by Judy Mays
Char looked into Brianna’s tear-filled eyes and felt his anger and resistance drain away. Taking her hand, he turned it over and brought her wounded palm to his lips. With a groan he swept her into his arms. Spinning about, he strode out of the room. “Sort things out for yourselves,” he called over his shoulder. “I don’t give a damn where any of you sleep.”
“A truly remarkable woman,” Wendjas said. “Brother, taking such a woman as a sister can bring nothing but honor to our family. Now,” he continued, “does anyone know if Brianna has any sisters? My brother needs a wife.”
Denieen chuckled and patted her husband’s arm.
The pieces of the puzzle in Rodane’s head fell together. Shock filled his brain. “A matriarchy. Gattan’s a matriarchy. The men aren’t in charge. The women are.”
Grinning ruefully, Wendjas glanced at his wife. “Deni warned my parents you would come to realize this very quickly.”
Rodane chuckled. “Don’t they control all of us?”
Char kicked the door to their suite shut. Striding across the sitting room, he kicked their bedroom door open, then shut it with a well-placed thrust of his hip. Crossing the room to the bed, he deposited Brianna gently. “Never, ever, place yourself in such danger again,” he demanded in a quiet voice.
“But I wasn’t in any danger.”
His rage flamed anew. “Damn it, Brianna, they are Gattan. Sneezing at the wrong time can bring on a bloodfeud!”
“They wouldn’t have come here in the first place if they planned on a bloodfeud, not with children!” she snapped back, pushing herself up off the bed awkwardly.
Char raked his fingers through his hair. “You don’t understand…”
She fisted her hands on her hips. “I don’t understand what?”
Char glared at his wife, her anger enhancing her exotic beauty. I could not live without her. “I love you.”
Brianna was prepared for a good fight. Char’s simple statement took the wind from her sails. “What?”
His voice was still belligerent. “I love you. I couldn’t live without you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Tears in her eyes, she fell into his arms. “I love you, too.”
“I know.”
Her head snapped up, and she glared into his face.
He pulled her closer. “I was standing on the balcony when you refused Ban. You told him that you loved me then.”
“Damn it, why did you wait so long to mention it?”
He stared down at her. “I was waiting for you to tell me yourself.”
“You’re such a fool, Char.”
“I know, but it’s not a mistake I’ll make again.” His mouth descended on hers.
Chapter Fifteen
Brianna and Char were eating a late breakfast when a knock on the door interrupted them.
“Go away,” Char yelled.
“Open the damn door,” Ban bellowed. “Messengers from the Ruling Council have arrived.”
Char shoved himself away from the table and opened the door. “What do they want?”
Ban’s voice was worried. “Brianna.”
“Was it a verbal or written message?”
“Written, addressed to Alalakan don al’ Jamiros.”
Char smiled slowly. “Bakom is a fool. Instead of waiting and gathering information, he petitioned the Council for her immediate return.”
“From what your father says, that’s exactly what has happened.”
Both men turned to face Brianna who sat contentedly on her chair.
Ban frowned. “You don’t look too worried, Coz.”
Fully content for the first time since her hasty departure from Earth, now sure of Char’s love, she shrugged. “Why should I be? I have the Alalakan clan, the royal Medirian family, and now a Gattan brother. What’s more, I carry the Alalakan heir. What can Bakom possibly do to me? One wrong move, and one of you men will tear him to pieces.”
Ban only shook his head as Char grinned broadly. “Come, love, let’s go meet these messengers. I want to see the look on their faces when you confront them.”
“Me?”
“Since you first appeared on my ship, my love, you have returned our cousin Bandalardrac to us and blood-bonded us with a very powerful Gattan family. You routed Crystas and brought my brother the happiness he deserves. And you have won the hearts of my family. Bakom’s messengers stand no chance against you.”
Brianna chuckled happily. Surrounded by a loving family, unknown messengers from Bakom did not trouble her in the least. “Very well. Let’s go rout the dastards.”
