David’s arms slipped around him. “I’m so proud of you, Laith. You fought with bravery and integrity. Let’s go back to our ship and get you cleaned and patched up.”
Laith nodded wearily. “And then we get our mate.”
“Yes. And then we get Jordan.”
Chapter Thirteen
David helped Laith onto the bed and proceeded to strip him naked. Bruises were forming on his skin, causing interesting colors to stream around the damaged areas. He cleaned the wounds and bandaged them up, and all the while Laith lay quietly.
“How do you feel?” David asked.
“I am not sure,” Laith replied wearily. “I feel … empty. I am glad Julyah has been avenged, but where do I go from here? I am no longer a raider. I am nothing.”
“Not true. We’ll become part of your parents’ movement. Every female we save we’ll do it in Julyah’s memory. We aren’t even traitors since you issued an official challenge to Kath.”
“I believe that is why I am suddenly adrift in indecision. I did not expect to survive this.”
“You can’t deny this was a better plan.”
“Yes, it did work out well,” Laith murmured. “I am glad you insisted we take her instead of the other female.”
David grinned. “Me, too.”
“She was right, you know. My plan was faulty. Had she not broken that console…” He trailed off and shook his head.
“It was meant to be,” David told him with a pat on his shoulder. “Perhaps she even saved our lives. When we meet up with her let’s take her to Earth and find her mother.”
“Agreed.”
“Get some rest. I’m going to get us off this planet.”
Moments later they were taxied to the runway, and David smoothly lifted off, setting a heading to the Partin System. He knew they couldn’t be that far behind Jordan, although he didn’t know how fast the smuggler, Shen, had traveled.
David stayed in the pilot seat, letting Laith recuperate, breathing a sigh of relief his blood-kin had been victorious. Laith was a force of nature, confident and headstrong. Most would see Laith as the dominant in their relationship, but David knew just how fragile Laith really was. His sister’s death had hit him hard, and for the past year David had been emotionally carrying Laith as he’d tried to make sense of it all. Laith had been a raider, rising through the ranks, on his way to Commander. Perhaps he might have even achieved Admiral ranking. But everything had changed the day Kath had taken Julyah. Laith had spiraled down into guilt, and it had been David who put the pieces back together.
Now it was his turn to lead, so he programmed their ship on an intercept course to get Jordan back.
****
Jordan couldn’t seem to help staring at the handsome Alphan smuggler. He wasn’t at all like a Xyran except in the fact that he was so alien looking. The shuttle docked inside a larger ship, and then he turned to look at her. His light golden eyes stared at her steadily.
“This ship will take you to the rendezvous in the Partin System,” he said. “I’ve been told the child’s parents will meet her there.”
Jordan nodded.
“My name is Shen,” he said, cocking his head as he watched her. She shifted nervously in her seat. “I’ve been smuggling women to safety for some time now, and I can assure you you’re both safe now.”
“With all due respect, Shen, I don’t feel like anything is safe out here,” she muttered.
“Perhaps you’re right. But you’re brave, and bravery is something to be admired. You don’t have to go back to the Xyran if you don’t want.”
She raised her chin a fraction. “I wasn’t planning on going back.”
A ghost of a smile played on his lips. “I can offer you sanctuary on Planet Alpha. Anywhere you’d wish to go you’d have the respect of the Alphan people.”
A sudden thought came over her, and she bit her lip. “What if I wished to go back to Earth?”
Surprise lit up his features. “Earth is a dying planet,” he said. “Why would you wish to go back?”
“Because my mother is there and I’m all she has.”
Shen studied her for a long moment. “If that truly is what you wish, so be it.”
Jordan smiled through her breaking heart and nodded.
“All right,” he said quietly as he turned back toward his computer. “I shall find you a different ship to rendezvous with the child’s parents.”
Yes, this was the best thing for her to do, but damned if she wished she hadn’t fallen for the abductors who’d kidnapped her heart.
Chapter Fourteen
Rell’s parents made arrangements to meet the new transport ship when it came in to dock. For the entire ride the little girl was a bundle of excited nerves, bouncing in her seat and talking so much about her parents that Jordan recognized them immediately when they disembarked. Except for the part where Rell’s mother was human. Rell hadn’t mentioned that part. No wonder the little girl had trusted her from the start.
Rell’s mother fell to her knees and hugged her daughter, tears of joy falling down her cheeks. Jordan didn’t know what do to as she watched two Alphan men join her, their family complete once again. She finally looked down at her feet in order to give them a moment of privacy.
Several minutes later, two feet appeared in her line of vision, and she looked up to see Rell’s mother standing before her. Without warning, the woman threw her arms around Jordan and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you,” she said in a cultured English accent. “Thank you so much for bringing my baby home to me.”
Jordan’s heart softened, and she returned the hug. “Anyone would have done the same.”
“No, they wouldn’t have. My name is Sabrina,” she said pulling back to wipe her cheeks. “What’s yours?”
“Jordan Kuper.”
“Your accent … are you German?”
Jordan nodded.
“I was British,” Sabrina said. “But now I am Alphan. These are my husbands, Joff and Bock, of the House Tollin.”
