"Garrikson said it will take about four cycles to remove the damaged engine and another six to install the new one."
Thorn frowned. "I'll be staying on the Invincible after I deliver Daria to my father."
The door to the transfer room opened as they approached it. Dag stepped aside and Thorn went through it, pulling Daria into the room behind him.
As Daria passed the warrior Thorn had called Dag, she looked at him and smiled. He had really fantastic, neon-blue eyes. He wasn't as tall or as strongly built as Thorn, but he was still very attractive. And, he looked nice, she thought, until he glared at her.
Thorn jerked on her arm and pulled her onto the low platform he stood on. She was familiar with this part of the transfer process. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the funny tingling to begin. She really hadn't enjoyed being transferred the last time. Just the idea of it gave her the creeps.
She heard a masculine chuckle and opened her eyes just as the room around her began to fade. A nano-unit later she found herself in a larger room surrounded by hundreds of warriors.
"It's better if you don't close your eyes," Thorn said.
Before she could reply she saw Ambassador Eirikson waving at them. She smiled with relief and followed Thorn when he stepped off the platform. Now, that she saw father and son together she could see how much they looked alike. Same hair, same eyes, same build.
"Daria, we've been waiting for your arrival." Ambassador Eirikson took her hands into his, sounding pleased to see her. "I hope your journey was comfortable. Did Thorn take care of your needs?"
Confused, she nodded. He'd taken care of her alright. For a moment, she wondered what the Ambassador would do if she fell against him and sobbed out the story of how his son had treated her.
"Excellent! My bondmate is waiting for us at home." He took her arm and began escorting her from the room. "We want you to stay with us. You, too, Thorn."
"I don't understand," Daria said. "I thought you'd be upset to see me."
He smiled. "We'll discuss what's happened later. Right now, just try to look pleased to be here. Can you do that?"
"Yes, because I am happy to be here, Ambassador. I need your help."
"I know only something dire would make you break our laws. We'll talk at my home. In the meantime it would please me if you'd call me Valan."
"Thank you—Valan." She sent Thorn a resentful glare as she spoke, silently letting him know what she thought of the situation.
Thorn flicked a dark brow up then moved next to his father. "What's going on?"
"We'll talk at home," Valan said. "It's good to see you, son."
Daria glanced at Thorn then ignored him. As they walked to Valan's home, she tried to accept the fact that she was actually on another planet although her surroundings helped convince her. The trees were different. Their trunks were white, and their leaves were bronze and pink. Even the grass had a pink tinge to it. The sky was a soft green color. Only the clouds were white like Earth's. Every now and then, there was a break in the trees and she caught a quick glimpse of a house. Some looked like the houses on Earth but larger while others definitely looked alien. After several micro-units of walking the Ambassador led her through a gate. Daria looked ahead and saw what she assumed was his home.
It was a beautiful, white, two-story cylinder. There were two rows of windows all the way around it. The bottom row was broken by the huge double doors which led into it. Flowers bloomed on either side of the doors. In fact, there were flowers and bushes everywhere and she felt as if she was walking through a fragrant jungle.
As they approached the doors, they flew open and Madami Valan came out. Thorn rushed to her and hugged her, lifting her from her feet as she patted his back and scolded him for taking so long to arrive. His behavior surprised Daria. Who would have thought that the big oaf cared about his mother? Beside her, Valan laughed then led her forward.
"Put her down, Son, before you damage her."
"Yes, Thorn, put me down so I can greet our guest."
Thorn lowered her to the ground.
Lia straightened her gown and turned to Daria. "Welcome to our home, Daria. I'm so pleased to see you again."
"Thank you, Madami Valan. I'm very glad to be here."
"Please, call me Lia."
"Thank you, Lia."
Lia took her arm and led her into the house. The floors of the entrance looked like they were made of sparkling white crystal. Light flooded onto them from the skylight in the two story ceiling. Daria looked around. To her left she saw a dining room, to her right, a living area. In front of her a huge staircase led to the second floor.
