Rowan's eyes meet mine, and I recognize the hope that flickers briefly across his expression at my vow to return my Ashaya to her people.
“Thank you for rescuing us.”
Lost in her striking eyes, unbidden words fill my mind that I dare not speak aloud. "I would gladly dedicate my life to ensuring you are protected."
She recoils as if struck, fear marring her beautiful features. "Are you—are you in my mind?"
So shocked that she heard me, it takes me a moment to respond. "Forgive me. I did not mean to project my thoughts to you."
A small tremor moves through her form, but she quickly hides her unease. "You don't have to apologize. It was just...surprising. My species is not telepathic, but I realize that many are," she says, clenching her jaw as she blinks back the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
Guilt fills me. This is part of the fated bond. I hate that our connection allows her to hear my thoughts. That it reminds her of the R'ugol—Talel's unspeakable violation of her mind. Her fear quickly disappears behind a stoic mask, and in this way, she reminds me of the V'loryns. They are experts at concealing their emotions.
Aerilon, V'loryns, and A'kai exhibit varying degrees of telepathy, but I do not know the extent of their abilities. As for my people, we can only communicate in this way with our Ashaya. I do not tell her this, though, because from what she just explained, I understand it is not the way of her people. Remembering the panic in her eyes, I wish it were not the way of mine either.
Rowan steps forward, a deep frown creasing his brow. "You heard my brother in your mind?"
Liana nods.
His expression changes to open concern. "But that is—”
He stops speaking abruptly as I cut him off with a firm look. I know what he means to say, and he's right. We are two different species. It should be impossible. But it is not...and this is proof that she is, in truth, my Ashaya.
Liana
I sit further up in the bed and instinctively band my arm across my rib cage and stomach, bracing for the inevitable pain. To my surprise, I feel nothing, and a wide smile spreads across my face. "Nothing hurts."
Tr’lani grins. "I put you in the MRU, and it healed most of your wounds. You might have some pain later, but not as much as you had before."
Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I tentatively stand and realize that nothing hurts...at all. I haven't felt like this since... Tr'lani rests her hand lightly on my shoulder. I swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat as her eyes meet mine. My voice is thick with emotion when I finally manage to speak. "Thank you. I haven't had a single day without pain since...before I was taken."
Soran steps forward. "Tr'lani said you do not know where your home world is. Would you like to study our star charts to see if anything is familiar?"
His words jog my memory, and my eyes snap up to meet his. "Talel's beloved." The words escape my lips in a panicked rush.
Soran gives me a puzzled look.
I continue. "I heard Talel speaking to a woman. He called her his 'beloved.' She mentioned the name of a city on my home world. Her people have made contact with mine."
He and his brother give me a shocked look before Soran steps forward. "Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"I remember him speaking to a female," Tr'lani adds. "From the way she talked to him...they must be mates. But she was not A'kai."
"How do you know? Did you see her?"
Tr'lani shakes her head. "No. But she is a Princess. Talel spoke of their bonding uniting their two races to forge an Empire that would rival that of your people."
Soran and Rowan listen intently as Tr'lani and I relay everything we heard.
When we're finished explaining, Soran's brow furrows deeply. "She did not say anything that could help us figure out who she was? What species?"
"No. And—because Talel doesn't know what I am, he didn't realize she was speaking of my planet...my people." Panic coils tight in my chest. "I have to find my home world before it's too late."
Rowan gives me a pitying look. "I've already set a course for Mosaura. It is the safest place for us to go now. I am sorry, I wish we could help you, but we cannot just wander aimlessly in search of your planet. It will take us four weeks to reach home as it is, and at least two before we are able to communicate with our home world to request assistance from our Empire."
I stare at him in shock. "Why will it take so long?"
"In order for the glider to remain cloaked, the engines must sacrifice efficiency and speed. And I believe it wise that we remain cloaked for the entire journey. On the bridge, I overheard several transmissions. Talel has already placed a bounty on all our heads."
Despite my frustration, I know he's right. We can't just blindly search for Terra without some idea of where to look. The A'kai are hunting us.
Chapter 5
Liana
A deep voice calls my name, startling me awake. My eyes snap open. My heart hammers in my chest as I spin in the direction of the sound to find Soran staring at me with an apologetic look. "Forgive me. I did not mean to scare you."
A long exhalation of relief escapes me. I place my hand atop the MRU casing directly over Tr'lani's still sleeping form, reminding myself that we are free and we are safe. At least for now. The gentle hum of the machine fills the room, echoing off the reflective metal walls as the unit works to repair her damaged wings.
I inhale deeply, relishing the fresh, strong scent of disinfectant that seems to permeate the entire ship. From what little I've seen of the glider so far, everything is meticulously clean and polished to a brilliant sheen. A sharp contrast to the places we were held when we were slaves.
I lift my gaze to Soran. "It's okay. I'm just used to—” I stop short, about to say, "shock sticks and beatings," but instead say, "I was just surprised. That's all."
Reflective silver eyes stare down at me intently. "Are you hungry?"
It is so strange to be face to face with the man that's haunted my dreams for so many years. And I only realize I haven't answered him when he cocks his head slightly to the side in confusion. So, I quickly reply. "Yes, but I can wait."
