Sarda Page 14

  She sighed and clamped her legs around him tighter. "Well, ain't we the perfect pair?"

  Dearest Reader,

  Thank you, so much, for reading Sarda. Between you and me, Vedma had me wrapped around her finger the entire time I wrote this story. I loved coming up with her quips and barbs, and I really loved crafting a man who might not have known what to do with her but was determined to give it his all as he tried. For those who've read Thanemonger, I strove to make Dyr a balance between Zver and Therion, his future grandsons.

  For those who may be curious, this snippet from Thanemonger inspired Sarda:

  Seph: You know, you're old enough that if the ship darted you, it could kill you.

  Vedma: Ech. It can try. Won't be the first time.

  If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help both readers and authors so much. One or two lines make all the difference and are greatly appreciated!

  Thank you!

  All the best,

  Bex

  Follow Bex at:

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  My sincerest thanks go to...

  Chris Westwater for kicking my ass. (And I always deserve it.)

  Emmy Chandler for inspiring me to write with purpose. (Who knew deadlines could be stressful AND fun? Emmy knew!)

  Kate B. for the nudibranches. (Those things still give me the heebie jeebies.)

  Kathryn S. and Tammy S. plus fellow authors Mara Frost and Honey Phillips for beta reading. (They review my crazy stuff and make it palpable reading for ya'll.)

  My hubby, who listens and listens and listens. (Huh. Should probably let him get a word in every once in a while...)

  Love you all!

  The Ladyships Series

  Sarda (novella)

  Thanemonger

  Bane (coming soon)

  Excerpt from THANEMONGER (The Ladyships Book One)

  Seph closed her eyes and tried to focus on one problem. Just one.

  She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

  Well, shit. Where the hell should she start? With the rickety spaceship? The alien thugs? Or the icebox floating before her?

  "[Prykimis. Teras. Cryo-bin.]"

  The Totally Annoying Interrupter whispered the terms directly into her mind like some peppy, overeager trivia enthusiast.

  Seph grimaced. Nope. She refused to be baited by The Totally Annoying Interrupter. That ever-present, invisible presence was being a jerk. Again. TAI (no way would she nickname it just AI) knew she had tabled the hows and whys of its annoying existence until further notice, yet still it force-fed snippets of data into her mind whenever it wanted. Total jerk. She had bigger problems right now. Problems that she could reach out and touch. Problems that could touch her right back, and that would hurt her.

  Case in point: the stupid cryo-bin floating in front of her.

  "Ready?" Rannik said as he moved toward the cryo-bin.

  "Ready," Seph said, her voice pitched low. But that was beside the point, because she absolutely was not ready.

  Together, she and Rannik huddled in a dark corner of the Prykimis's cavernous cargo hold. Sheltered by towering storage containers, they stared at the hovering rectangular box. The dim light bathed the cryo-bin in an eerie yellow glow. Seph shivered and hugged herself. Each time she looked at that thing, she swore someone walked over her grave.

  Cryo-bin. All of Seph's problems started when she woke up in one of those damned things. She went to sleep on Earth. She woke up in a cryo-bin. Saw her very first alien. Screamed bloody murder. Yep. She hated cryo-bins.

  "I'm with you every step of the way, Seph," Rannik said and gave her a light, chummy bump.

  It sent her toppling forward. "Hey!"

  Rannik fumbled for her, trying to snag her. Too late. "Sorry!"

  Her butt hit the deck. Dammit!

  Not Rannik's fault, though. He reminded her of a bull in a china shop, which only bothered Seph because she wasn't used to being delicate china. Nothing about her was tiny. No little toes or cute button nose. Back in high school, she played power forward on the basketball team. She was a brick house, all mighty, mighty. Not a tea cup.

  Rannik, however, was a Teras, and his oversized hands hinted at a growth spurt that had yet to come. Next to the teenaged alien, Seph appeared downright dainty. She hated that. If she was going to survive her alien abduction, she needed to be able to kick alien asses. Instead, a nudge by an alien teen sent her flying like a hockey puck.

