His to Tame (Alien Masters Book 4)

by Kallista Dane

  Chapter Six

  “Who is he again?”

  “This is Minister Symon. He’s a high-ranking representative from the federation. He’s been coming by weekly while you were in sleep mode to check on your condition and report to the council.”

  “Well, I don’t like the look of him. His eyes are squinty and he smells like he just farted a fistful of lilies.”

  Selena choked back a laugh, turning it into a cough. “Minister Symon, allow me to present Haldor, chief counsel to King Sigrun of Gadolinium. He asks me to thank you and the entire federation for your excellent care and gracious hospitality.”

  Symon gave her a suspicious glance, then inclined his head a fraction of an inch. “Please tell—Haldor, is it? These barbarians have such unusual… names. Tell him he is most welcome. It is our pleasure to host a distinguished emissary, a national hero, from the great planet of Gadolinium. The federation wishes him a speedy recovery and we look forward to sending him back to his world with our best wishes of peace and prosperity for his people in the future.”

  Selena translated, barely able to keep her mind on Symon’s politically correct speech. She was too nervous about what Haldor might do or say next. She’d ordered several basic white uniforms for him yesterday, in preparation for this meeting. But when she arrived this morning, she’d been shocked to see that he’d hacked off the sleeves of every one of them all the way to the shoulder, claiming they were too tight and he could barely move. If she wanted him to get better, he had to train, he said. And he couldn’t train properly if he couldn’t swing a broadsword.

  It was too late to have a new uniform made. So now the display of his bare, bronzed arms with their bulging biceps and triceps came across as rude and vulgar. The minister barely disguised his disgust.

  As if that weren’t bad enough, even the shapeless garment Haldor wore couldn’t conceal his impressive size. Or his Viking heritage. He’d dug out the leather thong he’d been wearing around his forehead when they brought him in and tied it back on. With his flowing dark hair held by the band, he looked like one of those primitive tribesmen she’d seen depicted in holographic museum displays. Head high, that massive chest straining the seams of the thin white uniform. His bearing that of a mighty warrior. Lacking only the sword and shield, he stood as she imagined he did when leading Sigrun’s forces into battle.

  Symon tried to hide his reaction to seeing Haldor awake and on his feet, but it was clear the Viking intimidated him. He carried on a bit, cutting it short much sooner than she’d expected. Selena translated. She managed to improvise a response more acceptable than Haldor’s witty but completely unacceptable reply, barely hiding her sigh of relief when the minister said his goodbyes and asked her to step outside Haldor’s room for a moment.

  “You poor thing. What you’ve had to endure… Awake, the creature is worse that I could have imagined. And that smell.” He wrinkled his nose. “It’s so—intense. It reminds me of something. I can’t quite think of what.”

  Selena hoped he didn’t see her surprise. She’d been aware of Haldor’s distinctive scent for weeks—the subtle essence of male pheromones he gave off. Men on Earth no longer produced them, now that their testosterone levels had been artificially altered. She loved being close to him, breathing in his virile aura. It was one of the primitive biological processes that her scientific training told her had led to her body’s powerful attraction to him. She hadn’t realized another male would be affected by the pheromones.

  “I know,” Symon suddenly blurted out. “He smells like the Neodyman I sat near at a federation meeting. I think the man must have had sweaty armpits.”

  She stifled a laugh. Apparently the effect wasn’t the same on Symon as it was on her.

  “It makes me want to go home and douse myself with cologne,” the minister added. “How soon can we get rid of him?”

  “He’s just awakened. Even though you don’t want him to have counseling, he’ll need time for his body to adjust to the new organs, time for me to monitor him and make sure they’ve melded. His muscles have been weakened by inactivity. He needs to be in peak physical condition before we send him back through the Portal. With his massive blood loss, his injuries, the first trip nearly killed him. It wouldn’t do for us to ship him off and have the welcoming committee greet a corpse on the other side.”

