Vareen & Mica (The Alliance Book 2) (8 page)

When the pod stopped at a home nestled into the trees Vareen had to
admire the simplicity of their surroundings. The ride here from the
transportation center in Jataci city had only taken twenty minutes. She had
watched as the city skyline gave way to spotted housing, then to open fields.

Arriving at Mica’s home she noted the sweeping driveway, arched steps and
naturalized appearing landscape all around the main structure. Each side of the
steps had a pathway running in either direction and Vareen had to assume one of
those would lead to the guest house Mica had mentioned.

Stepping onto the driveway Vareen inhaled deeply the rich smell of wet
dirt, flowers, grass, and trees. The scents all swirled around to make a heady
natural perfume.

“It’s very nice here.” She looked at Mica expectantly. “Could you show me
where I’m staying? It seems I’ve run out of steam and could use some rest.”

Mica had started toward the main house when she asked to see her
quarters. At her
words,
he solicitously
offered his hand, “Of course. This way.” Instead of the main stairs, he led her
to the left and around the main structure. “The guest house is in the back.”

Vareen saw that behind the main house was a garden of some type, along
with a small manicured lawn and strategically placed flowers, plants, and
pathways. Ahead, about two hundred
feet
was a smaller structure tucked into some large fronded trees. When they took
the path in that direction Vareen assumed it was where she’d be staying. As
they got closer, she smiled at the lovely little house. On the outside at
least, it was a small replica of the one Mica lived in.

“I want you to make yourself at home.”

They took a few steps to reach the door and he opened it by pressing a
button on a console. Before entering Mica stopped to explain, “This is the
entry console. There is another one on the other side of the door.” He pulled
her inside the entryway to show her its duplicate. “I have already programmed
my computer system to recognize your voice. You can speak to this console to
lock the door at night if it helps to make you feel more secure. I don’t have
any neighbors close by, and Luna keeps anyone from wandering on my property.”

“I’m sorry, who’s Luna?” Vareen looked around the entry absently. The
home Mica was letting her stay in was very cozy. From where she stood, ahead of
her was a large open space filled with two chairs, a couch, two end tables, a dining
table with four chairs around it, and a fireplace with mantel. She smiled at
the thought of lighting a fire. The temperature was not cold enough to require
heating, so this had to be a vanity item. To the right of this room, she caught
a glimpse of a long counter,
possibly
a
kitchen.

“Luna is my pet feline,” Mica’s voice broke her concentration and she
turned back to him.

Vareen’s brow furrowed. She didn’t know anyone who had domesticated
animals as pets. For some
reason,
she
found the whole idea very illogical. Interesting, yes, but not very rational.

“While I was away she went into heat and got loose. She’s expecting a
litter
and has started nesting. She chose a
room in the main house, so you probably won’t see her. I will make sure to
introduce you to her so she doesn’t see you as a threat.”

“I understand,” Vareen turned. “Thank you again for letting me stay here.
I think I can figure everything out.” There was an enthralling scent coming off
Mica and her body seemed drawn to him. She wasn’t sure what to make of her
attraction, Mica was a
friend,
not her
lover. Before she could analyze her emotions too closely and cause herself
another blackout episode she stepped back.

Mica looked crestfallen. “If you need anything there is a communication
panel in the kitchen that can connect to anyone. I’ll be at the main house if
you need me. It’s early and if you wake in time, how about sharing dinner with
me?”

He seemed so eager that Vareen didn’t have the heart to say no outright.
“If I’m awake, I’d be willing to join you for dinner. Would you like me to try
for a specific time?”

“No. Whenever you get hungry.”

“Okay.” Vareen didn’t know what else to say. It was as if he was waiting
for something and she didn’t know what.

“Okay,” He hesitated at the door. “Have a nice rest and if I don’t see
you tonight, I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Vareen stepped back further and Mica stepped back toward the door.

“See you later, then.”

“Later,” she agreed.

Mica had gotten close enough to open the door and he reluctantly stepped
outside. “Later.”

The door closed but his scent lingered. Vareen shook her head. That was
an awkward encounter. There were undercurrents between her and Mica and she was
afraid to wonder at them.

