Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1)

by Stormy McKnight

  Cali was instantly on guard. Something was going on beyond this meeting, and her instincts were screaming at her that it wasn’t diplomacy.

  “Would this mating stand, if my daughter changed her mind? Told you of her own free will that she didn’t want you?”

  Drake stood stoically and finally answered, “Yes.”

  “I would like to speak privately with Calinae.”

  “No,” Drake’s denial was vehement.

  “Why, is there a reason she might deny you as her mate?”

  “There is nothing you could say that would make me deny Drake as my mate,” Turning to him she placed a hand on his chest. “It’s okay, I’ll speak with her alone.”

  Drake obviously wasn’t happy with the idea, “Very well. If it’s what you want.” He bent and kissed her before nodding to Mica and Nevir to follow him out of the room.

  Once the others had cleared the doorway, Cali stepped in front of her mother, “We are supposed to be discussing the opening of trade and diplomacy with Titus and Atheon, mother. Not my status as Drake’s mate.”

  “We are not interested in trade or diplomacy, I just need you to see reason, and return home to take your place on the Initiate Council.”

  “I’m not staying on Cestori.”

  “We’ll see Calinae. After you left Cestori a few changes had to be made. For one, your father and I are uncoupled. He is a criminal in the new order and has been charged as such. When he is caught—”

  “Father is not a criminal. What are you talking about?” Cali had never seen the fanatic behind the façade before, but her mother was showing her true colors now.

  “I was forced to take drastic measures when you didn’t return. The Council passed a new law recently making romanticism a crime.”

  “You can’t punish people for having different beliefs than you mother,” Cali whispered in shocked disbelief.

  Was her father a criminal on the run? What was this “new order” her mother talked about? This trip wasn’t going to bring diplomatic relationships between their worlds. They would be lucky to avoid bloodshed and all-out war at this rate.

  “From what I hear, Titus doesn’t embrace all of its inhabitants either. So what is the difference Calinae?”

  “They only punish those unaligned males that act against the clans. They don’t actively hunt them down. If they want to live separately, they are allowed their freedom,” Cali argued.

  “Well, you are arguing semantics really,” her mother denied calmly. Her serene expression making her words all the more chilling. “You know we aren’t barbaric, we fix the problem medically; we don’t punish punitively. Anyone exhibiting emotional reactions has a procedure done that reassigns their synapsis. It’s painful, yes…that was unavoidable, but it only takes two weeks and then the patient is cured.”

  Cali thought she was going to be sick. Her mother was obviously crazy.

  “People who have emotions don’t need medical intervention…” she began only to be cut off.

  “You’ll see reason Calinae.”

  Before she could react her mother grabbed her hand and Cali felt the familiar sensation of transporting.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Looking around her, Cali recognized the type of room she was in. It was similar to the medical rooms in the Science Sectorate of Thestori. There was an exam table, with a strange device hovering over it. Three additional figures moved about the room. Their medical uniforms told her they worked here.

  “This is the new Realignment Center.”

  Cali spun to glare at her mother. “Bringing me here was a waste of time. I won’t be having your realignment procedure.”

  “Really Cali, it’s illogical to think that anything can stop me,” her mother argued calmly. “Doctors, you have my permission to fix my daughter.”

  Two guards grabbed her arms and pulled her toward the chair.

  “This was a serious mistake mother,” Cali tamped down the panic that burst in her chest. The guards forced her into the chair and started working on the straps, “You might want to let go of me.”

  “Why ‘s that?” One of them asked distractedly.

  “Because she knows that if you don’t I’ll rip your arms off for touching my mate.” Drake’s angry growl echoed behind her mother. He had arrived with Mica, Nevir and a handful of males from The Cali. All of them were in a rage if their electric blue eyes were any indication. The guards immediately stopped working on her restraints. The doctors who had come forward to work on the medical machine fled back against the walls to cower.

