Page 7 of Warrior's Captive
“You don’t have to stay on Yedahn,” Ibukay said softly. “Don’t let Vykhan try to bully you and Tai’ri. He will. He does it from a place of love, but sometimes that just makes it worse. I’ve been with him for decades.”
Vivian’s attention caught on the new name. “Tai’ri . . . that’s the father?”
“Yes,” Vykhan said. “And you should know that the reason he was imprisoned with you is that he is an agent working on behalf of theBdakhun, a warrior under my command who was on assignment to infiltrate the trafficking ring that took you. He suffered greatly, as have you. Despite this, he has insisted we allow you . . . choice. I cannot say I agree with him fully, but it is his right to proceed as he sees fit.”
All hope that she would be allowed to choose the outcome of this pregnancy dissipated. This was personal for them. This baby was theirs, or they thought of it that way. Her. Him. Not it. No tentacles, remember?
“I sense your turmoil,” the man, Vykhan, said.
Well,thatwas unsettling. Vivian looked up, meeting his gaze. He smiled a little, proof enough she’d failed in keeping all the resentment from her expression.
“A little turmoil is to be expected in the circumstances,” she said.
He inclined his head. “Of course. Let me choose different words. We understand this is a difficult time for you. We can empathize with the wrongs you have endured and our only intent is to ensure the best possible outcome for yourself and your child.”
“Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you, Vivian,” Ibukay said, with a look at Vykhan. “Even if you decide to leave Yedahn and return to earth with the baby.”
Vivian stiffened. “Would I have to live on a YETI base?” The Yadeshi-Earth Treaty Initiative bases were tighter than a government budget, and once on it would be hard to leave.
She pitied the poor, mostly Low Tier, recruits to the training facilities. Who but a Low Tier would want to become a soldier or grunt tech? And, of course, compatible human women were also encouraged to form relationships with the Yadeshi men.
“It might afford you and your child some protection,” Vykhan said. “Unless you trust your government and choose to chance living on civilian grounds.”
Ha ha ha HA. Trust her government. Vivian kept her laugh on the inside, especially since the laugh was really closer to tears.
“No, I—” What option did she have? “What does Mr. Tai’ri want?”
Ibukay rose. “For now, just to meet you.” She held Vivian’s gaze. “He is very upset at what was done to you. He feels responsible, that he failed his assignment.”
“I think you will be pleased when you meet him,” Vykhan said, “and if you are not pleased, then we will continue this discussion.”
Vivian nodded.
3
After makingher way at a snail-paced waddle through the campus, Vivian realized the unease slithering down her spine wasn’t because the hospital was situated in the sky rather than on the ground like a reasonable medical facility should be.
She paused, ostensibly for the purpose of checking the directions on her comm, and looked around. Absently, her hands cupped underneath her uterus, bracing the muscles to relieve some of the pressure on her back.
Over there was the same couple she’d seen in the waiting area on the floor of her suite. Nondescript, a man in what seemed to be business casual here—bodycon pants, high-collared sleeveless shirt—and a woman next to him in a loose tunic over leggings, and molded flats. The man wore a messenger bag slung over his back and the woman held her arm in front of her face, a holo-tablet at reading distance springing from her wrist unit, like any self-respecting whale reader.
Never leave home without it.
Except Vivianwasan avid reader, and if she was obsessed enough to bring her tablet with her, she’d also be taking the time while standing around waiting to . . . read. The woman didn’t even glance at the screen, her still arm betraying the kind of muscle control normal people didn’t bother with. They didn’t speak to each other, or interact in any way. Even long-time couples comfortable with silence would make a comment here and there.
Several times Vivian allowed her gaze to connect with the woman’s, who would then casually look away. Maybe she was curious.
That had to be it. Vivian didn’t see any other human women, though Ibukay had assured her there were enough humans on Yedahn—and other aliens—that Vivian walking around would draw notice but not comment.
By the time she descended several levels to the location of the first transportation hub, the itch between her shoulders was morphing into full blown alarm. There again. The same couple.
There were six other hubs on this level, all leading to different parts of the city.
Vivian was about to swipe her pass when she heard a voice call out.
“Vivian! Security, stop that human.”
Her hand jerked up, and she swiped the pass, about to push through the entry. It flashed red.
