by Autumn Dawn
Brandy stepped in, the end of her baton driven toward his throat. He deflected it, caught it and wrenched it from her hand. In two seconds he was on his knees, lashing out at her. The tip of the baton caught her high in the thigh, made her stagger. He went in for the kill. Her spare baton was too far away. She could deflect the weapon by moving in, but if she got too close….
She was going to die. Again.
Before he could land the fatal blow, a blurred streak pounced on him, pinned him to the ground. The jaqki snarled as his teeth sank into the Hatir’s throat, crushing the windpipe, tearing though muscles. With one vicious shake, he tore the head completely off. Panting, he turned to look at Brandy.
“Nice job,” she said, feeling slightly sickened at the mess. “A bit untidy, though.”
Azor growled, then shifted into his true form. He had brownish blood on his mouth, which he wiped away with the back of one hand.
He did a quick scan, noting the blood on her shirt, the hole over her heart. “You’re hurt!” He stepped forward and ripped open her shirt to get a clearer look at the wound, then paused, baffled. He traced a hand over her chest, streaking the wet red. “There’s no trace of a….” He frowned and glanced at her for an explanation.
She cleared her throat and gathered the edges of the rent in one hand. The room had filled with soldiers, plus her curious sister. Ryven stood next her, still on alert. Several of them had gotten a rather good look at her new wedding ring. “I seem to have found a sudden gift for healing.”
Azor stared at her, then ran his hand over her, searching for broken bones or cuts. He was oblivious to his own nakedness.
Brandy sighed impatiently and shrugged past him to grab a blanket off the bed. She handed it to him. “Cover your assets, dear. I think we’re both more in need of clothes than bandages.”
Xera coughed. She was holding her ribs, but otherwise seemed undamaged. Ryven had an arm around her shoulders, supporting her.
“Where are the kids?” Brandy demanded, coming closer to look her over.
“They’re safe. They got out,” he said gravely. “Thanks to you.”
Brandy grinned. “Well, it was rather satisfying,” she said cheerfully. She could afford the humor, now that everyone was safe. “Here, let me get my chair for you, Xera. I don’t seem to need it at the moment.”
“And how is that?” Azor demanded, coming closer. He glanced at the soldiers hauling the body away, but the Hatir was truly dead. “That is your blood, isn’t it?”
She sighed, suddenly feeling tired as the adrenaline faded. “About that…we have several things to talk about. Would you mind if I cleaned up a little first? They might take a while.” She glanced at Xera.
“I’ll take her to the doctors,” Ryven said. “I’ll let you know what they have to say.”
Satisfied, Brandy nodded. There would be plenty of time for talking later, once they’d taken care of business. She followed Azor out of the room and paused, staring at the twisted door. “Wow! What kind of explosive did they use? I’ve never seen a door do that!” Designed to seal in case of a hull breach, the heavy metal was shoved to one side, and curved like a dish. It rocked when she tapped it with her foot. The doorframe was twisted where it had torn free.
Ryven and Azor exchanged glances. Ryven said, “There was no time for explosives. Your husband took it down.”
Her eyes widened.
“A jaqki is a strong animal,” Azor explained. He looked slightly abashed.
Brandy laughed and hugged him. “That’s my boy,” she said. Every woman should have a shape shifter for a husband.
Brandy was in one of the padded practice rooms, practicing her forms. A booming bass played from the digital player at her neck, echoed from the room’s hidden speakers. She held her staff straight in front of her, tapped the end firmly on the mat for the ritual beginning. Then she was in motion, a sharp dance, a deadly sonata. As she often did, she imagined her father parrying, teaching. This had been their ritual, the song that had bound them together.
Her father.
Azor had wanted to come with her, but she’d asked for time alone. He’d been surprised by her revelations, but not disturbed. That had come later, and for her. She’d been moody the last two days as she processed the emotions that came with such news. Her father’s blood may not have been hers, but she knew she had his heart. He’d loved all his girls equally, just as Gem said. For him, family had been a choice. He’d chosen to love her.
