by Roxie Ray
Torqa's ship shuddered against the impact – hundreds of cracks formed all across its hull like a flaming spider's web, expanding until the entire vessel blew apart. I could hear the other pilots in our fleet let out a cheer at the sight, and given how close this battle had been, I certainly couldn't blame them.
But Dhimurs still hadn't appeared.
Where was he? Had he made it off the ship in time? The thought of him dying in that wreck with my parents was more than I could bear.
I counted the seconds anxiously as they ticked by. He couldn't be gone, he just couldn't be.
Could he?
Suddenly, the air next to me rippled, and I leapt out of the way just in time to see Dhimurs appear with Ekaid and Lidea. He took one look at me, smiled… and then sagged to the floor.
“Dhimurs!” I cried, kneeling next to him. His skin was green and clammy, his breath was ragged, and his eyelids were fluttering.
“Did it work?” he rasped, reaching up to take my hand. “Is she…?”
“Yes,” I told him. “You did it. You destroyed the Dezmodon, and Torqa along with it. Are you all right?”
“Too many teleportations with too many people in too little time.” He put his hand over his mouth and coughed hard, pulling himself into an upright position. When he took his hand away, the palm was smeared with dark blood. “I probably won't be able to use those abilities again for a very long time. Perhaps ever. But it was worth it, if it rid the galaxy of that vile traitor for good.”
The comm system crackled. “Judy, do you have them? Are they safe?”
“Yes,” I answered happily, embracing Dhimurs tightly. “They're here, and they're all safe.”
Ekaid sat down cross-legged next to Dhimurs. “I do not know what the future holds for the Macurian people, warrior. For that matter, I do not even know if there are enough surviving Macurians for us to have a future. I only know that if the universe grants us one, there will be many songs sung and stories told about what you have done here today. Macur has never known a champion like you. I am honored that you have chosen my beloved daughter as your mate.”
“Thank you, Ekaid.” Dhimurs grasped his hand tightly. “That means a lot to me.”
Akzun's voice piped in over the comm again. “Attention, enemy vessels: This is Akzun, Blood Ruler of Valkred. Your leader is dead. Her flagship is destroyed. Her plans for galactic conquest are over, and with them, whatever guarantees of wealth and power she made to you. You have no cause left to fight for. Therefore, I order you to surrender at once in the name of the Valkred Empire, and release your Lunian captives.”
The remaining ships in Torqa's armada hung in space silently for several moments, as though thinking it over.
Then, one by one, they turned and engaged their engines, fleeing.
“Cowardly scum,” Dhimurs grumbled. “Doesn't matter how fast they run or how well they hide. I'll find them. All of them.”
“Yes, I know you will,” I said soothingly. “But first, let's get you back to the Ruby Stronghold so you can rest and regroup. You've done enough fighting for one day.”
The shuttle's view screen flickered and a Mana appeared.
“M'ruvev,” Dhimurs said. He braced his arm against the bulkhead and hauled himself to his feet, managing a small bow. “It appears as though we've won the day.”
“Against all odds, it would seem,” M'ruvev agreed. “And it's all thanks to you.”
“No. Not all.” Dhimurs put an arm around my shoulder. “I couldn't have done it without the bravery and resourcefulness of this woman.”
M'ruvev's wide lips pulled back into a grin, exposing his mouthful of tiny teeth. “Indeed? Well, well. It seems yet another Earthling woman has proven her worth… and won the heart of a Valkredian warrior in the process. Not only that, but thanks to you, we Mana can finally enjoy the peace we've sought for so long, knowing that Torqa is no longer plotting against us. You have my gratitude, young lady, and that of my people as well. Perhaps the rest of the galaxy is wrong to underestimate you humans so grievously. We ought to consider correcting that.”
“That's… a high compliment,” I answered uncertainly. “And greatly appreciated.”
The Mana nodded serenely, and then disappeared from the screen.
“Come on, hero,” I said, kissing Dhimurs gently. “Let's get you home.”
