by S. E. Smith
“What happened?” Jo asked turning her head as she gazed around the medical unit. “The pirates?”
“Are dead,” Manota’s deep voice replied from behind Tony.
Tony grimaced and let go of the slender hand he had been holding. He rose and turned slowly to face the huge warrior who had threatened him at least two dozen times with about sixty different ways he was going to die if he didn’t stay away from Jo.
“I was just…” Tony began, edging around the bed.
He stopped in surprise when he felt the same slender fingers he had been holding just seconds before curl around his. He looked down and saw the sweet smile of the girl he had dreamed about every night since he was seventeen. She looked at him with such sadness, it tore at his heart. He gave her a crooked smile.
“Thank you,” Manota interrupted the human male who was staring at his mate with an expression that spoke of his love for her. “Thank you for helping to save my mate.”
Tony looked at Manota with a quiet resolve. The look conveyed his acceptance that Jo would never love him the way she loved Manota. A part of his heart felt like it would break while another part couldn’t deny the woman of his fantasy her happiness.
“It was my pleasure,” Tony replied softly as he pulled his hand free from Jo’s and walked toward the door. He paused at the entrance, his shoulders stiff. “Just do me a favor,” he said without turning around.
“Anything,” Manota replied staring at the stiff back.
Tony’s lips curved up into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Keep her safe and make her happy,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the huge warrior.
“I promise,” Manota vowed.
Tony lowered his eyes to Jo’s one last time. “I love you, circus girl,” he said quietly, referring to the nickname he used to call her when he first met her. “If you ever need anything, I’ll be there.”
“I know,” Jo said, fighting the tears that threatened to choke her. “I love you too, elephant man.”
Jo’s eyes widened as she fought the tears but it was no use. The more she tried to stop them, the more determined they seemed that they would fall. Manota gathered her in his arms, holding her tightly against his chest as she cried at having broken the heart of such a good man.
It took a few minutes for her to realize that the arms holding her trembled violently. A warm dampness coated the skin of her neck. She held tight as Manota’s body shook silently as he released his own pent-up emotions.
“Shush,” she whispered. “I won’t let you fall. I’ll catch you. I’ll always catch you,” she murmured softly against his ear as he pressed desperate little kisses against her neck.
“I almost didn’t catch you in time,” he admitted in a harsh, choked voice. “I… almost didn’t catch you, mi t’belle.”
“But you did,” she responded soothingly. “You caught me just like you said you would.”
Manota’s huge body shuddered as he pulled her completely into his arms and sank into the chair where he had spent every free moment over the last three days in. He just held her tightly against him until he felt he had regained control of his emotions. He understood now how his brothers had felt when their mates had almost perished.
“Tell me what I missed,” she requested as he finally pulled back. She rested her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of him. “I’m sorry I puked all over you,” she added sheepishly.
Manota’s chest rumbled as he chuckled softly. “Shavic warned me you would more than likely be sick as the last of the poison worked its way out of your system. I didn’t care.”
She pulled back enough to frown up at him. “Poison?” She asked confused. “When did I get poisoned?”
“The red-skinned pirate you fought is a species called a Killian. They are renown for using poison on the tips of their blades. The poison is slow moving, spreading throughout the body over a thirty minute time frame. It uses a nanotechnology. After thirty minutes it basically detonates all at once. If not caught in time, the antidote will not work as the poison has spread too far. You came very close to not making it,” Manota explained grimly.
“What happened after I passed out?” She asked quietly.
Manota pulled her head back against his chest. He needed to feel her warmth against him. Running his hands over her arms and back in soothing strokes, he rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Kev was able to get the weapons back online,” he explained. “Soon after we had the engines back as well. K’tar was able to take out two of the three pirate ships. The crew were able to blow all the hatches with the transports except one. Ten pirates were able to escape. All the rest were killed,” he said.
“Why would pirates attack a Kassisan warship?” Jo asked, relaxing back against his warmth. “Surely they realized that it would be a suicide mission?”
Manota brushed his lips against her hair. “Tai Tek sent them. He told them we had a large shipment of crystals worth a lot of credits.”
Jo jerked up to look into his eyes in anger. “I am really getting tired of that bastard,” she growled out in a low voice. “He has almost killed all three of us girls and I’m sick and tired of it.”
Manota couldn’t contain the chuckle at her fierce scowl even as a shiver coursed through his body at the truth in her words. He was also finished with Tai Tek. The bastard had nowhere else to go now. He had spent every free minute over the last three days going over the star maps and other information he and his men had discovered and had shut down every possible hiding place the bastard could go. On top of that, Tai Tek had made another dangerous enemy - Ristéard Roald, the Grand Ruler of Elpidios. That was one man that not even Manota wanted to go up against. He had heard Roald was a cold hearted bastard on a good day. Tai Tek had approached the ruler with promises that were not his to keep and lies that threatened to bring war between their worlds. While Kassis might be superior in technology, the Elpidios’ leader was known to fight with the cold-blooded ferociousness that had chilled the blood of any who had challenged him. Little was known about the Elpidios except they were a fierce warrior race, both the men and the women who were crafty, intelligent foes. Fortunately, his father and brothers were able to meet with Roald and had made a pact with the ruler.
