by Rayna Tyler
By the time I’d gathered the new items I’d bartered for at the market the day before, all three of my friends had strolled into the room, with Sloane plopping on the end of the bed.
“What are you doing?” Laria held up one of my shirts, her concerned green gaze focused on my bag.
She was the most sensible out of all of us, the one we always relied on when we got into trouble. Only this time, what was broken, she couldn’t fix. “Leaving.” I snagged the shirt along with my new pair of boots and stuffed them into the bag, then secured the bindings.
“You can’t leave.” Sloane reached for my bag. “We’ve been ordered to stay. You’ll be breaking the drezdarr’s law, and he’ll have you tossed in a cell.”
“Let him try.” After a brief tug-of-war, I released my grip on the bag, and Sloane toppled off the bed and landed on the floor.
“Hey, not fair,” Sloane said.
“Why don’t you tell us what’s going on, and maybe we can help.” Cara held out her hand and pulled Sloane to her feet.
Images of Khyron burst into my mind, along with the heart-crushing pain of seeing him again after all this time. I didn’t want to tell them or get them involved, but I had no choice. “It’s him. He’s here, he’s…”
“Who is him?” Cara asked. “Can you be more specific?”
I’d never shared Khyron’s name with my friends. They only knew the male who’d broken my heart was a ketaurran I’d met shortly after the war started, that I’d been devastated when he left and never came back.
Laria gasped. “Oh no.” She was the first one to figure out my cryptic rambling.
“You’re talking about the guy, aren’t you?” Sloane had finally caught on. She left my bag on the floor and returned to her spot on the bed.
I nodded. “And before you start asking me a bunch of questions, you need to know that he’s the draeking drezdarr.” Using the ketaurran curse word to refer to Khyron didn’t make me feel any better.
Sloane gasped. “Nooo.”
“Yes, and that’s why I need to leave,” I rasped.
Laria draped her arm across the back of my shoulders. “Celeste, you know we’ll support whatever you want to do, but I can’t leave with you, not without talking to Jardun first.”
Her relationship with the leader of the vryndarr was one of the few good things to come out of our mission. It had been difficult for Jardun and the other males to accept our fighting abilities, so when Laria first met him, I had my doubts as to whether or not they’d be able to get past their differences and act on their obvious attraction.
Being stranded on an unfamiliar planet with no hope of ever returning to Earth hadn’t been easy. Shortly after our arrival, a power struggle within the ruling family forced the ketaurrans into a war, a deadly battle that left the rest of the inhabitants fighting for survival, my friends and me included. We’d all incurred losses, family members we cared about. And even though I envied Laria’s happiness, I was thrilled she’d found someone who respected and adored her.
I swallowed through my tightening throat. I knew I could always count on my friends to be there for me no matter what I decided to do. “I know. That’s why I’m going by myself.” I held up my hand to keep Sloane from arguing.
“Fine.” The way she grunted and crossed her arms reminded me of Garyck, the grumpier of the three vryndarr who’d gone on the mission with us.
I turned to Laria. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take Trixie.” Trixie was the name she’d given her transport. She loved the vehicle, and borrowing it would be asking a huge favor. A favor I’d never ask if the settlement hadn’t been too far away to reach without some form of transportation. If she turned me down, I’d be forced to take one of the drezdarr’s solarveyors. Then he could add stealing to the list of my offenses.
“Of course, but I don’t think you should be traveling alone,” Laria said.
“I can help with that.” Cara tucked one of her wild chestnut curls behind her ear. “You two stay here and smooth things over with the drezdarr. I’ll go back to the settlement with Celeste.”
“Are you sure?” I hadn’t been looking forward to making the trip by myself and was relieved to hear her volunteer. “What about disobeying the drezdarr? If he sends someone after us…”
“Well, if he does, I’m sure Laria and Sloane will make sure he has no idea where to find us.” Cara grinned. “Won’t you?”
“Absolutely,” they said at the same time, then grinned.
“Besides, I haven’t been home in a while and need to check in with my grandparents anyway,” Cara said.
We all worked with Burke, which was how we’d ended up on the mission to save Khyron’s life and crossed paths with Cara. During the war, Burke had formed a small team of rebels who’d stayed together afterward and continued to help the surviving humans. Most of the time, Laria, Sloane, and I acquired supplies. It usually meant dealing with mercs in unsafe areas and taking a lot of dangerous risks.
Cara had secretly volunteered to investigate the rumors that some Earth laser weapons had been discovered in the damaged remains of the Starward Bounty, the exploration spacecraft that had been our home prior to the crash.
A male named Doyle, a mean and nasty excuse for a human, had transformed the vessel into a mercenary compound. When we found Cara, she’d been working undercover, disguised as a teenage boy.
Ketaurran weaponry wasn’t technologically advanced. Fighting was done with knives and swords, and because the humans had lost a lot in the crash, they’d learned to adapt.
Burke had been worried that if the laser weapons did exist and got into the hands of Sarus’s old supporters, the inhabitants of the planet could find themselves in another war. A war they wouldn’t be able to win or even survive.
“Give me a couple of minutes to grab my things, then we can leave.” Cara rushed from the room, giving me time to hug my friends and say our goodbyes.
