Finding the Jewel Read online

  “Why not?” Kat asked indignantly. “You’re gorgeous—I mean, you’re a little worse for the wear right now, doll.” She nodded at Chloe’s slimy robe-dress and matted hair. “But I love that hair color—I’ve always wanted to go pink or blue or something like that but I always chickened out. And you’re the perfect shape for an Elite.”

  “An Elite…” Suddenly Chloe’s eyes filled with tears. “That…that’s what Tark always called me,” she whispered, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.

  “But he’s a Beast Kindred, isn’t he?” Sophia frowned. “I thought that was a Twin Kindred thing.”

  “His father is the Ambassador to Twin Moons,” Sylvan explained gravely.

  “Yes, he was raised there.” Chloe nodded.

  “Oh, poor guy,” Kat said, shaking her head sympathetically. “Being raised in a society where everybody has a twin except you must have been really hard for him.”

  Chloe cried some more. It was so nice to be with people who understood her and Tark!

  “Yes, it was,” she whispered, swiping at her eyes again. “And his stutter made things worse. “That’s why he was at the Commercians’ station in the first place—he got a prophecy from a priestess that told about a jewel located in a doorway between worlds and he thought it was there. Then he saw me and I begged him to take me away with him and he did.”

  Sylvan’s frown deepened. “A dimensional rift? This close to Earth? That is very bad news indeed.” He made a little half bow to Chloe. “Would you excuse me? You have given me several new problems to solve.”

  “Oh, of course.” Chloe nodded. “Thank you so much, Commander Sylvan. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving Tark.”

  Sylvan nodded. “Again, you are welcome. He should recover swiftly now that he has enough blood in his system for his body to heal.”

  As he left, Chloe sank back down in the waiting room chair she’d been occupying earlier. She felt sticky and stinky and gross and thoroughly exhausted but also incredibly relieved. It was a confusing mixture of emotions and she thought for a moment that she’d never felt so tired in her life.

  “You poor thing,” Sophia said gently. “You look completely worn out. How about a hot shower, a warm supper, and a soft bed, in that order?”

  “Yes, please,” Chloe said gratefully. “And thank you both so much for staying with me while the doctor worked on Tark.”

  “Of course, doll—we wouldn’t leave you alone at a time like that.” Kat smiled at her.

  “Besides, we’re used to girls popping up on our doorstep, so to speak, who need a little help,” Sophia added. “You’re certainly not the first. Come on.” She rose and tugged at Chloe’s sleeve. “You’re going to feel so much better after you have a shower and some food and a good night’s sleep.”

  Chloe rose wearily too but then a thought occurred to her.

  “But what about Tark? What if he wakes up and I’m not there?”

  “He’s sedated at the moment, to help his body heal,” Olivia said, coming through the door. She looked tired and there were blood stains on the smock she was stripping off but she smiled wearily at Chloe as she spoke. “He won’t be up to having any company at all for at least twenty-four hours.”

  “You heard her, hon,” Kat said. “He’s resting and healing and it looks to me like you could use some rest and healing too.”

  “Yes.” Chloe nodded, finally feeling at peace. “You’re right. Thank you,” she added to Olivia. “For working so hard to save him.”

  “He’s not going anywhere,” Olivia informed her. “In fact, he already looks better. His body was just in shock from blood loss but the wounds weren’t deep—there were just a lot of them. As fast and as well as Kindred heal, I doubt he’ll even have any scars.”

  Chloe thought of the one distinctive scar Tark had that bisected one arching eyebrow. It was one of the things she loved about him—the fact that he looked like such a big scary guy on the outside and was actually sweet and loving inside.

  I’ll see him again soon, she promised herself. Once I’m all cleaned up and rested. And then I can tell him how I feel about him. Tell him that I love him.

  Wait a minute—you love him? asked a shocked little voice in her head. But you haven’t even known him a week. And after what happened in the sex cubby at the Resort…

  But that hadn’t been Tark’s fault—it was the damn gella mattress. Inside, the big Kindred was kind and sweet and gentle and he was clearly attracted to her even though she wouldn’t have believed it was possible for someone like him to fall for someone like her, even a week ago. Plus, he had come after her to save her—had almost died for her.

  I almost lost him, Chloe thought and felt a cold shiver go down her spine. If that had happened, she knew she couldn’t have stood it. She felt a bone-deep connection to Tark that she couldn’t explain or deny. It just seemed they were meant to be together.

  I love him, she thought again and knew it was true. And I’m going to tell him as soon as he wakes up.

  “Come on now,” Sophia said to her. “Hot shower and soft bed is this way. We’ll put you up in one of the guest suites.”

  “I’m coming.” Chloe gave her a tired smile that included Olivia and Kat too. “Thank you all again,” she said. “I always thought it would be scary to live on the Mother Ship. But, well…you girls seem to be doing all right.”

  “We manage,” Kat said dryly, giving her a wry grin. “Maybe you’ll find out for yourself what living on the Mother Ship is like once your man wakes up.”

  “Oh, he’s not my man—not really,” Chloe demurred. She lifted her chin. “But he will be once he wakes up. “I’m going to tell him how I really feel.”

  “Good for you.” Olivia smiled. “There’s nothing like a near-death experience to make you appreciate your guy. I know that from hard personal experience.”

  “Exactly.” Chloe nodded and then yawned. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m just about dead on my feet.”

  “You get her to the suite and I’ll order some food,” Kat said to Sophia. “We can all get together later and compare notes.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Olivia nodded and smiled at Chloe. “Sweet dreams, sweetie.”

  “I think we know what she’ll be dreaming of,” Kat grinned at her. “If she hasn’t been already—have you and, uh, Tark been dream-sharing?” she asked.

  Chloe frowned.

  “I don’t know what you mean by that but I did have a dream about a man with golden eyes right before he found me. I didn’t really remember it until later but—”

  “Yup, dream sharing for sure,” Kat said, nodding. “Better get her a suite for two, Sophie. You know these two will need plenty of room for bonding sex once her man gets out of the med center.”

  “Bonding sex?” Chloe frowned. “What’s that exactly?”

  “Well…” Sophia bit her lip. “It’s different for every kind of Kindred. But with a Beast Kindred, as I understand it…” She looked at her sister.

  “Hang on,” Olivia said. She had finished stripping off the smock and was wearing pale pink scrubs underneath. “Let me wash up and I’ll explain. I’m married to a Beast Kindred myself,” she told Chloe.

  “Hurry,” her sister said. “Poor Chloe is so tired she’s about to fall over.”

  “I won’t be a minute,” Olivia promised. “Tell you what, just get her to her suite and then call me on the Think-me and tell me where you are. I can give her a briefing while she eats.”

  Sophia nodded. “Good idea. Come on, Chloe.”

  As she followed the other girl down the long, metal corridor, Chloe wondered what in the world “bonding sex” was and what it had to do with her and Tark. She had a vague memory of him trying to tell her not to worry about getting pregnant because they weren’t bonded but she still had no idea what he had meant by that.

  Well, I suppose I’ll find out soon enough, she thought and yawned. I just hope I can stay awake long enough to hear what Olivia and Sop