Nikhil (Kaliszian Book 1) (15 page)

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Mac stood in the door of the survivors’ area, her gaze taking it all in. It was one large, open room with drab-colored walls and several more doors on one end. The survivors had each claimed their own area. In the far corner, where the most cots were set up, were her friends all huddled together wearing gray capes. Letting out a little cry of relief, she hurried over to them.

Nikhil barely restrained himself from grabbing his Mackenzie and dragging her from the room, especially when male arms began to envelop her. He knew these were her people, and that they would all want to greet her, but it went against every instinct he had to allow them to touch her with such familiarity. He didn't like that he couldn't understand what was being said, as they were speaking their native language including Mackenzie. But what he couldn't tolerate most was losing sight of her golden, brown hair. Growling, he went to find her.

"I'm fine, Craig, really." Mac moved out of the arms of the man that had become their leader, all because the Ganglians had put the educator on him first. She remembered when she'd first met him. He'd been your typical cocky, good-looking guy, with blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a big, unnaturally white smile. He'd flirted with her, but she instantly knew it was because he was a natural flirt, and she was the only available female. He'd quickly lost that smile. His eyes no longer sparkled, and the blonde hair he always fussed with was now dull and lifeless.

"We were so worried. I wish...”

"There was nothing you could have done." She let her gaze travel over the rest of the group. "Nothing any of you could do. Where's...” A deep, angry growl had her turning to find Nikhil shoving people aside on his way to her. "Nikhil...”

"Mac...” Craig went to step in front of her, but she put a restraining hand on his arm.

"It's alright, Craig. He's not going to harm me." She switched to Kaliszian. "Nikhil, what's wrong?"

"They are touching you," he growled back, the intense glow of his eyes causing several of the guys to take a step back.

"They are just hugging me. It's a common way for us to greet one another," she explained.

"I do not like it."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to not hug my friends just because
you
don't like it. Now I need to talk to them, need to make sure they're all okay. You need to leave."

"You wish for me to leave you? Leave you alone with other males?"

"I'm not going to be with 'other males.' I'm going to be with males that are my friends. Males that have been keeping me safe for a long time."

"They let the Zaludians take you," he said between gritted teeth.

"That's not their fault." She turned and knew what Nikhil thought when he looked at the guys all huddled together. He believed they had been unwilling to protect her, but she knew better. "We're safe here, aren't we? No one’s going to attack us, are they?

"Of course, no one will! You are all protected here!" Nikhil told her.

"Then there is no reason I can't be alone with my friends."

Nikhil didn't like his Ashe's logic. He especially didn't like that she was right. Logically, he knew he couldn't be constantly at her side, but he would prefer to know she was safely secured in his quarters when he wasn't with her.

"Please, Nikhil."

Nikhil hated that he couldn't deny her something she wanted. Especially, when there was no reason to, except for the fact that he didn't like it. "I will, but I will return for you later. You rest with me."

"Nikhil...”

"It is that, or I carry you out of here now, and your... friends can fend for themselves."

Nikhil's hard look told her he would do just that if she didn't agree. And really, did she want to sleep away from him? "Alright," she agreed softly.

Nikhil nodded stiffly, almost hating that she had agreed. He would have preferred to be forced to carry her back to their quarters. "Warriors Onp and Nroa are just outside the doors. If you need anything, let them know, and they will contact me."

"Alright, but everything will be fine," she reassured him. Nikhil didn't reply. Instead, he lowered his head, capturing her lips with a kiss that left no doubt who she belonged to, then giving the males behind her a hard glare, spun on his heel and forced himself to leave her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Nikhil's hands were fisted as he walked out the doors of the survivors’ area. His heart was pounding, his jaw was clenched, and he found his breath was coming in short pants.

"Is something wrong, Squad Leader?" Onp asked carefully, earning himself Nikhil's harsh glare.

"The female I just escorted into the area," Nikhil began.

"She is the one found in the mines."

"Yes. You are to guard her with your life, or I will end yours! She is my True Mate."

