Collateral Trade (13 page)

“I see.” Tian was feeling rather dissed, and equating himself to the more compassionate Edmund. He did not want his mate to think he was less worthy of her attention than his brother. His blue eyes intensified to a deeper color. “Dark father told me that if my mate was in trouble and Chaya was not near, I would have just as much ability to protect her.”

Sharell realized he was concerned her mind was traveling to Chaya as a choice because of the book. She was going to have to be more careful with her bookmarked selections. “I have no doubt about that, Tian. With the way your society is arranged, Darcy would have been able to keep both Anton who fought to protect her from the Duke and Edmond who catered to things she enjoyed.”
Shit, this arrangement is beginning to make a crazy sort of sense.

Tian smiled. “Would you like to go to the bridge and see Actana?”

“I thought we were still months away. You said we are already in orbit? Can I keep this shift on?”

Tian studied the long legs curled underneath her, the erect nipples pressing against the shimmering cloth and the way it hugged her body. “Absolutely. I do not want to fight a challenge before our ritual.” Tian could just imagine Chaya’s rage with eyes sweeping over their beautiful mate, but he missed her presence and needed the reassurance she was safe. He asked Tian to bring her to the bridge when she awoke.

They walked through the confusing corridors to a tube that whooshed them up several levels. Sharell gripped Tian’s arm until her stomach joined the rest of her body. They walked through another sliding door and she was immediately captivated by the site through the full-length viewport window. She had not seen any planet as other than a speck through side portals of the Manerea, and the round orb in front of her was breathtaking. Without thinking, her bare feet padded forward until she climbed onto a small ledge and spread her hands on the window.

Behind her, Chaya stood beside Danilo gazing at her. She stood on the bridge holding her arms out as if she was embracing Actana, with her long black hair resting on her bottom and her slender legs slightly parted. Chaya’s mind battled between his desire and anger that every other man’s eyes were on her.

“It’s beautiful.” Sharell’s voice was between a sob and joy. Her hand followed the curve of the multi-colored vapor rings surrounding the planet. Tears fell onto her shift, and she realized how desperate she was to be on land. She never held more than a cursory interest in space, seeing it as a cold, empty place. Trapped for so long on the ship, Sharell was overwhelmed with the promise of open fields, rivers and streams, and forests.

Tian struggled with the burden of the emotion from her. “She is most pleased, Chaya.”

Chaya stepped forward, feeling the need to assert his claim on her in front of his brothers. He stood behind her and placed a hand on her waist. “This is not like your planet?” She shook her head and it brushed against his chest. “There are only a few rules you must learn, before we can go home.”

Sharell looked up and smiled into his eyes. “You’re bribing me?”

Chaya ran a thumb through her tears. “Absolutely.”

“We have all longed to come home after our journey, but you have given us an even deeper appreciation for what we have missed.” Danilo could see it in everyone’s eyes.

Sharell was optimistic she would like Actana and feeling almost sorry for the young women who were not chosen. Her melancholy was curbed when Chaya led her away from the window. His fingers tightened slightly and his eyes darkened to challenge at the other men. Some had chosen Casiqua mates, and there was open hostility mixed with their desire.

Danilo raised a brow at her outfit. “We have gathered you do not trust your mates’ ability to protect you yet. This is understandable with the short period of bonding, but the Casiqua women have chosen no gowns.”

“The Casiqua women cannot decide between a dress and a dandelion,” Sharell replied. “Besides, they can blend in to their surroundings and always looked clothed.” She curled her fingers around the collar. “I take it this was really a suggestion and not an order?”

Danilo was slightly taken aback that a woman should speak so openly with a man who was not her mate. He quickly caught reference to the collar and stared at it. “My sons’ collar looks good on you. I am pleased they have found a mate to secure it to.”

Sharell gave him a chilled smile. “Yes, well, why don’t you hold your breath and wait for my ‘Thank you’? Back home, we collar dogs.”

Danilo returned her smile, his dark eyes flashing. “Yes, the female pets are called ‘bitches’, I believe.” He turned to Chaya.

