Claimed: Unchartered Territory (18 page)

***

The smile plastered on Dallas face was doomed to crack if someone didn’t speak soon. She and Remar sat at the large banquet style table with the other heads of the Chezarian home world and their respective partners for nearly ten minutes, and aside from Remar’s introduction and a few grunts of acknowledgement no one had uttered a single syllable. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if their meals had already been served but as Remar had informed her it was customary for there to be conversation prior to eating.

She wondered if the other occupants were aware of this tradition because as far as she could tell the only thing of interest seemed to be openly ogling her. She could understand their interest, if the situation were reversed she’d definitely be curious about an alien on earth. In fact she was doing her own scanning of the guests. Admittedly it was a little hard to read any emotions on the stern faces. She let her own smile relax wondering if the forced cheery look she tried to project was off putting. 

Nope, it didn’t seem to do much by way of reducing the intense stares, although one Chezarian’s gaze stood out from the rest. If looks were daggers Dallas was certain she’d be pierced to her chair by the look one woman gave her. There was something beneath the harsh glare she couldn’t quite pinpoint. She shifted her gaze to the woman’s companion. A bright, nearly iridescent, gaze met hers. The hungry look in his eyes was unsettling and she found herself leaning infinitesimally closer to Remar.

“Well this is a lively bunch,” she whispered for his ears only.

Remar snorted. “Do not worry. Once the meal is over you will not have to be subjected to them anymore,” he whispered back.

“Your mate has informed us that the aberration is responsible for bringing your ship to Chezar?” one of the leaders asked suddenly.

“I’m sorry, I’m bad with names, what’s yours again?” she asked wanting to at least match faces or risk start developing nicknames that was certain to garner a frown from the group, especially Remar.

At first he didn’t look as if he would respond.

“I am called Keltar, leader of sector three.”

“Well High Commander Keltar, Remar’s statement is correct. What you call an aberration we thought was a black hole, but as it turns out it’s actually a wormhole.”

“
Warmhole
?” Another of the leaders chimed in with confusion. Before Dallas had a chance to ask he quickly added. “I am called Nelo, leader of sector one.”

“Wormhole,” she corrected stifling a smile at his mispronunciation. “Something we’ve identified as being able to transport matter to other points in galaxies, apparently not just our own.”

Keltar snorted, “Had you travelled with a skilled technician Remar would not have you as a bond mate.”

Dallas wanted to ignore the obvious insult but chose instead to take the middle road. “Actually, I was chosen from the most skilled persons on our planet male or female. I have flown solo missions many times and have the highest success rate. Unfortunately, the wormhole didn’t function as previously theorized by my species.”

“Good evening tide bond mate of Remar. I am called Voren, leader of sector four,” the final leader re-introduced and followed up with a smile that looked pleasant enough on the surface. Dallas actually remembered his name noting the striking physical similarities between he and Remar. She would definitely ask him about it later. In spite of his greeting and resemblance to her bond mate Dallas felt something… off about the leader. A cruel arrogance oozed from him making her welcome the distance between them. Beside him his bond mate sat quietly, eyes downcast.

“High Commander Voren,” she acknowledged politely.

He nodded. “Tell me, how do
E’rthrs
believe this
worm hole
functions?” He asked taking care to mimic her enunciation of the word.

“Well it obviously transports but we initially believed wormholes to be fixed in space. As I discovered they are capable of movement. We weren’t quite prepared for that fact. Black holes are fixed and have gravitational fields capable of pulling objects inside. The wormhole presented itself like a black hole at first, but there was no gravitational pull from the object, rather it seems to move and swallow objects in its path. What’s curious is that for a wormhole to travel in space we should have seen the disappearance of more things.”

“But you have not observed this?” Voren asked.

“No. It’s something that will need further studying.”

“So your people will send others to investigate this
warmhole
,” it was more of a statement then a question coming from Keltar. The look he shot Remar would have a lesser man withering.

“I hope they received my distress message and won’t take the chance.”

“And you believe they will listen to you?” The question came from the female at Keltar’s side. Dallas had attempted to avoid eye contact with her since the woman served her up with an icy stare from the moment they entered the room. There was no misinterpreting the look. She had an obvious dislike for Dallas that went unmasked.

“Of course,” Dallas answered meeting the woman’s unfriendly gaze.

“Your world is strange indeed,” she said with a sneer.

“As is Chezar to me, we could really discover a lot from each other. Although you guys have a leg up on me, Remar has told me your people have studied mine through some of the probes we’ve sent out.”

