Valan's Bondmate (29 page)

Valan nodded then switched off the monitor and moved to the beverage processor and selected three tankards of ale. He handed one to Cam, one to Doctor Mikelson, and carried the third to his desk. Silently, he drank it, his thoughts in chaos. He wouldn't be holding a smaller replica of Lia in his arms. He hadn't even realized until now how much he'd been looking forward to having a tiny aqua eyed daughter with bright red hair.

"Do you think the virus the Wrothians released on Zarronia is responsible for this Doctor Mikelson?" Cam asked.

Valan sat forward and set the tankard on the desk. He hadn't even thought about that possibility.

"It might be. There's no telling what affect it's had on us over the last ten annuals. I'll talk to the scientists when we get back to Zarronia. I'm sure they've already been notified and they'll figure it out."

"What a disaster. Now, we'll have twice as many warriors who'll need bondmates. There are enough females left on Zhang for most of the warriors but what about our sons?" Valan stumbled over the last word. It was strange to think of having two sons instead of a daughter and a son.

"Some of the females may be carrying daughters." Doctor Mikelson's tone sounded doubtful. He drank the last of his ale and stood up. "Well, I should get back to the Med-Center and check on your bondmate, Commander."

"When can I bring her to our quarters?"

"After the next sun rising if she does well. I don't believe there's any cause to worry but it’s better to be sure."

"Valan, if you want to go with him, I'll go to the bridge and take over from Hugh Elofson."

Valan nodded. "I'll relieve you in two units."

***

Valan found Lia in a recovery room in the Med-Center. The monitors above her kept track of her condition and Doctor Mikelson assured him she would awaken soon. After he left, a med-tech brought Valan a chair, and he too left. Valan placed the chair next to her bed, and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

The words the Witvian said to him kept repeating in his mind. Would he really want her to obey every order he gave her without argument? He thought about the way she teased him and the little things she deliberately did to annoy him. She was feisty and fascinating and he couldn't imagine her any other way. He'd taken all of her feminine weapons away from her and still she'd found a way to fight him. He'd refused to tell her he loved her even though he knew it was already too late and he'd love her until the cycle he died. Leaning forward, he whispered, "I love you, Lia. I loved the idea of you long before I met you. I loved you when you appeared to me in my dreams. I love you now and I'll love you until the moment of my last breathe and Tor willing I'll love you in another life."

He sat with her a while longer then went to relieve Cam.

Chapter Twelve

Early the next morning, the throbbing in her head woke Lia. She rubbed her temple while she looked around the room. Beeping sounds came from somewhere above her head and made the throbbing in her head worse. She moaned and the curtains around her bed parted revealing two men, one older and one younger.

"Oh, good. You're awake. Bjarni summon the Commander." The younger man left, then the older man picked up her hand, and studied the screen above her head. "I’m Doctor Mikelson. Does your head ache, Lia?"

"Yes. Did the warriors hurt me?"

"You mean the outlaws on Lanteria?" Doctor Mikelson asked.

"No. The warriors in the gymnasium."

"What warriors, Lia?" The question came from a dark-haired man with light silver eyes. The screen above her lit up and began beeping an alarm. Her heart raced out of control and her breath became raspy with fear. Memories rushed through her mind, making her dizzy. Her eyes fluttered, then closed as she fainted. 

Alarmed Valan slid his arms around her. "What just happened?"

"She's a little disoriented, Commander. I expected this. There's no need for alarm."

"What was she talking about when she asked if the warriors in the gymnasium hurt her?"

"I'm not sure. She'll be more aware the next time she wakes up and you can ask her."

So, the Witvian hadn't lied. "Will her memory be exact in detail?"

"Oh, yes. Everything will untangle itself." Doctor Mikelson added a note to her screen. "I'll leave you alone with her. If she should wake please summon me."

A unit later Lia's eyes opened and she smiled at him. "How are you feeling, Lia?"

"Sleepy. Why does my head hurt?"

"Don't you remember?"

