Grim (Tornians #1)

Chapter One

The sun shines brightly as Lisa crosses the grass to Mark. It is the perfect spring day for a picnic.

“Happy Birthday my love.” Lisa smiles, setting down the sandwich and drink. She tosses aside a stray blade of grass that has invaded their make shift table as she sits cross-legged in front of him.

“Yes, it has that stinky blue cheese on it that you love. Ricky remembered just how you liked it.” Responding to the question he always asked, leaning back on her hands she closes her eyes, letting the sun warm her face.

“The girls are doing fine. I’ll bring them by later. Trisha’s with them while they take their naps. I just wanted some alone time with you.” She forces the tears from her golden brown eyes as she looks at Mark’s headstone.

“Mark Wilbur Miller” It reads.

“Loving husband and father.”

“I miss you Mark.” She whispers.

“I miss our talks. How you could always make me laugh. I miss your arms around me, holding me in the middle of the night, letting me know everything will be okay. I miss our fights….I miss making up….” Lisa finds she can’t go on.

“Sorry.” She half chuckles wiping away her tears.

“Here it is your twenty-seventh birthday and I’m crying like an idiot.” The birds sing to her in reply as the wind dislodges a strand of long auburn hair to caress her face.

“I know.” She reaches up tucking the piece behind her ear.

“You’d be here if you could. Protecting us, making sure we have everything we need but we’re going to be okay. Carly starts school this fall and Miki will have her play group."

Lisa sighs deeply thinking how fast her babies are growing. "I was thinking that maybe I’d finish up that degree I started before Carly was born.” She looks to the stone.

“I’d only have two years left and you always liked how I decorated the house. I mean, I’m only twenty four, I wouldn’t be that much older than the other students.” When the sun dims Lisa looks up frowning, there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

“Well that was strange.” Forgetting about it, she looks back to Mark.

“Trisha wants me to meet a friend of hers but I told her it was too soon and don’t think you can change my mind Mark Miller!” Lisa finds she can’t sit.

“It’s barely been a year since you died. I’m not ready to ‘meet’ men. I don’t want to ‘meet’ men, no matter what I promised you when you were sick! There’s not a man on the planet that I could love as much as you, who could love our girls as much as you and I won’t settle for anything less Mark. I want it all…again…or I’d rather be alone.”

The snapping of a twig, followed by a low growl, has Lisa spinning around, but before she can process what she’s seeing, her world goes black.

Through the view port of the control room, Grim glares down at the small blue planet, after weeks of endless searching, he'd finally found it.

How had a species so primitive, so backward, been able to amass so many females while leaving them unprotected?

How had the planet never been discovered? Dozens of species were scouring the universes searching for compatible females, for they were the most valuable resource in all the universes.

They were all that stood in the way of extinction for many since the great infection, including Grim’s own, the Tornians.

It is why his brother, the Emperor of the Tornian Empire entrusted him with the task of finding his new Empress’ home planet.

Her arrival on Tornian had shocked many, for while she is smaller and softer than their females she is nearly identical in all other areas.

No other females in the known universes were as compatible.

She’d been found on a Ganglian slave ship bound for their home world where she would have brought a high price with her pale skin and flaming red hair, for colored hair is as rare a females.

Slavery was against Tornian Law and Ganglian ships carrying them were banned from their universe.

When Wray's ship intercepted one he discovered Kim hidden away, badly beaten and abused, his rage had known no bounds.

The entire crew had been executed and Wray claimed Kim for his own.

The Assembly of Lords had demanded to know where she came from, if there were more females available but Kim refused to tell them.

She wouldn’t help the Tornians enslave her people.

Things might have settled down and a compromise reached but it was discovered Kim had conceived and warriors from every house threatened to search for the planet on their own, for the chance to acquire a female.

To pacify them, Wray proclaimed that a select group of warriors would travel to the Empress' home planet to obtain a small number of unprotected females.

These females would to be brought back to Tornian where they would have their choice of only the worthiest Tornian warriors for their Joining Ceremony.

Many argued with the Emperor but on this point Wray would not waver.

Until they knew for sure that their joinings would be successful, he would not allow more than a few to be obtained.

Grim knew it was also a way for Wray to pacify Empress Kim who continued to withhold what she knew.

It was because of this that Wray had entrusted only Grim with what they did know of the planet's location.

Wray knew his brother would never betray him, even though Grim would never be allowed to join with one of the females.

"Grim, Luuken as returned with the last female." As Veron walks up to the navigation consul Grim locks it out.

