The Barbarian's Captive (21 page)

They might have lain there forever if her stomach hadn’t intruded by growling.

He chuckled. “I should get you fed. It’s past supper.”

“Does that mean you’re not mad at me anymore over the pot? I wasn’t really testing you. When I found it, I got curious and had to see if it was like what we have on Earth. I couldn’t resist.”

“Did I seem angry, Eva? How could I be when you were so cute, giggling and happy. I’d like to see more of that —when not drug induced, of course.”

Her smile faded. “This has been very difficult for me, Kerr. More so than the others, except Eryn. We’re proving the most difficult.” She went quiet, her eyes refocusing on his smooth chest. “What if we never…?”

“Not possible, mate. It will happen in its own time.” While still joined, he curled them both into a seated position with her straddling his hard thighs. “Now, before you spoil my afterglow, let’s go down and see what Janus has stocked in the kitchen. I’m starved.”

She angled her head, considering his dogged tenacity in his continued denial of what she felt was an inevitability. He looked relaxed and she felt the same way, for a change. She decided not to press, instead avoiding the inescapable for the moment, taking the easier course of action. “I’m up for a munchie run.”

“Munchie run?” He set her on her feet, giving her a grin.

“Uh…” She hesitated, unwilling to bring up her drug crime again, since she’d gotten off so lightly. As he pulled her along toward the door, she giggled at her choice of words. She’d gotten off all right, but definitely not
lightly
. Her goofy grin drew an amused — though questioning — look.

“It’s an Earth term for raiding the kitchen,” she said. “I hope you’ve got something I recognize. If not nacho chips or powdered donuts, maybe Cookies and Crème ice cream. Wait! Even better... pizza rolls.” While she knew it was a pipe dream, her taste buds did not and her mind still conjured up vividly distinct memories of the tasty treats, her mouth began to water.

In the end, Kerr cooked for her while she assisted, creating his version of nachos, although she didn’t dare ask what kind of meat he had browned up or what the blue stuff was that he sprinkled on top. That it was tasty was all that mattered. As he fed her bites with his fingers, they worked side by side, laughing a lot, and for that brief time, she forgot that she wasn’t really his mate.

Chapter 13

T
he next morning, Kerr left her with a sweet goodbye kiss, and walked swiftly from their suite, his mood lighter than it had been in weeks. Eva popped out of bed in his wake and readied herself for the day. She chose a sleeveless, vee-neck dress made of a wispy material in dark eggplant purple with beading at the shoulders and also at the mock belt at the waist. From there it fell in full frothy folds to the floor. It was dressier than anything in her closet at home, and never something she’d dare wear while walking through a greenhouse, let alone working in one. Used to the same uniform day in and day out while on a mission, or her standard issue jeans and a t-shirt back home, it amazed her they dressed this way every day. All of her new clothes were beautiful, ultra-feminine and made her feel that way. She figured that was what these dominant men were going for.

Still, she felt like a princess.

Before she headed out, she grabbed the apron that Aylan had surprised her with one day following a mishap where she’d sloshed saturated soil all down the front of her.

Such a nice man.

She wondered how he would react if he found out she and Lana had purloined some of his pot stash. Hoping Kerr hadn’t ratted her out already, item number one on her agenda that day was hiding any evidence of her research into Primarian weed. She’d already decided it was a “one and done” for several reasons. First, she really
was
a law-abiding citizen, no matter which planet she happened to be residing on at the time. Second,
volanta
as Kerr called it, had kicked her in the butt, being much more potent than what she’d remembered from her experimental college days. Third, although he’d been tolerant and amused, she didn’t want to push the big man to see how much of her antics he would tolerate. And fourth, she’d forgotten that a weed hangover was a real thing, the dry mouth and mild headache a reminder of why her college trials had been very brief.

She turned down the main hall, heading for the stairs on the opposite end, slowing when she heard voices drifting from Kerr’s office. That he was home surprised her. In fact, she hadn’t known him to use the residence office for work since she’d arrived. She kept walking, despite the fact she was dying to find out what things occupied his day. The walls were simply too thick though, and the voices too muffled, frustrating any attempt to eavesdrop.

