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To Catch A Warrior [Unearthly World Book 5]

Page 13

by C. L. Scholey


  “Cy?”

  He had his back to her but turned. “I’m sorry it has to come to this.”

  Zabbie felt the panic in her rise. Cy had kidnapped her with a purpose in mind. When Titus found out, she didn’t know what he would do.

  “Cy, don’t do this,” Zabbie pleaded. “Take me home and I won’t ever tell Titus. He loves you, but I’m his mate.”

  Cy crouched until he was on the balls of his feet before her.

  “Don’t you think I know you’re more important to him than I am? It kills me. Titus is all I have. I didn’t plan on this. You’re not carrying, so I won’t be destroying his child. Females always let us down. They give us life and then give us up. Then they never come back, not even to fight for a son’s life. You will disappoint him sooner or later. I have to spare him that kind of pain, it’s unbearable.”

  “You are so bitter your emotions have clouded your judgment. If you had let me I would have come to care for you as a friend. You won’t let anyone in, you’re so afraid of being hurt.”

  His eyes blazed for a moment and Zabbie wrapped her arms around her legs. Her heart hurt with his pain.

  “Why don’t you use a trick on me?” he asked.

  “And give you a reason to kill me?”

  Cy roared and jumped to his feet, he began pacing. “I don’t want you dead. I want you to go away and promise to stay away.”

  “I can’t. I love Titus.”

  “You’re not good enough for him.”

  “By your standards no one will be. Will you take away everyone who comes close to your best friend?”

  “Only you.”

  “You think Titus will be so heartbroken when I’m gone he won’t search for another female to love, but that’s not true. Love between a male and female is different than love between a mother and son. You will always grieve your own mother, but when you fall in love you need the emotion to fill your life. Love always finds a way.”

  “See, even you know you can be replaced.”

  “Search for your own human, Cy. The females on your planet won’t Holiday with you because you’re too dominant. A human female won’t mind as much in the bedroom as long as you can temper your actions. If you chose to love instead of holding onto the bitterness, you would make a wonderful mate.”

  “Females leave.”

  Zabbie winced when he bellowed. He turned toward her. She would have no choice but to fight him if he tried to kill her. Zabbie didn’t want to fight him. She couldn’t transfer him somewhere else, she found out she needed deep emotion to perform that ability; it had been a long shuttle ride home with Titus. One she hadn’t minded, but Cy was livid when they finally arrived home. Weeks later, Zabbie was certain Cy was warming to her; he had been planning instead. She began sobbing. She loved Titus, and Cy was his best friend.

  “Cy.”

  “Why won’t you just go? Please.”

  “Where, Cy? I don’t want to be anywhere Titus isn’t. Don’t you see I make him happy?”

  Zabbie could see he was aching. He stayed where he was, unmoving, torn. A sound from the lush foliage made her turn her head. They were in cyron territory, they had to be if Titus had never brought her here. Zabbie jumped to her feet. To her surprise Cy moved in front of her, fists balled. All around them, the brush parted as female Zargonnii surrounded them. All angry and growling. All eyes were on their target. Zabbie realized it was Cy they were after.

  “Can you understand me, human?” a female asked.

  Zabbie stood for a moment eyes wide. Almost all of the females were bigger than Cy, some as tall as nine feet.

  These creatures are afraid of Cy?

  She gazed at Cy, wondering if she should be scared shitless of him or for him. The females were advancing. Cy spun in a slow circle keeping Zabbie at his back, she didn’t know why he tried, they were surrounded. She wondered if she concentrated hard enough if she could be at home in a second. Her curiosity was overwhelming. And when she made Titus appear on the shuttle she was emotionally charged with fury. She wasn’t angry, only hurt by Cy’s actions. Her disappearing ability needed more than a spark of adrenalin. She was as stranded as Cy.

  “I understand you,” Zabbie said.

  “Do you know what they want?” Cy asked.

  “There is rumor through the vines this pathetic warrior is trying to lose you in the jungle, is this true?”

