Ambushing Ariel (11 page)

“Yes,” Mandra replied finally. “The problem is every time I get near her she attacks me! Now, I can’t even find her. She broke my nose and took off. She is hiding somewhere and I haven’t been able to locate her yet.”

Creon’s head jerked up. “She broke your nose? When did she do that? I just thought she knocked you out,” Creon said with a frown. “Your nose didn’t look broken.”

Mandra grunted as he turned to pour himself another drink. “She did it later when I caught up with her in the garden,” Mandra turned back around and pointed his drink at Zoran. “These females do not behave the way they are supposed to. I thought they were weak, fragile…delicate! You never said anything about them being dangerous, vicious, seductive little savages who do not fight fair. I thought they were going to be crying.”

Zoran shook his head. “I never said they were weak or fragile.”

“No, you did not,” Mandra said with a sigh. “But, from the way the three of you looked so stressed and worried, I assumed it must have been because of the females. You know how Clarmisa is. I just assumed they were like that only weaker. How was I to know that these females are about as delicate and fragile as a Sarafin warrior set for battle?”

All the men shuddered at the mention of Clarmisa. “Gods, no! None of them are like that. Abby is the strongest female I have ever met. She lived alone on her mountain and cared for me while I was injured,” Zoran said moving to sit back down at the large conference table.

“Well, how was I to know that? Anyway, the female called Ariel will not be claimed by any other male but me. My symbiot, dragon and I have all claimed her. I just have to find a way to capture her without ending up in medical or dead,” Mandra muttered fiercely as he moved to sit down.

.
.*

Ariel moved through the maze of corridors totally lost – again. She had been walking for what seemed like hours, well except for when she found a small room that had obviously not been used in eons where she had fallen asleep. She didn’t realize just how exhausted she was until she finally stopped for a few minutes. The next thing she knew, she was passed out. Now, she was feeling refreshed except for the fact she needed a shower and a fresh change of clothes. She was also worried about all her little babies Jarak promised to have transported down. She really hoped he kept his promise. She had no idea where he would put them but she hoped it was someplace safe until she could be with them.

The huge golden creature next to her seemed to understand her as it began nudging her whenever she got near an intersection in a corridor. Before long, she found herself in a huge corridor with tall arching columns. The ceiling had elaborate paintings on it depicting everything from flowers to warriors to dragons battling. Large planters filled with all types of beautiful plants lined the corridor in between the huge, arched windows that let in streams of bright, golden light that reflected off the white marble floors and walls. Ariel walked over to one and gazed in wonder at the huge flowers that seemed to glow. When she reached to touch one, it closed up suddenly causing her to squeak in surprise. Ariel jerked around when she heard a soft, feminine chuckle coming from behind her.

“You must be one of the females brought back on the
V’ager
,” the woman said softly before nodding to the plant. “They close as a defense. If you wait a few moments, it will open again. The longer it is open the more it will glow. They are very beautiful at night,” the woman said walking forward.

Ariel watched as the woman removed a pair of dirty gloves from her slender hands. She tucked them in the front of the apron she was wearing. Ariel thought she was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen before. She moved with a grace that was almost mesmerizing. Ariel’s eyes swiveled back to the flower that was slowly opening again.

“It’s so beautiful,” Ariel breathed out. “This whole world is so strange.”

The woman tilted her head and studied Ariel for a moment before replying. “Do you think it is strange in a good way or a bad way?” She asked.

Ariel looked at the woman with troubled eyes. “I’m not sure yet. Everything I see is so different from what I’ve ever seen before. It is very confusing,” Ariel replied hesitantly. “My name is Ariel… Ariel Hamm, by the way. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Ariel added with a wave of honesty. This woman was the first female she had seen except from Carmen, Trisha, Cara, and Abby.

The woman chuckled. “I am called Morian. It is indeed a pleasure to meet you,” Morian’s eyes flickered to Mandra’s symbiot that was pressed protectively near Ariel. “What do you find confusing about our world?”

