Alien Mine (Zerconian Warriors Book 7) (6 page)

Thor grumbled and paced the room.

“Why are you so adamant that you’re not Thor’s mate?” Willa asked.

Lucy gave her a strange look at the change of subject.

Willa sighed. “I need a distraction. I’m going insane, imagining what Mila is going through. Besides, don’t tell me you’re not curious, Thor.”

Lucy sighed and looked away.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”

“No. I’ll tell you.” It was better to get it out in the open. Before things went too far. She had to keep reminding herself why she couldn’t act on her feelings for Thor. Even if he was just as he seemed, a decent, trustworthy guy, she wouldn’t make him a good mate. She was too scarred. Too scared. Too broken.

“I know I’m not Thor’s mate, because I can’t have children.” She couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t see the rejection on his face. So she turned to look at Willa who gaped at her. “I was injured badly a few years ago. I nearly died. The doctor said I will never get pregnant.” She hadn’t mourned that loss at the time. She’d been in a dark place she thought she would never get out of. But now, when she looked at Thor and imagined the beautiful babies he would have, yeah, she felt that loss. Hugely.

“Oh, Lucy.” Willa’s face was filled with sympathy. Pity. Lucy didn’t need either.

Lucy shrugged. “It is what it is.” But she still couldn’t look at Thor. No doubt this would be the last of his claims to be her mate.

Sadness stabbed her.

When Darac returned, Lucy let out a breath of relief. He stilled, looking around at them. “Is everything well?”

She smiled at him, knowing the smile had to look as fake as it felt when Willa winced and glanced away. “Never better.” She looked down at the weapon he held out.

“It looks like a knife.” The hilt was quite large, about a foot long. The blade in contrast was rather small and harmless looking. Not what she’d expected at all.

“It is. But if you twist it.” Darac twisted his wrist and the blade disappeared, replaced by a glowing blade of blue light about three feet long. “It becomes a light saber. One flick of this can slice a person in half.”

She swallowed heavily. “And this is the object of Koran’s you decided to bring with you?” He was even crazier than she’d imagined.

Darac shrugged. “It’s his favorite.”

Uh-huh. “Well, maybe you could put the limb severing part away and give it to me.”

Darac twisted it again and the glowing light disappeared. Nervously, she reached for the weapon hoping she didn’t accidently turn it on and slice Darac in half.

Willa would be seriously pissed.

“Lucy, I must speak to you first.”

Summoning up all her courage, she turned to Thor with a soft smile. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say it. I understand.”

She should be relieved. Now he knew there was no chance of them being mates. But all she felt was a sadness so deep and overwhelming it had the power to crush her.

Taking a deep breath, knowing a migraine would be headed her way after two searches so close together, Lucy fell into the trace.

Thor paced once more.

“You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor,” Willa told him.

He glanced down at the floor. “That is impossible. The floor is reinforced steel.”

She sighed. “I know. I’m so sorry, Thor.”

“You should not have asked her that.” He could blame Willa all he liked, however he hadn’t objected to her question. He’d wanted to hear Lucy’s answer. He had seen the sadness on Lucy’s face before her face had grown slack as she grasped hold of Koran’s knife.

She believed he did not want her.

“Asked her what?” Darac asked.

Willa glanced down at her feet. Then she straightened and faced her mate. “I asked Lucy why she was so certain that Thor wasn’t her mate.”

“And?”

“She said she was certain, because she was injured a few years ago and now she can’t have children.”

Darac turned to Thor. The sympathy on his face clear. “I am sorry, old friend. You were so certain.”

“I am still certain. She is mine.” Her words had sent him reeling for a moment. But the knowledge that she was his had not left him. He knew. And while it was a shock that she was barren, it did not change how he felt.

“But how can she be if she cannot have children? Do you believe the fates would choose such a mate for you?” Darac asked.

“Why not? Did you mate with Willa because she could bear children?”

Darac turned to his mate with a soft look. “No. I would not care did she never give me a child. I am sorry, I should not have doubted your feelings.”

“You might want to make certain that Lucy doesn’t doubt them,” Willa said. “By the look on her face, she is pretty certain that’s a deal breaker.”

Thor nodded. “Once she is back, I will make certain she knows that is no barrier to our mating.”

“Oh, I have a feeling that’s not the only barrier you’ll encounter. Sounds to me like she’s had a pretty shitty life up till now.”

“Then I will have to ensure that her future has no shit in it.”

“Umm, yeah, you do that.” Willa patted Thor on the back, ignoring the warning growl from Darac. He was very possessive.

But then didn’t he feel the same? He’d been ready to fight Safan just for touching Lucy.

