The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6) (3 page)

“What Siren suitor?” Seta demanded. “Who is trying to buy me?”

“His name is Ji Warro. He told us only that he served with you on a ship. . .Uhhh. . .I can’t talk while you’re choking me,” he protested, stumbling as she dropped him abruptly back down to the floor. He was still in shock that Seta had been able to lift his considerable weight. “The Siren says you are already his.”

Snorting at the arrogance of the male who had evidently followed her to Ethos, no matter that she had not wished it, she still didn’t bother trying to explain Ji to Arghane. It was none of his business.

“He said I was his? If so, it is only in his dreams,” Seta declared.

Resigned to dealing with the added complication, she trudged to the gallery to face both males who thought they owned her. It was Ji’s own fault he was about to lose a fortune for no good reason. Her father was going to demand an exorbitant union price from him and would still bargain for use of her tracking skills if he could manage it. Of this, she had no doubt.

“Hands off if you value your life,” Seta warned when she felt Arghane’s touch on her arm again. His tentative hold became a whisper of air near her skin instead.

The rest of their walk was made in total silence.

Chapter 3

Lifting her chin, Seta swallowed her repulsion and strolled into the receiving gallery. Inside, she headed straight to the platform where her father sat waiting for her. The last time she had been summoned before him it was to be informed she had a second suitor. Damaged from the abuse of her and Rena’s first mate, her sire had decided it best to make separate second unions for her and Rena the second time. Citing a compassion for their poor first match, a compassion she had known better than to believe, he had agreed to unions with two younger males.

Rena’s male never made an appearance. However, the second male who paid her own union price had been very young—much younger than her. Perhaps he had been decent as well, but she had not lingered long enough to find out his character. She had seen him only once, but well recalled the entire day of grooming she had endured before being presented to him.

In contrast, the male who waited for her now was not young at all. He was decent in most things, so far as she had seen in her time with him. The Siren’s worst flaw was being more arrogant than any male she had ever encountered on Ethos.

As if her thoughts about his nature had asked for evidence of the understanding, she watched as Ji snubbed the still seated suzerain. He rose from his seat of honor and strode out to meet her as it were a common practice to do so. But what amazed her most was Ji completely ignoring the guard’s laser weapons pointed at his back as he walked to meet her.

Seta had no choice but to stop walking when Ji stopped in front of her, blocking her progress forward.

“Have they fed you yet?” he demanded.

Despite being emotionally touched by the fury in the unexpected question, Seta snorted in disbelief that Ji could be so inane at such a critical time. “You should not have come here. The purpose of the union suite is to extort all the funds they can from the suitor with no real promise of any return. They might still refuse your offer for me.”

“Yes, I got the same impression. However, the bad bargain is mostly done and the suzerain will honor our agreement if he values his life. Now answer my question,” Ji ordered.

“If you must know before moving out of my way, I will tell you. Wearing these garments is the price I paid for food. Yes, I have eaten, and so far managed to keep my uniform as well,” Seta replied calmly.

“Good. Then no one has to die yet,” Ji said calmly in return, watching a flash of red pass over her eyes. “Why don’t you let me hold your uniform if you’re not going to wear it? I think I can safeguard it best.”

“Brave words for a male with at least seven laser weapons pointed at his back,” Seta declared. When Ji didn’t move, she sighed and handed over her self-made pack. “Fine. Here.”

Ji inclined his head slightly, not quite bowing, but at least acknowledging her compliance. He didn’t want to appear too deferential with Suzerain Trax watching their interaction so closely.

“I think the steep union price I have promised your sire is sufficient to ensure my life will continue for quite a while longer. The transfer of funds from Rylen will take approximately one Earth week. I have at least that long to convince him of the wisdom of accepting. Perhaps your mission for the suzerain will be completed by the time my account with him has been settled to his satisfaction.”

Seta snorted. “Since I no longer consider my life for sale or barter to any male, you have made a poor exchange for your wealth, Siren of Rylen. In the end you will have no female to show for what you have paid, regardless of the suzerain’s decision.”

