by Stella Sky
I had responsibilities to take care of after the mess of the battle. I needed to speak with the king. So I took Reena to be with Luka to do a check up, as she called it.
“Don’t let them out of your sight,” I told Kavik, who sat in Luka’s hut.
“I promise you I won’t,” he said smiling at me.
I moved over to Reena and kissed the top of her hand, “I will be back.”
“I know. Go see the king. He is waiting. I am fine here,” she said.
I left her and went to the palace. I made my way up to the king’s chamber. He was looking over a report.
“So you saw it? You saw them, the Aeriwana-Draqua hybrid?” he asked. “Kavik already gave me a report.”
“Yes. I am positive that is what it was. They were in Riqov, and one of them was named Temuk. He tortured Kavik and I,” I said.
“Torture, a favorite tool of the Aeriwana,” the king said.
“Yes, and you were right all along. There is still breeding going on. There were at least four that I saw, maybe more.”
“You think that Commander Triq was doing it?”
“When I accused him of it, he growled at me but did not admit as much. It is possible that he was working for someone else,” I said.
“If you would have left him alive then we would be able to find out,” the King said annoyed.
“I know. I apologize, King. It was not the Draqua way to to do such a thing. I know that it is essential to gather as much information as possible when dealing with these things. I was not myself,” I said.
“Yes, because he stole Reena. I understand. I would have done the same thing. How is she?” he asked.
“Pregnant,” I said.
“What? Really? That is good news indeed. I now understand your reason for killing him. Nothing should harm your pregnant mate,” he said. “I know from experience.”
“Yes, that is true,” I said as I grinned, remembering the stories I had heard about King Hydros and Queen Melody. Then the king grew silent.
After a few moments passed, he said, “We may have some answers yet, answers about the breeding of Aeriwana and Draqua,” he said.
“Yes, in time we shall find out all that we can. I assume,” I said.
“No, not in time. Soon. After Kavik told me about Riqov, I sent a mission there,” he said.
“You did?” I asked shocked.
“Yes, they are to bring the Aeriwana Draqua here if they catch any,” he said.
“What? Here!” I was astounded that he would bring the awful creatures into our homelands. “But why?”
“They will be prisoners, of course. But through them I should learn once and for all who is the one that is doing this,” the King said.
“It just seems dangerous. These Draqua are very powerful, and they are not like us at all. I have seen them,” I said.
“I am aware of the dangers. I would not put our village in danger, but it is in danger every day that goes by and we don’t know what these Aeriwana are doing. It is better that we catch them and keep a watch on them so that we know. There will be no surprise attacks. The fact that the opposition had a base here on Kelon in the Manta is unacceptable. Now we must keep better track of our enemies,” he said.
“I understand,” was all that I said. I did not agree with him on this one but he was the king, and I owed him my loyalty.
“Now go be with your human female. I know they will be standing in front of me in a few days as they have requested an audience. I will see them in time as I want to deal with this pressing matter first. You are dismissed,” he said.
I nodded to him. I had so many questions. How long had it been since he launched that mission? Which warriors went? Where would the Aeriwana be kept, as I did not see our prison cells holding them? I made my way back to Luka’s hut. They were in the kitchen cooking as Kavik sat at the window peering out over the sky. He was keeping watch like a good warrior.
“Welcome back! Did you have a good meeting with the king?” Reena said as she jumped up when she saw me and skipped over to me. She reached up on her tiptoes and wanted me to kiss her. I placed a very light kiss on her lips as I did not want to hurt her bruised jaw.
“I did have a good meeting. I have much to discuss with Kavik,” I said, nodding to him.
“Well, you warriors go ahead and leave us pregnant ladies out then. We will just cook and slave away in the kitchen,” Luka said in a joking way as she laughed a girly laugh.
“Yes, feed us well. We need energy, for we are warriors,” Kavik said in response to her joke in his deepest voice. Reena laughed and moved back into the kitchen. I walked outside the door to the veranda. Kavik followed me. He shut the door behind us, and I whispered to him, “There could be trouble soon.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“After your report of the Aeriwana, the king sent a mission to Tiok. He has instructed the warriors to bring any back here as prisoners if they find any. He is looking for Temuk in Riqov.”
“No, that can’t be good,” Kavik said.
“No, it cannot. Let us hope that the mission does not find any,” I said.
“But I see why the king is doing it. Waiting around until something attacks you is not a good position to be in. He wants to have control over the situation,” Kavik said.
“Yes, I agree with that. Only why not keep them locked up on the planet Tiok? We can manage that. Not bring them here,” I said.
