Erun (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 4) (5 page)

“Step aside, Erun, or so help me I’ll kill you myself.” And Vanessa had no doubt Rina meant it. The principessa might not be able to commit the crime but Nessa had the feeling Tave would give Rina whatever the hell she wanted. Including one dead Ujal.

Rina’s grip was painful, but Vanessa hardly felt a thing. Her focus drifted to Tabitha, to her pale child with delicate gold scales fluttering over her skin. She sensed the weight of Erun’s glare, but all she cared about was his retreating hands and his large body moving aside. He stepped back and she slid into his space. She reached for her daughter, ignoring the activity around her and simply focusing on her little girl.

The mouth that usually held a bright smile was turned down in a frown, small whimpers still escaping her as she thrashed. Vanessa stroked her daughter, soothing her with a gentle touch, and Tabitha immediately calmed. Tabby sighed and slumped against the bed. Her tiny hand clung to Vanessa’s fingers and her eyelids parted to reveal her gorgeous blue eyes.

But they weren’t blue. No, they were a deep, burnished gold, a hue nowhere near natural for a human. But an Ujal…

She swallowed hard, shoving her rioting emotions down as she focused on Tabby. “Hey, Tabby Blabby.”

“Momma…”

“Right here, baby,” she whispered back and brushed her golden curls from her forehead. “Right here.”

“Hurts, Momma.”

“I know, but Doctor Faim is gonna make it all better.” She kept her tone soft and soothing and kept any hint of her anger toward the doctor absent. It wouldn’t help Tabitha. She could rage at the male later, behind closed doors and without any weapons at hand. Because if she got her hand on something… She’d pummel the guy for keeping her away from her injured daughter. She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Tabby’s forehead, breathing in her scent as she offered comfort.

“It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart. Momma has you now. Momma will take care of you.” With that soft whisper, her daughter’s tension eased further.

Erun stiffened at her side, his massive form growing taut with her words. She realized he must have gotten other clothes from somewhere. He’d literally run through her home and straight out the front door wearing nothing. He raced naked down the street and into the station, bellowing the whole way.

A youngling was injured. She needed care.

Keep the female from the youngling until she can be judged.

Judged. As if she’d ever do anything to Tabby.

She knew the medical staff hovered near, their handheld devices waving over her daughter. Faim pressed a hypo to her skin, drawing blood, while the female came even with her on the other side of the bed. “Mrs. Walker…”

“It’s Miss.” Calling her Mrs. reminded her of what she’d lost… of what she may still lose.

“Miss Walker. Can you give me some of your daughter’s medical history?”

“Tabitha is not her daughter,” Erun sneered and Rina’s response was immediate.

“Silence.” Her voice whipped through the room.

At least she wasn’t alone in her anger toward the Ujal male any longer. But Vanessa couldn’t withhold her response to him. She kept her hands on Tabitha but angled enough so she could meet his furious stare.

“I get that you don’t like me. I get that you have a fuck of a lot of opinions about me and my life. But this child is mine. She was placed in my arms the day after she was born. I raised her. Through sickness and smiles, I was there. I
am
her mother even if you hate it.” She ignored him then and focused on the female.

She learned her name was Sece and while Faim was her father and standoffish, his daughter was curious and polite. Vanessa knew they would want to know more than her medical history once Tabby was stabilized, but for now she rattled off the dates of her vaccinations (two weeks before they moved), any surgeries (none), and any illnesses (Tabby had never had a cold).

The longer Sece questioned her, the more Tabitha settled until the pale gold scales were a thing of the past and even her golden eyes settled back to a shade of blue. She looked like her little Tabby once more.

But she wasn’t. Because every indication pointed at Tabby being Ujal. The question became, how the hell did an Ujal child end up adopted by two humans in the middle of the Arizona desert?

Staring at the medical staff, at Rina and Tave, and finally Erun… she realized answers would come soon. Very soon. They wouldn’t leave a single stone unturned in an effort to discover what happened.

She wasn’t sure how they’d be discovered because all but Rina and possibly Tave, wanted her blood.

