Mating Rituals

by Tina Gayle

  “Good.” Guilio walked to another hover-jet. “Let’s go. There’s nothing else we can do here.”

  He called out his instructions to a man nearby, boarded the jet, and took off for the camp. With no other option, Stihl followed.

  Once back in camp, he caught sight of Marohka heading for the cote before they even cleared their machines.

  “Guilio, are you all right?” She stepped to the older man’s side. Her hand rested on his arm.

  “Now, girly, there’s no reason for you to fret. I’m fine. Poor Zook, he’s the one with a crushed skull.”

  Her voice sounded strained. “Oh, Guilio, I’m so sorry. This never should’ve happened.”

  “Yes, well . . .” He patted her hand. “It’s part of the business.” He removed the chew stick from his mouth and tossed it aside. “Having a new mate appears to agree with you.”

  She touched her eye. “Not with this color patch.”

  “Well, you still look good.” He slid an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s head inside out of the cold. I need a stiff drink.”

  Trailing behind them, Stihl caught her hugging the older man. Her fondness for him must have developed over years from working together. Stihl hated it. Adrift, he realized she hadn’t spoken to him yet. Her entire focus centered on Guilio. Jealousy gripped Stihl’s heart with its pointy spike.

  Guilio, old enough to be her father and an old friend of her family, held her hand in his. Her short hair bobbed against his shoulder. Stihl longed to call the man out.

  Stihl followed and curbed his sudden flash of temper.

  * * * *

  A ziton later with Marohka sitting in the rest-din, talking with the other miners, Stihl decided he’d slip away. He needed to meet with Guilio.

  The floor of the older man’s office lay covered in stacks of magazines, files, and other papers strewn about. What items couldn’t find a home on the floor, sat on his desk. The color of the walls was hidden under layers of maps and charts pinned to the surface. The room reeked of the strong scent of cheap liquor.

  Dumping a pile of folders from a chair to the floor, Stihl dropped into the seat and sipped the stiff drink Guilio handed him. He eyed the mess. “Clean up lately?”

  “Don’t let the disorder fool you. I know where everything is.” He shuffled a few folders around on his desk. “Now, where did I put that file?”

  Stihl laughed as expected. “You’re not fooling me, you old coot. You know more of what’s going on around here than you’re willing to admit.”

  “Yes, well . . .” Guilio frowned. “Some people think I’m nothing but a miner who’s lost a few rocks.” He shrugged. “The idea serves its purpose at times.”

  “So, do you want to come clean and tell me the true story?” Stihl narrowed his gaze suspecting the truth. Guilio hadn’t given him a direct answer earlier at the mine. With so many eyes and ears close at hand, Stihl hadn’t pushed the point. Now, he demanded answers.

  “We got trouble, boy. A rock with a good deal of Zook’s blood on it found its way a fair distance from his body.” Guilio gulped down a large swallow of his drink. “Rocks that size don’t bounce.”

  “You think someone staged the cave-in?” Stihl’s thoughts jumped on the idea of a killer being among them. He needed to keep an even closer eye on Marohka.

  “Looks like.”

  “And what are you going to do about it?”

  Guilio shook his head and took another big swig from his drink. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Yes, nothing. I can’t prove a thing. It’s just a feeling in an old miner’s gut.” He rubbed his portly belly. “Who’ll believe me?”

  Stihl studied the other man. Twigs of gray hair stuck up on top of his head, while the sides were slick as ice. Wrinkles caused by both laughter and worry, etched deep ravines down his cheeks. His gaze held the wisdom of a cruel world with any hope of changing that inevitability lost.

  “I would.” He softened the compliment with, “Who wouldn’t believe an old coot like you.”

  “Plenty.” The old miner’s shoulders shifted like they had been released of a heavy load. “Also, I hope the eye patch Marohka’s sporting is from her fall.” His tone threatened retribution if Stihl didn’t answer correctly.

  “It is.”

  “Good, that girl doesn’t need any more trouble.”

  Stihl caught the man’s overprotective attitude to protect Marohka. He wanted to question Guilio about her life before he knew her, but it wouldn’t be a good way to start their business meeting.

  Guilio leaned back in his chair. “Who, by the way, are you calling an old coot? I could run circles around you, boy.”

  “As long as the circles aren’t too big?” Stihl teased in an attempt to ease the tension.

  “Only too true.” He laughed and finished his drink. “Now, tell me about your offer. The sooner I sell this mine, the better.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Zook’s wife wants his body sent to Central City for the Life celebration. They are shipping him on his way as soon as they can,” Upton, the older of the two men, said.

  With the classic looks of a miner, he had strong arms, broad shoulders, a round middle, and a worn expression on his face. He’d been at the job for over twenty years. “Zook’s battle ceremony is arranged for tomorrow. Guilio has a warrior coming to perform the dance with his swords.”

