Syfi Warriors Page 19

Her thoughts were pulled back to the bar when JJ yelled out for another round of beer for his table. The bar owner and the sheriff had agreed that JJ was not to receive any more hard liquor, and he had a cut off of four bottles of beer.

  Val walked over to his table and placed the bottles of beer on the table in front of JJ and his friends. She turned to walk away but JJ caught her wrist. Not this again. She glared at him and he let her go immediately.

  “I just wanted to make sure we’re okay. You know I didn’t mean to act that way. It’s just that…you know…my mom’s death…”

  “It’s fine, we’re good.” Turning to walk away, she knew she had cut him off but she didn’t want to talk to him about his problems. She wasn’t dating him anymore and now that she was in a serious relationship with Markus, she didn’t have time for anyone else.

  Sonar had watched the exchange the entire time and if looks could kill, JJ would be dead. “It’s okay, Sonar. JJ’s not trying anything. He just wanted to apologize for his previous behavior.”

  “He touched you.”

  “He didn’t hurt me, he just apologized. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Markus is like a brother to me, which makes you my new sister. I won’t let anyone hurt my family.”

  That was actually really sweet of him. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You are the best, Sonar.”

  His face turned red. To take his mind off what was obviously a shy moment for him, she went around the bar and grabbed a bottle of beer to hand it to him. “Here, on the house. I’ve got to take this trash bag to the back—it’s getting overfilled.”

  “I should go with you.”

  “No no, I won’t be but a moment.” She motioned for him to stay where he was. This whole having a bodyguard thing was ridiculous. Other than a few boneheads who might start a fight, she was relatively safe. The sheriff station wasn’t that far away and most of the customers were local and knew her. She was safe.

  She was about to leave the bag of trash by the back door but felt ridiculous. The dumpster wasn’t but a few feet outside the door. Opening the door, she dragged the bag behind her.

  “What the hell is in here? It’s heavy as shit,” she mumbled to herself.

  “I hear that you mated with a Drakonian,” a male voice said from behind her.

  She jumped in surprise as she turned and bumped into the side of the dumpster. It took a moment for her to recognize the man because she had only seem him once, briefly, but it was definitely that Drakonian king who had tried to stab Markus but got her instead.

  “Dyson, what do you want?”

  “It’s King Dyson, and I simply want answers. Is it true that you bonded with Warrior Markus?”

  “Yes, we are fully bonded.”

  “Were you able to accept his dragon fire?”

  “I would be dead now if I hadn’t been able to, thanks to you. You clawed me deeply and I was dying. His dragon fire healed me.” She started to move past him but he blocked. “Look, I answered your questions. Get out of my way.”

  “I’m not done with you yet. I want to study you, find out why you were able to accept the dragon fire when other humans couldn’t.”

  That seemed to be the million-dollar question, but she didn’t have to answer to this guy. “I’m not interested in helping you.”

  “I’m not asking you.” Dyson motioned for his men to move forward to grab her. Val wasn’t going to be able to fight them, they were huge. She screamed as she dropped down and dodged their hands. She made it three feet before one of the men grabbed her by her hair and yanked her backward.

  The back door to the saloon burst open and Sonar came rushing out. He yelled out a really ear-bursting noise, then he fought with Dyson and the other warrior. Two against one wasn’t exactly a fair fight. Sonar was holding his own though, but unfortunately Dyson didn’t play fair. Another male came out of nowhere and attacked Sonar from behind.

  “Watch out!” Val yelled out a warning, too late. The man holding her slapped her hard. She felt pain throughout her entire head. Her eyes were blurry and she tasted blood from having bit her inner cheek. Another roar from the men fighting had her turning and looking in horror as two men held Sonar immobile as Dyson shifted to dragon form and used his claws to cut off Sonar’s head. She screamed and her air supply was cut off. She lost consciousness, but as her vision faded to black, the last image she saw was Sonar’s limp and dead body lying on the ground.

  Chapter 20

  Markus paced the room, waiting while King Reichardt and King Malachi discussed with General Ranier what would happen now with the Zyon.

  General Ranier gave him a look, ordering him with his eyes to calm down. “I understand that you have a few warriors here on Earth that are interested in traveling to the other planet to search for more of our people. I propose an exchange. I have warriors and a few females that would like to try living here on Earth. They’ve spent ten years on a battle cruiser and are ready for a change.”

  King Reichardt looked at King Malachi. “I can agree to an exchange.”

  “Yes, I believe all the kings would agree to an exchange. When do you plan to start your new trip?”

  General Ranier ran a hand over his short hair. “I want to give my people a month or two to have time to shift and fly on Earth. Deep space travel is hard and we don’t know how long it will take to get to this other planet. Plus, I will need to train those from Earth to take over duties currently done by those of my crew who will be staying.” He glanced over at Markus. The men chuckled at seeing Markus’s restlessness.

  Markus went over to the window and looked out at the stars. He felt his dragon fighting to break free to go to their mate.

  “Markus, sit down or something,” Roan told him, motioning to a nearby chair.

  “I can’t, my dragon wants out and wants our mate.”

