The Nanny and the Alien Warrior by Honey Phillips

Chapter Seventeen

Later that day, Joanna paced back and forth at the top of the ramp. As promised, Alicia had taken Tavi shopping, with Rafalo as their guard. Joanna had been tempted to accompany them, but she had wanted a chance to talk to Craxan about their different options. Unfortunately, Merios had dragged him off for some no doubt nefarious purpose, and they hadn’t returned yet. The rest of the crew had hauled Anaeus to the station authorities, then disbursed to seek entertainment. Even Suzanna and the baby were sleeping, while Jed lurked in the hall outside their door.

“So the male was right, after all. The Cire has a human female too.”

The sound of the deep, mocking voice made her whirl around. A Skaal stood at the base of the ramp, and she knew immediately that he must be Adam’s father. No wonder Suzanna had been so scared of Jed at first. Even though the newcomer was covered with elaborate piercings and wearing an embroidered robe, he oozed menace.

“My first thought, of course, was that one of the rival families had come after my son, but I could find no evidence,” he continued, his voice casual, his eyes anything but. “Then one of my guards, a remarkably stupid male, finally thought to mention that he thought he had seen a Cire warrior later that night. It seemed a little too… coincidental.”

“This is private property. You need to leave.” Thankfully, her voice didn’t shake.

“Property? The only property I see is you.” His gaze roamed over her, and she saw the flicker of a forked tongue between his lips. “I will admit that the Cire has taste. You are far more interesting than that skinny bitch. I shall enjoy making you scream.”

She couldn’t suppress a shudder, and he laughed. “But that will have to wait. Where is my son?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play innocent with me. I know he is on board.”

“And why would you think that?” she asked, playing for time. Could she find a way to alert Jed and have him get Suzanna and Adam off the ship? “Just because my mate is a Cire warrior?”

“Because that Persat idiot contacted me and confirmed it. He actually tried to sell me the information. As if I would pay the likes of him.”

Anaeus had contacted him? That bastard. He must have done so almost as soon as they left Driguera, since Rulmat had arrived so soon after they had.

“Now give me my child,” Rulmat ordered, losing the mockery.

“He’s not yours, he’s Suzanna’s,” she said defiantly.

He stared at her, then started to laugh. “You stupid female. He is my son. My legacy. He will inherit everything I have built—my wealth and my power. I intend to see that he is raised appropriately, surrounded by only the finest of everything. What would his life be like with her? A useless female who only has one thing to offer—her body.”

“Suzanna is not a whore,” she hissed, and he laughed again.

“Perhaps not. She was a frigid little thing.” He ran his eyes over her again, and she did her best not to react, even though his gaze felt like it left a trail of slime behind. “I suspect you will be a lot more enjoyable.”

“You’ll never get a chance to find out.”

“Oh really? Who’s going to stop me?”

“I am.” Jed stepped up next to her, gently urging her behind him.

Rulmat gave him a contemptuous look. “Who the hell are you?”

“Jed’Ta Sa’Konin.”

“The drunk responsible for the wreck of the Farseer?”

Jed’s shoulders stiffened, but he answered calmly. “Yes.”

“This would almost be amusing were it not so pathetic. Out of my way.” When Jed didn’t move, Rulmat sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

Joanna wasn’t sure what she had expected. Guns perhaps, like an old-fashioned shootout, or even swords, but instead the two males simply flew at each other, fangs and claws flashing. They met with a brutal thud, each straining to knock the other to the ground.

From what she could tell, Rulmat was older, but he had the weight advantage. He managed to force Jed down, but Jed twisted as he went, locking his legs around Rulmat and carrying him down as well. Then Rulmat roared and a splatter of blue blood hit the floor. Jed clutched his arm, and Joanna started to panic.

She looked around desperately for some kind of weapon, but the heavy crates filling the hold were sealed tight. More blood slicked the floor, but Rulmat’s scales glistened and she thought Jed had managed to use his claws on the other male.

“No! No, he can’t be here!” The shocked cry came from the interior of the hold, and she looked up to see Suzanna standing there, her face white and her hands pressed to her mouth.

