Striker Read online

  "Zeus." The tone, the inflection of the one word, relayed all of the yearning, heartbreak, and joy his father felt, mirroring the conflicting emotions fluttering under his own breastbone.

  "Father, you look well." Zeus’s voice cracked, despite his efforts to prevent it.

  "How have you been, son? Your brothers told me that you were injured."

  "I received excellent care. My consorts—"

  "You have chosen an Amor?"

  He smiled, glancing at Dargon, who now sat up on the couch. "They are fine warriors and males of honor." Zeus returned his gaze to his father, who watched him closely. "I have no doubt you and Meme will approve of them. In fact, we are expecting a child. Well. Twins, actually." Zeus licked his suddenly-dry lips as he watched his father's expression change.

  His father leaned back in the high back chair, his eyes wide. "Twins? Zeus Pylos Vondorian! You are a father-to-be and you have not presented your Amor to your meme and me. You have not affirmed your bond before your people and your consort is expecting?"

  Azaes and Mestor snickered behind clenched fists as if they were younglings of five summers.

  "I … um … I mean … we did not intend …" Zeus felt the heat of embarrassment color his cheeks.

  His father's nostrils flared wide. Zeus believed if his father had been of the Tuatara Maori he would have been spitting fiery acid that caught fire when it combined with air. He held his parent's gaze, knowing he did not have a good answer to give and his father wanted one. Impregnating his Amor prior to voicing his commitment before the assembly disrespected Dargon and Alpha. He was not in trouble because he had sex. No, he was in trouble because he had unprotected sex.

  "We were unaware of the risk of pregnancy, therefore, we did not take the necessary precautions. I would have never intentionally dishonored my Amors for any reason. They will be presented to you and Meme. I had planned on proposing to them when our family next united." Zeus glanced to Dargon, noticing his shocked expression.

  "Well then, I guess it is a good thing your Meme is on her way here."

  Zeus’s heart skipped a beat. Meme would hand him his tail.

  "Father," Azaes interjected, his fingers fluttered at his throat in agitation. "Are you sure it is safe for her to be traveling at this time? The majority of the Monticore are with you and me."

  Normally, none of them would have voiced a concern, their star craft being one of the best in all of the galaxies, but with Canry's warning of a trap in Valespian space, their apprehension seemed well-founded.

  Their father continued as if Azeas had not just warned him of the possible danger waiting for them in Valespian space. "Your mother is well-guarded. She travels in the care of several of the noble houses: Cordyl, Tutatara, and Tigiere." Zeus met his father's gaze and he sucked in a deep breath at the name Cordyl. The knowing look in his father’s eyes caused his stomach to plummet. His abrupt departure from Atlainticia had not fooled his father after all.

  "The Basilisc are escorting your meme personally," his father continued.

  Zeus’s lips twitched with humor as he and his brothers released their pent-up breaths simultaneously. She may be in the company of Rathmar and his father, Timsah Gadrius, but next to the Monticore, the Basilisc were the best choice to be by her side. The Monticore were the Elite Honor Guard who protected the royal family when they left the palace.

  The Basilisc were the Home Guard: the palace and the surrounding grounds was their sole territory to protect.

  "Did she say why she is coming? I thought she prepared the palace for the commitment ceremony for Ariafella and me," Azaes said.

  With a glance at Zeus, their father replied. "From what I understand, Azaes, your Amor overheard Timsah boasting a trip to Haven regarding an unresolved issue. Both your meme and Ariafella agreed that the trip was too dangerous for Timsah to take common transport, especially after what happened at the space station when you left in search of Zeus. She insisted they all go and take the warship escort to ward off the common brigands."

  Zeus thought the timing of his imminent return home and Timsah's trip was suspicious. The head of House Cordyl had, knowingly or not, drawn his parents' attention. Zeus did not want them involved in business with that foul male. He still had nightmares about what he endured at Timsah's sadistic hands. Zeus had not reported the abuse to his father to keep the whole House from being banished to the Black Sands Desert. What kind of help did Timsah believe he would receive in Haven?

