by KD Jones
MarIK looked as the warriors divided up. A handful that still followed OrIN began preparing to attack, then the warriors who backed him up gathered together and clearly outnumbered the group of loyal followers. OrIN’s warriors looked at the other warriors and then at OrIN, each showing hesitance about making any decisive move. They must have decided that OrIN wasn’t worth dying for, because they all turned and ran.
“Get back here, traitors!” OrIN yelled, furious that his warriors were abandoning him.
MarIK looked at the remaining warriors. All of them were worse for the wear of this trip. Some could barely stand, but were using their strength to keep upright. None of them pointed their weapons at MarIK. It shouldn’t have surprised him that these males he trained would show their loyalty to him instead of OrIN — but it still did. He was also filled with pride that they chose to stand up to OrIN and protect their honor. They were good males.
Behind them, he saw his team coming in with Katieran warriors. They had come back for him. The sight made him feel a great amount of emotion. Clearing his throat, he looked down at the pathetic male before him.
“You’re done, OrIN. You are going to answer for your crimes against the Katieran nation.” He motioned for several warriors to bind OrIN. He turned to face his team and the Katierans. “Did Sharon make it okay? Was she treated?”
“She is recovering fast and demanding we bring you back to her.”
MarIK smiled, knowing how feisty she could be. That was his female and he couldn’t wait to be with her again. Goddess, how quickly his heart had been stolen by one tiny female with amazing eyes.
Lieutenant RosET approached and the Katierans raised their weapons. MarIK stood between them and held up his hands. “Don’t fire on these males. They helped me fight off the Morins and capture OrIN.”
He turned to RosET. “What happened with the Morins?”
“I’m sorry, Commander, they got away.”
“Do any of our warriors know the coordinates of our transport or the Morin transport?”
RosET shook his head. “I don’t think so, but I can ask them again. What will happen to us?”
MarIK looked over at the Katierans. “I’m not sure, but the fact that we captured OrIN to hand him over should aid in whatever the Katieran council will decide.”
The Katieran and Kiljorn warriors spent the next hour securing the trading post. A crew left with a group of prisoners, including OrIN, to be questioned on board the transport and then taken to Kiljor to be further questioned by StrykER.
MarIK and his team were also taken into custody. He knew that they would have a lot to answer for, and it was frustrating because all he wanted was to return to Sharon. Now he realized that it might be quite a while before he was allowed to see her. He had to face questioning and then the Katieran council. Hopefully, his punishment wouldn’t keep him from Sharon too long. He wasn’t sure that he could take that. It worried him again that he had not claimed her. Other males would want her and if their separation lasted too long, would she turn to another?
Chapter 19
Sharon was furious. She was told by TanAR that MarIK had arrived a few hours ago and that he had to be questioned first. TanAR left her in her quarters and told her to not worry but to eat. He had someone bring her a tray with foods that she liked, but she just couldn’t eat it. How could she eat when she didn’t know what was going on with MarIK?
When she tried to leave her quarters, she discovered guards outside her door who asked her to remain inside. What the hell was going on? Why weren’t they allowing her to see him? Enough was enough!
After waiting another few hours, she tried opening her door again. The guards snapped to attention. “Did you need something, Miss Task?”
She didn’t answer, but instead pushed past them and stormed down the corridor. The warriors she passed gave her odd looks, but she ignored all of them. She didn’t stop until she reached the commander’s ready room. She barged in, surprising Lieutenant Commander LazAR and Commander BrAX.
“What is the meaning of this?” Commander BrAX demanded.
Sharon hadn’t spent much time getting to know the Katieran commander. He was always so serious and stern. More stern than Lieutenant Commander LazAR.
“That’s what I want to know. I have been waiting for hours to be able to see MarIK. Where is he?”
LazAR approached her. “You need to return to your quarters.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him. “I’m not going anywhere until I see MarIK!”
Commander BrAX came forward, “He’s in a holding cell until we reach Katiera.”
She felt punched in the gut. “Why?”
“He’s a traitor and will have to answer for his actions.”
“But he saved StrykER and Melody and he helped capture OrIN.”
“It is not for me to decide his punishment. I am only to hold him and bring him before the Katieran council.”
“This is fucking ridiculous!”
TanAR was suddenly there at her side. “Calm down, Sharon.”
“Calm down? You want me to calm down when the man I love is in a cell? I want to see him right now!”
Surprisingly, it was Lieutenant Commander LazAR who backed her up. “Commander, we wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for MarIK. At least let them see one another.”
“You speak on his behalf?”
“I speak on hers. She willingly risked her life for this mission. Letting her see him is the least that we owe her.”
She held her breath as she waited for Commander BrAX to make his decision.
“Very well. She will be allowed to visit with him each day for a few hours until we reach Katiera.”
“Thank you, Commander.” She held her tongue and refrained from saying what she really wanted to say. No one would keep her from MarIK — no one. She followed TanAR and Lieutenant LazAR out of the room. Her guards were there and they looked frustrated. She wouldn’t apologize to them; she was in the right here.
