Unexpected Mates (Sons of Heaven) (33 page)

Darm gaped at him. “What a...You are correct, Sakkra. There is no word strong enough. The glut of females on this world, and he has no appreciation for the gift they are.” He tipped his head to the prince. “My apologies for the interruption.”

“Excused.” Sakkra hesitated a moment. “There was a time when we were not as appreciative,” he reminded them.

“As you say, Sakkra.”

He nodded, then continued. “The young one did not come here searching for a mate. Her son’s sire has made her wary of males and their motives.”

“Why
did
she come?” someone at the far end of the room asked.

“She felt she had nowhere else to go.”

She has no family? No ancestral home?

“Her mother’s current mate banished Sandy from the nest when he learned she carried a babe without a mate.”

Shock nearly folded Darm’s knees. Were there any responsible, caring males on Earth?

“She lived in what the humans call a shelter. It is...a barracks for those who have no homes. They only allowed her to stay so long because she is bearing.

“This...shelter offers a modicum of food and medical care, but when Sandy learned her young one was winged, she fled. She doesn’t trust healers who work for the government with a Sakk child. She fears they would injure her son...or use him for testing...or take him from her with their laws.”

The silence in the room was absolute.

“Ideally, Sandy will choose a mate. All of you test as primary matches for her likes and dislikes.”

The males scanned the others in the room, sizing up the competition for her attentions.

Sakkra continued. “But Sandy
is
a female from Earth. She is not a match from a breeding colony.”

What does that mean?
It sounded like a caution, warning of a twist, a deviation from the norms they expected for even Earth-born matches.

“Whatever man she chooses must agree to raise her son as his own, as he would a fully-winged female born on a seed world.” Sakkra paused, seemingly letting them consider it.

“Your families may balk at this, I know. You may have to take nest parent duties on a seed world or guard duties here on Earth to remain with Sandy and your young, if your family persists.”

Darm weighed his options.

“If any of you cannot live with such an arrangement, I suggest you leave now.”

A trickle of warriors headed for the door...then a flood. Darm shifted to join them, paused, and planted his feet. The sire hadn’t appreciated what a prize a female and young were. Darm did, and he wouldn’t shy from a complication or two in claiming one.

The door slid shut, and he glanced around, meeting the gaze of the single other male who’d chosen to stay. The odds of becoming mated were better than he’d ever dreamed.

If she chooses to mate.

Sakkra grunted. “Two. Less than I’d hoped for but better fewer than more, I suppose.” He turned and headed for the door. “Come along. It is time to meet Sandy.”

“Now, Sakkra?” Darm asked. “You said she wasn’t seeking a mate.”

He paused, halfway through the door, then continued. “She isn’t, but my mate and Jo both assure me that human women often form an attachment to males who are in close contact with them, especially in trying times. You two will be Sandy’s guards.”

“Guards?” the other questioned.

“Her personal guards. Each will have half a turning. Based on evaluations of her sleep patterns, the changeover will come at two of the afternoon and two of the morning. That grants each of you roughly half of her waking hours.”

“Equitable,” Darm agreed.

Sakkra motioned to him. “You will take first shift with her.”

Which means I am cut short this turning.
“I am honored.” Part shift or not, he would still be first.

The prince stopped at a door in the match living quarters and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” Sakku Amy called out.

Sakkra opened the door and entered, waving the two competitors in after him.

The three females looked up. Darm dismissed the princess and her cousin—both carrying their young daughters in slings—and focused on the third.

Her hair was the color of the sun behind a mist, with just a hint of orange in the mix. Her eyes were the blue-gray of the feathers on an American Jay.

The swell of her pregnancy was very pronounced, making Darm wonder how far progressed she was. He would have to check with the healers at another time. By Sakkan, it made her all the more beautiful.

“These are your personal guards, Sandy. If you leave your rooms, the one on duty at that time will escort you. If you wish to leave the consulate for some reason, he will lead your security detail.”

