by Susan Hayes
Phyl glanced up at her. “They’ve been telling me that stuff will kill me since I was six. I’m still here. And now I’ve had Zale’s little booster shot, I plan on being here for a whole lot longer.” She set down the comm-device and tapped it. “I think I have a planet for you.”
“What? Where? How?” Questions tumbled out of Phaedra’s mouth in a tangle.
“I have connections, girl. Lots of them. Now, does this colony of yours need anything special, or will any goldilocks type planet do?”
“Nothing special. Breathable atmosphere, close to standard gravity, no existing colonies or intelligent native life forms. The usual stuff.” She couldn’t believe they were having this conversation.
She hummed thoughtfully. “There’s a colony of sorts there, but I’ll get to that in a second. This place isn’t even close to civilized space. No trade routes, no IAF around to protect you if things go sideways.”
“Coordinates?”
Phyl held up her comm device so the screen was pointed at Phaedra. A star map appeared, showing locations of the Drift and a system she’d never heard of. It would take weeks to get there even with FTL drive engines…and if she was reading this right, it was in the general direction of the Vardarian empire. She was starting to believe that Braxon and Tyran’s ancestors really did know what they were doing.
“Who does it belong to?” she asked.
“Torex claimed the system, but the colony there has met every qualification. Torex is fighting their claim, though, greedy bastards that they are.”
Phaedra leaned in. “I sense there’s a story behind that statement. Tell me everything.”
Chapter Fifteen
The station had switched to daytime mode by the time it was safe for them to return to their ship. The promenade had been full of beings, and they’d parted like a living sea as the three of them and their heavily-armed escort of IAF soldiers made the walk back to the docking ring. For Braxon, it felt a lot like being back at court, where even a simple walk turned into a procession. Then again, there were a few differences. For one he’d never carried a female into court.
Phaedra had given in to exhaustion by the time they found her. Cynder had convinced her to rest on the couch in the cyborg female’s office. She had barely stirred when he tried to wake her, so he had picked her up and carried her instead. Apart from an incoherent murmur and a contented sigh as she snuggled into his chest, she hadn’t moved again for the entire walk. It wasn’t surprising. She’d put constant pressure on herself the last few days. Between that, the pain from her implant malfunctioning, and the nightmares that woke her at least once a night, she needed to sleep.
They had put her to bed with care, smoothing out the wild mane of her hair and easing her out of her clothes so she would sleep in comfort. There was something deeply satisfying about tending to her like that. They worked together in silence, their hands occasionally brushing against each other as they soothed and settled their mate.
They should have left Phaedra to sleep and started to discuss the myriad of challenges facing them. The future of any negotiations now that the corporation reps were leaving in fear, the growing threat to Phaedra, and whatever it was that Tyr was trying to keep secret. After spending most of his life as the prince’s anrik, he knew when Tyran was hiding something. It was likely something to do with his sister. Neha had many gifts, but patience was not one of them.
Instead of talking, they’d stripped and joined Phaedra in the bed, snuggling her between them. She had sighed in contentment and reached for them both. That small, unconscious response filled his heart with emotions too powerful for him to deny. He didn’t simply need this female because she was his mate. He loved her.
The words settled into his soul, and as he drifted off to sleep, there was a smile on his face.
The reality they woke to didn’t offer many reasons to keep smiling. He and Tyr slipped out of bed without waking Phaedra. Sleep would speed her healing, and there was no reason for her to be up yet. There would be no meetings today.
The corporate reps had fled like frightened kerr, leaving only a handful of underlings behind. Most of the government officials were still on the station, no doubt hopeful that with the corporations out of the picture, they could negotiate a better deal for the worlds they represented. All meetings were canceled for the moment, and the remaining reps were under guard while Archer’s IAF and Corp-Sec did all they could to find the suspect and end the killings.
Braxon showered, changed, and then joined Tyran in the galley to eat and talk about the updates and news that had been waiting on their comm devices.
