What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You?)

A/N: Happy Halloween everybody!


Chapter 9


[Mya’s POV]

I didn’t know which was more unsettling, listening to a conversation I couldn’t understand or having all of their masks turn to stare at me. The largest one stood in the middle of the group of strange Yautja, holding his mask beside him. His face was creased with deep wrinkles and what looked like small spines lined his brow and along the sides of his face. His build managed to dwarf both Tor’ac and Ka’jai, and I knew he would tower over me. He had a stern look in his eyes that somehow reminded me of my father…and my karate master.

My gaze moved down to the floor to prevent myself from staring, but I snapped up my head when one of them roared. The Yautja farthest to the right of the unmasked warrior stabbed a finger towards me and sliced his hand through the air. He didn’t seem to like me, and after that display, he wasn’t very high on my list either. Swallowing slowly, I blinked as Tor’ac crouched in front of me, spreading his thick arms and blocking my view of the roaring Yautja.

When Tor’ac roared at him in return, I shielded my ears from the thunderous sound. I guessed he didn’t like this one either, and I had to smile to myself about that. As I grit my teeth, it was hard for me not to approach him, but something about the way the others behaved made me stay a short distance behind Tor’ac.

Then, the large one, who I guessed was the leader, stepped closer to the angry Yautja and held up his hand growling. The angry one moved back, leveling his masked gaze at me before crossing his arms. Looking in front of me, I noticed the leader clicking to Tor’ac; he waved his massive hand in the air dismissively, as if telling Tor’ac to leave. Tor’ac straightened and started to look over his shoulder at me but stopped. Instead, he moved back to stand next to me, and I smiled at him, feeling more at ease with Tor’ac still close.

The leader closed the distance between himself and Tor’ac and he stared right into Tor’ac’s mask, angling his head to the side. I watched Tor’ac slowly step away from where I and the leader now stood. Almost immediately, I felt unease settle over me as my heart thumped inside my chest. Facing the leader, I saw his golden eyes meet mine with a firm, authoritative gaze. His massive body was in a relaxed stance even though I believed he could be ready to fight at any moment. The way he carried himself was incredible; he didn’t have to verbally command respect. Such a thing was presented to him without hesitance or protest just by the way he stood.

Without really thinking about it, I bowed to him as I would have to my own karate master. A sudden huff made me look up, but the leader’s face remained unmoving, leading me to think it was one of the others who made the noise. They might have been surprised by my show of respect towards their leader, but he didn’t seem at all moved one way or another.

After I stood up straight, the leader began to slowly pace around me, starting at a short distance away. When he walked behind me, it felt as though he was getting closer as he moved. He reappeared at my right side practically within breathing range, and I swallowed slowly as he stopped in front of me. Then, I heard a metallic ‘shing’ before feeling the flat of a blade on the top of my left shoulder.

My breath hitched softly, and I had to force my body to remain still, thinking, ‘If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it already.’ Still, it was difficult for the beliefs of my mind and body to connect, especially with a blade so close. I blinked as I felt him move the blade towards my neck, the edge grazing along my skin before stopping on my right shoulder.

The leader trilled and removed the blade from my shoulder, still keeping it in his grasp as he stared down at me. Crouching down, his eyes were soon level with mine, and I saw what I had in Tor’ac’s eyes; an unearthly being that was still somewhat like me. But there was a wisdom there that reflected his age more than the slight whiteness of his dreads.

Mandibles opened wide as a roar bellowed from deep inside his chest up through his throat; all of the power behind that roar was aimed directly at me. My hair was forced back with the surge of air, and I cringed at the thunder in his voice. I heard my pulse thrumming inside my ears, yet the roar overpowered even that. It was an incredible, frightening sound…but I couldn’t help staring at the leader as he finished and met my gaze. He stood to his full, towering height and cocked his head to the side, looking at me almost in a curious manner.

With a nod, the leader brought back his left hand before driving it towards me. I blinked twice before realizing that was the hand clutching the blade, and my eyes looked down and saw his forearm wedged between my side and right arm. Exhaling in relief, I inhaled carefully as he pulled his arm back and sheathed the blade.

He stared at me before shaking his head and saying in a deep, grating voice which broke the silence. “You are either a very brave or a very foolish ooman.”

As I looked up at him, I said, “Maybe a little of both.”

