‘I am the First Male of the Aztekan Horde and the Avatar of Destruction.’
‘I wish I could say this was a pleasure, but if you are the leader of your species, then it was you who approved the attack on my country.’
‘Yes, I let loose my warriors upon Earth.’
‘I half expected denial.’
‘I confessed my error in judgement to the Intergalactic Alliance and have been penalised. There would be no long term benefit if I told you falsehoods to garner your esteem. I have no desire to justify my actions to you, but I will say my invasion of Earth is an action I have in some ways come to regret.’ He studied her. ‘It is not in my nature to bend my neck to a lesser, but I would deal with you fairly, female.’
‘Female,’ she uttered, scandalised. ‘Lesser.’
Unable to help myself, and desperate to soothe her rumpled feathers, I jumped in. ‘It’s not an insult.’ Not anymore, at least. I’d seen to that. ‘He means “female” in the manner we would say Sir.’
‘And the lesser remark?’ she demanded, querulous.
I flashed her empty palms. What did she want me to say? Bhyr would never apologise, and to him, she was lesser.
‘His species is old and feared,’ I said. ‘If he wanted, he could destroy Earth as he has other planets. To someone like him, you are a lesser, but isn’t it down to you as the elected leader of Britain to prove him wrong?’ Bhyr would come to a treaty with her because he wanted to atone for his sins, but he would never respect her as an ally and an equal unless she earned rather than demanded his regard.
Her expression cycled through a number of unpleasant emotions.
She settled on grudging acceptance. ‘Understood.’
Bowing my head, I stepped into the background, relieved she still trusted me enough to heed my council.
Weston folded her arms, a solid gold wristwatch catching the light. ‘Alien, you may call me Diane. May I have your name in return?’
‘First,’ Bhyr replied coolly.
I bit my lip, rolling my eyes to the heavens for guidance.
Diplomatic relations took time. I knew this. However, it was staggering how having a personal stake in the outcome stripped away all pretensions of neutrality.
‘Well, First, you made contact,’ Weston said. ‘What is it you wish to discuss? Were the innocent women you kidnapped from their homes not to your liking? Will you be returning them to their distraught loved ones?’
Cringing at the chill in her voice, I looked pointedly at Bhyr, urging him to talk fast before we lost any hope of a peaceful discourse to her wounded sense of pride.
Bhyr had stolen these people on her watch. She wouldn’t make it easy on him.
I couldn’t find it in myself to blame her.
‘As I mentioned, I have paid my fines and been sanctioned.’ He cleared his throat. ‘However, I wish to make reparations to Earth directly.’
‘Oh?’ Her hands steepled. ‘What are you offering?’
Bhyr recited a list of technology he would gift Earth.
‘I see. Hold on.’ Weston’s voice climbed a pitch from suppressed excitement. ‘I need to call some people in.’
‘I will allow it,’ Bhyr said.
Weston shot me a dark look, and I offered a blank one in return. Once her people were in the room and she’d updated them on the particulars, Weston returned her focus to us. Her demeanour was less confrontational, but far more suspicious. ‘What do you want in return for all this?’
Bhyr glanced at me, a silent request for help.
I stepped into the foreground and laced my hands at my waist. ‘It’s a gift. Given with our best wishes. We have high hopes for a peaceful future between our species.’
‘Very pretty, Indira.’ Her eyes glittered, voice dry. ‘But then you were my best.’ She sighed. ‘What is it you want?’
I shrugged a shoulder, the curve of my lips razor sharp. ‘Just permission for the Horde to visit and mingle, sir.’
She blinked. Her rigid stance eased. ‘I don’t follow.’
‘They want to vacation here?’ Someone shushed the incredulous, off-screen voice.
‘The Horde need women.’ I winced, knowing how shady it would sound.
‘Women.’ Her eyes hardened. ‘Are you suggesting I hand over my countrymen to be… to be manhandled by extra terrestrials?’ Her face flushed pink with her indignant spluttering.
‘Of course not,’ I said. ‘The Horde lost their females after, um, a group of religious fanatics murdered them.’
It was the truth, if a highly edited and condensed version of it that left off the meat.
Bhyr gave me side eye.
Weston calmed. Her colour returned to normal. ‘Oh?’ She frowned. ‘Our condolences.’
‘Thank you. The Azteka need females so their race doesn’t become extinct. It’s why they visited Earth. They now wish to meet human women in a manner more in keeping with our moral code.’
She pursed her lips. ‘You’ve left much unsaid.’
‘I have.’ She knew me. Lying would only make her difficult. ‘But it would be better if we scheduled a more official meeting where we sit and iron out the particulars of what we agree here today.’ I smiled in encouragement. ‘You get to shake hands. A few speeches and careful public appearances with our representatives to restore goodwill towards the Horde itself.’ We had massive public relations problems to resolve. It would take years to improve how the people of Earth perceived the Azteka, and the Horde would soon have competition for human female attention.
