The Siren's Call (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE) (36 page)

“Earthling cursing?” Chiang asked. “I thought you were supposed to be enlightened, Lieutenant. Until you mated Gwen, you never cursed at all.”

Dorian shrugged but then realized Chiang never saw the motion because the Greggor male was still avoiding eye contact with him.

“It seems only fair to adopt some of my mate’s more common mannerisms since Gwen is learning Siren for me. Are we done with the distracting questions about my relationship yet? Because it’s not working. Your energy is dark. Your mood is deadly. Don’t make me have you locked up for everyone’s safety, Doctor.”

Chiang calmly put down his tools, fisted his hands on his knees, and swore richly in Greggor. “I have myself under control,” he said through gritted teeth.

Dorian’s mouth firmed into a line. “Fine. Then when I go back and get involved in Boca’s training, you won’t mind that I throw her to the floor over and over until she learns to take it and get back up. I assure you I will have no sympathy for her tears or her pain.”

In an instant Chiang was standing millimeters away from him, breathing heavily, body tight, and eyes blazing with fury.

“Doctor—you are definitely not in control,” Dorian said sharply. “Stand down before I have to hurt you.”

Chiang glared until he could make himself turn away. “I do not want this. I do not want to have to deal with this.”

“What male ever wants to lose his sanity? But now that I have your full attention and honesty, we need to discuss a strategy to help you deal with your unwanted but very real situation,” Dorian said, purposely avoiding mention of the obvious course of action.

Chiang gripped the edge of a medical table to keep from attacking the Siren male. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so angry—or so out of control.

“Do you intend to mate Boca Ador?” Dorian asked frankly.

“Yes,” Chiang stated, biting the off the single syllable that said he acknowledged his fate. “When the mission is over, she will be mine, at least until this madness passes.”

“Then my recommendation is to mate her now, as quickly as possible. Once she is marked as yours, the urge to kill other males lessens greatly,” Dorian advised.

“She is unwilling to have me at this time. I have vowed to let her train as a warrior in exchange for her agreement to mate me later. It is an uneasy contract between us as it is,” Chiang admitted.

Now it was Dorian’s turn to snort. “Then what would you have me advise you? You are dangerous in this condition. Do you want to be locked up? If not, you need to speak to her and find another compromise.”

“No—of course I don’t want to be locked up,” Chiang said, running a hand over his hair. “Let me talk to Boca, tell her what is happening. Perhaps we can reach another accord.”

“Whether you do or not, she must be trained. Her survival—not to mention yours—is at stake,” Dorian said flatly, steeling himself not to be sympathetic to the Greggor’s wince of shame.

“I know. I agree she must be prepared to face any challenge,” Chiang said quietly. “It’s just very difficult to watch her be hurt and not be able to do anything.”

“I understand,” Dorian said. “Any mated male would understand, including the captain. Truth be told—even the demon understands. Malachi has a special relationship with Boca. He was having similar problems watching her be hurt, but he also sees the balance. Perhaps you can talk to him and see how he restrains his urges.”

“Sure. More advice about Boca from the demon. Malachi got me into this mess in the first place,” Chiang said.

Dorian’s eyebrows rose high. “How so?”

“Malachi told me how Boca really felt about me, and warned me to act on it before he found a way to seduce her. The thought of her with any other male…” Chiang let the words drift off as he put his tools in what was left of the incubator. “How badly did I shame her with my actions?”

“Shame her?” Dorian said in surprise, letting his disbelief show. “No—Boca was not ashamed. She was just saddened, resigned to your disapproval. For her, it was just what she expected.”

“I am not like her Sumerian mate,” Chiang said harshly. “Nor like the Lotharian bastard, either.”

“Well, no,” Dorian said. “The Lotharian does not count, so release that fear. A Greggor mate is just territorial, but a Sumerian male is into control and obedience. Sumerians see their female mates as an extension of themselves. Her Sumerian mate felt no regret asking her to cease her warrior training.”

“I would let you lock me up before I did that to her again,” Chiang said softly. “Plus—I gave her my word.”

“Even if you mate Boca, you’ll still want to hurt those that hurt her. It is a biological imperative of most males. You are going to have to work at finding a way to deal with watching her fight her own fights when necessary,” Dorian said.

“Is that what you do?” Chiang asked.

“Gwen received two physical gifts once our energies were joined. One was additional strength. I think that happened both because I feared for her and to help me control my desire to kill others who I perceived as a threat to her,” Dorian explained, shrugging at the words. “Gwen is a warrior in spirit. The Creators made her that way. It is not my place to change that part of her, no matter how challenging the reality is to live with. You have a similar challenge. Boca is also a warrior in spirit, but her healing compassion causes conflict. It weakens her.”

“Aye—I have felt that conflict within her,” Chiang said, realizing it was that knowledge that caused his concern. “Boca is a healer by nature as well. Does she have to lose her compassion to save herself?”

Dorian shook his head. “No, her compassion is part of her. How do you do it, Chiang? I see the same conflict within you. You trained to be a warrior, but you chose to walk a different path in your work. Engineering was just the place you hid while your spirit made its decision.”

Chiang hung his head. “Is there no secret I can keep on this ship? I broke a male’s back during my warrior training. I helped heal him, but his injury was too grave for him to continue the path he chose. It is arrogant to assume you can both hurt and heal at will. I committed to healing, but hurt people doing that as well. People died no matter how hard I tried to save them.”

“Your mate has not made her choice yet. Her healing path has been chosen for her—until now,” Dorian said.

Chiang nodded. “My spirit resonates with what you say. I know you speak the truth of the matter.”

“Train Boca yourself,” Dorian suggested. “If she can bring herself to fight you and do what is necessary, your mate will not hesitate with anyone else. Both Ania and Gwen say her lack of self-confidence is her weakest point.”

