Atone By Treaty

by Kayla Stonor

  She leaned in. “You’re blaming me for the way I smell?”

  “I say again, do not provoke me.” His words were more growl than speech.

  Gabrielle held her stance, a tantalizing mix of wariness and defiance. Oltu appreciated defiance, enjoyed its demise more. He liked Gabrielle under pressure, but then her eyes cleared and her chin lifted, emboldened for reasons unclear to him. Her smile condemned.

  “You are a moral coward, blaming your inadequacies on me.”

  He laughed, mainly to defuse a burning desire to test her resolve. “Be assured I hold myself responsible for my conduct, but I put you on notice that my control is a fragile creature in your presence. Provoke me at your peril.”

  She bit her lip and Oltu turned from the tempting sight.

  In truth, Gabrielle’s argument was valid. He needed to accept her provocation was not by her conscious choice. Moral coward he was not, weak of will he refused to be. He flexed his broken wing and let the pain distract him. Bone grated, but the strapping held strong. It might heal slightly twisted, but nothing he couldn’t overcome, unlike his attraction for this earthly creature. He needed to learn a new defense mechanism to contain his Qui, a Gabrielle code of honor, or a human female might defeat him yet.

  *****

  Gabrielle searched the blue cloudless sky for a glint of light, or a shadow, some hint the United Regions came for her. Oltu strode ahead, his pace pushing them hard. For heaven’s sake, the UR president’s daughter trailed a winged alien psycho across enemy territory. Someone had to be searching for her.

  Oltu had found her. Why hadn’t Cale?

  She shook off the worry that Cale might be dead. Colonel Cale Tennant didn’t die, it was one of Central Command’s unwritten rules, except the al-Doziyen’s assault on the Salhi compound had been unexpected and ferocious, her protection detail overwhelmed. Gabrielle cringed at the memory. She swiped a tear from her eye, remembering how a Salhi had grabbed her hand, the sound of distant battle sweeping her into the underground tunnel after him.

  Cale could be dead.

  Or injured...

  Oltu might know, except she didn’t trust her voice to hide her emotions and she didn’t want Oltu to know of her relationship with Cale.

  Maybe if she got Oltu to talk...

  “How did you find me?” Her question broke twenty minutes of silence.

  Oltu glanced back before resuming his outward gaze. She had observed how he employed all his senses, scenting the air with nostrils flared, sometimes stopping to listen in one particular direction. Despite his aggression—and her animosity towards anything lizard—she couldn’t help but admire his Qui physique. Even with one wing extended by the splint she’d strapped to the ulna bone, Oltu offered a dazzling sight with the sun reflecting off his scales, and hot damn, that scent of his got under her skin in an intoxicating way.

  She forced her mind off a dangerous track.

  “My psycom isn’t working or the UR would have found us by now.” Her thoughts skipped forward. “Does Central Command know you found me?”

  “Yes.”

  “So why aren’t they here?”

  “I didn’t offer my location?”

  Gabrielle frowned. “Why not?”

  “I expected to retrieve you without incident.”

  She shook her head. “The hubris of royalty—” Although she spoke under her breath Oltu swung around to face her and Gabrielle stopped short. God, she hoped his translator had softened her words.

  Her breath stuck in her throat when he stepped closer.

  “Perhaps you wish to explain your purpose here.” His voice held a hypnotic quality, slow and calculated. “Why did the United Regions place you in these lawless wastelands? How could your father ignore the obvious danger?”

  Gabrielle’s mouth opened. Now he acted like he cared about her safety? A few minutes ago he looked ready to rape her with a powerful physique capable of a lethal sexual assault despite his injuries. The predatory gleam in his eyes told her Jaden hadn’t exaggerated; Oltu was a sadistic fuck, and in his Qui form a very real threat.

  He took a menacing step forward.

  Words tumbled out her mouth. “I came to meet the leader of an emerging faction, a moderate group I believe the United Regions can work with. For the first time since your K’lahn invaded our planet, we have a chance to unify our world. It was worth the risk.”

