Megan was trying her hardest to keep her calm after everything that had happened.  They made it back to the bridge without running into anything but dead pirates.  Megan had to wonder how many of them Morax had killed on his way to get to her and then her mind went to the three they had left behind in the green.  The remaining garden bots had been hard at work in that field setting it to rights.  She did not want to think of what would be absorbed into the matrix this time.  She tried to focus on something else, anything else.

Morax grabbed her arm and yanked her back before she would have turned the corner.  A second later a large alien with primary red skin and tusks came around the corner with a battle yell throwing himself at Morax, some kind of energy blade coming down at him in an arc of green fire.  Morax met the attack with his own blade.  He had moved so fast she never saw him draw it but he used it to deflect the attack, then he moved and it was as if the pirate was standing still he moved so slow in comparison.  With two more slashes of savage blade the pirate's arm and then his head fell to the floor.  The rest of him followed.

Megan was just beginning to feel the adrenaline rush when Morax grabbed her arm and pulled her around the pooling blood on the floor, business as usual.

She called to Lucky and Penny who were trailing them and had stopped to sniff at the body.  She had no intention of leaving them out of her sight, even if there had not been alien corpses everywhere, so she hoped that their newfound understanding would extend to not barking at the rest of the Tellox on the bridge.

They were right behind her and Morax, who was still dragging her along at a fast pace, when they came to the bridge portal.  Morax pulled her forward, using some small tablet-looking thing on the wall to override the lock down.  Megan expected to see the rest of the Tellox and her sister on the bridge, but when the portal swished open she was faced with the unexpected sight of a giant sized Tellox taking up the big display directly in front of her.  Yet another adrenaline surge had her heart rate spiking and her nerves sparking.

She had no idea who he was, but since they had been trying to evade the Tellox the last time she was conscious she had to wonder just how much trouble they were in.  The stranger on the screen seemed to be answering a question she had missed, intent on looking at her sister, who Creeg seemed just as intent to keep hidden.

The giant sized Tellox had the same golden hair and metallic skin of the other warriors. And he was without a doubt a warrior with his hard muscle corded body in leather and metal.  But his eyes were not gold, or even amber like all the other Tellox she had met, but a nearly translucent blue grey, they reminded Megan of nothing as much as ice.  Hard, cold and with a cutting edge that could burn.  And it might have been an effect of seeing him on the big screen, but he seemed both taller and broader than even Creeg, which frankly Megan did not think was possible.  Two things she did know about the man with one look.  He was a Tellox Warrior to the tenth degree, and he was seriously scary.

He noticed Megan at nearly the same moment Morax seemed to come out of whatever shock had held him mobile, turning his eyes on the screen as if he was really standing there looking at them all.  Seriously scary.  A second later, she was being body blocked from the screen in much the way her sister was suffering.  Through the open doors the dogs barked at Morax’s quick move around her, but thankfully they obeyed her silent command and settled for being silent at either side of her feet.

“We were told you were killed,” Creeg said talking to the stranger and drawing his attention back to him.

The larger than life Tellox on the screen turned nearly translucent eyes back to Creeg.  “I very nearly was.” 

Megan shivered hearing that hard edged voice.  Morax noticed and backed up a step so that she could feel the comfort of his heat all along her front as he shielded her.  She sighed in relief, without thinking she rested her aching head against that broad protective back.  The Tellox on the screen might be as beautifully alien as the rest of the Tellox she had met, but there was something off putting about his stare that made her happy he was not on the bridge in person.

The burning gaze of the stranger slipped briefly back to Sara and then Megan when she could not contain her curiosity and peeked back around Morax to see what was happening.  “It seems we both have a story to tell.  How is it you have two females on board.  The rumors on Aa-ryal spoke of a Tellox female but I did not credit it.”  He looked intrigued and hard in equal measure his eyes staying to the females in question seemingly of their own volition.  “I suppose I will have to adjust my thinking on this matter.”

“It seems we all have some adjusting to do,” Creeg muttered.  Then he said in a louder tone.  “I think it would be wise to share our stories, but we need to leave the area first, as you can see many would try to take what is mine.”

The large Tellox smirked, but it was more hard than playful.  “Who could blame them?”  Then he met Creeg’s eyes.  “I will await your coordinates and I look forward to the tale.”  Then with one last look toward Sara and Megan he was gone. 

Morax took a step away from her and pressed some buttons on his com.  The screen went blank and the silence was absolute.  For all of five seconds.

“Are we going to have an issue with this guy?” Sara asked loudly.

Creeg pulled her closer and studied her eyes.  “You could not feel anything from him?”

“No, I think I have to be in physical proximity to do that.”

Creeg’s mouth got tight.  “I would rather you not get anywhere near them until I can be sure you will be safe.”

Sara canted her head and studied her mate, probably from the inside, Megan mused as she narrowed her eyes at Creeg.  “You don’t think he is crazy like his brother you just don’t want me to like him better than you.”

