by Becca Van
The other three men bowed and chest thumped, and then all four said in unison, “It is an honor to serve and protect you, Nav.”
“Uh, okay, thanks.”
“Two of you will be with Nav Annie at all times,” Baro commanded. “It would be better if all of you are, but sometimes that just isn’t possible.”
“We will protect Nav Annie with our lives,” Ryker stated.
“As any brave warrior would,” Shar said.
Annie wanted to roll her eyes, but she kept smiling until her face was aching and hoped she didn’t look like a dork.
“Our personal guard will be waiting outside,” Riek said. “They won’t be aware of your duties. They can be trusted, so let them surround us and our bonded and you four can follow. We will explain to them your new positions when it is safe.”
“As you command Nava Riek,” the men said and thumped their chests.
“Are you ready, Annie?” Mott asked as she wrapped her arm around his.
“As I’ll ever be, I guess.” Annie took Baro’s arm as he moved to her other side. She blanked her expression, shoved her shoulders back, and held her head straight. It didn’t matter that she was quaking inside. She was going to portray a calm confidence she didn’t feel. There was no way she was letting anyone intimidate her or make her feel like she was inferior because she wasn’t the same species as they were.
Baro had told her how antiquated some of the Council Elders’ thinking was, and she was glad he had. She was prepared to cut any of the bigots down with her tongue if necessary. She wasn’t about to put up with prejudice or slander from anyone.
If she’d been able to react to her first glimpse of her new world, she would have had her mouth gaping open and her eyes wide as she took everything in, but she kept her eyes straight ahead. That didn’t mean she couldn’t see things in her periphery. Although everything had a red tinge to it from the two red suns she could see in the sky, the colors of the planet looked very similar to Earth. The grass in the distance was a green color, if not a little brighter and lighter than back home. The scent of flowers drifted to her nose, tickling her senses, and she would have loved to follow the amazing aroma and see what type of flowers they were, but again she kept her expression stoic.
Once they were walking along the black walkway, four tall warriors quickly moved in and surrounded them. She saw them giving her curious glances, but their eyes didn’t linger. They were busy looking about them with their hands on what looked like some sort of weapon.
She hadn’t seen her guys with weapons onboard the ship and wondered about that, but she supposed it would be dangerous to fire inside a spacecraft in case the hull was breached. And there was also the fact that her guys had inbuilt weapons since they had great big claws they could call on anytime they wanted.
That brought another question to Annie’s mind. If they were a shifter race and they had claimed her, did that mean she’d be able to shift, too? She’d have to ask them later.
She saw six older men standing at the end of the black pathway and made sure to study each and every one of them. She wanted to be able to recognize her enemy at all times.
Five of them had calm expressions with mild interest as they caught glimpses of her through her tall, muscular guard and men, but there was one with an angry scowl on his face. Annie had no doubt that this was probably that Rotec guy. She wondered why they had been given the title of Council Elders, because they didn’t look much older than her guys, even if they weren’t as tall or fit.
The warrior in front of them stepped aside but didn’t relax his stance. The six men in flowing white robes bowed and thumped their chests.
The man who’d been scowling now had no expression on his face, but his eyes gave her the creeps. There was such cold malevolence in his gaze, she couldn’t help but shiver in revulsion.
“We are glad to have you return,” evil guy said, and although there was no inflection in his voice, Annie knew he hadn’t meant a word he’d said.
“Council Elders,” Shar said from behind Annie.
“Who is your…companion?” The guy next to Evil dude asked.
Shar moved closer to Annie’s back and placed a hand on her shoulder. Mott did the same, and Annie was glad to have all of her mates touching her. She could feel how proud they were of her, and that gave her the confidence she needed to remain still and quiet as she was looked over like a piece of cow dung. For now.
“Elders Rotec, Botoc, Focto, Tomoc, Elders Pharl and Charl, this is our bonded, Nav Annie Tammock.”
“You found your mate? From what planet are you, child?” Pharl asked.
Annie studied him for a moment. He was smiling and looked genuinely happy that her men had found her.
“Elders.” Annie nodded her head and met each of their eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” She turned and met Pharl’s gaze. “I’m from planet Earth.”
“Earth?” Rotec all but spat. “That is an antediluvian planet.”
“Really?” Annie asked facetiously. “I think Earth is a very modern planet. We are accepting of different races and religions. Most Earthlings accept human beings at face value. For such an antiquated planet, don’t you think they would be prejudice against anyone who was different?”
Annie’s heart was racing, and it was difficult to keep her breathing steady. Although most of the humans on Earth were accepting of others’ differences, there was still quite a lot of bias against religions, sexual proclivities, cultures and such, but she wasn’t about to tell these idiots that. Especially Rotec. The glare Rotec pinned her with should have burned her on the spot, but he remained silent.
She listened as the elders updated her men on their planet issues, and before she knew it, they were walking toward the large building about five hundred yards away. As she studied the building, it reminded her of the castle in The Lord of the Rings the elves had lived in, but also totally different. The material was white, modern, and sleek but looked pink under the red suns. It was huge, and although feeling totally overwhelmed, she remained silent.
