Tracking Trisha (39 page)

Trisha turned her head until it was resting against his huge chest. She was curled up in the tall grass, one of Kelan's large wings wrapped around her. Her dragon was enjoying the feel of the big male and wasn't in a hurry to let Trisha shift back to her two-legged form. Trisha wasn't in a hurry either considering night time was the most dangerous time to be out in the open, especially near a water source. She lifted her head and sniffed the air for predators. The only predator she could smell was Kelan.

Puzzled, Trisha looked up at Kelan.
"Why aren't there any predators nearby? I can't smell anything but you. All the other nights we could either see or hear some of the larger predators moving under the trees we were in."

Kelan chuckled.
"I am a larger predator. Few creatures want to tangle with a full-grown Valdier dragon. They seem to understand we are not something they want to fight with. Now, tell me."
Kelan said as he brushed his snout against Trisha's small head. Mentally he braced himself for what she might tell him. The man he killed said she was not harmed but the faint image of Raffvin striking her from the weak symbiosis that was on her before spoke of something darker.

"I don't know how I ended up on the freighter. The last thing I remember was you kissing me. When I woke up, I was in a small cell on the freighter. Jaron said something about the drug someone gave me not harming me or the baby but it would prevent me from shifting. He checked me out to make sure the baby and I were alright. It's strange, but he can just put his hands on me and heal me. A man named Raffvin came in shortly after I woke up. He's crazy."
Trisha shivered as she remembered his dark black eyes staring coldly at her.
"He almost killed me but Jaron was able to talk him out of it. He didn't want me to have anything to eat or drink but Jaron and Terac made sure I did. About four, or is it five, days ago I can't remember now so much has happened - anyway, Jaron, Terac, and three other men plus the pilot of the shuttle were supposed to bring me down to this moon and stake me out. Jaron and Terac were told to keep me alive long enough for you to find me. Raffvin wanted you to find the predators having a shish kabob of me."
Trisha smiled as she thought how proud her dad would be of her for keeping her head and using the skills he taught her.

Kelan snorted in anger at the danger his mate had been in.
"How did you get away?"

"My dad taught me to keep my cool and be resourceful."
Trisha rubbed her head against Kelan as she continued.
"I keep a little Leatherman micro in my bra. I used it to remove some of the slats from the cot in my cell. I sharpened them into knives. Once on board the shuttle, I released my straps right after take off. None of the men thought it was necessary to tie my hands or feet. I guess they thought one small human female was nothing to worry about."
Trisha smirked as much as her dragon form would allow. She raised her head and blinked her long, dark lashes at her mate innocently.
"They were wrong. When we were close enough I thought Raffvin couldn't send a strike force until it was too late, I attacked the three men. I was able to kill two almost immediately. One of the guys got off a shot but it hit the pilot taking care of him so I didn't have to worry about him. I was able to break the guy's nose and did a headbutt into him when he grabbed me trying to break my ribs. Dad always told me if you hit something right on the tip of the nose it hurts like hell and they'll loosen their hold while they are seeing stars. It worked! He loosened his hold enough for me to drive my knife into his ribs before I slit his throat."

Kelan tightened his wing around his tiny mate and looked up at the stars in a prayer of thanks to the Gods and Goddesses for protecting her. Then he looked down at his mate and growled out,
"I
’m
so proud of you but if you ever do anything like that again, I'll whip your ass."

Trisha's dragon coughed out in glee as she suddenly sent images to her mate through the symbiosis around their necks letting him know exactly what happened through images. Trisha tried to stop her but her dragon was determined her mate know exactly what happened in minute detail. Trisha could feel Kelan's temper rise as the images flooded through him. She knew the exact moment when her dragon shared the kiss Terac gave her after they landed. Kelan's snarl would have scared off any predators within a fifty mile radius. He even started to get up but the next images of Trisha in pain and frightened as their son struggled flashed into focus. Trisha
heard
Kelan's cough of distress at the knowledge he came very close to losing both Trisha and his son if not for the care of the two men with her.

“Maybe I won’t kill them yet but if either one of them ever kisses you again…”
Kelan started to growl out at Trisha. She stopped him by running her tongue along his lips.

Kelan wrapped his tail around hers, flipping her over onto her back and positioned his big body over hers. He lowered his head until their snouts touched. Trisha’s dragon coughed out softly begging her mate to claim her again. She let her front claws wrap around the upper arms of Kelan’s dragon while she stretched her tail out and wound it around his moving both of them gently back and forth. She could feel Kelan’s thick cock lower from the slit and push against her. Her dragon arched under the big male, opening for him as she used her back claws to pull him forward into her. Both dragons called out as they became one in the age old call of mating. Kelan let his dragon take over, rocking and driving into his mate over and over until both were totally sated. Kelan grinned at his dragon’s sigh of contentment and joy. It was the first time he let go totally and just became his dragon. His dragon sent a heated breath of love and warmth over his exhausted tiny mate who was curled up under his wing sound asleep. Kelan reached out to Bio to see how the men were doing and if it had heard anything yet from the
V’ager
. The
V’ager
was just entering the galaxy and would be within range in approximately two hours. The men were talking quietly and safe. Bio sent one large predator running when it tried to knock the men from the tree but otherwise everything was quiet. Bio sent a wave of warmth and affection to Kelan and his dragon for caring for their mate.