“Tai Tek’s time is running out,” Manota promised softly. “He has no more hidden reserves of credits, no place to hide, and no funds to hire men to protect him. He has also made an additional enemy who will not stop until he is dead.”
Jo wrapped her arms around his waist and held on to him as if she was afraid to let him go. In some ways, she was. She had been so scared when they were being attacked that something might happen to him. She buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply to calm her racing heart.
“A trapped animal is the most dangerous,” she murmured.
“Only if he can escape from the trap that was set for him,” Manota responded quietly. “I am preparing a trap that he will not be able to resist walking into.”
“How do you know?” She asked. “How do you know he won’t be able to resist it?”
Manota’s stomach tightened but he realized he had no choice but to believe what his father had said to him, to all of them, that these three females were the prophesied warriors who would save the Houses of Kassis. He knew his brothers would rebel against what he planned but he knew it was the only way to finally end Tai Tek’s attacks on them.
“He will not be able to resist the Ceremony of Zephren, The God of War, for my people this year. During the ceremony, the three prophesied warriors from another world will be introduced,” he answered her in a toneless voice.
Jo froze as she realized what he meant. “You are going to use us as bait,” she said leaning back to stare up at him in shock.
Manota hid the shudder of distaste and gave her a jerky nod. “Yes,” he responded tersely. “It is the only way I could think of that would draw him out.”
Jo snapped her mouth close and chuckled. “I love
it! I know you guys will protect us and there are enough pissed off people to catch the slimy little bastard once and for all! The crew is great at setting up a stage. Marcus can do that captured in a glass without the glass,” Jo said as she began to run through all the things they could do. “Mattie’s dogs are the best there are at sniffing out explosives. Stan can monitor all the communications and video feeds along with K’tar.”
“Wait a minute,” Manota said shocked. “You are not mad at me for wanting to use you as bait? My brothers are going to want to kill me.”
Jo grinned and shook her head. “Hell no! This is a great idea. The crew is great at creating distractions and monitoring things. They can help your men! Oh my God! We are so going to nail that bastard’s ass to the wall!” She said excitedly. “I’ve got to talk to Ricki and Walter. Mom and Dad can help too. They can do all the high wire stuff.”
Manota listened as Jo talked about all the different things they could do to set the most perfect trap in the entire star systems to catch the nasty-ass roach as she began calling Tai Tek. He actually began to feel excited as he listened too many of her suggestions. He found himself asking questions and his mind swirled with plans.
Shavic came into the room and shook his head as he saw his patient, who hours before had been close to death, talking and laughing excitedly with her mate. He stood in the doorway and watched, envy burning a hole through his soul as he wondered if there would ever be someone as special as the human females he had met so far for him. He turned to give them privacy as he went in search of Kev and K’tar who were still trying to catch the two females they had claimed. He paused long enough to stop by his living quarters to pick up the bottle of aged scotch that Bombing Bill had given him when he showed him some of their weapons systems. He had a feeling it wasn’t going to be enough to ease the ache the three of them were feeling but it would be a start.
Chapter 20
Manota breathed a sigh of relief as the Seeker finally docked with the spaceport orbiting Kassis. The last few days of the journey had gone well. Overall, things were almost back to normal on board the warship. He had lost five warriors during the fight with the pirates. The traitor had turned out to be the son of one of Tai Tek’s guards. He had died when one of the explosives he was planting in the crystal storage area detonated prematurely. Banner, his Chief of Engineering, had repaired the panel for the coolant and only minimum additional structural damage had to be repaired.
He was still amazed at some of the tales being told by his warriors. It would appear the female Kev wanted to claim, Jade Ryan, had helped Petre protect the entrance to the storage bay holding some of the younger members of the circus, as well as their animals and living accommodations.
The young human, Mattie, and her ‘dogs’, had discovered four other areas where the traitor, Mullox, had set explosives. Jai was able to disarm them but things became tense when Mattie was taken as a hostage by three pirates demanding safe passage off the ship. Jai had rescued the young female who was still recovering from her captivity. He had gone to check on her several times but Jai was being very protective of the young female and simply informed him that she was resting.
Manota looked at the video footage and couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped as he watched Marvin, Martin, and the clowns in the corridor as they headed to Medical. They had encountered a small group of pirates trying to escape. Manota watched as the pirates rounded the corner and found themselves faced by the larger group lead by Walter.
He watched as Walter snapped his fingers. Immediately, Marvin and Martin moved in front of him. They didn’t have their faces painted this time but they still held the pirates mesmerized as they both moved as if they were trapped behind an invisible wall. The pirates watched the two men as if unsure of what to do next. As soon as Martin tapped Marvin on the shoulder, they moved in sync to open up an invisible door. As if being shot out of the cannon that Tony had been fired from, the clowns, some dressed still in their ridiculous costumes, charged the group with knives, odd shaped clubs, and - he stilled the footage for a moment - what looked like a dead bird of some kind. The pirates, unsure of what was attacking them, turned tail and ran.
