by Mina Carter
The ship banked that way, but before Berrick could bring them in, a sheet of lightning appeared in front of them like a wall. The deck tilted as Berrick swung them away with another barrage of alarms sounding. Only Risyn’s locked magnetic boots kept him upright.
“What the draanth? Try again!” he ordered sharply.
“Already on it, boss.” Berrick swung the ship around to take another run, but as he did, the lightning sheeted again.
“It’s not gonna let us through,” his second shouted over the alarms. “And our shields won’t let us punch through.”
Risyn growled in the back of his throat. No storm was going to stop him getting to the survivors. He shot a look at Miisan. “Any luck on the brute force attack?”
She shook her head, lines of strain showing on her face. “None. There’s an adaptive security algorithm. I can’t break through it.”
Trall. They were running out of options. He nudged the stream and threw the life sign readings up ahead onto the main screen. The storm was interfering so he couldn’t tell how many there were, but whatever they were doing, they would be hammered by the lightning if they didn’t get to them in time.
“How powerful are those strikes?” he asked, the information appearing in the stream within nanoseconds. He frowned as he analyzed it and then turned.
“Sitek, and Hel, your teams are with me. Berrick, take us in close for a combat drop.”
He’d never met a storm he liked, but this draanthing one was definitely trying to kill them.
Cade shook his head to clear the rain from his eyes and forced his frozen muscles to cooperate. They’d all been soaked to the bone within moments of leaving the long hall, the storm dumping near-blizzard conditions on them as well as murderous lightning and driving rain. He snarled at the storm, tapping into the primal power of the other side of his nature to keep forging forward.
The rest of the clan were behind him, those few like him at the front using their larger bodies to protect the others. It wasn’t much, but it was all he could offer them as they ran for the Skev and safety.
Scarlet bolts slammed into the ground around them, dirt and rocks flying with each strike. Adrenaline surged, galvanizing his entire body as he dodged the debris from each strike. Pained cries behind him told him that some hadn’t been quick enough.
They raced down the side streets, weaving between the buildings. Automatically he took the most covered route to the edge of the village. From there on they would have no cover until they reached the woods. The Skev was in a concealed hangar beneath a mound hidden within the trees, invisible from the air and from satellite surveillance. Deliberately so. The empire didn’t know about the Skev and every Vorr knew they had to keep it that way.
His chest heaved with exertion as they turned the last corner. They were on the home straight now. All they had to do was get across the last field to the tree line.
“Keep together!” He turned and urged the group forward, the metal torque of the khaaitan on his wrist gleaming in the red-tinged light. Part of his mind wanted to bellow in triumph at the honor while another was freaking out about his brother, lost in the storm somewhere as he searched for his female and Tarveth.
Cade ignored both. He couldn’t help Seren, even though he wanted to. The survival of the many was paramount. Their bloodline had to survive. They had to survive or their hidden brothers would be lost, stranded on their planets with no means of escape or resupply.
His arms pumped, legs like tree trunks eating up the distance across the field heading for the woods. Only to skid to a halt as three lightning bolts slammed into the ground right in front of him, the sizzle of the electric charge raising the hairs on his skin.
“Trall!” he gasped, backpedaling. Three more bolts hit right behind him. A glance behind him revealed the awful truth. They were trapped, lighting dancing between the scattered members of the group as they ducked and dodged. Each time he took a step forward, another bolt hit the ground, like the storm itself was baiting them and playing with them before it killed them. He caught his breath as he watched his kinsman go through the same thing. Then he frowned, watching the patterns.
“Stay still!” he bellowed. “Movement activates it!”
They all froze, even though every instinct in their bodies had to be clamoring for them to move, to run, just the same as his was. Every moment he expected red death to streak from the sky and send him to the hall of the goddess Liaanas in a blaze of glory and fire.
But it didn’t. The wind still howled overhead, and the rain drove into them so hard he was surprised it hadn’t broken skin. But the lightning stayed in the clouds overhead.
He looked up and then shielded his eyes. Something else was streaking down toward them. Lots of somethings, metallic and with a blue aura that turned the red stormy sky around them purple.
“What the…” he breathed, just as heavily armored warriors dropped from the sky to land in the muddy field around them.
He recognized them instantly as they straightened up, the armored suits and the glowing lines on their skin making them instantly recognizable.
What the draanth were the B’Kaar doing here?
“Create a net!” their leader bellowed, his enhanced voice rising above the storm, and the cyber-warriors spread out among the Vorr. The lightning, stimulated by the movement, rained down, each bolt glittering off the armored suits.
One hit, sparking over metal as the B’Kaar diverted the blast to the ground. Cade’s eyes widened. The cyber-warriors were drawing fire so the Vorr could get to cover.
“Stay low!” he shouted to his people, but either their survival instincts had kicked in or they realized what the B’Kaar were about. Slowly the two groups moved toward the tree line. Once within, they could make a run for the hangar. Screw the B’Kaar finding out about it. They needed off the surface, fast.
His jaw clenched as determination filled him. He’d storm surfed in the past. He was a good enough pilot to do a search run for Seren and the others before heading for orbit.
