ReEmergent -Guardians of Vesturon [4] (15 page)

“
I have some information I wanted to share and it has to do with Saylan.”

Sharra’s brow was furrowed and then she said, “You’d better let me wake Maddie up then. Saylan is one of her closest friends so she should know about this.”

Sharra went to get Maddie and when the two women came back in, Jurek took one thoughtful look at Maddie and asked her, “Does anyone else know?”

“
Know what?”

“
Come with me.”

Everyone thought that was strange, but no one said anything because Jurek’s behavior could be very odd at times. He pulled Maddie to the back room of their headquarters and Sharra, Zander, Rafe and Tak heard her shout, “What! What are you saying!”

Then it was silent. They waited for another thirty minutes until Maddie and Jurek came back up front.

Maddie announced, “I have to go to Vesturon.”

The group looked at her, well everyone except Jurek, like she’d developed an extra eye or two.

Sharra was the first to speak. “What are you talking about? You can’t leave yet. We need you here. With us. For this mission.”

“
I know and if it were anything other than this, I would agree. But I have to go home to do something. Jurek is going to take me and then he’ll be right back. Good bye everyone.”

Maddie put her hand on Jurek’s arm and they both popped out of the room, leaving the rest of the group staring after them with their mouths hanging open.

********

Jurek and Maddie popped into the Yarristers’ private residential area of the palace. Maddie’s eyes quickly scanned the room for Rayn and not seeing him, she took off at a sprint for their private quarters, leaving everyone except Jurek staring after her. She flung the door open and almost tore it off the hinges. This wouldn’t have been the first time she’d done this. Back when the Xanthians had held Rayn as a captive, she’d done the same thing when she’d come up with the idea for his rescue. This time, however, Rayn was asleep as he’d been up two nights in a row, working on a plan with the Guardians on getting back control of the Earth.

When the door crashed open, it startled Rayn; he flew to his feet and started yelling. He startled Maddie and she started yelling back. They looked at each other and then started laughing.

“
Maddie, what in the bloody hell are you doing here? You scared me to death with all that racket,” he laughed.

She laughed too but she jumped into his arms and then bent her head to whisper something in his ear.

He pulled back to look at her. “You’re sure?”

She nodded.

Then he kissed her and kissed her. He threaded his fingers through her hair and lifted her up into his arms and continued to kiss her. He let her slide down his body and when her feet were back on the floor, he walked back to the bed and sat down. He pulled her between his legs, lifted her shirt and kissed her tummy. Pulling her closer, he rubbed his cheek against her and hugged her tightly.

“
You can’t go back to Earth, you know. I hope you know that Maddie. Please tell me you do?” He lifted his eyes up to hers, begging for her understanding.

“
Of course I know that. I have been feeling so crummy lately. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Then Jurek pops in and asks me if anyone else knows. I didn’t know what the heck he was talking about. No, Rayn. I will not go back to Earth. I will stay here with you until our child is born. And then, we’ll decide what role I’ll fulfill. Like maybe your boss or something,” she said with a wink.

“
I won’t have to worry. Once this baby comes, I won’t be able to pull you away from him,” he said with assurance.

“
Him, huh?”

“
Yes, of course,” he said with a smirk. Suddenly, his face turned ashen.

“
What is it?” Maddie asked, alarmed.

“
Oh no! What if it’s a girl? I’ll never be able to let her out of my sight. I’ll never sleep again!”

Maddie started to giggle and said, “I can already see her when she has her first date.”

“
Date! Like hell! She’ll never date!” Rayn swore.

“
Honey, it’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”

“
You think?”

“
Yeah, I think. Now, we need to talk to your parents. I think they’ll make you feel a little more relaxed about all of this.”

“
I think maybe you’re right. I know something else that will relax me too,” he said mischievously.

Somehow, while he was talking to her, he was divesting her of her clothing, and she found herself being loved and was glad to be back home on Vesturon with her mate.

A couple of hours later, a mussed up Maddie and Rayn announced to the family that they were expecting their first child and that she would not be returning to Earth. Jurek went back to tell Sharra.

********

When Jurek returned and shared the news, Sharra bounced around the room like an old fashioned rubber ball. It was impossible to speak to her because she wouldn’t stay still long enough to answer a question.

Jurek took a seat and waited for her bouncing to cease. He needed to discuss the way they were going to pluck out the Xanthian officers, one by one, so Xarrid could exact his revenge.

“
A baby!” Bounce...bounce...bounce.

“
Maybe a little nephew. Maddie, a mother.” Bounce...bounce.

“
Sharra, you have to settle down. You’re giving me a headache, just watching you.”

“
Oh, I have to go home. I have to help Maddie decorate their nursery.” Bounce...bounce.

Zander finally pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Jurek snorted while Rafe gaped at them. Jurek shrugged, thinking how obtuse most species were.

When Zander finally let Sharra go, her eyes were glazed over and she had a sappy look on her face.

“
Great! Now I’ll never get anything done with her head in the clouds,” Jurek mumbled.

“
What?” Zander asked.

“
Listen up people. We have an important job to do here. Sharra!” Jurek clicked his fingers in front of her face. Once, twice. He finally put his hand on her forehead and that seemed to do the trick. “Finally!”

“
What?” Sharra asked.

“
Never mind. Now listen to me. This is what I originally came here to tell you. Saylan and Xarrid are going to get married.”

Sharra rolled her eyes. “Surprise us.”

Jurek looked at her and then shook his head. Unlike Maddie, he didn’t waste his time in trying to correct her slaughtered jargon. He continued, “No, you don’t understand.”

By the time he finished the story, Zander needed to comfort Sharra and Rafe was also shaken up, even though he didn’t know Saylan.