They used the lift to travel down to the lower level of the transport. Several corridors stretched before them that looked as though they led to multiple cells. Good gosh, how many cells did they have?
LazAR pointed to the next corridor on the right. She turned and followed them. She passed several cells with laser bars. She saw cell after cell containing rebel warriors. She recognized some of them as part of MarIK’s team. Then LazAR stopped at the last cell.
“MarIK, you have a visitor.”
Sharon’s heart nearly stopped when she saw MarIK in that small cell. He was lying on a cot but sat up immediately.
“Sharon,” his voice cracked with emotion.
Wanting nothing more than to run to him, she forgot for a moment that there were laser bars. She took a step forward.
“No, Sharon!” MarIK called out.
Thankfully, TanAR was there to catch her arm. “Easy, Sharon, these lasers would cut you into pieces.”
“Let me inside.”
LazAR shook his head. “We only brought you here to see him and to speak briefly with him.”
“I want in there right now!” Sharon wasn’t budging on this. She struggled to break free of TanAR’s hold.
“Lieutenant Commander, she’s going to injure herself trying to get to him.”
LazAR growled as he motioned for one of the guards to turn off the lasers. “I knew you would be trouble.”
As soon as the lasers were turned off, she rushed inside and threw her arms around her male. “MarIK.”
*****
MarIK’s arms wrapped around her and he pulled her further inside the cell with him. He was almost afraid to let her go. “Goddess, I’ve worried about you. Are you fully healed? Should you be out of the medic wing?”
She put her hands on his cheeks. “I’m fine, really. I’ve been going crazy with worry over you.”
He had to taste her sweet lips. Everyone else was forgotten as he took her in a deep, thorough kiss. By the stars, having
her in his arms was like coming home. He would fight anyone who tried to take her from him.
“Put the lasers back up — but I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere any time soon. Let’s give them some privacy.” LazAR motioned for everyone to leave.
MarIK didn’t even hear LazAR. He had his love in his arms; nothing else mattered. “I love you, my Sharon.”
She pushed away to look into his eyes. “You do?”
“I don’t know how it happened. I was dead inside for so long. I couldn’t connect with anyone. Then I laid eyes on you. The Goddess must have deemed me worthy of you. My heart beat in my chest so fast I thought it would break free to get to you. I haven’t experienced anything so strong like that before.”
“Me too. I have been alone so long I thought this was all I would ever be. I was ready to pack it up and go back to Earth.”
“Never. I won’t ever let you leave. I can’t. I need you too much.” He carried her to the cot, sat down on it, and held her in his lap. She was so tiny, she felt like she had lost weight since she’d been injured. Her skin was pale and her eyes looked tired. He needed to take better care of her.
“I need you, too, MarIK, and I’ve never needed anyone in my life before,” Sharon admitted. She was nibbling on his ear, which was so sexy. Kitana! This wasn’t the place.
“Easy, my Sharon, we’re not alone here. There is very little privacy.”
“Damn it! I want to be naked with you,” she muttered with sexual frustration.
“Go ahead, we won’t peek!” one of the warriors in another cell yelled. They all chuckled.
Sharon’s cheeks were red. She was embarrassed. He put her head on his shoulder and growled protectively. “It’s okay. We’ll be together soon enough.”
“I won’t leave you. I want to stay right here.”
Goddess, if she remained with him, there would be no way he could restrain himself from making love to her for long. He craved her touch, her little moans of pleasure. Everything about her called to him.
“You can’t stay here, my love. It’s not the right place.”
“MarIK, you don’t belong here either. You risked everything to help us and StrykER. They should be thanking you, not locking you up.”
“It will be fine. I have a lot to answer for.”
They were silent for a little while, just enjoying the closeness. They exchanged a few heated kisses, but somehow they managed to control themselves.
“What happened with OrIN and the Morins?” Sharon asked, after a while.
“The Morins turned on OrIN when he couldn’t present you to them. I had to help fight off the Morins so that we could take OrIN alive.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t let them kill each other.”
“The Morin and rebel transport locations were at stake. OrIN would not tell any of us who came to the trading post where he had sent the transports. I couldn’t let him die.”
“So, the Morins got away?”
“Yes.”
“I know that must eat at you.”
“It does, but it’s out of my hands.”
“But—”
“Shhh.” He put his finger over her lips. “I don’t know how much time we have left. Let’s not spend it talking about the Morins or OrIN.”
Sharon nodded her head. “Agreed.”
They held each other for a long time, but as soon as TanAR returned, they both knew it wasn’t nearly long enough.
“Time to go back to your own quarters, Sharon,” TanAR said as the laser bars were shut down.
A tear trailed down her cheek. He gently wiped it away with his thumb. “It will be all right, my love.”
“I hate leaving you.”
TanAR reset the laser bars once she was on the other side. “The commander gave you permission to see him every day until we reach Katiera.”
MarIK smiled reassuringly. “See, nothing to worry about. Now, go and get something to eat.”
