C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) (17 page)

“I couldn’t stand the pain, couldn’t stand the pitying looks, or the happy mothers who got to keep a babe. I wandered alone until it was time to Holiday again. I didn’t know if I wanted to. I changed continents by then. It was too late to go back, another male caught my eye; he reminded me of Kobe’s father. I Holidayed and again had a son I was forced to give up. I was devastated, but stayed on the same continent in case my son had another brother. I chose the same warrior and gave birth to another female child—who died.”

By this time Zuri’s tears dripped from her eyes. She relayed the story to Kobe who hung his head with his mother’s pain.

“I have not Holidayed again, I never will,” Unna said. “I lose all of my children, what’s the point? When I smelled Kobe I had to find him. I scented a cyron tracking him, and you. The beast was the same one who killed his father; the cyron sensed this. It was on a mission. I won’t lose another child. Or grandchild.”

“Huh?” Zuri said when Unna looked pointedly at her belly.

“No way,” Zuri spluttered. “We’ve only been out here a month, if that.”

“My son could have run from a beast he knew would surely kill him, but he stayed and chose to fight. His young one is inside you, but he has no idea, how would he? He has never been around a pregnant female. What will you do if it’s a girl? Will you take her from him and join me? I would take care of you both.”

Zuri stood stunned.
A baby?
Kobe’s baby? “Unna you must be mistaken, but I appreciate your offer. If it is true, male or female the baby is Kobe’s. And I won’t hand over my son. I know how unfair that seems, but I hope you will come and see him or her.”

“I was hoping you would say that.”

“What are you two talking about?” Kobe interrupted.

“Nothing,” was Zuri’s immediate response. She had no way of knowing if Unna was right and had no idea how much farther they needed to travel.

“I will stay with you both until you’re safely in the males’ area. The females are getting concerned that Kobe has been here for so long, even if he is moving away. They know he is with a female of some type and they know he is too young to seek his demise through battle. They are confused. No one would dare challenge me.”

“Your mother is going to come with us until we reach the males’ area,” Zuri told Kobe.

“I can scent the females are restless,” he replied. “They’ll stay away if she escorts us back.”

From the look on Kobe’s face, Zuri could tell he was pleased with his mother’s presence. He looked like he was being given a rare gift—the gift of time. A reminder that even seconds counted when it came to loved ones. Zuri was happy for him. Maybe one day Zuri would have a family again.

Chapter 11

For ten days, the trio traveled together. Kobe was a little jealous Zuri had to explain everything his mother said. He was also a little worried; he wondered if Unna had offered Zuri asylum in the female’s area. It made perfect sense; with Unna, Zuri would be safe. Kobe couldn’t let her go. He wondered if he was being selfish.

Watching Zuri and Unna interact, Kobe had doubts Zuri would like living in an all-male environment without a single female thought amongst the warriors. Unna realized immediately what Zuri needed when Kobe began chewing bits of food for her. His mother made a waterproof container, weaving thick vines and sticks together. The plant life and meat could then be boiled; he no longer needed to feed her. Kobe felt stupid he hadn’t thought of it, but it was a female’s thing, he had never made a makeshift basket. During their trek, he had agonized over not having a waterproof container. Everything any male Zargonnii used was made of practical, indestructible material. So much for being smarter than a female.

Kobe could learn; he was determined to keep Zuri with him, in his home. Ever since he first Holidayed, a safe backyard had been prepared if he was given a son. It was custom for a male to create a space for a child after his first Holiday, it was a male ‘nesting’ experience. Zuri would benefit from it now; she would have a safe area to wander. There was material Kobe could trade for, warm clothing could be made. His mother turned the skins of two fayas into footwear for Zuri, something else he hadn’t thought of. Zuri had been delighted. Thanks to his mother, he was beginning to think of what Zuri needed to be happy in his world.

The three wandered unhindered during the days, nothing was stupid enough to challenge a female Zargonnii with her offspring except a cyron. They were now out of the danger zone, but the males they were about to come across were Titus’s men—not Citun’s. Kobe knew from his mother’s slow, hesitant pace it was the last day they would travel together. Before long, Unna led them to a clearing.