Anytime, my friend, anytime.
Kelan responded silently.

Kelan gently nudged Trisha’s sleeping form to wake her. The
V’ager
was going to be transporting them up and was already attacking the freighter and the Curizan warship. Gold Valdier fighters were already deployed and the
V’ager
was sending out disruption bursts. Kelan looked at the two men as they came out of the forest with Bio by their side.

“Is it time already?” Trisha asked sleepily. She was already exhausted all the time now and Kelan’s dragon and hers didn’t let her get a lot of rest last night. She felt like she could sleep for a week if given the chance.

“Yes, the
V’ager
will transport us up shortly. How are you feeling?” Kelan asked as he helped Trisha to stand up.

Trisha started to answer when she turned deathly pale. She covered her mouth and ran for the edge of the river where she knelt down and vomited. Kelan moved quickly beside her, holding her as she tried to empty the contents of an already empty stomach. Trisha moaned in embarrassment at the thought that the three men were watching her puke her guts out.

“Leave me alone for a few minutes.” Trisha groaned out as another wave of nausea hit her hard. She doubled over again.

“Never again will I let you out of my sight.” Kelan said gently as he dampened a piece of his shirt to wipe across Trisha’s forehead and the back of her neck.

“Perhaps I can help.” Jaron said as he knelt down next to Trisha. “Sniff this.”

Kelan looked suspiciously at the small green leafy plant Jaron was rolling between his fingers. “What is it?” He asked pulling Trisha a little closer to his body.

“It is a plant I recognized from my planet. It has been used for centuries to help the women during their pregnancies. The smell will help alleviate the nausea. I found it as we were coming to the river. I should have looked for it before.” Jaron explained calmly holding it out for Kelan to sniff first.

Trisha moaned as she leaned against Kelan. “Give it to me if it works. I feel terrible.”

Kelan sniffed the plant and was surprised by the pleasant smell. He carefully took it from Jaron and held it under Trisha’s nose. Almost immediately the nausea dissipated. Trisha leaned back weakly in Kelan's arms and sent a grateful smile to Jaron.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

“My pleasure.” Jaron responded with a grin. “My mother swore by it.”

“Look!” Terac said pointing up to the sky where a large fireball was shooting across it. “It looks like what’s left of the freighter.”

Kelan watched grimly as the huge fireball exploded into smaller pieces as it fell through the atmosphere of the moon. He looked at Bio who showed him images of the
V’ager
attacking both the freighter and the Curizan warship. The warship was trying to flee. Kelan growled out a silent command for Bio to notify the
V’ager
there was five of them to transport and their location. Within moments, a bright light engulfed them.

"Status report!" Kelan shouted above the alarms. "Someone shut off the alarms. I want a full report
now
."

Kelan picked Trisha up in his arms and strode through the doors of the transporter room. She would have to be content in the officer's conference room off the bridge since he did not want her more than a few feet from him. He listened intently making slight changes or asking questions as the lift took them up to the bridge. Once there, he carefully lowered Trisha to her feet.

"Go with Kor. He will show you to the conference room. There is a large couch there. It is not as comfortable as our living quarters here but I cannot have you far away from me." Kelan explained
gently as he ran his hand down her cheek
.

Trisha nodded. She understood he was needed here. Trisha smiled as Kor came up and waited patiently while Kelan brushed a kiss over Trisha's lips. Kelan turned to Kor with a nod before shouting out orders. Trisha turned one last time to see Jaguin explaining something to Kelan. He glanced up and smiled at her before turning his attention back to Kelan. Trisha felt her love for her warrior swell as she noticed how the whole atmosphere on the bridge seemed to change when Kelan walked in. Here was a man used to giving orders and expecting them to be followed. He was a true leader of men. She started when she felt Kor gently touch her arm.

"Thank you." Trisha said softly as she turned and walked into the conference room.

Kor showed Trisha where the cleansing unit was and where Kelan kept some of his clothes. "He spent a lot of time here from what I hear when he first met you." Kor teased as he laid some blankets on the couch.

Trisha blushed as she remembered how stubborn she was at first. "It did him some good." Trisha retorted humorously.

Kor just laughed and explained he was to guard her. He apologized for any inconvenience but it would be necessary for him to remain inside the room with her at all times. Trisha raised her eyebrow and asked if that included the cleansing unit while she took a shower. Kor's face turned a dull red as he responded he felt she would be safe long enough to bathe, that is, unless she needed help washing her back. It was Trisha's turn to turn pink. Kor laughed as Trisha mumbled something about males and their sense of humor.

Trisha tried to stay awake but after a nice warm shower in the cleansing unit and the wonderful meal Kelan had delivered to the conference room she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She and Kor talked about the forests on the moon and some of the things she did to survive while she ate but he finally encouraged her to lay down and rest. Trisha was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.