“We might be light-years from home, but some things are still universal. It would seem bureaucrats are spineless cowards no matter what their species,” Tyr said by way of a greeting.
“Bureaucrats and money men are only interested in risking other people’s lives, not their own,” Braxon agreed before making his meal selection. Phaedra had introduced them to a number of new dishes and beverages since she’d come onboard. He wasn’t impressed by coffee, but there was another one he’d found much to his liking - Earl Grey tea.
“Should we order something for Phaedra, too? I can’t imagine she’s going to sleep much longer,” Tyr asked.
“Good idea. Our mahaya claims she cannot think until she’s had her coffee. Not that there’s much to think about today.” He added the coffee to his list of requests and then placed it on hold until the ship’s AI detected Phaedra had woken up.
Tyr grimaced. “There’s more than you know.”
“Neha?” he asked as he sat down across from Tyr. The ship’s passengers normally ate in the more elaborate dining hall, but since it was only the two of them, they had taken to eating in the galley, instead. It was utilitarian but comfortable, with several long tables and bench-style seating that lined three of the walls. The fourth wall was full of food replicators, along with a chilled compartment for storing fresh fruits, vegetables, other perishables.
“My sister’s patience has reached its end,” Tyr confirmed.
“Then it’s time to tell her what we’re doing here.”
Tyr scoffed, his expression one of frustration and doubt. “And what exactly is that? Negotiations are stalled. No one seems to be willing to offer us the one thing we came here to find, and our mate has not yet fully bonded with us.”
“I choose to trust our ancestors. We found this place, and these people, against odds I couldn’t begin to calculate. When we first got here, I had my doubts. About the plan and then about Phaedra. How could she be our mate when she was so different, so tiny.”
“Our roles have reversed, my friend. Now I’m the one with concerns, and you’re the one telling me to trust our ancestors.”
“Not only our ancestors. Phaedra. Our mahaya is amazing, and she’ll find a way to make this work.”
“How come you never say such nice things when you know I’m in the room?” Phaedra was standing in the door dressed in one of her too-big shirts and nothing else. Her bare feet made almost no sound as she jogged over to him and threw herself into his arms. “Say it again.”
He wrapped her in his arms and lifted her into his lap as he pushed the table back with one foot to make room for her. “You are amazing, and I trust you.”
Her eyes filled with joy and she leaned in to kiss him, her hand coming to rest over his heart. “I think you’re both pretty amazing, too. I’m sorry I made you doubt that. I didn’t mean to. It’s just that I’m not used to belonging anywhere. I’ve had to prove my worth every day since I left home. This is…” she trailed off and smiled at them both. “This is new, but I like it. And I like both of you, a great deal.”
Tyr rose to fetch her coffee. “We thought you’d need this once you were awake.”
She reached for the mug the moment she realized what it was. “Sweet words and you made me coffee. That’s almost enough for me to forgive you two for leaving me to sleep the day away. In fact, I don’t remember getting back to
the ship, either. Did I sleep through that, too?”
“You were so deeply asleep that you didn’t wake when I carried you all the way here with an escort of eight guards. You needed to rest,” Braxon said.
“Eight? How could Archer afford to send eight soldiers with us and still protect the rest of the station?”
Tyr joined the conversation. “He told us last night that he has commandeered every ship in the area. He said it was as close as he could come to enacting martial law. I’m not sure what that means, but it sounded serious.”
Phae groaned. “It is serious. Martial law would put the entire Drift under the direct control of the IAF. The corporations are already unhappy about the military presence here, but they can’t push back too hard because they brought it on themselves. But if Archer took direct control of the Drift…that would be tantamount to declaring war on the corporations.”
“He’s too wise a man to do that. He knows this is all balanced on the edge of a cliff. One errant gust of wind and everything could fall apart.”
She took a piece of fruit from Tyr’s plate and nibbled at it, looking oddly pleased considering the dour news they were discussing. “Do either of you happen to know which corporate reps are still on the station?”
