Ca’lek steps forward, shaking the male’s hand. “It is good to meet you. I hope all is well with Nuular?”
“He has been working very hard to help those who are already sick and unfortunately, he fell ill with the corshu fever himself just last night,” he says, his face falling flat with sadness.
“We’re sorry to hear that. Hopefully with this delivery he will recover quickly,” I add in. “It is a shame Rissa V has such strict landing requirements. We could have made the delivery last night.”
“All will be well now that you are here,” Aelid says. “Please come inside.” He waves for us to follow and turns towards the door.
“You go on ahead, I want to look at something over there,” Polly says, grinning.
“You will come with us,” Ca’lek huffs. “I promised we would shop after.”
“Please Ca’lek? I’ll just be right over there at that stall. I promise I won’t go anywhere else. They have some really pretty fabric that would look good in the nursery,” Polly pleads in such a sweet tone that it tears my heart.
I glance over at the stall she wants to explore, then look over at Ca’lek who frowns as he calculates the distance between the fabric merchant and the clinic. The booth she points to is just across from the clinic in plain view of the windows, no less than a hundred measures away. We could easily watch her from inside, as long as negotiations don’t take long.
“I’m sure it will be fine, right Ca’lek?” I whisper beneath my breath. “Our mate wants to shop. Let her shop. This deal shouldn’t take us too long and we’re right here. If anything happens—”
“Nothing will happen because she’s staying with us,” he growls.
“Do you really want me to go into the clinic in my condition?” Polly pouts, stroking her stomach. “What if there’s germs in there that could make me sick?”
Aelid approaches again, interrupting our private conversation. “Is everything alright? Do you still wish to trade the Vindi serum? The virus is a threat to all Rissvans, and our people are desperate. We are willing to pay any price.”
“That’s not necessary,” Ca’lek says through gritted teeth. “We have set a fair price and ask no more, we aren’t thieves.”
I discreetly roll my eyes at his comment. Are we pirates? Yes. Thieves? Sort of. Ruthless and greedy? No. We only take from the rich and depraved, giving back what we can to those in need. At least that’s how I see it. Ca’lek, on the other hand, doesn’t really care what people think. Well, except for Polly and she sees the good in the work we do.
“I promise I won’t go anywhere else, but I really don’t want to go in that clinic,” Polly says. “Va’naar just said you won’t take long, what could possibly go wrong?”
Ca’lek huffs, digs deep into his pocket, and counts out a few credits before handing them to Polly. “You will stay where we can see you through the windows,” he says sternly.
“Yes.”
“You will not wander from that stall,” he says, pointing to the stall she had indicated earlier.
“Of course.”
“You will speak to no one.”
“But how am I supposed to buy something?” she asks sweetly, fluttering her eyes at him in a strange manner.
“Is something wrong with your eyes?” I interrupt, concerned.
“Huh? What? No.” She sighs, then palms her forehead. “Can I at least talk to the merchant? If I ignore him when he talks to me he won’t want to sell me anything.”
“Fine, you may speak to the merchant,” Ca’lek says, narrowing his eyes at Polly. “But only that merchant.”
“I promise,” she says, holding her fingers up in a gesture that makes Ca’lek raise an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?” he asks suspiciously.
“Scout’s Honor,” she replies.
“What in Vren’s name is that?”
Polly rolls her eyes and grins. “Old human thing. It means I promise I won’t misbehave. Now can I go, please.”
“Behave,” Ca’lek gently growls.
“I will,” she says, then sighs. “But you are about to get on my no sexy times list if you don’t go do your thing and trust me to do mine.”
“We will be watching. If you need anything, call for us immediately,” I say, pulling her in for a deep kiss. One of the babies kicks and I place my hands on her belly. “They are quite active today.”
“They’re active all the time,” she replies, then winces at a particularly hard jab from the babies.
Ca’lek kisses her forehead and pushes my hands away to feel the babies as well. “Go my mate, enjoy yourself but stay safe.”
