by Fiona Jayde
“I will always be a warrior.”
Derwag folds his arms and looks at the other council members. They are looking at each other with questions in their eyes. This show of his is getting on my nerves. He needs me here, and he knows it, but he has no idea what my brother truly has in store for this council. I feel slightly uneasy as I consider Tarian’s end game but still have no way of knowing how he plans to achieve it.
“Are you ready to swear your fealty to the Elysium Council? Are you ready to protect us with your life?”
I pause, taking a breath. I know what I have to say. The words are forming on my lips, but as I look up at the council, I remember my father’s face: noble, dedicated, loyal. I do not know how I can betray his memory by swearing loyalty to this traitorous male who quite possibly had a hand in his assassination.
I swallow and try again, remembering my promise to Ada. Derwag leans forward, his body tense.
I open my mouth to speak…and am interrupted when Tarian bursts through the doors of the assembly room.
“I apologize for being late, Chancellor,” he says breathlessly.
He climbs onto the platform and takes his seat at the far end beside the eleven other council members. My eyes drill into his as I look for some sign as to what exactly I’m supposed to do here. I see the tensing of his jaw as he tugs on his left ear.
I’m immediately alarmed. My brother has always had a tell, a physical, nervous twitch that signifies he is very agitated for some reason.
Something else has gone wrong since last we spoke.
Derwag does not seem to notice. He is pacing before the council, pontificating on the importance of loyalty. The irony is not lost on me as I consider Derwag’s treachery, not to mention my brother’s questionable behavior concerning my exile. Then I have to remind myself of my brother’s words, that he did all of this to eventually position me as chancellor, leader of our people. That he’s been working from within, planting dissension among the council, using the dissension of the military as the catalyst for bringing me back without the threat of execution hanging over my head.
Finally, Derwag stops and turns to me. “So, Kyllell, son of Koath, will you swear your fealty, or will you continue to be a traitor to your species and your council?”
I open my mouth to speak, and Llykketh’s hopeless face flashes before my mind’s eye. The council is corrupt, their practices benefiting none but them, and I can no longer stomach the sight of them. Tarian knows me better than this. To put me in this position goes against everything I believe in.
He knows better.
“I will swear fealty when there is an Elysium Council that is righteous and has power that has been earned, not stolen. I will swear fealty when our warriors are revered again, when we pay them what they are worth and offer them a chance to find suitable females among the mating program you have created. I will swear fealty when this council is more concerned with the individual rather than lining their pockets with their criminal gain. You have perverted the ways of our people, and I will not follow you.”
My voice echoes off the walls. Derwag looks surprised, casting Tarian a furious look. “Do you understand that you are admitting to traitorous thoughts against this council…again? Do you understand that you are admitting that you are a traitor?”
“I do not understand that. What I understand is that this council is traitorous and has betrayed our warriors, our traditions, and the memories of our departed females who would find this council and its leaders dishonorable and shameful.”
“I have heard enough,” Hynaf says. “It is clear that Kyllell is never going to admit to his grievous actions against this council. We have wasted our time. It is my opinion that he should be locked up until we decide what must be done with him.”
“Seconded,” says Graig.
I stand my ground, fearing to make eye contact with my brother. I know I’ll see disappointment written all over his face. Yet when I lift my eyes to his, he gives me an imperceptible nod and a small smile. I’m relieved to see it is one of approval even though I failed him. I feel that this entire charade has been a waste. If Derwag banishes me again, or worse, has me executed, then how will he appease our warriors?
I notice a small, blinking device in my brother’s hand before he tucks it back into his robes. He has recorded this entire exchange. I have to hold back the grin I sense emerging. He’ll find a way to broadcast this and cause even more dissension among the Elysium population and its warriors. Eventually, the council will have no choice but to bow to the wishes of their people, especially if their alliance threatens to break.
My brother knew all along. He knew I could never swear fealty to this council. He was counting on it. He simply wanted it recorded for all to see.
What a clever male he is.
“Unless,” Derwag says, “we discover something that might persuade you to reconsider your traitorous words.”
My eyes slit as I glare at him, hiding my confusion. The temptation to flick my eyes back to my brother overwhelms me, but I refrain.
“What are you talking about?”
“We’ll give you a night in your cell to reconsider your options, and if your answer has not changed by morning, we may need to take a more drastic approach.”
If he thinks to torture me, he will find I am not so easily swayed by pain.
The assembly files out of the room. As Tarian passes me, he offers me his hand. “No hard feelings, brother?”
I look deep into his eyes, trying to sear him with the heat of my false anger, giving the council a good show. He grins back at me.
“Don’t take things so seriously, brother.” He grabs my hand and forces me to shake it.
I am surprised to feel a small piece of paper on his palm. I grab it. With no change in his expression, Tarian turns on his heel and leaves the room. My guards grab my elbows and take me back to my prison, but I notice they do it with reverent respect. Jortah’s subtle nod is one of deep appreciation. With his help, news of what I’ve done will spread among our warriors.
Once I’m alone in my cell, I open the small piece of paper.