The Verak were the sexiest people I’d ever met. The Rä the most endearing.
In comparison, the Horde males were rough, their charms taking longer to shine through.
‘Yes. Yes.’ Her face brightened, envisioning the benefits should such a thing occur.
‘It would also allow us to reintroduce two other species you might wish to negotiate further treaties with.’
I’d give the Horde a head start, but we owed the Verak and Rä this opportunity.
Because of the Azteka’s new Extinction Risk status, they were allowed to approach all Registered Sentient species to test for compatibility. Through their treaties with us, the Rä and Verak had the right to interact with Earth alongside us without incurring penalties from the Intergalactic Alliance.
‘Yes. Excellent. Much obliged. It would be best if you came home now.’ Weston stated it as if my capitulation were a surety. ‘I need you more than ever and your personal experiences will be invaluable during the upcoming negotiations.’
‘Ah.’ I paused. ‘I won’t be coming back as your Aide, but as the First Female of the Azteka Horde and Avatar of Creation.’ Bhyr put an arm around my middle, and my shoulders dropped from where they’d climbed around my ears. ‘I’m needed here. You understand?’
Weston was silent. ‘I see.’
‘She is mine,’ Bhyr said. ‘My beloved mate.’
Weston’s gaze pinged between us.
I cleared my throat and blushed. ‘There’s a lot of good we can accomplish together, Prime Minster.’
She studied me for a moment, then smiled, eyes crinkling. ‘I think you’re right.’
Exhaling, I shot a relieved look at Bhyr before turning back to face my old boss. Time for the hard bit. ‘My grandfather….’ My throat closed. The pain of his loss wasn’t as cutting as it had been, but it remained enough to rob me of breath.
Weston’s face softened. ‘He was found. Your relatives held a funeral and gave him last rites. One was held for you too,’ she added, wry. ‘Lots of women will be coming back from the dead.’
‘Many won’t,’ a male voice said icily off screen.
Weston glared to the left and made a sharp gesture.
Ignoring the byplay–the man had a valid point–I blinked back tears. Babi was at rest. ‘Thank you, Sir.’
‘Of course.’ She hesitated. ‘You were missed.’
‘That went better than expected,’ Bhyr remarked.
After the i
mpromptu summit had ended, I’d been dead on my feet, more tired than usual.
Unravelling my braid, I trawled my fingers through my hair, watching him remove the scanty piece of leather he called clothing before he focused on mine. ‘She’s a smart woman. You offered to make the one of the most influential world leaders of all time.’ I lifted up my arms so he could unwrap my top. I leaned into him, making him click in annoyance when it impeded him removing my leathers. ‘No elected official in their right mind would have turned you down.’
‘I brought death and grief to your world.’ He said it without shame. So matter-of-fact, I knew he’d processed his involvement with the whole messy thing and made up his mind to do what he could to rectify his mistakes without miring himself in regret.
It was a cutthroat way to live, but healthier than striving to do the impossible: undo what had already been done.
I touched his cheek. ‘You also brought life and hope. With your contributions to medical science, you’ll save millions more than you killed. That’s no a small thing.’
He nodded, solemn.
I raked my teeth over my bottom lip. ‘I do wish you’d been tight-fisted with the weaponry.’
‘It was what they demanded as recompense for the raid and cost of human life.’ He shrugged, unconcerned. ‘It would have been petty to refuse considering its condition.’
I frowned. ‘It’s broken?’
‘Everything offered is fully operational. It is simply old technology we no longer use. It was gathering space dust. Our systems are far more advanced, but I think it is best if Earth adapts before we hand them the world killers.’
I thought of what humans had done with swords, guns, bombs and nuclear weapons.
Giving them weapons that could potentially wipe out life on other planets? ‘I agree.’ I was unnerved by the revelation the Horde were still more advanced than mankind by such a multitude. The schematics I’d seen for the weaponised space stations suggested they were incredibly powerful.
Enough to hold off an invading armada.
The military commanders had been in raptures once they’d grasped exactly what they’d be getting in return for opening up Earth to official alien visitations. They’d self-combust if they knew there was more incoming. I cringed, making a mental note to guide Bhyr into offering Earth technology designed to extend and preserve life. A way to repair the atmosphere, produce greater quantities of food, and improve the planetary infrastructure so humans might explore the Earth’s untouched wonders. There were countless people who would jump on those innovations and make the most of them.
‘An automated defence system to patrol our corner of the universe will keep the more predatory species from treating Earth as their playground,’ I admitted. Lumen and Sìne had explained all about the monstrous Dei San pirates, and how they roamed the universe looking for prey. I shuddered at the tales they’d told of their personal experiences. ‘It’ll also go a long way to helping humanity become registered with the Intergalactic Alliance as Advanced Sentients.’
