Page 20 of Chieftain
She stiffened next to me. “But…
Her green eyes were wide and alert, but faint purple smudges painted the flesh underneath. She appeared paler than when we came aboard, despite the fact she'd eaten well. I lifted her hand, pressing her palm over where my heart thudded heavily in my chest. "You look tired, little human. Rest, and we will be enroute to the space station when you awaken."
Orzon appeared at her side, his short, stocky arm held out to her in offer. Emmy's fingers trembled slightly before landing at his elbow as she stood. Her gaze never left mine, a mix of curiosity and worry.
"It will be fine. Orzon will take care of you. I will check on you when I finish here."
Full pink lips ticked upward as she nodded and let the Framaddi lead her from the room. The rest of my crew followed behind like waddling Earth fowl—ducks, I believed they were called.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I turned to my Sage, irritation boiling in my gut.
"Do you have something to say to me, Sage?"
"No, but Charick has something to say to his friend Khaion." He stalked nearer. "Turning our lives upside down for six humans? You know our directive—protect humans, but never get too involved.”
My chair rolled back several feet as I stood. "I believe you forgot our creed to rescue the abducted as well. Isn't that what we’re doing?”
“You know damn well it’s not. There are other Vaktaire ships better equipped to track down lost slaves. That isnotourdirective." Charick pointed an accusing finger. "You're bending the rules for this human, and I, for one, would like to know why?"
“I gave her my word that we would rescue her friends.”
Charick made a deep sound in his throat, thinking I was lying. "Did something happen that you're not telling me?"
Something did happen, but how could I explain it to Charick when I didn't understand it myself? My body tingled with the memory of her touch, and her scent still wrapped around me like an embrace. "What do you mean?"
Charick crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “Did you mate with her?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time one of our kind has tasted the pleasures of human flesh.”
"Do you think so little of me that I cannot control myself with a small, scared human?" I demanded, irritation causing my muscles to tense. But was the irritation I felt because of his accusation, or the idea of burying myself in Emmy's body lingering in the back of my mind since waking up in the pod with her in my arms?
Charick sighed, the tenseness leaving his stance. "I respect you above all others, friend, which is why I notice and comment when you act so out of character."
"Vaktaire do not feel the mating pull with humans. We know this. They are too different." Denial rested on my lips as I imagined what it would be like to do the very thing.
“The human has been through the Garoot Healer. We know it alters their bodies. What if somehow the healer makes them able to survive the Valakana?"
Hope slammed through me. The idea that Emmy could be mine had the force of a blow, staggering me slightly. Could it be true? Mating would undoubtedly explain the pull and protectiveness I felt for the tiny human.
Charick’s eyes narrowed on me.
“Chieftain.” The Framaddi’s voice over my wrist comm was a welcome distraction.
"What is it, Orzon?"
“Human Emmy,” Orzon’s tone was worried. “She seemed very upset when I left her quarters. There was liquid sprouting from her eyes, and I could not get it to stop.”
The compulsion to be at her side drove me toward the door, "I'll be right there."
"Tell me again, nothing going on?" Charick said in a low tone from over my shoulder.
I stiffened. "I gave my word I would keep her safe."
"Then you better go keep your word. I will prepare for the ship to travel through the wormhole." Charick was my oldest friend. The disappointment in his voice scalded me, but it didn't slow my feet as I stalked from the room.
