Unexpected Mates (Sons of Heaven) (3 page)

“No, I’m afraid you
don’t
see,” Jannie challenged the panel of men sitting across from her.

Behind her, Beldon shifted, no doubt on alert at the slight rise in her voice.

This particular group included two of their federal liaisons, the state governor, and three representatives of the local child services and social services offices involved in overseeing Alice’s care, as well as several of their lawyers.
I've always hated lawyers.

“I’m afraid it’s you who doesn’t understand, Mrs. Beldon,” one of the social services lawyers insisted.

“It’s Ambassador Janice, thank you,” she corrected him. “And I disagree. Your entire case is founded on the idea that Alice is an American citizen, under the protection of the state and federal governments
of
Virginia and the United States of America.”

“She
is
,” he pressed.

“Not quite. You admit that the consulate area is Sakk sovereign soil, but you seem to have neglected to take Sakk laws into account. Unlike other foreign entities who have consulates, being Sakk is more than a matter of nation of birth, nationality of parents, and proclaimed allegiances. The Sakk are a separate species. The fact that we intermixed with humans aside, being Sakk or Sakk-descended is a matter of genetics, not a matter of place of birth. Born within the United States and in the state of Virginia, Alice is both American by the locality of her birth and the nationality of her mother
and
Sakk by virtue of her Sakk genes. She possesses dual citizenship.”

She paused to let them digest that much. Half the panel gaped at her in disbelief.

One of the other lawyers spoke up. “You’re saying all Sakk attached to the consulate should have diplomatic immunity? Or maybe that all persons with Sakk blood do?”

“Is this a case of diplomatic immunity?” she countered.

“Well...no, but...”

“You’re correct. It’s not. It is a case of a Sakk minor and the responsibility the Sakk have to her care and protection.”

“That’s
our
job,” the head of the local fostering program complained.

“Then you have faulted at your position,” Jannie informed her.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You sit there and expect the Sakk to turn a blind eye to the mutilation of one of our children? Absolutely not, I assure you. Alice is a Sakk child on Sakk sovereign soil, and we will not permit such a sacrilege...such an atrocity to occur. To the Sakk, wings are sacred, a sign of the gods among mortals. Removing those wings is against everything the Sakk hold sacred.”

“It is for her health.”

Beldon answered before Jannie could, inserting himself into the proceedings. He rarely interrupted her when she was playing the part of ambassador for the Sakk, so it shocked her to hear it.

“You lie. We will willingly share our reports on the health of young Alice. She came to us with no medical problems, save normal childhood injuries associated with learning to stand. Certainly nothing that would indicate removing her wings. Were it truly a matter of her health and safety, we would remove her wings here at the consulate, with much less pain than human science is capable of.”

Jannie nodded solemnly. “It occurs to me that those who testified in court to these
supposed
health problems have perjured themselves. That might be something you'll want to look into, Governor.” She tipped her head to him, noting his darkening complexion in satisfaction.

“So you’re just going to...keep Alice?” the woman from child protection asked.

“I see no reason not to allow her to find a Sakk family to raise her. They will certainly appreciate the innate beauty of a winged child like her.”

“And they’ll also give her to a man she’s never met before to marry,” the CPS representative countered. “Great plan for protecting her.”

“Do you suggest that other countries on Earth who practice arranged marriages are abusing their daughters? Sakk girls are not married off to their husbands until they are legally adult,
and
they are able to refuse males who are less than acceptable to them outright. It seems that asylum is granted in the United States to women whose countries practice ritual female mutilation...sometimes. But not to women escaping arranged marriages. Considering this situation, it amazes me that you claim the opposite is what Alice should be subjected to.”

Coleman, the elder of their two federal liaisons, half-hid a laugh in a fake cough. “We understand your concern about the wings.”

“Then kindly understand this,” she requested. “Not only do we intend to see to Alice’s care... And if that doesn’t sit well with you, we can certainly leave the United States and wash our hands of this entire country until you mature.” Jannie let the threat hang between them.

