Katieran Prime 4 - Kiljorn Prime (6 page)

It was hard not to like the young Prima. She was about the same height as Lindsey, five feet, eight inches tall. AriELa was so enthusiastic about everything. There was a light in her eyes that Lindsey hadn’t seen in her own in a very long time. She had such innocence, much like Lindsey’s little sister.

Lindsey felt a bit tarnished at times. She had spent too many years dealing with politics for the EWG. It had dimmed her enthusiasm for life. Add to that one disappointing relationship after another. Men either used her for her body or used her for her political connections. For the past two years, Lindsey had put her personal life on hold. No one had held any interest for her.

It wasn’t until the Katierans came to Earth and she met Prime Leader RendEL that she actually had a relationship with a man other than her father, who didn’t want to take advantage of her, but treated her with respect. How could she not fall a little in love with him? He was a gorgeous, sexy man that was interested in her mind not her body. But that was also the problem. RendEL had never been interested in her romantically as she had been with him. She was happy that he found happiness with Cassie, but felt a deep loneliness. She hoped that by traveling to Kiljor and helping with this alliance, it would give her the distraction that she desperately needed.

Lindsey enjoyed the light conversation at Evening Meal. Prime Leader KadEN had to excuse himself early. Captain Malone didn’t come at all. She noticed that Prime Commander KydEL was preoccupied and he too left early. Both Lindsey and AriELa finished eating and decided to retire. It was the first time she got to be alone with the younger woman.

“Are you excited about seeing Kiljor?” AriELa asked.

“I guess. I would assume that it is much like Katiera since the Kiljorn people are so much like Katierans. Both nations came from the same place right?”

“The Kiljorns had branched off from Katiera many years ago. We split due to conflicts caused by a warring nation called the Morins.”

The Kiljorn Nation and Katieran Nation were negotiating an alliance that would unite the two nations against the Morins. Part of the alliance involved a possible political mating between Prime Leader KadEN and Prima AriELa. AriELa was traveling to KiljOR upon invitation in an effort to sway her favor.

“Are you excited about the mating?” Lindsey asked watching the young woman’s face carefully. She noticed a slight flinch; it was so slight she almost missed seeing it. What was up with that?

“I am open to a
possible
mating. So far, I have no complaints. KadEN is very handsome and charming. He would make an excellent mate.”

“It doesn’t sound very romantic to me,” Lindsey pointed out. Right before her eyes, the young woman aged years beyond what she actually was.

“Matings, especially political ones, are not always based on the romantic idea of love. To find a true bond mate is very rare. The fact that RendEL has found his is a blessing from the Goddess KatieRI.”

“What is a bond mate?” Lindsey asked her curiously.

“A bond mate is the one person destined to be yours sent by the Gods.”

“Is Prime Leader KadEN your bond mate?”

AriELa shook her head no. She had sadness in her eyes. For the first time, Lindsey felt sorry for the other woman. She was willing to forgo her own happiness to ensure an alliance for her people. Lindsey wasn’t sure she could do something so selfless.

“I wish you luck with it,” Lindsey told her before she went to wash up. She almost missed the quiet sigh that escaped AriELa. There was something definitely up with the girl.

*****

To pass the time, Lindsey and the other women spent time in the training center. It was an area just a little bit smaller than the gym back on Earth. They had something like a treadmill and ropes for climbing. There were hooks spaced along the wall used for climbing.

Captain Malone showed each of the women how to get out of various types of holds and where to place kicks. It helped ease tensions between her and Captain Malone. It was also during one of these sessions that Lindsey noticed something strange.

Security Liaison TarAK tracked them down. He was to act as AriELa’s personal bodyguard. When AriELa missed blocking a punch that Captain Malone, Jaxon, threw, she fell backwards. TarAK went a little bit crazy with concern.

“AriELa!” TarAK stalked their way.

“I’m fine. I just have to concentrate harder.” She got back up to her feet. “Can I try that again?”

Lindsey noted the way TarAK looked at AriELa as if she was spun glass that could break. He clearly idolized her.

