Annexation

by Marisa Chenery

  Cax brought them to a set of stairs at the very back of the room. They silently climbed them. At the top they headed along the walkway until they were directly across from the cells. It put the holes in the wall at about Kiri’s shoulder height. It wasn’t a great distance to shoot from. The target would be small, but she was sure she could hit each one.

  “I can do it,” she said quietly.

  “Do what?” her dad asked in a low voice.

  Kiri pointed to each hole above the cells. “To free the adults, I have to fire an arrow into each of those holes. It will disrupt the beam of light and automatically unlock each cell.”

  He nodded, but she could see from the look in his eyes that he had more questions. She was going to have a lot of explaining to do once they returned to Cax’s quarters.

  Cax turned them around, headed to the stairs, and down to the main area. Meg’s mom stood at the front of the third cell. She whispered Kiri’s name.

  As she walked past, Kiri said quietly, “Tonight. Be ready.” She didn’t look back to see if her best friend’s mother had heard her.

  The three of them walked out the doors. Kiri had been right about the warriors. They stood just outside them. They nodded at Cax before they went inside.

  There was no conversation as they rode the elevator once more. It didn’t take very long for them to reach Cax’s quarters. They stepped into the hallway and down to his door. He placed his thumb on the touchscreen, and the door silently opened. It closed just as quietly behind them.

  Her dad turned to her. “Kiri, what is going on?”

  “Remember how I said Cax wasn’t like his father and is going to start a rebellion?” He nodded. “Well, it starts tonight with the freeing of the El Centro adults. Not all Atres agree with how their people have been treating humans. They think we should be their equals. There are more rebels on this ship. Pilots included. We’re going to take as many shuttles and fighters as we can and return to El Centro. While we’re doing that, the rebels in our city will take possession of the mall, which has been turned into a weapons depot. We’re going to take the city as ours.”

  Her father looked at Cax. “You’re willing to declare war on your dad?”

  “Yes,” Cax replied calmly. He glanced at Kiri. “I do this as much for your daughter as for all the people on Earth. That’s why I trained her to be a warrior.”

  “What are you talking about? Training her? When?”

  Kiri took over the conversation from there. She explained how she hadn’t been hurting herself in her sleep. That it had been from the training she’d had with Cax while they’d dream walked. She even told him what it meant that Cax could only do that with her.

  “True mates,” her dad said. “Is that what you want, Kiri?”

  She glanced at Cax before she answered. “I’m not ready to accept all it entails, but I like Cax a lot.”

  “Like a boyfriend?”

  Kiri looked into Cax’s eyes. “Yes, like a boyfriend. I don’t want to rush into being mates.”

  Cax put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. He kissed the top of her head before he spoke to her father. “Sir, you don’t have to worry about Kiri while she’s with me. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”

  “Will you feed from her?”

  “Not unless she wishes it. For now, I only use bagged blood.”

  “Be sure you keep to that. I don’t know what it’s like for mates, but being forcibly fed from is far from pleasant. I never want Kiri to ever have to go through what I have while being a pet.”

  Her dad went on to ask more questions about what would happen tonight and what role he should play. Kiri silently watched them. She’d never thought Cax would be able to meet her father. Now they had met, and she couldn’t be happier. Hopefully, everything would go to plan that night and they’d be safe on the surface at the end of it.

  Chapter 15

  For lunch Kiri had to make do with the same crappy food that was passed out in El Centro. It, along with a meal for her father, was delivered to Cax’s quarters. She hadn’t wanted to eat it, but she needed to keep her energy reserves topped up for that night. And it wasn’t as if they could ask for something different as it would be questioned.

  Her dad sat on the couch, munching away as if it wasn’t disgusting slop. He looked at her when he caught her staring.

  “What?” he asked.

  “How can you eat that?”

  “Once you get used to it, it isn’t that bad. Isn’t that what the Atres have been serving the kids in El Centro?”

  “Yeah, but I’ve been throwing mine away. I was eating what I could from the pantry at home.”

  “Well, there’s nothing else here, so eat it. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  She rolled her eyes. That was what he’d said a lot to her as a little kid when she refused to eat what her mom had made for dinner. As she’d grown, she’d stopped being so picky, but she’d reverted to her old ways when it came to the Atres slop.

  “I’ll eat it,” Kiri said with a sigh. “I’ll just have to plug my nose and down it as fast as I can.”

  Cax chuckled. “I’d trade meals, but you wouldn’t want mine.” He held up his glass that was filled with blood.

  “Ugh. No. You can definitely keep that.”

  Cax took a sip. He licked his lips. “Yummy warmed bagged blood.”

  She gave a shiver of revulsion. “That’d be worse than the slop.”

  He laughed before he took another sip. Kiri took the cover off her meal, picked up the provided spoon, and proceeded to shovel it into her mouth as quickly as possible. She barely chewed it, not daring to breathe before she swallowed. Not that it needed much chewing to get down.

  After she finished in record time, Kiri went to the table next to the couch and poured herself a glass of water from the jug that sat there. She drank the whole thing in a couple of swallows.

