Katieran Prime Miracle (Katieran Prime Series Book 9) Read online

  With her mother working most nights, Rose was left home alone with Donald. She began to do the housekeeping, laundry, and cooking. It was hard, but they were making it work. But now that Donald was at home with nothing to do, his drinking got a whole lot worse.

  When she turned sixteen years old she began to feel awkward around him. He started to pay too much attention to her and what she was wearing. She tried to tell her mother, but her mother always brushed it off, telling her she was making things up. She tried to ignore the lingering looks, the times he ‘accidentally’ bumped into her, which would result in his hands on her ass or breasts. She stopped bathing at her house, going over to her friends’ houses instead or taking a shower at school after gym.

  One night, while her mother was still working at the diner, Donald got drunk and high and came stumbling into her bedroom. He fell on her bed, trying to take her clothes off and touch her. She knew he was too strong for her, even in that state, and that he would rape her. She kicked and punched and screamed, but he wouldn’t stop touching her, hurting her with his bruising grip. When he tried to get to her pajama pants, she knew she had to stop him somehow.

  Out of desperation, she managed to reach for her lamp and swung out, knocking him on the back side of his head. He fell to the floor. She dropped the lamp next to him and sat there frozen. There had been so much blood all over him and her carpet. She’d never seen that much blood. She feared that she’d killed him, because he wasn’t moving, and she threw up right there on him, her bed, her carpet, and on herself.

  She was scared. All she could think to do was run over to the neighbor’s house, but no one was home. She went back to her house and heard her stepdad trying to move around. There was no telling what he would do to her when he became fully conscious. She had to get away, so she grabbed the spare key to Donald’s truck. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest. She drove the truck to the restaurant where mother was working her second shift.

  Through her hysterical sobbing, she managed to tell her mother what had happened. Her mother didn’t believe her. She said that Donald had called and told her that Rose had tried to seduce him, and that when he refused, she’d become violent and hit him. He was threatening to call the cops on her for assaulting him and stealing his truck. Rose was scared and didn’t know what to do, so she took the truck and drove it until it ran out of gas.

  She stayed with a few friends until their parents made her leave. Soon she had nowhere else to go, and found herself living on the streets in abandoned buildings. Rose had thought that Donald was the worst type of person she would ever meet, but living on the streets taught her that there were people a lot worse than him.

  Rose had lucked out one night when it got really cold. She went to a nearby shelter and met a wonderful woman there named Darlene Jamison. Darlene was a counselor, and helped out for free at the shelter. She was an amazing woman who listened to Rose’s story and believed her.

  Darlene encouraged her file for emancipation so she would no longer be under her mother’s control. It was a big deal: she had to petition the family court requesting emancipation, and had to tell them why it was best for her to not to return to her mother’s home. Rehashing the whole story was completely humiliating, but Darlene stood by her side the whole time so that she wouldn’t feel alone.

  Darlene helped her get a part-time job and find a roommate to split living expenses with while she went to night school and took online courses to get her diploma. She only saw her mother a few times over the next ten years, and only after Donald had left her, cleaning out their bank account before he went. Her relationship with her mother had never been the same.

  Rose felt that Darlene had been more of a mother figure to her than her own mother. She owed everything to her, and hated to think where she would have ended up if she hadn’t met her. Darlene had been the only person that Rose bothered to say goodbye to when she left Earth for Katiera.

  Rose picked up her digital tablet. She could do some work; it would keep her mind occupied. But she found herself going to her book library and pulling up Wuthering Heights. She was a fool for sure. Something had to change. She couldn’t keep torturing herself like this.

  Chapter 2

  “JadEN, what does this plant sample look like?” Kat asked, moving to face him.

  He leaned over to look at the test tube she had in her hand, doing his best to ignore how good she smelled and focus instead on the color and texture of the sample. He cleared his throat as he pulled away. “I believe it is a combination of a plant from the Colonial Planet and the Kiljorn home world.”

  “That’s interesting, because it came from the south side of the red planet.” Kat said as she entered data on the digital tablet.

  “That can’t be right. Are you sure?” He took another look. That couldn’t be from the red planet.

  “I helped Syd collect the sample myself.”

  “Has Prime Medic SydEL had a chance to analyze it?” JadEN was more of a general medic, though he was studying up on the breeding issues. But Prime Medic SydEL a scientist. This was his field of expertise.

  “Not yet. He’s been so consumed with analyzing all the data on Jaxon that he hasn’t had time to look at anything else. I’d forgotten about it until just a few days ago when I picked up Syd’s tablet by mistake. The icons looked different, and I clicked on the one labeled ‘specimen samples.’ Do you think it might be worth looking into?”

  “I believe it’s something that could help link the two planets. The Colonial females seem to get pregnant much more easily than Katierans. If we can find a connection to their environment, it might help us with Katieran females. But this is not my field of expertise.”

  “It’s not mine either. I can understand most of it, but it’s really Syd’s thing. I just hate putting anything else on him right now. He’s got so little time to spend with me and little KitEL as it is.”

