by Mary Auclair
“Yes.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Arlen sobered. He straightened, then all trace of emotion left his face. “It means the link between us is deeper than in a normal mating. My life depends on yours now, Ava.”
Ava watched him as a stone settled in the pit of her stomach. She remembered now. That terrible link between Aliena and Kamal that had made her recoil just thinking about it. Because it meant only one thing for her. If his life hung in the balance, an Eok would do anything to control the female who held his fate in her beating heart. He would own her completely, never letting her live her own life.
Ava held Arlen’s stare, emotions raging inside her as she struggled to breathe.
“If I die, you die?” Her voice was suddenly small and choked. Arlen nodded, his eyes on her, missing nothing of her reactions.
“This is obviously not something either of us asked for.” She felt the cut of his cold tone, slicing through her flesh and deep into her ribs, all the way to the heart she thought she had protected from everything. She had been fooling herself; she wasn’t protected when it came to Arlen. She was raw and bleeding. “But whether we want to or not, the bloodmating link is there to stay.”
“I’m not a free woman anymore? You will control every aspect of my life to protect yours?” She chuckled, but the sound was sad instead of defiant. She shook her head. She should never have accepted this. She should have fought Prime Councilor Aav when she had the chance, consequences be damned.
As if he understood her thoughts, Arlen’s lips curved down and he glared at her hard. “There never was any freedom for you, you just fooled yourself into thinking you were free.” His voice was soft, but his words were cruel and Ava tilted her head like he had slapped her. “You are protected now, whether you want to pay the price for it or not.”
“I think you should leave me alone.”
“As you wish.”
The words hurt, deep and vivid, and Ava bit the inside of her cheek to steady herself against the sudden surge of tears.
All the happiness she had felt when waking up this morning had turned to ashes. Arlen didn’t care for her. All he saw when he looked at her was a threat to his own survival.
Dread filled her mind as Arlen turned and left, leaving her behind with the pieces of her broken heart.
Arlen
Arlen fumed as he walked down to the large ship resting in the main square, in front of the Tower. Males of various species unloaded fresh food in large synthetic boxes while humans lined the square, too intimidated to approach, yet too curious to go away. A familiar Eok warrior supervised the work as a small, dark-haired human female walked gingerly toward a smiling Jonah.
He could hear them talking even from a distance, but their words held no meaning.
He stormed past Jonah and the human female and went straight for Kamal.
“You’re late in your delivery.” Arlen stopped in front of his older brother, not bothering with pleasantries. “Khal told me we were expecting the shipment a week ago.”
“You should tell that to the asteroid belt of Vulnerys.” Kamal grinned with mockery, turning to face him without flinching. Arlen wasn’t surprised. Even when he was a rising star in the Eok armies, Kamal defied authority as easily as he breathed. How could he expect Kamal to show deference to him, no matter his title?
“The humans on Aveyn need a way to feed themselves.” Arlen heard the resentment in his voice but he went on. Kamal could withstand his jolts of temper more than anyone else. “Did you find the seeds and seedlings Khal ordered as well?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.” Kamal crossed his arms across his chest and kept his gaze steadily on Arlen. “But I’m not interested in talking agriculture with you. Khal sent me a message.”
“Khal should have learned to mind his own business by now.”
“And he did. By caring for his pigheaded older brother.” Kamal raised a brow when Arlen growled with humor. “You have a bloodmate, brother. This is something I understand well.”
Arlen stared at his brother, then his anger subsided. Kamal meant well, as did Khal. They simply didn’t understand.
“I know you think we don’t understand.” Another voice came from behind him and Arlen turned to see Khal walking toward him, a stubborn expression on his face. Arlen groaned, knowing full well neither of them were going to give up now.
“What is this? Some kind of intervention?”
“Yes, it is.” Kamal came to stand just in front of Arlen, his navy, almost black eyes fixed on him with purpose. No, with anger. “What you did matters. Ava is your bloodmate, does she even know?”
