by Erin Raegan
“I grow weary of this, Filiya. Leave me.”
“I will have my place in your House as you have promised!” She stomped her heel with the temper of a dahkling. How had this wretched female ever tempted me to invite her into my House? It would not happen now. I must have been mad.
“As I have said before, there is no longer a place in my House for you,” I growled and turned to walk the other way. I would take the back stairwell to escape this.
A high screech echoed down the halls. I stiffened. This behavior would not be tolerated much longer. I should have demanded she return to Dahk One with Fihk.
“You think your Pythe,” she spat heatedly, “will enter your House with your consorts? Have you given no thought to the practice of human mating? She will not have you now, but when she must share your bed with Nonya and Alyn? Your precious Pythe will not stomach the sight of you.” She laughed humorlessly. “You will lose her then, and I will not have you.” With that, she stomped away.
I had given it some thought. Human matings were typically between pairs, one male and female alone. As Veeveen and Hyctoor were. But that was not the Dahk way. Offspring were so precious, so difficult to conceive, males fewer and fewer as we left to battle our enemies in the stars. A Dahk took a female for his First Mate, and then a Second, Third and even some cases a Fourth. I had one mate. My Pythe. But that did not mean I did not have Consorts. In fact, Nonya was to be my First Mate upon pushing back the Juldo. It would not have been for some sunspins, but she knew as well as I that she was to be chosen. I had thought my mating to Pehytohn would bring strong emotions from my First Mother, but I was a truly arrogant male not to have considered my consorts’ feelings. Nonya would demand to be taken as Second immediately, at the very least.
My consorts would not be happy. But they would learn their place or be removed from my House. I should have taken the time to explain to my human mate, but even then, I was worried she would pull away from me. Now I could not, for she would not listen, and if she did? She would never have me again. I smashed my palms into the wall. This was a mess. I would need to have my First Mother interfere. She could gentle Pehytohn to the ways of the Dahk.
I continued to the command deck. I would comm mam now, so she was prepared. All would be well.
But if so, why did I feel this deep ache in my gut? This dread?
I could not dwell on it any longer. Uthyf would need me by his side these next few sunrings.
Then I would woo my mate again and gain her affection and teasing once more.
Chapter 3
Peyton
I sat in the great hall by myself the next morning. Yilt had tried to apologize after I ran from the arena yesterday. After I humiliated myself so spectacularly, drooling all over the balcony. God, Tahk was so hot when he was fighting. His amethyst colored skin was shining from exertion, and the flexing of his massive biceps had me ready to hop over the railing. I remembered vividly what those suckers looked like flexing by my head, or as he held my thighs wide open, thrusting―
I jumped when the fuzzy potato looking thing fell from my mouth. They were tasty but weird, like a hairy french-fry. Ew, that sounded gross. More like sweet potato fries but with a peach texture. Oh, but they weren’t fried. So actually, not like a fry, more carrot-like. Still, yummy. I looked around to make sure no one saw me wearing my food and then picked it out of my cleavage and popped it back in my mouth.
Dahk food was strange, but most of it was edible. I still tended to stay away from the meat, but their grown food was great. Yilt had told us that since we were on the ship, what they had was what would keep while they were away. Apparently, food on Home World was much tastier. I was dubious, cotton candy-pineapple-fruit was pretty good, but Yilt swore we would never taste anything better than a fresh picked goliv berry.
He was currently hunting down Colt. The man liked to get into all kinds of trouble when he was bored. Most recently he got caught snooping around the lower levels of the ship where they stored their spirits. And let me tell you, the Dahk’s alcoholic drink was waaaay different than a human’s. One sip of that bottle and Colt was wreaking havoc everywhere he went. When we caught up to him, he was attempting to ride Dao. He had climbed on his back and held onto the furious Dahk’s horns crowing for him to, ‘giddy up, and fly dammit.’ Quite the turnaround for a man terrified of flying. After we wrestled him away, he ran throughout the ship shouting about when he was in ‘Nam’, and ‘why were the walls glowing?’ Yilt had to intervene again when he tried to instruct several Dahk on the art of hanging upside down by their feet.
