"I'm sorry but no Earthling is allowed to contact anyone on Earth after they've arrived on Zarronia. The Council won't allow you to return," Valan said.
"But, those women chose to come here," she said, her voice shaking with anxiety. "I didn't have a choice."
"We understand that and we appreciate that you came to us for help but we can't allow you to leave."
Daria clutched the edge of the desk and took several deep breaths as the room darkened and spun around her. She saw the alarmed look on Valan's face as he rose from his chair but the world around her was going dark.
Thorn rushed to her, catching her as she began to fall and gently lowering her into the chair. She slumped against him, her face pale and motionless. Tenderly, he smoothed her dark curls away from her face. He brushed his thumbs over her temples and her eyes fluttered then opened.
She pressed herself deeper into the cushion behind her. Thorn's face became emotionless as he rose and strode to the window, turning his back on the occupants of the room. Daria raised trembling hands to her forehead and massaged her aching temples.
"Daria, do you need to see a doctor?" Valan asked.
She bit her lip. "No, I'm fine but I'd like to go to my room now." She avoided his eyes by looking down. "I’m really tired."
"Alright. We can talk again later."
At the door she turned to look back at Valan. "When you and Lia took me to your starship you made me promise not to tell anyone about it. I kept my promise. If you asked me to promise not to tell anyone about Zarronia I would give you the promise and I'd keep it."
"We know you would, Daria," Eirik said, his voice regretful. "But if your government found out you'd been on a starship and to Zarronia they'd find a way to make you talk. It's not safe for you to return to Earth."
She nodded then stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Feeling exhausted, she climbed the stairs and went to her room. Once there, she dropped onto the bed and closed her eyes, forcing herself not to think of the future. Within a few micro-units she was asleep.
# # #
"I'm going to the Invincible. If you need me, you can summon me," Thorn said as he strode toward the door.
"You will not leave this room until you've told me and your grandfather what's happened between you and Daria." Valan's voice was hard with determination.
"I treated her as I would've treated any spy I caught on the Invincible. I had her arrested and taken to the brig then interrogated the next morning. Then I moved her to the quarters next to mine." Thorn's face was dark with anger.
"Why did you move her to the quarters next to yours if you thought she was a spy?" Eirik asked. "That's not like you."
Thorn took a warriors' stance. Feet apart, arms at his sides, ready to strike. "I went to the fourth floor to find a female. I found Daria. We—." He looked away.
"Bonded." Valan smiled. "You're bonded to her."
Eirik laughed. "Wait until I tell Borg." He rubbed his hands together in glee.
"No, I don't accept her and I never will. You've accepted everything she's said as the truth but the real truth is she snuck onto one of our starships and gathered information about us. She intended to write about us and tell her people our secrets. Besides, she's pregnant with another male's child."
"Daria is telling the truth and I'm not surprised she investigated us. That's her job on Earth. As far as the pregnancy goes other warriors have accepted females who have children. You can too," Valan said.
"No, she should have told me the truth. The fact she lied and kept this information from me proves we're not compatible." Thorn's voice was final.
"Very well. Go to the Invincible but I expect you back here in time for dinner." When Thorn started to argue, Valan said, "A med-tech at Borg's clinic was murdered five cycles ago. When we searched his quarters we discovered he was involved with the theft of the ZL3. The person who killed him is still on Zarronia and might come after Daria."
"What does that have to do with me?" Thorn asked.
"We want you to protect her," Valan answered.
"No. Get someone else." Thorn turned to the door.
"Shall I make it an order?" Eirik asked, standing and joining the conversation.
Thorn spun around. "Daria can't stand the sight of me and the feeling is mutual. Even you've noticed it."
"Then, you'll just have to find a way to get along with her. Won't you?" Eirik asked.
"Why should I?"
"I've got a plan," Eirik said.
Thorn and Valan groaned.
"Every time you have a plan it backfires, Father," Valan said.