“Yes,” Nelo answered. “They have become very valuable possessions.”

“Much like yourself.” The woman added.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name?”

“It is because I never offered it.”

“I will have you remember to whom you are speaking,” Remar warned.

“Yes, of course. I do apologize...
Leila.
My name is …Kala,” the woman said pointedly.

There was a deafening silence in the room following her forced introduction. Dallas glanced around the table. Was she missing something?

“I hope there will be other opportunities for us to speak. There are obviously gaps between the spheres we have received from your home world and I am most curious about many things.” Nelo was the first to break the awkward silence.

“Of course.” At her side Remar made a slight throaty noise she was sure had been meant for her. “I will discuss it further with Remar and see what can be arranged,” she added.

Nelo accepted her answer with a respectful nod.

All conversation ceased when Remar signaled for the meal to be brought out.

***

“Well if you’re not going to say it then I will. That went pretty frackin’ well,” Dallas announced back in their room.

He snorted in answer, shrugging out of his leather vest.

“Don’t tell me, I committed some grave Chezarian
faux pas
?” She asked while flopping onto one of the two thick round chairs in the room. Slowly the material contoured around her like a comforting glove. She wanted to not care if she’d embarrassed him or not… she really, really wanted to but the desire to please him was stronger.

Frack.

“No, you did not shame me.”

Um…thanks
. That was a compliment, right?

“So what crawled up in your pants and died?”

Remar turned to frown at her. “Surely I would have felt if… ahh, this is another of your failed attempts at humor?”

“Not really. But I am trying to figure out what’s wrong with you. For all intents and purposes tonight was a success. That Kala chic was a little nasty but you shut her down pretty quick so no harm. Although I have to say I wasn’t expecting cattiness. In fact the other two women were downright docile so I’m not sure if I preferred any of them really.”

“Kala’s behavior was reprehensible.”

She shrugged, “Maybe, but that’s… what’s his name… Keltar’s problem not yours.”

“You are right.”

Although he agreed easy enough Dallas could see irritation rippling off him in waves.

“So you wanna tell me what else is bothering you.”

“Nothing,” he snapped. “It is Chezarian in nature, I would not expect you to understand.”

“Well since I’m not going anywhere any time soon I think I should be well versed on the ins and outs of Chezarian culture. I want to avoid whatever it is that has you so sour.”

“The mistake was Keltar’s in bringing Kala to this evening’s meal, it was meant for leaders and their bond mates, not concubines.”

Dallas resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It seemed like definite misplaced anger to be upset about the leader choosing to bring his girlfriend to dinner. He was right, it was definitely a Chezarian thing.

“None of you strike me as exactly buddy buddy, maybe he married…bonded with her and you just didn’t know about it.”

Remar shook his head. “That would never happen.”

He removed his chaises with ease leaving him devastatingly naked in the middle of the floor. Dallas’ ADHD kicked in full force, she’d nearly forgotten her follow up question with him standing so fully exposed.

She started to rise from her chair, then remembered they were having an actual conversation. “And why would it never happen?”

“Because until your arrival she was my concubine and none of the others would ever make a bond out of another’s former bed mate.”

Dallas sank back in the cushion as his word penetrated her distracted brain and she watched as Remar turned to head towards the bathing room.

“Of All the damn nerve,” she said storming in after him not even a full minute later. “You’re upset because your former lover had the audacity to find someone else. Really?”

Remar turned to face her continuing with his shower as if having an argument while bathing was an everyday occurrence.

“I do not care that Kala has found another, in fact I encouraged her to do so when I ended the arrangement prior to our bonding.”

Dallas frowned. “Oh my god, no wonder she looked ready to knock me out. You broke up with her and bonded with me?”

“She was handsomely compensated for the time we were together,” he answered with nonchalance.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and exactly how long were you together?”

“Several of your earth years.”

“Jeez Remar, how could you do that to her and don’t try and dismiss this by saying its part of Chezarian culture so I wouldn’t understand. I think being dumped because your boyfriend has found someone else is pretty universal.”

“From your reaction it is obvious you do not understand,” he responded flatly.

A frustrated screech bubbled to the surface seeming to stun Remar momentarily. He stared unblinkingly at her until Dallas stormed out much the same way she’d entered the bathroom.

