by Erin Raegan
“Pehytohn.” Yilt sighed and crouched down in front of me. “Our ways are very different from the humans, yes?” I nodded. “But you are no longer on Earth. You are on Dahk Home World. You must adapt to your new home.” He tutted when I went to shout at him. Adapt my ass. I didn’t even want to come here. “That does not mean there must not be concessions made by the Dahk on your behalf. You are the first Pythen mating in many, many sunrings. Hundreds. Give the Commander time to adjust and tell him why this troubles you. Though he does not hold any affection for his consorts, it is our way. He will face scorn and disapproval if he dismisses them so quickly. It would be a dishonor for the females and their Houses. And he does not wish to put you in the way of such derision. It does not seem so now, but he keeps them for you.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t seem that way. It seems like he wants to tag as much ass as he can.” I spat hotly.
“Tahg ahss?”
I sighed, “Forget it. Yilt, this hurts me. How can we be some great mating if he can hurt me like that?” I clenched my fists and scowled at my hands to keep from crying. I was so damn sick of crying over that prick.
“Do not hide your hurt feelings from him, little one. I know my Commander, he will see it, and it will drive him to act regardless. But you must be vigilant. Many already do not accept your mating, dismissing his consorts before finding them another potential mate will cause strife amongst the people I fear we are in no position to handle. We must focus on the New King and tracking the assassin. We must corral our people before the Juldo attack while we are still fractured from loss.”
“The Juldo? They’re really a threat to you guys?”
“Yes, they are our greatest enemy. But my Commander will drive them back. He needs his mate, Pehytohn, give him the time and allow him to earn back your trust.”
“I can’t just ignore it. He’s probably with her now.” How had I become this pathetic? You’d think an invasion would have toughened me up. But no, Tahk had reduced me to a miserable shrew.
“He is not. Tahk will not touch either female.” Another voice boomed from the doorway. It was one of the Dahk that had been fighting Tahk on the ship in the training pit.
“Wohn.” Yilt bowed and grinned, clapping the Dahk on the shoulder. “Did you manage to talk the Commander down, or does he tear the castle apart as we speak?”
“Yilt.” Wohn clapped him back. “He is not calmed. But he will give his Pythe space. For now.” The older Dahk was the first one I had really seen other than Hull that looked aged. Even Tahk’s parents looked young. Wohn’s chin-length ridges weren’t as lush and lively, but limp and slightly wrinkled, paler in color to the rest of his purple skin. It was the first time I wondered about Dahk ages. Tahk looked young to me, but what did I have to base it on? Commander status at least led me to believe I hadn’t taken advantage of a younger Dahk, unlike the vibes Yilt gave off of youth, but he could be as old as Colt for all I knew. Seeing Wohn though, I could gauge age slightly. The Dahk looked older. But how old? Forty? Sixty?
It felt too rude a thing to ask, so I refrained. But it was something I would be asking Gryo later.
“How do you know he’s not screwing her brains out right now?” I needed to know. I couldn’t follow Tahk around to make sure he kept it in his pants, and frankly fuck him if he couldn’t.
“The Commander is beside himself with worry,”
I snorted, cutting him off. More like he was pissed he wasn’t getting a happy little harem.
Wohn scowled. “Female, you misstep with your ignorance.”
I glared. Great, another asshole.
“Do you not think it is not you who should be upset, but his consorts? They were with him first. To them, you are the interloper. You have laid claim to who they belong to. You would have them tossed out so carelessly? I did not think you so heartless.”
Oh, wow. How did I look like the asshole now? This guy was implying I was a homewrecker and it made me stumble in my anger. Was I? If I had taken a guy from his previous girlfriend back home, I would be. He still would have been a dick, but I would have insulted the sisterhood. I didn’t know Nonya, she seemed like a bitch, but she could just be upset. What if she was this epically nice Dahk and I had pretty much fucked up her first mate plans. That had to hurt. Dammit, Wohn was a bastard for making me feel bad for Tahk’s consorts. I wanted to hate them, but oh it chapped me that he was right.
