Gracie's Touch Zion Warriors 1 (27 page)

Gracie stood up abruptly. “I…I need to be alone for a little while.” Gracie said softly before turning away.

Mohan stood up in distress. She wanted to follow Gracie but was unsure of what to do. She no longer thought of Kordon in any way. Her love and desire was only for Quan. She should have realized Gracie would have been upset. She remembered reading about how the ancient Earthlings felt about their mates. Some Earthlings still followed the old customs. Mohan let out a small cry of distress knowing she had hurt her friend deeply.

Gracie sat looking out the viewport in one of the rooms designated for relaxation. There were consoles for viewing or contacting family, portable tablets for reading or watching holovids, or chairs designed for just relaxing. Gracie sat doing none of that. She had no family, she didn’t feel like reading or watching a movie, and she was too busy crying to relax. She and Murphy were having a pity party and she just wanted to be left alone. It wasn’t as good as the one she had on the moon but it was coming in a close second.

Picking up another tissue she replicated, she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Why did it seem just when everything was going good, Murphy came along to throw a car at it.
Of course,
Gracie thought as new tears flowed down her cheeks.
With her luck, Murphy was probably laughing his ass off at her for being so stupid.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes wanting to just forget about everything. The combination of crying, being pregnant, and the quietness of the room soon lured her into a restless sleep.

That was where Kordon found her two hours later. He grimaced at the signs of tears still wetting Gracie’s cheeks in her sleep. There were dark shadows under her eyes again and her face was slightly red and puffy from all the crying she had done. When Mohan sought him out to tell him about what happened, it took a moment for him to understand. Mohan haltingly explained the ancient beliefs of the Earthlings. Once she was finished she was wringing her hands together and crying. She was afraid Gracie would never forgive her. She read accounts of that happening frequently in some of the old literature from Earth. She called them romance stories. She said if the woman felt betrayed she would not have anything to do with the male or the female, even if the female was related, ever again. Kordon assured Mohan that Gracie would forgive them both. It happened before they even knew she was alive. Mohan was so beside herself Kordon finally called for Quan to take her back to their living quarters and comfort her.

Now, as he gazed down on Gracie as she cried in her sleep he wondered. Every few breaths, a little sob would escape. It tore him up to see her like this. He had sworn to protect her. So far, he felt like he was doing a poor job of it. Bending down, he gently lifted her into his arms. He bit back a curse when she stiffened for a moment before relaxing and turning her face into his chest. He tightened his arms around her and carried her back to their living quarters. She had fallen into a deeper sleep as he carried her. He laid her gently down on their bed and silently removed her shoes and clothing before removing his own. Kordon crawled into the bed and pulled Gracie up against his warm body, holding her tightly. Gracie moaned and stirred restlessly like she wanted to pull away but Kordon held her tight, rubbing his hand up and down her back until she gave a soft hiccup and settled back down.

Gracie woke the next morning feeling like her head was filled with cotton. She laid on her side trying to remember how she made it back to her and Kordon's living quarters. For the life of her, she couldn't remember anything after she closed her eyes. She frowned as she remembered sitting in a chair in one of the off-duty rooms. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered why she had gone there in the first place. Gracie sniffed as her nose itched from trying not to cry again.

"Shush, my little warrior." Kordon said wrapping an arm around Gracie and trying to pull her back against him.

Gracie stiffened and tried to move away from him but Kordon just tightened his arm. "Let me go." She sniffed.

"Never, my Gracie." Kordon said as he pressed a kiss into her shoulder. "I never meant to hurt you. Please do not cry." Kordon whispered.

"I hate you!" Gracie sniffed out again.

"I know. I am just a terrible mate." Kordon replied pressing another kiss into her neck.

"I really, really do." Gracie whispered.

"I know." Kordon whispered back as he pulled her over onto her back. He kissed a stray tear from her cheek. "But, I love you very, very much, my Gracie."

Gracie looked up into Kordon's eyes with such a look of betrayal, Kordon began to hate himself. "If I had known, I never would have..." Gracie began before she was cut off by Kordon's lips on hers.

Gracie resisted at first but Kordon persisted. He was determined to show her that she was his world. She was the only thing that matter
. Gracie tried to turn her head to one side but Kordon slid his hands up to hold her head still while moving his body over hers to cage her under him.

“Gracie, please.” Kordon groaned. “You are the only one for me. Surely, you know that. You claimed me.” Kordon said with a slight grin. “I have never been claimed before.”

“Never?” Gracie asked sniffing loudly.

Kordon shook his head solemnly. “Never. And, I have never claimed another.”

“Never, never?” Gracie asked searching Kordon’s dark, blue eyes.

“Never, never.” Kordon replied groaning as he felt Gracie moving restlessly under him.

“Kordon?” Gracie asked softly.

“Yes.” Kordon groaned again as he ran his lips along her neck.

“I need to go potty.” Gracie giggled. “It seems the bigger the baby gets the more I have to go.”

Kordon bit back a chuckle of resignation. Shaking his head, he moaned as he pulled away from her and sat up. “You are going to kill me, Gracie.”

