"There's the commander,” M'yote announced.
Good.
Goro stepped through the gaping gateway, approaching in his knee-length black overcoat and black boots, his black hair tied back in his standard long leather-bound tail. Seven warriors strode with him, all in standard Marshal black leather attire. One female who I didn't recognize. But why would I when I rarely did anything with the other cadets because Goro had special plans for me all along?
Can I say disgusted? My gut had warned me. Yes, it had.
Two cadets towered over the others behind Goro.
Tigers. The shorter was orange-and-black with orange hair. Not Wrank. The other had black-and-white stripes. Not my Wrank either. Where is he? These two Luvks would know. Brothers, kin, or friends, the Luvk cadets were all noblemen. They knew everything about each other. And since they were telepathic, they could simply ask someone someplace else. Instant answers. Just what I needed.
I stood before the commander's fiery orange eyes before my thoughts came full circle.
"Captain,” Goro nodded.
"Commander.” I waved toward Solvun. “The King you sent me to find."
"Solvun?” Goro managed the faintest bow.
Sol stepped forward in his standard overbearing manner. “You're the one who sent my brother?"
Goro met his gaze with typical calculated patience. “M'yote requested assistance. I sent Theone."
Like I said, send the woman in to take care of business.
"We should return to my chamber for a debriefing,” Goro said.
Wait a Gods-damned minute. “I have business to attend to. Will debriefing take long?"
Goro shot me a speculative glance. “Business?"
Like I couldn't possibly have anything else going on in my life because he'd chained me to The Savior. Which has done nothing along the lines of salvation in my book. What about me, universe? It's time for Theone to do something for herself. “Personal business."
His brow furrowed slightly as if he knew what I meant all along. “There will be plenty of time for your personal business after we discuss the mission."
What's there to discuss? Like it ever mattered what I wanted. I followed his knee-high black boots into the compound.
Sol stepped to my side and rubbed a palm across my back.
Caring? Thoughtfulness danced in his gaze. How would he react when he learned I meant to bring another mate into the fold? You can let me in on my future, intuition. Any time now. Especially when Sol is being so compassionate. What of Flonn?
He quietly followed in my footsteps.
Poor guy. He'd said next to nothing since I had sex with Sol, crawled into a bunk, and awoke from a nap with The Savior's computer reporting we were about to begin descent to Luvk's surface.
Flonn offered me a faint considerate smile.
One I could treasure for the sympathy it projected. Nobody could tell me my !Dakos warrior didn't have a heart. Especially my big lion of a king. I turned back to follow the others.
M'yote kept Goro busy with questions.
No, there hadn't been any signs of an outbreak of war in the previous day. No news from Prall or Treusch. Lunch had just ended. The cadets were in class. Goro's mate was pregnant again.
Pregnancy. Geesh. The mark of a youngling. The thorn in my side. Literally.
Goro flicked a curious glance over his shoulder at me.
Whatever. Where is Wrank? Goro knew. He had to know what my personal business entailed.
We followed him and the other cadets into Goro's meeting-hall-slash-chamber containing three empty chairs across the front of Goro's desk.
Goro left the cadets in the passageway and waved Sol toward a chair. “Please sit."
The commander's consideration through acknowledgement wasn't extended toward me. Rather, he kept his back to me.
An insult for my insistence to tend to my personal business? Aye aye, captain. Flog the good crewman after she's put out, literally, then make her walk the plank. Kill the messenger. Shaft your treasured assistant. By all means, save the chairs for the big strapping lads.
M'yote took my elbow and nudged me into his seat.
Goro descended into his own and leaned across his desk's dark wood to take us all in.
We had to be the nuttiest sight if he had any inkling we were all one big somewhat happily married unit. I choked down a big snort.
"I take it all went well?” Goro asked.
Nobody said a thing.
