Home World: An Alien War Romance (Galactic Order Book 2)

by Erin Raegan

  “That is a shame, Son. There is no time now. Your House is here to welcome you.”

  Something super serious was being spoken about in a way I couldn’t fully understand. It was making me angry and a little worried, when all I kind of wanted to do was dance around―cause Tahk’s father liked me. He was really nice so far. I barely had to say a word, and he was trying to build a relationship. I was so relieved to know someone wanted me here, that I was pretty mad their secret conversation was ruining it.

  Tahk stiffened and glared at the castle as if it had personally offended him. I had a sinking suspicion whoever waited for us was not as awesome as his dad.

  Haytu sighed with clear regret. “My son is thick-skulled at times. Go easy on him, daughter.” With that ominous request, he turned and waved us towards the castle where most of our party had already disappeared into.

  “Your First Mother is very anxious. She has had a room prepared for you both. The servants are beside themselves with all her demands and that of the Queen. King Aryx’s honor rites are underway, but your mam does not see this and hassles the servants for her own bidding. We must hurry and put them out of their misery.”

  “How is Queen Josyd?” Tahk walked us beside his father, gripping my hip firmly. I had to rush to keep up with their long strides. I was out of breath and had nearly fallen half a dozen times on the slippery ice by the time we made it to the tall stone steps. There had to be a hundred of them. My thighs would be killing me by the time we got up there.

  “She is a Queen and hides her grief well, but your mam and she have been companions for many sunrings, we see her sorrow.”

  Tahk stumbled when I did on the step. He started to grin, but it quickly wiped clean when I glared at him. Instead, he lifted me and walked the rest of way up for the both of us. I was mad at him, but I had never been a fan of the stepper at the gym. Apparently, my childbearing hips suffered for it.

  I might have been holding a wee bit of a grudge for that comment, but Haytu was so nice I would keep my irritation to myself.

  “A shame what happened to the King,” Haytu said casually in front of the castle doors.

  Tahk scoffed and let me down at the top step. “He is dead, Father. You have no need for untruths now. I know your position on his ruling.”

  Haytu grinned. “He was soft. Not fit to rule. Uthyf will make a fine King.”

  Had I thought Haytu nice? He seemed positively giddy Uthyf would be filling his brother's shoes.

  Tahk sighed and moved us through the open doors. “Your opinions are your own. But try to keep them from Uthyf, he is grieving and not happy about taking the throne.”

  “He will grow into the crown in time. He just needs to see how much his brother has ruined the good his first father accomplished in his time ruling.”

  I listened intently to them but grew a little distracted by the opulence of the entry hall inside. It was so beautiful. It had large cathedral ceilings, and the walls were white that glowed a light lavender from sandy sprinkles of the purple toyl stone. Large bowls held more stone and another blue kind that were on fire. It looked like I was inside a star system with the way all the soft lights glowed through the room and the night sky showed through the large cuts in the walls. It was like a scene out of a children’s movie.

  “Your Council position allows you some margin but do not speak ill of the dead King near the others.”

  “Those footling rogues can do nothing, and they have their own games afoot to worry about any slights toward the dead King.”

  “You offend me,” Tahk growled. Tahk respected the King, liked him even. He wasn’t taking his father’s opinions well, but it seemed a running commentary between them.

  “If the Old King could have put Uthyf on the throne he would have, it is no secret.”

  Tahk’s body was tense. I stifled the instinctive urge to soothe him. “You go too far―”

  Tahk was cut off by a delicate laugh. “Son, you have returned.” A tall female Dahk floated down an elegant staircase in the far back of the room.

  She was dressed in a long golden gown that accented the dark purple and grey accents of her skin. Her black wings were folded delicately against her back. Her claws were long and as polished as her fangs, and her ridges were tiny and spiky but short and only down the sides of her head.

  Though her face was serene and filled with happiness, a hard edge entered her gaze as it snagged on me. “Your Pythe I presume.” She stopped nearly three feet from me and did not greet her son as his father had, though her fingers twitched as though she wished to reach for him.