Gracie sat up and brushed a kiss across Kordon’s lips, before replying. “If you ever look at another woman, including Mohan, I probably will.”

Kordon fell back against the bed laughing as Gracie scrambled out and headed towards the bathroom. He leaned back enjoying the view of her ass before giving up with a loud growl and following her. They could make love in the bathing stall.

Several hours later, Gracie was hugging a tearful Mohan and promising they were still best friends. It took a while but both men finally just pulled the women apart and loaded them into their respective transports. Saffron grinned when he saw Kordon carrying a protesting Gracie on board.

“Being difficult?” Saffron asked as Kordon strapped Gracie into the seat behind his.

“You have no idea.” Kordon said ducking his head as Gracie swung at it.

Saffron just laughed as he received permission for take-off. “Better you than me, brother.

Gracie leaned forward just enough to thump Saffron on the back of his head. “I heard that, you rat.

Kordon laughed as Saffron begged forgiveness. Soon, he would have Gracie in his home. He already made plans to have his parents, namely his mother, come and spend time with them. He wanted Gracie to feel at home on his world. He also worried about her. Toolas told him it was important for Gracie to get plenty of rest during her pregnancy. She was worried about Gracie being so tired. She also reminded Kordon that Gracie was much smaller than him and the baby appeared to be growing rapidly. She recommended Gracie seeing a healer as soon as possible. Kordon already spoke to his mother about finding one close to their home.

The journey to Zion would take two days. There was only a small bunk that folded down on the transport for sleeping and they would take turns. Gracie was used to sleeping in small spaces. She couldn’t help but laugh when Kordon growled in frustration at realizing there was absolutely no way they could sleep together unless she was on top of him. He finally gave in when he saw Gracie’s head drooping about ten hours into the flight.

Two days later, Gracie got her first look at Zion. She could feel Kordon’s pride in his home world when he talked of it but she never expected to see anything so beautiful. Huge mountains graced the horizon and large colorful birds fly over head. Gracie turned in a circle as she walked down the platform watching as a large flock flew overhead. She brought one hand up to shade her eyes as she looked over the green trees where they landed.

In the distance, she could see a magnificent series of waterfalls flowing off the cliffs into the ocean. The landing area was situated on a lower-level cliff. It was the size of probably a dozen or so football fields back home. Kordon and Saffron both grinned at Gracie’s wide-eyed expression of awe.

“Come, we have transportation waiting for us.” Kordon said softly cupping Gracie’s elbow in his hand.

“What about our stuff?” Gracie asked anxiously. She forgot all about it.

“It will be taken care of.” Kordon assured her. “I wish to show you our home.”

Gracie looked up as several transports flew over. It was all so different from Earth. Or, at least the Earth she remembered. She wondered if Earth was like this now. Gracie eyes widened as she realized there were homes built into the side of the cliffs. Beautiful arched doorways with large terraces lined the cliffs.

“Where do you live?” Gracie asked suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed.

“We live outside of the city but not too far to commute. Our home is located along the cliffs. We will take a transport known as a glider to it. They are designed for traveling back and forth and landing in small spaces.” Kordon said.

“I hate to leave but I promised father I would take a look at some of his
Kippins
tonight. A few of them have been sick and he wants to make sure they are on the mend.” Saffron said. “Gracie, welcome to Zion. May you find happiness on our world.” Saffron said formerly before bowing and pressing a kiss to her hand.

“Thank you, Saffron.” Gracie said giving him a hug and a kiss. “For everything.”

“I will inform our parents you are home. Perhaps you can bring Gracie over for dinner after she has settled in.” Saffron said. “Until later, brother.”

“Until later.” Kordon said with a smile. “Come, Gracie. Our transportation is over here.”

Kordon led Gracie across the tarmac and through a series of paths before coming out in front of a long, silver transport. An older man hurried around and opened the door for them. Once they were seated comfortably inside, he moved around to the other side and slid in behind what looked like a console. Within minutes, they were lifting off vertically then moving forward.

“How goes it, Josef?” Kordon asked.

He reached over to hold Gracie’s hand as she looked out the windows. While the outside of the glider looked like it was solid silver, the top portion was actually clear when you were inside looking out. It was almost like a two-way mirror Gracie saw once when she was exploring one of the abandoned buildings in New York.

“Everything is well, My Lord. Your living quarters have been prepared as you requested. Your personal effects should be there shortly. The staff has been informed of your new status and that you have brought home a mate. I wish you and your mate great happiness, My Lord.”

“My Lord?” Gracie asked turning to look briefly at Kordon before letting her gaze move back to the landscape far below them.

“I am Lord Kordon Jeke. I am a member of the High Council. As such, I review the laws, make determinations on what is best for Zion, and if necessary, act upon those decisions to enforce them.” Kordon said. “You will be called Lady Gracie Jones-Jeke.”

“Will…will we be getting married or anything?” Gracie asked hesitantly as she didn’t understand the laws of Zion for such things.

“I have already petition to claim you to our clan council. They unanimously approved. Now that we have returned, there will be a ceremony acknowledging my claim on you.” Kordon explained before hastily adding. “…And your claim on me, of course.”