“Perhaps so, little ooman.” A low, rich trill vibrated the air around us as he chuckled. “I am called High Arbitrator Ga’av.”

“I’m Mya, High Arbitrator.” I bowed my head to him once more just to be sure I was showing him enough respect.

“Yes…Tor’ac has told us much about you and what you have done for him.” His eyes flicked just behind where I stood before looking at me again. “I am grateful that you aided one of my captains when he was in need of assistance.”

“It was the right thing to do, and I’m glad I could help.” I smiled, wanting to look behind me at Tor’ac.

The High Arbitrator clicked one of his mandibles as he seemed to be thinking about something. Then, he asked, “If you were given the choice to come with us, what would you say, Ooman Meeya?”

“Wh…what?” I stammered, wondering exactly what he meant.

“It is a simple question,” the High Arbitrator answered. “Would you come with our clan if asked?”

“But…why would you ask me?” I blinked and twisted my mouth to the side. “And excuse me for saying it, but it isn’t a simple question. Would I come with you as just a visit or do you mean for the rest of my life? If it’s the latter, would I really be prepared to leave what’s been my home all of my life? And what about my ties here? There are more factors to think about than just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

Apparently, my response surprised the High Arbitrator as he raised one of his heavy, spiked brows. “Perhaps…Tor’ac is correct about you.”

Suddenly, the Yautja who had roared at me at the beginning of this situation approached us, snarling and shaking a fist in my direction. The High Arbitrator turned a harsh glare on the Yautja who stopped and grew silent. Without having the High Arbitrator speak to him, he moved back with the other four.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “If you don’t mind my asking, why does he have a problem with me?”

“It regards a matter Tor’ac also spoke about with us,” High Arbitrator Ga’av answered, facing me once more. “Tor’ac believes you are a…”

I shook my head not understanding the last part of his sentence. “What was that last part?”

“I think the closest translation would be ‘one who learns and one who knows’,” he said. “It is not a title to claim lightly, and Tor’ac’s judgment inclines me to believe him. However, it is not a position that anyone outside of our race has held. To see if you really are one, there will need to be an assessment of your skills. But that will be at a later time.”

Blinking, I almost couldn’t believe what was going on. From what the High Arbitrator said, they were going to allow me to come with them. It was amazing but at the same time overwhelming. Then, there was Tor’ac’s involvement in this. Why had he asked them to bring me?


[Tor’ac’s POV]

When Ga’av performed the last part of Meeya’s test I thought my heart would burst through my chest. I had to keep my body rigid to not interfere with the test, but I still worried for Meeya. It was not only a test of her trust but of my trust in Ga’av to not harm her. This was the female I wanted as my mate; I’d face the Black Hunter before allowing her to be hurt during this test.

Ga’av had proven that I didn’t need to be concerned, and I nodded to the High Arbitrator once he finished and spoke to Meeya. Her questions regarding the idea of coming with us served as a reminder of what amazed me about this ooman female. The first thing she would need on the clan ship was a translator since not all Yautja and ooman words had the same meanings.

‘Wait…she hasn’t said whether she would come,’ the logical part of my mind stated. The thought made my chest constrict, and I wondered how she would react when I asked her to become my mate.

(Tor’ac.) Ga’av’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked at him before glancing at Meeya. The High Arbitrator nodded to her and approached me, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. (We shall return to the clan ship. Talk to her.)

(Yes, High Arbitrator,) I clicked, but he stopped me before I could move.

(I think I see a small part of a sol’rach in her,) he trilled softly, looking back at Meeya. (But she will need to prove that she is worthy of that rank…if she chooses to come.)

Nodding to him, I said, (You will see how worthy she is, High Arbitrator. I’m certain of it.)

(You must convince her first. Safe return, Captain.)

(Safe return, High Arbitrator.) I watched Ga’av place his mask over his face, and all five members of the Council activated their cloaks. Then, the four lieutenants waited until Ga’av moved past before heading back the way they came.

“Tor’ac?”

I heard Meeya’s voice and turned to face her. She had a look of deep thought on her face, and I approached her, saying, “Meeya, we must talk.”

“Yes, I think so,” she said, nodding her head.

Pulling the air hose out of my mask, I removed the shield and hung it on my belt. Then, I looked at Meeya as her ooman lips pulled up in a smile, and I trilled to her. “Come with us. Come with me, Meeya. There is so much that I can show you, so much that you can learn if you join us.”

