Chapter 16
Torak slipped quietly from the bed and showered. He was supposed to meet with his father and brothers in the planning room. He walked over to the bed once last time to gaze down at River. A soft chuckle escaped as he heard her soft snore. She was exhausted. Leaning over he brushed a kiss across her forehead before straightening up, as he did his elbow knocked some disks lying on the small table next to the bed onto the floor. Torak bent to pick them up frowning as he did so. Where had these come from? He wondered. Turning one of them over he saw an image etched into the silver metal. Turning it so the light filtering through the windows shown on it he gasped as a picture of a very young River, Jo, and Star appeared. Staring at it in amazement, he looked at the others. Each one had pictures of the three girls though at different times of their lives. Looking at River sleeping so peacefully, Torak grinned. He wanted to know what was on the disk. If it gave him some clue about River’s world before him he wanted to know. Stacking the disks up, he gave the command for the window to darken and quietly left the room.
Jazin looked up as Torak came into the planning room.
“I thought I was going to have to send the elite force to find you this morning, brother. It is unlike you to be late to a meeting.” Jazin teased seeing the relaxed way his brother walked.
Torak just grinned. “If the night had lasted any longer I would not have had the strength to attend.”
Jazin looked at Torak with envy. “I wish I could say the same.” He muttered.
Manota looked at Jazin with wide eyes. “You also?” He said in surprise. He thought he was the only one unable to tame the female warrior.
Jazin blushed as his father looked up and stared at him then at Manota. “Tell me.”
Jazin and Manota both turned a bright red. Only their father would demand they tell such a thing. How were they to admit they had not yet claimed the other two female warriors? Oh, they had tried but the females were being most uncooperative about it.
Torak laughed loudly, “Oh yes, please do tell.” He was feeling very good right now. Not only had he claimed his female warrior but he was going to make sure she had no way of escaping him.
Manota looked at Torak in disgust. “You do not have to be enjoying our discomfort so much.” He retorted.
“Oh yes I do. How many times have I had to live with you and Jazin making my life hell?” Torak responded sitting back to watch his brothers squirm.
“Torak, you are not helping matters. Must I remind you of what the Prophesy states? ‘Only when the warriors and the sons unite as one can peace come to the House of Kassis.’ Let them explain.” Ajaska said sternly. He sat down at the long table and folded his hands waiting.
“What Prophesy?” Jazin asked.
“Later. Tell me why you have not claimed the female warriors.” Ajaska said looking sharply at his two younger sons. He would not let them distract him.
Manota ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Jo is the most hard-headed, stubborn, frustrating female I have ever met! I should just spank her ass, tie her down, and claim her but I am afraid she would probably slit my throat when she got loose just to prove she could.” Manota said feeling overwhelmingly frustrated. He didn’t know what to do.
“Is she not attracted to you?” Ajaska in surprise.
“No, she is attracted to me alright. Her kisses are…” Manota’s voice faded as he looked down at his hands. “She has family back in her world. Her parents. She is not sure she can commit to me because she feels she must return to them.”
“Star is the same. She cannot commit to me knowing her sister may leave and at the idea of causing her parents so much pain at not knowing what has happened to her and Jo.” Jazin said softly. “It is causing her great distress.”
Puzzled, Ajaska turned to Torak. “Why does your mate not have these same feelings?” He wondered.
Torak looked at his father and brothers. “I don’t know.”
“Perhaps there are answers in these. I found them next to our bed. They have images of River, Jo, and Star on them. Jazin, can you see if you can download the data from them?” Torak said pushing the pile of disks at Jazin.
Jazin reached for them turning them over and over. He nodded. “It shouldn’t be too difficult. I can scan them while we work and see if I can decipher the information.”
Jazin pulled a scanner out from his waist and slowly ran it over each disk pulling the information into it. Next, he asked the computer to decipher the information and to let them know when it was completed. Perhaps the information on the disks would help him and Manota understand why Jo and Star were so reluctant to accept their claim on them.