  JadEN had to fight not to console her. She seemed lonely. He had to remind himself that she wasn’t lonely for him, she was lonely for her mate. But he couldn’t help being curious.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m just sleep-deprived. Our baby has decided he’s a vampire.”

  “Vampire? Isn’t that a fictional Earth creature that sucks blood?” JadEN looked horrified.

  Kat laughed at his expression. “It’s just a figure of speech. I’m comparing him to a vampire because of his sleep routine. He’s keeping me up all night and sleeping during the day. I swear I feel like I have no energy at all.”

  “You and Medic SydEL should alternate; one sleeping while the other stays up with the young until he becomes adjusted to the schedule.”

  “I would do that, only Syd is gone so much and I’m left on my own to deal with everything. I think I’d feel better if I could just have an hour or two of uninterrupted sleep.”

  “That’s easy to fix. Come with me.” JadEN motioned for her to follow him. He went to the back to an empty med room and pointed to the bed. “Go ahead, sleep until you’re fully rested.”

  “I couldn’t, there is so much to do,” Kat said. JadEN noticed that her eyes strayed to the bed with longing.

  “Your young is with a day-keeper while you’re here. There’s nothing pressing to be done. A few hours will do you a world of good.”

  “Thanks JadEN, you’re the best.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then climbed into the bed.

  JadEN touched the spot on his cheek where she’d pressed her lips. It was still warm. It made his lips tingle and yearn for the same attention, but those thoughts weren’t good to have. She was happily mated and had a family. He dimmed the lights for her and left the room.

  He was grateful when the Earth specialists arrived; it helped take his mind off things. When Kat came back out after her nap, she looked much more relaxed. No matter how hurt he had been that she chose another male over him, he still cared about her welfare.

  *****

  “D
r. Garrett, did you hear what I just said?” Prima AriELa asked.

  Rose sat up straighter in her chair. She had let herself drift off in the middle of a session with a client. That was unlike her. “I’m so sorry, Prima. I didn’t sleep well last night and my concentration is a little off. Would you mind repeating what you said?”

  “It’s okay. You’d just gotten really quiet and sort of stared off into space. I do that too sometimes when I’m tired. I was just saying that I’m worried that the new test results will come back negative and I won’t be able to give TarAK young.”

  “How does TarAK feel about that?”

  “He says that he’s happy with me whether we have young or not.”

  “How do you feel about it?”

  “I feel…incomplete, in a way. I want so much to give TarAK young; as his mate I should be able to do that. But if I can’t even do that, I feel like I’m not complete.”

  “You don’t have to have children to have a happy marriage. There are many women who chose to live their lives without having any, and they’re perfectly fine.”

  “I’m not like them. I want to be a mother. I want to give TarAK young because he deserves them and he would make a wonderful father.”

  “There are many options open to you. In vitro, fertility drugs, and adoption are just a few. Have the medics discussed these with you?”

  “They’ve tried a fertility drug, and I thought I had bred but the readings came out false. Kat thinks that I’m overstressed about everything and that may have been why it didn’t take. In vitro is such a strange thing. Kat says they fertilize the egg outside of me and then implant it. The specialists have assured us that it is safe, but TarAK doesn’t like the idea of me undergoing any kind of primitive surgery. He fears something will happen to me. Kat talked to me about possibly adopting. I know that when the security ban on the wormholes are lifted my cousin RendEL wants to bring a transport of children from orphanages and foster care here to be adopted. But it may be a while, with the threat of the Morins still hanging over us.”

  Rose looked at the younger woman and gave her a genuine smile. “You’ve been trying for a little while now. It’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself. Maybe you and TarAK could take a small vacation to get away?”

  “I would love that, but I’m taking care of my brother TorEL while our father and Lucy are guarding the wormhole.”

  Rose tried to not act interested. She kept her breathing steady and her eyes glued to the paper she was doodling on. “That’s right. When do you think Prime ConEL will be returning?”

  “A couple of weeks more, I think.”

  “Maybe your aunt could watch TorEL for a few days. Sometimes outside pressures affect the body. You could relax, then come back and attempt another fertility procedure.”

  “I suppose I could ask Aunt SandELa. I know she loves and spoils him terribly. TorEL does love to spend time with Aunt SandELa’s stepdaughter Lisa. They’re adorable to watch.”

  “It sounds like a good plan. Let me make another suggestion. While you’re away, don’t talk about the fertility issues. Make a point that you and TarAK only talk about each other and how much you love one another. When you come back, listen to the options again with a clearer head and ask questions.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Garrett, for listening to me.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.” Rose’s mind filled with thoughts of the handsome but emotionally damaged Prime ConEL. She found herself caring for him as more than a therapist and client. She had been disappointed that he chose to mate another woman. It made it difficult to continue as his therapist, especially when he insisted on having couples therapy. Those sessions had been awkward, to say the least. She was glad to be able to transfer the future couples sessions to one of her colleagues.

  She knew she had to do something to get over these feelings she had for him; they were inappropriate. Even with him off-planet she found herself thinking about him more than she should. She had to fight her instincts not to ask AriELa more information about her father. She needed to do something about this, or she might have to ask to return to Earth. It was getting to be too much.

