"Yes, and in a few more minutes I'm going to show you just how dangerous I am."
"I can't wait." She lay there just enjoying the moment when she thought of something.
"Nikhil?"
"Yes, my Mackenzie?"
"There is something on Earth that we exchange as an outward sign that we have committed ourselves to another."
"There is?" Nikhil asked lifting is head to gaze at her.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Rings. We exchange wedding rings."
"Rings?"
"Yes, they usually match and are worn by both the male and female. We wear them on this finger.” She touched the ring finger on her left hand.
"It is permanently attached?"
"No. It is more like your Ashe bead. It can be accepted or declined and even after it’s been accepted, it can be returned if one changes their mind."
"What are these rings made of?" he asked.
"They are usually metal, either gold, silver, or platinum, some have jewels in them. It depends on what the couple wants."
"And you would like us to... exchange these rings?"
"Yes," she gave him an uncertain look. "Would that be okay? I mean I guess I don't know if Kaliszians have things such as rings. I haven't seen anyone else wearing them."
"It is not common, but I have heard of some females adorning themselves with what you have described."
"Why isn't it common?"
"Because most of our minerals and jewels are used to purchase food supplies from the Tornians. Only the worthiest can amass the credits needed to obtain them for themselves."
"Oh... I never thought of that..." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter then. It was just a thought."
"I will see what I can do," he told her.
"No, Nikhil, don't worry about it. I don't need to see my ring on your finger to know you are mine. Wearing your beads is enough for me." She remembered something from earlier in the day. "Nikhil?" she asked her gaze searching his.
"What is it, Mackenzie?"
"The coverings you asked Luol's Ashe to get for me..."
"What about them?" he asked.
"Can you afford them?" she asked, chewing on her bottom lip.
"You question whether I can provide for you?" The satisfied, relaxed expression that had been on his face disappeared.
"I... I guess I just don't know. I assume you can afford the coverings you had Luol's Ashe get for me. Otherwise you wouldn't have gotten them, but then I asked for more and I shouldn't have done that. I mean I have no idea what things cost here, and it’s not like I have anything of value to contribute."
"Nothing of value?!!" Nikhil roared rolling her onto her back as rage filled him. "You are valuable! To me, you are the most valuable thing in the universe to me!"
"I know that," she looked up at him, surprised by his move but not worried, not scared, "but we both know that's not what I'm talking about. I'm new to your world, and I want to be able to contribute, to help you, to be your partner. I don't want to be a burden."
"Mackenzie." Nikhil lowered his forehead to hers, his anger leaving him as quickly as it had come when he realized what was really worrying his Mackenzie. She was worried how her being in his life would affect him. Her only concern was for him. "The cost of the coverings will not be a problem, not even the extra ones."
"You're sure?"
"I vow it to you." Nikhil didn't know what to expect when he gave her that vow, but it wasn't the smile that slowly grew on her face that started his heart pounding faster. Or the way her body began to move beneath him causing his shaft to harden.
"Well, I'm glad we got that out of the way... so are you ready to show me just how dangerous you are?" she asked wiggling her eyebrows at him.
Nikhil couldn't stop the growl from escaping his throat as he lowered his mouth to his mate. "I am a very dangerous male, and even if it takes all night, I will prove it to you."
"Lucky me..." she whispered, and those were the last coherent thoughts she had for a very long time.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Luol was still staring at the dark screen, fingering his True Mate bead, long after he finished his call to his Maysa. Never in his life had he felt so conflicted. The True Mate bead was supposed to be a gift. That's what he'd told his Mackenzie. A gift from the Goddess that had stopped the bloodshed that occurred when males fought over the same female. But now he saw it as a curse for he would kill any male that tried to take Maysa from him.
Choice. That's what Mackenzie believed she should have.
Faith.
Trust.
Those were the things the Kaliszian people offered to the Goddess, but it seemed not to their Ashes or True Mates. In all the years since he'd chosen Maysa as his Ashe, and she had accepted, neither of them had ever asked the other what they would do if their True Mate beads transferred to another.
Why?
Because they were afraid of the answer they would receive?
He knew Maysa was faithful to him, as he was to her. But was that faith?
He thought he had already trusted her with his deepest darkest secrets, but now he realized he hadn't. Not until tonight, when he'd told her what he would do if her bead ever transferred to another. He had expected her to rage at him, had expected her to tell him that he would be killing her real mate, but she hadn't. She had agreed that she would always be his True Mate, no matter the bead.
Luol felt his eyes fill, remembering the belief and trust his Maysa had in him. He was enough for her, bead or no bead. She wanted him and only him. Goddess, that was the biggest blessing he could ever receive.
He was about to rise, to take this new revelation to rest with him, when he remembered Blag and how his Ashe didn't even know he was alive. Sitting back down, he entered a code. It was time to show the Nekeok that Kaliszians did care about those under their protection.
Chapter Sixteen
Mac found she was still smiling days later as Nikhil escorted her to the survivors’ area. The two of them had grown so close in the last few days, and as they had, the fact that she was keeping Jen's existence from him began to gnaw at her. It's why she'd asked Nikhil to bring her here. Everyone was finally healed and had used the educator, everyone except Jen. They'd managed to keep her hidden as different warriors brought them to Luol and Mac hadn't corrected them, but now she needed to convince Jen to let Mac reveal her presence.
