Читать книгу Defiant. Tome 1. Defiant - - Страница 13

«Wait, what do you mean she’s not here?!» Hunter panicked a little, hearing Lindon reply Serena wasn’t in his estate.

«I mean, she’s been invited…» Lindon sighed, pausing.

«Invited where?» Wolfin frowned.

«Roman Dorn Relas came to see her and took her to his estate to discuss some business opportunity.»

Hunter took a moment to gather his thoughts:

«And you let her go? With him?!»

They suddenly heard two hover bikes descending from the skies, and rushed to the door. What they saw was Serena – relaxed, smiling and definitely fine after having been treated to dinner by the same man, who humiliated her only but a few days ago.

Roman stepped by her side – also smiling, and, when he saw Lindon and the others at the door, he bowed, greeting the three men:

«Good evening. As I promised – I am returning your Captain, safe and sound.» he said.

Serena glanced at him and bowed slightly:

«Thank you, Roman. I enjoyed our conversation and… dinner.»

Hunter swallowed hard, hearing the little pause.

«If you ever wish to repeat it, or use my mineral baths again – you are welcome to.» Roman seemed extremely pleased with himself. «Have a good night, Lady Serena. Gentlemen…»

Roman bowed once more and returned to his transport, quickly leaving.

Serena walked into the estate – her step filled with a spring she lacked after getting out of the hospital.

«Wait, Serena!» Wolfin caught up with her first, shaking off the stupor after seeing her with Roman. «Care to tell us what was that all about?»

«Just a business meeting that turned out to be a little more pleasant than I expected it to be.» Serena replied with a smile. «Why?»

«And, uh, what, exactly, were you discussing?»

Serena’s smile faded, when she realised Wolfin was looking at her with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. The woman looked at Lindon and Hunter, who seemed to be watching her with the same expression in their gazes.

«Oh, I think I know where this is going…» she said, becoming collected. «Well, if you must know the details, I was treated to a few good bottles of wine, a pleasant conversation while soaking in a mineral bath that soothed my scarred back, and we have discussed a very profitable cooperation in supplying medicine of my design to the human colonies that fell under Laithorian rule and those that turned their trading eyes away from the remains of the Terran Company. Satisfied?»

She twitched her brow at her men.

Hunter stepped to her first, watching her eyes with a very sad expression on his face:

«Serena, I…» he fell silent, when she tilted her head a bit.

«You… what?» she asked.

The cyborg took a very deep breath:

«I wanted to speak to you all this time, but never seemed to find the courage, or… find an appropriate moment, when you wouldn’t be either sulking or training…» the man said, his voice becoming a bit shaky and quiet. «I really want us to be more than friends… like before. I just… I can’t bare it without you…»

He took her hand, almost knowing she would pull back, but she didn’t.

«And you thought I went to Roman to sleep with him? Just like you thought I did with Killian on Ardine?» Serena asked, sounding calm.

«I’m sorry, Serena.» Lindon stepped up. «I know that we both messed things up with you. But I know Hunter was inconsolable after what happened to you on Garmfrig…»

«I know. That’s why he walked out on the interview.» their Captain seemed to know everything her crew did while she was in the Hospital, recovering.

«We all were, Scorpi.» Wolfin helped the men out. «But Hunter and Lindon were… they reminded me of you after we thought Hunter was killed.»

Serena took a moment of thought and nodded:

«Alright… but how does that explain the fact you two still didn’t notice I decline every proposal of marriage and sex? How come you seem to be worried I slept with Roman, when all I did was negotiate a very profitable income to my name?»

«Isn’t it obvious?» Lindon asked very quietly. «We still love you and we’re afraid to lose you.»

«I never doubted, Lindon.» Serena said. «That’s exactly why I am not looking for marriage or a new lover. Although, I am getting a lot more of those proposals now than ever. Which is a bother, because at the moment I’m not exactly fit to accept challenges to duels about these matters.»

She sighed heavily and shook her head.

«You don’t have to accept challenges, Serena…» Hunter said. «Perhaps, you can simply… do as Veluthians do?»

She glanced at him with a frown:

«Accept the proposals I do not want?»

«No, Serena. That’s not what he meant…» Lindon glanced at Hunter. «I think.»

