The Siren's Call (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE) (22 page)

“Ambassador Issa Onin,” Ania finished, closing her eyes. “There’s no way Synar will send those two. Neither can be trusted, but for different reasons. I’d trust the demon over the ambassador.”

Gwen nodded. “Right—that’s what he said, but since Malachi can’t go without you or Synar—”

“The only choice is to send Boca and someone else. I don’t get a good feeling about that. She has a warrior spirit, but likely no training,” Ania finished again.

“Well I wouldn’t say ‘no’ training. I would say more like insufficient training,” Gwen reported. “By herself, Boca mortally wounded two Terris Rein guard goons while defending the shuttle and Malachi’s host body. Then she pulled the knives from their mostly dead bodies without a thought, plus the knife from you. She doesn’t need knife training for sure, just other weapons, and maybe some smarter fighting moves. My thinking is that you and I could provide her key points of training in a week if we do it every day and don’t hurt her too much in the process.”

“Do we have that long?” Ania asked.

“Maybe we have two weeks because we have to wait for the other rescue ships. Technically, we have until at least the first one arrives. Then the plan is that we send in our team to find the hostage’s location. The person they originally sent to locate her could only get as far as the outer kingdom alone. The idea is that our team will go in on the pretense of returning Boca while bargaining to return the other seven freed mate slaves for a fee,” Gwen said. “The jewel of the offer being Ambassador Onin who was intended for the leader of this kingdom anyway.”

Ania thought about it for a moment and decided it was in actuality a fairly good way to get close to the reigning monarch without alarming him about the bigger plans.

“Is Synar thinking about being the male that goes?” she asked.

“No, he thinks staying with Malachi is a better idea since you’re not fully recovered,” Gwen said with a frown. “In my opinion, it’s either Jurek, who doesn’t lie well—or Chiang, who can lie but has an unresolved thing for Boca.”

“Chiang’s not a warrior either. He has only basic training and Greggor strength,” Ania said.

“Chiang has more training than he likes to let others know about. He’ll do fine in a fight. But if he doesn’t want to go with Boca, no one is going to make him. Boca’s not going to be keen on him going either, but I think she’s hooked on the idea of helping the Peace Alliance take down the female abduction ring currently at work in that society.”

“If she agrees to the mission, of course I’ll help train her,” Ania said finally. “Though I doubt I could show her anything Jurek can’t.”

“Jurek’s good, but he’s slowed down a lot in his advanced years. Chiang is my pick, but I guess Jurek could do for her mate. In my opinion the ensigns are all too inexperienced to take the lead on something as dangerous as this,” Gwen explained.

“How are they blocking the captured female’s ID? Peace Alliance officials and their families have two of them,” Ania commented, thinking out loud.

“Right. I asked why the larger rescue ship coming couldn’t just scan for the official’s daughter. Turns out Lotharius has an even more sophisticated energy shield surrounding it than Terris Rein. I’m starting to get jaded in my thinking. Seems like any planet with the technology to block scanning has it only because they’re hiding something,” Gwen said.

“That’s probably a profound truth,” Ania said in agreement.

Gwen nodded and slid off the table. As she started to leave, Sarinnea and Zade walked into the area. Zade stepped into her and attacked her lips before she could stop him from kissing her. It took all her strength to pry his fingers off her arms. The male’s grip was strong.

“You can’t just go around grabbing me and kissing me whenever you want,” Gwen protested when her mouth was free, not missing the smile Sarinnea turned away to hide from her.

“Actually, my son is showing remarkable restraint. Normally, a Siren and his mate lock themselves into a residence for a week or two until the initial claiming lust runs its natural course. He is biologically designed to feel the level of desire he does for you, Gwen. You may have to schedule some bonding time during the day if you want to keep him appeased this week while you conduct your normal duties,” Sarinnea advised.

Gwen shivered when Zade put his face in her neck and breathed deeply. “You smell amazing,” he said, his husky voice laden with arousal carrying through Medical.

