by S. E. Smith
Teriff walked slowly towards his younger son. Teriff felt his heart breaking at the sight of his proud son sitting holding his bond mate’s fragile body against him protectively. He thought of Tresa and knew he would never survive the loss of her. He remembered his first meeting with Tink and how angry he was that such a tiny thing could be considered strong enough to be a mate to his son. Now, he realized that despite their size, these human females possessed an unusual amount of strength and courage. J’kar called for them to come as soon as they saw Hannah jump. Merrick and Core retrieved Mazzum. He was wounded but not dead…not yet anyway. J’kar told him of what happened. His son’s mate was a true warrior.
“Te’mar is bringing a glider. We will have her to a healer soon.” Teriff said gently as he laid his hand on Borj’s shoulder.
“She does not deserve this.” Borj said. “I should never have claimed her. I have done nothing but placed her in danger since she met me.” Borj choked out.
“Nonsense.” Teriff said gruffly. “She is a fighter. She is truly fit to be the mate of a Prime male.”
“They hurt her.” Borj said quietly. “She shielded me but I see the evidence. They hurt her badly. She…” Borj looked at his father with such pain, Teriff fell back a step. “She protected me from it.”
Teriff looked down at the pale face of his son’s bond mate. She was breathing on her own but not without difficulty. “Then you must protect her. Accept her and help her heal for it is your strength that will help her the most.”
Borj watched as a group of warriors pulled Bachman and Mazzum down towards a ground transport that was about to land. “I demand the Right of Justice against all three men.” Borj said emotionlessly looking at two of the men being loaded onto the transport.
“Granted. I will stand as your second.” Teriff said coldly watching as the transport lifted off.
Chapter 19
Hannah stirred enjoying the cool breeze floating in through the windows. She frowned as she looked around. It took a moment for her eyes to focus as she realized she was back in Borj’s and her living quarters at the palace. Hannah sat up gingerly trying to figure out how she got here. The last thing she really remembered was slipping from the rock. Everything else was more like a dream.
“Not a dream, ku lei.” Borj said softly coming into the room.
Hannah’s breath caught at how beautiful he looked. He was wearing nothing but a pair of low cut pants that were not fastened at the top. His hair was a little longer than she remembered as well. Hannah’s eyes widened when she saw a long cut that was almost healed running across his chest. There was another one on his left arm.
“What happened to you?” Hannah asked anxiously reaching out a hand to touch it.
Borj sat down on the bed. His eyes closed briefly as he felt Hannah’s hand gently trace the wounds he recently received. He opened his eyes to stare into the intense green ones of Hannah which were searching his with worry. A small smile curved his lips. She was safe. That thought sent waves of warmth and happiness through him. She was safe.
“It is nothing. I am almost healed.” Borj said quietly letting his fingers run through the soft waves of Hannah’s long hair.
Hannah fell back suddenly exhausted. She frowned up at Borj. “Why am I so tired?” She grumbled out. “I’m never this weak!”
Borj chuckled as he moved to lie down on top of the covers next to her. Pulling Hannah into his arms, he held her tightly against him enjoying her sweet scent and soft curves. They were both quiet for a moment before Borj spoke softly into Hannah’s mind.
“I almost lost you.” Borj said quietly. “When I was able to finally get to you, you were gone.”
Hannah felt the shiver that ran through Borj’s tall frame. “How did you bring me back?” Hannah asked tentatively.
“I wrapped my life force around yours refusing to let the last tiny spark fade away. I was able to clear your lungs and you finally began breathing again on your own but you were hurt from the many times you were thrown into the rocks along the river. Te’mar landed shortly after with a glider and I was able to transport you back to the village. It was closer than the palace. The healer was able to stabilize you but you were still in danger. It took two days of healing before it was safe to transport you back to the palace. Once here, the healers continued to heal you.” Borj explained in a husky voice.
“What about Bachman and the other two men.” Hannah asked.