  “This faction adheres to the fanatical religion practiced in this region?”

  Gabrielle had reviewed transcripts of her father’s discussions with the Qui delegation. Oltu considered the Fringes and their ignorant extremist attitudes a threat to the United Regions and therefore a threat to the Qui alliance with Earth. He had advanced his opinion that the United Regions should obliterate the Fringes for the good of the planet. In Qui-Imperial-speak, annihilation promoted unity. “Religious beliefs are central to billions of people across Earth. It is not exclusive to the Fringes. Fanatics are another matter...”

  “The emergence of a moderate faction implies those less moderate fanatics,” his eyes darkened, “have held dominance for some time.”

  “The early K’lahn invasion destroyed defense capabilities, cities, and oil supplies across much of the Fringes, and for years, people here believed Western civilization responsible. Even when the truth of alien invasion became evident, many still blamed Western decadence for bringing Last Days—apocalypse—upon the world. Many religions preached the invasion was some kind of… punishment for our sins. The more extreme factions asserted a strict religious order across their domain, even more so since the UR’s treaty with the Qui Empire. The new Qui Treaty has only aggravated the situation. Recently we’ve seen evidence that moderates are manipulating the extremist factions in a move to take control and the United Regions wants to help that cause. Earth has suffered decades of destruction. Enough is enough. It’s vital for my world’s recovery that we build allies in the Fringes, not wage war on own species.”

  “Your father hopes to extend the UR border into the Fringes,” Oltu surmised. “If the strategy works, the Qui will approve.”

  Gabrielle frowned. The UR didn’t need the Qui’s approval, but she took the win.

  She recalled her father’s words in the early years of the invasion. “We’re one race, the human race, and it’s our responsibility to unite in the face of extinction by an alien threat.” He had urged the UR to tackle unstable elements in the Fringes for over a decade. Now, with the K’lahn conflict over, entrenched insurgents sensed an opportunity to sink a hole in the politically shifting sands of peace.

  “Why send you?” Oltu asked, returning to his earlier question. “These extremists do not respect females in authority.”

  “But the Salhi we wish to ally with do respect women. If they can’t work with me, we don’t want them in charge of the Fringes.”

  “It appears they betrayed you.”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “I was fine until the al-Doziyen attacked the Salhi compound. Whoever revealed my presence also betrayed those I came to see. Many Salhi died trying to save me and I’ll tell you this—I felt a damn lot safer with them than I do with you!”

  Maybe she could have left that last bit out.

  Oltu studied the ground, and then, for the briefest moment, Gabrielle swore the corners of his lips curled upwards, but when he met her gaze, his mouth was straight, his expression severe. She refused to give ground, even as Oltu’s eyes blazed.

  “The Qui have exceptional senses, Gabrielle. Your heart pounds fast, you reek of fear. Your body urges you to run but instead you stand with fists clenched, ready to defend your honor. I like this. Do not fear. While I control my fierce desire for you, you are safe, but I remind you again, try not to provoke me. I can still scent your lingering arousal, despite your fear.” With that he turned and resumed his path towards the mountain pass that led back to the Salhi.

  Gabrielle stayed put, fighting to take her resentment off the boil.

  Arrogant prick.r />
  As her ire cooled, she pondered her companion’s choice of direction. Oltu probably knew this region better than he let on.

  She ran to catch up with him. “What if the Doziyen find your ship? You do have a ship? I mean, I didn’t hear it so—”

  “My ship is cloaked and locked, and your attackers dead.”

  “You killed them?” Gabrielle could not suppress the rise in her voice.

  “Yes.”

  His insufferable smugness grated on her. She indicated his injured wing. “Seems you missed one.” Not that she wanted him to go finish a killing spree, but her rescue by a flying lizard could complicate relations with the Salhi, and if photos of them together ever spread...

  Oltu grunted. “You... your plight, distracted me. It will not happen again.” He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. “The sniper may call reinforcements to search for us, but they cannot find my ship. Even if they did, they will not gain access.”

