by Zara Zenia
“If it was just for me, yes. But she’s done it for all the analyzers, hampering my brothers’ chances of finding wives. And now this Iblis AI surfaces? It is not beyond her abilities to create artificial intelligence. What if she did?”
I think hard. How much did Bella hate Akrawn?
“Akrawn, how long were you and Bella together before the virus struck?”
He shrugged. “On and off since our teen years.”
“So you’ve been leading her on all this time?”
His face scrunched in distaste. “It’s not like that. Trilyn women don’t form emotional attachments in the same way men do. They like sex, yes, but it is only until the male attempts a mating bond do they consider committing—”
“Horseshit,” I snapped.
Akrawn blinked his eyes in surprise. “Pardon me?”
“Horseshit, bull crap, nonsense. People are people regardless of gender. We humans used to think the same thing, only it was the men who wanted sex over love, but we found out that’s not true at all.”
“But—”
“But nothing. People want love, Akrawn. Culture informs how we form relationships. So you built this culture where women are standoffish and men are the romantics and that’s what you all believe. The only thing I can see different between Trilyn and humans is that you guys are more muscular because of your world’s heavier gravity. Bella fell in love with you years ago but waited for you to ‘initiate’ mating. Your culture gives that power to the male, and it didn’t happen. Why don’t you think she’d be angry?”
Akrawn stood there stunned as if someone stuck his finger into an electrical outlet.
“If you are suggesting that Bella has something to do with the virus—”
“Akrawn, Peri found new information when she connected with the Iblis AI. She said it was Iblis that constructed the virus that killed the Trilyn women and that your signature programs are part of the Iblis AI. If Bella constructed Iblis and allowed it to create this virus, then she is looking to blame you for all of Trilyn’s problems.”
Akrawn shook his head.
“No. Bella is ambitious, but she’s no traitor.”
“Akrawn, when a person betrays another’s heart, there is no telling what that person would do. Everyday people go to the courthouse to get restraining orders on people who feel betrayed by a lover. I don’t know Bella well, but I’ve worked in law enforcement long enough to know that domestic situations are the most violent and dangerous.”
Akrawn huffed and his eyes flashed with anger.
“I would never purposely hurt Bella or any woman.” He hung his head. “But I may have taken her for granted.”
“At the very least,” I snapped.
Akrawn jerked his head up. “You are not angry at me, are you?”
“No. I am angry at the situation. One angry, vengeful woman threatens to destroy two planets because she doesn’t have the sense enough to move on.”
Akrawn sucked in a deep breath. “Do you think my actions may have made Bella heartsick? Women don’t usually—”
I glared at him and he stepped back.
“Right. It is my fault that Bella is not well.”
I scoffed and shook my head. “You cannot take the responsibility for this.”
“I am her prince. It is my job to take the burdens of my people. If I’ve treated her thoughtlessly and my selfishness drove her to these desperate acts, I am accountable.”
Akrawn looked so forlorn that I wanted to give the big alien a big hug to comfort him. It must suck big time to have that much responsibility. I couldn’t imagine having an entire world depending on what I did. My police cases were more than enough accountability for me and I sweated every one until I closed each one.
I was about to speak when Akrawn’s AI flashed. “Message from Captain Genween,” it said.
“Put his image on the screen.”
Genween’s face filled the wall next to the hatch that led to the pilot’s cabin.
“Your Highness, the entire field is clear. We destroyed the enemy fleet.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Your orders now, sir?”
“Plot a course to keep us behind the moon. I have some calls to put in. Then I will give you our next destination.”
“Very good, your Grace.” Genween’s face dissolved.
I was alone with Akrawn again and I had one question for him.
“Who will you call, Akrawn?”
Chapter 19
Akrawn
I walked Cat through the ship into my entertainment dome where all surfaces shone a pearly white in the half-sphere that surrounded us. I hosted entertainments here, but today I secured this area for private communication. Sendrin’s departure raised uncomfortable doubts about the loyalty of my crew. Sendrin was my father’s appointment, but Sendrin’s family had served ours since my family came to the Trilyn throne. There was no reason for any of us not trust him.
“Seating,” I said.
A white sofa pushed up from the floor. I invited Cat to sit, and I joined her. Draping one arm about her shoulders, I pulled Cat into my side.
“Holo, contact with Prince Rawklix,” I said.
A few moments later Rawklix stood as a ghost before us. His long, white blond hair was disheveled, and his blue eyes were less crystal than usual. Rawklix stood in a spacious room with a high ceiling, red papered walls, heavy burgundy curtains, and a richly colored rug the Earth people called Oriental.
“You called me, brother? I’m in the middle of serious talks with Father and the Earth officials.”
“How is that going?”
Rawklix’s usually bright eyes turned dark. “Not well. There are many complaints about you leaving Earth’s jurisdiction, and they charge you with the kidnapping Inspector O’Shea. Akrawn, are you in your spacecraft? What happened? It disappeared, and many authorities are after your blood. Where are you?”
“The dark side of Earth’s moon.”
“What the hell are you doing there? I’ve no idea how I’m going to convince the international court judge not to incarcerate you.”
