Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

J ane returned to find Tarax waiting by the firepit. He looked pale and sick, and her first impulse was to put her arms around him and tell him that she loved him. But he hadn't repeated his words this morning. What if it had just been a fever dream? What if he hadn't even known it was her?

No , she decided. He had spoken her name too often for her to believe that.

But there were still too many unanswered questions, including his knowledge of the firestarter. First they would heal him, then they would talk.

She started the fire easily enough, then watched in dismay as he brought out his knife. He touched the flat side of the blade to the jagged looking wound on his leg, but even that slight pressure made him hiss with pain.

"Prez heer," he ordered, then thrust the knife into the flames.

"Me?" Her voice shook with horror. It had been bad enough to know what he was going to do—she hadn't realized that she would actually be the one to do it.

He looked away from her. "Miet faynt."

She could see how much he hated to admit the possibility, and she gathered her courage.

"All right. I'll do it."

The blade was beginning to glow red as she took the handle from him.

"Fast. Hahrd," he reminded her as he carefully stretched out his leg.

Her stomach churned, but she forced down the bile rising in her throat. "Are you ready?"

He nodded, and she laid the flat of the blade firmly against the wound. The smell of burning flesh filled the air and she fought desperately not to be sick. Tarax didn't make a sound and he didn't pass out, although his skin paled even further. It would have been better if he had, she thought as she removed the blade.

The burn covered the wound, and he nodded approvingly before he slumped silently to the ground.

She turned away and was suddenly, violently, sick. Mr. Tiddles rushed to her side, patting her arm with his small paw until the spasms passed. She drew a shaky breath, rinsed out her mouth, and returned to Tarax's side.

He was still unconscious, but his forehead was cool to the touch. She carefully covered the burn with wet leaves, then sat down to wait.

By the time he opened his eyes, the sun was directly overhead and she was a nervous wreck.

"Oh thank God," she exclaimed. "I was so worried. How do you feel?"

"Bet-uhr."

He sat up, still moving slowly, while she brought him some broth. By the time he finished it, his skin had returned to its normal shade of green.

"Yoo did wehl," he said as he inspected the wound. The burn looked painful, but the red streaks had disappeared.

"I hope I never have to do anything like that again." She shuddered.

His hand covered hers. "Brayv fee-mayl."

Their eyes met, his glowing warm gold, and she started to sway towards him. But now that he seemed to be out of danger, her questions came rushing back.

"We need to talk," she said slowly.

He winced, and she couldn't help wondering if that was a universal male reaction to those words.

"Sahr-ee," he said quickly.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Naht noh hou…"

"You didn't know how to tell me, you mean?"

He nodded, looking away from her.

"Tarax, are you even from this planet?"

She held her breath, waiting for his response. When he shook his head, she found she wasn't really surprised, even though it only added to her questions.

"I don't understand. Then why are you here?"

He reached for his knife belt, unrolling the woven strands, and showed her the sheet of plastic, so like her own, that had been concealed within.

"Oh my God. You too?"

She jumped to her feet, unable to remain still, and began pacing around the clearing. "I don't understand," she muttered again. "Is this some kind of sick game? And why wouldn't you tell me?"

She was so busy pacing and muttering that she ran into him when he stepped in front of her. He was favoring one leg, but he was standing, and the familiar ridges of his chest as he drew her into his arms were unexpectedly soothing.

"Dohnt noh," he repeated.

"You don't know why we're here either?"

He shook his head, studying her face.

"But we're heading for the same place?"

"Yehss."

"You should have told me."

"Yehss."

"Oh, Tarax, I'm so confused."

But despite her confusion, she didn't pull away from him. Instead she leaned closer. His hand cupped her cheek, then skated down to gently circle the bite mark on her neck. He gave a satisfied hum and her breath caught. Had the events of the previous night been about more than just his fever?

She looked up to find him watching her, eyes glowing again, and she opened her mouth to ask him. But she couldn't stand the thought that he might regret his words.

Instead, she gave him a bright smile and hoped it looked sincere. "Perhaps we'll both find the answers once we reach our destination. You should rest for the rest of the day and then, if you're still improving, we can set out again tomorrow."

Taraxan's heart ached as Jayn turned away from him. He longed to reassure her, but he didn't have the answers she needed. And he suspected that something more than their circumstances was troubling her.

Had something else happened last night? He remembered feeling a rush of happiness, but he didn't remember what had caused it. His only clear memory was of making love to her with an overwhelming need. Had he been too rough?

He watched her anxiously all afternoon, but although she was unusually silent, she didn't seem afraid of him. When the time came to go to sleep, her cheeks turned that enchanting shade of pink again, but she accompanied him readily enough.

He longed for her touch, but he didn't want to cause her distress. By the Swords! He hadn't been this uncertain since his first solo mission.

To his enormous relief, she sighed and turned towards him.

"Make love to me, Tarax," she whispered.

He happily obeyed, slowly and thoroughly worshipping her body—trying to convey with his touch what he could not say with his words. His slow pace continued until he brushed his lips across his mark, and her body quivered with excitement. When he repeated the gesture, she arched into him. She was reacting as a bonded mate would and satisfaction filled him as he focused on the mark, using it to drive her into a long, shuddering climax before he allowed himself to follow her.

They set out early the next morning and, although Jayn was still quieter than usual, her hand rested easily in his, and he finally relaxed.