At the door to the gardens, she paused, frowning at Janus’ vacant sentry post. Their young chamberlain was always at his station that time of day and would bid her good morning, offering to arrange an escort should she need it. She hadn’t taken him up on it, nor did she plan to today.

Oddly, the doors to the lounge stood open. She glanced curiously from them, to the empty office, and then back down the hall. Something was going on. With her hand on the lever that would access her rooftop sanctuary, she pondered the three unusual occurrences when voices in the nearby lounge caught her attention.

“What is all the ruckus, Udo?” a man asked.

“The others have arrived.”

What others?

The first man snorted. “I don’t envy the young warriors corralling that group of undisciplined females.”

His companion chuckled. “Has it been so long, Udo, that you have forgotten the rewards that come with a taming? Especially with a female as beautiful as our new Prima.”

Taming.

Ignoring the compliment, Eva bristled at the distasteful term. She’d heard it before, but it didn’t get less offensive with repetition.

“Is she truly so beautiful, Druan? I’ve seen her twice and can’t decide,” the first man replied.

That sure brought her ego down a notch.

“Truly? You don’t find the Earth females appealing?”

“Their coloring is different, exotic even. The Prima’s eyes, especially, being Uladite green, which is interesting.” Udo sighed. “I suppose as father to an unmated daughter, I’m biased in my opinions. I had great hopes she might match with Kerr.” Wistful at first, his tone changed, a touch of bitterness creeping in. “Even so, I can’t help thinking it would have been better for the Princep to hold out longer and have joined with a Primarian female.”

“He’s thirty,” the one called Druan, stated. “None of our women have come close to matching as high as Prima Eva in all that time.”

“Yes,” the first man reluctantly agreed. “And we shall have to abide the one chosen by the Maker for him, although Zalina would have been a perfect first consort.”

“That old romantic tale?” his companion said, clearly amused. “I never thought you’d be drawn into that nonsense. You’re as bad as the women. What’s next, will you color your lips and wear your hair in a golden fall?”

“Is it so wrong to be partial to one of our own kind?” Udo snapped.

Eva couldn’t stand it anymore, peeking around the corner to put faces with names. As she leaned in, she brushed against one of the doors, and the mechanism holding them open engaged with a loud click and a whir. The two men, who had been seated with their backs to the door, turned. Upon seeing her, they froze, their ears turning crimson at the realization of what she’d overheard.

Although she was guilty of eavesdropping, they were as much at fault for gossiping. Yet, was it gossip if it was true?

Eva didn’t care, nor did she apologize or act embarrassed about being caught. A different destination in mind — anywhere but there — she quickly walked past the two slack-jawed, chagrined elders, and out the doors into the hall. Dashing to the staircase, she took the steps two at a time, wondering if she’d ever get the complete picture of what she was up against. Each day added a new twist. That day’s hurdle
du
jour
seemed to be xenophobia.

“And who the fuck was Zalina?” she whispered to herself as she rounded the second floor landing.

The beautiful name sparked an image of an equally beautiful, tall, dark-haired female. Regal in bearing in her mind’s creation, she pictured the woman standing beside Kerr, smiling proudly, her eyes flashing with the same golden glow as Kerr’s. Then, as she turned, she imagined her mate’s marking, intricate and stunning on the delicate skin of the woman’s nape. Eva’s heart ached as she pushed herself faster.

Reaching the main floor, she wound her way through the crowd, a gathering much larger than the last time she’d been there at midday. And the air of excitement felt different; something was definitely going on. She didn’t hang around to find out though, the oppressive feelings of doubt and confusion weighing heavily upon her. She needed air, now.

She rushed through the huge front doors and went down the steps to street level, dropping her pace so as not to draw more curious attention than she already did. She turned in the opposite direction of the market; there were too many curious eyes there. Instead, she strolled up the street, smiling blandly at the greetings of “prima” and “Kerr’s mate,” all the while wishing fervently that she could turn back the clock and go back to being just plain Eva again.