  The quiet sound of a chime filled the room. Kiri looked at Cax with a questioning expression. He stood and went to the door. He touched the screen next to it, and it slid open. Drace stepped inside.

  “We’re just having lunch,” Cax said as he walked Drace to where Kiri and her dad sat. “Do you want some blood?”

  Drace shook his head. “No, I already had some in the barracks.” He looked at her father. “Who is this?”

  “This is Drew. My father,” Kiri said.

  Drace’s eyes widened. “I thought your father was dead.”

  “So did I until we found him on board as one of the officers’ pets during our inspection. Cax asked if he could have him, and so here he is.” Kiri looked at her father. “Dad, this is Drace. He’s a friend as well as a rebel.”

  “Nice to meet you, Drace,” her dad said.

  Cax turned his attention on Drace. “Now that we have the introductions over, how are things going in the barracks?”

  Drace nodded. “Good. Everyone is prepared for tonight.”

  “How many ships can we get?”

  “We have seven pilots on board. We’ll take two shuttles, which should be enough to return the humans and our warriors to the surface. The rest will be fighters. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get more as our numbers increase.”

  “It’s a start. And I wouldn’t be surprised if some other pilots turn rebel and take their fighters with them.”

  “Did you ‘inspect’ the adult’s cells?” Drace asked.

  “Yes, we did,” Kiri answered.

  “Can you make the shots?”

  “Yup, I can do it. The suspended walkway gives me the perfect place to shoot from. It’ll be just like hitting a bull’s-eye.”

  “The pilots will be in their ships when you’re doing that. The rest of us will work our way to you to help get the adults to the hangar.”

  “Good,” Cax said. He turned to Kiri. “Can I talk to you privately?”

  “Sure.”

  He took hold of her hand a
nd led her toward the bedroom. The door slid open as they approached. Cax waited until it closed behind them before he let go of her and turned to face her.

  “I didn’t want to talk about this in front of your dad,” he said. “You truly want to have me as your boyfriend? I do know what that Earth term means.”

  “Yes, I do. I hadn’t planned on letting you know like that. I wanted to wait until this was all over, but it kind of slipped out.”

  Cax smiled. “I’m glad it did. Now I don’t feel so bad about asking this of you.” He paused. “I want to do a blood exchange with you. Since you’re my true mate, it will form a bond between us. It will give us the ability to sense each other even if we’re apart. I want you to be able to find me if we get separated tonight.”

  “You mean like I’ll drink your blood and you’ll drink mine?”

  “Yes, but don’t say anything yet. There’s more to it. If we do this, we’ll be considered mated. There will be no going back from it.”

  So much for baby steps, she thought. She’d be rushing to it like a speeding train. It might not have been what she’d first wanted, but having that bond in place would be one less thing she’d have to worry about that night. If she and Cax did become separated for some reason, she wouldn’t have to run around frantically looking for him. Or he for her. That would be a distraction neither one of them needed. And besides, if she truthfully asked herself, it was something she wanted. If not now, it would have happened down the road. Kiri was sure of it.

  Kiri went on tiptoes and kissed Cax on the lips. She smiled as she pulled away. “Let’s do it. It’s fast and all, but I think you’re right. We need to have the bond to keep us safer. One less thing to worry about.”

  “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me,” Cax said after he’d kissed her back.

  He led her to the bed and motioned her to sit before he joined her. “How are we going to do this?” Kiri nervously asked.

  “From the inside of our wrists. We can drink at the same time.” Cax’s eyes turned from copper to red, and the tips of his fangs peeked out from the bottom of his top lip.

  Kiri’s heartbeat sped up as she looked at them. “Ah, is that supposed to happen? Your eyes and fangs? The last time I saw an Atres like this, he was about to sink his fangs into a boy’s neck.”

  Cax reached up and ran the back of his hand along her cheek. “Relax, Kiri. I would never hurt you. Even though I won’t take much of your blood, I can’t stop my body’s reaction to it.”

  “Okay. I believe you.”

  He smiled, flashing more of his fangs. “I’m glad to hear that.” Cax took hold of her wrist as he lifted his to his mouth. “You only have to take a couple of mouthfuls of my blood for the bond to form.”

  Kiri nodded. Cax bit into the inside of his wrist before he pressed it to her mouth. As she put her lips around the welling blood, he bit into hers. She sucked, swallowing down what he offered. She didn’t have a chance to think of what she was doing before a wave of emotions swept over her. She knew they weren’t hers. They were his. They were filled with the need to protect, and of longing. He loved her. He didn’t have to say the words. What she felt coming from him and into the bond that formed between them said it all.

  Cax dragged his tongue along the inside of her wrist, which instantly stopped bleeding. He did the same to his after he pulled it away from her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She returned it, feeling the newly-made bond pulsing with their emotions.

  He released her and stood. He held out his hand to help her, which she took, and he tugged her to her feet. Kiri looked down at her wrist. There were two pink puncture marks where his fangs had pierced her skin. It hadn’t really hurt, only a sharp sting in the beginning. She looked up to find Cax smiling. He seemed pleased with himself.

