Mortal Flames_The Magical

by Averi Hope

  “Even the females can wear whatever they want?”

  He chuckled. “A man would have to be a fool to try to tell them what to wear.”

  This is a curious place.

  “But why do their females walk around without escorts?”

  He turned his steering wheel, taking them onto an even busier street. “That’s one thing you’ll learn pretty quickly about humans, at least the ones in this area of the world. Freedom is their middle name.”

  “For all of them?” she asked, shocked.

  After a second, he chuckled. “No, that’s just a human expression. I just meant that they are mostly free to do whatever they want. The women can do whatever the men can do. They go out alone. They dress how they want. They take a mate, or they don’t. It’s all their choice.”

  Two women sat drinking something from mugs outside of what must have been a restaurant, and they were laughing. What must it be like to have so many choices?

  For some reason, she had the unexpected urge to hide her face and immediately return to the Elementa mother ship. Because you envy them. Because you don’t want to like anything about this planet or its people. It’ll only make it harder when we need to leave.

  “But what if they choose the wrong mates?” she asked, tapping her fingers on her legs.

  You’re searching for problems now?

  “Sometimes they do, so they move on to a different mate.”

  She froze, turning to look at the handsome male next to her, sure he was joking. “They don’t mate for life?”

  His stunning smile returned. “Not most of them.”

  Her pulse sped up as her gaze slid over Raiden. He is mine. Mine for life. What would it be like to give him up? To have to see him with another female?

  “That sounds…sad,” she said, but she wasn’t entirely sure that was the right word.

  That’s because if you’d never found Raiden, you’d have to take Kaemon as your mate. She shivered. Then she’d wish she wasn’t mated for life.

  Raiden reached out and took her cold hand in his warm one, squeezing it softly. “In the two years I’ve been here, I discovered that humans are complicated creatures. They all want different things. Some of them are happy, some of them aren’t…and all of them seem to have different goals to achieve happiness.”

  She took a deep breath as a tingle spread from where her skin touched his, trying desperately to hold onto their conversation. “It’s strange. Kaemon and his followers want us to believe humans are unintelligent and primitive animals.”

  “Yeah.” Anger flared in his voice. “Because that would make stealing this planet easier.” He pulled into an area with a number of other land vehicles and the rumbling of the machine stopped. “But right now, let’s forget about that. It’s time to shop!”

  Opening his door, he stepped out, then slammed it with an awful groan. She flinched, her gaze temporarily going to the building across from them. Something moved, so fast it was there one second and gone the next. She stiffened, leaning forward. But the top of the building was empty.

  Was there really something there or—?

  Raiden opened her door, drawing her attention. He reached across her and unbuckled the belt that tied her down. “Ready for some fun?” He held out his hand.

  With a deep breath, she gave a small smile at his excitement and reached out.

  He helped her from the vehicle and placed her hand on his arm. “Anything you wish.”

  One second, their gazes were locked, both smiling. And the next, he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. The moment was perfect.

  She slid her hand through the back of his too-long, dark hair. His eyes, which had returned to their false dark color, seemed to be filled with a happiness that took her breath away. Standing on her tiptoes, she pulled him down to her once more and kissed him softly.

  He started in surprise, but then returned her kiss with one of his own. Each kiss grew longer, deeper. He groaned, then tore himself away from her.

  “Enough,” he grumbled, “or we’ll never make it out of this parking lot.”

  She felt breathless as he led her to the area with all the humans and the shops. Curious eyes swept over them as they walked. Twice, she touched the silver earring that cupped one of her lobes, reassuring herself that it was there. That her skin wasn’t pale blue and her eyes were ringed with different shades of blue.

  Leaning close to him, she whispered. “We blend in, so why do they still stare?”

  He chuckled. “This planet or the next, you could never ‘blend in,’ my beautiful Saura.”

  She felt her cheeks heat. “But—“

  “Raiden!” A woman waved to them across the street. She was older, with pale golden hair weaved with silver. She was large for a woman, tall and heavily set.

  The woman hurried across the road.

  Saura gasped as a land vehicle slammed to a stop, just inches from the elder female, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. A second later, she stood before them.

  “Raiden, you old dog! Where have you been?” Her voice was overwhelmingly loud, but friendly.

  He grinned at the woman. “Sorry, I made breakfast at home this morning.”

  The elder turned pale green eyes the color of rare gems to Saura. “Is this perhaps what kept you?”

  Saura bowed her head. “Elder, I apologize for keeping him. I did not know he had an appointment with—“

  The elder laughed, a booming sound. “Why, isn’t she a polite thing? You aren’t from around here, are you, darling?”

  Saura froze, all words dying on her lips. Am I so transparent?

  “She’s actually from my old town,” Raiden explained, the lie effortless. “Saura, this is Rose. Rose, may I introduce Saura?”

  “Nice to meet you, darling,” the elder said, holding out a hand.

  The sunlight reflected off the deep lines of her wrinkled face, carved through skin that was the color of copper.

