by Erin Raegan
She looked to her mate, exasperated. He chuckled and shook his head. “We will broaden her guard. Tahk will be home soon.”
“Move her rooms to those beside ours.” She glared at Borv who was holding back laughter. I scowled at him, but he ignored me and agreed. Nothing good would come from staying beside her. I would never be able to hide from her now.
She deep breathed before looking back at me. “I apologize, daughter.” She practically choked on the words but was surprisingly sincere. “If I had not encouraged her to pursue Tahk’s attentions she may have taken his dismissal easier.”
I was surprised that not even a little of her tone held any censure towards me. It was my doing after all that his consorts were dismissed when she clearly wanted him to keep them.
She flushed and straightened her clothes. “I will have a healer assigned to your rooms and speak with the Queen about expanding your guard.” She turned to leave but then stopped and turned back. She winced before coming back and patting my hand. “Rest, daughter. I will return to check on your healing progress.”
My mouth was still gaping long after she left. Haytu chuckled uproariously and patted my thigh, avoiding any injuries.
I snapped my mouth shut. “What happened to her?”
“She gained a daughter of another species that captured her only dahkling’s unbending devotion. She was not so ready to accept such a threat vying for his attentions. But after that new daughter was nearly taken from the son she adores so deeply…” He trailed off, allowing me to finish his thought.
“She changed her mind. It took almost being filleted, go figure.” I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t trust it right away, she hated me so much when I met her, but I couldn’t deny the tiny little curl of hope blooming. If I could win over Myrna? Well, it would be pretty awesome to have such a terrifying mother-in-law on my side. I doubted her change of heart had anything to do with me personally, more how Tahk would feel if he lost me, but it was progress. “It seems too easy,” I murmured to myself.
“She has not known you long, but she has seen how Tahk looks at you. It worried her at first, but I think your words penetrated that fierce instinct. You are a part of my son. Therefore, you are just as precious to us.”
“Uh, thanks.” I looked away and tried to hide my burning cheeks. Haytu knew how to go right for the feels. I would never have imagined Commander Tahk’s dad to be such a softy. It was kind of awesome. His mother must have given him all her aggression while his father taught him how to a woo a girl so damn easily.
I slept for a while, Borv keeping guard alone until Syn joined him. Hector had told Gryo he was either leaving, or someone had better hunt down Vivian and bring her to him. He was worried about her safety after my attack and for good reason. Her gasps of dismay woke me briefly before whatever Gryo had given me for pain pulled me back under. When I woke again, Colt was snoring on his own cot, and Bobo was hounding Isin, who was quietly shuffling around the room with plates of food.
I sat up and ate with everyone, answering all of Vivian’s questions and calming Isin when he insisted I needed a healing vat. My injuries sucked, but the Dahk’s topical creams were already healing them much faster than anything humans had. Just like the scratches on my arms from the Vitat, they would be mostly closed by the time Tahk got back.
Around last meal, I was ready to leave the healer’s room and head off to meet Uthyf’s House companions with Isin. The King had said he would have one sent down to my room. Gryo fussed and outright shouted when I got up from the cot, but though I was sore, and my nose still throbbed, most of the cuts were superficial. I couldn’t stay on the cot another second, and Hector and Ford felt the same because they demanded they leave, too.
Syn and Borv refused to leave my side, and there were five new Dahk following us as we made it up the stairs. Ford broke off to go to his room with a single guard. But Colt insisted he wanted to see one for himself and followed us to my soon to be old room.
We made quite the spectacle as we walked the upper levels, two female humans, Hector who glared at anybody that came within a foot of Vivian, Colt who whistled out of tune, and Isin who shouted at Bobo every time he tugged on his long hair. The dog was convinced Isin was a chew toy.
Dahk stopped and stared, and I started to worry this was a bad idea, and that I should just head to my new room, but I was curious, and Frederick was lonely.
