A concerned looking warrior with brown hair was standing there in front of a bright shiny silver ship, much like the one she and Reddix had crashed in. Beside him was a girl with long blonde hair that had green streaks in it. Reddix had explained briefly that Saber was his best friend and Lissa was his wife although there seemed to be some other relationship there he hadn’t explained.
Before Nina could say another word, the blonde girl came forward and hugged her impulsively.
“Are you all right?” she asked when she pulled back, looking Nina over anxiously. “I know I don’t know you personally, but I feel like I do. I’ve been talking to your Mehoo-Jimmy, and she is so worried.”
“Oh, poor Mehoo! Is she all right?” Nina asked. “I know my, uh, disappearing like that must have given her an awful scare.”
Lissa smiled. “She’s all right, but I’m sure she’ll be much better once she gets her arms around you. She asked me to give you a big hug when I met you. I couldn’t understand how she knew you were all right when we only picked up your beacon, but she seemed really sure.”
“Mehoo is funny like that.” Nina said. “Sometimes she just…knows things.”
Lissa nodded. “That’s not unheard of among my people—she must be close to the Goddess.” She frowned. “She also said to tell you that you must ‘heal the bear.’ Do you know what that means?”
Nina threw a quick glance at Reddix. “Um…I think so.”
“Anyway, I’m just so glad you’re all right.” Lissa smiled and squeezed Nina again who smiled and hugged her back.
Her husband, Saber, nodded at Nina formally. “Reddix is my oldest friend, but I must ask, are you well? Have you been injured in any way?”
Nina shook her head. “Reddix and I had a few…disagreements at first. But we came to an understanding. I just…didn’t think you’d get here so fast. Reddix only set off the beacon two days ago.”
“We were scanning for your signal almost from the minute you flew into that wormhole,” Lissa said. “We were so afraid something had happened to you. So afraid…”
“That I had hurt her,” Reddix growled.
“Well…yes.” Lissa raised her chin defiantly. “What else were we supposed to think?”
“Nothing. You were right to think as you did.” Reddix frowned. “But I was wrong—completely misguided. I would never hurt Nina or allow her to come to harm now. Not even if my life depended on it.”
He looked at Saber as he spoke, and Nina saw him scratching at the blood red tattoo which decorated his wrist. She had noticed only that morning that it seemed to have grown again. It had started as just a small red snake-looking mark, and now the snake had almost encircled his wrist. Remembering how he had forced her to touch it when he first grabbed her, she wanted to ask him what it meant. Did it have to do with the swamp witch who had promised him a cure? But before she’d gotten a chance to demand answers, Healing One had come and told her that a new ship had landed on the planet.
I thought we’d have more time, Nina thought for the hundredth time since she and Reddix had hurried through the Feeling People’s village to meet his friends. More time to talk. More time to be together. In the past few days since she had begun helping Reddix “feed” the collar, they had grown much, much closer. Reddix had opened up to her, talking about his childhood and telling her bits and pieces of his past. Nina had reciprocated, telling about her mother’s early death, her father’s gambling problems and the way Mehoo-Jimmy had practically raised her.
She felt closer to him now than she had ever felt to her ex-fiancé—closer than she’d ever felt to anyone but Mehoo. And now, suddenly, the magical time they had shared together was ending. She was going back to Earth, and Reddix was going back to his home planet of Tarsia…wherever that was. Nina didn’t know, only that it was in a different galaxy billions of light years away. Would she ever see him again? How would he be able to function without her there to dampen his RTS?
Would he miss her?
She felt like crying, but she smiled bravely instead.
“We’re fine, both of us,” Reddix was assuring his friends again. “Although I could use a universal key for this damn Hurkon collar.” He tugged at the collar which barely blinked in response. Lately they had been “feeding” it so much it seemed sluggish—like a grizzly bear which had gorged on too much honey.
“I have one in the ship,” Saber said. “I brought it along just in case, when we realized the ship you’d ah…purloined was the one meant for Yonnie Six.” He raised an eyebrow. “Apparently a very dangerous prisoner escaped because the collar wasn’t delivered to them on time.”
Reddix frowned. “I’m sorry about that and for all the harm I caused. I will, of course, make reparations.”
“No need. They captured him again—but not before he’d killed several details of extremely well-armed guards.”
“But this prisoner…” Reddix said. “Did they say what he looked like?”
Saber shook his head. “No, only that he was a class eight felon and extremely dangerous.”
“Class eight?” Reddix gave a low whistle. “That’s a fucking psychopath. No wonder they wanted the collar.”
“Well, he started as a fighter on the Blood Circuit, but apparently, his violence got out of hand…several times. His owner hushed it up because he was so successful, but then he went too far, and there was no way to keep it quiet.”
“Who did he kill that they couldn’t hush up?” Nina asked.
“His owner,” Saber said grimly. “He was headed to Yonnie Six because they have the most secure triple max prison anywhere in the known universe, and they don’t mind taking dangerous prisoners—probably because they don’t respect males enough to fear them.”
“I’ve seen what that attitude can do.” Lissa shivered and looked at Saber. “Do you remember The Beast?”