Dammit. I'll have to handle the debriefing. And I wasn't up for shits and grins. I so needed to stop cursing. A baby was listening! I met Goro's serious gaze. “Honestly, sir, you sent me into a hellhole that I can't believe I managed to escape. This one,” I pointed at Sol, “made me wear this slut's outfit. And this one,” I pointed at Flonn, “marked me before it even registered he wanted to mate me. Changed me in the process. Hence the hair and silver sparkles. So not me, sir. And, M'yote, well,” I slid my gaze up to where he smiled patiently. “M'yote just seems to be as baffled as I am. If it hadn't been for a riot among the prisoners and the fact Flonn is !Dakos and saved me and my mates, we wouldn't be sitting here today. What else would you like to know?” My sarcasm had to express my disgust.
"Who's your blood mate?” Goro blurted.
Just air out my dirty laundry. Flonn and Solvun looked as perplexed as I had a second ago. However, sheer panic had to have gripped my features. My heart raced so quickly it was a miracle I stayed in the chair. Fight or flight never summed up a situation so perfectly.
"We've come for Theone's blood mate,” M'yote announced.
Words like holy, fucking, shit, and Sol came to mind. But I'm going to try to stop cursing now I have a baby coming. Yes. It's new leaf day. I sit here facing my future holding a leaf fallen from a strange tree. Something extraterrestrial. Floating in an eddy, away from the plank, toward the beach, attempting to avoid the undertow. No more swearing. Even though it saved my derriere for years when I worked among men.
Derriere.
Yes. Not ass. Derriere.
Goro's gaze could have bore a hole through me. “You've returned for your blood mate?"
"This does not go against your orders, commander, “M'yote intervened. “You said she and I could work out something suitable to both of our needs before you left us to tend to our mission. We did. I agreed to allow her to return for her blood mate if she accepted my brother and I as her mates. And in turn, assisted with the mission per your orders. She has every right to speak to the cadet."
Bless M'yote. He deserved my love. Yes. He did.
Sol eyed his brother warily.
I just stared past Goro's ear but couldn't miss the commander's nod of acceptance.
"Very well. The business is between you. And of course, her chosen heart.” Goro slid his gaze to Flonn. “Now, you say this is a !Dakos warrior, captain?"
I placed a palm on Flonn's unflinching bulge of a bicep. “Flonn is a !Dakos warrior. Son of one of Treusch's Council members. And my mate as well."
Goro's black eyebrows pinched into one straight line. “I'm confused."
Why am I not surprised? But I'd already mentioned Flonn mated with me. “How so, sir?"
"I thought the Pralls and !Dakos were at war. And you've taken mates from both populations."
"Since when is the future a controllable entity?” How many times had I heard Goro utter that sweet little point?
Goro nodded. “As I have always said. What about the prison? Are the prisoners still captive or have they been freed?"
Solvun laid a hand on my thigh. “We left in such a hurry we don't know what happened to the rioting inmates,” he said.
Hmm. Bare thigh. Kind of high up there. A bit uncomfortable for me. Extremely territorial for him. At least he was being protective. Nice. Especially when I was the one who seemed to be under fire here.
Sol leaned toward me. “We were only concerned with getting Theo out of the prison before she starved to death. The plan required we
hyper-jump numerous times. In doing so, there was little time to keep track with anything at the prison."
Oh yes. My health. I was so worried about Wrank I'd forgotten about the vomiting that led to the riot. And Sol was saving my ass, um, derriere during debriefing. Very sweet and macho.
Sol's stare dared Goro to find anything at fault with our escape plan.
I choked down a snicker.
"Very well. What of Flonn?” He focused on my big cyborg. “Should I be concerned with anything related to the prison?"
"Perhaps we should mention,” M'yote hesitated meeting each of our gazes, stopping when he locked on Goro's, “that King Solvun fears the !Dakos are in pursuit."
My intelligent wise philosopher did not just speak Sol's fears.
Goro's gaze slid to Flonn's. “And what do you think the !Dakos are up to?"