"Wait a moment, Daria," Valan said. "Thorn, remove the bands from her ankles."
Daria's eyes flew to Thorn. He narrowed his eyes, walked toward her and dropped to one knee in front of her. She felt his hands slide around her left ankle.
"Hold onto my shoulder," he said as his hand slid to her hip to steady her.
She wanted to tell him that she'd rather fall flat on her face than touch him ever again. The bannister was next to her so she grabbed it instead. She sighed with relief when he finished removing the bands and moved away from her.
"I'll show you to your room now," Lia said.
"Thank you." Daria followed her up the stairs. "You have a beautiful home."
"Valan designed it," Lia said. "I want you to feel at home here." At the top of the stairs, she pointed to the door ahead of them on the right. "That's Valan's and my room, and the door past it toward the front of the house belongs to our grandsons, Dane and Dev." Lia glanced at her. "I understand you've met them?"
Daria nodded. "Yes. They're wonderful little boys."
Lia smiled and turned to the left. As they passed the first door, she said, "This is Thorn's room, and this," she said, opening the last door, "is his brother, Soren's, room. It will be yours while you're staying with us. I hope you don't mind?"
"No, not at all, but will Soren mind?"
Lia laughed and shook her head. "Soren won't mind. I've cleared some space in the closet." She pointed to it as she opened another door. "And, this is your bathing chamber."
"The room is very nice."
"My grandsons told me about the advice you gave them concerning their father."
"I'm very fond of Dane and Dev."
Lia smiled and held out her hand. "Let's go have lunch. Valan and Thorn will be waiting for us."
Daria glanced around the grey and burgundy room then took her hand and followed her downstairs to the dining room. As she entered, Dane and Dev yelled her name, jumped from their chairs and ran to her. She knelt and opened her arms. They rushed into them and she hugged them and inhaled their little boy fragrance.
"Oh, I've missed you guys so much."
Dane pulled away and looked at her. "You look pretty, Daria."
"Thank you, sweetie."
"Yes, Daria, you look different. Sort of shiny," Dev told her, agreeing with his brother.
Laughing, Daria hugged them again. "I think you two have grown." Holding them away, she examined them. "Yes. You're both taller," teasingly, she felt their arms, "and, stronger." They giggled, as she knew they would.
"Boys come back to the table. Now!"
Daria's smile disappeared and a frown appeared. She wanted to tell Thorn not to talk to his sons so harshly. Instead, she took their hands and led them back to their chairs then reluctantly took the empty seat next to Thorn.
A tray of food sat on the table in front of her along with a glass of juice. She studied the tray, making sure there was nothing on it that had made her sick in the last few days. It looked okay.
As they ate, she listened as Thorn told his father about the explosion on his starship and the damage it had caused.
"Was anyone hurt, Thorn?" Lia asked.
"Yes, several warriors including Dag." His mother gasped and he reassured her that the warriors were alright.
"That's good. I saw Lisa the other day in the marketplace.
She was very excited about Dag's return."
"Dag asked me to stand with him at their bonding ceremony. I said yes," Thorn said.
Lia smiled at her bondmate, then at Thorn. "That's wonderful. You can stay here until then can't you? I know the boys would like to be with you a while longer."
Daria sat silently, hoping that Thorn would refuse to stay. She didn't know how much longer she could bear to be near him.
"No. I'm going to stay on the Invincible. I need to be there while they install the new engine," Thorn said.
"No, I need you here," Valan said. "Dag can take care of the Invincible."
"If you need me, you can contact me on the Invincible. I can be here in less than five micro-units."
"Your grandfather and I want you here and that's an order, Thorn." Valan's voice was hard.
Startled by his tone, Daria glanced at Valan. His expression was calm but his eyes glowed like liquid silver. Across from her Dane and Dev had grown still, waiting to see what would happen next. Lia smiled and looked unconcerned by her bondmates anger.