Borj let his one hand trace the long, healing scar on his chest. He felt Hannah’s hand move to lie on top of his. He brushed a kiss across the top of her head and squeezed her gently before letting his fingers thread through hers.
“They are dead. All three of them are dead.” Borj told Hannah.
The breath Hannah was holding escaped in a soft exhale. “How? What happened?”
“I invoked the Right of Justice. All three men committed a grievous injustice against what is mine.” Borj said coldly.
Hannah rose up to look down into Borj’s flaming silver eyes. “What is the Right of Justice? What are you not telling me?” Hannah asked pulling her fingers from Borj’s to trace the scar along his left arm.
Borj looked up into Hannah’s soft eyes. “Each man is given a chance to fight back. They choose one weapon. It was my right to give out justice. I fought each man. Each one died a very long, slow death for what they did to you, Hannah.” Borj said as he cupped her cheek and leaned up to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“You could have been killed.” Hannah murmured fearfully.
Borj’s soft chuckle caressed Hannah’s lips. “No. I may be an Ambassador for our planet but I am a warrior first. I was the stronger, more experienced warrior of the three. They stood little chance of defeating me. Besides, I had something to live for…you.” Borj whispered as he brushed his lips back and forth across Hannah’s.
“How long have I been sleeping?” Hannah asked puzzled. It seemed like a lot had happened in just a few short days.
“Oh, you’ve been sleeping for almost a week and a half, sweetheart.” Tilly Bell said as she breezed into the bedroom carrying a tray, Angus right behind her.
Hannah squealed and ducked back under the covers. She wasn’t wearing any clothes and the last thing she wanted was for her parents to see her in the buff. Hannah weakly punched Borj’s arm when he sat up chuckling.
“This is not funny.” Hannah hissed out glaring up at him from where she had the covers pulled up to her nose. “Didn’t you lock the door?”
“Of course he did, love.” RITA’s voice said cheerfully. “Your mom overrode the command with a little help from me.”
“Great, just great! Now we can’t even have a locked door to keep them out.” Hannah groaned out loud.
“Oh Angus! She really is alright.” Tilly sniffed as she set the tray down next to the bed.
Hannah looked at the tears glittering in her mom’s eyes and sighed. Her mom hardly ever cried except in cheesy romantic movies. Hannah saw the same look of anguish in her mom’s eyes that was in them when she first saw her standing on the dock as Jacq brought her back when she was fifteen. Hannah sat up, tucking the sheet around her, and reached for her mom. Borj scooted over as Tilly Bell fell into her oldest daughter’s arms sobbing.
Borj looked at Angus who had tears in his own eyes. “I’m glad you’re safe, Hannah bug.”
Hannah looked up at her dad and gave him a watery smile. “Me, too. I love you both so much.”
Tilly leaned back smoothing her small hands over Hannah’s damp cheeks. “How are you feeling?” Tilly asked softly.
Hannah knew her mom was asking her more than about her physical health. She was worried about Hannah’s mental health. Both of them sat there for a moment, each reflecting on a different time and place. Hannah looked at her mom then at her dad and grinned.
“I’m doing good…really good.” Hannah said reaching a hand out to hold Borj’s. “I’m going to be alright. I promise.”
Tilly must have felt the truth in Hannah�
�s words because she turned and sent a breathtaking smile to Angus. “She is going to be fine.” Tilly whispered up to her husband.
Angus chuckled. Leaning over, he pulled his tiny wife up off the bed and into his arms. “Then, I suggest we give them some peace. I can think of a few things we can do on the way back to our living quarters. Are you interested?” Angus growled playfully.
Tilly’s light laughter filled the air as she brushed her hand across Angus’ chest. “What do you have in mind?” She whispered huskily.
“Will you two go get your own room?!” Hannah groaned out loudly. “This is way more information than I need to see this soon.”
Angus chuckled as he swung his wife around to the door. Tilly turned just before he could scoot her through. “Oh! Before I forget, Hannah, we are having a movie marathon tonight! I had RITA download ‘When Harry Met Sally’, than we are doing a chick-flick night of romance! I can’t wait. Lan and Brock have it set up on a big screen outside in the garden.” Tilly said gleefully before Angus finished getting her out of the room.
