by Lizzy Ford
Evelyn had little regret for her actions in life, even those she probably should have. Bringing Kiera here was her one mistake. Even after a month she couldn’t go a night without thinking of her friend. She sighed, ready for bed, and twisted to swing her legs from the bench. A shape in the corner drew her attention, and she gasped.
The man was as huge as any warrior but not fair like Romas’s clan members. He was tall and fierce, standing so still she thought herself dreaming up a hero worthy of a nightmare. Dressed in dark clothes with dark hair and olive skin with a dark stare, he was both riveting and frightening.
“You!” she exclaimed as she recognized him.
He strode forward, and she moved to place a table between them. She interacted daily with the warrior members of her husband’s family, but she’d never seen one quite like this, with soulful, ancient intelligence in his black gaze and a predatory walk. Her first thought was that he had kidnapped Kiera and was now returning to take her.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, reaching for the communications access pad on the table.
“No.” His single word was sharp enough to make her jerk. Her hand wavered. He stopped at the opposite side of the table, within reach if he chose, which she suspected he would if she so much as flinched toward the access pad. Her hand dropped to her side, fingernails digging into the meat of her palms.
“What have you done with Kiera?”
The intruder remained silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Your sister is well.”
The simple assertion was a waterfall after a month without a drop of information about her. Evelyn searched his face. “Oh, God ! You’ve seen her! If you’ve hurt her, you sick son— ”
“She is well,” he repeated. “Nishani is well.”
“Nishani?” The word made her do a double-take. “Nishani?” Kiera would never agree to marry someone in so short of a time, but to agree in any amount of time to a man as lethal in appearance as this? “You haven’t hurt her?” she pressed. “Where is she? Is she here? What have you done with her? Why did— ”
He held up a hand to silence her, and she waited, circling the table to face him.
“Where is my sister?”
“Are all women of your world unusual?” he asked with impatience.
“We are not unusual on our world,” she retorted. “Where is she?”
“She is safe and well.”
“Why are you here, then, if not to tell me something’s wrong?” she asked, perplexed.
“Nishani is unusual.”
“You come to tell me she is unusual?” She shook her head. “I don’t understand. I know she is unusual. She’s a brilliant artist, independent, a complete sweetheart, a little too emotional, but she’s an artist … I don’t understand.”
Evelyn gazed at him, waiting for more. His jaw clenched. By the look of this man, Kiera hadn’t wed him by choice. Romas had decreed that the man Kiera chose would have to have her agreement to be mated. Evelyn just didn’t see it happening. Kiera could be the most stubborn and frustrating woman Evelyn had ever met, and she’d sworn off any man, let alone an alien. She’d never fit into Romas’s society. Realization played across her mind, echoed in a puzzled smile dancing across her face.
“You can’t figure her out,” she said. “That’s it, isn’t it?” And she laughed. Kiera was well indeed if she were able to send a man like this to Evelyn’s door looking for advice. Kiera’s mate hadn’t counted on an obstinate bride.
The man before her crossed his arms, not amused.
Hormones and emotions kicked in at the same time, and Evelyn’s laughter turned to weeping. She sat on the table and buried her face in her hands, grateful and relieved to be reconnected with Kiera, even if indirectly. She cried until she could control herself, wiped her face, and drew several shuddering breaths.
“My … my sister is sweet but stubborn,” she managed. “I don’t have an easy answer to your problem, if that’s what you want. Is she speaking to you?”
She imagined the conversation was nothing short of torture for a warrior. She knew without a doubt that Romas’s arrogance would never allow him to admit his inability to deal with her to anyone. That Kiera’s warrior was at least willing to do something so painful gave her some hope for her friend.
“I have not seen her in a few days,” he replied after a pause.
“So you dumped her off and left,” Evelyn summarized, and wiped her face again. “Kiera will never be the woman you warriors want. Get used to that now. I’m sure a woman with intelligence will shock you.”
“I know of her intellect,” he said. “She’s bested my best battle planners with her mind. But she is a poor nishani.”
“She is a perfect nishani,” she returned. “Brilliant and beautiful? Can you find fault with that?”
“Her behavior.”
“You’ve not spent even a moment with her, and you complain of her behavior?” Evelyn shook her head and rose. She crossed to the boxes she had stacked in the corner and covered with a square of cloth. Romas had discarded most of Kiera’s things after her disappearance, but Evelyn managed to salvage two boxes and keep them hidden. She dug through one and withdrew a thick pad of paper and pack of pencils.
“If you take the time to know her, you won’t find fault in her behavior,” she said to him, and held out the items in her hand. “Give these to her.”
He took them, eyeing them as if they’d bite him.
“And … someday …” She trailed off. Even if this man agreed to bring Kiera back for a visit, Romas and his clan would deny permission. “Tell her she’ll be an aunt soon. When will you see her again?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Good. Tell her I miss her, too.”
He gave a curt nod. Her Kiera was well and raising hell. There was nothing else she could want. Evelyn knew she didn’t deserve to feel at peace after the mess she dragged Kiera into, but she did feel it, and it made her genuinely content for the first time since she’d kidnapped her best friend.