“Yes, I am extra paranoid too now that Luka is with child,” Kavik grinned reading my mind.
“It is almost excruciating. At first, we only had ourselves to think of in dangerous situations, and now that has changed,” I said.
“Yes, Luka told me that Reena is also with child. Are you going to take her as a wife?” Kavik asked.
“Yes. Are you going to take Luka?”
“Yes, I am, if she will have me. She has said yes, but I feel like she will change her mind at any second and you know the law since Queen Melody took the throne,” Kavik said.
“Yes, I know it all too well. The human female must agree to be your mate as well in order to have marriage,” I laughed.
“So what do you want to do about the Aeriwana situation?” he asked.
“What can we do? We will just have to keep an eye on it. But for now, let’s say nothing to Reena and Luka. I don’t think that extra stress is good for them after everything that has already happened.”
“I agree,” he said.
“Let’s just hope that nothing happens, and we don’t have to speak of it ever again. Let’s go eat,” I said as I patted him on the back. We walked inside the hut and ate with our new family. I was counting down the days until the king would see the humans and officially grant them a stay on Kelon. This way I could move forward and claim her as well.
Two days passed before they were finally summoned to stand before the king and make their decision official.
“State your plea, humans,” the king said as he stood with his wife, Queen Melody.
“I, Reena Rhodes, wish to obtain permission to stay on Kelon permanently. I do not wish to return to Earth. I wish to take Lieutenant Dekario Dundra as a husband as he is the father of my unborn child,” Reena said as she stepped forward.
“You do understand that this means that you shall not return to Earth ever again. You are to stay here and become Draqua,” the Queen said.
“Yes, Queen Melody, I understand it means I shall never see Earth again, or know the comforts of the material things of humans. I am ready and willing to give up that life in exchange for a life here,” Reena said. The king and queen nodded to her.
Then Luka stepped up and said something similar. They put her through the same questioning process. Then it was Phoenix that stepped up and declared his wish to stay.
“After hearing from the human guests, I, King Hydros, grant them permission to stay and live on Kelon. Let it be known that the humans willingly gave up their lives on Earth to have a life here with the Draqua on K
elon,” he said.
I stood up proudly, relieved that this portion was being put into action. Now I could marry Reena Rhodes. The king continued.
“We are happy to hear of the offspring that you have created. You are contributing to our race and preventing the extinction of it. Your mates wish to marry you and make you wives. If you agree to it, then I shall grant it so,” he said.
Reena turned to me, and Luka turned to Kavik. “Yes, I do agree to marriage,” Reena said grabbing my hand. “And I agree as well,” Luka said.
“Then I, King Hydros, grant it so. We shall have a great ceremony so that you may marry your Draqua warriors. We will have it next week. The village needs a grand celebration, and the warriors that fought in the battle at the Manta deserve some fun and relaxation. It will also be a chance to—”
Ping! Ping! The palace sirens rang loud and clear. Everyone looked startled, but Kavik and I had our blasters in our hands as soon as the first siren went off.
“King Hydros!” a guard shouted through the door of the chamber. “The Aeriwana has escaped!”
“No!” the King said. “Find them now!”
I looked at Kavik, and we both looked at the King. “Aeriwana? They are here?”
“Yes. I thought it best not to tell anyone until it was necessary. I did not want to cause a panic in the village,” the king said.
“Did you bring Temuk here?” Kavik asked.
“Yes, and now he has escaped,” the king said.
“Shit,” I said in anger.
“We have to go find him. Dekario and I know him best,” Kavik said.
“It is true,” I said, already looking at Reena, knowing there was a plea on her lips.
“No. Let the guards search for him. Please don’t leave,” she said.
“Can’t another find him?” Luka said as she ran over to Kavik.
“We will go,” the king said as he pulled out his blaster from his holster. “Melody, take them to safety. You know where,” he said.
“Yes, this way,” she said as she grabbed Reena’s hand and pulled her to the side of the room. I watched as Phoenix pushed Luka along after the queen. “Go with them. I will come with you. I can help,” he said as he turned toward us. I looked at Kavik and the king. They nodded. The king grabbed a blaster gun off the wall and tossed it Phoenix. He lined up with us. I watched as Queen Melody opened a panel in the wall, a secret corridor of sorts, and pushed Reena and Luka in with her. Then the wall closed.
“Let’s go,” King Hydros said. We moved out into the hall.
“He’s still in the palace somewhere,” the guard said as we moved into the big halls of the palace.