Hector stopped at his and Viv’s room, claiming his desperation for a shower. When she refused to go in with him, still angry he planned to go back to Earth, he got in Borv’s face and demanded he not leave Vivian’s side, and the giant nodded seriously and swore she would be protected. Clearly torn, he watched Viv with worry as she ignored him, and it took a few more reassurances before Hector gave in to exhaustion and went into the room. A guard searched the room, then remained behind outside his door.
We went to my door that had been broken but was now fixed, and we shuffled in, all ten of us.
Yilt met us inside with a wide grin. “I have brought Uthyf’s companion for you to meet. Mantu is rather excited to meet you in return.”
“Where is he?” Vivian asked excitedly, searching the room.
I am here.
A voice spoke, in my mind.
We spun around in surprise. Viv squealed and fell over Bobo, and Colt shouted in surprise falling over Isin. I screamed and nearly climbed Borv.
“Spider!” Vivian shrieked and pointed.
“That ain’t no spider!” Colt shouted and crawled backward. “I ain’t never seen a spider bigger than my dog!”
Mantu was much bigger than Bobo. He was easily double my size, and he had at least twelve legs.
And he apparently got very offended when three humans screamed at the sight of him.
Humans are loud creatures.
There was something very wrong with a spider speaking in your mind. I shuddered and climbed higher onto Borv. He chuckled and lifted me off. “Mantu will not harm you.” I squealed when he placed me on my feet. My body shook from the force of my shudders. Its dozens of black eyes watched me, and I gulped, backing into another Dahk.
Hector ran into the room, wrapped in a towel. “What―” His eyes widened on Mantu.
“Uh, Isin, I don’t know about Frederick meeting him. He might eat him.”
Isin chuckled. “Arachtinus are not carnivorous. He will not harm Frederick.”
Mantu shuddered, all his legs moving up and down as he shifted. Lifeblood holds no appeal.
“Nope. I can’t do it.” Vivian scrambled for the door. “A massive creepy crawly is bad enough, if it’s gonna talk in my head, I’m out.” She ran from the room, pulling Hector with her. Colt was hot on her heels.
“Cohlt, I did not take you as so easily frightened.” Yilt guffawed as Colt gave him the finger and ran out. The room erupted in laughter with him. The new guards thought our fear was hilarious. I tried not to follow Colt. This was my new world, and though I was suddenly thrilled Tahk did not have any companions―in fact, I would do a whole lot of persuading, so he never got one―I needed to get used to it. I was not leaving anytime soon, if ever.
Bobo barked excitedly and pranced in front of the spider, trying to get his attention.
Strange beast.
I tried not to scrub my head to get rid of the slithery voice.
“Is that the only way it can speak?” I asked Isin.
Mantu shuffled agitatedly again, and I jumped.
I am not an it. I am Mantu, human.
“Right, sorry.” I huffed and glared at Yilt. He was finding this far too funny.
“It is how all companions on Home World communicate, only those of lesser intelligence cannot.”
“Right, maybe we can introduce Frederick to one of those with lesser intelligence.”
Mantu snorted in my head. I was going to shake right out of my boots if I didn’t get my shudders under control.
Chapter 14
Peyton
I guessed it w
as okay the Dahk finally found a little humor in our differences. It was a little sneaky how they sprung Mantu on us, but totally fair after we freaked over every little thing on Home World. Isin really surprised me with his deviousness, though. He was the one to set up the meeting, and found it all very entertaining, though he said he had a similar reaction when meeting one for the first time. So, I felt a little better.
And it definitely managed to shock me enough I stopped freaking out about everything else. It took a while for Isin and Yilt to admit they never really intended for Frederick to pal around with Mantu. Instead, a heetbull was brought into the castle. They were much smaller, just a tad bit taller than my goat, and so adorable. They had no fur, and only two eyes, and four legs. They looked a lot like cows―if cows were dark purple and had claws.
Colt immediately asked about them, wondering about hunting and how they prepared them for meals. Yilt suggested he show him with Bobo, and the old man stormed off to Yilt’s amusement.
