Alien Mate (13 page)

Although perhaps there was still hope. Perhaps Kil would listen to their father and keep his distance. Kor hoped so for both their sakes. Kor had lost most feelings for his brother long ago. It was respect for his father that made him keep trying.

But Kor would not allow Diana to be harmed. He’d kill his brother first.

55

Diana sat nervously in Lisa’s living room whose turn it was to host the monthly mates’

tea. Diana had giggled when Lisa told her about it.

“Tea? Seriously?”

Lisa had laughed too. “I know it sounds dumb, but apparently this is a long-standing Earth wife tradition. A way of bringing us together to help us cope with our new lives and to find friends so we aren’t so lonely for home.”

“Does it work?”

“I guess, although to be honest, most of the chosens didn’t leave much behind. It’s like their ancestors look for women who have no real close family or friends. Someone who would welcome a fresh start.”

A chiming sound ended their deep discussion, and for the next while, a parade of women of varying styles and personalities came through, but the one thing they all had in common, make that two things they had in common, was they were all plump—nothing smaller than a size twelve, it seemed—and they all adored their husbands. All, that is, except for one woman who arrived late.

She kept to herself, and when Diana tried to introduce herself, the pinched-faced woman said she had no interest in making friends with someone who had caved to the male doctrine.

Someone had her panties in a twist, and Diana frankly found her too depressing to make an attempt to find out why.

Although she wished later that she had.

A subdued Lisa came knocking the next day.

“What’s wrong?” asked Diana, ushering her ashen-faced friend in.

“You remember Claire?”

Diana thought back to the luncheon and remembered the sallow-faced woman who had made disparaging comments about everything, it seemed.

“Yeah, what about her?”

“She killed her mate, then killed herself!”

“What?” Diana sat down, shocked. “But how? Why?”

“She’s been here almost a year and has made it quite plain she wasn’t happy about it.

Rumor is she found out she was pregnant and lost it. She took a dagger to her husband when he came home and then drove it into her stomach.”

“I don’t understand,” said an ashen Diana. “The way Kor explained mating to me, the spirits find soul mates, people who should be compatible in every way.”

“And they might have been,” said Lisa, shaking her head sadly, “had Claire allowed herself to get past the fact that he was an alien and that he kidnapped and forced her into marriage.”

Diana could understand Claire’s turmoil, having fought against that very aspect herself in the beginning.

“Didn’t anyone try to help her?”

Lisa shrugged. “I’m not sure. I didn’t know her that well. For all her talk about hating aliens, she kept a lot to herself . I think she only showed up to the teas because her husband made her.”

“Does that type of thing happen a lot?”

“What, you mean the killing thing?”

“That and the fact that some of the chosen mates aren’t happy.”

56

“The murder-suicide cases are few from what I understand. Unhappy mates aren’t too common, too, but they do exist. I do know, in some cases, that it takes a bit longer for them to adapt and accept their situation before they find happiness. Sometimes the birth of the first child is the catalyst.”

“There’s got to be something better we can do. I mean, I know this whole scenario is kind of freaky, especially for us modern gals form Earth, but still I have to say I’m glad Kor found me.”

“And I love my Rory. But I know what you mean. I wish we could do something extra to make it easier for the girls. But what?”

What indeed? Diana felt the gears in her mind turning. There had to be something they could do.

* * * *

When Kor came home for dinner, Diana threw herself on him and clung to him desperately. He hugged her tightly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with concern. “Did Kil come back?”

Diana shook her head against him, then, her voice breaking, told him, “Claire killed her mate and herself. She was pregnant, Kor. How could she do that? I know she was unhappy, but why?”

Kor said nothing, just scooped Diana up and carried her to their living room area, where he sat down with her cuddled on his lap. Diana shook in his arms and cried. She couldn’t have even said why. She barely knew Claire. She obviously didn’t feel the same way about her marriage as Claire had. But Diana cried anyway. Cried for the loss of the life she knew, cried for the loss of the child who wasn’t wanted, cried because she loved her husband, but he would never say the words back because his culture didn’t have a word to say love.