Ariel bit her lip and ducked her head unsure how much she could say without mentioning the only really confusing part was her reaction to the huge male who tried to catch her. She touched her fingers to the golden creature next to her seeking comfort. A wave of warmth flowed through her and she relaxed a little. She looked up at the woman who was waiting patiently for her to respond.

“We don’t have plants like this on our world or dragons or space travel like you have or purple grass,” Ariel said in a rush.

“Or males that make you feel things you do not wish to?” Morian asked gently.

Ariel’s eyes jerked up to meet Morian’s soft warm gold eyes and saw understanding in them. She nodded without realizing she was even doing it. When she did, she jerked her head back around to stare out the windows with a frown. She just wanted to go home. She knew what was there. She knew what was waiting for her. What she was going to do. Here…here she was lost, on unfamiliar ground, unsure of what or where she fit in.

“I want to go home,” Ariel whispered hesitantly. “Trisha, Cara, my sister and I have things to take care of back home. It is important that we return as soon as possible.”

“Come child, walk with me,” Morian said as she carefully pulled her apron off and laid it down on one of the benches lining the corridor. “I could use some refreshments.”

Morian nodded to the symbiot before saying, “Go play for a while. I will keep your mate safe until you return.”

Ariel watched the huge gold creature change form to something that looked like a cross between a lion and an eagle. She watched until it disappeared around the corner before she turned to follow Morian like an obedient puppy, feeling lost and lonely. She walked beside Morian down the corridor a little ways until the older woman opened a door and walked in.

Ariel gave a cry of joy when she saw all the cages filled with the little creatures from the
V’ager
neatly stacked on one side of the room. She rushed past Morian and began opening them. She pulled several of the little, white-haired rabbit looking creatures into her arms cradling them against her chest. One of the dark-haired six-legged creatures reached out and clung to her shoulders burrowing down in her hair. Ariel rubbed her cheek against it and whispered soothingly.

Morian had a pained look for a brief moment before she let a reassuring smile replace it. “I assume you know what these are?” Morian asked with a chuckle as another six-legged creature started climbing Ariel’s leg while little Maratts scattered in all directions looking for a hiding place.

“They are my babies,” Ariel murmured as she cuddled several of the little creatures to her chest. “Yes, you are. You are my precious little babies. You are so beautiful. No one will hurt you here. I promise.”

Morian shook her head trying not to laugh. Ariel’s tender heart was open for all to see as she cuddled a creature that was considered a tantalizing treat for a Valdier dragon. The Maratts and Grombots Ariel referred to as her babies were prized on any dinner table. Even Morian was having a hard time keeping her dragon from chasing down and gobbling up the delicious little treats. Her son was going to have his hands full with this female. She only hoped he survived it. If what she had been told so far was to be believed all of her sons had found their true mates but not all of them had claimed them. As far as she knew, only Zoran seemed to have achieved that honor. She would have to see what she could do to help the others. From the looks of it, it was not going to be an easy task.

Morian walked over to a serving tray set up with refreshments. “Would you care for something to eat or drink?” Morian asked pouring herself a strong cup of tea.

“Yes, thank you. I’m starving. There wasn’t a lot to eat on the ship,” Ariel said moving toward the tray eagerly.

Morian looked up sharply with a disapproving frown. “They did not feed you?” She growled out in a soft, dangerous voice.

“Oh no, they fed me plenty of fruit but it didn’t fill me up very well,” Ariel said reaching for a type of bread roll. She sniffed it before practically devouring it in one bite. “I’m a vegetarian and they didn’t know what else to feed me,” she said as she grabbed several more.

Morian sat down in one of the chairs. She winced when she heard a small squeak and reached behind her to remove a Maratt who had burrowed down into it. She gently dropped it down onto the floor with a look of longing.

“What is a vegetarian?” Morian asked as she wrapped her hands around her cup wishing it was around one of the Grombots’ necks. She would love to sink her teeth into its sweet flesh.

“A vegetarian?” Ariel asked as she swallowed another bite of roll before offering a small piece to the Maratt in her lap. “A vegetarian doesn’t eat meat. I’m not a Vegan. I eat eggs and other stuff, just not meat,” Ariel said smoothing her hand over the small creature huddled in her lap.

