by Celia Kyle
“You,” Vende hissed. “You turned my ship into this abomination.” The Engineering Master’s voice grew in volume, increasing to a roar with each word. Even as he watched Vende shout at the vid screen, he could not believe the detailed, analytical warrior was so enraged. Brukr had never seen Vende so angry before. Not even in the midst of battle.
Vende pointed at the vid and stomped toward the display. “You—”
Vende would have said more, but Argan’s war blade rested at the base of the Engineering Master’s throat. “You will not raise your voice to a female.”
Hannah sucked in a quick, harsh breath and everyone froze. Even Liquid Knot—safe on Earth and far from Vende’s anger—became motionless.
Vende glared at Argan while Argan appeared unfazed by the Engineering Master’s glare.
And Brukr’s mate? Brukr’s mate would turn his hair gray before he even had a chance to solidify their mating. Because his mate moved closer to the two warriors. As if Vende wasn’t well on his way to shifting and Argan wasn’t prepared to slide a sword into the Engineering Master’s throat.
Did his mate always have to put herself in danger?
Hannah glanced at him and winked. Not always.
He narrowed his eyes. He believed that was teasing sarcasm, but he was not sure. He would ask Ivoth after he made sure his mate lived through the coming moments.
“Hey, Vende.” Hannah smiled at the Engineering Master.
Brukr could be an accommodating male. He would not kill Vende for receiving a smile. Today. He was not sure what he would do if it continued.
“Why don’t you tell me what the problem is?”
“The problem?” Vende flicked a quick glance at Hannah and then returned his glare to Liquid Knot. “The Knot that is not Liquid destroyed my ship.”
“I didn’t destroy anything. Penelope is better now than she was when you arrived,” Liquid countered.
“Better?” Vende’s voice grew soft. “Better?” Brukr did not feel the Engineering Master’s tone was a good one even if he had ceased shouting. “Your better ship destroyed a training platform, reallocated resources, and implemented unapproved construction plans. There is a new platform hovering above the Gulf of Mexico, and I do not even know how your better ship’s installation remains in the sky!”
Several things became apparent at that moment—the source of Vende’s anger, Liquid Knot’s reaction to such strong emotion, and Argan’s dislike of shouting at a female. Vende did not agree with Liquid’s alterations, and Argan did not have a steady hand when faced with a male’s fury at a female.
Then there were the reactions of both Liquid and Hannah to the sight of blood. Liquid Knot disengaged the vid screen while Hannah swayed in place and her face paled even more than before.
Brukr would kill one of the males—Vende for needing to be stabbed or Argan for stabbing Vende—later. Right now, he had to get Hannah alone—truly alone.
Otherwise he might kill someone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hannah pretended not to hear Brukr’s grumbles and mumbles, choosing instead to focus on the world around her—around them. The small shuttle—a Preor short hop transport—carefully rose from the shuttle bay floor. Penelope’s bay doors parted, gradually exposing the darkness of space beyond her walls. The darkness of space and Earth beneath them. Somewhere in that mass of blue and green was their destination—a place where they would find peace and quiet.
A place to connect without being surrounded by others and constantly interrupted every time they tried to find a moment alone.
There would be no prodding healers—unless she needed one—and no interfering human-Preor mates with quasti on their shoulders. Elle was welcome, Charlie was not. Though that was Brukr’s stipulation, Hannah kinda liked the little furball. That thought was followed by a low grunt from Brukr. He was less than welcoming when it came to Charlie.
The shuttle slowly exited the battleship, the flight smooth beneath Ivoth’s practiced hands. Triem occupied the co-pilot’s seat while Radoo had chosen to separate himself from the group, leaving Hannah, Brukr, and Elle in the center of the shuttle.
She wondered if he knew Charlie tagged along anyway.
The heavy weight of her mate’s glare settled on her, resting between her shoulders, and she winced. Yeah, she’d sorta forgot about that whole mental connection thing that came with the Knowing. She ignored him and focused on the projections on the shuttle’s walls. The small ship didn’t have windows but displays revealing the passing world.