  The female who spoke was eight feet high, older, powerful. She seemed to be in charge.

  “He’s confused,” Zabbie said.

  “You have nothing to fear from us, human. It is this vile beast we want.”

  “Holy hell, Cy, what did you do to piss them off?”

  “They’re angry because I can dominate during a Holiday. So they figure they can come at me at once.” Cy was snarling, spitting his words.

  Zabbie confronted the leader. “He thinks you’re angry he can dominate during the Holiday.”

  The female growled. “Of course he would think that. His arrogance knows no limits. This goes deeper. He had no right to enter the females’ domain thinking to leave you with us, but he has. You will both come with us.”

  Zabbie turned to Cy and scowled. “You brought me to the female area and violated the rules. You really are a dumbass.”

  They were ushered deeper into the foliage.

  “Once again failed by my mother,” Zabbie heard Cy mutter.

  “What does he say?” the head female asked. Zabbie told her. The female shook her head and glared at Cy with loathing. “Your mother was injured when she was taking you to live with your father. A cyron attacked and your mother and the cyron were well matched. You are her first and only child. It was the first time she battled a cyron, she was young her first Holiday she conceived you.”

  “So she does live. She never bothered to help me and my father died.” Cy was growling, fists balled.

  Zabbie translated. The females were speaking. The leader shushed them and spoke.

  “No, Cy. She tried. The cyron was the one who tried to kill you and her when you were a baby. It crushed your mother’s legs. But its leg was crushed. Both ended the battle to fight another day. Your mother dragged her way to your father on her hands, her legs trailing behind. The other females found her and took her home after you were delivered.”

  “The cyron that killed my father was the one who tried to kill us when I was a baby? My mother never came to help me.” Cy looked incredulous and sad while Zabbie spoke for him. When she finished the leader began again. The females were whispering, some saying it was no wonder he was so cruel.

  “She wanted to go to you. Your mother tried to crawl to you, knowing you were in danger, sensing it. But she was too late, your father was dead and the other mothers killed the cyron. She was found on the ground with her arm reaching in your direction. Again the females carried her home.”

  Zabbie’s tears were dripping with the image in her mind. A defenseless female dragging her body through the woods to get to her only child. She would have been killed; she would know that and not care. She would occupy the beast long enough for her child to escape.

  Unconditional love knew no bounds. A mother would never give up the fight against the enemy who would dare harm her baby. The phrase, “when all is lost” didn’t apply to Cy’s mother, she would fight to her last breath and something told Zabbie she would have taken a good sized chunk of the filthy beast.

  “Have they come to kill me?” Cy asked.

  “Cy has asked if you intend to kill him.”

  “He was more than dominant when he Holidayed last. The female was beaten to the point of submission which is rare. But to beat a female after she has submitted is unheard of. A warrior usually knows when to stop, he knows the battle is done, a side has won and the Holiday begins. But Cy didn’t stop battling, and he didn’t Holiday with her. In a rage he tossed her away. Broken and rejected she stumbled home. She remains injured.”

  “You maimed the last female you Holidayed with. Oh Cy, how
could you?” Zabbie gaped at him aghast. Titus explained their ritual of domination. Only one could be victor, but each wanted a coveted child. There was never supposed to be any severe injury done to either.

  “We battled, we always battle. She was young but strong. I had no idea she was injured so badly.”

  “Titus has explained some of your Holiday,” Zabbie said to the leader. “I know you fight.”

  “It’s more than that. She can’t Holiday again, she would always be dominated because of her injury—if a male even wanted her. A male warrior would be too worried to Holiday with her, he wants his son protected. She can’t battle the way she would need to if a son was born. It’s treacherous to take a son to their father when you have two strong arms. Cyrons are formidable beasts. She would never risk becoming pregnant when she knows she can’t defend her son. She says you took away any chance at a daughter and she wants revenge,” the older female said.

  Cy nodded. “A male should never go that far. It’s her right.” Cy hung his head as he said this.