How would I have felt if Nonya gave Tahk ultimatums about me? What if he listened? She had him first.
I rubbed my chest. It felt like it was caving in.
“So, I should just ignore it and let him drag me into a situation that would devastate me? If he can’t drop them, then he needs to let me go.”
“You do not listen. Tahk has not touched one female on the ship the whole time you have denied him.” Wohn crossed his muscular arms as he scolded me. “Had he wished for another he would have taken Filiya as she sought him so desperately.”
How did he know, though? Tahk could have been doing anybody at night behind closed doors.
“Were you with him the whole time?” I raised a brow and crossed my own arms.
“No, but the healer’s frustration and anger was indicative enough. He denied her, as he will Nonya and Alyn until you come to your senses.”
Ooh. I bared my teeth at the arrogant prick. I was full of sense! I didn’t need to come to anything! Tahk was an idiot if he didn’t see how this would kill me. Culture differences or not, I would not look past this. And if his relationship with the others was deeper than for a mere consort, than he had no business stringing me along. But if it wasn’t? If he didn’t care for them? What would I do? Go back to him? He still took me from home and locked me up.
“He will not touch them even then,” Yilt said firmly, also glaring at Wohn.
Wohn chuckled. “Ah, I suppose not, he is quite taken with his Pythe. I doubt his consorts could even tempt him using all their trickery. You worry for nothing, human. Tahk will sit on his fury and move to rectify the issue. You must wait and allow him to come up with a solution that satisfies all. Besides, I do not see why you act with such hurt feelings after you have snubbed him all this time. One would think it would not bother you he turned to another?” Wohn raised his eyes pointedly.
Asshole. Assholes everywhere. He was right of course. Did I have the right to throw a fit about this if I wasn’t planning on being with him again? No, a human man would have cut me loose for a stunt like this. But as upset as his touching someone else made me, I was even more upset about how this was kept from me. He should have told me about the other females a long time ago. He should have told me right after that farce of a mating. We were practically married while he was planning on marrying another right after.
I sighed heavily. I wouldn’t tell Wohn he was right. Let him think what he wanted.
He knew, though. He chuckled heartily. “Ah, she sees. All will be well, youngling. Tahk did wrong you back Earthside, no matter he had no choice, keep him on his claws when he comes crawling for forgiveness. A little effort will go a long way in teaching him the art of female happiness.”
Yilt scoffed, “the Commander will not crawl for forgiveness.”
“You too, are young, Yilt. When you find your mate, I hope she makes you toil for her affection as well.”
The older male left. Yilt scowled at the doorway.
“You don’t have a mate?” I asked Yilt.
He flushed deeply. “I do not. I am in my first years under command. The youngest lieutenant to rise.” He puffed his chest proudly. “I have no desire for females. I wish to prove myself to my kingdom before I enter into such trouble.”
I laughed. Yes, relationships were trouble.
A commotion outside the door drew our attention. Vivian and Gryo had arrived with Hector and Ford. “Careful with him!” Vivian shouted.
“Viv?” I rushed from the room.
“They are all idiots,” she hissed to me. “They just toss him around like
he’s not already hurt enough.” Her face was flushed with anger as she glared at the two Dahk carrying Hector on an alien stretcher.
“Calm, female.” Gryo scowled and directed the healers to put Hector on a table. “We must get them into the healing vats.” He rushed over to a big rectangle box sticking up from the floor, pressed a bunch of random buttons on top, and the box lit up and hummed.
“Where’s Colt and Bobo?” I asked her.
“I don’t know. He was walking here. He wouldn’t let any of the Dahk carry him while flying, and I don’t think any of them wanted him close to them anyway, so they’re escorting him over the ice.”
That was a long walk, but I couldn’t blame him. I would have rather walked, too.
