Pact (4 page)

It was fine that he had different inclinations, but to ignore the duty that he had sworn to engage in left Mila in a static position with her body slowly degrading.

If Mila’s personal instincts had not driven her to seek and find her own compatible meals, she would have been dead before she arrived on Lrrko, or her body could have shut down production of the cells they so desperately needed.

He had defied the very reason that he had agreed to leave Lrrko, and it was for breaking his oath and ignoring his duty to keep his charge comfortable that would end his life.

Hrakin went to the com and checked in. Since he had a Bride away from the city, he had to maintain daily contacts and updates.

Mila would sleep for a few hours, and he could order the supplies he needed for her in the meantime.

When she woke, he would make sure she ate, and then, they would go for a walk. He had to get her to control the strength she could access to keep her safe as well as those around her. Since he was the only one near her currently, it was in his best interest to make sure she kept herself under control.

* * * *

The light was different when she woke up, and Mila assessed the room before she got up. The pillow on the other side of the bed was dented.

“Okay. That is different.” She got up and looked around the room until she found the sliding panel that opened to the lav. A quick use of the facilities, a light solar shower and dragging a brush through her hair and she was ready to go in search of food.

When she came out of the lav, a bot was straightening the bed and another chirped and whirled over to present her with her clothing.

A few moments later, she was dressed and could smell food. She went in search of the origin of the scent of a meal.

It had to be a kitchen, because it was full of counters, pots and pans, and a series of covered plates.

Hrakin smiled as she came in. “Good. I was going to give you one more hour and then come looking for you.”

He stirred the pan he was working on, and then, he wandered over to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek before leading her to a tall chair set against the counter. The plates were in front of her, each covered and radiating with heat.

She took the eating prong that he passed her and gave him a quizzical look. “What now?”

“Try everything. Drink water in between each taste and let me know which you consider palatable. I haven’t bothered cooking for some time, so I am not confident in the end result.”

He got a pitcher of water and a glass for her, filling it and then returning to his work at the stove.

She lifted the lid off the first selection and set the lid aside. The kaleidoscope of vegetables and small slivers of meat looked like one of the better stir-fries she had ever seen. She took a forkful and brought it to her mouth. The strange aromas of the vegetables struck her nose, but her mouth watered.

The first bite was heaven, but she followed directions, covered it and moved on to the next. The second food had the eggplant texture that she tended to throw up. She capped it quickly and moved on to the next.

The third plate was mostly meat and a light sauce. It was perfectly lovely, and she reluctantly went on to the fourth. Another dud.

She glanced over at where he was sliding another selection onto a fifth plate. He brought it over and smiled. “Be careful, it is hot.”

She forked up some of the weird, puffy noodles with vegetables slivered into them and raised her eyebrows. It tasted like popcorn.

She sat and drank the water. “Okay. I have picked my favourites. What next?”

“Eat what you can of them. I ate before I started cooking. It seemed safer.” He didn’t hover. He went back into the kitchen and put away the unused food as well as the dishes.

She picked out the plates of one, three and five and left the other two covered. She ate, drank water and made it three-quarters of the way through all three plates before she felt full.

“Sorry. I wish I could eat more.”

“You have eaten plenty. Enough to compensate for the day that you slept through.” He came over and took the uneaten plates away before he returned.

“I slept an entire day?” Mila was shocked. “Really?”

“Really. I had to call Alveck when you passed the thirteen-hour mark. He checked your scans again, and you definitely had a buildup of chemicals in your bloodstream that could indicate extreme fatigue. For the next two days, you are to eat, rest and explore the immediate area.”

She smiled slowly at him. “I think I can manage that.”

“Good. Your new clothing is on the way. There are a few items that you will need for this environment that are not included in your current clothing selection.”

“Right. Makes sense. Now, what are we going to do?”

“Leave the dishes to the bots and step outside. There is a whole new environment out there, and you need to get accustomed to it.” He held out his hand. “Shall we?”

For her answer, Mila slid her skin along his in a slow movement before gripping his hand. “Let’s get started.”

The gardens were huge and full of vegetables.

“What do you do with the surplus when you aren’t home?”

“I have the bots load it into a container, and they ship it to the market in the city. Nothing is wasted. The stalks and leaves are mulched and recycled as compost.”

Mila looked around at the walls of stone that surrounded them. “How did you pick this place?”

“The spot called to me. The minerals in the stone allow me to create an electromagnetic charge that can knock vehicles out of the sky and stun intruders. It is a nicely defensible position.”

Mila looked at the thin crystalline veins running up the stone walls. “Right. Of course that is what you would look for in a home.”

“I wasn’t looking for a home. I was looking for a refuge. The few Lrrko that survive to be my age are a little tired of the bustle of the cities.”

“How old are you?” She cocked her head. It hadn’t occurred to her that the Elders were actually old. They didn’t look old.

“I have entered my second century. My genetic profile indicates that I have at least another century to go. My line is long lived.”

She nodded as if she knew what that meant. “So, the Lrrko reproduce exclusively by cloning?”

“Yes, we are an awkward fit for most species on the genetic level. We can mate with other species, but there are few that will produce a Lrrko.”

“So, the mating in those cases is for companionship purposes. That makes a certain sense.”

“We are still males in search of females, for the most part.” He squeezed her hand.

She squeezed back. “Now that I have been dropped in your lap, whatever will you do with me?”

“If you had been dropped in my lap, I would know exactly what to do with you.” He pulled her against him and kissed her.

The surprise she felt quickly gave way to fascination at the care that he was taking with her. He gently held her head as his lips stroked hers.

