by S. E. Smith
“I met Ariel when I was in kindergarten. That is the first year we start school. We became really close friends. Carmen started the next year and she just kind of got stuck with having two older sisters.” Trisha laughed softly as she thought of all the time and fun the three of them had over the years. “Mr. and Mrs. Hamm, Ariel and Carmen’s parents, became my home-away-from-home parents. Mrs. Hamm tried to teach me how to be a lady which wasn’t an easy task. They were killed in an automobile accident when Carmen was a senior in high school. Ariel and I were in college at the time and had decided to go into the Air Force after graduation in the hopes of making it into the Space program. Ariel didn’t make the cut but I did. I was always more physically active than Ariel and a little more on the adventuresome side. Ariel is the homebody of us three girls.” Trisha added before taking a drink of her cooling tea.
Kelan bit back a response to that comment. From some of the things he was hearing from Mandra, Ariel was more of a pain in the butt. He didn’t say anything for two reasons. First, he didn’t want to interrupt Trisha in case she stopped talking; and, second, he didn’t think she would appreciate his opinion of the females she considered to be her sisters.
“Anyway, by the time I was twenty-two, life was good. I was a test pilot in the Air Force. I had just been accepted into the Space training program and was finishing up on my Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. My dad and I used to lay out every night under the stars. He would point one out and tell me my mom was on it. I was determined to go find her.” Trisha laughed at how naïve she used to be. “I promised my dad if I ever went to the stars I would take him with me.” Trisha sniff back tears as she thought of the pain her dad must be in with her disappearance. It was probably killing him not knowing what happened to her.
Kelan was about to tell her he would be taking her back to her world as soon as he could to see her father when Trisha shook her head as if dispelling an unpleasant thought. He watched her take a deep, calming breath before she began talking again.
“I met Peter when I was finishing up my degree. Ariel, Carmen, Scott, and I had gone out to celebrate Ariel’s and my graduation. There was this little club where the service men and women liked to hang out. They served good food and great beer. Peter was there with a couple of guys. I used to see him coming and going on occasion on the base but never spoke to him before. He was tall, blonde, and cute in a surfer-boy kind of way.” Trisha grimaced as she set her cup on the small side table and wrapped her arms around her middle. Kelan and his dragon bit back the growl of jealousy at the mention of another man meaning something to Trisha. Calm. Kelan whispered softly to his dragon. He is no longer important to her. We are.
Trisha continued unaware of Kelan and his dragon’s displeasure at the mention of another male. “He swept me off my feet. We married a month after we met. I had the fairy tale life; a great career, a wonderful, loving husband, and the support of my dad and two best friends. Life couldn’t get any better. We were married for a year and half before the accident.” Trisha’s voice faded away as the remembered emotional and physical pain flooded over her.
Kelan waited several moments before he said anything. “What accident?” He asked quietly.
Trisha looked at him for the first time since sitting down and beginning her story. “The one that changed everything.” She responded quietly. “I was coming back to base with four other guys. We were returning from a training mission. A freak storm blew in unexpectedly. Mark, the pilot of the helicopter we were in, tried to go around it. We were flying over some pretty rugged mountains heading back to California where we were stationed. They think a micro-burst hit us. It took out the electrical and we crashed into the side of a mountain. For some reason, it wasn’t my time, I guess. Mark, Aaron, and John were killed instantly. Tim and I were in the back and survived the initial impact. We were both in really bad shape. I had a shattered collar bone, both of my legs were broken, my right hip was shattered, one of my arms was broken in five places, and I had some internal injuries. Tim was in even worse shape. His back was broken and he was bleeding heavily from a cut to his thigh. He lived for about an hour after the crash. I watched over him as he died.” Trisha murmured, silent tears coursing down her cheeks as she relived the last moments of Tim’s life and her feelings of helplessness at not being able to save him.
“How long before someone found you?” Kelan asked. It ate at him that his mate would have to suffer so much. Never again, Kelan promised silently, never again would she endure something like that if he could prevent it.
“Two days.” Trisha answered. “Two days of laying there with my dead friends just inches from me. Two days of pain unlike anything I ever knew a human body could handle. Thankfully, I lost consciousness on and off during the time between the crash until my rescue so it all kind of blurred together. Because of the terrain, they brought my dad in to help. I survived on the rain water that dripped from the holes in the wreckage and the knowledge I couldn’t let my dad and Peter down by dying. I don’t remember much after they found me. I was more dead than alive by then. I spent six weeks in the hospital and had so many surgeries I quit counting. The doctors told me I was lucky to be alive. I probably would never walk again due to the damage to my legs, back, and hip but I was lucky. It was six months later they also told me I would probably never have children either. The damage and the surgeries created a lot of scar tissue and because of the damage to my pelvic bones I wouldn’t be able to carry a child safely without endangering both of us.” Trisha got up and walked over to stand near the window looking out over the gardens and city far below. She didn’t want to see the pity or disgust on Kelan’s face as he found out she would never be able to give him a child. She remembered only too well Peter’s face when the doctors told her and Peter during one of her many visits.
