• • • • • •
Treyvon continued to stare down at Jennifer as the white mist from the treatment slowly faded, signaling that it was nearly complete. A few seconds later, there was a soft click, and the chamber began to open. For several moments, Jennifer just lay there unmoving, and Treyvon’s tension grew. He was about to call for Luol when her eyelashes began to flutter then opened. Her soft blue gaze connected with his and in it he saw everything that truly mattered and all was right in a universe that contained only them.
Then she blinked and the moment was gone.
Jen’s eyes widened at the intensity in Treyvon's stare. He’d hardly spoken to her since they’d left her quarters and when he had, he’d been so cold and distant. What did she expect? She’d insulted him. Questioned his ability to protect her. It was something that, even knowing him only a short time, she knew he took seriously.
She’d reacted without thinking. Just the thought that she wasn’t safe in her quarters, that anyone could just come in. It was like being back in the mine and never being able to let your guard down because you never knew when the Zaludians would show up. Last night, for the first time, she’d let herself sleep without keeping an ear open for every little sound. She’d been so tired.
And she’d awakened up in Treyvon’s bed.
"Jennifer?" Treyvon’s question made her realize she was still staring at him.
"Sorry,” she quickly said, then sat up moving to get off the repair unit. “Where’s Luol?”
"Compiling the information you requested. What are you sorry for?" Treyvon’s large hands immediately encompassed her waist, lifting her before carefully setting her on her feet.
Jen's hands instinctively braced against his chest, her breath catching as her fingers came in contact with the hot, smooth skin left exposed by his vest. She couldn't believe how warm he was or how that warmth seemed to beckon her closer, letting it warm all those places deep inside her that had grown so cold since she'd been taken.
At the touch, Treyvon's eyes glowed brighter, and his grip tightened around her waist pulling her closer instead of releasing her as he should. She was so small, so fragile. She needed his protection, and yet her soft touches made him want to wrap her up in his arms and carry her to his bed.
"For… for…” Jen's tongue slipped out, moistening her lips, as she stared up into Treyvon's glowing eyes trying to remember what she had been about to say.
Treyvon's gaze followed the wet path that little tongue made as it moved over her lips. Without conscious thought, his hands lifted her higher as his head lowered. He had never kissed a female on the lips, for it wasn't something done between a Kaliszian male and female. Not unless it was between a Dasho and his Ashe. Treyvon found he needed to taste her.
The sound of voices entering the outer room was the only thing that could have prevented him from achieving his goal, for he knew one taste was not going to be enough. Quickly but carefully, he set Jennifer down, making sure she was steady before stepping back just as Nikhil and his Ashe entered the room.
"Umm, is something wrong?" Mac asked, her gaze moving from Jen to the General. Taking in how her friend was looking at the General, and how fiercely the General was staring back at Jen, his arms crossed over his chest.
"What?" Jen blinked and only then seemed to realize that Mac was even there.
"Is something wrong? Did we interrupt something?" Mac lifted an eyebrow at her friend.
"Interrupt? What? Oh! No, you didn't interrupt anything, Mac, and nothing is wrong. The General and I are just waiting for Luol to finish compiling some new information for the educator."
"New information? What are you talking about?" Mac demanded.
"I asked for some information on the types of food the Tornians provide. That way I'll have a better understanding of how to prepare it."
"General." Luol entered the room. "I have the information ready for you to review and then upload." With only the slightest nod that he heard Luol, Treyvon continued to stare at Jen for a moment, then turned to follow Luol.
"Jen, what's going on?" Mac asked, moving to her friend's side.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the way you and the General were staring at each other. The tension in here was off the charts."
"I don't know what you mean, Mac." Jen's eyes shot to Nikhil, who was still standing right inside the door, watching and listening.
"Don't mind Nikhil." Mac waved a dismissive hand. "He won't repeat anything he hears."
"There's nothing to hear, Mac. It's like I said. We were just waiting for Luol to return. It's not like the General and I have anything to talk about."
"Really? So then why was he at our quarters last night looking for you?" Mac demanded
"Mackenzie," Nikhil growled softly.
"What?" Mac turned her head to her mate. "Don't give me that look, Nikhil. She has the right to know that the General was looking for her."
“He was just doing his duty, Mac,” Jen said. “The General takes his responsibility very seriously.” She missed the way Nikhil’s eyes widened slightly at her words as she continued. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” Mac told her.
“Looking for me? Why?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? You’re my friend, and when you didn’t answer your door, Nikhil suggested we start here.” Before Mac could say more, Luol reentered the room.
"The General has reviewed the information and is in the process of uploading it to the educator. If you follow me, Jennifer, we'll get you comfortable in my office. Then we can begin."
Chapter Nine
"General."
Treyvon tipped his head toward Gryf, silently indicating that his Second should continue even as his eyes remained on Jennifer.
"We've been notified that the Emperor wishes to speak with you."
"Understood," Treyvon told him. "When?"
"Five minutes."
"What?" Treyvon's gaze finally left Jennifer to glare at Gryf. "Why am I just now being informed of this?"