  “I’m s-sorry,” Saura struggled for the right words, staring at the hand in front of her. “You are simply remarkably beautiful, Elder.”

  Time seemed to stand still. What did I say wrong?

  And then, the elder known as Rose laughed again. “I like this girl. You better keep her.”

  Raiden’s brows rose, and he wrapped an arm around Saura’s waist, drawing her closer. “Oh, I intend to.”

  “Smart boy.” Her remarkable eyes turned back to Saura. “I hope you aren’t planning on dragging our Raiden back home, though. He’s been a godsend since he arrived…doing all the heavy lifting at my place. Yeah, I supply him with a horse’s weight in meals, but I’d give him a hell of a lot more than that, if I could.” Her gaze slid back to Raiden. “Speaking of which, you better be bringing her to the café for lunch, or else I’ll take it as a personal insult.”

  His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Yes, ma’am.”

  When the woman left them, hurrying back into the street as two cars honked at her, Saura whirled on Raiden. “Do these people think you were sent by their god?”

  There was a blank expression on his face, which changed to one of understanding after a few moments. “No.” He looked as if he was trying to hold back another laugh. “Godsend is another human expression. She’s just saying she likes having me around.”

  Saura felt herself relax, just a bit. “Can their elders read minds?”

  One of his brows rose. “No, why?”

  She shifted closer to him, as people walked around them, and lowered her voice. “She seemed to know I was here to take you home.”

  The mischief left his gaze, and he looked away from her, the muscles in his jaw twitching. “No, she was just having a little fun with you.”

  Good.

  “Let’s keep going, though.” He placed her hand back on his arm. “We’ve got some shopping to do, and I see I’ve got a few things to teach you about human customs.”

  “All right.”

  His excitement was infectious, but at the back
of her mind, she could feel time ticking away. She needed to get Raiden back to the mother ship. Kaemon was no doubt already quietly working his play for the throne, even though he couldn’t do it too obviously with their people still, no doubt, mourning the death of their Khar.

  The importance of her mission made her feel as if her blood raced through her veins, but there was also something else. A slight tickling at the back of her neck. A feeling. It was hard to place. Like I’m being watched.

  She almost laughed at the idea. Who would be watching them? She and Raiden had taken the only ships capable of reaching Erth quickly enough, and no human would have a reason to watch them. She was just being silly.

  I’ll enjoy this time with Raiden, before we must both return to reality.

  As they entered their first shop, she forced a smile, ignoring the tickling sensation that wouldn’t be quelled.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The sun had gone down while they explored the town, bringing with it an unexpected chill. But Saura couldn’t bring herself to care. It had been one of the best days of her life. Shopping, with nearly limitless options, had turned out to be more fun than she could’ve imagined. Dressed in pants called jeans, and a soft, dark blue shirt that felt silky against her flesh, she felt comfortable. I’m in pants! Like a male! The back of the truck was filled with more bags, loaded with every little thing that had caught her interest.

  She’d told Raiden she didn’t need quite so many things, but he seemed thrilled by her every purchase…and watching her try on different styles of clothing. So she’d allowed him to buy clothes, tools, toys, and gadgets, hoping that just bringing such material back to the Hope would show the council how truly advanced the humans were.

  And then there was the rest of the day, lunch at Rose’s Café. Meeting the people of this strange town. Discovering, much to her surprise, that Raiden was well loved by everyone they met. And strangely, the humans were starting to grow on her. Not that she liked them.

  But she finally understood why he liked Erth so much. Why he didn’t want to leave. Just the thought of returning to the cold confines of the mother ship felt strangely disappointing.

  Don’t think of that now, she thought, leaning back farther in her seat.

  With the windows rolled down, the wind whipping around them, and the strange human music blaring, Saura felt like she was flying. In some bizarre dream that she never wanted to end. Even this rusting hunk of metal is growing on me.

  A bright silver moon peered down at them from above, it’s glow strangely soft in comparison to the glow from the lamps strewn every so often along the winding road, and the light from their land vehicle. Their truck.

  “Thank you,” she said, turning to Raiden.

  His gaze met hers. “For what?”

  “This day.” She struggled to find the right words. “Erth truly is a special place. I can see why you don’t want to give it up.”

  Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Well, maybe I don’t have to. Maybe we don’t have to.”

  “What do you…?”

  He started talking, but Saura didn’t hear him. Something silver had flashed in the woods behind his head. There seemed to be flashes of silver everywhere.

  She frowned. Some things were running alongside their truck, just beyond the road. But what?

  “Raiden…”

  “I know what you’re going to say, but—“

  “No.” She pointed. “What is—?”

  “Shit!” he screamed, slamming on the breaks.

  She turned, the belt tightening across her chest. Just in front of them, half a dozen Spyres lined the road, blocking their way. Their metal bodies, poised on their long legs, stood ready, stingers pointed toward them.

  Oh, Great Mother!

  “No!” Saura shouted. “Keep going! Go!”

  The engine of the vehicle roared as it started moving faster once more, barreling toward the dangerous creatures.

  Her heartbeat filled her ears. She gripped the belt at her chest.