"This one won't. Once we explain the situation to the Council they'll demand that we protect Daria. We can tell people that Thorn met her on Earth and she snuck onto the Invincible to be with him."
"Yes, that story would work," Valan said.
"Excellent! Now, Thorn, how many of your crew know about Daria?"
"Only me, Dag and Ronin."
"Perfect, then, my plan will work. All we have to do is have Thorn put his bands on Daria and—."
"What!" Thorn's bellow echoed in the room. "There is nothing in the universe that could make me do that."
"Be quiet and listen." Eirik sat down in the chair Daria had used earlier.
Thorn paced back and forth. He had to get out of here, he thought, as he approached the door then turned and paced back to the high-backed chair.
"We can't let people question Daria's purpose for being on the ship. If they do then we'll either have to reveal the truth about the Witvians and ruin our investigation or let people think she's a spy and they'll expect her to be judged and executed," Eirik said.
"She could have told one of the warriors about this before we left Earth. None of this would have happened if she'd just been sensible," Thorn said. "Let her deal with the Council."
"Now, Thorn, with that kind of attitude it's no wonder Daria doesn't like you," Valan said, grinning when Thorn sent him a ferocious glare.
"What if she'd told the wrong warrior and he was in cahoots with the traitor? They might have killed her," Eirik said then hurried on. "As I was saying, if Thorn claims her people won't be surprised. It solves all our problems. It gives us time to investigate the Witvians without them becoming suspicious, Daria won't be considered a spy, and Thorn can protect her without anyone questioning why he's always with her."
Valan smiled. "It will work especially if Lia tells her friends that Thorn met and fell in love with Daria on Earth. By tomorrow, Thorn and Daria's love affair will be the talk of Kadia."
"No, I won't do it." Thorn paced to the high-backed chairs. "I intend that we live separately."
Eirik grinned. "Well, if that's what you intend I guess we can get someone else to help us cover for her and keep her safe until the Witvians are brought to justice."
"Yes," Valan said. "But, who? It has to be someone who was on the Invincible. Someone we trust."
"What about Dag?" Eirik asked.
"No, he's already pledged to Lisa." Thorn paced back to the door.
"What about Ronin?" Valan asked. "We trust him and I haven't heard of a female yet who can resist him."
"Excellent. Daria will like him as well." Eirik laughed. "The stories I've heard about that boy."
"What do think, Thorn? Should we ask Ronin to pretend he met and fell in love with Daria on Earth?"
Exasperated, Thorn dropped into the high-backed chair facing away from them. "No. I'll do it."
Eirik exchanged a conniving grin with Valan. "Well, only if you're sure. We don't want to inconvenience you."
Valan stacked the papers on his desk. "I'll explain the situation to Lia and to Daria. You can put your bands on her later tonight."
"Fine." Thorn rose and walked across the room. "I'm going to the Invincible."
"Does Daria know about our mating fever and that we only reproduce once and always with twin sons?"
"No," Thorn said.
"Then you can tell her tonight," Valan said.
For a few moments, the room was silent, then Eirik rose. "Nessa will be waiting for me. We're expected at the Training Academy for a demonstration of the younger warriors' fighting skills."
"Will you and Nessa join us for dinner this evening?"
"I'm glad you've invited us. Saves me the trouble of inviting myself." Eirik laughed. "We'll be here."
Valan nodded, then swiveled his chair around and stared out into the garden. Dane and Dev ran down the path in the direction of their hideout. The sight brought back memories of when he'd looked out this same window and seen Thorn and Soren doing the same thing. His instincts told him that he didn't know everything that had happened on the Invincible. He rubbed the back of his neck and went in search of Lia to let her know they were having guests for dinner followed by a bonding ceremony.
Chapter Nine
That evening Valan met Daria in the hallway before dinner and explained to her what he, his father and Thorn had decided to do to protect her.
When he finished, she studied her hands for a moment then looked at him. "Are you sure I'll never be allowed to return to Earth?"
