by Susan Hayes
“If that’s the only answer you can give me, then there’s no need for us to talk anymore. I need to be alone.”
“Don’t go. Please, seska. Stay with me.”
The sense of hurt and confusion hit her again, and she finally realized that he was the source of the emotions she sensed. Overwhelmed, she took another step back. “Why am I feeling what you’re feeling? What new weirdness is this?”
“It is the bond I spoke of. It is different with each couple. Some can read each other’s thoughts from great distances, while some never sense more than the other’s presence. It will take time to learn how strong our bond will be.” He touched his chest, over his heart, then his head. “You will be with me here, and here. And I will always be with you.”
She had reached her breaking point. “You mean we’re going to be psychically linked, forever? And you didn’t think to mention that ahead of time?”
He started to speak and she cut him off with a sharp shake of her head while Melody wailed, distressed by the loud voices and her mother’s anger. “No. Just. No. I can’t do this right now.”
She walked out, somehow managing to get the door to activate on her first try. He didn’t follow her, which should have made her happy, but part of her wasn’t. I’m a total freaking mess.
She was three steps away from the door when it occurred to her she had no idea where to go. The only place she’d visited since arriving was the nursery. Where could she take a crying baby on a spaceship? Did they have lounges? Maybe a cafeteria? She took another step, uncertain, and registered a new sensation. Cold feet. Great. She’d been so mad she left without putting on her shoes.
She was still linked with Tarjen, and his emotional state wasn’t much better than hers. If she went back for her shoes, she’d have to deal with him, and she didn’t have that in her, not right now.
A door opened to her left, and Gwen stuck her head out into the corridor. “You were right, Lisa, she’s here,” Gwen called back into the room before offering Aria an understanding smile. “I see you’ve hit the post-Scorching crisis phase. Feel like talking about it?”
“There are phases? Why didn’t anyone tell me that? I swear, there needs to be a handbook. ‘What to expect when your mate is an alien.’ I bet it would be a bestseller.”
“Maybe you can write it.” Gwen gestured her closer. “Come on in. I’ll tell Lisa to break into her stash of herbal teas. Peppermint or chamomile?”
“Peppermint, please.” Her plan to be alone evaporated as she followed Gwen into the nursery. She needed answers. Maybe Gwen and the others could provide them. They had all chosen to stay with their mates. There had to be a reason they’d made that choice.
She was gone. Tarjen paced the length of their quarters as he tried to work out where it had gone wrong. He’d made so many plans, arranged everything so that Aria would feel welcome and happy. Earth was a chaotic, dangerous place. He’d thought she’d welcome the security he offered. Instead, she’d reacted as if he were taking her freedom away. She didn’t trust him, nor did she accept that this was the will of the Gods. Where had he gone wrong? He’d spent days working out his plans, trying to anticipate every possible problem. How had it all fallen apart? More importantly, what should he do now?
Frustrated, he continued pacing. Where was she? Where could she go? She didn’t know the ship. Was she lost? Would she try and leave? No one would let that happen, but it bothered him to think she might attempt it. Finally, he forced himself to stop moving. If she could sense his emotions, then perhaps he could sense hers, too.
He felt a pull and turned toward it. She was located in that direction. He could feel it. Pleased, he tried again, and caught a whisper of emotion that wasn’t his. Anger, doubt, fear, and guilt. She felt all the same things he did, but there were differences. It was gone a heartbeat later, overwhelmed by his desire to fix what he had done and make her happy again.
An alert chimed, announcing that he had a visitor. He wanted it to be Aria, but he sensed it wasn’t. Puzzled, he opened the door. Joran stood outside, along with Vadir and Kash. All of them were grinning.
“So, things didn’t go according to plan for you either, huh?” Vadir asked in Pyrosian.
“How do you know that?” Tarjen replied in the same language. After several days of speaking English, it felt odd to be speaking his own tongue again.
“Our mates sent us over here to help you. Apparently, they are with Aria right now, and no, you’re not allowed to go over there. They were very clear about that.” Joran entered the room and the others trailed in after him.
“Actually, they made it clear none of us were welcome,” Kash grumbled.
“But, Joran is the crown prince. He can go where he pleases. It’s his ship.”
Vadir chuckled. “And I’m rich enough to buy and sell planets if I wanted. It doesn’t make any difference to our mates, though. There are times when their word is law.”
Tarjen folded his arms over his chest. “The law is the law.”
“And that right there is why you’re alone in your quarters and your mate is down the hall not talking to you. To quote my tani, I’ve been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.” Vadir sat down in one of the chairs, looking annoyingly smug.
“I have no idea why you would want clothing made to commemorate a problem like this, but if you have advice for me, it would seem I could use some. I had a plan, but it isn’t working.” He raised his hands in a gesture of confusion. “Why didn’t it work?”
Joran claimed the other chair, while Kash leaned against the wall near the door as if he didn’t trust that Tarjen would stay in the room. Tarjen sat down on the corner of the bed and looked at the others expectantly.
“It didn’t work because you made the same mistake we did.” Joran said. “When I found Maggie, I made the mistake of forgetting that while I had been raised with an understanding of the Scorching and the instant connection between mates, she had no idea what any of it meant. She felt like she had no choice.”
