by Jaylee Davis
The male brandished a large dagger of some kind. Pam didn’t see where he’d kept it hidden, but to her it resembled Kord’s blades. Was it possible to make a knife from a warrior’s arm weapon? The very idea sickened her, and Dillen’s gloating made it worse.
“When I’m done, it’ll look like Kord went into a rage and killed all of you, including his mate. Afterward, the humans won’t trust us or the warriors. They’ll reject their proposal. It’s best this way.”
“Put the blade away. There’s no need to kill anyone. Settle down and let’s talk about this. I always thought the reformers agreed with the council and the enforcers on this issue.” She guessed Morshant was stalling.
Dillen’s cold answering laugh renewed Pam’s determination. The man was scary nuts! She strained to reach inside the pocket. Her nails scraped at the edge of the gun’s metal casing. Her shoulder felt as though it was about to slip out of the socket. She grabbed Kord’s neck with her left hand and pulled while she quietly squirmed to free her upper body by a few inches. She wrapped her fingers around the weapon.
Once she had it, she took another look at the men. The pilot had backed Morshant against the side bulkhead. Although the lieutenant hadn’t stopped talking, his attacker didn’t seem to notice. She estimated they were separated by about five feet, and Dillen’s body was slightly turned away from her. Perfect. He couldn’t see her.
Pam slid the gun out of her pocket. She took a quick glance at it to make sure her finger was poised above the correct button before she took aim. She concentrated so hard on holding the weapon steady she barely noticed the sound of the earsplitting discharge as she fired. Dillen fell to the deck.
“Enough!” Morshant yelled as he dove to the side. “Stop firing. He’s down!”
Pam dropped the gun, and shouted, “Help me!”
* * * *
Kord woke to the sound of his mate’s voice calling his name. He opened his eyes and saw her face above him. She seemed worried. He tried to touch her face and realized he couldn’t move. Memory returned in a flash. Instinct urged him to attack Dillen and rip him apart, but all he could do was blink.
“Don’t worry. Everything’s okay,” she said. “Morshant says you’ll be able to move in a few minutes. Just stay calm. We’re almost at the Alliance ship. I stunned the pilot, and he’s in shackles. Thoren is still out, but he’s not hurt. Relax. I’m right here.”
He tried to do as she said, despite the fact he wanted to know more than what she’d told him. He swallowed and was relieved to feel his tongue move. It was a sure sign he’d recover very soon. After all, this wasn’t the first time he’d ever been stunned.
“The other pilot is dead. We’re pretty sure Dillen killed him before he attacked us. Can you talk to me? Say something?”
“Lovely,” Kord said. He smiled at her surprised reaction.
She frowned, then shook him. The slight movement made him aware of his surroundings. He was flat on his back, and she had his head propped in her lap while she sat on the deck. Just as he expected, feeling returned to his body in a rush.
He quickly sat, turned to her and took in a deep breath. “You were frightened,” he said.
“Of course! I was scared spit less! That crazy pilot shot Thoren, then you. You fell on top me. I could barely breathe. He was gonna kill all of us until I shot him.”
Kord grabbed her and held her close. Failure to protect his mate gnawed at him. He’d almost lost her.
“I should’ve been the one to save you, not the other way around,” he said and glared at the unconscious pilot. “I should kill him.”
“No! Please don’t,” his mate pleaded.
She clung to him as he shifted her onto his lap. Suddenly, she leaned away and lifted her hands to his cheeks. She gently cradled his face between her soft palms and brought her mouth close. At first, her lips brushed his in a soft kiss. In an instant, it turned heated.
A definite throat clearing sound cooled their passion. Morshant stood in the cockpit’s open doorway.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes. It’s time to strap in. I can buckle Dillen into a seat, but I’ll need some help with Thoren.”
Kord nodded and rose. Once Pam was secured, he and Morshant dragged Thoren into a seat and then buckled the restraint. Afterward, he settled down next to her and fastened the safety straps.
On his way back to the cockpit, Morshant said, “I’ve recorded a report if you want to review it. Captain Bane is the only other person who’s seen it, and he wants us to pretend this never happened. As soon as Thoren and I return to the Defiance, Dillen will be placed in an interrogation unit in medical. Right now, the captain is turning the ship inside out looking for other reformers. I’m not sure what he’ll do next, but he thinks it’s best if you stay somewhere else with your mate now that we know someone wants to kill her.”
“Agreed. I’ll view the report before we land,” Kord said. “I’m grateful for your help.”
Morshant tilted his head and smiled. “My oldest brother is a warrior. He’s on Pella. I hope he finds a mate as bold as yours,” he said before closing the door.
