Whatever horror she dreamed compared nothing to the horror of their reality.
They would come for her.
He would fight. He might live, but would she?
One moment of distraction was all it would take to steal her from him. The thought of her dead and gone made him feel as if he’d been set on fire and left to burn. He knelt at the foot of the bed and pressed his brow to the floor. He remained there until he knees began to ache. Eyes closed, mind drifting in an ocean of doubt and fear, he waited for the serenity bought with his devotion. He prayed to the goddess. He prayed to the divine being Creation he had rejected and belittled for so long. ‘Great Mother.’ The most ancient of address fell oddly from his lips. How did one apologise for a lifetime of insult? How did you prove your remorse was so great, you’d pay any price if it meant salvation? ‘Great Mother, you must see what is in my heart. I beg your favour not for my own benefit, but for hers. Show me how to keep her safe–how to keep all of them safe. Show me how to lead my brothers to a better future.’
The low chime of his transmitter startled him.
Frowning, Bhyr rose from his prostration and brought up his holosphere. He read the name of the incoming transmission’s sender with disbelieving eyes. He exhaled and dropped back into his position of supplication. ‘My thanks.’ His faith in Destruction had ever been a constant. Horde offerings had been plenty. They’d stained the ground with the blood of the innocent to quench the god’s thirst for death. How did such a thing nourish the soul of a people? It didn’t. It left them empty and without purpose. It ushered oblivion. His species was ending. There was no going back. With humanity, there was a chance pieces of the Azteka people would survive.
With sons and daughters born of women like Indira, those pieces would thrive.
Bhyr accepted the transmission.
‘First.’ The Verak King’s face was expressionless and his eyes devoid of their usual sparkle. ‘Your message was unexpected.’
‘Mighty King. Good Greetings.’
Beowyn’s thinner top lip mashed into his fuller bottom one. He snorted. ‘If only I could respond in kind. The last time we spoke, First, you made it clear there would be no peace between us.’
Bhyr felt his chest tighten.
Regardless of his feared reputation as First of the Horde, Beowyn had ever welcomed him with smiles and laughter.
Losing his regard caused a deeper discomfort than Bhyr had allowed himself to acknowledge. Made to face the loss, and uncommonly tongue-tied, Bhyr fitfully grasped for the right words to heal the breach. ‘It was never my intent to lose you as an ally. I said this.’
‘And I told you, I would not pay the ransom you demanded of me to free my planet from the threat you made of yourself.’
Bhyr fisted a hand. He relaxed it. ‘I regret the way we parted. I would broker a treaty between us once more.’
‘What would such an agreement be worth? You have proven you cannot be trusted.’ Beowyn’s face twisted in anguish. ‘You invaded Earth. My Queen is devastated. My best human friend wept. Wept! The Rä are furious. And I? I am bitterly disappointed. I always thought… I thought you a better male than this.’
Spine rigid, Bhyr breathed through the worst of his guilt. ‘I did what I believed to be right.’
‘Threatening babes? Destroying planets? Annihilating entire species? Invading technologically inferior worlds? Breaking treaties of peace? Treading on the back of a male who only ever tried to be your friend? This you believe to be right?’
Hearing his desperate actions laid before him so starkly, Bhyr lost hope. ‘Nothing I say will right these wrongs in your eyes.’
‘Do not put words in my mouth or pretend as if you know my mind.’ Beowyn slammed a palm to the table.
‘Then know mine. I need a treaty between us.’
‘You need! Dah!’ Confusion passed through his eyes and he leaned in, head cocking. ‘Your speech is changed.’
‘Much has changed.’ He paused. ‘I used to speak to you as an outsider. I am trying to treat you as an equal.’
Beowyn rocked back. ‘The females you took. That must be it. That or you have gone mad.’ His eyes widened and a hint of fear crept around their edges. ‘While my heart sings its joy at what I believe is happening, my head shouts the gravest of warnings. What is happening on Vøtkyr?’
Bhyr shook his head. ‘Where to begin? Everything is changing. Everything.’
‘Tell me.’
‘My female, Indira, she is....’ Bhyr closed his mouth and struggled to expose feelings held close to his heart.