I opened my mouth to ask about how best to go about introducing the human ideal of “dating” to the Horde, but yawned, fatigued after spending the day engaged in negotiations.
I hopped onto the mattress and rolled over it, sighing my happiness. I gathered a fur to my middle and snuggled in.
Bhyr curled around me.
I placed our hands together over my bump. I thought of how happy Babi would have been at my growing family.
‘They are getting big.’ He sounded happy. At peace.
My alien mate kissed the nape of my neck.
‘You don’t have to tell me. I’m sure you willed these babies to be boys. Girls would have been kinder to my kidneys.’
‘We will have girls next time,’ he said, half asleep.
That settled inside me. I smiled. ‘Okay.’
‘I love you, my Indira.’
‘Good.’
He roused to full alertness.
I sent him a smug look over my shoulder. ‘Like how that feels?’
Bhyr tucked his face into the crook of my neck and laughed.
Then
on a space station orbiting a planet called Earth….
‘The summit is going well.’ I beamed at Lumen. ‘Everyone is being well behaved.’
She laughed. ‘For now.’
‘Gah. Don’t jinx it.’
‘It’s a shame Cristina couldn’t come.’ Lumen pouted. ‘I know she has Ashleigh and Mayumi, but I miss her.’
‘She didn’t want the baby born away from the nest.’
During the aftermath of the Civil War on Vøtkyr, Bhyr and I had our twins, then visited Vayhalun to meet Lumen, her son Bravest, and her third mate, He, Cobra that Strikes. Cristina and Bihter had gone with us, Bihter keen to see Commander SnowBlade, and Sìne’s rambunctious daughter Fergie. Lumen and Cristina had hit it off in a big way. Beowyn pouted about it, until he and Cristina went dancing on Paniki Pleasure Station, and came back with matching tramp stamps. It helped both women were newly pregnant, Lumen for the second time in so many years. Cristina also pregnant for a second time in less than a year as it was apparent Bihter only had to look at her to get her knocked up. ‘So much for one and done,’ she’d sighed dramatically the day I’d left, stroking her stomach and glowing with health. Rä-human pregnancies were swift, so Lumen was further along, but they enjoyed being bump buddies for a few weeks.
Much to my surprise, and his, Cobra and I formed a close friendship. His skills with a blade were a thing of beauty, and he was teaching me how to hunt and survive in arid climates like his homeworld, Rök. Bhyr had been horrendously jealous of our connection until he’d seen first hand the devotion Cobra showered on his mate. Literally. We’d happened across them having sex in a corridor, and it was clear the male cherished her.
It had taken me days to get the images of them out of my head, especially when they kept reinforcing them with new ones. Lumen and her three mates weren’t shy.
I caught her sending me a hesitant look. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Captain Serenvox vanished into restricted space.’
I shrugged. ‘Nobody said he had to stick around for the whole thing. He was trading for a silent Zozon partner. If his business concluded, it’s logical he’d leave to get a jump on the market.’
‘I saw him when he was leaving. He seemed…guilty.’
I patted her arm. ‘Don’t stress. It’s bad for the baby. I’m sure everything is fine.’
‘Speaking of babies, I don’t think Grhym will give us our children back.’
I thought of how devoted the surly warrior was to the twins and how smitten he’d been once he’d met Bravest. When Lumen and I asked him to take them for the day, he’d been so beside himself with joy, he’d cracked a smile.
‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘I hope he finds someone to give him the family he longs for soon.’
The SonCom Sìne had sent me as a gift chimed.
Lumen sighed. ‘Answer it.’
We listened in horror.
After the static-laden connection abruptly ended in silence, I nibbled my lip. ‘You don’t think we need to, you know, intervene.’
We exchanged looks.
‘Nah,’ we chorused.
The cocoon-shaped mass on my bed cracked, the noise bouncing off the walls.
Lumen jumped. ‘Christ.’
Heart thumping, I shooed her out the room. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow or something.’
She rubbernecked from the door. Her eyes were huge at the crackling, shattering sounds. ‘You’ll be okay?’
I laughed. ‘I’ll be fine.’
The door closed on her dubious expression.
Flustered, I rushed back in time for the last pieces of diamond-hard carapace to fall away. I climbed onto the bed, then found myself dragged under a hot body that pressed between my legs. I hooked my feet around his knees and looped my arms around his shoulders. His flesh was smooth as silk, not a scar in sight, and so be
autifully bright and blue.
He clicked low his throat, nose slits flaring as pearlescent eyes roamed my face. ‘Indira.’
I smiled. ‘Bhyr.’
Afterword
Thank you for reading!
If you have time to spare, please leave a review. They are very helpful, and contribute to writer’s development of their craft.
Until next time.
–P xx
Bhyr: Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 3) Page 45