“Is that really necessary?” she asked.

Jo grimaced. “Believe me, it’s best.”

Sakkra continued as if the interruption hadn’t occurred. “If you wish food brought to you, the one on duty will do so. If you wish privacy, he will retire to his own room. They will have the two rooms bordering yours. If you wish company, they both have interests compatible to yours.”

She nodded weakly. “What should I call you?”

“Zave,” the other hastened to offer.

“Darm.”

Her lips moved, probably repeating their names to commit them to memory. At last, Sandy nodded.

****

The two warriors stared at her intently, making Sandy self-conscious.

Sakkra continued. “Darm’s shift will be from two of the afternoon to two of the morning. Zave’s will be the opposite hours. Any comm board or comm unit will summon them...or summon aid.”

“How do I use it?”

He stepped to the comm board and pointed out a large, round, yellow button. “In a medical or...any other kind of emergency, press this button and state your emergency.” He pointed out a small blue button next to it. “If you wish to summon Darm or Zave, press this one. It will automatically connect to the correct guard for the time of day.” He pointed out the purple. “This button will contact a...comm station. They can connect you to Amy or Jo...or anyone else you may need to contact.”

“And...I can’t leave my quarters without a guard.”

“You should not,” Zave attested.

Darm shot him a sour look, then focused on Sandy. “It is not overly dangerous for you to leave your quarters. It is an honor to have you here and our happy duty to escort you. We will carry items for you, reach or lift for you, and protect you, should that be required.”

She pointed to Jo. “Then why did she say it really is necessary?” Something told her she wasn’t being told the whole truth.

“Sometimes...warriors are overzealous in trying to aid a female. Having a single male responsible for her reminds others to keep their distance.”

Sandy found it hard to find the words to respond to that. Finally, she stammered out a ‘thank you’ to Darm. He executed a bow in response.

She stared at him a moment longer. All the warriors had been kind and polite, but Darm moreso than the others. There was something indefinable that drew her to his bright green eyes. It warranted another look, she reasoned.

His hair was in long, golden waves that reached his shoulders, and he was fully the tallest man she’d encountered so far. If Sandy were to guess, she’d place him at more than six and a half feet. But it wasn’t an oppressive height.

Realizing she was staring, Sandy shifted her gaze to Zave. His expression was hard and fixed on Darm. There was a warning in that look, an air of violence held barely in check.

Sandy tarried only long enough to note his dark hair and deep blue eyes that reminded her of Zeke’s.
Too much like Zeke. Especially his anger and the way he orders me around.

She looked at Sakkra, intent on asking for Zave to be reassigned.

No. I’m a guest here.
They’d been assigned for a reason. The work schedule wasn’t something a guest should interfere with.

“Is there a problem, Sandy?” Amy asked.

“Just tired, I guess.”

Sakkra extended a hand to aid Amy to her feet. “Decisions can wait for another day. If you wake hungry, comm one of your guards.”

“What time is dinner? Is there a way to set an alarm for it?”

Jo laughed heartily. “Pregnant or nursing women eat whenever they’re hungry. Rietin brings me snacks in the middle of the night.”

The spike of envy was inevitable.
Zeke would never be a husband like that.

But now she had guards to act the part. It was a duty to them, which was rather depressing, but they would still cater to her every whim.

That puts me in their debt. Maybe I shouldn’t overuse it.

“Okay.” She rose and headed for the curtain that separated the living room from the bedroom and bathroom.

At the threshold, she looked back. Darm was ushering everyone out into the hallway.

Chapter Thirty

Three weeks later

The lurching of her son left Sandy gasping for breath. She started to lever herself up, and it happened again. Her hands shaking, she reached for the emergency button on the closer comm board, then veered to the blue button. She pressed that one instead. Whatever this was, it probably wasn’t an emergency.

If it is, he’ll call for the doctor.

“Darm?” she managed, hoping it was still his shift.
I haven’t slept enough for it to have changed over yet.

