by L M Lacee
‘I screwed up Esther.’
‘Did you? I think not. Regardless, go see her.’
‘She could have died.’
‘Yes, she knows that. Now you know what she felt like when you were poisoned.’
‘Oh nuts, fine.’ She hugged her back. ‘See you soon.’
Esther released her and stepped away as Peyton turned and found herself in the arms of Dinas, he hugged her which he had never done before. She looked up into his somber face. ‘I apologize dearle Peyton, forgive my rash words, spoken from fear and pain. As an Elite I should know better. You are and always will be the heart of us. I know as does everyone you touch and share your life with, we are better for you being in our lives. So I beg you to release my words from your needar, do not allow my foolishness…’
‘Enough.’ She hugged him. ‘Dinas I love you, and yes your words were harsh but probably true. I did not do what I should have and again I apologize.’
‘But…’ He said. ‘No one died.’
She flinched when he said that and it made him wonder until she said. ‘So we live to love and fight another day.’ She grinned up at him, ‘See you are so much like us, it is scary. Go find your Patty she will be worried.’
He kissed her cheek, and she flicked her lashes at him. ‘Oh, I am so going to tell her?’
He grinned and lightheartedly said. ‘I will deny it to my last breath.’
Melody said. ‘One word for you Dinas, Jax.’
Peyton laughed as they left with Dinas calling after them. ‘What does that mean?’
Melody said. ‘Think about it Elite boy?’
She and Peyton entered the transfer circle and arrived in medical. Netta had been in the regenerator for less than ten mins.
‘How bad?’ Melody asked Heather.
‘Cuts, several deep slashes, the one across her face is the worse hence the regenerator, she will be fine. An hour and she’ll be on her feet again.’
Peyton said. ‘Good. Then I can yell at her.’ She sat in the chair by the long glassed in tube, as the beams of light scanned and healed Netta.
Peyton started to renew the binding of her Rie. It had strengthened after its taste of freedom and fought her, she took time to coax it back into its box.
Knife jumped onto her lap. Isa sad, Mama Netta notsa in me head.
‘I know baby Prowler; Mama Netta stopped you feeling her, so you would not hurt when she was cut a little.’ Knife looked at Netta, at the long deep cuts and then at Peyton. ‘Oh alright, cut a lot. See, they make me say it?’ She told Melody who had come to sit next to her with Bacon.
‘Seriously, you’re going to say it’s their fault?’
‘Yes… yes… I am.’
‘Unbelievable!’
Darby entered, Honor by her side, and without a word she handed a cup of coffee to Peyton, for Melody she had brought tea. She went away and came back with her own tea still without a word. She pulled up a chair and they sat together, guardian angels to fight the nightmares and speed the healing along.
Knife settled on Peyton’s lap. I love you Mama Petn.
As I love you Knife, sleep little one. Your Mama will be better soon. She petted him as she continued reinforcing the bindings for Netta.
FORTY:
Netta healed and ended up sleeping in Peyton’s cabin. All the sisters along with Harm and Esther, Patty and Dinas and various other members of Peyton’s extended family stayed with her and the boys. No one wanted to be alone, the reality that they had barely escaped losing two of their family members, kept them awake long into the night.
By the following morn, Peyton was over wanting to yell at Netta. They had watched the vid of the fight and as Melody said; it was frightening and exciting all rolled into one. Hawk was deadly fast, and Netta was impressive.
Heather had tearfully stated. ‘You both were amazing, frighteningly so.’
Netta who had finally woken to eat and watch the vid grimaced. ‘If I never have to do that again, I will be eternally grateful. You know I always thought my knives were unbeatable: he showed me how wrong I have been. He was just so deadly.’
Darby muttered. ‘You know Peyton, it makes you wonder; if he is the fourth brother, what are the other three like?’
‘Well, that is a cheerful thought.’ Melody had growled, making the others laugh.