29
Dhimurs
The rays from the three suns of Macur beat down harshly on the wedding party, but those assembled were not in any discomfort. They enjoyed the shade provided by the heavy, colorful canopies that had been set up in celebration of the joyous event.
Such lavish festivities to commemorate mating were uncommon on Valkred – and on Macur, too, for that matter. More often than not, couples from those planets exchanged their vows and pledges in private. They would no more invite outsiders to participate in that than they would in the consummation of such matings. To do otherwise would be considered improper, even uncouth.
Oddly enough, it was Zark who had suggested that the ceremony be patterned after Earth weddings. He shared M'ruvev's sentiments that perhaps the merits of Earthling traditions had been ignored or ridiculed by other civilized planets for too long. After all, three different human women had played large roles in the fight against Torqa, and in his opinion, they – and the world they hailed from – deserved their due. More than that, he felt that after the harrowing experiences we'd all been through recently, this would be the best way to relieve the tension and begin to rebuild.
He'd listened to many stories from Carly and Miranda about how beautiful and moving such nuptials could be, and he'd done all he could to replicate them in honor of my bonding with Judy.
Personally, though, I think he just enjoyed the idea of a big party.
Regardless, I had grudgingly agreed to it, largely at Judy's insistence. She had no personal connection to such rituals, but she felt it would be a perfect opportunity to bond with her new Earthling friends, Carly and Miranda.
There were magnificent bouquets of flowers from almost every planet in the galaxy capable of sustaining foliage, including several from Earth. (The ones called “orchids” made me vaguely uncomfortable whenever I looked at them for too long, though I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason.) The lilies of Nanryr sang lilting lullabies, while next to them, the slither-vines from Xehrul writhed to the rhythms of the music.
Visiting dignitaries had brought gifts – which was a nice gesture, except I imagine many of them regretted it after being interrogated at great length by Bek about where they'd bought them and how much they'd paid for them.
There was even a tall cake that Akzun had insisted on baking himself. He'd always prided himself on his skills in the kitchen, and this seemed to him like the best way to pay tribute.
Now I was standing in Valkredian military formal wear, a ceremonial saber clipped to my belt, waiting on the altar for the bride to arrive as the guests took their seats.
A great majority of them were Macurians who had hidden in the caves beneath the desert during Torqa's onslaught, and had thus managed to survive it. Many of Macur's tribes – too many – had been utterly wiped out down to the last child, but even so, it looked like it might be possible to start rebuilding them. It would take time and considerable effort, but Ekaid and Lidea had the respect of all the remaining Macurians, and they were working to organize them into new groups that would spread across the planet's surface once more.
Respen sat among them, his expression pensive and melancholy. His race had suffered heavy losses due to Torqa's tyranny as well. Where there had once been dozens of them, now only a few were left in all the universe. Too many of them had been lost as collateral damage in the final battle, imprisoned on the enemy ships when they were destroyed. The survivors remained trapped on the few remaining ships from Torqa's fleet, no doubt powering their cloaking devices.
We had delivered a solemn promise to Respen that we would do everything in our power to find those ships and res
cue the Lunians aboard. He'd nodded, but seemed unconvinced that we would succeed in such endeavors. Perhaps, due to his mental and spiritual bond with them, he already knew something we didn't.
Strangely, he told me that he even mourned the loss of Darqar. Yes, he acknowledged, the renegade Lunian had been evil, and had helped Torqa enslave the others on Yuluna. “But he was still one of my people,” Respen said. “I knew him for millennia. I was his mentor once. And no matter how far he strayed from the path of enlightenment, I had always hoped that somehow, he would find his way back.”
I nodded, pretending to understand. In truth, though, as a lifelong soldier, I was astonished by Respen's ability to forgive, and his firm belief that all life in the universe was sacred and meant to be preserved. I found it perplexing, perhaps even incomprehensible – but I admired it just the same.
