by S. E. Smith
“No,” Resig said. “It is that I want you to have a life with someone who can make your happiness his daily focus. You need someone who won’t be constantly washing blood from his hands. You need children.”
“If that is true, I need your children—our children,” Nia amended. She looked away. “But I understand your fears.”
“Fears?” Resig asked.
Nia nodded. “Yes. I am one more weight on your mighty shoulders—one more person to be afraid for. Until you see me as strong enough to care for myself, you will not be able to change your mind.”
Resig frowned. “I am happy to watch over you. I am honored to do so.”
“Yet it does not honor how I feel about you. Once again, we end in no agreement on the matter. Tonight, I do not care.” Nia pulled free of his arms and held out her hand. “Come to bed with me, Resig. Let’s celebrate what is between us. I am going to Earth tomorrow. I’m not sure I will return. Give me a pleasant memory to take with me—one that honors our relationship.”
“Nia,” Resig said softly.
He took her hand and tugged her back to him. He grabbed her chin and slanted his mouth over hers. She tasted like the dessert she’d fed them all earlier. She tasted like hope and goodness and the purest of joys. He wanted her as much as he ever had.
“I am not able to refuse your request,” he said.
Nia smiled. “Good,” she replied, leading him to the small bed she’d chosen for herself.
It was not meant for two, but that deficiency worked in her favor. It was hard to keep from moaning as Resig stripped all clothing from her and kissed every inch of her body. Thinking of the others in the house was all that stopped her from calling out.
Resig muttered about her softness and beauty as he dragged her to the bed and rolled her under him. A part of her reveled in his touch while another part watched and memorized each moment. If this was to be her last time with him, she wanted never to forget it.
“Resig,” she whispered as he pushed her to the limit of her control. Heat. The man always filled her with so much heat. It was enough melt the ice fields. How could he even think of sending her away from his bed?
“Nia,” she heard him call before finding his bliss.
They were perfect together, Nia decided as she listened to his heart thundering against her ear. Too bad only one of them accepted that rightness for the gift it truly was.
She kissed Resig sweetly as he rolled them to their sides. He was a thoughtful lover. All those years with other women only made him more valuable to her.
She would miss him very much while she was on Earth. In fact, it was hard to imagine being on a planet that didn’t have her warrior general walking around on it.
“Thank you for being with me tonight, Resig. I am glad we are parting on better terms.”
He didn’t respond to her comment but Resig whispered her name again before pulling her closer.
When she had studied his face well enough to memorize every inch, Nia ran a hand along Resig’s jaw.
She finally let herself drift off to sleep in his arms thinking about how nice it would be if her warrior was as devoted to her as she was to him.
Chapter Thirteen
“These things on my head look stupid. Lucy’s going to leave me for sure now. It took me months to explain the fangs and convince her I wasn’t some demon creature.”
Jessica put the last of her clothes into her travel bag before turning to her grumbling familiar. Kevin’s antenna moved around on his head, which was cool, but they still had no idea what purpose they served. “I think they look pretty natural on you. At least they’re not getting any bigger. Better eat a few more leaves. We’ve got a two hour drive before we get to town.”
Kevin tore off another one and took a bite to keep from whining. He detested creatures who did nothing but complain. How had he turned into one? “I’ll be glad to get back to Earth.”
“Me too,” Jessica said. “But I liked visiting Glacier. If bad guys weren’t always trying to kill Mom and Dad, I’d like being here.”
Kevin nodded as he chewed and swallowed. “You have a strange, but exciting life, Jessica.”
“I do,” Jessica said. “I really do.”
“Okay. That’s enough food to hold me until we get home,” Kevin said, swinging himself off the tree to land on the bed.
Jessica chanted the reverse spell and smiled at the pot of soil left behind when it completed. She smiled at Kevin. “I’m leaving a remnant of the spell so we can make it into a tree again next time we come back. I mean, if you come by with us. Mom intends to free you from your magical obligation to me. Once she decides something like that it’s pretty much a sure thing.”