“I am not a fighting teacher,” Chiang protested.

“Your female doesn’t fear arguing with a demon, but she is frightened of your disapproval. She was not mad at you today, and she should have been. Instead, she was sad and hurt. Teach her not to concede to you—neither in words or in deeds,” Dorian said firmly. “It would be an act of great compassion on your part. It would also be the first time a male ever empowered her.”

“What if I fail with her too?” Chiang said darkly. “Then she will be worse off. I do not want her to fear me.”

Dorian shrugged. “Don’t think of failing. She is returning to Lotharius. If you want to truly help her endure it and survive, then fix your mate’s confidence.”

“I will try,” Chiang said.

“Set an intention to do so and be faithful to it,” Dorian ordered. “And mate the female. Mark her with your energy. It would be a great relief to all of us.”

Chiang grinned. “You’re not still worried about Gwen missing me in bed, are you?”

“Shall I ask her to share her opinions on that matter with you?” Dorian said, lifting his chin. “It is best for you to focus on a female you can actually please in bonding.”

Chiang snorted and laughed. “I don’t want Gwen—not that way. I just like seeing you getting irate about my former relationship with her. I thought you said marking a female helped tone down the possessiveness.”

“It does,” Dorian said flatly. “Do you need more proof other than that you’re still walking and breathing?”

Chiang shook his head, laughing again. “Thank you for coming to talk to me, Lieutenant.”

Dorian bowed his head to the grinning Greggor before he left.

Chapter 24

“Must you go today?” Dorian demanded. “I’m not completely back to normal yet. I don’t like the idea of just putting you on some random supply ship that has to drop you off on some unknown planet to catch another shuttle to Rylen. What if the pirates get you again?”

“Dorian—Eli’oh—stop worrying so much. I have to go now. Gwen had the supply ship searched several times, and Captain Synar has arranged for someone to meet me and put me on the final ship that will take me to Rylen. Now embrace me so I can board with a lightened spirit,” Sarinnea demanded.

“But I don’t want you leave,” Dorian complained.

Sarinnea lifted a hand to his cheek. “I will see you and Gwen in two years. It will be joyous to spend time with you again. We will start your family, the three of us together. I will see to the care of the children while you and Gwen work. Just promise me to be careful so it may come to pass.”

Dorian spoke the promise in Rylen and hugged his mother close. He bent to touch his forehead to hers.

“My compassion for you has never been greater,” he said solemnly.

“Nor mine for you, my child. No parent could be prouder,” Sarinnea said, gently easing away.

Sarinnea turned gracefully and went up into the supply ship. Dorian watched until she had disappeared.

“Lieutenant Zade, can we release the ship for take off?” the dispatcher asked.

“Yes. My mother wishes to leave. I see no reason to detain it further,” Dorian said. “Thank you, Ensign.”

The ensign bowed his head and walked quickly to the nearest com panel. Dorian was almost to the elevator when he heard the engines start up. He had his head turned back towards the departing ship and was almost knocked down by the male exiting the elevators in a run.

“Don’t let the supply ship leave without me,” Jordon said, alarmed that it actually might.

Dorian grabbed his arm to stop his flight. “Are you scheduled to return to Norblade?”

Jordon hesitated, looked to the ship preparing to leave, and looked back at the male whose grip was too strong to break. “No. My Norblade mate is already with another, which is only a relief to me. I want Sarinnea. I know I am not worthy, but—I want her.”

“Because she saved you?” Dorian asked, dragging Jordon with him as they ran across the shuttle bay.

“No. I want her because she has my full compassion,” Jordon declared.

“Stop the ship,” Dorian yelled, pounding on the outer door.

The dispatcher didn’t bat an eye. He just barked orders into the com for the supply ship to halt their departure and open the door.

The supply ship lowered its boarding ramp and Jordon started up it. “You can trust me with your parent. I value her above all others.”

“It is actually your welfare that concerns me. Sirens are not easy mates,” Dorian said.

“Lieutenant—Dorian—there is a child from my mating, a boy who has been as lost as I have been for many years. I intend to have him join me. I wish I had time to explain, but Sarinnea was determined to leave me,” Jordon said. “I cannot let her. I don’t know how this will work, but I must go to her.”

Dorian drew in a deep breath, stood as straight as possible, and bowed his head to the Norblade male. “May the Creators guide you both to happiness.”

“Thank you.” Jordon bowed his head in return then dashed up the ramp.

Dorian ran to the elevator, stepping into it just as the vacuum shield was lowered.

***

“I don’t get it. Why did Jordon spill his guts to you about it all? He could just as easily have lied and followed Sarinnea home without you knowing it. And why didn’t you just stop both of them from leaving until we could talk with them?” Gwen demanded.

“Do we really need to be dealing with more parent problems? When is your father leaving?” Dorian asked.

“
My father?
Oh fucking hell, I completely forgot about Cahir,” Gwen said fiercely. “How could I forget he’s still on the damn ship?”

Dorian fell backward on the bed and laughed. “Well, you’ve had a few bigger concerns than your father’s petty complaints.”

Gwen came over, sat on the bed, and fell back on it too.

“I should have put Cahir on the same supply ship and sent him off, but that would have only complicated things for Sarinnea and Jordon. Sounds like you’re getting a Norblade step-brother if things work out.”

“Their relationship will work out,” Dorian said on a sigh. “His energy is already on her, and don’t ask me about what Sarinnea’s energy has done to him. His mate would never have made him forget her completely. Males do not get over Sarinnea, except for Chiang. She must have put a block on him remembering her.”

Gwen turned her head and smiled. “Maybe Chiang just wasn’t that good with her. It happens.”

Dorian snorted. “You don’t have to say that for my benefit.”