Merrick's Maiden Read online

  Merrick’s Maiden:

  Cosmos’ Gateway Book 5

  By S. E. Smith

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend Linda, who not only encouraged me to write but who also read the manuscript. Also to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Lisa, Sally, Elizabeth (Beth) and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!

  —S. E. Smith

  A Very Special Note: This story is for my dad who came down with Spinal Meningitis when he was 12 and woke up to a silent world. He was the best dad a girl could ever have and I miss him very, very much. Thank you, Dad, for being the best father a girl could wish for and for giving me so many wonderful memories. I love you~ Susan

  Science Fiction Romance

  MERRICK’S MAIDEN: COSMOS’ GATEWAY BOOK 5

  Copyright © 2014 by Susan E. Smith

  First E-Book Publication December 2014

  Cover Design by Melody Simmons

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author.

  All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is strictly coincidental.

  Synopsis

  Merrick Ta’Duran is the powerful leader of the Eastern Mountain Clan on the Prime world of Baade. His people, known as the Ghosts of the Forests, live high in the Eastern mountains. Merrick feels the weight of responsibility as the males within his clan become desperate to find mates among the few remaining females. When word comes that a new species has been discovered, he knows he must do what is right for his people - even if it means traveling to a strange, alien realm to do it.

  Merrick’s world changes when he is injured and captured by a ruthless group of humans. Drugged and held against his will, he is the subject of experiments and testing as the humans try to discover where he came from and duplicate his strength and ability to heal quickly. After months of captivity, he fears his life will end on the strange world until one chance encounter gives him hope.

  Addie Banks’ world has been one of silence since a devastating illness when she was sixteen. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she goes to school during the day and works at night to put herself through college. Her life unexpectedly changes when she stumbles across something she wasn’t supposed to see while at work. Now, she hears a voice in her head - and it is driving her crazy. Her only hope for peace is to help the creature talking to her escape from the men holding him.

  Merrick knows the female who helps him is his bond mate. She may deny it. She may fight it. She may even try to run from it, but it won’t matter. She is his and he will do everything he can to convince her, hold her, even kidnap her if that is what it takes to make her realize that they belong together.

  Will Addie hear the love and longing in Merrick’s voice? Can she trust and accept the new life he has to offer? Or, will a ruthless killer silence him before she gets a chance?

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  About S. E. Smith

  Chapter 1

  Six years before:

  “Hi, Addie! Are you coming to the party this weekend?” Pam asked as she came up behind Addie in the hallway at Centennial High School in Portland, Oregon.

  Addie Banks pushed her blonde hair back with a tired sigh. She hadn’t been feeling well all day, but didn’t want to miss the big chemistry test she had spent two days studying her butt off for. A shiver shook her thin frame as she gave Pam a smile.

  “I hope so,” Addie said as she closed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. “I’m not feeling so good. I’m not staying after school today. Ted said he would give me a ride home.”

  Pam wrinkled her nose. Ted was Addie’s best bud, even if he wasn’t one of the ‘in’ guys to hang with. Honestly, she didn’t know what Addie saw in the guy except that he had lived next door to her since kindergarten. The guy was such a dork and had a face that looked like it had been put through a meat grinder since he turned thirteen.

  “I don’t know why you hang out with Ted,” Pam muttered, turning and running her eyes appreciatively over a couple of the boys that walked by. “He’s such a dweeb. It’s just going to hurt your image if you are seen in his car, you know that, don’t you?”

  Addie would have rolled her eyes at Pam’s self-centered attitude if her head hadn’t hurt so damn bad. Instead, she turned toward the doors leading out to the parking lot. She was just thankful the day was over and she could go home.

  “Ted is a really sweet guy,” Addie replied, walking toward the exit. “His face isn’t that bad. He has a minor acne problem, but it is clearing up.”

  “He has braces!” Pam retorted as Ted walked up to them.

  “Which means he’ll have straight teeth when he gets them off,” Addie replied in exasperation.

  “Hi Ted,” Pam mumbled, giving Ted a false smile.

  “Hey, Pam,” Ted grinned as he reached for Addie’s backpack. “I’ll carry that, Addie. It looks heavy.”

  “Thanks, Ted,” Addie breathed easier as she felt the heavy weight disappear. “I’ll talk to you later, Pam.”

  “’K,” Pam replied. “Call me later.”

  “I will,” Addie said, wincing and shivering. “Thanks for giving me a ride, Ted.”

  “Anytime, Addie,” Ted replied, looking at Addie’s flushed face. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m not feeling too good,” Addie admitted.

  *.*.*

  Addie waved as Ted pulled out of the driveway. She had told him he could just park at his house two houses down, but he had said it was no big deal to drop her off since she wasn’t feeling good. She didn’t want to tell him that that was an understatement. She was freezing and hurt all over.

