Chapter Eleven – Veronica
The night was difficult.
The aliens didn't have any sorts of lights and they were forced to stop, which Veronica was grateful for. If Chapec and Dievca managed to fight off the thugs the Rlabek said had been hired to kill them, they could be coming to rescue her. This would give them time to catch up.
But the Rlabek had only let Ava wake up enough to eat before she was sedated again. Veronica had spent the whole night with her baby cuddled in her arms, terrified that she was going to stop breathing because of the drugs in her system.
The morning was a relief. Ava stirred, and Veronica was able to feed her again while the kidnappers picked up their camp. She worked another sequin free from her top as Ava finished eating.
The Rlabek came over, her face pinched with irritation, and pulled out her injector again.
"Please, can't you just wait for a little while?" Veronica twisted her body, shielding Ava. "She's hardly awake. You're going to—"
"What's wrong with your shirt?" The Rlabek stared at her midsection.
Veronica felt the blood drain from her face as she looked down. She had been trying to work the sequins off in a random pattern so they wouldn't be noticeable, but right at her navel was a bald patch the size of her thumbnail.
"It's always been like that."
The Rlabek struck her across the face. Pain traveled across her jaw and down her neck, making her cry out. Veronica staggered backward, fighting to hold Ava upright.
"You think I'm an idiot, girl? You've been leaving a trail, haven't you?"
Veronica shook her head, but she could see the Rlabek didn't believe her. The alien cursed and pulled her blaster out. Veronica's head spun. Her body went cold. How could she get out of this now? Two of the other aliens grabbed her arms, holding her in place.
"Our buyer doesn't want a dead human," one of them said.
The Rlabek hesitated.
"Please. I wasn't leaving a trail. It's an old shirt."
The Rlabek scowled more fiercely. "I don't care if we can get more for a live human. We'll still get something for her body. Kill her."
Veronica opened her mouth. Whether to scream or beg, she didn't know. One of the aliens holding her drew a knife. She struggled uselessly against their grasp.
And then a roar broke through the trees. A streak of red charged towards them. Chapec!
The kidnappers released her at once. Two energy blasts came at Chapec from opposite directions. The T'shav slid forward, slicing at the legs of the nearest kidnapper. One of the blasts that was meant for him went wide, impacting a tree. The other hit the shoulder of another kidnapper; the alien dropped, screaming.
Veronica dodged behind a tree, cradling Ava close. Chapec roared again as a blaster bolt hit his sword. It spun out of his hand, but that didn't stop him. He grabbed the nearest kidnapper, using the alien as a shield against the Rlabek, who was now firing at him with a twisted expression on her face. Another kidnapper crept up behind him, a wicked knife in hand.
"Behind you!" Veronica screamed, heart in her throat.
Chapec dropped his shield. He twisted, grabbing the wrist of the alien that was almost on him. He jerked the kidnapper forward, jabbing two stiff fingers into his throat. Another blaster bolt shot past Chapec's head. Veronica looked around wildly, searching for something to help her T'shav with. She seized a branch. But did she dare put Ava down so she could help him?
When she looked up again, Chapec was throwing the kidnapper over his shoulder, twisting the knife from his hand. And Dievca was standing over the Rlabek's body, fury radiating from her body. Two of the kidnappers went at her. Chapec threw his knife, hitting one of them in the back while he snatched up his sword again.
Dievca dodged a blaster bolt and slapped the kidnapper nearest Chapec across the back. The alien turned towards her, and she jumped back, drawing him and the one already attacking her away from her brother. He charged the last kidnapper with a blaster. Veronica turned, huddling behind the tree. She didn't want to see anymore. Ava was stirring, her big black eyes blinking blearily. As the grunts and cries from the battle faded, she began to cry.
Moments later, Chapec was beside her. He gathered her up into his arms. Veronica leaned against him, her body beginning to tremble. Tears poured down her face as he clung to her. Soon her whole body shook with sobs.
"I'm sorry," Chapec whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."
Veronica shook her head. She didn't want him to apologize right now. She wanted him to hold her and never let her go.
Dievca cleared her throat. "If we're going to get to the Sanctuary again, we have to get moving. We don't know how many others are out there."
"The Sanctuary?" Veronica's head jerked up.
Chapec brushed his lips against hers before jerking back, as though remembering that they weren't together. He pulled away, looking at the ground. "It's the only place you'll be safe."
"But… if you go…"
The T'shav twins both looked resolute. Chapec helped Veronica to her feet. She stared at him, trying to decipher what was going through his mind. But he didn't look at her as they started back through the forest. Veronica's stomach twisted. She had to go back to the Sanctuary, for little Ava's sake. It was too dangerous otherwise.