  The minister looked horrified. “No, no, no. You’re right. We can’t have that. We’re still establishing diplomatic ties with Gadolinium. They sent him to us believing we could save his life. If we don’t, it will destroy the fragile relationship building between our planets.”

  He waved his hand in the air, studying a screen that appeared. “How long do you think it will take for you to get him ready to travel?”

  “Two moons—months. I’m sorry. I’ve been speaking Gadolinean almost exclusively since he awoke two days ago.”

  “Two months? Well, if that’s what it must be…” He made a few notes in the air and swiped the screen away. “I’ll inform their king. No doubt his people will want to arrange some sort of ceremony when he returns. I have no idea what these savages consider proper etiquette to welcome a hero. Slaughter a helpless animal perhaps, and disrobe en masse while they burn it and then consume its flesh.”

  He gave her a searching look. “Have you suffered any—how can I put this delicately?—ill effects from your proximity to him?”

  She looked him straight in the eye and lied. “None whatsoever, minister. I’ve been careful to minimize physical contact as much as possible while treating him and I’ve taken the precaution of self-monitoring my hormone levels on a daily basis. I’ve also forbidden my staff to have any contact with him to avoid the risk of anyone else being adversely affected.”

  “Excellent, doctor. Excellent. I will inform the federation that this matter is being dealt with expeditiously in your capable hands. In fact, I will recommend to the ministry that you be given a leave of absence from your duties as director so you can devote your full attention to hastening his recovery.”

  He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “This is all hush-hush for now, and I’ll deny I ever said it, but I’ve heard rumors of a promotion in the works for you as soon as the Viking is safely back on his planet. Possibly even some sort of intergalactic recognition. The ministry is aware that the procedures you used to save his life were based on your own groundbreaking new technological advances. You took a huge risk, Doctor Reston. And it paid off. That man would not be alive today if not for your courage and innovation. And what’s more important, your efforts have been instrumental in swaying his ruler to sign the treaty with the InterStellar Federation.”

  Selena bowed. “I am humbled by your praise, minister. It is not only my duty, it is my privilege to serve the federation with whatever skills and knowledge I possess.”

  Symon’s narrow mouth twisted into what looked for all the world like a smile. “Until next week, doctor.”

  Selena nodded pleasantly and backed into Haldor’s room. She shut the door and leaned against it, trembling.

  In two steps he was by her side. “Did that little weasel harm you? I’ll snap his bony spine in half.”

  “No, it’s all right. He just… he asked in a roundabout way if I’d had any—contact—with you. I had to lie to him.”

  “And the lie sits heavy on your heart.”

  She glanced up at him, surprised. Once again, the Viking had shown her how wrong her perceptions had been of his world, his culture. This off-worlder Earthers considered a barbarian showed more empathy, more depth of feeling than any man she’d ever met in the federation’s high council.

  “Yes, it does. I’ve never thought of myself as being capable of deceit.”

  “You aren’t. Not deep down inside. If you were, the lie wouldn’t trouble you. You’ve done something you consider wrong. And now to confess that wrong would cause harm to another. So you must do wrong again and lie about it. Living with that lie is a burden. But not as great a burden as clear
ing your conscience and living with the knowledge that in doing so you’ve done an even greater wrong to someone else.”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes. So I need to find a way to live with myself, accepting that I’ve done wrong.”

  He shrugged. “Or perhaps you need to use that heart of yours to examine what you’ve been taught—and then decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong.”

  * * *

  His own heart ached for her, seeing her in such pain. What type of cruel Norn ruled the fates of Earthers, condemning them to a life without passion? Although if that puny, pale runt was typical of the males on this planet, no wonder she’d never fucked. Who’d want to, with him?

  They’d had a conversation yesterday about both worlds thinking their ways were the only right ways. On this one though, he was sure of his. Earthers might have strange machines to rekindle the spark of life in dying bodies. But he’d rather be dead on Gadolinium than live without the blood-heating, heart-pounding, cock-pulsing thrill of taking a naked woman in his arms and fucking her until they both exploded.

