by Nora Blaze
“UrTak,” Mokrov says. “We didn’t know if we’d see you again.”
I push my hand through my hair. “Much has happened, but we will return soon. Where is PryZor?”
Something tugs at Mokrov’s furry red face, pulling it down. “I am afraid I have bad news.”
I gasp. “No. This cannot be,” I object as Loretta stands beside me. She grabs my arm and holds me by the bicep.
“The Wehizx clashed with the Comet Striker on our retreat. We managed a deathblow and took their ship out, but they got a retaliatory blast past our shields on the way down. Grov and I maneuvered the women in escape pods and the rest of the KrysOlakn crew was able but retrieve us safely, but I’m afraid PryZor and one of the humans disappeared.”
I wince. My ship. PryZor. The loss hits me with the force of an energy blast.
Every muscle in Loretta’s body tightens to alert and I can feel her stress in the air. “Which human?” she asks, a choke in her voice.
“Marie,” Mokrov answers.
Loretta collapses against me and I catch her weight. The loss crushes me but I stay strong for her.
“Damn it,” she whispers, her voice choked. “Damn it, no.”
I turn to the flickering screen. “There’s no sign? No clue where they went?”
“They left together in the same escape pod. There were explosions and it went offline seconds after they deployed. I’m sorry, UrTak. The moon aches for this loss.”
I swipe the projection away and turn my attention to holding Loretta. “Your Chosen Brother,” she cries against my chest. “My sister.”
“He is strong,” I say as I hold her. “He is as strong as me. I could think of no one better to keep Marie safe.”
Voices in the back of my head tell me that it does not matter how strong he is. The universe is a cold, harsh place.
But I cannot accept the death of my Chosen Brother. I cannot accept failure, not when my destined has turned to me for help in her darkest despair.
“I just want to see her,” Loretta cries. “I need her.”
Her pain is my pain. I brush my finger across her cheek, stroking her tender skin. “Whatever comes next for our family, I swear you this, Loretta. The Wehizx will pay.”
She shoots her eyes up to me. Beneath her glistening tears a powerful rage burns.
“Yes,” she agrees. “They will.”
The High Council does not allow us even a moment to return to my dwelling. The second we are off the ship, Loretta and I are ushered to the chambers to answer for our actions. Grov and Mokrov stride in behind us and an audible shock rolls through the vast space at the sight of our team.
“That woman,” I hear a KrysOlakn grunt. “No wonder the fool thinks his lucex has risen.”
I shoot a glare into the crowd and take Loretta under my arm so there is no confusion that she is mine. Although I still wear my combat outfit, Mokrov was kind enough to bring an appropriate ceremonial dress for Loretta. The flowing burgundy fabric dips off her shoulders, and although I know this is the dress ancient KrysOlakns would have worn to the chambers of the High Council, she looks so strong and enticing, my possessive instincts flare.
“The hero returns,” the Third Seat sneers. He does not bother to stand to greet us as we take our positions beneath the glass dome.
Loretta looks about serenely. I know how distraught she is about her sister, but I doubt anyone else in the chambers can tell. She holds her chin high and does not blink as the assorted dignitaries and military leaders gawk at her.
I grunt with satisfaction. I never would have thought a being so soft could also be so strong, but she has more than earned her place on this moon.
The First Seat stands. “And now we can finally meet the woman you were willing to expend KrysOlakn lives and crash some of our most powerful ships to impress.”
I grit my teeth, insulted by the implication that I hold blame for the loss of PryZor and the warriors who perished when their flash bomber went down. “I led a mission of warriors to rescue the human women,” I reply through clenched teeth. “Each asked to join me and willingly chose the risks. To regret it for a minute is to dishonor their victory and their bravery.”
“Congratulations, the women you sought are safe,” the First Seat replies. “And as a result, we now have this monstrosity, parked at the edge of our systems.”
He waves his hand and a large projection screen appears before us. On it, I see the massive Wehizx battleship, a fearsome offensive weapon that has only previously appeared when our enemies launched a full-blown assault on a star system.
It is parked at the border with the RSA.
The First Seat glares at me, as does every other KrysOlakn sitting behind the long silver table. I know they think that this is some sort of evidence, proof that I am a reckless warrior, a rampaging brute who needs reigning in.
“Good,” I say. “If they are close it will be easier for us to attack.”
Both Loretta and Grov snicker under their breath as the High Council reacts with expected outrage.
“Do not treat this as a game,” the Second Seat warns. His voice is shaky and I see that, with his horns gone, he is nearing his end. “We know not what they are capable of.”
My squad all look to me and I know it is time to make my case. The High Council could spend the rest of the day berating me for taking action and at the end of it, they would go home and feel they had accomplished something.
“We are, however, beginning to learn where their limits are,” I say. “We recovered a main control unit from a crashed Wehizx ship.”
The Third Seat scoffs. “Put it in the warehouse with the other dead machinery.”
“No,” I say firmly. “Loretta here is able to turn them on.” Loretta continues to hold her head high and I beam with pride.
“Is this true?” the First Seat demands of her.
