The two girls glanced at their uncle, but then turned their attention to Dawn. Ral did the same. Dawn guessed they silently waited for introductions. She stood, trying not to fidget, glancing from one to the other child, and then to his sister.
They were curious about her. And in the dimly lit room, with the chill from outside still lingering, Dawn felt a chill rush through her. She didn’t sense animosity, but they weren’t eager to accept her either. She focused on the sister, Ral, taking in her long black hair, so similar to her own, her proud features, the unblinking black eyes. This was a race she was half of, their traits the same as hers, except for her gray eyes.
Glancing at the two girls, she knew they’d never been forced to do something hideous against their wishes. They didn’t look like they knew hunger, or fear. They didn’t look up at her but instead appeared to be studying her clothing, her boots, anything but her face.
Trent turned to her, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Allow me to present Dawn of Corl.” He might as well have been introducing two officers, his tone was so official.
Ral stepped forward, meeting Dawn’s gaze as they stared eye to eye. Dawn couldn’t read her expression. Years of confining emotions made her face a blank slate. She looked nothing like Trent, Dawn decided. Ral’s black lashes fluttered over her soft black eyes as she took in Dawn.
“Welcome to the House of Dar,” Ral said in a soft tone.
Dawn almost said thank you. She glanced at Trent but he focused on his sister.
“The honor is mine,” she said quietly, feeling silly that she had to mimic a line given to her.
Ral glanced down at her daughters who stood solemnly, both dressed in simple smocks that fell past their knees. Their black hair was covered with scarves, secured at the back of their necks. Both of them looked up at her curiously, not trained in keeping a blank expression yet. They cocked their heads and studied her, frowning. The taller of the two looked at her mother as if she would speak. Ral gave her an almost unnoticeable shake of her head, and the girl quickly looked at her boots.
“The dress we brought will be most attractive on you,” Ral said, nodding her head to the bundle on the table.
None of them moved and Dawn wondered if maybe Ral would stay to ensure that Dawn changed alone. The thought amused her that she would need to have her modesty protected. After a moment she reached for the bundle.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’ve never been to one of these homecoming meals before and Trent wanted me to wear something other than this.” She gestured at her attire, which up until now had suited her every adventure.
Ral nodded, again not showing any indication that she agreed, or disagreed with Dawn’s comment. Since none of them protested, Dawn turned and went back into Trent’s room to change.
“Her eyes look funny,” one of the children commented, and was immediately shushed by her mother.
Dawn fought back a bout of insecurity. Her mother had been a good woman. None of them had chosen to be born into slavery, and she wouldn’t regret her heritage just because it made her different. She was free now, and she would gain respect for who she was. Besides, there was nothing she could do about her gray eyes.
The dress didn’t quite fit right, hanging a bit far over her shoulders, and the length of the skirt almost swaying to the ground. Whoever this had been designed for was even taller than Dawn. When she reentered the living area, Trent sat alone at the table, appearing lost in thought as he appeared to study the darkness through the windows.
Trent stared at her for a long moment when she appeared before him, looking awkward in the dress as if that type of clothing wasn’t something she was used to wearing.
“I know. It’s too big.” She gripped the folds of the skirt, the material wrinkling in her hands.
“Turn around.” She was stunning in the dress, obviously more so than she realized. “It’s supposed to fit loosely. You are an unmated woman and on Greneen we protect women who haven’t taken a man.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Seems I’ve done a fair bit of taking over the past few days,” she said, and then licked her lips giving him a grin that made his cock spring to life.
He turned from her before the temptation to take her in his arms overwhelmed him. “It’s time to leave.”
She scowled as she followed him out of the door, his long black cape swooping around him adding to his mystique. Sometimes he was too rigid. It made her want to taunt him more just to see his emotions surface. But she kept her peace, thoughts of what to expect out of the evening making butterflies spring to life in her stomach.
The House of Corl was actually halfway around the planet from the House of Dar. The landscape didn’t change much during the flight. Trent kept the carrier close to the ground, although in the fading light Dawn couldn’t see much out the windows. Thick trees covered the planet, and she knew from studying Greneen that most of its water was underground.
By the time he slowed at the entrance leading to the large house, Dawn wished she had questioned Trent more about what to expect. Surprisingly though, he didn’t lecture her on how to behave, or what to say or not say. Possibly he wasn’t sure what to expect either. That thought made her even more nervous.
“Dawn Corl and Trent Dar have arrived,” he said into his comm, after landing at the entrance to the house.
It was dark now, and all she could see was the outline of a magnificent home through the small trees. Lights from two gliders appeared and stopped in front of the carrier. She glanced over at him, wondering if this was normal procedure. His dark shadowed features made her insides flip-flop. Her breasts swelled under the heavy material, her nipples aching as they brushed against the coarse fabric. Trent had the look of a warrior, his body hard, muscles tense and bulging through his shirt. She knew if she ran her fingers over his chest he would be hard as stone. Here was a man of power, with authority, his reputation solid, his nature demanding. No matter what happened this evening, Dawn knew she would be safe by his side.
