The doctor pushed the button again, “Mica.” Vareen screamed again, crying for help even when she knew he was too far away.
Chapter Seven
“I’m sorry Vathral. Diandra had us all fooled.”
Mica only partially listened to Calinae Edal as she spoke with the male named Vathral Dax. They were onboard The Cali, a spacecraft gifted to Drake’s mate, heading for Cestori and that’s all he cared about. He was a day closer to Vareen.
Trying to distract himself from the journey, he’d begun a holo game with Drake’s younger sister, Nevir. That was a mistake since she was more interested in the conversation between Cali and Vathral.
“Thank you for telling me Cali.”
Mica had to hand it to the male from Cestori, he didn’t show a lot of emotion. When he’d been captured on Titus, his lack of emotion had almost gotten him killed.
The clans allowed the unaligned Others to stay to themselves. Thinking Vathral’s landing party was a group of youth from the unaligned bent on raiding Metari lands, they’d almost executed them. Since the people of Titus had special abilities, breaking the laws resulted in harsh punishments. Cali, seeing that the accused were her friends from The Apoxis, had been the only thing that saved them.
“Is that it?” Nevir taunted Vathral, “’Thank you for telling me.’”
Mica opened his mouth to remind her it was her turn when she made a move on the board. When he saw her eyes were flashing blue, he knew her emotions were heightened for some reason. Mica snorted to himself. When wasn’t Nevir emotional when she was dealing with Vathral?
“Don’t you care that she lied and used you? Show some backbone.”
Mica sat up taller. This was an interesting turn of events. Drake’s sister and Vathral Dax had been at each other’s throats for the entirety of the trip. Now it was coming to a head, and he couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
“Because I’m not smashing things and yelling irrationally, to you that means I have no backbone? No feelings?” Vathral jumped up in outrage at her words.
“Yes.” Nevir jumped up from her seat and matched his stance.
“So much for our game.” Mica turned the holo off.
Nevir just waved a hand in agitation at him and turned her attention back to Vathral.
“Let me get this straight. You think I’m spineless and without feeling?” Vathral choked out and Mica noted the clenched teeth. So his feelings did run deep, it just required persuasion to get him to show it. Mica didn’t worry when Vathral moved until he was almost nose to nose with Nevir. The male showed an abundance of honor, it was almost too bad he was from Cestori. They might be friends one day if Vathral wasn’t staying there.
Mica wished he’d brought a snack to enjoy while watching. When Drake picked Cali up from her seat and went to leave Mica was surprised.
“I think that’s our cue to leave. Good luck little sister.” His friend's tone was humorous.
“I find it amusing.” Mica drawled and spread out on the couch watching. “Keep bickering you two. I need the entertainment.”
Vathral snapped his mouth closed on his retort.
Nevir flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically. “You know it’s true. Admit it.”
“Mica,” Drake got his attention. “Don’t you have something you could be doing on the bridge?”
“What?” Mica looked at Drake and finally noticed his exaggerated head nodding. “Ohh. Yes. Duty on the bridge.” He pushed himself off the couch and followed Drake out the door.
Mica heard Vathral snap, “I requested life-partnership with Diandra before leaving Cestori. I have to speak with her before making any judgments.”
“Life-partnership?” Nevir’s voice went deadly soft. “Does that mean you are taking her for your chosen? Even after everything she’s done?”
Mica didn’t get to hear the rest since the doors closed automatically behind them. With a sigh, he took the lift to the bridge. He might as well get some work done. They were to arrive at Cestori tomorrow, the next day at the latest. Sending another request for communication might be a good idea. So far, they’d had no response to their attempts at contact with anyone from Cestori. Cali hadn’t been able to reach Conndra or Vareen. She assured him that this wasn’t entirely unusual. She tried to hide her worry, but Mica could still see it nonetheless. It would be good to get this over with.
*****
“Calinae.”
“Mother.”
