Annexation

by Marisa Chenery

  “All right.”

  “Kiri, I missed you.”

  She blinked at the rapid change in topic. “You said you would the last time I saw you.”

  “I did. I dreamed about you while I was in stasis. I want us to be close like we once were.”

  Kiri shook her head. “I doubt that will happen. You lied to me. About what you were and what was in store for my planet. I’ve lost so much. How can you expect me to trust you again?”

  A look of hurt flashed across Cax’s face. It only lasted a few seconds. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I was worried you’d reject me if I did. I didn’t want to lose your friendship.”

  “Now I know the truth and you want me to just welcome you back into my life? How can I do that? I look at you and all I see is an Atres, one of the people who killed my parents.”

  “It wasn’t me who killed them. If you want to blame anyone for their deaths, blame my father. Help me try to undo what he’s done to your city before he does it to another.”

  “How do we go about that?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’m working on a plan. Until I have it figured out, I need you to stop going out at night with your bow and arrows.”

  “I told you. I don’t know if I can.”

  Cax stood and crossed to where Kiri sat. He gently took her by the arm and pulled her to her feet. He cupped her face in both hands and gently kissed her before he lifted his head to look her in the eyes. Her heart raced at the simple meeting of their lips, and she forced herself not to react in any other way.

  “I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you, Kiri,” Cax said softly.

  She pulled out of his hold. She took a few steps away. Being that close to him made it hard for her to think clearly. All the old feelings she had for him had come rushing back. He’d been such a big part of her life. Kiri just didn’t know if she wanted him to be again.

  “You don’t have to worry. I can look after myself. I’ve been night hunting for a while now.”

  “You’re responsible for the missing warriors, aren’t you?”

  Kiri lifted her chin and didn’t say anything.

  Cax closed the distance between them once more and took hold of her upper arms. “It’s okay. You can tell me. I won’t turn you in. I’d never do that. And since I trained you, I know you wouldn’t have killed them unless they provoked you.”

  She figured there was no point in denying it. He’d already set his mind to the fact that she had. “I did,” she said softly.

  “What happened?”

  “It happened twice. The first time, two warriors broke into my friend’s house while I was sleeping over. Others had come like that and taken Meg’s father, so I had my bow and arrows with me. They would have taken her. I did what you’d taught me. I didn’t think. I just acted. I killed them. Meg’s mom shot them with one of their guns and got rid of the remains.”

  Cax rubbed her arms. “And the second time?”

  “I…I helped set up a neighborhood alien watch. That’s what we called it. The adults and some of the other teenagers and I would patrol the streets at night to make sure no more people were stolen from their homes by Atres warriors. We tried to stop some. A warrior shot my mom, turning her to ash before I could do anything to help her. I killed all the warriors. That’s when I decided I’d hunt your people. If they weren’t trying to steal humans, I wouldn’t kill them. Otherwise they were fair game. I shoot to take them out.”

  He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m so sorry. No wonder you want to hurt my people. You have to remember we’re not all like that.”

  Kiri shoved out of Cax’s embrace. “That may be the case, but the bad ones outnumber the good. When I hunt, I can’t go up to the warriors I see and ask, ‘Hey, do you like to steal humans from their homes in the dead of night?’ before I act. Don’t think. Just do. That’s what you drummed into my mind.”

  Cax sighed. “I can see I won’t be able to stop you from hunting. That just leaves me one choice.”

  She stiffened. “You’re going to turn me in now?”

  “No. I said I’d never do that. I’m moving in with you. And when you hunt at night, I’ll accompany you. That way I can tell you who to shoot and who not to.”

  Kiri quickly shook her head. “Nope. No way. Not going to happen. Besides, won’t it be questioned that you’re staying on the planet’s surface? I’m sure the leader’s son wouldn’t be allowed to do that. You’re so important to your people, after all.”

  “Since I am the leader’s son, I can do whatever I wish. I’ve already made plans with my father to live on the surface. I told him I wanted to study humans, to learn more about your people. I’d suggested El Centro since all the adults have been removed. He agreed. Father thinks it would be less of a risk to my safety.”