Tabitha finally drifted to sleep, her bow-shaped lips slightly parted and she occasionally made a suckling motion with her adorable mouth. There was no evidence of her recent pain, no hint that not long ago she’d been run into medical clinging to life by a scale.

Vanessa finally withdrew one of her hands and leaned her hip against the bed, turning so she could face Rina. She ignored everyone else in favor of her
very best friend in the whole universe
. “I didn’t know she was Ujal.”

“I know.”

They both ignored Erun’s snort.

“And I don’t know how I ended up with her. But she’s mine.” Vanessa ran her thumb over her daughter’s petal-soft hand. “And I won’t let
anyone
take her from me.”

Rina came forward, arms outstretched. Her friend pulled her into a firm hug, hard but not jarring her hold on Tabby. “We won’t try,” she whispered in Vanessa’s ear. “I promise.”

“Principessa…” Faim’s voice held a warning and like a switch had been turned, Rina spun to face the male.

“No. This is non-negotiable.” Vanessa knew that tone. If they kept pushing, they’d be dealing with one
very
pissed off woman. And there was nothing scarier than an angry Rina who now had the power to back up whatever threats she threw around the room.

“As you wish,” Faim growled. He just made the top of Vanessa’s asshole list. Okay, maybe he was right behind Erun on that one. She was tempted to toss Sece on there as well, but the female had given her nothing but kindness even as she kept Vanessa at bay. She’d recognized the turmoil in the woman’s gaze.

Had Sece been able to help, she would have, and Vanessa appreciated that.

“Okay,” she nodded and kept her attention on Rina. She felt their animosity so she clung to the one person in the room who still loved her. “Tell me what you want to know.”

It wasn’t Rina who answered. No, the voice was deeper, darker, and held a menace that sent a twist of fear down her spine. “Everything.”

Erun wanted answers.

And there were none she could give him.

Erun could not tear his gaze from the two females cuddled on the soft bed. The youngest was subdued, speaking softly where only hours ago she shouted for
Daman.
Even now, as her mother whispered comforting words into her ear, the youngling sought him out. He was not sure why the human child called for him, but each time he attempted to depart, she lured him back with a low sniffle and cry.

So he remained, leaning against the wall. Within the youngling’s sight but as far as he could get from Vanessa.

And he was not sure why. Not when something inside urged him to go to her. His body and soul could not come to an agreement about her.

No matter how he felt, he would not touch her even as his fingers itched to stroke her soft skin. Females objected to his touch. As if his deficiency would somehow be transferred to them.

Yet, had her story not explained she had a similar deficiency? The inability to create life. Perhaps she would…

Do nothing because he did not want her—or Tabitha—in his life.

Perhaps he would believe the lie in the coming days. Perhaps he would forget her tears. Perhaps he would forget the data discovered in the databases that supported her words.

He, once again, no longer believed she was an inadequate
dam
. More quiet conversations with Rina and Tave as well as Rhal and Cara revealed that events were nothing more than the result of being a parent. A
dam
or
sire
could not prevent everything. And, in truth, there would be less chances for
accidents
if Tabby had a
sire
.

An adopted
sire
as she had once before.

She could have one once again…

A low whimper drew his gaze and eyes that now wavered between blue and gold met his. A little arm reached for him, fingers clenching and unclenching in an obvious plea. “Daman.”

He turned his attention to Vanessa and raised his eyebrows in question. At her nod, he approached, not missing the small smile that teased the youngling’s lips or the way she relaxed at his touch. He also did not miss Vanessa’s retreat. Until Tabby’s little fingers tightened around her
dam’s.

“Momma. Daman.”

Vanessa, so caring, stroked her daughter’s head. “Right here, baby. Right here.”

The youngling wiggled in place, nuzzling her
dam’s
face and squeezing his fingers before slumping into the heavy sleep of babes. It was a ritual he had often seen with Rina and small Theresa.

The trust of a youngling was staggering to him. Their feelings so open, so willing to place their lives in their
dam
and
sire’s
hands.

