by Ivy Barrett
The Tavorians nodded and jogged across the ballroom.
“I’ll warn the energy donors,” Oseth announced, then ran to the library.
Urrya pulled Erin into his arms.
She collapsed against his chest, shaking. “I am so tired. I’m afraid to close my eyes because I’m not sure I’ll be able to open them again.”
“You can sleep for a week once we’re safely on Earth.” He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve been amazing through all of this. You both did really well.” He offered Kyla a smile over Erin’s head.
Erin eased back and tried to smile, but it wasn’t convincing. “I wish we could have done more. I feel horrible for Azra.”
“We’ve all been through this before, so we can help him heal.”
She nodded, then eased out of Urrya’s arms as Oseth ran back into the ballroom. They helped Oseth and the healer pack up what was left of the medical supplies. Erin looked back at the mess and cringed. “Should we do something about that before we go?”
“If the mess is still here once the Skarilians leave,” Oseth told her, “I’ll happily clean both houses.”
Alerted by the spikes of emotion, Azra flew down the main stairway as the others reached the front of the castle. “What’s wrong? Is Erin all right?”
“I’m fine,” she assured as she stepped into view. “We’re just out of time. We have to go.”
As if to confirm her words, the first ship flew over a moment later, ion cannons pulsing with lethal intent. The floor shook and pictures fell off the walls. Booms and crashes echoed as parts of the castle succumbed to the punishing blasts of energy. Erin cried out and Urrya pulled her close against his side, wings wrapped around her like a shield.
“Get the females out of here!” Urrya urged.
Without argument, Azra formed a portal in the middle of the castle’s entry hall. Erin and Kyla rushed through with the healer, followed closely by Oseth.
Azra momentarily shut the portal as Urrya approached. “How many refugees are left? Should I go help get the rest out?”
Urrya shook his head. “Zilrath had warning and ships were rerouted. He and LeAuntiez will exit with Salitta. It’s our turn.”
Another blast from the Skarilian ships highlighted the need for haste. Azra reopened the portal and motioned Urrya through.
Pausing for one lingering look at the only home he’d ever known, Azra stepped through and closed the portal.
* * *
Azra spent the next week at Protectorate Headquarters trying to come to terms with what had happened. He opened a portal three days after the evacuation and found his worst fears realized. Nomani House, like most of Tavor, was a smoldering heap of shattered glass and stone. The surrounding forests had been burnt to ash. Nothing remained but scorched earth and smoke. He closed the portal, acknowledged the loss, then shut down his emotions and focused on the situation at hand. There was too much to do, too many in need of help for him to wallow in self-pity.
Zilrath remained shockingly civil, working side by side with Azra as they fielded complaints and worked through logistics for the sixteen thousand refugees that had made it to Earth. Families, orphans, and the elderly were processed through Colorado Springs. The first two thousand were kept onsite, the rest transported to other military- and government-run facilities. Single males and unclaimed females were split between Camp Accord and Fort Benning in the sector known as Georgia. Human leaders suggested keeping females at one location and males at the other, but the Tavorians refused to leave their females ‘unprotected.’
As shock began to ebb and life fell into a dismal routine, hostilities quickly escalated at all the Tavorian encampments. Tavorians grew suspicious of humans and humans reacted with defensiveness and anger. America had opened her arms and welcomed the refugees without conditions, so the Tavorian attitude was seen as ungrateful and bigoted. Fights broke out frequently and accusations—on both sides—became an hourly occurrence.
By week’s end, Azra and Zilrath realized they needed to supervise the most volatile sites personally. Zilrath chose Fort Benning as his headquarters, while Azra decided to move to Camp Accord. But two of Azra’s podmates were still in the Protectorate, so they needed permission before relocating.
Azra requested a meeting with Chancellor Savator. He’d avoided being in the same room with the bastard ever since arriving on Earth, but resolving this issue was more important than his pride. Oseth, Urrya, and Erin had easily agreed to the move, if the chancellor would approve the reassignment. Urrya had offered to ask the chancellor, but Azra insisted on doing it himself. If he was going to live on Earth for an extended period of time, he needed to come to some sort of understanding with Bron Savator.
So here he sat across a fucking desk from his archenemy. “Thank you for seeing me.” It was as close to pleasantries as Azra cared to come.
Stern-faced and serious, Bron folded his hands on his desktop and met Azra’s stare. The streaks in his dark hair and eyes were emerald green rather than the red possessed by most Ventori Defenders. It was a cosmetic alteration only the rich could afford, so it broadcast his wealth and privilege. Azra found such extravagance vain and wasteful.
“Do we need to clear the air before we begin?” Challenge arched the chancellor’s brows.
“I’d prefer not to review our past disagreement, but I’m interested in moving beyond it.”
“Fair enough. I’ll say this then move on. If I find out you’ve fucked with anyone’s mind, with or without their permission, my reaction will be the same.”
Azra had to unclench his jaw so he could say, “Understood.”
“Then what can I do for you?”
