‘The Verak have been fined sixty million standard credits with a ten million adjustment for coming forward and voluntarily stating their guilt,’ the Premier said. ‘Justice is prompt.’
‘You do not hear me, sir. The next time our airspace is violated without due consideration of our rights, we will consider it a threat to our terrestrial security. The United Nations has green-lighted the use of deadly force.’ She straightened her suit jacket with a hard tug on its hem. Her chin lifted. ‘Earth Superpowers are in agreement on this.’
‘Yes, yes, yes. You alluded to such at the beginning of the conversation. If you succeed in repelling a Registered sentient race, it will accelerate the timeline in which we consider your application, but that is not the purpose of our current discourse.’
‘You will not ignore me nor will you belittle my warning.’
‘Human, do you acknowledge Sìne Grae formerly of planet 2276549 known to the native inhabitants as Earth, has the right as a citizen of your realm to relocate to a new domicile in a galaxy of her choosing?’
Weston thumped a fist to her ink blotter. ‘I will not be ignored.’
‘We assume there are still no regulations in your laws prohibiting galactic emigration for your citizen, but as leader of her people do you acknowledge the Verak as her legally bound spouse as per the mating and claiming traditions of their species? You have not introduced interspecies restrictions since our last conference?’
‘I demand that you heed me, sir.’
‘Under regulation 334587 Sìne Grae is officially recognised by this congress as having joint citizenship to that of her unregistered birth world, planet 2276549, and the registered planet of Vayhalun. We hereby decree any offspring as a result of this union will fall under the protection of Intergalactic Edict as does her full human offspring.’ The figure on the pew waddled to adjust its posture. ‘This ruling is final.’
Intergalactic introduction thwarted, the Prime Minister’s face fell into bitter resignation. Her aides swarmed her as the live feed disappeared from the audience chamber.
‘And that is that,’ Beowyn said with a firm nod. He seemed satisfied with securing the permissions to make the emigration of my family legal under Alliance’s Edict even if it did cost an eye-waveringly amount of money.
Fergie was declared protected, and the case was logged as Resolved.
As we left, I was quiet and withdrawn. I didn’t feel the sense of relief I’d expected. The rest of the trip was a blur, and I ended up alone in my enclosure biting my lips and ranking my nails over my thighs. The reality of Zoi Quay’s slave trade shook me to the core.
Verak were strong, my protectors the strongest of their kind, and I felt safe at their sides, but from then on the moment they were out of sight, I grew anxious and clingy with Fergie. We spent meals and playtime enjoying each other’s company as the spaceship hurtled towards our new home, but I couldn’t help wonder what I’d do if we were attacked. I didn’t know how to defend myself or my child. When Beowyn and Éorik broke into my home, I’d grabbed a knife, but my instinct had been to run because I couldn’t fight. What if another time came and running wasn’t an option? If the Verak weren’t there to protect me, how would I defend myself and my child? Restlessness stalked me as we continued our journey to Vayhalun.
After the conversation I’d had with Beowyn about my relationship with Éorik, I stopped letting him climb into my bed and stopped sleeping in his. We talked, toured the observation decks, and he visited to play with Fergie, but I kept the contact to a minimum. It hurt to see his uncertainty, but I needed space to think and work out how to again approach Beowyn.
The Verak King confused me. He was at once solicitous and attentive, yet distant and dismissive. I considered asking him to teach me to fight, but instinctively knew while he wouldn’t be against the training, he wouldn’t want to be the one to rough me up. Éorik would be much the same. Even if he agreed and we ended up hot and sweaty on a mat, we’d end up a kind of different hot and sweaty on the mat. I thought of asking the Ra, Fiercely in particular, but newborn Bravest took up much of their time, Venomous was too wrapped up in Lumen to take his eyes off her for prolonged periods, and Cobra was a hunter, not a warrior. Deathly had duties on board with the other faceless Rä crew members, so asking her wasn’t on the cards, and Patrick would be too hard on me, as family often were.
