by Luna Hunter
“We must travel to the Sacred Order at once,” I say.
“You don’t think…”
“Of course not!” I growl. “The Zorans will never hand you over to SINTRA, I promise you that.”
“Okay,” she says. “Okay. I believe you.”
How I wish we could stay here on Arcor, in our own little bubble, far away from the world and its many problems…
Alas, that is not possible. We are Chosen. The universe has bestowed powers upon us, and with that comes responsibility.
We are both silent for the shuttle ride back to the surface of New Exon, the tension in the air palpable. This time we head straight for the temple, instead of the docks, and rush up the stairs to Mother Dragica’s room.
I open the door to find — who else — Resha there, along with a contingent of his soldiers.
“They finally show up,” Resha bristles. “The troublemakers themselves.”
Mother Dragica pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
“Davor. Leah. I am glad you came.”
“Is it true?” I say.
“It is,” Resha sneers. “That human you are harboring is a fugitive of the Federation. You are breaking intergalactic law with every passing second.”
“And since when do you care about upholding the law?” I sneer. “There was nothing lawful about locking me up, about beating a man when he’s down, about pointing a rifle at a fellow Zoran!”
Mother Dragica’s gasps. “Resha, is this true?! How dare you?!”
He shrugs his massive red shoulders. “He’s a freak,” he snarls. “Look at him! He’s an abomination!”
“I will pretend I didn’t hear that,” she says sharply. “May I remind you that you are on Temple Grounds, young warrior. And us Kazimir types have long memories. Very long memories.”
Resha straightens his back, although he doesn’t wipe the angry growl from his face. Still, I think he’s taken the hint.
“My point stands,” he says. “This is proof that outlanders can’t be trusted. And you violated every law we have by bringing her into our home. I did what I thought was right.”
“There’s your problem,” the Sacred Mother says. “Thinking! You should leave that to your Elders.”
A few of Resha’s men can’t help but snicker, much to his annoyance.
“The arrest warrant is false,” I say. “There is simply no way the Federation is looking for her. They are trying to deceive us.”
Resha shakes his head. “Fake or not, SINTRA was clear. If we do not hand her over, they will come get her themselves.”
His words make me teem with anger, so much so that my Zorashi symbols glow with white hot rage. I never thought highly of the warrior, but even I didn’t think he would sell another Zoran out.
“The Chosen are protected by the Sacred Order!” Mother Dragica thunders as she rises from her seat. She is thin but very tall, and she towers over all of us. “It is the duty of the Warrior Regiments to keep the temples and its guests safe! Or do you think that we Zorans should capitulate to enemy, that we should roll over on our back and expose our soft, weak bellies?”
“No,” Resha says begrudgingly. “I do not.”
“Then stop with this borderline treasonous talk!” Dragica says. “If these interloper think they can make demands of us, they have another thing coming. I suggest you ready your war ships, Resha. You will need them.”
Chapter Twenty
Leah
I watch with bated breath as Davor slips his armor on. I know that he has to go. I know he’s a warrior at heart. And yet, I don’t want him to leave.
I don’t want to lose him.
Not after what we shared. Not after the magical night we spent together.
I’ve never been so vulnerable, and so… accepted, at the same time. With every kiss he made me feel like I’m perfect just the way I am.
I’ve always felt like I had to do more, take on more tasks, strive to be a better version of myself in each and every moment… but not with Davor.
With him, I can just be me.
I can enjoy the moment.
And we can enjoy each other, body and soul.
And I enjoy his body a whole lot, I admit. His is to die for, and his touch is magnificent. Nothing I’ve ever experienced compares to him. It’s like he has the star charts to my core. He knows me better than I know myself.
And right now my stomach is filled with a dark pit of despair because I just can’t stand watching him go.
He senses my doubts and looks up at me. We’re so connected that I barely need to speak.
“This is what I do,” he says, frowning. It only makes him sexier. “I protect. I defend. I must go.”
“I know,” I mutter as I glance away. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
He crosses the room and lifts my chin. “You are fated, you and I,” he says. “There is more to our story than this flimsy threat from SINTRA. We have them outnumbered and outgunned — they will run with their tail between their legs. No one can challenge the Zorans!”
“I want to believe you,” I say, “And I’m not doubting you, but they don’t play fair. I’m worried. And nothing you can say will change that. I don’t want anyone to die for me. First Garna, now New Exon… all this suffering, and it is all because of me. I shouldn’t even be here. I shouldn’t be putting you in danger.”
“That’s on them,” he stresses. “It’s all on them. None of this is your fault. Don’t let that thought enter your mind, not even for a moment.”
He kisses me passionately for emphasis, and I allow myself to melt into him. His strong arms envelop me as he lifts me right off my feet.
“Can’t you stay?” I say between kisses, my hand resting on his cheek. “Stay with me?”
“I can not,” he says as his hands slide up my dress. It sends a thrill right down my spine. My skin prickles with heat as I feel his hard bulge pressing between my legs — not even his armor can contain that.
