He almost didn’t notice the shy knock on the door.
In fact, he only heard it when the person wanting to bother him got a little more forceful. Though he was in no real mood to receive a visitor, he forced a strained smile on his lips as he pushed the button to open the door.
The door slid into the wall and announced Gwyndea, the technology freak, hacker, and spymaster.
She wore the same strained look on her face as Sartak.
Gwyndea bowed her head stiffly as she walked in, the door closing behind her with an almost silent hiss. In her hands, she held a folder.
He supposed that wasn’t good news.
“Found something about the pirates. They’re called the Sons of Sue’tyrn and hail from Sue’tyrn, a planet utterly destroyed by war and catastrophes. When their planet became uninhabitable, they left and became travelers. At some point, they eventually became pirates under the lead of their king. Those Sue’tyrnians are nasty things, looking like some twisted versions of Earthean dinosaurs or wyvern-gone-wrong, walking on digitigrades with three-clawed feet and a lizard’s tail; four fingers and dinosaur-head with horns. Their current king is said to be a human which surprises me, but what do I know about how that happened. Their Captain…I have no idea what his name is. I heard Solaire, Harry, Harris, Harrison, Beauvalleé, Alastair, Alan, and similar sounding names. I must confess, I’m rather confused about that man’s name. At least I can say for sure that he indeed is a male human. But now to the weird thing: His ship…the big mother-ship, one which is able to host all the smaller ships- I tell you that thing is fucking huge…like a damn small planet- has gone missing…or it rather disappeared. I’m guessing it’s cloaking itself. I can’t tell you where he is going, but I have a feeling it is nothing good he is up to. Anyway, there is a smaller ship not taking part in all the troubles…it’s like it is overseeing the others. Why I’m bringing that up? Well, I found a way, we can communicate with them. I tried hacking it, but they have some hellish good computer specialists of their own. They noticed me right away and threw me out. My holo-pad is shit now. But never mind, I got another one, and I could establish a video-call for you now,” she said, handing him the folder with pictures of Sue’tyrnians and information about them.
He flipped through the pages, then threw the folder back on his desk.
“Establish contact,” he muttered and Gwyndea nodded quickly; coming around the table to fumble with the wires of his screen.
He turned his chair and tried to sit upright, looking grim and important.
Still, it took Gwyndea about half-an-hour before she got through the channel and a call was established.
Maybe he should have gotten Kellan so he would speak to the Sons of Sue’tyrn, but it was too late now.
A face appeared on the screen and Sartak was rather taken aback when he was looking at a gray with black and white stripes cat…a cat walking on two legs and wearing a wine-red leather suit and guns.
Sartak had never seen a Felidorian before…he had only heard about the cat-people since they preferred keeping to themselves.
Seeing one of them work for the Sue’tyrnians was weird, especially when he introduced himself as First-Officer Quinn Telsin.
Those pale green cat-eyes regarded him warily.
“I’m Prince Sartak Nexvrin of Phy’vohran. Your Captain’s people are attacking our allied planets. I decided to try the diplomatic way and ask you nicely to stop that or else I will send my forces after you and make you stop,” well…that could have been formulated better, but the expression on the First-Officer’s face told him that the pirate had gotten the notion of it.
“Then come at us. My Captain does not wish to negotiate with treacherous beasts,” he spat.
Sartak wanted to say more when the screen turned black; informing them the call was over.
“That went well,” Gwyndea’s comment got her a nasty glare from the Warlord and she ducked her head.
20
First, he was insulted by a furry pirate, now his mate was sitting on their bed crying while his kmera yelled at him.
Jorax and Kalik were standing at the open door and shifted on their feet, not knowing whether they should intervene or just stay silent.
The Cjon’vaiian servants Klaijvia and Galjaia were trying to comfort Kellan, who refused to look at him or even listen to him.
Sartak had already suspected that Kellan wouldn’t like the news, but he hadn’t expected his mate to break out in tears.
“You’re leaving me again!” he sobbed accusingly, giving him a death glare from reddened swollen eyes filled with tears.
Sartak’s heart ached at the view.
He had never wished to see his beautiful mate like this. It broke his heart, tormented his consciousness and made him rethink his plan.
But no, he shook his head slightly.
He had to go himself and see to it that the transport arrived safely.
The earlier they got the weapons, the more it was to their advantage.
They needed to act now, and Sartak needed to see the different weapons to decide where he would send them. It was his duty and he wouldn’t be able to sleep well unless he had seen to this matter personally.
“Your kmeran is pregnant! How dare you upset him in such a fashion!” Jarvan reprimanded him, making him feel like a child again.
He closed his eyes, blocking out Kellan’s sobbing and his kmera’s shouting. He had no time for this.
Squaring his shoulders, he let go a long sigh.
“Out of my quarters! Everyone! My mate and I need to discuss things,” he ordered; his voice shaky with exhaustion and anger.
Jarvan looked at him with big eyes, mouth open in disbelieve.
Sartak felt guilty, but only for a short moment.
He knew he had never spoken to his beloved kmera in such a tone, but his nerves were strained and he desperately needed to hold Kellan in his arms and kiss him until he stopped being upset.