  Thank the gods, he was no longer a randy young buck, desperate to ram his stiff prick into the nearest hot sweet slit he sniffed on the night air. Though he was determined to have her, he could bide his time with the doctor, use sweet seduction to lay the groundwork for their inevitable mating.

  She stood by the door. Head bowed, shoulders slumped.

  “Now that your lord has departed, can we begin?”

  “He’s not my lord.” She straightened up, her eyes sparking fire at him.

  He hid a triumphant grin. His strategy worked. Bristling at the idea that the pitiful little creature would be mistaken as her master, Selena stopped wallowing in misery.

  “No offense meant,” he replied mildly. “Have you set out a plan for today’s training? And a goal?”

  “I have. I’ve calculated the progress you need to make in order to be fit for transport through the Portal and divided it into incremental units. As I said, we’ll begin slowly and step up the pace gradually over the next eight weeks. Two moons,” she corrected, when his brow wrinkled slightly.

  “That sounds agreeable. You are the doctor. You set the goals. Would it also be agreeable if as the patient, I set the rewards for which I strive?”

  She cocked her head, considering. “Yes, that’s a good idea. There’s no point in my setting a reward in which you might have no interest. It gives you no incentive to work. What reward did you have in mind?”

  “Hmmm. It’s a pity you have no ale here. Let me think on it. Do you give your word that when I earn a reward, you’ll give it?”

  She gave him a suspicious look. “I suppose so, as long as it’s within my power to give. All right. Yes. You have my word.”

  He found it harder than he thought it would be at first to go through the exercises she’d designed for him. The muscles of his left arm and shoulder hadn’t knitted themselves fully to the new bones she’d put in. That side of his body felt clumsy and slow to respond when they first began. Later in the day even lifting the arm over his head made him want to whine like a cranky child. He tired quickly and fought to hide the fact that he was panting for breath every time she halted for a rest.

  By the time Selena called an end to the morning’s training, it was all he could do not to sink onto the bed, moaning, curled up in a ball. Had he been with Kylar and Gunnar and the others, they’d have shamed him into going on longer, not content till he collapsed on the ground, puking.

  “Haldor, that was wonderful. You’ve made great progress for your first day.”

  He concentrated and her blurred face slowly came into focus. “When does this ‘training’ you promised begin?”

  She laughed. “I underestimated you. Apparently you’re even stronger than I thought. I’ll step up the pace a bit tomorrow, to really challenge you. Now—have you decided what you’d like for your reward?”

  Haldor stifled a groan. Damn his stubborn hide. Why couldn’t he keep his tongue still? Step up the pace? He’d die here after all.

  He felt every moon of his forty years right then. Blood pounded in his ears, through his veins. Everywhere—except his limp prick. His masculine pride was saved by the fact that he’d decided before they even began not to start off with demanding a sexual act that would plunge her back into guilt and turmoil.

  “I want to go out. Walk among the trees. I want you to show me your world.”

  “Out? But…”

  “You gave your word.”

  “You’re right. And you’ve certainly earned your reward. Fine. We’ll go. In fact, it may be a good idea to get you away from all this medical equipment for a bit. You’re going to love our nature area. It’s so green there. And the trees are majestic. It will make you feel like you’re back home. Sit down and rest for a while first. Let me get you something to eat after that workout.” She glanced at his bare arms and shoulders, the sweat-soaked uniform clinging to his body. “Maybe you’d like to shower and change before we go?”

  He missed his sauna back home but Selena showed him how to bring forth a waterfall in a small enclosure off his room. He leaned wearily against its clear wall, letting the hot spring pour over his aching body, soothing his muscles. Then, with no snowdrift to roll in, he summoned an icy cold blast, turning around and around in the spray until he felt like himself again.

  An hour later, they stood outside the building. The journey in the narrow metal box had been swift but frightening. His stomach lurched as they fell and for a moment he feared he’d shame himself and lose his midday meal. Thankfully he stood behind Selena in the box and she hadn’t seemed to notice.