Kevin scratched his chest. “What will you do for a familiar?”
Shrugging, Jessica chuckled. “Guess I’ll be getting a cat. Okay, I’m ready.”
Frowning as he imagined some snooty feline sassing his extraordinary witch, Kevin climbed her body when Jessica patted her chest. “I don’t like the idea. Cats do their business in the house and make their human clean it up. It’s disgusting. And hairballs. Cats are always hacking up hairballs. You should ask for something else—something with better hygiene.”
Laughing, Jessica hugged her koala. “Whatever happens, I will always be glad we had this time together. And we’re going to be friends forever. You saved my family.”
“All I did was slow him down. Nia was the real hero—or rather heroine. I like the woman. She’s all right for an alien.”
Jessica nodded. “I like her too. I’m glad she’s coming to Earth with us. Maybe I’ll let her help me pick out my next familiar. Mom listens to her. That’s amazing all by itself.”
“Well, I’m not leaving you yet so don’t be in a such a hurry to get yourself a stinky cat. I plan to stay the whole ninety days,” Kevin said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Kevin said, pushing her silver hair back with a talon. “But if we could get word to Lucy about what’s going on, that would be ripper. She loves me. She’s probably wondering where I went.”
“I’m sure we can do that,” Jessica said, picking up her bag. “Dad says a person should hold on lightly and not too tightly to friends and allies and the people they love. I’d rather you be where you are happiest than keep you with me until I outgrow needing a familiar. When I hit twenty, I have a different goal in mind than just perfecting my witchcraft anyway.”
“Oh, right. You want to be Earth’s first Star Ranger,” Kevin said dryly.
“Hey, it could happen,” Jessica said in her defense.
Kevin grunted. “At the rate you grow, you could be twenty next week. You better start training right away.”
When they heard her father yelling for her, Kevin sighed and tucked his face in her neck. “Your father’s voice could stop a charging hippo in its tracks. Gives me shivers.”
Jessica laughed as they headed down the hall. “We must be late. Now I’m going to get the lateness lecture. I really hate that one. He uses that same tone.”
“Bloody hell,” Kevin said.
And they both ended up laughing.
Nia was storing her belongings in Resig’s vehicle when Stark emerged from the house with Warrior Thor, Priestess Rime, and Topper’s sister. She felt the air charge with energy as a tiny vortex opened and widened. When it had grown large enough for the three of them to enter, they turned and bid Stark farewell.
Nia smiled as the Priestess hugged her brother and kissed Warrior Thor’s cheek before she entered the shimmering portal with a lightness in her step. Warrior Thor, bringing up the rear, gently but insistently pushed Topper’s sister into the swirling. His grin was broad and his wicked laughter floated to her ears.
After they’d disappeared, the swirling vortex slowly closed again. Stark watched the space it had occupied for a few moments more then went back into the house.
Nia finished her loading task and imagined herself being as light-hearted as Priestess Rime
. She had no idea how that felt. Resig’s attention seemed to have the opposite effect on her. His affection weighed her down. He kept her restless and wondering about the future.
Serving General Stark and his wonderful family had given her more ideal view of what mating should be like. What she had with Resig seemed far less.
The ride to town was uneventful. She rode with Resig to give Stark and his family some time alone. Her space in Stark’s borrowed vehicle was needed for the new babe anyway.
“Are you sure you want to go to Earth?” Resig asked.
Nia turned to face him and nodded. “Yes.”
“But you are not prepared. Are they going to wait for you to gather your things?”
Nia shook her head. “Preparations are unnecessary. There is nothing on Glacier I will need there. Topper said my clothing would be of no use in Earth’s heat. Rime offered to lend me some of hers until I can collect my own. I’m sure I will adapt well enough. Priestess Rime seems to have done so.”
“I’m sure Star Ranger Thor will be more than happy to help you as well. When it comes to beautiful women, Thor reminds me of how General Stark used to be. He’s always smiling and overly friendly. I find it hard to believe he is even Glacieran.”