  "[Teras,]" TAI said like a perky little cheerleader announcing a fun fact.

  Thankfully, Rannik was not one of her problems. In fact, he remained the only good thing to have happened to her since her abduction. He was her Obi-Wan Kenobi. Her only hope.

  Rannik offered her a hand up. "You're such a tiny bit."

  Seph chuckled as he hoisted her up. One swift pull and he had her back on her feet.

  "Whatever. We're the same size." Not true. Rannik already topped her by a few scant inches. At twenty-six, Seph finished growing. If Teras teenagers were like human teenagers, then Rannik would really outpace her within a year.

  And as much as she liked Rannik, she didn't want to be playing Leia to his Obi-Wan a year from now. She wanted to be back on Earth, snuggling with her son, Xander. She ignored the sharp pinch in her chest. She missed him like crazy, but she couldn't think about that now. She'd think about that later, along with so many other things she didn't want to think about.

  "[Cryo-bin,]" TAI said, even though Seph tried to think of something other than having to climb into the coffin-like box.

  Rannik chuckled, the sound a low rumble in his chest. "I can see over your head."

  "And I can stare up your nostrils." Thank god the alien language she spoke accommodated sarcasm. If not, then she and Rannik would definitely have had a failure to communicate about so many, many things.

  "You're just stalling." He gave her that endearing, lopsided grin of his. The one where his toothy incisor peeked out. Just like Xander, he melted her heart with that silly grin.

  And he called it: she was stalling.

  "Couldn't you just wrap me in a rug and carry me?" Seph kept her voice gruff, to mimic the deep tone of the Teras, and mimed carrying a sack of potatoes over her shoulder. "Or do you have a spare uniform?" Rannik had given her a baggy coverall that crinkled when she moved. It was nothing like his crisp, military fatigue-like uniform. "I can still pretend to be a Lassie."

  Rannik groaned and rolled his eyes at her. "Even I knew you weren't a Lassie, Seph."

  "Yeah, right. You had no clue."

  The salvager who had pulled Seph from that first cryo-bin thought she was a Lassie, an android. So she ran with it. To hide in plain sight while she came up with a plan to get herself back to Earth and Xander. After a few days of milling about in an enclosure, Rannik had drudged past the salvager's stall, took one look at her, and purchased her.

  And thank goodness for that bit of luck. Lassies were used as sexbots. Roughly used.

  "Your protocols were all corrupted." Rannik blushed, his face flushing an electric turquoise. The bright color didn't faze Seph anymore. Neither did his dark gold skin or double-jointed fingers. She even thought his gold-green eyes, swirling like a cat's eye marble, were hypnotically gorgeous.

  "Oh, my protocols were spot on and you know it." She had fooled him for three days, until he tried to determine if she was a fully functioning sexbot.

  Her cheeks flamed as she recalled that awkward encounter. He, a rambunctious youth, had wanted to check under her carriage. She, a rampaging bitch, had slapped some decency into him. Now they got along smashingly. Just an average teenage boy with his secret alien companion.

  They weren't Leia and Obi-Wan. They were Elliot and E.T., and she was E.T.

  "Fine. You were believable." Rannik yank
ed the lid off the cryo-bin, revealing the interior bed and cold metal tubing. "And that's why we need the cryo-bin. If I cart you through the corridors like a Lassie, we'll never make it past Prykimis's crew to the hangar."

  Rannik had a point. If the ship's crew thought she was a Lassie, they wouldn't hesitate to press her into service. She'd once overheard several crewmen talking about a Lassie that they kept in a closet in the general berthing. They used it as communal property. Like the village bicycle.

  No way. Absolutely not. That would not happen to her.

  "Fine then." She knew she sounded flippant, but at least she didn't sound scared.

