The Edge of it All

by Jessica Grayson

  The Aerilon eyes me appraisingly, and my cheeks flush under the scrutiny of his intense gaze, but I force myself to stare directly at him. "My...friend”—I gesture to Soran—“was helping me pick something out."

  He grins and then turns to Soran, but the smile quickly falls from his lips at the thunderous expression on my normally friendly Mosauran's face.

  Soran's nostrils flare, and he looks more intimidating in this moment than I've ever seen him before. "She'll have the zalari." His voice is a low rumbly growl. "And I'll have the rotuska."

  What the hell is wrong with him?

  The Aerilon narrows his eyes, but when he turns to me, a bright smile lights up his face, and he bows his head slightly. "Your order will be ready shortly."

  I thank him, and as soon as we're far enough away that I don't think anyone can hear us, I spin to face Soran. "What was that about?"

  He looks down at his wrist comm, pretending to study something on the display. "To what are you referring?"

  "Don't play dumb," I snap. "Why were you rude to that Aerilon? That's one of Tr'lani's people. What's wrong with you?"

  His eyes flick up to meet mine. "He was displaying his wings."

  "What's so bad about that? They're beautiful."

  "That is the point," he grits through his teeth. "He was preening for you."

  My head jerks back in surprise at his attitude and sharp tone. "What the—” I start, but stop talking when Soran shoots another murderous glance at the Aerilon.

  My jaw drops. I recognize that expression. I've seen it on Jeff's face several times. Every time he thought someone was showing some interest in me, he'd give that same possessive, angry look to whoever he perceived as a rival.

  "Soran?" I lean forward, drawing his attention back to me. I meet his eyes evenly, trying to gauge his reaction to what I'm about to ask next. "Are you...jealous?"

  His cheeks flush a dark, red-orange hue, and he looks down, his brow creasing into a deep frown as if my question troubles him and he doesn't quite know how to answer. With a slight clench of his jaw, he finally lifts his gaze back to mine. "What if I was?"

  I study him a moment. I want to believe that it's because he has feelings for me beyond some strange biological impulse of his species. That his jealousy is not merely some weird quirk of his DNA that will pass once his mating cycle is over. Despite my fear of rejection, I need to know. "Would you feel this way even if you weren’t—”

  "There is something I must tell you, Liana." His words cut me off abruptly.

  "What is it?"

  Soran

  She stares at me with a questioning look, and I swallow nervously. I love Liana. That's why I'm jealous of the Aerilon's attentions toward her. She is as intelligent as she is beautiful, and I know once she reaches Aerilon, she will have her choice of any number of suitors. The Aerilon are not like my people. They do not frown upon mixed-species pairings. I don't want her to leave with Tr'lani and her brother. I want her to stay with me. I want her to choose me as hers, and I have to tell her before it's too late. "Liana, I—”

  "Are you Terran?" a small voice calls out, interrupting me.

  Liana and I turn toward the direction of the voice but find no one. We're all the way at the back of the restaurant. I'd purposefully chosen this secluded section to enjoy our meal so we wouldn't be disturbed.

  My gaze sweeps the area, but there is only a stack of crates on a hover sled along the back wall. "Where are you? Come out from where you are hiding," I command, half-expecting someone to appear from behind the boxes.

  To my great shock and horror, a hand reaches through a small opening haphazardly carved on the side of one of the crates. "Please help me," the voice says. "Please, I'm so scared."

  Chapter 21

  Soran

  Before I can stop her, Liana rushes toward boxes, falling to her knees when she reaches them. She takes the offered hand in her own.

  I rush to Liana's side and kneel beside her. An audible gasp comes from the container as I peer inside. My jaw drops. A Terran female with golden hair and green eyes wide with alarm meet mine. She scrambles away, her body slamming against the back of the crate in a panicked effort to put more distance between us.

  My nose wrinkles as the sour scent of her fear fills the air. If I had never seen a Terran before, I'd easily mistake her for V'loryn.

