I find you’ve changed the color of her eyes, you’ll have more than a blood bond challenge to worry about. No other male from Tranq Prime will have her if she’s defiled—especially by an off worlder.”
“Defiled, huh?” Rast shook his head. “You know, Sylvan, back on Earth we humans always thought that when we finally made contact with an alien race, they’d be amazingly advanced. But the things I’m hearing from you—arranged marriages, women are worthless without their virginity—well, it sounds more like the dark ages to me.” He frowned. “It’s a hell of a shame.”
“I never said I agreed with such ideas,” Sylvan said tightly. “I only said that they’re prevalent on my home planet. A planet that Nadiah may well have to return to and live on the rest of her days. I just want to be sure she can do that without shame or regret.”
“I understand” Rast said tightly. “And you have my word I won’t, uh, change the color of her eyes. All right?”
Sylvan stared at him a long time. “All right,” he said, nodding at last. “I believe you’re a male of your word. So I am charging you with my kinswoman’s safety and virtue. Please know this is not a charge I make lightly—nor should you take it lightly. Nadiah’s death, injury, or deflowerment will be on your head, no matter who commits the acts that lead to such consequences.”
“You Kindred play hard ball, don’t you?” Rast muttered. He cleared his throat and spoke formally. “I accept your charge, Commander Sylvan. I swear to guard your cousin’s life and virginity with my life.”
“Thank you.” Sylvan felt marginally better.
“Shake on it?” Rast held out a hand and Sylvan clasped it briefly, feeling the steady pressure of the other male’s grip. Then he let go.
“You’re going to need both hands for landing,” he said, pointing at the curving, blue side of the Earth which now filled the viewscreen. “Pay attention—this is the tricky part.”
Rast sat up straighter and took a firm grip on the steering yoke. “I’m ready—let’s do this.”
As they hurtled downward, into the Earth’s atmosphere, Sylvan instructed him on landing procedure and watched the human male react with fluid grace and speed as each new challenge was thrown in his path. Rast seemed to handle himself with a natural ease that stood him in good stead while dealing with dangerous situations.
Sylvan only hoped it wouldn’t desert him when it really counted and Nadiah’s life was on the line.
Chapter Six
“Hi, Mom, it’s me,” Rast called, stepping into the large white Victorian house on Baker street where he’d lived as a child. His voice echoed in the hallway and he wondered for a moment if his parents were out. But his mom’s car was in the driveway and she usually parked it in the garage when they were going somewhere. She must be home. “Mom?” he called again, walking deeper into his house…deeper into his childhood.
There was the bright, sunny kitchen where Jessie had made him pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse on Saturdays. And the breakfast nook with its built in circular booth and worn plaid cushions where she had tutored him in math. One of the paintings she’d done in art class—a watercolor field of jewel-tone flowers—was still hanging above the nook. Rast felt his heart throb when he saw her familiar loopy initials, J.R., scrawled in one corner.
God, Jessie, he thought. You’re still here. Everywhere I look it’s like you never left. Like you might walk right back in at any minute and call me “kiddo” and ruffle my hair.
There was a lump in his throat he couldn’t swallow and suddenly his eyes were burning. How long had it been since he’d been back to this house? Five years? Ten? He usually made it a point to meet his parents out somewhere—take them to a nice, fancy restaurant, eat and catch up and little—then leave. That way he could keep things calm and impersonal and he