  “You don’t have a remote to bring your ship to you? You must have auto pilot.” Her voice faded. Oltu would have done that if he could.

  “The dampening field blocking your neural implant also prevents contact with my ship.”

  Dampening field? Fringe terrorists working alongside Surashan spies had used dampening technology. Clearly the tech was now in wide use.

  “Is Central Command aware of the dampening field?”

  “Yes. Command ordered Colonel Tennant to neutralize the field while I tracked you from your last known location.”

  Gabrielle’s heart skipped a beat.

  “I could not take my ship through the tunnels and left it at the compound.”

  “Colonel Tennant’s okay?”

  “His nanobiotes saved him from his injury.” Oltu broke off, studied her.

  Move on.

  “So how did you alert Command you’d found me? I mean, if your comms was blocked.”

  “A comms buoy fired above the dampening field. I do not have another with me.”

  “I see.”

  Oltu revealed a picture, a portrait of Cale, her father, Jaden, Central Command and Oltu, all working in concert to find her. She saw others making decisions on her behalf that would change her life. Had her father understood the ramifications of involving Oltu in her rescue? Was President Rooster willing to risk the political disaster of Oltu stomping into her life like a bull looking for its next fuck?

  “Why does this disturb you?”

  “You shouldn’t be here.”

  Dad should have trusted Cale to find me. He should have kept Oltu far away.

  If he had, she would be dead.

  “I regret my lapse in control. I scared you earlier, Gabrielle.” Oltu’s forked tongue coiled around her name. “I have no intention of harming you... despite your provocation. Your father asked for my help, a request I could never deny. You can trust me.”

  Gabrielle snorted. She hadn’t survived last night only to trust in Oltu’s magnanimity on the basis of his princely say so. She’d seen the feral beast within, an animalistic mating drive the damn lizard could barely control. He could rescue her a thousand times over and never extinguish the fear he inspired.

  She knew too well the paralyzing terror of a large, stronger man stealing away all physical and emotional control, exposing her vulnerability, exploiting her weaknesses. The loss of everything she loved, every last scrap of self-worth, broke her to the brink of insanity where death seemed the only choice. She gasped for air, caught in the undertow of her past, horrible things she had worked so hard to forget.

  Her vision cleared. Oltu was staring at her, hands raised as if he intended to embrace her.

  She jerked away. “Don’t touch me!”

  He looked startled and lowered his arms. “Gabrielle, there is much to resolve between us. Before, I did not understand. You fight with courage—provocation in your nature, resistance part of your attraction—but your fear cannot be treated as a game.” His lizard eyes had turned almost black, holding Gabrielle captive, binding her in his hypnotic spell. “I won’t be parted from you again. I understand that now, but you are safe. Harming you only harms myself. I would die to protect you, kill to keep you safe. Believe me. You hold the balance of power between us.”

  Gabrielle stood motionless. She had no words. Oltu sucked the oxygen from the air.

  I won’t be parted from you again.

  The words played over and over in her mind, a haunting expression of his obsession with her.

  Fuck.

  *****

  All pretense of composure disintegrated in the wake of Oltu’s solemn vow, and his declaration was a vow, Gabrielle knew that deep in her gut. This Qui had saved her only to own her, not set her free. This Qui, commander of an interstellar armada, would break laws, ignore Imperial treaties, and destroy worlds to keep her. The brother to the Empress of the galaxy, next in line for the throne, none could bar his way. She believed him entirely capable of harming himself, and equally capable of harming her and others.

  So many dire implications underlay his promise. Her stomach churned to think of the turmoil ahead once the United Regions and her father realized she had escaped terrorist insurgents, only to become Oltu’s captive.

  Hold the balance of power?

  Hah!

  To calm him, yes, to provoke him, assuredly, but not to say no. Not to walk away.

  How dare he? What gave him the right?

  This stopped now.

  “No!”

  Oltu blinked; a long slow blink. “No?”

