Pursued (10 page)

“So you’ll dissolve the bond and go on with your life,” Olivia said reasonably.

“Whoa—wait a minute.
Dissolve
the bond?” Kat raised her eyebrows. “I thought that was impossible.”

“It is with most bonds, but ours is fake—artificially created.” The words seemed to stick in Elise’s throat but she forced them out anyway. “Doctor Sylvan—”

“That’s my hubby,” Sophie put in.

“Oh, well, he’s very nice.” Elise smiled at her.

“That reminds me,” Olivia interrupted. “Sophie, could you tell Sylvan to let Merrick know that Elise is with us?”

“Sure.” Sophie got a look of concentration on her face and then nodded at Elise. “Done. Go on, what did Sylvan say?”

“He said there’s a plant that grows on a place called Rageron—”

She was stopped by a gasp from the assembled group. “Really? Rageron?” Kat asked. “I mean, I know it’s one of the Kindred home worlds, but…”

“But what?” Elise demanded. “Please tell me—I need to know what to expect.”

“It’s just supposed to be kind of wild,” Lauren said delicately. “It’s a jungle world, from what I understand.”

“Wild and
dangerous.”
Kat frowned. “Are you sure you have to go there?”

“I don’t think we have any choice.” Elise shrugged. “I mean, we have to get the plant and that’s the only place it grows.”

"Why couldn't Baird go get it for you?" Olivia asked. "That's my husband—he's from Rageron originally so he should know his way around. I bet he could just nip down and get the plant and be back here in no time."

Elise shook her head. "It's nice of you to offer but Dr. Sylvan said it has to be plucked from the vine by the hand of the person who needs it. So Merrick and I are the only ones who can get it."

“Then we’ll have to get you an injection of translation bacteria,” Olivia said practically. “To help you understand what the natives are saying. And don’t be scared, Elise. According to Baird, Rageron is beautiful.”

“And I’m sure it can’t be any worse than Tranq Prime which is where Sylvan is from,” Sophie put in. “It’s a subzero tundra and the people have to live in underground caves called grottos.”

“Uh-huh.” Kat snorted. “And the only thing colder than the surface of the planet are the hearts of its inhabitants—right, Sophie?”

“They are pretty cold,” Sophie admitted. “When Nadiah told us all about what had happened to her there, I wasn’t surprised a bit.”

“Nadiah?” Elise frowned. “Who’s that?”

“Another friend,” Olivia said, smiling. “We were hoping she would wind up here on the Mother Ship with all of us but she’s stuck on First World instead—the original Kindred home planet.”

Sophie sighed. “I wonder how she’s doing? Last time I talked to her she and Rast were still angelically happy—no pun intended. But I certainly do miss her.”

“I miss her too,” Kat said smiling. “Freaky visions and all.”

“It’s true things weren’t dull with her around,” Lauren said. “Hey, Elise, would you like another cupcake?”

“Another?” Looking down at her empty cupcake wrapper, Elise realized she’d finished the enormous chocolate cupcake almost without noticing. “Oh my! I didn’t mean to eat the whole thing.”

Olivia laughed. “The famous last words around here! Only in my case, it’s ‘I didn’t mean to finish the whole
plate.’
” She helped herself to another cupcake, still laughing.

“Chocolate is therapeutic,” Kat lectured, taking a second cupcake herself. “So if you think of it that way—”

“Mistress Kat?” a new, masculine voice interrupted her.

“What?” Kat looked around, startled. “Where did that come from?”

“I think you have a call,” Lauren said.

“Oh, all right.” Kat got up and pressed a button on a black cube-like device. A blue holographic image of a Kindred warrior’s head suddenly expanded, hovering over the cube.

“I am communications officer Jarule. Pardon me for interrupting your female bonding,” the head said. “But I was told by Commander Sylvan this was where I might find the Earth female, Elise Darden.”

“Yes, I’m here.” Elise felt suddenly uneasy. “What can I do for you?”

“You have a call in the viewing room. An Earth male who is most distraught,” the warrior told her. “He says he is your fiancé and that you were kidnapped and taken aboard the Mother Ship. He demands to know what has become of you. Will you speak with him?”