This was the fearsome Aicen Edal? Mica wanted to laugh at the idea that this small female held the whole planet in awe. The little general, as his first impression tagged her, did have her hair in a severe bun that would make a normal person’s eyes water. Her business suit wasn’t the most attractive style or color, but then this was their choice of clothing. Both of the other women with her were wearing the same type of outfits.
“This is a diplomatic meeting mother. You didn’t need so much protection.”
Mica did crack a smile at the number of guards the women had around them. It was insulting really since this was supposed to be a friendly discussion. Vathral had teleported to the surface this morning to gather information for them. They hadn’t heard from him since and were attending this meeting with no idea what was happening on Cestori.
“With only vague information about the people of Titus, we felt it prudent to come prepared.” Aicen Edal looked at him, Drake and Nevir with cold eyes. “Vareen Nas didn’t have much to tell us about the males that had taken you. Or the ship The Reliant had encountered.”
Mica instantly stood taller. She’d spoken with Vareen? He wanted to break into the conversation but was stopped when Cali spoke first.
“I’m sure Vareen told you I went willingly.”
“There were…” Aicen paused, “conflicting reports about what occurred on the bridge. That you had a relationship with the male rescued from the first pod was widely known by everyone onboard. Not as many crew members agreed that you went ‘willingly’ with the male from Titus however. Some say you teleported right off the bridge, without a word to your crew.”
“I’m to blame for Cali’s lack of communication with her crew,” Drake spoke in Cali’s defense. “The custom of my people when dealing with a chosen mate is to claim that person without question or reserve.”
Which is what he should have done. Taken Vareen off The Reliant and let the ship get back to Cestori on its own.
Aicen Edal looked at Drake dispassionately, “I see. My daughter is this ‘chosen mate’ to you?”
“Yes.”
“Even if she is promised to someone else?” her mother inquired calmly.
“I would be forced to kill any male you tried to partner her with.”
Mica agreed. Any male that tried to steal a chosen mate should die. Since Vathral wasn’t interested in Cali, he was safe.
Aicen Edal held her hand out and the female introduced as Tonn Dax closed her mouth. Was this woman Vathral’s mother? Mica would think that she would protest the idea of Drake killing her son more vehemently. So much for motherly love.
“Would this mating stand, if my daughter changed her mind? Told you of her own free will that she didn’t want you?”
Mica’s gaze flew to Drake. There wasn’t a male alive that would let his chosen mate walk away. He’d only been able to let Vareen come to Cestori because he knew they would follow. How would his friend answer this question? Drake stood stoically and finally stated.
“Yes.”
Mica didn’t believe him. It went against their very nature.
“I would like to speak privately with Calinae.”
Mica’s instincts were screaming that this was all wrong, and Aicen Edal was up to something.
“No,” Drake’s denial was vehement and he nodded his agreement.
“Why, is there a reason she might deny you as her mate?”
“There is nothing you could say that would make me deny Drake as my mate.” Cali turned to Drake and placed a hand on
his chest. “It’s okay. I’ll speak with her alone.”
Drake obviously wasn’t happy with the idea, “Very well. If it’s what you want.” Nodding to him and Nevir to follow him out of the room. Mica complied even though it went against his better judgment.
Chapter Eight
“Why would you leave Cali in that room alone with her mother?” Mica was pacing the bridge while Drake was standing stiffly at the monitoring console.
“Because Cali and I both knew that her mother was up to something when we didn’t hear back from Vathral. The only way we’ll find out what’s going on is if Cali can get her talking.” Drake was leaning over the controls, and Mica realized he was listening to the meeting room.
“What are they saying?” Nevir stood next to her brother.
“Cali’s father is a criminal on the run. Her mother has broken their partnership. The Council has implemented a new law that makes romanticism a crime.” Drake was talking as he processed what was happening between Cali and her mother.
“They are punishing people who have emotions?” Mica hovered over Drake. He needed more information.
