Ha'ven's Song (17 page)

Many of the young males spent time in the
mines on the red planet. It was believed to build character and
strength in the males. Those who were strong were successful in
finding many mates among the females that ruled over the dozens of
villages scattered over the moon.

“You have a long journey ahead of you, young
Prince of the Curizan,” Saba Monda said. “Your mate is very fierce
and protective of you. My wives like her. You must be good to her
or they will get upset.”

“I don’t remember much of what happened
after we entered Curizan space,” Ha’ven admitted. “I need to
contact my brothers and let them know where we are.”

“Come, I will show you your transport not
that it will do you much good, young Prince,” Saba Monda replied
standing and brushing a hand over his chest.

Ha’ven nodded and stood. He paused, frowning
when the room spun for a moment. He couldn’t remember ever feeling
so weak, not even during his captivity when Aria and her fellow
traitors took turns torturing him. Then, anger had given him the
strength he needed to survive.

“Emma,” Ha’ven started to say as he took a
tentative step forward.

Saba Monda glanced over his shoulder. “My
wives have taken your little mate under their care. It has been
many cycles since they have had a female to care for. Give them
this pleasure as payment,” he insisted with a mischievous grin.
“When they are happy, I am happy.”

Ha’ven looked doubtful for a moment but
realized he would get nothing else from the old man. It took
several minutes before he felt like he could walk and talk at the
same time. His primary focus was not to fall flat on his face. He
ducked his head as he exited the small hut before he stopped and
grabbed the doorway until the world righted itself once again.

His eyes scanned the activities humming
around him. Young children of all different ages ran around
playing. Young women moved around, laughing, talking and working at
different jobs while the older women sat watching, chatting or
caring for the young.

“Did you receive the shipment of new mining
equipment?” Ha’ven asked politely as his eyes continued to search
for Emma as he moved through the small village.

Saba Monda nodded as he patted a young boy
who ran up to him. “Yes. It has improved productivity. Harron said
they are now able to get to veins of ore they were previously
unable to drill for. The lasers are much safer and use less energy
than the water based drilling that was being used. I believe one of
your brothers helped design the method.”

“Arrow has been working with the engineers
on it for one of the asteroid mining camps. He appreciates your
willingness to try the prototype,” Ha’ven replied as they walked
down a narrow path.

“It will be interesting to see what the
Antrox will do when they discover it,” Saba Monda replied with a
touch of humor. “We have an unspoken competition with them. They
have tried several times to send in mercenaries to capture our
males. No other species, including the Antrox, compare to being
able to move or work in a mine the way a Moniker can. We did steal
a few of their Pactors. They work in the mines better than the
Tuskus,” he added nodding to several dark shapes they were
passing.

Ha’ven glanced at the large, hairy creatures
that moved as if in slow motion among the thick foliage. One of the
beasts reached up and rubbed the large horn on the center of its
forehead along the bark of one of the trees. A thick swarm of
insects rushed out of the deep cut. Several younger Tuskus rushed
over and began lapping at the swarm with their long tongues as the
adult moved to another tree.

“I did not know you had been attacked. No
word had been sent. I can order additional security for this region
if you wish,” Ha’ven replied.

Saba Monda chuckled as they stepped out of
the forest onto a wide expanse of graveled beach. The large crystal
clear lake spread out before them. Only the nose of the transport
show
ed
above the water. Saba Monda looked
over at Ha’ven and shook his head.

“I think you will need a new transport,” he
said with a grin.

*.*.*

Ha’ven stared grimly at the remains of his
sleek transport. He wondered how in the hell Emma had gotten him
out of it. Walking closer to the edge of the water, he stared down
at the shadowed remains of it. It was possible he could repair it
if he had the right tools. He would have to get it out of the water
first.

“Do you think the Tuskus could pull it out
of the water?” Ha’ven asked. “I need to see just how much damage
has been done.”

