Ral's Woman

6

Ariel was nervous. She sat between Ral’s thighs staring at the planet they were approaching. Zorn wasn’t a blue and white planet. Zorn was shades of red and had three large moons closely surrounding it.

Ral nodded at one of his men. “Open communications.”

“Yes, Argis Ral.”

“This is Argis Ral,” he growled. “We have returned home. Alert Hyvin Berrr.”

A male growled in response. “Argis Ral? Confirm your identity.”

Ral issued some growling. The translator didn’t give Ariel a translation. It was just harsh sounds.

“Welcome home, Argis Ral.” The man sounded happy. “Your father will be very pleased. We have searched for you and our people without success.”

“We have escaped our captors.” Ral hugged Ariel. “We will need transports.”

“Immediately, Argis Ral,” the man said.

They put the ship in orbit over the planet and Ariel couldn’t stop staring at Zorn. It looked so different from Earth—not that she’d ever really seen Earth from space, only movies and pictures of it from space. Zorn was definitely different. The planet looked bigger too than any pictures of Earth. She swallowed.

“Are you all right, Ariel?” Ral softly growled in her ear.

“Yes. I’m just nervous. What is it like?”

He chuckled as he held her tight. “You will like it. It is beautiful.”

That’s all he ever told her about his planet. For the last three weeks while they’d traveled to Zorn Ral had been busy. He’d left her mostly alone in the leader’s quarters, but he’d come to her at night to sleep and make love. He’d avoided all her questions and it was starting to concern her. To just say a planet was beautiful left a whole lot open.

Ral lifted both of them to their feet. He led her to the bowels of the ship with her hand in his. She saw most of his people gathered there. They looked unusually happy and excited, standing in groups. Ral smiled as he nodded at them as he pulled her closer.

“We are home. It has been too long since they have seen their families and friends.”

Ariel missed her home and family too but she smiled at him. Ral was her world now. To go home meant she’d have to leave him. After the almost month they’d spent together she couldn’t imagine life without him.

“They have sent transport ships to fly us to the planet. This ship is too large for our planet docking stations.”

She eyed the ship around them. “What will happen to it?”

He smiled. “We’ll keep it. They took us. We took their ship.”

A loud sound startled Ariel. Ral chuckled. “A transport is docking.” He motioned his head toward the far corner. “We will go first. My father and brothers will be very anxious to see me.”

She gripped his hand tighter, staring up at his face. “How will they feel about me?”

“We are bound. They will have to accept it.”

“Can’t your father unbind us? You said he was leader of this world.”

Ral frowned. “He won’t.”

Dread hit Ariel. Ral didn’t say the man couldn’t unbind them. He’d used the word won’t, which implied it was possible. What if his father wanted Ariel out of Ral’s life?

What would become of her then?

The doors by them slid open and large Zorn men dressed in black uniforms stepped out. Ral smiled. He walked forward, pulling Ariel along behind him as he closed the space between himself and the newcomers.

“Argernon.” Ral chuckled. “You came all this way to see me.” Ral released Ariel to yank the man into a bear hug.

Ariel saw the resemblance between both men then. Argernon kept his smile in place as he released Ral. “You look good, Brother. We feared you were dead.”

Ral laughed. “I am too mean to die.” Ral turned, reaching for Ariel. He pulled her forward.

Ariel stared up at the large Zorn. She saw his eyes widen as he stared back at her.

His mouth opened but immediately slammed shut. His eyes flew to Ral.

“She smells strongly of you.”

“This is Ariel. I am bound to her.”

Horror hit Argernon’s features. “You bound to an enemy?”

Ral growled. “She is no enemy.”

“She is one of your captors.”

“No. She was taken from her world as well as we were.”

Argernon still looked angry. “She is other world. You cannot be bound to one from another world. Father will not allow it.”

Ral growled viciously. “It is done. She is mine. We are bound.”

Argernon took a step back. He put up his hands. “I will let you take it up with Father.” His eyes lowered to Ariel. “She is too small and pale.”

“She is mine.” Ral snarled at his brother. “No one will take her from me.”

