Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) (12 page)

Drake’s mother had just left for the kitchen with Cali when he spoke to
his father. “Varian told me what happened with
The Maxon
. I understand that the engineers figure the cloaking
device wavered, and the computer mistook it for an impending meltdown.”

“Yes, that flaw has been fixed and won’t happen again. When the crew used
the escape pods they were found by
The
Cariyel
. It was hypothesized that you, Dak, Tae, Arik and Mica waited until
the end to deploy your pods. By then the cloaking device had stabilized and you
sort of ricochet a different direction,” His father didn’t look happy.

“So it wasn’t an explosion that sent the five of us in a different
direction, it was the cloaking device that repelled us. Interesting.” Drake
rubbed his chin in thought. “Varian said
The
Cariyel
helped gain control of
The
Maxon
while it sat idly in space. Very honorable of Atheon to help.”

“Yes, without their assistance,
The
Maxon
might still be un-manned.” His father turned the topic, “About
Calinae Edal. Are you sure she is your chosen?”

“Without a doubt, I was found first,” Drake offered the information he
knew his father needed to understand his attachment to Cali. “I woke up on
Cali’s ship,
The Reliant
. I was in
their medical unit, surrounded by guards and Cali. Without her
presence,
I would’ve attacked as Dak, Tae, Arik
and Mica did.”

“Ahh,” His father nodded, “She is the one then. Now we just need to
figure out what to do about it.”

“What do you mean?” Drake didn’t think there was anything to talk about.
Cali was his, and he was hers.

“You know it isn’t that simple Drake.” His father admonished, “There is
her family to consider, her home world...”

“There is no family, except perhaps her father. She speaks fondly of him,
other than that, there are no brothers or sisters, only her mother.”

“She has no other family?” His brother burst out, “How is that possible?”

“I haven’t asked her the details,” Drake sighed, “I didn’t think it was
important.”

“You didn’t think it might be a major difference in your
expectations
that you have such a large
family and she has none?” his father raised the question.

“No, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll do anything to make Cali happy,” Drake
insisted firmly.

“What are your plans then? I’ll help if I can.”

Drake knew his father understood that a mate had an obligation to his
partner, and was offering the help of his clan and Council if necessary.

“I’ve got to find a way to get rid of the threat her mother holds over
her. Cali thinks a return to Cestori is the answer, but I’m not so sure. There
is also the fact that Cali has associated being in space as being free. I don’t
know how to change that perception. She might balk at the idea of staying on
Titus. How close are we to the additional spacecraft we commissioned?”

“I see where you might be heading with that question. You’ll be happy to
know the men of the clan Takari have been busy. I think Tae’s father had
something to do with the rush on additional ships. The more spacecraft we put out
searching for all of you, the sooner he’d find his son. As it stands, in the
twelve months you’ve been
offworld
, we
have two scout craft finished and another warship almost ready. The scout ships
have the speed of
The Maxon
, but not
the armament.”

“The scout ships are similar to
The
Reliant
then,” Drake rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Let me know what you need.” His father insisted. “I’ll work with the Council
to arrange it.”

“Drake,” His mother returned
through
a set of doors at the side of the room. “Bella and Horace have tracked you
down. I left Cali to play with them.”

“You left Cali alone with them?!” Drake jumped to his feet and rushed
toward the doors. “She must be terrified.”

“She’s fine.” His mother argued, but he was already out the doors.
“Honestly Drake…”

Walking quickly along the paths he wondered where Cali was. When he heard
a loud shriek he started running toward the giant
ebon
tree. There
was a pair of
benches set under the shade his mother loved, and he was sure that is where
Cali would be.

Turning a bend in the walkway he saw his pets, and Cali at once. They had
her pinned on the ground, and Drake’s heart skipped a few beats in worry. Were
his pets attacking her? Putting his fingers into his mouth, he blew out a sharp
whistle.

The canine’s ears picked up and they spotted him instantly. Drake braced
himself for the impact he knew was coming. Horace reached him first, and the
male put his paws on his shoulders and Drake almost lost his balance. With hot
dog breath in his
face,
he didn’t see
when Bella added her weight to brush against his knees. Patting
Horace,
he gently pushed the dog off, and then
gave both pets a generous rubbing. Their tails were moving furiously in
excitement and Drake had to admit he felt the same. It had been a long
time
and seeing his pets reminded him how much
he missed them.

“They’re very
nice,
” Cali called to
him from where she’d pulled herself onto the bench. There were leaves in her
hair, and her dress was askew. As he watched she righted the material and
smoothed her hands down her legs.

“I’m glad you like them.” Drake patted each head one last time and
ordered, “Home.” Both pets took off at a run to obey him. Nobody would harm the
pets as they worked their way through Renari to his property. Pets were well
trained and if one was roaming the streets it was for a good reason.

Drake took a seat close to Cali on the bench. “My father thinks we
haven’t talked enough about what we expect from our partnership.” He purposefully
chose a word she would understand.

“Your mother as
well,
” Cali smiled
at him and his heart, and
another body part
swelled.

“I think it’s time that we communicate exactly what we want from each
other. Is there anything you feel we haven’t discussed?”