  "There is much we will speak of when you arrive." Again his father held his gaze. Zeus understood he would have to explain his actions with House Cordyl to his father, as he had to Azaes. He did not relish explaining to them that he trusted his parents, but he felt too ashamed and humiliated to confide in them. He did not want to cause continual strife in the family because there were those, few as they were, who hated him for his human appearance—for what he could never be in their eyes.

  After a moment of tense silence, Azaes moved the conversation on. "We will arrive later than we indicated on the flight schedule. There is a stop we need to make for Zeus’s Amors that will add time onto our journey. I do not know how much longer we will be, but I will contact you when we are closer to arriving."

  "I look forward to your arrival. Zeus, you will be lucky to leave Haven unwedded if your meme has anything to say about it." His father paused and his smile grew until it split his face in a sharp-toothed grin. "Twins? I look forward to meeting your Amors. Be safe, my sons, and return to me unharmed," their father formally intoned.

  "We will be vigilant on our journey and return with our honor intact." Zeus and the twins replied together.

  The screen went dark, but not before Zeus read the worry in his parent's normally more guarded expression. Alongside the verbal conversation, discreet hand signals had conducted silent information between them and their father. The Mar'Sani were the people of Poseidon and they spent as much time as possible in his waters. There was not a family who did not have members born with the Longing who lived in the waters. While swimming in the ocean's depths, they used the language of the hands to communicate. The military used a shorthanded version of the language, a closely-held secret of their race.

  Zeus digested what they had learned. Dargon approached, a puzzled expression on his face.

  "You seem upset." Alpha sounded worried and Zeus automatically reached up to stroke the symbiote in a soothing manner.

  "We were given some valuable information," Azaes replied. "Zeus, you need to teach your Amors the rest of our language."

  He nodded to indicate he understood. Dargon needed to be able to comprehend what was said with their hands as well as their mouths. Dargon's expression became more puzzled.

  "Our language has two components: the verbal, and when we do not wish to reveal something to those who are listening, discreet gestures," Mestor explained.

  "So while you were speaking, you were signaling with your hands and having a separate conversation?" Dargon tugged Zeus closer, placing a protective arm around Zeus. "Do I want to know what was said?"

  "Ships are disappearing in Valespian space and Galactic Patrol is not answering any of the communications sent from Haven," Zeus replied.

  "Meme is not simply travelling with that tailless skink, Timsah," Mestor hissed in anger. Zeus had confessed to Azaes his abuse at the hands of House of Cordyl. Mestor had a quick temper and Zeus had not yet spoken to him of the matter. Predictably, Azaes seemed to have given Mestor some of the details.

  Zeus broke away from Dargon and went to Mestor. He knew his brother would be angry for his sake and embraced him. He meant the gesture to be a quick reassurance. Mestor, on the other hand, crushed Zeus to him. "There is no dishonor in making yourself vulnerable to those you care for. Rathmar abused your trust. I do not care that he secreted you away to keep his father from harming you further. He did it not because he worried for your welfare, but to protect his father. Instead of standing tall like a male of worth, he cowered in the shado
w and now bears your mark for his gutless behavior."

  Rathmar's words always haunted Zeus, even though he understood they were untrue. "He said House Vondorian was weak because they harbored a soft-skinned monkey and that weakness would be the death of our father. I marked him for the veiled threat." Zeus remembered pulling from his last reserve of energy to knock Rathmar back, tripping him, and pouncing on Rathmar's back, his knees digging into scaled shoulder blades. With Rathmar's own belt knife, he had sliced Rathmar's cheek open three times, giving him the mark of dishonor. Monkey or no, Rathmar carried his scars so that he would remember House Vondorian would never be too weak enough to be overcome.

  Mestor's smile was anything but nice. "He attempted to claim an accident when he came back to court, and not the black mark on his character people suspected it to be. He never remarked on your sudden absence, which only added to people's suspicion. All knew you two were the best of friends, even though many were unaware you were lovers. His silence damned him as much as the scars did, and the young males of the Houses began to distance themselves from him. Within a short time, he found himself ostracized and alone."