She appreciated the size of his hands as they nearly covered her skull, and the kiss was designed to arouse her, not seduce her. Mila catalogued every sensation, including her hands pressing against his chest and slowly moving over the tight material that covered him.

The fabric that their clothing was made of had a thick feel, and she suspected that it was some kind of body armour. The seals had magnetic elements that held them tight to the body and reinforced the smooth line of the garment. The fabric itself was so faithful to the skin that it was almost like touching naked flesh.

He raised his head and smiled. “Now for the tour.”

She blinked as her world righted itself. “Um. What was the kiss for?”

“Well, your normal Familiar would have had a few weeks to get you accustomed to his touch. I am starting late and, therefore, must make up for the lost time.”

“What is the obsession with a sexual relationship?” She bit her lip and tasted him. Blushing at the heat that the small sample sent through her, she kept her face turned away from him.

“The purpose of a Familiar is to keep you content. Sex is part of that. Also, if you feel affection toward me, you will select me to be the genetic donor for your heir. It is an archaic method for an attachment, but I have been assured by Lynni that it works.”

She glanced at him, and the clear-cut line of his lips was curled in amusement.

She exhaled heavily. “It does work, but it is still sneaky. I was told what would be expected of me, but somehow, I never thought that sex would actually happen.”

He snorted and led her through the gardens to a narrow track that had been created along the periphery of the property.

“Didn’t you engage in recreational sex where you were?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Not as often as it was offered. The feeling of connection wasn’t there, so there wasn’t any point of seeking out someone for an orgasm that I could manage on my own.”

He nodded. “It makes a certain sense. The effort of connection sometimes dulls the experience.”

“Exactly.” She smiled.

“So, if you had time to get used to someone, the effort would have been accomplished and you would be able to relax with your partner.”

Blinking, she considered that. “Right.”

“So, all the small gestures that I make, the touches, the kisses. They are all to assure you that I am not going anywhere and that I will be here when you want me.”

“Once I am assured, what will the kisses be for?”

He winked at her. “To make sure that you want me.”

She laughed. “And so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Or circular logic.”

“Lovely.” She shook her head. “What is this?”

“It is a running track. Alveck said your cardio needs work.”

“I am glad he was so thorough. Why didn’t he tell me?”

“Medical reports go to the Familiar so we can act on them. Since you just cycled, you have a few weeks to work on increasing your fitness.”

“Can I start now?”

“Certainly.”

Mila stepped away from him and looked at the track. She may as well start with a light jog and see if she could keep her meal down. She felt good, but it was up to a bit of jostling to determine if that was the case.

She started at an easy jog, increasing her speed until she was comfortable with the pace. The pace that she was moving at was impressive by her standards, but her standards were not that high.

The shoes that were built into her leggings did a pretty good job of cushioning her feet.

As she ran, her hands tingled, and she had the urge to try and climb the slick wall. She balled her hands into fists, but the urge to climb was still there. She watched the wall for any signs of handholds, but there wasn’t anything.

After an hour or so of running around the compound, she slowed and headed for the house. On the wide stone patio, Hrakin was standing near a number of rocks in a knee-high pile.

“What are those for?”

He held out wide strips of fabric. “Hold out your hands.”

She extended her left hand, and he wrapped it carefully, allowing her fingers free movement. He took the other strip and wrapped it around her right hand.

“Now, pick up the rocks and follow whatever your reflexes want to do.”

“What do you think is going to happen?”

“I think you are going to shatter those stones.” He smiled.

She reached down and picked up two similarly shaped stones.

The moment she settled them in her palms, her hands contracted and the rocks shattered.

“What the hell?”

Hrakin checked her hands and then nodded. “Do it again.”

She crushed another two stones and another and another. A growing pile of gravel was accumulating around her feet.

When she held the stones and her body didn’t urge her to crush them, she sighed with relief. “I think I am done.”

He checked her hands again and unwrapped them. They were red and a little sensitive but not damaged.

Her time in the tank had renewed her skin so all of her callouses and scars were a thing of the past. Her hands were soft for the first time she could remember, and this was precisely the time she didn’t want them to be.

“So, that is what the strangler thing is about, huh?”

He nodded. “Abnormal strength exhibited in the extremities. There have even been some records of a warrior using his feet for that purpose.”

Mila look down and wiggled her toes. She could pick up pens with them, so perhaps she could do a little more. She would need to take her lower clothing off to try it, and adrenalin would be required.

“So, getting my heartrate up kicks in the urge to use my hands. I nearly climbed up one of those walls. It was a very near thing.” She shivered.

“If you had made a move for it, I would have pulled you off. We will get to rock climbing eventually, but for now, crushing rock with your hands is a good exercise when you get the mood. I will make sure to keep the rock pile out here as long as you promise to wrap your hands each time.”

Mila smiled up at his concerned face. “I promise.”

It was another impulse that made her jump at him so that he caught her against him. She kissed him, and it was even more fun than the other way round.

One of Hrakin’s hands was on her back, and the other one cupped her ass. She wrapped her legs around his waist and carefully held onto his shoulders, not wanting to damage him.

When she had his full cooperation, she pulled back with a smile. “Well, that was a productive first day.”

He shifted his hands, and they were both holding her up via her buttocks. “That was quite the jump. So, what would you like to do next?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I would like to do some reading and possibly get a tour of the kitchen and the foods that I ate. I am used to providing meals for myself, and if I can’t buy my food, at least I can learn to prepare it.”

“I don’t know if we can manage that in our current positions.”

“Then, perhaps you should put me down.”

He sighed. “You have named the one thing that I don’t want to do.”

“Well, as you outrank me, you can decide what happens next. As long as it involves a data pad, I am all yours.” She gave him a quick peck.