No one spoke, though the representatives from child services and the foster care system looked like they wanted to take her up on that offer.

“Not only will we protect Alice, at all costs, we would like to arrange several new initiatives.”

Brady, the younger liaison, spoke up. “Of what sort?”

“The first is very similar to your laws on surrendering infants and toddlers to the state. If a child tests as being Sakk-descended, we will allow surrender to us of that child, up to the age of two. Both parents must agree, if both are named on the birth certificate, save in cases of the death of a parent. Since this is Sakk sovereign soil, we have the ability to make such a decree as you do, state by state.”

He nodded. “I can’t see how we could stop it. And?”

“If a child is orphaned and is a ward of the state, we would like to test them routinely.”

“To what end?” the woman from the foster system inquired coolly.

“Giving them a home outside the overworked and overrun state systems.”

Coleman seemed to consider it. “That would have to be worked out, state by state. Some may insist that only children with no living relatives may be tested, and some may simply not approve it.”

“Understood.”

There was a moment of silence. Everyone except the liaisons started packing their paperwork and heading for the door.

When they were gone, Coleman sighed and pushed a hand through his heavily-grayed hair. “Have you had a chance to consider the extradition paperwork that was filed with you? I don’t mind telling you that there are a lot of people out there steaming for a shot at Meredith Mallory’s head.”

“It is denied.”

He gaped at her. “Seriously? This is not going to go down well.”

Jannie wished Ellwood was here. He wouldn’t have argued this with her, she was sure. “She
did
abduct a Sakk child, and she was captured on Sakk soil.”

“I’m really starting to loathe the consulate rules,” he admitted.

Brady piped up. “We’ll have to check on her. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not. But do be aware that we will not return Ms. Mallory to you unless she asks to face your justice instead of ours.”

“Fair enough,” Coleman decided. “We can play up the fact that she’s facing justice there.”

****

Meredith looked up from Alice’s diaper at the sound of a knock. “Just a moment,” she called out.

“At your convenience, Meredith,” Janice replied.

She rushed through putting on the fresh diaper, dropped the soiled one in the waste unit, then wiped her hands on a cleansing cloth the Sakk had provided for the chore. With Alice on her hip, Meredith made her way to the door and opened it.

Her smile faded at the sight of what appeared to be two human—and very official—men. Her heart pounded out a warning. Had they decided to turn her over to the human authorities after all?

Why? What have I done?
She’d been caring for Alice for three days, and there had been no complaints Meredith was aware of.

Janice covered Meredith’s hand with her own, squeezing lightly. “May I present Representative Ellwood and Representative Gorse? They are two of our liaisons. It is their job to check on you and report whether or not you are being treated well in your confinement.”

“Of...of course.” Meredith backed off a step and waved them to the sofa. Then she placed Alice in the playpen and offered her the Sakk version of a spill-proof training cup.

With no further excuses, she took the last remaining open chair in the living room area.

The two liaisons were busy, looking around the room she shared with Alice. The older of the two—
Ellwood
—had one eyebrow raised as if he meant to challenge something.

“Not a cell, then? I know there are cells here at the consulate.”

Meredith replied to it, though she wasn’t certain if the question had been intended for her or for Janice. “I was in a cell for a while, but now I’m here.” She hesitated and then offered the rest. “There are two guards on the door, so I guess it’s a more comfortable cell.”

Janice cut in. “The Sakk do not believe in long-term incarceration of females, unless it is a case of capital crimes. The guards are posted for the safety of Ms. Mallory and of Alice. When they do have reason to leave the room—to visit the garden or to go to the clinic, the guards accompany them. The guards also deliver whatever food items Ms. Mallory requests for herself and Alice.”

She motioned to the curtain that separated the living room from the bedroom. “We have provided clothing, food, comfortable shelter, and even medical care. I dare say Ms. Mallory is better cared for here than she would have been in a stateside prison.”