Saba Monda tilted his head and looked over
the dark shape. He was silent for several long minutes as he
calculated the size and weight. He finally gave a slow nod.

“Yes,” he responded. “It will not be easy
but we should be able to pull it onto the beach. I will send for
more help.” He looked up at the sky which was beginning to darken.
“We will start first thing in the morning.”

“Do you have a communication console I can
use? I need to contact my brothers,” Ha’ven asked turning to look
back at Saba Monda.

“Of course,” the older male replied turning
back toward the path they had left just minutes before.

Ha’ven paused looking back at the sunken
transport. “How did she get me out?” He wondered out loud.

“Have her share her story tonight at
dinner,” Saba Monda suggested. “My wives were very impressed at her
determination. I asked them if they would have done the same for
me,” he chuckled. “Only Olla said no. I made her mad when I did not
compliment her dessert. I am still trying to get her to forgive
me,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes.

“I need to see my mate,” Ha’ven said
suddenly.

He had an urgent need to touch her, hear her
voice and see for himself that she was alright. He had tried to
reach out to her but every time he tried to touch the power deep
inside him, excruciating pain radiated through his head. His
stomach turned with nausea as he thought about how defenseless he
was at the moment to protect Emma. He could only hope Kejon was
unaware of their location.

Emma giggled as she splashed in the water
with the other women and children. She had been mortified when they
had first brought her down to the river. Large pools of warm water
bubbled up from several hot springs overflowing into the shallow
rock formations. Small groups of women of different ages played
with young children who squealed and chased each other.

She now understood that Saba Monda had four
wives. Sebra, Telmay, Olla, and Pollamay. Sebra was the lead wife
as she was the oldest followed by Telmay, Olla and the youngest,
Pollamay, who still had the soft sable colored hair covering her
body which was rounded with her first child. The four women had
finally forced her away from Ha’ven’s side where she had stayed for
the last two days.

She had been terrified when the strange
creatures had first approached her. She had frantically searched
the beach for some type of weapon. She had finally grabbed a large
piece of driftwood and stood holding it like a baseball bat as they
approached.

She had been shocked when the silver-haired
female that she later learned was Sebra chuckled when she growled
at them to stay back. Sebra had waved the others to stand back as
she and Saba Monda stepped closer to where Emma was standing
protectively over Ha’ven’s crumpled form. Sebra had tilted her head
before speaking in a soft husky voice.

“We will not harm the young Prince,” she had
said calmly. “You are a fierce warrior even for being so
small.”

“You… you know him?” Emma had asked
hesitantly.

“Of course,” Saba Monda had responded. “He
is the Prince of Curizan, Ha’ven Ha’darra.”

“My husband has met the young prince
before,” Sebra commented. “He is injured.”

Emma had been shocked when Sebra had turned
and barked out several short commands. Within moments, a small
group of women emerged from the forests. Several carried a large
stretcher between them. Sebra touched Emma as the women came
closer, pulling her gently to the side so an older woman could exam
Ha’ven’s injuries.

After several long minutes, the older woman
stood up and waved to a group of younger females. Emma watched as
two of the females opened the stretcher and laid it on the ground
next to Ha’ven. Six females with black and brown hair gathered
around Ha’ven’s still form. They bent as one and gently lifted him
onto it. Once he was centered, they lifted him and began moving
back toward the forests.

“Where… what?” Emma started to protest.

Saba Monda stepped up to her left side while
Sebra moved to her right. Sebra reached up and touched Emma’s
blonde hair with a reassuring smile. Emma glanced back and forth
before she let the stick in her hand fall to the ground as
weariness suddenly washed through her.

“He will heal,” the older woman said as she
came to stand in front of Emma. “This one needs rest as well,” she
said as she touched a small knot on Emma’s forehead that she didn’t
know she had.

“Are you sure?” Emma asked, worriedly
looking where the women had disappeared with Ha’ven. “Are you sure
he will be alright?”