“They look like bats, woman!” He had shouted, “If they can’t sleep upside down what good are those finger-toes for?”
Apparently, Dahk were pretty touchy about manhandling. Colt had more than one crew member ready to tear his head off. It didn’t help that Bobo followed him around equally as intoxicated. Why Colt gave him that stuff, I had no idea, but the dog spent his time chasing his tail as fast as he could while wobbling.
They both eventually passed out after Colt sang a bawdy tune about all kinds of things that would have shocked the Dahk had they understood any of it. Bobo had howled along with the melody, then ran through his sleep all night―his legs pinwheeling in the air.
They were not pleasant company in the morning.
We were due to arrive at the Dahk planet any minute now. The ship was in an uproar, the excitement of returning home palpable in the air. I ignored the happy faces and scowled at my plate. I was glad to get off the ship, but I was not happy about where we were going. Vivian was in the lab hounding Gryo about Hector as he prepared him and Ford to be moved to the King’s healers. Uthyf’s healers. The new King had been MIA since leaving Earth. I hadn’t seen him once. Yilt and Ryt said he was grieving.
Bobo barked and hopped up to me. He sat at my feet and put his paws on my thighs, panting. He eyed my plate eagerly. I sighed and put it on the ground for him. I was losing my appetite anyway. The dog scarfed it down in seconds.
“Ornery mutt! I been chasin’ ya all over this here ship!” Colt stomped towards me and glared at Bobo. The happy dog stared back, his tail wagging wildly.
“What are you wearing?” I eyed Colt’s excessive attire in surprise. Usually, he wore the same tunics I slept in at night but kept his old jeans. They looked tattered but held up better than Viv’s and mine. Now though, he had a thick pair of leathers over top of them, and more tunics than I could count. Over that, he had several long robes wrapped around him and tied to meet at his waist. His head was wrapped in towels as well as his neck and hands. I could barely see his face.
He looked down at himself. “What? The bat’s planet is colder than a witch’s tit. I ain’t got a coat. I found this stuff layin’ ‘round.”
“It is?” I hadn’t really bothered to ask about Home World’s weather. I was surprised Colt did. I was more worried about whether we could breathe. No matter how many times Gryo assured us we would be fine, I still expected to need astronaut training. The air was thinner but still fine for humans. Gryo was a little irritated when I kept insisting he couldn’t know that. He shoved a hand around my mouth and nose and clamped down. After seconds passed and I couldn’t breathe, I tried to shove him off, but he held on. He merely raised his brows and said, ‘You have been breathing successfully on the ship.’ Then he let go so I could gasp for the air I apparently had been breathing―alien air. If they breathed similarly on the ship, then I supposed it was the same on their world. I felt a little silly, but I wouldn’t be convinced until we walked off the ship and I didn’t shrivel or freeze or shatter into a thousand pieces.
One more reason to be pissed at Tahk. He had no idea how humans would adapt to their world.
If it was that cold, I needed more than this skimpy damn dress. I rushed to Dao as I saw him leave the great hall. “Hey, you think you can load me up with something warm?”
He stopped and turned with a face that immediately morphed from open and friendly, to downrigh
t hostile when Colt stepped close.
“Keep your britches on, I ain’t gonna fondle ya,” Colt grouched, glaring.
Dao eyeballed him dubiously and tucked his wings to the side, keeping his back from the old man. “Load you with warmth?” He continued to watch Colt.
“Yeah, like heavier clothes? I’ll freeze when we land.”
“Ah, yes, I will have something sent to your rooms. Veeveen will need heavier clothing, as well.”
“Cool, thanks.”
Dao backed away through the door before spinning and rushing out.
“You’ve got them all freaked out,” I told Colt, rubbing Bobo as he pawed my thigh.
“I don’t see what all the hullabaloo’s ‘bout. They act like they ain’t never had a hard night. I seen their stash.” Colt scratched briefly at his neck, moving the heavy towels around. “Need to loosen’ up.” He scowled down at his chest and began scratching vigorously. “I feel like a wrapped sausage. And it’s damn hot in here!” He shouted, startlingly several Dahk.