Tension hung in the air between my huv'ria and the humanoid sitting beyond the desk. It began when the dark one arrived outside the compound's walls and followed us inside to lurk like a storm. He demanded to know about my people. Whether or not they would be coming. But I hadn't detected one !Dakos communication since we departed Treusch air space. And I could ease the fears in the room. “I have yet to receive one communication, commander. I believe there is nothing to be concerned about."
Solvun riveted a deadly gaze on me. “Can we trust you? After all, you're hardwired for communications with them with that mechanical brain of yours. And I can't believe they can't follow you by merely detecting your metal head like a beacon of some sort."
"Sol,” my huv'ria hissed at him.
Now was the time to explain everything to them all. At least enough to satisfy their curiosity and squelch their fears. If I hadn't done what I had, my huv'ria would be wasting away among the other inmates. And my soul held more importance than anything else. So, working with these aliens was the only way I could save my soul. “I planned an escape to save my huv'ria. She was dying in the prison."
Theone turned an enlightened mask to me.
So starkissed. So perfect. I'd betray my father again to save my soul.
"You planned it?” she whispered.
I nodded. “I told the Council there were many females to harvest on your world. That they could follow us and find the females—"
"Gods-damn-it,” Sol growled.
"Shut up, Sol,” my huv'ria shouted at the King and turned back to me. “Go ahead, Flonn. Tell us everything."
"There are many warriors among the !Dakos who merely wish to find mates in that we are told we aren't old enough to care for our mates appropriately. Yes, war was necessary in the beginning to perpetuate our species. During the Blood Wars, Voldon could use our need for mates to keep us working for him. Especially since we weren't telepathic in the psychic sense he required to control our world. So, we found it easy to guard his prisoners. But he's gone now. His authority vanished. And we're left guarding people who mean nothing to us. All except Solvun whose brother could change our world. And M'yote chooses not to."
M'yote stared at me emotionlessly.
"I am one of those warriors who simply found a mate and chose to live for what most males live for throughout the universe. I've watched many !Dakos males who have nothing but duty to keep them busy live long empty lives. After claiming Theone for my mate, I realized what those unmated warriors didn't have. A soul. And I wasn't about to lose mine. So, I used my father and worked with the Prall brothers to start a riot among the inmates."
"What else?” Theone asked.
"I managed to convince my father to leave The Savior unguarded so when I triggered the riot, we could escape easily."
"Rom knew?” Solvun snarled. “Theo, every new detail he shares only convinces me more and more the !Dakos are coming."
"Solvun,” M'yote chastised.
But my gut didn't bother speaking up against Flonn. “No, Sol.” I patted the corded muscle of his forearm. “He's telling the truth. I can feel it."
"You don't know the !Dakos, D'ena."
I studied Sol's golden scowl. “I'm intuitive, Sol. I can sense if he's lying."
"You can read machines?"
"Sol, you're going to have to work with me here. Flonn is as significant as you are. We might not be sitting here if he hadn't pulled his little stunt with his father. Give him a chance to prove he's telling the truth. After all, he saved your ass."
Sol leaned a couple inches and studied Flonn. “What else did you promise your father?"
My gut sank.
Oh no. I turned to Flonn's calm expression. So country boy. So adorably mine. “Flonn?"
"I told Rom that if he assisted in our escape he would have surveillance in the Prall King's household."
Sol burst onto his feet. “I told you, Theo."
Instinct placed me between Sol and my sitting Flonn. I stared into Sol's raging golden eyes. “If he meant to spy on you, he wouldn't have admitted that detail, Sol."
Sol kept trying to glare around my head at Flonn.
I matched his every move in some insane dance to attempt to block his rage. “Sol? Look at me, Sol."
He spat and glared into my eyes.
"I know you're upset and feel betrayed. But Flonn wouldn't reveal what he intended to hide. He's being honest here. Honest."
"With that sword, he can kill all of us. That I understand,” Sol ground out.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Eighteen
Theo stood there, glaring at her mate, the King. “What do you want me to do? Have him punished because he saved us? Sol, there's no sign of !Dakos in pursuit. We are safe here."
Sol snarled.