Trisha took another deep breath. God, she hated reliving the shitty parts of her life. “Peter acted like he was supportive but I could tell the difference in him after the first couple of months. I was no longer the wife he could brag about to his friends. I was the wife who needed help going to the bathroom. I was in a wheelchair and due to the damage to my shoulder and arm was unable to do even some of the basic necessities for caring for myself. Six months after the accident one of Peter’s girlfriends came by to see me. I was home alone for the first time in months. Dad had installed a remote speaker system throughout our house for me in case I needed something. I found out Peter was anything but the devoted husband he wanted my father and me to believe. His first affair began about four months after our marriage.” Trisha said quietly. “I didn’t understand why. I loved him so much and gave everything there was of me to him. She was still there when Peter came home.” Trisha glanced at Kelan briefly. “He didn’t even bother to deny it. He said he wanted an open marriage, especially now that I was no longer useful. He didn’t think it was necessary to hide it any longer. I should understand, after all, he was still young and shouldn’t be penalized because of my accident. When I disagreed and stated I wanted a divorce, that I would never remain married to a man who was unfaithful to me, he refused. He said it would hurt his career if I divorced him. My accident caused a lot of sympathy around the base and he was on the receiving end of it. If it came out he was having affairs while his poor wife was recovering from a serious crash it could ruin his chances for promotion. Like I really gave a damn about his career after everything I was learning.” Trisha laughed bitterly.
“What did you do?” Kelan asked, coming up behind Trisha and wrapping his arms over hers. She resisted by stiffening at first but relaxed back against him when his hold on her tightened, pulling her closer against his broad chest.
“I kicked his sorry ass out.” Trisha replied with a smile. “News of his infidelity spread throughout the base, not by me but by another disgruntled girlfriend, and he was reprimanded and demoted. It took me another year and a half before he finally agreed to the divorce. He wanted a substantial payoff before he would agree to si
gn the papers. My dad, though he would deny it to this day, paid Peter a visit during the night and told him what would happen if he didn’t sign the papers right then and there. It almost killed him when he thought I was dead and he was furious Peter would do this to me after everything that happened. I love my dad so much and he has always been there for me. I can’t let him ever go through thinking I might be dead again. After the accident, it took me almost a year and a half to learn how to walk again and it was my dad and Ariel who were there for me. My dad helped me with strengthening my muscles but he also gave me the courage to live again.” Trisha said in a husky voice filled with emotion.
“By the time I could walk again, I was almost twenty-five, divorced, and looking for a new career. Ariel told me about a friend of a friend who worked for Boswell International. They were looking for a good pilot. She was waiting for her last year of commission to finish and planned to go to work for them. She made a call and before I knew it, I was hired. That was about the time Carmen was injured down in South America. Ariel took a leave of hardship to take care of her and help me through the depression I was fighting. I owe her a lot. She has been there for me through everything. The night you took me from my planet was the night I told Ariel I quit my job with Boswell and was returning home to work with my dad. I was supposed to see him two days later.” Trisha turned in Kelan’s arms until she was facing him. She gazed into his eyes before saying, “Now, you know everything.”
Kelan looked deeply into Trisha’s eyes. She was the bravest woman he ever knew. Her quiet strength, her determination, and her capacity to love deeply were all things he admired. He leaned forward running his hand along her cheek as he kissed her gently on the lips.
“I will return you to your father. But know this, if he refuses to come with us I will not let you stay. We are one now, mi elila. We cannot be apart.” Kelan said quietly but firmly.
He wanted her to know he would do what he could but she was a different person than she was before they met. Her body was no longer just human. It would be too dangerous for her to live back in her world from all the information he had read. Besides, he, his dragon, and his symbiosis needed her. Her dragon, which he was hesitant to tell her about as yet, would not allow her to be separated from his either. Her dragon was still young, not quite ready for the transformation…yes, she is, his dragon growled out impatiently, want my mate. Kelan ignored his dragon’s impatience. She is not yet ready. She is just accepting our mating. If we try to force too much on her right now then she might rebel. You saw how she was on board the V’ager. Kelan’s dragon gave an angry snort before he curled up to pout.
Chapter 11
Trisha couldn’t believe how time was flying by. It was almost a week since the missed dinner. After she told him about her life back on Earth, he told her about his on Valdier. He also told her about what happened to Cara. Trisha wanted to go to Cara immediately but Kelan assured her Trelon was taking care of her and she would be fine. He also explained why it would take him a little longer before he could fulfill his promise to take her home. Trisha knew he regretted the pain her dad was going through but understood his responsibility as a member of the royal family to protect his people.