The walkways were lined with thousands of warriors, and they were all staring at her. She could hear whispers following them and caught the words “Nav” and “bonded” every now and then. Annie’s heart broke for this male-dominated race when she only caught sight of one woman. She looked very old, with her silver hair and wise purple eyes, but she was stunning and didn’t have a wrinkle on her face.
When she didn’t see any other buildings but the huge castle, Annie wondered if everyone lived in it. It was big with multiple levels, but she hadn’t thought all the citizens on this planet would commune together.
Annie could feel the hair on her nape standing on end. She would have liked to have turned around to find who was watching her, but figured it was pretty much everyone. The Elders had stepped aside, clearing the path so they could continue on. From the glances Botoc had been giving Rotec, Annie would bet her last dollar those two were in cahoots.
“Are you all right, dearling?” Baro asked.
“Peachy,” Annie said.
“What?” Mott asked.
“I’m fine.” Annie sighed. “Can we run the rest of the way?”
“No,” Baro replied. “We know you are uncomfortable, cosmose, but it will be over soon. Our warriors’ curiosity is being appeased by getting a glimpse of you. Word would have spread and we would have had mayhem on our hands if we’d hidden you away. This way they get to see their new Nav and then can go about their duties.”
“Okay. Does everyone live in that monstrosity?”
“It’s called castle, not a monstrosity.” Mott smiled and winked at her.
She smiled back, some of her tension dissipating. She hugged his arm to her side. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“You did well putting Rotec in his place,” Baro whispered for her ears alone.
“Yes, but also made an enemy.”
“You have nothing to worry about, Annie. We will protect you and so will
our warriors,” Mott said in a hard voice.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Annie muttered under her breath.
“Why?” Baro asked.
“Uh.” Annie shrugged. Well, shit. I keep forgetting they can hear every little thing. Gonna have to stop talking to myself.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Annie reminded Mott.
“The warriors live on the lower level of the castle. The middle section is where the warriors work, and the third level is for greeting and entertaining mostly. Other Cardinals live in adobes in the yard at the rear of the castle.”
“So I’m guessing the top’s where you guys live?”
“Correct,” Baro said. “Our personal guard lives on the same level as us, and so will your own guard.”
“Where do the Elders live?”
“On the third level. The rear section of the third level is away from the greeting rooms and kitchens.” Mott met her eyes for a moment before he went back to scanning the crowd.
“You have kitchens?”
“Of course,” Baro replied. “Did you think we used the replicator for everything?”
“Well, yeah, I suppose I did.”
“It’s convenient on a ship, and although the food tastes good, fresh is so much better,” Mott explained
“You sound like a commercial from Earth,” Annie told Mott.
“What’s a commercial?”
“You don’t have that in your data banks?” Annie asked.
Mott’s eyes glazed over for a moment, and he tilted his head. He focused on her again. “I do. You are most amusing, Annie.”
“Yeah, I’m a real blast.”
The closer they got to the castle, the more she began to panic. What did she know about leading people? Would she be expected to interact with the Elders and make decisions? What the hell did she know? She knew none of their rules or laws.
“Relax, cosmose,” Shar whispered in her ear and rubbed a hand up and down her back.
“That’s easy for you to say,” Annie whispered back. “You all know what you’re doing.”
“And you will, too,” Riek interjected. “We will teach you, baby.”
“And if I offend someone by saying the wrong thing?”
“You could never say the wrong thing, mate,” Baro said in a growly voice. “If anyone tells you otherwise you come and tell me immediately.”
Annie rolled her eyes. It seemed that men were the same no matter what country—make that planet—they were from.
As they entered the castle—Annie thought maybe “palace” was a better description for the huge, luxurious building—she couldn’t look about fast enough. There was art on the walls. It looked like battles of a past era, and if that was the case, these people had been way more advanced with their technology than Earth for a long time.
The walls were a pale blue color that would have been very calming if there hadn’t been so many people milling about.
The men led her to a large area behind a wall at the end of the massive foyer, and white doors opened silently. The room was so big that the eight warriors, plus her and her men were able to fit into it without her feeling hemmed in. Annie squealed when the light, airy box they were in went from standing still to Mach 3 seconds, and once more her stomach was left behind. The box room stopped before she could even speak, and if Baro hadn’t wrapped an arm around her waist, she would have stumbled into the wall.
“Is this an elevator?”
“It’s called a transporter, but only goes up and down,” Shar explained.
“Yep, that’s what I thought. On Earth we call it an elevator.”
The doors opened to a wide, long corridor.
“This way, Annie.” Baro guided her from the elevator.
“Are we there yet?” Annie didn’t care that she sounded like a kid. She was exhausted. She knew she shouldn’t be after sleeping for six days straight, but she’d been on an emotional roller coaster today, what with the shuttle ride, landing on a new planet, learning there was someone out to get her men and probably her, too, and facing the Council Elders. She was done like a dog’s dinner. It took every bit of effort to put one foot in front of the other and not weave about like a drunk.
“Not much longer, mate.”
