by Zoey Draven
“We have no Luxirian crystals on board,” Lihvan answered him. “You know that.”
“Which is why I will need leverage,” Gribrak replied easily. Lihvan stiffened, but kept his expression neutral as his enemy continued, “We have all of our cannons, ammunition, and laser sensors directed right at your vessel, Ambassador Lihvan. Tread carefully. One wrong move and I will give the order.”
Lihvan glanced back at Vikan. His features were unreadable, except for the slight trembling of his hand. Lihvan knew it was not fear. It was rage. Vikan had always kept it tightly leashed, much like Lihvan.
Lihvan returned his gaze to the Jetutian. “What do you want as your leverage?”
Gribrak smiled. His sharp, jagged teeth were repulsive. “I will use you.” Lihvan gave no outward reaction. He knew any hint of it would please Gribrak to no end. “We will send a vessel to collect you, Ambassador, and ransom your return to your Prime Leader in exchange for thirty vonnes of Luxirian crystals.”
Lihvan almost laughed. Thirty vonnes? Impossible. Luxirians only possessed a fraction of that, since mining work had lessened in the past ten rotations. The Jetutians had always assumed that the Luxirians were drowning in crystals, one of the few natural resources that enabled long distance space travel, but that was simply not the case. However, Lihvan knew he bartered not only for the life of the warriors on board and the human females, but for time.
It was a gamble, but one he would need to take.
“Twenty,” Lihvan returned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vikan start, but he held out a hand behind him, telling his friend to still. “You will see none, however, if you harm this vessel. Our deal is held together by the safe return of my warriors to Luxiria and only then will our Prime Leader be notified.”
Gribrak pretended to consider, but Lihvan caught the gleam of eager greed in his eyes nonetheless. “We will send a transport to your vessel shortly.”
The stream cut off and Lihvan stared at the silver pad, gathering his thoughts, trying not to let hate and disgust overwhelm him.
“Ambassador?” the warrior asked, after a brief moment of pause. “Your orders?”
Loud enough for all the warriors present to hear, he said, “Secure the females and make sure they are safe. Getting them back to Luxiria is still our mission.”
“We should fight them,” another warrior said and Lihvan cut his gaze over to him. He was a younger warrior, fresh from military training, but he should still know better than to contradict a superior’s orders, especially Lihvan’s. “This is an opportunity for us to avenge our lost females!”
Lihvan’s gaze drilled into him so hard that he thought it might cause the warrior pain. “Are you challenging my authority? Did our Prime Leader give direct power to you that I, or Ambassador Vikan, do not know of?” The younger warrior paled, his jaw tightening when he realized that he’d misstepped. “No? Then keep your tongue inside your mouth before I loosen it from your skull,” Lihvan growled, feeling precious moments slip by with frustration. He felt his muscles bunching and swelling in response, but he managed to retain control.
Barely.
Another Com signaled another vessel and the warrior in front of it said, cutting through the thick silence, “A vessel just released from the main Jetutian bay. Approaching fast.”
Vikan strode over to Lihvan and his usually calm friend was tight with anger. Quietly, so the warriors wouldn’t overhear, he hissed, “Have you gone mad? The Jetutians are not to be trusted. When they realize that we hardly have five vonnes of crystals, they will execute you.”
“I know,” Lihvan murmured lowly.
Vikan inhaled sharply. “Then why—”
“To give you time.”
Vikan eyed him and then said, “You were not planning to return.”
Lihvan huffed out a sharp laugh. “No. The Jetutians must truly believe that we have been hoarding our resources, or else they would not make such ludicrous demands. No…they will find out soon enough. But before they do, the moment they take me on board, you must escape and do it swiftly. I do not trust Gribrak to keep his word not to harm the vessel. Jetutians never keep their word.”
Vikan shook his head. “No, I will not allow you to do this.”
“We have no choice.”