I had asked Akzun to preside over the event, and Miranda and Carly had insisted that Zark act as my “best man.” I went along with it, even though the term was deeply confusing to me. Zark had his good qualities, certainly – but in terms of the men I'd known in my life, I hesitated to call him the “best.” (“Best” by what standard, I wondered? Best warrior? If so, he'd probably have ranked fourth, third at most. Still, it wasn't for me to question such things.)
In fact, one of the only races not in attendance at the ceremony itself was the Mana. M'ruvev had traveled to Macur with his entourage, but they were unable to stand the heat of the desert for more than a few moments, even while wearing protective gear – the climate was uncomfortable for the Valkredians, who favored colder temperatures, but for a water-dwelling race it was positively lethal. Instead, they were waiting in the subterranean grottos where the reception was set to take place, decorating them in advance of the wedding party's arrival.
Zark leaned in, whispering, “At the risk of raining on this happy day with talk of imperial business…”
“This day could use a bit of rain,” I said with a grimace. “It must be two hundred degrees out here, even in the shade.”
Zark went on as though I hadn't spoken – a trait of his that I'd always found irritating. “There are still Sives out there. Enough of them to regroup and put their syndicate back together, if we leave them to it. After their betrayal on Cexiea, we can't let them continue to exist out there. We have to find them, all of them, and put them out of business for good. We have to send a strong message, to show the rest of the galaxy the steep price of double-crossing the Valkred Empire.”
I snuck a glance at Respen. A single tear was running down his glowing cheek. He wiped it away, and his deep black eyes met mine.
“One thing at a time,” I said.
The music started, and I turned to look down the aisle.
Judy was walking toward me, wearing an ornate white gown with a veil. There was a long stretch of fabric attached to the back, and Miranda and Carly were holding it up, dressed in matching red and black outfits (a skirt for Miranda, pants for Carly, as was her preference). I was told that they were to be referred to as “maids of honor,” and that, at least, was a term that made sense to me… after all, they had done great honor to the Valkred Empire, and deserved to be recognized for that.
I couldn't believe how gorgeous Judy looked. The lace in her dress featured intricate patterns meant to mimic the tribal runes of the Macurian people, symbolizing the ancestors of Judy's adoptive tribe.
She took her place next to me, flashing me a smile so dazzling that I could see it even through the veil.
“Friends and loved ones from across the galaxy,” Akzun intoned, “we have gathered here to celebrate the eternal bonds of blood and devotion forged between this Valkredian and this woman. There are few who have endured the trials that they have been subjected to, and yet they have emerged from them unscathed… shielded and protected by their love for each other.
“What the future has in store for them – indeed, for any of us – is not for us to know. The universe is a harsh and uncertain place, full of strange and unknown terrors, and the peace and unity we have come together to enjoy may be fleeting. But whatever is to come, these two are safe in the knowledge that they will face it together. That is a rare gift, and a precious one, to be treasured devoutly.” As he said this, he looked at Carly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Dhimurs of Valkred,” he continued, “do you pledge to adore and protect this woman, regardless of what lies ahead, and to be faithful to her always?”
“With all my heart,” I answered readily.
“Judy of Earth,” Akzun said, turning to her, “do you vow to remain by this warrior’s side, forever his partner and ally?”
“I do.” She reached out, squeezing my upper arm playfully.
Akzun nodded, seeming satisfied with himself. As well he should have been, after Carly had drilled him so vigorously on the correct decorum of Earth’s wedding ceremonies.
“Then in the name of the Valkred Empire, I hereby pronounce you bonded and mated, from now until the stars burn out. You may kiss the…”
But Judy had already tossed her veil aside and thrown her arms around me, kissing me passionately as tears of joy streamed down her face. I returned the kiss, clutching her with all my might and promising myself I would never let go.
30
Judy
Everyone relocated to the caverns, where the Mana had strung up lanterns and set up tables and chairs for the glorious feast. There were delicacies and intoxicating beverages from many different planets, and a trio of Mana musicians played and sang, as we all danced the rest of the day and well into the night.