Maybe my pleas were making headway. I placed my palms on my bare belly. His gaze followed my hands.
"What if this is your child, your heir? What if Flonn saved your child from living a life imprisoned?"
Sol sighed, staring helplessly into my gaze.
My gut finally stopped nagging me.
"Sol, how can you hold the feud against him when he saved you, your brother, your child, and your D'ena? The war is over. Dead. A thing of the past. It's time to bury the anger and hatred. It's time to change the future."
"She's right, Solvun,” M'yote added. “Listen to her."
Sol planted his hands on his hips and turned his chin toward M'yote. “How can you say these things when you refuse to heal Prall?"
"That is a different matter completely,” M'yote retorted.
"How is it any different, little brother, that I refuse to allow a !Dakos warrior into my bed when you won't place your hand on the sacred soil the !Dakos defiled to cleanse it?"
Would it never end? “Enough!” I glared at Sol. “I have business to attend to. You stand here and bicker as long as necessary. Go ahead. Kill each other if must. Just know I'm not leaving Luvk until you all figure out how to get along. Because it's we now. Not King Solvun.” I pivoted on my heel and crossed the quiet room.
"Try the Royal Guards’ quarters first,” Goro called after me.
Why was he suddenly helpful? I'd think about the reason later.
By the time I'd reached the Queen's two-story meeting hall, I knew I was in trouble. Every Tiger person I passed stopped and stared at me like I'd grown a tail. Since the Luvks didn't have tails, the looks had to have been attributed to my slut attire. Or my extremely long ponytail and silver sparkles. I was betting the outfit offered little protection against anything except sexual assault. And even then, a creative person could still abuse me.
The only people in the room, four noble males congregated on the Queen's stage-like platform, studied me with interest.
I think that's what showed on their faces. Maybe they should have worn masks to ensure I saw nothing at all. At least, I didn't have to stand around wondering if any masked striped male was Wrank. “Excuse me. But I'm searching for Lord Wrank.” That title always made me feel a little strange. Like I shouldn't have been speaking to him, the lowly nobody I truly was. Gods. And I looked like a wh
ore.
The Lords cast glances between themselves.
One graced me with an answer. “He's unavailable."
Oh? Then why did Goro send me here? “Commander Goro sent me here to find him."
An orange-and-black Lord smiled carefully.
Larus. Wranks half-brother!
Larus slid his golden eyes right, toward the door to the private quarters of the males. A drinking and bonding refuge for Lords. “I fear Wrank may have departed for the Ice Realm this morning."
I could play along. Until I could bust the door down and find my blood mate. “Oh no.” I sighed and lowered my gaze in misery to the floor.
Acting had saved my derriere countless times. If it bought me the time I needed to kick in said door, I'd never act again. I began a sulking walk back the way I'd entered, veering closer to the door. “Well, I guess I'll have to wait until he returns."
"I will gladly inform him you were looking for him,” Larus called out.
Oh, what the hell! I bolted for the door, shoved a shoulder into the smooth wood, and almost fell into the dark smoky interior. A shaft of hazy gray light showered down from the ceiling nearby. A few striped forms stood, sat, or strode through the curls of misty smoke beyond the illuminating ray. I stepped forward, thrusting my shoulders and head partially into the beam.
I coughed, my lungs rebelling against the carcinogenic smoke.
I waved a hand at the thin translucent ribbons dancing through the murkiness. “Didn't anyone tell you gentlemen that you're begging for cancer by inhaling all this damned smoke?"
Nobody answered.
The closest male on his feet sank like a striped shadow back into the darkness.
Fine. No girls allowed. I get it. This won't be the first time I broke a taboo. I straightened my spine and faced the looming darkness. “I'm looking for Lord Wrank."
"Females aren't permitted in here,” an unknown male voice warned gently.
So much for boys clubs. “I don't have time to wait for him to appear elsewhere. I need to speak to him now."
"He's not here,” a voice in the shadows sent wispy ribbons of smoke unfurling everywhere.
Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout Page 20