Scrawled in Tarian’s lazy handwriting is a short note: Derwag’s guards took Ada. There was nothing I could do about it without showing my hand too early. Be ready tonight.
My claws instinctively extend, and I am shredding the fragile paper as a slow, steady anger builds within me. How dare he take my mate? No doubt this is what Derwag meant. He knows I will do anything to protect Ada, and now he has her. My brother’s plans did not factor in a bond mate, and I fear we just lost the upper hand. My horns burn with a fierce rage that has nothing to do with sexual desire. If Ada is hurt in any way, this council will know the full force of my wrath.
Tonight I will escape. My mate needs me.
※※※※
It’s still light out when I hear the iron gate of the prison door swing open. I glance up and see the guard approaching my cell. Someone is with him. I move to the door to get a better look. The guard raps his weapon against the bars.
“Back up,” he says. “To the wall.”
I comply, pressing my back against the cold stone of my cell. I keep myself calm, breathing evenly, waiting to see what they have planned. If they wanted me dead, I would not be here, I remind myself.
The other male steps into a shaft of light; it’s Derwag. He looks at me and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Leave us,” he says to the guard.
The guard complies. I wait for him to throw out his threat, hoping I can stomach the conversation before Tarian gets here.
“We seem to have found a feisty little human female, one who claims to know you.”
“You’ve met Ada?” I try to sound indifferent.
Derwag smiles. “Met her? Not really, but her presence here is a pleasant surprise, considering our recent contact with the human race. Seems they’re having some issues with the stability of their planet. Lots of natural disasters with no end in sight. It also appears that the C
hassaks have known about these humans for several solar orbits, kidnapping their females and selling them on the dark markets. Earth needs our aid in many things.”
I supposed as much. The Chassak translator chips had already been updated with Ada’s language.
“Up to this point they’ve been a tad hesitant to allow us to do testing on their females for possible compatibility. How fortunate for us that your human landed in our lap.”
I don’t share that she is my bond mate. That would give him even more leverage. “She is not my human. I simply passed my time with her to alleviate The Burning.”
Derwag gives me a knowing grin. “If that were true, you would not have bothered to bring her here. I feel it only right to inform you, there are some tests we could do that would be terribly invasive…and painful. I can’t imagine you would want that for your bond mate.”
There’s no pretending since he seems to know exactly what she means to me. I’ve failed to protect my mate, just as I failed to protect my mother and sister, failed to save my father. My snarl echoes off the stone walls. “If I find out you’ve harmed her in any way, you’ll not live to see the next rotation of the moons, Derwag.”
He gives me a magnanimous grin.
“She’s going to play an important role here, Kyllell. You see, I find myself with quite the conundrum.”
“Why is that?”
“I think you know.”
“I am just a warrior,” I say, glaring at him. “I have no idea what a leader like yourself might be dealing with.”
“Stop with this charade,” Derwag snaps. “What the fuck were you thinking today? All that back talk. You made me look weak. Your brother brought you back here to save the alliance and end the rebellion within our military. Why are you spouting the same shit you did before you were exiled?”
“I believe it is you who must stop?” I reply. “What did you expect me to do? You sent my brother to come get me, to bring me back at all costs, and then you treat me like a criminal again. What was your plan, exactly?”
Derwag narrows his eyes at me. “How dare you speak to me in this manner?”
“I am my father’s son,” I say. “And as his son, I will speak to his subordinate in any way I choose.”
“You are fucking nothing,” Derwag whispers, his voice cracking with the weight of his anger. “Nothing, do you understand me?”
“Then why did you bring me back?”
“You know why.”
“I can’t unify the military from a cell.”
“I can’t give you access to the military without a sworn confession of treason. I am making some huge allowances here, Kyllell. I cannot appear weak to the council. I cannot allow you to return, an exiled Elysium, without a sworn confession of treason and an oath of fealty. There are too many factions within the government who would depose me within the hour of reinstating you as head of our forces without going through the proper channels first.”
“How can you give me access once I confess? You would have a confessed traitor in charge of your military?”
I am beginning to realize that Derwag is not very smart. I am surprised that he was able to execute his coup when he originally took over. I wonder who was helping him; clearly someone did. I have never spoken to him this long before, but it is now very clear to me that he could not have overthrown the council by himself.
Despite my renewed faith in my brother, I find myself wondering if it was Tarian, whispering in Derwag’s ear. He would have had much to gain from this dull-witted Elysium’s upward movement. Possibly more to gain than anyone else. If the coup had not taken place, I would have become the chancellor, and my brother would still be at home, relegated to the position of second son. With my exile, he had room to push into a position of power.
I throw the thought aside. It doesn’t match my brother’s current plan, and constantly questioning his motives will only breed distrust when we must work as a unified team.
Derwag has been getting more and more agitated by my questions. I assume it is because he does not know the answers.