“They will escort us to the home,” Trent told her without looking her way, after pulling the comm from his head.
Dawn hadn’t been this nervous the first time she’d met her father. She’d been excited, unaware of so much protocol involved in a Gren meeting, and thrilled to be so far from home. Her father had met her alone, providing her a room in one of the towns, and then coming to see her. It had been there that he’d told her of his plans to stop the Bortan from moving forward with the prototype to give them skin. She’d willingly offered to help and bragged about the money she had. He’d arranged for her to have her own ship, and introduced her to the young woman who would help her.
All that seemed so long ago now. Trent landed the carrier for the second time and Dawn stared up at the home that was larger than any she’d ever seen. Her father’s home—the House of Corl. There was a proud distinguished look about the place. Zahn Corl was a respected warrior, having paid his dues and been honored by many.
That wasn’t the life she’d known. Had things been different, possibly she would have grown up here. But even then, she doubted she would have the distinguished dignity that this house professed. She was the bastard—daughter of a slave. Holding her head high, she would be damned if anyone made her feel inferior for her heritage.
For the first time she was grateful for the thick material of her dress when the night air wrapped around her. She shivered, and wrapped her arms around her waist, as she followed the two Gren who’d escorted them here toward the large steepled door ahead of them. It opened when they reached it, a very thin older Gren woman standing to the side so they could enter.
“Welcome to the House of Corl,” she said with a nod, her black eyes darting from Trent to Dawn. She searched Dawn’s face for a moment but then looked away.
They were curious about her. Dawn wondered what the members of this home knew of her. More than likely, she would find out soon enough. Without thinking, she edged closer to Trent.
Another man appeared behind her, his boots clicking against the floor as he approached them.
“Trent Dar. We are honored to have your presence at the House of Corl.” He came to a stop, clicking his heels together military style, and stood at attention. “It pleases all here that you are taking time to bring our guest to Zahn Corl. My father awaits you—this way.”
Trent placed his hand on her back as they followed the young man through the large entryway and then down a wide hallway to a brightly lit room at the end of the hall. His touch sent a reassuring warmth through Dawn.
He knew she was nervous, but pride swelled through him that she moved with such dignity. There hadn’t been time to do much research on the Corl family, but he hadn’t heard of any victories accomplished by Zahn’s son. Already Dawn had made her mark in favor of the Gren. She would be honored for her efforts to stop the Bortan, taking the risks that she had to help Poltar. Her bastard heritage would hinder her, but Trent also knew it would be to her advantage. She held no ties with this family. Her freedom gave her an interesting rank. And oddly enough for a woman who’d been raised a slave, it was a rank to be envied. Gren traditions wouldn’t apply to her, giving her the ability to make her own decisions that many in her place couldn’t make. Dawn didn’t have to stay here. And he would see to it that she didn’t.
Running his fingers along her back, pressing slightly so he could feel her spine through her dress, he fought the urge to pull her closer. Her long black hair brushed against his arm. Tall and proud, walking by his side, he knew that was where he wanted to keep her. A protective instinct rose strong inside him. Watching the young man who escorted them, a hardness surged through him. No one would harm Dawn. Nothing would stop him from taking her with him when they left this place after the meal.
Dawn held her head high, refusing to be discouraged that the young man hadn’t given her a glance while greeting Trent. And he’d mentioned that his father awaited them. Was he her half-brother?
He wasn’t as large as Trent, and was probably younger than she was. His shiny black hair was smoothed back to the nape of his neck. He wore a dark maroon suit—pants and a jacket that were made of the similar thick material her dress had been woven from. As cold as this planet was, she didn’t doubt their attire would be such heavy clothing. He paused at the entrance to the room, turning so she could see his profile. Definitely a young man, she noted how wide his black eyes were. Full of curiosity and a craving for adventure. He appeared to her a man who ached to leave home and taste life, yet hadn’t quite reached the age where he could.
“There you are.” Zahn Corl’s voice bellowed through the room.
“Father, may I present…”
“Drop the formalities.” Zahn waved his hand at the young man, which shut him up quickly although Dawn thought she noticed a wave of disapproval wrinkle his brow. “I know who they are.”
Zahn Corl took his time standing from a large wooden chair sitting close to a large fire burning in a hearth that covered the side of the long room. Dawn guessed he must enjoy the crackling of the flames since the computers more than likely controlled the temperature in the home. She watched her father stand, adjust his shirt with a tug from his thick fingers, and then smile warmly at her.
“Dawn. Welcome home.” He held his hands out, and she guessed that was her cue to approach.
Trent’s touch remained branded on her back as she left his side. For a moment she wished she’d picked Trent’s mind more, learned more of how Gren interacted with each other. But she hadn’t known what questions to ask. She forced down her insecurities. These people would accept her for who she was, or she wouldn’t accept them. She graced her father with a smile that she hoped looked confident and relaxed.
He gripped her hands in his own, his touch cold and his large palms wrinkly. But his grip was firm and his gaze alert.
“I’m thrilled to be here,” she said quietly, not knowing what else to say.
