Shalia's Diary Book 6 (7 page)

“Shalia, wake up.”

My eyes flew open to find both Oses and Betra leaning over me. I was startled to find myself in my bed ... and human.

“That must have been a bad one,” Betra said, his gaze worried. “You sounded like you were right on the brink of a fight.”

More like the end of one, and I was winning
, I thought. I actually felt irritable that I wasn’t going to get to finish the dream and taste the victory that had been within my grasp.

“I’m fine,” I grumbled. “Go back to sleep.”

Oses glared at me. “You sounded as Nobek as any man I’ve ever heard, growling and snarling. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I glared back. “I’m fine. I was dreaming about being in a fight and I had ‘em beat. You would have loved it, big man. It was a total rout. I was bad-ass to the max.”

That made the weapons commander grin. “I’m sorry we woke you then. I love dreams like that.”

My pique with the pair vanished. “I bet you do. I wish I always felt that unstoppable.”

Betra snickered, shook his head, and lay back down. “Maybe you can get back into it then, warrior woman.”

I went back to sleep fairly quickly, but I did not get to have the dream again. I guess I’ll never know what those poor, doomed Barinem were trying to protect. It occurred to me that they must have been protecting something from me and my warrior fellows. Otherwise, they would have run from what was certain death instead of meeting it head on. They’re known as a peaceful species, fighting only when it is absolutely necessary.

Boy, that dream was so real and invigorating. I’d rather not see myself as a heartless killer, but I wish I could have finished it nonetheless.

May 15

I heard back from Clan Aslada, the number 2 potential lifemates on my list. Not a bad bunch of guys.

Dramok Aslada, he of the dark and brooding looks, is not quite so dark and brooding when he smiles. That was nice to see. He stood in the middle of his clan in the vid transmission and bowed when I started the playback.

“Greetings, Matara Shalia. I am Aslada, governor of the Eporu continent’s Western Seaboard Territory. I was delighted to receive your com telling my clan we meet your preliminary expectations for clanmates.”

A little formal, but his tone was friendly enough. Dramok Seot had been somewhat formal in his introduction too. It was only lately that I’d begun to see some of his and Nobek Larten’s true personalities. Cifa had been an open book right from the start.

Aslada continued. “You of course will remember my Nobek, Jaon.”

Big intense chunk of masculinity bowed in turn. “Greetings, Matara. I am looking forward to meeting you in person. Thank you for considering us.”

Short and sweet ... well, as sweet as a man could be who looks like he’d be happiest ripping bad guys limb from limb. I wonder what this guy does to relax? Punching Tragooms comes to mind. Well, one thing about it; no one will dare mess with me if this guy ends up being my Nobek. I do enjoy those dangerous-looking fellows a little more than I should.

Aslada introduced the third man. “My Imdiko, Meyso.”

The curly-haired bit of gorgeous took his turn bowing. His smile was warm, and I had to return it even though I knew full well I beamed at a recording. “Hello, Matara Shalia. I am delighted to have heard from you.”

Aslada smiled winningly ... maybe a bit too winningly. It reminded me that he was a politician. I told myself that maybe Kalquorian politicians were probably a far cry from Earther ones. I can’t hold it against the man.

“Thank you so much for telling us more about yourself. It’s wonderful that you’ve decided to get to know us better before you reach our planet and that you have also shared some of your concerns. We have already sent a message to your parents, Clan Bitev. We sent another to their Matara, Joelle, as you requested. Your Nobek father is more than welcome to check our backgrounds so that he is reassured his daughter is courted by a worthwhile clan of rank.”

Okay. So far so good. The more Aslada spoke of personal matters, the less he sounded like he was trying to win an election. I saw a little of the commanding but likable personality behind the effort to make a good impression.

Nobek Jaon spoke up. “I have taken the additional step of sending Nobek Rak the records from my military service as well as my current position as a Convict Reclamations officer. I want him to know his daughter will be well protected as a member of my clan, should you decide to make us your lifemates.”

Okay, big points for that. Although I could hardly imagine anyone doubting Jaon’s ability to keep people safe. That man is made of intimidation. Me being me, I started to get turned on just by looking at the brute. Then the hormones kicked in, and I was flat-out horny.

Imdiko Meyso took his turn. “I have requested your mother’s scans and records from the ship’s doctor, as well as the team that took care of her on Earth. I believe your Imdiko father Nayun was part of that group? I sent a request directly to him, in case he is able to facilitate records transfer. If you are agreeable, I will put a plan of treatment in place for Matara Eve to be enacted as soon as you arrive on Kalquor.”

Well, damn. Having a brain surgeon as a suitor was turning out to be handy. My dads would have to let me know how good Meyso was at his job. Do I dare hope?

Aslada finished up winning my goodwill by reassuring me, “Of course your mother is welcome to live in our home. We Kalquorians revere our mothers, and it speaks well of you that you do the same despite the difficulties yours has faced.”

I felt a little bad about that. I can hardly say I ‘revere’ my mom, though I certainly love her. I probably come up plenty short as a daughter.

They didn’t forget the most important thing to me either. “We are excited at the prospect of being fathers to your child, Matara. Until your people started immigrating to the Empire, we had despaired of ever having that chance.”