Argernon looked concerned and a bit angry. “Is she breeding compatible? Can she carry your offspring?”

Ral hesitated. “I do not know nor do I care. She is mine.”

Argernon sighed deeply. “Let us go. Father is in a strong desire to see you quickly.”

His eyes turned to Ariel. “Can she even understand us?”

“Yes.” Ral focused his attention on Ariel. “Speak to my brother to see if Zorn translators work with your language.”

Ariel swallowed. “Hello, Argernon. It’s nice to meet you.”

Argernon frowned. His eyes slid to Ral. He shook his head. “I cannot understand her. She speaks softly. She does not speak like us.”

Irritation made Ral frown. “We will have to have someone work on this. The translators they fit on us work. We’ll have to modify our Zorn translators for her language.”

“This is not acceptable,” Argernon growled. “You brought a woman home who can’t even speak or understand us.”

Ariel glanced at Ral. “I can understand him.”

Ral nodded at her. “Good.”

“What did she say?” Argernon looked grim.

“She can understand you perfectly. Let’s go. Contact someone and have them work on this immediately. I want my bound woman able to speak so all can understand her and not just the Zorn on this ship.”

Argernon looked furious. His glowing blue eyes narrowed on Ariel for a second and he could sense his direct gaze made her feel uneasy. He jerked his eyes to his brother. His head snapped an affirmative response before the man spun around to stomp for the door he’d come through.

The transport was about the size of an Earth bus. Ral pulled Ariel onto his lap as Zorn filled the seats. The doors closed and then they were flying toward the planet. Ral held her tightly and belted them in. When they hit the atmosphere the transporter shook—it was a rough ride. Ral chuckled at her fear and he held her tighter, nuzzling her cheek with his, he whispered into the wrong ear. He softly growled at her.

She didn’t remind him she couldn’t understand him—she knew the gist of what he had said. He was assuring her it was safe. The transport didn’t have windows so she didn’t get to see anything until it sat down with a small bump. Ral unfastened them from the seat and took her hand to lead her out.

She knew who Ral’s father and brothers were immediately. Ral’s father looked so much like Ral that she didn’t need introduced to know his identity. The four younger men who surrounded their father shared a strong family resemblance. Ral kept hold of her hand until he reached out to his father. Ral dropped Ariel’s hand to grip the older man in a bear hug.

Ariel didn’t move an inch as she watched Ral hug each of his family members. The men looked really happy to have him back. One of Ral’s brothers turned his attention to Ariel. He frowned and his eyes flew to Ral.

“What is she?”

Ral pulled back from his brother’s embrace. He turned, smiling, and reached for Ariel. “This is Ariel. I am bound to her.”

The old man roared—Ral’s father looked furious. Ariel gasped as she almost fell on her ass when she stumbled back to distance herself from the man. Ral caught her around her waist and hauled her against his body. He snarled at his father.

“What was that for?”

“You are not bound to that.” Ral’s father snarled back.

Ral’s mouth tightened into a grim line. “She’s from Earth. She’s human. She was taken from her planet by the Anzons who stole our people. I have bound to her. She is mine. Never roar at her again, Father.”

“She’s small and weak. Look at her skin. It is pale.”

Hyvin Berrr glared at Ariel as he spoke. If looks could kill she knew she’d be taking her last breath. This man ruled Zorn according to Ral. If the older man wanted her dead she had a sinking feeling she wouldn’t have much time left to live.

“She is brave and beautiful. I do not care what you think. I have bound her.” Ral snarled the words at his father. His body was tense and his hold on Ariel was almost bruising. “She is mine and I will not let her be taken from me.”

His father shot a vicious look at Ariel. “What kind of hold does she have on you?”

He turned his head to stare at a Zorn woman. “Take her to medical. I want to know if she is doing something to my son to make him lose his head.”

Ral growled. “No.”

Argernon got between father and brother. “Let her be examined. You will be at her side, Ral. It will make Father see she has not bewitched you with her other-world ways.

You can also have her translator evaluated to see if it can be tuned so others besides you can understand her.”

