Before Mac could respond, Nikhil and Luol were returning.
Chapter Fourteen
Nikhil sat next to Mackenzie as they ate their midday meal. She'd refused to leave the medical area saying she needed to be there when Craig woke. Nikhil wanted to argue with her. He wanted to take her to their quarters so they could be alone. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Instead, he had retrieved two meals, and they were silently eating them in Luol's office.
"What's wrong, Nikhil?" she asked putting her half-eaten meal aside.
"Nothing," he picked up the pouch and handed it back to her. "Finish your meal."
"I'm full. You can finish it or Craig can when he's out of the repair unit." She set it back down on the table then rising onto her knees, she cupped his jaw with her hands and she turned him to face her. "What's wrong?"
Nikhil looked into her warm, brown eyes and saw her concern for him. What had he ever done to deserve that? Reaching out he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, the tips of his fingers caressing her silky skin.
"Nothing is wrong, Little One. I had just been hoping to have some time alone while we enjoyed our meal."
"But we're alone now."
"In our quarters," Nikhil added quietly. "I wanted to hold you."
Mac's eyes widened slightly then a mischievous smile crossed her lips right before she swung a leg over his thighs and wrapped her arms around his neck. "How's this?"
"Mackenzie," Nikhil's eyes flew to the open door even as his hands gripped her hips pulling her tightly against him.
"What?" she asked, pressing a kiss to his strong, square chin.
"Someone might see us."
"So?" she asked, pulling his head down so her lips could reach his. "You’re my True Mate, aren't you?"
"Yes," he growled trying to capture the lips she'd pulled away from his.
"So why is it wrong for someone to see us kissing?"
"It's not," he told her and lifting a hand gripped the back of her head, holding her still. "It's what I want to do after we kiss that others aren't allowed to see."
With that, he captured her lips for a hard, deep kiss.
Mac rose up on her knees, her arms wrapping around his head as she sunk into the kiss. Goddess, the man could kiss. Her hips involuntarily moved against his washboard abs as their tongues sparred and she suddenly realized Nikhil had been right. They should have gone to his quarters because she wanted to do more than just kiss him, a lot more.
"Ahem," followed by the clearing of a throat had Mac and Nikhil breaking apart to find Luol standing in the doorway. "Sorry to interrupt," he said not looking sorry at all, "but the repair unit is about to finish, and I'm about to wake the male... Craig up. I thought you would want to be there."
"I do," Mac said her cheeks flushing.
"Then I suggest you finish your... midday meal and meet me at the unit," Luol told her, his lips twitching as he tried not to smile and walked away.
Mac buried her face in Nikhil's neck for a moment before lifting her gaze to his. "Next time we go to your quarters for midday meal."
Nikhil gazed down at her, trying to regain some control over his body. Goddess, all he wanted to do was strip her bare and plunge his throbbing shaft into her. He knew her channel was slick and wet. She was ready to take him because her covering had risen as she rose to her knees and it had been those soft folds she'd rubbed against his abs that the vest didn't cover. All he had to do was release himself, and they would be one. He looked into her eyes and saw the desire in them. Desire that told him she wouldn't stop him if he did, but he also saw her need. Her need to be there for one that had been there for her.
"We will," he growled then slowly set her on her feet. "And we will be taking last meal in our quarters tonight."
"Agreed," she whispered, noticing the way he stressed the word 'our.' "Thank you for understanding."
As they turned to walk out, Nikhil reached for his comm that had started to beep and after a short discussion, returned it to his waist.
"Mackenzie..."
"You have to go," she said.
"Yes."
"It's alright."
"I want you to remain here in medical until I return for you." He put a gentle hand on her cheek tipping her gaze up to his. "Vow it to me, Mackenzie."
"I'll stay here until you come and get me." When he just stood there, she added, "I vow."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
The sound of the repair unit opening was the first thing that registered in Craig's mind. The next thing was the sound of Mac's voice softly talking to someone in a language he didn't understand.
Mac.