And Kor, understanding her need to release, it seemed, just held her. He said not a word as he stroked her hair and kissed her temple. He wrapped himself around her, giving her the shoulder she needed, and when she’d finally cried all her tears, Diana felt both relieved and embarrassed.

“Sorry,” she mumbled against his neck. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Death is always a shock,” Kor said. “Even with strangers, the sudden ending of life, especially in such a horrific way, can be threatening, even frightening. It reminds us of our own mortality.”

“And the what-ifs,” said Diana unhappily.

“In this case, there are no what-ifs, Diana,” he said, tilting up her tear-streaked face.

“You met this woman once. If anyone should have done something, it was her mate. He must have noticed her unhappiness, but instead of addressing the issue, he chose to ignore it.

As did the rest of his family.”

“But there was no help for her,” said Diana. “Not really. Claire wanted to go home. She hated her life and husband. How many other women out there feel the same way?”

“You cannot save the world,” said Kor. “And it’s not our problem. We are happy, and that’s all that matters.”

They made love, or—as Kor liked to say—mated. And when she lay beside him after, her body cooling from the intensity, Diana reran their conversation in her mind.

But I want it to be my problem because, even if I’m happy, don’t I owe it to others, women like me
who’ve had so much change in their lives? I’m not asking to save the world. Just help prevent tragedy. I need
to do something. I can’t wait for this to happen again.

57

Diana rubbed her tummy and smiled as she pictured what grew inside. Her visit to the doctor with Lisa had confirmed it.
I’m pregnant
. Diana almost giggled as she pictured the headline back home, boldly displayed in a newspaper tattle.
Woman Gives Birth to Blue Alien
Baby.

The physician who’d examined her had been unable to confirm the sex yet—that would have to wait a few more weeks—but the baby so far seemed healthy with a strong, rapid heartbeat, and Diana herself felt great. She couldn’t wait to see Kor’s face when she told him. She’d even set the romantic scene for her announcement. She’d picked flowers from her garden, not too many because her garden still was in the baby growth phase, but enough for some color. Then she perused her electronic cookbook looking for dishes that Kor’s mother had mentioned were his favorites so she could order them with her built-in culinary chef. And finally Diana dressed in a soft pink veil gown, a color he said made her skin look rosy and edible, something he seemed to delight in.

She hadn’t found candles, though. This planet had abolished them long ago as too much of a fire hazard, so Diana had to content herself with dimming the lights instead and playing some soft instrumental music she’d discovered when listening to some music with Lisa.

Standing back to survey her work, she clasped her hands together, pleased.
Now if he’d
only hurry up and get home so I can tell him. Heck, maybe we’ll skip dinner and go straight to dessert.

When the doorbell rang, Diana wondered who it was and skipped to the door to answer, eager to get rid of them because Kor would be home soon. A quick peek at the security screen showed Kor’s mother, her face tear-streaked, on the steps.

Diana felt an icy chill descend over her as she slid the door open. “What’s wrong?” she asked woodenly.

“It’s Kor. He’s . . . he’s . . . There’s been an accident,” stuttered Ele’Anor. “He and six others were caught in a cave-in trying to rescue some miners. Their communicators aren’t responding, and they can’t locate them with the thermal scanner.” Kor’s mother broke down crying, the tears flowing copiously while her shoulders shook.

“No,” said Diana, backing up. “He’s not dead. He can’t be. I made him dinner,” she said inanely.

Ele’Anor’s devastated face denied Diana’s certainty.

“No,” Diana whispered. Then more loudly, she cried, “No. No.
No!
” Diana screamed the last part. She needed to get out of there to go find him.
I need to show them how wrong they
are.

Ele’Anor’s face turned even more ashen as she stared at something over Diana’s shoulder. Diana pivoted and stopped, frozen, the flickering images on the video screen drawing her attention. Morbidly riveted, she could not turn away as she watched the video showing Kor and his men entering the caves. She jerked when she saw the mountain quiver and a billow of smoke come rushing out of the cave entrance. Heart leaden, she stared woodenly at the images of the men they flashed on the screen, those who had entered and gotten trapped and who were now presumed dead. When they flashed Kor’s face staring at her from the screen, she fainted.