  Addie pushed open the front door and dropped her backpack on the floor. A low moan escaped her as she touched her head. Her forehead was burning up.

  “Mom?” Addie called out, gripping the back of the couch as she stumbled. “Mom?”

  “I’m in the kitchen,” her mom called back. “You’re home early.”

  “I… Mom, I don’t feel so good,” Addie choked out as another wave of excruciating pain swept through her head.

  “What?” Helen Banks said as she stepped into the living room. “Addie!”

  Addie heard her mother’s cry, but it sounded as if it was from the end of a long tunnel. The pain in her head exploded and she felt her body falling. Fear and panic swept through her as her muscles suddenly began jerking by themselves. The cry for help was frozen in her throat as wave after wave of pain swamped her body before darkness finally overcame her.

  Addie woke several times. She heard her mom’s pleas and her
dad’s quiet questions, but they were disjointed and sounded strange. She was vaguely aware of flashing lights and blurred images of people around her frantically talking. The sunlight sent shafts of pain through her, sending her back into the darkness.

  A little while later, she felt her body being lifted again. She tried to focus on what was happening, but the rapidly flashing lights overhead made her nauseous. Afraid, she closed her eyes. A silent tear escaped and slid down the side of her face.

  I don’t want to die, she thought vaguely. I have so much to live for.

  *.*.*

  Four days later, Addie blinked sleepily. A frown creased her brow as she looked at a balloon floating by the bed. The words ‘Get Well Soon’ in a middle of the Teddy Bear's stomach confused her. Her eyes moved to the flowers in the windowsill.

  She turned when she felt a movement on her right side. Her mom was standing up and leaning over her. A concerned smile curved Addie’s lips as she stared up at her mom. Tears were streaming down her mom’s tired face.

  Addie tilted her head, puzzled. She saw her mom’s mouth moving, but nothing was coming out of it. Her head turned when the door opened. She blinked again when she saw a man in a white coat. Her eyes flickered to the name on it, . W. H. Harris.

  “Hi, Addie, I’m Doctor Harris,” the man said as he came to stand next to the bed.

  “She just woke up,” Helen said in relief. “Addie, how are you feeling, honey?”

  Addie glanced back and forth as fear, panic, and confusion swept through her. She saw their mouths moving, but she couldn’t hear what was being said. Raising her right hand, she weakly touched her ear to see if there was anything covering them. Her fingers skimmed over her ear.

  “Addie, what is it?” Helen asked, threading her fingers through Addie’s when she held her hand out to her.

  “I can’t hear you,” Addie whispered, staring up at her mom. “Mom, why can’t I hear you?”

  Helen Banks’ eyes widened in horror. Addie’s eyes jerked from her mother to the doctor as they stared down at her in concern. She saw him move his lips, but she didn’t know what he was saying. Tears of frustration filled her eyes as she stared back and forth. Why couldn’t she hear them?

  *.*.*

  Two months later, Addie sat in the back seat of her parent’s Honda CRV staring blindly out the window. She knew her parents were talking, but she didn’t bother trying to figure out what they were saying. They had just left another specialist, the fifth in as many weeks.

  No tears burned her eyes this time. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t cry any more. She was tired of crying, it didn’t do any good. Since the day she woke up in the hospital, there had been too many. She had cried, ranted, and finally just pulled away from everyone.

  At first, the silence almost suffocated her. She was used to always having some type of background noise on. She loved listening to music and talking with her parents and friends. Shoot, she even talked to herself when there was no one else to talk to!

  Now, there was nothing. She was beginning to understand some of the things being said between the doctors and her parents by watching their expressions and picking out a few words on their lips.

  This specialist told them the same thing as the others. It was very likely that she would never be able to hear again. The high, prolonged fever from the bacterial Spinal Meningitis she had contracted had silenced her world forever. They believed she contracted it from swimming at their cottage house the weekend before.

  Addie watched dispassionately as a motorcycle stopped next to them. She couldn’t hear the rumble of it as the guy waited for the light to turn green. She placed her hand against the glass, feeling the vibration from it, instead. Closing her eyes, a deep sadness washed over her. Never again would she hear the sounds that she had taken for granted. A silent tear ran down her cheek. She let it.

  Maybe there was room for one more tear, she thought as it finally sank in that she would never hear again. Just one more.

  Chapter 2

  Present Day:

  Merrick Ta’Duran gritted his teeth against the pain as he felt another blow to his back. He refused to release his grip on the male’s throat he held in his hands. His body suddenly jerked as a powerful bolt of electricity ran through it. Two probes, attached to long strands of wire, dug into his skin. With a last twist, he heard the satisfying sound of bone breaking.

