by Gail Koger
One of the stones hit Malik’s shoulder, knocking him off the tree. We watched him plummet toward the ground.
Ziyad shrugged guilelessly. “Whoops. Guess he can’t.”
He teleported about ten seconds before his brains would have been splattered over the sand.
My psychic senses screamed a warning. I whipped out my laser pistol. “He’s coming.”
Ziyad pulled her pistol. “He’s like one of those villains in an Earth slasher movie. The ones who won’t stay dead no matter how many times you kill them.”
A badly bleeding Malik appeared in front of us. He swayed back and forth as if it took everything he had to stand.
“I will inform the Overlord.” Wulf’s tone was one of barely contained fury. He wanted Malik dead as much as we did.
“I think he used up all ten of his lives,” Ziyad commented.
“It’s nine lives, and he’s not a cat.” I smiled at Malik. “What’s up with all the holes in your battle suit? Did you buy a cheap knockoff? Oh, wait! I know. You thought eating human flesh would make you stronger. How’s that working out for you?”
Malik muttered, “Gop yup pen.”
“What?”
“Gop yup pen.” Malik’s severely broken jaw hung at an odd angle.
“We can’t understand you.”
He switched to mind talk. “Drop your weapons.”
Ziyad laughed. “No. You drop yours.”
“I. Will. Kill. You.” Malik’s snarl looked very painful.
“No, you won’t.” I examined the rotted tree limb protruding through his left shoulder and the way his left arm hung limply. “Not only is your jaw busted, but so is your left shoulder and arm. You’re losing way too much blood from some serious internal injuries, and you’ll probably pass out in the next thirty seconds. My prognosis? Without immediate medical intervention, you will be dead within an hour.”
“I will not…die today or tomorrow…or the day after that. I will live forever.” Malik’s right hand shook badly as he raised his pistol. “My allies have arrived.”
A glittering blue transporter light blossomed on the sand. When it faded a fat, hairy humanoid with horns stood there.
“Dingle.” I gasped. “You see him, Wulf?”
“I do.”
The Yagga’s white horizontal pupils roved over me hungrily. “We meet at last.”
“The female is yours as promised,” Malik gritted out. “Now get me…to your sick bay.”
Fat chance. There was no way I would let Malik or Dingle leave this planet alive. “Bebo, the Yagga who took your kids is here. Wanna say hello?”
Something yowled in the distance.
“I think that was a yes.” Ziyad chortled.
To my surprise, Dingle made no move to transport us off the planet. Instead, he scowled at Malik. “What happened to our three hundred million credits?”
“Three hundred million? Someone had his fingers in the till,” Ziyad exclaimed.
“Oh, yeah.” I hid a relieved smile when Bui scrambled up my back. She was safe.
Malik suddenly seemed to have a hard time concentrating. “My father… emptied…the accounts.”
Ziyad snorted. “No, he didn’t. Before you accidently fell off the cliff, you were bragging about how clever you were and how the fools would never find the credits you had hidden on Viktor.”
“And the good news is, the Chi-Rho pirates just blew up that asteroid.” I laughed at the horrified expression on Dingle’s furry face.
“They are…lying.” Malik coughed violently, and blood dribbled down his chin.
A female voice speaking Galactic Basic suddenly said, “I have proof you have been siphoning credits from our accounts for some time, Malik.”
A holographic image finally formed next to Dingle. A homely human female with her black hair scraped into a bun and wearing a blue military uniform loaded with medals and ribbons stood there. Her gaze fastened on Malik. “Commander Neral and I want our money back.”
“May I introduce General Georgina Tasker,” Wulf declared.
“Who the heck is Commander Neral?”
Wulf answered, “She’s the Rodan commander who killed every living soul on Manang two months ago. The Alliance calls her the Butcher of Manang.”
Malik knees buckled. “I… I…need…sick bay.”
“You are a thief, a liar, and no longer any use to us. Kill him,” General Tasker commanded the Yagga.
Dingle protested, “What about the credits?”
“The females know where the money is.”
“What a stone-cold bitch,” Ziyad said.