“Go back to the cabin,” Joanna ordered. “Get inside and lock the door.”

If Rulmat defeated Jed, he would still have to find Suzanna, and she could only pray that Craxan would have returned before he did.

But it was too late. Suzanna didn’t move, her body frozen in place, and Rulmat looked up and saw her. He grinned, his fangs stained with blue blood.

“You didn’t think I was going to let him go, did you?”

A spark of defiance replaced the horrified shock. “You’ll never take him away from me.”

“Stupid—” Rulmat’s words were cut off as Jed roared and attacked again.

She had thought the battle brutal before, but this was even more intense. Their bodies slammed against each other, blood spraying. Jed fought like a male possessed, and gradually seemed to gain the upper hand. Rulmat’s responses slowed, barely evading Jed’s blows. Then Jed caught Rulmat around the neck, tightening his grip as Rulmat thrashed and choked and finally went limp.

“Is he dead?” Suzanna whispered as Jed released Rulmat.

“I don’t think so,” Joanna said. “His chest is still moving.”

Jed bent down over the other male, hissing at him.

“She is not your female. He is not your son. Leave now and never return.”

As he started to stand, Joanna saw the flash of metal.

“Jed, watch out!”

He turned and grabbed Rulmat’s wrist. They wrestled for control of the knife, and she watched in horror as Rulmat poised it over Jed’s throat. Jed seemed to sag in defeat, but then he twisted beneath Rulmat, lightning fast, and the knife plunged into Rulmat’s chest instead. An almost shocked expression crossed the arrogant male’s face and his mouth opened, blue blood trickling from his lips, but only a garbled sound emerged before his body jerked and went still.

“Now he’s dead,” Joanna said, her voice shaking.

“Good.” Suzanna’s voice seemed unnaturally calm.

She walked steadily over to the body and looked down at it, her face expressionless. Then she drew back her foot and kicked the body, over and over, while tears streamed down her face. Jed started to reach for her, but looked down at his bloody hands and hesitated, giving Joanna a helpless look.

She went to the girl, making the same soothing noises she would have used with Tavi, and gently put her hand on Suzanna’s arm. Suzanna jerked away from her, but she finally stopped kicking the body.

As Joanna tried to decide what to do next, the hangar doors slammed open and Craxan and Merios raced in, followed by some unknown males. Relief swept over her at the sight of him, but then she saw the blood dripping down his arm as he reached her.

“You’re hurt!” she cried, as he wrapped his arms and tail around her with a sigh of relief.

“Thank Granthar. You are not injured?”

“No, I’m fine. Jed stopped Rulmat from laying a hand on either of us. But what happened to you?”

“Rulmat’s guards,” he said grimly. “They surrounded the hangar, but the station monitor caught sight of them and warned Merios. We returned as quickly as we could.” His arms tightened. “I was terrified that we would not make it in time.”

“But you did,” she said soothingly. “Although I don’t understand. If he had guards with him, why did he come alone? Why didn’t he just use them to take over the ship?”

“Because he is—was—an arrogant bastard. I suspect he wanted to prove that he did not need any help to retrieve his child. He did not count on Jed.”

They both looked over at where Jed was huddled on a step, his face haunted.

“This will be hard on him,” Craxan said softly. “He swore never to be responsible for the loss of another life.”

“He didn’t have a choice.”

“I believe you. I just hope he will believe it.”

As they watched, Suzanna approached Jed. She was still pale, her face tear-stained, but she walked all the way to Jed’s side. For the briefest second, her hand touched his shoulder. He looked up at her, and their eyes met. Then she turned and fled, but his eyes followed her out of the room, and then he smiled.

“I think he will,” she said, and leaned against Craxan’s side. “When is Tavi coming back?”

“Not for a while. Merios sent word to Rafalo, and he will keep Alicia and Tavi away from here until we can… clean up.”

“Do you have to help?”

“I intended to volunteer. Why?”

“Because I need you.” She reached for his tail, clutching it in her hand. “I… I thought I was going to end up as a slave again. That I would never see you and Tavi again.”

