by Regine Abel
Ghan stared at Khel. “The Terran is still unconscious, thanks to Khel’s excess.”
“How was I supposed to know my venom had been juiced up?” Khel frowned at me. I grinned at him, not feeling a single ounce of remorse.
Ghan ignored Khel’s comment. “So that brings us to the Blood Houses.”
That got my attention and sobered me right up. Over the years, a large number of females from The Revenant were delivered to Xelix Prime. I’d felt real bonds of kinship for some of them, although I could do nothing to help them. The thought that they were so close gnawed at me. Every time we unloaded them, I hated myself. This time, Goddess willing, I could make amends.
“We made a map of the area surrounding the factory where Mirvhen was picked up.” Lhor displayed a holographic tri-dimensional map. “These are the inhabitable locations within a twenty-five-mile radius around the factory. We’ve cross-referenced the parameters gathered from Mirvhen and eliminated all locations except these three.”
“The Blood House is at one of them?” I asked, my excitement rising.
“The question is which,” Ghan said.
Khel leaned forward. “Satellite surveillance?”
Ghan shook his head. “Inconclusive. Just business as usual.”
“So we need to send in reconnaissance teams.” Khel reclined in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “It’s going to be tricky. These are all private properties. If we get caught infiltrating without a warrant and there’s no criminal activity, it’ll be our asses in a sling.”
“More like yours.” Lhor turned off the hologram. “Your enemies would descend upon you like vultures. For all we know, this could be a setup for that specific purpose. You cannot risk an infiltration. Even if your warriors don’t get captured, all it takes is surveillance cameras proving you were illegally on their property to set the whole thing off.”
“I hear you, Lhor.” Khel waved at him impatiently. “But inaction isn’t an option. We cannot attack all three simultaneously, especially if two of them are legitimate businesses. And targeting the wrong one first risks tipping off the real one. The bottom line is we cannot be associated with the infiltrating party in case of discovery. We hire some mercs.”
“This is too sensitive to risk involving mercs,” Ghan argued. “Most cannot be trusted and will turn on you for a handful of extra credits.”
Khel raised a questioning hand. “Then what else do you propose?”
“You could use me,” I said.
The silence was deafening as three sets of eyes fell on me.
“I’m serious.” I fisted my hands. “I can get the info without us getting caught.”
Ghan burst out laughing. It was a powerful, deep, throaty laughter that attracted stunned stares from Lhor and Khel. I was too amazed to see Ghan genuinely laugh to hiss at him, though my blossoming season temper simmered beneath the surface.
“So tell me, little one,” Ghan said, regaining his composure, “how is an exotic-looking, non-combatant, little thing like you, who has been the talk of the planet for the past few weeks, going to strut her way into a hostile location known to hold Pearls, then strut back out unnoticed and unscathed?"
Khel glared at Ghan, I’m assuming because of his less than flattering description of me. I wish he would have also supported my offer of assistance.
“My ‘exotic-looking’ self is going to succeed where your ‘oh so awesome elite warriors’ will fail. I don’t need to strut anything, thank you very much,” I snarled. “I just need to be within range to use my abilities and bam, done!”
“Amalia, my heart, I am not letting you anywhere near that place,” Khel said.
“Don’t, Khel.” I pushed off my chair and stood facing him, my hands fisted.
Lhor tried to intervene. “Amalia…”
“Don’t!” I pointed a finger at him. “You bunch of self-righteous bastards. You think because you have cocks you get to dictate what I can and cannot do?”
Lhor rolled his eyes. “It’s not the same thing. We can respect your freedom and still try to protect you from doing something stupid.”
“Oh! So now I’m stupid?” I asked, my voice bitter.
“Falihna… you know that’s not what he meant,” Khel said patronizingly.
I angrily crossed my arms over my chest. “Do you think I’m stupid, Khel?”
“Amalia…” Khel said.
“Answer the fucking question!” I yelled, slapping my hand against the table.