Meeya nodded and then looked down, saying, “I know all of that, Tor’ac.”

There was something about her movements that made me nervous, and I wanted to find out what it was that troubled Meeya or made her unsure. “It will be for longer than just a visit, and I know that Urth is your home…the only one you are familiar with…”

“It’s not that, Tor’ac,” she said, looking at me and holding up a small hand. “To go beyond the astronauts’ reaches, to see what is beyond this world; I’m shaking from knowing just that. To go with you would be so incredible, such a fantastic opportunity. I want to come with you…but why would you want me to come?”

“I want you as my mate.” My voice was strong, firm with no signs of hesitance, and I grasped her shoulders. I would show no weakness when it came to this; Meeya meant too much to me. “Meeya, become my mate and I will show you more than just the view of your world as I see it.”

Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly as I heard a rush of air come from her mouth. Meeya seemed to stare into my eyes, yet she looked beyond them as though contemplating. Then, she blinked and really looked at me, asking, “Mate…as in ‘wife’?”

“What is a ‘wy-f’?” I asked, unsure about the term.

“A wife is a woman who gives strength to her husband, her man.” Meeya’s face colored slightly as she glanced down and back up at me. “She cooks, cleans, helps with monetary stability, and most importantly she…she loves her man throughout any obstacle they come to.”

Clicking my mandibles, I understood most of what she said, but it was the last part that was like Yautja mating bonds. “Yes, a mate is like a wy-f, only you will not have to cook or clean. There are others on the clan ship that have those tasks.”

“So it doesn’t just revolve around…sex?” she questioned, her face coloring an even darker shade.

I trilled at her question and shook my head. “Yautja mates bond in more than physical ways. Although sex is one way to show that bond, there are other means as well, Meeya. Now that I have told you, what is your answer?”


[Mya’s POV]

I couldn’t believe it. Tor’ac practically asked me to marry him, and all I could do was just stand there. My throat became dry, and I swallowed several times before looking at Tor’ac as he waited for me to answer. I’d been dreading the time that he would leave, but now that I had the opportunity to go with him…it was just a shock.

Could I be a good mate for him on a Yautja ship? What would others think of him having a human for a mate? For that matter, what would they think of me just being on their ship? True, there were those that didn’t seem that put off by it like the High Arbitrator, So’len, Ka’jai…I blinked. ‘What will happen to him?’ I wondered, and then shook my head. ‘One thing at a time, girl.’

Thinking back to what I had told Tor’ac about trusting others, particularly groups, I knew I’d be taking a big chance in going with him. It’d been awhile since I had taken a risk, but helping Tor’ac had been a risk, hadn’t it? I looked at him, really looked at Tor’ac as not just my friend but as a male. He was tall, powerful, yet at the same time was stimulating to the mind and gentle, too. And he wanted me.

I stepped closer to him, leaning my head against his chest, saying, “Yes, I’ll come with you. And I just hope I can be a good mate.”

“I’ve no doubts about that, Meeya,” Tor’ac trilled, his arms pinning me to his body. I felt totally possessed, and it wasn’t half bad.

Moving back to look at him, I asked, “So, what now?”

“We take Ka’jai’s cruiser to the clan ship where I will formally claim you as my mate,” he answered, guiding me towards the area where Ka’jai had gone earlier when it was just the two of us.

“Wait!” I stopped, and he blinked, looking at me. “I need to tell Leah and Cassie about this. Boy, Cassie’s gonna freak when she hears this.”

“Of course, Meeya.” He nodded. “I would not have you leave without seeing them.”

When we rounded the huge stack of boxes, there was indeed a small vessel of some sort. It was shaped like a large dome with an overhang on either side; I guessed those served as balance for the ship. How Ka’jai had gotten it inside, I’d no idea, but I hoped Tor’ac knew what to do. He placed his hand against a panel along the left side of the ship, and a ramp lowered down to the concrete floor.

Walking up the ramp, Tor’ac led me to a sitting area just behind the cockpit where he’d be sitting. His clawed fingers jumped along the panel, and he said, “You had better sit, Meeya. Getting out of here will be a little awkward.”