Elise groaned. “Oh no, James…” Of
course
her fiancé was upset. He was probably missing his flight to Japan while he tried to track her down.

Sophie looked at her sympathetically. “You’d probably better go and explain about the trip to Rageron,” she said.

Elise groaned again and put a hand to her head. The trip to another planet—she’d almost forgotten about that. James was just going to
love
hearing that she was going light years away with another male—especially the one he thought had kidnapped her in the first place.

“I’ll come with you if you want,” Olivia offered. “For moral support.”

“Thanks.” Elise nodded gratefully. “That would help.” She had a sudden inspiration. “Um, do you think you could try to explain that I
have
to go, for medical reasons? Without telling him…”

“About the bond? Sure.” Olivia nodded understandingly. “Of course I can. I’ll do my best strict nurse routine for him. That should do the trick.”

“I hope so.” Elise sighed. “I really hope so.”

“Don’t worry.” Olivia struggled to her feet, helped by a gentle push from her sister. “We’ve got this. Let’s go.”

As expected, her fiancé was livid.

“Elise!” he exploded, the minute she and Olivia walked into the viewing room. “Do you realize I’m going to be late to my business conference because of this nonsense?
What
is going on?”

Elise opened her mouth, trying to think of an explanation that wouldn’t send the already angry James into the stratosphere, but Olivia beat her to it.

“Elise is very ill, Mr.…”

“Blaisdon,” he said impatiently. “And she looks perfectly fine to me.”

“Are you a medical professional?” Olivia snapped, her grey eyes flashing.

“Well, no…” James seemed taken aback by her attack. “But who are you?”

“I’m Elise’s nurse,” Olivia said frostily. “And I’m sorry to inform you that your fiancée has a very rare but serious illness called stasis sickness.”

“Really?” James looked genuinely distressed. “Darling, is this true?” he asked Elise.

“I’m afraid so.” Elise nodded, feeling guilty for not telling him the whole story. “I’m sorry, James.”

“It’s not your fault if you’re ill, darling.” He looked at Olivia. “What can be done for her? Is it curable?”

She nodded. “It is, but unfortunately we don’t have the necessary medicine here on the Mother Ship. Elise is going to have to visit Rageron, one of the other Kindred home worlds, to be cured.”

“What?” James began to look less worried and more displeased. “Are you seriously saying she has to go to an entirely different
planet
to be cured? That seems rather excessive.”

“Do you want her to be well in time for your wedding or not?” Olivia demanded, glaring at him.

“Well, yes, of
course
I do,” he protested, obviously caught off balance again. “I mean, it’s only a month away now.”

Just a month.
Elise had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The date of the wedding had been set for ages but she’d somehow managed to forget it was quite
that
close. She’d taken care of the details months ago and then promptly put the whole thing to the back of her mind.
The way I put James to the back of my mind. So far back I forgot him completely,
she thought, another wave of guilt sweeping over her.

James looked at Olivia anxiously. “Will Elise be home in time for the wedding? It will mean a fearful amount of rescheduling if she isn’t.”

“Don’t worry about that,” a deep, familiar voice growled from behind them.

Elise turned with a start to see Merrick standing there, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest.

“Ah, so it’s you again.” James gave the big Kindred a most unwelcoming look. “Am I to take it that
you
will be accompanying
my
fiancé to this other planet for treatment?”

“That’s right.” Merrick nodded insolently. “But don’t worry, I’ll have her back in time for your joining ceremony.” He gave Elise an inscrutable look. “All healed up and good as new.”

“I don’t like this,” James blustered. “I don’t like it one bit. I
insist
on having a second opinion. And I think
I
should be the one to accompany Elise to this other planet.”

“
You
on Rageron?” Merrick barked laughter. “Sorry, buddy, but I don’t think you’d last very long in one of your own jungles on Earth, let alone the Deep Blue.”

“The Deep Blue?” Elise said. “What’s that?”

Merrick spared her a glance. “It’s what they call the darkest, most inaccessible part of the jungle on Rageron. It’s the only place the pain vine grows.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.” James’ voice on the viewscreen was shrill and his face was red. “It sounds dangerous.”

“It is,” Merrick growled. “But then, so am I.” He gave James a level look. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Elise and bring her back to you in one piece. Then the two of you can be joined and live happily ever-fucking-after. All right?”