This was as civil as the conversation was likely to get, so Azra dove right to the heart of the matter. “Is there any reason Urrya and Oseth can’t move to Camp Accord? If they’re allowed to take their ships with them, they won’t be significantly delayed in responding to Brokvata missions. In fact, in some cases they could be closer.”
Bron pressed back into his chair, gaze slightly narrowed. “You heard about the difficulties with the refugees, I take it.” Azra just nodded. “The situation in Georgia is more volatile. If you’re going to respond to the flare-ups, I’d rather you go there.”
“Zilrath intends to supervise that location.”
“I see. Have you spoken with LeAuntiez? He commands the Brokvata.” Bron’s eyebrows arched as he added, “Of course that could change if your stubborn podmate agrees to the promotion.”
Azra knew Urrya intended to accept the new position, but he would inform the high command in his own time. “LeAuntiez told us he has no problem with the move, but it was ultimately your decision.”
“Then I see no reason to refuse. I’ll arrange the transfer for Oseth and Urrya.”
“Thank you.” He pushed to his feet and turned toward the door, more than ready to be anywhere but here.
“Will Erin be accompanying you to Colorado?”
It was a roundabout way of asking if she’d accepted their claim. Rather than answer the real question, he only said, “She will.”
“Good. And Azra, I’m very sorry about all you’ve lost. We all understand what you’re going through.”
Azra whipped his head around, unable to suppress his glare. “If that’s true, why don’t you do something to stop this endless slaughter? How many more planets must fall before the victims of those fucking monsters band together and fight back?”
“We’ve established many alliances in the past. Few have been successful.” He didn’t seem surprised by the criticism. Did he hear it so often the argument no longer moved him?
Folding his hands into tight fists, Azra struggled to maintain a conversational tone. “Try again. Try harder. Keep trying until you’ve amassed a force large enough to eradicate those fucking cowards. Nothing else is going to stop their destruction.”
Bron sighed as he pushed back his chair and stood. “You sound like a member of the High Co
mmand already.” A strange smile tilted the corners of his mouth. “We met this morning and agreed that the Tavorians need to be represented if they intend to stay on Earth. I think the Tavorian minister should be you.”
Shocked by the endorsement, Azra just stared. What the hell was Bron talking about? “Who says the Tavorians intend to stay?”
“Nothing specific has been decided, but there is definite interest.”
Azra wasn’t surprised by the news, but he knew Bron’s choice was impossible. “Then it will be put to a vote, and the minister won’t be me. I’m nearly as popular among the refugees as I am within the Protectorate.”
“You could change that if you wanted to.”
Rather than continuing the ridiculous conversation, Azra asked, “Is there anything else?”
“Think about it. Your perspective is unique, and could be beneficial.”
His nod acknowledged the opinion without agreeing with it, and the chancellor didn’t stop him when he walked out of the office.
Azra shook his head as he hurried through the hallways of Protectorate Headquarters. Camp Accord was also a Ventori settlement, but it had to be more bearable than this regimented, militant environment. His pod needed privacy and freedom, especially while courting and bonding with their mate.
Join the High Command? The idea was laughable. Having a Tavorian representative, however, made perfect sense. That person just needed to be someone the refugees trusted and would support. Clearly that wasn’t him.
What about Zilrath? He was a natural leader and had remained level-headed even during the worst of the crisis. Zilrath’s past ambitions had put him at odds with Azra, but Azra couldn’t discount his half-brother’s accomplishments or his heart for the Tavorian people.
Azra dismissed the subject entirely. It was for the refugees to decide, and that was the end of it.
He found his podmates and soon-to-be mate in the dreary room serving as a lounge, chatting with an attractive human female. Erin looked over and smiled as he entered the room.
“How’d the meeting go?” She motioned him toward one of the empty chairs situated around the table where they sat.
“The chancellor approved the relocation and will make the arrangements.” Azra pulled out the chair and sat, still distracted by Bron’s last few comments.
“That sucks,” the unfamiliar female cried and pursed her lips in a playful pout. “That will leave me no one to talk to. If they don’t release me soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“They will,” Erin assured her. “They’ve just about run out of reasons to keep you here.”
“I’m not sure Chancellor Savator needs a reason. I thought for sure I’d be transferred to Camp Accord when they sent Olivia over there, but no such luck.” The female looked at Azra and flashed a tentative smile. “Hi, I’m Jasmine.”
“Sorry,” Erin said. “Jasmine, this is Azra. One of my suitors. As you can see, he’s Tavorian.”
“Most Tavorians would disagree,” Azra muttered. Then to Jasmine, he said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Why would Tavorians disagree?” Curiosity and intelligence gleamed in her dark gaze. Long black hair framed her pretty face and her almond-shaped eyes made her seem exotic.
“My maternal grandfather was Ventori, so Tavorians consider me tainted.” He hoped the general explanation would suffice. The last thing he wanted was an in-depth debate about Tavorian prejudice.
Erin scoffed. “That didn’t keep them from rushing through the portal you created. If you’re truly ‘tainted,’ wouldn’t your portal be too?”
“I’ll contact Governor Orellian and request housing,” Urrya interjected, clearly trying to guide the females away from the uncomfortable tangent.
