A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2)

by Kong, Jessica A

  Tears began to form behind Areo’s closed eyelids. Children had always been her weakness. “What the hell are we waiting for, then?” She met her brothers’ gazes. “Let’s get our home back from those monsters.”

  “There’s just one little problem,” cautioned Bob. “Laaren was taken by the Orions.”

  Areo felt the blood drain from her face. “Oh God, not them.”

  “I’m afraid so. You don’t have to go in, sis. Mathew and I, along with the others, can handle this one. You can stay here and join us on our next attack.”

  “No. I’m going.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Johnny. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I have to face those demons again, sooner or later. It might as well be now.”

  They nodded in understanding.

  “What about Sev? Should I contact him?” asked Rider.

  “No! Sev is not to get involved. I don’t care what he thinks. This is my fight, not his. Besides, he’s got other problems right now. Don’t tell him anything until it’s too late for him to stop me. Understood?”

  Rider inclined his head. “Yes, Your Highness. Just one small problem. I’ve already told Miko.”

  Areo thought for a moment. “Tell Miko to keep Sev distracted until I can get away. I doubt he’ll protest.” She looked at her brothers. “Let’s go.”

  They rushed out while Commander Rider called for Miko. They reached the elevators to docking bay without incident. Areo careened to a halt. She yanked Bob back by his pants and stuck her left arm out in front of Johnny to keep them from continuing. Sev stood a few feet ahead of them, having a heated discussion with Miko.

  Fixing his pants, Bob scowled at her. “What’s wrong?”

  {Sshh. That’s Sev over there. We mustn’t let him know I’m here.}

  {I see. Then perhaps we should enlist the aid of Miko.} Bob reached for Miko’s mind.

  They knew when Bob made contact by the bemused expression on Miko’s face as he looked around. He scratched his nose, signifying that he understood what to do. He engaged Sev more into the conversation. Lowering their hoods, the three siblings passed them in a hurry.

  Sev paused in the middle of a sentence to sniff the air. “Areo?”

  Areo’s heart leapt in her chest.

  Sev was about to search the area. Miko quickly grabbed his shirt and shoved him against the wall. “Do not turn away from me!” he shouted. “And if you ever hit me again, I will show you what I am made of!”

  Hearing Miko, Johnny grabbed Areo’s arm and started to run. Bob paused at the end of the corridor and sent a thank you to Miko. The three disappeared around the corner.

  Something was not right. The uneasiness Sev felt made him want to be near Areo, so he went back to his quarters. Areo was nowhere to be found. His anxiety increased.

  He depressed the button on his wristguard as he exited his chambers. “Jugar!” No answer. “Jugar!”

  “Jugar here.”

  “Blast it! Where in the blazes were you? Never mind, scratch that. Meet me at the captain’s office. I have a bad feeling something is up.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Sev arrived at the office first. He found Captain Rider sitting behind his desk writing on a piece of paper. Sev was not in the mood to beat around the bush.

  “Captain, what is going on?”

  Captain Rider looked up from his work. Sev stopped in front of the desk and waited for his reply.

  Jugar entered the room. “Sev, the Seacats are gone.”

  Sev looked at Jugar. “What do you mean, gone?”

  “I was with Angel at the docking bay, getting familiar with how things work around here, when I noticed several White Stars departing.”

  “There’s nothing odd about that. We have ships arriving and departing Sea Base Five all the time,” commented the captain, trying to give his queen time to escape.

  “With Seacats on board?” snapped Jugar.

  “Our brand of Seacats and Sea Rangers have been knighted by our queen. We are composed of many different races, not only the feline race. I’m a Seacat, if you haven’t noticed my insignia. There’s nothing unusual about that or about them boarding White Stars. The White Stars are their vessels of transportation.”

  Sev’s bad feeling was growing stronger by the minute. “Silence!” he yelled at the captain. “Your colors are reversed, which means you’re a lower-ranking Seacat. Don’t try to fool your superior officer again.” Facing Jugar, he asked, “Explain. What do you mean, the Seacats are gone?”