Loretta looks about the circular room, then speaks with a loud, clear voice. “Yes, it’s true. I was able to turn on the main control and to manipulate the ship’s electronics. I can’t explain it myself, but I can turn the object on.”
“We sent the wreckage straight to the laboratories,” Mokrov explains. “Our researchers are working to untangle the technology and whatever information it holds now. Progress should be swift, but once Loretta has activated the unit, it seems to stay on.”
The members of the council turn and talk to each other. I let them work through the same thoughts I had, from the profound implications to confusion over how this could possibly be true.
When the chatter begins to quiet, I speak again. “There’s more. I have started my Second Growth, and I believe our bonding might have something to do with Loretta’s ability to turn on the Wehizx technology.” It is only a theory, of course, but if the second growth has newly formed my body, I see no reason our bonding might not have spurred such an evolution in her, too.
Our second growth was always shared, sparked in unison with our mate.
The Third Seat laughs loudly and dismissively. “Your lucex again! These fantasies!”
I turn and expose my back to the long table. The horns have grown bigger and my skin swells as they ready to break through. The hard ridges run from my shoulder down and bulge in several knots, easily the size of my fists. “It is no fantasy. The stars have destined that we should be warriors, as we have always been.”
The First Seat pounds the table to bring order back to the room. “This is indeed momentous, UrTak,” he declares, then raises his voice to a roar, “but it does not excuse the fact that your actions brought a Wehizx ship to our border for the first time in generations!”
I cringe. I should not have expected anything different from the High Council, but still, disappointment crashes upon me like an avalanche.
“UrTak, Grov, Mokrov, you are all three stripped of your duties as warriors. The High Council will leave PryZor’s honors in place as a sign of respect. This brings us no joy.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins
. There is no greater shame than this, a true insult to my lineage, just as I can imagine no greater injustice than the failures of the High Council before me.
Loretta’s hand lands on my arm. Through my boiling rage her touch finds me and some of the fury clears.
I must stay calm and move strategically, just as she maintains her senses through a confusing and dangerous new world.
“You can’t be serious,” Grov growls at the room while Mokrov runs his hand across his forehead, shocked.
“You don’t understand,” Loretta says. Her hand slides down and we take each other by the elbow as she talks. “These three are heroes. PryZor is a hero. The Wehizx are on a path to destroy my home planet. They’re going to do the same thing to humanity that they have done to all of you. These warriors have faced off with the Wehizx twice and each time they’ve come back with bigger victories. They’ve freed many of the human women the Wehizx hold and we’ve cracked their technology, too.” She takes a deep breath to addresses the chambers and the flickering projections. “These warriors are heroes,” she repeats.
My heart kicks my ribs. The pride she brings me by claiming this is much more powerful than any shame the High Council might try to punish me with.
She fights for me, just as I will fight for her.
“Heroes,” the First Chair answers flatly, “fighting for a lost cause. You do not understand this enemy, human woman. If you realized the danger, you would see, these warriors of yours are only going to get us all killed. Session adjourned.”
Anger surges through me but before I make a scene a much louder voice calls out.
“Wait.”
A large triple screen appears in the middle of the room, turning slowly to display the image of a Gildenz ambassador and warrior.
“Our people have no say in your internal matters, but the Gildenz Republic agrees with this human alien. Once we learn what we can from this technology, the Resistance Stellar Alliance should move swiftly to strike the Wehizx.”
I pull Loretta close, my pulse pounding.
“We agree.” A circular screen appears in the open space beneath the glass dome, spinning to show a pair of Triovians. “The human reminds us of our duty. If there is a chance to strike, we must.”
Another rumble goes through the room. The Second Chair begins to holler at the Third Chair, causing the First Chair to rise with a shout. “Enough!” He composes himself, then turns to the screens. “This has clearly become a matter for the RSA and not the KrysOlakn High Council. We will reconvene with all of our allies. Until then, our decisions stand.”
Loretta turns to me and I take her in a kiss, proud to claim her before the chambers. Even stripped of my warrior status, holding her reminds me of my power. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I’m sorry they took away your warrior title,” she whispers as the crowds begin to disperse.
I shake my head, not ready to think about it. “Come on,” I say, and take her by the waist. “There are way too many KrysOlakns looking at your body right now. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty
Loretta
The way his hands roam all over me, I know UrTak is eager to get me back to his tower. Once we leave the High Council, though, he surprises me by heading straight to the rescued women instead.
My heart soars as he delivers me to them. The KrysOlakns had offered the use of an ancient warrior estate to house them. We enter and the mansion-like structure’s heavy gray stones are surprisingly cozy as crisp, realistic projections of KrysOlakn landscapes float over the walls. When we step out onto the back porch I spot the women relaxing in the bright garden, and I grab UrTak’s arm.
“It’s really them,” I gasp. I hadn’t expected to feel so overwhelmed, but seeing other humans on the safety of KrysOlak warms me, even as my heart breaks that Marie isn’t here.
“Go,” UrTak says, nodding in their direction. “I will be here if you need me.”
