by Delia Roan
Mara dropped the bar, and flung her arms around her friend, ignoring the sticky gel coating her skin. “Oh, Danni! It is you!”
“Mara? What’s going on?”
Mara pulled away and studied Dannica. She brushed a strand of hair out of her friend’s face. “How did you-”
“Where are we?” Dannica’s body shook. Mara rubbed her arms and back, trying to return blood flow to Dannica’s limbs. “What happened to the ugly aliens?”
The thought of explaining the events of the past few weeks made Mara cringe. Well, she would say, we didn’t make it to the party. We got kidnapped by gross aliens, thrown into a freezer, kidnapped by a different set of aliens, and I fell in love with their leader who’s, like, the sexiest man alive, but then he traded you away to another set of evil alien bugs, and…
Dannica would probably be left doubting Mara’s sanity.
“They’re gone,” Mara said. “Nothing will hurt you here.”
A beep behind her made her spin around. She scooped up the metal rod and pushed Dannica behind her. “Stay close.”
They made their way back to the sleepers, and Mara’s jaw dropped. The panels on the front of each cryo-bed flashed from the standard blue to green. One by one, the lids began to pop open. In the closest bed, a woman jolted awake, her mouth a wide circle as she sucked in air.
“They’re waking up,” Mara said. “Almost like…”
Almost like…
Almost like they had been programmed to wake all at once.
Mara race toward the woman, who leaned over the side of the cryo-bed and retched. “Easy, easy,” she said, stroking the woman’s back. “Rest for a while. Just breathe. Once the sedation wears off, you’ll feel better. Just take it easy.”
A speaker crackled in the wall, and a male voice boomed through the room. Dannica whimpered and clapped her hands over her ears. “This is a message from Lady Jenna of the Ennoi Haron, hailing the unknown Sykorian ship.” The cadence and sound of the words reminded her of Syrek.
They’re Ennoi.
“We are aware that you have on board your vessel members of the human race. Please be advised that these humans are under the protection of the Ennoi Council. Any harm to them will be considered an act of war. The safe return of your human passengers to Ennoi territories will be greatly rewarded.”
The message ended, and Ancain’s clipped voice filled the room next. “Mara, get back to the cockpit. Now.”
Mara led Dannica to a corner of the room, and sat her down. “Stay here, okay? Anyone stumbles out of that room, tell them to come sit by you.” She stroked her friend’s face. “You’re safe. My friends are here. Nothing can hurt you now.”
“P-promise?”
“I promise.”
Dannica coughed. “You’ll come back for me?”
Mara smiled. “I promise.”
The cockpit buzzed with excitement. Ancain looked up at her when she entered. “There you are!”
“You will not believe what’s happening in the cargo pod,” Mara said.
“Luall says the caravel’s scanners are showing life forms in the cargo pod.” Ancain paused. “Many life forms.”
“The humans. They’re waking up.” Mara sat down. “My friends are alive.”
“And the Ennoi are going to pay well for their return.” Ancain practically glowed at the thought.
“We’re not selling the humans,” Mara said, her voice flat.
“Oh, of course not. The Ennoi don’t deal in slaves.”
“So what will happen to my people?”
“Who knows?” Ancain replied. He grinned. “Right now, we have to mount a rescue. Syrek is out there.”
“What?”
“Luall just picked up an emergency beacon. Two actually. Two emergency lifeboats, launched from Haven a few moments ago.”
“Syrek’s alive?”
“We think so. The caravel is heading out to pick up the first emergency pod. We’re moving to grab the second.”
“You think it’s really him?” Her lungs didn’t seem to want to expand. The air in the cockpit felt thin. His name played on a loop in her heart.
“Who else could it be?” Ancain’s delicate hands danced over the controls. “We’re approaching the lifeboat.”
A speck of light in the distance slowly grew, until she made out the curve of a pill-shaped hull, slashed with bright orange paint. She puffed out the breath she didn’t realize she held. The lifeboat slipped beneath the bulk of the Sykorian ship.
Mara watched its approach. As she leaned forward, the Promise Stone slipped from her overalls, and swung forward. It caught the illumination from the control panel and sent shards of shimmering light refracting. Ancain’s eyes slid to the jewel.
“It’ll be a few minutes yet,” Ancain said. “Perhaps we should discuss…”
Mara stiffened. “I’ll pay my debts, Ancain.”
“Oh, I have no doubts about that, Mara,” he said quickly. “I-”
She raised her hands to the clasp of her necklace and pulled the stone from her throat. Her fingers tightened around the jewel for a moment. It is a promise, and promises are meant to be kept. Then she thrust it out to Ancain.
“Here,” she said, her chin high. “Your payment, as promised.”
“Mara,” Ancain began.
“Just take it, okay? This is hard enough as it is.”
Ancain reached out his delicate fingers and clasped the jewel. He tugged it gently from her fingers. “The Vanguard thank- Mara!”
She was gone. Her feet carried her down the corridors. Hope loaned her speed, and she ran. With every foot fall, her heart beat his name. Syrek, Syrek, Syrek.