The blue and green planet grew larger and larger as they flew nearer to Earth and their destination.
“Do not think I did not catch that thought,” he mumbled in her ear, his voice a low rasp. “The quasti? Truly, Hannah? I only agreed to your plan because—”
Hannah tore her attention from the displays and turned to face him. “Because you want to make me happy?”
Brukr’s eyes remained narrowed but all other expression left his face, turning it into a bland mask. “Hannah.”
She gave him a small grin and reached for his hand, wrapping her fingers around her mate’s. “We all agreed we’re on our own vacations. Ivoth, Elle, and Charlie will be in their own section with Taulan, Lana, and the kids.” She squeezed his hand. “He’ll be so concerned with saving his tail from Lorrasyh and Shanas’s fire that he won’t have time to bother you.”
She hoped. Charlie had a bad habit of taunting the Preor just because.
He grunted and some of his annoyance drained away, their connection no longer crowded by that hint of anger. “I still do not like it. Engineering Master Vende—”
“Admitted that Liquid’s designs coupled with Penelope’s selection of materials made the platform a sound and secure aerie for the Preor,” she finished before he could launch into the list of Vende’s objections.
Vende had been more annoyed and affronted at having his world invaded by others than truly worried about the security of the training platform. Well, the training platform Liquid and Penelope had turned into Kouvai Nihon—Heart Cleansing. A place to cleanse the heart of worries and stress.
Once he’d calmed, he’d admitted the ship and Liquid had done a decent job. Though he hadn’t calmed until after Argan nearly stuck a sword through Vende’s neck.
Now they had an extended stay scheduled on Kouvai Nihon with the quintet… minus Argan.
“What’s going to happen to him?” she murmured to her mate, and at first he merely grunted.
But then she got more from him—sadness, regret, a sense of pride, and rightness.
It was illegal to incite violence against a Master, yet Vende had acted violently toward Liquid. It was true that they hadn’t been in the same room—or even the same ship—but Hannah had witnessed Liquid’s response to the Engineering Master’s words and tone.
Fear. True fear.
“I am unsure.” Brukr shook his head. “He will be secured until his rage cools, but I do not know how long that will take. His fury,” her mate sighed, “was the greatest I’ve ever seen. Greater even than when he sought retribution for his injuries.”
Hannah sensed his uneasiness, the twisting and turning of his emotions, and they matched her own. The Knowing told her that Argan’s actions were dishonorable while her heart wished he was on the transport to Kouvai Nihon with them.
“And Radoo?” She tipped her head toward the silent warrior at the back of the shuttle.
“They are as close as clutchmates. It will be difficult for him while Argan remains under guard and separated from the quintet.”
But not just difficult for Radoo and Argan. It was difficult for them all. Ivoth and Triem remained subdued no matter how hard Elle and Charlie tried to pull a smile from them. Even Brukr…
She stared at her mate, meeting his dark, stormy gaze. Excitement thrummed between them, anticipation of what they would share once they reached Kouvai Nihon, but it was tempered by a sadness over Argan’s absence.
She reache
d for her mate with her free hand and stroked his cheek. She followed the thick length of his neck and traced his chest until her palm rested over his heart. “It’ll be okay.”
He grunted. “You have more hope than I. Taulan cannot leave Argan unpunished, and the law calls for…”
Brukr’s voice trailed off, but Hannah knew what went unsaid. The law called for death.
“Lana won’t let that happen.” And if Lana didn’t step in, there were plenty of other human-Preor mates to protest that ruling.
“Without order, there would be chaos, shaa kouva. Our honor is all that keeps us from becoming feral beasts.”
“You say that women should be cherished—cared for. But Vende—”
“Will be dealt with by the War Master for his behavior. As will Argan.” His tone told her he was done with the conversation and their connection reaffirmed the sentiment. Brukr lifted his head, attention drifting to the shuttle’s wall—the display. “We approach Kouvai Nihon, shaa kouva. Let us hope it is as peaceful as Liquid and Penelope claim.”
