Kozav (10 page)

G
race wasn’t
one to admit her mother was right, but… her mother was right. Dammit. The smug look at the woman’s face told Grace that her mom
knew
she was right, too.

They’d done small talk and the “how you doin’” thing. Enter the smugness.

“You’re glowing.”

She feigned innocence, eyes wide and lips parted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mmmhmm. Why don’t I believe you?” Donna’s voice wasn’t as raspy, her cheeks flushed with health. The healer had explained that the Preors could make her more comfortable, but they hadn’t cured her. Yet.

“Because you’re a hateful mother who always thinks the worst of me?” She teased. Not really meaning it, but hoping it’d distract her mom.

It didn’t.

“Uh-huh. Nothing to do with a certain, teal male who visited me this morning? One who looked just as glowing and happy?”

Grace pretended she had something on her
xina
, picking at the lightweight material. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And even if I did, I wouldn’t talk about it with my mother.”

“When did you turn into a prude?”

She sniffed, still not looking at her mom. “When did you turn into a nosy pain in the—”

“When I could look at you without wishing I’d just die so you’d be free to live your life.”

She wheezed, eyes tearing up with the sudden thought of a future without her mother. “
Mom
.”

Donna reached for her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “Sweetheart,” she murmured. “I never wanted your life to be all about taking care of me. I was a burden.”

Grace shook her head. “I didn’t care. You’re my
mom
.”

“Well, I do care.” Her mom gave her a watery smile. “I love you so much and I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy. Taking care of me sucked the life out of you.”

“No.” She was tired all the time, but every minute spent making money to help her mother was worth each blister.

“Yes.” One of those delicate fingers rubbed over the back of Grace’s hand. “And no matter what the Preors can or can’t do for me, I’m so happy to see you with Kozav.” Her mom’s lips curled up in a small smile. “I’m so happy to see that your future is settled.”

“Maybe not. I mean, we haven’t really discussed…”

Donna snorted. “Don’t lie to me
or
yourself. You’re it for him and he’s it for you. The rest is details.”

Penis in vagina details
.

Of course, she didn’t say that. Her mom was already stomping on personal boundaries. Next thing Grace would know, the woman would want a play-by-play.

Some kids were best friends with their parents, and that was cool. Other kids didn’t want to imagine their parents knowing anything about sex. Ever. Grace was an immaculate conception, dammit. Just
poof
, there’s a baby.

“Mom—”

The
whoosh
of medical’s door interrupted them and Detzan strode in, his massive body taking up the entryway. She was still amazed at the contrast between a Preor warrior’s sheer size and their careful gentleness around females.

Detzan’s gaze quickly scanned the open room and landed on her. He gave her a tilt of his head. “Grace joi Kozav, your mate—”

“Just Grace.” She wasn’t sure if the male would listen to her, but she had to try. The
joi
Kozav
, while it sounded beautiful, also made for a mouthful.

He kept speaking as if she hadn’t interrupted. That seemed to be a trait among the Preors. “—Awaits you on the command deck when you have completed your visit with your
dam
.”

Well, she wasn’t done, dammit. She—

“Come back and see me later, sweetheart.” Her mom’s smile widened and true happiness filled her expression. “And say hello to your mate for me.”

Betrayed by her own mother. Grace really wanted to keep hiding from Kozav after last night, after the passion they’d shared in the darkness. She still had a hard time wrapping her head around her brazen actions. She’d never… And then… His wings and skin and the
biting
…

Yeah. She sighed.

“Yes, mom,” she drawled, voice monotone, and her mom… laughed.

Outright laughed.

And that made Grace think that maybe everything would be okay.

She leaned over and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek before rising from her chair. “I’ll stop by this evening. Comm me if you need me?”

The medical doors whooshed once more, an older, maroon-hued warrior striding past Detzan and toward them.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll need you.” Yeah, her mom spoke to Grace, but her eyes were all for the newcomer.

She had to remember that her mom was an adult. She was healing now, if not fully healed, and could make her own decisions. Already, the difference between when they’d arrived and now was shocking. So if she wanted to make friends with a male, that was okay? Right?

