CHAPTER SIX
Zade
Zade held up a hand. The “abnormalities” were exactly what a female in the very early stages of mate bonding would experience.
“I am aware of the female’s vital statistics,” he said, cutting him off.
“All is within normal ranges. We must allow her body to heal and assimilate her new limb without adding more stress to her body and mind.” All he wanted was for these two to leave and give him space to rest and think. “Is she still on the reju-table?”
“Yes, sir,” said Pruk.
“Induce sleep,” he ordered. “Six Earth hours, uninterrupted.” The female needed sleep and he had an appointment with the Saar-king, which could not be missed.
He sent off Yoli and Pruk to run a check on the several hundred other patients on the medical deck and to assist any physicians who had put in requests for help. With them finally gone, both his private lab and the patient room were quiet.
Ashley had fallen asleep almost as soon as the medicine had entered her.
She lay there, still and quiet. And terribly pale.
He approached as one would a poisonous garipi that was poised to strike, stopping beside her softly glowing reju-table.
With a slow hand, he moved the hair from her forehead.
Her light brown hair was soft. He allowed his fingers to trail down her cheek.
The feel of it sent a tremor down his body.
Even with the hormone suppressant, he could feel the need rising within him, pushing for dominance.
The urge to mate with her was natural and innate and difficult to suppress, but it could not win.
Not with his female unable to consent or participate.
With a curse, he turned and ran yet another body scan.
He was relieved to see that she had not sustained a serious brain injury with her skull fracture.
Only some short-term memory loss remained.
She may retrieve the memories. Part of him hoped she didn’t.
Recalling the night of her attack would be traumatic for her, but he did need the information on the creature. Currently, it was locked in her mind.
He changed into a loose training suit of dark gray and paused at his console.
Leaving the eniband on would result in questions he would rather not answer.
But taking it off could cause him to release his pent-up energy on his Saar-king and result in injury.
He did not trust his body to not fight with the rage of the warrior that lived in the soul of every Baylan.
Every need, desire, and instinct sat at the surface.
With a snarl at the cursed band around his neck, he headed for the exit.
Shortly afterwards, he found himself standing over his winded Saar-king, who gazed up at him with surprise in his ice blue eyes.
Both Baylans were drenched in sweat, but it was Zade who was dominating the sparring match. “You are slow, Drace,” he said. “Does something ail you?”
The other male swept his legs under himself and jumped lithely to his feet, immediately back in form. “I am not slow. You are exceptionally strong today.”
“I think not.” He took another swing, barely missing Drace’s head.
That one would have left a mark. The other Baylan male’s eyes widened.
This was not what the Saar-king looked for during these matches.
Zade had to rein it in. Over time, the two males had developed this frequent training schedule.
It was an effective way for Zade to observe and evaluate the Saar-king’s health and wellness, and it also kept Zade’s own reflexes sharp and honed.
Drace leapt away and out of reach. “What do you have in that eniband?” he asked. “Something to improve your performance, to give me a harder workout?”
Zade snarled. “You know I would never do such a thing without first informing you.”
“Then what is it?” Drace held up a hand, signaling a pause in the match. “Something is different about you. Do you need to engage in a true fight? I can call in Raze, my head of military. I am sure he would accommodate you.”
“No.” Stars, no. Raze was a relentless and vicious fighter when riled.
Zade preferred his teeth—and every other body part—intact.
The easier thing would be to tell Drace about Ashley and get it over with.
He paused as a message pinged his v-link with the high urgency chime.
He opened the message but instead of words, the message closed and deleted itself. “What was that?” asked Drace.
“I am not sure.” He frowned with little interest in pondering it. If it was that urgent, they would message again. “A glitch, perhaps.”
“We do not have glitches,” said Drace.
Not a moment later, the doors to the training space opened and a Baylan male strode in. The Saar-king turned to the newcomer, eyes hot. “These are my private chambers, protected by passcodes and guards,” he snapped. “How did you—”
The male wore a scowl, a scar through his eyebrow—which was unusual, as Baylans healed quickly and rarely scarred—and a tight, unadorned black uniform.
“Deepest apologies for the intrusion, Saar-king, high physician,” the male said.
“I lacked the time to explain myself to each of the guards at your checkpoints. My credentials allowed me access.”
Zade’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are those credentials?”
The Baylan pulled down the corner of his uniform, revealing a set of ink-black soul markings that made Drace’s and Zade’s brows rise.
“As you can see, I have access to every base ship by order of the Elder Council. But I do apologize for the abrupt intrusion.” The male nodded to the two of them.
“I am Malak Drak-Nix, master tracker of the ship Syl-1.”
The Syl-1 belonged to a division of the Baylan military that was barely ever mentioned.
It was the newest addition in the Baylan fleet and a highly advanced stealth ship.
Its every mission was a secret one, directed by the Council of Elders, who were the only authority above the Saar-kings and Saar-queens.
“I understand that you, Zade Baru-Nok, are the physician treating the human survivor of the unknown attack on Earth.”
Zade crossed his arms with a skitter of trepidation. “You are correct, Malak Drak-Nix.”