Ban and Char looked at each other. Both shrugged. They were getting used to it.
Char escorted Brianna to the library where his father, mother, and grandmother waited with three strangers. After she had made herself comfortable, Jamiros said, “Char, these are Kadon don al’ Meterac, Ruling Council member and messenger, and Sasonit don al’ Huwnder and Grovanit don al’ Zoterif, Academy of Science guards. They’ve come with a signed order for you to turn over the specimen you unlawfully stole from Rodak don al’ Bakom.”
He perused the sheet of paper his father handed him. “And if I refuse?”
“You are ordered to appear in person before the ruling council two weeks from this date to defend yourself against charges of treason.”
Char cocked an eyebrow. “Treason? Isn’t that charge rather harsh?”
“Probably,” Rodane answered as he and Fionilina entered the room. “The legal team is working on it right now.” Fio sat down next to Brianna, and Rodane moved to stand behind them.
The messenger had the good grace to look embarrassed.
The two guards were far more belligerent, however. “Enough talking,” one of them ordered, “Your cooperation will lead to the charges being greatly reduced.”
“Reduced charges for what, Char?” Meri asked as she, Ademis and Bandalardrac entered the library. She settled onto the settee on the other side of Brianna.
Char shrugged nonchalantly. “Treason.”
“Oh?” Ademis said curiously. “What did you do?”
Char held out the paper. “I’m accused of stealing one of Bakom’s specimens.”
Meri turned to the guard who had spoken. “A charge of treason for the theft of a specimen. Exactly what does it look like?”
“This is not a Medirian matter,” the other guard said in a surly voice.
“Is there a problem, Alalakan?” Wendjas asked as he, Denieen and Marljas also entered the room.
All three strangers gaped at the Gattans.
Char grinned. “I’ve been charged with treason, Wendjas.”
The three men in the room did not fail to note that it was Char and not Jamiros who had been addressed as Alalakan by the Gattan.
The two guards quickly realized that there were things that either Bakom did not know or had failed to reveal. Deciding to brazen his way through the current situation, the shorter of the two guards said, “Enough. You won’t sway us with off-world contacts. This is a Drakian matter.”
“An Alalakan matter?” Marljas asked, softly, dangerously.
“Only an Alalakan matter,” the guard answered smugly.
“Very well,” Marljas answered in the same dangerous voice. He drew his shirt over his head. On his right shoulder rode a red and gold Alalakan dragon, wings and neck outstretched, flames spouting from its mouth. From beneath the dragon’s wings sprang an animal no one but Brianna had ever seen, a snarling lion, jaws agape, forelegs outstretched, slashing claws unsheathed. “I am an Alalakan.”
“Rather appropriate, don’t you think, Brianna?” Rodane whispered in her ear.
“Ummm,” Brianna answered, stifling a giggle behind her hands.
“What is this chicanery?” snarled the larger of the two guards.
Every man in the room stiffened.
The Medirians and Gattans had, with the exception of Marljas, been content to remain silent after their initial comments. The guard had barely finished spe
aking, however, before every man in the room removed his shirt to reveal his clan totem. Wendjas had no dragon, but his unsheathed claws crossed over powerful, scarred arms were just as clear a message.
“Do you question the honor of the Alalakan clan?” Char asked in a very quiet voice.
The Council messenger muttered an obscenity under his breath. What should have been a simple delivery was getting totally out of hand. “No disrespect is intended, Alalakan don al’ Chardadon. If you would please fetch the specimen, we will be on our way.”
Since all three men were council representatives, all three wore translators. All three men were shocked when Brianna spoke. “You really should stop baiting them, Char. Why don’t you introduce me?”
Her request eased the tense atmosphere. “Gentlemen, Alalakan dem al’ Brianna, my wife and carrier of the Alalakan heir.”
The messenger bowed politely. “My congratulations, Alalakan don al’ Chardadon.”
The two guards stared sullenly.
Char crossed his arms over his bare chest. “My wife is the specimen Bakom wants returned.”