“He did not kidnap me,” Cat said.
“Lovely Cat. Is that you? Is my brother treating you well? If not, remember my offer.”
“What offer?” I growled. What indecencies did the adolescent spout at my mate?
Cat put her hand on my thigh reassuringly. “I am well,” she said. “But we’ve uncovered a conspiracy that threatens both Trilyn and Earth.”
“What conspiracy?”
“Rawklix,” I said, “I have news. We fight an AI. It calls itself Iblis, and it just tried to crash my craft into the moon. It tried to kill Cat and me in the San Francisco subway system. This AI is likely to go after Dad and continue to create havoc.”
Rawklix’s face morphed into a grim expression that was entirely unlike the exuberant teenager. “By Tri’s titties,” he muttered. “Do you know who’s controlling it?”
“Not for sure, but Bella is a prime suspect.”
“Bella! No way! Her family has served our family for years. Do you have proof? Because Dad will not entertain your accusation otherwise.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. No, I did not have proof of my suspicions.
“No. Rawklix. But this AI is dangerous. It attacked Cat and me not once, but twice, and we have evidence it created the virus that wiped out most of the Trilyn women.”
Rawklix’s mouth dropped open, then closed with a determined snap.
“Also, Count Sendrin has disappeared from my ship. I do not know where he has gone. We had thought he secreted himself on one of the enemy fleet of ships that Iblis controlled, but we did not find him as we methodically destroyed them.”
“Enemy fleet?” he said.
“I know this is much information, but yes, this Iblis had control of an entire fleet.”
“Where did it come from?”
“We do not know.”
“What do you want, brother?”
>
“I want to speak to Father. For me to neutralize this AI, I must return to Earth, and I need his help so I don’t get arrested again.”
Rawklix blew out a long, frustrated breath. “This is not the best time to speak with him. The humans engage him in meetings that will last him the rest of the afternoon.”
“I will wait.”
“Then I will see what I can do. It may be several hours.”
“Fine,” I said. “I'll wait to hear from him.”
Rawklix’s image dissolved, and I pulled Cat to me once again.
“What now?” she said.
“We wait for my father to call.”
“Here, at the dark side of the moon?”
“Just that,” I said. I kissed the delicate shell of her ear, and her sweet musk filled my nose. I relaxed though I probably should not, considering our dire circumstances. Enemies within were much more serious than enemies without. You couldn’t easily see the enemy within as they were likely to smile while knifing you in the back. I should be angry, but I couldn’t muster that emotion as I held my luscious mate and contemplated how I might touch her body to elicit her pleasure.
“What do we do until then?”
“Anything we want,” I said suggestively. I stroked her upper arm and hummed under my breath. This woman always incited my passions.
She huffed. “Someone almost killed us, and you are thinking of sex, again?”
“We are not dead, so yes, I think making love with you is most appropriate.”
My Cat scoffed, and that rude sound pinged my heart unpleasantly.
“I can’t switch gears that quickly,” she said. “I’m still keyed up, and frankly, freaked out by our death-defying antics. What if the STS transport did not get us back to your ship?”
I took her delicate hands in mine. “But it did.”
“But you weren’t sure it would work, were you? You had no idea how much Iblis controls or had over the systems of that fleet of ships, and whether it would affect the STS system.”
“Did you wonder that at the time?” I said.
She bit her lush lip and her gracefully arched eyebrows knotted in consternation. “No.”
“Neither did I. I had one thought, and that was to get you to safety. Besides, if Bella is behind this—”
“My cop instincts say she is.” Cat’s mocha-colored eyes shone with certainty.
But as much as I admit the evidence falls on the side of Bella’s criminality, I can’t just yet condemn her. She’s been a part of the Trilyn court almost as long as I have.
“If Bella is behind this, she is probably trying to scare me and make my life miserable rather than kill me.”
My Cat blew a huff that raised a stray strand of her auburn hair enchantingly. Why have I not noticed the shots of gold through her tresses?
“Akrawn, why are you defending her? Do you have feelings for her?”
“I feel the same thing toward her as I do any other subject of my realm— gratitude for their service and protectiveness for their welfare.”
Cat gave me a hard stare. “Are you kidding? The woman tried to kill you. Whether she succeeded is beside the point.”
I rubbed my eyes with one hand. Again, the differences in our stations confronted us. Cat would look at Bella through the lens of a trained police officer, and I must look at Bella as her prince. I took Cat’s hands into my own and peered into her steadfast eyes.
“My darling Cat, as a prince, I must always be aware of how my actions, even my thoughts, affect others. A stray word, a careless gesture can cause them to think I do not value them. My Cat, a prince’s only true currency is the goodwill of his people. If I were but a rich man, it might not make such a difference, but I own not my goods. Everything I hold I administer for the good of my people. Bella is a valued member of the royal court, and one cannot make accusations of such a magnitude without proof. I must prudently withhold judgment until I have it. And as you wisely pointed out, I have not treated her well. Therefore, I must be doubly careful in how I treat this matter going forward.”