  She tossed her head, returned his glare with a passion to match his own, uncaring of the physical retribution he could rain upon her. “In your culture, protection doesn’t equate with freedom.”

  “You know nothing of my culture or our customs.”

  “Maybe not, but I know you! I know your dick rules your head! And that you command extensive power to act with the might of the Qui Empire at your disposal. That’s a seriously fucked up combination. You can’t put this on me. I won’t become your latest toy.”

  Her choice of words threw him, delayed his response and then thunder stormed his expression. “Be careful, Gabrielle.”

  “Or what? Or fucking what? I’m not your plaything.” Her voice rose with her indignation, and her fear. “I didn’t kill my mom, lose Ben, watch my friends go through hell, to fucking roll over and play slave girl in your lizard harem!” He launched forward and she screamed at him as she ducked. “I am not yours and I never—”

  The scaly palm of his hand over her lips rendered her silent as he pulled her against his chest. “Forces approach us.”

  “Ugnngh!”

  “I will release you when you can be silent.”

  Sanity returned. Ice ran up her spine. She nodded and he removed his hand.

  “A settlement lies ahead,” he murmured. “It will provide cover.”

  “How do...?” she whispered back before remembering his acute sense of smell. Maybe he scented cooking, or sewers. “Never mind.”

  “We can outrun them if I carry you.”

  Gabrielle balked at the suggestion. “Those forces might be United Regions.”

  “They are not. We will move faster if you do not struggle.”

  Her chin lifted. “Better I run.”

  Oltu studied her less than a second before he grabbed her hand. “Fine. We need my wing to heal. Try to keep up.”

  He set a killer pace. They hadn’t hit the heat of midday and Oltu’s outstretched hand offered balance as they raced across uneven ground. Twenty minutes later they were crouched behind a stone wall. Gabrielle guzzled from the water pouch and fought for breath, her cheeks flushed on adrenaline.

  “It looks deserted,” she whispered between gasps for air.

  “I scent food. We go this way.” Oltu indicated right.

  Gabrielle pulled on his arm before he could move. “The people living here could be innocent. You can’t hurt them.”

  *****

  Oltu expelled a breath of exaspe
ration. Only female Qui of noble birth defied him this way. All others accepted his decree, but Gabrielle simultaneously provoked and charmed. He’d chosen to protect her from his mating Qui, to defend her life with his own, but she would not cajole him to do her bidding. She would learn her place beside him, but not this second, for he agreed with her point.

  “You will stay hidden while I dispose of the men hunting us. That is all.”

  He watched her relief clash with misplaced concern for the men stalking them. He had witnessed this same weakness in Gabrielle’s father when the UR president vehemently refused Sonestra’s offer to resolve the Fringe problem in a more efficient manner.

  Foolish. The most deadly enemy hid within.

  His own treacherous brother proved that.

  He absorbed Gabrielle’s accusing glare and directed the anger she inspired to focus his mind. He separated out incoming scents from Gabrielle’s potent mating call, a constant distraction. His wing rustled against the wall and he shifted to human, deftly caught the splint dressing and placed the items on the floor. He completed his shift with an inner wince from the pain before moving out.

  A breeze had picked up and another scent entered the mix, one he recognized.

  Colonel Tennant.

  So the United Regions had tracked them down. He estimated the UR forces to be a mile out. They would arrive late, find the job done. He led Gabrielle to an empty shack, indicated she should remain inside, relieved when she complied.

  He swept through the village, free to act without Gabrielle judging his every move. Anticipation parted his lips as he sneaked up on his first target, a dark-skinned man carrying a scent he associated with the vermin hunting Gabrielle, and one that set this man apart from the inhabitants of this place and the dead Salhi scattered across the compound.

  Fury coursed through Oltu’s veins. The thought of this creature’s filthy hands on Gabrielle drew his talons. He merged with the shadows and pounced as the man crept past his position. Oltu slit his victim’s throat with a single slash then crushed his vocal cords until the flailing body hung still.