It did sting, her illegitimacy. She was angry with her mother, that stranger she’d never known. Even if she’d found a way to understand how it had happened, she still could not forgive, not yet. Her father had been a good man. How could her mother have left him?
She was angry with her doctor for changing her, too. She didn’t appreciate change at the best of time, but this was especially unwelcome. He’d messed with her very workings, and now she was scrambling to understand the changes.
She was grumpy about the visions, too. If she’d never come here, her sister wouldn’t have been in danger. A truly useful vision would have told her that.
At least Vio Srie would pay for his crimes. He’d been arrested and was being held on various charges, including drug racketeering.
Added to her annoyance was a nagging feeling that she would have to make her peace with Ryven. Although he’d proven innocent of a desire to harm her sister, he was still responsible for keeping her away from her family. Unfortunately, Xera seemed at peace with that, which meant that Brandy would have to stop hating him at some point. It annoyed her to give up such a satisfying grudge.
Half way through her workout, Ryven himself stepped into the room. He had the staff they’d given him in one hand, and a calm expression on his face. “I had heard you were sparring.”
She glanced at him, but didn’t slow. “Forgive me, I do not want company today.”
He stepped closer. “My wife claims you are brooding.”
“And?”
“It upsets her.”
Ugh! Another point in his favor. When would it end? She wrestled with her conscience and lost. “Come on then,” she grouched.
He stepped up, tapped the end of his staff on the mat, and attacked her with lazy grace. “Your legs no longer pain you?”
She grunted. He might be able to talk and spar, but she was not in the best condition. It had been a long while since she’d been able to really work her muscles. “No.”
“You miss your family?” He tried an overhead strike, then a low blow to her legs, which she blocked.
“Not yet,” she said hesitantly, and he took advantage of her slowness with a strike she barely caught. She glared. Her muscles already burned from her earlier exertion, and it would gall her to be forced to call a halt. Not that she thought she could really beat him—the man was in prime condition, and she knew he could be fast if he wished. It would have been nice if she could have made a better showing, though.
He let her concentrate for a short while, until she stumbled with fatigue. He checked a forward motion, his hand outstretched as if to steady her, but she caught herself. He stepped back a pace and rested both hands on his staff. “You must have done this for a long while. You’re in poor condition, but your technique is excellent.”
She leaned on her own staff while she caught her breath. “Our Dad was a great teacher. It’s how I remember him.” She felt the melancholy again. She glanced at the benches lined up along the wall and limped over. While she might heal wounds quickly, muscle fatigue still took a toll. Her arms and thighs burned. She sat down with a sigh and uncapped the drink she’d left there.
He followed her, but did not sit. He looked thoughtful. “Xera mentioned your visions of me.”
She grimaced. The man just jumped into conversations, didn’t he?
“They seem to have been useful. Thank you for defending my family.”
“They’re my family, too.” There was a pause as they sized each other up.
He cocked
his head. “You’re angry at me for marrying Xera. For keeping her with me.”
She squinted across the gym, considering how to reply. “It didn’t make you popular.”
“I love her.” The words were simple, but his gaze was straightforward, sincere.
It caught her attention like nothing else he could have said. She stared at him, measuring the truth of his statement. “It’s a cold love.”
He smiled faintly at that and sat down. “I’ve watched you with Azor, and you with Xera. We aren’t as…exuberant…in our affection, but we feel it. I’ve been told I am more reserved than most.”
She raised a brow, but refrained from mentioning a polar freeze. The man was trying, and she suddenly realized that she wasn’t the easiest person to thaw, either. She made a noncommittal noise, vaguely encouraging.
He sent her an ironic glance. “You are coming to Rsik with us, aren’t you? She’s been worried about that, too.”
Brandy offered a wolfish smile. “Are you worried?” She didn’t mean about the journey, and he knew it.
