Valan's Bondmate (20 page)

"Yes. They were happy the gods had chosen you for each other. They looked forward to welcoming you into the family."

Before he could continue, the bands on his arms quietly chimed, alerting him that Lia had left the house. He grinned at Cam. Rising, he said, "I need your help in the transfer room."

"Why?"

"Lia's trying to escape."

"What?"

"She's been planning it for cycles."

"If the Council finds out about this there will be hell to pay. You know how they feel about anyone transferring to Zarronia without going through the transfer station."

"If they ask, I'll tell them I lost control and couldn't stay away from her any longer."

Cam laughed and followed him to the transfer room. Valan ordered the warrior on duty to step into the corridor, and then Cam sat at the control panel and Valan stepped onto the transfer plate.

"Put me down as close to my house as you can. But, this time try to miss the fountain."

Cam laughed. "Didn’t you enjoy the bath the last time we did this?"

Valan made a rude gesture then disappeared.

Lia hurried down the path towards the gate and freedom. Behind her the house remained silent and dark. Reaching the gate, she lifted the latch, grimacing when it made a screeching sound.

"Going somewhere, little cat?"

Startled, she screamed and spun around. He stood on the path behind her, so close she could smell his scent. Terrified, she threw the bag at him and ran into the deep shadows of the garden. Desperately, she darted behind a tree and hid in its shadow. Covering her mouth with her hand, she smothered the sound of her breathing. Her eyes scanned the paths and the shadows around her. Where was he? Behind her the water of the fountain made a soft rushing sound as it fell into the base. She froze as a feeling of dread washed over her. Slowly, she turned and saw him sitting on the edge of the fountain, her makeshift bag at his feet.

"Are you ready to go into the house and talk about this?"

She studied the clearing, looking for an escape route. He walked to her, handed her the bag, lifted her into his arms, and carried her into his den.

He set her in a chair, then took the bag. Opening it, he placed the things she’d packed on his desk. The last package, the one holding the carvings, brought a puzzled frown to his face. He settled into the chair next to her.

"I understand the need for gowns and food. But why the wood carvings?"

Deciding she had nothing to lose, she told him what she’d intended to do with them.

He smiled. "I'm glad you like them but they aren't valuable except to me. My father carves them and gives one to me as a gift every annual on my birth cycle."

"I wouldn't have taken them if I’d known your father carved them." For Lia, reality slipped away the moment she’d seen Valan behind her in the clearing. She felt so calm, she wondered if she was only dreaming this conversation.

"Where were you going, Lia?"

"To Vaag. To hide from you until I could find a way to leave Zarronia."

"It was a good plan, but the tracking devise in your bands would have told me your location long before you had a chance to reach Vaag much less leave Zarronia."

"You never told me about that."

"I was hoping I would never need to use it."

"Are you going to kill us now?"

Valan's breath caught in his throat. "No I'm not going to kill you."

Afraid of his answer, she asked him, "Are you going to use the bands?"

"No." Before she could ask another question, he scooped her from the chair and told her, "I'm going to take you to bed."

"What are you going to do to me'?"

"I'm going to make love to you."

"I don't want you to."

"Yes, you do. You're just too stubborn to admit it."

***

Lia's idea of obedience was as irritating to Valan as her defiance had been. She behaved, but very subtly let him know she wasn't really willing. Her attitude became so vaguely patronizing, at first, he wasn't sure she was actually doing what he suspected. Her too sweet voice began to grate in his ears, and he would catch himself grinding his teeth when she spoke to him. Her feigned smiles made his hands ache to spank her ass until it was rosy red. She was making a mockery of his authority and he didn't know what to do about it.

The only time she pleased him was in bed, and even then she tried to withdraw from him, pretending his touch didn't make her burn. After a few nights of making love until dawn, and a pointed reminder about their agreement, she'd stopped doing that.

