Page 5 of Ruarc
KALLEN
Time passes slowly, and I catch myself watching the door of our room all darkness long, wanting nothing more than to talk to Ruarc while simultaneously dreading it, but I should have known he would not show.
He has become accomplished at the art of avoidance and has made it quite clear he does not want me.
How I wish things were different, but we all must face the realization that we have no control over the fates that pull mates together.
Lying down on the sleeping platform, my mind refuses to settle, no matter how comfortable the surface is.
My thoughts keep twisting and winding around the same topic, for which I have no answers.
Groaning, I roll over as every joint in my body protests the movement.
Glancing down, I roll my eyes in disgust. I am a fraction of the healthy female I once was.
At first, I thought that was why Ruarc did not want me—the full hips and breasts I was always so proud of, are now sunken skin hanging off my bones.
But he looks not at me with disgust, only loathing.
It is as if he holds me personally responsible for the horror I experienced as well as the trauma that my entire people have had to endure.
Just as I am finally about to drift off to sleep, I hear the door quietly slide open. I crack my eyes open, watching as he moves on silent feet around the room, gathering garments and weapons, placing them in a bag before turning toward me.
He stands there for a moment, his facial features lax, and he looks like a completely different male.
He embodies everything I ever wanted in a mate: loyal to a fault, a born leader, and he is taller than I am.
Which is significant because I have always joked that there was no way I would put a male on a platform to kiss him, due to my own extreme height.
His pale purple eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, seem aware of everything.
I do not mind the scars on his lower face where the frackin’ Aynar removed his tusks.
However, if he has ever smiled I would not know, as I have yet to see it.
The skin on his arms and chest has darkened from the minerals in the mines, but there is not an ounce of fat on his bulky frame.
To me, his mass is beautiful. When he stands behind me, I feel small and safe within his shadow.
Just once, I wish he would hold me because he wants to, but I have quickly learned not to hold my breath for things that are not going to happen.
He steps closer and for a tic I think he is going to touch me, but he shakes his head as if he is having a moment of weakness and then turns to leave.
The soft sound of the door closing behind him is overly loud in the quiet of our room.
It is not much later that I feel the ship shake, and I know the shuttle has left the dock.
Slavic said they were leaving after their fast-breaking meal, but I am sure it was Ruarc who persuaded him to leave at the earliest possible time.
Glancing at the ship’s timekeeping system, I see that there are spans yet until everyone typically gathers to eat.
The longer I lay there, the angrier I get.
If my … our people are still on Deapra, I have every right to return, and Ruarc nor any of the others are going to stop me from heading home.
Grabbing a bag, I locate the only other outfit I have and stuff it inside.
Storming out of this infernal room, I pray to the Gods of Ruk that I never see it again.
I did not escape the Aynar, and then the Velgriddix, to be a prisoner of the male fate decided should love, honor, and cherish me.
Making my way to the dining hall for food, I stop dead when I find Ruby and Rowan both gathering supplies of their own.
Guilt and defiance flit across their faces before Ruby sees the pack in my hand, and her expression changes to one of evil delight.
“Just the girl we were about to come looking for. I sure hope you know how to fly Einar’s shuttle, Kallen.”
“I do not, but I am confident that between the three of us, we can figure it out.”
Rowan chews on her bottom lip, “You know they’re going to be pissed.”
“Einar and Slavic might grumble for a bit, but the moment you two are in their arms, all will be forgiven. Personally, at this point, I cannot care less what Ruarc thinks. I am not staying here another moment.”
We are just walking out of the dining hall when Heather rounds the corner. “Oh, you three already look guilty. What are y’all up to? Wait, let me guess, going after your men.”
Ruby throws an arm around her shoulder, “Yep, you wanna go with us?”
“Why not? Let me go grab a few things. This cold tin can is driving me crazy. I’m ready for my feet to be on the ground, especially since I am the only one who isn’t getting googly eyes from the male population on board. I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare leave without me.”
I reach out, grabbing her arm before she turns away.
“We will wait for you at the dock. Do not forget to grab some nutrient bars and a couple of water packs before you come down, and if you can keep from it, do not tell the others.” Heather nods her head before turning toward the room she is sharing with the other girls.
I motion for Ruby and Rowan to go ahead, only to hesitate for a moment as we all step onto the dock, and I see the size of the remaining shuttle hovering above the deck.
