Chapter Five
Vor
Commander Vor knew it was wrong. He shouldn't be pushing his woman like this.
But the way Lena had looked at him when he undressed had done something unexpected to him.
Cool reason turned to steam under her heated gaze.
His blood caught fire. Lust, as he had never felt before poured through him.
Vor preened for her like a bird, turning to show her all of his feathers.
But then Lena looked away, and even though he wasn't facing her, Vor had felt her shame.
Lust had vanished, and the need to protect had risen in him again.
Vor tried to reassure Lena. He even offered himself to her in return for claiming her, but she wasn't ready to accept what they were to each other.
He understood. After all, he had months to process that his woman was a Medean.
Lena had only known for a few hours. She needed time.
So, Vor had gone into the shower. Under the hot water, he relaxed, scrubbing away the sweat and dirt of battle.
But then he saw Lena watching him in the mirror.
Once more, that lust rose to block reason.
He couldn't stop himself from reaching for his shaft.
He wanted her to see how she affected him. Instead, Vor saw how he affected her.
At first, Lena's cry of dismay and huddled form had angered him. Then Vor realized how delicate his woman was. Was he the first man she had seen unclothed? It would explain her fascination with his body. And her embarrassment.
The thought soothed Vor, and then he found it immensely pleasurable.
He would be her first lover. First and last. No other man would ever touch her.
Turning off the spray, Vor contemplated why this would mean so much to him.
He had never cared about a woman's sexual history before.
Frankly, he preferred an experienced lover, as most Nethren men did.
But with Lena, he felt differently. He wanted to be her only lover.
Was this a part of falling in love? Was Lena already changing him?
If so, it would only be more proof that Source was leading him.
Vor stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel from the rack.
Lena peeked over a forearm at him. He pretended not to notice and set about drying himself.
Slowly. While putting his body in poses that best displayed it.
Vor had to hide his smile when he heard Lena's soft gasp.
Barely one day had passed, and she already desired him. Things were finally going as expected.
Now that he had the right woman.
Wrapping the towel around his waist, Vor went to Lena and reached a hand down to her. “Come, Lena. Our food should be here by now.”
Lena ignored his hand and stood on her own to slip to the side and out of his reach.
Vor unlocked the door and left the bathroom.
In the bedroom, he went to the closet. The Fortress Commander's clothing had been removed, and Vor's trunk—packed before the battle to be brought up after their triumph—sat under the empty rack.
Vor opened it and pulled out some fresh clothes.
As he dressed, he wondered about his sense of Lena.
He knew exactly where she was in the room without looking.
Boots in hand, Vor motioned to the doorway that led into the sitting room. “Join me.” He left the room without looking back, trusting her to follow.
In the sitting room, Vor went around the long wooden table to the right, and over to the only window in the suite.
Peering through the glass, Vor got a view of the main courtyard where Nethren soldiers were assembling battle machines.
Up on the fortress wall, more soldiers stood watch.
Sunset was upon them, and Vor needed to get back to his duties.
His army needed him. But before he left, he would enjoy his first meal with his woman.
Vor sat down at the table, sideways on a chair, and put on his boots. Two plates of food, two glasses, and a jug of water waited atop the table. He turned to face the table and motioned at the chair across from him. Without looking, he knew Lena was standing in the bedroom doorway.
“Please join me.” He motioned again, this time at the plate of food across from him. “You need to eat.”
“I'm not hungry,” Lena whispered.
“Yes, you are. We have roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, and fresh bread. Doesn't it smell good?” Vor paused and narrowed his eyes at her. “Do you want me to take a bite of your food first? I promise it's not drugged.”
Lena came up to the table and sat down across from him.
Vor poured her a glass of water and then started to eat.
As he pretended to focus on his food, he remained acutely aware of his woman.
He knew the moment Lena gave up on denying him and ate.
A knot of anxiety eased when she took her first bite.
Vor hadn't known it until that very moment, but he had feared she would starve herself.
With a sigh of relief, Vor poured some water for himself and then took a big swig. The cool liquid soothed him further. This wasn't the best way to start a relationship, but it was going well. He glanced up at Lena. She was watching him.
“I'm sorry about the, uh, for punching the wall.” Vor stared at his chicken. “I've never lost control like that.”
Lena kept eating.
He looked up. “I hope I didn't scare you.”
With a huff, she put down her fork. “What are you doing?”
“Excuse me?”
“What are you doing?” Lena motioned at him with an elegant hand. “Is this some kind of technique Nethren employ to break captives?”
“Is what a technique?”
“The way you act concerned about me.”
“I am concerned about you. I told you, Lena, you're important to me. The Source of Technology—”
“Led you to me.” She rolled her eyes. “Sure. First, you wanted my sister, but you took me by mistake, so now I'm the chosen one. Right. Sure.”
“I know this is a lot to accept, and I know it will take time for you to understand. It took me a long time to accept Tech's guidance. Do you think I wanted to be bound to a Medean? Your people put mine underground and forced us to remain there as if we were vermin.”
“Only to protect magic.”
“You saw me pilot that erial. Nethren do not kill magic. It's a lie you've been fed, Lena. I imagine you've been told many lies about us.” With a grimace, Vor pushed his plate away. “We were you once. Do you know that? My ancestors were Medeans.”
