Svera’s color grows in force and soon splotches consume her neck and arms. “It’s…a union. Like the one the Raku and Rakukanna performed during the ceremony we witnessed. Humans like me…or just me and some of the others who worship the Tri-God, we believe that you shouldn’t live in the same house as someone who might be a potential mate until you go through the ceremony.”
“Fascinating,” Lemoria muses.
“Irrelevant,” Krisxox snaps. “We will never be mates so this is of no concern.”
“Even more of a reason for me not to stay in your house,” she exhales, exasperated, “It will make the women you lay with uncomfortable and curb your chances of ever finding your Xiveri mate. I’ve heard them asking about me when you bring them over.”
“You bed other women…as in plural…while Svera’s there? In the house?” My Miari stands now and I can see that this conversation is sliding down into a realm where it does not belong.
I rise with her and hold up both hands, and I feel the sting of loss when we unlink. That Krisxox has cost me this moment unlinked from her is even more of a reason to lash him.
“Enough. This is not a conversation for the war room. Svera will remain under Krisxox’s protection and in his home. Krisxox will accommodate any wishes Svera has to be made more comfortable within it, including, if needed the commissioning of a separate space with its own entrance so as to maintain the privacy her Tri-God demands of her, or he will refrain from breeding other females while Svera remains in his charge. The choice will be yours Krisxox.”
I meet the gaze of each advisor in my war room evenly, communicating the finality of this talk, but I remain standing as I move on. “Lemoria, your report.”
Lemoria, whose mouth is still agape, brushes off her skirts and rolls back her shoulders. Her chest remains bare, as do all those on Voraxia — with the exception of Svera. I wonder if this is another demand of her Tri-God. And if so, I am both unnerved and grateful that Miari does not worship the same being. Her exposed chest so close to me begs my attention.
It has taken too much willpower to keep my eyes from focusing on her perfect, smooth mounds and the darker red tips that peak them. Those little buds seem almost perpetually stiff and I know that this ripening precedes her arousal.
I want to reach out and touch one, scrape my claw tenderly across it, feel her press out her chest and inhale in small gasps as she does seconds before her eyelids flicker and her thighs peel apart. She opens for me and there is nothing sweeter.
“Hexa, my Raku,” Lemoria says and I snap back to the present. “I have tested the human and hybrid anatomies of Svera and our Rakukanna and determined that our Rakukanna has taken on more of the female human traits, including her swell cycle.”
I take a seat because it is all I can do not to turn to my Rakukanna and pull her onto my lap, or better yet, push her onto the floor and mount her endlessly.
“Proceed,” I say, clenched with anticipation, and when my hand fumbles to find the arm of the werro root throne, Miari takes my much larger palm into hers and offers it a very small squeeze.
“The Voraxian swell happens three times a rotation while the human swell cycle seems to occur between twenty-eight and thirty-four times a rotation.”
Surprise flashes across Krisxox’s, Islu'Raku’s, and Roth’s ridges in sharp spears of white, all in unison, as I’m sure it also flashes over my own. I do not speak, but my heart begins to pound. I do not dare look at Miari. Thirty-four times a rotation?
The Xanaxana is said to reveal itself most often during swell. It means that I have already had chances to breed her. Chances I have denied, because I wished to spare her the discomfort of the breeding belt. I will need to convince her to breed properly by her next swell. I do not wish to miss another opportunity. I want nothing more than to see her heavy with my child.
Lemoria continues to speak while my thoughts ripple with images of our youngling — a hybrid youth with curly brown hair and swirling indigo skin. Something never seen before.
“With so small a sample size, it is impossible for me to decree this is a hybrid phenomenon, but it does mean we need to act quickly because this is certainly a human one. Any time lost is a lost child of Voraxia. And it will take much to reverse the wrongs of the past Hunts, and the scars its memory has left behind.”
Shaken to the core, I am unsure what is worse — the thought of younglings aborted or the manner in which they were conceived. I incline my head, even though it pains me.