Ji inclined his head, his Siren blood dancing in response to her challenge. “The deal is outside of our control, but I am thinking it worth the expenditure of funds just to see you adorned in something so purely female once more. Though I wish you were covered from the eyes of these bastards, I confess I am enjoying your Ethos attire. It has been a long time since you wore such clothing, Seta. I believe the last time was on the mission to Lotharius when I was not allowed to enjoy the sight.”

Seta tilted her head up until she met Ji’s gaze. His gaze on her clothing was admiring, but the concern she saw made her stomach flutter in mild alarm. Instantly her thoughts scrambled and collected into massive worry for Ji’s well-being. What if her father learned of her genuine fondness for the Siren? What if he killed Ji just to get even with her?

She raised her voice and stepped away from him. “Why are we wasting so much time discussing my clothing? Step aside, Siren. I must present myself to the suzerain.”

“I block your way because you need to calm down first, Seta of Trax. It is not wise to stir up the power within you until you intend to use it. I learned that lesson from witnessing Captain Synar’s glowing eyes on several occasions now,” Ji whispered.

Seta frowned and lowered her voice again. “What are you saying?”

Ji lowered his voice and bent closer. “Your eyes, Seta. Your eyes are glowing red with the power which lives in you. Now pretend you are not glad to see me so I will not appear to be a liar about the friction between us.”

“That’s what I was trying to do,” Seta yelled. She reached out and used one arm to physically move Ji out of the way, but he remained firmly in place. Apparently Zorinda only helped when she wanted to help. Lesson learned there. The demon liked the Siren.

She raised her voice again. “Step aside, Siren. I am no more willing to have you now than I was on the ship. And since when does a Siren have to buy a mate?”

As she walked around Ji, Seta saw her disrespectful words made both the suzerain and Chief Arghane glare at her. The caustic comment was meant to offend, so she was surprised when Ji laughed loudly instead of yelling back at her like she thought he would.

“I agree. Buying a mate is highly unconventional. However, offering your sire a fair union price will make a highly entertaining story to tell my parents when I introduce you to them,” Ji said loudly in reply.

He turned toward Suzerain Trax who was now watching them both with a sharper gaze and bowed his head at the male’s laugh. Then he turned back and glared down at the female who had captured his heart.

“There are many other ways I could obtain your full compliance, Seta of Trax. This way amuses me—
for now
.”

Seta snorted at a bravado she knew was only half pretension in Ji’s case. The path now free of his obstruction, she started walking towards the suzerain again. When she was the proper distance from his seat, she knelt and placed her forehead on the floor and waited to be acknowledged by him.

Above her prone body, she heard Ji hiss and draw in a breath at her actions, but she couldn’t concern herself with his disgust of Ethos protocol. She knew the rules of the suzerain’s canton. Ji didn’t. And she would follow the rules for as long as it suited her own deception.

“You may rise and speak to me, Seta of Trax.”

Seta climbed to her feet and lifted her chin. “Greetings, Suzerain. Your guard’s hostile reception delayed my arrival. I failed to convince Chief Arghane of the importance of our immediate communication.”

“You were detained solely because I wished it, Seta of Trax. I still haven’t forgiven you or your dual-birth sibling for running away from my canton. Many others have tried to do the same since you and Rena managed your desertion. You live today only because I have an important task for your Peace Alliance skills—however much your warrior training insults my sensibilities. I am contemplating letting you continue to live after you have found my treasure if the Siren’s wealth is not a lie. A union with him may turn out to be in your best interests and mine. You might want to speak cautiously to the male who has decided to pay for your company.”

“No male concerns me other than you, Great Suzerain. As to my future, I prefer you honor our original agreement of allowing my direct family siblings to choose their own union mates. It would vastly improve morale among all your offspring to allow at least some of them a choice in the matter. To acquire good will and favor among your progeny perhaps would require less management in the long term than retrieving and punishing defectors.”

