River reached over and gripped one of Star’s hands. “Torak was hurt when he fought one of the Tearnat’s guarding Tai Tek but not seriously. None of the others were hurt,” she assured.
“Jazin was frantic when he saw you….,” Jo’s voice choked up again.
“We came very close to losing you, Star,” River continued. “You scared all of us, especially Jazin. He really does love you.”
Star sniffed and looked away. “He’s never said he does. He just says I’m his and I should do what he tells me to do,” she grumbled under her breath. “Fat chance that is ever going to happen.”
River giggled. “I can always lend you my knives if you need them. Once I pinned Torak to the door with them, he’s been very careful about his ‘I’m the man speech ever since,” she giggled.
Star’s lips turned up in a smile. She looked at her surrogate sister with a twinkle in her eye. The thought of pinning Jazin to the door brought up some interesting ideas. She just might have to take River up on her offer if he became too overbearing again.
“So how long have I been out and what’s happened since everything went fuzzy on me?” Star asked tiredly. “And why in the hell do I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck?”
“It wasn’t a truck but a laser blast to the back,” Jo snapped out. “It’s a miracle you are even moving right now. If Madas hadn’t gotten you to medical as fast as she did, you wouldn’t be here,” she gritted out as tears filled her eyes again. “Damn it! Now I’m crying again.”
*.*.*
Three weeks later, Star was seriously thinking about borrowing River’s knives. Jazin had ordered all the guards to make sure she was protected at all times when he couldn’t be with her. He was busy working on some ‘top secret’ defense system most of the day. From the little bit she had been able to gather, which wasn’t much, Tai Tek was preparing for another attack. This time, he had approached another alien galaxy outside the Alliance’s jurisdiction. The species wasn’t well known as they kept primarily to themselves. Rumors, or Intel that was coming in, stated Tai Tek had promised unlimited access to the planet’s energy crystal mines in exchange for help in defeating the Houses of Kassis.
Jazin had been working with Manota on a defense system to protect not only their planet but their warships. While Manota’s shield worked at protecting the four royal houses, Jazin’s would protect their fleet of warships during battle. In the meantime while he was busy, he had ordered Star to rest as much as possible. River and Jo came over daily to visit but she was not allowed to even set foot out of the West House. Hell, even the healer that saved River came to her. When she had asked why Shavic wasn’t still caring for her, Jazin’s eyes had turned a darker black and he had said that Shavic had been reassigned back to the warship.
In the meantime, she had snuck out of the house at least a dozen times and each time, either Armet or Jazin caught her. And each and every exit she used was then either barred or a guard placed in front of it. She was really beginning to get desperate.
It was time to break out the knives, she thought with glee as the picture of Jazin stuck to the door floated through her mind.
A knock on the door roused Star from her dark, gleeful thoughts. She let out a deep sigh and hoped it was her sister and River. She knew River had to be careful right now since she was pregnant but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help Star escape the confines of the house. She was going batty being locked up!
The knock sounded again as Star approached. “I’m coming. I’m coming. Keep your pantyhose on,” Star called out in frustration.
She opened the door and stood back in shock when she saw Madas Tal Mod standing outside the door. The huge Tearnat’s lips pulled back to reveal a set of even, but very sharp, teeth. Star’s eyebrow rose. It was probably the closest thing to a smile a Tearnat could make, she guessed.
“Hi Madas,” Star said in surprise. She glanced around to see if there was anyone else with her. “Would you like to come in?”
“That is usually what happens when someone requests entrance into a room,” Madas teased.
Star chuckled. She liked the big female Tearnat. Not just because she saved her life but because she did have a wicked sense of humor.
“I guess you are right,” Star laughed as she opened the door further. She waited patiently as Madas entered, sniffing the air as she came through. “What brings you here? Jo and River wouldn’t have happened to send you here to rescue me, would they?” She asked hopefully.