He frowns.
I glance down at Tr'lani. She looks so much like a fairy princess from the ancient Terran legends. Asleep like this, she reminds me of another childhood story—the one of sleeping beauty. After everything we've been through together, I am very protective of her. "It doesn't feel right to leave her like this, Soran. What if she wakes up while I'm gone? What if she needs me?"
He leans forward and taps the control panel attached to the MRU. The display flashes brightly with a series of symbols. He studies it a moment. "She should awaken within the hour."
Curious, I stare perplexed at the strange hieroglyphs that move across the screen. "Is that how you tell time?"
He nods.
I huff lightly in frustration. I have so much to learn. I can't even do something as simple as tell time here. I've always been fiercely independent; I hate having to rely on others to help me do things. But, in the same breath, I realize I should just be grateful that we're alive and finally free.
"I could bring the food to you," he offers.
While I am hungry, the truth is that my stomach is all tied up in knots. And it probably will stay like that until Tr'lani wakes up. I really don't think I can hold anything down until I know she's okay.
He continues. "Tr'lani said you lost a lot of blood and that you needed to eat so your body can replenish itself."
My hand instinctively goes to my neck, feeling for the two small puncture wounds from Talel's bite. The echoes of remembered pain whisper across my newly healed flesh. I look up at Soran. He watches me with a pitying expression and opens his mouth as if to speak, but I interrupt him. "I'll eat later. Please explain this clock to me." I gesture to the glowing symbols on the panel. "I need to learn how it works."
He dips his chin in a subtle nod before taking the chair next to mine. As he goes th
rough the various characters and what each of them means, a thought occurs to me, and I turn to face him. "Is this clock specific to just your people? Or do the other races tell time this way as well?"
He studies me with a piercing gaze. "You are a survivor." The words leave his lips in a hushed whisper as if speaking more to himself than to me.
I tilt my chin up slightly. An image of my father flashes through my mind. He taught Angela and me a mantra when we were growing up. It carried me through difficult times, and it is the singular thought that kept me alive during my captivity, the reason that I survived. I meet Soran's eyes evenly. "I am a Garza, and I come from a line of strong women. We are not easily broken."
A hint of something akin to admiration flashes behind his silver eyes as they stare deep into mine. "Never broken," he says solemnly. "Those are the words of my House. The words of House Mosaura. Your people...House Garza must be the same as my own—brave and strong of will."
Allowing my gaze to drift over his features, I realize he is doing the same as we regard one another. He's much taller than any Terran male and covered in thick, corded muscle, visible even beneath the obsidian, metallic armor that seems molded to his body like a second skin. From his height, broad shoulders, and the lethal grace of his muscular form, I would know he's a warrior even if I'd never heard anything about his people before.
Despite his alien features, he's ruggedly handsome. His scales shimmer with an almost iridescent glow under the ship's lights—smooth gray-silver stretched over hardened steel. And I wonder if they're soft like Terran skin.
The deep scar on his left brow travels down to the top of his cheek, and I'm amazed he didn't lose his eye to this injury. It doesn't detract from his appearance though. There's a warmth, a softness behind his silver eyes as they gaze back at me. His cheeks have a slightly red-orange hue to them that seems to grow darker as I continue to stare, and I wonder if that's his way of blushing under my scrutinizing gaze.
I'm struck by how eerily accurate my dreams of him were. He is just as I always drew him: a combination of fierce and beautiful. And although his people are warriors—feared throughout the quadrant--I've never once felt afraid in his presence. Not even the first time his eyes met mine on Talel's ship.
He opens his mouth to speak, but quickly snaps it shut again when the MRU panel chimes loudly. The casing snaps apart, a quick hiss of air escapes, and Tr'lani's eyelids flutter and open.
I smile down at her as the top of the unit slides away and she sits up. "How do you feel?"
She swings her legs over the edge of the bed and stands, spreading her sparkly fairy wings out behind her.
My heart clenches at the pain in her expression as they flutter softly on either side...beautiful, but still broken.
Her eyes brighten with tears. "It didn't work."
I rush forward and wrap my arms around her, wishing I could take away her sadness. Her voice quavers softly. "I'll never fly again, Liana."
Running my hand soothingly over her long, snow-white hair, I offer the only comfort that I can. I speak of hope. "Maybe someone on your home world can repair them. Don't give up yet."
"Maybe," she whispers.
Rowan walks in, his expression troubled as his gaze darts briefly to Tr'lani's still-broken wings. He steps forward. "Tr'lani," his voice is soft as he speaks. "I have calibrated the transmission panel. If you would like, we can try to send out a coded message for your family whenever you are ready."
Wiping her hands across her cheeks to brush away her tears, she gives him a warm smile. "I'd like to try it now."
He inclines his head. "Of course."
She gives me a crushing hug and then leaves with Rowan for the bridge.
After they're gone, I turn to Soran. "What about one of your Healers? Do you think they might be able to do anything for her?"
He gives me a hesitant look before he responds. "We will ask a Mosauran Healer to assess her, but our people do not know much about Aerilon anatomy. Our two races have been at odds with one another for many cycles."