The jungle began to thin as they walked, the trees diminishing in size and growing further apart. The moss under their feet disappeared, replaced by a carpet of leaves. Jayn winced as she walked, and he made her stop, digging through her bag for the last few scraps of fur. He lashed them to her feet with some additional vines to form crude but effective foot coverings, and she gave him a grateful smile.

"Thank you."

They set out again, but their pace remained slow. He suspected that neither one of them was anxious to reach their destination.

The land continued to change. The trees disappeared altogether, replaced by rolling grassland. The featureless plain made it hard to maintain their direction, but he kept the river to the right and the sun directly ahead. It was beginning to sink towards the horizon when they topped a small hill and came to an abrupt halt.

Directly in front of them was a gleaming white edifice, completely out of place amidst the natural surroundings. If he had encountered it on Dotura, he wouldn't have given it a second thought, but after all this time in the wilderness, it looked disturbingly foreign.

Jayn's hand tightened on his.

"Is that it?" she whispered.

There was no one around to hear her speak, and yet he understood her urge to keep her voice low. Even Misstuh Tiduhlz perched on Jayn's shoulder in subdued silence. The only sound was the wind swishing through the long grass, but he suddenly felt as if someone was listening to their every word.

"Yehss."

Neither one of them moved. Finally, she looked up at him, her small teeth worrying her bottom lip again.

"I suppose we should go find out what this is all about."

He nodded his agreement, but his free hand dropped to the hilt of his knife as they walked slowly down the hill. As they drew closer, he realized that the structure was not as large as it had seemed from afar. One long, low building flanked a taller structure that resembled a ship hangar. His heart beat faster. Would there be a ship inside? A way off this planet?

He looked down at Jayn, still clinging to his hand. He would not let them be separated, he vowed silently.

But what if she wanted to return to her own world? Were her feelings for him enough to override her longing for her home? His chest ached so fiercely that he could almost believe he had been struck by a weapon, but this was a far greater agony. There had to be a way for them to be together.

As they approached the smaller building, a door panel slid to one side, and his hand clenched on his knife hilt. It might only have been an automatic mechanism, but he didn't like the feeling that someone had been waiting for them.

"Do you think there's someone in there?" Jayn whispered.

"Dohnt noh. Keep yoo sayf."

Her smile looked a little shaky around the edges, but he could read the sincerity in her eyes when she nodded. "I know you will."

They stepped through the doorway, and Jayn flinched when it slid shut behind them. A long white corridor stretched out in front of them as the ceiling lights came on. Again, he had the feeling that someone was watching them, and his skin prickled with unease. But they had come all this way looking for answers. It would be foolish to stop now.

Hand in hand, they walked down the corridor, the only sounds those of his bare feet padding against the metal floor and the soft scuff of Jayn's foot coverings.

A second door panel slid open as they reached the end of the hallway, and they stepped inside to find a large room that could have been taken directly from a Doturan home. At one end, clean-lined furniture with plush, leather covered cushions was arranged around a picture window that looked out across the plains. The other end held a large, raised bed, and through the open door next to it, he could see a fully equipped bathing room.

Jayn's eyes were huge as she looked around. "I don't understand. Is this someone's home?"

As if in response, a mechanical voice came from the hidden speaker.

"Welcome, Commander Bellkandis. You have successfully completed the test."

"What test?" he growled, before he realized that the voice had addressed him in Doturan.

Jayn looked worried, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"The survival test, of course. You have reached your destination, although somewhat more slowly than we had anticipated."

The answer was far too vague for his liking, but the circumstances of his arrival seemed far less important than whatever the unseen voice had in store for them. "What happens now?"

"You are free to leave. There is a ship waiting in the hangar, although we assumed you would appreciate a chance to rest and refresh yourself before starting your journey."

A wall panel slid aside and a table emerged from the wall, heavily laden with choice Doturan delicacies.

"And what of Jayn?" he asked. "She has also completed the survival test."

"You were the only subject of the test," the voice said dismissively. "Her purpose was to serve as an additional distraction."

Distraction? Anger raced through him that whoever was behind this test should have used her so callously.

"Do you intend to return her to her own planet?" he snarled through clenched teeth.

"Of course not. Her kind is not yet ready for the knowledge of other civilizations."

His heart ached for Jayn, and yet he couldn't help but feel a degree of relief as well. There was no chance that they would be separated now.

"Then she is coming with me," he said firmly.

"That is not permitted. We do not know what effect her presence might have on other races. She will remain here," the voice said calmly.

Taraxan growled again and Jayn squeezed his hand.

"What's going on? Was that my name? Is something wrong?"

He pulled her against him in a reassuring hug, even as his mind raced. Whoever was running this test – and he would very much like to meet them, he thought grimly – seemed quite sure that he would obey their dictates. He had no intention of doing so.

"Is that food for us?" Jayn asked with a longing glance at the waiting food.

"Yehss, buht naht sayf."

It might be safe, but he didn't want to take the chance. And even the always hungry Misstuh Tiduhlz made no attempt to investigate the food.

Her shoulders sagged, but she nodded. "Now what?"

The first order of business was to explore the building and see if he could find any sign of the mysterious testers. He knew Jayn was tired, and he considered leaving her in the comfortable room, but he didn't want to leave her alone. He had a haunting fear that he would return only to find her absent.

"Nou ik-splor," he said. The only other alternative was to leave the lab, but he wasn't quite ready to give up on the chance to get Jayn off the planet with him.

She nodded again and gave him a brave smile. He dropped a brief kiss on her lips, and they returned to the corridor.