“My sources say she has regained consciousness.”
“She has.” Zade wondered who or what his sources were. Of course, it would be an easy task for a Syl-1 agent to access the medical records of a patient. The fact that one of its operatives was here about Ashley was a sign that whatever had attacked her was a bigger problem than initially perceived.
“Previous efforts to locate and neutralize the being that attacked her and others have failed, so I am being sent to Earth to complete the mission. I need what information you have on it, including how the female describes it.”
“She does not describe it,” replied Zade. “She remembers nothing of her attack.”
Malak’s scowl deepened. “Is there a way you can retrieve the memories?”
“No. Memory loss is a common result for humans and Baylans with head injuries.” He raised an eyebrow.
“I can send you my preliminary report, which profiles the creature, based on what we have learned so far. I have narrowed the possibilities to forty-seven known species. Some tests are ongoing and take time to complete.”
The male’s jaw hardened. “Earth and Bayla do not have time for tests. We need this being gone, and quickly. There have been more attacks, with unfortunate results.”
“More have died?” asked Drace.
“Two humans, in addition to animals,” Malak replied. “But we fear a fast escalation if the creature moves into populated areas. Certain regions are being evacuated. However, some of the surviving animals have fallen ill. Their subsequent slow deaths have been unnatural to the ecosystem there.”
Zade closed his eyes as dread uncoiled through him. “A rotting or dissolving of the body, resulting in a black, oily substance.”
Malak nodded, his gaze sharp on Zade. “I would be grateful for your preliminary report and anything you learn subsequently.” He tapped the device behind his ear.
“I am sending you my secure link. Upload what you have. My rate of success will increase if I can identify it.” His eyes narrowed and he pulled in a deep breath through his nose.
“Why do you suppress your body’s hormone production? ” he asked abruptly.
Zade did not move, but his body tensed. “That is none of your concern.”
The tracker tilted his head. “It is if the success of my mission, and many lives—including my own—is dependent on data provided by an impaired male. I would know why you would do this to yourself, or I shall inquire with your Saar-king.”
Drace crossed his arms, also waiting for an explanation.
Zade drew in a sharp breath. Master trackers were trained to perceive everything. Their senses were naturally attuned, but it was said that technology on the stealth ships existed to medically augment them further, to pick up the slightest scent, the faintest sound, the tiniest speck of movement.
“I have recently discovered that the female survivor is my mate.” He suppressed a wince as he heard Drace’s indrawn breath. “I wear the eniband to suppress my urges, for her protection, until she is healed.”
“She does not know?” asked Drace.
“No,” Zade said through his teeth. “She is still recovering from traumatic injuries—mental and physical. She lost a leg and all four of her companions. Learning she has acquired an alien mate will not aid her recovery.”
The tracker held his gaze for several long moments. “Understood.” He brought his fist to the center of his chest, then extended his hand, palm outward, in the Baylan gesture of gratitude. “Thank you for your cooperation, Zade Baru-Nok.” He turned and began striding away.
“I have not announced my mating,” Zade said after him. The request to keep the information secret was unspoken, but hung in the air.
The tracker paused. He drew his fingers across his forehead. “It is already forgotten, high physician,” he said, and Zade half wondered if it were actually true.
“You could have told me,” Drace said quietly. “I understand this process.”
“But I do not,” Zade replied harshly. “No matter how many times I have given the diagnosis of a mate to a Baylan—including your own brother—it remains something I struggle to reconcile within myself.”
“Being mated is not a ‘diagnosis,’ Zade,” Drace murmured. “It is not a disease to treat. It is a biological function and a cause for celebration.”
“Yes,” said Zade. “So said my father, as well. All I can think of is how I will perform my many duties and those to a mate. And later, perhaps, to a family.” He blew out a breath.
“The cycles simply are not long enough. And what if she does not want a mate? She is beautiful. She could currently have a human companion.” He raked his fingers through his damp hair.
“Stars, this female is my greatest challenge yet.”
“Do not invent worries, my friend,” Drace said. “You will need to reduce your work, but it is high time you did so, anyway.”
“I am perfectly capable of—”
“Zade, there is more to life than work.” Drace put a hand on Zade’s shoulder. “You will have to find a balance in order for both you and your mate to be healthy. And I must tell you, it is strange and refreshing to council you for once, rather than being on the receiving end of health advice.”
He gave his Saar-king a sour look. “I do not care for it at all.”
Drace chuckled. “I will arrange for your chambers to be prepared in the residential command wing. My Yana-queen and the other human females are visiting Earth for several cycles, but Rachel will be pleased to hear that we are gaining another human resident.”
Zade winced. “I must inform Ashley of her new status, first.”
“Of course.” Drace stepped away and dropped into sparring position. “Now. Shall we train? I will show you no mercy.”
Zade grinned, knowing that they were evenly matched. He felt lighter, having shared his secret with Drace. The Saar-king certainly did not lack in duties and he managed to maintain a very happy Yana-queen, plus a growing family. Surely Zade could manage that, too. “Do your worst, Saar-king.”