  They approached the home of the female Zargonni, an area filled with pods and Zabbie glanced about in wonder. Vibrant colors of the rounded pods graced each corner of a tiny village. They were taken further into the fold and Zabbie was told it was where their most vulnerable were kept. There were female children of all ages who gaped at them, at Cy. The mothers were snarling and growling. Zabbie could smell the tension. They were led to a female who glared daggers at Cy. The female was almost as large as Cy, her arm hung at an odd angle. It was apparent she was in pain and had been for some time. Zabbie was overcome with pity.

  “Ask them why they haven’t fixed her,” Cy said.

  Zabbie asked and listened to the response. “They can’t, they don’t have the medical knowledge. Injury that bad is rare in females, the first they’ve seen since your mother. Cy, they think you’re bad luck. Evil. This is not good. Cy, she’s in agony.”

  “Finn can fix her,” Cy said. “Tell them their males have the knowledge and a healer.”

  Zabbie relayed the message. Their response was less than positive.

  “They say she can’t go into a group of males, she would be hurt further.”

  “No,” Cy yelled. “Zabbie, tell her I’m sorry. I mean that with all my heart. She would be with me under my protection. I swear on my life no one will hurt her. I never should have hurt her. She should be here playing with a daughter, my daughter or another’s. I never knew; I thought she would be fine. Females are always fine—except my mother. I remember being pushed along the ground; I remember being afraid and my mother crooning. How could I have not put the situation together? Tell her, Zabbie, I swear; I need to fix this.”

  There was quiet until Zabbie heard a tiny voice. A female spoke and told them her son meant what he said. Zabbie spun around. In a corner was another female lying prone. Cy strode to her. For a second they gazed at one another until Cy gently pulled the female into his arms.

  “Mother.”

  Zabbie knew if Zargonnii could cry, Cy would be when he gazed at her.

  “Tell her Finn can try and fix her too. I can protect them both. Titus will help me.”

  A female snapped at Cy and Zabbie shuffled her feet. “She says it’s well known you stole Titus’s female. They were worried you were going to kill me. The Zargonnii aren’t angry with human females, they are happy some have made their sons so happy. Titus’s mother is dead; she and Titus’s father were older than your parents. But Titus’s daughter is here and she’s pretty pissed with you.”

  Cy glanced at the regal female, looking puzzled. “I’ve never mated with that female. I would have smelled Titus on her and out of respect backed off.”

  Titus’s daughter centered her gaze on Zabbie when she told her what Cy said. The female spoke.

  “I’m angry because he tried to take away my father’s happiness by taking you. You belong to my father. After giving our females so many daughters he could never have, he deserves one to hold. Cy has given us nothing but grief. No female has conceived, and none ever will. You will be returned to my father. I am so proud of him. I have many sisters. Your child, when you conceive, will be my sister too.”

  Zabbie was touched. “Thank you. I love your father very much. It broke my heart when Cy took me away, but I think I’m getting a better understanding of his hurt. Your ways are different, and I won’t judge, but it’s too bad Cy couldn’t have been told about his mother or the injured female sooner. Cy is right. Finn can heal them, or at least try. Your father is an honorable male; he will give his word to keep them both safe.”

  “When our males and females are together we Holiday, that’s all we do. To change or chance changing tradition goes against everything we believe. My name is Tal. I know you mean well, Zabbie, yes, I know your name. There would be too many males forced into heat with a female’s presence so close. Especially if the female hasn’t been claimed. My father claiming you is what keeps the other males at bay. Only a fool warrior would challenge a dominant male who has dominated a female—even a human female. Maybe especially a dominated human female.”

  A howl sounded and a commotion followed. “What’s going on?” Zabbie asked.

  “My father is here. I never knew he would chance the female area. It’s suicide to come uninvited into a female pod area, especially when there are children here. Titus must have followed your scent. He’s in grave danger,” Tal said. She looked worried.

  Zabbie saw a mound of females piling. A huge roar and a shove and all seven females were sent flying. Titus was bellowing. Zabbie saw Tal shudder, the female raced to her father holding up her hands shouting. Other females, one older and some younger, stayed back but close. They looked from the angry females to the warrior, and Zabbie wondered if all six females were Titus’s daughters.