  “Mam.” Tahk grinned and left me to rush to her. He lifted her long hand and bent down to press it to his brow. “I present Pehytohn.” He held out his hand for me. I really didn’t want to go over there, but Haytu smiled encouragingly, and I figured it would be rude to refuse. But I knew, oh boy did I, this Dahk was not happy about who her son had mated. Women knew women. And she was sending me some major smack-down vibes.

  “Pehy-toohn?” She wrinkled her brows and ran her eyes up and down my body. “What is she?”

  “Human,” I answered and smiled overly bright. She had to have known what I was by now. I knew Tahk had informed them about his mating a while back. He wouldn’t have kept my being different from them, from his mam. “It’s nice to meet you?”

  “Myrna.” She sniffed and looked back to her son. “You mated her in the old way.” Her tone was scolding.

  “They had no choice, sweets.” Haytu pulled her against his side and nuzzled her shoulder.

  “So, I have heard.” She was not convinced, and I was not fooled enough to believe her ire was on my behalf.

  “It is a shame about King Aryx,” she told both Tahk and Haytu, leaving my greeting hanging. There would be no tea and baby Tahk pictures with her. I had a feeling Haytu had just become my only supporter in Tahk’s family. A mother had a great influence on her daughter. I would know. I squashed the reminder of my mom before I could embarrass myself. But if Kudeyas strived to please her mother like I used to, I did not envision Tahk’s sister welcoming me. As for the brother? We’d see.

  “Yet, I am pleased you are home. Vyndor is also here upstairs with his mam,” Myrna said and waved us towards the stairs. “As well as Nonya.” A cruel gleam entered her eyes. I was still hung up on Vyndor having a different ‘mam.’ Was he not Myrna’s son? The Dahk divorced or renounced mates? I thought that wasn’t possible, true mating or matched. Did that mean Tahk could get rid of me?

  I nearly slapped myself. This would be bad why, Peyton? Did we not want to get rid of Tahk?

  I ignored the snide voice of my inner scorned woman and bit my lip. Would it be good? Based on the drop in my stomach I thought I might need to have a sit down with myself and really evaluate my feelings for Tahk.

  “Myrna,” Haytu warned and smiled at me.

  I looked away and back to Tahk. He kept his eyes straight ahead. If I hadn’t known better, I would say the Commander looked afraid. But that was ridiculous. I had never seen Tahk afraid of anything.

  “What’s going on?”

  Tahk stopped and sighed. “Give us a moment?” He asked his parents. Haytu nodded and looked worried. Myrna looked positively thrilled, and Haytu had to practically drag her away.

  I stopped a few steps from the top of the staircase on a small landing. “Who’s Vyndor’s mother? Did your father have another mate before your mam? Are you younger than him? And who is Nonya?” I fired the questions at him clumsily. My bullshit meter was spiking. This whole thing smelled of all kinds of nasty secrets.

  Tahk scrubbed his face roughly and then took my hand. I was so worried I let him pull me closer and wrap an arm around my waist. I don’t know how I knew, but I did, and I knew whatever he was going to say would change everything. It made me so afraid I forgot all my anger and clutched his biceps. I missed being held by him. I missed the soft look he was giving me now. The way he would have to bend so low to kiss me on the lips.


  I missed him.

  “I am sorry, lov―, Pehytohn. I have not been open with you about many of our ways,” he stumbled over his words and scowled at the hand I moved to his chest, clutching it tightly with his own.

  “What is it?” I asked softly. He was really worried about whatever he was going to tell me. It made me want to beg him to go back to the ship and hide. I wasn’t ready for any more surprises. Any more hurt.

  “My father has my mam as his First mate…” he hedged. He stopped and cleared his throat. “First.”

  “Okay.” Did that mean he was the eldest brother? His father leaving his mother and moving on to another to conceive Vyndor? They seemed way more adjusted than that of humans after divorce, touchier, but it wasn’t some terrible offense to end a relationship.

  To humans anyway, I reminded myself. The Dahk were very different from humans.

  “This is very difficult,” he spat and shifted anxiously.