  Sev spotted Rider opening his mouth to speak again. He sent him a steely look accompanied by a vicious growl. The captain shut his mouth.

  “I spotted Mathew boarding with several bags. He was followed by several others from my clan.”

  “Was Areo amongst them?” He recalled the earlier incident in the corridor with Miko and feared that he already knew the answer.

  At Jugar’s confirmation, his eyes ignited. Sev roared as he reached over the desk to snatch the captain out of his chair by the front of his uniform. Yanking him over the table, Sev hollered. “How dare you and the others defy me! Tell me, where did my wife go?”

  Rider did not answer. It seemed he was unwilling to betray his queen.

  Sev roared and gave the frightened captain a rough shake. “Tell me, before I—”

  “Sev!” shouted Mike, rushing into the room. “Stop it! Are you crazy? He’s one of us!”

  “Not if he stands between me and Areo! I will not ask again!”

  “She went to free Laaren with my family,” Mike informed him.

  “What?” Sev dropped the captain and rushed over to Mike.

  Rider landed head first on the floor. Jugar helped him to his feet.

  “Explain,” ordered Sev.

  Mike explained the situation on Laaren. It served to anger Sev more.

  “I stayed behind because I thought you had a right to know what your wife was facing. The Orions are the hardest of the three races to fight, Sev. They are the deadliest because they are predators like us. The only difference is that they attack anyone who dares to hold a weapon against them. Whether that weapon is real or a toy, it doesn’t matter to them. They also use cloaking technology to make themselves invisible when they hunt. Not to mention, they have a very sick habit of ripping their prey’s heads off.”

  Sev’s complexion turned a sickly yellow. “She went to combat these Orions without me?”

  “She’s the queen. She always leads us in major battles. And she didn’t want you to get hurt. She seriously loves you. That was the reason I didn’t give it my all when we fought. Like I said, I played with you, cat and mouse. I held back because of the shine in Areo’s eyes when she stood up to protect you. I had to let you win, or she would’ve been devastated and not spoken to me for months. I saw in your eyes how much you loved her, too, and I believed in you, which is why I allowed you to board my brother’s White Star. I mean, no one in their right mind challenges a Seacat, and a mutant Seacat at that.”

  “Why are you telling him this?” asked Jugar.

  “Because I know Sev has chosen to return to Oceanica, leaving us to deal with Daehog without the assistance he promised.”

  “And who told you this?” Sev’s head was starting to hurt. With each headache, the pain grew worse.

  “Miko told me while I was preparing to leave with the others. That’s why I decided to stay.” Mike took a step closer to Sev. “Areo is petrified of the Orions. I’m afraid that if she confronts them, she might choke. Like I said, they are the Seacats strongest adversaries. We might not be able to get to her in time if she does. For all we know, this could be their final confrontation. Remember, the Orions fight while they’re invisible. I don’t want Areo to fight beside us on this one. She’s our queen. She needs to stay alive if this battle is to be won. But she won’t listen to any of us. The only one she’s ever listened to was you. And if you leave us now—”

  “Miko is really becoming a thorn in
my side,” said Sev to Jugar under his breath. To Mike, he said, “I have no intentions of leaving this war unfinished. We need to board a White Star and go help the others.”

  Mike’s features displayed his relief.

  “Not to mention stop Areo,” Jugar worriedly added.

  Sev agreed.

  “I’m afraid we have a problem,” continued Mike. “There are no White Stars left. They all departed for Laaren. And the ones that won’t be fighting are patrolling the skies.”

  “Then have one of them pick us up.”

  “Not enough time,” said Mike. “By then, the fleet will be engaging the enemy. You have to contact Areo over the communicators and convince her to stand down before they reach Laaren, or forget it. There won’t be anything you can do to stop her.”

  “Why in the blazes wasn’t I told about this?”