“I’d like to see that report too,” Thoren said with a harsh growl. His recovering partner squirmed in his seat while straightening the hastily fastened restraints. He rubbed his stomach, and complained, “Gacking stunners.”
Kord laughed along with Pam. “Good to have you back, brother.”
Thoren let out an irritated snort.
* * * *
Once their shuttle was secured in the space cruiser’s landing bay, Morshant motioned for them to come forward. Kord went to stand shoulder to shoulder with Thoren as the door opened, allowing bright light to stream into the opening. Pam squinted, but until the two warriors decided to move, she couldn’t see anything. However, the authoritative masculine voice that greeted them sounded quite sincere, at least to her.
“I’m Commander Tram, captain of the Alliance star cruiser, Seeker. Welcome aboard.”
Morshant had to force his way between the two warriors to respond to the greeting. “We’re honored, commander. The human female is with us. She’s anxious to be reunited with her family.”
As planned, the warriors stepped apart so she could move between them. As she did, Kord took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Her first look at the landing bay was just as overwhelming in magnitude as it’d been when she’d seen the one on the Defiance. It took a moment to take it all in. Once Pam saw the occupants, she wanted to flee back into the shuttle. The aliens were, well, alien, and they stared at her. Several carried weapons, all of which were aimed toward their shuttle.
One male came within a few feet of the very bottom of the shuttle’s ramp. He looked like a gray tabby cat that had turned into a large human form. His golden feline gaze settled on her. There were others of different species, but Pam didn’t have time to study all of them.
“Welcome, Pamela Buchanan. I’m Commander Tram.” He motioned for another alien like himself to join him. “This is Misha, ship’s chief medical officer, and my mate. She’ll make sure you’re comfortable during your short stay on the ship. If you’ll come with us, the Tauran shuttle can be cleared for departure.”
Pam took a deep breath, steeled her nerves, and announced, “Thank you, commander. I appreciate your hospitality, but I must insist that my mate accompany me.”
Audible gasps traveled through the small crowd gathered a few yards away from the ramp. Tram’s gaze zeroed in on hers and Kord’s clasped hands. His eyes narrowed.
“This is unexpected,” he said. “Will he be staying?”
Pam forced a smile. Things were about to get extremely complicated. “Yes.”
“I see,” Tram said and leaned down slightly to confer with his mate, who’d been tugging insistently on his sleeve. After a few seconds, he straightened and looked at Kord. “You wish to remain with her here?”
“I go with her,” Kord stated.
“Our treaty doesn’t cov
er this situation. Taurans have never been allowed on our ships or to stay within our borders or on any of the planets we protect. However, as I’ve been informed, an Alliance ambassador has the authority to grant temporary asylum to any refugee. Is this what you request?”
“No!” Pam broke in. “My mate isn’t a refugee, and he doesn’t require asylum. He’s my husband. Therefore, he’s a legal citizen of Earth with all the rights and privileges. I demand you treat him as such.”
“She’s my wife. We’re married,” Kord said, right on cue.
Tram’s mouth dropped open, revealing a mouthful of very feline teeth. The room became so silent Pam could easily hear her own frantic heartbeat.
“What in the name of hell is going on?”
The all too familiar voice shattered the silence. Pam cringed.
It was her father. He charged toward the shuttle with her mother right behind him. Although she would’ve preferred to have the next conversation in private, on Earth, Pam wasn’t too surprised. Certainly the chairman for the NWG’s bureau of alien affairs would be allowed onto an Alliance ship to greet his daughter if she’d been kidnapped and then rescued. She’d like to see them try to stop him. Apparently, they couldn’t.
Her parents halted at the bottom of the ramp. Her mother’s expression was one of relief and joy. The tears were a dead giveaway. Her father looked as if he wanted to rush up and drag her away.
“Pamela Buchanan, you get down here at once. Your mother has been out of her mind with worry. What’s this nonsense about you being married to…” Her father’s well-practiced political demeanor reasserted itself. ”This man?”
Before she could stop him, Kord stomped forward. He growled, and said, “Don’t talk to my mate in such a manner!”
Her parents shuffled backward.
“It’s okay,” Pam said as she tugged hard on Kord’s hand. Her way overprotective mate was about to make an already difficult situation more complicated. Thankfully, he returned to her side. “Mom, Dad, Kord is my husband, by Tauran and human law.” She jabbed her elbow into her mate’s side.
“Pam is my wife. We’re legally married and mated,” he said, then whispered to her. “Did I say the correct words?”
“Yes. Now hush.”
For a few seconds, her father stared at her as if he thought she’d lost her mind before he turned away to confer quietly with her mother and Tram. After several tense moments, he approached the ramp once more.