He wanted his mate to forgive him for leaving again, even though he had promised otherwise. Sartak needed to make him understand.
The servants were the first to hastily dart out of the room, bowing deeply before they left, then the guards followed their example but at a much slower pace. Only Jarvan was still there, glaring at him like only an angry parent could.
“You dare-“ he started.
“Please, kmera,” Sartak pressed out, letting Jarvan know he meant it and that it was urgent.
His kmera anyhow stared at him for a while and then decided to give a curt nod before he left the room, closing the heavy wooden doors behind him with a soft thud.
Taking a shaky breath, he turned away from the door and faced his kmeran, who lay on the bed, watching him while silently crying into the pillows.
He didn’t know how to start, but anyway, he walked towards the bed to sit down on the mattress and caress Kellan’s tears-wet cheek.
“My love…can you forgive me? Please…It is my duty. I cannot stay home in good conscience without seeing to this myself. You must understand. I do not wish to leave you, but taking you with me would prove too much stress which isn’t good for you right now,” he whispered, lying down next to Kellan and looking him into the eyes.
His mate tried to look away and thus conceal the pain from his view, but he had seen it already glimmering in his petite human’s beautiful eyes. It hurt Sartak to know he had caused this pain.
“I know,” Kellan said, his voice rough and barely audible.
“It won’t take long. Just a few days; three at the most. I’ll travel on hyper-speed. I’ll miss you dearly, just as I missed you these last few days while I was on the military moon. But I must do this,” with that he took Kellan’s delicate face into his hands and gave him a tender kiss.
Their mouths pressed against each other sweetly and very careful.
Kellan’s lips tasted salty from all the tears, but soon he returned the kiss more eager and passionately. Sartak slid his tongue in between his mate
’s lips and swiped it through his mouth, teasing the other tongue.
Only when Kellan gently pushed him back, he stopped to take a breath. Their gazes locked with each other’s; pain had been replaced with love and trust.
“Make love to me,” his mate whispered softly into his ear and Sartak did as Kellan wished.
Still feeling Kellan’s soft hands all over him, he sat in his captain’s seat and watched the nebula and stars of their galaxy. His mate’s scent still lingered on his skin, reminding him of their sweet and slow lovemaking a few hours ago.
His sweet kmeran was sad about him leaving due to a small mission, but he wasn’t so upset anymore. Kellan understood his reasons though he had tried to talk him into taking him on this mission too. Gentle but decidedly, he had refused, pointing out the stress for the baby again.
Eventually, Kellan had sighed and then agreed to stay behind and try to relax.
Sartak had his usual team with him; Aoran’s daughters were staying with Kellan who should be by now telling them about the adventures of Drake and Ser Alexius again. The thought brought a smile to his lips and Aoran gave him a quizzical look. He shook his head, not yet ready to take his mind back to the mission.
Kariary was eager to get her hands on those new weapons. As the weapon master, she was better informed in that matter.
HAWK- Weapon Manufactory had to be something special since Kariary had squeaked and jumped up and down, clapping her hands while she had cried tears of joy.
She was literally dying to see those brand-new guns and lasers. She had been quite mad at Sartak for not telling her that his kmeran was related to the Hawks. Sartak hadn’t known it either, and even if he had known about this, he wouldn’t have thought about telling Kariary because he had no idea they were so top-notch. His only excuse for his ignorance was that they hadn’t traded with humans for a long time.
Gwyndea was on video-call with their Intelligence.
Those people had been working non-stop since the whole pirate-business had gotten out of hand.
Now they were making sure every pirate ship was where it should be…or rather where it had been seen the last time. They also tried to dig up some more information about those pirates, especially their captain.
That fellow was elusive.
No one from the outside had any information about that man- or was keeping their mouths shut. Anyway, it was unnerving to have an unknown enemy. If they’d known at least something about him, Sartak would have tried to talk to him, although his conversation with First-Officer Quinn Telsin hadn’t been amiable. Maybe, he could have changed the Captain’s mind or at least bribe him into leaving the other planets alone.
On the seat next to Sartak sat Harok, looking tired and grim.
His eyes had dark circles that made him look a lot older than he actually was. Lord Darlvok had been their Captain of the Guard for a long time; Sartak couldn’t, in fact, remember a time when he hadn’t held this title.
Harok had taken the position for fun, he had once told him. Now he was about to leave the guard permanently, moving back home and start to be a real lord, doing all the managing stuff an estate and a territory needed. He could no longer stay away from his home, leaving the servants to do all the work.
It had awoken quite some spiteful voiced among the other High Lords of the Crown Council. Now, since Sartak’s father had offered Harok a seat on the council, he had to make a decision.
The Crown Council it was, apparently. But that also meant he could no longer do as he fancied, having even greater responsibility and a reputation to care for now.
Sartak pitied Harok for having to give up parts of his carefree lifestyle. He couldn’t imagine giving up some of his own ways, so it surely had been a tough decision for Harok.
Sartak was the crown prince, and as long as he wasn’t sitting on the throne, all fanciness was forgiven since he was the offspring of a king.
Everyone expected royalty to be pesky and fancy as hell.