“If he had taken you, I would not have stopped until I found you again. There is no place in this universe where he could have hidden you from me.” He growled and swept her up in his arms, carrying her quickly through the corridors. “You are mine, Joanna.”

* * *

“You know, I’ve been thinking,”Joanna said to him, a long time later.

She was curled against his side, her fingers idly stroking his chest, the action both soothing and arousing.

“What have you been thinking?”

“I was thinking of what Rulmat said. Of wanting a son to carry on his legacy.”

His mouth twisted with distaste. “And he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.”

“He was an evil male,” she agreed. “But it made me think. I don’t believe that Lord K’herr was evil.”

“I disagree. He bought you as a slave.”

She sighed. “I know, and I’m not trying to make excuses for him. But he didn’t treat me badly, or allow anyone else to do so. He was just focused on Sultavi. That’s why he worked so hard—to create a legacy for her.”

“I am not sure I understand.” Although he was afraid he did.

“We—I—took her away from her home.”

“In order to keep her safe.”

“I know. And at the time, I didn’t have another choice. But now I’m wondering if maybe we should try and restore the legacy her father wanted to give her. It just seems wrong to let Lord T’paja get away with stealing it from her.”

“I am not sure it would be possible,” he said slowly.

“Doesn’t Alliko have a system of law? I overheard his guards saying he wanted Sultavi in order to legitimize his claim. That implies it could be questioned.”

“Are you sure about this? If we stay here, you would have the company of other humans.”

“I admit it would be nice, and from what Alicia told me, the planet is beautiful.” She lifted up on her elbow and studied him, her face pleading. “I’m sure we could be happy here, but I want to do what’s best for Tavi.”

He sighed heavily. “Perhaps you are right.”

“Is it possible, do you think? To reclaim her home?”

“I am not sure. But perhaps I could make some inquiries.”

“Thank you, Craxan. I just want our daughter to have everything to which she is entitled.”

“I know, Joanna.” He rolled over on top of her, loving the way her body cradled him. “Now are you through with your thinking?”

“Maybe. Why?” Her eyes sparkled up at him.

“Because I suspect that we will not remain uninterrupted for much longer, and I have an idea about base four point six.”

“You do have some very creative bases,” she admitted.

He proceeded to prove her correct.

“You want to do what?”Merios stared at Joanna and Craxan.

Although she had responded deliciously to his lovemaking, she had been anxious to put a plan in place so he had taken her to see the captain.

“We want to return to Alliko and reclaim Sultavi’s legacy,” she said calmly.

Merios raised an eyebrow. “Good luck with that. But I’m not sure why you’re telling me.”

“Because we would like you to take us.”

“I think you’re forgetting Trevelor—the planet you were once so insistent on reaching? I have cargo that is destined for there.”

Considering the multiple delays he had incurred so far, Craxan doubted there was any urgency to the delivery, but Joanna nodded patiently.

“And you can still take it. After a little detour to Alliko.”

Merios studied his claws. “Just how do you intend to pay for this… detour?”

His mate shot him a doubtful glance, and he nodded. They both had some hesitation over this part of her plan, but hadn’t been able to come up with an alternative. “Tavi’s biological father was a very wealthy male.”

“She doesn’t seem to have inherited his wealth,” Merios said dryly.

“Because of how quickly we left. But if we return and if we can get access to her inheritance, we can pay you for the trip. A reasonable amount,” she added quickly.

“It sounds like a lot of ifs.”

She shrugged. “Maybe it’s a little bit of a gamble. But don’t you enjoy taking a chance? Or is that only on people?”

Merios started to laugh as Craxan gave her a puzzled look.

“You have a devious mate, Craxan. But I will agree to the journey—for a generous remuneration.”

“I doubt we have the same definition of generous,” she said. “But you will be well paid.”

“Then I will have Hagrin set course for Alliko. And I hope you know what you’re doing,” Merios said over his shoulder as he left them.

“Do we know what we’re doing?” she asked him.

No.But he was not going to add to her worries. Instead, he told her truthfully, “We are trying to do what is best for our daughter.”

She sighed and squeezed his hand. “I hope so.”