Sucking in a great gust of air, Beowyn loosed a booming whoop of laughter. ‘The First has fallen. All it took was a female from Earth.’ His laughter died, expression at once becoming concerned. ‘Your Horde accepts her?’
‘Some of the warriors treasure their breeders. Others are,’ he averted his gaze from the Verak male as he experienced the sting of embarrassment, ‘reluctant to accept any change.’
Beowyn blinked. ‘I cannot say I am not surprised. I never expected this of you.’ His gaze flicked to the side then back to Bhyr. ‘Though I will say my mate suggested all was not well on Vøtkyr. This was evident when Hel Bihter travelled and visited with us.’
‘What did your Queen observe?’
‘My Commander, Eorik, not my One. He believes the females of Vøtkyr are no more. This is why you invaded Earth and why Bihter left. He sought a solution that differed from yours.’
‘Do not be gentle for the sake of my pride. Speak the whole of it.’
‘Very well. You killed the last of your females, or they are too inbred to conceive, or carry healthy offspring to term. Bihter violated your mandated isolation in desperate search for a life mate. You used his discovery of humanity as a way to obtain breeders from a docile species easy to conquer, yet hardy enough to survive the same Horde mating rituals which have brought your people a mere step from extinction.’ Beowyn pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in dismay at his own conclusions. ‘Am I wrong?’
‘No.’ Uncomfortable with such a bald rendition, Bhyr shook his head in self disgust. ‘There is no longer a benefit in half truths. My people are dying. We needed the human females to spawn us offspring, so our species might continue.’
‘Did you never think to ask for my help?’
‘The male I was then could not.’
‘And the one you have become?’
‘Compromises.’ He smiled, rueful. ‘And asks you to offer sanctuary to his female and her people. Civil war lurks upon Vøtkyr’s horizon, and my heart beats outside my chest.’ Bhyr shuddered. ‘They have already threatened her life.’
‘They would dare?’
‘I break many old traditions. Laws built on the belief females must be subjugated lest they harm us males. Beneath the rebellion is true fear. It is an ancient, strong fear that has festered for too long. They dare because they believe their lives depend on it.’
‘If I were to agree, how would you keep their departure hidden? It does no good to send them elsewhere when they could be followed.’
‘There is an old colony ship maintained for emergencies. It has cloaking technology and will suffice. I am contracting a Baxnonian trader to escort them as protection against Dei San.’ The scourge of the universe gave Aztekan ships a wide berth, excepting the alliance with the L’Odo that targeted Hel Bihter, but he would not trust his Indira’s life to the whims of fate. ‘I have no desire to bring trouble to your homeworld, Beowyn.’
‘If I agree to help promise me you will never go back to what you were. Promise me you will not sacrifice these females to your death god.’
‘I would rather offer my own throat for cutting than see my mate harmed.’ Bhyr shook his head. ‘The Old Ways are no more. I will fight to see it stays that way.’
A slow smile spread across Beowyn’s leonine face. He rubbed his hands together, the star-shaped pupils of his slanted eyes twinkling. ‘Good. Now the ugliness is behind us, I must urge you to mak
e peace with Venomous One.’
Bhyr cringed. What he’d done to Zython’s Avatar could not be settled with words. ‘Will he listen? If I were him–’
‘But you are not, and you will not put words in people’s mouths nor assume.’ Beowyn’s eyebrow rose, chiding. ‘You threatened his mate and offspring, but if you explain why, I believe you will find more understanding than perhaps you deserve.’
‘And Lumen of the Stars?’
‘Will never trust you, but she is kind. She will want to meet the females you took from Earth and ask if they wish to be returned home.’
‘There may be few who wish to do so.’ Bhyr gritted his teeth against the instinct to hoard the females he’d gathered for his warriors. ‘I will not object and will defend their right to that choice.’
Beowyn studied him with narrowed eyes. ‘It is strange to hear such things from your mouth, yet I feel as if I have waited to greet this evolution of you since first we met.’
‘You do not think me weakened by sentiment?’