“You need something, Sandy?” His voice was clear and strong, indicating she hadn’t woken him.

“Help. Please...” The baby moved so abruptly, she saw her abdomen undulate. Sandy moaned.

Before the sound faded, the door slid open. Darm shot through the curtain and to her side. At first, she thought he was nude, but he was wearing something that looked like a towel wrapped around his waist.

“What is it?” he asked urgently.

Her son answered for her, another rolling wave that brought tears to her eyes.

“Something...wrong, I think.”

“No. Easily remedied,” he soothed her.

Darm cupped his hands around her womb and made cooing noises. The lurching became a light kicking. Darm lowered his head and laid a kiss against her womb. A lullaby left his lips and whispered against her.

Sandy sighed. Exhaustion overwhelmed her. Her eyes slipped shut, and Sandy reached down and stroked his hair feathers.

Another kiss feathered against her womb.

Sandy turned toward him, and Darm’s hands retreated. The song started again, and Darm stacked small pillows around her womb, creating something of a soft nest.

The soothing sounds and lack of sleep caught up with her, and she slipped toward oblivion.

****

Darm smiled at Sandy, reveling in pride that he’d calmed the babe for her and allowed her precious sleep.

Kahdi
was a common complaint among their bearing women. It wasn’t inherently dangerous to mother and child, as long as it was treated promptly, but exhaustion was never good when a female carried.

“Heed me, young warrior,” he whispered. “Your mother needs her sleep. I suggest you do the same, so she can rest.”

There was no answering thump. Still, he tarried, humming Sakkan’s Night Song a third time.

****

Sandy stretched, then burrowed her face in the pillow that still held Darm’s scent. Her room was quiet...peaceful. For the first time in the three weeks she’d been at the consulate, it felt like home to her.

Memories of Darm brought a smile to her face. It felt like home because of him.

Sandy considered having breakfast, but sleep was too alluring.

It wasn’t just the baby’s restless nights that convinced her to sleep longer. If she was awake now, she would spend half the day thinking about Darm. Even if he was awake now, Sandy couldn’t order the comm board to call him. Though they hadn’t specifically said it, she’d gleaned that it was considered inappropriate for her to knock on their doors directly.

Maybe if I sleep in, I can spend more time with Darm later.

A smile on her face, Sandy rearranged the pillows Darm had stacked the night before. The song he’d hummed echoed in her memories, and she hummed what she could remember of it.

In her dreams, Darm joined in.

****

The pacing in the corridor grated at Darm’s nerves. At last, he pitched the
Zuda
cards on the table and pushed to his feet.

Zave whirled around as the door opened and glared at Darm. That was enough to put Darm’s neck feathers on edge.

“Is something amiss?” he inquired.

“Sandy has not started her day.”

Darm glanced at the time plate on the comm board across from them. “It is nearly twelve of the day.” That was a full five hours later than she typically called for a morning meal.

“I know it. She has not eaten. I heard her use the water room earlier, but nothing more.”

Darm’s muscles tensed at that. How close was Zave to hear such a thing?

The competitor to Sandy’s attentions didn’t notice his response. “Did she retire late last night?” He seemed desperate for an explanation.

Memories of calming her son heated his blood. “No, but she did suffer a mild bout of
Kahdi
.”
Not severe enough that I would expect her to sleep for an extra five hours.
“Perhaps she has suffered it several times and not asked for—”

The door opened between them, and Sandy looked from Zave to himself.

Darm felt his cheeks heat. He tipped his head to her. “My apologies for waking you, Sandy.”

Zave grumbled the same.

“Oh, you didn’t,” she replied brightly. “I was awake already.”

“Are you well, Sandy?” Zave inquired, shooting Darm a look that said he should withdraw.

It is Zave’s time with her.
Though it made his heart sink, Darm forced himself to turn away.

“I’m fine. I just wanted to—Darm!”

He stopped and turned back, stunned that she’d called for him. “Yes, Sandy?”