  Zeus extracted himself from Mestor's iron embrace. Dargon and Alpha knew the abbreviated version of what happened, but Azaes had not previously shared details of what happened after he had left Atlainticia. Mestor's accounting caused Alpha to growl with fury.

  Azaes interrupted Mestor before Zeus could continue. "That is the past. Zeus now has worthy companions who have blessed the Vondorian house with our first younglings."

  Dargon claimed his hand as he took his place next to him and Alpha. "If House Cordyl is so reviled by your family, why is your mother traveling with them?"

  "It appears Canry has been busy. Meme received a message her family would need her at Haven. When she contacted father, he alerted her to the problems over Valespia. When Ariafella overheard Timsah's plans to travel to Haven, they used that, along with the news of the trouble erupting when we left space station Basquer'Qa, as an excuse to travel within the armada."

  Azaes moved to the table and typed the security code. The tabletop veneer drew back to reveal an electronic navchart. "She is negotiating with several of our allies, arranging for additional support, and has dispatched scout ships with messages to the homeworlds of the members of the Council of Neighn. If the Galactic Patrol is not answering communication, then something or someone is intercepting the transmissions.”

  "Why are you able to speak to your father?" Zeus walked over to the table, tugging Dargon’s hand to make sure he followed.

  "We do not use Haven's hypernet, but a Mar'Sani system," Azaes said. "Zeus designed receivers that use a closed-circuit, alternating frequency, meaning we can only speak to each other. Every time we speak, we use a different wave length. He has a separate system solely for speaking to Meme."

  Zeus gripped Dargon's hand for a brief moment, then released him to pull out one of the oversized chairs for Dargon to sit in before Zeus continued. "The most disturbing news was an apprehension order, issued for the crew of the merchant vessel Oethra 7 and its captain, Dargon Kal-Turak, in connection with the massacre of Athena and the royal family."

  Alpha's shock radiated through their bond. "We should have expected the move. We knew a spy hid in Haven. We have been pursued across galaxies. When we were assisted by a stronger party, they had to do something. If we do not leave, they will draw Prince Azaes and Prince Mestor under suspicion for treason."

  Zeus braced his hand on the chair's armrests and caught Dargon's gaze. That line of reasoning had to be stopped. Mar’Sani family protected each other best by sticking together. "My brothers will not abandon us, no matter the consequence. The two of you can wipe that thought right out of your minds. Athena and her people are safe where they are. Whoever is pursuing you wants you to run from the safety The Gorgon provides. Besides, the Fal'Amoric royal family is very much alive, so the questioning, if the order is not fake, will come to nothing." Zeus explained at Azaes and Mestor's questioning stares.

  Azaes crossed his arms and glared at Dargon as if he was a recalcitrant youngling. "Zeus is correct. We would not allow him and his Udens Mahte'lan, who carries royal younglings of House Vondorian, to wander the galaxies unprotected. Athena and her people's safety comes first. Here, they are the out of harm's way."

  Mestor clapped Dargon on the back. "If we are being followed, your navigator devised a very clever plan to lose them. We do not want anyone to know we seek help from the Feteine. Those who pursue us will be forced to wait for our arrival in Valespian space. By that time, we should have a sufficient defense drawn up. Have patience and faith in your new family, Dargon. We take care of our own."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Dargon glanced around the room, meeting the earnest Mar'Sani gazes.

  "We have been alone for so long, we have forgotten what it is to have a family."

  Dargon agreed with Alpha. He swallowed thickly as Zeus moved to lean against him. "Thank you," he said, when he really wanted to say, 'I love you'. As Dargon recovered from shock, Zeus repeated what Alpha said.

  Azaes briefly discussed their plans to slip the ship tailing them. Dargon did not have much to add to the strategy, since their navigator, Axis, had been briefed over breakfast. GyrFalconi had a natural awareness on a galactic scale. They knew where they were at all times, without needing to review a navchart. Axis's skills had allowed them to stay ahead of the psi-trackers, until they accidentally ran into the electromagnetic trap.

  Zeus tugged on his hand, bringing him back to the conversation. "Once we reach Qestaire, the Qrxzl homeworld, I will go planet side with a team and I need you to remain here."