I held up my hand. “Ah, no, we don’t.”
The General practically hissed. “Do you take me for a fool?”
“Georgina. May I call you Georgina?”
“No. You will address me as General Tasker.”
“See, here’s the thing, Georgina. You’ve been demoted, and you haven’t got long to live.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m a Jones and a Siren and good friends with the Overlord. You are so busted.”
“Kill them all,” Georgina screeched.
I could feel Malik trying to summon enough power to teleport, but he was too far gone.
Dingle obediently shot him.
Malik’s body disintegrated into a million fireflies when the laser beam struck him.
Before Dingle could shoot us, Bebo charged around a boulder and grabbed him. “Now you die.”
Dingle’s eyes bulged as the Gorum hurled him at the trees.
Dozens of the branches struck, turning him into a pincushion. Dingle made a funny gurgling noise as the trees drained him dry.
Hadn’t seen that one coming. I gave the general my scary smile. “You can run, but Bebo can find you anywhere. Taking his son was a really big mistake.”
Bebo made an obscene gesture with a tentacle and opened his gaping maw, exposing the still-digesting snakes.
“Oh yeah, he plans on having you over for dinner.”
A shadow of alarm crossed the general’s face. The holograph vanished.
Ziyad threw a worried glance at the sky. “What’s to keep Dingle’s warriors from transporting us on board his ship?”
“Me. Get behind a boulder,” Bebo ordered.
We quickly took refuge in a hollow between two enormous rocks. A blinding golden light burst into existence. We hung on for dear life when hurricane-force winds blew over us.
Pop! The light vanished, and Bebo with it.
I took one look at Ziyad and giggled. “You’re encrusted with sand.”
“And you look like you’ve been rolled in yellow sugar. Like one of those cookies.”
I linked with Wulf. “Please tell me the Earth’s enforcers have the general’s location?”
“They do,” Wulf responded. “She will be arrested shortly.”
“The Overlord knows Malik is dead?”
“I have shared that information with him,” Wulf said.
“We’re good then?”
“The Overlord is pleased you are safe and disappointed he was unable to deal with Malik himself.”
I just bet he was.
Ziyad held out her hand for a high-five. “Dingle is dead, and soon his crew will be digesting with the snakes.”
“And we survived.” I smacked her hand and broke into a victory dance.
“The Overlord wanted you to know Detja is planning the bonding ceremonies,” Wulf advised smugly. “It is a great honor.”
“Does that include Lothel’s and mine?”
“It does, and Yakira, your mother will be there.”
I let out a squeal of excitement. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
Wulf hugged me mentally. “Your Earth family is waiting for you on Tanith, and they informed me you turned twenty-one three months ago.”
“What? Are you kidding me? We could have been having sex all along?”
“A fact that can now be remedied.” Wulf’s mo
uth covered mine.
I trembled at the sweet tenderness of his kiss. “You are my heart, my anchor.”
“Home is where you are.”
“Great line.”
“It is the truth,” Wulf responded.
“I’m never, ever letting you go.” My lips took his with a hunger akin to starvation. Wulf tasted so good I never wanted to come up for air.
“Snakes!” Ziyad smacked me upside the head. “Pay attention.”
“Okay. Okay. No need to get violent.”
“Isn’t there?” Ziyad point at the dozen or so snakes slithering our way.
“Bebo! You still hungry?”
“I am always hungry.” A dazzling golden light leaped into existence.
Chapter Twenty
The first thing I noticed when we entered Tanith’s solar system were the death satellites. Any unauthorized ship would be blown to smithereens. I guess after the Great War, Zarek wasn’t taking any chances.
I watched Tanith grow larger and larger in the view screen. It glowed a bright orange. The skeletal remains of long-dead cities were scattered across the seemingly endless ocean of persimmon-colored sand. They were a ghastly testament to the devastation done by the Gall bomb’s lethal radiation.
Gaunt wind-tortured peaks of black stone surrounded the empty seas. No animals. No birds. Not a single tree or bush or even a weed had survived the utter devastation.