I was told Tahk’s meeting went on all the rest of that night and halfway through the next day. But finally, Uthyf hunted me down with good news. The Council would grant them permission to intervene.
“Really?” I asked him, still unable to believe it.
“Yes.” He smiled a little. I had just left having tea with the Queen and Myrna. It was actually very civil, and I found out Myrna had been asking a lot of the Dahk that had been to Earth about humans, so she had a lot to talk about with the Queen. I barely had to utter a word. I just listened, and surprisingly found out a lot about the King. Uthyf was not Queen Josyd’s son. His mother, Pyrdaya, had died during childbirth a few years ago. It was her second child, a girl. Both mother and daughter had died of complications the Dahk had rarely seen. The cause was still unknown.
“What did he have to give them?” I was so grateful, but I still worried what they would have demanded of the Dahk.
Uthyf scowled and slouched against the table in his office.
Haytu shook his head, “Do not think of it, daughter.”
“It’s bad isn’t it?” I couldn’t let it go so easily. I would feel terrible if the Dahk suffered for the humans when they didn’t have to. If we didn’t have such an ignorant government, they wouldn’t have had to give them anything.
“Their request is not for anything of the Dahk.” Uthyf scrubbed his face. “They have plans for the humans.” He watched me wearily.
“What plans?” I choked. Horrifying things flew through my mind.
Haytu clutched my shoulder and went to speak, but Uthyf spoke over him. “The humans will need to swear fealty to the Council.”
“How are they going to do that if they won’t even talk to you guys?”
“An emissary will be dispatched to Earth. They will have no choice.”
“Okay, so if they do, what does that mean? What exactly does swear fealty entail?”
“That they will come to the aid of the Council or that of any they order. Their advances will be aided by the Council, in this way the humans will prosper.” That didn’t sound too bad. It worked similarly on Earth, but without space travel and alien war tactics. And if the invasion taught us anything it was that we were completely unprepared to defend our own planet. We needed help and knowledge. “But they will no longer own their planet. It will belong to the Council to do with as they wish.” Okay, that was pretty bad.
“What will they do with it?” I did not like the look on Uthyf’s face. He seemed regretful.
“Enslave humans at the very least. Mine the planet most likely. Tahk did not anticipate the Council wanting anything from the humans. But they have had time to discuss the possibilities of adding your species to those of others with nothing else to offer.”
“What!? But you guys said they wouldn’t even let you attack each other on our planet, and now they want to enslave us? How are we supposed to prosper under them and come to their aid if they just enslave us?”
“The Council has their own agendas, and unfortunately very few species have been able to remain on the Council. My brother was not even able to keep his seat, and they have become corrupt. Not as they once were. It seems the Juldo may have swayed them in some way. I do not know the specifics, but it seems some of the humans will be given tasks they cannot refuse without deadly consequences.”
I gaped in shock. “So that’s it? You guys save us, just so the rest of the galaxy can tear us apart?”
“I will not let that happen,” Uthyf swore.
I laughed grimly. “You didn’t even think this was a possibility. How could you stop them?”
Haytu hushed me and grabbed my still sore shoulders gently. “First we must save the humans from the Vitat, then we tackle the new threat.”
“Oh yeah? What do you guys get out of it?” I glared at them both. “I understand Tahk wanting to save us, he’s sort of biased, and apparently the Vitat are so easily defeated according to him, but now you're going to declare war on the Galactic Council? Why? You have to have a reason.”
Haytu sighed and looked to the King.
“You are aware of our difficulties in procreation.” Yeah, consorts sort of cleared any confusion up, but I kept the snark to myself. “You have proven that humans are a viable mate for us.”
Oh, I got it now. “You need us to repopulate your species.” The words burned on my tongue.
“Daughter, you are upset. None would be taken against their will, but we must entertain the chances of mating our species. There has never been a viable alternative. We can mate with other species, but we have not successfully bore dahkling with any other than our own.”