“Absolutely NOT!” TarAK declared, running his hands lightly over AriELa’s body to check for injuries.

AriELa swatted his hands away. “I’m fine. And you are not the boss of me. If I want to keep training, I will.” She turned her back on him and faced Jaxon. “Can we do that over again?”

TarAK glared at AriELa. Jaxon offered to pick back up with the training the next day. Lindsey was okay with that. She was starting to ache all over from their strenuous work out.

“I want to get something to eat,” Kat said.

“Me too,” Lindsey agreed. “I worked up quite an appetite.” She made a mental note to question AriELa about what was going on between her and TarAK.

*****

They finally arrived in the Kiljorn Solar System. To Lindsey, Kiljor looked very similar to Earth. Blue water covered most of the planet. There were diverse areas of beaches, mountains, and sandy deserts, with a variety of flowers and plants.

She was ready to get off the shuttle. She had been sitting close to KadEN and AriELa. She tried not to make snide remarks every time the man bragged about how something was better on Kiljor. AriELa talked enthusiastically with KadEN. He was pointing and describing parts of Kiljor that could be seen on the viewing screens to her and Lindsey. While AriELa paid close attention to what he was saying, Lindsey rolled her eyes and turned away.

The closer their shuttle got to the City of Kiljor the more differences Lindsey could see. On Katiera, all the buildings were made of some kind of brick material. On Kiljor, the buildings appeared to be made out of some kind of metallic material. Instead of having a landing field like Katiera, there was a landing platform built on the top of one of the highest buildings.

When they landed, they were taken down to their suites. Lindsey and AriELa shared a suite with the other two women. KadEN had excused himself again to report to the Kiljorn High Council.

Lindsey had hoped for some time away from the Kiljorn Leader. With every meal that she had to endure his presence, made her more aware of him physically. She had to constantly remind herself the man was meant to mate with another woman. She had grown to care for AriELa as a friend.

Lindsey didn’t have very many friends. She could count on one hand the friends she had on Katiera. Her position with the Katieran Nation had required so much of her time, that there was little left for anyone else in her life besides her father and sister. She hadn’t spent as much time with her family as she would have liked either. After the alliance negotiations, she planned to change that.

*****

That exasperating man!
Lindsey thought. Prime Leader KadEN had been dodging every question Lindsey asked in regards to the alliance details. He treated her like a weak-minded woman. He was going to learn the difference. If Prime Commander KydEL wasn’t there, she would have clobbered the Kiljorn Leader.

“Miss Carreli, perhaps you cannot understand the change we would like to make to the agreement because it is above your comprehension,” Prime Leader KadEN suggested.

“Are you saying that I can’t understand because I am female? Or that I am stupid? Or is it both, that I am just a stupid female?” Lindsey asked with a red face. She was incensed.

KadEN loved making the female mad. She would breathe hard, causing her chest to swell tight against her blouse. Her lovely pale skin shaded pink and she pursed her lips. It made him want to kiss her. He shook his head; he couldn’t allow himself to entertain thoughts like that.

“Enough! We will finish this tomorrow,” Prime Commander KydEL announced loudly ending the meeting.

Lindsey stomped her way back to the suite she was sharing with the other women. She found Jaxon and Kat sitting on the balcony enjoying the view of the nearby mountains. She plopped down on an empty seat. She didn’t say anything, just stared out at the view.

“Are there problems with the alliance negotiations?” Jaxon asked.

“That man is stubborn, cocky, self-important, insulting …” Lindsey could go on and on about the aggravating man.

Jaxon laughed and asked, “Are you talking about Prime Commander KydEL or Prime Leader KadEN?”

“The latter,” Lindsey replied with a pout. “Where is AriELa?”

“She is being given a small tour of the Kiljorn City. TarAK is with her as security. Has anybody else noticed how odd they act around one another?” Jaxon asked “TarAK and AriELa?” Kat questioned.

Lindsey nodded her head, “I’ve noticed. Every time they are in the same room together the temperature seems to shoot up.”

“Exactly, but they keep trying to ignore it,” Jaxon said.