Azra appreciated the effort. His conversation with the chancellor had left him irritable. He needed the peace and companionship of his pod, and only his pod. Erin might not be ready to accept the fact, but Azra already considered her the center of their pod. “Bonded pods are allowed private homes,” he pointed out with a lazy smile.
“So tell the governor we’re bonded,” Erin said with a shrug. “The when and how of my claiming is no one’s business but ours.”
Azra’s attention locked on to her, and his smile faltered. Did she realize what she’d just said? “Has your answer finally gone from if to when?”
Jasmine watched the exchange with rapt interest, but remained silent.
Erin blushed, the added color making her eyes shine. “I think we all know it has.”
Hope unfurled, driving out the darkness; Azra could hardly breathe as he stared at his beloved mate. “Oh, neralla, I will hold you to that.”
“As will I,” chorused the other two.
She smiled, blushing even brighter. “I’m counting on it.”
* * *
“The houses are all pretty similar,” Erin told Kyla four days later. LeAuntiez had come to Camp Accord for some sort of meeting, so Kyla accompanied him, giving the long-time friends an opportunity for another visit. They’d chatted for a while at the kitchen table, then Erin gave Kyla a guided tour of the house. “It’s wonderful to have privacy again.”
“I agree. Being alone with Bron and LeAuntiez is the only thing that keeps me sane most of the time. And this setting is so much nicer than Protectorate Headquarters,” Kyla said as they stepped out onto the railed deck. The back yard was small, but Camp Accord was nestled in a valley surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado River flowed nearby and the air was fresh and cool.
“It’s lovely right here, but you should see the devastation across the river,” Erin sighed. “It’s hardly recognizable as a city.”
“That’s horrible.”
Erin nodded, her gaze sweeping the serene vista. “My family drove through here when I was about thirteen. We were on our way to Aspen, but I remember Glenwood Springs so clearly. It was charming and peaceful, the perfect little mountain town. The highway winds through a canyon on the way that’s just stunning, or it was before. The highway is impassible now and much of the canyon collapsed. It’s hard to see it like this.”
They’d lost so much to the Skarilians, and the worst part was it all seemed pointless. The Skarilians hadn’t wanted Earth for themselves. No one understood why they attacked planet after planet. Sometimes they collected slaves, other times they left no survivors at all, and always the planets were nearly uninhabitable by the time they moved on to their next victims. It made no sense, at least none anyone else understood.
Kyla turned around and leaned her hip against the railing so she more or less faced Erin. “I know Urrya was offered command of the Brokvata. Is he going to accept?”
“He’s still debating, but I think he will. The only thing that’s holding him back is Azra. Urrya doesn’t want his new position to conflict with what Azra is trying to accomplish. The Brokvata commander has always remained close to the chancellor.”
Kyla laughed. “Only because they’re podmates. Holo-conferencing and spaceships make physical location less limiting than it used to be. Brokvata missions take them all over the planet, while Azra is focused on Camp Accord. So it makes sense for your pod to live here.”
Erin shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling restless. “It’s not just the location. Azra is so stressed right now. Urrya doesn’t want another change to add to his anxiety.”
“That’s understandable, but LeAuntiez can’t wait forever. If the timing isn’t right for Urrya, LeAuntiez might have to offer the position to his second choice.”
“Urrya understands that, and I don’t think it will be a problem. He really wants the promotion.”
Kyla paused for a moment, her gaze searching Erin’s. “What about you? Have you accepted their claim?”
“I have,” Erin admitted with a dreamy smile. “I thought Jessica and Nikki were crazy when they agreed to bond after so short a time with their mates. Now it has happened to me, and I understand completely.”
“No one can really
understand until they experience it for themselves,” Kyla agreed. “Has your pod claimed you?”
“Not yet, but soon. There was no way we were going to do something so important in the cramped room at Protectorate Headquarters, and things have been crazy since we arrived. The refugees are running Azra ragged. When the time is right, they’ll claim me. I’m not worried about it.”
“If your males make you as happy as mine make me, you’ll be content for the rest of your life,” Kyla predicted. “Bonding is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. I suspect you’re going to love it.”
“I suspect you’re right.” Erin gazed off into the distance again, her mind filled with possibilities. Each night since they arrived at Camp Accord she’d waited for her males to claim her, but each night it had been obvious that it wasn’t going to happen. Azra was still too upset, and too exhausted, to do anything but sleep. The other two had been attentive and passionate, or as passionate as they could be without unbalancing the bond. They used their hands and mouths to give her pleasure, and she did the same. Still, neither could come inside her until Azra recovered enough to join them. Once the bond was formed the complication would go away, but she was more than ready for them to claim her so they could stop keeping score. In the meantime, they would continue to be as loving and supportive of Azra as possible.
Easily guessing the direction of her thoughts, Kyla asked, “How is Azra holding up? This has to be devastating for him.”
“He’s putting on a brave face, but I don’t think he has allowed himself to deal with any of it yet.”
Kyla nodded, compassion clear in her sky-blue gaze. “He’s being strong for everyone else. None of these males will allow themselves to appear vulnerable, especially in front of a potential mate. But a person can only survive on pride for so long.”