“You speak truth. It is a tragedy that the pact forged between humans and Dra’Kesh was not an amicable one, borne out of true equality. And it is inconceivable that we would force females to bear kits from such heinous couplings. From rape,” the word hits the air like whiplash and every Voraxian in the room reels and winces.
“It is true. And going forward we believe things will be different. Much different.” Lemoria nods slightly then, making way for the human, Svera, to speak.
“They already are,” Svera says. “And going forward, human women will be given every reason to want to couple with Voraxians and every reason to want to keep their babies. I guarantee you that they will, particularly if we can offer medical care. And with the benefits of the new program, their children will have the best of what both worlds have to offer.”
“And we can’t forget about Xiveri unions. We can only hope that many more will be as lucky as Raku and I and flourish. Women who are Xiveri mated won’t need to be given any reasons to want to mate with Voraxians, or keep their children.” Miari shoots me a sly glance then and blinks, keeping one eye open. I have tried and failed to mirror the gesture so rather, I give her hand a small squeeze.
She smiles and continues to speak. “Rations will be readjusted to accommodate for the increased population size. The only question that we couldn’t really answer was…” A sadness crosses her features, one I long to pull out with my hands and crush.
“We heard reports from some of the Dra’Kesh males who participated in past Hunts that there’s a chance they might have found their Xiveri mates. If the humans are okay with it, we wondered whether or not it would be appropriate to invite them to meet the ones who claim to be their Xiveri mates and see if any positive couplings could come out of it…”
Krisxox cuts in, “There is no reason to encourage more mingling between the humans and the Dra’Kesh…”
“Krisxox.” My irritation with him has met its end. “We live in a diverse quadrant of the cosmos and yet your small-mindedness astounds me. Hexa, it is clear that this should be an option offered to all human females. The Dra’Kesh males however, should not be permitted to freely wander the human colony. There must be standards put in place to be sure that these males are serious about their claims, and not simply looking to repeat the horrors they once committed. There will need to be a small team of human and Voraxian alike established to conduct this and other such work.”
“Hexa, my Raku. The Rakukanna, Svera and I have already discussed plans for this,” Lemoria says. “Svera and I plan to depart in three solar’s time. This will give us enough time to gather requisite materials, and amass the correct team to accompany us.
“The Rakukanna has requested to join this first voyage. She believes that while Svera ‘should do the talking,’ to use her vernacular, she should be present simply to prove to the humans that she is alive and well. Particularly given that their fellow human, the Va’Rakukanna, is still in the merillian.”
“Va…rakukanna?” Svera whispers.
I feel my Miari’s hand warm in my own. She shakes her head quickly. “I’ll explain later,” she mumbles.
I nod, proud of my Rakukanna and what she and her team have accomplished. “It is done. Now, we are aligned. Is there anything else before we move onto the most pressing point of discussion?”
Silence, until Roth snarls, “Pe’ixal.”
“Pe’ixal,” I confirm and a hush descends over us. I withdraw my hand from my Miari’s and beneath my chin, stee
ple all six of my fingers. “More and more I tend to think that even exile to the Fifth Quadrant will not be enough. Rhorkanterannu has reach, and he is determined to get his claws on the coordinates. If I have Pe’ixal exiled, this could be even more dangerous for the humans than quarantining him on planet. Yet, this has its own risks.
“This planet will be home to my Rakukanna and two humans, at least for the time being. Pe’ixal displayed violence upon his removal from his rank. It is possible he will attempt to seek revenge in some way. Not to mention the costs associated with keeping him under perpetual protective custody. We do not cage our criminals, yet it is clear we cannot offer him a trial. We cannot allow for any option that places the humans in harm’s way.”
I exhale a breath and glance around at each of those in the room and I feel a strange and budding lightness in my chest that makes me want to make the pleasure expression, even as we discuss treason and the threat of violence.