“
So this is Xarrid’s deal. He wants to question some of the officers so I needed to let you know that my men will be around trying to get to some of the commanding officers here. What I’ll need from you is when you meet with your informants, let me know so I can try to get some information out of them too.”

“
Jurek, do you think it would help if we set some kind of a trap?” Sharra asked.

“
A trap?”

“
Yes, you know, perhaps a way to get several of their commanding officers at once,” Sharra replied.

“
Go on,” Jurek urged.

“
Well, maybe if we drew them out somehow, so there would be four, five or even six of them, then your men could grab them and do whatever it is you’re planning to do. Which is what, by the way? I know you said Xarrid wants to question them, but to what end?”

Jurek looked around the room. His eyes darkened into solid black orbs and then turned into swirling lavender and silver ones as they drilled into Sharra. Her mind was invaded briefly by his, but she’d expected that when she asked the question.

“
You understand where Xarrid’s mind is right now. He is in a difficult place and would like to question the officers and find out exactly who harmed Saylan.” Jurek knew he wasn’t betraying Xarrid’s confidence. He’d asked this team for their help and withholding information wouldn’t be right.

“
I want to help,” Sharra said.

“
No. He wants to do this on his own.”

“
Jurek, I know he is as close to you as anyone. But I watched him grieve and suffer the loss of Saylan. Not knowing what happened to her nearly killed him and now that he does know, I’m sure it’s tearing him apart. I want to help him track down whoever did this awful thing to her.”

Jurek was at odds. He understood Sharra’s desire to assist Xarrid. She truly loved her brother and wanted to help him. But on the flip side, Jurek also knew that Xarrid didn’t want the guilt of what he was about to undertake to be carried by anyone other than himself.

“
Sharra, I know your brother would appreciate more than anything, what you’re offering. But he’s indicated to me that this is something he needs to do on his own.”

“
I know why he wants to question them on his own, but what about us at least helping him find these monsters who stole Saylan from him?”

She had a valid point, Jurek thought. If they could help round up these officers, perhaps they could get them to Lare-Stell and get this whole thing over much faster than he’d originally thought.

“
I think it’s a sound plan but I need to clear it with Xarrid first.”

“
Well, then do it.”

Jurek glared at Sharra. “Excuse me?”

“
I know, I know. You take orders from no one. But seriously Jurek, we need to get a move on here. Other than these little clandestine outings at night, we’ve been a bit bored. We need more to do. The quicker the better.”

It was difficult for Jurek to be angry with Sharra. Again, she made a good point and she did it with such innocence.

“
I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises,” Jurek told her. Then with a flash, he was gone.

Zander reached for Sharra’s hand and told her, “You would be wise to hold your tongue when you are around him.”

“
Why is that? It’s not like he can’t hear my thoughts.”

Zander cocked his head and then laughed. “Damn, you sure do make a lot of sense sometimes.”

“
What do you mean sometimes? I make a lot of sense all the time,” she huffed. Zander simply shook his head because he knew it would be useless to do anything else.

********

Back on Lare-Stell, Xarrid sat at a conference table with Jurek and Tak. They discussed how best to deal with the Xanthians once they brought them here.

“
Sharra wants to help.”

Xarrid squeezed his eyes closed for a brief moment and then shook his head.

“
She makes a strong case. She knows you want to do the ugly part but she says they can help finding the Xanthians you seek. I think her plan has merit.”

Xarrid fisted his hands, the knuckles turning white against the tawny color of his skin. “I want none of them to have any part of this.”

“
Hey! Listen to me.” Xarrid slowly turned toward his friend. “You want to make this fast because the longer this drags out, the more it will mess with your head. That, my friend, is something you do not need. Neither does your Saylan.”

Xarrid’s leg began thumping up and down. He’d developed some odd twitching habits over the last year and this was just one of them. He flexed his arms and rose.

“
Christ, look at you. You’re only beginning to think about it. Imagine how you’ll feel when you’re in the middle of it all!” Jurek reminded him.

“
Are you trying to piss me off or something?”

“
No! I’m trying to make you understand that you can’t do this alone. Help is out there. Take it, my friend.”

Xarrid’s hold on his temper was tenuous at best. When discussing this, the rage that filled his soul was so potent he could taste it. He filled his lungs with air, trying to cleanse the anger from his body.

Seeing the mental and physical struggle his friend was dealing with, Jurek was by his side in an instant, his hand on his forehead, relieving his anguish. Though temporary, it provided the relief Xarrid so desperately sought.

“
Thanks, as always,” Xarrid told Jurek, as he regained his composure.

“
So, can you see the logic of what I’m telling you?”

“
I don’t want her, or any of the others, burdened with what I’m about to do.”

“
Xarrid, they won’t be. They want revenge as much as you. They won’t be doing the dirty work anyway. The only involvement Sharra and the others will have is helping to locate the Xanthian officers. Just give me the word already and stop your fretting over this.”

“
All right. I’ll agree but only if that all it is,” Xarrid said reluctantly.

The three men discussed how they would get Sharra and the men to locate the Xanthians and then call them to let them know where their targets would be. In the end, it was a win-win for both groups. Jurek was glad to have their help and Sharra was happy to have something else to do.

********

Jurek was on Earth talking to the group of Guardians when Sharra suggested something that shocked everyone in the room, including Jurek.

“
I know of a way to get all the commanding officers that are down here at once.”

Jurek raised a brow and stated, “Explain.”

Sharra laughed. “You and your one word demands.”

Zander shouted, “Sharra!” while Jurek laughed.

“
You’re beginning to remind me of January. She used to get after me for that too.”

“
Well, I’m glad someone did.”