“I will go in your place. One Ambassador is as good as another,” Vikan said, clasping a hand on Lihvan’s shoulder. “I have nothing more to lose. And you…your Instinct has chosen a female for you. You have everything to lose.”
Lihvan’s chest squeezed when he thought of Beks, at the possibility, but then he turned her away from his mind. There was no point dwelling on it now, considering that he would most likely die that span.
“No, my friend,” Lihvan said. “I cannot allow you to do that.” When Vikan started to protest, Lihvan continued with, “Gribrak has a personal vendetta against me, as you well remember. He would not take you in my place. This is something that I must do.”
Vikan’s hand clenched on his shoulder. “Lihvan, I do not like this.”
“You do not have to,” he said. “Just make sure that you use this distraction well and you get this vessel back to Luxiria as soon as you can. That is all that I ask in return.”
Vikan went silent. Sharp exhales sounded from his nostrils and his friend wrestled with the knowledge that Lihvan could not be swayed from this.
“And what of your female?” Vikan finally asked.
“She will return to Earth with the others. Back to her home,” Lihvan said, voice rough. “She will never know that my Instinct chose her for me…and perhaps that is for the best.”
Lihvan swallowed his regret and as the transport vessel crept closer and closer, he mourned the loss of her. He would never know what could have been.
SEVEN
Something was wrong.
Beks felt the hair on her arms rise and she slid her palms down, rubbing, trying to shake the sudden feeling of unease that had descended over her like a shroud.
The space ship had given a large lurch a while ago, startling her from a deep sleep. It had taken her a few moments to realize where she was and why…and she couldn’t help but feel disappointment when she realized that Lihvan had not returned to his quarters after what she’d done.
Maybe he’s just not interested, she thought. Maybe she’d misread the situation and assessed his body language through very human eyes.
Getting out of bed, she touched the wall of the room. There was a slight vibration, like a gentle humming, but nothing like what she’d felt when she’d realized that the ship was in flight. They had stopped. But why? Had they already reached Lihvan’s home planet? What had he called it…Luxiria?
She didn’t know why but warning bells were going off in her head. For a moment, she let her mind run wild. She wondered if those lizard-like aliens had caught up with them and were demanding their return. Was something wrong with the ship? Or had Lihvan been lying to her the entire time when he’d said she could go back to Earth? Was he planning to sell them to the highest bidder just like those other aliens?
Breathe, she told herself. Slowly, she approached the door, deciding that she should just go find out for herself. Lihvan might not appreciate that she’d broken out of his room again, but if he had any complaints, then she would handle it.
Mimicking what she did the first time, Beks got the door to slide open once more and she poked her head out. There was no one around and the hallway seemed quiet, so she ventured out.
She remembered the way to the command center, but the closer that Beks got to it, the more she thought something was wrong. The ship’s hallways were completely deserted. Panic began to bubble in her throat as she wondered if these aliens really were as trustworthy as they seemed.
Just as she reached the hallway that led to the command center, she saw Lihvan emerge from its doors, alone. Stifling a surprised gasp, Beks ducked out of sight. Her gut instinct told her that she should be wary and until she got to the bottom of whatever was hap
pening, she’d treat Lihvan’s actions with suspicion.
Hoping that he wouldn’t venture towards the hallway she was currently hiding in, Beks listened intently and gave a silent sigh of relief when she heard his footsteps retreating. She poked her head around the corner and saw him disappear at the opposite end. Only then did she follow him and for the first time, she was thankful that she was barefooted.
For what seemed like hours but was probably only a few minutes, Beks followed the towering alien that she harbored a strange, intense attraction to. A couple times, she thought he’d catch her but she made sure to keep her distance and to be as silent as possible. And damn, she thought she was doing a great job.
Finally, he stopped, halting in front of two large metal doors. Beks hovered next to a piece of machinery, watching, wondering what he was up to. He’d turned his attention to the silver pad next to the door and Beks thought she caught movement on the screen.