"General, I was unable to locate you. It seems you are not carrying your comm," Gryf told him flatly.
Treyvon's hand immediately went to his waist, where he always carried his comm and found it missing. In his mind, he could see it still sitting on the table next to his bed where he could easily reach it when it rang in the middle of the night. Only last night he hadn't been in his bed.
Jennifer had.
"I see." His gaze returned to Jennifer. He didn't want to leave her. The educator was still running, and for some reason, he was nervous at her using it again so soon. He wanted to be here when it came off, to make sure she was okay. He looked to Mackenzie, who was sitting on the couch next to Jennifer holding her hand and rubbing it reassuringly between both of hers. She was the one Jennifer had asked to sit with her.
Not him.
Turning, he looked to Nikhil, who was standing just inside the room. "You will remain here. Notify me if there are any problems or if…" Treyvon cut himself off. He had no reason to believe Jennifer would ask for him. She had Mackenzie.
"I will make sure they are both safe and protected, General," Nikhil informed him. He'd seen how his General had looked at his Ashe's friend.
Acknowledging Nikhil's statement with a stiff nod, Treyvon spun around on his heel and forced himself to leave.
• • • • • •
"Emperor Liron." Treyvon bowed his head respectfully. He sat behind his desk in his Command Center, his cousin's image appearing on the stationary comm. He could see Liron was sitting in his private office, a goblet of his favorite wine in his hand.
"Treyvon, really?" Liron chided. "Such a formal greeting for your cousin?"
"My cousin is also the Emperor of the Kaliszian Empire, and as I never know why he might be contacting me or if he is alone, it is prudent that I use his title."
"Truth, although as it is just you and me right now, drop the formality. I've had more than enough of it f
or one day." Lifting his glass, Liron took a long drink.
"What is wrong, Liron?" Treyvon leaned in close to the screen, offering his support just as he would if they were in the same room.
"Ministers being foolish. Stirring up trouble." He waved his glass dismissively. "The usual."
"It can't be usual if it has stirred you up like this. You are the epitome of calm, Liron. You usually find humor in their antics. So what are they doing and saying now that is bothering you?"
"There has been some… controversy regarding your humans."
"They are not my humans," Treyvon instantly denied, "and what kind of controversy? What could they have done? They only departed for Kalbaugh yesterday."
"Yes, but the other Ministers learned that I increased the allotment of food stores for all those on Kalbaugh after Rushkin volunteered to accept the humans." The slight widening of Treyvon's eyes was the only indication Liron's words had shocked him. "I did it to offset any opposition the humans might encounter upon their arrival. They have endured enough."
"They have," Treyvon agreed.
"The other Ministers weren't as understanding, and felt that the humans should be equally divided so the burden could be shared."
"Along with the benefits, even though they all initially refused to accept them."
"Yes," Liron nodded before taking another sip of his wine.
"Sons of Daco," Treyvon cursed them.
"They are just trying to serve their people the best they can."
"At the cost of innocents? Where is the honor in that?" Treyvon demanded.
"There is none," Liron agreed, "but they don't see it that way. Especially when they learned there was a second human female."
"What?" Treyvon felt his entire being still.
"Word spread across the Empire faster than a solar flare that a human female now wears a Kaliszian Warrior’s True Mate bead. When it became known that there was another female and that she was traveling with the males… It is why I am contacting you. I want you to send two ships to escort the Fenton to Kalbaugh."
"You believe it would be attacked because of Jennifer?"
"Jennifer?" Liron raised an eyebrow at his cousin.
"That is the female's name," Treyvon told him, trying not to sound defensive.
"I know that, but you speak of her so… intimately."
"It is their way. Those they feel are their friends, and not in the Kaliszian way; they offer the use of their name. Even offer for their name to be shortened."
"Truth?"
"Truth."
"They are a fascinating species."
"They are. And while I do not hold their males in high regard, I find in truth that I must respect them. To work back to back shifts under the Zaludians. It is only by the blessing of the Goddess that only one died."
"One died?" Liron frowned at Treyvon. "Why have I not been informed of this? I thought they all survived."
"I did not learn of it until yesterday when Jennifer informed me that the Zaludians had killed her Dasho. That is why she is so severely injured."
"He was trying to defend her from the Zaludians," Liron nodded understandingly.
"No," Treyvon bit out.
"No? What do you mean no?!!" Liron demanded.
"Her Dasho wasn't defending her," Treyvon gritted out. "She was trying to protect him."
"What?!!" This had Liron sitting straight up in his chair.
Treyvon said nothing, just looked at his Emperor, cousin, and friend. Finding it hard to control the rage he felt at the thought.
"I do not understand," Liron continued. "Why would she put herself in harm’s way? Why would the other males allow it?"
"You now understand my battle, Cousin. One act shows they are more than honorable males, while another...”
"Shows they are not," Liron finished. "Tell me truth, Treyvon. You are my Supreme Commander and more than a trusted friend. Are these males worthy of all that we are doing for them?"
Treyvon was silent for a long moment, thinking about everything he had learned and experienced with the males. He thought of the truth the human male, Craig, had told him. Craig had been shamed by what he had and hadn't done and admitted to it. That took an inner strength that Treyvon couldn't deny.