Sara’s mate chuffed, a sound that almost made Megan smile, it sounded so much like something a big cat would do.  But honestly, she was too tired and scared to smile, not to mention her headache was still that dull throb in her skull.  Then her eyes widened on Morax who was coming at her with a look of such steel resolve in his glowing gold eyes she took a step back without realizing she was doing it.  Her heart beat that had just settled down minutely started drumming all over again and the resultant pain in her head had her flinching.

Well, dang it, Megan thought.  Now what?

Morax turned from his station.  “The sensors are showing no life signs on the ship but those on the bridge. 

“End lock down,” Creeg said still glaring at his mate.

Morax did something on the com and then turned to look Megan over as soon as the screen went blank.  Everyone was adjusting to the return of Brax, and the end of a battle that could have gone very bad for them.  Conversations flowed around them.  Creeg and Sara argued and flirted.  Excitement, curiosity, relief.  Morax cared for none of it, not when he could see the little flower was in pain and afraid.  He did not even think about what he was doing, he just went to her, ignoring the way she stepped away from him, he grabbed her around that tiny waist and pulled her into his arms, dropping his head so he could consider her liquid brown eyes.  Eyes, he noted with a flash of anger, dilated with either fear or pain, neither was acceptable to him.  Her scent too told the story that she might be walking around but she was not entirely improved.

His thumb swept up her cheeks to brush over the dark circles marring her eyes.  His hand swept up under her hair at her neck and pushed that abundant tangled brown wave back over her shoulder as his fingers braced her neck.  He studied her widening eyes as she took a deep breath.  There was a hitch in it, her body stiff against his.  He took it all in, filtering out what he needed to know.

“You are in pain,” he finally said.  “That is unacceptable but quickly remedied.  The fear you try to hide is unnecessary.  The other pirates have been dealt with, they are no threat to you or anyone else anymore.”

He watched her eyes widen further.  “Other pirates?” she asked on a half disbelieving gasp.  He brushed his thumb once more under her eye and then down her cheek so that his hand rested on her collarbone, brushing the front of her neck where he could feel her pulse beating so erratically.  Her skin was soft everywhere, like the petals of a flower, he would imagine, if he had ever taken the time to touch one.

“If it is not the attack that has you so scared, then what?”

The female smiled just a little, shaking her head as if he said something funny.  “I’m traveling through space while my planet is being invaded by mate seeking warriors, and I woke up alone, during a battle with space pirates after having my brains scrambled by an alien machine, I made the grass grow and seem to have a new communication ability with both my dogs and carnivorous plants” there was a tone to her voice he had not heard before.  She spoke gently as she usually did, but there was an underlying sarcasm he recognized from her sister’s usual speech.  “I don’t think a little fear is so unreasonable.”  Then she gave the full beam of those velvety eyes to him.  “And I admit that when you swept so purposefully toward me just now you worried me a little.”  She cleared her throat and licked nervously across her soft bottom lip.  “You are holding me kind of close.”

Morax thought about releasing the female and stepping back, but it went against everything he was to let her go when she was still obviously in distress, and he could admit that knowing they would soon be among other males, males that could possibly see her as mate was adding to the need he had to have her close.  That he might be causing some of her distress he could easily remedy with words.  “I would as soon sever my own hand than bring harm to you little flower.  You need not fear me.”  That he said it on what sounded like an angry growl had not been his intention.  He cursed his own ineptitude.  It was not really a surprise when she just blinked those big eyes at him in obvious surprise.  Morax tried to find better words to reassure her and a softer tone better suited to gentling a female than battle.  “I will always keep you safe.”  That he wanted to leave off the last word of that promise was between him and his black soul.

Watching her eyes soften and feeling her body relax against him was both a relief and a torture.  She smiled at him and assured him with that usual soft flow back in her voice.  “It’s just a headache, and my ribs hurt a little.  It already fades.”

Since he could see the truth in her eyes, and the lessening tension of her body he reluctantly released his hold around her waist, and stepped back giving her some space to breathe.  Then he pulled his hand away from her neck, the soft hair wrapped around his fingers released slowly.  It was only when they were standing apart once again that he became aware of the silence around them.  Megan seemed to feel it at the same time because she looked around just as he did, to find every eye in the room on them in varying degrees of speculation, shock, envy and in Sara’s case a narrow-eyed watchfulness.  Every face quickly washed clean of emotion when they saw they had their attention.  Except Sara, who stepped away from her mate and went to her sister, pulling her around into a hug that was quickly reciprocated.  But Morax felt the burn of those green eyes over Megan’s head as she eyed him warily.

***

Megan could feel her sister's need to speak to her in private but they needed to get the ship moving out of the area before anything else happened and they needed to discuss the upcoming meeting with the Tellox Brax, and no way was she going to miss that.

“I’m fine,” Megan assured her.  “I know you want to be here for this conversation.  We can talk later.”

“We will talk later,” Sara said with a pointed look at Megan.  “But if you need to lie down…”

“I don’t,” Megan assured her quickly.  “That’s the last thing I need.”