Is it possible, I wonder, that more than one of the council members is pulling Derwag’s strings? Tarian obviously holds sway with Derwag. He most likely spent his fair share of time using his easy charm and engaging smile to find favor in the chancellor’s eyes, but who else does the chancellor listen too? And did this other male want me brought back as well, or is my brother fighting against another voice in Derwag’s ear? Tarian will most likely have an idea of who the real traitors are, but he is playing a very dangerous game, dancing a fine line between saving me, the alliance, our people, and avoiding being discovered and exiled himself.
“Chancellor,” I say carefully, “It appears that your council has not conveyed the nuances of the plan to you. You are a busy man, after all. You cannot be expected to keep track of every small detail of political planning.”
“Yes,” he says. “Exactly. I cannot be expected to…do that.”
“Perhaps it would be helpful if I could speak with your adviser. He might be able to provide us with more clarity. It seems he has not done a good job so far. You need more support.”
He nods for a moment, as if considering my suggestion. I am shocked by how easy he is to sway. “Yes,” he says finally. “Guard!” Jortah returns. “Bring me—”
As he is about to say the name of the true mind behind this madness, I hear the distinct sound of explosions in the distance.
“What the fuck is that?” Derwag asks, storming away from my cell.
He looks to the outer doors in alarm and immediately clears the area, calling for his guards who fall into formation around him. I watch as the coward runs from the prison.
My brother has the worst timing. I had been so close to learning more about this mysterious mastermind.
Angered shouts and the sound of swords and axes clanging against rock echo without the prison. A blaster goes off and then another. My vision goes hazy with battle rage as my horns extend to the side. Bloodlust thrums within my body. I am ready to fight my way through this cell to save my mate.
My brother finally appears. “Come,” he says, laying a hand flat against the panel. The sound of the lock deactivating is echoed by another round of blasters.
“What in Elysarah’s name have you done, Tarian?”
“I may have seen fit to initiate a rebellion a little earlier than planned.”
“What?”
“I leaked the vid footage I captured of you standing up to the council and siding with our military. I also leaked the evidence of Derwag’s multiple wrong-doings involving bribery, embezzlement, consorting with Chassak officials, and a whole slew of other crimes he wasn’t smart enough to hide from me. Derwag wanted you here to help our warriors ‘see the light’ as it were, and that’s exactly what you’ve just done. He simply didn’t plan on all his illegal activities being unearthed at the same time.”
His grin is wicked as he hands me a photon gun.
“You planned this?”
He has the decency to look sheepish.
“Well, not exactly like this. I’ll admit to improvising when someone leaked your location. Then when they came for Ada…”
My brother’s expression hardens to granite, his horns extending to the side while changing to a purple hue. He considers her family now. I find I like that very much.
“Our warriors are rallying together to free you. Derwag will be arrested. Prepare yourself, Kyllell. Within the next few solar rotations, our people will elect you as the new chancellor.”
I give Tarian a harried look, wishing he would have filled me in long before this. We rush from the cell and out into the receiving yard where mayhem and chaos bombard us on every side. Warriors are fighting against Derwag’s remaining loyal guards. A photon blast hits the building behind us and casts a spray of debris over our heads.
“This is your idea of improvising?” I ask as I shake the rocks and grit out of my hair.
He grimaces, not appr
eciating my sarcasm.
Too bad.
He should have thought about that before he so rudely interrupted my exile.
※※※※
Ada
I’m extremely tired of being sedated, which is the last thing I remember after Kyllell was taken away. Some dumb guard who fell behind decided to stick me with the same sedative Tarian did, and since Tarian seems to have lots of experience with drugging people, I can’t help but wonder if I should be blaming him for my latest abduction.
I blink my eyes, trying to clear the cobwebs from my brain. Blurry shapes move around me, disembodied voices reaching my ear.
“Who are you?” I ask. “Why am I here?”
“The subject appears distressed,” a voice says. “Please sedate her further.”
“No,” I say, trying to move my arms and legs. They are strapped to a table.
Shit. Okay, I really don’t think this was Tarian’s original plan. “No, please, don’t. Why are you doing this?”
I feel a stinging fluid enter my veins, and the fuzziness of my thoughts multiplies until I black out all over again.
※※※※
Some time later…I’m not sure how long…I finally resurface from the potent drugs. I can hear noises in the distance, people coming and going. I realize I’m not alone in the room. There seems to be a group of males standing in a circle around me. They’re talking about me and looking at me as if I’m some foreign specimen pinned to a board. It is fucking terrifying.
“The subject is small, but fully matured. You will note her large breasts very similar to our own females.”
I feel something cold and metallic-like clamp around one breast and squeeze.
What the hell? Am I naked? I try to move my arm so I can punch this asshole in the face, but it is bound to the table I’m on.
“Our tests so far reveal that she is fully compatible with Elysium males, and we have reason to believe that these humans are more compatible and more fertile than any other species we’ve allied with thus far. We will now test this theory by harvesting her eggs, fertilizing them with seed, and implanting them in her womb.”
“What if all of them take?” says a different voice, one that sounds a bit more concerned. “I do not think her small frame will support more than one child. I do not wish to hurt her fragile body. Where is the paperwork with her signature, showing she volunteered for these studies?”