  Trembling, she cowers in the far corner. "Please, don't hurt me. I didn't mean to misbehave. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Please, don't tell my master."

  I shake my head. "I mean you no harm."

  "It's okay," Liana adds. "This is Soran. He's one of the good guys. He saved me. My name is Liana. What's yours?"

  The female slowly lifts her head, and I see the same tempered hope in her eyes that I saw in Liana's when we rescued her. "My name is Abby. Please help me. Master is taking me to a Healer to abort my child before I'm delivered to my new owners."

  Liana inhales sharply, covering her mouth with her hand in response to the Terran female's words.

  "Please," she begs. "Please don't let him take me. I don't want to lose my baby."

  Abby moves forward, holding one hand over her stomach. My eyes widen as I notice the large swell of her abdomen. She's heavy with child. Liana told me her kind carry their young like this. I've heard the V'loryns do as well, but I have never seen it before.

  "We will help you," I vow.

  She reaches her hands out to both of us, covering them with hers. "Please, hurry. Master is getting food, but he'll be back shortly."

  Spinning toward the restaurant counter, my eyes narrow as they rake over the line of patrons. Which one is "Master," I wonder, because I want to make sure I do not kill the wrong male. We're close, but not quite inside Mosauran space, and I haven't seen any patrols on the station. It is a mandatory death sentence to traffic slaves, so it appears I will be the one to enforce the law here today.

  "Which one is your master?"

  "The Zovian." She points to the only Zovian in line at the counter. I crack my knuckles and extend my claws, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to deliver the sentence for his abhorrent crimes.

  My gaze sweeps back to Abby, watching her master with wide-eyed fear. Before I kill him, I need to free her from this crate.

  "Move back," I tell her. "I've got to force this open."

  She nods and scoots to the far side of the container. Pulling my knife from my belt, I use the laser blade to slice through the locking mechanism. With an audible snap, the device clicks open. Gripping the panels on either side, I waste no time and pull the lid away.

  She lifts one delicate hand to shield her eyes, squinting against the bright lights of the station. With sunken cheeks and pale skin, she looks like she has not been fed a decent meal in weeks.

  I extend my hand to help her up, but as she tries to stand, her knees buckle beneath her. Reacting quickly, I wrap both arms around her, catching her before she falls. Gently, I lift her small form from her prison.

  Anger roils through me as I scan the interior of the crate. There was barely enough room for her to move in there, and it sickens me that she was kept in something not even fit for an animal to be transported in.

  As I carefully set her feet on the ground, Liana takes her arm to steady her. The Zovian spins. With a frantic clicking of his mandibles, he rushes toward me. This male must be a fool to run straight toward his death. "Unhand her! She is my property!"

  I step in front of Abby, spreading my wings wide, shielding her and Liana from his view.

  He skids to a stop and then begins to scramble backward.

  Faster than him, I lunge forward and wrap my hand around his throat to pull him toward me. Enraged, I bare my fangs as I squeeze his neck, using just enough pressure to leave him desperate for air but not so much that he cannot speak. "Do you have any others that look like her?"

  He thrashes wildly against my hold. "No! No, I do not! I swear!"

  His attempts to free himself are futile. He is no match
for my strength, and now he will die for his despicable crimes.

  "Don't kill him!" A soft hand touches my other arm, and I glance over my shoulder at Abby, shocked that she would plead for this disgusting creature's life. "He sold my mate less than an hour ago. I need to know who he gave him to. Maybe we can find him."

  A loud gasp draws my attention to one of the restaurant patrons, and I realize that if we don't move to a more secluded location, we're going to draw a crowd. And that's the last thing I want to do.

  I look back to Liana and Abby. "Follow me."

  Dragging the Zovian to the back door of the restaurant, I force it open and usher everyone out into the service hallway, pulling it closed behind us. We don't need an audience for this.

  I slam him against the wall. "Who did you sell her mate to?" I growl.

  He opens his mouth, but only a pitiful whimper escapes him. I loosen my grip just enough to allow him to answer. His mandibles click frantically. "Please, Mosauran warrior. I beg you. Do not kill me."