“Exile or permanent containment on Voraxia? Both carry great risk. Luckily for your Raku, I do not decide alone. I am fortunate to have many trusted advisors as well as an intelligent Rakukanna to lean on. For today is the day we decide…”
It could not have been more succinctly timed. The distant boom followed by sonic vibrations felt throughout the floor — a Tri'Herion invention. The system of warning.
Roth launches to his feet and reaches the werro root door at the same time that it slides open to reveal X'Ixria, dana’Ixria and three xcleranx. They are panting, as if having run very fast and very far.
I stand and pull Miari into my chest, keeping my body between hers and the open doorway. “Speak,” I command.
They do away with formalities. Dana’Ixria clutches his stomach and shouts, “He took the docks! He killed Ixria!”
“She might not be dead,” X'Ixria interrupts with a wild wave of his arm. “Lemoria, we have taken her…her body to Ki’Lemoria. He’s doing all he can, but he needs your help. She wasn’t the only one injured.”
Krisxox rises and I notice distantly that his feet instinctively seem to move themselves into a position that mirrors my own — slightly apart, ready to battle, but most importantly, ready to defend the human who stands so slight behind him.
Krisxox snarls, “Who?”
“Pe’ixal,” I sneer.
But the xcleranx shake their heads. The first of them — a male I do not know by name — spits, “Rhorkanterannu. He prolonged his departure, as you well know, and was supposed to be leaving within the solar. He said he needed access to the docks, but instead was found tampering with the docking station. He has disabled it so none of the flyers or ships can leave.”
What is his plan? What is he playing at? If none of the ships can leave, then he has no exit strategy. It doesn’t matter.
“Roth, gather the xcleranx and meet me at the docks. You three remain with Krisxox, Svera and our Rakukanna. Krisxox, I am placing my M…my Rakukanna entirely in your care. Take her back to our werro. Do not let anything happen to her.”
Krisxox looks like he will argue, until he glances at the human behind him. He nods abruptly then. That is enough. I turn to Miari and take either side of her face. I stare deeply into her human eyes, even as her Voraxian lids blink over them.
“You will remain with Krisxox in your lab.”
“The guest house?” Her lower lip trembles and brings a shaking, burning rage to my limbs. I want to tear Rhorkanterannu apart and hear him scream, feel his hot black blood pour from his shattered spikes. Bathe in it.
“You will wait for me there and you will do every single thing Krisxox says. Do not anger me in this. You must keep yourself safe at all costs. No other life is more valuable than yours.”
“Yes, they are…”
“Not to me,” I growl and I press my mouth to hers in a display of affection never publicly shown by a Raku before his people. And I do not care at all. “Do not disobey me.”
Miari’s warm breath mixes with mine. I devour her jujji berry taste for too long a moment before I force myself to break away. “Stay safe, my Raku,” she says just as I reach the open doorway.
My hearts stutter at the possessiveness of her words. I inhale a deep breath. Memorize every detail of her face, hating the fear scrawled upon it and vowing to end Rhorkanterannu for putting it there.
“As you command, my Rakukanna.”
18
Miari
“So, this is your guest house? Looks more like a pile of rubble,” Svera says with a shrug in an attempt to tease me. It’s a poor attempt. She’s too kind for teasing, but she’s doing her best to distract me. Maybe distract us both.
For the past eons — or has it been mere moments? — I’ve been staring at the xamxin windows, trying to see movement through their murky panes, and when that yields absolutely nothing at all, I glare daggers at the curved wooden doorway.
I feel sick. The slightest movement would be enough to make my fragile stomach revolt. I want to vomit everywhere. The door hasn’t opened since we walked through it, and now Krisxox and half a dozen xcleranx stand on its other side.
What is that crazy four-armed maniac up to? Do I want to know? Nox. No, I don’t. I just want him to leave.
“Miari?”
“Hmm?”
“I asked you what this does?”