Promises were meant to be kept, but she didn’t need a stone to remind her. All she needed was the depth of her love. He might not want to be with her, but if he felt even a fraction of the love she felt, then maybe they would muddle through this thing together.
The airlock cycled, pumping oxygenated air into the chamber containing the lifeboat. Mara pressed her nose to the window, trying to see inside. When the light turned green, she spun the lock and stepped inside. Her knees trembled as she leaned beside the lifeboat.
The smooth surface cracked, and a panel slid aside, revealing Syrek’s weary face. “Hey. Did you miss me?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
SYREK
The waves of Ykine kept coming, but after Hatcher rigged up two of the life pods, he had scattered a handful of explosives into the crowd of Ykine and had dove for the nearest pod. Hatcher left first, and for a frightening few moments, the window on the front of his pod had filled with the snarling maws of the Ykine.
Then the pod had blasted away, its jets propelling him through the forcefield at the opening of the docking bay. The Ykine had fallen away, and after several long seconds of high velocity, Syrek had found himself drifting in space, away from Haven.
Haven.
As he hurtled away, she slowly came into view. It had been years, if not decades since he had last seen Haven lit up. He studied her, noted the brilliant lights along her sides, the Ykine ship clinging to her hull, and the heat sails billowing outward, dissipating the heat he knew built inside.
Should have turned those off.
A deep sense of longing filled his heart. He shifted his weight and winced when pain flared along his shoulder and chest. His old injury had reopened with exertion and he had a few new ones. Syrek closed his eyes, trying to lock the image of Haven’s glory into his memory.
To his surprise, instead he saw Mara.
Even in the blackness of space, the thought of her made him smile. He had given away his Promise Stone to her because somewhere along the line, he had already given up his soul.
If he could do it over, he would make different choices.
Choices that wouldn’t break Mara’s heart.
The first explosion bloomed on Haven’s dorsal side. The cannons, Syrek thought, dispassionat
ely. Multiple blasts spread across Haven’t surface, and flames engulfed the Ykine ship. Chunks of wreckage, propelled by the explosion, flew outward. All Syrek could hear was his steady breathing and the soft hiss of air in the lifeboat.
It is done.
Goodbye, Haven.
A hollowness settled into his chest. A long legacy had just ended with him. He would never see his children run in the corridors of Haven. He would never see his flowers in the habitat wall again. Some of those plants had come from endangered species, now lost to the darkness of space.
However, he would never have to live with the rattle of chains. He would never have to wake to the sound of screaming as his father tortured another slave. Those memories could finally be laid to rest, buried in the ashes of Haven as she disintegrated.
It is done.
It’s over.
He opened his eyes in time to see a shadow cross overhead. From the architecture, he knew it was the Sykorian ship. It enveloped the lifeboat, and his view of Haven cut off.
When the hatch of the lifeboat opened, revealing the glorious sight of Mara bending over him. Her wide eyes glimmered, and she looked him over, taking in the blood on his shoulders and chest. For a moment, he felt shy, like a schoolboy catching a glimpse of his crush.
It’s just Mara, he reminded himself. As soon as he said it, he knew there was no just about Mara. Never had, never would be.
You’re lucky she is even looking at you, after you sent her away.
Fear gnawed at him. What if he had broken the tentative bond between them? What if she rejected him? What if she hates me now?
“Hey,” he said, trying to sound confident. “Did you miss me?”
To his relief, she flew into his arms. He wrapped her up and pulled her to his chest, smelling the sweat on her skin, and feeling her pulse thunder against his bicep, where he curled his arm around her.
“Mara, my love. My love.” He crooned her name, and stroked her hair, reveling in the softness of her.
When she pulled away, she sniffed and wiped at her cheeks. “It’s good to see your stupid face, Syrek.”
The half smile she gave him warmed him down to his toes, and his eyes smoldered. “It’s good to see you too, my love.”
His kiss was demanding, and he pinned her in place until she gave in and melted her body onto his. He wrapped his arm around her waist and they lost themselves in the embrace.
Finally, Mara drew back. Her breath came in little gasps. “Wait, hang on.”
Syrek growled, his need growing. “You want to chat now, woman?” His hand slipped from her waist to cup her bottom.
She smacked his hand, so he moved it to her breast. She twisted his thumb. “This is serious.”
“So is this.” He ground his hips into her thigh.
“The humans. Did you wake them?”
He buried his face in her neck, nuzzling at her skin. “Yes. Can we continue now?”
“How?”
“I set the cryo-beds on a timer.”
He tried to distract her by nipping at her ear, but she wasn’t taking the bait. “And the Ennoi?”
“My sister. I gave her the hailing frequency for the Sykorian ship. She did the rest.”
“I’ll have to thank her,” Mara said, her eyes closing against the pleasure of his caress. “When I get to meet her.”
When I get to meet her.
Not if.
When.
His heart sang at the thought of introducing his Avowed mate to his family. He wondered what stuffy, upright Cyndrae might make of his little human mate, but then he realized he didn’t care.
Mine.
She yelped when Syrek rolled her into the lifeboat. The hard plastic of the interior pressed into his shoulder, but the desire in her eyes burned away any pain.
Mine, he thought.
Mara lifted a hand and cupped his face. “Don’t ever, ever send me away again, you hear?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, my love.”
