Upon the Threshold (23 page)

On top of all that, the laws for the homeworld were extremely strict. Females were always to be escorted by a male of familial relation or by a mate unless they wore something that marked them as taken or protected. This was mainly for non-Droushanian females as Droushanian females were usually just as much warriors as their male counterparts. Any female who was marked as taken or protected could never be touched. To touch a mate or protected familial female in a manner that wasn’t in protection of the female or aid in case of physical stress was to be dealt with harshly. As in twenty lashes with a whip for the first offense.

The Droushanians used a credit system instead of coins or money, though they did have chips, not unlike the poker chips that humans used to have, for certain events and marketplaces. There were no shopping centers like old Earth had had. They had open marketplaces for everything from food to weaponry to cloth to make clothing. All clothing was custom-made by artisans for the specific individual. There were no off-the-rack items in the Droushanian society.

Lukkis was grinning at her as she sat there. “How are you doing, Elisabeth? Danykia has been giving you much in the way of information. Is any of it actually sticking inside that lovely head of yours?”

Eli turned to look at Lukkis and she literally whimpered. “Oh, God,” was all she could think to say. “There are many similarities but so many differences.” One big one she would need to get used to was thinking of the men as above women. That one chafed since she had never experienced that before. “But you will both be there for me the whole time, so I’m sure that I will survive. Right?”

He got up from where he’d been sitting across from her after Danykia’s lesson and moved to her side. Lifting her up, he settled her into his lap. “We will be there with you the entire way. Now, tell me what has you looking so annoyed. Do not say you’re not. I can see it in the way your lips are pressed together and that little wiggle you do with your nose.”

“I’ve never had to defer to men who weren’t my superiors. Where I am from, you worked for your station in life. It wasn’t given simply because you were born with a penis and testicles. It was something you worked your rump off for. Period. So to defer to those who are nowhere near where I am in life will be difficult for me.” Although, all things considered, she was now the lowest rung of the ladder, so to speak, since she was an alien in their culture.

He stared at her and nodded slowly. “Okay, think about it this way. My supervisor is Kraven on this mission. He is of a higher rank than I am, and he’s worked very hard to get there. He’s risked life and limb, gone in places others wouldn’t, and deserves his rank. His superior, same thing, worked hard and done things that most others wouldn’t. In reward, he was given his ranking because he earned it. Every Droushanian who is above them has done something for our people to earn their respect as well as their position. The only one who has never seen combat is the governing administrator. It’s a strictly civilian position and for a reason. The military forces are always willing to go in and blow shit up, no matter what. But sometimes you need a civilian to provide the voice of reason.”

He stroked a hand up and down her thigh. “Think back to your government and what you called the United States on your world. Your highest-ranking leader, your whatever it was called, was not required to have any military training or service and yet was in control of all people’s lives in his country. Right?” he asked softly.

“You also need to remember, Elisabeth,” Danykia said quietly. “Our males are not like your own. They hold within them a very powerful Beast. Something that can kill with a single swipe of a hand. The laws are set in a manner that allows their Beasts to remain calm and to keep all the females safe. Do not think of them as trying to stifle you or make light of what you have done to be where you are. The laws are to protect everyone and yet still showcase those who have worked long and hard to achieve what they have. You are a brilliant scientist. Your own people say so. And you are now mated to two very high-ranking warriors in our military. Your position in society, just on your own merits, is very high. But it becomes even higher because of your mating.”

“So I won’t be shaming you by being in your lives?” She was feeling uncertain, insecure, and she knew how unreasonable it was because she knew how much they loved her, but she had to ask. She needed to ask this question. “I just never want to make you upset or hurt your careers by being in love with you and being part of your lives.”

Lukkis growled and shifted her until she was straddling his lap, his hands cupping her face so they were nose to nose. “You could never shame us. You are our mate, the only one for either of us, and the one and only person who can truly complete us. You make us happy just by being with us. Nothing you could ever do or say could embarrass or shame us. We love you, Elisabeth. We would lay down our lives to ensure you never had a doubt of our love if that is what it truly takes.”