  *****

  JadEN watched Prime Medic SydEL enter the medic wing, carrying his and Kat’s young. He acknowledged JadEN with a nod but didn’t stop until he was standing behind Kat. He called her name and Kat’s whole face lit up as she turned to embrace her mate and young. JadEN’s departure wasn’t even noticed by the happy family. That was the way it should be. But he had never felt more envious or more lonely in his life.

  He longed for the same joy that they shared. Besides the great sex he had shared with Kat, what he missed most were those moments with her where they talked to each other about everything. He really missed that, and he didn’t think he would be able to find anyone else who would make him feel the way Kat had.

  It didn’t help him to have to see Kat and Syd’s joy every single day. It continuously made him question what it would be like if things had turned out differently, which was pointless. Kat was JadEN’s true bond mate. A bond mate was a mate who was destined by the Gods to be yours; no one could the pull of a true bond. JadEN didn’t stand a chance against that.

  Anyone who saw Kat and SydEL together would know that they were true bond mates. JadEN’s own parents had been bond mates. That was not a connection that could be broken. But knowing that didn’t completely ease the hurt he felt inside. When he left to go back to Earth after Kat mated SydEL, he was starting to hurt less and think of other things besides her. Maybe he had come back too soon. But he couldn’t deny her request to return. Now he felt that he once again needed to put some distance between them.

  He headed to his suite instead of seeking the comfort of a female. He didn’t feel like having company. He intended to do more research until he exhausted himself into sleep.

  Chapter 3

  The next morning JadEN skipped the morning meal and headed directly to the medic wing. He wanted to get started as early as possible so that he could finish his shift early and in turn reduce the time that he would have to spend with Kat. He walked in to find SydEL in the medic wing alone; Kat wasn’t with him.

  “Prime Medic SydEL, is there something I can help you with?”

  SydEL appeared to be irritated. “I was asked to return to Kiljor to confer with their medics. They’re having issues with some of their breeding females and also need help as they’re building a new medic wing. The request came straight from Prime Leader KadEN, so I can’t just turn it down.”

  JadEN frowned. “Are you taking Kat…Dr. Morris and your young as well?”

  “No. I feel it’s too dangerous for Kat and the young to travel right now, with one of the Morin transports still missing in this solar system. Kat isn’t happy that I’m leaving her behind. But I don’t know what else I can do about it. I don’t want to leave her and KitEL.”

  “She’s probably upset because she wants to spend more time with you, and you seem to be overwhelmed with work. This trip will take you even further away. She also hasn’t been getting much sleep because of the baby’s schedule.”

  SydEL narrowed his eyes at JadEN. “She discussed all of this with you instead of me, her mate?”

  It had been a mistake for JadEN to tell the other male that information. He should have let Kat talk to him. “I am her friend, and we spend a lot of time together.”

  “Maybe too much time.” SydEL said harshly.

  Maybe he was right. JadEN couldn’t argue with that. “I’ll be honest with you. We may never be friends, Prime Medic, but I do respect you, and I respect your bond with Kat. She confessed to me that she didn’t want to bother you with anything because you were so stressed and busy.”

  “Kitana! I’m trying to do my duty to my people and to my mate. I don’t want to leave her here while I’m away.”

  “Then don’t. Let me go to Kiljor. I have experience now with several births, and I feel that I know what to do in a critical situation. You remain here a
nd spend time with your family.” This was the perfect solution. He needed some space, and this should allow him to have it. It would help Kat and SydEL’s relationship as well. He loved her enough to want her to be happy in her mating.

  SydEL looked out the window in deep thought. “I don’t know. It’s not that I don’t think you can handle this assignment, but it’s a big responsibility.”

  For a moment, JadEN’s excitement died down. Would SydEL allow his personal feelings toward him interfere with making the most logical decision?

  Finally SydEL turned his way again and nodded his head. “I’ll let Prime Leader KadEN and Commander TylOR know that you’ll be heading up the team traveling to Kiljor. I know that you will do an excellent job and represent Katiera well.” He walked to the door and paused. “On a personal note, I want to just say that I could not help what I felt for Kat. Nor would I change it.”

  “Why are you telling me this now?” JadEN asked, looking at the other male. At one time, they’d been friends.

  “I believe your desire to go to Kiljor is because of what happened with Kat. I know my mating Kat hurt you and for that I’m sorry. But I will never be sorry for taking her as my mate. It was destined to be that way. I wish you success on your mission and a safe return.” With that, Prime Medic SydEL left.

  *****

  Rose went to the morning meal and was waved over to a table that Dr. Elizabeth Connell—Lizzie—was sitting at with her mate, Kiljorn Commander TylOR. She smiled at them. “Good morning. When did you come back to Katiera?”

  “Last evening. I’m so thrilled to have my feet back on solid ground again. Come sit and eat with us,” Lizzie said as she waved a hand to an empty seat across from her.

  Commander TylOR’s comm link beeped. “This is Commander TylOR. Yes, I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He turned to his mate. “I’m sorry, they need me in the operations room. Will you be okay for an hour or two without me?”