Cat blinked and put her hand on my cheek, and she gazed at me with a softness I had not seen previously. “Until this moment I didn’t understand. You bear responsibly for all of your people. I mean, when I have a case, I must protect everyone affected by it, the victims, their families, the people in the line of danger by arresting the perpetrator. But you have a duty to them that goes far beyond mine to the people of San Francisco.”
I nodded, and my heart filled with a warmth that went beyond lust. “I am grateful you understand.”
“And just so you understand, Akrawn, this makes me more determined to protect you from your best instincts.”
Now I raised my eyebrows.
“You would protect me against me?”
She raised her chin. “It’s what I do, Akrawn. It’s my job.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her audacious words. But if Cat O’Shea wanted to protect me, that could only help to cement our bond. I pulled her closer to me.
“Then I shall gratefully accept your protection if you allow me to be your prince.”
“Hmmm, this isn’t legally binding, is it?”
“Technically, no. But allow me to show you my planet so you may see what I offer. AI, display the Continent Erebis— the hills of Soem.”
“What—oh.”
The images appeared to make it look like Cat and I floated up high over a vast rolling landscape full of varied greens. Tree-like plants sprawled over large swathes, interconnected via branches and tendrils in a sophisticated pattern. This was one of our cities — Trilyn who appeared as small as ants scurried between the branches.
“This is Tatrar.”
“Wow,” said Cat. Her eyes were wide in amazement. “You built a crazy, busy city in these enormous living Sequoia-like trees. It melds into its natural environment. This is stunning.”
“It is my brother Gardax’s capital of his principality. But wait, there is much more I would show you. Darbnix’s continent Noor, please.”
The holo room became terraced hills of cultivated plants. We zoomed over Trilyn men toiling in flats sliced into the slopes and crossed copious streams wending their way through valleys. Then the landscape opened to vast rolling plains with herds of massive four-legged beasts. A few Trilyn shepherds dotted the scene like afterthoughts. There were no fences and no roads. The animals roamed free and yet seemed managed.
“How much of your planet do you dedicate to your wildlife? I thought you had mining and agriculture, and industry, and many inhabitants.”
“We have learned the hard way that our prosperity requires we maintain vast tracts of land in a natural state. Where we can, we merge our activity with minimal alteration to the landscape. For example, we hide mines and industry inside excavated caverns, while edible plants and animals live in their wild habitats. And only where necessary, like the terraces, is the land given over to our own needs.”
“Now I understand why you Trilyn are not interested in taking over Earth. Your planet is gorgeous.”
I looked again but noticed one thing that Cat did not, and our plight swamped me. There were no women in any of these holographs. The Trilyn had only ever wanted mates. My heart vibrated with the pain of this incredible loss. What if most of the men on Earth died? Would Cat understand then our pain? Of course, I would not wish such a fate on Earth, and I said nothing of it.
I looked up into Cat’s eyes.
“You’ll lose this all if you do not find mates, won’t you?” They moistened as if she too were thinking of the Trilyn’s suffering, but all she said was, “Show me more.”
“Prince Rawklix’s archipelago of the Solleen islands, please.”
And together we gazed down on seas of brilliant aquamarine and up into skies of deepest azure. Islands appeared on the horizon. As they came closer, the holo displayed full trees dripping with enormous, midnight bell flowers and lush undergrowth with small crimson, rose and orange blooms
.
“Akrawn, this is a marvelous slide show of Trilyn, only in 3-D.”
“What is ‘a slide show,’ my Cat?”
“It’s not done so much now, but in my granny’s time, a family would project photos of special places, events, and people onto a screen.”
“Then this is indeed a slideshow for my Cat. The continent of Lirian, please.”
We sailed over land dedicated to military training and industry, and yet it too wove the activities into the natural wilderness.
After the twin princes’ wild continent of Norna, I turned to Cat with crinkles at the edges of my eyes and a jaunty half-smile. “Are you ready for the most wondrous of all of my planet?”
“Let me guess, would that be the mountainous region of Magai, your principality?”
I nodded, and we soared around snow-covered peaks reflecting violet and apricot sunsets, and down into lush valley havens. We skirted indigo lakes and followed crystal streams to their source. Wild herbivores roamed wary of lithe mountain predators. My breath caught. Would Cat love my home as much as I did?
“Where are the mines?” she asked.
“We never open-cut the mountains. When we've mined out an area, our craftspeople live inside and work there with the precious metals and gems.”
“How can you stand to be here on Earth?”
“I couldn’t until I met you. Let me show you my home.”
The virtual landscape melted and re-formed. Together we hovered in the air regarding the side of a mountain with gem-studded balconies cut out filled with expansive crystal windows into the walls behind. Ivy-like trails of green with lemon flowers snaked over the whole. From overhead, a spacecraft descended toward the grandest of the balconies and settled in proximity to extend a walkway. Exuberant Trilyn emerged from inside the mountain and stood tall to either side of the entrance, waiting.
Oh, this was an old clip. How did it get in here? I recognized myself when I walked onto the balcony. My familiar gray-haired adjutant walked behind him.
“Sendrin,” I murmured. Anger bubbled within me. Sendrin had deserted me, perhaps had been a traitor all along.