He would know that husky voice anywhere.
It reached into his dreams and reminded him that he was still a man.
But what was she saying?
Who was she talking to?
Turning his head toward the sound of her voice, his eyes flew open and there she was looking up at the Kaliszian called Luol.
"Mac..." he croaked out, surprised at how dry his throat was.
"Craig." Mac turned her gaze to him, a gaze full of warmth and happiness for him. "How are you feeling?" she asked in English.
"Thirsty," he told her and watched as she immediately turned to get him what he needed.
"Here." She put a hand behind his head lifting it to help him drink.
"How long was I out?" he asked after he drained the glass.
"Almost five hours."
"Five?!!" Craig gave her an astonished look. It hadn't felt that long to him. "I don't even remember falling asleep."
"That's because Luol gave you something to help with that."
"He drugged me?" Craig arrowed straight up turning furious eyes to Luol.
"I told him to, Craig," Mac quickly defended Luol, who couldn't understand what was being said. "You needed to relax and let the unit work, and you weren't. It was my call."
"You were out when you were treated?" He was going to be pissed if she said no.
"Yes," she told him. "Now you need to start speaking in Zaludian so Luol can help you."
"Where's Paul?" he demanded, but it was in Zaludian.
"He's back with the others. So is Eric, who also used the educator while you were being treated," she told him.
"Both of them?"
"Yes," Luol answered him this time, "and they tolerated it very well with no side effects. Now how are you feeling?"
Craig took a minute to think about it. "Good. All those aches and pains are gone." He lifted a hand and saw that all the scars he'd accumulated in the mine were gone too, and turned stunned eyes to Luol.
"Yes, the repair unit took care of those and any others you had on your body. It also replenished all the nutrients that you were deficient in. The only thing I found unusual was that your system was not as deficient as Mackenzie's had been even though you were held the same amount of time." He looked to Craig hoping for an answer, but all he found was Craig staring hard at Mackenzie.
"Mackenzie, would you know why?" Luol asked quietly.
"No," she said softly before pulling her gaze away from Craig to repeat more strongly, "No, Luol, I don't know why that is. Maybe I was just deficient to begin with or maybe it was because of the beating I took."
"Beating?!!" Craig jumped off the bed then grabbed her upper arms giving her a hard shake. "What beating?!! Are you telling me that fucking Kaliszian beat you?!!"
Before Mac could recover from Craig's sudden move, Luol grabbed him by the throat and threw him across the room.
"Luol!" Mac grabbed his arm, stopping him from going after Craig. "Stop!"
"You are the True Mate of a Kaliszian," Luol growled. "No one attacks you!"
Mac couldn't believe how hard Luol's voice had become or how brightly his eyes were glowing. She'd never seen him act like this. He'd always been so caring and gentle with her, and that's when she realized that while he claimed to be Kalbaughian, he was still a Kaliszian warrior.
"He wasn't
attacking me, Luol," she said trying to calm him.
"Look at your arms, Mackenzie," Luol spit out.
She did and was surprised to see that bruises were already forming there. "Craig didn't mean to," she said defending Craig. "He was just surprised. I never told them that the Zaludians had beaten me. He thought I meant Nikhil."
"What?" Luol finally looked at her. When the human male had jumped off the bed of the repair unit, he had reverted to his language, and Luol hadn't been able to understand what he was saying.
"He thought Nikhil had harmed me. He was just reacting."
"Nikhil would never harm you."
"I know this. Craig doesn't. It's going to take time for all of us to adjust and accept these changes, Luol."
"I see." Luol's gaze returned to Craig, who was slowly getting up, his eyes never leaving Luol. "Then I apologize to you, Mackenzie, for not keeping you from harm. It seems my time as a Healer has dulled my reflexes."
"They didn't seem dull to me," Mac told him putting a careful hand on the still bulging bicep of his arm. "I didn't realize that you were more than a Healer, Luol, that you were also an Elite Warrior."