Nia frowned. “My understanding is that Warrior Thor and Princess Rime are both friends and lovers. He is taken.”
“They are not yet mates, Nia. I heard Thor declare it so.” Resig grunted. “Rime is a Priestess of Icela, not a female to be treated lightly. I’m not sure what to think of their arrangement.”
Nia turned to Resig in surprise. “They live together and are far more a part of each other’s life than we are, Resig. Thor told me he was only waiting for Rime to accept the idea of mating him. He said her heart was healing. I saw nothing but true devotion in his actions with her.”
Her defense of Thor were the last words she’d managed to say to Resig that he heard. She tried to make polite conversation about the weather, the road to town, and how nice General Stark and his family were, but Resig only grunted in reply.
When she gave up trying to draw him into conversation, the rest of the trip passed in total silence. Nia was relieved to escape Resig’s company when they finally got to town.
Despite their intimate bond last night, Resig’s attitude today made her glad she was leaving the planet.
Kevin lifted his sleepy head when another booming male voice reached his ears. “Who’s that talking so loudly?”
Jessica sighed. “Director Polar. He’s Frost’s father. Frost was the first alien to come to Earth. My cousin Lacey shrank him and put him in a cage. Now they’re married with children.”
“Is she a witch too?”
Nodding, Jessica smiled. “She’s Mom’s backup. Lacey’s magic is very strong.”
Polar’s booming laughter lifted into the air.
“Maybe if he was smaller he wouldn’t be so loud. Can you shrink Director Polar for me?” Kevin asked in a whisper.
Jessica giggled. “I could, but that would create an intergalactic incident. We might end up in jail on Glacier forever.”
“Never mind then,” Kevin said. He reached up and felt the top of his head. “My antenna are vibrating. It’s probably his loud voice doing it. ”
Jessica inspected Kevin’s antenna. “They look the same to me.”
Kevin found his gaze going to a male dressed in uniform. The man was staring hard at Stark—too hard. His antenna were practically singing now. The buzzing was going to give him a headache.
“Put me down,” Kevin ordered.
“Dad told me not to,” Jessica said.
Kevin patted her cheek. “A Star Ranger has to know when it’s okay to break the rules. Put me down, Jessica.”
Jessica let him slide to the ground and bit her lip when Kevin ambled away. “Where are you going?” she hissed at his back.
“Trust me. I’ll be right back,” Kevin said, not looking around as he moved away.
He positioned himself to the side of the male he watched. Others in the crowd looked down at him and chuckled when he waved back at them. The guy making his antenna buzz never took his gaze off Stark.
When the warrior moved forward, so did Kevin.
“For the honor of Glacier and General Arctic,” the guy yelled as he drew his weapon and aimed it in Stark’s direction.
Kevin pounced and sank his fangs into the guy’s wrist. Shock caused his shooting arm to jerk which tilted it upwards. A laser blast zinged over people’s heads, including Stark’s.
The entire crowd called out in alarm and backed away. The guy spoke in Glacieran as he tried to shake him loose. Kevin sank his fangs in deeper to make sure that didn’t happen. And okay, maybe he enjoyed a bit of snack while he was hanging there. He didn’t turn loose of the guy’s wrist until Resig came and barked out a bunch of commands.
When Kevin withdrew his fangs, his body fell to the ground. He landed directly beside the weapon the guy had dropped. Scooping it gently up, Kevin used one talon to hand it up to Resig who took it wordlessly.
Stark strode over and glared at the male before rattling off something that made every hair on Kevin’s body stand at attention. When Stark stopped speaking, he reached a hand down to him. Kevin swung himself up as best he could. With Stark, it was difficult. The man was as tall as a freaking tree.
“Thank you for saving me,” Stark said in as mild a tone as he could.
Kevin patted Stark’s clenched jaw with a gentle claw. “Thank my antenna. I think I’m part alien now. We could become blood brothers if my fangs don’t retract soon. Just give me a toss if I latch on accidentally.”