"What?!!" Onp and Nroa exclaimed in unison.

"She. Is. My. True. Mate." Nikhil repeated through clenched lips. "She wears my bead." He lifted the braid that now only held his Ashe Bead. "If there are
any
problems, you are to notify me immediately!"

"Yes, Squad Leader!"

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Mac watched Nikhil until the doors closed behind him, then turned and discovered every eye staring at her curiously. Feeling her cheeks flush, she cleared her throat. "So how are you guys really?" she asked moving closer.

"What was that all about?" Craig demanded.

"What?"

"He kissed you! You talked to him in
his
language!"

"Yes and yes." She ran an agitated hand through her hair, tucking some of it behind her ear. "Look, there's a lot that we need to talk about. A lot you need to know, but right now you know who I want to see. Where?"

"I'm right here." The low, husky voice came from the back corner. Making her way between the guys, Mac finally found the cape-wrapped, hood-pulled-low person she was looking for sitting on one of the cots.

Mac felt her eyes fill as her gaze settled on her friend. God, had she looked that pitiful when Nikhil found her? No wonder he had rushed her out of that mine. Slowly, she sat down. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. The guys helped get me out of the mine."

"And no one noticed?"

"They were all too worried about some incoming storm."

"Oh." Mac hadn't known there had been a storm.

"What happened to you after the Zaludians took you?" Jen's eyes filled with tears and guilt. "Oh God, I'm so sorry about that, Mac."

"It wasn't your fault," Mac immediately tried to reassure her. "It wasn't anyone’s fault."

"You could have gotten into the cave," Jen whispered.

"And then what? What were we going to do then? Let the Zaludians kill the guys one by one to force me out? Let them find
you
?" Mac took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart as she remembered how terrified she'd been, thinking she was going to be raped like the Jerboaian females had been. She hadn't been, and she forced her thoughts away from what might have happened and looked at the group around them. She needed to help them.

"I was told you received food," she looked up to Craig for confirmation.

"We did," he confirmed. "Packets. Last night and this morning."

"That's what I got too." She didn't tell them how Nikhil had fed her the meal the night before. "And I see they brought you cots and blankets."

"Yes," Craig continued to answer.

"New coverings?"

"Coverings?"

"Sorry. Clothes? They said you were shown the cleansing room and given new clothes."

"We did receive new clothes, but weren't 'shown' how to use the cleansing room. But we figured it out."

"Good."

"Mac...” A thin, pale hand, crisscrossed with scars reached out to grip hers. "Tell us what we need to know."

"I will, but first, let me get a look at you." Carefully she pulled back the hood that covered her friend's face, and felt her breath hitch. Somehow she'd forgotten how bad the damage to the left side of Jennifer's face was. Refusing to let Jen see how her injury affected her, Mac gave her a teary smile. "Hi. I've missed you."

"Oh God, Mac. I've missed you too."

The men closed ranks, even as they uncomfortably shuffled their feet and looked away as the two women hugged. Jen was the first to pull away, and pulled her hood back up. And although she didn't pull it as low, she turned so the damaged side of her face was away from the guys.

"Tell us, Mac," Jen said. "Tell us everything you've learned."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Treyvon was surprised to see Nikhil enter the training field. He silently watched as Nikhil, stripped to the waist, and put Warrior Parlan through his drills with a single-minded intensity that had the smaller warrior struggling to defend himself. It was not how the Squad Leader normally sparred with those under his command unless he was making a point.

"Squad Leader!" Although Treyvon didn't raise his voice, it was easily heard across the training field, and Nikhil instantly ended his attack on Parlan.

"General." Nikhil turned to face Treyvon.

"A word." Nikhil nodded then looked back to Parlan.

"We will finish this another day, Warrior Parlan." With that, Nikhil walked over to his General.

Treyvon waited until Nikhil neared, then turned and walked to a quieter part of the training field. "I didn't expect to see you here today, Squad Leader. I expected you to stay with your True Mate while Luol completed treating her."