  “My answer still has to be no.”

  “I’m not asking. I’ll telling you. It’s my right to keep you safe.”

  Kiri eyed Cax. “No, it’s not. Why would you even think that?”

  He silently stared at her for so long, she figured he wouldn’t answer.

  “I trained you,” he finally said. Cax stepped closer until they were toe-to-toe. He bent his head and kissed her for a second time. He stared at her. “You mean something to me, Kiri. I want to protect you.”

  He went to kiss her again, but Kiri placed her hand over his mouth and pushed him back. “Stop that.”

  Cax tugged her palm away. “Stop what?” he asked with a crooked grin.

  “Kissing me. I can’t think straight when you do that.”

  He smiled. “You feel something for me as well.”

  “I’m not commenting on that.” Kiri scowled. “Since you’ll move in whether I want you to or not, there are going to be some ground rules.”

  “I’m glad you’ve accepted it. What are these rules?”

  “You sleep in the guestroom. My parent’s room is off limits. Same with mine.”

  “Agreed.”

  “You will not stop me from hunting. If you have to come with me, you take my lead. I say jump, you ask how high. Got it?”

  “I agree to that as well, up to the point where I feel you could endanger yourself. Then I take control.”

  “No. You’ll be living in my world. In my house, I’m the boss. In front of the warriors, you can act as if you are, but not when we’re alone.”

  “Fine.”

  “One last thing. Under no circumstances, even if you think you’re doing the right thing, will you turn me in. I will never forgive you if you do.”

  “I promise you I won’t.”

  She nodded. Cax gave her an expectant look. Kiri rolled her eyes. “You can move in.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear. Let’s go upstairs and talk to Drace. He and Lemeah will help me organize the Earth sympathizers down on the planet. My other contacts will work on the ones on the ships.”

  Kiri’s eyes widened. “You plan to form a rebellion while using my house as your headquarters?”

  “Yes. And you’ll be one of my trusted warriors.”

  Chapter 10

  After Cax and Drace had left, Kiri crashed for a few hours. Her lack of sleep had caught up with her and she hadn’t fought it. No longer having to worry about Drace bringing Atres warriors to her door to take her, she’d fallen asleep in a matter of seconds once her head had hit her pillow.

  As Kiri went through the routine of brushing her teeth and taking a shower, she couldn’t stop thinking about Cax and all he’d said. He cared about her. Her feelings could attest to the fact that she still cared for him as well. The only problem was she didn’t know if they would work. He was an Atres warrior, and she was a lowly human. Her people were subjugated, and his were the overlords. Wouldn’t that put a huge strain on a relationship?

  Once again in her bedroom, Kiri dressed. Her thoughts turned to what she, Cax, and Drace had discussed be
fore they’d left her—the start of a rebellion. Cax wanted to stop his father. He thought Earthlings and Atres could live side by side as equals. She wasn’t sure if it was already too late for that. The damage had been done, and people wouldn’t so easily forget.

  Kiri went downstairs to wait for Cax to return. He planned to arrive sometime in the middle of the afternoon. She’d already gotten the guestroom ready for him. Had even changed the sheets since the ones that had been on the bed hadn’t been exactly fresh. Her mom had put them on it before the Atres had arrived. They hadn’t had many guests over to use it.

  She headed to the kitchen. Kiri took out a box of cereal and poured the last of it into a bowl. She’d have to eat it dry since she’d run out of milk a while ago. As she munched on it, she wondered if Cax would be able to arrange for her to hit a grocery store to stock up on supplies. She still wasn’t going to touch the gross-looking stuff the shuttles brought to be passed off as food.

  Kiri had just finished her dry cereal when the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock on the stove. It was two o’clock, which meant it had to be Cax at the door. She hurried to it and before she opened it. It was Cax along with Drace. They each carried a large square bag.

  She gave them a questioning look as they came inside. “What’s with the bags?”