She didn’t know what made her more upset. The easy way he’d discarded his long-time mistress for her or the way he was reacting to her moving on as he’d suggested. Men were all the same the world over. Control freaks who thought the world should revolve on their terms, and when things deviated in the slightest from the way they perceived they got all bent out of shape.

Feeling no compulsion to wait for him to complete his shower she left their rooms for what exact destination she was uncertain but the further away from Remar she got the better for both of them. By the time she was stepping out into the garden her anger had downgraded from explosive to serious irritation. One of the twin suns had already made its descent into the horizon and the second hung very low in the sky, casting a euphoric orange red glow around her. In the distance she heard the sound of the falls and knew it was the one place on the property that could offer her some serenity. With the exception of the far off rushing sound of water it was quiet. Nothing like earth. The over populated planet never seemed to get a break from noise pollution no matter the hour. Serenity facilities were all the rage for those who wanted to detox from the constant business of the never slumbering planet. She’d read books and seen old movies where they depicted the peaceful quietness of nature but never thought she’d experience it first-hand until now.

“Such a late hour for you to be out?” the male voice seemed to come from nowhere, then Voren was stepping off a darkened path she hadn’t yet explored.

Dallas tried not to appear startled by his sudden appearance. “I enjoy the gardens no matter the time of day.”

“I have always envied the care Remar has taken with this space. I can remember coming here as a child and spending many hours in it. I suspect it is so well kept in honor of his mother who loved to roam in it. Curious that you share the same kinship.”

“What’s not to love about it?”

“Very true. From your
E’rth
spheres it would seem your planet has many beautiful locales to enjoy also,” he said conversationally falling in step beside her.

With Voren in tow, Dallas contemplated postponing her jaunt but at the moment she’d tolerate the presence of the leader over dealing with her own bond mate.

“Unfortunately many of them no longer exist and the ones that do are not easily accessed by people without substantial means at their disposal. The majority of us have to content ourselves the holographs provided by Serenity Facilities.”

“That sounds unnatural. You cannot experience the true sight, sounds or smells from holograms.”

“They have built in simulated atmospheric sensory packages, but you’re right. It’s nothing like the real thing. I didn’t realize exactly how much I’ve missed out on until coming here.”

“So your capture has not been completely unfavorable?”

“I don’t really see myself as captured, well not anymore.”

“No? And why is that?”

It was a question she expected.

“I’m not a prisoner. I have freedom.”

“Only that which is afforded you by your bond mate,” Voren reminded,

“Which is no different from the plight of any other Chezarian woman?”

He nodded. “Amazing how well you’ve adapted and in such a short amount of time.”

“I guess humans are amazingly resilient in this way, call it a survival instinct.”

She was caught by surprise for the second time when Voren stopped short and added a restraining hand to her arm. “You are a very curious female indeed. Remar is fortunate to have found you first. I wonder how long the fates will continue to favor him?”

She frowned up at the alien leader, taking a cautious step back at the look he fixed on her.

“
Dal’las
,” Remar’s call intruded on the awkward moment.

“Over here”, she croaked and Voren let his fingers slide down her exposed arm before falling to his side. Within seconds the mask of indifference was back on his face.

The hair on her arms stood at attention where his fingers touched and she resisted the urge to rub the contact away. Remar caught up with them on the trail and his look of displeasure signaled the exact moment he realized she wasn’t alone.

“This area was among the off limit zones for leaders,” Remar reminded Voren as Dallas sidled up next to him. She enjoyed the comfort of having his arm slip around her waist and noticed how Voren’s gaze followed the action.

“Come now Remar, would you truly deny me a moment of nostalgia,” Voren replied smoothly and Dallas half expected for his tongue to slip between his lips in a serpentine reflex.

“I expect the rules of my home to be honored at all times.”

Voren nodded. “My apologies then.
Leila Dal’las
it has been a pleasure. I bid you both a good rest.”

The other leader moved quietly out of sight and Dallas let loose a breath she didn’t realize she was holding until that moment. She braced herself for the admonishment to come.

Remar pulled her close into his arms and held her for several quiet moments. “Voren is not what he appears
Dal’las
, you would do well to remember that.”

“He made it seem like you two were close.”

“We are distant relatives and were close in our youth, that is ancient history and also the reason I know he cannot be trusted.”

“You know, I’ll feel a lot better once your
frenemies
have left the sector,” she said snuggling deeper into the warmth and safety of his arms. In that moment she dismissed their earlier argument and just wanted their lives to revert back to the way things were before the leaders arrival.

“As will I.”