The Swords of Gregara - Jenala, a sci-fi romance (7 page)

“He’s not here,” whispered Jenala.

“I know.
 
He must be at the house doing the same thing that we are.
 
We’ll know soon if he tries to break in to the house, we’ll be able to hear the alarm down here.
 
And,“
 
Santro chuckled, “without the proper ear protection,
 
Zlaten and any of his men that are with him, will be deaf for the next two days.”

No sooner had he said it than a piercing whistle echoed throughout the valley.
 
“Time for us to leave.
 
Here, put these in your ears until we get home and can turn the alarm off.”
 
He handed her a set of ear plugs from out of his pocket.
 

Home.
 
He really did think of it as home.
 
After only two weeks, the dome house had become home or was it Jenala who made it feel like home.
 
He wasn’t supposed to fall for his partner, he kept telling himself that.
 
But he was, fast.
 
It started when he first had her in his arms back in Rucem.
 
Carrying her to the nupenian and again at breakfast the next morning.
 
Every time he touched her the recognition was there.
 
The electricity.
 
Every time he fell deeper under her spell.

He felt things he’d never allowed himself before.
 
He wanted a home and all that came with it.
 
Children and most of all, a wife.
 
Jenala as a wife, his wife.
 
Had she been a member of his tribe he would have claimed her during the claiming ceremony.
 
But she wasn’t.
 
She was free to participate in the ceremony if she wanted, or to remain free.
 
Suddenly, he needed to know.
 
Would she participate in the rite of claiming?
 
Would she consider his claiming of her or was marriage the only option?
 
Or perhaps neither, perhaps she wanted no liaisons with anyone.

Unfortunately for him, they needed to remain quiet on the trek back to the house.
 
After they got back and assured themselves that all was well, he would broach the subject.

All was not well.
 
When they returned to the house, they saw the dome had blaster marks on it.
 
It had not been breached but was damaged and weakened.
 
Lottie’s barn had not fared as well.
 
The blasters had taken out some of the supports and the roof had collapsed inward.
 
They ran inside the house and Santro shut off the alarm.
 
He touched her arm then took out his ear plugs.
 
Jenala followed suit.

“They covered their tracks well.
 
Do you suppose they were searching for the mine entrance or for us?” asked Jenala.

“My guess would be for the mine entrance.
 
As dishonorable as Zlaten is, I don’t believe he would try to use a blaster to kill us.
 
Seeing as blasters are illegal here, I’m surprised he would have one.
 
Though I don’t suppose I should be.
 
We both have kalcion swords made by the Nerutas.
 
He has seen both of us in action and knows that blasters would be useless against us given our skill.”

“True.
 
Too bad Lottie wasn’t home.
 
She would have protected her barn from them.
 
I guess our work tomorrow will be to repair or rebuild the barn,” she said.
 
“I’ll have to assess it in the daylight.
 
Perhaps it’s not as bad as it looks in the dark.”

It was worse.
 
Only three of the support beams for the roof were intact.
 
Two in the front and one in the back of the building kept the roof from total collapse.
 
They would have to try and salvage what they could, but if they were to repair it completely, they would have to go to town and get more wood.

“That was his plan.
 
He’d get us away from the house and he can search it at his leisure.
 
No quick raids in the dark, but a thorough, systematic search for the mine.
 
How long has he been in the valley?”

“My father was killed six months ago.
 
He’s been camping in the valley almost ever since.
  
I keep wondering what he’s waiting for.
 
He stays away because of Lottie, but in town, he caught me by surprise in that alley.
 
Caught me without Lottie.”

Santro thought about it for a moment.
 
“He’s been searching the valley for the mine.
 
It never occurred to him until he could find it nowhere else that the mine entrance might be in one of the buildings on this bluff.
 
Obviously, he started with Lottie’s barn and then tried the house.
 
Might have made it in, had it not been for the alarm he triggered.”

“But he didn’t.
 
Thank you for that.”

“That’s what I’m here for.
 
To help you in any way I can.”

“I thought you only wanted to kill Zlaten.”

He looked at her hard.
 
“My priorities have changed.”

“Oh.”
 
She looked at her feet.
 
“I see.”

“No, I don’t think you do.
 
I want you Jenala,” he closed the gap between them.
 
“I know that my appearance is not repugnant to you.
 
I would claim you if that is your preference.”

“You would.”
 
Jenala didn’t know whether to be flattered or pissed off.
 
“Just so you can have sex with me?”

“Yes.
 
No.
 
It is not only to have sex with you.
 
I have never wanted anyone the way I want you.”

“Santro.
 
I am not for claiming.
 
I will marry, as my parents did or nothing.
 
There is no claiming.
 
We have a long winter ahead.
 
If this is a problem for you, then perhaps you should leave now.”

Santro backed up a step.
 
“I am not leaving.
 
I accept your proposal.”

“You what?
 
You accept my…my what?”

“Your proposal of marriage.
 
I accept.”

“You’re crazy.
 
I didn’t propose.”

“Ah, but you did.
 
You said you will marry or nothing.
 
Since I’m not leaving and you won’t be claimed, marrying is the only solution which you proposed.
 
Therefore, we will marry.”

“No, we won’t.”

“Jenala,” he said, taking her hands in his.
 
“We would be very good together.
 
We have common interests and goals.
 
You know that I’m not marrying you for your mine, I’m a very wealthy man.
 
You don’t find my scar or lack of eye off putting and I find your use of a sword very attractive indeed.
 
Actually, I admire you very much.”

She was taken aback.
 
He wanted her, not her mine.
 
He admired her.
 
Didn’t think her odd for taking on a man’s work or learning a man’s skill.
 
And she was very attracted to him, but marry him?

“I’m flattered but—“ she tried to pull her hands away from his.
 
She couldn’t think straight, when he was touching her like this.
 
She hadn’t felt this way when he changed her bandages.
 
Was that because all she could feel then was pain?
 
But now, there were no bandages, the pain was gone and he was touching her.
 
His thumb worried small circles into her palm.
 
Around and around.
 
Her breath rose and fell with each tiny revolution.
 
There was a stirring in her core.
 
Attraction.
 
Sexual attraction.
 
It ran through her like fire from the little circles on her palms to the moisture she now felt between her legs.
 
Krios!

“Don’t say no yet.
 
As you said, we have all winter.”
 
He raised his hand to her cheek and gently caressed it.

“I can’t…” she resisted.

“You can,” he moved in closer, his breath, sweet and clean on her lips.

“But,”

“No buts,” his lips met hers, quashing any arguments she had.
 

All thought flew from her mind and the only thing she wanted was to get closer.
 
She wrapped her arms around his neck, then he broke the kiss.

“My sweet, Jenala.
 
You tempt me woman.
 
You will say, yes, eventually.
 
I can wait.”
 
He walked to his room and shut the door behind him.