"It has been many years since I have been an Elite, but yes, I am still a Warrior. I would never be allowed to treat them if I was not."
"Mac, what's going on?" Craig asked, holding his right arm as he watched Luol warily.
"In Zaludian, Craig," Mac said glaring at him, and after a moment he repeated the question. "Luol was defending me."
"From who?" Craig asked.
"From you! He thought you were harming me," she looked at the darkening bruises, "and I guess he was right."
"Shit, Mac! I never meant to hurt you! You know that!"
"I wouldn't have thought so but here's the proof, and if Nikhil sees it, he'll do a whole lot worse to you than what Luol did." She saw Craig pale and swallow hard then looked to Luol. "You can make these disappear, can't you?"
"I could but Nikhil needs to be informed," Luol said still watching Craig.
"No, he doesn't. It was an accident, and it’s never going to happen again. Is it, Craig?" she asked giving Craig a hard look.
"No... of course it’s not! I never intended..."
Mac ignored the rest of what Craig was saying and turned her gaze back to Luol and switched to Kaliszian. "Please, Luol. Nikhil doesn't need to know about this. We already have so much to get through, so much to understand about one another. You know he will never be able to understand or accept this." She lifted a bruised arm. "He'll kill Craig."
"As he should," Luol told her, his eyes having not yet lost that hard glow.
"Which isn't going to help in getting my people to trust you. We've survived the Ganglians. We've survived the Zaludians. Are you telling me that after surviving all that, the Kaliszians are going to be the ones that finally kill us? All because we don't understand your rules? Because we tried to defend one another? Was Blag right? Do you only care about Kaliszians?"
Luol jerked back as if she had struck him with the full strength of an Elite warrior. "No! That is not what I'm saying. Mackenzie, you know it isn't."
"Then help me." She held out her bruised arms to him.
"Fine, but if it happens again, Nikhil will be informed." He waited for her to nod.
"If it happens again," Mac's hard gaze shot to Craig, "Nikhil can have him after I'm done with him."
Luol looked at her in shock then began to laugh. "I believe Nikhil would be truly upset then because you wouldn't leave anything for him."
"That's right."
"Mac?" Craig asked in Zaludian. "What's going on?"
"Luol has agreed to treat my bruises so my Mate won't see them and kill you," she told him bluntly.
"What?" Craig paled.
"If Nikhil saw this and knew you'd done them, he'd kill you." She let that sink in for a moment before continuing. "You may not like this, Craig, but Nikhil is my True Mate and the only male I want, and nothing is ever going to change that. I know you were always trying to get something going between us even before the Ganglians took us. I told you no then, and I'm telling you no now. I'll always be grateful for you helping to protect me, but that's all I'll ever feel for you; gratitude and friendship. If you can't accept that, then stay away from me." She looked to Luol. "Where do you need me?"
Luol just stared at her for a moment then smiled. Oh yes, the Goddess had chosen the perfect mate for Nikhil. She was going to be just what the massive warrior needed.
"Let’s go into my office and I'll treat you with the handheld unit." He looked to Craig. "Then I'll treat that break in your arm."
"You broke Craig's arm?" Mac's gaze flew to him and for the first time noticing just how gingerly Craig was holding his arm.
"He landed badly," Luol said with a dismissive shrug.
"You need to treat him first, Luol."
"No. You are first, Mackenzie. His injury was caused because of his lack of control. He waits. Otherwise, I notify Nikhil," Luol threatened.
"Alright. Fine," Mac said testily moving toward his office.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
After that, the rest of the afternoon was relatively quiet. She'd given Craig the remainder of her food packet, much to Luol's displeasure, once his arm was repaired. Craig then insisted on being the next to use the educator. Mac knew Luol thought it was because Craig was trying to make up for what had happened, but she knew it was because Craig was something of a control freak. He would never be able to stand that Paul and Eric would understand something that he didn't.