“No. Aicen doesn’t call it a punishment. They are fixing them medically.” Drake stiffened and yelled, “Shields at maximum. Get a lock on Cali and teleport her to the bridge. Now.”
“What happened?”
“We couldn’t get a lock on her.” The engineer on the bridge responsible for teleporting called to Drake. “We do have a rough location of where they teleported too. There is shielding in place that is keeping me from getting a lock on her.”
“Find a way around it!” Drake roared and Mica sympathized with him.
“Let me look.” Nevir moved to the console and started working buttons. “I think we can get around their systems; it’s going to take a minute.”
“We might not have a minute. Work faster.” Drake snapped at his sister.
“Her mother won’t hurt her own daughter,” Mica tried to reason with his friend.
“I don’t think Aicen Edal is above doing anything to anybody,” Drake’s voice was grim and for the first time, Mica felt true fear for Vareen’s safety.
“Work faster Nevir,” Mica snapped at Drake’s sister and the engineer.
“I think I’ve got it.” Nevir hit one last button and moved to stand with them.
“Teleport the three of us,” Drake looked around, “and four guards, to Cali’s location,” Drake ordered and Mica felt the familiar tingle of teleporting.
When everything materialized and he could see around him, his first instinct told him this was a medical ward. The chair in the room that Cali was being forced onto didn’t register to him. Drake would take care of her. Finding out what happened to Vareen was his priority.
He vaguely heard Cali’s frightened voice.
“This was a mistake mother. You might want to let go of me.”
“Why is that?” a snide female voice asked.
“Because she knows that if you don’t I’ll rip your arms off for touching my mate.” Drake’s voice was far deadlier than Mica had ever heard.
He could feel his own senses picking up in response. The adrenaline rushed through his veins. His worry for Vareen was pushing at him but letting Cali have this fight out with her mother was paramount. From what he could gather, Aicen Edal wasn’t going to agree to let Cali go, or to an Alliance with them.
“I wanted you to play your hand mother. I knew you wouldn’t be so calm if you didn’t have something up your sleeve. This is what you had planned? To bring me here and realign my brain? I guess it’s a good thing that Titus is more advanced than you think and that Drake was able to monitor where you took me.”
Cali kept talking and Mica registered that the other council women moved to open the door. It was then his ears picked up the screaming. There were multiple people on this floor of the building letting out pained cries.
“Was that Vathral?” Nevir’s whole body jerked at the cry and then she was gone from the room in a flash. All Mica could see was a purple blur. If Vathral was one of those on this floor, Nevir would find him. He wasn’t worried that she would be in danger, she could handle herself. Before he could look to Drake, there was an anguished scream from somewhere closer than Vathral.
His whole body spasmed violently at the sound.
“Vareen?!” Cali’s choked cry reached him and he knew she was right.
“Diandra helped us pick who might best influence you.” Aicen Edal waved her hand dismissively. “If I couldn’t talk you into having the realignment, I was hoping you would do it for your friends. Unfortunately, your father’s resistance group got to Nellia. I’ve increased security since then.”
“What have you done?” Mica growled viciously. His fingers clenched into fists, his fingernails digging into the soft flesh of his palms drawing blood. Vareen was being held in this place and she was screaming.
At his words, the guards moved to protect Aicen Edal.
“Mica, No. Some of them are innocent.” Drake’s arms were trying to wrap around him like a vice. “Cali, I can’t hold him.”
“If they are in this building, they are not innocent.” Mica could feel his body swelling with every breath. He’d been in the valkie haze more than a few times in his life. It had never felt this intense. It was as if the red curtain covering his vision was all-encompassing. His normal control was waning, his thoughts centered on one thing: killing everything in his path. The ominous charge to the room grew with every second that passed.
He vaguely heard Cali yell at her mother, “Evacuate this building.”
“Honestly Cali. There are guards stationed everywhere. Vareen is almost done with her reassignment—”
Mica growled again and began to work at getting away from Drake without hurting him. Somewhere in his subconscious was the fact that this male was his friend.