“Aria mentioned, choice, too. I tried to explain it was the will of the Gods, but it didn’t help.”
“It wouldn’t,” Vadir stated as if it should have been obvious. “I’ve spent more time dealing with humans than anyone else from our planet, and I can tell you that most of them place a high value on having the freedom to choose. If you corner or coerce them, they react badly. Plus, their beliefs are many and varied. They don’t all believe in the same gods, and many don’t believe in gods at all.” Vadir shrugged. “They’re complicated.”
Joran leaned back in his chair. “Maggie mentioned that your mate had concerns about her daughter being raised on Pyros. What’s that about?”
“She does not want Melody registered as a citizen. She is concerned that not only am I taking away her choices, but I will take away Melody’s, too. I tried to explain, but she took the child and left. I didn’t know about Melody. I didn’t plan for her, but now I know, I want what’s best for her. Above all else, I want her to be happy.”
The prince closed his eyes and groaned. “We didn’t consider what would happen if one of the matches already had children. Since our females cannot conceive with anyone but their true mate, it never occurred to us. My father will have to make some decisions about that, and I imagine he’ll want to speak to your mate and the other females before he does so.”
“If she comes to Pyros at all. She is very unhappy right now.” Tarjen touched his temple. “I can sense her emotions, and she can sense mine. Another detail I forgot to mention to her ahead of time.”
Kash winced. “Things would go better if the humans had more information about our world and how matings work between our species.”
“Aria said the same thing,” Tarjen agreed. “She has many questions. I hope your mates will be able to give her answers. If she chooses to stay…” he trailed off.
“Then you would be put in the same position she is now in. It’s something we don’t have to deal with on Pyros anymore, because
mates know months or even years in advance who they will bond with, and they make arrangements before they ever meet. We need to find a better way to arrange things,” Joran said.
“Yes. And whatever our plans are, it won’t include coming back to Earth. Not after what happened this time.” Kash slapped his hand against his thigh in irritation. “Considering the damage, it is amazing that only a few males died. The humans are scrambling to explain how it happened and apologize, but we can’t risk another attack. The bombers who survived have all been captured, but so far none of the leaders have been located. The ones who planted the devices thought they were working alone. They believed they were only going to cause minor damage. Their goal was to spread fear, not commit murder.”
“Which means the real danger lies with the leaders,” Tarjen said.
Joran nodded. “Once we find Vadir’s missing guest, the only trips anyone will be making to Earth is to escort the females as they pack for their new home.”
“What missing guest?” Tarjen asked. It bothered him to be so out of touch. His job normally required regular briefings. He should have been briefed about the group threatening the Gathering, too. How could he protect his mate and their daughter if he didn’t have all the facts?
“The Romaki Prince, Radek. He hasn’t been seen since the bombings,” Kash said.
“Him? I saw him transform and take flight during the attack. How is it no one has seen him? In his dragon form, he’s difficult to miss.” A thought crossed Tarjen’s mind. “Is there any chance he might have taken the missing human female with him?”
Vadir groaned. “If he did, I’ll skin him and nail his hide to the wall of my office.”
“Is that likely?” Kash asked.
Vadir answered. “Humans have legends about dragons. It’s one of the reasons Radek is here. You know his people never leave their homeworld anymore. It’s been centuries since they abandoned space travel. They’re convinced that if they leave Romak, they’ll lose their magic and never find their way home again, just like the colony ships they lost.”
“Well, clearly Radek hasn’t lost his magic, or he wouldn’t have been able to transform.” Kash pointed out.
“Which means he’s got some pretty big news to share when I return him home. If we ever find him.” Vadir pinched his chin. “You know, if he’s got one of the missing females with him, that would explain why he hasn’t been in contact. Romaki matings are even more intense than Pyrosian.”
Joran muttered under his breath. “Wonderful. The humans will be so pleased to know there’s another species out there interested in claiming their females. You’re right, Kash. We’re not going to be coming back to Earth any time soon.”
Something clicked into place in Tarjen’s mind. “Whether you return or not, you will need someone on Earth to coordinate future matings and stay in contact with the humans. If Aria will not come to Pyros, I will volunteer to stay behind. I do not wish to be separated from her. I cannot protect her if I am on the other side of the galaxy.”
All three men looked at him, but only Joran spoke. “You’d be a target if you stayed.”
“So will she. If she stays, so will I.”
Vadir pointed to the door. “Then go tell her that.”
He rose to his feet, tugged his uniform into place and said a silent prayer to the Gods that this went better than the last conversation he had with Aria. He had to make her understand that he would do whatever it took to be with her, even if it meant leaving his family, friends, and career behind. After all, he’d expected her to do the same for him.
Chapter Eight
Talking with the other women had been enlightening for Aria. They shared the challenges they’d overcome after the Scorching had ended and they each had to face the reality that their lives were irrevocably changed. It made her feel better about her own situation. Their mates had made mistakes, too, but they had found a way to work through it, and none of them regretted leaving Earth.
“And they love you? It’s not just lust?” she asked them.
