Chapter 2
Roark
Waiting just inside the door of Lord La’qa and his bond mate’s living quarters, I felt the sting of envy as I watched the two of them interact flawlessly with one another.
“Are you packed and ready to go?” Lord Zorvak La’qa called down an empty hallway.
Cami stuck her head out of the back room. “Almost,” she replied with a grin, then disappeared back inside.
Zorvak shook his head and grinned. Anyone around them could see the happiness, something he had rarely showed before meeting Cami.
As soon as she stepped into the hall, he stalked over and snaked his arm around her waist, snapping her body close to his.
“Woman…” he began, then dipped her back and deeply kissed her lips.
When they broke apart, she smiled up at him. “You keep that up and we’ll never get out of here.”
His hand slid down her hip, cupping her ass. I had to look away, give them the privacy they deserved. Before Cami, I never once considered what having a bond mate—a true Compatible—would be like. But after guarding them, watching them interact day after day, I sometimes longed for someone to share everything with.
“Oh wait, I forgot something!” She broke away from Zorvak and headed back into the room.
A few moments passed, then Cami saddled up beside Lord La’qa again.
“Ready!” she proclaimed.
He grinned down at her. “It is about time.”
Cami shook her head and smiled. When her eyes caught mine, a huge grin spread across her face and she headed my way. “Roark! Long time no see.”
Inclining my head slightly, I said, “Mila La’qa.”
She clutched the handle of her bag. I straightened.
“I will carry that for you,” I offered, holding my hand out to take it from her.
“Nonsense! We can carry our own bags. And how many times have I told you to call us Cami and Zorvak in private? Mrs.…I mean ‘Mila,’ makes me sound so old.”
Cami shook her head, drifted forward and patted my chest as she sauntered by.
Zorvak stepped forward, looking me in the eyes and grinned again. “She’s right, you know.”
“Lord La’…” I began, but he shot me a stern warning glare. “Zorvak, I must caution you against leaving the planet.”
“I understand old friend, but this is something that must be done. Could you imagine if word got around that Cami…” He stopped short of saying what we both already knew.
Cami had a neuro-ocular implant which allowed her to connect with and control almost all electronic devices. If our scientists discovered the technology that she possessed, they would petition for rights to that technology—and Cami. Zorvak would be put in the middle, and no one could blame him for siding with his bond mate. But someone could argue that as leader, he must put Ulaya first.
“With the unrest of Esad and Ardak, do you still think it wise to leave?” I pressed.
He clamped one hand on my right shoulder, looked me square in the eyes, and gave me the ultimate praise.
“I understand your concern Captain, but I trust you to guard us in this time, and I have every confidence that Voth will keep order for the short time we are away. I cannot leave Cami unattended.”
“I understand, my Lord.”
I would guard him with my life, but I still worried. The former Lord Garan had appointed Zorvak as our new leader—someone who was not blood kin. Word trickled back to Garan’s brother Esad, and now he was raging mad. Who knew what he planned next?
Escorting them outside to the crowded arena, we saw the royal guard dressed in crisp white uniforms. They stood at attention shoulder-to-shoulder as we headed to the flyer. Cami climbed the steps, followed by Zorvak, then me. Closing the hatch, I walked over to the control center and slid into the pilot’s chair. Zorvak sat next to me.
“Once we lift off, set the coordinates for the space station. We’ll gather more supplies before heading to Jaur,” he ordered.
“Yes, Lord La’qa.”
He sighed deeply and crossed his arms. “How many times must I tell you to call me Zorvak?”
A smile ghosted my lips. Cami needed friends, so she insisted on breaking protocol, and Zorvak would give her almost anything she wanted. Almost.
Cami stuck her head between the two chairs. “I can fly the ship.”
Her eyes danced with excitement. A pilot in her own right, and with the help of the NI, she could expertly pilot the flyer with a simple mental command.
Zorvak grinned over his shoulder, and in a no-nonsense voice, replied, “No.”