  “I wanted you to play your hand mother. I knew you wouldn’t be so calm if you didn’t have something up your sleeve. This is what you had planned? To bring me here and realign my brain? I guess it’s a good thing that Titus is more advanced than you knew, and that Drake was able to monitor where you took me.” Shaking her head sadly Cali whispered. “What a waste of an opportunity at not one but two alliances and peace for Cestori.”

  The look on her mother’s face almost made the whole ordeal worthwhile. Her mouth went wide in shock and she stumbled toward her guard. Tonn Dax and Taspa Lor ran toward the doors in a panic, and when the doors opened a faint, agonized scream reached them.

  “Was that Vathral?” Nevir’s whole body jerked at the cry and then she was gone from the room in a flash.

  Before she could look to Drake, there was an anguished scream from somewhere closer than Vathral.

  “Vareen,” Cali choked back tears. There was no denying the pained cry had been her friend.

  “Diandra helped us pick who might best influence you. Vareen was an obvious choice, but Vathral was a surprise.” Her mother waved her hand dismissively. “If I couldn’t talk you into having the realignment, I was hoping you would do it for your friends. Unfortunately, your father’s resistance group got to Nellia before we could finish the procedure on her. I’ve increased security since then”

  “What have you done?” Mica’s vicious growl ricocheted around the room and Cali grabbed her ears. They were ringing from the force.

  The guards moved to protect Aicen Edal.

  “Mica, no. Some of them are innocent.” Drake grabbed his friend in a bear hug, “Cali, I can’t hold him for long.”

  “If they are in this building, they are not innocent,” Mica seemed to be swelling with rage with every breath. The ominous charge to the room grew with every second that passed.

  Jerking out of the chair Cali yelled at her mother, “Evacuate this building.”

  “Honestly Cali,” Her mother moved slightly to the side so Cali could see her face. “There are guards stationed everywhere. Vareen is almost done with her reassignment—”

  The growling from Mica got louder and Cali yelled. “Shut up mother! If you won’t call for an evacuation, order the guards to drop their weapons at least.”

  Her mother remained stubbornly silent. So Cali ran to the communication panel and hoped it would activate for her. Talking into the receiver she ordered, “This is Calinae Edal. All guards drop your weapons and evacuate the building immediately. This is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill, disarm and evacuate.”

  Before she could repeat her order, one of her mother’s guards rushed at her to knock her away. When his arm swept back, Cali flinched. The blow never landed. Drake swept over and took the hit against his side.

  Another wrenching scream came from the hallway. “You had better hope we do not meet again. Maxon, I need you to send reinforcements to this building.” Mica glared icily at her mother and then disappeared in a flash of black.

  “No…wait…”

  It was too late, Mica was gone. Turning horror filled eyes to Drake she gasped, “How many will come down?”

  Drakes glowing eyes snapped from her mother to her, “All but a minimal crew will be left on both ships. At least one-hundred will have transported to the ground.”

  “You can’t have transported through the shields. This is all just for show,” her mother denied w
hat she’d already seen.

  “The shields won’t matter mother.” Cali hadn’t seen one of the guards moving toward her.

  Drake was suddenly a flash of purple and before any of the other guards could move, they were knocked out cold on the floor. Her mother, finally realizing her predicament, frantically called for a teleport. Finished with the male threat, Drake stopped behind her, his stance protective.

  “You can stop calling for help. Your communication system is being blocked by The Maxon. The warship escorted us from Titus under cloak in order to defend The Cali if it became necessary. They are monitoring us.” She felt terribly sad and tired all of a sudden, “You aren’t going anywhere until Vareen, Vathral and anyone else you are torturing here is rescued.”

  “Actually, you are both going to The Cali. Your mother into a holding cell, and you into safety. I can’t have you in danger.”

  When Cali went to look at him, he caressed her lovingly on the neck. “Maxon, transport now.”

  “Drake, I love you, be careful,” Cali yelled as he started to disappear. The last thing she saw was the faint amusement in his face at her concern for his safety. Damn arrogant man, one of the guards could get a lucky shot in, she thought

  When she reappeared it was to see her mother in a holding cell, and Cali was on the other side of the containment beam.