No one, not even the Emperor’s most trusted Captain is allowed to know Earth’s location.

“You’ve done an amazing service for your fellow warriors.”

“I have done as my Emperor commanded.” Grim’s voice is rougher than normal, fatigue affecting the already damaged vocal chords.

“We shall see if it truly serves us or is the thing that finally ends of us.”

“Why would you think such a thing?” Vernon can’t hide his shock. To have found females, ones they can breed with, it is a gift from the goddess.

“Did they come willingly Veron? Were they given a choice? What makes what we’ve done any different than the Ganglians?”

“But…” Vernon stutters.

“They will be protected, never harmed.”

“I wonder if they will see it that way…”

Lisa wakes with a start, pulling off whatever’s covering her eyes. Sitting up she finds she's dizzy. Where is she? What happened? Where are her children?

“Easy.” Gentle hands grip her shoulders. Forcing her eyes to focus Lisa sees a blonde woman about her age sitting next to her.

“What’s going on? Who are you?” She demands her eyes flying around the room.

“I’m Rebecca Mines and we’ve been kidnapped.” The woman tells her calmly.

“Kidnapped!” Looking behind Rebecca, she sees close to a dozen other women watching her.

“Yes, I’ve been here the longest, about a week. Drink this.” She hands her a glass another woman has brought her. Sniffing it suspiciously, Lisa looks at her. Rebecca smiles understandingly.

“There’s nothing in it, I promise. They want us healthy.” Lisa watches her as she sips, finding she’s parched.

“Who are they? How long have I been here?” Lisa demands.

“They call themselves Tornians. There seems to be a shortage of women on their planet so when they discovered humans, they came to get some.”

“Planet….humans...what are you talking about!”

“They’re aliens.” Rebecca watches Lisa’s eyes grow large with disbelief.

“I know it sounds crazy but I’m serious. Once you see them you’ll know it’s true.” She looks at the other women.

“Look I totally understand your disbelief. A week ago I working late in my office…the next thing I know I wake up here.” She gestures to the room. “I haven’t been harmed, none of us have and believe me it wouldn’t take much for them to hurt us.”

“How long have I been here?” Rachel looks at her watch.

“About four hours.”

“No! I have to get out of here! I have to get home!” Lisa struggles to her feet.

“We’d all love too. You find a way and we’re with you but you have to understand, we’re not even on Earth right now. I’ve seen it, you will too, now that you’re awake. They’ll prove it to you and explain what’s going on.”

“You explain it.” Lisa demands.

“They’re civilization is dying." Rebecca shrugs her shoulders. "Something happened, some type of infection, it caused their women to have more and more boys. At first it was celebrated, they’re a warrior race apparently and like Earth, males were highly valued, but over time, it got worse. Now there are over two hundred males born for every female.”

“They want us to be breeders.” Lisa whispers.

“Something like that. They came to Earth for what they call unprotected females so their males can join with them.”

“Join?”

“I’m figuring it means sex, marry, have children with, whatever. Callen is one of their warrior’s. He’s brings us food. He at least has been willing to answer our questions, unlike the one called Luuken. He brought you here by the way and is a world class ass hole.” Lisa clearly hears the other woman’s dislike for him.

“Callen assured us that we will be allowed to choose the warrior we will join with and that he will protect and provide for us. It is considered a great honor to be chosen to join with a woman, so they will treat us very well. Only the most worthy are allowed this honor and if a female child is born his status in their society is greatly increased.”

“But I’m not unprotected! I already have children! I can’t leave them!” Lisa is starting to get desperate. She can’t leave her girls.

“You’re married?” Rachel can’t keep the shock from her voice.

“Widowed. I was at the cemetery, visiting Mark’s grave, my children are with a sitter. I have to get home!” The voices of the women in the room begin to rise.

Rachel stands, walking over to a panel she starts to pound on it.

“Callen! Callen! Open this damn door!” When it opens, Lisa can’t help but gasp. The man….male that enters the room is huge and definitely not human. His skin is blue, sapphire blue with a shimmer that made her think of pearls and there’s a lot of it showing. His clothing seems to be some sort of uniform that covers his body while revealing his ample arms and chest. Long, thick, black hair is pulled away from an angular face that looks almost human. He has two eyes, the color of amber, a nose that's broader and flatter than normal with sharply carved cheeks and full lips that when he speaks reveal white teeth that seemed longer than humans.

“What do you need Rachel?” He voice is deep but gentle.