He remembered an ancestor who would only visit a city hall under the requirement of it having white walls and brown carpets. No one quite knew what to make of it, but he had been as fancy as fancy could get, so the rumors said.
So it was not only normal to act like a jerk sometimes but also expected- just as long as one was of royal blood. Harok, on the other hand, wasn’t allowed to have such extravagant traits since he was just a lord…a higher lord now, but still just a lord.
Sartak could only shake his head about such nonsensical bigotry. One should live how one wanted to as long as no others came to harm by the way one chose to lead one’s life.
“So, anyone in mind who will take your position after you step back?” Sartak asked his uncle, making him grimace.
“I had…but that fellow won’t last us long I fear,” Harok sat up in his chair as he tried to coax a smile on his lips, but failed miserably.
Sartak nodded, he knew exactly who Harok had in mind.
“Kalik?” he guessed and got an affirmation from the other man.
“A pity, but it seems like all the lords trying to be something different from lords are going to be lords, anyway. Kind of sad, I’d say,” he smiled a sad smile and Sartak felt the need to pat his arm to comfort his uncle.
It was stupid, but he did it anyway.
“It’s probably still a cycle before I will leave my post. I wish father was still alive, but grief over mother’s illness that had brought her death has taken him down at last. He was a great man, a just man. He was my paragon, I always wanted to be like him, but I just couldn’t. I failed him…and mother…I think she hated me. Everything I did was an offense to her. I wish we would have gotten on good terms in the end…for father’s sake. She left this world hating me and father left knowing he loved a son his beloved wife had despised. I wonder if he ever felt guilty for supporting me as he did,” Harok cleared his voice and let his gaze wander to look at the stars and nebula.
Sartak had no words of condolence.
Nothing came to his mind right now. He was happy his parents loved him and he loved them back dearly. He didn’t have a clue about how Harok had felt while his parents had been still alive, let alone how he felt now. So he simply had no words to make things better or cheer his uncle up. He had no words since no words could undo Harok’s pain; not with both parents gone.
Instead, he was silent, thinking about nothing and everything at once.
The vast universe spread in front of them; surrounded them. They were in the middle of the galaxy, but further away blackness would swallow them.
As beautiful as the universe was, it was also terrifying.
How had it been for the Sue’tyrn all those years, traveling the universe with no home to go to in the end?
Were they frightened?
Did they wish to find a new home or was it too painful for them to live somewhere else that wasn’t their own planet?
Sartak had traveled far over the course of his military career. He had been stationed on various planets; sometimes he had even spent months surrounded by blackness and empty space. But still, he would always want to come home. There was no other place he wanted to permanently live; he would always feel the pull towards his home planet.
His own attachment to his planet made him think of Kellan.
Was his mate happy on Phy’vohran?
Did he want to go home?
He hadn’t asked him yet, but something told him that Kellan liked Sartak’s planet more.
He seemed to be surrounded by a peaceful aura of content. They had even talked about traveling Phy’vohran because Kellan was curious about his new home.
While Sartak was talking about the fascinatingly beautiful places and his favorite cities, Kellan had listened in awe, soaking up every piece of information like a sponge.
So traveling their planet was their plan for after the child was delivered.
He knew that Kellan was slightly nervous about that, but Sartak was sure that his wonderful kmeran would be
fine. But since Kellan was a human and far smaller than a Phy’vohranian kmer, the doctors had suggested an abdominal delivery; hence Kellan would have a surgery.
Sartak, however, had promised to hold his hands all the way to the labor room and then stay just behind the glass wall to be as near as possible.
Sartak had to admit that he didn’t like the idea of someone cutting his mate open, but delivering the child naturally would prove fatal for his petite human.
More harm would be done to Kellan’s body that way. Thus Sartak had ordered the delivery to be abdominal. There was no way he would expose his mate to danger, not if he could prevent it.
Kellan himself had said that the decision to have a “c-section”-that was how he had called it- was quite reasonable. He had even been overly relieved about Dr. Selarney’s suggestion that had been more of a plea. The doctor would, of course, have obeyed their wishes even if that wish had been full of risks.
Kellan…he wondered what his mate was doing now.
It was time to go to bed for the children by now, so the storytelling was probably finished, leaving the kids to wait another day until they could listen to more stories about Drake and Ser Alexius.
Kellan didn’t know what to do now. He had brought the children- Aoran’s girls and Jarvan’s twins- to bed and he had talked to Kohtah about his parent’s decision concerning her wish to get her gender changed.
Kohtah had been overly grateful and happy about it and Kellan pushing the matter a little.
She had been in tears, sobbing and crying while hugging Kellan tightly.
Now, he had just left her rooms and made his way back to Sartak’s and his quarters.
Kalik and Jorax were right beside him, so when they reached the door to the private rooms, he invited them to sit with him in Sartak’s sitting room.
Kellan’s library- it was the former second sitting room that had stood empty for a while- was now occupied by the girls again. His library had not only ceiling-high bookshelves and a small office; it also displayed some weapons and bizarre or beautiful little nick-nacks he had gotten on his travels in glass cabinets.
The Golden Heart: Alliance Book One (Alliance Series 1) Page 27