  “I honestly don’t know what the fuss is about. Vathral and Vareen are happy to have the realignment.”

  “Do you even realize what is happening on Cestori? Do you even care that one-hundred valkie warriors are going to demolish your Realignment Center? You saw what Drake did to your guards, and he isn’t even enraged. Mica and Nevir are, which the other members of the clans will pick up on! You are torturing two chosen mates and they will remove every threat between them and their loved ones.”

  “The defenses—”

  “Will fall and you could’ve saved countless lives if you had acted when I asked you to. I don’t know that the guards would have listened to me.” Cali couldn’t stand her mother’s presence any longer, “Titus is allied with the people of Atheon. You should have taken a chance and talked peacefully with me, but instead, you went to your stand-by of manipulation and bullying. Look what it’s gotten you mother! When you get back to Cestori look around at the destruction there. It might not be today, or in a month, or a year, or one-hundred years, but the people will get sick of you and your laws. Change is inevitable.”

  “I don’t think—” her mother scoffed and Cali saw red.

  “I won’t be seeing you again Aicen.” Cali wanted her mother gone, but wasn’t willing to let her loose on Cestori just yet. “Bridge. When it’s confirmed that our people are on board, transport Aicen Edal into what’s left of the Reassignment Center so she can appreciate what her politics has wrought.”

  “Copy that captain.”

  Walking away from her mother, into the hallway she ignored her demands for release. It wasn’t until she was in the lift to her private quarters that she allowed the tears to flow down her cheeks. Her friend’s cries had been anguished and heartbreaking. If she had a special ability like Mica or Nevir she’d have been in a fighting frenzy too. How many others were being held against their will? Her father? Conndra and Markus? How many people had her mother imprisoned because of her? The only consolation was that Drake would find them.

  When she arrived at her quarters Cali moved to stand by the holo-window, “Computer, display the planet we are orbiting.” An image of Cestori came into view. “Bridge, notify me when Chan’ Drake has called for a teleport.”

  “Copy that captain.”

  Now all she could do was wait.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  It turns out that Cali saw her mother once more after all.

  The fighting in the Realignment Center had a more immediate impact than Cali could have hoped for. The people had called for an immediate referendum. They hadn’t renounced the law her mother had implemented, they just demanded a small change to the punishment. The negotiations were taking place on The Maxon and were finally finished.

  “It seems you got your alliance in a round-about way.” Aicen Edal was keeping her distance from everyone in the room. “We are all in agreement. The medical fixing of those with emotions will stop.”

  “It doesn’t hurt that your facility is in rubble,” Drake growled menacingly. His emotions were still on the surface.

  “Yes, that does put things in perspective.” Aicen pushed the agreement back across the table. The three members of the council had just finished signing it. “Here is everything we’ve capitulated to. Those with emotions will be offered transport off Cestori. An initial group now, and then on regular transport cycles. How long before you know where you are taking them?”

  “We have a meeting with Ambassador Tec’hia in a few days. We’ll leave as soon as we’re done here.”

  “I’ll stay behind to work with the medical staff.” Nellia tapped her fingers nervously on the table. “Since I was rescued before the realignment could be completed, I have an idea of the trauma those survivors have gone through.”

  Cali looked at the others at the table with them. Her father, Nellia and the two other council members were the only people in the room. Her mother had waved off her guards and Cali knew it was because she wanted to look strong. It didn’t hurt that her mother knew they were useless against Drake. If he wanted her dead, she would be.

  In order to facilitate this removal of the first group of banished, Drake had offered the services of The Maxon.

  “I will stay and coordinate the others that want to leave. Word is just getting around and we should have another group of refugees soon. Give it a few weeks.” Eliav Edal sat calmly at the table, ignoring the council members. His attention was on her, Drake, and Nellia. “With The Maxon helping us relocate, the process shouldn’t take long. I can’t thank you enough for the use of your warship.”