One night when the sleeplessness peaked at its worst, I ended up in the sparring enclosures watching Hel Bihter practice a fluid martial art. His sinuous body flowed from one stance to the next, his strength evident as he held his poses, flexible and sharp and deadly. He would never feel trapped or out of control. His continued safety wasn’t in the hands of others. I remembered his calm focus as he tore through the Dei San and L’Odo with the savagery of a feeding shark.
My fidgeting got so bad, I must have been an unwelcome distraction. I stuck out a hand and waved. ‘Sorry to disturb you. Can we talk?’
‘Speak, and we will hear you.’
I thought of the best way to phrase my request so I’d get what I wanted. I shrugged. ‘I want to learn to defend myself.’ Eloquence didn’t seem to matter much to the mysterious Aztekan.
‘Blasters are over there.’
I rubbed my lips against my middle and forefinger. ‘Will you teach me?’
‘Why should we?’ He breathed through a stretch. ‘Who are you to us?’
‘I know your species do no respect females as equals. It bothers me, but I’d still value and appreciate your help.’ I had nothing to bargain with.
I barely sounded convincing to my own ears, but it was worth a try.
Worst he could do was say no.
His head canted as he unbent from his crouch to study me. ‘Bring one to us.’ He pointed to the rack of rifles and laser guns next to the shooting range on the other side of a dividing haze.
‘Hand to hand.’ I made a face. ‘I don’t like the idea of having to carry a weapon. It’s dangerous. Not to mention sending the wrong message to Fergie.’
‘We will show you how to defend yourself with a blaster.’
‘Please teach me to defend myself without a weapon.’
‘We are mighty. Known throughout the universe as unparalleled in warring.’ He moved his head in a distinctly alien shimmy. ‘We will show you how to use the blaster. We will show you how to protect your spawn.’
‘Do you think because I’m a female I can no learn ways to defend myself against a male opponent?’
‘This is what we know.’
‘You’re wrong. I might be smaller and have different equipment, but I can learn basic techniques that will give me a fighting chance should the need arise.’
‘What you say is illogical.’
‘Teach me. I’m willing to do whatever I need to learn.’
He slapped me.
I flew to the side, clutching my face and bent at the waist.
I’d been hit before by a man. Once. I’d thought nothing could hurt as much as that punch, as if it rendered other hits painless because the betrayal hadn’t killed me, only made me stronger.
Hel Bihter slapped me as if he batted away a feather and it felt like an attempted decapitation.
Shivery and scared, I straightened. I held my ground. ‘I know what you’re trying to do.’ The entire side of my face throbbed with heat. My lips felt double in size, and I tasted blood where my teeth had cut. ‘It will no work. I’m no afraid of getting hit.’
I was now terrified of being hit, but he didn’t need to know that.
He struck fast, between one blink and the next, a blur. I was standing then horizontal. He flipped me onto my stomach. ‘This is a truth you will learn, female.’ He pulled my hips up, shoved his hands between my legs and pressed a blunt fingertip at the entrance to my body. Cold chills crippled down my spine, and vomit surged up my throat. The touch wasn’t sexual. It was cold, a point to be made. As if I was so beneath him, I wasn’t worthy of being considered something for him to use that w
ay. ‘In this, you are not equal, nor can you ever be. There are females that are big enough, strong enough, but you are not one of them.’ He flipped me again. His hand manacled my throat and lifted me as he stood. I squirmed and choked. ‘If you had a blade, you could mark us.’ He shook me as darkness crept around the edges of my vision. ‘If you had a blaster, you could harm us.’ He dropped me. ‘But you do not.’ I gasped for air, my vision blurry. ‘Here ends the lesson.’
Chapter 21
Beowyn saw his High Commander coming and turned to walk the other way. Lah, but it was infuriating and against his nature to be jealous, but he could not look at the male without wanting to break his pretty face.
Was that what drew Sìne?