"Well, I…." She laughed. "I feel so strange." Her eyes fluttered then closed.

Valan squeezed her hand. "Don't go back to sleep. The doctor wants to see you."

Valan parted the curtain and beckoned to a med-tech. "Get Doctor Mikelson. My bondmate is awake."

He turned back in time to see her eyes widen in alarm and her hand slide over her belly. He covered her hand. "The babies are fine."

"What happened?"

Before Valan could answer Doctor Mikelson joined them. "Good, you're awake. You've slept for a long time. How are you feeling?" He quickly punched in a line of orders for the monitor and read the results.

"Do you remember me, Lia?"

"Of course. You're Doctor…" She concentrated for a moment, then smiled. "Mikelson. Doctor Mikelson."

"That's right. Do you remember what happened on Lanteria?"

After a few moments, she spoke. "We saw the silkbeetle trees. Minda was there with Cam. Valan was with us."

"Is that right, Commander?"

"Yes."

"Then, what happened Lia?"

Valan really didn't like the direction the questions were taking but there was nothing he could do about it. She had to regain her memory.

"It was so hot and Minda and I wanted to take a bath. Cam took us to the bathing chamber."

"Where was the Commander, Lia?"

She thought for a moment. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Valan. "Busy. He was busy, so I decided to take a stroll."

"Didn't you realize how dangerous that was, Lia?" Doctor Mikelson asked.

"It would have been more dangerous for Valan if I'd stayed," she said.

Valan grinned. "She's back. Thank Tor!"

Dr. Mikelson looked confused. Before, he could ask her what she meant, Commander Eirikson escorted him through the curtains and asked if he could take her to their quarters now.

"Yes, if you stay with her. I don't want her left alone. Not even for a micro-unit."

"I'll stay with her."

"Then I'll give her something for her headache and drop by later to check on her. Keep her quiet and let her sleep as much as she wants."

As he carried her to their quarters, she silently listed all the ways she'd like to torture him. When he put her down on their bed, and pulled the white fur over her, she forced herself to look away from him and refused to answer his questions.

***

Valan knew they had to talk and the easiest way to get her talking was to annoy her. "I've decided to extend our agreement to the reception room as your discipline for running away."

He would have laughed at her scream of outrage if he hadn't been so worried about her. She spoke so rapidly, he could only understand a few of her words, but he understood enough to know what she wanted to do to him.

Finally, she stopped, gave him a killing glare, and turned her back to him.

"Are you ready to listen to me now?" No response. He sat down on the bed. "I didn't summon them to me. They were waiting in our chamber when I arrived. I wanted to get them out of there before you saw them so I grabbed them and tried to throw them out the door."

"Hmmph! Likely story, Valan."

"My feet got tangled with theirs and I stumbled to the floor. That's when you arrived. I didn't touch them. At least, not the way you think."

"Hmmph."

Valan sighed. She wasn't going to believe him. He'd have to tell her the truth. "I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Zarronian warriors can only have sex with their mate after they're bonded." His words got her attention and she rolled over and faced him.

"You mean don't. Don't share pleasure with other females after they have a bondmate."

"No. I mean can't. Nothing happens."

"Nothing?" she asked, her eyes going to his crotch as a smile appeared on her lips.

"You don't have to look so pleased."

She giggled, then laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. He stood up, moved to his desk, and sat glaring at her.

"You know, Valan, suddenly I feel much better. And, I'm starving."

"I'm extending the agreement to the den."

"Good! I've always wondered what it would be like to make love on your desk."

Her words stole his breath, and his anger. "Come here, little cat, and I'll show you."

"No. I'm sick. And, hungry. Remember?"

"Come here and I'll make you feel much better."

"Feed me first."

Valan quickly prepared a food tray and glass of juice. He left them on his desk, then went to the bed. She rose to her knees and held her arms out to him. Carefully, he carried her to his chair. She smiled when she saw the juice.