  “It’s our belongings,” Cax answered.

  Kiri looked at him. “Ours? As in Drace brought his too?”

  “Yes.” Cax scowled. “At the last minute, my father demanded I take a warrior with me to stand as my guard. I managed to let him allow me to choose who I would take. I picked Drace.”

  “So, the both of you will be staying here?”

  “Correct.”

  “You don’t mind, do you, Kiri?” Drace asked.

  “It’s too late for me to object now, isn’t it? There’s only one guestroom, though. You two will have to share it or Drace will have to bunk down in my bedroom and I’ll take the one that was my parents’.”

  “I’m okay with taking your room,” Drace replied.

  Cax let out a quiet growl. “No. You’ll take the guestroom and I’ll have Kiri’s.” He gave Drace a hard stare.

  “Of course,” Drace said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

  Kiri once again felt as if she was being left out of the loop on something while she was around them. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

  They followed her up the stairs. The guestroom was the first one they reached so Kiri left Drace there and brought Cax to her bedroom. She went to her closet. It didn’t take her long to get into the attic and retrieve her bow and quiver. She closed it up before she turned to Cax.

  “I’ll clear out a few drawers of my dresser for you to use. I’ll have to move some of my things into my parents’ room, anyway. I’ll also change the sheets for you, even though they were changed yesterday.”

  Cax shook his head. “Don’t. I’m fine with them. That way they’ll smell like you.”

  “Okay.” Kiri wasn’t going to comment on that. If he wanted to sleep on her used sheets, so be it.

  She went to leave so Cax could get settled, but he stopped her before she reached the door. “Kiri, one last thing. There will be a shipment of bagged blood when the dinner shuttle arrives. It will have to be put into your fridge. Will that bother you?”

  “Fine. And no, it won’t. That way I don’t have to worry about you two going around biting kids.”

  “We’d never do that. Feeding from children is considered taboo to the Atres.”

  “Gotcha. It’s just okay to forcibly feed from adults.” At Cax’s guarded expression, Kiri shook her head. “Sorry. That wasn’t nice. I shouldn’t be taking potshots at you. You haven’t done anything like that. It’s going to take me a bit to stop classing all Atres the same.”

  He gave her a small smile. “I understand. This is new to both of us. We’ll have to adjust.”

  “Why don’t you get settled, then meet me downstairs. I have to change the sheets on my parents’ bed. I haven’t touched anything in there since my mom died.”

  “Would you like some help?”

  “No, I’m good. I’d rather do it myself. It’ll be hard enough having to take some of her clothes out of her dresser to make room for my things.”

  “All right.”

  Kiri turned and walked into the hallway. She went to the end of it where the master bedroom was. She shut the door behind her and looked around. She had left the room as her mother had on her last night. The thought of touching anything had made her want to curl in on herself and cry.

  She took a deep breath. She had to do it. Her parents weren’t coming back. Ever. Kiri had her mom’s ashes to prove it. She crossed to her mother’s dresser and pulled open the top drawer. It was filled with underwear, bras, and socks. She wouldn’t be keeping any of that. She scooped them up and threw them onto the floor. They’d eventually go into a garbage bag.

  The second drawer held long-sleeved T-shirts. Her mom’s style had been more of an athletic-type. Form-fitting, boot-cut yoga pants had been her go-to for pants. Kiri went through the shirts, seeing if there were any she wanted to keep for herself. Her mom and her had been close in size, with her mom only being a little bit bigger in the chest.

  By the time Kiri finished going through the remaining three drawers, she was a little misty-eyed. She’d never thought at aged eighteen she’d be an orphan and having to sort out her parents’ belongings since they were gone. She dreaded going through her dad’s things, and thought that for now they could stay where they were.

  The last thing Kiri did before she left the room to see how Cax and Drace were doing was to stow her bow and quiver under the king-sized bed. Her surplus of arrows would have to stay in the attic for now. She’d have to make some trips to the sporting goods store’s basement to slowly take the rest that were stored there. She didn’t want to be cut off from them.