“Heavens, no. Nothing like that.” She shook her head. “All I need is you. Both of you. I never, ever want you to put your lives on the line for me. I just need and want your love. That’s it. Nothing else. Just for you two to love me.”

“We do,” he said softly. Brushing a kiss to her lips, he drew her into his arms, tucked her head to his shoulder, and held her close. “We always will, Elisabeth. Nothing you say or do will change that. Nothing anyone may say or do will change our feelings for you, little mate.”

“Thank you. That’s all that I needed to know, that I would have the two of you on my side no matter what. Now that I know that I do, I’m happy,” she said with a grin. “The two of you will always have a friend and lover in me too.”

“Good. But you should not doubt how we feel. We did show you rather dedicatedly just how we feel for you. Or are you trying to tell me that we were lacking in some way and need to try harder?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Oh, heavens no, honey.” She frowned and shook her head. “The two of you show me quite well how much you care for me. Not just physically but emotionally as well. It’s more than just making love with the two of you. I feel how much you two care for me in everything that you do for me, with me. Never think that I don’t.”

“Excellent,” he said, hugging her closer to him. He lifted his head and looked toward the entry to Danykia’s tent.

“Hello, Kraven,” Danykia said with a grin. “We didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

Elisabeth watched as the smile slid off the other woman’s face. “What’s wrong?” she demanded, getting to her feet.

Lukkis’s expression was blank as he sat up.

Eli frowned and looked at Kraven. “Kraven? Talk to us. What’s wrong?” She didn’t like that vacant stare that he had going on. At all. “Honey?” she whispered and reached out to lay her hand on his chest, her fear ratcheting up a notch.

He looked down at her, his hand coming up to rest over hers on his chest. “It’s your dad, Elisabeth,” he said softly. “I need you to come with me now, little mate. He will recover, but he needs to see you and ensure you are healthy. He’s very agitated, and the medical staff is threatening to sedate him if he doesn’t calm down and soon.”

“What?” she whispered and went pale. Her knees went weak, but she nodded. “Okay.” She steeled herself. “Let’s go.” There were tears that were not shed, ones that hung from her lashes and proclaimed her stubbornness in not allowing them to fall. “What happened?” she whispered as they walked. “And are we taking a hovercraft over?” The faster, the better.

“No, he’s here with our medical staff. He was attacked, but we don’t know by whom yet. I have males assisting the guards of the human section to find clues to discover what occurred, but it may just be easier to ask him. If you can get him calmed down,” Kraven said. He had a firm but gentle hand on her elbow as he steered her through the tents and toward one of the vessels.

Lukkis was there with them on her other side, and she knew Danykia was close too, her footsteps right behind them.

“What? Someone attacked my dad?” she whispered in shock. She moved faster now, breaking out in a run toward their medical facilities.

When she entered the facility, she took in everything. Hearing her dad’s voice, she didn’t wait for her mates, but raced to him. “Dad?” she asked and felt the first of her tears falling, her hands clasping his tightly as she leaned over him. “I’m here. Goodness, what happened to you?”

“Eli,” her dad whispered, his eyes closing for a moment and his entire body relaxing. The medical staff all let out a breath and stepped back, cautious and watchful of their patient.

“He has a concussion and multiple lacerations,” one of the staff told Eli. “He’s got very deep bruising as well as a few broken or cracked bones. We have been trying to get him to lie still enough for a scan, but…” He waved a hand with an irritated expression toward her dad.

Eli nodded and held her dad’s hand. “He will remain still now,” she assured them, her other hand stroking back the hair from her dad’s head. “You are going to remain still. I am here, Dad, but you have to stay still. Kraven and Lukkis are here as well, and none of us will allow anything to harm you. I promise.”

“Uh…” The staff shared looks. “You will need to step back,” one told her.

“The scanner slides over and then beside him,” Lukkis told her. “You will be in the path of it, and it’s large enough to leave bruises, Elisabeth.”

Another of the medical staff said, “Just for a little while, then you can sit with him and hold his hand again.”