“Why? Negotiations are on hold for now.”
She shrugged. “Official negotiations are on hold. That doesn’t mean we can’t keep talking to the ones that are left.”
“True enough.” Tyr checked his comm device, scrolling through various updates until he found what he was looking for. He read off the list of names and who they represented. It wasn’t a long list.
“Gunns, the guy from Torex is still here? Good.” She said, looking pleased.
“Do you want us to meet with him for some reason?” Braxon asked.
“I’ve got an idea. Maybe a way for us to salvage some of this mess. I need to talk to some of the reps still here.” She grimaced. “Then, I need to ask Archer for a favor.”
“What are you planning?” Tyr asked.
“It’s not even a plan yet. It’s just an idea. I was talking to a friend last night, Phylomenia Harrington. She was at the Nova while you were in meetings. I don’t think you’ve met her, she’s one of Zura’s pilots and was on a cargo run until last night.”
“I do not see how a cargo pilot would be much help to us or our situation.” Tyr wasn’t ready to believe again, but Braxon was. He believed in Phaedra.
“It’s all a matter of connections. I swear Phyl has more connections and friends than there are stars in the galaxy. She suggested something that got me thinking, that’s all.”
“I have faith in you, Phae,” Braxon murmured.
“I hope it’s justified. I want to make this dream happen. The colony. The fresh start. All of it.” She smiled at them both. “Our dream.”
Tyr blinked, then got to his feet and came around the table to slide in beside them, grinning from ear to ear. He hugged them both, then kissed Phaedra tenderly. “Our dream, yes. A new home for all of us.”
Without thinking, Braxon leaned in and kissed Tyran’s cheek. “It’s going to happen. Believe it.”
Tyr froze and Phae made a soft sound of delight. Without a word, she pulled back so she wasn’t between the two of them, but was still holding onto them both.
Tyr locked gazes with him, then he wrapped his hand in Braxon’s unbound hair and kissed him with a bruising passion. Years of denial fell away in those seconds, and Braxon lifted his hand to stroke his anrik’s face as he kissed him back. It was unlike any other kiss he’d ever experienced. Fiercer. Harder. Tyr’s grip on his hair was hard enough to sting, but it didn’t distract from the pleasure of their kiss. Instead, it added to it.
“I was wondering when you two were going to figure it out,” Phae whispered, her voice thick with laughter and joy.
Tyr jerked away as she spoke, his breath ragged. “You are not angry?”
“Why would I be angry? It’s not like you stopped loving me the moment you kissed him.”
“You told her you love her?” Braxon asked, surprised and somehow stung that he hadn’t been part of that moment.
“I did.”
“And do you love him?” He asked Phaedra.
“Yesterday, I wasn’t ready to say so.” She kissed first Tyr, then him. “Then last night, there was a moment when I thought I might have lost you. The fight. The explosion. It made me realize that as scared as I am of loving you, I’m even more terrified of losing you. So, I’m ready to say it now. I love you both.”
Her words wrapped around his heart, and for the first time in his life, it felt like everything had fallen into place. This was where he was supposed to be, and these were the beings he was destined to spend his life with. He knew it.
“I love you, too, my jeza.”
Tyran’s heart was slamming against his ribs so hard it surprised him that he could hear Phaedra’s declaration. He’d kissed Braxon. More than that, Braxon had kissed him, and instead of being angry or jealous, their mahaya was pleased. His thoughts were whizzing around his head like a swarm of meteors and the sharhal was burning like liquid fire in his veins. He needed to regain control. This wasn’t the moment to explore this new facet of their relationship. He had to tell Phaedra that Neha had demanded their return. He sank a fang into his lip, using the pain to help him focus.
“Don’t.” Phaedra stroked his mouth with her soft fingers. “I don’t like seeing either of you in pain. I think we’ve all had enough of that in the last while, don’t you?”