I chuckled quietly on the inside but kept my expression blank. Firing up the engines, I glanced back at her. “You need to strap in.”
“Whatever. I’m going to get something to eat. You boys have fun.”
She pushed off the back of my chair and headed away. I waited an extra minute, giving her time to take a seat in the galley.
A holographic screen appeared, I punched in the start sequence, and heard the flyer hum to life. All systems go, I grabbed the control stick and concentrated on guiding the flyer away from the planet. It would take roughly two days to reach the Eion Space Station.
After clearing the atmosphere and programming the autopilot, I said, “Your bond mate is one of a kind.”
Zorvak chuckled. “That’s an understatement.”
I scoffed. An understatement was correct; there were no other known Humans in this galaxy— only the small red-headed female with pale skin and odd-looking green eyes.
Hesitantly I asked, “What is it like to have a bond mate? A true Compatible?”
“Hmmm…” Zorvak leaned back and crossed his arms, then pierced me with humorous eyes. “The word terrifying comes to mind.”
I chuckled and glanced over my shoulder to make sure we were still alone. Knowing Cami, if she thought I was interested in a bond mate, she would play matchmaker. Her Human ways were odd.
After a brief pause, Zorvak continued, his eyes more serious. “It is an odd thing. She makes me feel extremely powerful and completely vulnerable at the same time.”
“How do you mean?”
“There is nothing like having someone who knows every part of you, yet who is still your biggest supporter. On the other hand, having someone to love so deeply, if anything happened to her…I would lose my sanity.”
I understood what he said, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around having someone that important. Yet after watching and seeing the love shared between the two of them, I knew he spoke the truth.
Zorvak’s eyes shifted my way and he grinned again. “Something you wish to tell me, friend?”
“No.”
“I have seen the way Kiah looks at you.” He chuckled. “Even Sevah asks Cami about you all the time.”
“You are having way too much fun at my expense,” I retorted, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
“What are friends for?”
Indeed. After a few beats of silence, I asked, “Are you worried about leaving Ulaya?”
“Yes,” Zorvak replied, and sighed heavily. “And I am worried about Cami having the procedure. I know it’s for the best. Truly, I do. But…” He sighed again. “One day you will understand.”
I doubt it, I thought, though I did not tell him that. I have never seen two people so in tune, so perfect together. That is a rare find, and I do not hold much hope of finding it for myself.
Lost in thought, I startled when Cami stuck her head through the door and announced, “I made cofa.”
Zorvak briefly glanced at her over his shoulder, before shifting his eyes toward me with a pained expression. “Let us go have a cup.”
We both enjoyed cofa at home, but this imitation was nothing like ours.
After checking autopilot coordinates one last time, I pushed up from the chair and followed Zorvak to the galley.
Sliding into a chair, Cami handed me a cup filled with black liquid. I tried not to grimace as I stared at the repulsive looking drink that reminded me of sludge.
“Go ahead, Roark, drink up.” She grinned over her cup.
“Yes, Roark, have a drink.” Zorvak’s lips twitched as he held my gaze. He didn’t like the stuff anymore than I did. But as he took a slow painful sip, I choked down one of my own.
Cami chuckled, her eyes dancing with mischievous delight. Obviously, she knew neither Zorvak or I liked her cofa.
“I can’t wait to see Munic and Oddle. Maybe I’ll get to meet their daughter while I’m there.”
“Cami,” Zorvak scolded, “this is not a pleasure trip. After the NI has been removed, we must head back to Ulaya.”
“I know…” She sighed. “It’s just, I think of them as family, you know? Oddle treated me like a daughter.”
“I remember. But we cannot tarry too long.”
“He is correct, Cami. Saroff has doubled the guards, but who knows what Esad might try when he learns that Zorvak has temporally left the planet?” I set the disgusting drink on the table, unable to stomach another taste. “The quicker we return home, the better.”
I wouldn’t put it past Esad to launch an attack, kill most of the loyal supporters and staff it with his own friends, though I kept those dark thoughts to myself.