  “Is there anything else the men would like to do for Zook? We could have a small Life celebration here.” Marohka studied the drained faces of the two men. She couldn’t do much to ease their loss.

  “No, a few men asked for leave to attend the one in Central City. We’ll give them the time off.” Upton massaged his hand down his neck. “Everyone else will be happy with the battle ceremony.”

  As the lead mineralogist, Marohka took his word on what they should do. He lived with the miners and knew how to handle the men’s demands.

  With just the three of them at the table and only a few others in the room, she wanted to take advantage of their privacy. She’d diverted Cyd away from them by sending him after some paperwork in her cabin. She required some answers while he was gone.

  “How bad is the cave-in?” She thought ahead to decide how many hours the mine would have to be shut down. Another setback they didn’t need.

  Upton shrugged and picked up his cup. “We should be able to return to work in a few zitons. It’s a partial collapse in the rear section of tunnel seven.”

  “Then, how did Zook get hurt?”

  “It must have happened right on top of him. At least that’s the way we figured it. Otherwise, he could’ve gotten out of the way.” Gang, the younger of the two men, held the job of second in charge. He handled the day to day operation while Upton handled most of the paperwork.

  “Why was he in the tunnel by himself? According to company policy, every man is supposed to have a partner with him at all times.” She tried to keep the accusation from her voice, but the tone still didn’t sound right to her ears.

  “His partner stood four steps in front of him, when the wall gave way. Zook took a blow to the head and fell under the rubble.” Upton wrapped his hands around his cup. “Nothing we could do.”

  “What’s going on?” She clenched her hands under the table. “This mine has had nothing but trouble from the beginning. Governmental delays, equipment problems, output below expectation. Now, someone’s been killed by a faulty support. This is unacceptable.” She stared at both men. Their worried frowns increased the pain churning through her stomach. “I want answers.”

  “Marohka, I checked every support yesterday. They were fine,” Gang said. “We’ve followed every company rule to the letter.”

  Her anger boiled. These men weren’t at fault, but a man still lay dead in another part of the camp. The responsibility of his death rested on her shoulders, a burden she couldn’t shrug off. She needed to figure out what was going on. “When Cyd gets back with those reports, we’ll review the
m with a nail pick. We can’t work at the mine, but I still want to understand what’s happening around here.”

  Upton shoved his gray hair out of his eyes and cleared his throat. “Marohka, we’re running on low. We’ve been at the mine for over eighteen zitons.”

  Before she could answer, Gang agreed. “Look, I know you want to figure out what’s going on. So do we. But until the mine is cleared, there’s not much we can do.”

  Marohka wanted to argue, to demand results, to slay a dragon, or to beat something into a bloody pulp. But the men in front of her drew her attention. Their faces pale, their eyes sad, their energy depleted, they met her anger with grim resolve. She shared their hurt. They’d lost a friend.

  She stood and swallowed the harsh words bubbling in the back of her throat. “You’re right. Let’s meet back here in a couple of zitons. Then both of you can get a bit to eat, and we’ll head out.”

  The need to escape hit. She turned on her heels and left the rest-din. On the way to her cabin, Cyd blocked her path, but she sidestepped him without pausing.

  Cyd stopped. “Don’t you want these reports?”

  “No, give them to Guilio.”

  “Why?”

  The answer rebounded with the slamming of her cabin door. No more words could escape the knot in her throat. Alone, her composure crumbled. How could such a horrible thing happen? Zook had a family, children who deserved their father. She threw her bag from her bed and yelled at the walls. “What is going on around this crazy place? Wasn’t it bad enough for the mine to show a lost?”

  She gathered up a pillow and punched it with her fist. “Now, someone is dead.”

  The soft, foamy square of fluff offered no resistance. “I should never have let Stihl delay me.”

  She repeatedly pounded the soft pillow. “I should’ve been here days ago. If not for Stihl, I would’ve been.”

  The door groaned, and she turned. The pillow flew across the room and hit the target, the exact center of Stihl’s chest.

  “Get out,” she yelled and reached for the nearest weapon.

  Stihl shut the door, and a second pillow flew. “Now, Marohka.” He caught the piece of fluff with ease. Her fury flared higher. “I think you need to calm down.”

  His words added fuel to the fire. Anger bubbled within her and boiled over. Ready to do battle, she raised her hands. “Get out.” She broke into a rage. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do. Just, get out of my—”

  The blow of his shoulder slamming her against the bed hit before she finished her sentence. She wrestled against him, using every move she knew to gain an advantage. The knee to the crotch missed and hit his thigh. The right hook skimmed past his ear. A roll to the left with a quick shift to the right, he countered with a simple transfer of his weight. She was trapped beneath his, her hands held captive under one of his strong wrists above her head.

  She gasped for breath. “Let me go.”

  “No.”

