Chapter Four #2
Sage got into the ship and strapped into a seat. She heard Bailey getting clearance to leave, the door sealed, and the engines hummed.
A voice came through the speaker system. We are dropping in three, two, one.
The ship shuddered, and Sage felt the drop with every inch of her body. Whether this was a good idea or not, she was on her way to the Temple.
* * * *
Z ell finished negotiations with his sibling. Thank you for being gentle with my sleepy mind.
Kethen nodded with his consort in his lap. It is out of most standard pathways, and the Zellic do make nice jewellery. Janessa will look lovely covered in her part of the trade.
Zell cocked his head. Mistress, are you Terran?
Janessa smiled. I am. Have you met many?
Just one. She s the companion providing me with energy. I plan to visit her after our meeting for a top-up. He smiled. We can have a meal together after that if you are willing.
Kethen blinked. Of course. We would love to meet with you and your lady.
Janessa was staring at Zell. Hon, I don t think she s his lady. She s just a power source. A toy.
Kethen growled. She s compatible with you?
Yes. But she s a companion. They arranged her for me. No persuasion was needed. She just took me.
Janessa looked at Kethen. I don t think I want to socialize this evening. I will grab the shuttle and get to the station. I ll be in our room on the warship when you join me.
Kethen shook his head. No need. I will leave with you. Where is your companion, Zell? I will ask her if she wants to remain.
Zell felt a shock. What do you mean? She was hired to be with me.
Janessa asked softly, If she s a companion, what is the timeline? If it is near, we can wait and take her to meet a Hmrain who wants a mate, not just a fuck.
Kethen nodded. Let s go ask her.
Zell said, She s just a companion.
Kethen said, Great. Then you won t mind us taking her so she can find someone else.
Janessa nodded. Come on, Kethen. I am guessing you can get us to the top of that tower in under a minute.
Of course, precious one.
Zell was stunned as the other ancient Hmrain and his adapted mate left the negotiations and walked into the square. Kethen held Janessa tightly, and they flew up and toward the tower.
Zell cursed and flew after them, beating them to Sage s room and opening the protective field so he could land.
Zell looked around and couldn t find his companion. Sage. Sage, where are you?
He scanned the interior and didn t see any sign of her. No heat signature. Nothing. She wasn t there. His heart started pounding hard. He checked the bathing room and the lav. Nothing.
He called the minister, who had sponsored her arrival. Where is she?
Lord Zell, I don t understand.
My companion. Sage. Where is she?
Just a moment. The minister tapped and said hesitantly, Her contract expired.
She had completed her end of things by waking and entertaining you, so our spaceport customs indicate that she left with the clothing she arrived with.
It was a successful venture for us. Did you wish for us to find a different companion for the next few weeks?
Zell felt his teeth gritting and blood roaring in his ears. When? Where is she? Find her!
My lord, we have no reason to stop her. She is a free agent, and I must say that for this being her first companion assignment, she did very well.
Zell walked to the edge of the tower and roared.
Kethen and Janessa looked at each other.
Kethen shrugged. I suppose we should leave now. It seems things have fixed themselves.
Zell called out. Wait!
His brother looked at him with brows raised.
Zell went to the terminal and found a letter from Sage.
He read it and ground his teeth. She thanked him, wished him well, and stated that the terms of the contract were complete.
She had remained in the tower for one month and serviced him at the minimum of twice per week.
She signed off, and that was it. No sweet words, no expression of regret. Just a sincerely.
He checked the boarding lists for the station and found that she was due on a transport in four hours. As he watched, the words flickered and departed via private courier ship were displayed.
He stepped backward. She s gone. She took a private courier ship, and she s gone.
Janessa nodded. Well, as you said, she s just a companion. You can order another for a few weeks. After all, the odds of finding a companion with a solid mental frequency match must be easy if you treated her as an appliance.
Kethen sighed. You are an idiot, brother. Even Ra has accepted the inevitable of a mate. We have our daughter and are waiting on her next cycle to try again.
Zell jolted. Daughter?
Janessa smiled. Yes. Daughter. Looks just like him. She s home with trusted caretakers.
Kethen grinned. When I tasted her cycle was in the right spot, I wouldn t be stopped.
Janessa snorted. Don t sound so proud. I was a mess.
Zell sat heavily on the floor. I believe I have made a colossal error.
She didn t change when you bit her?
I didn t.
What happened when you offered her nanites?
Zell shook his head. I didn t. I... just took what I needed and left.
Janessa snorted. I would have killed Kethen if he did that. It would take a while; his head is dense as hell. Good thing she left. That would have been extremely depressing in a universe where doting Hmrain are becoming the norm with my people.
Zell perked up. Perhaps I could find another.
They are one in fifty thousand, and only eight million of us survived. Have fun looking. She shuddered. There are a few who were made, but it was not a good process.
Kethen tucked her against his chest and kissed the crown of her head. You survived it, treasure. That is what matters, beauty.
The increase in flattery is indicating that my body is nearing receptivity.
You caught that, huh?
Yes, I did. Kethen looked over at where Zell was still on the floor. You are lucky you missed receptivity. It is maddening.
Zell didn t mention that it had happened twice, and he had merely rutted on her until dawn with no nanites, no semen, not even a kind word.
He was an idiot.
Janessa said, It s unlikely that you will find a different mate to match your frequency. The ancients are a hard fit. Both myself and Harwin were near death when we matched. Ah well. Kethen, we should be going, and Zell can plan for his next consort. I am sure she will be worthy of him.
He flinched.
Kethen said, Good day, brother. May your next romantic attempts be slightly more successful.
Janessa nestled in her mate s arms as if it was the most natural thing. Kethen stepped to the edge of the balcony, and he launched himself with his trusting mate in his arms.
Zell watched them go and returned to the room, trying to catch Sage s scent on the pillow.
The bots had been too efficient. There was no trace of her left.
Had he really been her first assignment as companion?
If so, things were worse than he thought.
How did he find a woman in the stars who did not want him to find her?
If he were her, where would he go? She didn t have a family or a world to return to.
He remembered that much. He just wished he had asked her anything else.
Where would a woman with no family go when all she was trained for was the position of companion? He lifted his head. The Temple.