Ral was breathing hard and he was obviously still furious. He jerked a nod at Argernon. His eyes shot to his father. “If you try to take her from me I will take that ship in space and we will go to her world. You will lose me forever.”

Ral grabbed Ariel’s hand and stormed away. She had to run to keep up with his longer strides. Ariel got one glimpse of Hyvin Berrr’s furious face before he was out of sight. They followed the Zorn woman toward medical.

Ariel eyed her surroundings. It was beautiful. The buildings were mostly black and the sky had a red tint to it, reminding Ariel of a sunset at home, only all of the sky was a light red. The dirt was a dark red and the grass purple. She walked over a small bridge and paused.

Ral stopped with her. He followed the direction of her eyes. “What is it?”

“Your water is a dark purple.”

“What color is water on your planet?”

“Clear mostly but our oceans are blue.”

He rubbed her hand in his. “It sounds nice.”

“I’m just glad I can breathe. I was worried about that.”

He chuckled. “I wasn’t. We breathe the same. Let’s go.”

The Zorn woman was waiting. Her eyes were fixed on Ariel. The woman looked at her like she was a bug. Ariel sighed. She spoke softly.

“I don’t think your people like me.”

“You look different but you are beautiful to the eye.”

She met his eyes. “You think so.”

“They think so as well. You are just different and they haven’t seen such pale skin before.”

“What is she saying?” the Zorn woman asked softly.

Ral turned his attention on the woman. “She thinks you don’t like her. I was explaining that you are just curious.”

The woman looked at Ariel and nodded. “She can understand us but I cannot understand her. She speaks so softly and strangely but it is pleasant to the ear.”

“We figured that out.” Ral chuckled.

Inside the medical building they were taken to the second floor. The woman smiled at Ariel. It was a forced smile in Ariel’s opinion.

“I am a healer and a scientist. Do you understand me? I am Ahhu.”

Ariel nodded.

The woman looked relieved. She eyed Ral. “Will you stay so you can translate?”

“I will not leave my Ariel’s side.”

“Can you have her remove her clothing? I would like to examine her.”

Ariel tensed. “Now I feel like a bug.”

“What is that?” Ral arched his eyebrow.

She met his curious gaze. “Like a science experiment. Is that a better description?”

Ral pulled her into his arms to give her a hug. “I know this is difficult for you, Ariel.

I am sorry.”

She nodded into his chest and let him comfort her for a moment. Ariel pulled back.

“It’s all right.” She removed her clothing. Ahhu stared at her with open curiosity. Ariel flushed and stood as the woman’s gaze raked over every inch of her.

“You have bred her.” Ahhu glanced at Ral. “Correct?”

“Yes. I told you I bound her.”

Ahhu nodded. “How is she physically different from our women?”

“Besides her obvious looks?” Ral growled.

“Besides.”

“It’s all right,” Ariel sighed. “Don’t get mad.”

He was angry. Ariel could see it. Ral glared at the Zorn woman. “Her unis is in the front.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Her unis is in the front, exposed between her thighs when spread.”

The Zorn scientist’s eyes flew to Ariel. “May I please see this?”

Ariel knew Ahhu had to examine her, but she still felt embarrassment. She climbed on the exam table and spread her thighs, but she shut her eyes so she didn’t have to watch herself being stared at. When she felt the hand her eyes flew open and she started to jerk away. It was Ral touching her and she instantly relaxed. He spread her nether lips with his fingers to better expose her sex. Ral’s eyes locked with Ariel’s.

“Look but don’t touch her, Ahhu.” Ral warned. “You are making her uncomfortable and you will treat her with the respect of my bound woman.”

The woman dipped her head in a nod. “Of course, Argis Ral.”

Ariel saw Ahhu staring at every exposed inch of her. The woman reached for something. Ral growled. He looked furious.

“No.”

Ahhu froze. “I wanted to document it.”

“You will not take documentation of my woman’s sexuality to share with other scientists. Put that down now.” He snarled. “No other male sees my woman like this but me.”

Ahhu put the electronic device down. She moved closer to study Ariel. She was fascinated. “Her color is different. She’s pink.”

