Chapter 2: The Capture of Adeeana
Sheron paced the rooms of Adeeana's quarters like a caged animal. Where was she? How had she managed to leave without waking him? He was a warrior trained to awake at the slightest disturbance and yet his mate managed to wake, dress, and leave while he blissfully slept on. His eyes scanned appreciatively over her collection of weapons and art noting with pleasure that her taste ran parallel to his. They would live well together, if he did not kill her for leaving him without word. He had almost convinced himself to go search for her when the door slid open. He turned on heel to give Adeeana a piece of his mind but was instead greeted by Brock.
"You are looking well Brock," Sheron said formally, "Being mated agrees with you."
Brock's smile set Sheron's teeth on edge, "I would say the same for you my friend if I didn't think the statement would get my head removed. What's the matter?"
"You have not seen my mate this morning?"
"Yes I did. She collected Trish this morning to help with some book work that they needed to complete." Brock laughed as he realized the source of Sheron's displeasure, "Haven't you seen her?"
"No." He replied running his hand through his long black hair in irritation.
"Trish does it to me all the time. Wears me out the night before so that she can sneak away in the morning. You'll get used to it."
"I should have sensed her leaving." Sheron ground out.
"Were it her intent to leave permanently you would have. As it is, a mate who means you no harm will not set off any internal alarms." Brock clapped him on the shoulder. "As I said, you will get used to it."
Sheron nodded feeling his heart beat settle down into a normal rhythm. She was coming back.
"I've got Trish almost packed for the move. Have you told Adeeana yet?"
"I have been," Sheron paused looking for the right word, "distracted. I had planned to inform her this morning."
Brock nodded his expression turning serious. "You need to get her out of here soon. The counsel will not take kindly to your claiming of her."
"They can not take her from me Brock. She has been mine since we were children. I would have come for her whether or not they issued warrant for her capture and sterilization."
The news had filtered through the Garu ranks like wild fire. The counsel had not only passed a law that now banned all marriages between Garu and human but they had decided that all marriages that had already taken place would be declared void and that all half breeds would be rendered childless. "For the safety of Man and Garu kind," they had said. Sheron himself had been first on the sterilization list but due to his high rank and association with Garu royalty. He had secured a waver for himself and his mate so long as she moved inside of the Garu boarders. Adeeana had no knowledge of any of it and it was possible that she would not mind being rendered childless, but Sheron worried about the capture order. She had been loyal to the human counsel and their laws all her life; why had they not just asked her to do it? There was something else they wanted from her and Sheron would not allow her stick around and find out what. He had come to collect her and return to his homeland.
"What will you do if she doesn't want to go? How will you explain to her about me?" Brock asked shoving his hands in his pockets.
"She doesn't have a choice Brock and I don't have the time to argue with her. If I must, I will force her to leave, and there is nothing to do but tell her that I sent you."
"I owe you more then I can say my friends," Brock said softly, "If you had not sent me to watch over Adeeana I would never have found Trish, nor had the rank to gain permission to court her.
Sheron shook of the thanks, "It is I who am in your debt. I was going mad thinking that she was alone somewhere and that I was unable to get to her."
"Why did you not just come for her yourself? Ask her to be your mate?"
"Sometimes my mate knows not what is best for her and I must show her the way."
Brock snorted in laughter, "Better to beg forgiveness then to ask permission eh?"
"I am ground troop commander for the whole Garu nation Brock, I do not know how beg."