s injuries and what had been done to save him. But, the phrase that kept echoing through her mind was, “He should be fine.”
She said suddenly, “I need to see him. Where is he?”
The health engineer looked surprised at her fierce tone, but responded kindly, “Room 1207. You may see him, but only for a minute. He’s been asking for you.”
Turning to the rest of the group, he said, “Sorry, but only one visitor for now.”
Sharon was crying again, wrapped in a grinning Liken’s arms. Tair wrapped his arms around Kate from behind and gave her a hard squeeze. Everyone was grinning in relief except Kate. Kate wanted to see her brother and she wanted to see him now.
Breaking out of Tair’s arms and away from the group, she walked down the hallway, reading the numbers on the rooms as she went. Reaching Room 1207 she opened the door, and walked in silently.
She stopped abruptly as she saw the bed and all the equipment around it. Seeing Gage lying on it looking pale and still, she said his name in a broken voice, “Gage.”
He turned his head and opened weary blue eyes. Smiling wanly, he said in a very shaky voice, “Died young and lived to tell the tale… How about that, Kit-Kate?”
Kate felt the world spin and grabbed the wall for support. Finally, raising her head, she said fiercely, “Don’t you ever do that again! You and your stupid visions! You scared me to death!”
Rushing over to the bed, she knelt down and grabbed his hand. She kissed it and placed her forehead against it, silently giving thanks. The living warmth of his hand seeped into her own cold hand as she gave up trying to speak anymore.
Gage grimaced in pain as felt his sister clinging to his hand like a lifeline. He had died tonight. He had fought it and lost and come back to fight again. The sheer miracle of it ran through his veins like a drug. He had known his entire life that he would die young.
And he had.
The nightmarish crash flashed through his mind again with remarkable clarity. The overwhelming pain and sense of coldness spreading through his body. The absolute feeling of certainty that he was dying. The fierce look on the emergency transport worker’s face as he said, “We’re losing him!” It was exactly as he had seen in his dreams and visions.
Now, as new possibilities stretched out before him, he felt a sense of awe and gratitude at the thought of a second chance. Feeling Kate’s cold hand holding his tightly, he gave silent thanks once again.
Kate pulled back and said, “I love you, Gage.”
He managed a rather weak grin and said, “Love you, too.”
The health engineer walked in and said mock sternly, “You scared this poor young woman to death. It may take a long while to make it up to her.”
Gage promised softly, “I plan to. I have time now.” Placing his hand over hers on the bed, he said, “Plenty of time.”
Chapter 16
Jadik was walking through the corridors of the health building, anxious to leave. It had been quite a day. He was grateful that everyone was fine, but the emotion of the events had shaken him.
He was a loner. He had friends, like Tair and Liken and even a few others, but he was used to staying on the edges of other people’ lives. The feelings of worry and helplessness were new to him. That feeling of family was surprising as well. His own family was…he banished the thought.
It was all very confusing. With a mental shrug, he decided this pactmate business was complicated. When he found his own pactmate, he would proceed with care. In the meantime, he needed a new mission to distract him. Something that would be challenging and consuming.
He felt a slight, delicate touch mentally, like a gentle sad caress. Suddenly, realizing what was happening, he threw up a mental shield and glanced around. It had been close.
Scanning the people around him, he could read nothing out of the ordinary. Something was not right. He focused and sent out a much stronger probe. Immediately, he reached her mind. A name and a face popped into his head. An instant sense of recognition and rightness followed. The shock was so great that he froze in absolute disbelief.
Focusing harder, he reached out and brushed her mind again. When he felt a shield go up, he withdrew immediately, but it was enough. Turning on his heel, he walked back the way he had come until he reached a small waiting room. He stood in the doorway as his heart raced in his chest. He had found her. At last.
She was seated on a chair. Her head was bent down as she gazed at the floor. She had beautiful, wavy, golden-red hair down to her shoulders. At the moment, it was falling forward over her face, revealing the slender curve of her neck. She was incredibly petite, maybe 5”3’ with a slender body that looked graceful and fragile. Sensing his presence, her head came up with a snap.
He knew that face and felt his breath catch in his throat. Her delicate features were covered with golden freckles. She had big brown eyes, which were presently brimming with tears. Jadik felt his chest tighten in response.
Her full mouth was drawn into a frown, which grew worse as she studied him silently. Finally, she said simply, “Jadik.”
Just hearing his name in that husky voice, he felt the fierce tug of arousal. She was beautiful, and sweetly sexy, and he had found her. He walked forward and squatted in front of her so that they were face-to-face. In his most gentle voice, he said, “Hello, Cass.”
Those big eyes widened slightly at his use of her nickname, but she blinked back her tears and said firmly, “Don’t do it.”
Startled, he asked, “What should I not do?”
She said solemnly, “Call me to Oath. I don’t want a pactmate or a pledgemate. I’m human and I’m staying on Earth.”
Jadik raised an eyebrow. She was confusing him. He needed to proceed with care. “You are only half-human. You are half-Shimerian, too.”
Cass was trying to control her reaction. She couldn’t believe he was here. She had been so careful for so many years. Confronted with his big body so close to her own, she felt the pull of their attraction with a sinking heart.