Turning to explore the rest of the house, she found the kitchen to the
right as she’d expected. There was only one bedroom and it had an attached
bathroom with a large tub and shower unit. The controls in the tub and shower
were similar to what she’d seen in the hospital so she figured Mica’s home had
real water too, not solar showers like she was accustomed to.

Taking a blanket from the bottom of the large bed, Vareen curled into a
ball and fell asleep.

*****

Vareen was back on
The Reliant
.
In the security room with Mica.

“
I-I’m not sure that counts.”
Vareen tried to gather a thought in her head. “Mica—”

“I like the way you say my name.”
His lips moved back up to whisper in her ear. The heat sent gooseflesh rising
all over her body.

The dream shifted and she was in a room now.
The attraction between her and Mica pulsed like a living thing between
them. Even after all the lovemaking of the past hours she still wanted him
close.

“My parent’s died when I was young,
and I became a ward of the state.” Mica’s head was in her lap and she swirled
her finger along his neck. At his quizzical
look,
she explained, “It means that the government had the care of me. They supplied
me with a home among other children with no parents. Food, clothes, and an
education.”

“You had no other family to turn
to?”

The dream shifted again, she was in a cold room with strangers and there
was so much pain.

“Mica.” I have to remember Mica.
He’s coming for me. We met on The Reliant. I found his escape pod. He wants me
to be his chosen mate. The doctor pushed the button again, “Mica.” Vareen
screamed.

“Mica!” Vareen sat up, still half-asleep. Where was she? Her head was
pounding and she could feel tears tracking down her cheeks.

“It’s okay Var.” Mica’s gruff voice soothed her from the shadows. She
could feel him now. Against her side holding her.

She curled into him, pressing her face against his naked chest. Her
pounding headache got worse with the attempt to think, so she forced herself to
relax instead. “I had such a bad dream.” To her
surprise,
her voice felt raw.

“I know,” Mica’s voice came out hoarse as well. “I’m here Var. I won’t
let anything happen to you. I swear it.”

Vareen put her mouth against his skin and let her fingers trail along his
sides. “I know you won’t.” Her body was responding to his nearness as it always
did. The need to be connected to him, always present, pulled more strongly at
her. “Mica. How long has it been since you’ve held me?”

She needed to feel his arms around her. His body pressing into hers. When
Mica stiffened against her, she smiled mischievously.

Scooting up his body, she placed her knees on either side of his hips. Leaning
forward she was able to put her mouth against his. She missed her mark in the
darkness and hit his neck instead. She didn’t mind, it was a good place to
start. Caressing her way along his jaw she made a beeline for the sensitive
area behind his ear. Using her teeth to graze his earlobe, she got the response
from his body that she’d been waiting for. The hard press of his arousal was
obvious now. Nibbling her way to his lips she pressed her mouth to his.

Mica remained still and Vareen broke the kiss. Something was wrong. If he
wasn’t initiating the intimacy, he would participate if she did. He wouldn’t
ever just sit quietly while she kissed him. He definitely wouldn’t sit idle
while her hands explored him.

“What’s wrong?” the pain in her head notched up at her anxiety.

“Var.” His hands went to her head and fingered the short strands. “We
can’t.”

Vareen put her fingers to hold his hand. With an agonizing
flash,
it came back to her. “The Realignment
Center. So much pain. I called for you.” At the hint of remembering, her body
convulsed and she collapsed.

“Vareen!” Mica hesitated for a fraction of a second and then holding
Vareen steady he wrestled the medical dispenser out of his pocket. As Vareen
shook against him, he depressed the painkiller against her neck. The doctor
said it would knock her out and it did. The convulsing stopped and Vareen went
slack against him.

Hearing her tortured cries tonight, was like watching the video from her
captivity all over again. Drake had downloaded all of the audio and video files
from the Realignment Center on Cestori. Mica had found the ones containing
Vareen’s torture, and that is what it was, no matter the name Aicen Edal or the
doctors put on it.

Vareen had been brutally mistreated. If he could kill them all again he
would. The only ones who escaped the destruction of the Realignment Center were
Aicen Edal, the other two council members, and a handful of others who’d been
smart enough to flee when Cali had ordered it. His resolve to never go back to
Cestori or let Vareen go back was stronger today than when he’d made the vow.