He blinked. “Of course not, Amalia. But Xelixians are fast. You go in and they’ll capture or kill you before you can blink. Try to understand…”
“I do understand, and I agree,” I said throwing up my hands. “Did it ever cross your mind to listen to what I had to say before you passed judgment?”
“Fair enough,” Khel said, his tone appeasing. “Please sit down.”
“Don’t fucking tell me to sit down!”
He raised his palms in surrender, pursing his lips, but kept silent. After a beat, I threw myself back in my chair and gripped the armrests, trying to regain my cool.
“How do you see this working so you’re not onsite, in harm’s way?” Khel asked.
“Specifically by not being onsite,” I said with a controlled voice. Khel looked confused by my answer. “I told you I only needed to be within range, I never said I needed to be on the ground. You assumed that. I’m not stupid, Khel.”
“Okay,” Khel articulated slowly. “But you need to touch technology to use your ability. That means you need to be on the ground.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I rubbed my face in frustration. “I only need a stealth ship or shuttle to get close enough. Then, I can try to lock onto one of the former captives from The Revenant. I need to be within a quarter of a mile to detect if they’re in that building. Their captors won’t even know we were there.”
The three males gawked at me before exchanging stunned glances.
“That… is a viable plan,” Ghan admitted. Khel and Lhor nodded in agreement, a look of respect in their eyes.
“Well, my mate, it seems you win.” Khel bowed his head in concession.
“It’s not about winning.” I looked at each of them in turn. “You tell me I’m free, yet try to control me when it suits you. I didn’t win. You only agree because you have no other option. Otherwise, you would pat me on the head like a good pet, and send me home. Tell me I’m wrong.”
They had the decency to look embarrassed. It didn’t make it hurt any less. “I didn’t trade one master only to inherit three more.” They bristled at my comment. “I do want your protection and your counsel, but I’ll never let another male control me or dictate what I do. I promise to try to be reasonable in my requests, but I demand the same in return.”
Lhor and Ghan looked at Khel to see his reaction. Khel nodded slowly. He pursed his lips, eyes cast down while pondering what I’d just said. He inhaled deeply, coming to a conclusion.
“We’re Xelixians, Amalia. We’ll always be overprotective of females. It’s ingrained in us, even more so with you because you’re my mate. It’s not disrespect to want to keep you out of harm’s way. It’s our duty. It’s who we are. I’m not your master, and I promise to take your desires into account, but never at the cost of your safety.”
Not what I wanted to hear, but it would have to do… for now.
* * *
“Don’t be discouraged, child. Xelixian isn’t easy.” Smiling, Jhola picked up her datapad and walked to the door. “We’ll keep practicing. You’ll get it,” she said over her shoulder.
Whoever invented the Xelixian language deserved a hundred consecutive life sentences of hard labor on some toxic planet. The rules were ridiculous and it was impossible to pronounce. I studied with a holographic tutor, then practiced an hour every day with Jhola. Ten lifetimes wouldn’t suffice to get me to master the damn thing.
Taking in my surroundings, I reclined on my desk chair. Jhola and I had done a great job decorating the
office in my three-room suite in navy blue and yellow. When I wasn’t enjoying the outdoors or using the training room, this was my refuge. Aside from the desk, cabinet and display case, everything else was some sort of cushion, couch or sitting area. I would sprawl on one or the other to read, watch vids, study or just daydream.
Right now, however, I was too restless for entertainment. The way yesterday’s meeting had gone still pissed me off. Khel had a point, though; Xelixians were protective of females to a fault. In a way, I realized it was unfair to expect him to change who he was. I actually didn’t want him to. My participation in the Fastening was to secure the protection of a warrior. But there was a fine line between protecting and controlling. After twenty-two years of slavery, I wasn’t okay with anyone claiming dominion over me.