‘We both know you are weaker. As am I.’ His gaze unfocused, his mouth curving into a smile. ‘We are also stronger. They take much, but give more. That is what makes them precious.’
‘Worth dying for,’ Bhyr murmured.
‘Try living for her instead. You will both prefer it.’ His smile dimmed. ‘I must confess an act that seems precipitous now we have reconciled.’
Bhyr cocked his head.
‘I lodged a complaint against the Horde with the Intergalactic Alliance.’
‘Did you not take you own Queen from Earth?’ Bhyr asked, watching with mild amusement as the Great Alpha squirmed.
‘I am a hypocrite, yes, but I felt your actions excessive.’ His chin lifted. ‘I moved to protect my interests and those of my One and daughter.’
‘I understand. There are no hard feelings.’
Beowyn relaxed. ‘Good.’ The male’s laughter boomed as something occurred to him. ‘By the Boar’s Tusk, I see I will be an uncle again. My friend, I warn you now. Your offspring will love me best.’
35
Bhyr
Bhyr arranged the minutiae of the females’ relocation to Vayhalun. He was thankful Beowyn was wise enough to forget the past and reforge the ties between them.
The new treaty between their sovereignties was weighted heavily in his once again ally’s favour. The wily Verak King won concessions from the Aztekan First he’d likely never have dreamed of prior to the schism. Bhyr let Beowyn have his way with no more than a token protest.
It was fair, and he was too grateful to pretend otherwise.
Indira had been right.
It was foolish to keep people at arm’s length in fear they would betray or hurt you, and even more foolish to lash out in a preemptive strike as a means of protection.
His next appointment was less of a pleasure, but as satisfying in its conclusion.
‘Two billion credits or a thousand crystals.’ The Baxnonian male grinned displaying all his fangs. ‘My war skill is legendary. The females will be safe. You won’t find a better deal under the time constraint.’ He cocked his head, the feathered crest on his head flaring. ‘So? What’ll it be?’
It took a few moments to set up the transaction. ‘Done.’
Yellow-skin flushing to a pale orange, the Baxnonian bobbed its head. ‘Credits received. Pleasure doing business with you. I’ll arrive in Horde deep space in a span standard galactic time since you’re paying for use of a jumpway. I’ll ping you to confirm.’
‘Good,’ Bhyr went to sign off, but the trader snorted. ‘Is there something else?’
‘No. I admit I’m intrigued. You agreed to the secrecy premium without a word of complaint. Makes a male wonder what’s happening planet side.’ The glowing pupils in his large eyes expanded even as his eyelids narrowed. ‘Curious.’
‘If that is all,’ Bhyr said without inflection, features vacant of all expression.
Smirking, the Baxnonian saluted. ‘Be seeing you.’
‘Bhyr?’
Closing his holosphere, he turned to see Indira padding up behind him, rubbing her face. ‘Who are you talking to?’
‘A trader.’ He crossed the distance between them to pull her into his arms. He luxuriated in the rightness of it. ‘You need more sleep.’
‘No.’ She slumped against him. ‘Okay, maybe a little, but I’m having bad dreams, so I’m going to push through it.’ She yawned, tapping her mouth. ‘What are we trading for?’
‘The delivery of precious cargo to Vayhalun.’
She leaned back, face lit with surprise. ‘You patched things up with the Verak?’
‘You were right. The Great Alpha accepted reparation and there is peace between us.’
Her face split with a grin. ‘I’m so proud of you.’
He nodded.
‘Can we discuss what happened yesterday at the Gathering Grotto?’
‘It is not pleasant.’
‘I’m trying to understand how it happened.’ Frustration stamped her features. ‘Why? Who did it? Were Arj Kryll and Hanna more collateral damage? Just a way to separate us, so Wyrm could get a shot at Grace and I?’
Bhyr explained without painting too detailed a picture the nature of the murders and the conclusions of his trusted warriors. He left out his decision to send the human breeders to Vayhalun for their safety. He felt guilt at the deception, but his fear for her life overwhelmed all other considerations. ‘He cherished his breeder, but this was about clearing the way for rebellion.’ He stroked her back. ‘They also wanted to send a message to the rest of the Horde. It worked. The message was heard, but not interpreted the way they intended.’
