Read The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6) Online

Authors: Donna McDonald

Tags: #Science Fiction Romance, #Paranormal romance, #Fantasy

The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6) (16 page)

BOOK: The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6)
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“He will not come. He told me he is not coming. I will be dancing for strangers, just like I did in my father’s canton.”

Zandala laughed. “The Siren’s ego is wounded perhaps, but he will come. When you dance for him, I think he will feel it. Your power is strong and will call out for an answer. He would be a fool to remain silent.”

“Are you an intuitive?” Seta asked.

Zandala bowed her head. “I am a lot of things. Right now what I am is happy to see you express yourself in front of people who long to accept you. By now the whole canton knows it was your power which helped Endara move the large rocks. She’s shown nearly everyone how she can make the little ones dance.”

“Infamy was not why I helped.”

“Of course it wasn’t,” Zandala validated. “Females don’t measure the cost of helping. They just do what must be done. I saw you helping move rocks the hard way long before Endara was brought. Now stand still and let me finish my task.”

“I don’t know why I even care what the Siren thinks. He said I was his destiny. Now he wants to give me away. Do you have a mate?” Seta asked.

Zandala smiled as she shook her head. “No. Not yet, but I favor Crill. He is Garmon’s second and thinks he is too busy to spend time in my arms. He is wrong. I am wearing him down. Garmon teases him about being foolish for refusing me.”

Seta snorted. “Many pleased eyes watch you dance, Zandala. Do you dance only for Crill?”

“Each and every time, sister. Each and every time,” Zandala said sincerely, finally standing up. She was eyeball to eyeball with the most interesting female she had ever met. “You deserve the Siren’s full devotion. Power will not comfort you in the dark of night when no welcoming arms are around you. I had welcoming arms around me once. Suzerain Trax took them away. I lacked the power to change my fate, but you are not a female like me.”

Seta couldn’t answer—not truthfully. She had no idea what she wanted, except to make sure Ji never looked at her coldly again. “I wish you luck with dancing for Crill tonight. Thank you for the costume, Zandala.”

“My pleasure,” Zandala replied. “Come now, mover of rocks. Let’s dance for our stubborn males.”

***

 

Endara stood waiting for the two males to notice her. Finally the pretty one did. Looking at him always made her smile. “They’re dancing for you and you’re missing it,” she taunted.

Ji looked at Crill. “Is she trying to tell us something?” He watched the male sigh. “Yes. Zandala is dancing tonight. This little one sees too much for someone so young. There is no keeping secrets from her.”


My sister dances for
you
,” she declared loudly, pointing her finger at her sister’s male.

One of Ji’s eyebrows raised. “Are you telling me Seta is dancing?”

The answer was a wild giggle as Endara ran off. No, she had to be teasing him.

Crill sighed. “Seeing the eyes of other males on Zandala is becoming more than I can tolerate. Each costume she wears is more revealing than the last. She had done this on purpose to torment me. She knows my patience is waning.”

“I don’t think Endara is telling the complete truth. I can’t imagine Seta dancing. Her memories of doing so in her father’s canton are too bad,” Ji said, loading his choices into a tactical bag.

“To the best of my knowledge Endara has never lied. Are you willing to take the chance and miss seeing your female dance for you? I thought Sirens were supposed to be possessive of their females. If you don’t want Seta, Garmon is very interested. In fact, I’ve never seen him so interested in a female.”

Ji stopped him with a look. “I didn’t say I didn’t want her.”

Crill laughed and held out his hand for the bag. “We can finish this later. You’ve already made all the important decisions.”

Sighing, Ji handed the bag to Crill. “All except one. If I get out of hand tonight tell Garmon to use the strongest sedative he owns and knock me out.”

Ji watched Crill laugh at his confession, but then no one had ever seen a Siren on Ethos before. None of them knew what a torture mating was for his kind.

“It is not a joke. Remember what I said,” Ji ordered, walking ahead of the Ethosian.

***

 

Seta looked at herself in the full mirror. The costume was beautiful, but her hair was a terrible mix of fairest blonde with the darkest of black streaks. She hated it.

