Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) (11 page)

Thorn picked up a tankard of ale and the fifth food tray while Dag took the glasses of juice for the boys and Ronin grabbed two more tankards of ale.

Once seated, the boys regaled their visitors with the things they'd done that cycle and their plans for the next cycle. Thorn absently listened to them while he ate letting them have this opportunity to visit with their mentors.

He knew Dag and Ronin had kept in close contact with his sons during his absence. He had yet to thank them for doing that. They'd taken his place, seeing to it that Dane and Dev always knew where he was and what he was doing. Shame overwhelmed him when he remembered how he'd kept them at a distance when they'd joined his crew. They'd always been loyal friends while he'd turned his back on not only them but his family and especially his sons.

After their birth the Council had sent him on a three annual mission while the uproar over Naline's betrayal died down. Her betrayal against his people had been bad but the fact that she'd been the first female in Zarronian history to betray her bondmate had nearly destroyed him. He couldn't describe the relief he's felt when the scientists told him they'd discovered that there were now different levels of mating. He and Naline had not bonded but she'd taken his fever and freed him from the need to find a mate. She'd been the first bondmate to ever betray her mate and that's what had sent him fleeing he finally admitted to himself. The other he could have dealt with but the notoriety of having such a treacherous bondmate had nearly destroyed him. It had been his duty to control her and he'd failed. He's never once questioned her actions or her frequent absences. He'd trusted her completely but now he questioned whether he'd ever loved her or if what he'd felt for her was just the lust created by his fever.

"Thorn?" Dag asked. "You okay?"

He looked around and realized that they'd finished eating while he'd been lost in his thoughts. Nodding he glanced at Dev. "Where's the sweet cake?"

"You haven't finished your vegetables, Father," Dev said.

Thorn ruffled Dev's hair, finished the brocco-beans then handed the empty tray to Dane. His sons went into the kitchen and he heard the processor humming as it prepared the desert. Rising, he followed them and programmed the processor for three glasses of wine.

While they ate the desert, Dag teasingly tried to sneak bites from Ronin's tray causing the boys to fall into fits of the giggles. The two boys finished their desert first so Thorn told them to take their trays to the kitchen and gave them permission to watch an info-disc. He relaxed and sipped his wine, ruefully grateful for the silence in the room.

"We've made good time, Thorn. If nothing goes wrong we'll be home right on schedule," Ronin said.

"What about the number two engine?" Thorn asked.

"I spoke to Garrikson earlier," Dag said. "He's not sure it will hold until we reach Zarronia."

"Ronin, how much longer would the journey take without the number two engine?"

"At least another moon phase."

"Then, I want the engine shut down. I don't want to take a chance on ruining it just to get home faster when the need isn't urgent."

"Alright, I'll tell Garrikson." Dag sipped his wine then asked him, "How's it going with the boys?"

"Good." Thorn looked at Ronin and Dag. "I've never thanked you for what you've done for them and me."

Dag rose and pounded Thorn on the back when he passed him. "That's alright, Thorn. What are friends for if not to be there when you need them?"

Ronin nodded in agreement. "Hey, I could use another glass of wine."

Grinning, Dag said, "Suddenly, I feel like celebrating."

"Which one of you told them about my heroic deeds?" Thorn asked Ronin.

"We both did. They kept asking questions about you so we told them as much as we could."

Thorn chuckled. "Dev thinks I kill everyone who angers me."

Dag laughed. "We tried to tell him you didn't but for some reason he insists on believing that you do."

Ronin leaned forward. "Dev is the more stubborn of the two of them. Once he gets an idea in his head he won't change it."

Thorn grimaced. "I know. Every day he asks me if I've killed Daria yet."

"How's our spy doing? Still locked up next door?" Dag asked.

Thorn nodded. "I've informed the Council of her presence and why she says she snuck aboard. I haven't heard back from them."

"Are they investigating her?" Ronin took a sip of wine.

"I'd be surprised if they weren't," Thorn said.

"Do you think the Council will execute her?"

"I don't know." Thorn hoped they wouldn't keep asking questions. Dag knew him too well and he'd know, or at least suspect, that something more than sex had happened between him and Daria.