Diana dreamed. In her dream, the doorbell rang, and when she answered, it was Kor, his arms full of flowers, his beautiful blue face smiling. Arms full of blooms, she dreamt she told him about the baby, their baby, and he swung her around joyfully. Laying her down on a fragrant bed of flowers, he made love to her, gently. And when they both climaxed, he looked her in the eyes, his laden with such sadness, and said good-bye.

58

Diana awoke screaming, her life now a living nightmare.

A parade of people—alien and human—streamed from her home, trying to comfort her.

But Diana walked about in a daze. She refused to believe what they all seemed so certain of.

How dare they presume he’s dead?
He can’t be dead. I’d know if he were. I’d feel it.

Diana rubbed her lightly swelling abdomen and knew with a certainty that had no rhyme or reason that Kor lived. But she also felt sure that this was no accident. And she knew who had to be responsible.

When the crowds finally dispersed to leave the widow alone to grieve, he finally showed up as Diana had known he would. She, of course, did not answer the door—she wasn’t that stupid—but something like an electronically locked door didn’t stop him.

Using thieving methods, he came into her home and found her in the kitchen area brandishing a knife.

“You killed him,” Diana spat, not yet revealing the truth that she knew he’d failed, even if Kor still remained missing. She just needed to be strong long enough for him to make his way back to her.

“Kill my own dear brother?” Kil mocked her, his blank eyes wide and hands raised.

“How could you say that? After all, we’re family.” He shook his head at her, then fixed her with a predatory glare. “It’s a tragedy, but never fear,
sister
. I have come to reassure you that you and the baby have nothing to fear.”

Diana stumbled back from him, her grip on the knife slick with sweat. Her heart thumped faster than a rabbit’s in the raptor’s sight. “How-How do you know about the baby? Kor didn’t even know yet.”

“I know everything about you.” He sneered. “Computers are a wonderful thing, especially when you can manipulate them to give you the information you seek. You have no secrets, Diana St. Peters, formerly of Earth. I even know how you scream when my brother ruts with you.”

“You’ve been watching us?” she whispered. Diana felt ill with the knowledge that her tender moments with Kor had been witnessed by someone so foul. It made her feel dirty.

“I quite enjoyed the show, but I’ll enjoy even more being the starring actor. You see, I shall take my dear brother’s place as your husband, a comfort to you, I’m sure, in this confusing time. And no one, not my father nor the Oracle, can gainsay me, for you see, it’s the law.”

“You lie,” said Diana, fear clutching her at the certainty in his tone.

“Why would I lie? I’ve planned this moment since I heard of my brother’s choice. I have to say the fact you are already with child is unplanned for, but a baby will be very useful, I think, in ensuring your good behavior.”

“Never,” Diana snarled, suddenly angered at the implied violence toward her still-unborn child. “I’d rather wed a snake. Get out of here. I don’t need or want you.”

“That’s not your decision. As head of the family now, it is my duty to ensure you’re cared for. After a suitable mourning period, you will become my mate. You won’t have a choice. It’s the law.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Females are much too rare still to allow them to remain unattached and roaming. So the law states that females, once they reach the age of bonding, with the exception of a mourning period of three moon cycles, must bond with a male deemed suitable by the head of her family.”

“No.” Diana shook her head. “I’ll marry someone else if I have to.”

59

“As head of your family, I decide who you marry. So get used to the idea. Oh, and don’t even think of running, or I’ll really make it hurt.”

Kil left her with ice running through her veins and a choking fear in her heart. How could she escape? There had to be someone who could help her. Someone who could bend the law. But who?

60

Diana didn’t even register the splendor of the Oracle’s palace, too intent on her mission, a purpose that the acolyte in front of her was impeding.

“I want to speak to the Oracle,” said Diana, tapping a foot impatiently. “Now.”