“I will.” Polly assures him with a kiss to his lips.
She waddles off to the stall and immediately starts pawing through the wares with enthusiasm. The merchant joins her to show off his best pieces and they talk animatedly, leaving Ca’lek and I alone to deal with Aelid.
Aelid still waits anxiously on the clinic steps. “Are you ready to negotiate your sale?” he asks with another gesture towards the door.
“Let us get this done quickly,” Ca’lek replies with a rumble of unease, eyes still locked on Polly’s round little figure. Finally, he turns and follows the Rissvan doctor into the clinic.
∞∞∞
Polly
This is my favorite stall yet. There are so many colorful things to choose from that it’s hard to pick one item and focus solely on that. From fabrics to wall hangings and pillows, I just don’t know where to start. A length of bright blue fabric snags my attention first and I lift it from the table. It’s so soft and long enough, I could make a baby blanket out of it if I wanted to. There’s also a length of pale lavender that would be perfect for a girl.
The rotund merchant walks over, waddling in much the same way I do, except his shape is purely fat. He’s pleasant enough though, smiling and asking my preferences. He pulls out more samples in varying shades of blue and lavender.
“Do you have a preference, young mother?” he asks as he lays them out. Some are softer than others, while some are not.
“I really like these,” I reply, fingering the softer fabrics. “They would be perfect for baby blankets; and maybe some onesies or jumpers.”
“Younglings are a joy,” the merchant says knowingly. “How many in your clutch?”
“Just two. There’s a boy and a girl,” I say with pride.
The merchant smiles broadly. “Twice blessed. The Mother Goddess’s hand rests on your shoulder.”
I’m not sure which goddess he’s referring to, but I thank him for his compliment. “Do you have any binding or padding for the inside? And I’ll need something a little thicker for the backing as well.”
A tall, rangy looking male approaches the stall, lazily selecting items and inspecting them without much care.
“One moment,” the merchant says, turning to answer another other customer. They chat for a few moments before he returns. He bends down and pulls a stack of fabric out of a large box. “Here, have a look at this. I can see you are still undecided about which fabrics you wish to purchase. These are made from the finest tellvian silk. Very rare, but they are the best fabrics one can find on today’s market. Peruse as you like, however, I must attend to something for a moment. I will be back shortly.”
The fabric swatches he lays out before he leaves has me gasping in delight. Truely, I have never felt anything so soft in my life. My fingers graze across the material, which feels like a combination of satin and fleece.
“Ooh, it’s perfect,” I murmur, embracing the expensive material.
“It certainly is,” the stranger says as he steps a little closer.
“Oh? Are you buying fabric as well?”
“Ah, no. Not quite my taste. I have something else in mind.” He reaches out and runs his knuckle down my cheek. “All alone little mother?” he asks in a purr that makes me feel sick to my stomach.
“Don’t touch me,” I say, stepping back. “My mates are nearby. They’ll be
here soon.”
The stranger bares his teeth in an ugly grin, then glances around. “Not soon enough, female,” he smirks, grabbing my arm. “Proven breeders always bring more money on the market block.”
Pulling firmly, he drags me deeper into the market and away from the clinic. I hear the fabric merchant protesting behind us.
“CA’LEK! VA’NAAR!” I scream, digging my nails into the slaver’s hand, desperate to pull his fingers off.
A loud roar shatters the air. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Ca’lek and Va’naar rushing through the crowd in the market. The slaver slaps a hand over my mouth, silencing my screams and wraps his other arm around my torso, before darting down an aisle behind several booths. I lose sight of my mates in the shadowy alley, then we emerge in another street and he pulls me further away from them.
∞∞∞
Ca’lek
“How much Vindi serum were you able to acquire?” Aelid asks as we walk through the first set of doors.
“We secured four hundred units of the serum,” Va’naar answers, setting the case on the table, then peers through the window.
Over his shoulder, I can see the figure of my mate at the fabric vendor. She looks happy as she smooths her hands over the lengths of material on the table.