She nodded to Onp as they entered the area. The warrior had taken the new duty assigned to him very seriously. She'd never seen him treat any of the survivors with anything less than respect. She'd even over heard several of the guys talking to him, and he'd readily answered all their questions. As he returned the gesture, Nikhil's comm beeped and after giving his arm a reassuring squeeze, she made her way over to her friends.
"Nikhil," he answered.
"Squad Leader, I need you and your warriors to report to the transports immediately," Treyvon informed him.
"Has something happened?" Nikhil demanded, his gaze going to Mackenzie.
"I will inform you when you arrive."
Nikhil wanted to argue, to know if his Mackenzie was at risk, but he knew he couldn't. "Yes, General. I will contact my warriors immediately."
Mac had been talking to Paul, and while she hadn't heard what was said she could sense something was wrong. Moving to Nikhil, she put a hand on his chest. "Nikhil?"
"I must report for duty, Mackenzie," he informed her regretfully. "I want you to remain here until I return."
"Is there something wrong?"
"I do not know," he told her honestly.
"I'll stay here, Nikhil," she immediately reassured him. "It's going to take a while for the guys to shave and for Paul to cut their hair. Thank you for letting me borrow a few of your knives."
"You are sure he knows how to use them?" He looked at Paul, who was inspecting one of the smaller blades Mackenzie had convinced him to allow them to use.
"Yes, Paul just
told me he could when I showed them to him."
"I will be back as soon as I can, Mackenzie," he told her pulling his gaze back to her.
"I know." She rose up on her toes and gave him a gentle kiss when he leaned down. "Go, Nikhil. I'll be fine."
Giving her a stiff nod, he turned on his heel and left pausing only long enough to speak to Onp.
"With your life, Onp," he growled.
"With my life, Nikhil," Onp vowed.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Is everything okay, Mackenzie?" Paul asked as she returned.
"I'm sure it is," she told him. "Nikhil just has to report for duty. He had planned on staying to make sure you didn't kill yourself with those," she joked, gesturing to the blades in his hands. "So can you really shave with those?"
"I'd prefer a straight razor, but these will do." He ran his hand over his own scruffy face. "I'll start with me, get a feel for the weight and balance of the blade then see who trusts me enough to shave them."
Mac smiled as he walked toward the cleansing room because she knew everyone there would trust him. Turning she went to find Jen.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Nikhil and his squad assumed their seats on the shuttle as it took off, then silently looked to General Treyvon waiting for him to inform them what was going on.
"We have intercepted a Zaludian transmission emanating from the last mine we searched," Treyvon informed them.
"We missed someone?" Nikhil questioned, and couldn't help but wonder if it was because he hadn't been there.
"Unknown as of yet," Treyvon told them. "It seems only to be transmitting mining data and could be an automated signal sent at a predesignated time. We will search every inch of that mine until we find the source of the transmission, and what, or who triggered it."
"Yes, General," they all responded.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Parlan couldn't help but smile as he watched the transports lift off and disappear over the horizon heading for the mine and the transmission he'd been able to activate remotely, thanks to the help of his friend. The plan was working perfectly and soon all those that had disparaged him would suffer. He couldn't wait to see how the strong and mighty Nikhil handled the loss of his Ashe and True Mate, and couldn't wait to see how Rayner explained how the first base reestablished on Pontus was attacked while he was in command of it. Everyone would assume it was the will of the Goddess who still hadn't forgiven Rayner for what his ancestor had done.
Humming happily to himself, he finished his last tour on the wall. Soon the Zaludians would arrive under the guise that they were the resupply ship. They would use the codes and passwords he had supplied to fool the Defender that was patrolling the space above them. They would then attack the survivors’ area killing all beings there before anyone could stop them.
When tomorrow dawned, the Kaliszian Empire would be entering a new era. A stronger, brighter one where those that should be ruling were. And he, Parlan Spada, would be one of them.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"So are you finally going to tell me?" Jen asked.
"Tell you what?" Mac turned on the cot, so she sat facing Jen.
"What this is all about." Jen reached up freeing the braid Mac had tucked behind her ear and the beads that were on it.
"They’re called Suja beads," Mac told her quietly.
"Suja beads." Jen frowned at the word. "These are what the Kaliszians wear in their hair."
"Yes. They designate a Kaliszian’s place in their society, their ancestry, and reveal their achievements," Mac told her knowing that since Jen hadn't used the educator, she wouldn't know any of this.
"They tell all that? They aren't just for decoration?"
"No. This one," she touched the bottom bead, "this one is called an Ashe bead. Ashe means Lady in Kaliszian. Nikhil offered it to me a few days ago, and I accepted it." She gave Jen an uncertain look as she continued. "It makes me his wife."
"What?!!" Jen screeched, then dipped her head as everyone looked their way. Lowering her voice she repeated. "What?"
"I'm Nikhil's wife," Mac told her again.