Cali yelled. “Shut up mother! If you won’t call for an evacuation, order the guards to drop their weapons.”
The guards had weapons, they were his enemy. The people torturing his chosen mate were the enemy. He must find them!
He vaguely heard Cali talking over the intercom system. “This is Calinae Edal. All guards drop your weapons and evacuate the building. This is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill. Disarm and evacuate!”
Drake had to let him go to protect his mate from a guard. He’d let his friend stay here with Cali.
Another wrenching scream came from the hallway. That is where he needed to go. Follow her scent, his body cried to him to run faster than he’d ever gone.
“You had better hope we do not meet again.” He snarled at Aicen Edal cowering before him.
He knew the computer on The Maxon was monitoring their status. The Council had insisted that their warship escort The Cali and The Apoxis back to Cestori. They didn’t trust the unfamiliar technology of the Cestori warship and crew to keep The Cali safe. It was Cali who’d insisted The Maxon remain cloaked to keep Cestori from being alarmed at having the warship in their space. Aicen Edal didn’t know that they had a battlecruiser in their orbit.
He called, “Maxon send reinforcements to this building.” He didn’t care that the males would take this building down to the foundation if there was even one person armed. They deserved what they got.
Without waiting to hear if the cloaked warship had answered his summons for more men, he streaked out of the room. His senses were telling him exactly where to go. He slammed his way through the walls, not bothering to try doors.
Finally, he found his chosen and entered his worst nightmare. Vareen, pale and diminished, was strapped to a medical chair wearing some filthy medical robe that barely covered her. Her hair was limp and bedraggled, her lips parched and cracked. There were scrapes and cuts on her arms from some type of tube being forced into her skin. Blood oozed from her wrists and ankles from the pressure of the straps holding her down.
At his appearance, the occupants of the room froze where they stood.
“
What have you done?” he raged at them.
“You must be Mica,” one of them tried bravado. “Vareen Nas is almost finished with her realignment. When she wakes up, she’ll tell you herself that she wanted this procedure.”
“She wanted this?” Mica’s tenuous grasp on his temper was failing. “She wanted this torture?”
“Yes,” the woman seemed to gather her courage at his lack of violence toward her. “She accepted her guilt over feeling emotions and wanted to be fixed. I gather some of those criminal emotions were centered on you.”
This was a mistake. Mica snapped completely. Streaking around the room, he left the occupants wounded or dead. He didn’t care which. When additional guards rushed through the door, he took his rage out on them as well. When there were no further threats between him and Vareen he stilled.
Walking to her in the chair he reached a tentative hand to touch her face. Her normally pale skin was deathly white. There wasn’t the usual touch of peaches to her cheeks or pink to her lips. Just a shell of her body, bruised and wasting away in the chair.
“Var.” he couldn’t stop the tears pooling in his eyes, but with an iron will he blinked them back. “Var. Wake up. It’s me. Mica.” The doctor had greeted him by name. Vareen must have said it for them to know it. He put a hand into her normally glorious hair and recoiled when a large chunk came away. “You have to wake up sweetheart. Please.”
There was no response and Mica called to The Maxon. “I need medical assistance to my location Immediately!”
A moment later shimmering forms appeared in the room. He didn’t recognize the members of this medical unit, but the red shirts told him they were of Takari. The industrial center of Titus, which also happened to be the medical hub as well. If anyone could help Vareen, they could.
“Do you have any idea what happened to her?” the main medical doctor asked him. “We have only seen one other patient from Cestori and he’s cognizant and moving around.”
“They said something about realigning her brain. To erase emotional responses.” Mica wished he’d paid closer attention, or left one of the Cestori doctors awake to answer questions. The other patient must be Vathral. That meant Nevir had found him and gotten him to The Maxon.
Vareen & Mica (The Alliance Book 2) Page 5