“There’s been a mistake, Lisa needs returned to Earth.” Callen follows her gesture to the newest arrival.

“It has been explained to you.” He replies shaking his head.

“It is not possible.”

“You also said only unprotected females. Ones with no ties, she has ties!”

“She carries no male’s scent.” Lisa advances on the male.

“You listen to me you big blue idiot! You will return me to my family and you will do it now!”

“Family?” He looks from Rebecca to Lisa in confused.

“Yes family! My children!” His eyes widen.

“You have offspring?” He whispers.

“YES! What have I been saying?” Lisa yells.

“Callen she can’t leave them unprotected.” Rachel puts a hand on his arm.

“This cannot be…”

“Well it is, someone screwed up, it must be corrected.” All the women in the room nod in agreement.

Grim steps out of the cleansing unit, letting tired eyes follow the path his scars take across the right side of his face and down his torso….it had happened in a moment….a moment that changed his entire life and because of that moment, he is seen as unfit by the females of his planet. They see his injuries as a sign he will be unable to protect them. Him. King Grim Vasteri. Ruler of the Planet Luda. Blood brother to Emperor Wray, the strongest and most feared warrior in the Empire. None had ever bested him, not even when he’d been injured, they’d all died that day, and there were times he wished he had too. At least then he would have died in battle, knowing no disgrace, not having to wait until everything he’s worked for is taken from him, his status, his position, all because he would produce no offspring.

"What!” He demands slapping the ringing comm on the wall.

"There is a problem with the last female Luuken obtained." Veron informs him.

"She will calm." He replies gruffly.

"She is demanding to be returned. Claiming she has offspring. It is greatly disturbing the other females. They are becoming very agitated." Grim rubs weary hands across his face he doesn't need this.

"Have her brought to the command room." He orders.

“I will explain it to her.”

"Yes sire.” Veron replies knowing that Grim will use his horrifying appearance to obtain the female's acceptance of her circumstances. Veron looks to the comm, feeling for his old friend, while he's never wished for offspring, he knows Grim had and that it had been stolen from him. Notifying Callen to bring the female Veron sits back and waits.

Lisa is stunned to find she’s standing in what appears to be a control room of some sort but it isn’t the strangely colored males that have her stunned, it’s the sight of Earth getting smaller and smaller in the large window that takes up the front of the room.

“It isn’t possible. She carries no male’s scent.” The sound of a hand slamming on a table causes her to jump then she realizes what the irate male is saying and she storms across the room.

“Look you yellow bastard, I don’t care if you can smell Mark on me or not!” She slams her own fist down.

“You took me from my children. They’ve already lost their father; they are not going to lose me too. Not because some idiot can’t smell!” She gives Luuken a disgusted look.

“You will get me back to them! NOW!”

Every male looks at her in shock, no female yells at a warrior. They are intimidated by their size and strength even knowing they would never be harmed. The anger expressed between Veron and Luuken would have them cringing and crying.

“I am highly intelligent.” Luuken growls at her, furious at her insult. His eyes widen when she leans over the table getting even closer to him.

“You can’t prove it by me. Now get me back to my children.” She orders.

“It is not possible; you’ve already received the learning program.” Turning he walks away, finished with the discussion.

"What's he talking about?" Lisa turns to the remaining male.

“When you were brought aboard, you received our learning program," The green-skinned male replies. "How else did you think you can speak and understand our language?”

“What?” Lisa trails off suddenly realizing she’s not speaking English, that they’re not speaking English.

“I don’t care!" She shakes her head. "I want my children!”

“You now know of us, you cannot be returned.” He tells her regretfully.

“But Veron,” Callen speaks up.

“She has offspring….” Lisa turns to Callen knowing she has an ally there.

“That no warrior here will accept or protect. I can’t force one too. There is nothing I can do, once she is on Tornian she will calm and join with a warrior, they will soon be forgotten.”

"You think I will forget my children!" Lisa rounds the table to stand toe to toe with the much larger male. "That I would ever join with one of you without them! Have you lost your ever loving mind?!?"

"Veron, the other females...." Callen tries again. "They are extremely agitated by this situation. They say they will not join with our warriors if it is not corrected."

"What?” Veron can’t believe this is happening.

“All because this one claims to have offspring?" Veron angrily points at Lisa.

"Yes."

"Your females must be real bitches." Lisa tells Veron softly. "You have no concept of how far human females will go to protect our offspring, or what we will do to those who threaten them." An uneasy silence meets her statement.