“I know, I know.”
I couldn’t sit here any longer—I needed to stay alert. My senses were hyperaware, as if something lurked in the dark hoping to catch us by surprise.
“I need to check the sensors. Make sure everything is functioning correctly,” I said abruptly.
“Let me know if I can help,” Zorvak offered, sensing my uneasiness.
“Will do,” I threw over my shoulder as I headed toward the control room and slid into the pilots’ seat. I double-checked the coordinates and relaxed back in the chair. The ship was quiet as my mind drifted again to thoughts of a bond mate. As much as I envied Zorvak and Cami, I was not sure that was what I wanted.
To have a weakness which someone could target…
I shook my head. I just didn’t know if it was worth it.
Hours passed, and I couldn’t stifle a yawn. Zorvak tapped me on the shoulder. “I will man the controls. Get some rest.”
Looking up over my shoulder, I squinted, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Have you rested?”
“No. I stayed with Cami until she fell asleep, but I will not be able to rest until we are either on Jaur, or back on Ulaya.”
I nodded; maybe a little rest would help. I pushed up from the chair, then Zorvak slid into the pilot’s seat.
Once I reached the sleeping quarters, I sat on the small bed and took one boot off at a time. Pulling my shirt over my head, I leaned back and closed my eyes. With Zorvak at the controls, I relaxed psychically and mentally for the first time in a while. It took a few minutes, but my eyes grew heavy and finally closed.
My eyes popped open and I bolted upright, looking around my quarters. Except for me, it was empty. It took a breath or two to realize that someone had spoken to me mind to mind.
Who is this? And how are you speaking with me this way? I replied angrily.
You can hear me? Oh, my God! You can hear me! Please, you have to help us!
My anger faded slightly when I heard the desperation in the feminine voice.
Who is this? I asked again, less angry this time.
I’m trapped, held prisoner by some big ugly yellow beast-like creatures.
Her pleas for help tugged at my heart; I wanted nothing more than to hunt her down and rescue her from whoever held her prisoner.
I’m on a space ship, but that’s all I know!
Closing my eyes, I knew it was an impossible task. “On a spaceship” was such a broad answer; it would be impossible to track her down.
I am sorry, but I cannot help you.
And then I closed my mind off, not allowing anymore contact. It pissed me off that I had left myself open and vulnerable. Her plea for help replayed over and over in my head.
Treading a hand through my hair, I sighed loudly and then laid back down. It was a futile effort. I couldn’t rest; the feminine voice replayed over and over, like a loop I couldn’t break. Unable to sleep, I sat up and grabbed my shirt, pulling it back over my head. After I slid my boots on, I returned to the control center.
Zorvak glanced back, his eyes narrowed. “Back so soon?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” I ran one hand through my hair, plopped down in the copilot’s chair, and crossed my arms. I felt his assessing eyes prickle my skin.
“Something you would like to discuss?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? You seem a little shaken up.”
Turning my head so we were eye to eye, I nodded. “Yes, I am sure. Just want to get this trip over with.”
“I understand. I am relieved that Cami is having the NI removed, but I will not rest until we are back on Ulaya.”
“Agreed. Before we departed, I received word that Esad had left the planet. If he finds out you have left, I am sure he will rush back and try to steal leadership away from you.”
Zorvak smiled sinisterly. “He can try.”
“Esad will be dealt with quickly, there’s no reason to bloody your hands, my lord,” I said, even though I knew Zorvak loved a good fight. We all did.
“You would spoil my fun?”
“Not spoiling yours, just having some of my own.”
Zorvak chuckled low. After a few minutes of bored silence, he pushed up from the chair. “I’m going to lay down with Cami. See you in a few hours.”
Everything was quiet, except the occasional low tones from the controls that beeped in rhythm. I kept thinking about the feminine voice, wondering what kind of trouble she was in, and who had her locked up. She called them “yellow beasts,” but so many species were yellow in color. I dragged a hand down my face and shut my eyes. There was nothing I could do to help.