It had enraged him.
‘We’re equal citizens now.’ Her smile skewed. ‘I know Hanna and Kryll’s deaths pushed you to act earlier than expected, and it’s incredible, Bhyr, truly, but the cost was so high. The people who did this are sick. It kills me they’ve all but gotten away with it.’
Even knowing the actions of the rebellious males originated from a place of fear, he could not disagree. Indira nestled into his embrace. He enjoyed it for as long as he could, stomachs sinking at what must come next. ‘There have been more deaths.’
She stilled. Her arms dropped from around him. ‘Who?’ Once he finished relaying the tragedy, her eyes were red, face pale. ‘So many.’
‘They did not suffer.’
‘Ashleigh was right. We’re dropping like flies.’
Caressing her back, he kept his voice light. ‘I am going to take my Horde on a Hunt.’
‘Oh. Sure.’ She pinched her nose. Sniffed. ‘I’ll be here when you get back. It’s not like I was kidnapped and killed a man yesterday. A whole bunch of my people were murdered but whatever. You go ahead and abandon me to wallow in my dark, twisty thoughts.’
Bhyr rolled his his head on his neck because his eyes could not roll in their sockets as human eyes did. More sarcasm. Aztekan physiology allowed an expression of emotion by use of heat, colour, and vibrating air in the chest and throat, but human non verbal communication was rich and varied. Taking this into consideration, her reluctance to express her true thoughts bemused him.
‘Such angst,’ he said. ‘Perhaps you should not be left alone. Who knows what you might do if you lose the fight against your pain.’
‘Are you sassing me?’ Her voice climbed to a shrill note.
‘It is not safe for you here in the nest.’ The truth of that statement stuck in his throat. ‘Not alone.’ He rubbed his knuckles across her cheek. ‘There is a place I will take you. Hidden. Impenetrable.’
She pushed her hands through her hair. ‘I don’t want to go. I don’t want you to go. After the nightmare that was yesterday, I want to spend the day with you. I want to mourn all this death. I want us to catch our breath, think, and figure out how to handle everything that’s happening.’
She was not wrong. She simply didn’t know a course of action had been decided.
‘The other females
will be there,’ he said to nudge her along, inwardly cringing at the manipulation. ‘They will want to see you and make sure you are unharmed. Discuss recent events. Are you not their leader? Is it not your responsibility to care for them?’
‘They’ll understand I need a minute to process. I’ll see them tomorrow or something.’
‘They need your guidance, and I must take my warriors in hand after this upheaval. I must begin an investigation into the deaths of the breeders. The sooner the better.’
He held his breath.
Indira eyed him, mouth screwing to one side. She flapped a hand. ‘Okay, Bhyr. You do you. I need time to sort my head through the shit I did yesterday, so I’m going back to bed. You’re welcome to climb in and keep me company.’
She spun on her heel and marched away.
Bhyr’s fists clenched in frustration. His female was strong-willed but she had a chink in her armour. Him.
He purr-clicked and stalked her across the nest.
She tossed a suspicious look over her shoulder. ‘I know what you’re doing.’ She flicked her hair. ‘It’s not going to work.’
She pulled off her tunic then bent over to fold it next to the nook, flashing the bright pink of her sex.
Bhyr hooked her waist. He stepped to the side and trapped her between his body and the wall. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, licked the soft spot under her jaw.
She squirmed. ‘I thought you were going?’
‘I refuse to leave you here alone when it is not safe.’
‘It’s fine, Bhyr.’ She gasped when he dragged his teeth along her earlobe. ‘I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. You can go.’
‘I will persuade you.’
‘Someone thinks highly of themselves.’
‘I make you hot and wet. I make you scream.’
She huffed. ‘Braggart.’
‘Let me.’
Her legs parted and he thrilled at his success, rocking their hips back a fraction, so he might slide his fingers past the lips of her sex and stroke her to mindless ecstasy. She reached her peak and shuddered, mewling and rubbing her rump on his swollen barb.
Bhyr Page 32