Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A 'rien sighed but didn't protest as A'reka accepted the other human female's invitation. Her mate was a Doturan, a race of honorable if somewhat pompous warriors, and they should be safe enough.

The two females chattered eagerly as he and the male stalked silently behind them. Peri had climbed up on his shoulder, keeping an obviously suspicious eye on the strange male, and he gave him an approving pat.

A well-built wooden house waited at the end of the trail. Jane led the way up to the wide veranda, still talking.

A'rien followed more slowly, unexpectedly jealous—not so much for the actual house but that Tarax had been able to provide his female with a comfortable home. One that would not blow down in the next storm.

"The location on the map—does it contain tools?" he asked.

"Yes." Tarax shot him a quick glance, then sighed. "And you may have the use of the ones I have as well. I cannot claim ownership, since they were scavenged from the site."

"What is this site?"

"A lab of some sort, although I do not recognize the technology." Tarax hesitated. "They threatened to separate us the first time we went, but I am no longer convinced that was their true intention. No one has bothered us since."

A'rien strode to the edge of the veranda, his hands clenching on the polished wooden rail. "Why do you think we were brought here?"

Tarax sighed again. "I don't know. I thought it was a test of some kind, but I am no longer sure of that either. It seems more like some kind of… experiment."

"But what kind? And why?"

The other male shook his head. "Who knows? But I found my mate as a result so I don't truly care."

"I'm going to show Erica our bathroom," Jane called from the doorway as she swept A'reka inside.

His mate rolled her eyes at him, but she was smiling.

"I suspect they will be occupied for some time." Tarax gave him a speculative look. "Do you enjoy training?"

"Not particularly, but it has proven useful from time to time."

Tarax laughed and clapped him on the back hard enough to have jolted a lesser male. "Then let's see what you know."

Quite a few things that an upright warrior might not know .

He could hear A'reka laughing inside the house. Satisfied that his mate was happy, he grinned and followed Tarax.

Before beginning the tour, Jane introduced Erica to Mr. Tiddles, a small, fluffy pink creature that looked like a cross between a cat and a monkey. Peri had remained with A'rien, but she hoped the two animals would get along.

Erica was suitably impressed by the bathroom—with a working toilet! —and the big, comfortable bedroom. She was busy dreaming up plans for her own house when Jane threw open another door.

"And this is going to be the baby's room. It's not completely finished, but you and A'rien can stay here."

"It's perfect," Erica said sincerely. "We've been sleeping on the ground for the past week."

A'rien did his best to make her comfortable, but she missed their hammock, not to mention their bed cushion.

Jane winced sympathetically. "I know what that's like, and I don't miss it at all."

Pregnant and sleeping on the ground? Erica shuddered. All of her previous questions rushed back. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Are you upset about the father of the baby?"

Jane frowned at her. "I don't understand. Why would I be? I love Tarax."

"Tarax?" The world wheeled around Erica's head.

"Of course. Who else would it be? In case you haven't noticed, this isn't exactly a heavily populated planet."

"But I thought…"

Jane stared at her, then nodded slowly. "I see. You thought I was already pregnant when I arrived?"

"Yes. We're so different from the males. I didn't think it would be possible to have a baby."

"It surprised me too." The other woman's lips curved in a soft smile. "I thought there was something wrong with me. Tarax practically had to carry me to the lab to get the scan."

"But if you and he…" She fought to keep her voice steady. "Do you think that means that A'rien and I could also have a baby?"

"I don't see why not." Jane studied her face. "Do you want that?"

"Yes, oh yes." Her eyes filled with tears at the thought. "I'd love to have a real family. My daughter would always know that I loved her unconditionally."

"And A'rien?"

"I don't think he knows anything about having a family," she said slowly. "He's an orphan. He's always been on his own."

"Then you'll just have to teach him." Jane led her back out into the main room and started making tea, before shooting Erica a speculative look. "How long have you been here?"

"I'm not really sure. Maybe six weeks?"

"I'm not trying to pry, but have you had your period?"

"No, I—" The implication of Jane's question hit her like a lightning bolt. "Do you think I'm already pregnant?"

"I don't know. Being in a different environment, going through everything you've been through, it might simply be that you're late." Jane hesitated. "But it didn't take us very long…"

Pregnant. Her hand dropped automatically to her stomach.

"And the building you told me about has a medical scanner?"

"Yes. You'd know right away."

"I want to go there in the morning," she decided. "Alone."

"You don't want A'rien to go with you?"

"I don't think so. I don't want him to be disappointed—or to be upset because I'm upset."

Jane smiled a little ruefully. "They really don't like it when we're unhappy. Just leave it all to me."

A'rien awoke to find Pair-ee patting his face with anxious little noises. He immediately reached for A'reka, only to find that she was no longer in their bed.

"Where did she go, Pair-ee?" he asked, swinging to his feet with a groan as the aftereffects of Tarax's homemade liquor made their presence known.

Their training bout had been remarkably even. He had managed to surprise the other male several times, although Tarax's more disciplined approach had won out just as frequently. The male had been pleased enough that he produced the liquor after their meal.

