The Stubborn Lord (13 page)

“Concerns or fear?” Alek asked with a deep frown. Aeron clearly had no faith in her husband’s protective abilities. Then again, who was he to speak on the subject? His bride mentioned leaving him in almost every conversation they had.

“I will hit you, brother,” Bron warned.

Alek nodded and said nothing. Apologizing wasn’t exactly a Draig trait. He had no practice at it.

“She told me that fear was merely a chemical reaction in the body and that it could not be controlled.” Bron sighed. “Perhaps it is some kind of trait from her line of humanoid.”

Alek chuckled. “I’m glad it is you with the emotional bride then. If that’s true, it will be fun watching you try to calm her when she gets worked up into some female state. Physical, I can well handle as a man and a warrior. I will leave you to the speaking of feelings. Clearly the gods thought you better suited to such a task.”

“Go ahead and laugh,” Bron said. “I heard Kendall got sick off the smell of cooking meat. You’ll be lucky to get a food-simulated meal out of her. At least my bride can cook.”

“Mine looks good naked,” Alek countered. He liked the easy conversation as it lightened their more serious moods.

“As does mine.” Bron’s tone dropped. “Mm, as does mine.”

“Before I lose you to your marriage bed, what is it you are trying to tell me?” Alek pushed up from the wall. He really wanted to run, but he couldn’t leave Kendall unattended. That was how Bron had been captured.

Bron’s smile faded. “Aeron has concerns about Kendall. The women had time alone while we were otherwise engaged. She also knows your wife from the ship. I feel honor bound to tell you.”

Alek tensed. Every muscle in his body on alert.

“She said when they spoke, Kendall sounded secretive and strange, like she was hiding something.”

Alek stared at the ground. His voice hard, he asked, “What exactly did your wife say?”

“That Kendall is unsure of staying here as a bride. That she was being secretive, and though Aeron is not one to begrudge a woman her secrets, she is not convinced I should tell you about the Tyoe until you are sure of Kendall’s reasons for coming to this planet.” Bron paused, moving tentatively closer. “Are you listening?”

“I heard every word. Continue.”

“Her reasoning is sound, in a way,” Bron continued. “The odds that more than a couple of women came here on the Galaxy Brides ship for reasons other than marriage seem highly unlikely. Aeron came to warn us. The gods saw fit to have her stay with me.”

“And the gods did not send me Kendall?” Alek still didn’t trust himself to move. He thought of the forest the night of their weddings. He’d been so close to crushing the crystal and accepting loneliness. Did the gods send him Kendall for another reason? Not as a bride, but for him to watch? He didn’t want to believe it, but nothing about his bridal ceremony made sense. What did he really know about her? He knew men had put a tracking device on her and seemed determined not to let her go unless she had a caretaker. Did those men track her even now?

“I am too old to start questioning the will of the gods. They sent Kendall to you just as they sent Aeron here to warn us and marry me. Our fate is in the hands of the gods.” Bron lifted his chin. “The rest of the galaxy might not see our technology, but it does not mean we are a backward people who cannot defend ourselves against an enemy. Let the Tyoe come. We will be ready.”

Alek ignored his brother’s proud testament to their people and redirected the conversation back to his bride. “Is that all you have to say about Kendall?”

“No.” Bron did not move closer. Alek could tell his brother did not want to speak his mind but rather felt he had to. “I find it suspect she appeared at such a time, as the Tyoe have started their attacks. We both heard what Kendall said. She is trying to finish her Fuelologist and Station Engineer training through the Exploratory Science Commission. She probably knows more about the ore than even Vlad does. She could be here to test samples for the ESC. She also said she was raised on a space fuel port. It is possible she has dealt with the Tyoe or was approached by them. If they are such a powerful force in the fuel mining trade, they would be in a very good position to offer something valuable to her in return, be it a job or money or recommendations. What if they sent her here to spy on our mines? To discover how we operate? To find our weaknesses?”

Bron’s words were an insult and Alek responded the only way he could. He threw a punch. Bron expected the blow and shifted at the last second. Alek’s fist landed hard against his brother’s armored jaw, sending Bron sprawling to the ground.