  Cali was grateful to Drake for letting her father use The Maxon. They would be taking the first group of about one hundred with them to the meeting with Ambassador Tec’hia. After that meeting, they’d either be bringing the refugees to Titus or handing them off to the ambassador for transport to Atheon. Either way, once this group of refugees was safe, The Maxon would return to Cestori to be at her father’s disposal. The warship was intimidating enough to keep her mother in line.

  Eliav Edal would be traveling between Atheon, Cestori and Titus as a sort of liaison. After un-partnering with her mother, he was ready for a new adventure. Cali was excited to see her father re-engaged with life. He was filled with a new purpose and Cali hadn’t ever seen him so happy.

  “You are welcome,” Drake smiled at her father and took her hand. “I thank you for Cali.”

  “I think we’re done here. You will have safe passage to and from Cestori for the removal of the deviants. If there isn’t anything further.” Her mother called for a transport before another word was spoken. Tonn Dax and Taspa Lor bowed their heads slightly and disappeared as well.

  “Okay then. Nellia and I should be getting back as well.” Her father stood from his seat. “I can work with a clear conscious knowing you and Drake are looking out for each other. These last few days of getting to know him, and in a strange way you, Cali, have been the best of my life.”

  “Please be careful.” Cali hugged her father goodbye.

  “Your mother knows what will happen if she isn’t careful.” Her father squeezed her tight and then stepped back. “We only need to worry when her technology matches those of Titus and Atheon. Make no mistake my girl, she will work toward that end with all due haste.” He clapped his hands together, “Which is why I will be getting as many of our people away from here as I can. Drake.” Her father shook Drake’s hand. “Take care of our girl.”

  “I will.” Drake held her loosely at his side.

  “Cali.” Nellia hurried to follow her father. Giving her a quick squeeze then stepping away. “When I get the chance, I’ll want a tour
of Titus.”

  “The Challenge of Succession is soon.” Drake shook Nellia’s hand. “That will be when all of the clans converge to choose their leadership. It is something you might enjoy seeing.”

  “Thanks, Drake. I’ll work with The Maxon to make sure I get there in time to see it.” Nellia moved to stand next to her father. “See you soon Cali. Give Vareen a big hug for me.”

  Cali nodded and both of them shared a moment of mourning before her father and friend transported.

  Mica had returned with Vareen, Nevir, and Vathral to Titus. She turned over The Cali so that they could get there faster. Vathral had just started the realignment, so still had his facilities about him. Nevir was adamant that he was free of his promise to Diandra. The other woman didn’t love him or care about his welfare, and Nevir argued that she would make a much better partner, and Cali agreed. Vathral’s feelings for Diandra were smoke and mirrors. The desire to experience love more than actually feeling it. His reactions around Nevir were the real thing. It was obvious that they were meant to be together, and Nevir wasn’t going to let Vathral try to logic his way out of it.

  Vareen was another story completely. She had been in the Realignment Center much longer than Vathral and her prognosis was uncertain. Mica had spent every second since finding her in the Realignment Center trying to reach her, but she wasn’t aware of him. Whatever had been done to her brain might be irreversible. Cali wasn’t sure what had happened with them on The Reliant, but she was hoping Vareen’s feelings for Mica were strong enough to bring her back to him.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Ambassador Tec’hia thank you for coming.”

  Drake’s voice forced Cali to pay attention. The ambassador had been transported directly into their meeting room on The Maxon. When Cali focused on the woman in front of her, she couldn’t stop her mouth dropping open.

  In all her imagining’s of what this woman would look like, she had never pictured this. She wasn’t as tall as the women from Titus, but she was taller than the women from Cestori. Her hair was a vibrant lavender color if this was natural or dyed to be that way Cali had no idea. It was long, with small glittering gems applied randomly through the curls. Her face was oval shaped, with a delicate dent in her chin. She had a slightly pale complexion which could be natural or make-up, Cali wasn’t sure which. Dark brows framed the palest gray eyes Cali had ever seen. When the ambassador blinked, her extremely long eyelashes flashed with drops of what looked like diamonds on their tips. The glitter on her eyelids made her eyes seem huge on her face. Her cheeks were rouged and her lips had a glossy sheen to them.