“Shouldn’t she be back by now?” Willa chewed on her thumbnail. Darac reached out and pulled her thumb free.

“Patience,” Darac told her. “Lucy told us that this search could take longer.”

Suddenly, Lucy sat up and screamed.

Thor leapt to her side just as she rolled off the sofa. She kicked out, catching him in the thigh.

“Lucy! Lucy!” Willa yelled, kneeling beside her. She grabbed the other woman’s arms, pinning them to the ground. Lucy was no match for Willa, who held her easily.

Suddenly, Lucy’s eyes opened.

She screamed.

Then slumped to the ground in a faint.

***

Thor sat beside his mate, watching the monitor carefully. Her pulse and breathing had stabilised. And her temperature had risen once more into an acceptable level. Terror still held him in its grasp, though, and he had this irrational feeling that if he left her she might die.

“How is she doing?” Willa walked up beside him. “Have you been here all night?”

Was it day now? He hadn’t even noticed. “How long has it been?” How long since she’d terrified him half to death?

“About thirteen hours. Still no sign of waking?”

Thor shook his head. “I do not understand it. Everything indicates that she is now stable and well. But she has not awakened.”

He would give anything to see her pale blue eyes staring up at him right now.

“Maybe her body is ready but her mind isn’t. She seemed terrified.”

That scream still haunted him. Willa swayed beside him and he turned, placing his arm around her to support her. Then he took a good look at her, he had been so focussed on Lucy, he hadn’t noted how fatigued Willa appeared.

“You need to rest.”

“So do you,” she countered. “You haven’t left her side.”

“I am fine. You are near to fainting.”

“Am not. I’m perfectly fine. I could still take you on, old man.”

Thor sighed and shook his head. “I thought Darac spoke to you about challenging warriors?”

“Stupid rule,” she muttered. “I’m a good fighter.”

“I am sure you are. But you cannot fight a warrior and Darac is only looking after you. Where is Darac?”

“He lead a search party down onto Tarra. He should be back soon. They’re hoping to find Koran, Mila and the others there.”

Thor reached for his communicator. “Bridge?”

“Lucan here, Sir.”

“When do you expect the Commander back?”

“ETA is fifteen minutes, Sir.”

“Can you please send him to the medical centre. His mate needs him.” He ended the communication then turned to Willa who glared at him.

“Tattle-tale,” she whispered.

He was not certain what that meant, but he did not much care. Right at the moment, he was focussed on Lucy and her recovery.

“The last thing Darac needs is to have a sick mate. And you are going to get sick unless you take better care of yourself. Now, I will find you a spare bed and you will take a long nap. Understood?”

“Damn, you’re just as bad as the rest of them. You just hide it better, huh?”

“That is right. I am a knee-and-hill.”

She grinned and some red entered her pale cheeks. “Yeah, you are, you Neanderthal. But you’re a pretty sweet one and Lucy is a lucky girl.”

He just hoped that she saw it that way.

Damn, she was thirsty. Without opening her eyes, because the pain enveloping her head meant that would be a very bad idea, she reached out, searching for the bottle of water she usually kept on her side table.

“Lucy? Are you awake?”

Was that Thor? What was he doing in her bedroom? Holy heck, had she finally given in to her urges and taken him to bed? Oh my God, why couldn’t she remember? Had it been that bad that she’d blocked it out? Had she been so drunk, she’d lowered her inhibitions and that was the reason for the shards of glass piercing her brain?

“Thor?”

She attempted to open her eyes, but the glaring light against her eyes sent agony waves through her head. Her stomach rolled and she fought against the urge to vomit. Quickly, she shut her eyes.

“Are you well?”

No. No she was not well. She was in crippling agony.

Not his fault, though. At least she didn’t think it was.

“Need water. Headache.”

“Here. I will hold a straw to your mouth. I’ll also get you an oral pain inhibitor.” She gratefully sipped on the water then opened her mouth and swallowed the pain inhibitor.

“Just lie there for a moment. The inhibitor should work soon.”

Normally, when she was in this much pain with a migraine, she couldn’t stand any noise, but Thor’s voice was almost soothing. He kept it low and quiet.

Incredibly sexy.

Really, she should not be thinking of sex right now. She couldn’t even open her damn eyes. How did she think she was going to manage anything more adventurous? It had been years since she’d had sex. She wasn’t even sure she would remember how. She’d kind of locked that part of her away, certain that she would never want sex again after Ricardo.

She pushed all thought of Ricardo aside as the pain inhibitor began to chase the pain of the migraine away. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking to bring Thor into focus. The lights had been dimmed, thankfully. Even though the pain was muted, her eyes were still too tender for bright light.

“Where am I?”