*
Kiera tugged at the moon on her necklace as she walked down the hall toward the video game room. She’d dreamt of Evelyn last night and awoke missing her friend. And then both Gage and Talal had cornered her that morning with news that made her wish she was more like Evelyn. She wasn’t good at handling drama; Evelyn had always been like a perfect older sister, capable of patience and listening. Kiera just freaked out with bad news. She wished hard she could talk to Evelyn as she had in her dream last night and ask her what to do.
Voices came from the conference room, whose door was open. She stopped a few feet from the entrance, debating whether she should just leave, until she heard A’Ran’s name. She didn’t recognize the first man’s voice, but the second she did.
“A’Ran hasn’t returned?”
“He took a detour and is on his return trip, Father,” Ne’Rin said. “Have you been successful?”
“Somewhat. It’s been hard to break, but I think I found the weak point,” the first man replied. “It’ll take me a few days to position myself to take advantage of it. It involves Qatwal. I won’t say more, lest this communication is compromised. I’m having some problems with messages being intercepted after they leave the planet.”
“I understand. Our other plan is coming along. I believe Gage is in love with me, a simple emotion for a woman,” Ne’Rin said. “And she’s with child, Father.”
There was a short silence. Kiera crept closer.
“So he did find the correct nishani, if an Anshan woman is able to bear a child again,” the first man said quietly. “We’d all begun to doubt him. I had hoped he’d choose your sister.”
“His chosen is the nishani, but your doubt may be well-placed. She is not from here, doesn’t understand her role. She cannot do what the nishani must to help Anshan, and once our people see her, they’ll lose their faith in him. My sister would’ve been a much wiser choice, and far more beautiful.”
Kiera frowned, offended
Ne’Rin thought so little of her, but not surprised. At least he was ragging on her to his family and not complete strangers. She could almost forgive him expressing his blunt opinion to his father.
“If I fail, mating into his family is the next logical step,” the first man said. “And it sounds like you have this taken care of.”
“Yes, Father, I do.”
“Nishani!” Talal’s voice jarred her. Kiera spun and darted down the hall, snatching Talal’s arm and pulling her around the corner before Ne’Rin saw them.
“You picked a bad time!” Kiera whispered, trotting down the hall.
“I only meant to tell you— ”
“Do you know when A’Ran normally calls?” she asked.
“Soon, nishani. Do you wish to talk to him?” Talal brightened. “You should, nishani! It will shock and honor him.”
“Shock and honor?” Kiera repeated. “Those don’t sound like good things. Yes, I do.”
“You should wear his most preferred color, yellow,” Talal advised.
“That sounds nice,” Kiera said, distracted. She heard footsteps from the direction of the conference room and offered a smile as Ne’Rin rounded the corner. He eyed them.
“Ne’Rin, my sister Gage is looking for you.”
“Take me to her.”
Talal struck off without hesitation. Ne’Rin lingered, his hard gaze on Kiera. Kiera bowed her head as she’d seen the sisters do, trying hard not to look guilty like she’d overheard his conversation. He left at last, and she waited for him to disappear from sight before jogging to the conference room. She’d learned how to lock and unlock the doors and entered the conference room, locking it.
She debated what to do about the conversation she overheard. She didn’t understand the rules of this world well enough to know if she were jumping the gun, but what she heard made her very uncomfortable.
Maybe it was Gage’s involvement. The women of A’Ran’s family were sheltered. They couldn’t recognize a predator if it sat at their feet, and she was surprised to find her senses much more honed to such a ploy despite their social statuses rivaling those of royalty’s on earth. They should have been taught better, she mused with a frown.
She went to the battle game to play until A’Ran called, wondering what he’d say when she told him her news about his sisters and wondering just how safe it would be to talk about Ne’Rin’s conversation with his father. His father hadn’t wanted to talk over the viewer; she doubted she should either.
Less than an hour after she’d started playing the game, the communicator lit up and beeped. Excited and nervous, Kiera crossed to it and waved her armband over the access pad. She straightened her hair and took a deep breath.
It wasn’t Ne’Rin that greeted him for his daily briefing but the woman herself. She was dressed in faded teal that drew out her otherworldly eyes. She perched on the edge of one table, fidgeting hands in her lap and bright features alert as she focused on some point on the screen. A’Ran studied her for a long moment before turning on the reciprocal viewer, curious yet wary as to what his nishani had to say in place of Ne’Rin.
“Nishani,” he greeted her.
“Hello, A’Ran.” Her voice was soft and as feminine as her shape. Her pronunciation of his name was pleasantly accented. “How are you?”
“Well, as you see.”
“Ne’Rin said you were hurt.”
“The medical unit has healed me.” He leaned forward, curiosity growing. That she took enough interest in him to ask after his injury pleased him. “Where is Ne’Rin this day?”
“Indisposed.” A flicker of amusement crossed her face.
“My most trusted advisor chose not to attend his mandated meeting?” A’Ran raised an eyebrow.