“What!” the messenger exclaimed as he turned to the disgruntled guards. “Were you aware of this?”
“We were ordered to return with a humanoid woman who was to be administered the Tests of Humanity. She is from an unidentified planet. It is the right of the Academy to test her.”
“She looks very human to me,” snapped the messenger, “very pregnantly human.”
“The law states she belongs to the Academy,” the guard continued stubbornly.
The messenger hauled himself around to face the guards and snapped, “She’s pregnant. No one has the right to touch her.”
“Charges have been made and must be answered,” Char interjected calmly. “A suggestion, Kadon don al’ Meterac. Return and inform the council that the Alalakan clan will appear on the requested date. To ascertain that the ‘specimen’ does not flee nor is spirited away, these two Academy guards can stay to monitor her movements. Do you find this solution acceptable?”
The messenger’s answering smile was all that Rodane expected. “It seems to be an excellent solution to me.”
“Good,” Jamiros answered as he extended his hand. “Come with me to the study, and I’ll write a formal reply to the charges.”
Glancing at the guards, Meterac said, “Your orders are changed by my authority as a member of the Ruling Council. You will stay here to guard the ‘specimen’ until the appearance date set in the original charges.”
“You have no right…” sputtered the smaller guard.
“I have every right,” he snapped. “The Council rules the Academy, or has a change of which I am unaware been made? I thought not,” he continued when no answer was forthcoming. “You will follow my orders or return to your master and explain why he has found himself censured at my suggestion.”
Neither man answered.
Sending them a look of pure disgust, the messenger followed Jamiros from the room.
“That went rather well, didn’t it?” Char said. “Now what shall we do with these two?”
Ban slapped the button that opened the intercom, he said, “Have Kahn and his cousins come to the library at once.”
Grabbing his shirt, he pulled it over his head. “I hope neither of you were involved in the kidnapping of that Aradab girl. Her relatives are on the way.”
Both men paled visibly.
Marljas locked gazes with Ban. “You are not a complete fool, Bandalardrac. Perhaps there is common ground we can find.”
Ban simply bared his teeth in his wolfish grin.
The day of summer Solstice dawned dry and clear, and the house and grounds were ready for that evening’s celebration. Not only was it the high point of the summer season, it was also the eighteen birthday of the only daughter of the house.
Sheala stood in the middle of the floor as Brianna walked around her. Her birthday party would begin in a few hours, and she had decided to look different than other Drakian girls. Brianna was from a completely new planet. Surely her sister-in-law would have new ideas for her hair and cosmetics.
Jami and Vani had insisted on accompanying her, and now all three of them waited eagerly for Brianna’s suggestions.
Brianna shook her head at the blue gown that clung to Sheala like a second skin. “That dress certainly doesn’t hide anything, Shea.”
Puzzled, Sheala glanced at Brianna. “What do I want to hide?”
Brianna just sighed and said, “Never mind. I’ll get used to it, I suppose. I guess you don’t plan on wearing any underwear.”
“Under what?” she asked mischievously as Vani and Jami giggled.
Brianna just snorted and continued her perusal. “Did you ever think of cutting your hair?”
“I used to cut it all the time.”
“No, I mean really short.”
“How short? I don’t want to look like Rodane.”
“No, not like that. I mean cut and styled.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Half an hour later, with the help of Verna, who was quite adept at styling hair, Sheala had a unique hairstyle for a Drakian. It was cropped short and tapered in the back, with fluffy bangs covering her forehead.
Sheala loved it.
With her hair cropped short, her graceful neck was displayed to its best advantage. Thick bangs stopped just short of her delicate eyebrows and emphasized the exotic tilt to her velvety brown eyes. Like her grandmother, Sheala had earlobes, earlobes that now displayed a pair of blue Medirian pearls donated by Jenneta.
“I recommend that you have your ears pierced, Shea, but your grandmother’s earrings are beautiful for tonight. I have the perfect necklace and bracelet to match them,” Brianna said as she waddled into her bedroom.