Stark’s reluctant chuckle broke some of the tension. Kevin thought it also granted the shooter a reprieve from immediate death. He could feel the rage in Stark. He understood it too. He was working to calm himself so his fangs would retract. It was hard to get there when the guy was still glaring at both of them.
Resig yelled something into the air. In what seemed like two seconds, the guy was surrounded by an entire army of shooter guy clones with weapons aimed at him.
Kevin laughed at the surreal scene. He was going to have so many stories to tell Lucy when he saw her.
“Don’t Glacierans come in any normal sizes?” Kevin asked, eyeing the enormous shooter male who protested loudly as he was dragged away.
“Not really,” Stark answered.
“On Earth, human men take steroids to get that pumped. Makes me glad I’m a koala.”
Stark snorted. “I’m glad you’re a Drop Bear. Your fangs are useful in a fight.”
“That they are,” Kevin said. “No wonder no one saw the guy. They’re too busy looking at you and bowing. You’re like a Glacieran movie star here. What’s up with that?”
Stark’s genuine chuckle faded as Topper pushed aside the crowd to get to him. He swept her up and kissed her hair. “I’m fine. It’s all fine.” He looked around. “Where’s Jessica and Berg?”
“With Nia,” was all Topper could choke out.
Chapter Fourteen
She was standing at the edge of the crowd with the babe in her arms when he located her. Her eyes scanned the area around her for danger. Stark’s very sharp daughter stood close to her side. He couldn’t hear what Nia was saying to Jessica, but the girl nodded and kept alert.
Nia would give her life to protect Stark’s children. It was in her gaze and in her stance. Seren’s laser weapon had quietly gone missing. If he searched Nia, Resig was sure it would be found hidden somewhere in her clothes. She was quickly turning into quite the female.
Memories of last night swept over Resig. He still couldn’t figure it out. Why was he the male Nia favored? She could have any warrior she wanted.
The crowd split for him to create a direct path to where Nia stood. She bowed her head at his approach.
“Thank the Goddess, you’re safe,” Resig said, pulling her into his embrace. The child squirmed and grunted in protest at being squeezed between them.
“I am fine. The children are fine. Topper went to Stark.”
“I know. She is with him now,” Resig said.
Nia swallowed and nodded. “That was too close, Resig. If Kevin hadn’t seen what was going on, General Stark and Director Polar might both be dead.”
“It was his antenna,” Jessica said proudly. “Goddess Icela told him they were a gift. Kevin told me they were vibrating and then he took off.”
“You talked to the Goddess while you were here?” Resig asked.
Jessica nodded. “I built her a ice dome and she froze time for me.”
Resig smiled. “The Goddess froze time for me once as well. I found it very startling. I got a visit from her when General Arctic illegally went to Earth.”
“Isn’t she the most beautiful woman on your planet?” Jessica asked as she remembered.
Resig chuckled. “The Goddess is quite impressive, but I confess that another female is more beautiful to my eyes.”
Grinning, Jessica looked Nia. “I bet I know who she is.”
Nia sighed. “Go hug your father and take Kevin from him. Stark may end up carrying your mother. Topper looks done in by all this.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jessica said, running off.
Nia turned to Resig. “I noticed guards were posted throughout the crowd. Was he the last of Arctic’s corrupted ones?”
“That is my hope,” Resig answered. “Nia…” He studied her face but could see nothing for him in her gaze. “I don’t want you to go to Earth.”
Nia lifted an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Resig searched for the right words. “Because I need you here. I want you to share my bed—all the time.”
Nia snorted. “There were many females in your bed before me. There will be females after I am gone. You have no problems finding willing females to entertain you for an evening.”
Resig frowned. What wasn’t Nia happy with his declaration? He’d been thinking about what to say for the entire ride into town. “I’m trying to tell you that I don’t want other females. I want you. Is this not what you wanted to hear?”