«What I meant was…» the cyborg looked at Lindon, then at Wolfin. «What if she makes an oath? To be with either me, or Lindon…»

Serena lowered her gaze, falling into thought:

«What if I don’t want to give an oath to one of you?» she whispered, and the men felt their hearts sinking, but before they could even say anything, Serena shook her head and looked aside. «What if I would have preferred to have you both? An impossible ask, but…»

«Then why don’t you?» Hunter grasped at the thought. «Just like before…»

Serena glanced at her men, feeling sad and distant for some reason. Lindon touched her shoulder, feeling a bit more hopeful than a moment ago:

«When I waited for you to become my wife, and Hunter had you by his side…» he said.

The woman raised her hands to the men, cupping their cheeks, and gently caressed their faces:

«You would do that again?» she looked at Hunter and then Lindon. «Would you, Lindon? Actually want me as you wife? After all that’s happened?»

«Always.» Lindon exhaled, pressing against her palm. «I will always wait for you. No matter how long it takes.»

«And you?» Serena looked at Hunter once again. «You’re willing to wait?»

«I’ll accept any decision you make, Serena. If it means I’ll have to wait for you, or even watch you becoming happy with Lindon – I will step aside…» Hunter replied.

The woman leaned in closer, uniting her forehead with theirs, and feeling the men embracing her.

«I give you my oath, Hunter Winters, and you, Lindon Dorn Gray-Linn… I will be faithful to you. Both of you.» she said quietly. «I will not marry, or take another to my bed, if it’s not one of you two… Lindon, I promise to become your wife, if you will still wish it, when the time comes… Hunter… I promise to give you the very same chance to restore the relationship we had, but one that was broken after what I had done…»

«It was my doing, Serena, not yours.» Hunter grasped at her back a little tighter, making her grunt from a sudden pinch of pain.

Wolfin sighed, suddenly glad to have finally witnessed the three reconciling.

Serena took her time, before leaning back. She still seemed sad and a little distant, but both Hunter and Lindon knew – she gave her oath freely and will keep it, no matter the cost.

«Now, please excuse me…» she wanted to step away, but the men caught her hands, keeping them on their faces.

«Serena…» Lindon exhaled.

«Please… you’ve been spending so much time on your own.» Hunter felt her fingers twitch in a sudden trembling.

«We’d love to share dinner with you. Or a drink. Anything…» Lindon watched her face, trying to find any hint of her not wanting that at all.

Serena suddenly smiled – softly and nodded:

«I am not hungry, as I have been well-fed, but I won’t mind a drink among friends.» she said.

Her men smiled, happy to have her by their side.

Wolfin chuckled and cleared his throat, when everyone glanced at him.

«I, uh… was thinking if we could introduce Hunter to the Veluthian ways and have a conversation in one of Lindon’s pools?»

Lindon twitched his brow, glancing at Hunter:

«Well, he’s sure to have options, but how will he be feeling around all of us having a swim as Veluthians do?»

Serena met Hunter’s reluctant gaze:

«I could show you how Veluthians don’t mind seeing each other naked. You could understand that even though I shared Roman’s mineral bath with him, there wasn’t any sex involved…» she said. «Well, with you, I’m not sure if that would be the case, as you aren’t exactly well versed in our ways…»

The cyborg took a deep breath and smiled at her:

«I am willing to give it a try. I need to learn more about Veluthians to understand you better. After all…» his smile faded. «The lack of understanding on my part led to us essentially parting for a time.»

Serena looked at Lindon with a smile:

«You wouldn’t mind picking out a couple of bottles of something good to drink, would you?»

«For you? Never.» Lindon took her palm and kissed it with a smile. «All of you are always welcome here and I will be honoured to treat you to the very best food and drinks I can find.»

«Then how about some Sallen-fruit?» Hunter glanced at Lindon.

«Snacks are a wonderful idea!»

Serena chuckled, seeing them planning out the rest of the evening, remembering everything she loved to make the time spent better than it could have been.

As the two walked off to get supplies, Wolfin couldn’t help and stepped to his named daughter, embracing her with one arm around her shoulders:

«I’m glad you settled the matter. I was worried you three would never get to really talk again like you used to…» he sighed.

«That was never my intent, Wolfin. I was only…» Serena sighed heavily. «Waiting, thinking… I don’t know.»

«I understand, Scorpi. You were taking your time. I respect that. Things like these shouldn’t be taken lightly. Especially in circumstances you’ve found yourself in…»

«We all fucked up, Wolfin. And most of the guilt lies with me.»

«Not true, Scorpi.» he tightened his embrace. «But you’re all fuckers, that’s for sure.»

The man cackled and landed a kiss to her temple, seeing her smiling in return.