If she hadn’t been so upset, he never would have located her. She cursed inwardly and tried to think. “Yes, my father is Shimerian and my mother is human. I was raised on Shimeria, but since I’m half-human I have been able to adapt. I’m not going back. I’m staying here.”
Jadik said carefully, “You are on the register. It is required of all dual planet females.”
She nodded resentfully and said fiercely, ‘Of course. That means it’s up to you to walk away. Don’t summon me, Jadik. I mean what I say. I won’t stay in Shimeria. I won’t be your pledgemate. You’ll regret it if you call me to Oath.”
Jadik felt a smile tug at his lips. She sounded so fierce. It was rather humorous coming from such a small, delicate creature. He wondered if she really thought she could intimidate him.
Giving in to his amusement at her threat, he grinned at her. “Cass, I will call you soon. There is no need for this discussion. We will be happy together on Shimeria. You worry needlessly.”
He stood and held out his hand. He thought he saw a brief flash of rebellion cross her face. He was somewhat surprised when she took it. Her small hand was soft and cold. She stood and took a sudden step forward, bringing her small body against his.
In an instant, his cock leapt to life. He was hard and throbbing. He looked down into her big brown eyes and felt a drowning sensation. He watched as she moistened her lips with a nervous tongue.
Giving in to temptation, he bent down and brushed his lips over hers. She responded immediately. He dipped his tongue along the seam of her mouth.
She opened her lips, and he thrust his tongue inward to explore. With a groan, he plundered and reveled in the taste and feel of her. When he felt her leg come up and wrap around the outside of his leg, he thought she was trying to get closer. It was a mistake that cost him dearly.
Cass swept the back of Jadik’s knee with her foot in one quick decisive motion, while pushing hard with her hands against his chest. He was caught completely off guard, just as she had planned.
He reached out instinctively, but she stepped back just in time. He went down, arms flailing wildly, and landed awkwardly on his butt on the floor with an incredibly loud thump.
Stepping around and looking down at him, she said flatly, “Call me to Oath and I’ll run. You won’t find me. I’m good. I have my own Shimerian abilities. And as you can tell, I’m a lot meaner than I look.”
She viewed his total astonishment with a great deal of pleasure and said smugly, “While you nurse that sore ass, I suggest you re-think your future. Mine’s already set. And you’re not a part of it.” She walked toward the doorway of the room, immensely pleased with her exit line.
As she reached the doorway, he said from the floor, “Cass?”
She paused and looked back, arching an eyebrow in question.
Jadik grinned widely. “I will see you soon.”
He was impossible. Cass rolled her eyes and said tartly, “Not if I see you first.”
And she was gone. Jadik threw back his head and roared with laughter. She was indeed much meaner than she looked. Standing up with a wince, he rubbed his aching butt. She was surprising, but then again, he had a few surprises of his own. As he walked out of the door, he muttered, “We will see who re-thinks the future.” Capturing Cass had become his new mission.
Chapter 17
Tair stared out the window of Kate’s apartment, waiting for her to emerge from her bathroom. She had barely spoken, even after seeing her brother. The health engineer had escorted her from the room and explained that Gage would be fine. He needed to rest and to heal. The best thing Kate could do for him was to go home and visit the next night.
Liken and Sharon had dropped them at Kate’s apartment, looking at Kate with worried faces and sending significant looks Tair’s way. He knew what he had to do. He had to break through Kate’s defensive shell
. He knew what it would cost for both of them as well. He waited in dread and stared with unseeing eyes, listening for the sound of her footsteps.
Kate felt numb. The fog seemed to have lifted, but she had no sense of emotion at all. She felt completely removed from herself. Her apartment felt strange…and alien.
She had walked in and headed straight for the shower. She had stood silently under it, wondering if she would cry, but she hadn’t. Feeling the water on her body, she noticed it felt strangely wet and thin. Nothing felt right. And she felt nothing.
She put on her clothes with mechanical movements before realizing she had put on her sandals, too. She didn’t need to wear shoes in her apartment. Uncaring and not having the energy to remove them, she left them on and wandered out into the living room. Tair was by the window looking out. When he turned to face her, he looked grim.
He said firmly, “Kate, you cannot continue this way.”
Kate felt a lump in her throat, but swallowed and said quickly, “I’m fine. I think I’ll take a walk.”
Tair walked until he stood directly in front of her. Staring at her with hard eyes, he said, “No.”
She asked dully, “Why not?”
He placed both hands on her shoulders and said, “You will cease this running immediately. Kate Carson is not a coward.”
She felt the first stirrings of surprise. She denied, “I’m not a coward. I’m going for a walk.”
Tightening his grip, he said, “You are doing anything to avoid dealing with what has happened tonight. I will not allow it.”
Kate tried to pull away, but he held firm. She said, “Gage is fine. I’m fine. There’s nothing to deal with.”
Tair challenged, “Then you do not need to walk, do you?”
When she pulled back this time, he let her go. She turned her back to him.
He said conversationally, “You never talk about your parents.”
Kate spun around and said coldly, “I have no parents.”
Tair gave her a half-smile. He said, “I do not believe that you were hatched.”