Gryo and the others lowered Hector into a tank, first. The tank was filled with a thick syrupy liquid, and so deep they had to prop his head up to keep his nose and mouth from being submerged. Gryo covered his face with a mask and hit a bunch of buttons before letting his head completely sink with his body.
Viv gasped and rushed closer, “Can he breathe?”
Gryo scowled at her. “He is completely safe, female. Step back.”
“What is that stuff? He won’t drown?”
“Viv,” I grabbed and pulled her back as Gryo ignored her shouts. The other healers were growing restless and glaring at her. We had to be careful not to step on any toes here. I didn’t want to piss off the wrong Dahk.
“The healing vat is an old practice, but in a few sunrings your Hyctoor will be good as new.” Yilt patted Vivian’s shoulder and twirled a lock of her hair.
“Promise?”
Yilt flushed as he got the full force of my best friend’s eyes.
“I vow it.”
Vivian relaxed into Yilt. He stiffened and gazed at the top of her head in longing. The poor guy had no idea what to do. Vivian was a powerhouse on her best day. But all damsel-like? She was a wrecking ball. Yilt said he didn’t want a female right now, but he sure had a thing for her. Poor guy, Viv was one-hundred percent taken. If I hadn’t loved Hector for her, I would think it was a shame. Yilt was so sweet. He deserved someone as amazing as Vivian.
After Ford was lowered in another healing vat, Gryo ordered us out. Vivian tried to refuse, but one worried word from Yilt and she gave in. He also didn’t think it was wise we lingered here too long. At least not until Tahk could threaten the whole castle. If these healers were anything like those on Dahk One I wanted to be far away from them.
Yilt took us upstairs. Which of course was as beautiful as the rest of the castle. Our rooms were to be right next to each other. We went into Vivian’s first and she ooh’d and aww’d at all the pretty stone furnishings. Looking at the sparkly glow, I had to wonder how we would sleep. I doubted it got much darker in there. Did the planet ever get any darker than it did now? For all we knew, it could have been the middle of the night already. But Yilt laughed when we asked and said the stone would dim somewhat. He seemed to think it was hilarious we thought it would always stay bright. I tried not to be snarky and point out all the science lessons I endured in school. Bioluminescence, and fluorescence, and phosphor- whatever it’s called would have been lost on him. The translator would have wigged out, and I’d be explaining it for days. Besides, he would just shrug it off and tell us how primitive our knowledge was.
He did say there were some Dahk who kept the stone out of their rooms and slept on padded bedding and furnishings from other worlds because they preferred it as dark as possible but that we should have no problem sleeping with the glow. As it was, it was like walking through the house at night with a few night lights plugged in. It made me realize how used to the dark I had gotten on the ship. My eyes were no longer adjusting. I could see everything around me just fine.
After Vivian ran over every inch of her room exploring, getting particularly hung up on the massive bathing pool, we went into mine.
It wasn’t empty.
Nonya and another female were there. That must be Anya.
Another slammed the door shut behind Viv and me.
Filiya.
All three of them looked pissed.
Chapter 7
Tahk
I stood in the Kings Council room, scowling at the floor. My mate was angry, no, devastated. I had first thought she would welcome my consorts when she seemed to have no issue with my father’s multiple mates, but when she found out about my own multiple partners, she reacted fitfully. Like a scorned gypcat. Her little teeth bared and her eyes flashing with fury. That is until they flooded with wet. Then sadness overtook her once more, and I wished nothing more than to clear her face from any sadness. But I could not give her what she wished. My consorts’ Houses would have protested my shunning of them vehemently. Both of my potential matings had been matched by our first fathers. I had no desire to choose for my own, so my father had chosen for me.
What my Pythe did not know was that I felt no desire to touch another. I had suspected after not wishing for Filiya that would be the case, but when Nonya came to me in front of my mate, I was sure. I felt nothing for the female. But she had been a respectable consort. I could not shame her or Alyn by dismissing them so hastily. I would need to meet with their Houses. An arrangement would need to be made. But that was not the only issue, by not taking another mate I would bring Pehytohn more contempt from the Dahk.