“The pirates?”

“Didn’t hurt me.”

Before Sara could question her further Morax came to them and without sparing Sara a glance handed Megan some strange pink liquid and grunted at her.  She took that to mean she should drink it, and with a small grimace and a tentative sip she was relieved enough by the sweet taste that she did as he bid.  Almost immediately she felt the last of her headache fade, and the strange fog lifted from her senses.  She smiled wide at Morax in thanks.  Before she could follow that up with the actual ‘thank you’ words, her sister whipped the cup out of her hand shoved it at Morax and hauled her across to the other side of the bridge.

Megan frowned at her sister.  “What is wrong with you?”

“What is wrong with me?” Sara hissed.  “You smiled at him.”

Now Megan was confused.  “He brought me medicine for my head, what was I supposed to do?”

“Megan,” her sister started, putting a little extra bite in her name.  “You never smile at men.  Not a real smile, not without blushing and stammering.”

Megan thought about it and had to agree, but Morax was different.  She was not about to explain that to her sister, mostly because she could not explain it to herself so she just shrugged.

Sara huffed out a breath and studied her.  “The men are all busy checking for damage and plotting the course, but they will want to have a tactics discussion soon.  She tapped her head.  “I know from Creeg’s thoughts that it will begin soon.  So, I have no time to explain Tellox to you.  Damn it,” she said looking around.  Before Megan could ask her what she was talking about she was dragged out the hatch and far enough down the hall that no one could overhear them once the portal closed.  The dogs growled when they saw Sara dragging Megan but she shushed them and they reluctantly shushed. 

“We don’t have a lot of time,” Sara whispered quickly.  “But there are a few things you need to know and fast.  Tellox do not have relationships with women outside their blood mates, none at all,” she stressed.  “and Creeg was the first Tellox to find his blood mate in centuries of wandering the galaxies.  Do you understand what I am saying?  The chances of you being one to Morax must be astronomical.  But…” she paused and looked worried.  “I hate doing this but it has to be done.”

Megan felt her face pale even before her sister went on.

“He is forever touching you so we can’t rule that out.  Besides when he saw you were in danger he was gone like a rocket.  Which I appreciate but you need to stay away from him Megan.  If somehow you are his mate all it will take is a freaking paper cut and the scent of your blood will force him to act.  He will need to bite you.”  He sister shook her just a little to impart to her just how serious the situation was.  “You will be changed, Megan.  Look at me,” her voice lowered further and Megan looked at her.  “I love Creeg, I could not give him up now if the choice was offered to me, but it does not change the fact that I am not the same person I was before.  And even if the Tellox are dealt with and the Earth left in peace I cannot go home.  You still have that choice.  We have no idea what we will do from one day to the next because we are living from one crisis to the next.  We have no planet to call home anymore.  Tellos is lost to Creeg, just as Earth is lost to me.”  Sara gave her solemn eyes.  “I can live on a ship with only the romping green and the occasional planet hopping.  Deal with pirates, and space battles, and crazy kings and invasions.  You were always a home body.  You live in your garden.”

Megan had no idea what she would have answered to those revelations, even if a question had been asked.  Which it had not, her sister thought she had all the answers already.  Megan opened her mouth to explain a few things to her, but Sara suddenly cursed and started back to the bridge.  “They are starting to discuss Brax, I need to get back.” She gave Megan a worried look.  “You don’t need to come. Why don’t you take the dogs to your room and relax?  As soon as we finish this I will come find you.” 

The port opened just as Sara reached it and she went through, waving at her sister.  She was right about one thing, Megan thought.  Sara had changed.  It used to be impossible to hide anything she was feeling from her sister, but now that Sara had to form shields to keep everyone’s thoughts and emotions out, she did not have the same intuitive understanding of her sister’s moods that she used to.  If she had she would have realized that Megan was very, very angry right now.  Anger had never been a comfortable or usual emotion for her.  But just now it was better than the alternatives.

Sucking in a deep breath Megan looked at the closed portal between her and the Tellox, which included the sister that had raised her.  A few weeks ago, such a feeling of isolation would have sent her directly to the garden.  She raised her chin a little, her eyes sparking.  What her sister did not seem to realize was that she had already been changed.  She had been safe and content in her little world once, and then her sister was taken, and that safety was ripped away.  She was no longer content with the idea of making her music and working in her garden and letting her life slide by.  Not when she had finally realized it was fear as much as comfort that had kept her there.  She could not go back to it now, and she refused to be an outsider here, biding her time until it was safe for them to take her back home.

To the dog’s chagrin she called for them to stay and headed back to the bridge.  They both lay down with unhappy looks on their puppy faces. Megan would have to make it up to them later.  For now, she had a tactics meeting to attend, then another Tellox warrior to meet, and eventually an overprotective, thinks she knows everything, older sister to explain the new facts of life to. 

Morax and blood mating and bites, she would think about later.  Much later.  She might be invigorated with new found courage, but it did not stretch quite that far.  Not yet.