“My wife is not a spy,” Alek said in warning. What else could he do? Admit that he didn’t really know, that his wedding ceremony hadn’t gone according to tradition?

Bron growled up at his brother before letting his features mold back to human flesh. “Better now?”

Alek nodded and reached down to help the man up. “What do you propose? I can take Kendall to the palace to warn the king.” He didn’t want to take her to Mirek, not yet. Any excuse to avoid giving her a way off planet was one he was willing to take. “You can take your bride to Mirek to see what he knows about the Tyoe. I admit I do not read all of his ambassador reports. It is possible he has dealt with these aliens before and will know if they are what we are dealing with now.”

Bron gave a short laugh as he dusted off his pants. “I don’t read the reports either, but don’t tell him. I think Mirek enjoys writing them.”

“I once told him I found his diplomatic missions fascinating and asked for more details in future accountings,” Alek admitted.

Bron laughed harder. “Is that why they doubled in size?”

Alek’s laughter joined his brother’s as he nodded emphatically. “I thought about sending him a report on the breeding production of the ceffyls and then quizzing him about it in conversation, but I was afraid he’d like it and I’d be stuck doing them for the rest of my life.”

“Mirek does like his paperwork. We will gladly leave him to it, and to the off world ambassadorial duties.” Bron took a calming breath. “I will take Aeron to the palace this morning. She has already been told. After I report to the king, and assure him that my marriage is settled—”

“Is it?” Alek interrupted, instantly jealous and hating that he felt the emotion.

“More or less,” Bron answered elusively. “Anyway, after I tell our uncle my marriage is settled and about the attacks, I will check in with palace security and see if they have heard anything from space.”

Alek nodded. Hidden near the royal palace, disguised as a mountain peak, the Draig kept a highly advanced communications and watch tower. The security team monitored the stars at all times. “Then you want me to go to Mirek?”

“No. After I tell the king I will go to Mirek to talk to him about the mines and the Tyoe.”

“Then what would you have me do?” Alek frowned. “We can cover more territory if we both go.”

“As the duke, I am ordering you to stay with your bride. Settle your marriage. Find out why she has come to our world. Hit me all you want, but we need to know if she is a spy sent to help overthrow us. Also, the communication lines between the mountain settlements and the palace have been neglected for far too long. It is time we repaired them. You can start with our cabin. It will give you a task while you are here.”

“You are exercising your authority of title over me?” Alek asked, shocked by the very notion. His bother hadn’t used his rank on him since they were kids. Even then it hadn’t gone over too well.

“Yes. This is too serious of a threat, and I will act accordingly.” Bron softened his tone. “I also need you to watch the forest for signs of an enemy. You know these woods better than most. You can sense the animals in a way many can’t. Since this is where I was when I was taken, this is where you should remain to investigate.”

Everything he said made sense, but Alek didn’t have to like it. However, the one very positive part of being ordered to stay was that he couldn’t take Kendall to see Mirek. He was duty bound to stay at the cabin, alone, with her. He suddenly smiled.

Bron took a step back. “That was not the reaction I was expecting.”

“One moment. You said the communication lines?” Alek grimaced. “You want
me
to repair them?” He barely recalled studying the schematics as a kid. The system was old and had been neglected for decades.

“I was hoping that part of the order wouldn’t sink in until after I left.” Bron grinned. “Better you than me. I don’t remember where we kept the circuit box.”

Alek scratched his head. Come to think of it, he didn’t remember either. He was about to answer when Bron slammed his fist into the side of his face, hitting human flesh. Alek stumbled back, instantly tense and ready to spar.

Bron was halfway in the door. “I owed you that from yesterday when you commented on my bride. Speak of her like that again and it will be much worse. Now we are even.”

“Cursed dragon,” Alek swore, mumbling as he rubbed his sore jaw. His blood pumped quickly through his veins and he could have easily followed the high duke inside to finish the fight, but he refrained only because Kendall still slept. Besides, he was inclined to forgive his brother. After all, Bron’s orders just bought him more time to convince his bride that she was meant to be his…forever.

