by Ciara Lake
“Shut the fuck up, Tomron.”
“Oh, the beast is losing his well-controlled temper. Tsk, tsk, tsk, can’t have that now. ” He shook his head. “But, I’m a fair man. I’m humane to all stupid animals. So I’m willing to make a deal with you.”
“I’m listening.” Val stood even closer to the screen.
“If you return our captured soldiers and Starson, we’ll let you have all six of your animals back. You better hurry up and get Kristal. She’s seriously pissing me off. We put her in a budget cell.” He winked. “She was rude to our staff.” Tomron walked up behind her, hitting her in her head with the back of his hand. Kristal snarled. Val swallowed his response.
“Mute him,” Val yelled, finally losing his temper. “Mute the crazed maniac.”
“Yes, sir.” The com engineer hit the communication button. Tomron stood shaking his head. He made hand motions on the muted screen.
“Captain, Commander Kade Braeden’s on the other com,” Jerrian announced. “Tomron is broadcasting on their ship, too, and on Xihirah at the palace. Tomron has it feeding all over. To anyone who will listen.”
“What?” Val shook his head. “He’s displaying his crimes for the universe to witness. How arrogant and stupid. His actions give us more reason to kill him without a trial. Let’s hear from Kade.” The com switched on the other ship.
“Fucking damn idiot, I’m gonna to fucking kill him slowly, painfully. I’m gonna eat him, making him suffer with every bite I take.”
“Kade, calm down, please. I’m trying to be calm, and I need you to work with me here. I’m going to take Tomron’s com off mute. Now be silent. Let’s hear what Tomron has to say.” A whistle sounded to indicate the mute had lifted.
“Well, Val, I’m so glad you decided to talk to me. I was getting annoyed. I know you animals are rude. But really, under these circumstances I don’t think it’s wise.” He shook his head. “In fact, I thought you might hang up. That would be really stupid. Like I was saying, you have to come and get this Braeden bitch. She’s pissing us all off. She seriously hurt one of my men.” He maniacally smiled. “She took off his finger with her teeth. His blood is all over her shirt.” He pointed to her shirt. “It was nasty. She’s a nasty bitch. But she knows now if she acts bad, we’ll shoot one of her guards. We already did, so she’s convinced. Aren’t you, honey? I know Kara’s convinced. Her cell’s next to the guard who was shot. You all heal fast, so he’s not dead. At least not yet.” He ran his hand over Kara’s hair, as if petting her. “Kara’s a bit sweeter. She cried when we shot her guard. She’s been crying a lot like she really has feelings. You animals surprise me.”
“You’re fucking insane. What the fuck do you want me to do? How do you want to make these exchanges?”
“Now we’re talking.” Tomron sat back down, a look of victory on his face. “I’ve got this all planned out. It’s going to be such fun.” He rubbed his hands together. “Now this is how it’s gonna work. I want you, Val Braeden.” He pointed. “The infamous Black Beast to bring my ten men back to me. We’re going to meet on Terrian. It’s not far from here. But I have it all set up for us to meet. I’m going to broadcast it so your ship and Xihirah can see us play nice, too. At the same time, your father is going to bring Starson to Farstation, you know the place?”
“Yes.”
“Well, your father, Admoncor Braeden, the beast who made a traitor of your mother, you know who I’m talking about.” He laughed at his joke. “Tell him hello.” Tomron waved. “He’ll take Starson to Farstation and hand him over to my men waiting there. At the same time, I’ll give you your beloved relatives. They seem to really love you. They’re loyal for sure. You’d be proud, if you animals truly had pride.” I’ll transmit the time this will take place and the particulars of the exchange. Of course, you can’t bring an army or weapons. So look for the transmission with your exact instructions. You and father will need to follow them to the tee. You there, Kael?” Tomron looked wild-eyed.
“Yes, he’s listening.” Val nodded. “You’ve got our attention.”