This wasn’t her bedroom. She turned her head slowly as she heard a soft beeping and realised there was a machine next to her. There was something strapped to her hand. Was she being monitored?

“We are in the medical ward of the ship.”

“What happened?”

“You do not remember?” He quickly hid his alarm behind an impassive face.

She thought back. What was the last thing she remembered? “I did a search for Mila. But I wasn’t sure where she was. So I insisted on searching for Koran. Then I…” Oh crap, she’d told him. Told him one of her biggest secrets. No, it wasn’t the only secret she carried. Not even the worse one. But it was one of the most devastating.

She stared at him, trying to discern his thoughts. “Why are you here? Is it because you’re my doctor?”

He raised his eyebrows. “No. Tae is currently caring for you. Although I wish it could be me, I would need to touch you and I did not wish to begin the mating process without your awareness.”

“But I cannot be your mate. Thor, do you not remember?” Please don’t tell her she had to tell him all over again. She just wasn’t strong enough for that.

Except she’d have to be strong enough. Cause no one else was going to do it.

“That you told me you were barren? I remember. It does not mean we are not mates.”

“But it has to. Why would someone who cannot have children be your mate?”

“Mating is not about children. It is about finding that person who is the other half of your soul. Who you are destined to be with, to love, to protect. That person is you.”

She blinked back tears. They were pretty words but she couldn’t let them blind her to the truth.

“Your race is dying. You need babies.”

“I am not the savior of my race. Nor are you. Yes, my race is dying. But now we have hope. You are my hope. You are my everything.”

“I can’t be.” She lost the battle to keep the tears under control. “I’m too broken for you, Thor. You need to find someone who is whole.”

“Shh. If you are broken, then I will help you gather up the pieces and make a new life. One with me. You make me whole, Lucy. I can do the same for you.”

“We don’t even know each other.”

“Then we will get to know each other. I have patience, Lucy. I know it may not seem that way. But I can hold on until you are ready.”

“What if you don’t like me once you get to know me? What if my past is too much for you to handle?”

He puffed up. “I am not some weakling. I may be a healer but I am also a warrior.”

She smiled. “I didn’t mean to insult you. I know you’re strong and not just physically. But I have trust issues. I’ve trusted the wrong person before, someone who claimed they loved me and it didn’t end well.”

He scowled. “You were mated to this person?”

“Not mated, no. But I was involved in a relationship with him. His name was Ricardo. My mom died when I was fifteen. I had nothing. She left Earth to follow my dad. He was a bounty hunter, he used his gift to track wanted people for money. It was a crazy kind of existence. We were either really flush or on the bones of our ass.”

She took note of his confused expression and clarified, “really short of credits.”

He nodded.

“My father was shot by one of the outlaws he was tracking and killed when I was seven, leaving Mom and I stuck on Mrilan. Have you ever been there?”

“Once. Yes. It is not a pleasant place.”

“No, that’s a polite way of wording it. There’s little in the way of law or civilisation. Pretty much a refuge for the scum of the universe. My mom found jobs here and there. A bit of waitressing. Taking in laundry. We survived. It wasn’t always pleasant or fun. But we made it.”

“Did your mother have no family to help her?”

Lucy shook her left. “They disowned her when she left with my dad. They thought he wasn’t good enough for her. But she loved him. She contracted pneumonia and we couldn’t afford the medicine to help her.” The memory of watching her mother die was still too tender, too upsetting. She took a deep breath in then let it out slowly.

“What happened to you after she died?”

“For a while, I continued to earn money doing bits and pieces. I was picking up some laundry from the alley behind some of the houses who used my services when this man cornered me. He pushed me up against a wall and ripped at my dress. I screamed and tried to fight, but he was too strong.”

“Did he…harm you?” Thor’s eyes glowed red.

“No. He would have, I’m certain. But Ricardo stopped him.”

“The man you trusted?”

“Yeah. I thought he loved me. I guess he was just a really good liar. He saved me that day, moved me into his place. Gave me my own room, never pressured me into his bed or anything, but I was totally besotted by him. I fell for him. Made his betrayal that much worse.”

“What happened?”

“He told me we were going on a holiday. I was so excited. The last time I had been on holiday, I was five. We went to this beach on Rolan. The sand was almost too hot to touch and the water was freezing. But I had the best time. So I was imagining something similar. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going. Said it was a surprise. It was that, all right.

“Our hotel was gorgeous. It had this beautiful swimming pool with a fake beach. That first night we had a few drinks. He must have put something in mine. A sedative. Because when I woke up I was no longer in the hotel room with Ricardo. I was locked in a small box. I screamed and screamed. I tried to claw my way out. I’m not sure how long I was in there, but I’m guessing a few hours.”