“Right.” I moved to a chair behind and to the left of the pilot’s seat where Tor’ac now sat. There were what looked like two safety belts behind my shoulders, and I slid my arms through and searched for the clasp. Then, I felt the ship rising off the ground, and I looked out the windows in the front of the ship to see the main entrance doors. “Tor’ac…?”

“We can make it,” he said, trilling as the ship slowly moved forward through the huge doors.

I was surprised when the ship managed to fit just barely through the entrance, and I released a sigh. “Sheesh, that was a tight squeeze.”

“Did you doubt me, Meeya?”

“Not you, Tor’ac, just the warehouse doors,” I said, smiling at him as he trilled again.
As the ship moved through the night sky, I wondered just how I would explain all of this to my roommates.

~~~

“You’re what?!” Cassie’s voice rang throughout the apartment, and I pressed a finger against one ear. “You mean to tell us that not only did you leave without telling either of us, but you’re now leaving the planet?! What is wrong with this picture?”

“Cassie, calm down and lower your voice,” I said, thumping her arm with my middle finger. “And nothing’s wrong with the picture. I’m going to be with Tor’ac.”

“That’s another thing, does he even understand the concept of marriage and all its binding qualities?” she asked, throwing a glare at Tor’ac before returning it to me.

“Yes, he does.” I gave her a glare of my own for doubting Tor’ac, though it was Cassie and that was just her way of worrying. “I want to be with him, Cassandra. Please, just be happy for me.”

“We are happy for you, Mya,” Leah stated, giving me a grin. “Do what you feel is right to you, no matter what others say, right?”

“Well…I…I just worry, you know,” Cassie murmured.

“I know, Cassie,” I said, squeezing her into a hug before pulling Leah into our mix. “I’m just gonna miss you girls so much. You’re family, you know that.”

“Of course.” Leah gasped out, and I released her and Cassie. Then, she looked at Tor’ac and gave him a stern stare. “You take good care of her.”

Snorting, Tor’ac said, “I will. Do not doubt that, Leeyah.”

“All right,” she told him, holding out her hand.

Tor’ac cocked his head to the side before taking it, allowing Leah to barely raise it up and down. Then, he grasped her shoulder, shaking it gently even though Leah had to grab my arm not to fall over.

“You won’t let anyone hurt her, not even yourself?” Cassie asked as she looked at Tor’ac, which surprised me.

He faced her and remained silent for a moment. Then, he placed his fist against his chest, stating, “Upon my honor, I will slay anyone who dares to do so.”

Cassie blinked, and I hid a smile at her reaction. “O…kay, I guess that’ll do.”

“Meeya, it is time.” Tor’ac moved near the balcony door and gazed back at me.

“Right,” I said, hugging both of my roommates one more time.

Mentally, I checked off all that I’d needed to do for the last time here on Earth. I had packed a bag of some clothes even though Tor’ac insisted I wouldn’t need any on the clan ship, but I was not one to go unprepared. There were also some of my most prized books in the bag, too, including my favorite- Adams’ “Watership Down”. I wouldn’t go anywhere without that book.

I’d also written a brief letter for my uncle, telling him that I’d be disappearing for awhile and asking him to take care of Leah and Cassie. There was no way to explain that I was going to be leaving the planet with my alien mate. This was just easier for all involved. “You have the letter to mail for me tomorrow, right, Leah?”

“Yeah, don’t worry,” she told me as I walked out onto the balcony with Tor’ac. “Now, get going to the final frontier or something like that.”

“Love you both!” I called to them as Tor’ac picked me up, and I clasped my arms around his neck. While he climbed, I kept my eyes on my roommates standing on the balcony until we reached the roof of the building. My eyes became misty even before Tor’ac carried me onto the cloaked ship, hovering above the apartment building.

The hatch closed behind us, and Tor’ac looked at me. “Meeya?”

Sniffling slightly, I wiped my eyes and rubbed my nose before smiling at him. “Let’s go, Tor’ac.”

“As my mate asks,” he trilled.

TBC


A/N: Whoo! And just in time for the anniversary! I’m so grateful for all of my readers who’ve stuck to the story so far and for all of their awesome reviews, especially: ArShiya-The Death Warrior, Shalimar, shortest_warrior, Death God Dist, Capt_Davy_Jones_Lover, Ripe wickeD plUm, Nahaujaret, TheWinterWolf, phantommagik, Wolfsoul, and Zellezra. I hope everyone enjoyed this new chapter, and I pray I can update soon.