“I asked her about it once but she brushed it off. I give her props. It’s not always easy to ignore an infuriating man,” Lindsey grumbled.

Jaxon gave Kat a knowing look. “Do you know what the best way to forget a bothersome man is?” she asked.

Lindsey stared at her suspiciously. “Another man?”

It wasn’t another man, thank goodness. Lindsey could not deal with another one at that time. She wanted to do nothing more than enjoy her time with Jaxon and Kat. They drank smuggled Tequila that Jaxon had brought with her from Earth. They talked about ex-boyfriends, complained about bosses, and named the things they missed most about Earth. It was just what she needed to forget, for a short time, her conflicting feelings.

Chapter Seven

They had been on Kiljor for three days. Three days of meetings with KydEL and KadEN. Three days of bickering and heated debates with the Kiljorn Leader. Lindsey needed a break. It appeared that she was going to get one.

Prime Medic SydEL’s team was going to the outer planets to collect samples. Prime Commander KydEL decided he should escort the team. That meant the negotiations were on hold until his return. Everyone was going except for her, AriELa, and TarAK who was remaining behind to guard AriELa.

Lindsey had some free time now and wanted to explore the city. She and AriELa decided to walk the streets instead of taking the golf cart-like transportation. TarAK huffed from behind them complaining he couldn’t protect them out in the open such as they were.

The shops there were family owned, similar to how things were on Katiera. Neither woman had brought anything with them to barter nor exchange, but they were extended credit. At least Lindsey was. AriELa was given anything she wished for, despite her protests or insistence that she pay. The people of Kiljor were trying to win AriELa over, hoping she would agree to the political mating.

It never occurred to Lindsey the match would matter so much to the people of the two nations. But it was clear to her now; the citizens were desperate to reunite the split nations. This match wasn’t just a political maneuver; it was a bridge to reconnect people that never should have been divided. She watched the young woman to see her reactions. It amazed Lindsey that AriELa, even being young and sheltered, knew the importance of her decision, and she was taking it very seriously. Lindsey didn’t envy the burden that AriELa bore on her young shoulders.

They left the last shop and headed back to the main building of Kiljor. TarAK trailed six feet behind them giving them space and privacy. Lindsey asked her, “Is it a hard decision for you to make, leaving Katiera and accepting a political mating?”

AriELa looked at Lindsey, she allowed her true self to show for just a moment. What Lindsey saw shocked her to her core. Looking out of those beautiful, dark blue eyes was no longer an innocent young woman, but an older and wiser woman whose romantic illusions had been shattered long ago.

“To serve my people is not a hardship. To be a mate to a fine Leader like KadEN will not be a hardship. However, I will miss my family. That will be the ache that I carry with me willingly in order to unite two nations that need one another.” She turned back to looking at her surroundings—her mask firmly in place.

Lindsey glanced back and noticed that TarAK wore a frown on his face. He must have heard what AriELa said but it looked like he didn’t care for it. Lindsey was glad she was not in the position that AriELa was in. At least Lindsey could freely choose whom she would marry. An unwarranted image of KadEN with his dark brown eyes popped into her head. She quickly pushed it away.

AriELa was supposed to share the Evening Meal with KadEN. Lindsey was invited too but she just did not feel like watching as the man put on his macho show to win over AriELa. She thought she might throw up all over his fancy Kiljorn clothing. Instead, she accepted an offer to share a meal with one of the Kiljorn Lieutenants. He had been asking her out since she first arrived but until now, she had been too busy with the meetings to accept.

She watched as TarAK escorted AriELa down the corridor. The poor man looked at the Prima with such longing that it broke Lindsey’s heart. Did AriELa feel nothing for the man in return? It would be hard not to. The man was hot. He had dark brown almost black hair cut short in the military fashion. His eyes were an unusual dark grey. But it was the man’s dimples, when he smiled he had deep dimples on each cheek. Unfortunately, the man rarely smiled since coming to Kiljor.

*****

Later that evening, “Are you sure you do not want to share the Evening Meal with us?” AriELa asked Lindsey. She was trying to hide her nervousness.