Chapter Nine

“What do you mean we can’t leave?” Kendall stared at Alek in disbelief. Her brain was still foggy from oversleeping and she was sure she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“My brother has gone to the palace to speak to the king. He ordered me to stay here for the time being. I am not backing out of what I promised you, but I cannot leave the cabin by noble order.” Alek’s voice sounded strange as he busied himself with some absurd business of pushing against different parts of the smooth wall.

“Then give me the ceffyl beast and point me in the right direction,” Kendall demanded. Fear for Margot weighed heavily on her. She needed to find her sister. “I need to return home. You promised to take me to Mirek.”

“Bron and Aeron took both ceffyls. We thought it would be best if they had the extra speed. The most immediate threat must be dealt with first.” Alek ran his hands over the wall in long sweeps, still not looking at her. He had changed his clothes to a dark-blue tunic with silver threading along the edges. The tunic was designed like a long shirt that hung to his knees and split at the sides, opening to reveal his thighs. His pants were flowing and loose around his legs.

A little self-conscious about her appearance, Kendall brushed her fingers through her hair. She pulled the strands forward to study the red tips of the blonde, noticing that the color seemed strangely faded. She doubted these men would have access to a beauty droid she could use. Then, determining it didn’t matter, she shook herself back to the subject at hand.

“You are a grown man. Surely you can come and go as you please?” Kendall tried to move to the side to better see his face. He glanced at her but didn’t stop what he was doing as he turned a corner and began the same bizarre ritual of touching every inch of the wall.

“Had he ordered me as man, yes, that is true. He ordered me as the high duke. I cannot disobey.” Alek again glanced in her direction but did not hold her gaze long.

“You…” She pointed at him, anger boiling inside her. “You did this on purpose. You want me to stay here. You had your brother order you to stay in this cabin. You gave him the ceffyls so I would be trapped because you know I can’t navigate the mountains alone.”

Finally, he stopped and turned to her. “You think I purposefully trapped you here?”

“I think it’s pretty obvious,” Kendall returned. “I wouldn’t last a day on foot out there. I heard the wild animals through the wall last night. That forest is not safe.”

“Animals?” He furrowed his brow in confusion. “You mean the ambient sound system? I could have turned it off. I told you to pick your room and that is the one Vlad likes to stay in when he comes to the cabin. He sleeps better with the noise. Once you lie on the bed, it triggers the system. Choose another room if that one displeases you.”

The information did make her feel a little better, but it didn’t change anything. “I wouldn’t last in your wilderness. It would be foolish for me to try, and you know it. You want me to stay. I want to go. You promised to take me.”

“I remember what I promised.” Alek suddenly raised his voice in exasperation. She jolted in surprise at the harsh sound and automatically backed away from him.

“I said we would leave the ceremony ground for my home. I did not say how long it would take us to arrive there. I did not promise there wouldn’t be unforeseen duties along the way that I must attend to. I did not intend for this to happen, but it has. I will speak with Mirek about finding you a safe ride off world just as soon as I am able. I did not promise it would be fast.”

“I see. You can’t break your word to take me to Mirek to find a ride, but your brother can order you to delay your promise with some bogus command.”

“For your information…” He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. The hard note to his words was more frightening than his almost-yelling before. “This is not just about you staying here as my bride. I am ordered here to repair the old communication system so that we may be better prepared should an attack happen. I am ordered here to discover…” He sighed and waved his hand in dismissal. Alek turned back to the wall and renewed his efforts of feeling the surface.

When he didn’t continue, she prompted, “Discover what?”

“What I can about who was in the forest and what is happening here,” he mumbled.

“If the aliens were here, wouldn’t it be safer to be with your brother? The whole safety-in-numbers thing?” Kendall sighed in exasperation. “And what are you doing molesting the poor wall like that?”

“I am looking for hidden latches. When I said the old communication system, I meant the ancient communication system. None of us can remember where the panel is hidden, it has been so long—wait, I think I found…” He tapped the wall several times. Nothing happened. The smooth surface didn’t appear any different from the rest of the house. Drawing his hand back, he slammed his fist down hard. A small panel slid open. Little particles of dust stirred around him as he peered inside. “What do we have…?”