“Yes,” the old woman snorted softly at
Emma’s doubt of her diagnosis before she turned.

The trip back to the village had passed in a
blur. Emma had swayed for a moment when she tried to move forward.
Sebra had gripped her around her waist and quickly climbed up the
large beasts they had been riding. Emma had clung to the fur in
terror as it turned to follow the others down the wide path. A
brief thought flashed through her mind as the forest close in
around them. She wondered what other strange things could possibly
happen.

*.*.*

“Catch me!” A small voice cried out.

Emma barely had time to lift her arms to
catch the small bundle of brown hair that flew through the air. She
laughed as the thin arms wrapped around her neck. She had been
embarrassed when she found out they had brought her to the river to
bathe.

She had refused to take her clothes off at
first but Pollamay had chuckled and began dancing around her,
pulling at her clothing. Soon the others joined in and a very
red-faced Emma had been left standing in the sunlight with nothing
but her hair and hands to cover her. The women had quickly removed
their coverings and stepped into the small basins of warm water
where they s
p
lashed and teased each
other.

Emma had reluctantly joined them and soon
forgot her own nudity as the children came over to see if she would
play with them.

“What happened to all your hair?” Beta
asked, touching Emma’s face. “Did it hurt when you lost it?

Emma nipped at the little girl’s fingers. “I
don’t have hair like you do. I have a light coating on my arms and
on my legs if I want. Human females mostly just have hair on their
heads,” she explained as cradled Beta in her arms.

“You have some lower,” Beta responded,
looking at Emma puzzled.

Emma blushed as Olla chuckled. “Beta, go
play with your sisters and leave the poor female alone. You have
made her face red again.”

“I’m sorry if I made your face red,” Beta
said, looking at Emma with big dark eyes before she rubbed her nose
affectionately against her cheek. “I think you are beautiful even
with only a little hair on you,” she whispered before she climbed
off of Emma’s lap to go find her older sisters.

Emma’s eyes filled with tears and her hand
rose to touch where Beta had rubbed against her. A warmth spread
through her, melting the last of the ice around her heart that she
had surrounded it with since her was kidnapped and her world
changed. She looked at Olla who sat across from her with a small
smile on her greying face.

“Beta is right,” Olla said. “You have
unusual coloring. Even without hair I think our males would find
you attractive. If you wish, I can…”

“No, you cannot,” Ha’ven interrupted,
standing near the edge of the clear pool. “She has already been
claimed.”

“Ha’ven,” Emma looked up in surprise. “You
woke up.”

“Yes.”

Emma didn’t hear Olla as she silently
climbed out of the pool. Her eyes were glued to the man who had
become the center of her world. Her eyes roamed greedily over
him.

Sebra and Saba Monda had both insisted that
he was simply sleeping a healing sleep. She only came down to the
river after the women insisted and Saba Monda promised he would
stay with Ha’ven until she returned.

“I…” She blushed as she became aware of her
lack of clothing. She glanced around and realized they were
suddenly all alone. “Where did the others disappear to?”

Ha’ven reached up and tugged his shirt over
his head. “I think Sebra let them know we needed time alone. We
will join them later,” he added as his hands went to the front of
his pants.

“Why don’t you do that hand-wavy thing?”
Emma asked breathlessly.

Ha’ven’s eyes darkened when she licked her
lips. His body tightened as he felt it respond to her unconscious
invitation. He toed off his boots before pushing his pants down and
off.

“It appears I will have to do things a bit
slower for a little while,” he responded with a smile as he watched
her eyes widen at his arousal. “There are some advantages to this
way as well.”

Emma opened her mouth to respond but nothing
came out as he stepped lightly onto the smooth rock rimming the
basin before stepping down into the warm swirling water. She rose
up to meet him, her hands sliding up his chest and her mouth
searching for his as he sank down.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him,
kissing him frantically as all her fear and worry washed away at
his touch. Her fingers tangled in his hair.