Grace wasn’t sure, but if he hurt her feelings in any way, he was a dead dragon.

“Grace joi—”

She shot Detzan a glare and he cleared his throat, wings trembling. “
Grace
, Kozav is waiting.”

Yeah, well, he might be a big deal to everyone else, but that didn’t mean he was a big deal to her.

Okay, he was a big deal. She mentally sniffed.
Whatever.

She left her mom in the company of the older warrior—Skala—and made a note to ask about him when she got to her mate. She didn’t want some Preor macking on her mother while she was still sick. If that guy thought he could get one over on Donna Hall, well, he—

“Grace?” Detzan interrupted her thoughts and she shook her head.

“Huh?”

“Kozav?”

She glanced around and realized that while they’d left medical, they hadn’t gotten far before she stopped moving all together. She groaned and huffed. “Sorry,” she grumbled. “If I’ve got a lot on my mind I tend to stop what I’m doing while thinking. The only time I don’t is when I’m following someone.” She waved at her head. “It’s a weird visual thing. When I’m distracted, I’m like a duck. I’ll follow you anywhere.”

Detzan raised his eyebrows. “I see?”

He didn’t see and his tone conveyed more than his words. He thought she was a crazed idiot. He was only partially right and even then, it was only half the time. She was
occasionally
a crazed idiot. At the moment, she was normal, if distracted.

“Never mind. Let’s just go.” The look of relief on his face would have been hilarious if it didn’t offend her so much, and Grace propped her hands on her hips. “Is following me around
that
bad?”

“It is not the task. It is the repercussions should I fail.”

“
Oooh.
I get it.” Grace wouldn’t want to fight a pissed off Kozav either and if something happened to her… Her mate would be an ass kicking bad ass. “Right. Let’s do this.”

The Knowing supplied directions and she did her best not to let her thoughts drift too far from reality. Embarrassing herself once with her oddness was enough. She could reveal something else equally weird later. Best not to blurt it all out at once. It’d keep the Preors on their toes.

Though, no matter how hard she tried not to let her mind wander, it still did. The only difference was that this time, her focus snapped right back before she could lose herself, and Grace stumbled a step. She tripped forward and two large hands grasped her, keeping her from striking the ground. Detzan lifted her back to her feet, clutching her until she stood on her own, and then quickly released her.

“Grace joi Kozav?” There went being called Grace. “Are you well?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I should call medical.”

“No…” she whispered and held out her hand to stave him off.

She didn’t trip because she was ill. No, it was that rush of… hatred. Rage. Anger. Fury. Violence. It thrummed in the air, giving her goosebumps while the hairs on the back of her neck rose. The skin between her shoulder blades itched and she rolled her shoulders in an effort to shrug the sensations away.

“No,” she shook her head. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t fine. “Just give me a minute.”

Detzan took a step back, giving her a chance to turn in place, to glance up and down the empty hallways. Was someone hiding nearby? Did they lurk in a doorway just out of sight? The sensation of being watched increased, the malevolence crawling all over her like a jungle gym.

“Do you feel it?” She fisted her hands and relaxed them slowly, trying to banish the sensations.

“Feel what?” Genuine confusion filled his voice.

So much for the big ass predators being observant. Maybe that was because they’d never been prey. Grace had—more than once—over the years. Men always saw a woman alone as easy pickings.

Was that what was going on here?

As quickly as the feeling bowled over her, it was gone. Vanished as if it’d never existed and she was just… the crazy human woman standing in an empty passageway and staring into shadows.

“Sorry, I felt like we were being watched.”

“The ship monitors common passageways—”

“No,” she shook her head. “It felt like a per-, er, Preor was there somewhere.” She shrugged. “I must have been mistaken though.”

Yeah, she wasn’t, but whatever she said was enough for Detzan and they went back to heading toward the command deck. The feeling didn’t reappear as they traveled the hallways, that feeling of being prey not arising again. Until…

Until she arrived on the command deck and became the focus of
everyone
.