Morian paled. “Oh,” she replied not sure what to make of this new information.

Since Valdierians were dragon-shifters they all ate meat. It was the main part of their diet. She had never heard of a Valdierian who did not eat meat. She didn’t even know if a dragon could survive without it. This was definitely going to be interesting.

Ariel looked up. “Carmen eats meat but I never could. I mean I could but never wanted to. You see, I have this thing about animals, any type of animal. I’ve always loved them and wished I could have been a vet but unfortunately I turned green and passed out when I helped with surgery one summer when I was a teenager at the local vet’s office. Instead, I followed my second choice as a career and became a pilot. I’ve been working at a volunteer animal shelter for the past several years when I wasn't flying. I bathe and care for the animals that are brought in. I was planning on opening my own shelter back home,” Ariel said sadly.

“You turn green?” Morian said raising a hand to her throat. One of the little Maratts was rubbing against her leg. Morian felt her dragon moving around in aggravation trying to get out.

Hush, you cannot eat them. They belong to the little human,
Morian whispered fiercely.

They taste good. Just one,
her dragon whined.

No! We need to make her feel safe here. Eating her… her… oh, dear,
Morian practically groaned out loud as a Grombot wrapped its arms around her neck and pressed against her neck.

“Are you alright?” Ariel asked curiously. “You look like you are in pain.”

“I am fine,” Morian whispered hoarsely. “Please explain how you turn green.”

Ariel laughed lightly. “I don’t really turn green. It is an expression that means when I see guts and lots of blood I get sick to my stomach. That is why I don’t eat meat. Just the thought of biting into something that was alive, that has bones and guts and blood is just repulsive to me,” Ariel explained as she put the Maratt in her lap down and picked up another Grombot to cuddle.

Morian stood up as the overwhelming desire to taste just one small tidbit hit her. “There is a dinner to welcome you tomorrow night. I have taken the liberty of having several outfits delivered to your living quarters in the meantime as I was not sure if you had anything to wear. You are scheduled to meet with the dressmaker tomorrow. You should find everything you need. I am afraid I must be going. I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow,” Morian said setting the cup of tea down and gently removing the Grombot from her shoulders.

“But… where are my living quarters?” Ariel asked puzzled by the woman’s sudden need to leave. Maybe she really wasn’t feeling well.

“These are you living quarters. I hope you will be comfortable,” Morian responded hurriedly as she moved toward the door. “Until later, my dear.”

.
.*

Morian leaned back against the closed door and drew in deep, calming breaths before she opened her eyes again. Shaking her head, she could not stop the chuckle which turned to peals of laughter. Poor Mandra! He was never going to be the same. He was meticulous about his living quarters. There was never a thing out of place, no animals were allowed in, his symbiot even had a specific sleeping place. Ariel, on the other hand, seemed unaware of her disheveled appearance or cared that there were creatures crawling all over Mandra’s prized furniture he purchased from a renowned carver in the Curizan system. Even she had a problem not scooping the little creatures up and gobbling them down as fast as she could. Morian put her hand over her mouth to stifle another laugh. Ariel was a vegetarian! Morian could not wait to see how her son was going to handle that.

Shaking her head, Morian moved down the corridor away from Mandra’s living quarters. It had taken hours for her to finally get Mandra’s symbiot to guide the small human female to the right corridor. The female kept going a different way. She was a stubborn one. Morian was still giggling as she made her way toward the kitchens. She needed to find something that Ariel could eat for tonight and plan for tomorrow’s dinner.

.
.*

Ariel looked in confusion at the closed door before shrugging her shoulders. She might as well explore her new living quarters. She had to admit, she had never seen a more beautiful set of rooms.

Everything was so neat and clean. It was almost as if it was a showcase. That wouldn’t last long with her in them,
Ariel thought with a grin thinking of her little apartment crammed full of pet supplies and mementoes.
If she were to stay, she would need to find a place with lots of land. Her house was going to be filled to the brim with all kinds of animals and love… lots of love.