Her Mate's Secret Baby:Interstellar Brides, Book 9(17)

"You are in trouble, mister." I shoved the gold back under my shirt and  quickly tucked in the front, so his wandering hands could not find it  again. "Come on, love. Let's go get something to eat."

I lifted him into my arms and made my way down the stairs, my son nestled snuggly under my chin.





Chapter Ten

Roark, Outpost Nine, Northern Continent



After twelve hours in the ReGen pod, I was, per the scanners, ninety-two  percent well. I had some bruising, some cuts that were pink, newly  healed flesh. I wasn't perfect, as I would be if I had remained in the  pod the recommended time. But I didn't have time to heal fully. I needed  to know what happened to Natalie. If she really was dead, I needed to  know. I couldn't rest until I knew the truth. How could I relax when she  might be on Trion somewhere, lost, hurt, alone. The Drovers could have  her now, torturing her as they had me. Tormenting her. Causing her pain.

I had to find her. And if I found a body, I would not rest until the DNA test confirmed the remains belonged to my mate.

I'd given her my word, my promise to come for her, to protect her, and I would honor that vow to my dying breath.

"You must give up. Let go," my mother said, coming into my tent. I sat  behind my desk, staring at the search grids for Outpost Two, reading  reports of the attack. Outpost Nine was bigger than Two, the small  desert outpost where, even now, my mate's body might be lying in the  sand. There was no chance of an attack here. The tent community  surrounding Outpost Nine had turned into a city within the desert. When  High Councilor Tark was matched to his mate, she'd transported here.

I never imagined the danger Natalie would face simply transporting to  the smaller, less-secure outpost. There had not been a direct Drover  attack in years. Still, I should have known better, thought of all the  consequences, the dangers. She was my mate and her safety should have  been my highest priority. Not my convenience.

I never should have risked her. I should have waited until my return to  Xalia, where a thousand men would have protected her night and day in  the palace. I'd been impatient and eager. My lack of self-discipline had  cost me everything.         

     



 

And here my mother stood, with a frown on her face and a list of  replacement females, insisting I now choose a mate from the capital. My  mother was ready for me to move on. Ten days, and I was to forget the  only woman I'd ever allowed into my heart.

I didn't turn to face my mother as I responded, afraid she would see my  rage. She was my mother and I would offer her nothing but respect. But I  was not a boy to be led around by my ear. I was a Councilor. I would  not be forced to do anything. When my mother refused to listen, I made  the only argument I knew would sway her. "Would you give up Father so  easily? Your one true match?"

"That's different, son."

"No. It's not. You were his bride, Mother. Matched through the same  system that gave my Natalie to me. She was my match. Perfect for me in  so many ways. I claimed her. That very first night."

"It was only one night, Roark. Surely, if you would spend one night with-"

"No." Give up Natalie? Never. "There is no confirmation that she's dead."

"They found her dress."

"It's not enough. I can't give up so easily." I rose from my desk and  came to stand before her. "I gave her my heart, Mother. Give me some  time to heal."

My mother was quiet long enough to think she would not respond. "No. I  would not be able to give up your father. I am sorry. I did not realize  what she meant to you. I only saw her for a brief moment and she was not  even awake. It is easy to dismiss her very existence, although I see  now how much you long for her."

"I admit, I was skeptical, but the match … it was perfect. I want-"

My father ducked into the tent then, his eyes wide, his face full of …  something I couldn't determine.

"Commander Loris is here. There's been a ping on your medallion. It's  been activated." He was breathing hard, as if he had just run a great  distance. I knew differently and it could only mean he was excited.

I straightened, renewed strength in my limbs, although I hadn't even  realized I'd been weighted down with frustration, longing and despair.  "What?"

Crossing the room, I joined my father, my mind spinning with questions. Possibilities. Hope.

He angled his head out the doorway. "Come, son. He's in the command center."

"A ping? I thought you wore your medallion about your neck?" My mother questioned.

While I should have let them lead, as a courtesy, I could not wait. I  almost pushed my father out of the way and ran out of the tent. The sand  kicked up beneath my feet and I squinted at the bright double sunlight.  In the entry of the command center stood the commander, the one I  recognized from the day before.

"You have news." I didn't form it as a question.

Commander Loris gave a curt nod. "Central command in Xalia sent an  urgent alert. Your medallion has been activated. I was sent immediately  to ensure your safety. Although, seeing you, I will inform them that  there must be a malfunction, as you are obviously alive and well."

My heart rate accelerated, my fingers itched to grab something. Anything. "I don't have the medallion. I gave it to Natalie."

"Natalie? Your mate? You gave it to her?" The commander stood, wide  eyed. "Why would you do such a thing? Do you have any idea the value of  that medallion to this planet?"

I knew he wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but I still couldn't  hesitate to speak in a sharp tone of voice. "Yes, quite aware. Do you  have any idea the value Natalie holds for me? She is the mate of a  councilor, commander. I'd advise you to watch your tone with me."

He shifted to a formal ready stance, focused and fixed his gaze over my shoulder. "I apologize, Councilor."

"At ease, Commander." I stepped past him then and into Outpost Nine's command center.

Within the large tent were three guards. They stood and bowed at my  arrival. Based on their uniforms, the commander was the highest ranked  man in the room.

If the medallion pinged, then that meant-

"She's alive," I said to myself, my heart pounding, eagerness making me  ready to rip the tent flap open and go get her, wherever the hell she  was. I knew everyone was watching me pace back and forth across the  tent.

"Only your DNA can activate the medallion, councilor, not hers." The commander paused.

"She had the medallion."

"That doesn't mean she's alive," the commander countered. "Only that someone in your family has the medallion now."

My father stepped forward. "Other than you or I, your sister and her  children are the only living members of the family who could unlock that  medallion." I hadn't seen him enter the tent, but he spoke true. "Your  sister is with her husband and High Councilor Tark. There's no chance  Natalie ended up with them. Tark would have notified us."         

     



 

"How could she have gotten there? Or known who Sari was?" my mother  added, referring to my sister, Sari. And it was true. I'd never  mentioned either High Councilor Tark or my sister to Natalie. Everyone  looked baffled. The three guards manning the communications units  remained silent. It was clear they were messengers and could offer  nothing additional.

"Your speculation is irrelevant. The ping didn't come from Trion," the commander added.

I spun and faced him. "No one leaves this tent until I have answers. Commander, what, exactly, are you talking about?"

He took a deep breath. "The transport monitors received the activation  from your medallion a short time ago. But the signal didn't come from  Trion, sir. It came from Earth."

I stilled. "Earth?" Natalie.

I looked to my parents who appeared doubtful. My mother scowled. My  father kept his features carefully blank. "That's impossible."

"I don't have an explanation, sir," the commander continued. It was my  fault to have interrupted him. "The monitor in Xalia City notified us  once the transmission codes were confirmed. There does not appear to be a  malfunction. They are confident your medallion is on Earth."

"Natalie must be alive." My mother lifted her hand to cover her mouth, shock evident in the slight tremble of her fingers.

"But how would she activate the medallion?" my father asked the obvious  question. I had no answers. Turning to Commander Loris, I demanded more  information. "Did my mate somehow escape the Drovers' ambush by  transporting to Earth? Why was there no log of the transport when  Outpost Two was searched."

Commander Loris took a deep breath. "The transport station was locked,  Councilor. It's data erased. The only transport code on file was yours.  The only reason we have the transport codes for Earth are because High  Councilor Tark's mate is also from the planet and your mates came from  the same brides processing center."