Page 29 of Zahhn's Mate
But seriously… what happens now? Will Zahhn take me back to whatever ship in the Darrvason fleet he calls home? Or will he stay on theJansonnawith me?
Mated. I can scarcely believe I’m mated to the huge alien doctor.
My breathing increases and panic swirls in my head. I tuck my knees up and place my head between them, trying to quell the sudden attack of anxiety. What will the leaders of the worldship say? How will my friends and coworkers react? What about my father?
Leona’s Speakeasy. Guilt flows through me as I consider the true ramifications of what I’ve done.
What will happen to my bar? I despair over the thought of abandoning it or allowing someone else to take over. Managing the speakeasy has brought me joy and kept me sane during the last fifteen years.
Yes, I founded the illicit meeting place when I was only twenty years old. It started in a small storage room on Deck Nine, only to move to a larger abandoned storage room on Deck Twenty about five years ago. When I think about all the hard work I put into the place, I find myself hoping Zahhn will somehow end up staying on theJansonna. Maybe I could convince him to work in the worldship’s medical bay.
But doubts keep plaguing me—this entire situation is complicated—and my worry deepens. Mating with Zahhn was unexpected. I’m still not certain how he ended up on theJansonnaand found his way to my bedroom.
I remain on the floor for a few more minutes, trying to decide how to proceed with my day. I’m a bit miffed that Zahhndeparted my bedroom without waking me to say goodbye. It sure would be nice to know his whereabouts.
Finally, I decide to shower and get dressed. Maybe I’ll encounter my new mate as I’m headed through the corridors on my way to the mess hall.
Once I’m ready, I slip out of my bedroom and shut the door quietly, just in case my father’s still sleeping. He keeps odd hours for a variety of reasons, and sometimes he’ll sleep during the day.
The sound of a throat being cleared in the living room causes me to freeze in my steps. I peer to the left and discover my father seated on the couch, his face pale, his eyes brimming with fear.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Leona,” he whispers. “What the fuck have you done?”
I stare at him dumbly for about thirty seconds. But of course. Zahhn and I weren’t exactly quiet last night. I flush as I recall how often he growled, not to mention how frequently I whimpered and moaned. Caught up in the moment, I hadn’t stopped to consider that anyone might overhear us.
“Good morning, Dad,” I finally say. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him, annoyed that “Jesus fucking Christ, Leona. What the fuck have you done?” is the most he’s said to me in over two months. I fight back a wave of hurt.
“I cannot believe you fornicated with one of those Darrvason engineers. For fuck’s sake, have you lost your mind? Darrvasons mate for life, you stupid girl! For life!” His face reddens and he stands up and starts pacing the living room.
“How do you know it was a Darrvason? Did you see him leave?” I swallow hard and wonder if he had an encounter with Zahhn this morning. Oh dear. Even though I’m pissed as hell at my father, a smile tugs at my lips as I imagine the two of them crossing paths in the hallway.
“Humans don’t growl like that. The entire deck must’ve heard you copulating. Shit, I’m surprised morality officers haven’t come knocking yet. But no, I didn’t see him leave.” My father appears flustered. “Isn’t he still in your bedroom? I’ve been sitting here waiting for him to come out so I could give you idiots a piece of my mind.”
“He’s not in my bedroom,” I say, my confusion growing. Where’s Zahhn? Why do I suddenly have a very bad feeling?
“Not in your bedroom? How the hell did he get out? I would’ve seen him leave.” My father huffs and stomps into my bedroom. I hear him cursing and cringe as I realize he likely just found the stained covers and Zahhn’s underwear. Seconds later, he comes stomping back out, his face twisted with fury and confusion.
“I don’t know where he went. He was gone when I awoke this morning. Maybe… maybe you drifted to sleep for a while and you missed him leaving.”
The anger doesn’t leave my father’s visage. “Perhaps.” He clenches his jaw and appears on the verge of screaming again, but when he next speaks, his voice is eerily calm. “You must keep it a secret. Do not tell anyone you mated with a Darrvason. I will take care of it. Just give me his name, and I will take care of it. You don’t need to spend your life in slavery to one of those barbaric creatures.”
“You’ll take care of it? What the hell does that mean?” Shock courses through me. Surely he doesn’t mean to kill Zahhn. My father might be involved with some rebel groups aboard theJansonna, but I can’t imagine him having the power and resources to take out one of the Darrvasons, even if he thinks the Darrvason in question is an engineer who’s temporarily stationed on the worldship.
“I will worry about the details.” He draws in a deep breath as though summoning patience. “Just give me his name, Leona. I will do whatever it takes to make sure your life isn’t ruined.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m not giving you his name.”
His face twists with disgust. “You stupid girl. I’ve allowed you to have your little speakeasy, and I’ve paid off security officers to keep you from being arrested several times over the years. But I won’t watch you ruin your life by becoming chained to a Darrvason.”
For a moment, the room tilts. Is he telling the truth? Has he actually paid off security officers to protect me? I think about the two days I spent in the worldship’s brig. Maybe if I hadn’t been released, he would’ve tried to help me. Though I’m infuriated by his plans to commit murder on my behalf, I’m touched that he’s secretly protected me over the years.
“Darrvason males are savages, and they think they have the right to over two thousand of our women just because they’re offering us a little help? Fuck that. Tell me this bastard’s name.”
I take a step backward, then another. I shake my head. “I won’t tell you his name.”
“Before your mother died, I promised her I would protect you!” he shouts, and it’s a low blow.
My mother died shortly after giving birth to me due to complications, and while I know she wanted children and carefully planned my conception in a fertility lab, I still harbor guilt over her death.