The smile faded as Manota saw Tony walk quickly down the corridor carrying an unconscious Jo. He leaned forward in his chair, studying her limp, bloody figure. A wave of cold rage swept through him, not at the male carrying her this time but at the one who had hurt her. He was glad her father had killed the bastard.
His gaze moved to the face of the male carrying her. It was evident that the human cared a great deal for her. The look of determination, fear and anger were clearly evident in the brief view he had of Tony’s face as he glanced up at the camera. It was almost as if he were condemning Manota for putting Jo in such danger - for not taking better care of her.
Manota’s fist slammed down on the conference table in the ready-room off the bridge as the rage rose deep inside him. His fists clenched in self-recrimination as he stood up and walked over to the viewport to stare blindly down at the glowing red, pink, and purple ball of Kassis. There was no way he could go through with his plan. He could not endanger his mate or the mates of his brothers, especially with River expecting his brother’s first child in a few short months. He would have to think of something different. He could not continue to live with the fear that Tai Tek or one of his hired mercenaries could appear at any time and be successful at killing his brothers or any of their mates the next time; but, neither could he use his mate as bait – even if she was willing.
He turned his head when he heard the door slide open behind him. He nodded to Shavic as the healer came into the room. He frowned and did a double take when he saw the strange look on his friend’s face. Shavic had been monitoring those who had been injured during the attack. Fortunately, only a couple of the humans had received minor injuries besides Jo and Mattie.
“Is everything alright?” He asked trying to ignore the twist of unease in his stomach.
“What?” Shavic asked distractedly before he nodded. “Oh, yes. Everything is fine,” he murmured as he came to stand next to Manota and stare blindly down at planet below them.
Manota turned back to stare down as well, watching as the shuttles began their transport of warriors and supplies. He and Jo would be the last to leave. At the moment, several larger transports were docking with the Seeker to remove the animals and equipment the humans had brought with them. His father had an area on the outskirts of the city set aside for their new residents. It would become their own ‘city’, far enough to give them privacy but close enough they could be protected. He was sure there would be much speculation about the odd humans and their animals.
A group of scientists had already boarded the warship and were running tests to make sure the strange and unusual animals brought from Earth would not bring any harmful parasites or diseases that might harm those on Kassis. The animals would be kept in quarantine for few months until all testing was completed. It would also give the humans time to acclimate to their new home.
“Did Jo come to see you this morning? She was concerned about still feeling a little tired,” Manota asked quietly.
“Jo? Oh, yes… yes, she did come by to see me,” Shavic replied. “She is well. It is expected for her to feel tired after losing the amount of blood that she did and fighting the poison. She brought Jane with her. The female actually smiled at me this time.”
Manota nodded. “I was worried about Jane. Has she spoken yet?”
Shavic shook his head. “Not to any of us but Nema and Tami says she has spoken a little to them. She told them she likes the name Jane and wishes to keep it. She has not said anything else about what happened to her. They feel it is best to let her tell them when she is ready.”
“So what is bothering you? You seem distracted. Has something else happened?” Manota asked, glancing at Shavic’s face.
“How did you know when you met your mate?” Shavic asked hesitantly. “How did you know she was the
one?”
Manota turned to stare thoughtfully out the window as the first two transports left the Spaceport. How did he know that Jo was his mate? There were so many things that took him by surprise. He wasn’t sure if it was when he first grabbed her arm as she reached for the knife. The touch had felt like a bolt of lightning had shot through him. Or, when he pulled her back against his body and her scent invaded his senses like a torch to dry wood. Or when she stood defiantly before him and punched him in the eye for letting the women of his House kiss him.
“I just knew,” he replied deep in thought. “Everything about her drives me crazy. I love her strength, her courage, her compassion, even her stubborn desire to be independent. She makes me smile and laugh. And she makes me more frustrated and angry than I’ve ever been in my life. She makes me feel things, including fear that I have never had to deal with before. But most of all, she brings warmth and light to my life. A life that had been drowning in a darkness that I didn’t know was there,” he said quietly before looking at Shavic. “Why do you ask?”
Shavic rubbed his chest, over his heart, and sighed heavily. “That is what I was afraid of,” he muttered. “I met one of the human females I had not seen before. I guess one of their horses was about to foal and she has been with it during the trip. I ran into her as she was heading back from the dining quarters. It was like…” he paused a moment before he let his hand drop to his side. “It was like I had been hit by a laser blast on full power. I was so stunned, I didn’t get a chance to find out who she was.”
Manota looked with amusement at his friend. “How did you know what she was doing then?” He asked curiously.
Shavic gave a small grin. “Martin and Marvin filled me in. By the way, they are Kor d’lurs. Their research ship crashed in the jungles outside of a place called Buenos Aires on Earth. They made their way through the jungle and walked into the Cirque de Magik over ten years ago. Walter found them, patched them up and hired them on. They made friends with the crew of the circus and have been enjoying learning more about the strange but fascinating humans.”