“Know that her life is now linked to mine in a way neither of us predicted or even wanted?”
“Is that what you told that poor human female?” Kamal shook his head, his expression one of pity. “That you didn’t want to take her, but had no choice? I can picture how well that went down.”
Arlen glared at his brother, who glared back at him. There was no intimidating Kamal, he knew. There was no getting away from the conversation, either.
“She’s being so difficult. She’s unreasonable.” Arlen shook his head as Kamal chuckled dryly. “She talks about freedom and choice like she has one. She’s weak and alone, how can’t she see that? My protection is going to keep her safe and fed for the rest of her life.”
“Imagine how well this conversation would have gone with Mother if Father had said that to her.” Khal laughed openly. “I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere in the compound of the house to witness that!”
Arlen stared at Khal for a long time, then at Kamal. That was a stupid thing to say. Their mother was a Relany female—she was tall and strong, had the means to protect herself. Or did she? Enlon always treated her as such, but now that Arlen thought about it, Relany or not, her strength was comparable to Ava’s in the face of an Eok. Yet, Enlon never spoke to her like she was helpless.
“Mother and Father live on Eokim.” Arlen shook his head. “There is no danger there.”
Kamal inhaled deeply, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “My bloodmate is the same as yours. These human females, they don’t care how weak they are, or how grave the danger. They are brash and insolent, but there is honor in their bravery, too.”
Arlen stared at Kamal, understanding instinctively that he was right. Kamal’s own mating with Aliena had transformed him from a pirate, a smuggler living a life on the edge of the Ring’s civilization, back into the captain of an entire fleet of ships providing food and essential supplies to colonies protected by Eoks all throughout the Ring. It was nothing short of a miracle.
But it was a miracle that could not happen to Arlen.
“Did you tell her about Maral?” Kamal spoke in a low voice, and Arlen shot him an angry warning glare. “She deserves to know.”
Arlen shook his head, emotions he had kept tightly buried resurfacing mercilessly. “And what would I tell her?” He chuckled without mirth, then had to swallow hard through a closed throat. “That I lied when I told her Eoks mate for life? That I wasn’t able to protect my mate, and that she died because of it? Or should I just tell her that I was too blind to see that my mate of ten years had plotted the assassination of my entire family just to elevate herself? What is it, brother, that you think I should tell her?”
This time, it was Khal who stepped forward. “You tell her everything.” He stared at Arlen with a frown. “You tell her about Maral, about her plot to kill Karian and Rose. You tell her you tried for ten years to make her happy but that she wouldn’t have any of it. You tell her you’ve been hiding at the Frontier for an entire year, fighting for your life every day. And you tell her you survived all of it.”
Arlen locked gazes with Khal. This was what the younger Eok saw in him. What he always saw. Khal had always seen the best in him. But he didn’t know, he couldn’t know what Maral’s treachery and ultimately her death had done to Arlen.
“I’m not the warrior I used to be.” Arlen spoke without
restraint, the open wound between his ribs oozing and flowing for the first time since that fateful day when he’d thought he had been called by the Mating Venom. “Ava deserves a male who is whole. One who can give her a happy life. I’m not that male. I am broken.”
“You’re wrong. I know you.” The strength of Khal’s conviction surprised him. There was a knowing, older wisdom in his little brother’s eyes that made Arlen listen. “You haven’t changed. You’re still the warrior who kept searching for Kamal when all of us had stopped, even Mother and Father. You’re still the warrior who never gave up looking for Karian after the slavers captured him, even after ten years. You’re still the warrior who made sure I came back every time I messed up when I was in training. Maral’s death didn’t change that. She might have taken your hope away, but you’re still who you always were. You’re the warrior who never gives up on the ones you care about. And that is something Ava can count on.”
Arlen stared at his brothers, his family. Each of them had gone through things he didn’t even want to think about, yet they still believed in him.
And that made him think about Ava. Because what Khal said was true of him, but it was also true of her. She never gave up on those she loved, no matter how desperate the odds. And he would not give up on her, either.
