Page 37 of Kenan's Mate
The pale alien who always accompanies her, Getta, finally exits the forest behind her. His face looks whiter than usual and he’s panting as hard as Joanna.
“What is it?” I ask once she comes to a stop.
“The Kleaxian who lives next door to my master has beaten his human mate so severely that she cannot wake up. My master has sent for a doctor, and he and Helena are watching over the poor girl until the doctor’s arrival.”
“Oh my God.” I run a hand through my hair as horror sweeps through me.
“The injured girl, what is her name, and what is the name of the Kleaxian who beat her?” Kenan’s authoritative voice resounds behind me and I turn to see him approaching us. He grasps my hand and leads me closer to my friend, and the force field shimmers green as we pass the barrier together.
Joanna lifts her chin and doesn’t seem frightened of Kenan in the least. I’m too worried about the injured human woman to think about how I will explain Joanna’s sudden appearance to him later. He doesn’t yet know of her frequent visits.
“The injured girl is named Katrina, and hermate”—she says the word with disgust—“is called Vonn.” Tears gleam in Joanna’s eyes and she gives her head a shake. “You should see how badly he’s hurt her. Poor thing will be left with scars if she ever manages to awake. I fear her head injury will be too much though. He kicked her in the head several times as she lay on the floor, until my master stopped him and carried Katrina to his house.”
Kenan tenses beside me and I can feel the anger waving off him. But he’s not livid with the elderly human slave or me for having a secret friendship with the woman. He’s livid at the Kleaxian who harmed his wife so severely.
“Who is your master?”
“Zandek.” Joanna clears her throat. “Master Zandek, the one who’s been teaching English to his fellow Kleaxians.”
“Zandek is one of my strongest and most trusted warriors. I know where he lives.” Kenan eyes the forest behind Joanna before turning to me. He looks furious, drawn up to his full height, with his nostrils flaring and his eyes hardened to steel. “Meet me at Zandek’s abode, allow this human slave and the Ghessan to lead you there. But not through the forest. Take the stone path to town.” He strokes the side of my face for a second, then sprints into the trees, apparently knowing the same shortcut that brought Joanna here.
“I apologize if my visit gets you into trouble with your mate, Laylah, but it’s very likely Katrina will die. And even if she doesn’t die, Vonn must be judged for the terrible abuse he’s inflicted on his mate. I don’t know if you know this, but killing a female or causing her permanent harm is against Kleaxian law. The punishment for such a crime is death.”
“You did the right thing by coming here, Joanna. I’m not worried about myself. I only want Katrina to live,” I say, my lip trembling. Emotion tightens my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I shouldn’t be surprised that a Kleaxian kicked his mate in the head and rendered her unconscious, but I am. I’ve allowed the happiness I’ve found with Kenan to blind me to the misery other human women might be enduring on Tallia, and I feel so, so guilty. I shut my eyes and say a silent prayer for Katrina’s life.
Joanna tugs at my hand. “Come. The doctor should have arrived by now. Let’s hope Kleaxian medicine is advanced enough to save the poor girl.”
Getta trails behind us during our fast walk to town. It’s a gorgeous morning on Tallia, but I’m far too preoccupied to admire the scenery, or the dew that sparkles across every green surface. I focus on the path ahead, until we finally reach town.
Will Kenan execute Vonn for his crimes? I scan the crowd that’s gathering outside a house on the edge of the market. The sight of Kleaxian males leading their mates around by leashes gives me pause, and I instinctively touch my bare neck. I’m glad emergencies take precedence over some Kleaxian customs and rules, but I’m sorry for the reason today.
Joanna clutches my hand and leads me through the crowd. I’m grateful Kenan allowed me to follow him here. I would’ve been sick with worry had I been forced to remain at home. Though I’ve never met Katrina, my heart hurts for her, imagining her pain and fear, as well as the pervasive sense of hopelessness she’s likely endured since being claimed by Vonn.
Once we’re closer to the house, the crowd parts to allow us entry. Joanna guides me upstairs and into a large bedroom, where a small group of Kleaxian males and human females stand around a bed. When I look upon the beaten woman lying atop the covers unconscious, I feel as if someone has just punched me in the gut. All the air rushes from my lungs and I hug myself, mortally shaken by the gruesome sight.
Katrina has two black eyes that are so swollen, I doubt she could open her eyes if she tried. The sheets around her are stained red with her blood. There’s a harsh red mark around her neck, as if her mate had repeatedly jerked her around by a leash. A cold hand squeezes my heart. Or maybe he strangled her with a cord of some type.
An elderly Kleaxian I presume is the doctor hovers over her, working rapidly to heal her wounds. For now, he’s focusing on her head. I can’t help but wonder that even if Katrina survives this beating, will she have permanent brain damage?
The crowd gathered around the bed moves back to give the doctor more room, and brief introductions are made. I meet Helena, a tall and elegant brunette with smooth pale skin and freckles, then her mate, a Kleaxian named Zandek who’s almost as tall as Kenan. Two more human women and their mates greet me, and I can’t help but notice Katrina’s mate, Vonn, is absent. But so is Kenan.
“Your mate was here just long enough to see Katrina and speak with the doctor about the seriousness of her injuries. She has several broken ribs, a concussion, and internal bleeding. The doctor believes he can save her, but her recovery will take some time,” Helena says, touching my arm. Her eyes are glossy and she swallows hard. “Joanna has told me much about you, Laylah, and I’d been looking forward to meeting you, but I’m so sorry it has to be this way.”
“I’m sorry too,” I say, fighting back tears. “Where is Vonn? And Kenan?”
Zandek steps in front of us, blocking out the view of the doctor rushing to save Katrina. “Vonn was spotted on the docks, trying to escape in a boat. Kenan went after him.”
My heart lurches, knowing my mate could also be in trouble. But Zandek is quick to dispel my fears.
“Kenan is the strongest Kleaxian Warrior I know. He will have no difficulty in tracking down Vonn and bringing him back to meet his death.”
The murmuring of the crowd in the street below increases, until the noise swells to angry shouts. Though I don’t speak Kleaxian, I think they are calling for justice. I’m glad Vonn won’t get away with what he’s done, but it’s still a struggle to understand, let alone accept, this culture to which I now belong.
I move to the window and spy Kenan dragging a struggling male form down the street. Relief spreads through my chest, but what I witness next will be burned into my memory for all time.
The crowd forms a perfect circle around Kenan and Vonn. Chants fill the air, until Kenan stares the horde into silence. Then he speaks, his deep voice booming across the entire town, as he circles a bloodied Vonn, who is trying to rise from the ground, but every time he makes it to his feet, Kenan delivers a swift kick behind his knees that sends him hurling flat on his face.
“Vonn has been officially found guilty for inflicting grievous harm to a female, and Kenan has sentenced him to death,” Zandek explains behind me. Joanna and Helena are standing on either side of me, all of us peering at the scene unfolding in the street below.