The two tall Alphans stepped forward and formally shook her hand. They were all dressed strangely, as if they’d stepped out of a medieval painting, and Jordan couldn’t help be self conscious about her ill-fitting clothes. Joff was holding Rell tightly as she hugged her father around his neck.
“You are welcome to come live with us,” Sabrina told her. “We will grant you every courtesy until we find you mates. It’s the least we can do after you brought our baby back to us.”
“How was she taken?”
“We were returning from Earth when we were attacked,” Bock said. “When the chaos was over we hadn’t realized that Rell was gone. Not until we got a ransom note.”
Sabrina threw her arms around Joff and Rell, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks. It brought a lump in Jordan’s throat. She cleared it, swallowing down the rush of emotions.
“Seeing all of you together is payment enough,” Jordan murmured.
Rell lifted her head and looked at her and she held out her arms. Jordan stepped forward and took the little girl, who hugged her tightly.
“Are you going to live with us?” she asked.
“No, sweetheart. I have to go back home.”
Rell looked at her with golden eyes wise beyond her years. “Alpha could be your home.”
“Like you, I have a momma I have to get back to. Maybe one day we’ll meet again. Okay?”
“Okay. I love you, Jordan.”
“Ah, sweetie. I love you, too.”
Sabrina took her daughter and regarded her solemnly. “Are you sure you don’t want to live with us? There are no hidden strings, I promise.”
“It’s not that. I was taken, like Rell, and left my mother behind in the Berlin camp.”
“That’s one of the older camps, right? One of the first erected. I’ve heard they’re deplorable.”
Jordan nodded. “Pretty much. Especially when it rains. But I have no choice. I can’t leave her behind.”
“I understand,” Sabrina said softly. “You will always be welcome in our home, Jordan Kuper. All right?”
“Yes,” Jordan said. “Thank you.”
“This ship is going to Earth,” Bock said, his voice low and deep. “I will secure your passage and make sure someone escorts you to Berlin.”
“Again, thank you,” Jordan said.
“However, I insist you take my clothes,” Sabrina said reaching behind her for her travel bag. “I know it’s rude to offer hand-me-downs, but there aren’t any shops around and you can’t wear slave clothes back to Earth.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t want to take your clothes—”
“I insist. It’s the least we could do for the life of our daughter.”
Jordan wavered, feeling like she was imposing on them. But logic won out, so she nodded. “I appreciate it. Good-bye, Sabrina.”
“Good-bye, Jordan. Take care of yourself.”
****
During her trip back to Earth, Jordan had a long time for reflection. Were David and Laith even alive? The thought of them dead hurt so much that she bit down on her knuckle to stem the pain. Even though she was all alone on the transport she didn’t think it was appropriate to shriek for no apparent reason. Since she was alone, she finally let the tears have their chance to flow.
Chapter Fifteen
As they came to the rendezvous point where the ship was supposed to meet them, David saw nothing but empty space. He double checked the coordinates and frowned. He engaged the intercom system.
“Laith, get up here.”
A minute later Laith limped to his chair. “What is wrong?”
“Shen isn’t here.”
Laith glanced at his console and read the same information he did. Shen wasn’t there, which meant Jordan wasn’t there.
“I don’t like this, Laith,” he muttered.
“Nor do I.”
David kept sending out hails to Shen until he began contemplating doing something really reckless, and then finally, they got a response. As the connection went through, a haughty Alphan stared coldly back.
“We are looking for the human female named Jordan,” Laith said by way of a greeting. “Perhaps you—”
“Jordan Kuper is no longer your concern,” the Alphan stated coldly.
“Excuse me?” David demanded. His blood ran cold at the thought that something happened to her. He began to doubt the idea of letting Shen spirit her away.
“As compensation for her brave return of the Alphan child, her request to go back to Earth has been granted. If you try to follow the ship, you will be gunned down.”
The viewscreen blinked out, leaving David and Laith staring at it in shock.
“What shall we do, David?”
“We’re going to get our mate back,” he answered with a promise in his voice.
****
Jordan walked slowly toward the main gate of the Berlin camp. She’d never looked from this side of the fence, and now she noticed how it had changed over the years. More barbed wire, an additional perimeter fence, and a reinforced gate, all designed to keep the unlucky in and the unwanted out. She’d kept her Alphan clothes on, knowing that once inside she was going to have to pack them away. They were too beautiful to survive for long under the sweat and hot sun, and she wanted to keep them forever.
They were all she had to remember that once, she’d been desired. Once she had loved. The memories were going to have to sustain her for the rest of her life because there would never be another man, or men, she’d ever want in her heart and bed.
As she got closer to the gate, a guard came out on the walkway with a shotgun resting in his hands. She raised her hand in a greeting.
“Let me in, Lonny,” she called up to him.
He squinted his eyes as he assessed how she knew him. She watched the recognition slowly dawn on his face.
“Jordan Kuper? Why are you wearing a dress? Are you going drag?”
“No, Lonny. I’m a woman.”
“You had a sex change?” he asked, stupefied.