He laughed. “No. You’re open in your attacks. It’s those who hide their feelings that worry me.” He paused and said softly, “Xera is very happy you came. It’s been good for her.”
She groaned in her head. Tears prickled her eyes and she looked away, across the building. The man knew her weakness. “I’m glad.”
He stood after a moment and offered her a hand up. “She’s going to ask if we have made a truce.”
Brandy sent him a sly look. “Can’t you manage your wife? They’ll nag you to death if you let them. Harrisdaughters, that is.”
The man actually grinned. “Will they, now? You’ll have to tell me what to watch for.” She grinned back. Co-conspirators, they headed out of the gym.
EPILOGUE
“So that’s Rsik.” Brandy watched the view screen with her arms crossed. She regarded the planet with more than passing interest. She wanted off this ship! The visit to 4 Zega, the infamous desert planet where Xera and Ryven had met, had been an interesting distraction, but it was definitely not up to Brandy’s standards. She’d been assured that Rsik, the Scorpio home world, was much nicer. She hoped that was true, because she couldn’t bear the thought of traveling back to Polaris right now. Eight months was far too long, and she hadn’t spent the last four in cold sleep. She and Xera had too much catching up to do to waste on sleep. Even so, they’d appreciate a little more space between them. Lately they’d gotten snippy, as only sisters could do. A little more elbowroom would fix that.
Azor glanced at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He hadn’t let the Scorpio’s reserve keep him from embracing her whenever he chose. “You’ll like it.” He waited a beat and said offhand, “We may even stay awhile. Ryven offered me a job with his security team.”
She frowned. “You want it?”
He shrugged. “It sounds interesting. I’d like to explore this world for a while, maybe even a couple of years. Would you like that?”
She hesitated, unwilling to commit, but he knew her well by that point. He feigned surprise. “You’re not ready to leave already, are you? I didn’t think you’d want to be trapped on a ship again so soon.”
She shuddered. He was right about that. She was going crazy with boredom. She needed something to do!
“You could get a job here, too, if you feel restless,” he suggested. “That might build up your tolerance for doing nothing again.”
She elbowed him for his teasing, but she was genuinely appalled at the amount of inactivity he was suggesting. “I suppose I could handle a working holiday,” she said casually.
He laughed and gave her a little squeeze.
Ryven glanced their way. Now that she knew him better, she could see that he was faintly amused. “You should find your seats,” he suggested. “We’ll enter the atmosphere soon.”
And soon after that, they would meet Xera’s in-laws. The idea made her slightly nervous. Azor glanced her way after they’d strapped in and took her hand. The touch calmed her. She wasn’t alone.
She glanced at the windshield as it began to glow with the flames of reentry. Much like her life, the world seemed to go up in flames, but once the smoke cleared, she’d found her life to be better than she’d ever imagined.
She smiled at Azor with love in her eyes. As long as she had him, she would not be afraid.
She glanced at the windshield just as the fire began to clear, revealing clear blue sky. With a smile, she sat back to enjoy the ride.
About the author:
I'm a stay at home mom with three kids, a dog and an active imagination. I spent the first 34 years of my life in Alaska, land of the midnight sun, but these days I'm located in Washington, and am enjoying a much warmer sun :)
I'm married to my high school sweetheart, John, who is known to bring me flowers "just because".
My leisure time is filled with gardening, sewing, art and reading.
Connect with me online at:
www.autumndawnbooks.com
http://authorautumndawn.blogspot.com
Books by Autumn Dawn:
Spark Series:
When Spark Fly Dorchester
No Words Alone Dorchester
Solar Flare Indie book
Anthology for the Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance:
Hemlock & Iron
Indie books:
Darklands Series:
The Charmer
Dark Lands: Homecoming
Scent of Danger
The Golden Bell
Ghost in Her Heart
Beast Wars
The Woman Inside
The Other Woman
Through the Looking Glass
Ride The Stars
Careful, He Bites
Interstellar Lover
Table of Contents
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