  Dargon scowled. His argument was only prevented by Zeus quickly continuing. "If you come, then I will be distracted by my need to keep you safe. If something happens to me, your responsibility is to the crown princes and delivering the Fal'Amoric safely to Haven." Zeus seemed to tack on the last part in an attempt to appease Dargon, but he would have none of it.

  "You forget, Zeus, you are a Marked, a part of an Alpha Trine. I could no more leave you than I could leave Alpha. My responsibilities have altered. Yes, I still have my duties to the crown princes, but those duties will be carried out by my crew in my absence." Dargon met Azaes's assessing gaze. "I cannot leave him, nor will I stay aboard this vessel and helplessly watch him walk into a dangerous situation. I cannot chance his safety any more than he can mine. So we are at an impasse. He cannot go and I cannot stay."

  Azaes's eyes narrowed in an expression Dargon did not know how to read. Surprisingly, Mestor, staring hard at the floor, addressed him.

  "Let me explain a little about Mar'Sani mating culture, so you can understand where Zeus’s request comes from. A bonded male will create a nest for his mate, sequestering the family within the home where he will see to her—your—every need. Zeus is battling his overpowering need to nest. This situation is unprecedented."

  The explanation mollified Dargon a little, but would not prevent the need he and Alpha felt to protect Zeus.

  "How long before Alpha gives birth?" Mestor asked, still carefully not looking at Dargon.

  Zeus answered before he could. "Less than thirty standard days. Our kits will be born before we can return home."

  "I do not believe a Mar'Sani has ever been born in space." Azaes glanced at Zeus. "Are you going to travel to Rhodes?"

  "What is in Rhodes?" Dargon asked.

  "Rhodes is a mountain on Atlainticia. We climb to the plateau above the clouds to barter with the Gate Keeper for a birth bed for our unborn. The half-shells are the eggs of the offspring from the fabled raptor, Pegasus. All Mar'Sani males make the journey before our younglings are born."

  He began to understand the turmoil Zeus felt. All these traditions, and many would not be able to be carried out now. Zeus’s back had been toward Dargon through the telling, as if he feared Dargon and Alpha's reaction.

  "Did we not tell him?"

  He approached Zeu
s cautiously, as if he were a skittish beast. Running his fingertips on the outside of Zeus’s arm, Dargon moved up behind Zeus until he could wrap his arms around Zeus and pulled him back into Dargon's chest. Zeus stood still and stiff in his embrace, but he was not deterred.

  "I do not see why Zeus could not make the journey to Rhodes when we return to Atlainticia. Yes, Alpha will give birth soon, but it will be a year before the kits venture from the pouch. I had planned on resigning once the Fal'Amoric were returned to Haven. We should arrive home with more than enough time for Zeus to nest and bargain for a birth bed or two.”

  He was vaguely aware of everyone leaving, as Zeus relaxed into his embrace. Dargon nuzzled the back of an ear as he breathed in Zeus’s unique scent, now permanently mixed with his own.

  He whispered a confession for Zeus’s ears alone. "I am scared, too. Dar Massaga stay with their Alphas and Zetas on Hedisa Gamai, a neutral and secure location where we conceive and birth our kits in relative safety. You are not the only one who worries about the welfare of us all."

  Zeus tipped his head to the side, giving Dargon access to his neck. He ran his nose down the length of the muscular column, tongue darting out for a quick taste, turning into a leisurely lick. He assumed after the mating heat subsided, normal attraction would take over and ground them. But Zeus’s pheromones were as arousing now as when they first met. Maybe the chemical balance of Alpha carrying kits affected him. Either way, if life with Zeus continued to hold this kind of visceral attraction, they would never accomplish anything.

  Not that he would complain.

  "I do not believe this attraction is from the pregnancy hormones. We are a Trine."

  The thrumming in his chest started when Zeus grasped Dargon's hands and guided them down his chest to where a stiff erection lay trapped in his pants. Zeus’s breathy moan as Dargon pressed his palm over the rigid length and rubbed was intoxicating.