“Mica.”
The way Vareen screamed
for him would haunt him until the day he died. He hadn’t protected his mate
when she needed him. It was a devastating fact he faced every day.

Holding her closer he vowed it would never happen again. Nothing would
keep him from being there for her. He would protect her this time.

Mica gently caressed her face. He was torn on whether or not to tell the
doctor about Vareen’s reaction tonight. If he didn’t say anything, and it was
dangerous for Vareen he’d never forgive himself. If he told the doctor, and Vareen
got taken from him, he’d never survive the separation.

In the end, Vareen’s safety came first. He would tell the doctor.

Moving ever so carefully out from under Vareen’s prone form he made his
way to the kitchen. “Computer, connect me to Dr. Jaden Takari.” After waiting
for a few moments, the doctor’s face came on the console.

“Mica. What’s wrong?”

“Vareen had a nightmare. She was remembering the Realignment Center. I
had to dose her with the medicine you gave me.”

“Hmm.” The doctor rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Did she remember the
Realignment Center or the emotions she felt at the time?”

“Is there a difference?” Mica wasn’t sure where the doctor was going with
this.

“Yes. We’ve talked about this. The procedure attempted to block all
emotions, not memories. Vareen has the ability, and
does
, remember almost everything about her life. The only gap is
between finding your pods and waking up here on Titus. It’s those memories and
the
emotions
they evoke that we
haven’t been able to reach. If she can start to remember that gap of time, then
it’s a breakthrough. I just need to know if she is reacting to the events or
the emotions.”

“I don’t know how much she remembered.” Mica admitted, “She was acting
playfully and tried to initiate intimacy. The next thing I knew she said
something about the pain she’d endured and calling for me.”

“Intimacy?” the doctor raised an eyebrow, “Can you be more specific?”

Mica didn’t want to leave anything out, but talking about Vareen’s sexual
advances didn’t seem right either. Reluctantly he said, “She kissed me,
passionately. Straddled my hips—”

“I think I get the picture. Let me think.” The doctor muttered to
himself. “She was dreaming, woke up…??” His face alight the doctor asked, “Did
she wake up?”

“She was talking and moving around.” Mica thought back on their
interaction. “I’m not sure if she was completely awake.”

“That might be it!” The doctor snapped his fingers. “In her subconscious
somewhere is the last pieces of those lost moments. Vareen might have managed
to save a small piece of her emotions inside her psyche. And it’s only allowed
to come to the forefront when she’s asleep, or semi-awake.”

“Why didn’t anything like this
happen
at the hospital? She never had another reaction after that one time after speaking
with Cali, while talking about chosen mates.” Mica rubbed his fingers over his
scalp in frustration.

“Because she didn’t feel strongly about any of us.” The doctor seemed
thoughtful. “The last pieces of the puzzle to fall into place for Vareen are
going to involve you. If I’m correct they are also going to be the most
damaging. Love and hate are different sides of the same coin.”

 
“So her feelings for me are
pushing through, if only in her subconscious. How do I work with that?” Mica
wanted to know. “You warned me not to push her.”

“You have to let things happen at their own pace. Even if she only
remembers during sleep, it is likely that those feelings will slowly trickle
into her waking moments. Under no circumstances should you engage in sexual
intercourse until I clear it, even if she instigates it. She would see this as
a form of attack or rape since it is her unconscious mind seeking the
closeness, not her waking one.”

“You don’t know what you’re
asking,
”
Mica growled angrily. “Could you deny the touch of your chosen mate?”

“You have to.” The doctor snapped back, “The only other way is to
separate you from her until she’s regained her memories, which might not happen
being separated from the person that causes them.” The doctor waved his hands
in agitation. “If you can’t manage what I’m asking—”

“I can handle it,” Mica’s stated vehemently. The idea of letting Vareen
go back to the hospital went against all of his instincts.

“Okay then. Keep me informed of her progress.”

The doctor closed the communication link and Mica rubbed his eyes
tiredly. He would get a few hours of sleep on Vareen’s couch and then leave
before she woke up. He didn’t want her to catch him sleeping in her home
without her permission.

Reclining on the couch he closed his eyes.