  "Seriously, Seph. As a cadet, I'm not even supposed to be on Prykimis. And now that the thane is here, they want me gone. No one's gonna stop to inspect my luggage."

  "I understand."

  "I won't leave you on this ship." He dipped his chin so that he could look her in the eyes. "Everything will be all right once we're with my house."

  "Of course it will."

  "Seph, you're backing away from the cryo-bin."

  Dammit. She was, wasn't she? With a sigh, she willed her feet to stop shuffling backwards.

  Rannik tilted his head, gesturing in a general 'over there' direction toward the hangar. "Thane Borac is already docking his transport. You'll be in and out of the cryo-bin very quickly. There's nothing to worry about."

  Seph hugged her stomach and frowned. "Not worried at all."

  Shit, she was worried.

  But a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do to get back to her baby boy.

  She clapped her hands together and gave the cryo-bin a hard kick. "Let's do this."

  She would just lie back and take a nap while Rannik ran her over to the other ship.

  Prykimis, the one they were currently on, reminded Seph of her first car, a clunker that leaked oil and smelled like gasoline. She questioned the ship's space-worthiness. The recycled air tasted musty, the temperature chilled her to the bone, and the most awful mechanical groans interrupted the sluggish thrum of the engines. Prykimis had more rattles than a baby boutique.

  Yep. Time to abandon ship.

  Rannik heaved a sigh, his shoulders sagging. Damn, she needed to get her act together. Rannik shouldn't have to shoulder her stress as well as his own. She marched up to the cryo-bin and gave Rannik a stiff nod. She was ready.

  He pointed to a lit screen on the outer shell of the cryo-bin. "See these lights? They're just for show. I've deactivated the cycler, so it's not even a functioning cryo-bin."

  "Just for show. Got it." Seph huffed and fought the urge to backpedal.

  Rannik flicked his eyes anxiously to his WristCune, the Teras personal comm device. "If we don't get moving soon, someone will come looking for me. And whatever we do, we do not want Thane Borac to get angry." He paused and looked over his shoulder, as if recalling a memory. "Well, angrier."

  Seph squeaked out a laugh. "What, does he smash things when he gets angry?"

  "Yes." Rannik swallowed. "They call him Thanemonger."

  Well then. It seemed the thane, the leader of Rannik's house, had a temper. Not the best time to have learned that, considering they planned to ask the thane for sanctuary for her. Just another problem she would have to sort out later.

  Fine. She'd deal with him. She cast her gaze about the creepy shadows in the cargo hold. "Better than staying here."

  Seph sighed as she grabbed hold of Rannik for balance. The cryo-bin rocked like a canoe as she climbed inside. "Is it going to wobble the whole time?"

  "No. Well, probably. I'll keep it steady."

  Good thing her nerves kept her from eating breakfast. Even though she was already in space and on a spaceship, puddle-jumping made her stomach flip. She had never been a good flier.

  As she settled flat on her back, her hand stayed clamped to Rannik's arm. She stifled a moan. She feared this would happen. The cryo-bin felt too much like a coffin.

  "I can't let go," she said miserably.

  Rannik frowned down at her, his eyes glittering like tiny beacons in the dark. "Everything will be fine."

  "I know." Because, really, how could it get any worse?

  "I'll get you out quickly."

  "I know. Still can't let go." Her breathing sped up, hustling to match her racing heart.

  "The thane is here. He's waiting for me, and I will not leave you behind."

  She swore. "Just close me in."

  With hasty movements, Rannik propped the lid against the side of the cryo-bin, causing more rocking. He dropped to a knee, and with one hand, felt around for something in the dark. Scraping noises rose up from floor.

  "Got it," Rannik said, thrusting a long metal tool toward her. "Hold this."

  Seph took it with her free hand, still not relinquishing her hold on Rannik's arm. "Ah, just what I always wanted."

  "Seph," he said, sounding so serious.

  "Sorry. What is it?"

  "[Torque spanner,]" TAI pushed into her mind just as Rannik said, "A torque spanner."