We had to find him. Kavik and I knew what he looked like, but to everyone else, he might just look like an un-shifted Draqua. It was up to us, and all I could think was that I might not live a second round with this Aeriwana Draqua. I would never see my Reena again or get to see our child born.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
REENA RHODES
After I heard the King declare that we could stay on Kelon and marry the Draqua warriors, I felt relief flood me. It felt like the last piece of the puzzle for my happiness. Now I would have it all. I would be in a new, adventurous home that looked like paradise. I would be with the alien dragon shifter that I loved. I would be having a child and be in a happy, loving family. I was giddy with joy. But I celebrated too soon. The amount of time between being granted permission to stay and the sound of the sirens was too short.
I knew as soon as the first siren went off that there was major trouble because I had never heard that siren before in the village. But I knew another thing immediately: that whatever it was, Dekario would volunteer to deal with it. His honor as a warrior and his bravery made me very attracted to him, but it also made me have great fear of what would happen.
“In here,” Queen Melody said as the siren blared and she opened up a wall. We slipped inside. It was a long secret passageway. She closed the wall panel, and it went dark except for a very dim light streaming in through the walls.
“What is happening?” Luka whispered. “What is an Aeriwana doing in the palace?”
Queen Melody sighed. She was about fifty years old, and I knew exactly who she was. She was the daughter of the president from thirty or so years before. I was not born then, but I had always heard about how that president’s daughter had been really reclusive during his presidency. When I arrived here and saw her, I knew that it was her, but I never said anything due to the fact that I knew that I would not be let back to Earth if I told them I knew. So I kept it to myself.
“The King captured an Aeriwana Draqua in order to get information from him about where they were coming from. Now it seems he has escaped,” she said.
“So what do we do now?” I asked feeling helpless. “How can we help?”
“We can help by staying here,” she said.
“But we do nothing?” Luka asked.
“I learned long ago that my husband is better focused in a fight if he knows that I am safe. I do not want him to be unfocused because I want him returned to me. So in a matter of danger, I hide in the passageway. If the palace is sieged, it leads out into the jungle. But if not, I stay here and this is where my husband comes to find me,” she said with a bit of sorrow in her voice. I realized that she as very worried too. He was out there too, and it was possible that he may not return to her.
“I suppose you are right. I have seen my wellbeing be a distraction for Dekario in a fight. I do not want him to worry about me,” I said.
“So we stay here, and we are quiet,” Luka whispered.
“Yes, exactly,” Queen Melody said.
As we waited, I could hear the sounds of the sirens. Every now and then we would hear shouting and blaster guns. Then it would stop. It would be silent.
It was complete agony standing there, not knowing. We held hands and hoped for our loved ones to return. I could not stand the idea of losing Dekario, not now when we were so close to happiness and feeling out of danger. I would not be able to do this without him. I placed a hand on my belly and comforted my child inside.
“It will be fine. You will see,” the queen said.
“Yes, it is a palace full of warriors against one Aeriwana Draqua,” Luka said. “They will be fine.”
I smiled and then looked at the queen. “Was it difficult? The pregnancy?” I asked.
“No. I assume it is just like being pregnant on Earth and giving birth. But I do not have that experience to compare it too. It is probably the same,” she smiled.
“And your son, the prince, where is he?” Luka asked.
“He is grown. He is a fine warrior. He is touring the galaxy, learning all that he can about it. My husband allowed him to do so. He says knowing about other planets and races will make him into a fine king. I agree with that,” she said.
“Sounds like a smart Draqua,” I said.
“Yes. Most hybrids are highly intelligent. You will see,” she smiled.
“It has been quiet for some time now,” Luka said, interrupting our talk of motherhood and bringing us back to reality. Then the sirens suddenly went off.
“What does that mean?” I asked the queen.
“I am not sure. Let us stay quiet now that we do not have the siren to mask our voices,” she whispered.
We stayed quiet holding hands practically crushing them as we squeezed in tension. Then the wall panel opened. “Melody?”
The king’s voice was a relief. Melody let go of our hands and ran to the king. She emerged from the panel walls. Luka and I gave each other a look. We did not hear Dekario or Kavik call to us. We moved quickly and emerged from the wall into the king’s chamber. Kavik and Dekario walked in. They were dirty and blood stained.
“Dekario!” I shouted as I ran to him. I threw myself into his arms. I was so happy to see him alive and well. It was torture waiting for him without knowing what was happening.
“I told you I would come back. I always do,” he sa
id.
“Yes, you do,” I said as I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him. I looked him over and said, “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“I am fine. We got him. He’s dead. No need to be frightened any more,” he said as he hugged me.