Khel struggled to reconcile the nervous girl that chose him at the Fastening with the willful mate that demanded combat training. It was confusing for me too, but I loved it. Like Nana said, I needed to learn to spread my wings, and I was discovering myself in the process. One thing remained certain; I hated rules. Xelixian society was riddled with them. After the thallium incident, it became clear that one way to protect myself was to learn everything I could about their laws. Dr. Lurphin could’ve easily taken me from Khel if not for Lhor’s warning.
Over the past few days, I started reading the Xelixian Book of Law, focusing on Family Law. I wanted to know what powers a third party could have over me. Could they claim custody of me? Dissolve my Fastening? Force me to mate with another? What were my or Khel’s recourses? To my surprise, it turned out I loved legal stuff. How ironic.
I picked up my datapad and lay down on the large off-white couch amidst a dozen blue and beige patterned throw pillows. After water, comfy mattresses had to be my second favorite thing. I settled down and loaded up the Book of Law. I continued reading article after article detailing the rights and obligations of mates, rituals to be observed, provisions for alien mates, etc. And then, there they were; four little paragraphs that rocked my world.
Article 1:94. Notwithstanding Article 1:73 which defines a Legal Mating as the union of one male and one female through the Fastening Ceremony, a female may, at her sole discretion, include a second male in her existing Legal Mating, as long as the second male is a first or second-degree blood relative of the First Mate.
Article 1:95. Due to their ability to produce significant amounts of oxytocin, Prime females and Pearls exclusively may, at their sole discretion, include a third male in their existing Legal Mating, as long as said third male is a first or second degree blood relative of the First Mate.
Article 1:96. In the case a legally mated female chooses to avail herself of the provisions of Article(s) 1:94 and/or 1:95, a Fastening Ceremony with the Second Mate or Third Mate isn’t required. Fastening Vows must, however, be exchanged between the female and each additional mate. The Fastening Hall Record Keeper must be informed of each new bond for their status to be official.
Article 1:97. Any offspring born to a Legal Mating involving more than one male will bear the name of his sire, as established by a DNA test, for the continuation of said male’s bloodline. The Heir to the Family’s estate will be the firstborn male of the First Mate or any other offspring chosen by the First Mate.
A handful of following articles went on to explain the inheritance protocol should the First Mate die, but I felt too stunned to continue reading. I stared at the screen without seeing, digesting the implications of this information. Khel, Lhor and I could be a family unit. I only had one small sentence to say to make it a reality. I didn’t even need Khel’s permission, just Lhor’s acceptance, like during a Selection. I felt dizzy.
Why hadn’t Fihn mentioned this at the Selection? Did Khel and Lhor know of this law? How would they feel about it? I began pacing the room. I was certain Lhor wanted me but doubted he knew the feelings were mutual. For now, I would keep it that way. I couldn’t help feeling like Lhor was also my mate. Maybe it was because of that Geminate thing. It was painful to resist my attraction to him, but I would never betray Khel. However, with this law…
Khel would never agree.
He had seemed jealous on a few occasions. Yet, Lhor was the other half of his soul. Surely Khel would see that denying Lhor was like denying himself? For now, I wouldn’t force the issue. Khel and I were still sorting out our relationship. I started to suspect that underneath his veneer of confidence, Khel had some hefty insecurity baggage. Telling him I wanted to bring in a third member wasn’t the wisest decision. Not to mention, there was no guarantee Lhor would even consent.
The thought of him rejecting me cut deep. I could see the way he looked at me when he thought no one paid attention, full of want and desire. It turned me on. The way he reacted to my most innocent touches… The way our bodies perfectly aligned together when we hugged. I couldn’t stop thinking about that time he watched us from his balcony. Did it make me a tramp that I wished he could have joined us? But was Lhor attracted to me, Amalia Valis with all my quirks and flaws, or did he merely like the first non-relative young woman to have looked at him as a male? Did he care for me or were Khel’s feelings influencing Lhor’s reaction to me? Worse, did he only see me as a cure for his illness?
So many questions without answers… However, dwelling on this right now was pointless. There would be plenty of time after the Trial. We had other priorities anyways; scouting the Blood House tomorrow, finding Gruuk and freeing my Nana.