It was known across many galaxies that High Commander SnowBlade was fairest of face and form on all Vayhalun. His jet skin and white locks offset his gruff manner and muscular body. The male’s true worth was his gentle spirit and loyalty. It was in his political acumen and his fierce, often brutal defence of their territory, but no matter how dismissive Éorik of House SnowBlade was of the accolade, he had been born an incomparable beauty.
Beowyn knew his appeal derived from his devilish charm and winsome personality. Did his One find him lacking? He preened before her while they were stranded, offered her but a taste of the delights his body might bring, but it lead only to an argument.
She shook off her desire for him as one might the rain.
Truth, he was becoming concerned he would never win her affections to the degree his Commander achieved.
Not only was he envious Éorik bedded his One, he was beside himself she had taken the one male he had lusted after near his whole life.
How was it fair?
Why was this happening when he’d searched so far and tried so hard?
He had completed the quest on her home world. Had he not protected her during their travails? He had liberated her kin when they were captured and had even paid the blasted fines levied by the Intergalactic Council to ensure their cub was protected under Supreme Law. The embarrassment she felt the need to seek help outside their union to protect their cub made him crazed. As if that were not galling enough, she forced him to humble himself by voicing his acceptance of her new lover with far more dignity and grace than he’d believed himself capable.
Part of him wondered why he bothered to suffer the indignity. Near all of him urged him to give her whatever she wanted. He would pass all her tests and meet all her needs, and she would love him.
Blood pumping fast and hot, he went to find the rotted pustule who dared lay a violent hand on his One to beat him broken.
Éorik’s hand landed on his shoulder. ‘You look furious.’
‘Dah.’ He threw off his touch. Since their tryst on Paniki, it made him burn inside. ‘Be about your business as I am mine.’ He stalked off without a backwards glance, hands clenching tight.
‘You are my business.’ Éorik fell into step beside him. ‘This is good timing. We must discuss Sìne.’
‘Gods.’ They were out to destroy him. ‘I have nothing to say about you bedding her. I made this plain.’
‘Listen, Owyn–.’
‘Do not call me that. Do not dare sigh either.’ Éorik gave him a strange look, but he disregarded it. ‘Be gone.’
Éorik blocked his path.
Beowyn stopped and clenched his jaw. He stared at a point above a pierced and pointed ear.
‘I could not get much from her, distressed as she was. I pieced together enough to realise she believes you bedded a lover on Paniki.’ Éorik paused, and his tone became strained. ‘It is not my place to ask you–.’
‘Then why do you do?’
‘It harmed her.’ He clasped the hilt of his dagger. Squeezed it. ‘She wept.’
Freezing heat swept over Beowyn’s flesh. ‘I had not wanted that.’ He had not wished her to think he was pining. She had made him feel foolish. ‘So then you told her the truth?’
‘That the person you dallied with was me?’ His lips thinned. ‘I did not. The words would be better coming from you.’ He hesitated again. ‘I also could not be certain you did not bed another. Considering….’
Beowyn wanted to rip his head off for voicing his lack of faith. Was he an animal in heat and not a male honed in control? Knowledge of his own habits made him bite his tongue. He had been close to bending over the pleasure worker before Éorik intervened. He saw now it would have been a mistake where his One was concerned, one he’d regret. ‘She rejected me.’ It wasn’t an excuse, nor did he feel he needed to give one, but it was strange how he felt compelled to say something redeeming on the matter. A creeping unease in the region of his heart made him press his chest. ‘I will speak with her.’ He shoved past. ‘After I deal with Hel Bihter.’
Sìne’s behaviour was maddening to the extreme, but perhaps, she considered his the same.
His comment about bedding another called for an apology. He’d spoken of it in such a way to confuse and hurt her. He acknowledged it and felt ashamed his jealousy had caused him to lash out when she’d come to him seeking his approval of her lover.
Éorik’s tentative smile dropped as he quickened his step to keep pace. ‘Hel Bihter?’ His eyes grew sharp and frosted. ‘What has he done?’
Beowyn still could not believe the account Sìne gave him of her disastrous attempt to learn self-defence. His tone was a gritty rasp. ‘He hit her.’