  “Because she didn’t want you to get involved.” Mike lifted his right hand and pointed to Sev. “Remember, you have to return to your homeworld, take a pureblooded wife, create an heir, and live happily ever after. Not get yourself killed over a half-breed.”

  Sev spun around and roared in outrage. “By the moons of Oceana! I swear if something happens to my wife, someone will pay with their life!” He caught sight of the captain, who stood in front of the desk silently observing him. Breathing heavily, Sev dropped his voice and said, “You knew they were leaving.” He flexed his right hand and extended his claws in preparation for a kill. “And you didn’t inform me. Why?”

  Jugar stepped in front of him and placed a firm grip on his shoulder. “Don’t lose control, Sev. Too much depends on you right now. Take a deep breath and focus.”

  “If anything happens to her,” Sev replied, with a voice that trembled with terror and rage.

  “I know. Breathe.”

  Sev did as advised. After a few inhales, he retracted his claws. “Mike!”

  “Yes, Sire,” Mike quickly responded.

  “Get me a ship. I don’t care from where, but it had better be as fast as, or faster than, a White Star. Jugar, inform the others of my plans. Tell them that whoever wishes to join me may, but they had better not get in my way.”

  “Yes, my Lord,” they chimed, and then left to carry out his orders.

  Sev focused his glowing gaze on the human. “Captain, I want you to get me a direct line to my wife. And no more doublecrosses. Understood?”

  “Yes, Sire!” Rider speedily led his new king to the bridge.

  Areo’s Quarters

  Bob McCall’s White Star

  Areo led her brother Mathew to her quarters. They stopped at a small desk. Areo sat in the chair and faced the computer monitor. Beside the keyboard was a communication pad. A small yellow light was blinking, indicating a call was on hold. She spared Mathew a worried look. The twins braced themselves for what was coming.

  Areo pressed the talk button. “Areo speaking.”

  “Areo! By the moons of Oceana! What do you think you’re doing?” Hollered Sev from the other side.

  “What I have to do, Sev, so relax, okay. I’ll be all right.”

  Areo watched Mathew pause in front of a small monitor next to her bed. Even though his back was turned to her, she knew he was carefully listening in to her conversation.

  “Relax? Don’t tell me to relax! You are not to engage the Orions in battle. Do you hear me? I’ll be boarding a ship soon. Once I’m briefed on the plans, the Seacats and I will handle this. You are to remain on board the White Star. Understood?”

  “Actually, what you should do is board your ship and head for Oceanica. Rumor has it the Dominion is spreading in that direction. You have to return and defend your citizens. Don’t allow your new homeworld to fall into Daehog’s hands.”

  “What are you talking about? I haven’t heard of this.”

  “One of the patrolling White Stars intercepted a conversation and relayed the message to me when I boarded. As soon as I can, I will send several White Stars to aid you. Presently, I can’t spare any. We’re running short, and our builders are having a difficult time keeping up with demand.”

  She nervously fingered the off switch. “If you’d like, they can give your equipment at the castle an upgrade. That way we can keep you updated on the war.”

  She expected Mathew to protest. It surprised her when he did not.

  “Are you making this up? Is this your way of saying goodbye to me?”

  “I’m not saying those words, not after what we’ve shared. I’m just saying…I love you. I pray that everything will work out for you and your felines, Lord of the Seacats. And I’ll remember those gifts I promised you.”

  “To blazes with those blast-it gifts! You are my wife! How many times must I say that to you? My place is by your side!”

  “Perhaps in another lifetime. The forces against us in this one are too powerful.”

  “Then we’ll stand against them together.”

  “I won’t stand by your side against those opposing our union.” Areo paused. There was silence from the other side. “Funny how all my life I’ve been told this, but until this minute, I never realized it was true. I’m not destined to be with you, my love,” her voice cracked. “My place is with another, as yours is with a certain pureblood.” She cleared her throat. “You don’t have to worry. Our secrete will be safe.”

  “Areo—”

  “Sev, please no more fighting. I’m so tired of the fighting…of the hurting…of the bloodshed. You read what the log book said… of the revolution that will happen if we proceed.”