“Yes, I know how the Aethari and Nethren stemmed from Medeans. The Aethari sought the Source of Magic and were changed by it, while the Nethren sought the Source of Technology and were equally changed. It made you inimical to each other. Your bite can kill an Aethari.”
“Yes, that much is true. I imagine their bite can kill us as well.” Vor leaned back in his wooden chair.
“And you don't feel emotions. You said that was true as well.”
“We feel emotions, just not as many as you do, and probably not in the same way. We are tempered by reason. If something doesn't make sense, we don't abide it.”
“You said you don't feel the softer emotions.”
“They don't make sense to us.” Vor frowned.
“But they're starting to make sense to me.
Or rather, I'm beginning to see that sense doesn't have to apply to everything.
I think being forced to live so close to the Source of Technology has made us this way.
But I am proof that my people can change.
I'm already feeling more than I ever have, and that's all because of you, Lena.”
“You mean, it's because of my sister.” Lena leaned back and met Vor's gaze belligerently.
Vor cocked his head, something odd occurring to him. “Are you jealous that I believed she was mine first?”
“What?!” Lena shrieked. “Why would I be jealous?”
“I don't know. You shouldn't be. It was a mistake.
All I had to go on were images that Source gave me.
Your sister looks like you. I saw her with her Aethari man and assumed Source wanted me to fight for her.
But I was wrong. It wanted me to find you.
It makes sense now. Your sister isn't the woman who can help me lead my people to the surface.
It's you, Lena. I see it so clearly now. She's a warrior, but you are a healer.”
“No, I'm not. I'm a . . .”
Vor went still. She'd been about to tell him something personal, and he was desperate to know what it was. “Yes? What are you? Please tell me.”
“I'm not a healer.”
With disappointment, he let it go. “I didn't mean that you heal people in the traditional sense, but rather that you change people for the better through compassion and guidance. You are that woman, Lena. You are full of the emotions we lack. Only you can see who we are meant to be and become a bridge between us and your world.”
“I'm not your bridge.”
“Not yet.”
“I don't understand what you want from me.” She leaned back and crossed her arms.
“I think you do. But don't worry about that now. Just know that you won't be harmed here.”
“You forced me to watch you undress!”
“Did I? I forced you to stay in the room with me, yes. But you could have closed your eyes or simply looked away. You looked at me because you wanted to. You like looking at me.”
“No, I don't. I was just curious about your metal parts.”
Vor chuckled. “Is that right? My cock isn't metal, but you seemed extremely curious about it.”
“How dare you say that word to me!” Lena surged to her feet. “I thought you weren't going to treat me like a whore?”
“A whore? I never said that word.”
“Fine, you said you didn't want to speak to me like I was just a woman you wanted to . . . you know.”
Vor's eyes went wide. “Fuck? Do you dislike that word too?”
“It's crass. As you are. A gentleman would never use those words with a lady. But then, a gentleman would never abduct a woman either.”
“I am a soldier, not a gentleman. I don't believe any of my people are gentle.” He stood up and went around the table to stand before her. “But you make me want to be. At least, with you. So, if you don't like those words, tell me what to say instead.”
“What?” Lena whispered.
Vor motioned at her chair. “Please, sit down, Lena. I will try to be a gentleman for you. But you need to show me how.”
Lena sat down, her eyes wide.
Vor sat in the chair beside her, angled to face her. “Now, what words should I use instead of cock and fuck?”
Her face went red. “Uh.” She swallowed. Cleared her throat. “Maybe, manhood or, uh, penis.”
“Penis?” Vor squished up his face. “You prefer that to cock? It sounds like a disease. Oh, no, I've got the penis!”
Lena burst out laughing. It lasted five seconds, all of which Vor spent gawking at her beauty. Then she clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at him in horror.
“You have a lovely laugh,” Vor whispered. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
Lena lowered her hand. “I . . . I shouldn't laugh with you.”
“Our relationship will be full of things we shouldn't do, but I think that is what will change the world, Lena.” He held out his metal hand. “I want you to be as comfortable as possible here. Will you try to trust me?”
She stared at his hand. “This is insane. Just let me go. I can tell them you treated me well, and maybe we can negotiate—”
“Negotiate what, Lena?” Vor dropped his hand. “Do you think they'll suddenly agree to let Nethren live on the surface because I let you go? No, that's not how you will heal this world.”
“How then?” Lena swung out her arms in frustration. “What do you expect me to do?”
“I don't know. But I have faith that you will do it.” Vor stood up. “I need to check in with my soldiers, and I think you need some time alone.”
“You're leaving?”
“Yes.” He went to the door and paused. “I'll be back soon. Please, finish your meal.”
Vor left the room and closed the door behind him. That's when he realized that there were no locks on the outside of the door. “Damn,” he muttered. He couldn't leave her in a room with an unlocked door.
While he stood there, trying to figure out what to do, a male soldier came striding by. He inclined his head at Vor. “Commander.”
Vor glanced at the silver gear embroidered on the man's shirt. “Ah, Private! I need you to guard this door.”
The man stopped. “Uh, I'm supposed to report to the wall, Commander.”
“It will only be for a few minutes until I can find a replacement. You can tell the wall watch sergeant you were held up by helping me.”
“Yes, sir!” The soldier moved to stand before the door. “Uh, am I keeping people out or in, Commander?”
“Both. No one is to get into that room but me, and if a woman tries to leave it, you will stop her with respect. She is not to be harmed. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!”
Vor strode away, confident now that Lena was safe.