  “Tahk, just tell me.” I smiled unsteadily at him. He was kind of adorable all flustered. I couldn’t help myself even as my worry mounted immensely.

  “He also has another. His second.”

  “Wait, what? Two Mates?”

  “Four.”

  I choked. “Four?” Holy cow. Dad-in-law had a harem!

  “Yes,” Tahk said gravely, searching my face for something I had no idea how to give. So, okay his dad got a lot of action, if his ladies were good with it, I didn’t see the problem, or why my opinion mattered. Maybe it was just that they had no idea how I would take it? Being human and all? Man, they had no idea we had polygamy and divorces and cheating assholes. A few wives were nothing in some countries back home.

  “That’s― cool?” Whatever floats your boat and all that.

  “This does not bother you?” Tahk looked downright shocked. A relieved smile started to bloom across his face.

  “It’s different, sure, but why would it b―”

  “My Tahk! I have missed you!” A screech sounded from the top of the stairs. A willowy female flew from the top stair right into Tahk, knocking him back and away from me. My back hit the stone railing. I winced, that would leave a bruise. This must be the sister.

  I looked up to see her pawing all over my Commander.

  Not a sister then.

  “I am in need of you,” she purred huskily, grabbing his junk. A red haze clouded my vision.

  Oh, hells no.

  That dick was mine.

  “My mate,” Tahk called a little annoyed but not nearly as infuriated as he should have been having anyone but me touching him there. I was going to deliver the smack-down of the century. “Meet Nonya, my consort.”

  Wait, what?

  Chapter 6

  Peyton

  Tahk had a consort?

  I didn’t know who to take out first. Her for daring to have any kind of claim on him or the asshole who thought it was okay to touch said―soon-to-be-Dahk-mince-meat―consort. But somebody was going to feel every single bit of my bottled rage. Every single bit I had stored away since the goddamn Vitat thought it was okay to come to Earth and eat everybody.

  If I could have breathed fire, they would have both been crispy-Dahk in seconds.

  Her hand was still on my dick. I clenched my fists so tightly I broke skin. Tahk smelled it and took his eyes off the preening female.

  “Pehytohn?”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Kyddyng?” The bitch asked derisively. “She speaks oddly.”

  I was going to rip out every one of her neck-length ridges. It was a good thing they were so long. I would have a better grip.

  “What is it?”

  “You have a consort?” I asked the asshole heatedly. I was so mad my face was on fire.

  “Two,” bitchface added happily. “Alyn will be unhappy I found you first. She will have to wait her turn to bed you.”

  I choked. Was this really happening?

  “Nonya, will you give me a moment with my Pythe?”

  “But she has had you for so long! It is my turn!” She whined. It was as annoying as her pouting. “Do not think I have forgiven you for mating her before our mating. I will have to be second now.”

  Second?

  Oh. OH.

  Daddy Tahk wasn’t the only one who got around. I was so stupid. First mother and mate meant first. There were numbers for them. Jesus H. I was only his first mate. He had one already lined up before me! He was engaged!

  I was going to kill him. Or cry. Possibly both, but I would take killing him over embarrassing myself in front of them.

  “Nonya,” Tahk rumbled in warning and finally removed her hand.

  “Oh, very well. I will wait for you in bed.” With that she flounced off, shooting him a flirty smile over her shoulder he thankfully didn’t return. I was going to be sick.

  “I―” Tahk reached for me, but I backed away so violently I nearly fell down the steps.

  “You have consorts? As in more than one? You were going to mate her?” I clenched my teeth to keep emotion from breaking through. “Are you still going to?”

  He did not say a word.

  “You are.” Oh man, I was so, so stupid. Tahk never had any intention of dismissing his side action at home when he found me. If he had, I probably could have looked past this with some time. It was cultural. Tahk was an alien to me. Things were bound to be different here. But, if he wasn’t, and I had to share him?

  I bent over and clutched my knees. Oh god, I was going to hurl all over the sparkly floors.

  “My mate, this is our way.” He reached for me, and I swatted him away. Smacking his hands as hard as I could.