“Good.” Tomron leaned back in his chair. “I like attention. Is Kade listening, too? Kara has called out for him a lot. Poor girl, she’s a misery. It’s terrible for your protector to fail you. I don’t want her twin to miss this adventure.” Tomron picked up a pen. “One more thing, we have Tallusian civilians held on our ships too. Sort of like extra insurance. About twenty women with children. We’ll return them, too, after you cooperate. But if not, we’ll push them out an air lock. Understand?” He crossed his arms. “I know you don’t want to see these abnormal children die for you. These Tallusians are dangerous creatures. Quiet, but dangerous. They have dangerous secrets. So, any excuse to kill some doesn’t bother me in the least.”
“Are we done talking now?”
“Sure, I thought you liked talking to me?” Tomron grinned.
“It’s a pleasure.” Val gritted his teeth.
“We’ll be sending instructions after our conversation concludes. Better hurry and do as I say or I’m gonna put Kristal out the air lock, too. I’m truly pissed at her eating my soldier’s finger. Yep, she ate it, too, so we could not reattach it. ” He shook his head. “I guess she was hungry. An animal isn’t picky about food being cooked.”
“Send your damn instructions, Tomron. We’ll review them then get back with you.”
“I know you will.” Tomron winked. “We’ll be having a good time with your family while we wait.” The communication ended.
“He loves to get in the last word,” Kael’s voice echoed over the com. “Val, as soon as you get the information, let me know. Your mother was here. She saw the girls. She’s upset. I’m worried about her and our baby. We’ll not have any joining ceremony right now. She can’t take any more excitement. I’m so sorry she was here.” Kael’s image appeared. “But the transmission came on, and she was in my office and would not leave. You know your mother. We have to save our girls and our guards. King Zambali will just have to understand. I know your mate will.” His father looked tired. “It seems history has a way of repeating itself. This seems so familiar to me.” He shook his head. “You be careful dealing with them. I don’t want you to be part of the exchange, but I’m afraid for you not to. We will need to be careful. Do not trust them in anything.”
“Yes, absolutely. Zalora will be fine about waiting. Go see Mother. We’ll wait for the transmission from Tomron, and then we will discuss it with you.
“I’ll be giving over Starson as he wants. I won’t challenge him while he has our girls. We will meet his demands regarding the exchange of prisoners. This war is worsening, and our freedoms are going to be even more restricted. This won’t happen again. We’ve been lax.” Kael looked down.
“Father, I’ll talk to you shortly.”
“Very well.” The communication ended.
“Kade is on his way to our ship,” Jerrian informed Val.
“Good. When he gets here, send him to my office. I’ll be in my quarters until you call. Let me know as soon as Tomron’s instructions arrive.” Val walked to the deck’s door. It swooshed open. “Keep me informed of any changes in their ship’s positions or if our friend contacts us again. He loves to talk. Keep him talking when we can. Watch every move they make.”
“Yes.” Jerrian nodded. Val was surprised to see Jerrian’s normally cool eyes show his emotion. All the soldiers visibly showed their anger toward this situation. The door closed behind him. He made his way to the upper deck. Before he reached his quarter’s door, he stopped to collect his emotions.
“Captain,” Jerrian’s voice sounded over the com.
“Yes.”
“Kalinda and the other women of our family are on the com. Kalinda’s demanding to speak with you.”
“Not now, tell them I can’t talk right now. You talk to them. I’m busy.”
Chapter 7
“Zalora?” Val softly called her name. He walked into the room. The lighting was dimmed. Zalora
could see his large body move toward her. Excitement made her heart race.
“Yes, I’m here. I decided to lie down. I was tired. Your bed looked and feels so good.” He walked over to the edge of where she was resting. “What’s wrong?” She looked up at him.
“How can you tell something’s wrong?” He cocked his head to the side as he stood at the edge of the bed looking down at her.
“Your voice sounds different, like it gets. Your eyes are wild. Plus, you have that look about you overall. I think when you’re upset you get bigger, too.”
“Really? Hmm, you do know me.” He pushed his hair back off his forehead. His hands shook.