“Is this the home of my brother?” Kobe asked. Zuri translated, although more of his mother’s language had come back to him as he heard her speak it.

“No,” Unna said. “The female babe is in there. Your brother is visiting; he is a healer and close to the family. You would not be allowed near the female child unless you were close family.”

“Have you seen the female babe?” Kobe asked curiously.

“No, but I smell a female child, it’s confusing. Every instinct says to retrieve the babe, but she is with her mother, as well as her father. This goes against Zargonnii nature.”

“What’s Kobe’s brother’s name?” Zuri asked.

“His name is Finn. It is right you should know one another, my son.”

Unna clasped Kobe to her chest, covering him in her scent so his brother would be able to tell they were related. She then ran a soft fuzzy hand down Zuri’s cheek before embracing her. She was deep in the jungle and gone in seconds.

“Something tells me we won’t just be sauntering up to the front door.” As Zuri said this, she pressed her body against his. Kobe felt her tremble.

Zuri was afraid and for good reason. They were soon surrounded by the largest male warriors Kobe had ever seen. Titus’s boast was correct, his warriors were larger. That meant Kobe had to be smarter.

“I am Kobe. I am here to see my brother, Finn. Let us pass.”

“You are one of Citun’s warriors,” said a large male. They spoke the same Zargonnii but Kobe heard the unmistakable accent of the more southern continent dialect.

“I am.”

“Citun has been looking all over for you. He said you had a human female. The rumor is true. I am called Blu. Brother to Zane who is father to the female babe. Finn has no brothers.”

“Kobe’s no liar,” Zuri said; her tone a growl. Kobe kept from smiling. He had seen her appear with the stick in her hand ready to take on a cyron to aid him; this warrior didn’t stand a chance if he pissed her off. She’d
mouthy
him to death.
Poor bastard.

The warrior, Blu, looked startled as Zuri now stood at Kobe’s side, fists balled. “I wasn’t calling him a liar; I just think he’s mistaken.”

Kobe coughed into his hand to stifle a chuckle. “I was told Finn is inside. If you have him come out, I can prove we are related.”

Finn was found in seconds. The two approached one another. Finn’s look was guarded. Kobe smiled at him. “Mother says hi.”

“That’s impossible,” Finn muttered.

“Are you saying he isn’t related?” Blu asked and came closer, his eyes narrowed.

Zuri made a move to come between the two, but it was Finn who snatched her off her feet and snarled at Blu.

“This
is
my brother, and his little mate. They reek of my mother. I don’t know how this is possible, but you both have explaining to do. Citun has been screaming espionage; he swears someone double-crossed him and kidnapped the two of you right off his ship. We were all concerned about the Gorgano.”

Zuri had been struggling, but stopped when she heard the word Gorgano. She knew Kobe was on a new mission; Kobe kept nothing from her. The Gorgano were a bigger threat than they had imagined. Still keeping Zuri in his arms, Finn made his way to the large mound before them. Kobe had never been inside a South Zargonnii home.

The place he followed his brother into smelt strange—too earthy. The entrance was darker, and he imagined Zuri couldn’t see anything. Her whispered “
Kobe”
was enough to know she was uncomfortable. The door to the home practically smashed open and a male Zargonnii stood in battle mode. Zuri gasped, and he heard Finn soothe her.

“Zane, this is my brother, uh, hey what the hell is your name?”

“I’m Kobe and this is Zuri. I needed to see for myself that human and Zargonnii could live together. We have come a long way and I’m hopeful you will answer my question.”

“It’s true,” came a hushed voiced.

A small woman holding an infant female came out from behind Zane to gaze at Zuri in wonder. A male Zargonnii child followed her, hanging back. Kobe puzzled at his presence for a moment. The child obviously wasn’t repulsed by his sister, he was too close. Another mystery. The woman pulled at the warriors’ arms begging him to allow them entry.