“Of course I remember,” he said darkly. “It’s better not to speak of such things.” He looked at Reddix. “Why so much interest in the prisoner, Brother?”
Reddix frowned. “I had a dream. The night before I put on the collar. It was…strangely like what you’re describing. A prisoner escaping…guards talking about the collar and the fact that he was a felon…” He shook his head. “Probably nothing.”
“What I want to know is how long you’ve been wearing that collar and why you put it on in the first place?” Saber gave the collar a questioning look.
Reddix scowled. “That’s a long story.”
“He put it on for me,” Nina said quietly. “And let me hold the controls. So I could feel safe around him. So I could trust him.”
“Really?” Lissa looked at Reddix is obvious surprise.
“Seemed like the least I could do after kidnapping her and dragging her through a Goddess damned worm hold,” he grumbled, but Nina thought she saw a ghost of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.
Lissa looked at Nina. “And how often did you have to shock him to keep him in line?”
“Not too often. Actually, we were mostly concerned about keeping the collar from shocking him itself,” Nina said before she thought.
“What? It started shocking you on its own?” Saber demanded.
Reddix shifted uneasily. “We…handled it.”
“How?” Lissa asked.
“We just…managed.” Nina cleared her throat. “But Reddix still needs to get it off.”
She blushed when she thought of the way they’d been keeping the collar content. After that first initial time, she’d lost a lot of her uncertainty and shyness, and in the past two days, she and Reddix hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other. Nina had tried to put certain restrictions on their activities—they hadn’t made love, and she still hadn’t allowed Reddix to taste her, though he has asked her on several occasions. By limiting their actions to touching and kissing, she’d been hoping to keep from getting hurt, thinking that maybe if she refused to give all of her body, she could keep her heart intact.
Now she realized what a fool she’d been. There was no way she could keep Reddix out of her heart. The big Kindred was already lodged there irrevocably, and now she was losing him. Of course, it was ridiculous to feel so much for her kidnapper, but he was more than that now. He was…
“Oh, is that one of the natives?” Lissa said, interrupting her thoughts. “We saw there were life forms when we scanned the planet. Are they sentient?”
“They sure as hell are,” Reddix growled, and Nina saw him wince.
Quickly she stepped close to the big Kindred and grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. “They communicate by projecting their emotions,” she explained to Lissa and Saber.
At the touch of her hand on his, the wrinkles in Reddix’s forehead smoothed out and he took a deep breath. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“No problem.” Again she wondered who would help him when they had gone their separate ways. From the corner of her eye she saw Lissa and Saber exchange a startled look, but before she could say anything, Healing One was there, his furry tentacles waving gently like branches in a breeze only he could feel.
“You are leaving?” he thought at Nina, sending an image of her and Reddix climbing into the silver ship and speeding away into the sky.
“We are,” she said aloud. Motioning to Lissa and Saber, she said, “These are our friends. They have come to take us home.” She tried to project feelings of warmth and gratitude and relief, but though she felt all those emotions, some others leaked in as well.
“You are…sad. You grieve.” Healing One came forward and stroked one tentacle gently across her face.
“I am,” Nina admitted softly. “I will…be sad to go.”
“Sad to part. To go your separate ways.” Healing One sent an image of Nina and Reddix going opposite directions.
“Yes,” she whispered. “But…I can’t help it.”
“Help what?” Reddix asked, frowning at her. Nina was glad that though they were holding hands, he still couldn’t eavesdrop on her conversation with Healing One. She didn’t want him to know how much he had come to mean to her—or how much it would hurt when they had to say goodbye.
“Nothing,” she said, trying to smile. “I told him we can’t help leaving since your friends are here to take us home.” She smiled at Healing One and said, “Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Hos…pi…” The alien sent a feeling of confusion.
“Your friendship,” Nina clarified. “Your kindness. Sharing your food and shelter with us.” She sent images of them staying in the Feeling People’s guest house and eating the purple mush.
“Welcome…” Healing One brushed a soft furry tentacle over her cheek again. “You are always welcome here, Nina. You and your mate.” He sent a picture of her and Reddix holding hands, just as they were now.
Nina had to sniff hard to keep from crying. “Thank you, Healing One,” she said, trying to smile. “I’ll never forget our time here on…” She paused for a moment, realizing she had never learned the name of the planet they had crashed on. “Um…what do you call your home world?” she asked.
“Home,” Healing One sent simply.
“Home,” Nina echoed. And it had felt like home because she and Reddix were together.
Reaching down, she gave Healing One a warm, one armed embrace. She would probably never see him again, but he had been kind to her and left a lasting impression on her heart. Even if she went back to living a boring, mundane existence on Earth, she’d had adventures here she would never forget. “Thank you,” she whispered again and then straightened up and looked at Reddix. “All right. I’m ready to go.”
* * * * *
“So what was that all about?” Saber asked as he strapped himself into the pilot’s chair and started checking the controls for take-off.
“What was what all about?” Reddix growled, strapping into the passenger side. The females were in the back, presumably getting along wonderfully if the emotions he felt coming from Lissa were any indication. But just now, it was hard to pay attention to anything but Saber’s sharp curiosity, pricking him like thorns.