A'reka hadn't sampled any of it—obviously a wise decision—so perhaps she had simply woken up earlier and left him to sleep. Although he was surprised she hadn't taken Pair-ee with her. The little creature scratched at the door, obviously distressed.

"All right. Let's go find her."

He pulled on the loose shorts Tarax had given him, lifted Pair-ee onto his shoulder, and left the bedroom.

Jane and Tarax were standing on the balcony, Tarax's arms cupped around the swell of her stomach, and A'rien had to suppress a quick pang of envy. He had been blessed to find A'reka; it would be pushing his notoriously uneven luck to wish for more. But the image of a little girl with A'reka's eyes danced through his head before he pushed it firmly aside.

He gave a discreet cough to alert the two to his presence. "Good morning."

Jane jumped, although Tarax showed no sign of surprise. A'rien suspected he had been aware of A'rien as soon as he joined them.

"Good morning." Jane gave him a quick smile, then headed for her kitchen, talking rapidly. "Would you like some breakfast? I've been experimenting with pancakes , and I think they've turned out very well."

"I'm sure they're delicious," he said politely, even though the term hadn't translated. "But I wish to find my mate. Is she using your bathing room?"

Jane shot a quick glance at Tarax, her hands twisting together. "Umm…"

"Your mate isn't here. She went to the lab."

What? An almost physical agony lanced through him. She had told him she loved him. He had been so sure that she was going to stay.

"She left me?" The words came out as a harsh whisper.

"No. She just went to the lab to—" Tarax's words cut off as Jane put a hand on his arm.

"She just went to see it," Jane said quickly, but A'rien could tell that she was hiding something.

"What aren't you telling me?" he growled.

Tarax stepped in front of his mate, his face hardening. "You do not talk to her that way."

Part of him knew that it wasn't the female's fault, but he was too frantic to care. "How could you let her go? And by herself?"

Nightmarish images of A'reka injured and alone only added to his desperation.

"It is not far. And there are no predators in this area." Tarax still sounded annoyed, but his face had softened slightly. "She will be be fine."

"Would you have let your mate go alone?" he snapped, already heading for the steps. "I'm going after her."

He heard Jane protesting, but words alone had no power over him and Tarax made no attempt to stop him from leaving.

Pair-ee chittered anxiously on his shoulder, seeming to echo A'rien's concerns, and his presence only added to A'rien's doubts. Why wouldn't she have taken the little creature with her if she was truly planning to stay? What if she had decided to return to the safety of her own planet after all? He believed that she hadn't been happy there, but her life must have been much easier.

He reached up to steady Pair-ee as his pace increased, practically running through the fringes of the forest and out onto the wide expanse of the grasslands. He spotted her immediately. She had almost reached the white building, but if he ran, he could still intercept her, could stop her from entering, could stop her from leaving him, could make her stay…

He came to an abrupt halt. Yes, he could stop her physically, but that wouldn't make her want to stay, wouldn't make her happy to be with him. And her happiness was what mattered. He had to let her choose her own path, even if that path would lead her away from him.

All of his instincts urged him to go after her, but he didn't move, his eyes glued to that distant figure. When she entered the building, his legs gave out and he collapsed down into the grass, rubbing his aching chest.

Pair-ee whimpered.

"I know, little one. But Jane said she was only going to explore. We just have to have faith that she will return."

Faith had never worked before. He'd had to work and scheme and seize everything he had ever wanted, but this time there was nothing he could do except wait.

Time dripped by, and with every passing second his hope faded. But he waited, his eyes fixed on the door through which she had disappeared, refusing to look away. The ache in his chest grew, and his eyes burned.

The door opened, and A'reka stepped out.

He was racing towards her before he even realized he was moving, Pair-ee clutched to his chest as he sped through the long grass.

She looked up when she heard him coming, a pleased smile crossing her face.

He snatched her into his arms, his relief too great for words, while Pair-ee chittered happily before snuggling against her neck.

"You didn't leave me," he said at last.

She frowned up at him. "Leave you? Of course, I didn't leave you. I love you."

"Jane said you just wanted to explore, but I thought… When you went inside, I thought you had decided to return to your world."

"You saw me go in? And you didn't try and stop me?"

"No. It was your decision."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you."

"Jane was right? You really did just want to explore? Why didn't you wait for me to go with you?"

"When Jane and Tarax went together, the building tried to separate them. I didn't want that to happen." She took a deep breath. "But it was more than that. I wanted to use the medical scanner."

"Why? What's wrong?" He started to lift her into his arms, already determined to carry her back inside.

"Nothing's wrong. You can put me down."

"I don't understand."

"I'm pregnant, A'rien. We're going to have a baby."

His knees gave out for a second time, but he kept her tucked safely in his arms as he dropped to the ground.

"A baby?"

"Yes." Her eyes filled with tears. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"The most wonderful news ever."

He would never again have any reason to complain about his luck. Filled with renewed strength, he rose to his feet, carrying her with him.

She laughed and hugged his neck. "Where are you taking me?"

"To find a place for our new home. I intend to make sure that you and our daughter want for nothing."

"As long as we have you, we don't need anything else."