“I know being a chosen mate is like a life-partnership on Cestori. So, my
first question is, when do we do the bonding ceremony?”

Drake stifled a groan and took Cali’s hand. “There is no ceremony per se
on Titus. When a male claims a mate, if the female doesn’t protest, they are
considered bonded.”

“Ohh.” Cali’s soft exclamation made his arousal jump. Drake forced
himself to stop thinking of sex and concentrate. This was important to their
future happiness.

“Do we have to submit our DNA to your Science Sectorate for offspring
consideration then?” Cali blushed and Drake realized he was losing the battle
with is libido. Turning to look at the tree blossoms to distract himself he
thought of her question.

“No, we don’t have a system like that. Any couple engaging in a
sexual
relationship run the chance of an
offspring. We don’t regulate our reproduction like that. It’s hoped and highly
encouraged to use birth control methods if not in a mated relationship. It
isn’t something we police.”

“Really?” Cali was looking at him with complete astonishment. “Then how
do your offspring get made?”

“Made?” Drake was confused now.

“Yes, if the Science Sectorate doesn’t manage your DNA, how do your
babies get made? What facility regulates their development?”

“We don’t have a facility that makes them.” Drake finally understood what
Cali was talking about. “They are developed the old fashioned way. The mother
carries the young in her body.” He elaborated when Cali didn’t seem to get what
he was saying.

“Inside her?” Cali choked out, “Are you being serious?”

“Yes.” Drake bit the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing. It was
obvious that Cali was highly scandalized by the very idea of a woman being
pregnant. He was beginning to understand what had driven his parents’ concerns.
Cali came from a highly logical, technical world. It seemed he wouldn’t need to
make an appointment with the medical unit anytime soon. As a young man, he
hadn’t been exactly monkish in his pursuits, and not wanting to have children
with anyone but his chosen mate, he’d had a simple procedure done to ensure
there would be no such offspring. It was easily reversible and he had
considered having it done on
The Maxon
.
He was glad he hadn’t now. Cali had a right to decide when they became parents
as much as he did.

“Is there a chance I would be…”

“Pregnant?” Drake filled in the word for her.

“Yes, pregnant.” Cali jumped on the word like one of his pets on a bone.
“Birth control is supplied in the food on
The
Reliant
, but with your special abilities is it possible your body would
over-ride any birth control with me?”

Drake couldn’t stand the uncertainty in Cali’s face. Drawing to hold her
on his lap he assured her, “No, Cali. There is no chance of you being pregnant.
I had a procedure done in my early adulthood that prevents any pregnancies. We
won’t have any offspring until you are ready, I promise.” He rubbed circles on
her back and Cali melted into his chest.

“Good,” She sighed, “not that the idea isn’t…intriguing. I’m just not
ready to be a mother.”

“It’s okay.” Drake kissed the top of her head. “There are things we need
to settle first. For one thing, we need to find a way to eliminate the threat
your mother holds over you. I’m not sure that returning to Cestori is the
answer, but if that is what you want, it’s what we’ll do.”

“What other option is there?” Cali pulled her head up and Drake was
distracted when she placed a kiss against his chin. His body responded
instantly.

“We could send a diplomatic envoy to speak with her,” Drake felt a tremor
go through him when Cali wrapped her arms around his sides. “We could take
The Maxon,
beam her on board and try to
reason with her.” When Cali laughed a little, the action rubbed her breasts
into his chest and his painfully throbbing
arousal
pulsed harder. “I have it, we take
The
Maxon
and instead of
beaming
her on board,
we just beam her into space.”

Cali broke into peals of laughter and it was too much. His body demanded
that they get to a private spot so he could hold her. Preferably naked.

“We couldn’t do that.” She began to argue against that course of action,
but Drake was already thinking of where he could take Cali. There was a nice
gazebo on the edge of his parent’s property he might make it to.

Jumping up with Cali in his arms, she let out a soft sigh and then her fingers
were running through the hair at his neck.

“It’s been forever since you held me,” She spoke against his chest and
her soft lips rubbed against his shirt, the feeling seeped into his skin, and Drake
ran to the gazebo faster than he had run to anything in his entire life.

“Have you thought about where you want to live?”

Cali was sitting on Drake’s lap, his chest a cushion for her cheek. The
question came as a surprise since she thought Drake was asleep. His eyes were
closed, and his face relaxed. He appeared even more handsome to her, if possible,
during moments like this.

“Where to live?” Cali murmured absently. “I hadn’t thought of it, I
really don’t want to live on Cestori, but I wouldn’t mind visiting every so
often. There are some lovely beaches that I think you would really like.” She
trailed her fingers lazily along his sides and hips. “I was trained to captain
a spaceship, and I had hoped to make a living by traveling to different worlds.
Though, I’m not sure how long it would appeal to me since I only did it for less
than the one year.”

“There are two scout ships ready for testing that Tae’s
clan
the Takari have built. Would you be
interested in captaining one of those?”

“I’m not sure,” Cali sat up straight so she could see Drake’s face. “What
about you?” She wasn’t going to make a decision without gauging what he wanted.
“What do you want from our partnership?”