Grim enters the control room unbeknownst to the three arguing and is as stunned as the other males. That this small female would dare to order a Tornian warrior, let alone one of the Emperor’s Captain’s is unheard of. What would she do if truly challenged?

“I will accept and protect her offspring,” He finds himself says.

“Provided she agrees to join with me and no another.”

Lisa slowly turns to find the source of the deep gravelly voice that’s giving her goose bumps and pales. The male standing just inside the doors towers over the others, easily seven foot tall and where they are large he is massive. Where they are jewel tones he is bronze, his skin glimmering over hard muscles, but it’s his face and neck that capture her attention. The bronze is striated with thick dark scars starting just below his ear working their way across his face, throat, neck, and chest.

“If she can explain why she carries no male’s scent.” His dark grey eyes glitter dangerously. Lisa swallows trying to make her suddenly dry throat to work but before she can answer Veron speaks.

“You cannot do this Grim you are not suitable for joining.” Veron argues.

“That is not your decision Captain. It is hers.” Frigid eyes look to Veron.

“Wray will support my claim if it is her choice.” All eyes turn to her waiting.

“Mark died." She fights to get it out. "Nearly a year ago.”

“His joining scent would still linger.” The raspy voice accuses.

“He became ill, while I was carrying our second child, nearly four years ago.” Grim watches as her eyes take on a sad look.

“You expect us to believe you stayed with him!” Disbelief colors Veron’s voice.

“Of course I did!” Outrage drives away the sadness as they bore into Veron.

“He was my husband! We took vows!” She sees the shock on the warriors faces.

"Vows?" Veron questions, warriors give vows not females.

"Promises." She looks around the room not understanding their confusion. "To love, honor and cherish each other, for better or worse, in sickness and in health until in death we do part." Her revelation is met by stunned silence.

“You expect me to believe that you kept this...vow. For nearly four years, receiving no relief.” She easily sees the disbelief in Grim’s eyes.

“That is none of your business!” She retorts angrily.

“It is if you want my protection for your offspring.” Grim watches intrigued as the female’s pale skin begins to turn rosy.

“Fine. No. It’s been over four years since my husband has been able to relieve me, as you put it." She forces out through clenched teeth. "It’s what made him realize something was seriously wrong, but by then it was too late.”

“Yet you stayed.” Grim wants her to say it.

“Of course I stayed, I loved him. He would have done the same.” Her simple statement, said with absolute conviction, is met by silence.

Grim looks at the small female, not knowing what to believe, his brother had informed him that they were different then Tornian females but surely no female would stay with an unfit male for so long.

She would seek out another's protection, leaving her offspring with the male.

“I am not a Tornian female." She interrupts his thoughts softly. "Don’t judge me by what they would do. You don’t know me.”

Grim moves to stand in front of her, trying to assess her truth he crosses his trees for arms over a massive chest.

“You will join with only me.”

“What does that mean?” She whispers craning her neck back to maintain eye contact.

“That only I will relieve your need.” Hard eyes bore into hers. "No matter what.”

“What does that mean?” If possible his eyes become even harder his voice rougher.

“You cannot become upset with me, with my appearance and join with another male, leaving me to protect your offspring.”

“Your appearance….." She eyes travel to his scars seeing them darken as his jaw tenses. "What does that have to do with anything?” She asks honestly confused and he is stunned.

“Will you harm me? Harm my children?” Grim hears the fine tremor in her voice telling him she is frightened but still she challenges him.

“Never.”

“They will stay with me." She forces herself to continue. "I will be in control of what happens to them.”

“They will be under Tornian law.” Grim informs her.

“They aren't Tornian. I will have control.”

“Of your offspring. Of ours I will.” Lisa continues to meet his gaze trying to see the truth, to decide if she can live with it.

She isn’t even sure she can have children with this man…male…to risk the children she had being left behind, on the life of a child that may never be conceived….

“If you're being honest with me then once we retrieve my children I will willingly join with you.”

“With only me.” He demands.

“With only you.” She agrees, after a moment he nods, pushing a button on the console.

"Then it is agreed."

"I protest!” Luuken’s suddenly outburst has Grim spinning to face the smaller male.

“She is to be delivered to the Assembly to join with a worthy warrior, not an unfit one!"

"Then you should have done what was necessary to secure her. She has willingly agreed to join with me. It has been witnessed and recorded. It's done!" He turns back to the small female.

“Come, we will retrieve your offspring.”

Grim's mind is racing, why has the goddess suddenly smiled upon him? A female.

He has a female.