The cycle after she'd tried to escape, he'd taken her to the training field with him. Recalling the way she'd reacted on the ship when he'd accepted Cedric's challenge, he decided it would be better if she didn't see him fighting his warriors. He'd chosen several young warriors and ordered them to give her a tour of the premises. Then he'd changed into a loincloth and gone onto the training field. Ignoring his warriors’ groans, he'd chosen six and beckoned to them. By the time Lia returned, he'd finished with them and changed back into his clothes.

They'd returned to the training field every cycle since then, with Lia tagging along beside him. Before he went onto the training field, he'd choose another group of young warriors and order them to show her a different part of the training academy. By the third cycle, they understood he was showing his faith in them by allowing them to spend time with his bondmate. The older warriors knew it as well and a look of envy appeared in their eyes when they saw Lia disappearing with her eager young escorts.

This cycle would be the first time he'd leave the house without her. He had to meet with the Council and couldn't take her with him. When he'd told her she had to stay home, she'd asked him where he was going. Before he could come up with an answer, she'd given him a glare and whirled around and marched out of his den. He'd been left wondering what she was thinking.

Putting his papers in the desk, he went to find her. He didn't even bother to look upstairs. She'd quickly learned every time he caught her anywhere near his chamber, he made love to her. She wasn't in the reception room either. So it had to be the kitchen. Eating! His little cat was constantly munching on something. At first he was concerned until he asked Borg and was told it was alright—as long as she ate the right things. After all, she was now eating for three.

She smiled and took another bite of the fruit when he walked into the kitchen.

"I have a meeting to attend. Will you be okay on your own for a while?" he asked. 

Before she could answer his questions a bell rang, startling her. "Are we being attacked?" She moved closer to him.

Valan chuckled and strode to the front door. His father brushed past him and into the hallway. He stopped a few feet from Lia.

Valan sighed and gave in. "Lia, this is my father, Eirik Dagson. Father, this is my bondmate, Lia."

Eirik walked to her, lifted both of her hands in his, and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I'm so pleased to finally meet you, Lia."

She was speechless and embarrassed. He'd witnessed the manner in which Valan brought her to Zarronia. She lowered her eyes to the floor and blushed with humiliation, and then paled. Valan said his mother and sister died when her sire attacked Zarronia. Did his father hate her because of who her sire was? She’d always known her father was an evil man but this was the first time she’d felt shamed by having his blood in her veins. A sob of despair left her throat, followed by another, until she was crying so hard she was unable to stand.

"Lia!" Eirik pulled her into his arms and glared at his son. "What have you done to her?"

"Nothing," Valan said. "Give her to me." He tried to take her from his father, but Eirik pushed him away and her tears came faster as she sobbed and mumbled against his vest.

"Go get her a glass of juice."

"You go get it. I'll take care of her. She's my bondmate."  

"Valan." Eirik's voice carried a heavy warning. Valan growled and walked away, his footsteps loud against the marble floor.

As soon as he left, Eirik lifted Lia’s feet from the floor and moved her to the stair steps and sat with her next to him. "Lia, I don't hold you responsible for what your father did."

His words slowed her tears. "Valan does. All the other warriors do too."

"Valan is a hot-headed young warrior who will get smarter as he gets older. Hopefully!"

A small giggle escaped when she heard his words. Sitting up, she wiped the tears from her cheeks as Valan returned. He handed her the juice and gently held her against him while he rubbed her back. Over her head, he gave his father a questioning look. Eirik shrugged.

"Should I call Borg?"

"No. Lia's alright now. Aren't you, Daughter?"

A radiant smile lit Lia’s face. "Yes. I'm fine now, Father."

Valan gave his father a what-are-you-up-to-now look. Eirik smiled innocently, and rose from the stairs. "We've got to go, Son. We don't want to be late for the meeting."

Lia looked from father to son. "What meeting?"

"Just some unfinished Council business. I'd much rather stay here and get to know you, but duty calls."

"I'll meet you outside."

Understanding lit Eirik's eyes, and he nodded and left them alone.