James looked like he wanted to protest more but Elise spoke up.

“Please, James, it’s the only way I can be healed,” she said. “I know it puts a crimp in our plans and I’m sorry for that. But I promise I’ll be back…back in time for our wedding.” The words seemed to stick in her throat but she forced them out anyway.

James was still frowning but at least now he looked somewhat mollified. “Well, if you’re certain this is the only way…”

“It is,” Olivia said firmly.

“And you can guarantee my fiancée’s safety,” he continued, looking at Merrick.

“I guarantee it.” The big Kindred nodded.

James sighed and threw up his hands. “Well, I still don’t like it but I guess I have no choice. I’ll see you in a month, darling.” He nodded at Elise.

“Or possibly sooner,” Olivia said helpfully.

“As long as she’s back in time for our wedding,” James said. He looked at Elise. “My mother’s put in a lot of work on this and I don’t have to tell you how upset she’ll be if you spoil the big occasion, darling.”

“Yes, I know,” Elise muttered. Her future mother-in-law wasn’t exactly one of her favorite people. Luckily she lived in London and rarely visited but she’d still managed to put in her two cents on almost every single detail of the upcoming wedding. It was one reason Elise had been so happy to have the whole thing planned and out of mind.

“Well then.” James clapped his hands together in a gesture of finality. “If that’s all there is to be said then I should get going. I can still make the next flight to Japan if I hurry.”

“Go on then, don’t miss your flight again,” Elise urged him.

“Very well. I love you, darling.” James blew her a kiss which she pretended to catch. It was a ritual with them but Elise couldn’t help feeling silly doing it in front of Merrick.

“Um, I love you too,” she said. It wasn’t exactly the most rousing display of affection but James didn’t seem to notice. Now that Elise’s situation was all squared away, he was probably already thinking of his business trip and how he would explain his tardiness to the Japanese businessmen he’d be meeting.

“Be safe,” he told her. He gave Merrick one last frown and then the viewscreen went blank.

“Well, well…so your joining is in less than a month.” Merrick was giving her an inscrutable look, his mismatched eyes narrowed.

“More or less.” Elise crossed her arms over her breasts protectively.

“Another little detail you forgot to tell me.” His deep voice was flat.

“No, another detail I haven’t been
thinking
about,” Elise snapped. “I’ve been a little too busy to focus on my wedding, what with being kidnapped, tortured, put in stasis, taken out of stasis, and forming a fake bond that apparently means absolutely nothing with
you.”

The minute she said the words she wished she could call them back, but it was too late. Merrick’s eyes flashed briefly and then his face went blank. “Don’t worry about it,” he growled softly. “You’ll be free of the bond—and me—before you know it. We leave for Rageron tonight.”

“Merrick, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” Elise put a hand on his arm. “It’s just…this is all extremely stressful. You know how I
really
feel, don’t you?”

“No, and neither do you.” He shook off her hand. “Like you said, all our feelings are a lie. As fake as our bond.”

Elise caught her breath. His words felt like a barb in her heart. “Merrick…”

But he was already turning away. “Be ready,” he said, over his shoulder. “This won’t be an easy trip.”

And then he was gone, leaving Elise feeling even more wretched than she had earlier, if that was possible.

“My Lady, I would speak to you if you permit it.”

Nadiah looked up slowly from the scroll she’d been studying—an ancient thing, written on parchment which was cracked and fragile with age. It was one of the oldest documents in the temple library…and yet, it was still less than a thousand years old. She’d been hoping to find something older, something from the time when Rast’s father had been the ruler of First World, but so far her search had turned up nothing.

“My Lady?” Lissa asked again and Nadiah realized she’d been lost in thought.

“Yes, of course,” she said, smiling and pushing the scroll carefully to one side. She wore white gloves made of
grantham
silk to handle it, as the curator of the library had instructed her. They felt like spider webs against her fingers and she drew them off with some difficulty, afraid she would rip their fragile fabric.

“Forgive me,” Lissa said, coming to stand at her side. “I know it is impertinent of me to address the
Lysell
in such an informal way but, well…” She twisted her fingers together, seeming unable to go on.