They had a lazy two days being together, talking and devouring junk food or what passed for it on board the ship. There were plenty of vids, everyone got to pick one, even the boys which saw the females suffering through singing rabbits and talking fish. Then to Peyton’s dismay there were visitors, lots of visitors. It seemed like no one wanted to leave her stateroom unless they had to be on duty.
Hawk and Karen were locked in his cabin, Esther, Heather and Harm spent most of their time in Peyton’s cabin, along with a now healed Lukkas. She was positive every member of the crew had at one point visited Netta and with wide-eyed wonder talked about the fight.
It was three hours past eve-meal on the third day after the fight, when once again her cabin was full of people watching vids. While the young were asleep in their cribs and with a nod to Esther to let her know she was leaving. Peyton stole out to her favorite viewing lounge, where she let her mind go blank as she stared out the window.
She had soaked up the quiet for almost an hour and had just refilled her cup when Harm and Rave arrived. Followed shortly by Sedeen, Malchol and Matt, they came to stand next to her. After a few mins when it seemed obvious, she was not going to break the silence.
Harm asked, ‘Madam, you asked to see us, was it about what we found out about the female?’
‘No, I read your report. We will arrive in orbit around Draygann early tomorrow morn. I am hoping you will want to do a bit of snooping for us before we land?’
The males grinned. Rave was giving her a Prowler smile as Harm asked. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘No idea? We have four Falears on board. I hoped you and your Warriors Matt, would enjoy the exercise.’
‘We will.’
‘So apart from that, I am out of ideas, figured you all would know more about this stuff than I would.’
‘So free hand?’ Sedeen asked.
‘Yep, do not get killed, hurt, captured or anything that will get me into trouble with them, and you know I mean Heather and Rose and Esther. Furin hayda, Lukkas are you going to hide there all night?’
He had remained hidden or so he thought just past the corner in the passageway. ‘No Madam, I was waiting until you left to ask Lord Harm if I could go too.’ He said as he strolled to where they were.
She told him. ‘Harm’s mission, his say so?’
They both looked at him, he nodded. ‘I will take you if Melody agrees. We will need a pilot?’
‘You could ask June?’ Lukkas suggested with a hesitant look in his eyes.
Peyton nodded. ‘Yeah, ask her, if she says yes, make sure she remains safe please Harm?’
‘We will Madam. Do not worry, we are very good at this.’
‘Alright.’ She smiled then kissed each of their cheeks as she hugged one after the other. ‘Stay alive and stay safe. It is all the crying if you get dead I can’t cope with. I will kill someone, and it will be your fault.’ She told them sternly, then pointed at Lukkas. ‘I am betting Kerol is an ugly crier, so stay alive.’
She left them laughing to walk along the passageways, thinking of what she had put into action and wondering if she was right to do so. Sighing, she decided it was the best she could do to make sure everyone came out from the mission alive. ‘Jax monitor them as far as you can please?’
I will Madam, Commander Hawk is waiting for you in your office.
‘My, what now?’
Office.
‘You mean my cabin?’
No Madam your office.
‘Where is that?’
Next to the war room.
‘Really, a war room.’ She stopped walking as she thought about having a war room and office,
then shrugged. ‘Now I think about it, that makes sense. We are on a Warship. Okay Jax, can you please guide me there?’
Certainly.
Lights at floor level came on showing her the way, she followed them down two levels to arrive at a plain door. Peyton stood outside the room Jax had guided her to. She leaned her head on the panel as she listened to the couple within. They were watching the fight between Netta and Hawk she could hear Karen say. ‘Just as well you were not trying to kill her.’
Hawk’s answer surprised her, but not as much as it did Netta standing at her shoulder or Melody on her other side. ‘I was, she is that good.’
‘Netta is amazing, I am stunned you both are not dead.’
‘I do not know how you could even see me when I looked like that?’
‘Hawk my love. I will always see you.’
‘My heart, thank you.’
Jax opened the door, whether it was at some signal from Darby who had arrived or because he knew Peyton could not. Either way the door slid open and Hawk and Karen stood up, they were both dressed in jeans and baby blue lightweight sweaters in some soft looking material. It looked good on them; they looked rested, healthy and happy.