“Medical care?” Gorse asked.

Meredith managed a weak smile. “I slipped on a wet stone in the garden and cut my knee. It was just a little cut, but the guards demanded I go to the clinic and have it tended to.”

Janice nodded her agreement. “Sakk warriors take protecting a woman or child very seriously.”

Ellwood jumped into the conversation again. “The reason she’s caring for Alice?”

Janice cut Meredith off at the pass. “Ms. Mallory is someone Alice knows and trusts. Since she brought Alice here, it seemed best to use her community service to provide the continuity of care a young one needs.”

“Your proposed punishment is community service? I don’t mind telling you there are people involved who will not feel that is an adequate exchange for the crimes they believe she has committed.” The tip of his head toward Meredith let her know he didn’t agree with it, but he had to play political games.

“That’s one
part
of her punishment.”

“And the rest?”

Meredith’s heart pounded in apprehension. They hadn’t discussed that further since Janice brought it up.

“That has not been decided yet, but it will be a Sakk-appropriate punishment for her level of crime.”

Gorse shook his head. “Meaning what?”

Janice smiled. “We will give Ms. Mallory a choice. We will not impose a punishment on her she doesn’t feel able to bear.”

Considering the punishments she’d heard of so far, Meredith wasn’t sure that was going to be a choice she wanted to face.

Chapter Three

Two weeks later

He was back again, and even Jarem couldn’t state why he kept coming to see Meredith. He tried to convince himself it was Alice he came to see, but he knew that wasn’t true. While he played with the babe, his attention often strayed to the female in question.

It made no sense that he could fathom. She wasn’t a Sakk-descended woman. She wasn’t a woman who could give him sons to save his dying family line.

But I want her.
There was no question of it. His sights were firmly fixed on Meredith Mallory, and his libido demanded a taste of whatever she would grant him.

This isn’t intelligent. I have to focus on finding a mate who will provide children for my family.
He was the last hope of it. If Jarem failed to make a match or failed to produce at least one son with a mate, his family was doomed to extinction.

The guards offered a curt nod, and one knocked lightly at the door for him.

Meredith opened the door and smiled. She whispered across the opening, “Alice is already asleep.”

Disappointment lodged in his chest and he nodded, preparing to withdraw.

Her smile dimmed. “Of course, if you’d like to come in and spend time with me while she sleeps...?”

“Yes. I would.”

One of the guards scowled, but he didn’t comment. Jarem ignored him.

Her smile was radiant, and his cock complained about the niceties of society.

Sakkan take it. I want her in bed.

Meredith backed off, and she waved an invitation. He ambled into her quarters. There was something nearly indecent about that move, entering a female’s room without guards and without the veneer of being there to see Alice.

She leaned down to scoop up a toy, and Jarem’s gaze locked on the curve of her ass pressing against jean shorts. The sight was enough to drive a horny male insane.

Especially Meredith’s ass.

She dropped the toy in the playpen, oblivious to his interest in the view.

Halfway across the room, Meredith stopped and stretched her back, rubbing at a spot in the lower right quadrant. He was at her back in a heartbeat, his hand a whisper from her body.

Reality smacked him hard aside the head. He couldn’t do this without her permission. “Do you mind?” he offered.

“Not at all.”

His heart hammering against his ribs, Jarem started rubbing her back. Meredith moaned and dropped her head to his shoulder.

She turned minutely, murmuring instructions for where she needed him to rub. That brought her hip into contact with the length of his erection.

They both went still, and he prepared for her outrage. Surely, she would tell him to leave. If she allowed him in again, it would only be to interact with Alice.

While I want her. Sakkan damn it all.

Meredith turned toward him slowly, her color high. She didn’t say anything. Not an order to leave. Not an invitation to more. Jarem shifted toward her, a testing move intended to spur her to speech, one way or the other.