A Son for the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #2)(6)

He helped the calf begin nursing, delighted when she latched on and began to drink, first slowly, then with surprising eagerness. When he looked up, Maldost was grinning at him and he couldn’t resist grinning back before he hardened his expression.

“You are very lucky that I managed to save her. If she had died, it would have been on your head.”

Maldost’s ears went down and he whined softly at the reprimand. Since Cestov knew that it was thoughtlessness rather than cruelty that had driven the younger male’s behavior, he relented slightly.

“And you will make up for it, by ensuring that this bedding is kept fresh and clean.” Even as he spoke, one of the infants wandered far enough away from his mother to let loose a gushing yellow flow. How could such a small creature produce so much shit? Maldost winced and nodded.

“I will take care of them,” he promised.

Cestov started to rise to his feet, only to be stopped by the slonga’s trunk wrapping around his arm. He looked at the big dark eyes watching him so intently. The slonga were known for their intelligence, but no one had ever suggested that they were sentient. The look of gratitude in the creature’s eyes contradicted that.

“You’ll be all right. You and your calves,” he said softly.

Before he could start to leave again, he felt a small weight against his knee. The youngest calf had finished feeding and curled up against him. His tail immediately covered it. The rest of the infants were tucked against the mother’s stomach but this one had come to him. With a sigh, he settled back down. It appeared that he would be spending the night down here.





Chapter Four


Mariah paced restlessly. The week had dragged on with agonizing boredom interrupted by a few moments of sheer terror. Even though there was a slight risk of others entering the small lab, Kwaret had decided that she was safer here than anywhere else on the ship. He had done everything he could to ensure her comfort in her small hiding place, but she’d still been lonely and bored. Too scared even to sing, she’d only emerged once the ship was deep in the night shift to work through some yoga poses and wash using the sink.

On her second day in hiding, two strange Vedeckians had entered the room. Fortunately, she had been obediently tucked away in her little hidey-hole, although she doubted that it would endure a full scrutiny. Kwaret had arranged a stack of containers at the end of the shelving unit but they were empty and easily pushed aside. She held her breath, frozen in place as she listened to their conversation.

“Hurry up. You know we’re not supposed to be in here,” the first speaker said urgently.

A sneering laugh made her skin crawl.

“Who’s going to say anything—that spineless worm? I don’t even know why Kadica took him on.”

“He serves a purpose. And he gets the smallest share.”

Bottles clinked and she moved a fraction closer, trying to catch a glimpse of what they were doing through a crack in the containers.

“Three females and two infants. A small reward for the risk.”

The speaker had his back to her, but she could see him combining the contents of several bottles.

The other male shrugged. “Not that much risk. And not that small a reward. Last year’s pickup was most profitable and this year we can keep all of them. We don’t have to give up anyone to Commander Khaen. A breeder and two infants, just because he found this planet? Ridiculous.”

Her pulse increased and she edged a little closer. Could they possibly be talking about Judith and Charlie?

“We don’t have to pay him because he disappeared.” The first male looked up and frowned. “How can you say no risk?”

“No risk on this primitive planet. No alarms, no one waiting. I say it’s been a successful test. I will suggest to the commander that we increase the frequency of our visits and expand our search area.”

“I would feel more comfortable if we knew why Commander Khaen disappeared after last year’s visit.”

“Probably ran into the Patrol.” The second male shrugged again. “No one’s come after us, have they? Stop worrying.”

The male at the counter turned and held up a vial of green fluid. He grinned, pointed teeth flashing. “This should help.”

“Are you sure? It looks toxic.”

“Only toxic enough to make me stop worrying. Let’s go.”

They had departed without even approaching her hiding place, but her heart hadn’t stopped pounding for a long time.

A few days later, her anxiety flared again when Kwaret didn’t make his usual visit. He tried to come twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, but when he missed the evening visit, she was not too concerned. She had heard the assembly alarm and assumed he had been required to attend. When he did not appear the next morning either, her concern started to grow.

What was she going to do without his assistance? She still had a reasonable quantity of the tasteless nutrition bars he had provided, and she could always get water from the sink. Her other bodily needs were resolved by the use of the waste incinerator. She should be able to survive if he didn’t return. She might even be able to find a way off the ship if they landed or were intercepted, although it would undoubtedly be an easier process if Kwaret was able to assist her. But practical concerns aside, she was also worried about the alien male. During their conversations, she had come to respect and even like him. He had a gentle deference that seemed at odds with the information he somewhat reluctantly shared about his people and a dry sense of humor that emerged as he grew more comfortable in her presence.