"I... ah... but why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why would you marry him? Did he force you?"
"Of course not!" Mac instantly denied. "Nikhil would never do that!"
Jen just stared at her friend, trying to decide if she was telling her the truth. They'd had only each other to rely on for so long that it had gotten to the point where they could finish the other’s sentences and knew what the other one was thinking. She could tell Mac wasn't lying to her now. "Then why didn't you want to tell me?"
"Because I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it... after Todd... I was worried it would upset you."
Jen felt her throat clog with tears at the mention of her husband. God, she wished he were here with her, helping her. But he wasn't, and she had to go on without him. Straightening her shoulders, she forced back her tears. "Do you love him, Mac?" she asked.
"With all my heart," Mac instantly responded, and Jen could see the love shining in her friend's eyes. "I can't explain it, Jen, but I feel it. Here," she touched the spot on her chest where her heart was, "and now that I've found him, I can't imagine my life without him in it. I know we're going to have some rough times. After all we still have a lot to learn about each other. We're two different species, and then, of course, there's the fact that he's male."
That last comment brought a small smile to Jen's lips. She remembered the times she'd struggled with Todd, and they'd known each other a lot longer than Mac had known this Nikhil. "Then I'm happy for you, Mac."
"You are? You're sure?"
"Yes, but does it really matter what I think?"
"Of course, it matters. You're my best friend and the closest thing to a sister I've ever had. I wouldn't have made it through all this if it weren't for you."
"That's a lie. If it hadn't been for me, you would have headed back down the mountain like you originally planned, and you wouldn't even be here. You'd still be on Earth. Safe."
"Maybe, but I don't regret staying. I've found my place, Jen, and while I will always regret what had to happen to get me here, I'll never regret that I am. I found my Soul Mate. My True Mate." She looked down and touched the True Mate bead in her hair.
"Is that another Ashe bead?" Jen asked quietly.
"No. This is one Nikhil's True Mate bead," Mac told her quietly and the love was easily heard in her voice.
"True Mate bead? Nikhil offered that to you too?" Jen asked.
"No, Kaliszians can't offer their True Mate bead," she told her.
"Then how are you wearing it?"
"It’s kind of hard to explain, Suja beads aren't alive, not in the way we think of things being alive, but they kind of are, and like I said, different ones mean different things. The height of the bead on the braid is also important."
"In what way?"
"The height of any bead indicates the importance, worthiness, or strength of what the bead represents."
"So Nikhil's True Mate bead being more than halfway up your braid indicates..."
"That our bond is very strong and that he loves me as much as I love him."
"I'm happy for you, Mackenzie." Jen reached out to squeeze her hand. "Honestly. We've all been through hell and seem to have lost something of ourselves because of it, but you... you've found something very special and very rare. Cherish it. Hold it close to your heart and never let it go. Because when you lose it," this time Jen couldn't stop her tears from falling, "when you lose it, you lose a piece of yourself that you can never get back."
Mac wrapped her arms around Jen pulling her close. She didn't even have to look up to know that the guys had closed ranks around them, blocking them from everyone else in the room.
"If you love him, Mac, hold on to him. Fight to keep him, to stay with him. Fight with everything you are."
"I will, Jen. I swear to the Goddess I will, but I need you to be there with m
e, helping me. I can't do this alone. We've been through too much together not to be there for each other now. We're the only human females in this entire universe, and I can't do this without you."
"You can."
"Okay, then I don't want to." She gave Jen a small smile. "I told Nikhil about how humans exchange rings instead of beads."
"You did?" Jen couldn't stop herself from looking at the finger where her rings once rested.
"Yes, I wanted him to wear my ring since I have no Dasho bead to offer him."
"Dasho bead?" Jen frowned.
"It's the bead a female Kaliszian offers to a male making him her husband."
"He's agreed to marry you," Jen couldn't keep the astonishment out of her voice "In a human way?"
"Yes. He's willing to commit himself to me, verbally. It's not something Kaliszians do. They rely on this bead instead." She touched her True Mate bead again.
"You don't like that. Why?" Jen asked, frowning at her.
"Because it takes away your responsibility, your commitment, and trust for the other person. Would you have married Todd, trusted him, based solely on a bead transferring to him?"
"No," Jen told her quietly, "I wouldn't have, but it seems you have."
"No, I didn't. I argued with Nikhil about it. I even threatened to cut it off."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I didn't care if I was wearing the first True Mate bead to transfer in five hundred years or not. I was going to decide who I loved, who my Soul Mate was and if the Goddess didn't like it that was just too bad."
"And you chose Nikhil."
"Yes."
"And Nikhil chose you."
"Yes."
"You know I can't stand beside you, Mac. The Kaliszians don't even know I'm here."
"You could if you let me tell them about you," Mac raised her hand to stop the argument she knew was coming. "There's no danger to you here, Jen. No one’s going to force you to do anything you don't want to do, but you need the deep-repair unit. You know you do. You've seen for yourself how much better the guys are doing after being treated. You're fading away right before our eyes, and I can't stand it. Not when there's something I can do about it."
"There's no reason for me to..."