“I only want for you to be happy,” Drake sat forward and pulled her
closer. “The landscape of our world is changing with the alliance the Council
is forming with Atheon. Cestori will have a role to play in our future as well,
I don’t see a way around it. All of that aside, I can live anywhere, as long as
I have you.”

“What about your training?” Cali hadn’t told him she knew he was his
father’s heir. “Won’t traveling all over the Buffer Zone and beyond keep you
from learning skills that will help when you take over for your father?”

“No.” Drake began nibbling along her neck. “I have followed my father to
Council meetings since I was a child. I know all the nuances of the clans and
how they interact. When my father feels the time is right for him to retire,
I’ll have no doubts about taking over. An education in our closest neighbors,
Cestori and Atheon, would serve my people better.”

Cali felt the gooseflesh rise on her arms. Drakes lips really were a
delicious distraction. “I want you to get what you need out of our partnership.”

Drake paused in his kisses, “I am getting what I need from our
partnership. As we learn more about each other and change with time, our needs
will change as well. You won’t always be the
same,
Cali. Traveling in space might lose its appeal, or being here on Titus might be
too restrictive. I want you to be open with me. That’s all I ask.”

 
“I can do that Drake, but a
relationship isn’t all about my needs. It can’t be. You have a say in what will
make you happy.”

“I’ll be open with you about what I need to be happy. I’m sure that we’ll
find mutual contentment with each other as long as we remain honest.”

“Honest.” Cali murmured the word thoughtfully. Was it that simple?

“Ahem.”

Cali hadn’t heard Varian approaching and hurried to make sure she was
covered at his casual appearance.

“I hate to break up this special moment, but I
honestly
need you to come to the main house for dinner. Or rather,
mother
would like it.” The teasing in his tone
told her that he had heard at least part of their conversation.

Drake glared at his brother, “We’ll be there in a moment.”

His brother nodded and meandered slowly away, whistling softly.

Cali moved off his lap and waited for him at the entrance to the gazebo
he had
run
them too. When all she could
see was trees behind them, and rolling grass in front of them she turned to him
in confusion.

“How far did you run?”

“This gazebo is on the edge of my parent’s property. We are only about
one mile from the main house.”

“One mile? You ran that in seconds,” Cali was astonished.

“I was in a hurry.” Drake teased with a small laugh. His lips moving
against her neck in a gentle caress.

“Yes.” Cali laughed at the tickling sensation, “Well, that’s still
impressive. To run that far, that fast, and carrying me.”

Drake laughed harder, “Cali, you can’t think that little jog was
impressive. I am capable of much more.”

Cali shuddered at the thought. She knew from Drake’s tone that it wasn’t
an empty boast. He was just telling her the truth.

“Yes, you’re manly and virile.” His brother yelled from where he was
standing on the grounds. “I’m sure Cali is suitably impressed.”

“I’ll kill him.” Drake groaned, tucking his head against her shoulder.
“We better get back. I don’t want anyone else to come looking for us.” Picking
her up into his arms he jumped down from the gazebo, ignoring the stairs, “Hold
on.”

Cali looked around as the grounds flashed past them. All she could see
was a blur of colors and then he stopped at a set of doors to his parents’
home. It hadn’t taken longer than a few seconds.

“Drake!”

Cali turned to see a set of men standing there. They were both tall like
Drake, had the same square chin, blue eyes, black hair and chiseled good looks.

“Nallan! Lathan.” Drake set her down and moved to embrace his brothers.
“You two haven’t changed a bit.”

“I’ve matured much better than Lathan.”

“Lies, I’m obviously much more seasoned than you.” The other brother
protested.

“Two of you,” Cali breathed. She had never in her life seen a set of two
people looking exactly the same. She knew it wasn’t a cloning glitch, they
didn’t do that here. These two were naturally made this way.

“Father said you have a chosen mate.” The brothers moved toward her, “Is
this her?”

“Yes, this is Cali.” Drake’s voice rang with pride and she held herself
taller at his obvious happiness at having her for his mate.

“She’s so small.” One of the brothers, Nallan she thought, teased as he
circled her. “Nevir was this size as a child.”

“Maybe I’m not small,” Cali teased back softly, not sure if that was
acceptable. “Perhaps you’re just freakishly tall.”

With a snort of laughter, Lathan pushed in front of her, took her hand
and kissed her fingers. “Well said, I’ve always argued that he’s a freakish
brute.”

“Since you look exactly like me, what does that make you?” Nallan forced
Lathan out of the way. Taking her hand from Lathan’s as he was swept out of the
way, and kissed her too.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it…”

“Enough,” Drake interrupted the banter. “We’re holding up dinner.”

So saying he pushed both men out of the way, tucked her arm into his and
swept her past his brothers.

“Damn, Drake, we were just getting to know your mate. No need to be
rude.”

“Get your own!” Drake bit out smoothly and Cali looked over her shoulder
at the men they were leaving behind. Their mouths were gaped open like fish out
of the
water
.

Varian had followed her and Drake, laughing at his brother’s faces.
Nallan recovered first. “What clan did you say she was from?”

“I didn’t say she was from a clan of Titus.”