Lisia's Journey (8 page)

Lisia‟s eyes narrowed but that was the only outward sign of her annoyance.

Whoever this woman was, she had a lot to learn. The first being that Lisia did not

intend to answer to anyone here and certainly not some upstart female. Although she

didn‟t plan to be here for long, she wouldn‟t take such presumption from any woman.

Lisia continued on her way with no more than a final glance at the thin, rather short

woman.

The woman gasped. “No, she didn‟t just walk away from me.”

Lisia smiled with satisfaction. She might not make a lot of friends here, but they‟d

know that she wasn‟t some minor female to be ordered around by the end of the day.

Without doubt, she knew what was going to happen would do that and more. The

woman‟s quick anger would lead her to do something even more foolish than trying to

tell Lisia what to do.

Lisia heard the woman‟s boots hitting the ground as she chased after her. Lisia

could have spun around and met her opponent before she got close to her. She chose

not to do it. She wanted to make a very definite impression on this woman. If it stopped

even one more incident like this, the whole scene would be worth it.

The woman‟s hand landed on Lisia‟s shoulder. Lisia spun quickly. Her hand

streaked forward taking the woman by surprise. The woman had barely drawn in the

first of a stunned gasp before Lisia‟s hand tightened on her throat. Lisia let the woman

feel the sharp tips of her claws. A strong scent of fear rolled off her opponent. Her grip

didn‟t loosen even a bit.

“Don‟t move. You might just offer me more temptation than I can resist. I already

want to rip your throat out.” Lisia couldn‟t suppress the low growl in her voice.

The woman gulped and drew in a shallow breath.

“If you try to give me orders again, I‟ll take you down and pin you as you deserve.

You obviously still have a lot to learn if you can‟t tell when you‟re out of your depth. I‟ll

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Rebecca Airies

be more than willing to give you a few lessons, but you‟ll come out of it with scars.”

Lisia leaned close baring her teeth.

“I-I don‟t need them.” The woman‟s eyes lowered.

“Good.” Lisia turned and began walking away from the woman.

“But the
Shi’an
wants to see you as soon as you‟re found.”

“Well, it‟s just a little too bad that I don‟t want to see him right now,” Lisia said

with relish. She glanced back just to see the woman‟s shocked expression. She

continued to the
Shi’an
‟s
marrohl
.

Lisia had almost reached the huge building when she again heard rushed footsteps

behind her. These were heavier than the woman‟s had been. She stopped and looked

back. She saw Arik moving quickly down the street. She couldn‟t miss him in the

camouflage pattern shirt and black pants. At first she wondered if she should move out

of his way. Then she noticed how his eyes were fixed on her specifically. The woman

must have run to him when she‟d failed to gain Lisia‟s cooperation. Grimacing, she

waited for him. As much as she‟d like to be able to take care of him like she had the

woman, she knew it was impossible. She could do tough bitch. Fighting a warrior was

just a little beyond her capabilities. She couldn‟t take him down without a stunner. She

was tempted to go find one and use it just for the extra time she‟d gain, but it really

wasn‟t worth the trouble it would cause.

“The
Shi’an
wants to see you. You‟ll come with me.” Arik shot a warning glance her

way. “Are you going to try to threaten me, too?”

“That wasn‟t a threat. If the little idiot tries to order me around again, she‟l

discover it was a promise.” She idly looked around the area. The woman couldn‟t be

too far away if she‟d found Arik this soon.

Arik shook his head although she caught a glimpse of a smile on his face. “The

women haven‟t had a female alpha in years. It‟s little wonder that they‟re having some

trouble knowing what to do with you.”

She gritted her teeth and shook her head. “I am
not
their alpha female.”

“Not officially, but you just took a huge step in that direction. You made them see

you as the strongest female here. Since the
Shi’an
has chosen you, it‟s only a matter of

time until you take up that position.” He glanced over to where two of the women were

talking near the entrance to one of the
marrohls
.

Lisia watched the two women for a moment, noting their quick glances her way. He

was right. Word of what she‟d done was already making the rounds. The fact that there

hadn‟t been a strong female leader here for a time did explain the woman‟s actions. It

didn‟t change Lisia‟s plans. She didn‟t intend to take the position of alpha female. There

had to be a way out of this engagement and some way to get off the planet without his

permission. She didn‟t belong here.

“Since he apparently has to see me, can we get going? I‟ve been walking since I left

this morning and I‟m hungry,” she said on a long sigh. Arik wasn‟t going to budge

without her.

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Lisia’s Journey

He nodded and gestured for her to walk at his side. Suspicious man. He wasn‟t

even going to trust her to follow him. She might have been tempted to make a run for

the shelter of the forest. She wouldn‟t have done it though. It would be a waste of

energy. Even if she succeeded, it would be a temporary reprieve. She couldn‟t stay in

the forest. If she wanted to get home, she‟d have to face Jarritt some time. It might as

well be now.

Arik took her to the landing area. Jarritt stood to one side, watching as a shuttle

landed. Wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and black pants, he stood out among the

UDA men unloading a shuttle nearby. He glanced over as they approached and

frowned at her. His eyes swept over her from head to her scuffed boots.

“Where did you find her?” Jarritt asked, coming forward to meet them. His hand

cupped her elbow and he stepped close to her.

“She just came back to the holding,
Shi’an
. She says she‟s been walking in the forest

during the morning.” Arik stepped back as soon as Jarritt‟s hand touched her.

“You rose early today.” Jarritt looked down at her. Anger glittered in his brown

eyes.