“Yes, it seems I’ve learned fast. So what’s wrong?”
“You’re very receptive. Tomron contacted us.” He frowned.
“What does he want?”
“He has my sister Kristal, Kade’s twin Kara, along with four of our palace guards in his custody. Not to mention some Tallusian women with their children, or at least he claims to have them. But, we saw Kara and Kristal. He’s hurt them.” Val looked down at his hands. “I want to rip his head off.” He clenched his teeth. “My mother’s upset beyond words. Kalinda’s calling me on behalf of all the Braeden women. I just don’t have time to talk to her.” He looked down, shaking his head.
“I know you want to rip his head off. I do, too.” She knew she surprised him with her own declaration.
“He’s offered to have a prisoner exchange. The girls looked awful. They’ve been through hell.” Val sat down near her. He put his head in his hands.
“Do you trust him in this prisoner exchange?”
“No, but we’ve no choice.” Val rubbed his head. “My poor father has suffered this type of thing before at the hands of a Tomron. These fucking Realmist have to be eliminated.”
“Really? What happened to your father?”
“Yes, Tomron’s father was responsible for my mother’s kidnapping before I was born.”
“All ended well then.” Zalora smiled.
“Yes.” He nodded.
“It will again.” She reached for his hand. “It has to.”
“My mother saw the girls. She’s really upset. They looked awful, and he’s hurt them.” Val’s jaw clenched, his muscles twitching on the side of his face. “Father’s worried for her and their baby.”
“Val, this is terrible.” Zalora sat up, moving closer to him. Her hand smoothed over his arm. “What’s going to happen next?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaned her head against his back. “This is truly awful. I hate that man,” she spit out. “The Realmist have caused so much pain. I want them to be stopped. The universe has to stop them soon.”
“They will be stopped.” Val fisted his right hand. She could feel his bicep and back muscles tense. “Right now, we’re going to abide by Tomron’s requests. We’ll do what we can to get my sister and aunt home. Plus our men. The Tallusian captives, too.” He looked back at her.
“I know your first concern is your sister and aunt. It should be. They’re your family. I’m sorry this has happened.” She kissed the back of his neck. She felt him shiver. He turned, taking her in his arms.
“I love to be with you. You make me feel better.” He kissed her mouth and laid his head against her chest. Lying back, she pulled him upon the bed, and he rested against her. Zalora lovingly ran her hand over his back in a soothing motion.
“I love being with you, too. I feel like I’ve been with you forever.” She kissed his head. “It’s going to be okay. I know it will be.”
“I’m going to meet Tomron during the exchange, face-to-face.”
“What?” She stilled. “Why you?”
“He’s requested I bring the Realmist prisoners we’re holding to him. My father’s to bring Philio Starson, he’s a political prisoner, one of the Realmist, to another location. At the same time, Tomron will release the girls to me, only to me. I’m sure Kade will be going with me, unless I have to go alone. Kade wants to eat his heart out.”
“I’m sure he does. As I know, you do, too. In fact, I’d like to see that.”
“Yes, I do, too.” He growled, actually snarled. “Tomron will broadcast the whole exchange for all to see. He likes the limelight.”
“He wants to see Braeden and his son beg. It’s part of his insanity.”
“Well, I don’t have a choice. I’m going.” He looked at her. His eyes were damp with unshed emotions.
“No.” She shook her head.
“No, what?” His amber eyes gleamed brighter. She continued to caress his head. She held him like a child in her arms.
“No, you can’t go alone. I’ll go with you.”
“No you’re not.” Val chuckled. “There’s no way I’m taking you.”
“Yes, I am. I don’t want you to go without me. You must take me. Please.” She looked at him, emphasizing her insistence. “Allow me to go.”
“Why?” He looked stunned. “There is no need to put you and our child in danger. That’s just silly. I’m sorry, Zalora.”
“I can’t stand for you go without me. It’s too dangerous. I can be an asset.”