Could you not have given me something less dramatic, Zorinda? All of it brown would have been a better choice.

Is that an order?
Zorinda asked.

Seta laughed.
No. I’ll save the orders for more important matters. Consider it a request. And thank you for helping Endara move the rocks. I am grateful, as are these people.

It is my job to serve you. Which is why I warn you now—your Siren comes to us—to you.

Seta lifted an eyebrow as her face flushed. Her excitement over him seeing her dressed as she was caused flutters very different from Zorinda’s presence.

I think you were right the first time. There is no me any longer. There is only us, Zorinda. I am working to accept you are part of me. Please do not make me regret it.”

Your acceptance pleases me, Seta Trax. Are you going to keep the Siren in our life?

Seta sighed at the question.
If I do, Ji will bend my will to his. It is his nature.

I vow not to let him bend it until you break. I like your strength of character. I will let no male steal it from you.

Seta nodded, feeling relieved Zorinda understood. Her head bouncing was an odd action to do in the mirror and brought a smile to her face.

When Rena left for good, I felt alone—more alone than I had ever felt in my life. Your presence has brought me more comfort than even Ji’s arms holding me at night. When I die, may the Creators release you from your sacred contract. This may be as early as tomorrow if things don’t go as well as I hope. Since I’m telling everyone my secrets, I figured I might as well confess to you.

Your death will not come easily. Think of what you want done and I will make it so. You have only to ask. I cannot act alone except in very small ways.

Thank you. Can you show me what you used to look like? I would like to see you.

Seta sent the question silently
.
Before her, the mirror blurred and reformed until a hazy image of a dark-haired female appeared.

I can see why you want me to have dark hair, and I once wanted it myself, but seeing it on me is like looking at a stranger. Perhaps you could give me some light shade of brown? It would a compromise between us.

The glass rippled as the image in it faded without answering. Who knew what color of hair she was going to get? She hoped Ji had been serious about liking her even if she shaved it off because she was never going be able to live with black hair.

In a musical tinkle of metal, she walked to the opening to watch the other dancers finishing their opening dance. No sooner had they stopped than her music started filling the air.

Raising her arms, she let herself be transported back to a time when her heart had been young enough to still hope the right male would see her and fall desperately in love. So much had changed since that young girl existed. She thought of Rena leaving. She thought of Zorinda trapped inside her. Her destiny had wound itself on a trail of changes reaching across the star system from Ethos and back.

The future for the female she had become was unknown. Tomorrow really could be her death day, her greatest failure, and her last chance to avenge the dual-sibling she loved as much as herself. So little was in her control. Her heart was full of anger and distrust, enough to fill the mine Garmon’s people were trapped in. Perhaps there was only one thing she was capable of having the way she wanted. She could make sure the Siren who loved her never looked at her coldly again.

For tonight, she would let his claiming be enough.

***

 

The first thing Ji saw was a fire light circle of dancers. On the end, a grinning Endara sat tucked securely against Garmon’s chest. Ji walked over to the male and slid into a seat beside him.

“Okay Endara. I am here,” Ji said, tipping the giggling girl under the chin.

Garmon snorted and looked at him. “If you leave Seta in my canton, I will eventually mate her, Ji. You will regret it until your dying day. For all her protests, she is only for you, Siren. Look. . .and you better make the right decision.”

Ji turned to the circle and there in the center was Seta. She spun to the beat of the music, her arms and legs turning in time with her steps. She would slow and weave her arms in a sensuous welcome, then turn quickly and flee accompanied by the sound of a thousand bells. Once his gaze rested on her, he was unable to look away.

He stood when he saw Crill walk to stand in a spot near the edge of the circle.

“Go,” Garmon ordered harshly. “Or I will.”

Ji sighed and walked to take a stance near Crill. “What now?” he asked.

“We enjoy the dance. Then we claim our females,” Crill said, a grin on his face. “Zandala is older than me. There may be no children. I don’t care anymore. I just want her. Do you feel that way about Seta?”