  One. Two. Three.

  They struck them, and the vehicle spun. Colors whirled around them as the trees grew closer. Oh gods, if those things catch us—

  Blam!

  Everything went dark.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Saura fluttered her eyes open, wincing as the world spun before her. Where am I? And what in the three blazing moons happened? Nausea bubbled up, and she reached up to hold her forehead, to steady herself. Her fingers touched something wet and she pulled them back. Crimson blood coated her fingertips.

  A cool breeze tore through the broken glass of the window in front of her, carrying with it the scent of green life and coppery death. She shivered, gathering her arms around herself. That’s right. I’m here on the human planet. Erth. But why is my memory after that so fuzzy?

  Taking deep breaths, she glanced around her, still feeling unsteady.

  Suddenly, she realized she was in a human transport vehicle. We must have crashed!

  She saw the crushed front of the vehicle.

  If she were human, she had no doubt she’d be seriously injured from such a crash. Or if I’d been sitting on the other side of the vehicle.

  Raiden!

  Her gaze shifted, coming to rest on the seat Raiden should’ve been sitting in. Instead, there was nothing but a torn seatbelt and a shattered window. Her heartbeat raced, singing through her veins. I need to find him!

  She tried to move but couldn’t. Then, she remembered the human seatbelt. It took her a moment to work it, and even longer to open the ancient door that screeched as she threw it open. Her boots crunched unsteadily on the assortment of leaves and dirt beneath her feet.

  Only one of the lights from the human transportation vehicle lit the dark woods in front of her. The other light had been smashed by the large trunk of a tree, which had split the front of their vehicle, ripping the metal back like paper.

  She swallowed hard around the dryness at the back of her throat.

  The wind’s icy fingers clawed at her again. She shivered and pressed on through the woods, searching for Raiden. This couldn’t have killed him. Could it? She shook the thought aside. Raiden was a male Elementa. He was strong, big, and powerful. If anyone could survive this, he could.

  Blood trickled into her right eye and she pushed it aside, ignoring the wave of dizziness the action caused. The woods stretched around her, silent, but strangely also with an air of danger. Of warning.

  I like nature. I’ve missed the woods of Falaytious. Why should I be afraid of this Earth forest?

  But she couldn’t shake the feeling that danger hung over her head like a dangling ax.

  A big pale moon shone down, providing more light than the one lamp left on the vehicle. Still, she saw no sign of Raiden. Sweat dripped down her spine. The longer it took to find him, the more worried she became.

  And then she saw him.

  Lying on the ground in a clearing not far from the accident, his big body was angled strangely. She raced to him, her new boots almost soundless. When she came to his side, she rolled him onto his back. Her hand went instantly to his chest, where she felt the steady fall of his breathing.

  Tears pricked her eyes. “Raiden! Thank the gods. Raiden, wake up!”

  He didn’t move.

  She looked him over more carefully. One of his arms looked wrong. Bruises and deep gashes covered his face. He needs help. If she could get him to her ship, it should have all the supplies she’d need. But somehow, I’ll need to drag him to the land vehicle, figure out how to drive it, and remember where to go.

  Each task alone was nearly impossible, much less all three together, but she didn’t care.

  Impossible or not, I’ll save him.

  Because I love him. I’ve always loved him.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and reached for his good arm, praying for the strength to lift him.

  Something crunched to the right. Looking up quickly, she peered into the darkness.

>   There’s nothing there.

  But the feeling wouldn’t go away. Her palms felt sweaty and the hairs on her arms stood on end. Keeping her gaze on the trees, scanning the darkness, she blindly reached for Raiden again.

  A soft sound to the left. What was that?!

  She caught a flash of silver.

  Her head gave a sharp stabbing pain, and a memory came back to her. Of the moments before their accident.

  What were those things Father talked about?

  Spyres! Gods, no!

  The metal creatures, with eight legs, long tails with a spike on the end, and bodies covered in thousands of metal spikes, were terrifying. Now she remembered what her mind had been trying to block. They were what caused the accident!

  Father said he suspected several of them were attached to the outside of Raiden’s ship. But why attack now? Did my presence somehow trigger this?

  Sounds came from all around her as she watched the Spyres slowly creeping forward, their legs making an eerie clacking noise as they came toward her. She counted them as they appeared. One, two, three, four, five, six. What are their weapons? What can they do?

  Heart racing, she reached for a large tree branch lying beside Raiden. The machines might outnumber her, but they had no idea how dangerous she could be when her mate was threatened.

  With one hand curled over the rough bark, she crouched over Raiden and growled a low threat. The machines froze as one.

  Sentience?

  Anger coursed through her. So they aren’t solely machines! Father always said the most dangerous creations were the horrible combination of living beings and technology. And that even though such experiments are unethical and illegal, there are always those willing to experiment for the black market. But there is one benefit from such a tragedy, perhaps they can be reasoned with.

  “I am Saura Moro, only daughter to one of the most powerful Elementa families. One of the first families. To attack me, or my mate, will be considered treason. And if you should do so, I will not spare any of you.”