Gracie's Touch Zion Warriors 1 (29 page)

“Anytime you want.” Gracie whispered back.

Gracie lay curled in Kordon’s arms that night watching as the second moon rose over the ocean. They had made slow, tender love before Kordon took her fast and furious. Gracie fell into a light sleep for about an hour before she woke again. She lay there enjoying the light breeze that blew in through the open doorway leading out onto a small balcony. It was her second night on Zion and she felt like she had never lived anywhere else. A small sigh escaped her as she let go of the fear and loneliness that seemed to have been a part of her life for so long. Kordon’s arm tightened around her.

“What is it?” He asked sleepily.

“Nothing.” Gracie whispered into the darkness of the night.

Kordon leaned up on one elbow. “Tell me about the nothing then.”

Gracie rolled over onto her back. She couldn’t believe how beautiful he was. She reached up and lightly traced her fingers over the pattern of symbols across his brow before letting them run down along his cheek to his neck. Kordon grabbed her fingers as they moved further down along his shoulder.

He pressed his lips to her fingers. “Tell me.” He murmured.

“I was thinking about how happy I am here. It is like my life before was just a dream and this is my home.” Gracie whispered. “Does that sound weird?”

Kordon laid back down and pulled Gracie tightly against his warm body. “No. This is your home. I will do everything I can to make you happy here, Gracie. You are my life.”

Gracie snuggled down. “You’re mine, too. I love you so much.” Gracie said suddenly sleepy.

“Sleep now, my little warrior. I will be going with you to the healer tomorrow.” Kordon said softly.

Kordon ran his hand up and down Gracie’s back until she relaxed and fell into a deep sleep. He lay awake for a few extra minutes making sure she was indeed asleep. Only when he was satisfied she was did he relax.

“I love you, too little warrior. I love you, too.” Kordon murmured as sleep overtook him.

The next day, Kordon and Cora accompanied Gracie to the healer who was very thorough in her exam. She gave a list of things she wanted to Gracie to do. Kordon snatched the list out of Gracie's hand immediately and scanned it. He asked the healer all kinds of questions Gracie never even thought of. The healer was a little concerned that Gracie's blood pressure was elevated and stressed to Kordon that Gracie was to rest frequently. She also gave a list of recommended foods, exercise, and a vitamin supplement. They made another appointment for two weeks.

Cora insisted on taking Gracie out to lunch and on a short tour of the markets afterwards. Kordon growled out in frustration when he received a message from the council and had to leave. He extracted a promise from his mother she would make sure Gracie did not get over tired. With a laugh, the two women sent Kordon on his way.

The next several days seemed to fly by. Gracie spent
most
mornings helping Helin in the kitchen and the afternoons in the upper level garden. She found she loved working in the garden. It might be because she never had much of a chance to spend outside or play in the dirt. She was almost four months pregnant now according to the healer. Gracie calculated back and determined she must have gotten pregnant the first time her and Kordon made love. A smile curved her lips at just the thought of Kordon. He was attentive to her every need and so tender with her. Helin teased her about the changes in Kordon since Gracie entered his life.

"He hardly ever smiled before and was so cold and distance. Now, I see a smile almost always on his lips except when he has to leave you." Helin said.

Gracie found out Helin was Kordon's nursemaid when he was younger. Her mate, Josef, served with Kordon's father and fought with him in the early wars before Zion joined with the Confederation. When Kordon built his
home, he asked Helin and Josef
to watch over it. She told similiar tales of Kordon and his brothers growing up that Cora told Gracie.

"I think I'll head up to the upper garden. There are some plants I would like to transplant. Cora will not be by today. She has some meetings." Gracie said wiping down the last of the counters.

"Go. I will bring you some refreshments up in a little while and see what you have done. I know Josef is happy you are taking over. He has never liked to garden." Helin said with a chuckle. "He is too stubborn, though, to tell Kordon to hire someone else. I think it is from when he was a boy and his father was a farmer."

Gracie laughed and brushed a kiss across Helin's cheek. "Well, I am loving it. I find it to be very relaxing. I'l
l see you later." Gracie said
folding the towel and moving towards the stairs carved into the stone.

Gracie made her way up the staircase. She hummed an old tune as she moved towards the back of the garden near the gazebo. She had left her gardening tools there knowing she wanted to finish the small flowerbed she started yesterday. Climbing the small steps, she was just about to reach for the tools when a feeling she wasn't alone sent a shiver down her spine.

Gracie turned
,
frowning. "Josef, is that you?" Gracie called out.

"No, not Josef." Krac said stepping out from the shadows of one of the thick plants on the left side of the gazebo.

Gracie started when she saw the unfamiliar face. Frowning, she said. "I don't think you are supposed to be here. If you would like to see Kordon I can get Josef to call for him."

Krac studied the tiny human female in front of him. If he admitted to having feelings, he would almost feel bad for what he was about to do. She looked far to
o
delicate and fragile to survive but orders were orders. Krac took a menacing step towards her watching keenly as she stiffened.

"I am not here to see your mate, Gracie Jones. I am here for you." Krac said blandly.