Dag turned to Ronin. "You should have seen her. She's gorgeous. Long black her hair and eyes the exact color of a wolfens." He glanced at Thorn. "Isn't that right, Thorn?"

"Yes." Thorn stood up, went into the kitchen and returned with three more glasses of wine. He slid two over to Dag and Ronin then sipped his.

Ronin leaned back, sipped from his glass and said, "Aulunson said she's tall."

Dag grinned. "Really tall. A warrior wouldn't get a crick in his neck kissing her. She has a body that can make a warrior's fever rise. Long slender legs and beautiful large breas—."

"That's enough, Dag," Thorn growled. When Dag looked at him he knew his secret was out. He just hoped Dag would let it go.

Dag drained his glass of wine, set it on the table and rose. "I'd better go speak to Garrikson before he turns in for the night."

Ronin rose as well. "I think I'll go up to the fourth floor."

Dane and Dev heard his statement as they entered the room. "Do you have some concentrating to do, Ronin?"

"Yes, Dane. I do," Ronin said with a laugh.

Eagerly, Dev said, "Daria could help you. She's a female and she helps me."

"Dev!" Dane shouted, as he reached out and shoved him. "You're not supposed to tell."

Thorn knelt in front of Dev. "How does Daria help you concentrate, Dev?"

When Dev tried to turn to Dane for help, Thorn stopped him. "Answer me, Dev." When he hesitated, Thorn gave him an encouraging smile silently urging him to answer.

"When I couldn't do my math she explained it to me until I understood," Dev said.

"Is that all she did?"

Dev shook his head. "She tried to help Dane with his science but she couldn't because she's no good at it."

Thorn ruffled their hair. "Alright. Now, I think it's time for the two of you to go to bed. I'll check on you after Ronin and Dag leave."

They said goodnight to their mentors and left the room. Thorn turned back to his guests. "Apparently my father has told them what females do for a warrior." He laughed. "He gave Soren and me the same lecture about sex sharing."

Dag and Ronin were still laughing when he escorted them to the door and bid them goodnight. Thorn went into his sons' room and sat down on the end of Dev's bed. "Did you tell Daria about the females on the fourth floor?"

They nodded.

"Did you tell her that they help the warriors concentrate?"

"Yes. At first, she didn't believe us but then she said she understood," Dane said.

Thorn pulled the cover up to Dev's shoulder and pushed his hair out of his eyes. Before he moved away Dev threw his arms around his neck and hugged him. Thorn returned the hug then let Dev go, turned to Dane and hugged him and ruffled his hair. Immediately, Dane's hand flew up and smoothed it.

Smiling, Thorn looked around their room. Dane's side was neat. Everything was stowed away out of sight. Dev's side was cluttered. His clothes formed an untidy pile on the floor and one of his boots stuck out from beneath the bed. It looked just like his and Soren's room when they were younger. He bid them goodnight and cleaned up the wine glasses and read the day's reports. He made sure they were asleep before he left his quarters intending to go to Daria. As he approached her door, his communicator buzzed.

"Yes?" he asked, impatiently.

"Commander, you're needed in engineering. There's been an explosion in the number two engine."

"Any injuries?" he asked as he ran to the elevator.

"Yes. Several of the crew were badly burned. They've been taken to the Med-Center."

"Contact Dag Cameronson and tell him I want him to meet me there," Thorn ordered as the elevator doors opened.

"Commander, he was present when the explosion occurred. He's been taken to the Med-Center."

"Have Dr. Leifson keep me informed of his condition," Thorn said as he entered the chaos where workers in flame-retardant suits desperately fought to contain the fire. Spotting Garrikson on the other side of the room he wound his way to him through the rubble. "What happened?" he shouted, trying to be heard over the noise in the room.

Garrikson handed the extinguisher he was using to another worker and stepped closer to Thorn. "When we tried to shut the engine down one of the fuel canisters exploded and set the room on fire."

"How badly were Dag and the others injured?"

"Mostly minor burns but Dag was standing right in front of it. He caught the worst of it."

Thorn nodded. As they talked, the workers extinguished some of the flames only to have them blaze up again as soon as they turned to another area. The room reeked of burnt fuel.