“I know. She needs training before we can go on planet.”

Tian had never seen a woman rile their dark father. “I’ll take Sharell back to our quarters.” He took her arm, and she turned to glance through the viewport at Actana one last time before the door slid closed. “Come on, Ayana, before King Poopah collars you too.”

The warriors watched in amazement as the Casiqua peeled herself off Actana’s third moon. “You can see her?” Chaya asked.

“No, she was holding my hand while I was standing up there.”

Chaya held Ayana’s arm until her mates arrived, while Tian led Sharell back to their quarters. Once more he had failed to read her emotions and quell her retort at his father. “Is it not difficult enough that we must wait for the Casiquas to be trained before our ritual, without having you insult father?”

“The collar insults
me
,” Sharell replied. “We have to wait for the Casiquas?” This would buy her an interminable amount of time.

“The collar is a sign of our devotion to our mate. And yes, there are only two moon alignments a year to perform the bonding, so the Casiquas will be joining our ritual.”

“How can I have devotion to you? We just met yesterday.”

“We have given you
our
protection and devotion by presenting you with our collar.”

“You locked a strap around my neck.”

Tian’s strides were so long and fast. Sharell was being tugged by her arm and struggling to keep up. She did not think anything could anger the blonde man, but something she said made him mad. She jerked her arm. “Slow down, already.”

“You will not leave quarters again until you understand your place.”

“My place is on Earth, but I guess the cruelty of tearing someone away from their home is not in your history scrolls. It wasn’t in Jerome Tanner’s, either.”

“Your Earth was destroyed by your people a year ago.” Tian was pulled to an abrupt stop when her feet froze. Shock ripped through the wave of sensation spilling from her.

Sharell looked into his eyes and could see he was speaking the truth. Her stomach seized and her knees buckled. Thoughts of Henry Thompson Park and her last perfect day strobed through her mind in increasing flashes until everything went black. She felt Tian’s arm wrap around her as she slid to the floor.

“It is possible their Chairman does not know. Their communication devices are so primitive they might not have reached that far.” Danilo’s voice echoed through darkness.

“Wouldn’t he have been aware the time was close? I thought we decided that was the reason he built his ship.” Chaya was pacing while his brother sat with Sharell’s head in his lap, misery filling his blue eyes at the trauma he caused her.

“I assumed so, when he insisted his destination was still Rashilla Three. Perhaps he had different reasons not to return to his home planet.” Danilo poured himself a drink. “Have you told any of the other twins?”

Chaya shook his head. “Tian and I saw no need to. When you had us study their planet before the trade, we did not want a deterrent to the mating by letting the other twins know they destroyed their own planet.”

“We need to decide if the best course is to tell them. On one hand, it may help the women adjust if they know their home planet is no longer an option. It could, however, send them into despair.” Danilo looked at the pale girl and was relieved to see a little more color filling her cheeks. “Perhaps we should ask Sharell. Even with her stubborn nature, she has a warmth and compassion within her. I do not think she would advise us to do something that would hurt her friends.”

“I’m so sorry, Chaya. It never occurred to me she did not know. We were arguing, as if that is not bad enough.” Tian stroked through her hair, infusing as much calmness as he could blend with his regret for hurting her.

Sharell was overwhelmed by his blast of remorse and it tore at her chest as much as his words had done. For some reason, she felt a strong need to ease his self-condemnation. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared directly into Tian’s sad gaze. “Thanks for catching me,” she smiled.

Tian combed his fingers through her hair. “I have failed you. Instead of calming you, I joined with your anger and thoughtlessly hurt you.” It was the most grievous error a light twin could cause his mate.

Sharell reached up and pushed his long blonde hair behind his shoulder. “How could you have known I had no idea what had happened? I know you didn’t mean to upset me.” She stroked a thumb against his cheek and his eyes softened. “You have worked too hard to make things easier for me to have meant to do that.”

He helped her sit up and handed her some juice. Not the sachan, Sharell realized with relief. She looked up at Danilo. “I heard what you said. What happened to Earth?”