  The free fall slowed, finally coming to a stop. An unseen hand silently opened the doors. His legs still shook a little as he crossed a large empty room and stepped outside.

  Haldor stood still, taking it all in. Here the glaring white all around him was even more unrelenting than it had been when looking down from above. Buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, their walls clad in shining surfaces that reflected the light. Stretching to the heavens, so high his eye could barely follow them to the top. Selena said the city was surrounded by something she called a dome. He imagined it must be similar to the walls of a fortress, but he could see no sign of it.

  Underfoot, smooth white stone stretching out in every direction. No sign of joints or tool marks. He wondered how such a massive stone could have been transported. Or had a giant marble mountain been hewn away by the Earthers over the ages, one chunk at a time, leaving behind only this great slab on which they built their city?

  People moved in every direction around him. Speaking softly, nodding pleasantly as they passed each other. None of the men shouted out a friendly insult, then laughed and gave his brother a hearty embrace. The women didn’t stroll arm in arm, talking nonstop while their little ones ran around them, giggling. The few children he saw walked as solemnly as the adults.

  Some of the passersby glanced furtively out of the corners of their eyes at him. A few stared openly. Just as they’d been about to leave, Selena had taken one look at him, run back into his room and come out with a sheet that she tied around his neck like a makeshift cloak. Draped around him, it covered the upper part of his body. But when he began striding along, it swung freely, exposing his bare, bronzed arms and powerful shoulders.

  One look and those nearby disappeared into buildings or picked up their pace, putting distance between themselves and him. Others heading toward him turned and began walking back the way they’d come.

  “It’s all right,” Selena murmured. “Most citizens aren’t used to seeing beings from off-world in the flesh. By tonight, you’ll be in every living room in East Metropolis—in life-size hologram.” She sighed. “I’m probably going to get in trouble with Symon. I didn’t get permission for this outing from the ministry.”

  “You will be punished? Because of me? I will not allow it!” Haldor shouted. “Take me to them. Now!”

  Bystanders fled openly
, as though encountering a dangerous beast—a snow leopard or a hungry wolf wandering into the city, lost in a storm.

  “Sssh!” She glanced up at him, then away, blushing. “It’s not the kind of punishment you’re thinking of. We’re already out here so let’s head for the park while I explain.”

  She led him down the wide lane, nearly deserted now, and around a corner toward a glimmer of green in the distance.

  “The ministers will call me into a huge room. They’ll all be sitting at a table up on a platform, wearing their fancy dress uniforms. They’ll tell me how much my actions disrupted the ‘orderly fabric of the daily lives of our citizenry.’ Then they’ll tell me how disappointed they are in me and how they expected me to know better. Finally, they’ll remind me of my duty as an official to set a good example.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then I’m expected to apologize.”

  “And then they’ll whip you?”

  She laughed. “No! There’s no spanking, no whipping. Being publicly rebuked is considered punishment enough.”

  He nodded. “Of course. I forget. You are not treated as a woman. You have earned high rank. Your honor, your drengr, means as much to you as that of any man. For a proud warrior, being humiliated before his peers is worse than being whipped.”

  She shrugged. “Truthfully, I don’t care all that much what they think. I don’t have a great deal of respect for most of them. There are a lot of pompous windbags in the ministry who have been in power far too long. As I told you earlier, they act like the federation is superior to all other galactic powers—and secretly they’re convinced that Earth is superior to every other world in the federation.”

  Selena stopped, waved a hand. “Here are your trees.”

  Haldor took stock of his surroundings. The solid white stone underfoot gave way to a square carpet of soft green grass between the buildings. It stretched roughly half the length of a tiny meadow that lay hidden in the woods behind his house on the outskirts of Trondheim. Here and there, spindly saplings bearing shiny rounded leaves no bigger than his thumb poked up through the green blanket. If he chopped down the whole patch, he reckoned all their trunks together wouldn’t heat his house for a single winter’s night.