  As they walked out to the main room hand in hand, Kiri decided she’d keep what she and Cax had done as their little secret. For now. The marks on the inside of their wrists might get noticed at some point, but she wasn’t going to flash it around. They needed to get past tonight. After that, they could make plans for their future.

  * * * *

  They remained in Cax’s quarters for the rest of the day. Drace left just before dinner was to arrive. He’d head to the barracks and stay there until it was time for them to put their plan into action.

  After Kiri forced down another meal of slop, she spent her time pacing the length of the room or staring out the windows at the city below. Cax had suggested they try to nap since they would more than likely be up all night, but she didn’t even bother trying. Her nerves were wound too tight. If anything went wrong, it wasn’t as if she could hope to run and lose those who chased her as she would have on the surface. Being on an alien spaceship took that option away.

  She jumped when a pair of hands landed on her shoulders. Kiri turned her head to see Cax had come up behind her. She gave him a smile.

  “Relax,” he said. “It’s going to work.”

  “I wish I had your confidence.”

  “You can’t let your nerves get the better of you. And you need to get some sleep.”

  “I know. And I can’t.”

  Cax turned her to face him. “Come sit with me on the couch. Your dad went to the bedroom to nap. His old owner must have fed from him too much and too often. Your father is a little weak, but food and no longer being a feeder will fix that.”

  “I could tell. He’s lost some weight.”

  He took her hand and pulled her toward the couch. Cax pushed on the side of one of the arms, and it moved on its own to open flat. He tugged her down, then lay with her sprawled next to him with her head on his chest. Kiri had to admit it was nice lying like that with him, the sound of his heart beating in her ear. He ran his hand up and down her back, relaxing her even further.

  Kiri must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew Cax gently shook her. She propped herself up on her arm and looked around. Her gaze landed on her dad, who sat on the low chair across from them.

  He smiled. “I’m glad you slept. I offered to let you have the bed once I woke up, but Cax said not to disturb you.”

  “How long was I asleep?”

  “A couple of hours.”

  Kiri looked at Cax, who was still stretched out beside her. “Did you sleep?”

  “A little, but now we need to get up. It’s almost time.”

  She sat up and stretched. Cax pushed into a sitting position as well. They stood, and he righted the couch. It silently slid into place. It’d been pretty comfortable since she’d slept for so long, or maybe it had to do with the fact she’d been snuggled with Cax.

  Kiri picked up her duffel bag from the floor and opened it. She took out her bow. She pulled back on the string before she gave it a thorough look-over. Since a large part of their plans hinged on her using it, there couldn’t be anything wrong with it, which there wasn’t. She returned it to the duffel and before she zipped it closed. Cax would carry it while they headed to the adults’ cells. Just in case they happened to run into anyone.

  Cax had worn his holstered gun when they’d boarded the ship this morning. He’d taken it off before they’d done their inspection. He strapped it on at his waist as they prepared to leave the quarters. At his nod, he opened the door. He stepped out into the hallway with her duffel bag in hand, and she and her dad followed.

  They reached the elevator without passing anyone else. It was the dead of night, and most of the Atres on board would be asleep in their quarters, leaving only those on duty awake. Once inside, Cax set the car into motion.

  He handed Kiri the duffel. She quickly unzipped it before she took out her bow and arrows. Her dad took the bag from her. It still held extra arrows should she need them. She slipped the quiver onto her back.

  Once the elevator stopped and the door opened, Cax looked at Kiri. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  The first things they had to take
care of were the two warriors standing guard. She and Cax would each render one unconscious, using fighting skills to knock them out. Her dad would wait by the door until they were taken care of.

  Cax held his hand just above the touchscreen by the doors to the room with the cells. He quietly counted down from three, then touched it. The warriors had their backs to them. As they turned, Kiri and Cax struck. It took a few punches to the gut and a roundhouse kick to the head to knock out her opponent. Cax brought his down just as easily. Surprise had definitely given them the upper hand.

  He reached into the pouch attached to one of the warriors’ belts and pulled out a set of restraints that looked similar to zip ties, except they were thin, flat metal, and glowed once he placed it around the wrists of his opponent. Kiri found some in the other warrior’s pouch and handed them to Cax to put in place.

  Cax and her father stayed below as Kiri ran to the stairs for the suspended walkway. The adults in the cells had lined up near the front of each one. They didn’t make a sound.

  Kiri raced down the walkway. She stopped where she needed to be to take the shots. She reached behind her and took an arrow out of her quiver. She nocked it, pulled back on the string, and took careful aim. After taking a deep breath, she let it fly. She hit the target perfectly, and the first cell’s light bars in the front disappeared. She quickly fired off another two arrows, each one hitting where she’d aimed, freeing the rest of the adults.

  She raced to the bottom and helped Cax and her father gather the adults into one group. Cax quickly explained what would happen next. He’d just finished as Drace and four other rebel warriors came into the room.

  “The pilots are ready,” Drace said as he looked at Cax. “We have to go now.”

  They weren’t all going to fit in the elevator at the same time. They’d have to go in three groups. Drace and two warriors would go with the first group to the hangar. They’d hide in a secluded area until everyone arrived.