“Because you can try, but I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine, do you hear?”
A wave of love washed over him. “Of course, Mara. Whatever you say, Mara. I’m yours, Mara.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “You’re only saying that to get into my pants.”
“It still isn’t a lie,” he said, running a hand over her belly, and slipping his hand lower.
“Oh, we have a lot to talk through,” Mara said.
“We can discuss all that later,” Syrek whispered to her, kissing away the tiny furrow between her brows.
“We can’t, Syrek!” Her protest was half-hearted. “I have to go check on my friends.”
“They’re safe. Right now, I want to find out how much you missed me.”
The truth was that he wanted to show her how much he missed her because when he looked at Mara, he felt like he had come home.
***
When they finally stumbled into the cockpit, Ancain raised an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance, and at the grin on Syrek’s face. A pile of bodies in the corner caught his eye.
“Is that Ukali?” Syrek pointed.
“Yeah,” whispered Mara. “I didn’t like him.”
He squeezed her shoulder in sympathy. “He will never get the chance to hurt you.”
She raised her eyes to meet his. “Oh, I wasn’t afraid of that. That’s the creep who ordered your death.”
Her concern touched him. “Do you know how many people have ordered an end to me and my line? The Ar’Zathris name is a hated one.”
She wrapped herself around his arm. “Have you ever considered becoming a Desai?”
“Hmm, I have lost my ship. Please don’t make me lose my legacy.”
“We could double-barrel it? Ar’Desai-Zathris?”
“Our children would struggle to spell it.”
She had no reply to that, but she buried her face into his bicep. A pretty blush colored her ears.
“Typical,” Ancain said, as they approached the pilot’s seat. “I can’t get rid of you even if I try.”
Syrek clasped his arm. “It is good to see you my friend.”
“I should go check on Dannica and the girls,” Mara said, her cheeks still pink.
“Bene Laupe took them blankets and food,” Ancain said. “Before you go, there is still the matter of the payment.”
Mara swallowed hard. She shot a look of terror at Syrek, and he found himself stepping closer to her. “What-”
“I-I did something… Something you might not like.”
“What did you do?”
“I-I used the Promise Stone to pay for the rescue.” Her voice shook, but she didn’t look away.
Shock ran through Syrek. “You did?”
“And I would do it again,” she hurried to add. “I don’t regret my decision. I just… I regret giving away a family heirloom.”
“And that,” Ancain interjected, “is what I wish to discuss.”
Syrek turned to his friend. His eyes narrowed. “You have my stone, Ancain?”
“Not your stone, Syrek. Mine.” With a bow, Ancain stood and took the stone from his pocket. He pivoted and extended the jewel to Syrek. “For you, my friend. Consider it a wedding gift from the Vanguard.”
“From the Starstormers!” Luall’s voice rose up from a speaker. Clearly, she had been listening in.
“I thought it was Starstruck, my love?” Ancain asked.
“Starstormers is better! Or maybe Starstrikers. I haven’t decided yet.”
A short laugh burst from Mara’s lips. She flung her hands over her mouth and stared at Syrek, her shoulders shaking with laughter. Ancain extended his hand, smiling with encouragement at Syrek.
“I thought I might have to remove it from your corpse, Ancain.”
“Mmm, I don’t think Luall would appreciate that. Promise me you will name your first born after me.”
“Thick-skull is a silly name for a chil
d,” Syrek replied.
“All right, then I demand to bring the bride and groom their first meal. Old Rynangian custom.”
“Deal.” With a sigh, Syrek took the stone and placed it around Mara’s neck, where it belonged. His fingers lingered on her shoulders. Now that he could touch her again, he would find any excuse to do so.
For now. For the rest of my life.
Forever.
His fingers intertwined with hers, and he leaned over to check the controls. He frowned when he saw the programmed destination. “Where are we heading?”
“R-333,” Ancain replied. “A small farming colony on the edge of Ennoi territory. The Ennoi have arranged to meet us there to transfer the human passengers into their care.”
Mara’s fingers tightened on his. “What will happen to them?”
“I do not know. The Ennoi have not said.”
“They must have a plan, right? They can’t just take a hundred women and make them…” She bit her lip. “They must have a plan.”
He squeezed her hand. He might not know exactly how much clout his clan had with the Ennoi Council, but the Ar’Zathris name still held power. If he could get a rag-tag group of freeholders to cooperate, then he would be able to brow-beat the Ennoi Council into submission.
Plus, I will have Cyndrae to advise me.
“If they do not have a plan, we shall implement one.”
The certainty in his words must have convinced her, because she gave him a weak smile. “Okay, Syrek. We can figure it out. Together.”
He brought her fingers to his lips.
Together.
Such a beautiful word.
“Come on,” Mara said, tugging him away from the pilot’s seat. “I want you to meet my friends.”
They managed to limit themselves to two quick romantic interludes on the way to the cargo pod. As they crossed a port hole, the distant debris of Haven caught his eye, floating in the distance. He paused, and Mara turned to see why he stopped.
She stepped closer and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry about Haven.”
He shrugged. “It was just a ship.”
“It was your home.”