"Very well, Father, I'll stay. But, only until my starship is repaired."
Valan nodded. "Daria? Has Thorn told you that my father is Eirik Dagson, the High Ruler?"
Daria nodded and watched his eyes darken to their usual gray color. It was fascinating to see as Thorn's did the same thing. She glanced at him and saw that his eyes were a light silvery color which meant he was upset, as usual.
"Daria?"
"What?" She felt her cheeks heat with a blush. "I'm sorry. I was distracted. What were you saying?"
"I was telling you that I've asked my father to join us after lunch. We both want to hear what brought you to us."
"Must you discuss this right now, Valan?" Lia pointed to their grandsons who were listening to the conversation.
Valan noticed the rapt expressions on Dane's and Dev's faces, shrugged, then changed the subject. "So, Daria, you never did tell me how you liked your first trip on a starship."
Daria felt like groaning. What was she supposed to say? That she'd enjoyed being imprisoned and treated like a sex toy? She lowered her eating utensil to the tray. "It was definitely a new experience, Valan."
"Did Thorn find the time to take you on a tour of the Invincible?"
"Daria was locked up," Dev told his grandfather. "Weren't you, Daria?"
"Yes, sweetie, I was."
Valan's eyes lightened again. "Thorn, I want to see you in my den. Now!" He rose from the table and stalked out. Thorn shoved his chair back and followed him.
"Is Grandfather mad at Father?" Dane asked, anxiously.
"Don't worry about it, Dane," Lia said. "They'll work it out, I'm sure."
"Will Father go away again?" Dev asked, just as anxiously.
"I don't know, Dev. We'll have to wait and see but I hope not."
Daria and Lia sat silently, toying with the food on their trays while the boys fidgeted in their chairs becoming more upset and unhappy by the moment. When they heard the sounds of arguing coming from the den Daria couldn't stand it any longer. Forcing a smile to her lips, she said, "I wish I knew someone who could show me the garden."
Before she'd finished speaking, Dane and Dev were out of their seats and standing beside her. "We'll show you, Daria. We have a secret place and we'll show it to you."
"Will you, sweetie? I'd like that." She looked at Lia, and asked, "Is it alright?"
"Yes. I believe I'll join you if you don't mind."
"No, we don't mind at all. Do we?" she asked the boys as she smoothed her hands over their hair.
"Huh-uh. We'll show you too, Grandmother."
The four of them went out into the garden. The boys ran ahead as she and Lia strolled behind them. Lia told her the names of the flowers they passed.
"Every time Valan goes somewhere new he brings back another flower or bush. Over the annuals the garden has begun to look like an Alterian jungle."
Daria smiled. "My father was a gardener, as well. The first thing he'd do when we arrived on a new base was plant a garden."
Ahead of them the boys entered a small clearing. They hurried to a tree with branches that touched the ground and disappeared through them. Daria heard Dev giggling then Dane shushing him.
Walking over to stand near the tree, she asked Lia, "I wonder where Dane and Dev could have gone?"
Lia played along. "I don't know. They were here just a minute ago."
Daria heard a giggle behind her. The branches opened and Dane stuck his head out. "Here we are, Daria. Come see our hideout."
He held the branches aside as she ducked through them. It was cool and shadowy beneath the tree. Looking up, she saw a small platform in the branches above her. Dev was sitting on it with his legs hanging over the side. He smiled down at her.
"This is really nice. Did your father build it for you?"
"No. Grandfather built it for our father and Uncle Soren when they were little."
Lia stuck her head through the branches, smiled at the boys, and said, "Valan is looking for you. His father has arrived and they need you in the den."
Daria nodded. She patted Dane's shoulder, then reached up and gave Dev's foot a little tug. "You guys be careful." She stepped through the branches and into the sunlight. For a moment, she blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the brightness.
"Daria, I want to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Did Thorn lock you up as Dev said he did?"
"Yes."
"In the brig?"
"No. In the quarters next to his."