I’m going to help free the captives, Nana. Soon… soon, we’ll free you too.
CHAPTER 21
Lhor
We flew the cloaked shuttle, en route to the first of three possible Blood House locations. Ghan piloted and I sat next to him in the co-pilot’s seat, not that one was actually required. Khel and Amalia sat behind us in the passenger seats. I could hear the soft murmur of their voices as they discussed Khel’s favorite foods. She was especially keen to learn recipes Xelixians fed their young. It didn’t take a genius to guess why.
I looked over my shoulder at them. Amalia had gotten out of her seat and curled up on Khel’s lap. Her hand rested on his chest while her thumb absentmindedly rubbed his pecs. She couldn’t help herself. She needed to touch as if to reassure herself of the presence of those she cared about. She listened to Khel as he talked about the most epic food fight Vahl, he and I ever had when we were juveniles because Aunt Vhena had over salted it.
She was so beautiful and innocent. What I wouldn’t give for her eyes to look at me like this right now. Granted, I had my moments with her, way more than I was entitled to. But when it came to her, I always wanted more.
In many ways, she and I were kindred spirits. She’d been a slave, I’d been sickly. We’d both depended on the love of a special person to keep us grounded; Nana hers, Khel mine. We constantly pulled pranks on each other, like we were trying to make up for the childhood we hadn’t had. We drove Jhola crazy with our antics. But in between the silliness, there was also the more serious. I taught her how to live life outside her jail, and she taught me to challenge my preconceptions and blind obedience to rules. It was insane how deeply she had burrowed into my heart in three weeks.
I sighed, turning my gaze back to the front when I noticed Ghan staring at me. My cheeks heated and I averted my eyes.
“She’s special,” Ghan said after a moment.
“Yes. You know, she loves you, Ghan.” He glanced at me, an unreadable expression on his face. “She says you’re the big brother she always dreamt of.”
He grunted in acknowledgment and turned back to our path. But not so quickly I hadn’t seen the emotion that crossed his face.
Yes, my friend. She’s got us all wrapped around that little finger of hers.
“We’ll enter range shortly,” Ghan called out as we approached the clearing near our first location.
Amalia perked up and leaned forward, trying to see the building growing on the horizon. She settled more comfortably onto Khel and closed her eyes, her fac
e a mask of concentration. She frowned, pinching her lips from the effort.
After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head. “Not here. I can’t feel anyone.”
I gave her an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry. We didn’t think this one was a real probability. We have two more to go. Ghan is going to owe me a vintage bottle of spiced ryspak wine when my gut feeling about the location is proven right.”
“Did you really let him rope you into another wager?” Khel chuckled at Ghan, who replied with a haughty sniff.
“Oh, that should be good!” Amalia made a teasing face at Ghan.
I couldn’t help but laugh as well. Ghan and I had grown closer since Amalia stormed into our lives. We’d always had a respectful, though distant relationship, born of our mutual affection for Khel. But she’d brought us together in a way none of us could have anticipated. Ghan still intimidated the fuck out of me. However, he would battle Gharah himself to protect those he called friends. There was a softness… that’s not the word… a kindness deep within him. Gentle but rough, that didn’t quite know how to express itself, but it bobbed to the surface from time to time.
It was a short flight to the second location. Before we even entered the quarter mile range, Amalia straightened, her mouth going slack, her eyes darkening. I recalled that look all too well from the bunker; she was having a vision. I tried not to gloat over the vintage spiced ryspak wine coming my way. There would be time to rub it in Ghan’s face later. I focused instead on her body language, looking for signs of distress.
“Falihna…” Khel looked at Amalia with concern.
“Khel, stop!” I intervened. “She’s having a vision. Don’t interrupt or she might miss something important. She’ll come out when she’s ready.”
He nodded stiffly. It bothered him that I knew this about her before he did. Then I felt his shame for feeling that way. If he only knew the way I felt about his mate half the time, he would realize he’s the last person who should feel shame.