K
ozav both respected
and valued Taulan as well as Lana, the male’s mate. They made a striking couple who seemed filled with joy… when they were not arguing on
Kozav’s
command deck. The War Master and Mistress could have it back when they ceased arguing about dragonlet names, things called
bay-bee
showers, and
kriss-n-ings
.

Lana became with young less than a week ago and if the remainder of her bearing time passed in this way… Kozav would invest in human contraptions called
eer plugz
.

“Matilda is a perfectly good name,” Lana snapped at her mate and then turned to him. “Don’t you think, Kozav?”

Preor males had one rule—do not disagree with a bearing female. Ever.

“Of course, Lana joi Taulan.” Perhaps now they would leave.

“See, Kozav agrees with me.” Lana turned back to Taulan. “Matilda Patricia den Coburn.”

Taulan first glared at Kozav and then crossed his arms over his chest, feet braced apart, while staring down at Lana. “Preors have a birth name and their
dam’s
name,
shaa kouva
. We do not—”

“I’m
not
Preor.”

“Yes,” Taulan took a step forward. “You are.”

“No,” Lana mirrored the movement. “I’m not.”

Kozav never once believed Taulan would harm a female. Ever. But that did not mean Kozav was not happy to be interrupted by his mate’s arrival. The doors to the command deck slid open to reveal Grace with Detzan at her back. He nodded to the male, letting him silently know that he was free to go.

“War Master Taulan, War Mistress Lana, I do not believe you have met my mate.” As he’d hoped, their argument ceased and all focused on his Grace.

His beautiful mate. He’d left her sleep tousled and softly snoring when he’d risen, the
aczi
twined around her legs and her breasts bared to his gaze. He had been unable to leave without tasting just a hint of her and brushed a kiss across her forehead. He still carried her scent and he could not wait to have it all over him once more.

Yes, he, Taulan, and Lana focused on Grace, but so did all of the other single males on duty. He swung around, lips curled to reveal his fangs while he released a low growl. “To work.”

Taulan’s look told Kozav he’d overreacted. Kozav did not care. He strode to his mate’s side and carefully grasped her hand, using his grip to lead her toward the other couple.

“Grace, this is War Master Taulan and his mate Lana. Lana—”

“Kozav said you’re a nurse?” Lana did not wait for him to finish speaking and that first question led into many, many others.

What was his mate’s specialty?

Had she ever worked in OB/GYN?

What did his mate think of this spot?

Lana had a pain. What did his mate think could be the cause?

Did his mate believe breast tenderness—

Kozav was prepared to end the conversation in any way, but the last question forced Taulan to step in. “Enough. You will not speak of your breasts in front of—”

“I won’t
what
?”

Kozav did not have much experience with females, but he did believe Taulan had misstepped with this.

Taulan’s face reddened with anger, Lana’s eyes narrowed with rage, and soon the couple stomped from the command deck and out of sight. Out of earshot as well.

“Sooo,” Grace stared at the door after they left. “That was them, then.”

He gave her a rueful grin. “Lana is newly bearing. Their hearts belong to each other, but…”

Grace snorted. “Hormones. There’s nothing scarier than a pregnant woman on a rampage.”

It sounded as if his mate spoke from experience and he furrowed his brow. “Do we need additional guards? Preor females are not typically violent, but we are unfamiliar with the range of changes a human female undergoes. We would not wish to hurt her, but perhaps a rotating guard to prevent her from harming others should be put into place.”

He did not believe a female so small as Lana could be a true threat, but he also never believed a Preor male could harm a female, either. Thinking of one particular male—Impe—his fury over the warrior’s continued freedom vaulted forward. It surprised him with its intensity, and he fisted his hands when it felt as if his claws would spring free at any moment. His shoulders itched, a sure sign his scales lingered close to the surface, and he attempted to shrug the sensations away.

