Nikhil (Kaliszian Book 1)

  Mac never spoke to him again.

  Yeah, her track record sucked, but at least, she'd never been considered a whore.

  The sudden absence of sound followed by the click of the repair unit opening brought Mac's thoughts back to the present. She was on a planet called Pontus. She was lying in a deep-repair unit. Soon an 'educator' would be placed over her eyes. Nikhil had vowed it wouldn't be the same as with the Ganglians, but could she trust that? She knew she needed to do this, for everyone else. If she was going to help them, she needed information.

  "Ash... Mackenzie." Luol moved to her side. "Are you all right?"

  "Yes." She looked at Luol. "What exactly does this machine do?"

  "It repairs whatever is wrong with you." He frowned at her question, then asked. "I take it you do not have machines like this on your Earth."

  "No." She didn't expand further. "So it fixes everything?"

  "The only thing it can't repair are severed limbs, fully-healed hard tissue injuries, and injuries caused by Tornian steel," Luol told her.

  Mac understood severed limbs. She didn't care about whatever Tornian steel was. What she wanted clarification on was 'fully-healed hard tissue injuries'. It was important.

  "So you're saying that it can't heal broken bones?"

  "Of course, it can. It just can't repair what has already healed."

  "But it can heal scars?" She looked to Nikhil's chest, suddenly realizing why there'd been no scars on it.

  "As long as Tornian steel did not cause them, then yes. Soft tissue injuries are easily repaired."

  "Why am I the only human you've treated so far?" she demanded.

  "You were the only female we discovered, and you needed a great deal of time in the deep-repair unit. You will also need to use the educator, and that takes additional time. Because of that, it was decided that I should first treat those that were with the Zaludians the longest."

  "And how was that decided?" she demanded.

  "How was what decided?" Luol asked frowning.

  "Who had been there the longest."

  "We spoke to the others. They were able to tell us when they were captured."

  "I see."

  Luol's frown deepened. "Do you know something we do not?"

  "Of course not," she instantly denied. "After all, I'm the 'species' that can't even tell you where her world is." She figured she had gathered all the information she could without putting her friends in jeopardy. "So where are we going to do this educator thing?"

  "I thought you would be more comfortable on the couch in my office."

  "Does my comfort really matter?"

  "Of course, it does!" Luol looked from her to Nikhil in shock.

  "The Ganglians forced their educator on one of their males," Nikhil told Luol quietly.

  "On Craig," she told him.

  "On Craig," Nikhil corrected, grateful that at least for a moment her gaze met his. "They then expected him to make sure the others used it or they threatened to kill them."

  "It was forced on him?!!" Luol took a startled step back.

  "Yes."

  "And he suffered no ill effects?" Luol continued to question.

  "Not that I noticed," she told him.

  "Mackenzie experienced some discomfort when it was placed on her," Nikhil informed Luol, and his reward was the tightening of his Ashe's lips and her gaze leaving his.

  "Discomfort?!!" Luol was immediately at Mac's side.

  "It doesn't matter," she told Luol tensely.

  "Of course it does!" Luol argued. "The educator should never cause any discomfort. I need to make sure no harm has been done to you."

  "Shouldn't your repair unit have taken care of that?" she asked hitting her palm on the bed.

  "Well... yes."

  "Then there is no need for you to examine me and there was no reason to mention it," she glared at Nikhil.

  "Luol needs to know what happened to you, Mackenzie," Nikhil told her quietly.

  "Apparently, everyone needs to know what happened to me. And between you and Luol they will." Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she leveled herself up and jumped off. When her feet slipped on the cool floor, Nikhil was immediately there steadying her.

  While she didn't jerk out of his arms, Mackenzie quickly stepped away, giving him a wary look then turned to Luol. "Where is this couch?"

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Luol showed her the educator, and she was surprised at how streamlined this one was. It was so different than the one the Ganglians had forced them to put on, but she couldn't stop the shudder of apprehension that ran through her at seeing it.

  "Mackenzie?"

  Nikhil's voice was so full of concern that she wanted to turn to him, wanted to let him wrap his massive arms around her and keep her safe, but she couldn't trust him. Not that she really came first, as he said an Ashe or True Mate would. Not when he thought her no better than a Pleasure Worker.

  "Put it on," she said and closed her eyes as Luol lowered the educator.

  Luol made sure the educator was sending out the deep, penetrating waves needed to put Mackenzie into a deep sleep and transfer its knowledge before rounding on Nikhil.

  "What in the name of the Goddess happened?!!" he demanded.

  "That is something between me and my Mackenzie, Luol."

  "Not if it has her refusing to be your Ashe, Nikhil," Luol walked over and put a hand on a bulging muscle of Nikhil's arm. "I am your friend, I only wish to help."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "It was a misunderstanding. I... over-reacted to something." Nikhil walked over to his Mackenzie, he didn't care what she said, she was his Ashe whether she accepted his bead or not, and ran a calloused finger over the back of the small, pale hand that was resting on her stomach. She'd willingly touched him with that hand, had caressed him with it. Would she ever again?