***
Khyron
Celeste was alive. I was almost certain of it after making Vurell describe the female who had visited my room in more detail. She had been in my home for days, and if I had known, I never would have allowed Vurell to induce sleep. I would have gladly suffered additional agony if it meant seeing her beautiful face again.
Relief was one of many emotions bombarding my system. Worrying about Celeste’s anger at my betrayal was another. Annoyed with my friends for delaying my departure, I hastened along the corridor. After I’d bathed and changed into clean clothes, Jardun and Thrayn had refused to let me leave my room until Vurell had examined me thoroughly and ensured the toxin had been purged from my system. Because the warriors who had sworn to protect my life were also my friends, they did not fear me the way a ketaurran soldier would.
Though some of my strength had returned, I was not strong enough to best the persistent males; otherwise, I would have already arrived at the quarters Celeste shared with her friends. Arguing would have done no good and only wasted more time, so I agreed to their request.
“Are you certain about this?” Jardun walked alongside me, his heavy footsteps on the stone flooring matching mine.
I could hear the worry in his voice, his concern about my well-being. I understood his trepidation. He had witnessed my devastation when I learned about Celeste’s death and had to be wondering how I would react if this female was not her.
I would also be meeting his Laria for the first time. Besides being one of the females who had risked her life to save mine, she was his love, his mate. Her acceptance of me and his way of life mattered a great deal to him. Things would not go well if I caused problems with one of her friends.
At the moment, making a good impression was the least of my concerns, not when every instinct I possessed longed to find Celeste and claim her as my ketiorra.
“Perhaps you are experiencing side effects from the drugs,” Thrayn, who was following behind us with Vurell, said.
His comment earned him an over-the-shoulder gl
are from Jardun.
“There was nothing wrong with the medication I gave him,” Vurell huffed. “You watched me perform the examination yourself and…”
“Enough.” I interrupted their bickering. “Celeste is the female I once knew, and there is nothing wrong with me.” The latter part of my statement was untrue, but I would not admit it out loud. My body was still weak from the effects of the toxin. My muscles straining and begging for rest did not stop me from continuing my hurried stride.
I turned the remaining corner, hesitating long enough outside the female’s quarters to inhale a deep breath before walking through the open entryway leading into the main gathering room. I sniffed the air, catching a whiff of her lingering scent, then glanced around the room expecting to find her, only to be disappointed.
Instead of Celeste, I found two human females pulling a lounger away from a wall and returning it to the center of the room. The doors to all the adjoining sleeping chambers were closed. If Celeste was hiding behind one of them, it would do her no good, because I was not leaving. Not until I had a chance to speak with her.
Jardun had not exaggerated when he had informed me the females were true warriors. They both wore blades sheathed at their hips. The taller one had golden hair and green eyes that sparkled with intelligence. She acted as if she knew who I was and seemed undaunted by my presence.
The other female had dark hair and blue eyes that shimmered with mischief. She might be shorter, but she was no less imposing. When she stopped what she was doing to cross her arms and glare at me, I wondered if my abrupt entrance had somehow offended her. Whatever the cause, I had no intention of making it worse by demanding to see Celeste. If what Jardun had told me about the females was correct, they were strong-willed and loyal to one another. A confrontation would do more harm than good, so I nodded at Jardun to take the lead.
Jardun stepped around me, approaching the taller female and taking her hand. “Khyron, this is Laria, my ketiorra.” He tipped his head toward the other female. “And this is Sloane.”
Sloane leaned in front of Laria and spoke to Jardun as if I could not hear her. “He’s the drezdarr, right? Is he expecting us to bow or do something like kiss his boots? Because there’s no way it’s going to happen.”
“Sloane.” Laria snapped at her friend under her breath while keeping her irritated gaze focused on me.
“What? It was an honest question. It’s not like we got handouts on royal protocol when we crash landed here.”
Her humor was refreshing, and it was the first time in a long time that the chuckle rumbling from my chest felt so good. It was easy to see why Celeste had chosen to call these females her friends. “There are no special protocols, not for those responsible for saving my life.”
“Speaking of lives, should you be up this soon?” Zaedon stood in the entryway grinning, his turquoise gaze mildly concerned.
I should have known news of my awakening would spread quickly.
“He has looked better.” Garyck, another vryndarr and friend, appeared next to Zaedon. His golden-scaled frame was slightly larger than Zaedon’s and consumed the remainder of the opening. After giving Zaedon a nudge, he moved farther into the room. His amber gaze immediately jumped to Sloane before returning to me.
Was it possible the male who’d suffered more than most during the war, and rarely showed any emotions, had taken an interest in the female? Perhaps I had missed more than I thought by waiting to meet my guests.
“I have already stated that I am fine.” I appreciated their concern, but I was losing patience and wanted to address my original purpose for being here. “I wish to speak with Celeste.”
I had no idea how much of my relationship with Celeste had been shared with the females, but judging by the way they tensed at my request, they knew enough and were not happy about it.
“You can’t. She’s not here,” Laria said.
“But her scent…” Maybe I had just missed her and she had gone to another part of the building.