I run down the stone steps and onto a path lined with orange dirt, the same color as the planet Irisiak, full in the sky above us. Kelsey notices me first. She rises and her tunic falls loosely across her body. I only shared a cell with her briefly but her curly dark hair and tattoos feel so familiar I just start laughing.
“You’re safe!” she exclaims. “Everyone, it’s Loretta!”
I take her in a hug and the other ten women all join us. They take turns welcoming me and offering their sympathies that Marie didn’t make it back. They’re all tired and they look like they’ve just run a marathon, but they’re clean and a full table of strangely enticing foods lays out before them.
I look around the garden. Vines tumble across the ground, thick with orange blossoms, and a plant that reminds me of a very tall, very thin white shrub makes something like a border around the siting area. Like the rest of KrysOlak, everything in the garden reminds me of Earth while also being extremely strange.
The beauty of the bright garden under the light of the full sky is appropriate to this reunion and I’m glad the other women can ease into this new moon somewhere that is welcoming and peaceful.
“Everyone is okay?” I ask. “The Wehizx didn’t…” I trail off, uncertain if the women understand the real danger they were in.
“They didn’t lay their parasitic babies in us, no,” Kelsey answers flatly.
I laugh, relaxed by her straightforward sarcasm. “I take it the KrysOlakns have caught you up?”
“Kind of,” Tara answers. She sits at the stone table and grabs a small yellow ball that looks like a ripe tomato, then pops it in her mouth casually. “We all still have a lot of questions.”
“Yeah,” one of the women chimes in. “Like when can we go home?”
Everyone starts talking at once. I think they’re just complaining to each other until I realize they’re directing all of their questions at me.
I blink a few times. They expect me to have answers, and I guess that makes sense. I’ve been here a lot longer than they have.
And then there’s my connection with UrTak. I don’t know what to call it exactly. He says I’m his destined, and my heart tells me there’s truth to that, but I don’t have the slightest clue how to explain KrysOlakn destiny to the other women.
And maybe the stars did send me to him; it wouldn’t be the strangest thing that has happened. But even that doesn’t quite get to the truth of what I’m feeling.
There’s only one word to describe the longing, warmth, and trust I feel when I look at him.
“Going home,” I say. My heart aches as I look at their worried faces. The KrysOlakns don’t know where Earth is, but before I came along, they didn’t know humans existed at all.
“Let me tell you the truth. The universe is a scary, dangerous place. It’s not going to be easy to get home and it’s not going to happen immediately. But the KrysOlakns and their allies are good and trustworthy. I don’t know how to describe it, exactly, but they’re going to fight for us.” I tighten my hands into fists, my confidence rising. “There are many good species here. The KrysOlakns and their allies will all fight for us.”
“They do seem kind,” Kelsey agrees. “But we can hardly trust anyone. Just because they gave us a nice house and food doesn’t mean they won’t eat us later.”
I laugh. The idea of the KrysOlakns I know hurting the women now strikes me as absurd. “I had the same fears when I first met them. Don’t worry. They’re fierce warriors, but they would never hurt an innocent person. It’s just not in their nature.”
“What is in their nature?” one of the women asks, pursing her lips. “Because some of these aliens are hot.”
A few of the women laugh and a few groan, a clear sign they’ve been talking about this already. I glance over my shoulder to UrTak, who stands at the top of the stairs like a sentry looking over me.
“I’m sure plenty of KrysOlakns would love it if you flirted with them,” I say. “Just not UrTak.”
Kelsey raises an eyebrow. “The KrysOlakn you came here with?”
UrTak must realize we’re talking about him because he starts to walk over. Heat flashes through my body. I’m nervous the women have just figured out that I’m with him and I become self-conscious about their judgment. But at the same time, my insecurity flares at the idea they would flirt with him.
He would never betray me. And even though my heart knows that to be true, I still want to pull him close and touch him to remind myself.
“Greetings,” he says as he approaches, and nods his head down respectfully. “And welcome to our moon.”
Immediately, he stands at my side and drops his heavy arm around my shoulder. I bite my lip to stifle a moan of pleasure as the satisfaction of being claimed by him pushes the other feelings away.
So much for discretion.
“This is UrTak,” I say, and slide my arm around his waist. The women all stare at us in absolute shock and I can see the gears turning in their brains. “He rescued me and he was the one responsible for the mission to rescue you all, too.”
“I hope my brothers have made you welcome here on KrysOlak. It is an honor to our star system to have you on the moon.”
Tara shoots me a look, obviously impressed with my man. Girl, she mouths, and I can’t help but laugh.
I know, I mouth back.
Before I know it, the women start asking UrTak questions. He and I take seats at the stone table and eat while he answers. I can feel the humans relax as we spend more time with them. I imagine seeing UrTak and I together is going a long way toward helping them trust the new aliens.
It’s obvious what many of them are thinking about, although outside of a few questions about interspecies dating across the galaxy, no one goes there. Still, I get the same kind of satisfaction out of the afternoon as I would introducing a new boyfriend to my friends back on Earth.
The day is familiar and strange, just like everything else on KrysOlak.
“The mid-day shade approaches,” UrTak says as he stands.