I bit my lip to stop the smile. “Why are you dressed like that, then? I’ll cover up when we’re closer.”
“That Hybolt said a few spins. Damn alien language. It’s minutes!”
“Not to them.” I looked at Bobo when he whined. “They’re trying. Some things get lost in translation. You should put in more effort to do the same.”
“Hogwash!” He stormed away to the serving tables and piled a plate. We might be landing soon, but Colt had to get in one last meal, I guess.
I sighed and left, waving Bobo away when he tried to follow. The familiar feeling of dread set in. We were landing so soon? I knew it was coming, but still, I was anxious about seeing the Dahk planet. Meeting their people? I knew how this would go. I had seen enough prejudice on Dahk One. Not everyone would be happy about the human hitchhikers.
I at least hoped they were better than us. Humans would have trussed up a Dahk and dissected them until there was nothing left. I knew Tahk wouldn’t let that happen, regardless of our current standing. It didn’t keep me from imagining it, though.
I walked into the room and found Vivian scrambling around. “Hey,” she breathed the first spark of excitement I had seen in days. “We’re almost there.”
I nodded. “Yeah, a few minutes.”
“He squeezed my hand, Pey.” She wiped tears from her cheeks. “Gryo said it was a good sign.”
“That is good!” I hugged her tight. She laughed and squeezed back. “He’s alive, and they’re going to fix him now.”
I hoped so.
“We have to dress warmer. It’s supposed to be really cold.” I grimaced at her skimpy clothes. We were both a mess.
“I know. Gryo said so. He gave me some stuff.” She pointed to the pile behind her. Between Gryo and Dao we would be wrapped up like burritos. I wasn’t going to complain. I liked all ten toes and fingers. No hypothermia for me.
We scrambled into the layers of tunics and robes. The pants were still too big, but we made do. Poor Viv stuffed her backside with towels so that they would stay up. “I have the butt I always wanted.” She grinned, waggling her eyebrows.
I snorted. “Your ass is the size of Montana.”
“Hey! Yours is bigger than mine!”
“You want some of it?” I stuffed my pants as she did and wiggled.
We laughed together. It felt really good. I missed my best friend.
Dao knocked on the door during our giggles, and we laughed harder when he saw our stuffed clothes. He wrinkled his brows before handing over more, then left.
“I feel like the marshmallow man.” Viv hobbled two steps before falling over on her back. Her limbs stuck out stiff. I felt the same. I could barely move. My arms stuck straight out, and I couldn’t bend my elbows.
I tottered over and held out my hand. She grasped it, but neither of us could grip the other through the towels wrapped around our hands. I sighed. “This won’t work.”
Viv rolled onto her belly and hopped her feet up. Yilt walked in as she was posed downward dog. “There you are,” he grinned. “I have procured cuhts!”
Viv gasped and fell back down. “Coats?”
“Yes, I have spoken to Ryt. Cohlt said a cuht is used for lower temperatures that are harmful to humans. Ryt is familiar with this attire on Findilian, and I have used the design to fashion you something similarly used by the Findilis.”
Findilis, more aliens. I hoped it was a long time before I met them or any others. I had met enough aliens to last a lifetime and then some.
Viv snorted. More handy work of Yilt. He really was sweet, but the coats were butt-ugly. He had taken all kinds of leathers, torn them, and sewed them back together. Then lined the insides with towels and― pillows? It worked. They were bulky but not as bad as what we had before. The arms were too long, I think he used a pant leg, and they were tight around the breast area―seriously I was getting a complex, my boobs were not that big―but overall, they were warm.
“Shoes?” I asked hopefully.
Vivian scowled and shook her head. “This is great, Yilt, thank you.”
“My toes will freeze!”
“It was enough he made us these, let’s not work his skills too hard,” Viv gritted through smiling teeth.