"They are a species that have never encountered those not from a different planet before. They do not travel to other galaxies and couldn't communicate with anyone other than their captors. From what I've learned, none of them ever trained as warriors. They were more like ministers or craftsmen in their world. That any of them survived at all can only be because of the Goddess's blessing."
"I thought you no longer believed that the Goddess blessed us, Treyvon," Liron murmured.
"But she wasn't blessing us, now was she?" Treyvon said looking Liron straight in the eye. "She was blessing them."
"Truth," Liron agreed, "and I want to make sure she continues to by making sure they and the female get to Kalbaugh without incident."
"I will do my best to make sure the males do, but Jennifer will not be."
"What? Why not?" Liron asked in disbelief.
"Because Jennifer is not on the Fenton," Treyvon informed him. "She is still here on Pontus."
"What?!!"
"She is still…" Treyvon began again.
"I heard you!" Liron cut him off and demanded. "What I want to know is why?!!"
"She came to me yesterday and requested that she be allowed to remain here with Nikhil's True Mate, Ashe Mackenzie."
"And you allowed it? What could convince you to allow that?" Liron’s eyes widened. "Has another Kaliszian found his True Mate?"
"No!" Treyvon immediately denied.
"Then why?" Liron demanded.
"It seems that on Earth, Jennifer was trained in the proper handling of their food stores. She earned the title of Chef."
"Chef? What is a Chef?"
"Someone who makes food stores taste… good."
"I see." Liron was silent for a moment. "You have tasted what she has produced?"
"No. As I said, I only learned of it yesterday. But she has cooked Last Meal for Nikhil and his Ashe in their quarters. Nikhil found it interesting."
"In other words, he found it awful but didn't want to offend his True Mate."
"No," Treyvon wasn't surprised that Liron thought the same thing he had. "He said it was just different, that the meat was tender and 'juicy.' Luol seems to have thought the same thing."
"Luol also shared his food stores?"
"No, but it seems both Ashe Mackenzie and Jennifer offered their share to him."
"They offered their share?"
"Yes. Nikhil also said the two discussed different ways they could prepare the same stores, but make them taste different."
"Truth?"
"Truth."
"I am not questioning your decision in allowing her to stay, Treyvon, but I am questioning why this Jennifer would want to assist us."
"I asked her that same question, and her answer was that she hopes that we might still discover the location of her planet so that she can return there. It seems that her younger sister is there, unprotected."
"I see. I will make some subtle inquiries to see if Wray has discovered where his new Empress's home world is."
"You believe that she and these females have the same home world?" Treyvon asked. "They are so different. The female Wray claimed is short with hair the color of flames and green eyes. Neither Ashe Mackenzie nor Jennifer resembles her."
Liron understood what Treyvon was saying. Every known species had some trait that identified them. For Tornians, it was their hair color. For while their skin tone could vary, their hair was always black. The Ganglians were always completely covered with hair and had an offensive odor. Kaliszians were similar to Tornians, but they only had a thick strip of hair that ran along the center of their heads.
"Perhaps that is what makes them the same; their differences.”
• • • • • •
Jen's sense
s woke first. She could feel she was lying on something that while firm, wasn't uncomfortable. There was a low mechanical hum she could just barely hear and the faint smell of dust. Someone was holding one of her hands. But who? Suddenly it all came flooding back to her. The abduction. The mine. Todd's death. Treyvon… Treyvon!
Her eyes flew open, and she looked to where she knew he would be and found… no one.
"Jen?" The quiet question pulled her gaze from the empty space at the end of the couch to the one person who was always there for her. Mac.
"Hi," she responded, the word coming out much fainter than she'd planned. "How long was I out this time?"
"Only an hour. How are you feeling?"
Jen thought about it for a moment. "Good."
"Jennifer." The voice had her head turning to find Luol exactly where she'd last seen him by her side.
"Hello, Luol." She gave him a slight smile.
"Can you tell me about tatws?"
"Tatws?" Jen frowned, thinking. She knew what that was. Didn't she? They didn't have them on Earth, but they seemed to be similar to something. What was it? The wrinkle on her forehead cleared, and she exclaimed, "Potatoes!"
"What?" Luol frowned at her. Had the new information uploaded into the educator not been transmitted correctly?
"Potatoes. Tatws are similar to what we call potatoes on Earth." Jen started to frown again. "At least that's what the educator made it seem like. I won't know for sure until I work with one."
"I see." Luol's frown changed to relief. He'd been concerned something had gone wrong. If it had, the General would never have forgiven him. "Do you feel like you can sit up?"
"Sure." Taking the hand Luol extended, she sat up, her feet not reaching the floor when she swung them over the edge. Then sliding off the couch, she stood. "Thank you, Luol. Now I want to get to the kitchen and see if tatws are really like potatoes."
"Jen," Mac's voice had her turning toward her. "Are you sure? Maybe you should rest for a while."
"I'm all right, Mac, really. And with all this new knowledge swimming in my head, I'm excited to get into the kitchen."