“Yeah, you bet it’s too dangerous. Exactly why you’re not going with me.” He fisted his right hand again. He was trying hard to control his upset. She could see his tension flow through him.
“I’ll be so worried. Plus, I’m a powerful empath. You have to understand my gift. I can feel the Realmist’s emotions. This is an incredible asset. They project their emotions well. It can be very helpful to your success. I could help you, save your family with my gift. This gift is one of the reasons they fear us.” She squeezed his arm. “Let me be present during further communications. You’ll find me helpful. I’m one of the ones the Realmist fear. The reason they want to destroy our world. There’s a reason for their fear. But we’ve always kept quiet and out of other’s problems. But they’ve brought it to us now. Not all Tallusians have my power, but some do. My mother was very powerful. I’ve inherited her talent and more. Let me show you. Trust me, as I’ve trusted you.” Val looked at her strangely.
“What of our child?” He turned and bent his head, kissing her tummy. “I don’t want harm to come to our child. This would be putting our babe at risk. I can’t allow that. I have a duty to protect the both of you.”
“I don’t want to put our child at risk either.” Zalora clenched her teeth, too. “But trust me, our child needs his father. My going will assure your continued existence.”
“Really?” He cocked his head to the side, a look of surprise on his face.
“Yes, possibly. Let me show you what service I can provide. It’s invaluable and a well-guarded secret. The Realmist are Earthen humans. They’re very readable to me. I can predict their actions easily. This gives you an edge, to tell when they’re deceitful. I’ll help you avoid a trap.”
“They are deceitful all the time. No doubt this is a trap. That’s just my worry.”
Zalora continued to rub his back with her hand in a circular motion. Val was silent for several minutes.
“If I can take you. You must obey me at all times.” He looked her into her eyes. “No being a hero.”
“Okay.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll be happy to obey you.”
“Oh yeah? I’m not making any promises. I’ll think on it.” He winked. “It’s good to have an obedient mate.”
“Speaking of obeying.” She smiled. “We can’t hold our ceremony now. Not with all of this going on.”
“What’s that got to do with obeying?” Val looked puzzled.
“You know, during the ceremony our priest instructs the wife to honor, obey, as well as serve her husband in everything.”
“You’re kidding?” He had a smirk on his face.
“No.”
“Oh, I like those vows.” Val smiled.
“I bet you do.” Zalora hit him with her open hand.
“No, we can’t have a ceremony now. I’m glad you understand.”
“Of cou
rse I do.”
“I want it to be a nicer one anyway with family and friends attending. When we celebrate, it’s always big and festive. You don’t even have a pretty dress to wear. I have lots of sisters and aunts, so I think of these things.” He shrugged. “I’ve learned from the Braeden women a perfect dress is essential for all important events.” Val winked.
“You’re right. I thought about it, too.” She smiled. “All I have is oversized work clothes to wear. I want it to be a family affair, too, if not my family, yours. I do want a beautiful dress. I’ve always dreamed of having a special ceremony.”
“You’d look lovely to me no matter what you have on. Without clothes is good, too.” He pulled her head down to his, kissing her again. “I’ll inform your father we will be having our ceremony later.”
“Oh no, that’ll be fun telling him.” She rolled her eyes. “Be as nice as you can, no need making things worse. Please. He’s just not himself.”
“I will.” He played with her hair. “We’ll celebrate our mating at a more appropriate time. He’ll have to understand.”
“Yes, anyway.” She shrugged. “It seems my father has disowned me.” She closed her eyes. “So why do I care what he thinks?” She shrugged again. “I don’t understand his reaction. But…I’m not going to let it continue to burden me. I’ve been through too much. I’ve done nothing wrong. He’s the one who has acted awful.” Zalora frowned. Val kissed the tears from her face. A beeper sounded in the room, interrupting them.
“Damn, I wanted to make love to you.” He looked at her, disappointment in his eyes. “Yes, computer.”
“Call from the Command Deck.”
“Okay, let them through.” Another beep sounded.