He held a bite of food to her lips. She took it, then offered him a piece of a savory bread. Slowly, the food on the tray disappeared. As they sipped the juice, she rested her head on his shoulder. He felt her relax and knew the moment she fell asleep.

"I love you, little cat."

"Valan?"

"Shhh. Go back to sleep, Lia."

"Love you, too."

The next cycle she couldn't look at the desk in their quarters without blushing. He found her blushes amusing and teased her mercilessly.

***

The previous night he'd questioned her about the warriors in the gymnasium and what they'd done to her. Her answer sent him into a thundering rage and he'd tried to force a description of the attackers from her. She'd stubbornly refused to give it to him. She didn't really know why she wouldn't, only that it was important he not find out. At least not from her.

It didn't take Valan long to remember all of the details of the cycle and figure out the identity of at least one of the warriors. Cedrik Angusson. The identity of the rest of the warriors was easier to discover. Cedrik had four friends who went everywhere with him. It made sense the five of them had planned and carried out the attack on Lia.

Two cycles later Lia and Minda were exploring the ship when they saw Cedrik and his friends coming toward them. In the past, Lia had been frightened when she saw this particular group but recently they'd done everything they could to make her feel welcome on the Invincible. As they passed, they murmured greetings and kept going.

"Where do you suppose they're going, Minda?"

"Warrior's business I suppose."

Another group of warriors marched by going in the same direction. Royce Garrikson and Hugh Elofson were with them.

Lia watched them for a second then whispered, "Something must be wrong. They look so serious. Let's follow them."

"Uh, Lia, I don't think that's a good idea."

A third group of warriors passed them, closely followed by a fourth. Lia grabbed Minda and pulled her along as she fell in behind them.

"Valan and Cam won't like this."

Lia stopped. "What aren't you telling me, Minda?"

"Well, Valan found out who attacked you in the gymnasium and he's challenged them."

"You mean he's going to fight all those warriors?"

"Cam said there were only five of them. I think the other warriors are going as witnesses."

"I've got to stop him."

Minda grabbed her arm and held her ground. "Lia, you don't know what he's already done. When he took you to the punishment arena, he did it because the Council made him. He didn't want to. Ruler Arlenson and Educator Seligson and some of the other warriors called for your judgment. They wanted the Council to kill you, but Valan defended you. Cam said it was a miracle they decided to only use the bands on you. Afterwards, when you were so ill, he went to the training field every cycle and challenged six of his warriors for what they'd done to you. The Council finally ordered him to stop or they'd exile him."

"Why didn't he tell me? All this time, I've blamed him."

"Because in a way he was to blame. It was the way he brought you to Zarronia and treated you that they used against you. He felt responsible for what happened."

"Won't the Council be angry if they find out he challenged his warriors again?"

"If they find out they will. Cam tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

"Then, I've got to stop him. Don't you see Minda? When they attacked me, they were only trying to show their support for him." She jerked her arm from Minda's grasp and ran toward the gymnasium.

***

Valan and the warriors turned to stare at her when she burst through the doors.

"Lia, return to our quarters."

"Alright. But, first I want to say something to your war—."

"Now, Lia."

She walked over to him so the others wouldn't hear her. "Our agreement doesn't include the gymnasium, Valan." She covered his mouth with her hand when he would have ordered her to leave again. "Do you want to argue with me in front of all your warriors, or can I say what I've come to say then leave?"

"Speak." The word was muffled beneath her hand, but she understood it.

She turned and smiled at the warriors. "I want you to know I understand why you, uh, did what you did. And, I hope the time will come when you will accept me and show me the same loyalty you have shown my bondmate."

Cedrik Angusson stepped forward. "Madami Valan, we are sorry for hurting and frightening you, and we want you to know we already accept you and we deserve whatever punishment the Commander chooses to give us." As he spoke, the others nodded their heads in agreement.

"Thank you." She sent a smile to them. "Well, I suppose I'll leave now."

"Lia?"

"Yes, Valan."

"The agreement now covers the Invincible and all of Zarronia."