The second Kobe stepped through the threshold and smelled the female babe, his body grew to battle mode until he ached. It had been years since he’d had growing pains. He growled, gasped. The expansion was incredulous, deep emotions washed over him. A protective urge soared.

“Kobe?”

Zuri’s tone was a cross between fear and wonder. Kobe had gained inches and pounds. The rumor was true; the babe did give off a certain scent that put a warrior’s hormones into overdrive.

“It’s alright,” the woman said to Zuri. “It happens to every warrior she comes into contact with. Even my son, Draven, experienced the sensation. Titus would have her meet all of his warriors but Zane is too protective. My name is Bay, you’ve heard me call my mate Zane and I know your mate is Kobe. What’s your name?”

“Zuri,” Zuri whispered, she continued to stare at Kobe in awe.

“We keep
our
child well-guarded and will continue to do so until she’s bigger,” Zane said.

Our
child was stressed. Kobe was in shock just staring at the little family. Zuri moved closer with curiosity. When she held her arms out to the female babe, the babe cooed and reached for her. Kobe wouldn’t have dared, though he would have liked to hold the child. Zane eyed Zuri, but she was no threat whatsoever.

“How old is she?” Zuri asked.

“Eight months,” Bay replied.

“She’s a good size for an eight month old,” Zuri said, hefting the twenty-five-pound baby to her hip.

“She’s not even the size of a one month old Zargonnii male infant,” Kobe said. “And she only has four little dull teeth.” He was concerned; if he and Zuri had a female babe, she would be as defenseless as Zuri. How could she survive on a planet with so many wild creatures? Like Zuri, she would have to be watched for life. There was no way the little one could ever grow up to battle a warrior during a Holiday.

Bay chuckled. “Luna has her daddy’s temper. A Zargonnii may get its ability to grow into their battle size from its mother, but the teeth are all dad.”

“Huh?” Kobe looked confused.

“Stick your finger in her mouth.” Zane smiled, it was almost a dare. The child, Draven, giggled. Kobe’s curiosity was too tempting; she was a baby after all. What harm could there be?

Kobe shrugged. He stuck his baby finger into Luna’s mouth. She gummed him with her tiny flat teeth for a second—then bit down.

“Shit, get her off.”
Kobe tried to pull his finger from her mouth but she had clamped on—tight.

Baby Luna giggled as Kobe pulled until he had pulled the babe from Zuri’s arms and the child was suspended in midair. Still chuckling, Bay hefted her daughter to her hip and carefully pried her teeth free from their grasp. Luna’s little fingers waggled in the air trying to get a hold of Kobe once more. When she couldn’t, her eyes narrowed and part of Kobe’s fur sizzled. He brushed at the spot with his hand and laughed. She clawed at him with baby-sized, razor-sharp black fingernails and howled. Her flowing white hair with black streaks whipped around her shoulders and back as her mother tried and failed to smooth it back down.

“Little terror, isn’t she?” Kobe said, impressed. There might just be hope for a female ‘halfling’.

“Does Luna do that to you too, Bay?” Zuri asked. She looked a little worried.

“I was a bit worried when she first started attacking Zane; like a human baby, she has temper tantrums, but she understands when I tell her no. We have a strange connection, a telepathy of sorts, I’m guessing it has to do with my encounter with the Gorgano,” Bay replied. “I understand what Luna wants the second she wants it. Whether or not she gets it is a different story. I won’t let my baby intimidate me.”

Zuri scowled. “I hate those creatures.”

“I see from your expression you’ve had the unfortunate pleasure of their acquaintance,” Zane said.

“It’s one of the reasons I need to get to Titus and Citun,” Kobe said. “Now that I see for myself it is possible to mate a human female and have offspring, we need to get moving. The Gorgano have captured some of our females from the north continent. Since they are incapable of space flight it’s imperative we track them down and bring them home.”

“But I want to stay and visit, Kobe,” Zuri said. “It’s been so long since I’ve been around another woman from Earth. We’ve been traveling for so long. I’m tired.”