But what would be waiting for the twins once they got there?
***
Veronica yawned as she paced the floor of the kitchen. They had been traveling for several days now and were almost at the Sanctuary. Anxiety twisted through her gut every time she thought about what might happen once they arrived at their destination.
If it wasn't for Ava, she would have told Chapec to just turn the ship around. Despite the fact that he had lied to her before, she didn't want him hurt. She didn't want to see him locked up forever. She didn't want that for Dievca, either.
What she wanted was to find a way to make it work – to be a family. As much as there was all this stuff between them that needed to be worked through, the fact remained that they had a child together. And whether or not it was smart… she loved him. And she regretted freezing him out so much during the time they were away from the Sanctuary. If she hadn't been so hard-headed, she would have been able to see that he really did love her. And maybe things could have worked out differently.
The door to Dievca's room opened. The T'shav woman rubbed her eyes and jumped a little when she saw Veronica. "Can't sleep?"
Veronica shook her head. "Would you mind looking after Ava? I want to talk with Chapec."
A smirk slid over Dievca's face, but she nodded. Veronica handed the baby to her aunt, then went down the corridor to Chapec's room. She hesitated before knocking. He answered almost immediately.
"Can I come in?"
He nodded and held the door wider for her. Veronica slipped in, noting with relief that Chapec closed the door behind her. They faced each other awkwardly. A million different things to say shot through Veronica's mind, but nothing sounded right.
Eventually, Chapec cleared his throat. "Veronica… I know that it's too late to say I'm sorry, but—"
"It's not too late." She stepped closer to him. "I just wish… I wish things could have been different. You and I really had a shot together. I don't know what's going to happen, but Ava is going to know what a brave man her father is."
Her T'shav brushed his hand through her hair. "Thank you. I know I don't deserve—"
She couldn't stand it anymore. Her body drew itself forward, pressing against Chapec's. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Chapec responded instantly. He grabbed her tightly, hungrily exploring her mouth. A budding warmth started between her legs. It burst into flame when Chapec moved to her neck, nibbling at her sensitive skin.
"I want you," she whispered, tracing her hands down his muscled back. "I want you right now."
He yanked at the sleeveless var'kin she wore. It slid easily down her body, leaving her bared to him. Veronica moaned as his hands captured her two overly-sensitive breasts. He fondled them for a moment before seizing her around the waist and throwing her onto the bed, falling on after her. Veronica clung to him, her nails digging into his back. Then she grasped a handful of his var'ki. She pulled the kilt-like garment off his hips, not wanting anything between them.
A moan escaped his mouth as he ground against her, stoking the fire that was already burning within her. His movements hit her just right, sending spots of black and white pleasure splashing across her vision. Veronica kissed every inch of him that she could reach. Her hand slid down his back, grasping his rump to pull him tighter against her.
Chapec moved back to her neck as he grabbed both her thighs, pushing them up until her ankles were around his ears. The stretch burned the back of her thighs, but she didn't care as her T'shav looked her in the eye. Her body shuddered as he entered, slowly, and began his rhythm. She reached for him. Their hands interlocked together, eyes locked on one another. Courses of pleasure burst through her.
This was bliss. Veronica gasped for breath as the pleasure built hotter inside of her. A feeling of connectedness she had never experienced before shot between her and Chapec. In that moment, it was like she could see a billion stars and every one of them sung for her. The feel of his body, the look in his eyes – it was more than she could ever imagine. And she wanted it to last forever.
Eventually, Chapec's motions turned jerky. He pushed her legs back to the bed so he could lie over her, kissing her deeply. The kiss undid her. The fires inside her burst and swayed, filling every inch of her until all she could do was writhe and scream in pleasure. By the time it was over, her throat was raw. Chapec laid over her, panting for breath, his weight comforting.
"You're my mate," she whispered. "Whatever happens at the Sanctuary, I will stand with you. I love you."
Chapec rose his head. His eyes were wide, wondering. "You do?"
She nodded.
"But… how? After I treated you so badly—"
"I love you," she repeated. "And I was so angry, but I can forgive you. I love you. I don't want to ever leave you…"
Chapec kissed her again. "I love you, too. But you need to do what is best for our baby."
Veronica sucked her lip between her teeth, fighting tears. He was right, of course. If it was just her… But she had their daughter to think about, too. But no matter what happened, she wasn't going to leave him alone. She would find a way to be with him.
Even if Zon demanded the worst.