Absolute fury bled into Éorik’s expression. He didn’t need to hear more, which was good because Beowyn was again filled with overwhelming rage.
They stormed into the training enclosure and up to the warrior who trained as if preparing for war. Perhaps he was. He must have at least expected them to seek him out for his offence against common decency.
‘Humans confound us.’ He did not slow his display of martial prowess, smoothly alternating between high kicks and low punches. ‘Weak and strong. Proud and snivelling.’ He jumped, landed crouched and coiled inwards before exploding outward in a graceful summersault. Though they were gifted in combat, it was not their battle arts that made the ruthless Aztekans so feared. It was hard to remember this fact while watching his fluid conditioning. ‘We did expect better of her.’
Beowyn snarled wordlessly until he reminded himself his ultimate goal was Sìne’s protection, not to assuage his pride for having failed to keep her safe. ‘Touch her again with the intent to harm, and we will fight.’
‘You alone cannot defeat us.’
Éorik widened his stance. His fingers twitched, itching for the wrapped hilts of his blades. ‘He is not alone.’
‘You would sacrifice the well-being of your people for this female?’ Hel Bihter stopped. The transition from movement to stillness was startling. There was no doubt the Aztekan would emerge victorious if challenged hand to hand but with weapons and outnumbered the odds were evened. Pearly eyes gleamed. ‘You will die. The First would know the next time one of us touched you. Our treaty would break. Vayhalun would become a dead world.’
‘I would give my life to defend what is mine. There are Dyna’s Mighty enough to lead should I perish.’ Beowyn’s eyes cut to Éorik then back to Hel Bihter. ‘My people would fight should the worst befall me. Do not make the mistake of thinking my hands tied.’
‘It will not come to that. I struck the human to teach her what she needed to know. The lesson has been learned.’ Hel Bihter watched them with cold eyes. ‘It is interesting you would not be here if she were male yet her argument to us was we must treat her as our equal.’
‘You struck her because your people do not respect life givers nor consider them precious.’
The male took two lightning fast strides and brought them nose to nose. ‘Do not presume to tell us what we think or pass judgement on our ways.’
Éorik slipped his hands between them. He forcibly pushed the Aztekan back with one and pulled Beowyn behind him with another. He was tense, but not overly so. His demeanour was more wary than prepared for an imminen
t attack. His eyebrows furrowed. ‘But you are offended.’ His confusion was understandable.
Azteka were disinterested in the opinions of others. The male before them reacted in an unusually sensitive manner–one raising all kinds of suspicions and questions.
‘We need tell you nothing.’
‘Why were you on that planet?’ Éorik pursed his lips. ‘There was no reason for you to be so far from Vøtkyr. For solars, none of your kind has been seen.’ The Horde had disappeared. ‘This was strange enough, but over the last moontides, I hear reports of the First himself reaching out to Bax Prime and requesting slave stock for reasons unknown. Demanding females of any like species when it is known you do not mate outside your own enslaved breeders. It was even rumoured he requested information on Verak female reproductive cycles.’
Beowyn’s intake of breath hissed through his teeth. ‘I had not heard this.’
‘It was around the time we raided the L’Odo slave planet. Our missing warriors were retrieved and accounted for. I would have given the rumours credence otherwise. They were only faint whispers from unreliable sources. I dismissed them as such. Most our allies are aware we control our fertility.’ Éorik eyed the Aztekan askance. ‘I come to believe this is a great blessing.’
Hel Bihter clenched his jaw. ‘You watch us closely.’
‘My purpose is to defend the Great Alpha of Vayhalun and Command his legions in whatever manner I see fit. The Horde has always been an unpredictable threat even during times of peace. I ask again. Why the withdrawal then the abrupt reemergence from seclusion?’
‘We do not speak for the First.’
‘You are Horde. Your way is to be singular.’ Éorik’s eyes narrowed, head tilting. ‘Something about you is odd. I wish to know what it is.’
‘Our business does not concern you. You need not fear for your females.’
‘Is my assumption true? Do you seek alien breeders?’