Hannah followed his line of sight and gasped, shock and awe stealing her breath with that first look. It was truly a lush oasis, a glorious slice of heaven prepared just for her—or rather, them. It was a haven for Preors, shielded from human view—a private, floating island where dragonlets, Preors, and mates could embrace life without the threat of violent humans.
She hated that she—they—had to hide from her own kind but was thankful there was a place where she could simply be.
And Liquid Knot had named it Kouvai Nihon. A lost island in the middle of the sea. It wasn’t exactly where Kouvai Nihon had historically been, but it was equally hidden, equally perfect, and equally mysterious.
The ground shimmered, trees fading from view and exposing metal beneath—a landing platform just for them. That was followed by a glistening wave of rainbow lights, a small distortion in the air.
“What’s that?” She glanced at Brukr, but it was Elle who answered.
“Penelope scanned Charlie and took a bit of his genetic material to discover how he’s able to cloak himself. The platform isn’t an organic being, but she developed a hybrid bioshield. It hides Kouvai Nihon from anything other than Preor ships.” Elle’s smile was wide. “We’re hidden from everyone.”
Hidden. From everyone. Even her father’s…
“Shaa kouva,” Brukr murmured, warm hands stroking her, lifting her to his lap, and holding her close. “None will come near you again. You know this.”
“I…” Hannah took a deep breath, filling her lungs until a stinging pain scraped her chest. She still wasn’t one hundred percent. She still couldn’t take large breaths, her joints ached, and her muscles were tight—proof her body still clashed with the changes to her genetic material. “I know. It’s just hard,” she whispered back and curled into him.
She took comfort in his firm embrace, in the way he held her tightly. As if he’d never let her go.
“I will never let you go, shaa kouva. I have claimed you. You are mine.”
“I know.” She nodded. “We have the Knowing.”
Brukr rested his chin on her crown. “No,” he shook his head, “I claimed you without the Knowing. When I could not imagine being without you. When I thought I would lose all control if you left with the human Eric. You have always been mine. It simply took the Knowing time to realize the truth my mind—and body—sensed.” He brushed a soft kiss over her forehead. “You belong to me.”
Hannah tipped her head back and met his intense stare. “Yeah?”
“Yes. Always.” He left no room for argument.
His words resonated in her heart—her soul—and she sank into the emotions that flowed between them. She let him feel what lived in her heart, let him experience her every thought from the first moment they’d met.
“Always.” She straightened and tipped her head back a bit more, lifting her lips to meet his. She brushed her mouth across his, tongue flicking out for a small taste. “Shaa kouvi?”
“Had Vende shouted at you as he did at Liquid Knot, he would have died beneath my blade. I would not have understood why, but that would not have stopped me.”
Her breath caught. “Do you think that’s why Argan…”
Brukr grimaced and shook his head. “No, Argan has met Liquid on more than one occasion, and the Knowing did not manifest. She also does not have any genetic anomalies that could suppress their connection.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, soft and sweet yet tinged with a passion that had her pulse rising. “They are not mates as we are mates.”
“He could claim her anyway. To save himself, he could…”
He gave her another kiss, this one longer than the last, and she had the distinct feeling it was meant to silence her, not arouse her. It did both.
“He has more honor than that—than me.”
“Brukr—”
The shuttle gave a light shimmy and a soft bounce followed with a deep thud. The engines quieted, softening to a near-silent purr while the lights in the shuttle brightened to allow them to see better.
“We have landed. Let us explore Liquid’s Kouvai Nihon.”
The others moved around, Elle rising from her seat while Radoo did the same. The maroon warrior opened the rear hatch just as Ivoth and Triem exited the cockpit. It was a whirlwind of activity, everyone smiling and happily preparing to leave the short hop.
Everyone but her and Brukr. “You can’t think that claiming me was dishonorable. You can’t—”
“Later, shaa kouva. Later.” The plea was in his eyes, his voice, and… his heart. He wanted to wait until later? Then they’d wait.