Just as she leaned closer to try and get a better view, her toes bumped into the machinery she was hiding behind and Lihvan moved quicker than she thought possible. With a growl, he sprung on her, claws extended. Beks gave a short, startled cry and then Lihvan wrenched his body away, managing to right himself while also capturing her against him.
“Female,” Lihvan rasped into her ear, chest heaving. “I almost…vrax!”
Beks didn’t know what else to say, except, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have startled you.” She was proud that her voice only shook a little, remembering the gleam of those deadly claws.
Lihvan’s ragged breaths didn’t change. And when Beks looked up at him, she saw him cast a hard stare at the metal doors. “Beks, you must leave. Right now.”
“Why?” she questioned. “What’s going on? I felt the ship—”
“Now!” he snapped. “Leave and return to my quarters immediately.”
Irritation made her prickly. “Hey, you can’t order me around like some sort of dog, buddy. I’m not—”
He made a sound in the back of his throat. Then Lihvan cut her off by pulling her more tightly into his body, craning his head down so that it rested in the crook of her neck. She felt him inhale deeply, like he was smelling her skin, and she wondered why that little action felt so erotic. She felt the sharp contrast of his black horns against her cheek and she felt the other one tangle in her hair.
“Lihvan…” she started, her momentary anger draining out of her. Her voice failed her, however, even though she didn’t know what she would’ve said. Instead, her throat closed up, clogging with unexpected tears, when his hands spanned her waist, when they ran over her curves like he was trying to memorize the shape of her, when he lightly brushed his lips across the sensitive flesh of her neck and whispered words in his language that she felt deep inside her bones.
He touched her with an infinite gentleness and Beks had never felt so treasured, so wanted, in her entire life. It shook her to her core.
The moment ended far too soon. Lihvan pulled away, his features showing his emotion. Beks thought that it resembled grief.
“Luxiva,” he started, “I am begging you to leave right—”
His words were cut off by a sharp hiss as the doors slowly slid open, revealing a tightly huddled group of yet another alien species. Immediately, Lihvan shoved her behind him, blocking their path with his body.
It was too late. They’d already seen her.
* * *
Gribrak’s gaze darted behind Lihvan and zeroed in on Beks. Lihvan sickened at the realization on his enemies’ face, feeling panic bloom under his flesh until he thought he might suffocate from it.
He was angry at his female, for following him, but mostly at himself, for not realizing it sooner and for embracing her when he should’ve pushed her from the docking bay. His momentary weakness would be her doom and the knowledge gutted him.
In Jetu, Gribrak addressed him. “This is most surprising, Ambassador. A human female as your mate? I would think you had more control than that.”
Lihvan hated the way Gribrak’s eyes trailed over his female and the growl that tore from his throat was filled with both warning and rage. The only thing that prevented him from launching himself at the smug Jetutian was the knowledge that the docking bay was being monitored by Vikan. His friend would’ve seen Beks, would’ve seen the potential danger in having her so close to their most-hated enemy. All Lihvan had to do was buy time so that Vikan could come retrieve her from harm’s way.
Unfortunately, Gribrak also seemed to come to this realization. His gaze darted around the docking bay and then he grunted at his men, “Take them both.”
Lihvan’s muscles bunched and started to grow, sensing the direct threat against his mate. His Instinct bristled, hackles rising.
“Quickly!” Gribrak commanded, eyeing Lihvan like he was a weapon about to go off.
Lihvan reacted, knowing that at all costs he had to protect his mate. He lashed out with his claws at one of the seven Jetutians that had surrounded them both and blood immediately gurgled from the enemies’ slit chest. Beks gave a small cry of fear and surprise that raked across his insides and made him roar in fury.
His Instinct guided his actions, his vision focused, tracking every single movement of the Jetutians. He dispatched one more of them, his thick hide slapping onto the floor in a bloodied mess, before he felt an electric jolt through his body, robbing him of strength.