My body is burning with lust. Perhaps it is because of the danger we’re in, or because I’m afraid this’ll be the last time I see him, or because every time he frowns I’m weak the knees, but in this moment I want nothing more for him to be inside of me.
His hand find my wetness easily, and the moment his fingertips brush against my clit I throw my head back and gasp.
“Oh god,” I pant. He shuts me up with a kiss, pinning my back against the wall as his fingers work their magic. He’s holding me up with one hand alone, the other bringing me higher and higher.
I try to find the straps on his armor to unfasten them, but he’s having none of it.
“Cum for me,” he growls into my ear as his teeth nick my neck.
“I want to feel you,” I pant, as my hands wander across his sculpted abs.
“There will be plenty of time for that later. Right now, I want to pleasure you.”
With that he plunges two fingers inside of my dripping wet pussy, and I’m crawling up the walls, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. I don’t how he does it, but he knows me. He knows just what to do, what to say, where to touch me to get my toes curling and my blood racing.
“Oh fuck,” I curse as he fingers me. “I think I’m going to…”
“Yes,” he growls, his voice thick with lust. To my surprise, he suddenly drops down to his knees, and replaces his fingers with his hungry mouth. I’m resting on his powerful shoulders as he straight up devours me, his tongue licking my aching clit with a frenzy.
My vision turns to stars and my moans to screams as my orgasm races towards me with breakneck speed.
I surrender completely, my entire body shivering and shaking as he makes me come so easily.
I want more, but there is no time. The enemy doesn’t wait. I rest my back against the wall, my legs still trembling as he fastens his armor.
“It doesn’t feel fair,” I say. “I want you to come as well.”
He chuckles and kisses me.
“You can make
it up to me when I’m back, okay?”
“That’s a promise,” I say, resting my forehead against his. “You have to come back now. You promised.”
“I promise,” he says.
And then, he’s gone.
Chapter Twenty-One
Davor
“You here?!”
Resha is looking as scornful as ever at me from across the bridge. “Go taint some other ship with your mutations, you winged freak.”
“There’s no time petty rivalries, Resha,” I say as I take my place behind the controls. There’s no better pilot this side of the planet than me, and he knows it. “I will gladly blacken your other eye as well when this is all over, if that is what you want. Right now, let’s focus on fighting the real enemy, before we go back to inventing ones, shall we?”
Muted laughter fills the room, which enrages Resha. A commander has to be respected by his soldiers if he wants to lead effectively. The young warrior has a lot left to learn. I must admit that he has potential, but he needs to learn how to control his anger.
“This is a Thaboist war vessel!” He growls, slamming his fist down on his dashboard hard.
It seems that anger management is still not his strong suit.
“There is no place here for softhearted, Kazimir monks!”
The red warrior looks around the room, desperately looking for approval, but it seems I have won the respect of his soldiers. With every verbal jab, he only weakens his own position.
The radio crackles to life. “I’ve got reports of explosions on Garna,” the messenger says. “It seems these SINTRA types are truly looking for trouble.”
Resha straightens up immediately, as do I. The time for petty fighting is over: It is time to face the enemy.
I strongly doubt SINTRA will strike New Exon directly. That would be a declaration of war, plain and simple. We are no match for them, and the Federation does not want to face the wrath of the Zoran.
That leaves two options. One: They are bluffing, and think that we will simply roll over. An unlikely scenario, if they ever met a Zoran before. That leaves option number two: This is a trap.
My hand rests on the control stick, ready to dodge at any moment. They are not taking us by surprise.
A light on my dashboard flashes urgently.
“We are being hailed,” I tell Resha.
“On screen.”
A scowling human man fills the screen. His suit is as black as his eyes. There’s something off about him.
“Hand over the fugitive,” he barks. “We have no qualms with the Zoran.”
“You are in our space,” Resha says. “That makes you our problem.”
“You are required to hand her over! Or do the Zorans not respect intergalactic law?!”
“What is your name, human?” I say, standing up. I want to know who he is, so I can chase him to the edge of the galaxy if I have to.
“None of your fucking business, Zoran.”
“You watch your mouth,” Resha says.
“I don’t have time for this,” the human snarls. “I will take her by force if necessary.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Resha answers. He motions for me to cut the feed.
“Fire a warning shot,” he says.
“My pleasure,” I answer.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leah
Laser fire fills the sky, bathing it in color. It would be a beautiful sight if one direct hit wouldn’t equal death and destruction.
All of this is happening because of me.
If I didn’t have these stupid powers, then SINTRA wouldn’t have attacked Garna, and they wouldn’t now be attacking New Exon.
What’s next? Will they keep hunting me across the galaxy?!
Knowing them, the answer is probably yes.
I’m not sure if that is something I can accept. Every second that passes I hold my breath, waiting for one of those lasers to connect, for a ship to explode, for a whole crew to die.
Needlessly.
No.