Trisha spent most of her day learning how to speak the Valdier language without the use of a translator and studying its history and customs. She often felt restless wanting to explore the world outside of the palace. Kelan took her to the village several times and she fell in love with the markets there. They also spent a large amount of time making love. Trisha laughed silently. If they were alone, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. It usually began with a look or a light touch and ended in heavy breathing and their bodies entwined. There wasn’t a place in Kelan’s living quarters they hadn’t made love in or on. Trisha blushed when she thought of the dining table. She was setting out some plates this morning. When she bent over to set his across from where she was going to sit Kelan came up behind her with a low growl. The next thing she knew she was screaming out her orgasm. They didn’t even take the time to remove their clothing. Kelan had reached around her pulling the ties on her trousers until they slid down to pool around her ankles. When she started to protest, he snarled fiercely at her and pushed her until she was lying across the small table with her ass in the air. He had taken her hard and fast from behind. Damn, even the memory of it was enough to arouse her again. A knock on the door drew her out of her reverie.
Trisha opened the door to see Cara standing on the other side. “What are you doing here?” Trisha asked in surprise. “I thought you were still under house arrest or something.”
Cara grinned. “I dismantled all of Trelon’s stuff. He finally broke. I wanted to go see how Abby was doing. Zoran brought her back last night.”
“What happened to Abby?” Trisha asked confused.
“Didn’t Kelan tell you? Someone kidnapped her but they got her back.” Ariel said in surprise.
“No, Kelan seems to have forgotten that little bit of information.” Trisha growled out in aggravation. So that was the important business that kept him away for the past couple of days. No, wonder he was so damn horny this morning. He should have told her what was going on. She needed to have a talk with him about keeping things from her.
“I’m meeting up with Ariel and Carmen to go see her, you want to come?” Cara asked as she bounced up and down. Trisha looked at Cara closely. She was on a major caffeine high.
“Of course I do. You haven’t been drinking any coffee or anything with caffeine in it lately, have you?” Trisha asked curiously as she pulled the door closed behind her.
Cara was bouncing up and down excitedly. “Oh yeah! I spent the last two nights working on the replicator. I figured out how to do all the really cool coffees, including lattes and cappuccinos. Of course, I had to taste test them all so I’ve drunk, like, five or six pots of the stuff and have a really good buzz going. I probably won’t sleep for a week. I can’t wait until I tell Trelon about it.”
Trisha held back the laugh as she thought of Kelan’s poor brother. He wasn’t going to know what hit him. If he was smart, he would find another job to take him away until Cara came down off her high, otherwise, he wasn’t going to be getting any sleep either.
They met up with Ariel and Carmen in the corridor leading to Abby’s living quarters. Trisha frowned when she saw all the guards surrounding them, especially Carmen. Several of the men looked like they would rather be eating nails then standing near her. Their symbiosis didn’t look like they were too concerned though. Most of them were lying down or playing with each other.
“Hey, guys.” Trisha called out hurrying forward. She missed them so much. “How are you doing?” She asked quietly.
“I’m okay but I would be better if I could get these guys to take a long hike off a short pier.” Ariel said with a roll of her eyes. “I’m lucky if they let me go to the bathroom without following me.” She added sarcastically glaring at the two guards assigned to her.
Carmen just shrugged her shoulders. “I’m ready to blow this joint. These losers are getting on my nerves.” She looked at each of the guards assigned to her with a cool, assessing eye. Several of them shifted uncomfortably and watched her with an uneasy look.
“How many do they have assigned to you now?” Trish whispered softly. If she wasn’t mistaken there were at least six guards behind her.
“Eight.” Carmen murmured under her breath. “Two are in medical right now.”
“Oh.” Trisha replied with a sympathetic look at the remaining guards. She decided it was best to just find Abby before any more ended up in medical; which, judging by the calculating look in Carmen’s eyes, could be any moment.
“I am so glad Abby is okay.” Trisha said as she began walking down the corridor towards Abby and Zoran’s living quarters.
“What's with all the guards?” Cara asked curiously as she walked backwards staring at the guards. “I noticed them outside of Carmen's room that day but isn't thi
s a little bit ridiculous? How many guards do we need to protect us, especially with our gold BFF's with us?”
Ariel snickered. “They're not here to protect us. They're here to prevent us from escaping again.”
Cara's eyes brightened at the idea of getting into more mischief. “Again? Do you need help with anything?”
Trisha almost felt sorry for the men when a low groan filled the corridor behind them. It would serve them right if the four women were to plan and execute an escape from the planet. They could probably do it but just the thought of leaving Kelan caused a tremor of pain to flash through Trisha. She frowned. It was almost like something inside of her whimpered at the idea of leaving him. Trisha shook her head. She was feeling a little weird lately, like there was something under her skin itching to get out. She briefly thought of how her skin seemed to change colors when she and Kelan were making love and the odd noises that kept escaping out of her. It was almost like she was either growling or purring depending on what they were doing. It was beginning to drive her nuts. She wanted to desperately ask someone about it but didn’t know how to broach the subject. What was she supposed to say, ‘Sorry but I think there is something inside me trying to get out?’ That was a little too science fiction alien movie for her.