  Kiri poked her head into the other bedrooms, which turned out to be empty. She went downstairs. At the bottom of the steps, she stopped to listen for Cax’s and Drace’s voices. There was nothing but silence. She crossed to the front door and opened it. They were outside on the sidewalk, talking to Drace’s sister, Lemeah, who held the baby she looked after.

  “You can invite her in, you know,” Kiri called.

  The three of them turned to look at her. Cax said something to Lemeah, which had her nodding before they walked up the brick path to the porch. Kiri left the door open for them and went to sit in the living room.

  Lemeah had the neighbor’s baby held on her hip. He was about six months old, and was named Blane. He smiled at Kiri as Lemeah sat with him on her lap next to Kiri on the couch. Kiri had to admit he was a cute baby with his white-blond curls and blue eyes.

  “So I guess you know your brother and Cax are going to be staying here,” Kiri said as a statement as she looked at Lemeah.

  The female nodded. “Yes. And I must say I’m happy you’ll no longer be alone.”

  Kiri shook her head. “What’s up with you and Drace figuring I can’t handle living by myself? I had no problem with it.”

  Cax broke into the conversation. “Lemeah knows why I’m really here.”

  “You must have told her I’m the human who has been hunting Atres warriors at night and shooting arrows into them. And that we met through my dreams, and you trained me to fight for a few years.” Her statement caused silence to reign. She pictured the sound of crickets in her mind. “What?”

  Cax cleared his throat. “We hadn’t told her about your night hunting. Or about the rest.”

  Lemeah’s shocked gaze landed on Cax. “You dream walked with her?”

  He gave a curt nod and didn’t say anything. Kiri had had enough of people talking about things she didn’t understand and not clue her in. “Okay,” she said sharply. “This is the second time someone has thought it’s a big deal that we can do this dream walking thingy. Would you like to tell me why?”

  �
�It’s because you’re his mate,” Drace said simply.

  “His what?” Kiri asked with a small chuckle. “You have to be kidding, right?” No one else laughed. “Oh, come on. Seriously?”

  “Only true mates can dream walk together,” Lemeah said. “It’s the one person they can do this with. And finding a true mate is not that common amongst my people. It’s something that is to be cherished.”

  Kiri nailed Cax with her gaze. “You knew this when we first met? Back when I was twelve?” His face held no expression as he nodded. “Something else you decided not to tell me, I see. Were you ever going to let me know?”

  “Yes,” Cax said stiffly. “I didn’t think you were ready for that information yet.” He gave Drace a hard stare. The other warrior didn’t appear to be apologetic as he matched Cax’s gaze.

  “She had a right to know,” Drace said. “There was no advantage in keeping it a secret from her.”

  Cax shook his head. “You should have at least consulted me before you told her.”

  “I took on the responsibility to look out for her wellbeing. I deemed that she needed to know.”

  When it looked as if a heated argument would erupt, Kiri put two fingers into her mouth and let loose with a shrill whistle. Now that she had all their undivided attentions, she said, “No fighting allowed or I kick you out of my house.” She looked at Drace. “I told you before that I don’t need anyone to look after me. So you can make yourself un-responsible for my wellbeing.” She turned her gaze on Cax. “And you can keep the-son-of-the-leader bossiness to yourself. I’m the boss in this house. That’s one of my ground rules, remember? So no throwing your weight around.”

  Cax’s brow furrowed. “How can I throw my weight around?”

  “I don’t mean literally. It’s another Earth saying. It means don’t act as if you can do whatever you want.”

  Lemeah giggled. “You’re right, Kiri. You can look after yourself. You’ve just put two warriors in their place.”

  “I told you so.” She smiled at Lemeah. Kiri shifted her gaze to Drace and then Cax. “Are you guys done with the big-man attitudes?” They nodded. “Good. And, Cax, we’ll be discussing everything you failed to tell me later. Just the two of us. Now, what do you have in mind for this rebellion of yours?”