“You know—the two of you were actually holding hands back there,” Saber said. “She reached for you, and you didn’t pull away.”
“Yeah. And?”
Saber blew out a breath in obvious frustration. “And you were touching her voluntarily. Do you not mind the feel of her emotions?”
“I can’t feel them at all,” Reddix said shortly. “In fact, I can’t feel anyone’s emotions when she touches me. It’s like a fucking miracle.”
“That’s amazing.” Saber’s excitement stabbed at him, like too-bright sunlight lancing his eyeballs after an extended stay indoors. “So then, you’ve found your female—the one you’re meant to be with. Right?”
“Wrong,” Reddix growled. “You know damn well I can’t join with anyone outside the Clans—our son would never be accepted as a ruler.”
“You don’t need to worry about that anymore,” Saber said in a low voice. “Lissa and I are going back to Tarsia with you. We’ll announce our relationship, and I’ll state that I don’t intend to step down as the next OverChief.”
Reddix laughed harshly. “Forgive me for being pessimistic, old friend, but do you really think the Clans will accept a male embroiled in an incestuous love affair as their ruler?”
“They’ll have to.” Saber raised his chin, his determination like a warm stone in the palm of Reddix’s hand. “The old ways are outdated. Lissa and I have no blood ties between us. We’re not really related at all.”
Reddix shook his head. “That won’t matter. The older generation clings to tradition. So you’ll excuse me if I don’t get my hopes up and declare my own hopeless and forbidden love affair just yet.”
“Do what you like.” Saber looked away but his worry about the future was like an ache in Reddix’s gut.
“Hey…” Reddix reached out a hand to his old friend and then let it drop. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to cause you more distress than you’re already in.”
“It’s all right. Lissa and I will be fine. And if the older generation won’t accept it, that’s their problem.” Saber was obviously trying to sound confident, but his uncertainty still gnawed at Reddix like many tiny, sharp teeth. “We’ll be fine,” he said again.
Reddix simply grunted as there didn’t seem to be anything else to say. Already he was tired of feeling everyone’s emotions again. How in the Seven Hells was he going to manage when Nina had gone back to Earth and he had to deal with it all the time again? You managed for years on your own, he lectured himself. And you can manage again. Leave Nina out of it.
But he didn’t want to. And it wasn’t only Nina’s emotion-dampening ability he would miss. It was her beautiful face and deep blue eyes…the soft sound of her laughter…the touch of her hands and the feel of her body against his…the way he felt he could talk to her—really talk about almost anything. Gods, living without her was going to be sheer hell…
Forget it, whispered a little voice in his head. It’s not like you could ever really satisfy her or bond her to you for life. She’s better off without you, and she probably knows it.
“So are we about to take off?” Nina’s voice shocked him out of his gloomy reverie.
“Um, in just a minute,” Saber answered. He shot Reddix a glance as if to ask how long she had been standing there. How much of their conversation had she heard?
Reddix shrugged and looked back at Nina. “You two had better get yourselves strapped in, sweetheart,” he said. “We’re all ready for takeoff, and it might be a rough ride going through the wormhole again.”
“Oh, we’re not going back through that wormhole,” Saber said, shaking his head.
“What? Why?” Reddix frowned.
“Well, for one thing because it’s gone. It was so unstable it collapsed in on itself not long after we finally located your beacon’s signal,” Saber said.
“Then…how are we getting
home?” Nina sounded worried, and Reddix felt a stab of regret—his own, not hers. Probably, she couldn’t wait to get back to Earth and her regular life.
“We’ll be using the Fold,” Saber told her.
“The fold?” Nina still looked uncertain.
“Don’t worry—it’s safe,” Reddix explained. “The Kindred Mother Ship has the ability to fold space between one point and another. We’ll enter the Fold and come out in orbit around your moon.”
“Wonderful.” Nina smiled, but Reddix thought the expression looked forced. Was she worried about the trip? Scared? For the thousandth time he wished he knew how she was feeling.
“It really is safe,” Saber tried to reassure her. “It’s the way the Kindred Mother Ship came to your world in the first place.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t really worried about the safety. I was just…”
“Just what?” Reddix asked, feeling a surge of frustration.
“Nothing.” She gave him a strained smile again. “Just thinking about getting home, I guess.”
“Oh.” He sat back in his chair heavily. “Well, you’ll be there soon. Better buckle up.”
“Right. Well, I’ll go in the back with Lissa and leave you two alone to fly the ship.” She nodded and disappeared into the back of the ship without another look at Reddix.
He felt utterly miserable. Would she leave him the same way when she went back to Earth—without even a backward glance? Could it be that the whole time they’d been together she’d just been appeasing him? Doing whatever she could to get along with her kidnapper until she could be rescued and taken home?
Or maybe she had just been helping to satiate the collar in order to keep him from getting shocked because she was such a compassionate person. Reddix put a hand to his throat which was now bare, wishing for the black wire of the Hurkon collar again. Wishing for the few brief days they’d shared together. But was Nina wishing the same thing or was she looking forward to getting home?