Oh, Viv felt bad. Poor Yilt couldn’t make socks let alone boots. Her and her big heart. I would have laughed if she hadn’t seemed so serious. But seriously, what about my toes? Hypothermia on an alien planet did not appeal.
Yilt needed to be taught the art of knitting. On the other hand, so did I. Clean underwear would do a girl wonders right about now. I was too embarrassed to ask if female Dahk wore any. If vaginas were as different as our breasts were, I seriously felt bad for Tahk.
Not.
Besides, he seemed to know enough about it anyway.
Jeez, no thinking about Tahk and my vagina.
“No thanks necessary. I have brought the matter up to the Commander.” Yilt avoided my eyes as he said this.
Great. On second thought, who needed toes anyway?
I scowled and bared my teeth in a poor imitation of the Dahk. Yilt grinned at his clawed foot.
We grabbed a few towels each for our hands, neck, and head. I grabbed some for my feet just in case, and Viv watched me with worry. I shook my head. I couldn’t talk about it now. I had talked enough the last few weeks. Shoes were not going to get him anywhere with me.
Yilt took us to a room with the most beautiful view I had ever seen. The room had several windows and taking up every inch of them was a beautiful dark purple planet. It was massive. The purple light and dark shadows separated landforms and clear bodies of water. It was a lot like Earth, but it glowed. It was so bright, it nearly hurt my eyes. That might have been because there was no sun. The entire planet was surrounded by endless black and twinkling stars. There were three moons. Three pale lavender moons of different sizes. But no sun.
“Uh, Yilt?”
“Yes?”
“You guys don’t have a sun?” How was that possible? I thought all planets needed a sun. Didn’t planet stability and rotation and all that jazz become a factor? How was it not a million degrees below zero? I didn’t care how warm the fluffy coat was, I would freeze in seconds. It would be like the wooly mammoth. I would be frozen scratching my nose or something. Dahk would observe us for centuries. No thanks.
“Our sun died many millennia ago,” Yilt said as if that didn’t mean it turned into a red giant and blow them into the next black hole. Or wormhole. I regretted not paying more attention in astronomy.
“Human understanding is still very far from actuality.” I stiffened as the deep timbre filled the room. “Home World has dropped in temperature by great degrees, but there are many ways a planet can survive such a catastrophe. We have evolved as did our galaxy.”
I stared very hard at the purple planet. I would not look at him.
“How does it stay warm enough to grow things?”
Damn it, Viv. We were supposed to
ignore him.
“Much of the planet is barren, but many life forms have adapted. There is ice, but life uses it as nourishment and the vitamins help it grow. There is also a small land mass that is quite warm due to volcanic emissions underneath the planet’s surface.”
“Where is it?” Vivian stuck her face against the glass, scanning the planet.
“On the other side, this will be your new home.” Tahk stopped close behind me. “It is where our House stands,” he murmured low to me.
Our House. Not his. Arrogant alien. My house was in Idaho.
“Cool.” Viv totally ignored the very palpable pissed off vibes I was radiating.
“I wish to speak with you,” Tahk announced grandly. If wishes were fishes―
Yilt bowed and reached for Vivian. She grimaced apologetically.
My jaw dropped. She was not leaving me right now. Given by how she shrugged I didn’t have much hope. “I have to get back to Hector.”
What low down, dirty―
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I believed her, even though she could have taken me with her.
“Talk to him,” she urged and squeezed my hand. “You’ll feel better, promise.”
Not likely, but I nodded, and she left. All alone with the bastard that betrayed me, I crossed my arms and glared back out at Home World.
“What do you think of it?” Tahk stepped up beside me and gazed out with me.
I had two options here. One, I could continue my silent treatment. Or two, I could suck it up and talk to the only alien here that may be able to keep me from being dissected.
It was tempting to remain stubborn out of spite, but, ― and it was a colossal but, ―my father didn’t raise no fool. I wouldn’t throw away his loving lessons now when I needed them most. So, reluctant affability it was.
“Yeah,” I said with accidental heat. I cleared my throat. Gosh, it was so hard to talk to him without shouting. I continued softer, “what makes it glow?”