Thor muttered under his breath, his body tense.

“The box moved, as though it was being transported. When the movement stopped, someone opened it up and I found myself in a small, dark room. There was just a bed and a toilet. That was it. No windows. No cupboards or communicators. Nothing. The person who opened the box left without a word and when I ran after him, I found I couldn’t get out of the room. I thought I’d been kidnapped. I thought Ricardo would come after me.”

She laughed and even she could hear how harsh it sounded.

“I found out the truth soon enough.”

“What did happen?”

“He sold me. To Husan Mortaf. A warlord on Lazarun. See, turns out Ricardo knew all along what I could do. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d hired the man in the alleyway to attack me just so he could play hero and rescue me. Then he would gain my trust, lead me on and sell me to the highest bidder.”

“What happened? How did you get away?”

“I—”

The door to the room slid open and Darac walked through. “Lucy? You’re awake!” He turned to Thor. “Did she tell you what happened to Koran?”

“Oh my god. I forgot about Koran!”

***

Darac stood at the foot of the bed, a thunderous look on his face. “He is on Nerif? You are certain?”

She had pinpointed Koran’s location on a 3D holographic map of the area. Immediately, both men had tensed.

“Yes. Why?”

“Why would the shuttle land there?”

“Perhaps they had no choice,” Thor answered.

Darac turned to him. “You think someone picked them up? A ship?”

“Maybe. It could be why there is no emergency beacon.”

“We might never have looked there.” Darac sent her a thankful look.

Thor rubbed his hand over his face. “There have been rumors of the Nerifs and Coizils forming an alliance.”

Darac nodded grimly. “The Nerifs are no friends of ours.”

“There is more.” She swallowed heavily. She couldn’t believe she had forgotten what she’d seen. That she’d lain here on the bed and chatted to Thor about her past like she didn’t have a worry in the world.

Meanwhile, Koran…

“What is it? Is your headache back? You have grown pale.”

“I’m fine.” She waved her hand at Thor as he stood. She struggled to sit.

“You need to rest.” Thor frowned at her.

“Believe me. I need to be sitting for this.”

Thor hovered, obviously wishing to help her, but he didn’t touch her. He helped her place a few pillows behind her back to help keep herself propped up. Lucy had to admit sitting probably wasn’t her brightest move. Dots danced in front of her eyes and she had to take a few deep breaths to calm her sick stomach.

Licking her lips, she glanced first at Darac then Thor. “They were beating him.”

Thor sat back in his seat, looking confused. “Who was beating who?”

“Two men. I use the term men loosely. They had green, almost scaly-looking skin. Like lizard but on two legs instead of four.” Both men appeared confused and she just shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. They had two arms and two legs and walked like a human. But they also had these thick tails that reached the floor. Small, beady eyes and short, dark hair. It didn’t look like hair, though. More like fuzz.”

“Nerifs,” Darac said with a nod. “They were beating Koran?”

“He was tied by his wrists to the ceiling in a dark, dirty room similar to the one where Mila is being held. His chest was bare and there was blood on his face. Both eyes were swollen and there were gashes on his chest and back. Like he’d been whipped with something sharp.”

She placed her hand over her stomach, trying to calm herself. Maybe she’d pushed away what she saw to protect herself.

Damn, she wished she was brave. Just a little bit.

Darac growled. “Did you notice anything else? Were the other warriors there?”

She frowned, thinking. At the time, she’d been so horrified by what she was seeing that she hadn’t thought she’d taken notice of much. But bits and pieces slowly returned to her. “No. There was no one else there. Just the three of them. Now that I think about it. I believe they were underground.”

Thor nodded. “I have been to Nerif once. Many years ago. They are nocturnal creatures and many prefer to sleep below the ground during the day because it is dark.”

“That makes sense. I’m pretty certain there was only way in and out of the room.”

Darac pressed on his tablet and brought up a holographic image of a planet. “Can you pinpoint exactly where they are holding Koran?”

She looked at the planet. Most of the planet’s surface was covered in forest. “There.” She pointed at a large piece of flat land. “Can you zoom in closer?”

Darac frowned. “Unfortunately, I cannot. We do not have good satellite images of Nerif. We will need to get closer. We must plan carefully how we rescue Mila, Koran and the others.”

She couldn’t believe she was about to say this. She would much rather stay as far away as possible from those lizard men as possible.

But the image of Koran being beaten haunted her. She couldn’t rest without doing everything she could to help.

“I need to go with you. To Nerif.”

“What?” Thor gave her a stern look. “You just awoke from a coma. You cannot risk yourself by going to Nerif. Rescuing Koran and Mila will be dangerous.”