  “You all knew he might come. It was a risk we took bringing the warrior and the human female here, my father only wants his mate back.”

  Another Zargonnii went after Titus but Zabbie had enough. With a thought the female went flying. As she strode to Titus the females parted, giving her a wide berth as females tried to get to Titus and were knocked on their assess. Zabbie was in his arms. Titus was glaring at Cy.

  “You stole my mate.” His words were seething. “Why?”

  “She stole you from me,” Cy yelled.

  “She stole no one. I’ve never seen anyone try and friend you so hard. I was a fool to think you had actually changed your mind and started to like her. When Finn noted you took the wrong vial, I thought it was an oversight. When I couldn’t find her, I knew. You are supposed to be my best friend and you would take someone from me who I love more than my life.”

  “I only wanted things to go back to the way they were before,” Cy said, head bowed.

  Another frustrated female bellowed and approached, Zabbie growled at her and lifted a hand. The female stopped and reconsidered.

  “It’s time to leave,” Titus said to Zabbie.

  “We can’t; we need to convince two injured females to come with us to Finn. One of them Cy hurt during the last Holiday and the other is his mother,” Zabbie said.

  “His mother?”

  “Yes. She was badly injured by a cyron after Cy was born. Come see.”

  Zabbie grabbed his hand and led him deeper into the pod. The females grew more agitated but let them pass. Titus knelt down beside Cy’s mother.

  “My healer might be able to help you,” he said. “I know this goes against our rituals, but if there is a chance you could walk again, it would be worth the frustration.”

  “Mother,” Cy said, joining Titus. “I swear I will protect you.”

  “I also give you my word,” Titus said. Zabbie translated. At a tap on her arm she turned to find Tal.

  “The females don’t want Titus’s word, or Cy’s,” Tal was gazing at Zabbie in awe. “They want yours.”

  Zabbie grinned. She squeezed Tal’s hand. “I give you my word I will protect both females. But I think
I’ll keep that information between us females.”

  Tal grinned back. “Males, such babies.”

  Zabbie turned to Titus. “The females agree.”

  Cy picked up his mother. The females followed them to the foliage line, an ancient perimeter. Tal became all business when she spoke.

  “Tell Cy he is never to cross this line again. Whatever happens with Titus’s healer, he is never to Holiday again or he will die.”

  Zabbie was as stern when she told Cy his fate. He nodded. The warriors continued on. There was an equal commotion when Titus and Cy entered the main building with two Zargonnii females. A few warriors began to growl and Titus snapped back. As discreetly as possible, Zabbie flicked a finger and the growling warriors flinched. She glared at them and they backed off.

  Finn was surprised when they walked into his office. Cy settled his mother onto a table. Finn checked her legs. He then checked the other female’s arm.

  “Both breaks are bad. They healed wrong.”

  “Can you fix them?” Zabbie asked.

  “The young female will be easy. Zabbie, tell her she is in no danger. The scent of fear is so strong on her it makes me cringe. When a female is afraid, a warrior goes from dominant to trying to ease her emotions. Every muscle in me is trying to get me to croon. If I do that, it will scare the shit out of her further,” Finn said.

  Zabbie placed her hand on the female’s arm. “Finn is going to fix you. Don’t worry, you’ll be home soon.”

  The female nodded and Zabbie thought she may have relaxed. Finn sent Zabbie a grateful look. It didn’t take long for Finn to fix the young female and Titus escorted her to the line. Zabbie remained behind knowing the female was safe with Titus; now that her arm was strong again, the female wasn’t afraid. She also knew Titus had a mate and never planned to Holiday again.

  It took longer for Cy’s mother to heal. Cy remained with her, staying by her side. When Titus returned, he watched them grimly. Zabbie was concerned by the look on his face.

  “What will happen to Cy?” she asked.

  “He’ll be given a ship.”

  “Oh, Titus, banishment?”

  “He stole my mate.”

 

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