  "Nikhil...” Luol watched as the Empire's largest and most deadly warrior carefully touch the hand of his newly discovered True Mate as if he feared she would disappear.

  "I insulted her, Luol. Accused her of being something that I would never think to accuse one of our females of being."

  "What did you accuse her of?"

  "Acting like a Pleasure Worker." He pulled his hand away from Mackenzie as he said it, and took a step back.

  "Nikhil! Why would you accuse her of that?"

  "I woke this morning with my Mackenzie in my arms, and her running her hands over my body. It was the most incredible feeling, Luol."

  "I'm sure it was."

  "My body responded to her touch, especially when she pressed her lips against mine, but I worried it was too soon, and I withdrew. She misunderstood and took it as a rejection."

  "How does that make her a Pleasure Worker?" Luol demanded.

  "It doesn't." Nikhil ran a hand over his head causing his beads to hit together angrily. "It was later and we were... talking and it led us to more touching and kissing. It was then I realized she was experienced... in kissing on the lips. I questioned it and she admitted it. Apparently certain things aren't as sacred to them as they are to us," he said quietly. "I... didn't react well, and said only a Pleasure Worker would do such a thing."

  "And she knew what a Pleasure Worker was because the Zaludians were going to make her one."

  "Yes." Nikhil's gaze returned to Mackenzie. "I did not mean it, Luol. She is my True Mate, and I want her to be my Ashe."

  "She is your True Mate, Nikhil. The bead proves that. Give her time to come to terms with all that has happened, to get to know you, and I'm sure she will come to realize you did not mean it the way it sounded and forgive you."

  "Will she? Would you if you were insulted so? If another male were to insult her like that, I would kill him without a second thought. So why would I think I had the right to say it?"

  "She isn't the only one that needs time to adjust to what has happened, Nikhil. You do too. Your life is now forever changed. You are the first to find your True Mate in nearly five hund
red years. Others are going to want to know about her, see her, talk to her."

  "She is mine!" Nikhil growled angrily at the thought of other males approaching her.

  "I know this, Nikhil, and so will every other male when he sees her wearing your bead, but they are still going to be curious. You are going to have to be able to handle it along with helping her, handle it."

  Chapter Eight

  Mac could have sworn the educator had just gone on when Luol was removing it. "Is something wrong?"

  "No. Why would you think that?" Luol replied.

  "Because you just put the educator on."

  "That was nearly two hours ago, Mackenzie."

  "It was?" A movement behind Luol had her looking to see Nikhil standing there.

  "What are you still doing here?" she asked.

  "I would never leave you in such a vulnerable position," he said, his glowing green gaze never leaving hers. "I vowed to keep you safe. I keep my vows."

  "Nikhil remained at your side the entire time, Mackenzie. Caring for you while I was treating the Jerboaians."

  "How many?" she asked.

  "Jerboaians?" Luol questioned.

  "Yes, twenty of them arrived with us."

  "Twenty arrived with you?" Luol gave Nikhil a sharp look. "There were only three left for me to treat."

  "Why does that surprise you?" She caught the look Luol gave Nikhil.

  "Jerboaians are perfectly suited for the harsh conditions of mining. It's what they do. For them to have arrived with you and so few to have survived... It means you and your people were there much longer than we believed."

  "And that surprises you. That such a small, insignificant species, one that doesn't even travel in space, could survive longer than one you do know."

  "I do not consider you or your species insignificant, Mackenzie. But yes, I am surprised that you were able to survive so long. Zaludians aren't known for treating those they enslave... kindly."

  "Know that first hand."

  "Yes, unfortunately you do," Luol agreed. "Now let us make sure you can access the information the educator gave you. Do you know how far Crurn is from here?"

  Mac thought for a moment. "Yes, it's three days travel from here."

  "Good. Now do you know who Chancellor Aadi Rayner was?"

  Mac saw Nikhil jerk slightly at the question and frowned. "I take it that's not a standard question."

  "Why would you ask that, Luol?" Nikhil took a closer step toward his Ashe.

  "I need to make sure she understands the world she is now in, Nikhil. Everything about it. This is the quickest way to make sure she does."

  "Why are you so concerned, Nikhil?" Mac nearly reached out to touch him, then remembered she was mad at him.

  "I do not want you further upset...” Nikhil glared at Luol.

  "But why would...” Suddenly she knew why he was so concerned, and rubbed her temple as the information came flooding in. "Chancellor Aadi... He's part of the reason the Great Infection struck. Why nothing edible grows in the Kaliszian Empire."

  "Yes," Luol confirmed.

  "Is General Rayner related to him?" she addressed her question to Nikhil, wondering if he'd tell her the truth.

  "Distantly," Nikhil instantly admitted, not wanting her ever to doubt he would tell her truth, "but he is nothing like his ancestor."

  "Are you sure of that?"

  "Yes."

  "Anything else you want to ask me?" She returned her gaze to Luol.

  "Just one more question."