  "Tell us where we can find her mate. Now!"

  His antennae shift forward, and he screeches in pain when I pull him up higher and then slam his back against the wall again with more force. He barely manages to speak. "Only if you agree to spare my life."

  I narrow my eyes. "The punishment for your crime is death. I will only promise you a quick one if you tell me what I need to know. Otherwise, you will suffer before you die. I swear it to the Creator."

  His large compound eyes seem to dim slightly as he lowers his head, accepting his fate. "I sold the Lacerta to an Anguis captain in Docking Bay 24. The ship is called the Kurmar."

  I turn to Liana and Abby. "Wait here while I—”

  "Look out!" Liana cries out.

  I spin back to the Zovian as he slashes a laser blade at my torso. I drop him, raising my arm to shield myself from his attack, just as a bright arc of light zips past me, hitting him square in the chest. Bright orange goo explodes from the cracked shell of his torso. I look up in shock to find Liana still pointing the blaster at the Zovian's dead body, her eyes burning with anger. "You won't hurt anyone ever again, you disgusting piece of shtak."

  I blink several times as I stare in awe at the hardened expressions on Abby and Liana. Terran females may be small, but what they lack in size, they make up for in their ferocity.

  Abby lifts her gaze to me. "Please. We have to hurry and find Grex before it's too late."

  I freeze. "Grex, the Lacerta, is your mate?"

  Tears gather at the corners of her eyes. "Yes," she barely manages. "Please, we have to find him before they sell him to someone else."

  Grex and I were once owned by the same master many cycles ago. We fought together, in pairs, many times in the arena. Like me, he never mated with any of the female "prizes" we were given because he was an honorable male—something I'd never before encountered among those of his race. My eyes drift down to her swollen abdomen. "You carry his child?"

  She lowers her gaze to the floor as a tear slips down her cheek to her trembling jaw. "I...I was given to many gladiators against my will. I don't know if it's his."

  All the color drains from Liana's face at her words, and I still. My hands curl into fists at my sides, angered by all the abuse Abby must have endured. I know what happens to slaves in the gladiator circuits. When I close my eyes, I can still hear the panicked cries of the females who were given to me as a prize for winning a fight. They were terrified that I'd force-mate them like so many others had done before me.

  Liana's voice rips me from my dark memories. "I sent a message to Rowan and Tr'lani. They are on their way to get Abby."

  Abby gives her an indignant look. "What? No! I'm going with you to find Grex."

  "Neither of you are going with me,” I interject. “You're both going back to the ship with my brother. I will find Grex and bring him back to you or die trying. I swear it to the Creator."

  "No,” Abby protests.

  Liana looks down at the Terran female’s swollen abdomen, heavy with child. “You have a baby to think of. You can't risk getting hurt or taken. Your mate wouldn't want you to endanger yourself like that."

  Abby’s eyes are bright with tears as she turns to me. “Bring him back to me. Please."

  I open my mouth to answer, but Liana beats me to it. "We will do everything we can to get him back. I promise."

  Placing my hands on her shoulders, I meet her gaze evenly. "You cannot go with me."

  Her eyes burn with defiance. "I'm not leaving you, Soran. You need backup."

  My nostrils flare. Why must she argue with me? "You're staying here." I point firmly to the floor for emphasis. "I will not risk you. If I fall, you could be taken again."

  She tilts her chin up defiantly. "You're not going alone, and that's that."

  My Ashaya is brave.

  "I will not take you with—”

  She puts her hand up to silence me. "We're not arguing about this, Soran. I don't care what you say, I'm going with you."

  Brave and stubborn...unfortunately for me.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I bite back my frustration. "Fine."

  I tap a message out to Rowan, not bothering to wait for his response. As soon as my comm blinks to show that he's received it, I look up at Liana.

  She puts a hand on Abby's shoulder. "Wait here. When you see a guy that looks like him”—she points to me—“and a woman who looks like a beautiful fairy princess, you'll know that's Rowan and Tr'lani."