She looked up at Mott and saw him frowning down at her. He and Riek always seemed more sensitive to her needs. Baro must have felt what she did, too, because he half turned to her, the muscles in his arms flexing as he moved.
“Don’t even think about it,” Annie whispered fiercely. She’d seen the intention in his eyes. He was about to pick her up and carry her.
“I was only trying to help, dearling.”
“I’m not an invalid.”
“That may be, but you are still recovering after your battle,” Baro said.
“Nav was in a battle?” one of the huge guards she hadn’t been introduced to yet, asked.
Annie turned to see who had spoken. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but before she could speak, Baro held up his hand.
“We need to wait until we are behind closed doors. We don’t know if there are any ears listening.” Shar strode in front of her and swept the two large doors open. His warriors rushed into the massive room, each turning in different directions as if they were looking for something or someone.
Annie didn’t know what that was about, and she would ask eventually, but she was too busy taking everything in. The colors in living room—greeting room, Annie. Get it right—were light and tranquil. The floating planks were tinted a light blue color, and the walls were a pastel mauve. Clean, fresh air wafted through the sheer curtains along the far glass wall, and there was a balcony beyond. She could see what looked like a kitchen off to the right, and guessed the bedrooms were where the hallway led on the far left.
The four big warriors who had been waiting for them as they disembarked the shuttle came back and nodded their heads. The tallest and brawniest of them spoke. “All is clear.”
“Sit down, Annie, you looked exhausted,” said Mott.
Annie sank down onto the floating plank and sighed with relief as it conformed around her body. She couldn’t help but stare at all the hunky men gathered in the room. She’d never seen so much eye candy gathered in one place before. Though none of them held a candle to her mates.
“Annie, these are our warrior guards, Ardo, Bako, Davo, and Sano Agin,” Mott introduced. “Your Nav, Annie Tammock.”
Each warrior in the room, including Ryker and his brothers, bowed low and thumped their closed fists on the left sides of their chests. Annie didn’t think she’d ever get used to such respect, but it was nice for a change. She’d never had the respect of anyone back on Earth, not even her former boss. That asshat had treated her like a slave rather than a work colleague, but since she was no longer on Earth, she pushed her thoughts aside.
“It’s nice to meet you all.” Annie smiled. She wasn’t into formality, and although she’d bowed her head to the Council Elders, she wasn’t about to do it to these men. As far as she knew, they were her equal. She wasn’t better than them, and they weren’t better than her. They were all flesh and blood.
“What exactly does Nav mean?” Annie asked.
“Nav is the term used for the female ruler. Since you have bonded with us, you are a ruler of Cardinal,” Shar answered.
Annie sighed. She still had so much to learn, but to find out she was the equivalent to a queen was rather intimidating and disconcerting. She hoped she didn’t have to make any decisions that would affect anyone.
“When did Nav Annie battle?” Ardo asked.
He’d raised his eyebrow with skepticism as he stared at her. She could just imagine what he was thinking.
How could such a puny Earth female battle a warrior and survive?
Annie gasped, because she had heard that question in her head. She felt the color drain from her face and wondered if she was now hearing voices or if she was hallucinating. What the fuck is going on? Did I act
ually somehow hear his thoughts or get into his head?
Baro, who’d sat down next to her, opened his mouth to answer, but Annie wanted to see if she had heard Ardo, so she leaned over and placed a finger over his lips. Baro frowned at her intently, but she shifted her attention to the warrior as she dropped her hand.
“The Sytax managed to invade the spaceship. They had most of the men pinned to the walls, ceiling, and floor. I was somehow able to connect with the mind of one of those stinky bastards and direct him to do what I wanted him to. I commanded him to kill his own kind and release the men from their mental hold. This puny Earth female kicked the Sytax’s ass.”
“You heard my thoughts?”
Annie’s head began to throb. She closed her eyes and pushed her fingers into her eye sockets, trying to relieve the pressure. Her head swam for a moment, and she thought she was going to do something stupid like pass out again. And although she was weary to the bone, it wasn’t because of exhaustion. She was scared out of her ever-loving mind. She didn’t want to hear the thoughts of other people. She didn’t want to know what they felt or thought about her. A hysterical bubble of laughter erupted from her mouth as she imagined herself being bombarded with the thoughts and feelings of everyone around her. She would go stark raving mad if that happened.
When she realized she was panting and sweat had formed on her brow, she tried to calm but felt so out of control she wasn’t sure she hadn’t already lost the plot. Hands wrapped around her upper arms, and then she was lifted from her seat and over onto Baro’s lap.
“Calm, dearling.” Baro had her over his legs sideways with her side pressed against his chest. He ran a massive hand up and down her back, over her head and hair as he whispered in her ear. “I can feel your fear. What has you so frightened?”
Shar squatted down in front of her and clasped one of her hands. When she glanced to see where the other warriors were, she was relieved to see that they had moved to the balcony outside and were chatting quietly. Every now and then, she heard a word Ryker spoke and knew he was relating what had happened on the spaceship with the Sytax.
“I heard him,” Annie whispered. “I heard Ardo in my head, or I somehow got into his.”