"Commander, I'm concerned about the other fuel canisters. I've got to get my men in there and shield them before they catch fire and explode."

Thorn shrugged out of his vest and reached for a protective suit. "Give me an extinguisher."

It took most of the night to reach the fuel canisters. Several were damaged and leaking. Thorn helped Garrikson shield them while the workers fought to keep the flames away. Late the next morning, they finished the job just as the last of the fires was extinguished.

Filthy and exhausted, Thorn left engineering and walked to the Med-Center. Doctor Leifson greeted him when he entered then gave him a report on the workers. Most of them had been treated and released. Only Dag had been kept overnight. The doctor led him to the cubicle where Dag lay sleeping. The monitor above the bed kept track of his condition.

"The explosion caused minor damage to his spine and head. I've repaired the damage and he should be back on duty in a couple of cycles."

Thorn nodded. "Will there be any lasting effects?"

"No, none. He was fortunate."

"Keep me informed of his condition." Thorn left the med-center and went to his quarters where he showered and dressed in clean clothing. He gave the bed a regretful glance and went to the bridge where he knew he'd be needed.

# # #

Daria waited for Thorn to come to her. When morning arrived and he hadn't appeared she wrapped herself in a sheet and curled up on one of the couches. Mumbling to herself, she frowned at the empty room and wondered if this was a new form of torture. At least when he came every night she could prepare herself for his arrival. If he began seeing her only when he felt like it she knew his sudden and unexpected appearances would drive her crazy. On the other hand maybe he was tired of her and she wouldn't have to deal with him any longer.

As the hours passed and he didn't appear her anxiety grew. Finally, feeling ill with nerves, she forced herself to stick to her schedule and prepared a late lunch. Once she sat down though beads of sweat covered her forehead and her appetite disappeared.

Either she was getting ill or the heater was acting up again. She folded her arms on the table and lowered her aching head onto them. Absently, she ran the palm of her hand across the table enjoying its smooth coolness. When the surface began to feel warm to her touch she pushed herself to her feet and stumbled into the living area. Her stomach cramped with nausea and she moaned with misery.
Great, just what I need. Don't be sick, Daria, don't be sick.
Maybe if she said it enough times she'd feel better.

She wove a path to one of the couches and collapsed onto it then pushed the sheet away and shivered with relief as the air in the room rushed over her. Curling onto her side, she closed her eyes and hoped if she had the flu she'd given the bug to Thorn. It would serve him right.

Shivering with fever, she fell into a restless sleep.

# # #

Thorn rolled over and opened his eyes. For a moment, he listened to the shadowy darkness around him. Dane and Dev were being unusually quiet but he heard their hushed voices and the sound of an info-disc on the viewing screen. He shoved the sheet away, stood and stretched upward, his fingers brushing the ceiling.

He and Garrikson had spent hours crouched over the engines and fuel canisters placing shields around them. His muscles felt tight and cramped and even his bones ached. What he needed was a long, deep, pounding massage. He'd contact the bridge and make sure things were under control then he'd go to Daria and make her give him one. After he took care of the fever he felt blazing in his veins.

As he walked into his bathing chamber, he activated his communicator and summoned Ronin.

"Yes, Commander."

"Has Garrikson cleared up the mess in engineering?" He adjusted the spray in the shower and stepped into it.

"Yes. None of the other engines were damaged in the explosion."

"Has Doctor Liefson given you a report concerning Dag?" Thorn filled his palm with cleansing oil and smoothed it over his chest and arms.

"He woke up and demanded to be released."

Chuckling, Thorn ran his hands over his legs. "That sounds like Dag."

"Yes, it does. How are you feeling?"

Idly surprised by the question, and wondering why Ronin had asked it, Thorn rinsed the oil away and told him he was fine.

"Good. You shocked the hell out of us when you collapsed on the bridge yesterday. Liefson said that you'd inhaled too many fumes from the fire. He gave you something to clear your lungs."

Alarms went off in Thorn's mind. He left a wet trail behind him as he strode into his bed chamber and looked at the timekeeper. It was two units after the sun's zenith and Daria had been alone for over two cycles.