Gracie turned and ran. She heard the man behind her let out a low curse before he followed. Gracie hadn't taken more than a dozen steps before she felt an arm wrap around her waist at the same time as
another cut off her scream.

“I really wish you hadn’t done that.” The deep voice said in resignation a moment before Gracie felt darkness descend as he pressed something against the side of her neck.

Kordon slammed into the council room in a rage. Within
two
hour
s
of Gracie’s disappearance
a team of Zion warriors had been assembled. Helin heard Gracie’s short scream as she was bringing a tray up to her. When she emerged at the top of the stairs, she found a huge male with dark gray skin holding an unconscious Gracie in his arms. Before she could alert Josef, the man fired a dart knocking her unconscious as well.
When she woke
, both Gracie and the man were gone. She cried out for Josef who notified Kordon immediately.

“Did you
find
anything?” Kordon asked coldly to Saffron.

Saffron nodded. “An unknown transport left the planet an hour and a half ago. It registered as a trade ship with mechanical problems. It was docked at the port for three days prior to lifting off. The captain of the ship is registered as Captain Mannew Toc out of the Cumin System. The name checks out as being legit only the descriptions of Captain Toc are different from the description Helin gave you.”

Kordon’s father looked at his oldest son. “Did you find anything at your home?” Bazteen Jeke asked quietly.

Kordon looked at his father and gave a sharp nod. “A message was left.” Kordon pressed a button on the holovid to replay the message that was left on the table in the gazebo.

“Greetings, Grand Admiral. Sorry for taking your mate but she is needed for a little while elsewhere.
I can’t guarantee her safety but I will do my best to keep her and your child alive. I’ll be sending you a message as to where you can find her in a few days if all goes well. You can try and kill me then but for now, I have more important things to do.” The deep voice ended.

A muscle twitched in Kordon’s jaw as he fought back the overwhelming fear for Gracie and his child. “The voice was encrypted. There is no identification match.”

“I’ve notified Bran. I am meeting up with the
Conqueror
in three hours.” Kordon said.

“We will all be there. Gracie is my daughter. She is a Zion female. There will be no mercy for those who took her.” Bazteen said standing and nodding to Saffron. “Call your brothers. We meet on the
Conqueror
.”

Saffron nodded. “They are already on their way. Malik and Ty are in transit. Rorrak was planet side and will be here within the hour.”

“Rorrak has been working undercover on an issue for the past year.” Bazteen said calmly. “He may be able to give you more information.”

Kordon’s head jerked up at his father’s words. “W
hat aren’t you telling me?” He demanded harshly.

Bazteen sighed deeply. “I did not expect for anyone to be stupid enough to attempt to take your mate from Zion, much less your home. Rorrak came to me over a year ago with concerns about changes and unrest on Earth. As part of the leading peace force for the Confederation, it is my duty to investigate such things. A member of the royal family there, a descendant of your mate’s sister, approached us asking for assistance. Several attempts have been made lately on the lives of the council there, especially the Supreme Chancellor. Rorrak has been working to find out who is behind it. Some of our leads have pointed out former councilman Altren Proctor. Unfortunately, nothing is conclusive. He always has an alibi or is nowhere near the planet during the assassination attempts.”

“You didn’t think this information was worth passing on to me knowing who Gracie is?” Kordon growled out leaning forward on the table in fury.

Bazteen looked at his older son with regret. “The other council members felt there might be a chance to draw Proctor out by using Gracie. If you knew about it, they felt you would not agree.”

Kordon sat down heavily in the chair, his face turning to stone as he stared coldly at his father. “You purposely used Gracie as bait. You purposely put her in danger even knowing she is carrying my child, your grandchild, without giving her additional protection.” Kordon’s voice became harder as he absorbed
his father’s betrayal. “Where is the pride of a Zion male who would use another’s pregnant mate as bait?” Kordon asked coldly.

Bazteen paled but did not reply. “The fate of millions, perhaps billions, rested on making that decision. It was not only our father’s choice to do this. He voted against using your mate.” A new voice responded to Kordon’s hard question.

Kordon turned to see his younger brother standing in the doorway. The symbols lining his face stood out against his deeply tanned skin. Rorrak was just as tall and just as broad as Kordon. He was wearing the traditional black uniform of a Zion warrior. Two long blades hung across his back and a set of laser pistols rode low on his narrow hips. His piercing blue eyes, slightly lighter than Kordon’s, looked back steadily.

“Play the holovid message.” Rorrak said just as coldly as Kordon.

Kordon bit back a retort. He knew his younger brother well enough to know he could be as cold a bastard as he was. Pressing the replay, the message played again. Rorrak’s eyes darkened at the sound of the distorted voice.

“Do you recognize the voice?” Kordon asked noticing Rorrak’s reaction.

Rorrak shook his head. “Not the voice but the way the words are spoken. It is Krac. He is a cold son-of-a-bitch on a good day. If he says he will try to keep your mate alive, he will. For an assassin he has a high code of honor. One thing you don’t want to do is cross him or piss him off. I can guarantee you, wherever he is there is going to be a lot of dead bodies.
” Rorrak said with a resigned sigh.