Ha'ven's Song by S. E. Smith Page B

shown you that during
our nights together.”
    A loud banging from the outer rooms drew his
attention. Shouts sounded as evidence of their struggle drew the
attention of more guards. In the background he heard Creon and
Kelan’s voices. It was time to take his mate and leave before they
thought to stop him.
    Ha’ven wrapped his hands around her tiny
waist and pulled her off the chair ignoring her squeal of protest.
He turned just as Creon and Kelan stepped into the room, their
swords drawn and their symbiots in the shape of huge Werecats.
    “Ha’ven!” Creon said in disbelief before his
eyes narrowed. “Release her.”
    “I think not,” Ha’ven replied darkly.
    “Let me… go,” Emma breathed out as the thick
arms pulled her closer. “Help… me,” she pleaded, looking at Creon.
“You promised… you’d protect me.”
    Creon’s eyes darkened at the plea. “Ha’ven,”
he said, taking a step closer. “She has asked for my help. I have
promised. I cannot deny her request.”
    Ha’ven’s eyes narrowed as his friend raised
his sword. “Six months,” he said suddenly. “Give me six months. If
she wishes to return still, I will return her to you.”
    “No,” Kelan began to say before Creon put
his left hand out to stop him from moving any further.
    “You will not force her to accept you,”
Creon argued. “She has to accept you of her own free will.”
    “Creon,” Kelan began again.
    Creon looked at his brother. “She is his
mate,” he said quietly. “She has spoken. She responds to him.”
    “No!” Emma wailed pushing against the arms
imprisoning her. “You... promised you would protect… me. You can’t
do this. I don’t want to… go.”
    Creon turned back to look at Emma who was
glaring at him through tear-filled eyes. He didn’t see fear in her
eyes. He saw anger. He knew if she remained here that she would
never heal or learn to accept her new life. In a way, it was much
as it had been with him and Carmen. They had been forced to live
again.
    “Six months starting today. Take her,” Creon
bit out harshly and turned away.
    “Creon,” Kelan began one last time. “Our
mates are going to skin us alive, not to mention Paul when he and Dola return.”
    Creon glanced toward Ha’ven and Emma. He
stopped in shock to see they were already gone. He looked around
puzzled. He had not seen a transport beam initialize in the
room.
    Ha’ven must have another new toy, he
thought in disgust.
    “Would you have walked away from Trisha?”
Creon asked turning back to look at Kelan.
    Kelan shook his head in resignation. “No,”
he acknowledged heavily. “No more than you could walk away from
Carmen. I just hope he knows what he is getting into.”
    Creon looked up at the wall where the
ancient war sword hung. If he had to guess, he would think the
female who had been half dead had been doing her best to get it
down in order to use it on his friend. He couldn’t hold back the
chuckle that escaped as he imaged Ha’ven’s face if she had been
successful.
    “Personally, I don’t think he has a clue. I
just wish I could be there to see how he handles it,” Creon
replied.
    A moment later, Kelan’s chuckles joined
Creon’s as they both remembered their own trials and tribulations
while trying to court their mates. If the human female had decided
she was ready to join the living again, Creon figured his friend
was going to need all the help and time he could get. With a sigh,
he motioned for one of the guards to notify the servants in charge
of Emma’s living area that it needed to be righted and that their
mistress was temporarily away.
    Yes, Creon thought as he saw his mate
and Trisha heading toward them with grim expressions on their
faces. Ha’ven has no idea the fury he may have just
unleashed.

Chapter 9
    “I hate… you!” Emma growled out hitting
Ha’ven in the back with her fist as hard as she could as he carried
her on-board a small spaceship. “I hate you. I hate you. I