Chaya answered. “Tian and I do a study of the species’ planet before father agrees to a trade. It is important to learn what we can before choosing a destination for them to be led to. There is no sign of life there, and heat from fires wave off the surface. Because of the radiation, my guess would be war instead of a cataclysmic natural event.”

“Things were pretty messed up when we left,” Sharell admitted. “So, the place you have sent my friends is for people who war and destroy?”

Danilo shrugged. “I have no control over how they rule their new planet. They have been led to the destination the Chairman requested. The place he calls Adam One.” Danilo finally figured out what may have tempted the man. “The planet’s atmosphere used to be clean and it would lengthen lifespans with the lack of pollutants. This was many centuries ago, though from a scan of the Manerea’s communications equipment, the information they received traveled light years and was not current. Rashilla Three travels a rotation through darkness and a belt that collects debris. The surface is able to sustain life, but the inhabitants will have to work hard clearing trash and rocks to reach topsoil.”

“All his money and he will be ruling a landfill.” King Poopah’s plan was not exactly what he had hoped, Sharell decided.

“Most likely not, as the ruler, I mean. The Casiquas landed first, which makes the planet theirs. We don’t get involved with political squabbles of primitives,” Danilo replied.

“Some of those primitives are my friends, and innocent prisoners duped on to the Manerea.”

“And if they had remained on your Earth? This is a complicated situation of semantics we stay out of and a reason we treasure our structured hierarchy.” Despite his excellent argument, Danilo felt certain the young woman did not comprehend the logic. His sons were in for a battle gaining their stubborn mate’s submission. “Chaya?”

“Our mate will learn the value of our ways.” Chaya’s lightning reflexes caught the glass before it crashed against his skull. He glared at Sharell, and she shrunk back onto Tian’s chest. “Father, please leave us to our training.”

Danilo walked over to the couch and gripped Sharell’s jaw until she was forced to look into his eyes. Gone was any semblance of warmth or humor, and she trembled. “If you ever attack one of my sons again, I will personally punish you.”

Oh shit. My bad.
“He can’t…”

“Silence.” Danilo walked to the door and slammed his palm against the bio lock.

It took a moment to gather herself and she shrugged free from Tian’s hold. “Send me to this Rashilla Three.” She paced around the room, clenching her fists. “Find someone else more agreeable. Your father despises me, and I’m not going to cower to your training.” She slammed her hand against the bio lock, more frustrated than surprised when it did not open. “I’m sick and tired of being a captive on spaceships. I want to be with my friends.”

I sense more confusion and frustration than fear and sorrow. And anger, Chaya. There is plenty of anger.

You are certain it is not fear of us or the training?

I don’t think she has any idea what the training involves. She is fighting for control and independence again.

And when I take this away from her? What then?

I think she will learn our ways are not disagreeable… if she gets over her rage.

“Stop that,” Sharell snapped. “Besides being incredibly rude, it pisses me off. If the two of you have something to say, speak it. And not in that weird silent thought shit.”

“I think you have had enough of an adjustment period. You certainly do not fear us, and you understand your purpose,” Chaya replied.

“My purpose? Hmph. Shuttle me to the other planet and pick someone else.”

“I think suffering through the adjustment of one primitive is enough. And father is right, you deserve to be punished.”

“Stay away from me, Chaya.” She turned to Tian. “Keep him away from me. You’re supposed to look after my well-being.”

Tian’s quizzical stare made her nervous. “Whatever gave you that idea? I merely help communication flow freely so our family prospers with no misunderstandings. By your actions, I think you fully understand you have earned correction for your outburst, and Chaya is the leader of our family.”

“Traitor.”

“Strip.”

Sharell’s eyes flew to Chaya. “Excuse me?”

“Remove the shift.” Chaya leaned against the console, crossing his ankles and arms as if he was calm. Inside, uncertainty flooded his system, but he was relieved with Tian’s silent support.

Sharell’s eyes narrowed and she gave him wide berth while she made her way to the wardrobe. “Fine, I’ll put on one of those silly oversized tunics. That should cool your jets.”