Lia looked surprised but didn't say anything so Daria let it go.
Valan waited for them in the hallway. "Go into the den, Daria. I need to speak to Lia and I'll join you in a moment." Daria nodded as she passed him and heard the door close softly behind her.
The den had two walls lined with bookshelves, while the curved outer wall was made of glass. A large desk sat in the center of the long window. To her right, there was a table and several chairs. At the other end of the room there were two high-backed chairs. One faced the fireplace while the other one had been turned to face the room. Thorn sat in that one, watching her. "Come meet my grandfather, Daria."
An older man rose from the other chair and she sighed with relief. She'd thought at first that they were alone. As she approached him, he held out his hand. She took it and felt him give hers a gentle squeeze. He looked just like Valan and Thorn only a little older. Maybe fifty-five or a really well-preserved sixty.
"I'm Eirik Dagson, Daria. I've been impatient to meet you and I'd like to hear your story about the events which brought you to us."
She wasn't sure how to address him. What did one call the High Ruler of Zarronia? Your Majesty? Your Highness? Giving him a rueful smile, she said, "I'm not sure how to address you."
He laughed, took her arm and escorted her to a chair by Valan's desk. "Call me Eirik."
As she sat down the door opened. Valan entered and sat down behind his desk. Daria scooted back in the chair and made herself comfortable.
"Now, Daria, tell us what happened to bring you to us," Valan said.
She took a deep breath and began telling him about the Witvians and the ZL3.
Thorn came to his feet with a roar. "What? Why the hell didn't you tell me any of this?"
"I couldn’t." She sent Valan a pleading look.
Valan nodded. "Thorn, sit down and let Daria finish her story."
She told them about Emma and what she'd seen. Before she described the Zarronian warrior Emma had seen with Mr. Martin, Senator Martin, and the other men she glanced at Thorn. As soon as she described the warrior he was on his feet and roaring with anger again.
"You thought I was the traitor? How could you even begin to believe that?" He was so angry his words tangled together and a vein in his temple pulsed. Valan sent him a gesture that Daria interpreted as 'sit down' and he slung himself back into the chair and glared at her.
She told them about Emma's
death and running from the men for four days before she thought to go to the landing station. When she finished her eyes were glazed with tears
"I'm very sorry about your friend," Valan said.
"It was so hard watching her die and leaving her behind." Sitting back, she looked at Valan, then at Eirik. "I'm worried about my other friends, especially my best friend, Marie. She's Emma's sister."
"We'll send warriors to protect your friends and to watch the Martins and these other males," Eirik said.
"Then, you believe me," she said, letting the relief she felt show in her voice.
"Yes, of course," Valan said. "Six moon phases ago a large shipment of ZL3 was stolen from us. We knew it would show up sooner or later although we didn't expect it to show up on Earth."
"What are you going to do about the Witvians?" she asked. "Who are they anyway?"
"They're a very dangerous race. They have the power to steal a person's mind. It's a favorite past time of theirs. Unfortunately they are also members of the Universal Assembly."
Daria shivered. Had she passed one on the street and never known it? "What do they look like?"
"They look like us. Humanoid, except they only have one eye." Valan tapped the center of his forehead.
"You're kidding! That's unbelievable."
Thorn jerked to his feet. "This entire situation is unbelievable."
Valan motioned for him to sit down. "We'll notify the Universal Assembly. Before they'll charge the Witvians we have to prove they've committed a crime. Only then will they be summoned to appear before the Assembly."
"How long do you think that will take," she asked.
"Hopefully, only a moon phase or so," Valan said.
"I need to return to Earth as soon as possible. Since you're already protecting my friends couldn't you protect me as well?" She gave him a pleading smile, hoping that something could be worked out and she could leave in the next few cycles.
Valan glanced at his father then told her, gently, "You won't be allowed to return to Earth, Daria."
"But I have to. I have a job, a home…friends." She stood up. "I can't stay here. I just can't."
Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Page 13