I glance over my shoulder a couple times, debating whether or not to answer her. Finally, I determine that sitting cross-legged in front of the door, working myself up into a lather as Svera’s mother always says, is probably not the best start.
Unfurling from where I sit waiting desperately for Raku to come back through the door and tell me it was an accident and that the Niahhorru pirate king just mistakenly tripped the wire that shut down the ports and that as he fell his gun just happened to go off and Ixria happened to be standing there but really it’s all just a mistake and she’s fine and they’re all on the docks now having a good laugh. A real good laugh…
“So how does it work, Miari?”
I turn in time to see Svera lifting a random patchwork solar charger I was tinkering with and lurch towards her with a yelp. “Universe, no! Put that down. It’s an experiment and so far it’s burned the tips off my fingers three times.
“I tried using something they have here called krenite powder to line the foil conductor. It holds charge longer than just using foil by itself but if you get it wet — and I mean, even the moisture on your fingertips is enough — it sparks. Or explodes.” I learned that one the hard way…
“Oh. Sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry, I’m just…” Holding the charger by its rubber insulators, I take it from her and set it down amidst the rubble, as she so lovingly called it. I rub my eyes and look at her without speaking. I just look at her. Her heart-shaped face. Her smooth, slightly rounded cheeks. She holds a yellow glow, like a candle, that’s rare among the humans who tend to shine red beneath their dark brown skin, like Kiki.
Her soft hair — blonde at the hairline, dark underneath — shimmers in the tendrils that escape from their covering. Her face betrays a dewiness that I don’t feel. I’ll miss her when she goes back to Qath and back to the human colony, where I can’t follow. No, not can’t. Where I won’t follow. Because I know for certain that my place is here.
I breathe, “I’ve missed you. I know we’ve seen each other and have been meeting a lot these past solars but I just…it’s not like it was before.”
She smiles. “I know what you mean. I missed you too.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to move to the capital? Closer to us? You don’t have to stay with Krisxox and I’d love to have you nearby,” I say hopefully.
Svera bites her bottom lip and tilts her head from side to side. “I know. I thought about it for a long time, and actually the first time we talked, I was convinced I’d want to move here to be more central and of course, closer to you.” She glances around and covers up her giggles with her hand. “Though I don’t think I’d exactly fit in with all you
r things.”
“We’d make space. I’ll move into Tri'Herion’s lab…” I start, but she waves me off.
“Don’t be silly. What I was going to say is that after some time, I realized I just can’t get enough of Qath. You have to come and see it. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It’s so feral and wild. Terrifying, for sure, but Krisxox is a good protector, even if he is good for little else.
“The vines, the trees, the city they’ve built among them, the animals, no matter how large or small, even the desert surrounding the oasis and the mountainous horizon — it’s all enchanting. The place is truly incandescent,” she says, and her face lights with wonderful expressions as she speaks.
I can’t help but smile back, even if it is like the rest of me — shaky. “And you aren’t finding yourself getting closer to anyone else over there?” I tease, but the look she gives me of blank confusion makes me laugh realizing just how far off the mark I am.
“I meant with Krisxox. Don’t you think it was weird how he wanted to keep you close? I could have sworn there was something up between the two of you.”
Svera’s eyes bug out of her head and her face flushes bright pink. “Oh…stars…I…cannot…Miari!”
I grin again. “Sorry for insinuating it.”
“No, I mean. I was taken aback myself. He doesn’t like me at all, so I thought he’d try to get rid of me at any chance he could. Extending himself like he has is truly gracious of him…”
“Oh Svera, don’t lie. You aren’t happy about it.”
She huffs and the frown lines that form on the lower half of her face don’t suit its beauty at all. “No, I can’t say that I am. If my mother knew that I was staying with an unmarried man she’d jump from the roof and if my father or brother knew…” she shudders, “…they would throw Krisxox from the roof. Or try to anyways.
Taken to Voraxia Page 21