“Four hundred? That’s wonderful!” Aelid exclaims. “We can treat quite a few cases of corshu fever with this.”
“Good. Let’s finish this,” I say impatiently. “I want to get back to my mate.”
“Of course, of course,” the Rissvan agrees. “The bounty offered was twenty thousand credits, yes?”
“I want five thousand,” I correct him, almost amused as the doctor’s face registers his shock.
“You do not want the full bounty?”
“Don’t need it, covering the cost of the fuel suits us just fine,” Va’naar says with a grin, glancing over at us.
“But…”
“He said we don’t need the entire bounty. Use it for the next shipment. I want to—”
A scream interrupts me.
“CA’LEK! VA’NAAR!” Polly’s frightened voice rips through the air. Looking out the window, I spot a Strollian slaver dragging her away from the booth. Bolting out of the clinic with a roar, Va’naar on my heels, I chase after my mate. Her screams cut off as the male pulls her deeper into the crowded market.
By Vren’s unholy balls, I’m going to tear that male to shreds and fling his bits across the galaxy.
Shoving people out of our way, I stumble to a stop. They’ve disappeared. There’s too many paths, too many people, and too many scents. My heart nearly stops in anguish. I can’t find her.
“Polly! Where is she?” Va’naar’s voice shouts, his voice clearly verging on panic as he spins in circles, grabbing random passersby and roaring in their faces. “The pregnant female! Have you seen her? Have you seen my mate?”
“Va’naar! Calm down! We will find her. Focus on Polly’s scent. Your nose is better than mine, remember!”
I grab his shoulder, spinning him round to face me. He gulps in a breath and focuses on me. He then closes his eyes and takes another calm breath. His next inhale is through his nose, slow and deep. Turning his head, he inhales again and again.
“That way!” he says, his eyes popping open.
Darting down an alleyway, he threads between the booths and I follow closely behind him. My secondary was always the best tracker when we competed as pups. He can find our mate.
We emerge into another lane and race down the aisle, spotting the Strollian with our mate. He’s got a hand over her mouth and an arm around her upper body. She’s a fierce little thing, kicking and clawing at him.
Pride fills my heart. She will be a strong and protective mother to our pups.
“POLLY!” I roar. The Strollian stumbles and looks up at me. His eyes widen at the sight of Va’naar and I barrelling after him, throwing people out of our way. Others finally react to what’s happening and clear the pathway.
Fully exposed now, the male stops and pulls a knife from his waistband. He holds the blade against my mate’s throat. “You will let us leave or I’ll kill her.”
Time slows down to a full stop at the sight of the sharp metal against her delicate human flesh.
Snarling, Va’naar lunges forward, but I yank him back by the scruff of his neck. “Think first! She’ll die if you foolishly rush in. We need a plan,” I say gruffly, trying to shake some sense into him..
Va’naar turns his head to face me. His eyes are wide with fear, mirroring the panic I feel myself. Without Polly, we are nothing.
“Time is running out, Mephidaeans,” the Strollian threatens.
“Release our mate and we will let you leave,” I counter, while slowly stepping forward. Va’naar moves with me, shifting to the side of the lane.
“You think I’m a fool? She goes with me,” the slaver snaps.
Polly stops squirming in his hold, her fearful eyes pleading for help. We have to act fast or we’ll lose both our mate and her pups. Making a fist, Polly’s expression hardens as she watches us. She seems to realize that we’ll have to move in unison to be successful. She meets my gaze, and her chin dips just a fraction.
“You are gravely mistaken if you think we’ll let you take her,” Va’naar snarls, stepping forward again.
“Stay where you are!” the Strollian orders, pointing his knife at Va’naar.
Slamming her fist into his genitals, my beautiful mate lunges away from him when he folds over with a pained grunt.
“NOW!”
We both lunge forward, passing Polly to tackle him. He stabs with the knife, catching me across the shoulder. I feel a flash of pain, then it's buried beneath a blaze of rage. My claws fully extend, long and razorsharp. Slashing across his face, I rip his skin open, blinding him with his own blood, and draw an agonized shriek from his mouth.
