Rykhan (Book 1 of Mate Search Series) (29 page)

Gwynt’s backpedaling did not fool Bronsyn.
There was something else going on, something Bronsyn was not aware
of that was causing a strain between the two men. “She did have
some questions I couldn’t answer.”

The haughtiness of Gwynt’s canted eyebrow was
undeniable. “What kind of questions?” Bronsyn thought the rest of
the inquiry went unsaid. The part that remarked on how a being from
such a backward planet could dare challenge one of Picari
Protectorate, especially when they were on mission.

“At why there are only six warriors who are
seeking mates when we need to replenish two planets. How we are
expected to fulfill this mission in only six months.” In all truth,
the female’s questions had kept Bronsyn up half the night as he
struggled to understand it himself. “According to Rykhan’s female,
no Earthling of worth would ever consider pledging herself to a
male in such a short amount of time.”

Gwynt snorted and looked away from the screen.
“They should consider themselves lucky that we chose them as the
future mothers of our younglings!”

Bronsyn took in a low, deep breath
as he forced himself to calm down. While he had known Gwynt
for
yons
and
yons
, he
had never realized the male held such an iconoclastic view. “In
speaking with her after the fact, I asked that Rykhan’s female and
her friend to aid us in our search since they are much more
familiar with how their culture both meets and joins together to
form family units.”

“Hmm,” Gwynt mused. “That isn’t a bad idea.
Does that mean the two Earthlings females will have influence over
both our warriors and our mission? Do you think that was
wise?”

“Not only wise, but needed. In
the
mert
we have
been here, only one of the warriors has secured a connection. I
believe the females will be able to assist us much more efficiently
than if we continue on our own.” Of this, Bronsyn was absolutely
certain. As Leah had stated, time was running out if his males were
to meet, woo and secure a pairing.

Gwynt seemed to consider Bronsyn’s words and
after a length of a few heartbeats, tapped his fingers on the desk
in front of him. “I believe the idea has merit. However, in order
to give my full approval, I want to meet with these females to
ensure they fully understand the scope of their responsibilities
and to assure myself of their intentions.”

“As you wish,” Bronsyn murmured, shocked to his
core at his commander’s suggestion. “I will ask them
to…”

“It is not a request, Commander Llent. This is
an order.” Gwynt sat stiffly in his chair and he frowned. “We
cannot allow lowly females to circumvent such an auspicious goal.
We will gain their knowledge and then use it to our own ends. Do
you understand?”

“Yes,” Bronsyn answered through frozen lips as
his hearts began to beat out of cadence at his commander’s tone and
suspicions. “How soon do you want them to report?”

“Within two heras by Earth’s clock. That should
give me plenty of time to determine how best to interrogate…erm, I
mean interview them. We must ensure neither of them harbors any
reason to prevent the success of our mission.”

Bronsyn was thoroughly confused. Gwynt
considered the two females as enemies, ones with ulterior motives
instead of providing help. Perhaps once Gwynt met with the charming
duo, whatever fears the other man maintained would be laid to rest.
“Certainly. As you wish.”

“Two heras, Bron. I expect you to make sure
they report in on time,” Gwynt announced which told Bronsyn in both
tone and expression that the responsibility was on his shoulders.
That could not be right though. Even in the worst of the
Basule/Picari wars, he was never held accountable for another’s
actions.

All Bronsyn could do was hold his fist to his
hearts as he lowered his head to acknowledge the order
given.

He only hoped he could meet it.

Chapter Twenty

“Uhm, guys?” Leah called to the men who were
just beginning to leave the dining room after they had again
enjoyed lunch together. “I’d like to show you what I have so far
and get your take on it, if that’s okay.”

Rykhan dropped his butt back into his chair
while Leah pulled up both the spreadsheet and the calendar she had
created. “As you can see, I’ve added a lot more activities to your
schedules based on what you told me and Pam about your preferences.
And, given that you only have approximately five and a half months
to succeed in your goal, I think you’re gonna have to step up your
game.”

“Game?” Gere growled, his brows furling before
looking again to Leah. “This is not a game to us, Rykhan’s
female.”

“I think she means that you will need to engage
in more activities in order to widen your search,” Rykhan
explained, shooting Leah a glance as if begging for her
patience.

“Yes,” Leah agreed, resting her hand on
Rykhan’s thigh beneath the table. As always when they touched, she
felt herself relax. “Pam and I don’t think that going out twice a
week is going to be enough to do an adequate search. Since you’ve
got so little time, you need to be working your mojo on Earth’s
females every day.”

The men began talking over one another as they
tried to give their opinions about the women’s suggestions. Leah
caught a few comments about it making sense while there were other
comments about having no time since each were involved with
learning as much as they possibly could about her planet for the
warriors that were to follow them.

“Wait…wait. Slow down,” she cried and when the
voices fell away she tried again. “It’s not complicated and doesn’t
mean you’ll be spending every second of every day chasing skirt.
But it does mean that with the exception of one week night, and a
couple of afternoons, you will make time every day in pursuit of
finding your…ah…mate.”

“And an hour each day practicing with me and
Leah on what to say and do with the women you decide you want to
get to know better,” Pam added. Leah noticed that while Wyst had no
trouble looking at her when she spoke, his eyes never once drifted
to where Pam sat between Tyshar and Bronson.

“What will they be doing on those other days?”
Bronson asked, his eyes moving over the calendar that had each
warrior’s name denoted in a different color and listing his
designated activity for each day.

“Follow ups,” Leah replied succinctly. “I don’t
think you boys understand that it’s not always lust at first sight.
Some women are just naturally reserved when they first meet someone
and it might take a while before they come out of their shell and
dazzle you.”

