Bait (5 page)

Her soon-to-be mother-in-law walked back to the skimmer with her, and Billie was having a hard time being polite. Instead, she opted for amused. “You tried to cure him of his attraction to me?”

“Three years. We tried everything, but in the end, nothing would do but to have you at his side and in his bed.”

Billie sat to one side and contemplated the fifteen methods in which she could incapacitate Aciel at that moment.

The com in the skimmer beeped, and when she answered it, Aciel was surprised.

“Stop taunting her, Mother. You are irritating her, and she is not one to hold onto her temper past a certain point.” Arcros’s voice was amused and a little wary.

“What are you talking about, how can you know what I am saying to her?”

“We are linked mates, Mother. I can get hints of her rage from here. Talk about the weather. It will be a much safer topic, or ask her about herself. That might distract her from contemplating smashing your head into the console.” Arcros chuckled, “Have a good day, Billie, and remember she is my mother. We need her alive.”

Billie grinned. “Of course, Captain Dlenner. I will return her breathing, as ordered.”

“Thank you, Officer Praco.”

He disconnected with a click, leaving Billie with a nervous Aciel.

Billie sighed, “No woman wants to hear that her soon-to-be in-laws tried to cure her prospective mate. Now, I still don’t believe that he is going to go through with it, but I am willing to suspend disbelief for the moment and go along with you.”

Aciel nodded. “I do understand. Were you really contemplating harming me?”

“Well, I was checking off techniques to silence you in an effort to calm myself. We all fall back on our original training, I suppose. What did you do before bonding to Arcros’s father?”

“I am a physician. The herbs on Chysan have many differing properties, and I was sure that one of them would be a cure for rut. It wasn’t you that I was trying to break him of, per se. Simply freeing our males from the locked-in reactions that come along with their mating urges is a pursuit that many physicians have engaged in.”

“It sounds like a great goal. Our physicians only got a grip on female reproduction in the last century. We are still pretty new at this.” Billie smiled brightly.

“You are from a young species?”

“Very young. We made it into space less than five decades ago and would never have gotten to the stars this early without the intervention of the Alliance.”

Aciel pulled the skimmer to one side outside a gorgeous temple surrounded by mint and lavender grass. “Why did they choose to invite your species?”

Billie laughed lightly as she exited the skimmer. “Races have been using ours as slaves, breeding stock and experimental subjects for thousands of years. The Dhemons and Enjel carried out part of their war on our world; The Admaryn almost killed all of us because some of theirs were muddying their genetic waters. We are a popular species, and we became more so when our Champions were tapped.”

Aciel paused, “You are in your first generation off your world, and you already have a Champion?”

“Five of them, a Seeker, Archivist, Hunter, Reader and a Negotiator.” Billie walked up the pathway past a stunned Aciel.

She turned when she realized the older woman was not moving. “Is something wrong?”

Aciel shook herself and straightened with a smile. “No, nothing is wrong. I am just beginning to think that my son is far more intelligent than I gave him credit for.”

Billie snickered as Aciel came even with her, “Considering that you thought he had flung himself away on a worthless tart, this must be a bit of a relief.”

“I never thought you were a tart, Wilhelmina.”

“Billie, please. Wilhelmina was my grandmother.”

“Billie then. We are meeting with the Matchmaker, and she will give confirmation or denial of your link.” Aciel smiled and inclined her head with respect.

Billie straightened in her best formal Enforcer pose and inclined her head, “Let’s get this over with then.”

Chapter Seven

The interior of the space was cool, bright and had tables set along all the walls leaving the centre clear. A woman in the robes of the Citadel stood and waited calmly for them to enter.

The Matchmaker was wearing a hood that obscured her face, but there was something familiar in her stance. It was the stance of an Enforcer, and as far as Billie knew, there was only one Enforcer who had ever turned Matchmaker.

“Gwen Steryio?”

The Matchmaker casually dropped her hood. “It is Gwen Mathijen of Raxos now, but hello, Billie. Good to see you again.”

The women cried out and hugged tightly. Billie’s heart swelled. It was so good to see another Terran, and to have one who used to be an Enforcer was like a dream come true.

Billie paused and held Gwen at arm’s length. “Are you a dream?”

“No, Billie, you are not dreaming. This is very real, and you are about to go through a bonding ceremony here on Chysan.” Gwen’s features were sober, and she took Billie by the arm, guiding her to a table that was hosting a tea service.

Aciel trailed after them, confused. “You are of the same species as Billie?”

Gwen inclined her head to the older woman. “I am.”

“But you are wed to the Alpha of the Raxos colony.”

“And Billie is about to be wed to the Clan Chief of Chysan. There is little difference, madam. We came from the same world and appeal to the Oefric. We are not the first nor will we be the last. The Oefric are returning to the Alliance, and they are seeking mates of an adaptable species. The Terrans qualify.”

Aciel sat heavily and looked as if she had just been told that there was no Santa Claus.

Billie smiled as Gwen turned back to her. “It takes them some time to adjust. Now, hold still for a moment, and I will just verify something.”

Gwen’s mental touch was light and left Billie feeling that her mind had been brushed with mint. When she figured it out, she giggled, “Really? Mental floss?”

Gwen grinned, “It took me a while to learn how to do that. Don’t insult my talents.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now what?”

“Pour yourself some tea, this will take a moment.” Gwen closed her eyes and concentrated.

Shrugging, Billie poured a cup for Aciel and herself, then Gwen.

They sipped at the brew and Aciel asked quietly, “Have you known her long?”