Ania laughed from the bed.

Gwen turned to glare at her. “Got anything wise or helpful to add to your amusement?” she demanded.

“Take Zade back to his quarters and appease him. Sarinnea speaks the truth,” Ania said. “A Siren’s mate can’t really say no without suffering as well. Why suffer? It serves no purpose. Go.”

“I can’t just go running off in the middle of the day to…” Her complaint died as Zade drew her close and matched their cords. The matching throb in that area opened her second chakra and poured arousal into her entire pelvis.

Then Zade picked up a hand, kissing her arm as he inspected her fingers.

“Thank you for letting the medics fix you. I was worried all morning that your hands were causing you pain,” he said, running gentle fingers through hers to link them together. “Have you had food? Would you like me to bring some to you?”

Gwen looked into his face, hers scrunched up in pain that was mental instead of physical. He was being so damn attentive and nice. “Zade—I have a mission to worry about. I have to relieve Chiang on the bridge. I can’t just…raging fires of Helios—don’t make me say this.”

He leaned close to her ear to whisper. “The lieutenant seems a capable sort to me. Relieve me first, Sweet Joy. I need you.”

“What did you call me?” Gwen demanded, part of her melting even as the other part pulled away in shock.

“
Sweet Joy
? The term popped into my head this morning after you left me. Sarinnea said it is the English translation of the Siren word for a perfect mate,” Dorian said. “Why? Does it not please you?”

“Of course it pleases me…it’s just you…damn it, Zade,” Gwen felt her nipples beading against her hygiene straps as his lips traced a trail from her ear to the bottom of her neck, his face pushing against her shirt as much as he could to move it out of his way. Reaching an impasse, he lifted his face to meet her gaze with his.

“What is your concern?” Dorian asked, sensing her indecision.

“You used to call me that. The first time you kissed me, you called me ‘Sweet Joy,’” Gwen said, her voice rough with emotion, raw now with the need he was creating in her.

“Perhaps I was not always a fool about you then,” he said.

When Dorian smiled intimately and stroked her cheek with his hand, Gwen smiled back genuinely in return. Then she remembered they had an audience, and both females were watching with very knowing—and interested—expressions.

“Raging fires of Helios, Zade. Stop trying to make out with me. Your mother is watching,” Gwen said in horror, flushing when Sarinnea laughed without restraint.

“Dorian is more my child in this moment than he would be comfortable knowing. Were he to remember his training and self-discipline, I am sure he would choose not to behave so openly amorous towards his mate,” Sarinnea admitted. “Yet I vow to you that am nothing but proud and pleased for him. I am pleased for both of you. And honored that my child would not hide his desire for you from me. He knows I approve of you, Gwen Jet.”

“Yeah well—I like you too—but I need closed doors. Sorry, but show and tell is over for the perfect mate,” Gwen said, her sarcasm hardly registering.

She left her fingers linked with his and tugged him with her.

“See you later, Ania—Sarinnea. I guess I have to go take care of Zade before he implodes or something,” she said, ending almost on a giggle when she saw his confusion. He never failed to bring out the female in her. Normally, it just made her mad, but today she didn’t even care.

Ania and Sarinnea were both laughing behind the couple’s backs as they staggered away. Dorian was still trying to touch and kiss Gwen, who kept dodging all his advances as best she could.

“When he remembers himself, Dorian will be appalled at his lack of control with her,” Ania said in understanding.

Sarinnea nodded. “Perhaps. But I think the commander is enjoying her mate’s attention more than she wants to admit.”

Ania snickered once more and then sobered. “I am very glad that Gwen found you both. Are you going to tell me what happened on Terris Rein or make me look for myself?”

Sarinnea sighed and walked to perch on the side of Ania’s bed. “Do not worry for me at this time, Ania Looren. You must focus on your own healing. My child must bind himself to his mate. And when both of these things have come to pass in their fullness, then I will tell you the story of how I gave my compassion to a Norblade male I helped.”