“I don’t feel like eating.”
“For me, Sharon. Eat and stay healthy for me.”
Sharon sighed. “I will eat.”
“Thank you, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you will.” She turned and walked out alone with confidence and determination.
“She’s amazing,” TanAR commented to MarIK once she was out of earshot. “She went toe to toe with the commander just to see you.”
MarIK growled, “She’s mine — my mate.”
TanAR glared at him, “She would be better off with someone else. What do you have to offer her? A tarnished reputation?”
MarIK turned his back on TanAR. He couldn’t argue with the truth. He didn’t have anything to offer Sharon. His home back on Katiera had been confiscated, any family he had was either long gone or wouldn’t want to have anything to do with him. He didn’t have a position with the military. He was homeless, with nothing to offer her.
“Don’t listen to him, Commander. You’re a great male worthy of having a mate,” Lieutenant RosET said reassuringly from a nearby cell. Other warriors mumbled their agreements.
He smiled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Lying down on the cot, he closed his eyes and imagined that Sharon was still with him. Goddess, help me find a way to be worthy of the gift you have given me.
Chapter 20
“Sharon, you need to eat.” TanAR pushed her tray closer to her. “You need to eat.”
“I’m not that hungry.” Sharon ignored her tray of food.
“If you don’t eat, I will tell MarIK.”
She glared at him. “You wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would. He worries about your well-being — and he should, as your potential mate.”
“You’re not playing fair.”
“I don’t completely understand that but I won’t let up until you have a full meal in you.”
Sighing, she picked up her fork and began to eat. The more she ate, the more she realized that she really had been hungry after all. Before she knew it, she had eaten the entire tray of food. She looked up as she finished the last bite, and TanAR smiled with satisfaction.
“Do you feel better?”
Begrudgingly, she admitted, “I do. Thank you for being such a good friend.”
“It is my honor that you consider me your friend. Are you done eating? You will feel even more refreshed after a good night’s sleep.”
She frowned. “I won’t sleep good until MarIK is free.”
“You care for him deeply, don’t you?”
“I’m in love with him. It happened so quickly. Our spirits seemed to connect instantly. I could talk to him for hours about nothing at all or simply let him hold me quietly. He gets me.”
“He’s a lucky male to have your love,” TanAR told her sincerely.
“I’m lucky to have found him. I—” She was interrupted by a loud beeping sound and the dizzying sight of the lights flashing red and green. “What is that?”
TanAR jumped up to his feet, as did all the other warriors. “You need to return to your quarters now, Sharon.”
“Why?”
“We’re about to go into battle.”
“Is it the Morins?”
“I don’t know yet.” He was ushering her out of the meal room, trying to protect her from being crushed by the warriors. “Go to your quarters and stay there until the lights stop flashing.”
“TanAR…” He was already running off in the direction of the docking bay. He would take a war ship out to fight. She worried about him, but as she started heading to her quarters, she realized that she wanted to be with MarIK instead.
She changed direction and took the lift down to where the holding cells were located. There weren’t as many warriors guarding the cells as before; they were all taking their position preparing for a battle. There were only two guards left and they looked at her with frustration.
“Miss Task, what are you doing back here?”
“I want to remain with MarIK until the batt
le is over.”
“That we cannot do without the Commander’s approval. You will have to leave.”
“It will be all right, Sharon. Go to your quarters,” MarIK told her.
She glanced at him once more before walking out. Distracted by her feelings about leaving him there, she didn’t realize she had turned down the wrong hallway. As she was about to turn back, she caught sight of a body on the floor. She cautiously approached it and realized it was one of the guards. Suddenly, she heard several men’s voices and she recognized one of them — OrIN.
“It’s about time. Free my warriors and prepare to leave. I have a score to settle first.”
Oh, God help us. OrIN was free. She raced back the way she came. As she ran, panic was right there with her, rising up in her throat and trying to take over, but she kept it at bay. She burst into the holding area near MarIK’s cell, causing the guards to reach for their weapons. She was out of breath.
“OrIN…is…free…and…coming this way!”
The guards rushed over to her and pulled her inside the holding area. “We’ll take care of it. Once we leave, enter the code 22348. I set it myself this morning and only the Commander or Lieutenant Commander can override it.” The guard didn’t wait for her to respond but took off with the other guard. She quickly entered the code and the door to that holding area closed and locked. She could hear gunfire on the other side of the door.
“Sharon, let me out,” MarIK called out her.
“How do I open the bars or turn the thing off?”
“Use the same code but over on my cell panel.”
It couldn’t be that easy, could it? She entered the code the guard gave her and, sure enough, MarIK’s laser bars dissipated. He embraced her quickly. “Let the others out, but please — I want you to stay here while I check on the situation with OrIN.”
She opened another cell and turned back to MarIK. “No, I don’t want you to go.”
“Stay, I’ll be back.” He motioned for his warriors to take positions at the door once they were released.
“But you guys don’t even have weapons.”
He winked at her. “We are a weapon. Get back, and close the door behind us.”