  Abby nods, and Liana turns back to me with a determined look. "Let's go."

  Chapter 22

  Soran

  As we approach the ship, my eyes scan the area. I do not sense anyone nearby, but I could be wrong. I don't know what we're going to find here. This vessel could be crawling with slavers. I cannot bear the thought of Liana being captured again. Unable to quell the panic inside me, I spin to face her. "Why are you doing this? Why did you insist on coming? On placing yourself in danger?"

  She lifts her gaze to mine, and despite the worry etched in her features, she stares at me as if my question is absurd. "Because I care about you, Soran. I was worried about you doing this alone. I've already lost too many people. I don't want to lose any more."

  "You're worried about me?" I ask incredulously. "What about you? I love you, Liana, and I would sooner die than see you taken by slavers again. I am a warrior of Mosaura. I—”

  She presses a finger to my lips, silencing me abruptly. Something—an emotion—flickers briefly across her expression, but it is gone too quickly for me to know what it was. Her gaze holds mine as she takes a small step toward me. Stretching up on her toes, she twines her arms around my neck. Her sea-green eyes search my own. "You love me?"

  Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close. Gently I rest my forehead against hers as I speak the truth deep in my soul. Taking her hand, I place her open palm against my chest. “I love you, Liana Garza of Terra. You are my heart."

  I stare deep into her eyes, searching for any sign that she feels the same about me. Her gaze drifts down to my mouth. She leans forward and presses her soft lips to mine.

  My heart pounds as she molds her perfect form against me. Her tongue darts out to trace along the seam of my lips, and I open my mouth to grant her entrance. Her taste is exquisite, and I groan low in my throat as her smooth tongue curls around my ridged one.

  Completely lost in the sensation of her body against mine, I'm reluctant to pull away, but I know that we must. She whispers against my lips. "I love you too, Soran."

  Happiness blooms in my chest. I gently skim the tip of my nose alongside hers as I breathe in her delicious scent, committing this moment to memory.

  It takes all my strength to force myself to step back just enough to meet her eyes. We must get this done. Quickly. So that we may return to the glider that much sooner. "I will go in first."

  Her eyes dart to the ship and then back to me. "I'll be right behind you."

  Cautiously I make my way up th
e ship's ramp and knock loudly on the airlock door, hoping to gain their attention. An Anguis face appears in the small window only a moment later.

  His dark yellow pupils expand and then contract into a thin vertical slit as he studies me warily through narrowed eyes. His voice is a muffled hiss as he speaks through the door. "What business do you have here, Mosauran warrior?"

  "I'm interested in purchasing one of your gladiators."

  He bares his fangs. "Your people do not deal in flesh."

  This male is smart. He suspects my ruse for the trap that it is. I only hope the promise of credits will override his sense of caution. "I am not like most Mosaurans," I reassure him.

  His gaze darts behind me, and I know the moment he spots Liana because his eyes go wide with a look I recognize well from my time as a slave. He wants her. Badly. He turns his attention back to me. "Is that one yours?" He motions to Liana, and I nod.

  The airlock door slides open. The Anguis stands with his blaster pointed directly at me.

  Although he tries to portray otherwise, his fear is evident in the slight trembling of his hand as he holds out his weapon. My nostrils flare as I scent the air that escapes his vessel. Four distinct scents, including his own, waft from the ship. All of them are male, and I dare not make a move against him until I know exactly what we're up against.

  He stares at me warily before his eyes light up when they drift to Liana behind me. "How much for the V'loryn?"

  Anger twists deep inside me. I palm the hilt of my knife, ready to activate the laser blade at a moment's notice. "She is not for sale. Now, how much for one of your gladiators? And how many do you have onboard?"

  "I have three for you to choose from."

  Relief floods my system. He is the only slaver on the ship; we will not have to fight our way through others.

  His yellow eyes rake over Liana's form with a lust-filled gaze. "But I will trade you two of them for her."