The charge in the air and the way his hair rose on his arm warned Cade a half-second before disaster hit. Turning to yell a warning, he watched in horror as three lightning bolts converged in the sky and streaked down toward them. The Vorr scattered but one of the B’Kaar, their leader, stayed put and drew the fire.
A scream of pain and fury split the air as his suit lit up, jerking into a hard arc as he splayed his arms wide. Glowing red tendrils licked over the exposed metal, the face within the suit a rictus of agony.
Draanth…
“Keep moving!” he ordered, already running toward the stricken warrior. The male was dead. He had to be dead after taking a hit like that. Surely?
His kin obeyed, heading for the trees as Cade reached the B’Kaar. Some of the suit had melted into place, a glowing red statue, but as he got there, the front opened up. The male inside fell forward, half-conscious and reeling. Roaring, Cade turned and hauled the cyber-warrior over his shoulder, breaking into a sprint as he headed for the tree line and sending a prayer up to the goddess that she would favor a crazy half-Lathar and save him.
It was no use being a hero if there was no female to witness it or you died in the attempt.
Right now… he’d accept just staying alive.
18
Seren had grown up on Quveth, and he’d seen many storms in his time, even surfed them as a youngster, but he’d never seen one with this level of ferocity. The wind stole his breath as he ran, staying low to the ground and keeping his feet beneath him through sheer force of will. How could anyone survive in this, much less a child and a delicate little human female?
Gracie… fear struck his heart that he’d stumble over her cold and lifeless body, drowned in the mud and rain. He’d shouted at her, threatened her the last time they’d spoken, and the hurt and rejection on her face struck him to the core.
The worst part about it was he didn’t care who she was, who she was pretending to be, or even why. He
knew her. The female… no, the woman inside. The woman who had stood up to the Krin to save others. The woman who would protect an alien child no one else wanted, even at the risk of her own life.
His woman.
He snarled as he pushed on, searching the area behind the long hall. His sense of smell, more acute than any human or Lathar’s, was no good here. The storm snatched everything away, leaving just ozone and an electric smell in his nostrils.
Instead, he opened his heart, trying to feel the woman he loved. That realization, that he loved her with every fiber of his being, spread out through his chest in a warm feeling that gave him hope. If she was dead, he wouldn’t feel that… vitality surely?
“Please, lady goddess,” he whispered, his words snatched away by the storm. “I’ll do anything but don’t take her. Take me instead.”
For a split second the storm died down, leaving a moment of utter stillness and silence. It was like the goddess herself had intervened, letting him know she’d heard. He frowned as a soft sound reached his ears that had nothing to do with the storm.
Instead, he heard the soft sound of bleating.
His body surged into full hunter mode, straining the seams of his clothing. He wasn’t Vorrtan like Cade, but it seemed some of the bloodline was true as he surged forward through the storm.
He found the outcrop of rock within minutes, following it along to discover the little trio, bedraggled and wet beneath. Scorch marks around them indicated they’d been targeted by the lightning, but for the moment, the sky above them was empty of anything but dark clouds and rain. The look of relief and pleasure to see him on Gracie’s pale face, her wet hair plastered against the side, filled him with triumph.
“Come on!” he bellowed, extending his hand to pull them out from their temporary shelter. “We need to go before it starts again.”
She didn’t hesitate, sliding her hand into his so he could pull the woman-child-qeraasa combination out of their hiding place.
“Take Tarveth!” she shoved the boy and his pet into his arms. “We can move faster that way.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to pull her close, hold her against him and savor the fact that he’d found her, but he simply nodded. That lightning could be back any moment. They needed to get to cover and then to the Skev, fast. Plus, his woman was smart and capable. She could do this. They could do this.
Nodding, he pulled Tarveth and his little qeraasa close against him, holding his metal hand out to Gracie. Then they took off at a run. The storm hadn’t let up, visibility at minimum, but he knew this place. He’d grown up here, dreaming of a warrior’s life and practicing the skills he’d need. And one of those skills had been sightless navigation.
He’d never thought he’d be so grateful for old Danatar, the Vorr master at arms, and his lessons. He’d spent weeks out on the land—cold, wet and blindfolded. This should be a walk in the park, he told himself, shoving all his concern and panic deep down so he could focus on one thing and one thing only.
He ran, the boy in his arms and his woman’s hand in his. Rain sleeted over them, soaking them to the bone, but still he ran. They slipped, Gracie almost coming off her feet, but he held her up and they ran full speed through the trees. If he had to run for the rest of his life to get her and the boy to safety, he would.
“Seren! There!” Gracie yelled, her voice barely audible over the storm as she pointed ahead of them. There, up ahead of them, was the hangar for the Skev. The hangar itself was open-sided, the roof covered with vegetation and trees, which meant it was also being battered by the storm. Already some of the concealing covering had been torn away to reveal the mechanism beneath.
The loading ramp was already open with people streaming up it and into the safety of the ship. He recognized his clan and what looked like—
“Are those B’Kaar?” he asked, shaking his head to clear the rain from his eyes. It was, and from the look of it, they were protecting his people. Even better, the ship hadn’t left yet.