“She is softer inside too.” Ral released Ariel and slid his palm over her, cupping her mound to cover her sex. “You have seen enough.”

The woman backed up. “Can she enter your mind? Any signs of abilities like that?”

“No.” Ral’s hand left her mound to help her sit up. He handed her clothes back and started to help her dress. “She has no abilities that could control me.”

Ahhu was frowning. “Then why did you bound to her?”

Ral lifted Ariel up off the table to help her put on her pants. “Seeing her was enough. I was drawn to her fragile beauty. She smelled good and I wanted her intensely. When we were alone I got to know her very well. I knew she was mine to keep. I knew she was the woman I wanted bound to.”

The scientist studied Ral. “She pleases you?”

Ral nodded. Now that Ariel was dressed Ral’s anger seemed to dissipate. “More than I have ever been pleased in my life.” He looked down at Ariel. “Let her look at your implant.” He eyed Ahhu. “Can you download the program and load her language into our translators so all Zorn can understand her? How long will that take?”

Ahhu walked to a wall and got another device. She walked to Ariel. “Tell her to sit.”

Ariel sat. “Please remind her that I can understand her.”

Ral chuckled. “She can understand you, Ahhu. You just can’t understand her.”

The woman ran the device over the wrong ear. Ariel pointed. “This one.”

The woman moved and ran it over the right ear. The woman read the small screen and frowned. She looked at Ral. “Let me see you.”

Ahhu scanned both ears on Ral and frowned. “They put a new implant in your left ear, Argis Ral. I would like to remove the other-world implant from you. We do not know what their technology can do. It could be dangerous.”

“No. If you do I could not understand Ariel.”

“Your father is going to order all of the implants removed from the other world. We do not know if they contain tracking devices or even harmful tendencies. They could release poison.”

“What are the chances?”

The woman hesitated. “Good. Remember history.”

Ariel frowned. She met Ral’s eyes. “We won’t be able to able to understand each other, will we?”

“No. The Zorn translators obviously don’t know your language or they’d be able to understand you.”

“At least let us remove them for testing. We might be able to download their program to adapt it to our translators,” Ahhu said softly.

Ral frowned. “Remove the other implants from our people and test those.”

“They all must be removed, Argis Ral. I swear to you that I will work very hard to find the way for our translators to work for your bound woman.”

Ral growled. There was no translation. “Leave us and lock the door. We need some time together.”

Ahhu nodded. “The other Zorn recovered are coming in right now. I’ll remove their implants first.” She left the room.

Ral met Ariel’s eyes. “We need to do this. She could be right. We have had something like this happen before to some of our warriors who were captured by other world species. They were given alien implants that released poison that killed them all.

It happened days after they escaped.”

“But we’ve been traveling for three weeks.”

“We have been aboard their ship. We are out of range of any signal it could have sent out now that we are on the planet. It is safer if we do this. I won’t take the risk with your life or mine.”

“I understand.”

Ral reached for her. “It doesn’t matter if we can talk or not.” He pulled her into his arms. “We know how it is between us.”

“We do.”

“I will take care of you. It shouldn’t be too difficult for them to get a working translator. We have the Anzons ship as well with their programs. We’ll find your language and work it into our translators. We can do this together, Ariel.”

“We can do this,” she echoed, hoping they were both right.

“It won’t be long before they figure it out.”

Ariel stared up into his eyes and cupped his face with her hands. “I love you.” One of her hands lowered from his face to his heart. “I love you so much, Ral.” She touched his chest. She wasn’t sure his heart was where she touched but she’d heard a thump there under her ear when they slept. “My heart to yours.”

Ral smiled. “I am in love with you too, Ariel.”

She forced a smile that she didn’t feel. She was a little afraid of not being able to talk to Ral for a few days. Ariel wondered if Ral was putting up a brave front as well. She just had to have some faith that they’d make it work somehow.

“Just don’t feed me hot things that make my mouth burn. I won’t be able to understand you when you describe my food choices this time.”

He laughed. “I’ll remember. I’ll take good care of you.”