Ania reached out a hand. “I will pray for you until then. Norblade males are nothing but aggravation outside of bed.”

Sarinnea laughed softly. “Then it is a fortunate thing for me that Jordon is already mated.”

“Sarinnea…” Ania said in surprise, her heart saddened as she watched the Siren shrug.

“No matter how many males you let share your body, there are never that many that end up connecting to your spirit. Jordon is only the second male in two thousand years that won it so quickly. Instead of convincing him to stay with me, I must help him return to the female he chose long ago. He’s been a slave for almost fifteen Earth years on Terris Rein. The last two were demoralizing to him,” she said sadly.

“If he is your natural mate, what will you do without him?” Ania said, knowing that once a Siren chose, there was no other.

“I suppose I will become as celibate as my son was before Gwen. My parents tried to get me to make a spiritual arrangement with a male Siren from another elite house. Keloren would have at least been able to offer me solace if I had agreed,” Sarinnea said with laugh, shrugging again. “Now I will have nothing. What can I say? I have always bowed to the will of the Creators.”

“As do I,” Ania said gently, holding Sarinnea’s comforting hand as she felt her mind drifting back into healing sleep. “May the Creators be as good to you as they have been to me, Sarinnea of Rylen.”

Chapter 16

“Remove your clothing if you do not wish it destroyed,” he ordered sharply, hands restless with wanting to strip away the barriers between them.

His mate was pressed against the doors of his quarters, trembling with need in his arms, seemingly unable to speak. Long moments of silence passed between them as he matched her breathing, matched her emotions, and waited for her to act.

When she didn’t speak or move at all, even when he kissed her repeatedly, Dorian started imagining himself tearing off her clothes with his bare hands. And something in him said that not only
could
he do it, but that he
would
do it if Gwen didn’t comply with his request soon.

Then he thought of what Gwen would say later if he ripped off her clothing. He thought of how upset she had been over the one negative comment about her under garments and uniform. Thinking of her wish to visually share her body only with him restored a tiny shred of control, which he vowed to use for her.

Breathing deeply, he unfastened and unzipped her uniform pants with hands that trembled in their eagerness. He was relieved beyond measure when Gwen stirred from her stupor at last and pushed them down until they fell around her ankles. They came the rest of the way off when he lifted her behind her knees and moved between her smooth, firm thighs. His hands slid up to cup her rounded rear when she hooked her legs around him.

“Hold on to me. Arms around my neck,” Dorian ordered, groaning his approval loudly when Gwen compliantly did as she was asked because it freed his hands. He pushed his own pants down and breeched her body before his pants even hit the floor. When she called out and embraced him more tightly, he stilled, suddenly unsure that he’d been reading her arousal level correctly.

“Did I go too fast and hurt you?” Dorian demanded, his body trembling with holding back.

“No—I…I just can’t believe it’s like this again after the seven or eight times we did this last night,” Gwen said.

“Why? Do you not want me?” Dorian asked in dismay.

“No—of course I want you. But maybe I want to make the moves once in a while, be on top, take control of what we’re doing,” Gwen complained.

“I am willing to let you be my leader in your work. I would gladly walk into battle by your side because I respect you as a warrior. But
this
—this living desire is the essence of my need for you, Gwen Jet. What I want—need—is for you to give in to it, give in to me,” Dorian demanded, his voice gravelly rough as his body flexed with the urge to move forward.

“I can’t accommodate all your macho urges, Zade. I don’t give in to anyone,” Gwen said, squirming as she tried to get him to move inside her and ease the ache she had for him.

Dorian leaned in and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. It was all he could reach in their current position. And he had no patience to carry her to the bed. That would have to wait until later.

“What would convince you to make me your one exception for surrendering yourself, Commander Jet?” he asked, thrusting hard once and sending her up the door, feeling validated when Gwen called out in pleasure.