“Zook. Call for your mother and sister. Arrange for the homecoming meal to begin. We shall do formal introductions soon.” He looked over her shoulder when he spoke but didn’t let go of her hands.
Dawn heard the young man retreat and knew Trent stood alone behind her, watching, on guard. He wouldn’t approve of her opening up to her father, hugging him and telling him how good it was to have him in her life. She swallowed the urge, deciding a bit of distance might be best anyway until she knew her father’s intentions behind this formality.
“It will take time for all of them,” Zahn said quietly. He looked down at her with a gentle expression, and then let go of one of her hands to stroke her cheek. “You have made me proud, though, your actions befitting your blood. They will accept you.”
“I’m not here to cause problems for anyone.” She could only imagine what his mate would think of having her man’s bastard under her roof. There was no way of knowing how long the woman might have known of Dawn’s existence, but since she had only just met her father, it couldn’t have been that long. “There are matters…”
“Which we shall discuss later,” he interrupted, giving Trent his attention for the first time. “Trent Dar, it is an honor to have you in my home.”
Trent overheard the exchange of words and knew Zahn Corl didn’t wish him to be privileged to hear what he had in mind for Dawn.
“The honor is mine,” Trent said coolly from behind her.
Zahn Corl was a man to reckon with, in spite of his advanced age. Trent wouldn’t be intimidated by the fancy home, the high rank of the man in front of him. Any matters pertaining to Dawn he would know of. Even though Corl had a relaxed stance, Trent remained poised and alert. His instincts were on overdrive, something telling him he needed to pay attention to every move, every word said while they were in this home.
“Stories of your success with Command Center have reached us. I am impressed.” Zahn sounded sincere, but Dawn sensed the testosterone rising in the room. Two strong men, one whose record of success was behind him, and the other who continued to battle for what was right. “It’s a shame you have left the military. Your work is needed to keep our people strong.”
Dawn turned, staring at Trent. “You’ve left Command Center? But why?”
He didn’t look at her, his attention completely on Zahn Corl. “Your family has a gift of obtaining information not readily available to the public.”
It shouldn’t surprise him that his conversation with Por Gree had reached Zahn Corl. The simple acknowledgment that he knew of this matter was Corl’s way of telling Trent that he might be old, but was still powerful. Trent took the information, his protector instinct kicking in even harder with the knowledge.
Zahn didn’t smile. “I would be honored if you shared your intentions for your next mission.”
Trent nodded. “As always, I will protect Greneen to the death.”
He hadn’t told Zahn Corl a thing. Nor did he have any intention of doing so. The man would be a fool if he thought Trent wouldn’t go after the information of how Dawn had obtained the Bortan chips. Someone had access to the race, the ability to move around on the planet, and he had would find out who.
Dawn was dying to know what made him leave the military. She wouldn’t flatter herself into thinking it was because of her. But if he did have another mission lined up, where would it take him? The butterflies in her stomach turned into a knot at the thought that in the near future they might part ways.
Trent wouldn’t look at her, though. His black eyes probed through Zahn Corl. And in the short time she’d known Trent, already she could tell his guard was up. For some reason he didn’t trust her father. Dawn knew little about the man herself. And for the moment, she would take the stance that the only person she could completely rely on was herself, her own judgment, and her own abilities to protect herself. Both of these men had an agenda. And until she knew exactly what was in their minds, there was no way she could lean too hard on either of them. Her heart ached at that thought howeve
r. She wanted to lean on Trent—trust him, rely on his judgment.
The older woman who had answered the door appeared in the room from the hallway. “The meal is prepared,” she announced, and then turned silently, leaving them.
Zahn gestured with a wave of his hand. “Honor me by joining us in greeting my daughter into the family.”
Trent stood to the side, allowing the older man to lead them out of the room. Dawn looked up at him, falling into place at his side. But Trent didn’t look down at her. His expression might as well have been chiseled in stone. Silently they moved back down the hallway to a set of doors that had been closed when they walked past them minutes before.
It was as he expected. Zahn Corl intended to make Dawn an official part of his family. His reputation as a warrior was strong. And obviously the man had decided that announcing he had a bastard wouldn’t hinder him. And damn straight that it wouldn’t. Dawn would be one hell of a tool to use in gaining advantage in battle. Trent would not allow her to be used like that.
Once again he placed a protective hand on her, not caring if anyone saw the intimate gesture. Dawn had no clue about these ceremonies, or their meaning. She looked up at him, curiosity and wonder painting her expression. Those gray eyes searched his face. She wanted answers but there was no time. Silently he squeezed her waist, his only way of letting her know he would protect her.
Dawn looked into the room now opened and flooded with light and activity, noticing a long table filled with a variety of steaming foods. Several people stood next to their chairs, waiting silently for the head of the household to move to his chair and then gesture for all of them to sit. There were only two other unoccupied chairs in the room, one next to him, and the other at the end of the table. Trent nudged her and she moved to sit next to her father.
“We are honored tonight with the presence of my firstborn, my daughter. We will enter her into the House of Corl. Dawn of Corl, we give thanks for your presence.”
Sex Slaves 03 Waiting for Dawn Page 15