Zaedon furrowed his brow. “Are you certain? I saw her in the hallway earlier, and she stated that she was on her way to meet with Sloane.” He glanced around as if he suddenly realized something else, something important. “Where is Cara?”
Laria glanced at Jardun, then back at me. “They’re both gone.”
“What do you mean, gone?” Zaedon’s raised tone was out of character for the male.
The muscles in my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. “Gone where?”
“Even if we knew, which I’m not saying we do, we wouldn’t tell you because it’s none of your business.” Sloane fingered the hilt of the blade sheathed on her hip.
“Little one,” Garyck warned as he positioned himself between Sloane and me. “You cannot speak to the drezdarr is such a manner.”
“I’ll speak to him any draecking way I want to, and parts will disappear if he does anything to hurt my friend.” Sloane made her insinuation clear when her angered gaze focused on my groin.
I had angered females before, but it was the first time one had dared to make such a threat. I resisted the urge to take a step back or protectively place my hand over the parts she referred to.
“That is enough.” Garyck grabbed Sloane around the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder.
Sloane squirmed, kicked, and pounded her fists on Garyck’s back. “Put me down, you overgrown lizard.”
“Not until you promise there will be no use of your blades.” Garyck squeezed the back of her thigh. “Or removing of any parts.”
Sloane groaned and stopped struggling. “I promise, at least for now, so put me down.”
As soon as her feet touched the ground and she was facing me again, I said, “I assure you I care deeply for my ket…for Celeste. I would never harm her.” I never got the chance to tell Celeste she was my ketiorra and would not announce the claim to others until I told her first.
“Really.” Laria took a step forward and swatted Jardun’s hand when he reached for her. “If you cared so much about her, then you shouldn’t have abandoned her.”
“Laria, he…” I held up my hand to stop Jardun’s defense.
“You are right.” Her words would not have cut so deeply if they had not been true or my guilt so heavy. “I cannot undo the past. I simply wish to speak with her.” To hold her in my arms, beg for her forgiveness, convince her we belong together.
Quick-paced thuds echoed in the outer corridor and drew everyone’s attention to the entryway. A young ketaurran soldier rushed into the room, clutching his midsection. He skidded to a stop, then bowed his head. “I am sorry to interrupt, drezdarr.” He turned his attention toward Jardun. “Two of the human females have taken the transport you asked me to protect.”
Laria smiled, then turned and leaned into Jardun. “You had someone guarding Trixie?”
Jardun wrapped an arm around her waist. “I promised you I would not let anything happen to her.” He narrowed his gaze at the soldier. “Apparently, my orders were not fulfilled.”
The young male jutted out his chin. “My apologies, but the dark-haired one distracted me while the one with curls attacked me from behind.” He noticed my frown, then quickly added, “I await whatever punishment I am due.”
I remembered what it was like to be a young male and how easily a beautiful female could sway my thoughts. I also considered the fact that the soldier had no knowledge of Celeste’s and Cara’s fighting abilities. I could not dismiss his actions, but I could ensure that his punishment was not severe.
“Return to your post. We will discuss this matter later,” I said.
“Of course.” After several backward steps and a near collision with the doorframe when he spun to leave, the soldier shuffled from the room.
I turned back to the group. “Would someone please tell me who this Trixie person is? I was unaware that there were more than four females in your group.”
Jardun grinned. “Trixie is the name Laria gave her transport.”
<
br /> “I see.” Though I did not comprehend why humans tended to name inanimate objects, I was aware of the practice.
“I assume you know their destination?” Zaedon sounded more than a little curious.
Laria shifted slightly but remained encircled within Jardun’s arms. “I do.”
“Would you mind sharing that information?” I strained to keep the irritation out of my voice.
“Are you planning to go after her?” Sloane asked.
“Yes, that is my plan.”
Laria shared a knowing look with Sloane, then said, “I’ll tell you where they went on one condition.”
“Whatever you wish.” I would gladly give her anything she wanted for the information.
“You take us with you.” Laria swept her hand at those surrounding her.
“Agreed. Now…”
“Khyron, do you think it is wise to leave the city?” Jardun released Laria and moved closer to me. “Someone has tried to take your life, and you are not totally healed from the poisoning.”
Vurell pushed away from the wall where he had been standing with Thrayn, listening to the conversation. “Perhaps you should let them go after Celeste and bring her back here.”
Standing for such a long period of time had taken some of my strength, and I longed to drop on the nearby lounger. I knew Vurell had been watching me closely and any sign of weakness would reinforce his insistence that I return to my bed.
“Good luck with that.” Sloane’s response saved me from answering.
I was certain Celeste had left because of me. Forcing her to return was no way to gain her trust and would only make things worse.
“Sloane’s right. If you want to speak with her, you’ll have to go to her. And even then, she might not be willing to listen,” Laria said.
I grasped Jardun’s shoulder. “You are my oldest friend. Would I be able to stop you from going after your ketiorra, your Laria?”
“No, but I am not the leader of our people either. As your vryndarr, it is my responsibility to ensure your safety.” Jardun held up his hand to keep me from arguing. “But as your friend, I must insist that we stop wasting time and prepare to leave immediately.”