  “If mating makes you act so crazy, count me out of it.” Roan crossed his arms like he made a decision.

  “You say that now…but when you meet your true bondmate, it’s like nothing else. A piece of yourself that you never knew you were missing is suddenly there, making you feeling whole for the first time. It’s amazing.” Markus tried to go to the chair to sit down but just as he did, he felt fear come over him and knew it wasn’t his.

  “I’ve got to go to her!” He started toward the door just as all the men froze at hearing a dragon call warning. They all got to their feet and rushed to the door.

  He saw his mother and sister and many others coming toward the main ranch house. King Reichardt ordered the women to stay and a few of the warriors to remain behind to guard them. Markus didn’t wait for the others, he shifted into his dragon form and took to the air. The dragon call was from Sonar, and he knew Sonar was guarding Valorie at the saloon. He felt pain now and it was his mate’s pain. His dragon roared in fury. Someone would pay for hurting their mate.

  It took about ten minutes to get to the saloon but it felt like it took forever. They landed behind the saloon and found Sonar’s body, his head lying on the ground next to him. The human sheriff and the male called JJ were there, but they hadn’t seen Markus and the others yet. King Reichardt handed him a pair of pants and shirt. They all dressed, and then he and King Reichardt moved forward out of the shadows while the other four men stayed hidden.

  “What going on? Where’s Valorie?”

  The sheriff glared at him. “This is a crime scene, you need to leave now.”

  “I’m Valorie’s…boyfriend. Where is she?”

  “That’s what I would like to know.” Sheriff Jenkins looked at JJ.

  JJ ran a hand through his hair. “I saw Val taking the trash to the back but she didn’t come back. Then this guy, all of a sudden, jumped to his feet and ran to the back. I got worried when neither of them came back inside so I came out here to look for them and found this guy with his head chopped off—but no Valorie. I know she didn’t do this, she’s not that type of person.”

  Sheriff Jenkins shook his head
. “I agree, but we have to find her. She may have witnessed this or the ones who did it may have taken her.”

  King Reichardt stepped forward. “Hi Sheriff, I’m Rei of the King R Ranch. Markus is an old friend of mine. I have a guy with me that is a great tracker. Could he come forward to take a look at the scene?”

  “As long as he doesn’t touch anything. We’ve already called a crime scene team to come and collect evidence.”

  Reichardt motioned for one of the males from the shadows to move forward. He walked around the scene and took in the scents. He then moved toward the other end of the building. “I notice three sets of male footprints, then there was four…and Sonar made five. There was a fight then the four males went this way and dragged a female with them. Let me track them further. I’ll call when I find them.”

  “Go ahead,” Reichardt told him.

  “Son, don’t try to take these guys on. Call into the sheriff’s office immediately.”

  “I want to go, they have my mate.” Markus moved forward but Reichardt motioned for him to wait.

  The sheriff looked at Markus. “We’ll get her back. Just hang in there.” He and JJ went to greet the ambulance and other deputy sheriffs.

  Markus could track Valorie on his own. “I can’t wait, I have to find her. I am connected with her but it’s weak. Either she’s unconscious or she’s injured.”

  “We’ll follow you.”

  Markus removed his clothes and handed them back to Reichardt, then he leapt into the air, shifting into his dragon form. His dragon easily spotted the tracker who was still in human form on the ground. Where they took her couldn’t be that far.

  His dragon perked up as Valorie’s scent grew and finally their bond pulsed stronger. He flew toward a farmhouse in the distance. He had to get to her in time. He couldn’t lose her now.

  Chapter 21

  Valorie struggled against the ropes that tied her hands together. She knew her skin would be almost raw from how many times she jerked against the ties, but she couldn’t free herself. She had passed out in the alley behind the saloon and when she woke, she was tied to the stairs in what looked like a basement of some type.

  She had to get out of there. What they did to Sonar…it kept playing over and over in her mind. How could they do that? Markus was going to be devastated.

  Hearing movement on the floor above her, she glanced around, trying to see if there was some way to escape. There was a small window high up on the other side. Maybe she could loosen the wooden handrail she was tied to?

  Wiggling and shoving, the baluster moved a little. Scooting around she put her feet on the wooden post and used her entire body’s weight to shove at it. Finally, it broke loose. She was still tied too tight to free her hands, but she was able to slide up and off of the baluster.

  Getting to her feet, she swayed a little. She reached out and caught herself on the wall with her still-bound hands. She then moved her way quietly over to the window. It was pretty small, but she thought she could squeeze out of it. Moving a box over to stand on, she pushed the window open, then pulled herself up. It was hard but she managed to get out.

  Once outside, she looked around in the dark and realized that she had no idea where she was or in what direction she should go.

  “She’s escaping!” Dyson yelled from below the small window.

  Val ran, not caring which direction she went as long as it was away. A body hit her from behind, knocking her down. She struggled to get free.

  “Be still, female!”

  A loud roar from above had both of them freezing. She knew that it was her dragon coming for her and he was pissed. She looked up at the man that knocked her down. “I would get off me if you still want to live.”

  Many more dragon roars sounded all around and the guy must have realized that he was outnumbered. He scrambled back but didn’t make it far. A dragon swept down and grabbed him, taking him to the sky.