I think I understand what he's reluctant to say, and now Tr'lani's sharp words at Rowan when they first rescued us make sense. "So...Mosaurans and Aerilon are...friendly enemies to one another?"
He tips his head to the side. "Something like that."
Despite his cryptic answer, I ask the question that's been burning in the back of my mind. "Why did you help us?"
The look he gives me is intense, and as his eyes stare deep into mine, something flashes briefly behind them, but it's gone too quickly for me to know what it was. "Slavery is illegal."
"Yes, but why us?" I press. "There must have been dozens of slaves on that station. And yet, you risked your life for us. Why?"
"I saw you when Talel first took you from the Anguis. You fought them both bravely to protect your friend." He leans forward. "Something about you called to me, and I...I could not leave you to your fate."
His gaze holds mine, and I don't quite know what to make of his words. He stares intently at me—as if he's waiting for something, but I don't know what. After a moment, I break the silence between us. "What about the other slaves?"
He shakes his head. "We cannot risk freeing anyone else."
Frustration burns through me. "We have to. It's not right, Soran. All those people... My crew could even be among them. I—”
He cuts me off abruptly. "I agree with you. Trust me. I do. That is why I am trying to convince the races whose sectors border ours to consider shared patrols of the neutral zones between us. I want to stop the slavers as much as you do."
"Have you seen any others like me? Any other Terrans?"
He gives me a pitying look. "No. I thought you were V'loryn. If I had seen any of your kind, I probably would have mistaken them as such."
Despair settles deep in my chest, and I sink back in my chair.
He leans forward. "I give you my vow as a warrior of Mosaura. I will help you find your people, Liana. I swear it to the Creator."
Even if Tr'lani hadn't "taken his measure," as her people call it, I'd still trust him. The expression on his face is sincere as he gives me his solemn vow. He and his brother risked their lives to free us. And I've dreamed of him all my life. I have to believe that my dreams meant something, even if I don't completely understand it all now.
He continues. "You should eat now that your friend is awake."
I nod. "I'm a pilot back on my home world. I'd like to get my bearings, take a quick tour of the ship before we eat, if that's all right with you."
With a subtle dip of his chin, he stands and motions for me to follow him out into the hallway. Just like the med area, every surface from floor to ceiling is shiny, polished and meticulously clean. Unlike the A'kai's vessel, everything is brightly lit.
As Soran shows me around, he mentions more than once how small the glider is, explaining that it is built to hold no more than four to six people. But it's actually bigger than any of the ships I've ever piloted back and forth between Mars and Terra—and those were able to fit a standard crew of eight.
This vessel is beautifully designed. Smooth, elegant lines and gleaming, seamless metal panels line the floor, walls, and ceiling. There are no sharp corners or hard angles here. Everything is curved or softly rounded in some way. Perhaps that's for safety. He explained that the glider is built for speed, stealth, and maneuverability. So, I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't want anything sharp for people to run into in case of a sudden course adjustment.
It doesn't take long to reach what I'm assuming is the crew mess. We sit at the only table in the center of the room, surrounded by four chairs. There are several compartments along the far wall, and he opens one of them, pulling out two liquid pouches.
He takes the chair opposite me and opens a liquid packet, handing it to me to eat, or drink...or whatever this is in here.
I sniff it first, and it doesn't really smell like anything, so I take a small sip. As soon as it hits my tongue, my stomach
twists in a violent knot. I rush to the nearby sink, coughing and sputtering as I gag on the vile liquid and spit it back up.
Soran rushes up behind me and quickly hands me another packet.
"What's this?" I barely choke out, trying not to throw up again.
"Water."
I take in a big mouthful and swish it around before spitting the last of the foul sludge into the drain and cleansing my palate. After that's done, I eagerly drink the rest of it as I try to wash away the sewage taste still lingering on my tongue.
When I'm finished drinking, I gesture at the first packet. "What the hell was that?"
"Liquid proteins."
I give him an incredulous look. "Not to sound ungrateful, but were you trying to poison me?"
At first, his eyes go wide as if he thinks I'm serious, but when a slow grin spreads across my face, he laughs. A great rumbling belly laugh that's contagious. And that's when I notice his fangs.
His teeth are long and sharp, like something you'd see on a Terran wolf. A long time ago, this probably would have given me pause. But after everything I've seen and been through over the past few months, they're actually not that scary in comparison.
After a moment, he pulls out what looks like a foil-lined bar. Of what? I don't know, and he hands it to me. "Try this." With a slight quirk of his brow, he flashes a devastating smile—sharp fangs and all. "I can assure you it is not poison."
Slowly unwrapping the bar, I study it carefully. I've decided to be a bit more cautious about alien food. It looks like a generic protein bar, similar to something you'd find on Terra, but I'm not sure. "What is it?"
"A nutrient bar."
After a mini internal pep talk, I lift it to my mouth to bite a small piece off, but it's really hard on my teeth. Since I'm practically starving, I'm not so easily deterred, and I begin gnawing on it. From the expression on Soran's face, I must look like some kind of ravenous animal.
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