Ji nodded. “Yes. I just want her. I didn’t think she wanted me.”

“Some females never admit it, except like this,” Crill said, holding out his hand to indicate the dance.

Ji pondered the statement. Yes. He didn’t expect Seta ever would admit she loved him. Did she want him more than she could admit? Perhaps even more than she realized?

When his attention returned to the present, Seta’s actions had slowed until she shook slower and slower. His gaze finally left her body to reach her eyes, which were only on him. She bent forward and shook her shoulders. She bent backwards, her bowed body reminding him of the first pleasure he’d given her.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her—but then she hadn’t taken hers off of him either. Hope blossomed at the knowledge. The determination he had built his career with now focused itself on a more long-term project than a mere captaincy. His smile was radiant when Seta spun one final time and landed gracefully on the stone beneath her feet.

He heard the thunderous applause but his gaze never wavered. He didn’t care what anyone else felt about her. He only cared about making her his in every way possible. He did spare one glance at a tight-jawed Garmon, but he couldn’t concern himself with the Ethosian’s lost campaign for Seta’s affection. He wanted to make Seta completely his before they had to face her tyrant of a sire again.

She walked to him, her clothing a jingle of sound. He raised a hand to halt her progress until she obeyed and stopped. Stepping out to her, he circled around her body. “Talented. Beautiful. Alluring. These are the words which describe you tonight.”

Seta ducked her head so Ji wouldn’t see how pleased she was with his praise. “You have used many others words to describe me which were not so nice.”

“And I will probably do so again—from time to time—but things have a way of balancing out as they are meant to. You know what I want from you, Seta Trax. I’m sorry Rena could not be here to witness this moment. Was dancing for me your way of accepting my claim?”

Seta lifted her gaze to Ji. Endara was right. He was very pretty, especially with that satisfied look in his eye. He was also the sexiest male she had seen on any ship or planet. Perhaps she would eventually learn to enjoy feeling aroused every time she glanced at him, instead of feeling resentful.

“Rena gave her blessing to our relationship in her last communication with me. I never shared it with you because I could not see it mattered.”

“It matters greatly to me, and yet I still await
your
answer. Will you be my perfect mate, Sweet Joy?” Ji asked quietly.

Seta looked at Crill, hugging a hugely smiling Zandala. She didn’t glance at Garmon because she knew he would just have a resigned look on his face. The Ethosian was not for her.

But the Siren was.

She bowed her head solemnly. “From now until my life is no more, I am for you, Ji Warro. I accept you as my mate.”

Ji held out a trembling hand, hoping his control held together until they managed to walk back to their quarters. “Can you wear your dress back to our quarters?”

Seta nodded. Her body made music as she followed Ji out of the circle.

Chapter 16

 

Ji disappeared into the cleansing area the moment they returned. Seta walked around, listening to the metal singing in her nervousness. She felt Zorinda stirring and stopped.

Speak. I am listening. My fear is large and I need a distraction
, she sent to the being inside her.

The Siren cannot completely claim you with his body in check. Do you wish me to make sure his energy remains constrained? It would delay the matter.

Am I likely to die tomorrow?
Seta asked.

Unknown. But I will do my best to prevent it
, Zorinda returned.

Will he be uncontrollable if we destroy his implants?

Seta could practically see Zorinda shrugging.

I never knew a male of his species. There are—rumors. Lt. Zade was able to control himself during mating. Ji is less intense, more reserved. Mating is always a risk.

“So I hear,” Seta said aloud.

When Ji walked out the cleansing area, he looked almost as nervous as she felt. To see the Siren so undone had her mouth twitching. The decision came easier than she could ever have imagined.

Destroy the implants, Zorinda. Try not to hurt him any more than necessary. And help me bear the Siren’s call. I heard the cord forming made Commander Jet ill
, Seta sent.

All will be as you wish,
Zorinda answered.

Seta walked to Ji. “There is something you must accept before we take this final step. Hold out your arms.” She put her hands over the implants and felt Zorinda’s energy leave through her hands. Ji hissed.

BOOK: The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6)
3.35Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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