Va’naar slams his claws into the male’s arm and rips into the flesh of his armpit. The male screams again, fighting with desperate jabs of his blade. Easily dodging the blind strikes, I circle behind the Strollian, growling menacing threats in his ear.
Va’naar snarls in front of him, keeping him confused. I slash again, this time cutting through the muscle on the back of his knees. His legs give out and he falls. In one swift move, Va’naar guts him like a fish and spills his innards onto the dirt. The dying male screams in pain, clutching his own bowels in his hands.
I grab the male by the head and yank sideways, wrenching his neck. There’s a loud crack and his body falls limp. Dropping it at my feet, I spit on the corpse of the male who thought he could touch my mate and live. Va’naar kicks him in the gut.
A small sniffle of sound interrupts my feeling of victory. Polly stands nearby, warily watching the body. Abandoning the dead Strollian slaver to rot in the streets, I run over and retract my claws to wrap my arms around her.
“I was so scared,” Polly cries as I embrace her tightly. “If...if you wouldn’t have come for me...we—”
“Shhh. You are okay now. He can’t hurt you any longer,” I say, cooing lightly in her ear, cradling her body against me. I would never have thought myself capable of making such a soft sound, but I couldn’t care less.
I’d do anything for my female. Anything.
Va’naar steps up beside me and affectionately rubs her back. “The authorities have been notified.”
“I don’t give a Vren’s shit about the authorities. This is supposed to be a safe market. This NEVER should have happened,” I growl as my hatred for this place drips from the sound of my voice.
My ears tickle at the sound of whispers surrounding us. I look over my shoulder and glare at the onlookers who neither assisted nor called for help when my mate was in need. I hiss loudly until they scatter, leaving us alone.
Chapter 9
Va’naar
The trip back to the ship is both long and silent. Ca’lek carries Polly in his arms as I watch, scouting for anyone else who would wish to harm our f
amily. People dash out of our way as we rush past them, giving us odd stares. Word of our action in defense of our mate has obviously spread.
We came here to do one thing, and one thing alone. Deliver the Vindi serum for the people in need and leave this wretched place. I don’t even care that we left the entire payment for the serum behind when we went after Polly’s attacker.
The doors to the ship hiss open. Ca’lek hurries inside and I follow after him. We make our way to his quarters and he sets her down on the bed. “I will be back in just a moment,” he says, kissing her forehead. Ca’lek turns to me. “You, watch her.”
I don’t argue that there is no one aboard the ship who wishes to hurt Polly, doing so would just irritate him further. Ca’lek stalks out of the room, but leaves the door open so he has visuals on the both of us.
It’s understandable. His mane is still bristling with aggression. He’s far from calm and as my primary, he very likely feels guilty that Polly was far enough from us to be at risk like that. I know I feel guilty.
The bed dips when I climb on top of it. Polly’s already lying down, rubbing her belly and murmuring to her pups. I pause, watching, not wanting to interrupt her private moment. My heart swells with pride. I don’t care who sired those pups, they belong to the three of us now.
I lay down beside her, protectively encasing my body around her. Polly called it ‘spooning’ this morning. She can call it whatever she wants as long as I can hold her in my arms whenever I want.
“I should have listened and stayed with the two of you. Shopping could have waited,” my mate finally says in a low voice. Her hand trails over and grasps one of my own, pulling it up where she can look at it while she plays with my fingers.
My ears twitch at the sad timbre in her tone and I can tell she’s still upset, but my Polly is strong. There is nothing she can’t handle.
“You are not to blame.” Instinctively, I lean into the crook of her neck and inhale. Her scent washes over me and calms me. “That bastard was looking for a victim. He just happened to see you. If I hadn’t taken my eyes off you, I would have seen him before he could touch you.”
The Alien Pirates' Treasure (Star Pirates Book 1) Page 9