It was the contentment that shone from Hawk that made her blurt out. ‘What can I say, I am so very sorry it was never meant to be like that. I thought I had time, and I was wrong.’ She moved farther into the room helped by the hand Darby pushed her with, the others followed, Heather arrived as they cleared the doorway.
Peyton shrugged and said in a small voice. ‘I do not know how to make this right.’
Hawk looked at the five females that had become his family, his sisters as Peyton had once said and knew they loved him. They were worried he would be angry and as he felt Karen’s hand squeeze his. He knew at this moment he had never been happier or luckier.
‘You think this is your fault, that my turning on myself and fighting, was anything to do with you. Dearle Peyton, you could not have stopped this. It would have been like trying to stop meteors flying across the skies.’
‘You could have died. Netta could have died. That would have been on me.’
‘Oh, Peyton no.’ Netta protested as she slipped around to face her. ‘It would have been on me, you told us to stay clear and to call you and I did not. I let my ego get the better of me. I honestly thought I could take him.’ She looked over her shoulder at Hawk. ‘I am sorry, if you had killed me you would have been devastated and for that I apologize.’
‘As do I,’ Melody voiced her own apology. ‘We were warned to not challenge you, I thought I could contain the situation. We did not avoid you and call for back up as Peyton asked us to do. The only one who did not engage you was Dinas, and for that I owe him an apology. He could have been hurt worse than he was, as all the Warriors could have been and it would have been on me. So I apologize brother for endangering you.’
Together with Netta, she bowed from her waist in deep respect. Hawk returned the gesture with as much respect. ‘I accept your apologizes, sisters of my heart.’ Then he took them both in his arms.
Darby and Heather pushed into hug him as Darby said. ‘We have nothing to apologize for, we just love you.’
Heather said. ‘What she said, also I am so very happy you are our Hawk again.’
He laughed. ‘Thank you sisters.’
Peyton waited until they went to Karen to congratulate and hug her. Hawk smiled as he took the steps necessary to reach her. He knew her heart and mind so well. Tipping her face up to his, he smiled.
‘Peyton do not… it is done and over with. I am here, Karen is here, and Salmah is here. All my family are here, no one died, is that not what we say. No one died, so it is a good day.’
She blinked and smiled as she looked into his clear eyes and lied. ‘No one died, it is a good day. I love you brother of mine forever.’
‘As I love you sister of mine forever, thank you.’
‘For what?’ She asked as he wiped the tears from her eyes. ‘For believing in me as you always have. For giving me a life far exceeding my dreams and wishes. And mostly for coming into my life and sending that first message.’
‘Oh okay, it is what family do.’
‘So I am learning.’
He stood there, all traces of the savage Elite gone. Except for the marking on his chest that she could see peeking out from the top of his sweater. ‘What is the mark?’ She asked him as she pulled at his top trying to see, laughing he clasped her hand to stop her movement.
Karen said, ‘It is a hawk.’
‘What like the bird?’ Heather asked as Darby frowned. ‘How would they know what a bird from Earth looks like?’
‘Who?’ Melody demanded, ‘Who would know?’
Darby blinked. ‘The Star Child, didn’t they give him the mark?’
‘Well probably, so yeah how did they know?’ Melody asked Peyton.
Netta said. ‘You assume it is a hawk maybe there are birds like that on other planets?’
Hawk looked at the females of his family and smiled knowing this discussion would continue for days if he did not stop it now. ‘On Jenersar there is a flying creature of prey called a Garben. It seems Earth has a similar creature.’
‘Yes, we call it a bird and this looks like a hawk to me.’ Karen said with a smile for her Hawk.
‘That makes sense.’ Netta said as she nudged Darby.
‘I thought so.’ Karen agreed before Melody could pursue the similarities. Harm, Sedeen and Lukkas arrived and congratulated the couple. Hawk stood by Karen’s side, her hand in his, as they discussed being mated.
Peyton said to Darby. ‘I so could stop meteors.’
‘You so could not. So boastful?’
‘I think I could.’