“A follow up is a successive date with a female
you have already met,” Rykhan clarified.

Laxon squinted in confusion and Pam called him
on it. Before he answered, Leah watched his cheeks color. “It’s
just that they tell me ‘no’ when I ask to see them
again.”

“That’s because you’re asking the wrong women,
big guy.” Pam tried to take the sting out of her words with a quick
wink. “Just because you like a girl and find her hot doesn’t mean
those feelings are reciprocated.”

“Which begs the question, how many of you are
responding to the women who contact you first from the dating
websites?” Leah’s gaze swept around the table. Arbrynt gave the
only response and even that only a nod. “No, no, and no, fellas! I
know you are great warriors and are kind of on the alpha side but
if a girl expresses an interest, you’ve got to at least take the
opportunity to try and get to know her.”

Bronsyn cleared his voice in disapproval. “It
is not seemly that a female make the first contact.”

“Bullshit!” Pam challenged, slapping her hand
lightly on the table. “If you want to connect with a human woman,
then be prepared for her to be self-confident enough to say ‘hi’
first!”

At the different headshakes, Leah found herself
getting pissed. “Okay, here’s how I see it. Either you can act like
a bunch of stubborn, arrogant assholes that are still stuck in the
dark ages or you can get with the program, date as many women as
possible and find the mate you’ve always wanted. In the first
scenario, you’ll fail and will have to return to your council and
explain why you are still single.” She took a deep breath, stroked
Rykhan’s thigh underneath the table while willing herself to calm
down. “Or, you could try doing it our way and find you have more
girls interested in you than you know what to do with.”

“Why is my name listed?” Bronsyn growled demand
bled into the quiet that had fallen over the table after Leah’s
speech.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Pam shot back. “Seems to
me that just because you’re a leader, you should also have a chance
at snagging some happiness.”

“B-but he’s already paired with someone…” Wyst
heated interjection along with his frown went to the small blonde
directly across from him.

Rykhan’s voice cut across the other man’s
speech. “Maryll was not his one true mate.”

“I am not sure that I…” Bronsyn
stuttered.

Instead of the light slap she’d done earlier,
Pam slammed a small hand down on the table, startling more than a
few of the people in the room. “Whatever happened to leading by
example? Or is that something else that isn’t done on your
world?”

“Even if you don’t find true love, Bronsyn, at
least you’ll have the knowledge of how it’s done so you can relay
it to the Quest Committee, right?” Leah realized there were more
than a few holes in her argument, but neither she nor Pam thought
the man was too old to consider finding a woman with which to build
another family.

No one offered another objection so Leah
decided enough was enough. She and Pam had been pretty plain in
what they expected so it would be up to the men to decide if they
were willing to follow the new format or not. “If no one has any
more questions or concerns, then I think we’re done here. Thanks
for listening.”

Rykhan pushed himself to standing but not
before dropping a quick kiss on Leah’s mouth. “I have some more
work to do on the charts,” he explained and she knew he was working
on assembling a map in Picari that would help the warriors on
subsequent quests.

“I’ll stick around for a while but I’ll find
you before I leave.” At some point, she needed to go back to her
place for clean clothes as well as to have a chance to think things
through without the distraction of her warrior. As Rykhan walked
towards the stairs, Leah noticed Bronsyn standing behind his chair,
his eyebrows drawn and lowered as if he was in deep
thought.

It was Pam though who addressed him. Coming up
to the side of the commander, the little blonde-haired woman put a
hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry, Bron. I know I was…a little bit
forceful and maybe even disrespectful earlier. But I think you need
to participate in the quest rather than just, you know, like,
observe.”

The man tilted his chin to Pam. “I honestly had
not considered it but I believe you are correct. I need to
understand what the warriors are facing in their search to help
prevent future problems.”

“Then why the long face, big guy?”

“The supreme commander of the Quest Committee
has requested a meeting with the two of you.” Bronsyn swallowed
deeply. Leah thought he was more than uncomfortable in extending
the invitation.

She looked at Pam to share a long look, one
that communicated their confusion at the unusual request. “Okay,”
Leah said at last. “When are we supposed to get
together?”

“We can see to it now if you have no other
plans.” Yep, Bronsie, as Pam liked to call the longhaired,
crown-wearing man, was definitely nervous.

Pam smiled while nodding. “I’m in.”

“Me too,” Leah replied. She couldn’t quite work
up a smile since Bronsyn seemed so on edge. However, she could and
did grin.

Unfortunately, their acceptance did not seem to
bring Rykhan’s boss any pleasure.

*.*.*.*.*

Bronsyn led them out of the big house and used
the walkway towards what Leah thought of as the ‘mother-in-law
quarters’. As expected, it was a one-bedroom place but was
self-contained and beautifully decorated. Moreover, just as at the
main residence, it was unbelievably tidy with elegant furniture but
without any hint as to who lived there.

Maybe that’s how it is on their world, she
thought to herself. Perhaps Picaris don’t believe in personalizing
their spaces as we do ours.

Leading them to a desk beneath a window in the
small living room, Bronsyn quickly bustled into the kitchen area
and brought back a couple of oak chairs which were obviously a part
of a dining suite. “Please. Be seated while I make the
connection.”

Leah looked at Pam as they sat.
Bronsyn pushed a number of buttons on his console that was a damn
sight bigger than the smaller communication device Rykhan called a
‘
tresl
’. In her
opinion, it was like the difference between a desktop
computer/monitor and a cellphone.

“So how’re we gonna play this?” Pam asked on a
whisper out of the corner of her mouth.