“How do you know humans can?” They both looked at me like I was an idiot. “Gryo.” They nodded.
I was going to punch that guy in the throat. He did more than check my girl parts for damage after mating Tahk the first time. Holy cow, I could be pregnant right now. It took everything not to rub my stomach. I clenched my fists instead.
I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I couldn’t stop them. I was one person. Did I even want to? If I refused and they listened, then would they still save us? Nothing was free. I had stupidly thought they went along with Tahk out of respect for him, and because it was the goddamn right thing to do. If he knew about this, I was going to kick him so hard in the nuts.
“Now is not the time to worry over these things. We must first save your species from annihilation.”
Haytu was right. It didn’t matter now. The Vitat were the threat right now. We would have to deal with the Galactic Council after, and apparently a planet full of horny Dahk. “Human women are not going to be cool with you guys having multiple mates,” I warned them severely. “And there is no way all the Dahk females are just going to step aside and let you mate singularly to a human.”
“No, that would bring about a planet-wide panic. We would not do such a thing to our females. But there are other ways for humans to birth dahkling.”
I looked at them in confusion before a light bulb went off. “Insemination.” They looked confused now. “Um, you would fertilize them with instruments?”
“Yes. Volunteers may be fertilized by our healers for Houses that are willing to take on the care of human females. They would be cared for and would be rewarded for their service.”
That didn’t sound too bad. Women all over the place already did that. There were surrogates for as long as I could remember. “Some might agree, but a lot wouldn’t be able to leave their babies. It would be too hard emotionally.”
Haytu looked horrified, “They would not leave their young. They would remain a member of the House and raise them along with the dahkling’s First Father.”
That actually made sense. Dahk males had so many wives, and it seemed they each raised their dahkling on their own. Uthyf called the Queen his First Mother, and he cared about her, but even Tahk was kind of partial to his own mam. They were raised in the same house as all their father’s mates but maybe their mam was their only mom. The others were just a part
of their childhood, sort of like aunts. I had a list of things to grill Gryo on, on second thought, I wasn’t talking to Gryo anymore. I would have to ask Tahk when he got back or Yilt. Maybe even Borv could answer. Hell, I had a father-in-law I could ask when I wasn’t pissed at him for conspiring to inseminate humans behind my back.
“We do not wish to enslave the humans,” Uthyf said gravely. “My Dahk may not even accept the humans, in which case it would be too dangerous to have so many brought here. But it is a reason, as you say, to war with the Galactic Council.”
“Can you defeat them? It seems they have a ton of species at their disposal. If you’re so low on numbers, how will you stop them?”
“We have allies.” Haytu seemed offended I suggested they couldn’t take on dozens of species all on their own.
“They would be cool with disobeying the Council?” These guys were so full of contradictions I was amazed they kept them all straight. Don’t save the humans or there will be consequences, on second thought, damn the consequences. You know what? Let’s just totally disobey the Council and declare war.
No, it wasn’t that simple, Tahk made that clear. He was worried about what would be done to his Dahk without straight up approval from the Council.
Uthyf was getting frustrated. “My brother would not have taken the risks I am offering for you now. I would have warred with the Galactic Order the moment my father was assassinated if I had been King.”
Mic drop. I had no idea his father was assassinated, and that he suspected the Galactic Order. Uthyf was totally out for revenge, and he was going to take down the humans with him.
“Do not look so alarmed daughter, King Uthyf has allies and connections King Aryx and Tahk were not aware of.”
“What? Hang on, Tahk doesn’t know about any of this, does he? What did he say when you talked to him exactly?”
“He does not accept their answer and wishes to meet with them again.” Uthyf sounded really frustrated, but I nearly sagged in relief. I knew Tahk couldn’t stop them if they wanted to enslave my species but if he had agreed, I realized I might have been fighting our mating all over again. I shouldn’t have doubted him. He was always on my side.