  “Shit! That’s the third guard he’s killed,” a voice yelled. “Hit him again!”

  Merrick released the body, collapsing down onto the floor on one knee as another surge of electricity hit him. He fought against the debilitating assault, but one after another struck him. It took five this time to bring him down. He was building a tolerance to it. It was either that, or the rage and desire to finally be free of the constant pain was driving his resistance up.

  “Chain him,” the voice of the male said in disgust. “And get rid of the body.”

  “Are you just going to let him get away with killing Ray?” Another voice asked in astonishment.

  “Ray killed himself when he disobeyed a direct order not to enter the cell,” Weston Wright retorted in disgust. “We need him alive. Now, do what I ordered or I’ll lock your ass in here with him.”

  “Fuck that,” the man grumbled as he pulled the chains toward Merrick as several men stood holding him down with long rods filled with an explosive charge. “I don’t fucking get paid enough for this.”

  “You can always be replaced, Mr. Crawford,” Wright replied. “Everyone in here can be replaced except the creature you’re chaining, remember that.”

  Bradley Crawford grunted a response. He knew what the word ‘replace’ meant. It meant dead, just like it had for Ray and the other two men.

  Brad snapped the locks back around the wrists of the huge male lying on the floor. A shiver ran through him when the man’s eerie silver eyes turned to look at him. He swore it looked as if there were tiny flames in the center of them.

  “He’s secured again,” Bradley said, tripping over Ray’s body as he tried to get away from Merrick.

  “Get rid of the body,” Wright said turning away. “And hire another guard.”

  “Damn it,” Bradley grumbled as he pulled Ray’s body out of the cell by the arms. “I fucking hate this job.”

  *.*.*

  Merrick watched dispassionately from where he lay on the hard, cold floor as the door to his cell was closed again. He had been moved to a new one late yesterday. This one had thick bars all the way around it, allowing them to see him visually without the use of their cameras. The only thing in it was a long, narrow bed bolted to the floor, a toilet, and a sink.

  He had been moved from the one with solid walls after he broke loose from the chains holding him and destroyed the cameras in the old cell that were monitoring him. When the guards came in, he had been ready. He had killed two of them before the others rushed him with their stun guns and sedatives.

  He had managed to kill this male when he came in alone. The male’s taunts had died on his lips as Merrick wrapped one of the chains used to hold him around the human’s neck. A nasty smile curved Merrick’s lips as he thought of the dead human.

  “I’m going to beat the shit out of you,” Ray had promised as he tapped the metal rod in his hand. “You killed Bill. I liked Bill. I can’t kill your ass, but I can make sure you wish you were dead.”

  Merrick had already wished that a hundred times over the past four months. He lowered his face to the cold floor and rested his cheek against it. His muscles were contracting and releasing in reaction to the powerful charges he had been struck with. Even his heart stuttered for a moment as it tried to find the correct rhythm again.

  “Goddess, help me,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. “Give me the peace of death if you will not give me a way to release myself.”

  It was not like him to wish for death, but the continued testing was slowly draining his resolve. His body and mind had been tested over and over. There
were two men and one woman he would kill if given a chance.

  Never in his life had he thought he would want to harm a female, but the old human was one he would not think twice about eliminating from this world if he got the chance. Teriff‘Tag Krell Manok, leader of the Prime, might have thought that the human males were untrustworthy, but they were nothing compared to the female. The tests she ordered were far worse than the beatings he received from the males.

  He had all but given up hope that he would be found. No… if he was to survive, it would be by his own resources. Pushing away his earlier weakness, Merrick twisted and pushed himself up on trembling arms. He forced himself up into a sitting position in an effort to push back the fatigue crushing him.

  Wincing as he slid along the slick, concrete floor, he rested his back against the narrow bed frame. His eyes swept his new location. This one was different from the others. The room wasn't very large. The cage he was in took up almost a fourth of it.

  There was a long, stainless steel table against the far wall and a row of cabinets on the far side with a sink. It looked like another exam room. This time, it might be his last one.

  The humans holding him never stayed in one place for more than a few weeks. He had lost count over the past months how many times he had been drugged and awakened in a new holding cell.

  Merrick closed his eyes and thought back to the night he had been captured. It had only been his promise to his clan, that he would find women capable of being bond mates, that had brought him to this world. Now… now, not only had he failed to help his people, he had endangered them by being taken.

  He had been helping the human male, Cosmos Raines, try to protect Tansy Bell and two other Earth women. Tansy was an agent for her government. Personally, Merrick thought that Mak ‘Tag Krell Manok, the huge middle son of Teriff, should have just tossed the small female over his shoulder and returned to their world with her. The same thing should have been done to the other two women involved, as well. It was too dangerous to let the women who were bond mates to a Prime warrior be involved in such dangerous work.