Seta bowed her head after her speech, but raised it quickly to see his reaction to her bold words. Her sire leaned back, saying nothing as he stared at her, no doubt pondering how to punish her nerve. Ji wasn’t the only one with leverage though. The very fact she hadn’t been slapped to the floor by one of his guards was proof her father really did need her help.

“And you would naturally want to exercise this power of choice over your own situation, I suppose.”

Seta shook her head. She had Zorinda. That was the only power she intended to use.

“No. I choose not to exercise it because I have no wish for a union with the Siren. But I understand you cannot keep such a promise to me while losing honor in your bargain with him. To make up for the loss of funds from my union price, you may have my death in exchange for keeping your word about the others. I’m sure my dead body hanging in the canton’s sports arena would serve your needs more than adding a few additional credits to your coffer. As a female who detests being touched, I am of little use to a Siren anyway. Ji knows I would kill him in his sleep if he ever touched me. He wants me because I’m the only female who has ever resisted him.”

“You jest. Have you ever really killed a male in his sleep or otherwise?” Suzerain Trax demanded.

“Yes. Several. After killing my original mate for what he did to me and Rena, I have since developed a talent for taking life. I spared Chief Arghane’s life today as a show of good faith between offspring and sire. His wrist may need medical attention to heal though. I think I broke something in it when we fought.”

Seta felt Ji stiffen beside her as the suzerain leaned out to look at Arghane in surprise. The male in question quickly stopped rubbing and dropped both hands to his side. Snorting, her sire turned back to her.

“I see the reports about the state of your mind were not exaggerations after all,” Suzerain Trax declared, rubbing his chin. “But the Siren’s money is in transit and I would hate to disappoint such a good customer. He has already refused any substitutions. The deal is for you or it is null and void.”

Knowing better than to respond, Seta lifted her chin.

“I cannot promise what outcome I will choose for you, but if you are successful, I will keep our accord as it pertains to the rest of your family and siblings. But we must shelve the discussion of rewards until you have retrieved my property. After its safe return to me, then we will discuss options again. My word will be final and you will do as I command concerning the Siren.”

Seta bowed her head, let it hang for a moment, and then raised it again. “Despite my reluctance to be bound to the Siren, I have to admit no finer warrior exists, Suzerain. I ask your permission for him to accompany me on my quest. We have been on many missions together and you know I will need male protection.”

“I had intended to send Arghane with you. He has asked for privileges. Why should I not grant him those?”

Seta stared back, not blinking. “If you wish Chief Arghane dead and me gone again, then by all means grant Chief Arghane privileges. The Siren is the only male that I promise to let live—and the only one whose bed I am willing to share in any manner.”

“Be grateful I need your help, my errant daughter. How about I send both males with you? My treasure is quite valuable and I am in a generous mood. As a show of good faith the Siren can have access to you for a temporary time,” Suzerain Trax declared, smiling about his solution.

Seta glanced at the male rubbing his wrist again. Arghane would provide a buffer between her and Ji. “If it pleases you and moves this discussion forward, then I will agree,” she said, bowing her head again.

Suzerain Trax clapped his hands and Arghane rushed to his side. “Get that wrist taken care of and pack. Take what you need and two armed secondaries to watch your belongings. Return Seta’s and Siren Warro’s weapons. They might need them where they’re going.”

Arghane sputtered in shock. “But Sire—Seta is to have a weapon? She’s female.”

The suzerain looked at his surprising offspring who waited stoically for his answer. Then he looked back at Arghane. “I don’t wish her killed before she finds Endara, so she is to have a means of protecting herself which doesn’t require fighting hand-to-hand. This trip will give you a chance to make amends for your cruelty, Mot. I prefer to keep you alive in the long term, so try to earn my offspring’s gratitude before you return.”

Seta saw Arghane glare at her before releasing a breath. He nodded to the suzerain and then left the gallery. She returned her gaze to the detestable male who sired her. “I am ready now to hear about your treasure which needs finding.”

“The treasure’s name is Endara. I betrothed her to a rock-mining suzerain, but he paid far too little for what he received. You know how I feel about being cheated out of my profit. I want Endara returned until he has paid for her true value.”