  Seph sighed. So, so annoying. TAI always dropped terms and never added context.

  Rannik gently closed his fingers over her hand that held him captive. His big hand fully encased hers. The touch felt cool and comforting. "If anyone other than me opens this lid, use it."

  She stared at the heavy, wrench-like tool in her hand. "Use it?"

  "Whack them. Whack them hard, Seph."

  "Whack 'em. I got it."

  "Good." He patted her hand while simultaneously prying her fingers away from his arm. Who knew that extra finger joints could be so handy? Heh, handy.

  She pressed her lips together, sealing her nervous giggle inside.

  Rannik stood and positioned the lid over her. She cradled the torque spanner to her chest the same way Xander used to grip his lovie, a plush blue blanket that smelled like graham crackers.

  "It's going to be fine, Seph. I promise." He smiled down at her, so damn hopeful and young. "I am Teras. I am House Borac. You have me."

  Rannik's solemnity punched her in the gut. What he said was important to him, she could tell. He gave his word to keep her safe. But he looked just so youthful in that moment. Like someone who never experienced real world consequences, someone unjaded.

  Guilt spiked through her, clenching her belly. No matter how fond she was of him, no matter that it was in Rannik's nature to do good, she was using him. She had hidden amongst the other Lassies until she saw a bright-eyed kid approach the trader's stall. Until she saw someone she could manipulate.

  She swallowed, yet her voice sounded too brittle. "See you soon."

  "See you soon," Rannik said before settling the lid, sealing out the light.

  Unease tore at her. But it was pointless for her to worry, wasn't it? The plan was already in motion. Plus, Rannik was Teras. He was from this strange universe. Surely he knew how to help her at minimal risk to his own person. Didn't he?

  Seph pressed her palms over her eyes. Everything would be fine. Jump ship. Seek refuge. High-tail it back to Earth.

  She had this. No problems at all.

  THANEMONGER (The Ladyships Book One) is available now.

  About Bex

  Bex loves to read romance: shifter romance, fantasy romance, regency romance, contemporary romance, fill-in-the-blank romance... However, her heart belongs to science fiction romance. One of the finest 'ah-ha!' moments of her life was discovering her first alien romance novel.

  So, thank you so very much, to all those authors who love to mix bodice ripping with hunky, otherworldly men. You've changed her life for the better.

  Wife and mother, she is so damn grateful to be living her dream.

  My Rule of Names

  I first read "The Rule of Names" by Ursula K. Le Guin in grade school, and it has shaped my writing ever since. When I name my characters, it is with 10% whimsy, 90% purpose. For those of you who are diehard wordsmiths, you can continue reading and discover the meanings of my characters' names. Enjoy!

&nbs
p; Vedma – Czech for medium, fortuneteller

  Dyr – Old Norse for expensive, dear (precious), beast

  Dyrastur – Old Norse for expensive (superlative)

  Kigen – Japanese rōmaji for origin

  Moya – My homage to the scifi series Farscape. Moya was the sentient spaceship, a leviathan.

  Thane – a rank of nobility in pre-Norman England, roughly equivalent to baron

  Athel – (obsolete or Britain dialectal) noble; illustrious; a chief or lord

  Prykimis – from Pyrkimys, Finnish for endeavor

  Vayant – Walloon for affectionate, kind

  Teras – Estonian for steel; Indonesian for heart, pith

  Apinazeru – a blending of two words meaning "Simian" (Finnish: apinamainen / Hungarian: majomszerű)

  Gwyretti – a blending of two words: Gwyr (Welsh) for crooked, bend; Retten (German) for salvage

  Kraai – Dutch for a craye, Scandinavian vessel type and Dutch for crow

  Ero – Old High German for Earth

  Unholde – German for monster, fiend

  Direis – a blending of two words: from dizer, Portuguese for to speak; to pronounce; to utter; to say and reis, Galician for kings.

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