“I know Joran loves me, and it’s clear to anyone with eyes that Kash worships the ground Gwen walks on,” Maggie said.
“Vee loves me. He’s still learning how to show it, but I know he does.” Lisa sat across from her, a cup of tea in one hand and a partially eaten cupcake in the other.
“It’s your decision, but if you come back with us, you could be a huge help.” Maggie gestured to herself. “Before all this, I was a barista, Gwen sold books, and Lisa drew caricatures and local landscape paintings for tourists. We’ve done our best, but none of us have your qualifications. I know you were kidding about needing a how-to manual, but we’re going to need something to give to new arrivals. Cognitive augmentation will give them the language and a basic understanding of how things work, but the culture shock is still pretty harsh.”
It was an interesting idea, but before she agreed to anything, she needed to talk to Tarjen and figure out if they could make things work. “Maybe.”
“I know. You still need to talk to your mate. I can promise you this much, though. Melody will always have the right to choose. I will personally guarantee it. Whatever decree King Janus eventually makes regarding children born on Earth, Melody will always be free to return to Earth, to chose her own mate, or to live as a Pyrosian.”
Some of the tension locked around her ribs eased, making it easier for Aria to breathe. “Thank you.”
Maggie touched her rounded stomach. “Your little girl has given all of us something to think about. I hope for the sake of Pyros that Hope, Melody, and my future daughter choose to stay and help rebuild the population, but that choice should be theirs to make, not ours.”
Lisa raised her cup in a toast. “To the next generation. Your little girls…and my son.”
Everyone gasped and then the room erupted into questions. “What? When? How far along? A boy? You’re having a boy?”
Aria sat back in her chair, overwhelmed by emotions that weren’t her own. What the hell is happening now?
Lisa was chattering away happily, and for the moment none of them had noticed Aria’s distress. “We were going to tell everyone on the way home. I only found out a few days ago. Torel confirmed it for me. We’re having a little boy. Vee is over the moons and can’t wait to get home so he can start building a new wing for the kid. He’s already working on the plans, and we’re going to make some changes to his ship so junior can come with us when we travel for work.”
“That’s wonderful news! I’m so happy! Our babies are going to grow up together and be the best of friends, just like we are,” Gwen declared.
Another wave of emotions slammed into Aria, and she closed her eyes, trying to find some kind of equilibrium.
“Aria? You okay?” Gwen asked.
“I’m not sure. I was sitting here and suddenly I could feel all your emotions. All of you. It was a little overwhelming.”
Lisa uttered a yelp of delight. “We’ve got another psychic! Yes! Have you always been an empath, or is this a new development?”
Opening her eyes, Aria found herself the focus of everyone’s attention. “It’s new. Sorry, Lisa. I didn’t mean to distract from your good news. I started sensing Tarjen’s feelings this morning, and now this. I’m not sure how many more surprises I can take.”
“I get it.” Lisa came over to pat her shoulder. “I was always clairvoyant, but I couldn’t read thoughts until after Vee and I were mated. It took some getting used to.”
“We really do need a manual,” Gwen muttered.
“How is it now? Are you still sensing all of us?” Lisa asked.
Aria focused for a moment, but all she was getting was a general sense of happiness from the three of them, along with an undertone of concern. “It’s better now. I think it was just the sudden spike of elation when you shared your good news, Lisa. Congratulations, by the way.”
Maggie was still looking at her intently. “You’re a psychologist, right? And now, you’re a psych
ologist with empathic abilities.”
Gwen hummed in approval. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Maggie nodded. “I’m starting to think that these Pyrosian Gods know what they’re doing. Don’t tell Joran I said that, though. He’d start saying I told you so.” The princess turned her attention back to Aria. “If you decide to come to Pyros, I think you’d be a huge asset. We need someone to help with the new arrivals as they adjust to their new lives. I’m not sure how it would work just yet, but would you think about it?”
Helping people to cope with loss and change was why she’d become a grief counsellor in the first place. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises. It’s not just Tarjen I’m worried about. I don’t want to leave my little sister behind. I’m all she’s got.”
“If she wants to come to Pyros, she can. I wouldn’t have left Earth without Gwen and Lisa, and they wouldn’t have left without me.” Maggie spoke with utter confidence, and Aria believed her. It was nice to know that she had a princess on her side.
“Thank you,” she said. After that, they went back to chatting about babies, pregnancy, and the futures their children might have. Aria listened more than she talked, still working through everything she’d learned. It was a lot to take in.
After a while, something new started pressing in on her awareness. It only took her a moment to recognize the feeling. Tarjen. She could sense him. It wasn’t like before, when his emotions were pouring into her. This was focused. Like a voice gently calling her name. Without really being aware of it, she set down her tea and stood. “Congratulations, Lisa. And thank you all so much. I need to go, now. Tarjen wants to talk to me.”
“Your bond is strengthening,” Gwen noted with a nod of approval. “We’ll keep Melody here and give her a bath while you’re gone. Lisa and Maggie could both use the practice.”
“Kick butt and take no prisoners. You got this,” Lisa said, holding her cupcake aloft like a sword.