Now the three men were all smiling, real smiles. Even Jaon looked thrilled at the hope. I’ll admit, my heart melted a little to see those big tough guys appearing enthralled with the idea of being daddies. It’s amazing when I’m confronted with Kalquorian bruisers who think fatherhood is the best thing in the universe. My dads, Clan Seot, and now Clan Aslada ... I can see how much it means to them. They wear their need for children on their sleeves.

I didn’t think Clan Seot could have any real competition. I don’t know though ... Aslada, Meyso, and Jaon are making a pretty good first try. We’ll have to see how our continued communications pan out.

May 16

Oh my gosh, I’m still shaking. I can’t believe what just happened.

It all started when Katrina showed up at my door early this afternoon, along with Ama and Mihi. “Candy won’t come out of her quarters. She won’t talk to me, and she’s not spoken to these guys in three days.”

I blinked in surprise at the rush of words. Okay, so Candy had been distant and moody lately. I thought she still felt bad about erupting at Katrina over color schemes for the club several days back. They had made up with much apologizing and tears, just as I’d suspected they would. I thought everything was all right. I was so wrong about that.

“Did you have another fight? Or did she get in an argument with you two?” I asked the men.

Mihi’s scarred face was thunderous but worried, as was Ama’s. I’ve noticed that Nobeks don’t deal well with emotional upheaval, so they tend to duck behind their tempers. God love those macho beasts.

Ama said, “The last time we saw her, she was perhaps quieter than usual, but still pleasant. Still ... um, amorous. She seemed pleased with our company.” He reddened, obviously in discomfort over discussing the intimate nature of his last Candy encounter.

Mihi added, “We had no indication we had disappointed her in any way. Yet our coms have gone unanswered. She didn’t show up for our regular date yesterday, and when we came to visit her today, she told us to go away. We can’t get any explanation out of her.”

“Things haven’t been quite right between me and Candy since we had that disagreement,” Katrina said. Her eyes got bright suddenly, and she blinked hard before continuing. “Maybe she’ll talk to you, Shalia?”

“Sure,” I said, sliding a pair of shoes on that I kept by my door. I couldn’t help but give myself a quick check in the nearby mirror. I wore a long-sleeved dress that flowed nicely over my baby bump. I looked good enough for public consumption, I decided. “Let’s go see what’s up with Ms. Moody Pants.”

I led the way ... all of about two dozen steps since Candy’s rooms weren’t far from mine. I pressed her door announce. “Candy, it’s Shalia. Can I come in?”

A few seconds later a voice answered. “Are you alone?”

The tone was so the opposite of Candy’s usual bubbly sound that for a moment, I thought it wasn’t her. I even doublechecked to make sure I was at the right door. “Candy? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Come in.”

The door slid open. Since I’d never told her I was by myself and she hadn’t said they couldn’t come, Katrina and the Nobeks entered with me.

The room was dim. I could see well enough to gape at Candy, who sat on her lounger. My first thought was that she was really sick.

Her eyes were hollowed pits, the circles beneath them damned near black. Her pretty blond hair had obviously not been brushed since she woke this morning. She’d also not bothered with makeup ... not that Candy ever really needs to wear it, but she prefers to be put together.

Her clothing was odd too. I hadn’t seen her in pants since we’d boarded the transport back on Earth. She always wears some cute, flouncy skirt. Yet today she wore loose-fitting pants, heavy boots, and a concealing tunic. The weirdest thing about her ensemble were the work gloves on her hands ... the big, insulating kind that someone dealing with electrical panels or machinery might wear for protection.

She stood and glared at Katrina, Ama, and Mihi. “Why are they here? I thought you would come alone.”

“They’re worried about you.” I couldn’t disguise my confused concern. “I can see why. You’re scaring me. Candy, what is with you? What’s going on?”

She stared at me, looking me up and down. “I see the time is still not right. You can go now.”

Before I could respond that I wasn’t going anywhere until she told me what the hell was wrong, Ama stepped forward. He looked angry. “No one is going anywhere until you tell us what is happening. This is not the woman I have come to know.”

Mihi was quick to take up the protest, coming to Ama’s side. “You are acting strangely, Candy. Explain yourself.”

Her laugh was a hollow bark, nothing like I’d ever heard come from Candy’s mouth before. “Explain myself? To the likes of you primitive savages, animals that are best suited to be kept on leashes? Get out of my way.”

With that astonishing statement, Candy marched up to the two men. She shoved them aside.

When I say she shoved them aside, I don’t mean she strained to squeeze between them. No, she actually thrust those two hulks apart with such force that they both went staggering. Candy couldn’t have been half the weight of either man, and yet she damned near tossed them both across the room. Impossible, and yet I saw it with my own eyes.

Katrina and I were so astonished that we stayed frozen in place as Candy stalked past us to leave her quarters. We watched her go, our mouths hanging open. My eyes felt as ready to pop out of my head as Katrina’s looked to be.

We didn’t move to go after Candy until the two Nobeks recovered from their near-falls and amazement. When Mihi and Ama went running out of the quarters after Candy, our paralysis finally snapped. We raced out behind the Kalquorians to find them trotting up and down the hall, calling Candy’s name. She was nowhere to be found.

I wasted no time in comming Oses and Betra when we couldn’t find Candy. I won’t pretend that I’m not happy my Nobek lover is on leave from his duties as weapons commander. Otherwise, he’d probably would have had to send an underling to deal with the matter. After all, on the surface Candy’s actions boiled down to nothing more than a really grouchy woman storming off on her friends and lovers.