Impe had still not been found and the male’s uncle—Sugal—was also free somewhere on the ship. Kozav did not believe the healer knew enough of the ship’s systems to evade detection, but Impe’s primary responsibility was in engineering maintenance. He was required to maintain and repair various necessary systems including the ship’s sensors. Other warriors worked to repair Impe’s destruction, but each moment, the mess grew larger and Impe remained free.

Grace’s smile blossomed, her lips spread wide. “She’s no more a physical threat than she was before. Just a little more temperamental and probably a lot more demanding.”

He believed Lana was
a lot
more temperamental, but he would never say so.

“Come,
rasi
, there is something I wish to show you.”

It would not be as good as the real thing, but they would explore Preor together once they returned.

It did not take them long to arrive at their destination, the off-duty areas close to the command deck should males have to quickly abandon their relaxation to go to battle. There were several common rooms, a few males sparring while others lazed and told old stories from before the war that destroyed their people.

No one wished to discuss the war itself.

He drew her down the long, final hallway, the length lined with numbered doors, and he drew them to a stop beside the space he’d reserved. He tapped the control pad and waited for the low beep. “Kozav joi Grace Hall, Program Udriea.”

“Kozav?” Grace twitched in his grip. “What…”

“It is one of my favorite places on all of Preor.” The door to the senchamber opened for them. “Let me show it to you.”

He drew her into the space, and he breathed deeply the moment he stepped across the threshold, inhaling the scents of home. The Preors had some of the best senchambers in the galaxies. A necessity considering their natures. Aggressive, sometimes violent, Preors needed calming outlets. A believable senchamber was invaluable.

“This,
shaa kouva
, is Udriea.” The roll of salty waves filled the air, the soft whoosh and sigh of the water kissing the shore. Sand and rocks crunched under their feet as they walked, shoes sinking into soft spots. “And that is the Gor Ari sea.” She did not protest when he ventured farther and she listened as the senchamber’s doors closed. “I have a small cottage near the cliff’s edge. There were many days I could not fly to the Udriea aerie and soon had a home built here.”

His mate remained quiet, but when he glanced at her, she didn’t seem upset. “It is large, not as large as some, but large enough for you and me.”

“You and me?” Grace seemed to have found her voice. “This place is teeming with salt water.”

He grunted. She spoke the truth. “I spent so many days here that I found I love it. Even if the salt stings my scales on windy days.” He shrugged. “It is not an easy place to love, but the skies do not tell us that love is always easy.”

“But…”

“This way,” he tugged, drawing her to his cliff-side property.

It took mere moments to get to his home, and even less time to settle on the stone wall. He helped her sit on the hard surface beside him and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Do you see why I can love this place even if its winds hurt me?” He pointed into the distance, showing her the brilliant sunset and sea animals that leapt from the crystal waters. “Anyone can see this from an aerie, but this is the Gor Ari as it was meant to be seen. Yes, the waters are deadly, but the peace I find here is priceless. Humans would say the cost is worth the reward.”

Grace leaned against him with a soft sigh. “But it hurts you.”

He shrugged. “Not as much anymore. I have built a tolerance to the winds and I only truly feel any pain if I go too close to the edge of the cliffs during a storm.” Sailfish burst above the water, the fans of a dozen fish sprinkling across the sky. “Think of so many who miss this because they were not willing to try hard enough,” he murmured.

Grace did not say anything else and he was content to hold her and watch Preor’s sun set beneath the senchamber-generated Gor Ari. It was a beautiful sight and the only way he recognized the location was not real was due to the lack of aching in his wings. Otherwise, it looked the same—smelled the same—and it made him miss home even more.

He ached to return, to settle into a daily routine with his mate and simply enjoy life. He would apply for a training position. He did not want to be off-planet should his mate be ready to present him with offspring. She would need to be bearing first—obviously—but he did not imagine that would be difficult. War Master Taulan accomplished the task quickly and with great efficiency.

Kozav could do the same. He was a powerful, strong, and honorable warrior.

His only concern was Grace. Already Melissa joi Jarek wished to
work
and Lana joi Taulan stated she would not hand off her duties once she held a
bay-bee
in her arms.