Valan squeezed her hand. "Lia and I both know this is hard for you but we want you to know that we'll do everything we can to make you feel at home on Zarronia."
Daria nodded. She didn't blame them, not really. She hadn't even thought about what they'd do with her after she told them about the Witvians. When she did think about it, she'd foolishly hoped that they'd let her return to Earth. Now, she didn't know what she was going to do about the baby she carried.
"My father is joining us for dinner. He's brought Lia's mother, Nessa, with him. Has Thorn told you about her?"
"No."
"Nessa and my father met before Thorn and Soren were born. After Lia's father died my father claimed Nessa. It makes things a little confusing at first but we manage."
Daria smiled and told him she understood as family relationships like this were common on Earth. A soft growl of hunger from her stomach sent a rosy blush to her cheeks. Valan laughed and escorted her to the living area. Lia and an older woman were there along with Eirik.
Lia jumped up and came over to her. "Daria, I want you to meet my mother, Nessa." Lia led her over to the older woman. "Mother, this is Daria. The Earthling I told you about."
Nessa offered Daria her hand. As she shook it, Daria examined the older woman. She looked about fifty, with blond hair and blue eyes with laugh lines around them. Daria smiled and saw them crinkle when her smile was returned.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Madami Eirik."
"You must call me Nessa, Daria. Eirik's told me all about why you've come here. I think you must have been very scared when you were trying to get away from those terrible warriors."
Daria smiled. She'd just realized that she was going to have to remember that on Zarronia women were referred to as females and Zarronian males were always referred to as warriors. Realizing that Nessa was waiting for her to say something, she laughed and told her what she'd just been thinking.
"We'll help you. Won't we Lia?"
"Yes. If there's anything you don't understand we'll explain it to you," Lia said.
"Thank you. I'm sure I'll have a thousand questions. I hope you won't mind?"
"No, not at all." Lia smiled. "When Valan took me to Earth last annual I nearly drove him crazy with all the questions I made him ask our representative. In fact, I still have a few."
"I'll answer them if I can," Daria said.
"Wonderful," Lia said as Thorn and his sons entered the room.
Dane and Dev saw Daria and ran over to her. "Greetings, Daria," they said, their voices echoing each other.
"Greetings, little warriors," she told them, making them giggle.
"We went with Father to see Dag at the transfer station," Dane told her.
"Did you have a good time?" Daria hugged them while she watched Thorn sit down beside his Grandfather.
"Yes," Dev told her. "We got to watch them transfer the new engine up to the Invincible."
"Did you, sweetie?" She smoothed Dev's hair away from his eyes and watched Thorn stretch his long legs out in front of him and cross his booted ankles.
"Yes, it was great big. Bigger than a house," Dane said.
Daria smiled at them. "Come tell me all about it." She led them to one of the couches in the room and sat down. Dane and Dev climbed up on either side of her and began describing the engine to her.
When they finished, Valan rose and pulled Lia up next to him. "I'm starving. Let's have dinner then afterwards we can hold the ceremony."
"No ceremony, Father," Thorn said.
"But, Thorn, we have to have the ceremony," Lia said. "For the boys' sake."
"No, and that's final." Thorn pulled his sons away from Daria and marched them into the dining area.
Valan hugged Lia, then whispered something to her. Whatever he said brought a smile to her lips while he escorted them into the dining area. He seated Lia at the end of the table then pulled the chair next to Thorn out for Daria.
A woman entered from the kitchen pushing a cart of food trays. As she went around the table, she set a tray in front of each of them. Another woman followed her, setting a glass of wine in front of each adult and a glass of juice in front of Dane and Dev.
Daria checked her tray. The food was familiar to her.
"Daria, have Nessa and Lia told you that they're taking you to the marketplace tomorrow?" Eirik asked her.
Before she could answer, Thorn said, "No. Daria is not going to the marketplace tomorrow or any other cycle until our little problem is solved."