She sighed. Why bother? “Yes, Lonny. I had a sex change in the week I’ve been gone. Now, can you open the gate for me?”
“Sure, Jordan. Go through the check-in office, and I’ll have them wave you through. I can’t believe you’re a girl now. Do you have all your girl parts?”
She flipped him off with her finger as she entered the office. The other guards blinked at her, staring at her with wide eyes, but they didn’t say a word as she walked through the door back into the only life she remembered.
The camp was eve dirtier than she remembered, probably from living in a relatively clean environment for a week. Depression threatened to overwhelm her, but she ruthlessly pushed it back. People stared at her, and she didn’t see any recognition in their faces. She was a stranger.
A female stranger.
She still wore the clothes that Sabrina had given to her, which consisted of a long skirt and tunic. She held her head up because she was done hiding who she truly was. Her friend Derek fell in step beside her, ogling her like he did every woman in the camp.
“Hallo, leibling,” he murmured in what he considered his most seductive voice. Jordan rolled her eyes.
“Cut it out, Derek,” she ordered sharply.
He grabbed her arm and brought her to a halt. “Jordan?”
She pulled out of his grasp. “Yes. You look like you’ve never seen a girl before, and I know for a fact you’ve seen plenty.”
“But … but … but…”
She patted his face and continued walking toward the cabin she shared with her mother. When she entered her section of the camp, her heart sped up. Her mother and Mr. Meier were sitting next to each other, and Mr. Meier was holding her hand in a comforting gesture. Unexpectedly, tears burst from her eyes, and she began to run. All she wanted was to feel her mother’s arms around her. She was vaguely aware of Mr. Meier pointing to her and her mother standing. A second later, she plowed into her mother and hugged her tightly. Jordan buried her face in her mother’s neck and burst into tears.
She never cried. She was not a crier, but now twice in a matter of days bitter tears poured from her eyes. She was shaking and sobbing, and her mother was patting her hair giving small soothing noises. Finally, the tide ebbed long enough for her to rein in her wayward emotions. Her mother pulled back, smiling.
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I know, Momma. I fought every day to come back.”
“What happened? No one knew anything.”
“I was taken by a Xyran,” Jordan said, and the audience around them gasped. Startled, she looked around, just then noticing the people who had swarmed around them as she’d had her little meltdown. “The guards sold me to them for jewels.”
An angry murmur erupted through the crowd.
“I fought back,” she continued. “And I managed to escape. I found a little girl, and I helped get her back to her parents. Her parents helped me return here.”
“You could’ve gone anywhere,” her mother said.
“I came back for you, Momma.”
Her mother hugged her again, and once again, tears gathered in her eyes. Now that she was back, she’d thought she’d feel fulfilled. Content. But all she felt was sadness. She looked over her mother’s shoulder and saw Mr. Meier, and she pulled back to go over and hug him.
“You helped me escape,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
He squeezed her and then looked her carefully in the eyes. “Why don’t the three of us take a walk, hm?”
He held out his elbow to her mother and much to Jordan’s surprise, she took it and held Jordan’s hand as they left their gathered audience to walk. No one was ever truly alone in the camp, but walking was the best way to avoid anyone snooping into their conversation.
“Something happened,” Mr. Meier said, and he shot her a quick glance.
Slowly, Jordan nodded. “I came to care for the two men who abducted
me.”
Her mother gasped. “Oh no, Jordan. That’s Stockholm Syndrome, a form of traumatic bonding a prisoner usually gets for their captor.”
“It wasn’t like that, Momma. They cared for me.”
“No, they didn’t,” her mother stated firmly. “That’s what predators do, they make you believe they have feelings for you, but in reality they have no feelings whatsoever. I’ve told you over and over, Jordan, men hurt women.”
Mr. Meier stopped them from walking, but instead of looking at her, he frowned at her mother. “Not all men hurt women, Gretchen. I wouldn’t hurt you or Jordan. Perhaps these men really did develop feelings for her.”
But Gretchen shook her head. “No. If you believe that then you are no better.”
“Momma!” Jordan said, shocked.
“Come, Jordan,” her mother said, grabbing her hand and all but dragging her away. Jordan looked back at Mr. Meier and saw the sadness in his face.
“Momma,” Jordan said as she followed along. “Stop. Momma, stop!”
Gretchen turned, and they stared at one another. In her face, Jordan saw pain and fear.
“Why did you say that to him?” she asked her mother. “He’s always been good to us.”
“I told you men hurt women, and Heinrick Meier isn’t any different. Those aliens aren’t any different!”
Although her mother had always been protective, Jordan’s recent adventure had her looking at her mother with different eyes. Had her momma always been this paranoid? Gretchen Kuper was panting, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Something wasn’t right … something didn’t make sense at all.
Why hadn’t she ever noticed how bad she was?
“Momma, who hurt you?”
Her mother sucked in a sharp breath and began to shake. “I don’t want to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
Gretchen bit her lip. “The … the man who hurt me was the one who sired you.”
Shock poured through Jordan. “My father hurt you?”
“He was never your father,” Gretchen said bitterly. “He was the man who raped me.”
Defiance Page 9