For some time, she wandered through the streets, lost in thought, not paying attention to her path, or her surroundings at all. That was until a sudden wave of dizziness claimed her, nausea gripping her belly. Only then, when she looked around to find a place to sit down, did she notice that she had lost sight of the large capital building. Blaming her symptoms on stress, and lack of sleep — and skipping the morning meal once again — she spied some benches in a park where a boisterous crowd had gathered. She made her way toward them and took a seat in the shade.

Sinking heavily onto the stone slab, she leaned forward, gasping for air in hopes the stomach upset and slight vertigo would quickly pass.

Then what?

Did she go back to where she wasn’t truly wanted, where she’d been settled for? What happened when the transformation didn’t take? And ultimately, what would be her fate when she didn’t conceive the required heir?

Suddenly, she sat up. Could that be the cause of the nausea and dizziness? Could she be pregnant already? She did some quick calculations. It was a real possibility. They’d been going at it like rabbits. She snorted. Wouldn’t Kerr be tickled about this?

Not feeling at all well, she settled back and rubbed her brow.

“Are you all right, prima? Should I send for a physic?”

Her head jerked around, finding a man had joined her on the bench. He had snowy white hair and a long beard falling past his chest. Wearing the flowing robes of an elder, to Eva, he resembled Father Time.

“You are quite pale,” he added.

“I skipped breakfast, sir. A mistake, but I’m fine. Already the dizziness is passing.”

“Perhaps I should send for the Princep.”

“No, no! Please, don’t disturb him. I just need to rest here a bit and I’ll be fine.”

A shout went up from the crowd and they both turned toward the sound. She noticed then, it wasn’t a park, but more like a town square. Trees lined the boundaries, along with benches and sidewalks, and busy shops and eateries filled the space. It was like any small town on Earth — minus the blue and yellow trees, of course.

“Your mate will not like that you are here without him. I’ll send for him now.”

“Why?” A parting in the crowd showed a small stage up front. “What’s going on?”

“It is settlement day.”

“Pardon?”

“The Princep didn’t explain about our justice system?”

“He hasn’t had time.”

“Child, you’ve been here over two weeks.”

Her cheeks flooded with heat. “We have been otherwise, uh, occupied.”

Sex three times a day would do that.

Father Time chuckled. “Ah, yes. I remember being young and newly mated. Barely.”

She glanced at him askance; usually sticklers for rules and tradition, the elder cracking a joke was truly a shock.

“You’re surprised that I possess a sense of humor. We elders aren’t nearly as bad as we’re made out to be.” He frowned, his gaze flicking toward the stage, before moving back to her. “Sometimes we are, but most often we are like other males. We’ve just had more years to perfect our scowls and intimidation.”

“Some have that down to a fine art,” she quipped, then bit her lip sheepishly. He made her feel so comfortable, she almost forgot whom she was talking to.

A sharp crack and a cry rent the air, making her jump. Her head whipped around and she peered through the crowd trying to see.

“Come.” He said sternly, sounding and acting much like Kerr as he rose and took her hand. “I’ll escort you home, myself.”

Another crack and a long wail. It sounded like…

Someone being whipped!

“It is settlement day, child. As such, a dispute is being resolved. Once done, the parties will move forward.”

“I know males discipline their females here. Surely the courts don’t dole out physical punishments too?”

“What would you have us do?”

“On Earth, we levy fines, and have jails and prisons.”

“Fines are ineffective,” he scoffed. “The wealthy don’t mind the loss of a few credits — and the humble don’t have the means to pay in the first place. Confinement is costly and negatively impacts society.”

She stiffened, having heard those precise words before. Peering at him closely, she tried to recall if she’d been introduced to him before. Perhaps he had been on the night of the new mate celebration, but with the numerous other males in uniform — or white hair and robes — it was entirely possible she’d forgotten him.