“I fear there’s more to come. My sister contacted me yesterday. She is demanding that Braxon and I return home.”
“Why would she do that when we've not finished negotiations?” Phae asked, confused.
“Because she doesn’t know about them, or you.” Braxon’s answer was blunter than Tyran’s carefully planned response, but at this point Tyr didn’t think it mattered much. He was certain she would be hurt and unhappy that they had kept her a secret from his family.
“Why wouldn’t she know what you’re doing?” She asked, then answered her own question. “Because she’s part of the court you’re trying to escape from. You can’t let her know until the deal is done.”
“You’re not angry?” Tyr asked.
She winked at him. “You keep asking me that. Trust me, highness, when I’m mad at you, you’ll know it. I’m not angry about you and Braxon finally figuring out you’re more than friends. I wasn’t sure, but I had a hunch. I just don’t understand why you didn’t act on it before now.”
“Because it took being affected by the sharhal for it to manifest,” Braxon told her. “That happens sometimes with our species. The bond is not complete until we find our mahaya, the one who binds us all together.”
“So, you didn’t feel this way about each other before?” She quirked a pink brow at them both. “Are you sure about that?”
Neither of them spoke for a long time.
“And that’s my answer. You sensed something but decided to ignore it, didn’t you?” She huffed. “Males. It doesn’t matter what species you are, you’re all stubborn when it comes to your feelings.”
“We’re stubborn about our feelings? Are you sure the ground beneath your feet is firm enough to be hurling such accusations, little warrior?” Tyr asked.
“Probably not,” she conceded, then changed the subject. “What are we going to do about your sister and her command to come home?”
“I think it’s time we used a phrase you taught us,” Tyr glanced at Braxon who nodded.
“Which one?” she asked.
“The one that states sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.”
“Oh! I like that one,” she was beaming now, a warrior’s grin that should terrify any sane male. But he wasn’t sane. He was in love.
“I thought you would approve. Once we’ve eaten and bathed, we’ll help you get started with this idea of yours.”
Phaedra’s smile broaden
ed. “Good, because I think it’s going to take all three of us to convince everyone to come back for one more meeting.”
“We’ll find a way.” Braxon leaned in to gently kiss her cheek, then turned and brushed a whisper of a kiss on Tyr’s lips as he moved away. He still wasn’t sure how it was all going to come together. They didn’t even know what Phae was planning, but in his heart, he knew it was going to work out. Their ancestors hadn’t brought them all this way to fail.
They had barely started on their day when the high priority message had arrived.
“What do you mean, she’s demanding to see us now?” Phae had been enjoying a blissfully hot bath when Tyran had arrived with the news. The only thing she’d accomplished so far today was to eat and convince her mates to remove the subvocal communicator tech so that she could access the translation program without discomfort.
She climbed out of the tub and started toweling herself off, but Tyr took the towel from her and started doing it for her. A second later Braxon left the bath too, and soon she was being petted and stroked by soft fabrics and strong hands as they both took over. “How long have we got?”
“Long enough to dress and see to one other small detail. Then we’ll speak to my sister.”
“What other detail?” she asked.
Braxon kissed the curve of her shoulder. “We’d be honored if you would agree to wear your mating band to this meeting.”
The idea made her stupidly happy. “You want her to know you’re mated to me?”
“Yes.” They both answered at once.
“I’d be happy to make that clear to anyone who might be watching. What about the two of you? Will you be wearing yours?”
“We will,” Tyr confirmed.
“But I don’t have scars, yet. Won’t she notice that?”
Braxon unpinned her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders. “Wear your beautiful hair down and no one will be able to see if you bear our marks or not.”
“Good idea.” That would work for now, but she was ready to take that step. Soon, they’d bond and she’d have their claiming marks as well as the armband to mark her as their mahaya. She suspected that she wouldn’t be the only one getting new scars, either. Her lovers were more than anrik now, or they would be, very soon.