Then his attention was diverted by the sound of screaming.
Arlen turned to see a group of three Mantrilla dragging a small, finely boned young male with pale green skin as a ten foot high creature followed them.
Then his eyes locked with Prime Councilor Aav’s and he knew he had made the biggest mistake of his life. She had found Uril.
Ava came running, her face streaked with tears. Arlen watched in horror as she threw herself at the Mantrilla with her fists raised high.
His blood curdled and a terror like none he’d ever known choked his heart.
13
Ava
Her mind was wiped clear of thoughts. Only fear remained, and fear was everything.
“Stop!” Ava screeched, going straight for the large insect-like creature she knew had the power to take away what her heart could never live without. “You can’t take Uril away.”
“You are protected by your Eok mate’s laws, hybrid.” Prime Councilor Aav’s metallic voice had a shrill, irate tone. “But this specimen is not. His mere existence is forbidden in at least a dozen genetic engineering treaties.”
“His name is Uril, not specimen.” Ava felt the tears running down her cheeks as Prime Councilor Aav watched her, those two black eyes like windows into an evil that could swallow all of them. “And I’m not going to allow you to take him.”
Prime Councilor Aav turned on Ava, the terrible clacking of her mandibles so close, Ava could smell the acrid, foul smell of her mouth. “I am the Prime Councilor of the Ring.” There was an edge to her voice, a thread better not stepped on. “I do not take orders from creatures such as you.”
From somewhere behind the Prime Councilor, Uril screamed, the sound full of fear as the male Mantrilla held him in their long, claw-like hands. There were no emotions showing on their alien faces, only a total obedience to their matriarch’s orders.
Golden eyes settled on Ava, full of abject terror as Uril struggled against the restraints. His dark hair fell over his brow and his pale green skin was flushed with the strain of his struggle.
He’s exerting himself too much. His heart can’t take this.
Panic filled Ava’s veins, entering her cells as the world began to spin, too fast for her to focus. All she could see was Uril, struggling and screaming. All she could see was the flush in his cheeks and the slight purplish tone of his lips as his heart struggled to pump enough oxygen into his blood.
He’s going to die.
Rage invaded Ava and she pounced. She didn’t think, didn’t pause. She pounced on the Prime Councilor, who stared at her, her mandibles remaining still for once in what could be only interpreted as surprise.
Then two thick blue arms closed around Ava’s waist and she was tackled to the ground. A huge body bent over hers protectively, a hand covering her face as the world rolled upside down.
She screamed but it was lost in the wall of flesh closing in all around her. Then her face was cradled against warm skin and she found herself on her feet, but there was no escaping the prison of those two big, powerful arms.
Mandibles clacked furiously and movement blurred at the edge of her vision. Ava struggled to move, to see anything that was happening.
“Let me go!” She pushed against Arlen’s arms, but it was like pushing against a mountain.
“Your mate has threatened violence against the Prime Councilor of the Ring.” The metallic voice was edged with outrage. “You know the punishment for that.”
“Ava is no threat to you with her bare hands,” Arlen answered, still refusing to let Ava out of the protection of his arms. “She was merely trying to protect the young male.”
“That young male is a hybrid,” Prime Councilor Aav answered in a fast, high-pitched tone that sounded like the tearing of metal. “The law is clear. Should any hybrid be found, they must be surrendered to the Gene Protection Council. Your mate defied that law. Her life is mine to take.”
Arms tightened around her and Ava struggled to breathe as Arlen hissed, a pure, feral sound. He pushed Ava rudely behind him, then turned to face Prime Councilor Aav, his talons out and his body rippling with tension.
“You cannot take an Eok’s mate’s life without consequences.” Arlen spoke loud and clear despite the tension. “Her offense against the Gene Protection Council does not warrant death.”
“Her offense was the threat of violence to the Prime Councilor of the Ring.”