Had he ever trusted in such a way? Perhaps. Until the day his
dam
sold him—

He would not think of that time. Not while Tabitha and Vanessa were so close. The memories always brought his scales rushing to the surface and he did not wish for them to witness his weakness. Perhaps then Vanessa would not choose him to… He swallowed hard. His thoughts were better left abandoned. Who said she would ever choose to tie herself to another? Why were his thoughts suddenly drifting toward mating?

Because her deficiency matches my own.

“What changed your mind?” she whispered.

He shook his head, clearing away his first days as a slave and his time in the sphere. “What?”

“What changed your mind about me?” Her fingers were never restful. She continued to stroke and caress her child as if she were the most precious of objects.

Rhal assured him that those were actions of good parents. That he should not allow his past to cloud his thoughts.

“You did not kidnap her.”

“No.”

“And you did not intentionally harm her.”

“Never,” her voice was harsh while her touch remained gentle.

“And you love her.”

“More than life itself.”

“I…” Honesty. Rhal urged him to be honest with Vanessa if he wished to remain in Tabitha’s life.

Now that she’d christened him with a name and smiled at him with such joy, he did not think he could stay away should he try. Rhal also informed him that according to Rina, Vanessa was considering
getting back on the horse
. It was related to
dating
and
mating
. His body told him if she chose a mate, it would not be another. He would show her that despite his behavior, he was a worthy male.

“In my past, as a child, I was…”

The hiss of the room’s doors sliding apart silenced his words. Deep in his soul, he was relieved. Perhaps he would not have to share that part of himself. He could simply convince her to consider him for mating through other means. He’d seen the way Rhal and Tave—and even Vados when he allowed Maris to come to UST—treated their females. He could do the same.

They both focused on the newcomer. Or rather newcomers. Faim had returned with Sece ever present at his side. Niax lingered behind the
sire
and female as well. It seemed that wherever Sece traveled, so did Niax when he was not on duty as one of Tave’s high guards.

“I have news of small Tabitha’s condition.” Faim’s flat tone gave away nothing and his expression was anything but joyful.

A small whimper slashed through the air, but it was not from Tabby. No, it was from her
dam
.

One look at Vanessa’s frightened features had him reaching for her, grasping her hand and clutching it tightly for support. This was something else he’d seen between mated couples. Touch brought comfort and Nessa needed comfort. She did not pull away from him. In fact, she squeezed him back and turned her attention to him. Tears glistened in her eyes, the fear filling her expression.

“It will be well, Vanessa.” For he would do everything in his power to ensure it. It was no longer a matter of caring for the youngling, but also for the female who had endured much to provide a happy life for Tabitha. “It will be well.”

Vanessa nodded and swallowed hard, her gaze sliding over the room. “Where’s Rina?”

He did not want her to depend on the principessa, but he also knew they’d supported one another for years.

It was Niax—appearing very uncomfortable and worried—who replied, “She and Tave are dealing with a few issues.”

Issues? He felt his anger burning through him. His… Vanessa needed the female.

“Issues?” he growled.

“They are unavoidable, Erun. It cannot be helped. The good of the many require her attention at this time. If you were at the principessa’s side—doing your duty—you would know she needs—”

“My duty?” He glared at Niax. He would meet the male in the sphere and then they could discuss duty. “You dare…”

Vanessa released his hand and tugged against his hold. “Erun, if you have to go and—”

“Vanessa,” he snapped and she froze. Their gazes locked and he allowed some of his possessive feelings to fill his face. “My duty is here. With you and Tabitha.” She still appeared doubtful and he gently squeezed her fingers. “Here.”

She licked her lips and slowly nodded. He noted her confusion and he could not blame her. In a span of hours he’d gone from hateful to caring.

A few well-placed words from Erun’s friend had altered his feelings.
“If you do not get your head out of the hole in your ass, another male will. You cannot father young and that youngling needs a sire. Even more so since the youngling will need the guiding hand of another Ujal. She is a good dam, better than even many Ujal, and the principessa holds the female in high esteem. She is not
your
dam, Erun.”