He glances down at the small creature walking beside him.

She doesn't even come up to his shoulder.

How will she ever be able to give him offspring? What had he been thinking?

Seeing her stand up Luuken, fearlessly challenging the larger male, stirred something in him.

She is fierce, a warrior in her own right.

If she spoke true, she remained with her male even when he was unable to give her pleasure, was unable to protect her.

She refused to abandon her offspring.

No Tornian female would do this. They were female. They were all that mattered, yet this small Earth female acted as if it were normal, expected even. She must be lying.

Another male's offspring…he grimaces.

He doesn’t want them especially Earth ones.

They have enough males on his planet.

It is females they need, but if accepting them is what he must do to not only join with her but also maintain his position, then so be it, he will tolerate them.

Lisa can’t believe what she just agreed too.

What was she thinking!?! She’s going to be a sex slave to a nearly seven-foot alien.

She’s entrusting him with not only her life but also the lives of her girls and possibly those of any future children.

What could she have been thinking…except…something about him pulls her…maybe it is because everyone in that room acted as if he was defective, said he was unfit.

What do they know about Grim that she doesn’t? He said he wouldn't harm them, is she a fool to trust his word.

Sitting quietly next to Grim, Lisa watches him skillfully pilot the ship he’s led her too.

Her acceptance of this sudden change in her life should surprise her, but it doesn’t.

It’s happened to her before, when she went from happily expecting her second child to being the pregnant wife of a cancer patient with a toddler.

She’d been forced to change, to adapt, if she wanted to survive.

She could do it again. She’d make this work for her girls.

"What is your name?" Lost in her thoughts she jumps when Grim speaks.

"Lisa...Lisa Miller."

"Lisamiller." Grim repeats the strange name.

"No." She waits until he looks at her. "My first name is Lisa. My last name...my husband's last name is Miller. It is his family name."

"You took his name when you joined?" Grim frowns at her.

"Yes. Many females on my planet do. It is a designation of who you are..." She hesitates searching for the word. "Joined with. Is it not that way on Tornian?"

"No." He replies abruptly. "Where are your offspring?” Looking from him to the view outside the ship, she's surprised to find them over Mark’s grave, the sandwich and drink where she’d left them, the blanket having blown away. Giving the grave one last look she focuses on Grim’s impenetrable face and her future.

“Go that way.” She points left into town, directing him to her home.

“There…at the end of the street.”

Grim scans the dwelling she’s pointed too.

“I detect three beings in the dwelling.”

“That’s them. I need to get to them. They’ll be scared.”

“The area behind your dwelling is adequate for landing.” He maneuvers the ship closer.

“You’re not worried it will be seen?” She can’t hide her surprise.

“The ship is shielded.” He tells her landing.

“Grim….” He looks at her waiting.

“This ‘learning program’ that allows me to speak to and understand you…”

“What about it?” He asks gruffly.

“Will my children still be able to understand me?” He sees her fear but doesn’t understand it.

“You know they will.” He replies impatiently.

“How would I know that?” Grim eyes her suspiciously, what game is she playing?

“The Guide explained this to you.”

“Guide?” She grabs his arm when he would have turned away.

“What Guide? What the hell is a Guide?”

“He is the male that was there when you finished the program. He removed the educator and explained things to you.”

“I woke up, pulled off whatever that thing was covering my eyes and Rebecca was there. There was no one called Guide, just the other women until Callen opened the door.”

The growl that escapes Grim has Lisa quickly pulling away. His look freezes her.

“You removed the educator yourself?” He quickly lifts her into his lap, holding her head immobile between massive but gently hands.

“No Guide was there to assist you? Calm.” He orders as she starts to struggle. “I need to be sure you haven’t damaged yourself.”

Carefully he threads his fingers through silky auburn hair, the strands curling around them, as he slowly inspects her scalp, watching closely to see if he causes any pain. Soon his fingers trail along her jaw, lightly touch lips that have parted at his touch. Desire flashes in his eyes before it disappears and he removes his hands.

“I find no damage.” He says roughly.

“Good.” She whispers.

“That’s good.”

“When we return to the Searcher this will be corrected.” His eyes harden at the thought of how badly she could have been damaged.

“Your offspring will understand you, not me.” He answers her original question.

“I will understand them only if we are physically connected.”

“Physically connected…you mean touching.” He nods. Rising, he keeps her close before he slowly lets her slide down his hard body, making her aware of every bulge, before he finally steps away.

“Let us get your offspring and be gone.” He orders.