His limbs became limp and he felt another jolt, which brought him to his knees. His breaths went ragged and he blindly reached behind him to make sure his female was still unharmed.
Gribrak crouched in front of him, tilting his head to the side in that unnatural Jetutian way that looked as though it might roll off his neck. Dangling from his hands was the weapon that had shocked him. A coward’s weapon.
“Never have I seen you so undone, war general,” Gribrak commented, his gaze flickering to Beks behind him.
Lihvan attempted to make another swipe at him, but his arms were heavy. They thudded onto the docking bay floor, useless.
“Take them,” Gribrak said, rising.
Focus, the logical part of him reasoned. He was a war general, one that could strategize and keep a level head in dangerous situations. Dampening the rage that coursed through his veins, his eyes were drawn to the transport vessel the Jetutians had traveled in. And just like Luxirian transport vessels, there were four escape pods attached to the sides.
He could fit Beks into one if he regained control of his limbs soon. He could fire it back towards the vessel and hope that Vikan had not escaped by then, even though that was exactly what Lihvan had told him to do.
Nothing else mattered except for her safety. Lihvan would gladly give his life if it meant she would be unharmed.
Lihvan felt a twitch of his strength return to his arms as he was dragged on board. Behind him, he heard Beks struggling, but he told himself to be patient, to not lash out with his growing strength or else his plan might not work. She was tossed down beside him on the biting metal, in nothing but his tunic. His eyes caught and held her own. He wanted to roar at her obvious fear, knowing that he was failing her as a protector.
Failing…just like my sire, he couldn’t help but think, feeling shame that he’d long buried threaten to choke him.
But he rebelled against it. He was not his sire and he would not fail his mate. He’d pushed himself to be the best war general that Luxiria had ever seen and he poured that focus, that ambition, into the plan that had begun to form in his mind.
When the transport vessel doors shut and Gribrak stepped over his body to take command, Lihvan flexed his fingers, testing his control. The electric jolt only seemed to have a temporary effect and every undisturbed moment helped fuel him.
Lying still, his eyes connected with Beks’. Terror made her gaze glassy, but he tilted his head down, trying to convey everything in one single look. Her brows furrowed as she tried to read his expression and then her eyes flickered over to the group of Jetutians and Gribrak, wh
o were congregated at the front of the transport vessel. Only one Jetutian had been left to watch over them and Lihvan knew that he could easily dispatch of him, especially when it meant getting his mate to safety.
Brave female, he thought, pride welling in his chest as Beks made a visible effort to lessen her fear. When she looked at him again, she nodded slightly and Lihvan knew that she would be ready when he made his move.
Next, without moving his head, he looked at the hatch on one of the escape pods closest to them. It looked as if it needed an access code, but he knew from one harrowing experience a few rotations ago that if he destroyed the panel, the hatch doors would open by default as a security measure.
He just needed an opportunity and he needed it before they reached the main Jetutian vessel.
His opportunity came when Vikan fulfilled his promise. Lihvan didn’t see the Luxirian vessel engage all fifty thrusters and speed away towards their home planet and away from Jetutian territory, but he felt the tremendous wave of energy that violently rocked them.
The vessel tilted sideways and Gribrak cursed loudly while the other Jetutians tried to right themselves. Lihvan didn’t waste a moment. With his body straining, his strength not fully returned, he catapulted off the cargo floor and put as much power behind his momentum as he launched himself at the Jetutian guarding them. With a quick pull, he snapped his neck and he slumped to the ground, lifeless.
Before Gribrak could even react, Lihvan slammed his fists into the control panel for one of the escape pods and Beks hurried to meet him, scrambling inside the hatch door when it opened.
Gribrak recovered and roared in Jetu at his crew, “Disable the pods! Disable them now!”
Lihvan jumped in after Beks, the door whooshing closed behind him. The Jetutian escape pod had a different layout than the Luxirian ones. Lihvan shook his head, his body feeling sluggish after his burst of adrenaline.