Ava inched to the side to see the terrifying figure of Prime Councilor Aav towering above Arlen’s regal height. Yet, the Eok didn’t show any fear in the face of the monster; his talons were out and his eyes steady, defiant. Deadly.
“While you are on your seat in the headquarters of the Ring, you are Prime Councilor.” Another voice came from somewhere to the side, and Ava watched a steel blue Eok warrior walk calmly toward the scene, his eyes cold and blue, missing nothing of the situation. It was Kamal, Arlen’s older brother. “But you do not bring the title with you when you travel.”
Mandibles clicked with anger as the Mantrilla soldiers answered Kamal’s words, but Ava’s translator didn’t provide her with words. She got the gist of it, though. They weren’t happy. Not happy at all.
“That is but a mere formality.” Ava watched, shocked, as the Prime Councilor backed down, stepping away from Arlen. “I am still Matriarch of the Mantrilla, wherever I go. Violence against me is violence against my nation.”
“Mantrilla and Eoks have a peace treaty dating back two hundred years. Attacking a member of an Eok warrior’s family would breach that.”
Ava breathed hard and fast as the Eoks faced off with Prime Councilor Aav and her three Mantrilla soldiers. She had no illusions. The Eoks were formidable, but there were only a hundred of them on Aveyn, and Prime Councilor Aav had brought a thousand of her Mantrilla soldiers aboard her ship. A wave of claws and death was only a call away, and by the look of things, she had sentenced them all to death.
All this for the fate of a single, sickly, golden-eyed boy.
“Control your mate, Commander Arlen.” Prime Councilor Aav made a fast, dismissive gesture toward Ava. “I won’t be so merciful in the future.” With that, she turned her back on both the Eoks and on Ava.
Uril screamed anew as the Mantrilla dragged him with them.
“You can’t let them take Uril away.” Ava held on to Arlen’s forearm, pleading as his two pale eyes settled on her with sadness. “Please. I am begging you. Don’t let them take my brother.”
Time felt suspended as Arlen locked gazes with Ava, then he frowned.
“Wait,” he called to Prime Councilor Aav without breaking eye contact with Ava. “You cannot take the child with you, Prime Councilor. He is Ava’s b
rother. He is therefore also under my protection in the Eok laws.”
The Prime Councilor stopped, turning her large head with a dry click of her mandibles. “What is this new nonsense? Hybrids do not have siblings, as they do not have parents. The boy cannot be linked to your mate.”
Ava moved carefully. Arlen’s pale eyes remained on her like beacons, but he didn’t try to stop her.
“Uril and I were conceived using the same human female’s cells,” Ava began, her voice becoming more confident as she spoke. “Knut harvested her eggs before selling her off, freezing them for future use. He used her eggs for both of us, so he is technically my half-brother.”
“And you have proof of this?” Mandibles clicked and danger hovered in the air as Prime Councilor Aav became more and more aware that she was losing. And she didn’t like to lose.
“No,” Ava admitted. “But a simple gene sequencing test should prove it. All I need is the correct equipment.”
“Then I will test him and hand him back if your claim is true.” The threat wasn’t even veiled as Prime Councilor Aav spoke. “He won’t be harmed.”
“No.” Arlen shook his head, then placed his hand on Ava’s shoulder. He stood straight and proud, the very image of the Commander of the Eok armies she had so despised at first. Now Ava saw how hard it was for him to always present a controlled, polished face to the world, even in the face of mortal danger to what he loved most. “Uril will stay here, where Ava can care for him. He’s not leaving with you.”
“And under what Eok laws does this fall, Commander?” Prime Councilor Aav’s patience was running thin and danger radiated from her pores like an essence, acidic and foul. Ava had no doubt the Mantrilla was a formidable fighter, a creature straight out of her deepest nightmare.
But so was Arlen. Eoks were legendary for a reason. They were death incarnate on the battlefield, feral beasts made of talons and fangs who tore through their enemies with an efficiency only rivaled by the most advanced technology.