"I did."

"It has been completed?" Treyvon asked surprised.

"Yes. Mackenzie woke early and wished to have the treatment completed and the educator applied."

"Where is she now?"

"She wished to meet with her people, to explain what was happening. Alone."

"And you allowed this?" Treyvon frowned. If he were ever blessed with a True Mate, he'd never let her out of his sight.

"It was her wish and...”

"And?" Treyvon pressed.

"I found I couldn't deny her, not when it was something I would demand if I were in her place."

Treyvon said nothing, just stared at Nikhil until the larger warrior had to look away.

"Warrior Onp and Nroa were guarding the entrance, and I informed them they were to defend my True Mate with their lives, or I would end theirs."

"Justifiable." Treyvon nodded his support then pulled out the sword strapped to his back. "So she was able to understand the information the educator provided?"

"Yes, and Luol has guided her through the educator." Nikhil took a step away from his General and pulled his own sword out.

"She understood the information?" Treyvon asked, stretching slightly.

"Yes, very well. She was even able to associate that information with present day." Nikhil waited for the General to assume his fighting stance. Nikhil always enjoyed sparring with Treyvon. He was the only one that truly challenged him with the power of his sword, and while Nikhil was strong, the General was faster. It was always a good match.

"What do you mean?" When Nikhil just looked at him, Treyvon understood. "She knows my family helped cause the Great Infection."

"Not your
family
, General. An ancestor, but yes."

"I see."

Can she tell us where her Earth is now?" Treyvon asked.

"No."

"You know I will need to speak with her again."

"Yes."

Treyvon gave him the nod, assumed his stance, and the match began.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Parlan ran the portable repair unit over his arm as he watched the General and Nikhil spar. Injuries happened during drills, which was why a unit was always available, but rarely were the injuries caused by Nikhil. The Squad Leader was renowned for always being in control of his blade, of always pulling back at the last minute.

Today, with him, Nikhil did neither; driving him to the ground again, and again while other warriors looked on. It was humiliating because that was the way Squad Leader intended it to be. All because Parlan had dared to speak up to him about the 'humans.'

"It seems you have displeased the Squad Leader," Warrior Gulzar commented as he walked by.

"Shut up, Gulzar!" Parlan spat back. "You will address me with the respect I've earned, or you will be in need of the deep-repair unit after this
Elite
Warrior is done with you."

Gulzar stared at Parlan for a moment. They both came from the same planet of Sustus, but that was the only thing they had in common. Parlan's bloodline held many Elite Warriors while Gulzar was attempting to become the first in his. Few Elites demanded to be addressed with the 'respect' Parlan was referring to. Especially not from one that was so close to joining their ranks, but Gulzar knew he couldn't refuse.

"Of course, Elite Warrior Parlan." Gulzar bowed slightly to him. "I meant no offense, just stating an observation as is part of my training."

"You were taught to
observe,
not
comment
," Parlan fired back.

"Of course, Elite Warrior Parlan."

"The Goddess has blessed you this day, Warrior Gulzar," Parlan told him, dropping the repair unit. "I do not have the time to show you why you will never become an Elite Warrior. I must oversee the survivors. A task the General personally assigned to me."

"An important task indeed," Gulzar agreed. "Especially now that the Squad Leader's True Mate has been found among them."

Parlan was about to spin away when Gulzar's words stopped him. "What are you talking about?!!"

"You have not heard?" Gulzar gave him a surprised look.

"Heard what?" Parlan demanded.

"Squad Leader discovered a severely injured female in the mine. It seems the Zaludians were going to sell her to a Pleasure House. She is his True Mate."

"The Zaludians had a Kaliszian female in that mine?" Parlan couldn't believe he hadn't heard this.

"No. She is one of the new species. The one that call themselves hu... humans."

"That’s impossible! They aren't Kaliszian!"

"Yet she wears his True Mate bead. I saw it myself this morning when she was walking beside Squad Leader Nikhil in the corridor."

Parlan spun around and left without another word.