Hannah dropped back down onto the bed with a chuckle. “You have no idea what you have done to your planet! A chick-flick movie night! The next thing will be the Tilly and Angus Bell Center for Sexual Discovery.” Hannah joked looking up at the ceiling.
“What a wonderful idea!” RITA said. “I’ll have to suggest that to your mom!”
Hannah jerked up. “RITA, don’t you dare. It was a joke. RITA? RITA!” Hannah called frantically trying to scramble out from under the covers only to fall back exhausted against them.
Borj laughed as he saw Hannah’s flushed face. “My planet will be fine. Come, let me help you up. You will need to take things slowly until you recover completely.” Borj said lifting Hannah into his arms and walking with her to the cleansing room.
Hannah let her head drop back against Borj’s shoulder. “Borj, do you think you can take me to that place you told me about? The one with the pink sand and water dragons.” Hannah asked softly.
Borj’s arms tightened around Hannah for a moment at her tentative question. “We will leave tomorrow and can stay as long as you like.” He said huskily.
“I would like that.” Hannah whispered sleepily.
Borj’s lips curved in a tender smile as he brushed a kiss against Hannah’s hair. He would bath her and let her rest some more. Once she was asleep, he would make the necessary arrangements to be gone for an indefinite period of time. He would give Hannah all the time she needed to recover.
Chapter 20
Hannah laughed as she adjusted the lens of her camera and snapped several more shots of the sea dragons playing in the surf. They were amazing creatures and she never got tired of watching them. Her head turned when she heard Borj call out to her and she waved her hand to let him know she heard him.
Turning, she slid off the rock she was lying on and felt the soft, pink sand slide between her bare toes. They had been at Borj’s home on the ocean for almost a month and she still wasn’t ready to return to the palace. It was amazing that it really wasn’t that far from the palace. Her mom and dad had visited with J’kar and Tink, who was beginning to show. She loved spending time with her family but she enjoyed having Borj all to herself more. Maybe it was selfish of her but she didn’t care.
They had been here for a week before she was finally feeling like she had regained her strength. During that time, Borj treated her like she was made of spun glass. It was only when she tied him to the bed late one night and had her wicked way with him that she got the full reason out of him. He thought she had been raped by Mazzum. He didn’t want to say anything to her but it finally came out during her interrogation session. She learned that little move from Tink who told her how she did it to J’kar. The running of her tongue up and down his extended canines really did work! Once she did that than worked her way down his body, he sang like a canary telling her everything she wanted to know.
It took several hours of ‘intensive interrogation’ to finally convince him nothing happened. Yes, she had been scared. Yes, Mazzum was an ass to her. But, he was now a very dead ass thanks to her protective warrior who promised to come for her and did.
The weeks after that were filled with laughter and love. They played in the water, ate lunch and dinner oftentimes watching the sea dragons playing in the surf, walked through the thick forest surrounding Borj’s beautiful home, and made love…lots and lots of love.
Hannah smiled as she walked up to Borj. There was a handsome older man standing next to him. Hannah recognized the man as the healer from the palace. Smiling, she walked up to the men as they waited for her.
“Good morning, Saury. How are you doing?” Hannah asked with an inquiring smile.
Saury bowed slightly to Hannah before smiling in return. “I am most well, Lady Hannah. How are you feeling?”
“Never better.” Hannah turned with a puzzled look at Borj. “Is something the matter?”
Borj flushed and looked at Saury quickly before he turned to Hannah and gripped her hand tightly. “I asked Saury to come and make sure you are well.”
Hannah stared intently at Borj for a moment before shrugging her shoulder. “But, I told you yesterday that I was fine. I was a little queasy but it passed as soon as I ate some toast.”
Saury stepped forward. “His lordship is concerned that you might be with child. He wished for me to check.”