  Another dragon dropped from the sky right in front of her, making the ground shake a little. She knew this dragon. “Markus!” She got up and ran to the dragon, pressing her body against his scales. Beneath her hands she felt his body shifting. Then she felt warm flesh.

  “Valorie!” Markus crushed her to him, ripping the rope from her wrists. “I was so worried for you.”

  Tears streamed down her face. “Sonar…I’m so sorry.”

  “He took his final flight as a warrior, protecting you.”

  “What about Dyson?”

  “He got away, but he’ll answer for this. Did he say why he took you?”

  “Only that he wanted to study me to find out how it was that I mated with you and took the dragon fire while others couldn’t.” Her legs gave out and he caught her easily.

  “Come, let’s get you home.”

  She rubbed her face against his neck. Her body was trembling from the adrenaline and fear. “Yes, please.”

  One Week Later

  Markus paced outside the bedroom waiting for the human doctor to finish looking over Valorie. He was worried over why Valorie had been getting so sick these past few days. He had argued with King Reichardt about allowing the local human doctor come to see her, but in the end Markus got his way. A bondmate was so precious, they must be protected at all costs, even at the exposure of their kind.

  Surprisingly, the older Doctor “Doc” Reisner was already familiar with paranormal beings, having encountered what he called a werewolf when he was just a young man coming out of med school. They became friends over the years as Doc was the only person the werewolf trusted for medical assistance. After a few minutes of discussion, Doc Reisner was deemed trustworthy by the king and allowed to see Valorie.

  “Mom’s in there, too. She’s going to be fine, Markus.” His sister put her hand on his arm, reassuring him.

  The door opened and his mother and the doctor came out smiling. That had to be good news, right?

  “Is she okay?”

  Doc Reisner put his hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations son, you and your…mate are expecting.”

  Confused, he looked between his mother and the doctor. “Expecting what?”

  “A baby, or whatever you call a baby shifter.”

  “A dragonet on Drakonia, but a baby here on Earth,” his mother answered, moving to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations, son! I can’t wait to be a grandmother.”

  “I’m going to be an aunt!” His sister hugged him on the other side.

  “A father? A baby? I didn’t think it was possible. She will have to be protected. Can you move here to the ranch in case the baby comes?”

  Doc Reisner laughed. “She’s got quite a while to go yet. Your mother says the women on your planet have a six-month gestation, and humans have nine. I’m estimating the baby will come around seven or eight months.”

  “You’re guessing?”

  “This is the first crossbreed between humans and Drakonians, so it’s new to all of us. However, I will be checking her every month, tracking the baby’s progression. This is exciting, sure has perked up this old man’s life! Now, I believe your mate is anxiously awaiting you.”

  He rushed past him, turning to yell out, “Thank you!”

  Entering the room, he found Valorie sitting on the bed. She had both hands on her flat belly as tears trailed down her face.

  “Valorie, are you okay?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  He knelt down on his knees in front of her. “I know. I’m overjoyed, but you don’t look as pleased.”

  She laughed then smiled. “I am ecstatic. I just don’t know what kind of mother I’ll be.”

  Placing his hands over hers, he murmured, “You will be an amazing and caring mother. Our child will never be left behind or forgotten. He or she will grow up with family and friends and will know exactly where they belong.”

  He must have said the right thing because Valorie launched herself into his arms and threw her arms around him.

  “I love you, Markus.”<
br />
  “I love you too, my mate.”

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later

  Markus stood next to Valorie, saying goodbye to many of his crew that he’d traveled with on board the battle cruiser to Earth. He had fought alongside these males and had become close to many. A few of them were remaining on Earth, and some of those from the clans on Earth were taking their place in exchange. He was going to miss his friends and especially General Ranier, who had become like a second father to him. His departure was the hardest to handle. Markus fought his emotions, which were now tied to his mate who was already feeling particularly sensitive since becoming pregnant.

  General Ranier said his goodbyes to the remaining kings who came to see the cruiser off. “Live well.”

  King Reichardt clasped his forearm. “Until we meet again.”

  Then General Ranier was in front of him and Markus cleared his throat, saying, “Sir, it has been an honor to serve under you.”

  If he wasn’t mistaken, there were tears glistening in the general’s eyes. “It has been my pleasure, Captain Markus. You have proven to be a great warrior, one that I have been most proud of. I know your father would have been proud as well.”

  Markus reached out to clasp forearms but Ranier snorted and grabbed him in for a hug. A choked sound came from next to them. They pulled apart and turned to find Valorie fighting back her tears.

  “I’m sorry, it’s hormones or something. Seeing you two say goodbye is tearing me apart.”

  Ranier gave her a fatherly hug. “Take care of my warrior and that baby. I plan to return and find at least one male child named after me.”

  “You’ll have to wait; we just found out we’re having a girl,” Markus told him, pulling Valorie into his arms and placing his hands over the small baby bump.

  Ranier smiled widely. “That’s a true blessing. Take care of them, Markus.”

  “I will. Safe travels.”

  “Until we meet again.”