Chapter 13

Hera told Jame-e all about Ci'tde's hail from a small cruiser that he shared with a female arbitrator. Jame-e allowed pure rage to fill her a dangerous growled slipped her lips. She blurted out, "That male is so going to have to work for."

Hera laughed before asking, "What keeps you from your consort that would really teach him." Nothing taught a male better than knowing the female he desired was desired by others. Jame-e groaned, "I have tried he thinks he's not worthy. So, I tried by brushing his body during Kehrite but his body has never responded. I have even tried with a few strong males I felt could beat him. However, while they responded to me physically they lost to him. A few were seriously injured and a couple I had to prevent my consort from killing them."

Jame-e started pacing in her quarters. Ghardeh entered unannounced into her room. Jame-e continued on adding, "We have a bad blood or a few things are starting to disappear. So far we have caught a few unblooded stealing training weapons. After serious discipline for those thefts they stopped. But, new thefts started after that. The items ranged from clothes to utensils."

Hera frowned for two reasons one was Ghardeh's entrance without hailing her. The other was the thefts. Hera said, "It sounds like space boredom. The items usually turn up somewhere on the ship. I have experienced this on long journies. If you can find the culprit discipline them. The only real solution is to set the fastest course to your destination. I will consider joining you on Earth." The conversation ended and finally, Jame-e turned to Ghardeh.

Ghardeh stood there stunned he was sure he had hallucinated that whole conversation. There was no way Jame-e had just admitted to trying to get him into a rut. Ghardeh just couldn't believe that she had been doing so he wasn't worthy of it. Plus, it wasn't mating season he really had no desire to rut. He had to fight a few males that did desire to rut her despite it not being mating season. There were a couple that had serious injuries only because they wouldn't yield until he had beaten them unconscious. A throat clearing caught his attention and brought his head to Jame-e.

Jame-e gave him a hailing frequency saying, "You will contact this ship. Advise the male on board he's not allowed to go on his last hunt. Only, I can send him to see Cetanu and if he goes I will drag him back just so I can send him again. Once that has been relayed make sure he knows he will have to work for it. He will know what the words mean."

She turned starting to leave Ghardeh asking, "Where will you be matriarch?" Jame-e replied back, "I will speak with the navigator. Then I will go view the surveillance need to make that transmission. I need to find our on bored thieves. The crime on board needs to end now! I have grown tired of the constant complaints and aggravation of dealing with the issue."

Ghardeh nodded and Jame-e left to the navigator. He went to work hailing the ship the Matriarch requested. When the ship answered Ghardeh's eyes widened at what he saw. He growled in annoyance, "I have a message from Matriarch Jame-e she instructs you not to go on the last hunt. Jame-e claims if you do she will go there just to bring you back so she can kill you. She also said you will have to earn the right."

Ci'tde let out a rumbling chuckle before saying, "I take it she's mad at me for not contacting her. I just didn't want to make anything worse for her and seeing me would do that. Have you consummated your position with her yet?"

Ghardeh growled at him narrowing his eye replying, "Of, course not. It's not mating season. We are both being honorable. I am not so sure the same is true for you and that female. I bet that is why you haven't contacted her you feel guilty as you should. I will leave you with having to explain to her when you finally join her unless you're abandoning her."

Ci'tde roared in outrage. Anger and rage filled him as he glared at the screen. Ci'tde regained enough composure to say, "I am headed to Earth I owe you no explanation. You need to do your job as consort or I will kick your sorry ass. I am surprised she hasn't kicked your ass yet or maybe she has. Hopefully, next time she takes you on she won't hold back maybe then you will stop seeing an ooman."

Ghardeh snorted and was about to say something when the transmission abruptly ended. He roared in outrage at Ci'tde there was no way Jame-e was holding back. Ci'tde was just obviously getting old and needed to go on his last hunt. Ghardeh planned on telling Jame-e that she needed to let her lifemate go. He doubted Jame-e had noticed his decline she cared for Ci'tde. She likely felt he'd know when it was time for his last hunt and didn't question him.

Ghardeh stormed out of the room heading directly to security Jame-e had to be there. He was surprised that she wasn't there and hadn't been there. He growled in annoyance he couldn't figure out what would take so long with the navigator. Ghardeh made his way to the navigation room.

Sure enough, he found her there. They were standing in front of a star chart. The navigator was replotting a course that would take months off their journey. He couldn't understand half of what the navigator said he doubted Jame-e could either. He watched as the navigator explained why it was a safe but quicker route than the one they were on. When she asked if there was any quicker routes he was surprised when the navigator nodded yes. The navigator pointed out two more routes telling the reasons why he hadn't chosen those routes.