“Run!” He pushed her in front of him through the trees and they reached the back of the group as the ramp began to lift.
They both ran like their lives depended on it, which they did. With this storm, no one in the group had seen them. If that ramp raised, they would be left here with a planet killer weapon that was dedicated to razing all life from the surface.
His heart pounded with fear. Not for him. For her. His grip tightened on her upper arm, making her run faster than she had before. The ramp was rising faster than possible, almost at light speed as the mud sucked at his legs and feet, slowing him down. Panic filled him. They weren’t going to make it. Hopelessness sucked his strength until something stopped it. Another force, deep within, surged upward like an eruption, exploding outward and he roared.
In a final burst of strength, he made it to the ramp, throwing Tarveth and his damn qeraasa up and over as he reached for Gracie. With the last of his strength, he shoved her up and over as well.
Then, spent, he fell backward as the ship began to lift off.
* * *
“Oh no you don’t,” Gracie snarled, twisting as she hit the loading ramp and shooting a hand out to hold onto Seren’s. “You don’t get away from me that easily, Mr. Shardlow.”
Pain twisted his expression. “Let me go, Gracie. Save yourself!”
She shook her head. “You die, I die. So deal and get your fucking ass on this ship, or else.”
He gave a short, strangled chuckle, twisting to slam his metal hand onto the edge of the ramp. “You’re threatening me now? Seriously?”
“Damn straight I am,” she told him, twisting on her side to shout. “Some help here!”
Shouts sounded behind her and a second later half the Vorr clan hit the back ramp, multiple arms shoved over the edge to haul Seren in. He spilled and rolled onto the ramp a second before it snapped shut. He somehow managed to wrap her in his arms at the same time and she chuckled as they came to a stop at the bottom, all tangled up together. They were all soaked through, covered in mid and exhausted, but they were alive. Alive. Even though a planet had tried to kill them.
She smiled up at Seren, catching her breath at the depth of emotion in his eyes. With a small smile, he smoothed the wet hair back from her face.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he scolded her, pulling her closer. She shivered but nestled happily against him, his body heat welcome against her chilled skin. “You put yourself at risk.”
“So it was okay for you to risk yourself?” she demanded, poking his broad chest. “And what would have happened to me if you’d managed to get yourself killed, hmmm?”
“I-I…” he trailed off, seeming at a loss for words. She ignored the warriors crowded around them in favor of looking at her mate.
“That’s right. You only think of yourself. Don’t you, mister?”
The light of battle entered his eyes, and she bit back her sigh of relief. She’d hated to see the resignation and pain in his eyes as he’d let go.
“Ah, now we’re on this subject… Mr. Shardlow? Is this a human custom that a male takes his female’s name?”
She nodded, her expression innocent. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Hmmm.” He frowned, obviously not convinced. She reached up to push his hair back off his face, her fingers lingering in the wet strands. That he’d been prepared to sacrifice himself to save her and Tarveth, without hesitation, took her breath away. That he’d come to find them in the storm…
“I love you,” she said softly, reaching up to put her fingers over his lips when he started to speak. “No, you don’t have to say anything. Just… I wanted you to know.”
He nodded and then smiled, but she didn’t move her fingers, not just yet.
“Please. Let me get this out before I lose my nerve. Did you mean what you said about Vorr mating for life? No divorce? Nod or shake your head,” she ordered when he opened his mouth again to speak. He closed it again and nodded. Then she realized her mistake
.
“Is that for mating for life?”
A nod.
“There’s no divorce?”
He shook his head, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
She sighed with relief, sagging against him for a second. Then she looked up again.
“Do you…” Words failed her, and she trailed off.
He captured her fingers against his lips with his hand and kissed her fingertips.
“Can I speak now?” he asked, his voice a low, intimate rumble. She nodded, hardly daring to breathe.
“Yes, mating is for life. No, there is no divorce. No human court can take you from me,” he told her, staring into her eyes intently, like he could see down into her soul. “And to answer the question I hope you were going to ask. Yes, I love you. With all my heart and soul, such as it is.”
“It was,” she breathed, love surging through her so complete it brought tears to her eyes. “I’m sorry I lied. Whatever you think of me—”
He covered her lips with his own, kissing her until she was breathless. When he lifted his head, a soft smile played on his lips.
“You had your reasons. One day you will tell me, but for now, I am content that you’re in my arms. That you are mine… Lady K’Vass,” he added with a sly smile.
“Oooh nononono.” She nipped at his fingertips, elation filling her. He loved her. He really and truly loved her. “None of this K’Vass shit. If we’re doing this, I’ll be Lady Vorr, thank you very much.”
His stunned look, swiftly followed by hard triumph, was everything. “You would do that? You want that? Even though the Vorr name is not well-liked in the empire.”
She leaned forward, grazing his lips with hers. “Fuck ’em. I want that name. I want your name.”
He smiled as he kissed her, answering between kisses. “Then, my lady, your word is my command.”
A cheer went up from the warriors clustered around them and she jumped, burrowing deeper into the arms of the man she loved.
The man she loved.