“
Rasi?
”

“Hmm?”

“What did you do for employment on Earth? You stated you worked as a nurse, but also that you had two jobs. What was the other?”

“Ugh.
That
. It was a necessary evil.” The disgusted tone told him he would only have to concern himself with keeping her busy with a single position though the idea of her being surrounded by unmated males did not sit well with his dragonish nature. Perhaps she could only treat human females or act as an advisor. “I was a Senior Mating Representative for the Intergalactic Mating Agency.”

He stared down at her, confusion clouding his mind with the unfamiliar words. He did not recognize the saying. “What is a necessary evil?”

Grace compressed her lips and wrinkled her nose. “Something you don’t want to do, but
have
to do.” She shook her head. “Working there was a stupid idea, anyway. Shitty pay to have happy couples thrown in your face every day.” She half-shrugged. “Desperate times and desperate measures.”

“I do not understand. If it was a stupid idea, why did you choose to do so? Were you so desperate that you were forced to take employment there?”

She quirked the corner of her mouth. “It was an easy way to meet off-world guys?”

Kozav jolted and jealousy flared with those few words. He’d never been a male to experience such an emotion, but it roared through him louder than a dragon’s bellow. “Meet off-world…”

“I know, it was dumb, but,” she sighed. “I’d just gotten another notice from the landlord that they were going to evict us and the Health Ministry refused another petition to have Pol Mutation recognized as a disease
and
they’d denied the medical claims.”

He listened, he heard every word, yet he could only focus on three words.
Meet off-world guys.

“You took a position to meet males?”

“
Before I met you
,” she accentuated the words as if that would calm his jealous heart. “I needed an off-world mate. Preferably a race that was medically advanced enough to help my mother. I didn’t have the money to join the IMA and search for a mate that way, but applicants went through the offices all the time. I’d hoped I’d find…” She suddenly straightened, smile on her lips once more. “But then I found you and we…”

Kozav should be thrilled at her happiness. She said the words so easily, as if she’d already accepted him fully. But was it
him
or merely the fact that the Preors helped her mother? She’d been so resistant. Had her agreement and acceptance only come after she’d learned her mother was doing well? That was the reason she allowed so much in their bed. She merely used him to…

He bolted to his feet, dislodging her though he was sure not to send her falling to the rocky ground.

“Kozav?” He would not acknowledge that he found her frown adorable.

“You sought a mate. At the IMA, you took a position with the purpose of locating a mate.”

“Yeah,” she drew out the word.

“You did not care which mate. Just that they had technology to assist your
dam
.” He gritted his teeth. He could not tell the hurt from the anger or the jealousy. He merely knew his emotions attacked him, swirling and beating at him like the fiercest winds of the Gor Ari.

“When you say it like that, it sounds…” She winced and he told himself he did not care.

“You would have taken any male. You would have done
anything
.” He sliced his hand through the air.

“To save my mom? Yes. I’ve never lied about that. I don’t understand why you’re so angry.” She pushed to her feet, facing off against him. “What’s all this about?”

He hated that her confused frown aroused him. “You would have mated any male willing to save your
dam
. Is there any length you would not have gone to? Would you perform genetic manipulation? Would you have lied? Did you alter—”

He snapped his mouth closed with the last question and cursed himself for even entertaining the thought. Humans could not fool the Knowing. Even genetic manipulation could not force a mating.

Grace took a step back and stared at the ground while running her hands over the front of her
aczi
in nervous gesture. Was she nervous because he discovered the truth? “If the person you loved most in the world, the one person who’d always been there for you, was dying,” she lifted her head and met his gaze, her eyes overflowing with tears, “what would you do? If it would have taken one sacrifice to save your family, what would you do?”

“Anything,” he rasped.

Another river of liquid snaked down her cheek. “How far would you go?”

“As far as it took.”

“Exactly. I’m sorry what I’ve done in the past hurts your feelings or makes you angry or disgusts you, but… I’d do it again. In a heartbeat. Even you should understand that.” She turned away and retraced their path, obviously intent on leaving him behind.