“This is it,” she whispered to Kord.
“You realize the full impact of what you’re doing?” her father asked.
“Yes, I do,” she stated firmly.
His expression hardened as he took in her defiant stance. Pam didn’t waver. Finally, he let out an exasperated sigh.
“Pamela, the situation between Earth and the Alliance is fragile. Our people are frightened. They can’t take any more surprises. News about another alien empire whose battleship is orbiting our planet might push them over the edge and we’d have worldwide panic again. Remember the asteroid? This would be just as bad, if not worse.”
“I understand, but Kord’s people are here to help too.”
“They have a different agenda, one your world might deem objectionable,” Tram interjected.
“I think that’s for the women of my world to decide,” Pam countered, then added, “when the time comes.”
Tram gave a small nod of agreement.
“I know all about it, Pam,” her father said. “Only a handful of upper echelon government officials know about the Taurans. Their involvement is deemed so top secret it’s not spoken of—ever.”
“I’m not asking you to give away any secrets. All we want is what’s rightfully ours, to live together on Earth, if possible.” She took a few steps down the ramp. “Maybe somewhere in Texas?”
Pam could barely breathe. Her father’s stern attitude was unsettling. Her plan hinged on what he was willing to do for her. How far would he stretch his power?
He stared at her, his expression barely readable, but she could tell he was thinking. When it came to challenging problems, her father always seemed to have a way of pulling the “solution rabbit” out of the hat at just the right moment. This time, she’d given him the rabbit. Would he go for it? At the moment, she wasn’t ready to place a bet either way.
“You’re hounded by reporters all the time,” he finally said, then looked at Kord and shook his head. “How do you plan to keep him a secret? Look at him, for god’s sake. He’ll stand out. No one will believe he’s…” He paused in mid-objection and his lips curled into the sly grin she loved so much. His gaze shifted to her. “We don’t have to pass him off as human.”
He knew what she wanted, and apparently, he’d thought of a way to make it happen. She sighed in relief.
“Texas?” He ran a hand through his perfectly groomed dark hair. “There might be a place.” He turned to her mother. “What do you think, dear? It’s your land.”
She clasped her hands excitedly. “Oh yes. That’s an excellent idea. It’s been ages since we’ve spent any time at the ranch.”
Her father nodded, but he grew serious once again. He turned to Tram. “This will be tricky. We must avoid an incident. As far as the general population knows, only ambassadors are allowed on Earth along with a few advisors who are stationed at NASA.”
The very tip of the commander’s tail flicked back and forth and his ears flatten against his head as he and her father lowered their voices to speak privately. After a few tense moments, they stopped talking. Tram’s smile almost matched her father’s when his cat-like gaze slowly lifted to Kord.
“We have a solution that will work for all concerned.” He lifted his hand and motioned to Kord. “I believe the Alliance’s newest goodwill ambassador should be allowed to stay on your planet for as long as necessary. In fact, I insist.”
Pam wanted to jump for joy. Instead, she settled for a hand squeeze from Kord, who didn’t seem to actually realize he’d been given a promotion.
“Pamela Buchanan,” her mother’s stern, no-nonsense voice interrupted their celebration. “Bring that husband of yours down here right this instant and introduce him properly. Hurry now! We have a million things to do, and those fellas who brought ya’ll need to get back to their own ship.”
Kord did a double take between her and her mother. “She has your hair color and attitude.” A lopsided grin spread across his handsome face. “I like her.” His smile vanished. “Your father will take more effort.”
Pam grinned. “I love you, and they will too.” She lowered her voice. “I can’t say I’ll ever be willing to go to Pella with you, but I can promise I’ll think about it.”
“You’re my life mate. Wherever you are is home for me.”
She hugged him, and whispered, “I hope they give us a private room real soon. If we can find some of those sleeves, I’ve got a big surprise for you.”
His sexy growl assured her he had no objections.
The End
About the Author
In her early teens, if Jaylee wasn’t perched in front of the TV watching a sci-fi show she was in her bedroom reading a sci-fi novel. It wasn’t until she discovered her mother’s secret stash of romance books squirreled away at the back of a closet that her interests took an abrupt turn.
Jaylee is a retired RN and has been married to her own wonderful alpha for several years. They live on the Gulf Coast in southern Texas. When the youngest of three children left the nest a couple years ago, she decided to follow her dreams and write full time. Thankfully, her cast of characters never gave up on her. They remain stuck in her head, waiting for her to write their stories. They’re an impatient group.
www.jayleedavis.com
Also by Jaylee Davis
Training the Warrior
Lord of Capra
Defenders of Capra
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