by Lily Thomas
Jessica nodded. Her grey eyes shined with trust, and he could read a touch of nerves shining in her eyes. And she was right to be afraid of the Sri’thaens. They took war seriously, but he’d find out more once he got the chance to change and wash up. Then they’d be able to make a decision after being fully informed.
He strode away following the soldier, confident that she and the girl would be well taken care of now that he’d put some fear into Rakshasas. He was eager to shed these clothes he’d been wearing on the Hennian hunting planet. It was caked with a layer of grime, and so was he.
Bruyx loved the feel of his councilor robes once again caressing his skin. The black and red robes were so special to him. These robes gave him the power to see to Jessica’s safety.
He was currently on his way up to the bridge. His boots beat a rhythm on the metal plating of the warship’s floors. He was eager to talk with Rakshasas some more about this war he kept hearing about. He was sure there was a lot more going on than Jessica was able to tell him. He’d been a councilor for long enough to know when he was missing information.
As he strode through the ship, men scattered, to allow him unrestricted movement through the halls, pressing their backs against the walls of the ship while they bowed their heads. He barely even glanced their way. Their deference to him was expected and something he’d grown up with.
The doors to the bridge opened with a hiss, and then he stepped onto the bridge.
Rakshasas leaped up from his seat in the middle of the room. “Bruyx.” He bowed his head.
“Rakshasas.”
A human woman stepped up beside Rakshasas, and Bruyx’s eyes fell on the woman in curiosity. From what he’d heard back on the Hennian ship this human had a bit of spirit in her. Her brown hair was bound tightly behind her head, and her hazel eyes glared at him showing no sign of fear. She had on a skintight purplish black spacesuit.
“I see I’m not the only one toting around a human.” He remarked.
“Please,” Rakshasas directed him towards another door off the bridge, “we will be more comfortable in my ready room.”
Bruyx inclined his head. Rakshasas guided him over to the other door the human woman trailing along.
“The human will not join us.” Bruyx wasn’t in the mood for her spirit. He was ready for a level-headed discussion with another well-known family from the home planet, not some human who couldn’t keep her emotions in check.
The human sucked in an offended breath and looked like she was about to accost him when Rakshasas grabbed her roughly and yanked her back. “Remember your place here, Adira. This is a councilor you’re dealing with. You’ll stay out here.”
She looked like she wanted to disagree with Rakshasas, but she managed to hold her tongue, and after the couple were done glaring daggers at each other, Bruyx was led into the ready room.
Bruyx found a seat on a couch in the ready room and relaxed into the soft cushions and threw his arms along the back of the couch. He was so glad he was off that damn Hennian hunting planet.
“I’m curious about this Adira.” Bruyx watched Rakshasas as he also took a seat.
Rakshasas leaned over placing his elbows on his knees. “My wife.”
Bruyx raised an eyebrow. “Wife? To a species we are supposedly wiping out?” Perhaps Jessica had been wrong about the war, or it was already over.
“She isn’t just any human.” Rakshasas’s greyish green eyes took on a haunted look as he gazed into the distance for a second. “Her government modified her.”
“Modified?” Bruyx sat forward interested in this information. “How so?”
“They modified her to be stronger and faster.” Rakshasas smiled as he stroked a hand over his face his greyish eyes growing distant as he remembered the past. “When I first met her, she nearly kicked my ass.”
“She sounds like quite the woman.” But there was also a slight worry in the back of his mind. If the humans were really experimenting with genetic or mechanical enhancements, it would be something to worry about. They didn’t need modified human soldiers flying around space.
“Frustrating at times, but yes, she is.” Rakshasas agreed.
“And the reason she isn’t dead?”
“She proved herself useful to the other council members. She was modified to be a spy for the human government, but they treated her like nothing more than a piece of technology. When we offered her a place among us as a spy, she couldn’t resist the offer.”
Bruyx nodded his head. A modified human spy on their side would definitely help give them an advantage over the humans. She could now be their double agent.
“And your humans?” Rakshasas asked.
“I encounter them while on the planet and found it surprisingly hard to get rid of them.” Despite trying his best to leave them behind.
“Humans can be quite determined.”
“That they can be.” Bruyx agreed. “But what I really want to know about is this war we are waging with the humans.”
Rakshasas nodded his head. “Have you heard anything?”
“I heard how it was started.” Bruyx picked a fuzzy off his robes and flicked it away. “Something about humans colonizing a planet that wasn’t their own.”
“Indeed.” Rakshasas heaved a sigh. “Unfortunately, things have developed even more. It turns out the Kellian leader, Xacier, married a human and has now informed the entire galaxy that he will be joining sides with the humans.”
“That would be more of a problem.” Bruyx steepled his fingers together as he digested the information.
The Kellians were red skinned and horned. Not only that but they were mate driven and tough adversaries. The humans alone would have stood no chance, but they might just stand a chance with the Kellians backing them.
“The rest of the council doesn’t seem fazed by this news.” Rakshasas admitted.
“We will see how it goes.” Now that they declared war, it would take a long time to appease both sides and end the war, assuming the majority of the council would want to end it.