Melody growled from behind her. ‘Do not try Star Girl. I will kick your ass.’
Peyton growled back. ‘You can try, and where is my chocolate?’
‘Oh my stars, really?’
‘Yes, I know you took it. I just don’t know what for.’
‘Not discussing this with you.’
‘Because you know you will incriminate yourself that is why.’
Before Melody could think of a good answer to that, Esther walked in stopping the argument. They all watched her smile tearfully at both Karen and Hawk and then be gathered into his strong arms and held. No one missed her sigh when he said. ‘I am sorry I caused you worry.’
She nodded. ‘I know you are, and now you are mated to Karen and are truly part of my family.’
‘I am proud to be so.’
They smiled together as everyone talked and laughed in relief and happiness that they were alive and with each other. Esther finally said. ‘Snacks in the diner. Dinas and Patty are meeting us there.’
‘Alright!’ Melody said with a fist pump, she loved night snacks. Esther always made chocolate cake, where she got the chocolate from she would not say.
As they went back to their discussions, no one noticed the small green female enter and stand just inside the door. Until they all turned to leave and smacked up against Rose, a very distraught Rose.
She was pale green as tears ran down her face, her eyes latched onto Peyton. She pointed a trembling finger and demanded as her voice shook with emotion.
‘Did she tell you why she was so late to the fight?’
Soothingly Peyton said. ‘Rose hon, it’s all…’
She slashed the air with a trembling hand, cutting Peyton off. ‘Do not say it is alright, it is far from alright.’ She seemed to be unaware of the tears that ran down her face as she sobbed in a breath and a fear laden whine entered her voice. ‘Peyton, someone ran a knife, a large knife into you and cut you open...’ She stumbled to a halt as she covered her face with her hands.
Esther quietly spoke to her as she quickly took her in her arms. Which seemed to be the signal for the dam to burst. Everyone started talking and yelling at once, accusing Peyton and each other. Hawk looked around at the emotions tumbling over each other,
guilt, fear, regret and anger poured into the room.
Karen squeezed his hand as she whispered. ‘Hawk.’
He nodded then loudly demanded. ‘Silence!’
Peyton shook her head. ‘Rose, I am sorry... I can’t... I can’t do this.’ She vanished in a stream of starlight.
Hawk looked around. ‘Jax, I require Dinas please.’
As you wish Commander. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind Jax was not pleased, they could hear the annoyance in the tone of his voice.
‘Darby, open the door please?’ Hawk asked as a shaken Darby palmed the wall causing it to retract, exposing the war room. With a smile Hawk held his hand out. ‘Rose come dearle.’
She placed her trembling hand in his as he guided her and Karen to chairs at the table. The others followed and found seats, as he took his own seat he asked.
‘Now let us begin, who wishes to go first?’
Darby put her hand up. ‘Yes, Darby?’
‘How do you know about Jax?’
‘That is not…’
Karen interrupted him. ‘I told him.’
‘Oh, okay thanks.’
Melody told him. ‘It’s best to answer those questions quickly, otherwise she will be occupied trying to work it out.’
‘Ahh, I see.’
Darby grimace as she murmured. ‘True.’
‘Now…’
Harm interrupted him again. ‘I will start.’
‘Please Harm, enlighten us, as to what you know.’
Just as he finished speaking, Jorge and Dinas with Rave entered. Lukkas joined Jorge by the wall.
Hawk held his hand up. ‘If you could wait please Harm. Dinas take a seat. Captain I require two Warriors on Madam’s door at all times. Also Netta, I want her guarded when she leaves her cabin, again two Warriors, pick your best please.’
‘Done.’ Netta responded.
Jorge looked at him and then at the empty Star Daughter’s chair, noting the serious faces and the angry Netta, and his hearts sank. ‘The Star Daughter?’
Hawk nodded. ‘Exactly, apparently the Star Daughter was late to the disturbance because she was attacked.’
Jorge wobbled a little, Lukkas grabbed his shoulder steadying him. ‘Sorry, I am alright. By who?’