Lisia sighed and looked pointedly at the shuttles. She needed the time to get her

temper under control. In typical alpha style, he expected answers immediately if not

sooner.

“Yes, I did. I usually do. I wanted to walk and I did. It‟s not as if I had anything

pressing to do today and after all, you said I wasn‟t a prisoner.” She refused to be

intimidated by his glowering stare.

“You are not free to just disappear. If you weren‟t found soon, I was going to begin

a search starting with a thorough check of every
marrohl
in the holding,” he growled.

“You‟re the one keeping me here. If you don‟t like the way I act, put me on a ship

off the planet.” She folded her arms across her chest and smiled smugly up at him.

Irritating him most likely wouldn‟t get him to send her home. He would definitely

know she wouldn‟t be accepting his dictates. If she gave him enough trouble maybe

he‟d reconsider his decision. Even if he didn‟t, she‟d have fun in the meantime.

His fingers cupped her chin making sure she looked him in the eyes. “Don‟t make

any plans for a long trip. You‟re my woman and you‟re not going anywhere. I think you

need something to keep you occupied.”

“Did I ever tell you I don‟t follow orders that well?” She smirked. While not

technically true, she‟d cultivate the behavior just for him. Even knowing it would earn

her some punishment in a few cases, she‟d be willing to risk it.

“You‟ll learn,” Jarritt growled.

“I‟m not interested in learning. When you find something I am interested in, maybe

I‟ll pay attention. Right now, all I‟m interested in is a long bath and something to eat,”

she taunted. She tried to step free of his hold, but his arm merely tightened securely

holding her.

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Rebecca Airies

Jarritt‟s stern expression seemed to lighten as he looked at her until she could see

the amusement in his eyes. “You think you can play games with me? You should realize

I don‟t play by the rules you know, not with you. If you defy me, you won‟t get

punished like every other woman would. Since you‟re my woman, I‟ll punish you in

private and in a way guaranteed to make you remember it.”

She saw the heat in his eyes and swallowed hard. The intense feelings of

anticipation and hunger practically beat her. She knew that those punishments would

be sexual in nature.

“Why did you have to see me?” She took a deep breath. Time to get the discussion

off this risky subject.

“Because I wanted to.” His smile was smug.

She sighed and looked skyward. She saw a ship begin to descend through the

atmosphere. Were they bringing something down? She wasn‟t going to ask about it.

“You‟re bored and you have nothing to do here.” Jarritt seemed to be considering

the words. “Isn‟t that what you said?”

Lisia looked at him. Caution kept her from answering immediately. She knew that

he wasn‟t asking for clarification. He knew perfectly well what she‟d said. He was

planning something and wanted to trap her with her own words. She couldn‟t see a

way to stop him. Silence wouldn‟t work. He‟d keep insisting.

“I did say that, but…” she began.

“I can take care of that for you. Since you‟re bored, I‟ll give you something to do.”

He glanced over as the ship swung in for a landing. “You‟ll certainly be busy for a

while.”

“Doing what?” She glared at him, not trying to hide the anger in her voice.

“You‟ll be finding places for about sixty people and getting our temporary guests

settled in
marrohls
.” He gave her a stern look.

“How am I supposed to do that? I don‟t know anything about the
marrohls
and who

lives where and what space is free.” She didn‟t know a thing about this clan. If she‟d

been at home, she‟d have been able to do it without a problem.

“You won‟t be doing it on your own. The other women will help you.” He didn‟t

look at her as he spoke. He watched the ship land.

She looked at the dark gray shuttle. “Who are these people and why are they going

to be staying? How long will they be here?”

“They‟re passengers rescued from a ship attacked by the space pirates. They‟ll be

here until another ship‟s sent for them.” He looked over at her. “You‟d better get back

and get started or you‟ll be trying to find space for them when they‟re milling around

the
marrohls
. I imagine that would be a little frustrating.”

She sighed and turned to go. As much as she‟d relish disobeying his order, it

wouldn‟t be for something like this. Something that involved other people. This battle

was just between her and Jarritt. She wouldn‟t get others into trouble along with her.

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Lisia’s Journey

She did have to admit that there had been a bit of truth in what she‟d told him. She was

a little bored and the thought of actually doing something appealed to her.

* * * * *

Lisia glared at Jarritt. She drummed her finger on the arm of the chair and stared

across the small space separating her and Jarritt in the seating area in front of one of the

smaller hearths away from the large grouping near the huge fireplaces. It was one of her

favorite places in the communal living area. It had a cozy feeling, comfortable chairs

and was one place that people could have a quiet conversation and normally not get

interrupted. If she‟d known the trouble that going along with his little plan would

cause, she‟d have screamed and fought before she‟d helped find a place for those

people. The temporary visitors hadn‟t caused a problem as far as she knew. If it had

been them, she wouldn‟t have worried at all. That would be Jarritt‟s problem.

No, all of her trouble came from the
Aridi
of this clan. Every one of them was now

taking it for granted that she‟d be marrying the
Shi’an
. It irritated her that no one had

even asked her if she wanted to join with him. That wasn‟t new and she‟d half-expected

it from his attitude and behavior in front of the others.

What really made her so angry was the fact that they were treating her as if she

already held the position. Some of the women came to her with problems and since she

knew very little about this group, she couldn‟t answer readily. She‟d have to go find the

Shi’an
or one of his men. Denials that she had no power here did no good. The women

just pointed out the ways Jarritt had already staked his claim. She hadn‟t been able to

make anyone listen. It was really no wonder. He was always touching her. When they