In a few minutes, she returned carrying a large box. Setting it on the table, she opened it to reveal row upon row of blue pearls.
“Brianna, they’re beautiful!”
Lifting the necklace out of the box, Sheala draped them around her neck. Shimmering incandescently against the midnight blue of her dress, they fell to her waist.
Brianna gazed at her critically and said, “Let’s try this.”
Looping the necklace once around Sheala’s neck, Brianna draped the necklace from the back of her shoulders like a cape. Since the dress was backless almost to the cleft of her buttocks, the soft blue color of the pearls glowed warmly against her bare skin.
Clasping a silver bracelet studded with more pearls around Sheala’s wrist, Brianna said, “That should about do it. What do you think?”
With a stunned expression, Sheala stared at her reflection in the mirror. A stranger gazed back at her. Brianna had applied small amounts of cosmetics earlier to highlight her eyes, high cheekbones, and mouth. The haircut and pearls were the finishing touches. “I don’t know myself.”
The door connecting Brianna’s sitting room with that of the guest quarters opened and Ban sauntered in followed by Marljas.
Both men stopped immediately upon seeing Sheala.
Smiling provocatively, Sheala locked her gaze with Ban’s. “Well, Coz, what do you think?”
“I think that if you weren’t my cousin, I’d carry you to the nearest bed right now,” Ban said in a very serious tone as he walked completely around her and examined her with a critical eye. “You’re very beautiful, Sheala. Men will ache to possess you. What do you think, Marljas?”
From the moment he’d walked in the room, Marljas had sensed Sheala’s presence. When he saw her, his body’s reaction had been instantaneous. He was very glad he was wearing a tunic or his erection would have been obvious for all to see.
Verna lifted an intricately carved bottle. Removing its stopper, she liberally applied the perfume to Sheala’s wrists. Then she slowly drew the stopper down the deep valley between her breasts.
Breaking out into a sweat, Marljas fled the room muttering something about Denieen.
Char entered with a quizzical
look on his face. “What’s wrong with Marljas? He just passed me in the hall looking as if the ghosts of all seven hells were pursuing him.”
Ban continued to grin and winked at Verna before he answered. “He forgot about something Deni wanted him to do.”
Before Ban could say anything else, Brianna said, “Don’t just stand there, Char, tell your sister how beautiful she is.”
Char turned his attention to Sheala. His eyes widened as he stared at her. He circled his sister just as Ban had. “Is that really you, Shea? What did you do to your hair?” Stopping in front of her, he grinned and lifted her into a huge hug. “You are absolutely beautiful.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Sheala said, “Come on, Vani, Jami. Let’s go. You two still have to get dressed.”
“Only if Verna comes,” said Jami. “I want my hair cut like yours.”
“But Jami, you’re a Medirian princess!”
Borrowing a comment from Brianna, Jami answered, “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? I like that hairstyle, and I want it too. I don’t care what anyone says.”
Verna shrugged. “I’ll cut your hair, Princess. I’m too old to worry about your parents’ disapproval.” She led the three girls from the room, Vani arguing vociferously with her sister.
“Guess I’ll go along and try to calm Vani down,” Ban said with a wry smile. “She always was a worrier.” Leaving the room, he turned and winked at Brianna. “Jamiros wants all of us in the library in an hour, Bri, so don’t go tempting Char with those beautiful breasts of yours.”
Char grinned as Ban pulled the door shut behind him. “Are you going to tempt me with those beautiful breasts, my love?”
Brianna scowled—or at least pretended to. “I am going to take a bath and you may scrub my back. I refuse to be late for your sister’s party.”
Laughter followed Brianna as she waddled into the bedroom. Her advanced pregnancy had begun to quell Char’s sexual urges. Her company, however, was something he discovered he could not do without. Still grinning, he followed her. He was willing to scrub her back anytime she wanted.
Approximately an hour later, Brianna and Char joined everyone in the immediate family except Sheala in the library. Marljas, Ban, Ademis, and Meri entered immediately behind them.