  She wrapped her teeth around the muscle along the ridge of his shoulder.

  He whispered in her ear, “Don’t even think about it.” His fingers lace their way through her hair.

  “I thought we established the fact that I don’t like to be held down.”

  “Then quit fighting me.”

  “Stihl, please, you don’t understand. This is all my fault.” She lowered her head onto the bed and stared at his face.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t you see? It’s my fault Zook’s dead.”

  He appeared confused. “How do you figure that?”

  “I should’ve been here earlier. I let you distract me.”

  “Marohka, it wouldn’t have mattered.” His head rocked back and forth. “You couldn’t have prevented what happened.”

  “It’s my job. Don’t you see I should’ve been here? I knew the mine was having trouble.”

  The sympathy on his face registered, and she shifted her gaze to the knotted wood ceiling. She didn’t deserve his forgiveness, felt unworthy of such an emotion.

  “Starlight, look at me.”

  “Stihl . . .” She closed her eyes and fought the urge to let go of the guilt. A man was dead. Someone had to take the blame.

  His cheek brushed hers, and he whispered in her ear. “You can’t be everywhere.”

  She didn’t answer.

  Who to blame battled at the forefront of her mind. She searched for an answer and fought the emotion raging through her blood. Slowly, she became aware of his hard body pressing firmly against hers. The shield of his chest covered her heart. His thick thigh between her legs allowed the scent of her desire to escape. The smell of him snuck into her lungs with each breath she took.

  His hands slid along her sides and calmed her mind from the heavy burden of guilt. But an equally conflicting emotion emerged. Small kisses awoke the nerve endings in her neck. He not only stroked her with gently caresses, but he also soothed her worries by invading her thoughts. In his quest to conquer her fears, he worked to undermine her determination to punish herself for the wrong done to Zook.

  “No one,” echoed through her mind, “could have predicted what happened.”

  His hands covered her breasts, and he teased her nipples through her blouse with his thumbs. Evocative images fluttered through her mind. His mouth offered little kisses to tempt her lips. Desire sizzled. Unable to withstand his advantage of attacking both her mind and body, she worked her hands free. She glided them over the strong muscles of his back. When his lips slid from hers, she voiced her last words of resistance. “Stihl, I can’t deny my responsibility.”

  His velvety brown eyes met hers. He ended the war waging inside her and offered peace. “You weren’t at fault. I didn’t know about the mine’s problems, or we would’ve gotten here sooner.”

  She stared at his face. Was he saying he shared in the blame? “Stihl, this isn’t your problem.”

  “Wrong. As my mate, whatever affects you, affects me.”

  Wanting to deny the truth of the statement, she answered. “Taking care of the mine is not your job. It’s mine.”

  “Yes, but don’t you see? The bond between us makes it important to me too. Our thoughts are blending. Each of us is sharing a little bit of the puzzle that makes up our life. I understand your desire to be the best mineralogist in Lustralia. I can’t separate you from your dream, any more than I can separate myself from you.”

  Her mind refused to allow him to share the blame. She closed her eyes and cut the connection between them. “I have to stand alone.”

  He moved. The sharp stab of abandonment lanced through her heart. He rolled over and shifted her to lie against his chest. Then he released her. “There’s no crime in leaning on someone else.”

  She looked at him and set her hand on his chest. He could’ve continued to lie on top of her, holding her down against the bed. She hadn’t struggled, wouldn’t have minded in fact, but instead he set her free. His arms crossed beneath his head. The relaxed position confused her more than his words.

  “Should I leave?”

  “Not unless you want to.”

  “Then what do you want to do now?”

  His gaze shifted to her lips and then grew hot. Slowly, his stare traveled to her neck then her chest. “Whatever makes you happy.” An eyebrow lifted. “It’s your turn to be on top.”

  Her mind cleared. Her senses awoke. This she understood. Maybe she could have both Stihl and her career.

  * * * *

  The smell of meat cooking sparked a response from Stihl’s stomach. A loud rumble erupted as he entered the rest-din. The noise at a soft roar slowed to a low hum. People turned. Curiosity showed on their faces behind welcoming smiles. Word of Marohka having a new mate must’ve spread.

  He didn’t vary his steps on his way to Cyd’s table. Guilio and another man sat at the same table. Stihl assumed they were waiting for their lunch. “What’s up?”

  Guilio looked up. “Just got word the mine is cleared. Fi
gured Marohka would want to head up there.” His grin widened. “But we couldn’t decide if we should disturb you or not.”

  Stihl pulled out a chair. “No need. She’s on her way.”

  “Is she feeling better?” Cyd lifted his cup. “She seemed pretty upset earlier.”

  Stihl nodded to the man serving drinks and indicated he wanted a cup of caffleck too. “She blames herself for what happened.”

  “Not her fault. She wasn’t even here.”

  “And you are?” Stihl glanced at the young miner.