Rakshasas nodded his head. “Now that you’re off the Hennian hunting planet where would you like us to take you?”
“Back to the homeworld, but before we do that I need to discuss what to do with the human child that’s with Jessica.” Bruyx wasn’t sure bringing the child among their people was the right move, but he found his gut twisting at the thought that Jessica would join the child when he sent Bethany away.
“Then I suggest you figure out what you want to do with the child. We will need to be leaving soon if the homeworld is your destination. Our ship is scheduled to meet up with another fleet.”
Bruyx rose from his seat. “I won’t get in the way of your mission. You can expect a decision soon.” Of all the Sri’thaens he could have encountered with Jessica in tow he was glad it had been Rakshasas. With a human wife, the general was in a better position to understand Bruyx’s position with Jessica.
Jessica waited impatiently in the room she’d been guided to after Bruyx had left them in the shuttle bay.
Glancing over at the bed, she saw Bethany had fallen asleep wrapped up in the blankets, which was no surprise. That poor girl had been through more than most any child would be faced with in a normal life. And she’d faced it better than Jessica could have even hoped.
She continued to pace the room. At some point, Bruyx would come for her… she was sure he would. She hoped. Unless he was ready to push her out an airlock now that they were back among his people.
Twisting her hands in her shirt, she continued to worry away. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to give herself a stomach ulcer.
The door to the room whooshed open, and she spun around to face the door. Bruyx sent her a smile from the doorway before he strode in and took her into his arms.
Jessica’s eyes widened as she took in the red and black tones of his flowy robes. “Wow.” Her hands moved over the silky robes that covered his biceps. “I love the red that’s been sown
in.”
“Red is special to our people.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded, a smile dancing across his lips. “Perhaps I’ll show you how special someday.” He raised a finger, “Just remember not to wear it in public.”
“But you’re wearing it.” She pointed out.
“The law is only in place for women.”
“Interesting. You’ll have to tell me more at some point.” Because she didn’t know all that much about Sri’thaens or their culture, but she was more than willing to learn.
“And that’s part of the reason why I’m here.” Bruyx guided her away from the bed where Bethany was fast asleep a small amount of drool coming out of the corner of her mouth. “We need to discuss what you want done with the child… and with yourself.” She thought she heard his voice catch when he said the last part of the sentence. “The next place we are headed is the Sri’thaen homeworld, where it could be harsh on a young human child.”
Jessica nodded her head as she pulled away from his arms. “True. Well, I suppose, if there is a way to send her back to human space we should do that. The human government might be able to find other members of her family for her to live with.” Which would be ideal. Jessica wasn’t ready to take on a kid, especially when Bethany deserved to go back to people who were blood-related.
“We can arrange for a ship to drop you both off somewhere on a border planet or space station.”
Jessica swallowed as she quickly smothered her surprise.
You both.
Those two words hung in the air between them as she searched his face and his brown eyes, but it was like reading a stone block. “Yeah, that would work, and Bethany might enjoy having me along since she’s all alone.” She’d been hoping that he would want her to stay, but she wasn’t about to beg to stay here. If their fling was done, then it was done.
Her heart sputtered in her chest. She was disappointed he didn’t want to see if there was a place in his world for her. Turning away, she quickly blinked away the forming wetness in her eyes and gathered her raging emotions.
“It will take a little while to get everything arranged and find men I trust to take you to the border.” Bruyx began to walk away and then tossed over his shoulder, “One of the guards in the hallway can see you to the mess hall if you’d like something to eat.”
She nodded numbly. Once the cabin doors closed behind him, she gave it a few minutes and then walked stiffly out of the cabin. Her heart might be breaking, but a good meal was something she couldn’t resist. And then she’d be able to bring something back for Bethany once the girl awakened.
The guards in the hall perked up as they examined her with interest, which wasn’t all that surprising. Other than Adira, they probably hadn’t seen too many humans up close.
“Food?” She asked.
“Follow me.” One of them stepped forward and began leading the way through the ship.
As she followed the Sri’thaen soldier, she let her thoughts grow inward.
She felt like crying, which was absolutely ridiculous. She’d only just met Bruyx, but she’d thought their time together would mean a little more to him. Despite being on a Hennian planet, she’d enjoyed their time together, the adventure, and the sex. She wanted to keep chipping away at that heart of gold in his chest because she got the feeling she was the only one who could see it.
The guard led her into another room, and she gazed around herself in wide-eyed wonderment. There were several Sri’thaens sitting at tables. Not one to be a wallflower she strode in and loaded up a plate with unfamiliar food at a buffet of hot fresh food.
She wanted to say it was time to find out what Sri’thaen food she liked, but it appeared she wouldn’t be here much longer to care.
When Jessica’s plate was filled to the max, she turned away from the buffet. Her eyes skimmed over the cafeteria like room.
She picked an empty table, strode over, plopped a seat, and dug in, while her guard stood nearby making sure she wasn’t attacked or didn’t do anything she shouldn’t.