Craig had become their unspoken leader after he'd been the one the Ganglians had forced the educator on. There was no other reason for it, but no one had challenged him about it either. Not that there was much 'leadership' needed in the mine. The Zaludians were in charge, but now that they were free, it seemed he was trying to assume control.
Mac sat with him just as she had with Paul and Eric, but once he was under, she let go of his hand. Another Nekeok had arrived along with Tyler which surprised her. She'd thought either Paul or Eric would have come back, and she said as much.
"They felt that since they had both used the educator, that someone else should be treated so it would be fair to everyone," Tyler told her.
And there in lay the difference between Craig, Paul and Eric. Paul and Eric thought of how others would feel. Craig not so much.
"Where's Craig?" Eric asked.
"Using the educator," she told him and they exchanged a knowing look. "So are you ready to feel better?"
"Definitely. Where do you want me?" he asked looking to Luol.
"On the bed," Luol told him and explained to him, as he had Craig, what was about to happen. But this time, he informed the male that he could 'knock him out' as Mackenzie had said.
"Mac?" Tyler looked at her. "What do you think?"
"I think you won't feel as claustrophobic when the cover closes if you let Luol give you something."
Luol could see that the male called Tyler seriously considered what Mackenzie had said before slowly nodding his head. "Knock me out, Doc," he said, then lay back on the bed.
"Doc?" Luol looked to Mackenzie for clarification as the cover on the deep-repair unit closed and began to treat Tyler.
"It's an Earth term for Healer," she told him.
"I see." As he continued to watch her, she raised a questioning eyebrow. "You never left the side of the other males once the educator was on."
"No."
"Is there something about this Craig that I should know about?"
"No. It's fine, Luol. Honestly." At his confused look, she corrected. "My vow."
"You need to let Nikhil know if Craig gives you problems, Mackenzie. It is his duty and honor to protect you."
"Honor?"
"Of course. To have a True Mate is the greatest honor the Goddess can give a male. It shows she finds him worthy."
"Shouldn't that be my choice? If I find Nikhil worthy I don't care what anyone else thinks, not even a Godde
ss." She saw she had shocked Luol. "Humans don't have True Mate beads that we can rely on, Luol. It would be nice if we did." She lifted Nikhil's bead to look at it. "It would make it so much easier, but then again maybe not."
"What do you mean?" Luol frowned at her.
"I mean, and please don't take offense at this, but you say Maysa is your True Mate, even though she doesn't wear your True Mate bead."
"She is," Luol told her angrily.
"But do others believe that?" she questioned. "That she is your True Mate? That she would never remove your Ashe bead?"
Luol opened his mouth then snapped it shut because he knew some males had tried to lure his Maysa away when he was gone. "Are you saying this doesn't happen on your Earth?"
"Oh it does, but we don't have this 'sign from the Goddess' that we've met our Soul Mate. Our True Mate. We have to take it on faith and trust and believe. If I wasn't wearing this," she jiggled the bead she was still holding at him, "would any of you honestly believe I was Nikhil's True Mate? Would Nikhil? He might have offered me his Ashe bead, but what if his True Mate bead suddenly ended up on someone else... What would he do? What would you do?"
Luol gave her a lost look.
"Exactly. You rely on this when maybe you should just trust and rely on what you feel instead."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Luol sat in his office later that night, after Nikhil had come to collect Mackenzie, and let himself truly think about what she had said. Their society revolved around their beads. Their past, present, and future were displayed there for all to see, including their worth and value to society. He'd never questioned it before, but now he did. All because of one small human female. If his True Mate bead ever transferred to another, he knew his heart would shatter, knew his Maysa's would shatter too. Would he stay with his Ashe and the life they had created together or would he abandon her for another?
Without a thought, he reached out and entered the code that would connect him to his Maysa.
"Yes?" a soft voice answered.
Her beautiful face, that had creases on one cheek from where she'd been sleeping appeared on his screen and Luol suddenly realized just how late it was on Crurn.
"Luol? Is that you?" Eyes that a moment ago had been blurry with sleep sharpened and filled with fear. "Luol! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"