"Are you sure you are alright now?" She nodded against his chest. Wrapping his fingers around her long braid, he gently tugged her hair until he could see her face and decided she looked exquisitely beautiful. Lowering his mouth he kissed her. Then, with his usual pat on the bottom and an admonishment to behave, he joined his father.

"I want to speak to you about these challenges you're issuing your warriors."

"Have they been complaining?"

"No. But the stories are being spread all the same. The Council has been told and they aren't happy with your behavior. Neither am I, although, I understand why you're doing it."

"I won't stop. Not until every one of them has learned the lesson I'm teaching."

"From the reports I've received from Borg, I think they've learned that particular lesson." His voice when he spoke again was the voice of a High Ruler. "Cease the attacks, or you'll be summoned to appear before the Council."

"Is that an order?"

"Yes. It is an order, from your High Ruler. Now, as your father, I would like to say I saw a few of your warriors stumble into Borg's clinic the other cycle, and I want you to know it gave me immense pleasure. I couldn't have done a better job of teaching them myself."

They grinned at each other as they entered the Council Building and joined the other councilors and starship commanders.

Ruler Finnson began the meeting as soon as they were seated. "First, let me inform you of the Council's decision to bring back only the two warriors most responsible for the attack on Zarronia. Commander Eirikson, Commander Olafson and Commander Elofson will journey to Zhang, while the rest of the starships will remain here to protect Zarronia. Each starship will carry a thousand warriors. Commander Eirikson, you will be responsible for the two prisoners."

"Zhang has five strongholds. They are marked on the charts in front of you. Selik ad-San and Gorm ad-Jai hold the largest stronghold, Orm. We want these two warriors brought back to Zarronia. The rest of the warriors will be left on Zhang."

Valan leaned forward. "Why leave the rest of them alive?"

Eirik and the other Rulers grinned. Eirik stood. "We have always been an honorable race. So, we've decided to give the Wrothians a taste of Zarronian justice. The slaves on Zhang are to be freed and left to form their own society. Also, we have gathered the names of the younger warriors who have behaved in an honorable and just manner when dealing with the Wrothian females and the slaves. Each of these warriors will be allowed to be part of the new society under three conditions. First, each warrior can keep any female who has given him children but only if she wants to remain with him. Second, if a female does not wish to stay then she and her children will be brought to Zarronia. Third, the new population will decide how they wish to be governed and the warriors won't be allowed to dominate the other inhabitants."

Eirik waited until the sounds of the warriors’ approval ended. "The dark side of Zhang will be surrounded by a security field. The older warriors, and the younger ones who are corrupt, will be transferred there and confined for thirteen annuals. They will not be allowed to take anything with them, especially any females." He paused as grins appeared on the warriors faces as they comprehended the justice of the Council's plan. "After they have served their sentence, they will each be summoned and judged. Any warrior who has changed and behaved honorably will be allowed to return to the light side."

"Three cargo carriers will accompany you to Zhang and transport the Wrothian females to Zarronia. Their children will accompany them. Any warrior who chooses a female with children will be expected to accept her children as his own. We expect the journey and the raid to take you no longer than thirty cycles now the starships have been upgraded with better and faster engines. After our plan has been carried out, a Ruling Council, comprised of members of the Universal Assembly, will stay on Zhang and help the inhabitants form their new society. If there aren't any questions, you're dismissed."

***

Lia was in the reception room watching an info-disc when she heard Valan arrive home. He came in and sat down next to her, crowding her into the corner of the couch. She threw him a sham smile of welcome. He smiled, his smile unnaturally wide, and toothy.

"What's going on between you and my father'?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"What did he say to you while I was in the kitchen'?"

"Nothing."

Deciding to try another approach, he asked what made her cry.

"When you opened the door, I thought you were leaving, but you didn't, and it's why I was crying." She hid her grin when he frowned. Her attention was drawn back to the viewing screen when the narrator began explaining the bondmating ceremony. She was fascinated by the idea of monogamy.