“Where’s Bruyx?” A deep voice asked from beside her the moment she shoveled a large bite into her mouth.
Glancing up, Jessica found Rakshasas standing beside her with a tray of food in his hands. She swallowed her bite, the bite of food a little big, and she winced as it went down with a little pain.
“Won’t you join me?” She asked once her bite had gone down and motioned to all the open seats near her. Their people might be at war, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t remember her manners… also, the war had yet to affect her personally.
He walked around the table and sat down across from her. “Where’s Bruyx?” He asked again.
Jessica shrugged her shoulders. “How should I know?”
“I figured the two of you were a couple.” Rakshasas rose an eyebrow. “Did I presume wrong?” He shoveled some food onto his spoon.
“Pfft.” Jessica buzzed her lips lightly. “It turns out I was nothing more than a passing woman, nothing of interest.” She waved a utensil in the air.
A corner of Rakshasas’s mouth turned upwards. “Don’t judge him too harshly. He’s been through a lot when it comes to romance. Perhaps you two just need to make your feelings better known to each other.”
Now she was intrigued. “You don’t say.” She leaned in her food completely forgotten. “What do you know about Bruyx?”
“He had a wife.”
Had a wife.
“What happened to her?” Hopefully, nothing bad. She really ought to stop asking these types of questions. Nothing good ever came of it.
She held her breath waiting for his answer.
“Nothing happened to her as far as I’m aware.” Rakshasas took a bite of his food. “From what I heard he was set up by his mother to a woman who turned out to fear him. His position comes with enemies, and those enemies made the woman’s life hard, not to mention she was terrified of Bruyx himself. She herself hadn’t come from a good background as I heard.”
“Terrified of him?” Jessica leaned back doubtful about that. Who could be fearful of him? “There’s a heart of gold in that chest.”
Rakshasas smiled looking pleased with what she’d said about Bruyx. “You might be able to see that, but again, as rumors go, it ended in disaster. A horrible divorce and a huge scandal. His mother and himself aren’t really on speaking terms anymore.”
So, they had more in common then Bruyx knew. He wasn’t the only one who’d gone through a divorce that had wrecked family relationships.
“Where did you get this information?”
“Their family is well known and when the divorce broke… you can bet the news was all over it.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Jessica folded her arms in front of her chest as she studied the man sitting in front of her.
“I want Bruyx as an ally.” Rakshasas studied her in return with narrowed eyes. “Neither of you two have worked out what the other means to you, so here I am playing matchmaker.”
“You don’t know what he feels for me.” Bruyx had all but gotten a ship ready for her to leave on.
“It’s in his eyes when he speaks about you.”
“He spoke about me?” Jessica felt her cheeks flush a bit with the pleasure that soared through her.
Rakshasas nodded his head.
“What type of ally are you looking for?” Jessica wanted his help in convincing Bruyx to continue this blossoming relationship, but she also didn’t want to be signing a deal with a devil.
“I just need an ally.”
She pursed her lips as she studied the Sri’thaen general in front of her. His greyish green eyes never wavered as he stared right at her. She wasn’t sure anyone would be able to read what was going on in his head, but she didn’t get the feeling he was untrustworthy.
“Would you like my help?”
Did she want to stay here? It could be dangerous, but it was also… thrilling. And there wasn’t going to be much for her to ret
urn to in her old life. There’d be no job, an ex who loved to rub his new relationship in her face, and a mother who was disgusted with her inability to make a marriage work.
“I guess it depends on what that help consists of because there are certain things that are below me.”
Jessica couldn’t believe it. Somehow Rakshasas had convinced her to dress in a crimson robe and have Bruyx’s room decorated in the same dark hue. She glanced around at all the sheets of red fabric that had been hung by guards. Then her eyes roamed over the bed she was sitting on, which had also been decorated in red sheets, with red fabric draped over the frame of the bed.
Bethany was still fast asleep back in the other room, and she had the general’s promise the girl would be well looked after.
If Bruyx walked through the door and rejected her, she’d probably die on the spot. This better work or Rakshasas was going to face the embarrassed wrath of a rejected woman. She wasn’t shy, but neither was she the sexy-and-I-know-it type.
Right at that moment, the door to his room hissed open, and Bruyx stepped through before stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes went wide as he took in the new color of his room, and then his brown eyes landed on her sitting in the middle of his bed.
“Hi.” She waved a hand at him. Her heart was in her throat. She had no idea what his reaction would be. It was time for the moment of truth.
A growl ripped up his throat, and he stormed towards her, his brown eyes nearly looking black.
He was either going to jump her and sex her mind out, or he was about to rip her throat out with his bare teeth.
Bruyx knocked her onto the mattress, and her pulse fluttered away. “I can’t promise I won’t ruin this.”
“You mean your previous marriage?” Jessica met his eyes straight on.
His eyes widened, looking like he might pull away. She quickly latched onto his arms, preventing just that.
“You know.”
“Rakshasas informed me about your past, but I’m here to tell you,” she reached up and grasped his face in between her hands, “that you aren’t the only one with a failed marriage in their past.”