  “We don’t know for certain if that will happen a second time, Princess,” replied Sev in a strained, low voice.

  “The risk is too great to take. Can’t you see a relationship with me is not worth the possibility of another uprising? The last one was so horrendous it nearly killed off the feline race. I’m not irreplaceable, my king, you are. So please stop fighting against the inevitable. Accept what everyone has told us all of our lives. Forget me and return to your homeworld. Marry Serena and have a beautiful healthy baby boy, Sire. Onssa bless you.” Her voice tapered off as she depressed the button and started to cry.

  Mathew went to his sister. He guided her from her seat to his embrace.

  Control Room

  Sea Base Five

  “Areo? Areo!” A distressed Sev shouted into dead air. “Areo!”

  “She disconnected, Commander,” said a Lieutenant from his post.

  Waving his acknowledgment, Captain Jonathan Rider stood silent between his new king and a leopardess. He was not about to anger the giant seven-foot man a second time. To do so would only get his throat slashed by razor sharp claws he continued to see in his head since their last confrontation.

  Mike McCall sat at one of the many communication terminals arranging for a White Star to travel to Sea Base Five. Handing the controls back to the Ave on duty, he went to update Sev.

  “Sev, I’ve contacted Seacat Sphin Blaisdale, Concheetah’s third born son. His White Star is the closest to Base Five. The fastest he can be here is fifteen days.”

  “Fifteen days! Blast it out of the sky!” Sev shouted. “Anything can happen by then!”

  “I know. But that’s our only option at this point.”

  “What am I to do until then?”

  “Relax perhaps,” offered Jugar.

  Sev viciously snarled at him.

  “Until Sphin arrives, all we can do is pack up, gather those who can leave with us, and come up with a plan to help the others defeat the Orions,” offered Mike.

  “Do you have any idea what they are planning to do?” inquired Serena in a small voice.

  Mike glared at her. He inhaled deep and spoke to Sev. “They were going to brief us once we departed Sea Base Five. Everything was done on a rush, so no one knew what was going to happen. All I know is that the confrontation was going to be against the Orions, and all available hands were needed.”

  Sev rubbed his face with both hands. “This is wonderful.”

&
nbsp; Thursday, the 17th of February

  Seacat Sphin Blaisdale’s White Star

  Sev’s Chambers

  Sev sat with Jugar in his quarters drinking Aanari wine. He lowered his glass onto the center table and reached for the Sword of Power on the floor beside his chair. He called upon the gem’s power to view Areo. He felt the tension leave his body at the sight of his beautiful wife. He longed to hold her, to be close to her, to inhale her unique scent.

  Contacting her had been futile. Areo would not listen to his pleas or commands. For the last four weeks, Sev had been on edge. Areo’s absence had placed a void in his soul. Utilizing the gem’s power of second sight, Sev periodically checked on her, making sure she was safe and gazing upon her loveliness.

  As the days went by, Sev’s loneliness intensified. Being with Areo for over a year had changed his life completely. The thought of returning to a life without her, never again to experience what they had shared, was tearing him apart.

  As if to torture himself further, he tried to imagine a life with Uma, Serena, or another pureblood feline—taking her to his bed, exploring her intimately, placing his mark on her, conceiving an heir with her. Each time, his thoughts drifted back to Areo.

  Areo was his only mate. In his heart, Sev knew a pureblood lover would lack in all departments, for Areo was his soulmate. All others would fall short. And Sev would never be able to give another feline his heart, for Areo had control over that. The most he could give would be his friendship and his loyalty, for he had no desire to mate with others.

  Sev gave the topic so much consideration that he dreamt of taking a pureblood to his bed. She was beautiful and eager to please him. But not once in his dreams was he able to remove Areo from his mind and allow himself to reach completion. He felt unfaithful to Areo the whole time. However, when Areo appeared in those dreams, Sev could not keep from cheating on his wife, no matter how hard he tried. His need to be with Areo was too great to be denied.