“It wasn’t a choice,” she assured him. “I wanted to speak to you, but I didn’t want him around. I locked him out.”
The blatant defiance was so sweetly uttered, he didn’t know how to respond.
“He won’t even let me wear my translator when we have visitors,” she complained.
A’Ran knew he should chide her as he would his sisters and remind her of her place, but the words died before reaching his lips. His conversation with Evelyn lingered in his thoughts. Having spent most of his years in battle, he understood when a traditional approach would not work with an unusual opponent. He needed to adapt his strategies when dealing with her.
“What would you say to them?” he asked instead of lecturing her.
“I would just talk to them. I’m curious, and it’s absurd I’m not allowed to talk to anyone! I’m not sure what you or he is afraid of. I’d like to know who is visiting and why, where they’re from.”
“You’re seeking my permission to speak to the visitors,” he summarized, gauging her reaction. Nishani’s eyes narrowed, and she clenched her jaw. She was independent, an odd contrast given that she was far too delicate to defend herself if left to face the planet’s dangers on her own.
“Yes,” she grated, displeased.
“You have it, nishani.”
“Thanks, I think. How far away are you?”
“Half a day,” he answered.
“You’re returning?”
“Yes.”
“Did you win your battles?”
“I did.” He was puzzled by the question given that she had written most of the plans. She should already know he won.
“That’s good. Will you stay long, or do you go to fight again?” she asked.
“I will meet with members of the Council. They should arrive there before the suns set, and I shortly after. I’m not certain how long I’ll stay,” he replied.
“When you go again, I’d like to go with you.” The odd request made him pause. At his lack of response, she continued, “Ne’Rin disagrees. Your sisters don’t like the idea either, but I would really like to go with you. I wouldn’t get in the way. I can take care of myself for the most part, and wouldn’t mind rough conditions.”
“No, nishani,” he replied. The thought of her in rough conditions or battle met instant instinctual resistance. “You will stay where it is safe.”
She hesitated, then ignored the warning edge in his voice. “You don’t stay where it is safe, and you’re the only remaining dhjan.”
A’Ran gazed at her silently, making his disapproval clear.
“We’ll have to agree to disagree,” she relented. “But I don’t consider this matter to be closed.”
Her directness and pure courage— there was no other word for her insubordinate address!— amazed him. He understood why Ne’Rin had refused to allow her to wear the translator with visitors.
“Nishani,” he said with a shake of his head. “You are too bold.”
“How else would I speak to you?” she asked. “And if I’m not allowed to speak my mind to you, who do I speak it to?”
“You may speak any mind you wish to me. But you must understand my people are not like you, are not as accepting of your loose tongue.”
“I know,” she said, growing red. There was a long pause where the two assessed each other. “A’Ran, I have to tell you something about Gage.”
“What has my sister done?” he asked, making himself comfortable in his chair.
“She’s with child.”
He stiffened, surprised.
“She’s afraid to tell you.”
No woman had given birth in many sun-cycles, because the planet’s spirit was severed without the dhjan and the nishani. He was torn between wanting to confront Ne’Rin and demand he make his sister an honorable woman and laughing out loud to know that he had chosen a nishani capable of healing his planet, his people.
“It will be taken care of,” he said calmly.
“You should let them work it out.”
“Ne’Rin will honor my sister.”
“I’m sure he will, but you shouldn’t force someone into such a relationship,” she said, and crossed her arms. “It’s not accepted everywhere, you know.”
; “It is accepted here,” he replied. He raised an eyebrow in challenge, and she glared at him.
“And Talal,” she continued.
“What of her?”
“She’s with child as well. She told me this morning and asked me not to tell anyone, but you probably need to know.”
A’Ran said nothing, though he clenched the arms of his chair hard enough for his knuckles to turn white. He sifted through memories to find who might be connected to his youngest sister. No warrior came to mind. In fact, he had never seen any warrior speak to her save Ne’Rin. As much as he wanted to welcome the information of his healing planet, he also wanted to strangle the men impregnating his family members.
“Talal,” he repeated at last, and leaned forward again.
“There’s a man named Ketnan. She’s been involved with him for some time now.”
The name was unfamiliar, which meant he was not well connected and not among the families of his advisors.
“It will be taken care of,” he said once more.
“Please don’t interfere,” she said with a frown. “They need to deal with things themselves, don’t you think?”
“It’s my duty as their brother. I must protect them and ensure their honor and mine remains intact.”
“That seems to be a very harsh way of regarding your sisters’ future happiness.”
“Happiness can be restored. Honor cannot,” he said firmly. “What other surprises have you for me?”
“No more surprises,” she replied. The sudden change in her expression from open to shuttered drew his attention. “I think there are some matters we should discuss when you return.”
“What matters?” he pursued.
“This isn’t the place, A’Ran.”
“Woman,” he growled, “you do not tell me my place.”
She assessed him again and shifted under his scrutiny before looking away.
“I don’t trust these machines and who might overhear,” she said. “If it please you, I’d rather wait to discuss this later.”