Chapter 17

Lise

Well, that was a day I wouldn’t forget anytime soon. I was kissed by the warlord of the Thrail, who told me he thought we were meant to be together and then mentioned that he might have to send me away, along with all the other women in the Thrail, if their health issues didn’t improve.

My hands flew over my padbook as I sat in the dining hall with my dinner. I had barely started it. I was eager to get my thoughts down before I forgot the details. The kiss, Besi’s calves being born, and all the intensity between Adrik and me. There’d been no flycam following me today, either, so if I didn’t write it down, I could forget it. After Adrik had turned it off in his home, it had not been turned back on.

It was with me now, though, taking a slow pan of the dining hall as I broke down what had happened today in words.

I’d gotten a little feedback on how my first column was received. Hans, my boss at Earth Life News and Galactic Report, had said it was “good,” which was rare praise from him. He said to keep them coming. Not that I had a choice. The weekly column was half of my job here, and reflected my life and observations. The news story I was working on was serious. More serious than I had thought it would be when coming into this place.

I was so engrossed in my writing that I was startled when a shadow fell over my isolated table in the back of that hall. I looked up to see my warlord gazing down at me. Four warriors stood behind him, like wingmen. “Hi, Adrik.” My heart beat a little faster. All eyes turned to us.

“Lise. I see you have gone to the baths.” There was a sparkle in his eye.

I ran my gaze over his clean clothes and freshly washed self. “I see you have, as well.”

“The most rewarding shower I’ve ever taken.”

I chuckled. “I can imagine. How are Besi and her babies? Still doing well?”

He smiled. “All three are healthy. She’s given us a little male and a female.”

“That’s great.” I smiled wide. “I have to admit, baby ugris are cute.”

“That they are.” He shifted on his feet. “But I did not come over here to talk about Besi.” He held out a hand. “I want you to sit with me at the warlord’s table.”

I blinked up at him. “Oh. I’m perfectly fine here.”

“I can see that. But I would like you by my side. In all things.” He said that last sentence a little quieter. The warriors standing behind him were respectfully waiting.

“I…okay.” I gathered up my padbook and tried to tuck it under my arm while I lifted my tray, but the warrior to Adrik’s right stepped forward and took the tray off the table. “Ah, thank you.”

“You need only ask for assistance,” Adrik said as I walked by his side, hand in hand through the dining hall, past all of those watching, curious eyes, to the huge table in front. He took his seat in the large chair and the male carrying my tray placed it down to Adrik’s right. Other warriors were already sitting there. They lifted their cups of ale towards me and smiled.

I flushed, feeling horrendously out of place. The last thing I wanted to do was interrupt their meal and conversations, but then someone raised a cup of ale and said, loudly, “To the warlord’s mate! May she put a smile on his face and wring him dry!”

“Oh god.” I wanted to die with embarrassment, especially since this was being recorded.

“To the warlord’s mate!” they all said in unison, as if overjoyed that someone had agreed to take on their stoic leader. I looked up at Adrik with pleading eyes but he was trying hard not to laugh. Still, he gave them all a chiding look. “She hasn’t agreed to keep me, yet.”

“She will,” said one of them. “Who can resist the charms of our warlord?” He laughed and drank. And then they all did.

It was the first time I’d heard anyone tease him. And to my surprise, Adrik didn’t seem to mind. He lifted my hand, brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them. “My charms are legend,” he said, with humor twinkling in his eyes.

“Are they now?” I grinned up at him.

“It’s fine to see a female who doesn’t cower in front of this one,” said Dikon, who was as relaxed as I’d ever seen him. He was usually just as stoic as the warlord.

“He cowered a little bit when he needed to stick his hand up Besi’s—”

“That’ll do,” Adrik interrupted, shaking his head. “You’re incorrigible.”

But that was it. It seemed as though my presence loosened the warriors around him. They didn’t continue any bawdy chants, and I got the impression that that first one had been a common congratulations to males who chose a mate. The warriors drew us into conversations—real ones. They were curious about Earth. Interested in how life was on my home planet. And Adrik, instead of holding himself distinctly apart, joined the conversation.

I was pretty good at talking to people, since that was part of my job. And these males were surprisingly personable. By the time dinner had drawn to a close, Adrik was relaxed. He had stuck with one cup of ale, but he clearly enjoyed himself this evening.

We strolled from the dining hall. The looks we got were no longer skeptical or curious, but happy and encouraging. I had been accepted, it appeared, but little did any of these people know that there was a real possibility that all of us women would have to leave in the coming weeks, or risk growing seriously ill.

It made me feel as though a countdown timer sat between us, ticking down each hour, each second.

We arrived at my little house. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, hands roving over my back. He held my ass and pulled me tightly against him. There was no mistaking the thrust of his erection. He wanted me, but he stepped back, closed his eyes and gave me a nod. “Good night, Lise.”

But I wasn’t having it. I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t want this feeling to end. Not yet. Without thinking, I grabbed the front of his vest and pulled him inside. I shut the door behind him. He looked down at me, blinking, a little stunned, perhaps. But he didn’t leave.

“Lise…” he began in a chiding voice.

I held up a hand. “Don’t even start. Listen. I have news for you, Warlord. Soon is now. I don’t want to wait, and if you wind up sending me away in two weeks, I want as much of you as possible before I have to let you go.”

He moved toward me like a beast stalking prey. “So be it.”