Hannah stumbled back a little. She couldn’t go far as Borj tightened his grip on her hand. Hannah’s eyes flew from one man who was smiling gently to the other who was looking decidedly worried and…hopeful? Hannah let her hand move down to her flat stomach. They had been making love like two rabbits in a marathon and they never used any type of contraceptive. Not to mention, Borj took every opportunity he could to bite her. Just the thought of it was enough to cause her to grow damp with desire. Hannah looked back up at Borj when she felt him squeeze her hand.
Blushing as she saw the knowing smile curve his lips as he sniffed the air, she scowled back at him. “Knock it off.” She hissed under her breath.
“It won’t take but a moment.” Saury said gently.
Hannah looked at Borj again then nodded almost reluctantly to Saury. She moved towards the house slowly. She listened as Saury told Borj about some of the things happening at the palace. The movie night must have been a success because there was one at least once a week. There had been demands for more but Teriff had to limit it as the warriors were more interested in the movies than in training. Not to mention, they were beginning to demand a chance to find their bond mates. A decision was made to let two warriors at a time go to Earth. RITA was giving out different coordinates so they were spread out. The warriors each had two weeks to find a bond mate. If they did not find out within that time, they had to return but would be given another chance at a later date. Tilly and Angus were giving the men tips and suggestions on how not to be detected and RITA was creating fake ID’s and documents for all of them. Hannah just hoped Tansy never discovered what was going on! Mak was staying a little longer. Hannah hadn’t heard the details but her gut was telling her something was going on.
Hannah smiled as she washed the light, flaky sand from her feet outside the door leading into an open living area. She set her cameras down on a table and turned to look at Saury. He looked around before motioning to the couch.
“If you could lie down and lift your top enough for me to scan you that would help.” Saury said as he pulled a small scanning device out of the case he was carrying.
Hannah laid down on the couch. Borj moved quickly to scoot in at the top so she was resting her head in his lap. Hannah pulled her shirt up enough to expose her lower belly. Both she and Borj watched as Saury leaned over and ran the scanner first over her stomach than over the rest of her. He looked at the readings with a small frown before running the scanner over her stomach several more times. When he was done, he took a few steps back looking at the readings again.
“What is it?” Borj
asked anxiously.
Hannah reached up and gripped Borj’s hand, curling her fingers around his.
Saury smiled at both of them reassuringly. “Hannah is fine. All of the readings are within the normal level for a human female according to the information RITA has given us.” Saury said looking at the readings again. “Are multiple births common among humans?” Saury asked curiously.
Hannah paled at his question. “What do you mean ‘multiple births’?” Hannah choked out.
“I am getting a double reading. It was the same as that of your sister from what I have seen of her report.” Saury said with a puzzled frown.
“No, multiple births are not really all that common. Twins have never run in my family that I know of.” Hannah whispered out as her other hand went to cover her stomach.
“It is the potent son-of-a-bitch problem your sister told us about.” Borj said as a huge grin spread across his face. “I am a potent son-of-a-bitch, too!” Borj laughed.
Hannah’s eyes flew to Borj’s as she stared at him in shock. “I’ll say! Oh. My. God. We’re going to have babies.” Hannah said softly. “My mom is going to have a cow.”
Borj’s eyes jerked down. “Why would your mother have a cow? How is that possible?”
Hannah chuckled. “It is an expression meaning she is going to be very excited.”
Saury cleared his throat. “Would you care to know what you are having? You are actually several weeks along.”
Hannah and Borj’s eyes flew back to Saury. “You can tell? Already?” Hannah asked.
“Of course.” Saury responded in amusement.
Borj was already nodding his head. “Yes. I want to know.”
Saury glanced down at the readings on his scanner. “From the looks of it, you will be having one boy and one girl child. My congratulations to you both. Your father has requested I let him know as soon as possible. He wishes to announce it to everyone.” Saury said with a chuckle.
Borj just nodded in a daze. Hannah looked back up at Borj whose face had paled considerable. She sat up quickly turning to look at him in concern.