It would not be easy on her here. She would be expected to bear many dahkling to make up for my having no other mate, which was very rare in female Dahk. If one could conceive, it was very difficult to do so again. I wanted dahkling, but not more than I wanted my yula. If she could never bear me a dahkling, this would not bother me. It would not urge me to another. I wanted only her. But other Dahk did not feel the same.
I would need to come to a decision soon. Filiya was right, my mate would not settle in our home with the others, and I did not have much time. I needed to head for the Galactic Order and procure an agreement for Fihk to aid the humans. My mate would see this. Her greatest wish was to save her humans. But I was filled with worry at the thought of using the reason to procure her submission. She would give it no doubt, but it would put her in a position in my House that would only drive her away.
Something must be done before leaving. I could barely leave her side as it was, the mating rage called to me, I could not stand to be parted from her, to leave to the Galactic Order with her holed up with my consorts would drive her farther away. It left only two options. I could find a new match for my consorts before leaving, or I could take my mate with me. But the second was no option at all. The Galactic Council would be outraged at the sight of her. Humans were not to be invaded by galactic law, and she would be seen as a grave offense against her planet and taken from me. I would not let that happen. She must remain here.
“Tahk,” Uthyf barked from the center of the room. He now sat on the throne, as his brother did the last I saw of him. “What say you?”
“What?” I growled, refusing to show the shame I felt that my thoughts had wandered.
“The Juldo assassin is believed to be a Shadow Born.” Uthyf scowled, he had grown into the position and had reluctantly dropped all reserve around me. I knew it was difficult not to bend to my command as he had done since being appointed on my Council, but my father was right about Uthyf. He was not as his brother. He did not so easily bend. Uthyf was commanding, a warrior, and a worthy King.
“He will not be so easily found, then.” I sighed and scrubbed my crown. We knew very little of the Shadow Born. They were once the Juldo’s greatest asset but had been hunted down by their own over the ages. Many Juldo were lost in the battle, but there were so few Shadow Born, and the Juldo themselves were a powerful enemy. Only they could have killed their own assassins.
Juldo once long ago gave their young warriors to their gods to be remade. Reborn into shadow and death. They were the greatest weapon in all the galaxies. It was said one Shadow Born assassin could bring down whole armies with little effort. Had so
many still lived, we would be at a greater disadvantage against the new Master. But it was thought that he had none under his command. A Master from long ago had eradicated all of them. Or so we thought, one must have subsisted.
The King’s slayer would not be defeated easily. We would need our best. And I could not be here. I had already abandoned the humans. I needed to go to the Galactic Council. Uthyf knew this.
“Send Wohn with our best. He will find him.” It was all I had to offer. I would join the hunt after I returned.
“You will not go?” Laado, a member of the King’s Council asked, shocked.
“He will meet with the Galactic Council on behalf of the humans.” Uthyf dismissed the Council’s outraged shouts. “It is not up for discussion.”
“Is hunting our Kings assassin, not of greater importance?” Hull bared his teeth in fury.
“Enough,” Uthyf growled low. “I am not my brother.” He glared at each member with clear warning. “You will not remain on my Council by undermining my rule.”
The Council quieted, all but my father, who grinned wildly at the King. “My King, what of your protection? I should like to assign you a guard of my son’s command.”
It was a wise request. Uthyf himself was in danger. Not only of the Juldo but of his own Dahk. Those that would seize the throne for themselves. Uthyf looked to me for guidance in this. Not because he was unsure, but because he knew I would know the right course to take as his Commander.
I nodded, “I will see to it.” The Council shifted anxiously. Even now Uthyf was endangered by his own Council. Only my Dahk would be trusted to guard him. None would get close. Not even those here now. Uthyf himself would defeat any who tried, but my guard would not allow any the chance to die at his hand.
The King dismissed his Council. My father and I stayed behind.
“I will leave after escorting my mate home. A small crew will accompany me.” I told my King. “Yilt will lead your guard.”