But she wouldn’t be pushed off forever.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Brukr wanted “later” to come much later, but he would take whatever delay he could. Did he believe his actions dishonorable? They were not truly honorable, which left only one classification—dishonorable. Yet he could not regret his actions. Not when it gave him Hannah.
Hannah who even now appeared awed by their new surroundings—the gloriousness of Kouvai Nihon.
He would not admit that Kouvai Nihon gifted him with a sense of calm and welcome he had not experienced in many turnings. It would give Penelope yet another reason to justify her—its—actions.
Taulan had not taken the existence of Kouvai Nihon well. At all. It seemed the reasons behind the ship’s insistence regarding “necessary repairs” and establishing a “secondary training platform” were not fully explained to the War Master.
No, the male was not taking the news well.
High pitched squeals and tinkling laughs drew their attention, and he spied Taulan’s mate and his dragonlets. They frolicked in a kid-ee pool, both Lorrasyh and Shanas splashing each other with water. They took turns transforming the splatters of liquid into steam with their fire.
At least they’d ceased trying to set each other aflame. Actually… Lorra drew in a deep breath and sent a ball at her brother, striking him on the ass. The burst sent Shanas tumbling forward, face first into the pool. When the young male dragonlet ceased sputtering and sneezing, he turned a fierce glare on his sister. While Lorra cackled with glee, Shanas bared his tiny dragon’s fangs and…
A deep, guttural growl drew Brukr’s attention—his as well as the remainder of their group. Taulan stood at a nearby comm station, snarling and grumbling.
Both Taulan, Lana, and his dragonlets had arrived prior to their group, and it seemed that while Lana embraced Kouvai Nihon, Taulan did not.
“Penelope, I wish to know why this project occurred,” Taulan snarled.
Penelope responded immediately. “Did Liquid Knot not explain? Kouvai Nihon was constructed upon the approval of the War Master.”
Taulan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I spoke with Liquid Knot and Vende, but who—”
“War Master?” Brukr hated to interrupt, but young Shanas’ scales gradually emerged.
“—developed the plans—” Taulan continued, growli
ng with every word.
“War Master, your dragonlet needs your attention.”
“—for this place?”
“You are currently occupying Kouvai Nihon. This location has an occupancy limit of—”
“This location?” Taulan roared.
“The War Master approved a secondary platform due to the occupancy limitations of Kouvai Nihon.”
“I am the War Master. I would recall approving—”
“War Master, truly.” Brukr watched as Shanas’ fingers gradually transformed to claws, fingertips darkening with the emergence of his nails. It would be best if Taulan ceased arguing with Penelope. Soon. “You must—”
Taulan turned a glare on him. “I must what? I must figure out how to strangle a mass of wires, metal, and plastic? Yes, I must.”
“Your desire is illogical. Are you unwell, War Master Taulan?” Penelope rushed the words out. “I will transport you to medical immediately.”
“Do not dare, Penelo—”
Penelope dared. One moment Taulan stood at Brukr’s side, and then he vanished.
Brukr sighed. “Penelope, where is War Master Taulan?”
“In medical under the care of Healing Master Whelon and Primary Healing Warrior Yazen.” Her prompt response held the tiniest hint of joy. Or at least a feigned representation.
“He will be angry.”
“War Mistress Lana assures me she is capable of removing anger from her mate.”
He grunted. Brukr knew how he reacted to his own mate. He did not doubt Lana could do the same with Taulan.
Brukr refocused on Shanas once more, the dragonlet’s transformation slowing but still very advanced for his age.
“What are you staring at?” Hannah nudged him and he lifted his arm, wrapping it around her and pulling her close as soon as he was able.
“Shanas. He should not be able to embrace so much of his dragon at his age. It… is troubling.” And dangerous. The dragon was part of them, yet its rage could overwhelm even the strongest warrior. He was not sure how a dragonlet would behave with such a deadly beast at his disposal.