Dhimurs refused to dance with me at first, muttering something about how such displays were “undignified” – but after three glasses of Svanteian wine, he relented, waltzing merrily with me in his arms until I was so dizzy I could barely remain on my feet. Akzun and Carly soon joined us, and we all held onto each other, hands clasped tightly as we skipped and hopped and kicked up our heels.
Just this once, it was nice to see these stern warriors cast aside their scowls and embrace the spirit of the celebration. I knew that the next day, none of them would admit to having done so, but I didn't care.
Predictably, Zark was the first one to get drunk – he spent much of the evening cornering each member of the wedding party in turn, in order to deliver earnest monologues about the specific qualities he admired about them and how glad he was that they could attend. By the end of the night, I think Bek had convinced him to invest in about four new (and extremely dubious-sounding) business ventures. At one point, I suggested we intervene, before Zark agreed to sell the Drekkir the shirt off his back.
“No,” Dhimurs grunted, shaking his head. “Best to leave him be, I think.”
“But won't he regret agreeing to these things when he wakes up tomorrow?”
Dhimurs didn't answer. He merely flashed me a mischievous grin, and then went to fetch himself another glass of wine.
Later, we cut the cake, and – at the insistence of Carly and Miranda, for reasons I didn’t fully understand – I shoved my slice into Dhimurs' face, smearing frosting all over it. For a moment, he glared at me, dumbfounded… and then he threw back his head, laughing uproariously.
Once the festivities had concluded and all the guests had left, we retreated to a special grotto that had been prepared especially for our wedding night.
“Initially, when Zark told me what was involved in these ceremonies, I was quite skeptical,” Dhimurs said. “It sounded like a lot of needless, superficial buffoonery. But now that we've done it, I must admit: that was most amusing. Perhaps we should attempt to encourage these traditions on Valkred?”
“Or on Macur, for that matter,” I agreed. “M'ruvev was right. A lot of planets could take a lesson or two from Earth.”
“Any world that produces women as perfect as you,” he said, “has much to teach the rest of us.”
“Well, if you liked the party,” I teased, “you're going to love what comes next.�
��
“Oh? And what's that?”
I unclipped his saber, unbuckled his shiny black belt, and slowly undid the gold buttons on his uniform. When his pale chest was exposed, I ran my palms over it, enjoying the cool touch of his skin. He shrugged the jacket off, and I reached behind him, stroking his feathered wings. He shivered with delight, fluttering them gently in response to my touch.
Then he slipped my dress off my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. Beneath it, I was wearing a set of Valkredian undergarments, which laced up the front. He contemplated the laces briefly – then grinned and used one of his sharp nails to slice through them in a single fluid motion, freeing my body and leaving me naked before him.
“Much better,” he observed, his eyes gleaming with pleasure as he looked at me.
“I'm so glad you approve,” I said coyly. “Now, let's even things up a bit, shall we?”
I reached down, undoing the fasteners on his trousers. From the bulge they were concealing, I could tell how excited and eager he was. I pulled them apart, liberating his large, leaking cock and marveling at the way it pointed at me instantly – as though choosing me, demanding to be with me and only me, because no one else would do.
I took his shaft in my hands, kneading it sensually as I looked deep into his eyes. In return, he touched my breasts, and my nipples hardened instantly under his thumbs as he rubbed them. I was so wet that the fluid was dripping down, tickling my inner thighs.
Suddenly, he swept me up in his arms and cradled me as though I were weightless, carrying me to a bed of thick moss next to a waterfall tinged with twinkling highlights of purple and gold and setting me down tenderly. His normally stoic expression was soft and loving.
Dhimurs carefully positioned me on my side, and then reclined behind me, putting his arms around me and nibbling at my earlobe and the nape of my neck. Our bodies fit together flawlessly, and when I felt his cock between my legs, I inched backward, burying myself in his embrace.