"Thorn, we must behave as if everything is normal," Eirik said.
"I have work to do on the Invincible. I'm not wasting time escorting three females through the marketplace. "
"Daria needs some clothes," Lia said.
"I'll bring her some from the starship," he answered.
"Those are not appropriate and you know it," Lia said. "You are going to escort us to the marketplace and you're going to appear happy to be doing it. Do you understand?"
Thorn sent her an aggravated frown. "We'll see."
Daria looked from one to the other. Lia might be petite but she carried a big stick. She caught Thorn looking at her and was tempted to lean over to him and say 'hah' right to his aggravating face. Instead, she reached for her wine glass. As soon as she lifted it, he moved his hand to her thigh and squeezed it. Daria gasped and dropped the glass. It shattered, splattering wine over the table and her food tray. Jumping up, she turned to Thorn and without thought she slapped him.
The room became deathly silent. Thorn shoved his chair back and rose to his feet, towering over her. She stared at him, daring him to hit her back in front of his family. Her eyes fell to his cheek where her handprint stood out on his face before she looked at his eyes again. They blazed with rage.
"Go to your bed chamber, Daria. Now!" he growled, making her jump.
"Son? Ca-"
"Stay out of this, Father," Thorn warned him, his voice harsh.
"No. If you want to speak to me you can do it in the den," Daria said, stubbornly. She had a lot she wanted to say to him as well.
Thorn nodded. He took her arm and hauled her out of the room, down the hall, and into the den, slamming the door behind them. Daria put one of the high-backed chairs between them.
"Scared?" he asked her, eyeing the chair she stood behind.
"No. I just don't want you near me," she said with as much bravado in her voice as she could muster. "Why did you make me spill my wine?"
"Pregnant females shouldn't drink wine."
"You don't believe the baby is yours so why do you care?"
"I'd do the same thing for any female who didn't know better." Thorn walked toward her. "Sit down. We're going to talk."
"I'll stand."
"Fine." He sat down in one of the high-backed chairs facing her.
Daria turned, looked at him for a moment and sat down across from him. "I'm listening."
"Has my Father told you about their plan?"
"Yes." She crossed her legs.
Thorn's eyes dropped to them and he watched as Daria smoothed the gown over her knees. "I have several things to tell you before I place my bands on you."
"Okay, but I think I've already figured out most of it."
"Really?" A dark brow flicked up. "Tell me what you think you know."
She smiled. "First, I think Zarronians have an illness of some kind that causes a mating fever. The blue mist is a symptom of it. Having sex relieves the fever and cools your body. I think you also use ZL3 to treat it. I don't know why you need the females from Earth though." She hesitated then decided in for a penny in for a pound. "Are the females on the fourth floor from Earth? Are they sex slaves?" Thorn's expression of astonishment was priceless and made her wish she had a camera.
"The females on the fourth floor are from many different planets and have chosen to be pleasure givers. On Zarronia they are respected by the warriors."
"Then why do you need the females from Earth?"
"Our females were killed by the Wrothians over forty annuals ago. A warrior begins experiencing the mating fever around the age of twenty-one. If he doesn't find a compatible female by age thirty-two he dies of the fever. When our females were killed many warriors were unable to find mates and died. Eventually we discovered that the Wrothian females were compatible and my father's generation bonded with them."
"So your mother is Wrothian?"
Thorn nodded. "The Wrothians used a virus to kill our females but it changed the warriors too. Zarronians have always only reproduced one time. We used to have twins but always a male and a female. Now we only have twin sons."
"Which means you now have more warriors and no females for them?"
"Yes. We searched the universe and eventually we found Earth. Many of your females are compatible and we are able to bond with them."
"What happens when you bond with a female?" She had a feeling she was about to find out something she didn't want to know.
"When a warrior has sex with a compatible female he shares his fever with her. This cools his fever and saves his life."
Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Page 14