“We left our world on the same transport, went through basic training together and finally both were assigned to the Enforcers.”

“But she is a Matchmaker.”

“Well, she is now, but years ago her talent hadn’t bloomed. It apparently is common in my species. Traces were identified in the Volunteers, but the exact nature of the psychic talent that had not yet manifested was not known. I am a communicator of sorts, but there is no discernible detail on it.”

Aciel rubbed her forehead. “I see. I had no idea.”

Gwen straightened and fumbled for her teacup. “Thanks for this. Well, good news, you are a perfect match for Captain Dlenner.”

Billie had to ask, “What is the bad news?”

“I won’t be here for the wedding. Etien’s mom is looking after our daughter, and we have to be getting home.” Gwen smiled.

“You have a daughter?” Aciel seemed impressed.

Billie recalled that the Oefric birthrate was skewed toward the male gender.

“One born and one on the way. I am barely able to hold my own child. Etien’s family dotes on her.” Gwen patted the front of her robes where the folds hid all visible signs.

“You could hide a howitzer in those, couldn’t you? Congratulations.” Billie grinned.

“The robes have their advantages.” Gwen giggled and looked to Aciel. “Don’t worry, if a man is attracted to a Terran, the chance of daughters goes up dramatically.”

“Thank you, Matchmaker, it is a relief. I have five sons, and to have a girl in the family would be a blessing.” The relief and sudden friendliness was all over Aciel’s face.

Billie blinked when it came to her that Aciel’s main objection, aside from her being an alien, was the uncertainty of the gender of the offspring. To know that the chances for a girl were dramatically increased seemed to have set her at ease.

Billie, however, was taking a bit of a breather as she realized that if they were talking about babies, she might be a little more stuck than she wanted to be. Her tension caused her to hyperventilate, and for the first time in her life, she came near to fainting because of something someone said.

“Calm down, Billie. The child isn’t going to rip out of you sci-fi style. It will come in its own time. If you aren’t up for being a full-time mom, I am sure that Aciel will be happy to help.”

Aciel sat up eagerly. “I would be only too happy to help you with any childcare needs. It has been decades since my boys were little ones, but I still have the prams and beds.”

Billie leaned down, and put her head between her knees. “I am not into the reproducing frame of mind.”

Gwen rubbed Billie’s back. “Then you just relax and wait until after the bonding ceremony. No sense in worrying about something until you are bonded. Also, be aware that the Oefric men are hands-on fathers. Etien held little Eva for hours after she made her arrival. No problem with the midnight feedings either. Half the time, I would wake up and she would be attached to me without me waking up. Never neglect the Oefric sense of hearing and scent. They change diapers out of sheer desperation.”

Billie barked a laugh and slowly sat up.

Aciel was watching her with concern. “Are you all right, Billie?”

“I will be fine. I just need to adjust to my reality. Do you mind if I walk the grounds a bit?”

“No, of course not. I will be discussing the details with the Matchmaker.” Aciel was all helpfulness.

Billie got to her feet and walked out the door onto the expansive lawn. The fliers lazily passed overhead, and she looked up, sending out a question with her mind.
Is this the right thing to do?

The five fliers slowed and circled the field she was walking through. They spiralled toward her with slow, lazy movements.

Images came to her of Billie standing next to Arcros, taking his hands in hers. From there, they flashed to Arcros and Billie standing back to back while a brawl swirled around them. The next image was of Billie with a swollen belly and Arcros rubbing her back, the final image was of her smiling down at the bundle in her arms and there was definite love on her face.

She blinked, and the wings of the fliers pushed air against her face. They hovered around her, giant feathery butterflies with long tails.

“Thank you. That was what I needed to know.” She followed it with a mental warmth of thanks, and the fliers took to the skies once again.

Billie breathed deeply of the clear air of Chysan before she turned to re-join the others.

Gwen and Aciel were in the doorway, mouths open in surprise.

“Billie, what were you doing?”

“Asking the fliers a question. They gave me an answer I can look forward to, so it will be easier for me not to panic now.”

Aciel looked positively pale. “You asked them a question?”

“Sure. Just ask Arcros, I talk to everything, but I rarely get an answer. In this case, they replied right away. They are very friendly and just happy that someone is here to listen.”

Aciel looked faint. “I see. Well, that is something extraordinary.”

Gwen grinned, “Isn’t it just.”

Chapter Eight

The Dlenner family home was large, well appointed and full of curious relatives.

The Mathijens joined them for dinner, and it was their last meal on Chysan before they had to return to Raxos.

Etien Mathijen had been one of the men that Arcros had been speaking to in the morning.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Billie.”

“And you, Etien. It takes a man with patience and will to manage not only an Enforcer, but a Matchmaker as well.”

“I pride myself on being serene, but every now and then, my composure cracks and hand-to-hand combat ensues. I will confess to enjoying the inevitable victory and her very pleasant surrender.”

Billie blushed as his heavy-lidded gaze was directed to his wife on the other side of the table.

Billie and Arcros were separated by his brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. There was no chance of a quiet moment alone, but when their gazes met across the table, she felt the heat of his touch start in her mind and creep down under her shirt.

Her shivers started and kept going throughout course after course of food. Her dining companion looked at her sympathetically and smiled. “The first days of the mental connection can be the worst.”

“So I have been given to understand. When the herbs wear off, it should fade, or so I am told.”

Etien smiled, “For some it fades, for others, it grows stronger. It depends on the structure of your mind. The Oefric are not commonly telepathic, but since I bonded to Gwen, it is something I cannot escape.”