  "Alright."

  "Do you now understand what it means to a Kaliszian to find their True Mate?"

  "I...” Mac felt her throat tighten as she finally realized what having a True Mate really meant. It was like Soul Mates on Earth, but so much more. The bead that she wore, Nikhil's bead, allowed him to feel what she felt, to know if she were safe, well, and alive. She looked at Nikhil in shock, and saw the truth in his gaze. The True Mate bond was so strong between couples that when one met the Goddess, the other almost always chose to join them. She rose from the couch and walked directly to him, slapping both her palms against his chest, causing him to lean back slightly. "You will never do that!"

  Nikhil grunted slightly at the sting of her palms against his skin, but he would always welcome any touch she was willing to bless him with. "Mackenzie...”

  "Your vow, Nikhil. I will have it!" she demanded, gripping his vest, pulling him forward.

  "I will never give you a vow that I don't intend to keep, my Mackenzie. So I cannot vow that," he told her allowing her to pull him down.

  "That's ridiculous! You barely know me! There's no reason for you to...”

  "There is every reason!" he growled his arms pulling her close. "I would already willingly sacrifice my life to protect you, and I have only known you one day. I cannot imagine how devastated I would be if you were no longer in my life."

  "But...” That was as far as she got before Nikhil lifted her off her feet and covered her mouth with his.

  Mac found herself sinking into Nikhil's kiss, the emotions behind it pouring through her.

  Regret.

  Loneliness.

  Doubt.

  Desire.

  Uncertainty.

  But the strongest most undeniable emotion that ran through it all was the all-consuming love... for her. Ripping her mouth away from his, she stared up at him with confusion-filled eyes.

  "That's not possible...” she whispered.

  "It is, because I feel it. Nothing will ever change it. Not even death. You make me whole and give me a purpose I never knew I was missing. You are all that matters to me now, Mackenzie."

  "You have your people, your Emperor, your duty."

  "All that, I would willingly forsake if it meant keeping you safe."

  "Nikhil...” she reached out, running trembling fingers over his lips.

  "It is truth, Little One. One I know will take time for you to fully accept. But never doubt that you are my True Mate, and I hope that one day you will be able to forgive my thoughtless words and agree to be my Ashe." He gently kissed her fingertips. "I will now take you to be reunited with your people, as I vowed I would."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Mac stood in the door of the survivors’ area, her gaze taking it all in. It was one large, open room with drab-colored walls and several more doors on one end. The survivors had each claimed their own area. In the far corner, where the most cots were set up, were her friends all huddled together wearing gray capes. Letting out a little cry of relief, she hurried over to them.

  Nikhil barely restrained himself from grabbing his Mackenzie and dragging her from the room, especially when male arms began to envelop her. He knew these were her people, and that they would all want to greet her, but it went against every instinct he had to allow them to touch her with such familiarity. He didn't like that he couldn't understand what was being said, as they were speaking their native language including Mackenzie. But what he couldn't tolerate most was losing sight of her golden, brown hair. Growling, he went to find her.

  "I'm fine, Craig, really." Mac moved out of the arms of the man that had become their leader, all because the Ganglians had put the educator on him first. She remembered when she'd first met him. He'd been your typical cocky, good-looking guy, with blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a big, unnaturally white smile. He'd flirted with her, but she instantly knew it was because he was a natural flirt, and she was the only available female. He'd quickly lost that smile. His eyes no longer sparkled, and the blonde hair he always fussed with was now dull and lifeless.

  "We were so worried. I wish...”

  "There was nothing you could have done." She let her gaze travel over the rest of the group. "Nothing any of you could do. Where's...” A deep, angry growl had her turning to find Nikhil shoving people aside on his way to her. "Nikhil...”

  "Mac...” Craig went to step in front of her, but she put a restraining hand on his arm.

  "It's alright, C
raig. He's not going to harm me." She switched to Kaliszian. "Nikhil, what's wrong?"

  "They are touching you," he growled back, the intense glow of his eyes causing several of the guys to take a step back.

  "They are just hugging me. It's a common way for us to greet one another," she explained.

  "I do not like it."

  "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to not hug my friends just because you don't like it. Now I need to talk to them, need to make sure they're all okay. You need to leave."

  "You wish for me to leave you? Leave you alone with other males?"

  "I'm not going to be with 'other males.' I'm going to be with males that are my friends. Males that have been keeping me safe for a long time."

  "They let the Zaludians take you," he said between gritted teeth.

  "That's not their fault." She turned and knew what Nikhil thought when he looked at the guys all huddled together. He believed they had been unwilling to protect her, but she knew better. "We're safe here, aren't we? No one’s going to attack us, are they?

  "Of course, no one will! You are all protected here!" Nikhil told her.

  "Then there is no reason I can't be alone with my friends."

  Nikhil didn't like his Ashe's logic. He especially didn't like that she was right. Logically, he knew he couldn't be constantly at her side, but he would prefer to know she was safely secured in his quarters when he wasn't with her.