  “It’s not my way!” I couldn’t get enough air. I was wheezing and shaking so hard I was going to pass out. “Do you love her?” Stupid, Peyton. What did that matter? Would you stay with him if he didn’t? It didn’t make this okay.

  Tahk at least looked horrified at the thought. “No!”

  “So, you’ll leave her and the other one? You won’t mate her?” I hated the pitiful crack in my voice. Tears were already gathering so copiously I knew they would spill over. I needed to be alone for that. Too many Dahk were already eyeing us from downstairs as they came in and out from outside. Where was Viv? I needed her.

  Tahk was silent again, and I dragged in a ragged breath. I turned away from him, giving him my back, and staring at the railing. I deep breathed and bit my cheek until I could stem the flow of tears. This was so stupid. I hated him, I reminded myself. He betrayed me before, he would do it again. I needed to get back home, not get upset he was like every other man I’d ever dated.

  But I couldn’t help the flow of devastation. I loved him so much. I knew right then. I loved Tahk more than I ever had anything. This was killer. He could have fixed us. He could have, I knew it. But not now. Now, we were done. I told him so. “If you don’t go up there right now and tell them both you’re done and only with me now, you will never touch me again.”

  The silence slayed me.

  I laughed grimly and turned back to him. Cold and unfeeling Tahk was back.

  “This is our way,” he repeated. The emphasis told me what he wanted me to understand. It was now my way, too. Well, asshole had another thing coming. This Pythe was done with him. He could order me all he wanted. Tell the whole galaxy I was his, but I was not. I never would be again.

  I ran down the stairs, ignoring his shout. He was coming after me, but thankfully Yilt was there just when I needed him. I ran right to him and shamelessly begged, “Please, Yilt, please. Take me to Vivian.”

  The sweet Dahk took one look at my devastated face and infuriated Pythen and nodded. “This way.”

  Dao and Ryt walked in behind us and stopped. Staring wide-eyed at the Commander.

  “Do not dare leave, Pehytohn.” Tahk snarled.

  “Come.” Yilt urged and pulled me into his side. Tahk lunged, but Ryt and Dao grabbed for him.

  I looked away from Tahk as he roared. There was a scuffle an
d slaps of skin, but I ignored it all as I went with Yilt deeper into the bottom floor of the castle.

  Ryt and Dao wouldn’t be able to hold him for long.

  “Wohn will be inside shortly, he will speak to him.”

  “Who is that?” I didn’t really care as long as he could keep Tahk away from me, but I needed the distraction.

  “The old Commander’s second. Tahk will listen to him,” Yilt said certainly.

  I hoped so.

  If I ever saw Tahk again, it would be too soon.

  Yilt and I walked a long time, and soon enough the beauty of the castle took all my devastation and diverted it to amazing carvings and twinkling decorations. It was peaceful and a relief after so much ugliness. There must have been hundreds of rooms throughout the castle, and we were only on the first floor.

  Eventually, it stopped being opulent ballrooms and sitting rooms and became plainer, well as plain as it could be with sparkly walls. Yilt walked me through what must have been the infirmary. It was a large room full of gadgets and gizmos and cots lined up along the walls. There were a few healers wearing their golden robes rushing around and gathering supplies. They looked pretty harried, which was to be expected, seeing as they were going to be trying to save two humans when they probably had never even seen one.

  “Wait in here.” Yilt crossed to a small room and showed me to a stool. “Veeveen will be here shortly with Gryo.” Yilt bowed and turned, but I stopped him.

  “Yilt? Is it really normal for all males to have more than one mate?” The question sounded small and pitiful, and I hated it. I wished I could shove it back in my mouth the second it was out.

  Yilt scowled at the wall for a long time, deep in thought. “Yes. It is how our species procreates. It was not always this way, but as births became fewer and fewer and more enemies circled our borders dwindling warrior numbers, it became as it is now. We must expand our numbers and females struggle with conception, some never being able to accomplish it.”

  “He’s not going to get rid of them, is he?” It was a question, but I wasn’t entirely speaking to him. I needed to hear it for myself. It hurt the same now as it did when Tahk refused to answer.