Eli leaned in and gave her dad another kiss on his forehead. “I will be right here. I promise. As soon as the scans are done, I will be holding your hand again. I swear,” she whispered and moved back, walking straight into Kraven’s arms and feeling Lukkis wrapping her up in his arms from the back. She sobbed quietly. Who would hurt her dad? He was such a kind and gentle man, so who?

The medical staff leaped into action, moving the scanner into position and getting it running. They kept shooting her and her men looks, definitely nervous to have them all right there.

Kraven pressed a kiss to her hair gently and gave her a squeeze. “We will discover who did this, Elisabeth. Whoever it was will face Droushanian punishment,” he said softly.

“Thank you,” was all that she could whisper in those moments. She was torn up about her dad being injured. He had always been so strong, so healthy, and now seeing him in a medical bed, her heart was bruised and broken for him. “I want to know why.” She looked up at Kraven. “I want to know why someone would do something like this. Why hurt him of all people?”

Nodding, he lifted a hand to stroke over her cheek gently. “We will find out the answers.” He looked past her and leaned in to kiss her. “The scan is completed, and they have brought you a seat. Sit with your dad while I start to get answers for you. Lukkis will remain until I return.”

“Not even a question,” Lukkis said softly.

“Thank you.” Eli went up on her toes and placed a kiss on Kraven’s cheek. “Come back to us soon? I don’t want to be long without you.” Especially since she suddenly didn’t feel safe, at all. For some reason, her dad being harmed made her security in her home vanish.

Taking the seat that was offered at her dad’s side, she took his hand once more and simply sat there, holding it as if to offer him her strength.

She knew when Kraven left and felt Lukkis move up behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently squeezed. He didn’t say anything, just stood at her back, protecting her and reassuring her all at the same time.

Chapter Sixteen

Two days later, Eli’s dad was well on the mend, thanks to the Droushanian people and their medical advances. Danykia was sitting with her and her dad, several of Kraven’s men standing guard while she visited.

That was where Lukkis and Kraven found her—not that it was hard to find her, given her entourage—but they definitely did not look happy. Lukkis brushed a kiss to her hair as Kraven held out a data pad to her dad.

“Is this the male who attacked you?” Kraven asked, blunt and to the point.

Eli watched as the emotions flickered over her dad’s face. When he gave an affirmative nod, she felt the air leaving her lungs in joy. The fear that had been surrounding her was finally easing up. “Thank heavens.” She looked to Kraven. “Who is it?” She hadn’t seen the data pad, so she had no clue who it was that had attacked her dad. She only knew that Kraven and Lukkis would ensure he was brought to justice.

“You are positive?” Kraven asked. Her dad nodded firmly. “Thank you, we had to be sure before we could take action.”

Lukkis stepped away and said something softly to one of the males who was a part of her entourage. The guard nodded and headed out of the medical tent.

“I am sorry, Elisabeth,” he said quietly. Then he handed her the data pad with the image frozen for all to see. Her dad was bleeding on the ground and held up by a man’s hand. A man she knew.

“Parker. That son of a bitch.” She rose quickly. “How dare he hurt my dad. And he will pay for this crime against us, to the full extent?” She knew that he would pay even more if her men had anything at all to say about it.

Kraven nodded firmly. “He will be held accountable under our laws. As your people are under our protection, they had to agree to our laws, which they did. He broke a major one by attacking a leader of your people. As well, since you are mated to us, your dad is family to the Droushanian people, and this constitutes an attack against us.”

“Thank you. For accepting my dad as a part of our family unit. For loving me and protecting me as you do. For everything.”

“You do not need to keep thanking us,” Lukkis said, touching her cheek gently. “You are ours, and with that comes those you love and care for. It is our honor to have your dad as part of our family unit. So no more thanks, all right?” he asked, smiling ever so slightly.

Eli nodded. She was still feeling more than a little weepy and had no idea why. “I will try. Just don’t be surprised if I continue.” She leaned into the touch and sighed. “I need another hug, and then I will let the two of you go off to deal with that son of a bitch for what he did to my dad.”