Placing my hand on the hull, I try to activate the ramp, but nothing happens.
Ruby attempts the same, but the ramp remains closed.
Aggravated, Ruby turns toward me. “Well, how the hell are we going to get down there if we can’t even get the ramp to open? ”
“Let me try.” Rowan walks over and places her small hand against the screen, and we all jerk when the ramp instantly starts lowering.
“Looks like little sister is the magic key after all. Come on, let’s get on board before it decides to close back.” Ruby grabs Rowan’s hand, pulling her up the ramp. Just as I have stepped on it too, Heather comes running around the corner.
“Okay, get this thing in the air, because they know we’re up to something. No matter how much I tried to dissuade them, Bambi and Gwen could both tell I was lying.”
The moment both of us are on board, I hit the button for the ramp to close and head toward the helm, where I find Ruby and Rowan looking at all the buttons.
“Rowan, put your hand over the main controller and see if you can voice-activate the ship.”
The second she touches it a voice comes out of the console. “Orders.”
She looks over at me, shrugging her shoulders before mouthing silently … “What do I tell it?”
“Tell it to take us to the surface of Deapra.” I am whispering back.
“Uhhh, yeah.. your orders are to take us to the surface of Deapra.”
“Coordinates?”
“We need to land next to the other shuttle.”
“Confirmed.”
Rowan screeches in surprise when the captain’s seat bumps into her from behind and the ship starts to lift, only to immediately lower back down. “What happened? I didn’t touch anything.”
“Females, what is the meaning of this?” We all scream simultaneously when Falon’s voice sounds from behind us.
Of course, Ruby is the first to recover and respond. “Damnit Falon, you scared us to death.”
“Did you really think you would be able to sneak off the Zenith without Bikar knowing? None of you could be that simple-minded. Now just where were you off to?”
Unfortunately for Falon I snap back at him, full of venom, “I am going home, Falon.” Just as he opens his mouth to argue, I hold my hand up.
“Stop, I am not discussing this. My mate has made it clear he is not going to accept our bond, and I am healed enough to return. Now, you can either take us there, or we will find our own way. I refuse to stay on this ship for another moment where I am not wanted!”
“Kallen, you are overreacting … Ruarc is just a stubborn bastard, but he will come around.”
“I am not asking your permission, Falon. Nor do I need your mating advice.”
Falon tugs on his long ponytail in frustration, “Are you all trying to get me killed? Slavic and Einar will string me up if I show up with their mates.”
Ruby flings her beautiful red hair before grinning evilly at Falon. “You let us handle our men, Falon. I promise Slavic will grumble and bitch in the beginning, but I’m pretty good at bringing out his good side. All you have to do is drop us off and leave.”
“The frack, I will. You have all given me the perfect reason to disobey their orders. Bikar and Murgul do not need me here. They are perfectly capable of circling Deapra on their own, but when I brought that up to Slavic, he was adamant that the three of us stay on board. I think originally it was because of all of you, but now I can say that I caught you trying to steal the ship and that you forced me to fly you down to the surface.”
Heather starts laughing just as she playfully bumps him with her hip. “Uh huh … just how did the four of us force someone twice our size to do anything?”
“I will think of something. Do you females want to keep discussing this or leave before Bikar catches on?” When no one says a word, he smiles. “Great, take a seat and let us go see how much trouble we can all get into.”
The next thing I know, the shuttle is turning, and we are exiting the Zenith.
I can see a red light flashing on the console, but Falon seems to be ignoring it.
He maneuvers the shuttle a safe distance away from the Zenith before accelerating.
Pinned back in the seat, I grit my teeth while Ruby laughs like she is having the time of her life.
Quickly, it feels like we are in a free fall away from where the Zenith was orbiting Deapra so closely. It doesn’t take long for us to enter its atmosphere, and Falon finally hits the red button, and Bikar’s voice surrounds us.
“Falon, you dumb fracker! Slavic will have your head when you land with those females.”
“Hey, they promised to handle him for me. I will be fine, and they were going to come one way or another. At least this way, they will get there safely and at the right location.”
“Well, just to inform you, the landing is going to be rough because one of the arms on the landing gear is bent. That is why I had it in hover mode while docked, because I cannot seem to locate the parts to fix it.”
“Frack … I will take care of the repair planetside if possible, and thank you for the timely notification, brother.” Turning in my seat, “You heard him, females, buckle in, it might get bumpy.”