I can’t sit here and wait. Whether or not I like it, this is all about me. Therefor, I should be the one up there, risking my life.
I have to do something.
I rush inside and sit down on Davor’s bed, his scent surrounding me completely. I fold my legs underneath of me and concentrate.
I focus on him as hard as I can, looking for his essence in the atmosphere above New Exon.
The ships firing on each other makes it difficult, and my heart is pounding like mad as I try to find him.
I catch a hint of him, just a glimpse of his aura, but that’s all I need. Our connection has grown much, much stronger since we’ve mated.
I track his signal and lock in, focusing all of my thoughts and energy on him.
I’ve teleported myself to him once before.
Let’s see if I can do it again.
I sense his thoughts. He’s worried, but determined. I use that worry, that fear, and let it fill me completely, until there’s nothing in this universe I want more than be in his arms.
A bright flash fills the room, tugging at my limbs, at every fiber of my being, and with a loud crack I re-materialize on the ship’s bridge.
“What was that?! Are we hit?!” A voice calls out.
“Not quite,” I say, as I stand and stretch. Yep, every limb is still here. I’m starting to get the hang of this!
I see it was Resha, the red warrior who called out at me, and he’s now staring at me in surprise.
“By the Mating Star,” he mutters. “You?!”
Davor cocks his head, a bemused smile on his face.
“I thought you promised no more getting yourself into trouble?”
“I told you it was going to be hard promise to keep,” I answer. “Do you trust me?”
He cocks his head. “Of course.”
“Then give me your hand.”
“What is the meaning—” Resha starts to protest, but Davor cuts him off.
“Run evasive maneuvers,” he commands the red one. “I think our ‘fugitive’ has a plan.”
Davor’s eyebrows are raised, but he gives me his hands like I asked him to.
I close my eyes and feel our energy swirling and mixing. Being around him makes everything more intense. Not only does he make my stomach flutter, or my heart race, but he makes my powers that much stronger as well.
And I need all the power I can get if I’m going to pull this off.
I search for the SINTRA ships, of which there are dozens, and using the power given to me by my mate and the Rift, I crush their weaponry like soda cans.
The metal caves easily, their threatening lasers reduced to scraps of metal.
“You did it!” Davor cries out.
I did!
With my mission completed, all my powers fade away, until I collapse right into Davor’s arms.
“Leah? Are you okay? Leah?!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Davor
The power traveling through me is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s like I’m a conduit for Leah’s strength. Ever since we mated I’ve felt that our connection has been much, much stronger, but I had no idea she was capable of something like this.
With our minds linked, I can sense what she’s doing — crushing the weaponry on the enemy ships. The SINTRA vessels turn around and back away from New Exon, and I can’t help but cry out in victory.
And then my mate collapses into my arms, and all my joy is replaced with a deep-rooted fear.
“Leah?” I ask. “Leah?!”
Did she overexert herself? Did I push her too far?
Resha cocks his head. “Amazing,” he whispers to himself.
Leah’s eyes flutter open, her gaze unfocused until she finds me.
“Hey,” she says with a tired smile. “Did it work?”
“It did. You saved us all.”
“Good.”
“I… there were explosions on Garna,” I say.
I know t
his news will disturb her, but I won’t hide the truth from my mate. She deserves to know.
A grim look appears on her face. “I thought I sensed something wrong… we can’t waste anymore time, Davor. We have to go there. Now.”
“Agreed.”
I turn to Resha. “Take the controls,” I say. “We have other matters to attend to.”
I wrap my arms around Leah as tightly as I can, and use the strong emotions coursing through us both as a lens to focus our powers. I teleport back to my room in the temple in a flash of bright light.
I’m left gasping for breath, every muscle in my body aching. We are stringing ourself dangerously thin.
“Are you okay?” Leah asks, a look of concern in her eyes.
“I’m fine,” I say, leaning against the wall for support. “Never better.”
“You’re a liar.”
“As are you. You said you wouldn’t get yourself into anymore trouble.”
“Don’t act like you weren’t glad to see me.”
“I always am.” I pull her towards me and kiss her. “Let’s go see Mother Dragica and get ourselves a ship.”
We race up the stairs as fast as our tired legs can carry us and barge into the Mother’s office.
She looks up from her papers as if she was expecting us.
“Garna is under attack,” I growl. “The Regiments have confirmed it. We need a ship to take us there. Right now.”
Dragica sighs. “Your defense of New Exon was valiant. Was that your doing, Davor?”
“It was the both of us,” Leah says.
“Mostly it was Leah,” I correct her. “I just helped a bit.”
“The powers of the Chosen are great indeed,” she muses to herself. “I will see what I can do, but unfortunately, I cannot make any promises. The Sacred Order does not command ships, and requesting one takes time.”
Anger courses through my veins, but before I let it out, another idea takes hold of me.
“What about Theros and Anaya?” I say. “The other Chosen? Perhaps they could lend us their energy, and teleport us to Garna?”