The vids of the Coletti’s subterranean cities were impressive. A Roman-like Eden buried deep with the earth, complete with blast doors. Each city had its own artificial sun, parks, waterfalls, lakes, and critters of every type.
The Overlord’s palace was like something out of an Earth fairy tale. The intricately carved black stone rose gracefully from a turquoise lake. The structure came complete with arched gateways, flower-covered terraces, and colonnaded streets. I was pretty sure Detja, Zarek’s mate, had a lot to do with the design.
Bui jumped up and down on my braided hair. “My family there?”
“Kaylee’s Tabors are in the palace. We think you belong to one of them.”
“Go.” Bounce. “Now.” Bounce.
I grabbed her off my head and petted her wiggly body. “We have to wait for Daddy Wulf.”
“Why?”
“Because he is going to teleport us to the palace.”
“What take so long?”
“I wish I knew.” I was dying to meet Mom and my Earth family.
Ziyad typed data into the command console. “We are now in our assigned orbit.”
“I’m starting to get worried. Do you think Zarek is angry we didn’t save Malik? Angry enough to call off the ceremonies?”
“Goddess, I hope not. I’m not giving up my Lothel. We could always elope.
“Elope!” Colburn threw up his hands. “Have you lost your minds? You don’t want to anger Detja. She has gone to a lot of trouble for the two of you. Your warlords are busy taking down Dingle’s operations and arresting the traitors.”
“True, they are.” I grimaced. “We could have helped.”
“After the fiasco on the space station and then allowing yourselves to be kidnapped? Not a chance.”
“Allowing? Are you serious?” I glared at my brother. “They got by everyone’s security.”
“You’re a Siren. You should have sensed them.”
“Those ships were full of warlords, Askole, and Alliance warriors who have psychic abilities. Not one of them detected the intruders.”
My brother gave me a sheepish grin. “Good point.”
“Yakira received the three million bounty on the Kidd Brothers,” Ziyad said.
Colburn countered, “Which went to pay off the Talon fighters you destroyed.”
“We destroyed,” I corrected.
“What if your family doesn’t like me?” Ziyad’s tentacles squirmed unhappily.
I shrugged. “Then you can eat them.”
Colburn looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Don’t tell her that.”
“It was a joke, you idiot, and I’m still mad at you.”
“I was drugged, just like you. Get over it,” Colburn sniped.
Wulf and Lothel teleported onto the bridge. They projected an aura of sheer menace.
Ziyad and I exchanged concerned looks. “What happened?”
“General Tasker escaped.” There was a dangerous edge to Wulf’s voice.
“How did that happen?”
Lothel scowled. “She shut down the defense grid during a Rodan attack and ran on board one of the ships that was harvesting humans.”
My jaw dropped. The general couldn’t be that big of an idiot, could she? “I take it it wasn’t Commander Neral’s battle cruiser she boarded?”
Wulf grinned. “No. It wasn’t.”
“The Rodan will eat her,” Ziyad said gleefully.
Oh, boy, would they.
“What is the phrase humans use?” Lothel’s expression brightened. “Karma is a bitch.”
We all laughed.
Wulf opened his arms. “Ready to meet your family?”
“I am.”
Chapter Twenty-One
We appeared on a sunny terrace draped with a bright riot of flowers. In the distance, a silvery waterfall cascaded down the cavern wall. I looked around in awe. The vids didn’t do Tanith’s subterranean cities justice. Below us, a flock of pink ducklike birds floated peacefully on the turquoise water. It was truly an underground paradise.
Detja wasn’t what I’d expected. She could pass for someone in her thirties; her skin was flawless, and her long silver hair emphasized her high, exotic cheekbones and delicate features. The velvety material of her teal-green tunic accentuated her great figure. No wonder the Overlord had chased her all over the galaxy. She was truly beautiful, a powerful psychic, and an extraordinary thief. What Zarek couldn’t take by force, she could steal.
Wulf gave a slight bow. “My lady, may I present my mate, Yakira.”
Her bright amber gaze surveyed me from head to toe. “In all ways, you are truly a Jones.”
“Goddess, I hope not. The only Jones I have met so far is my cousin Quinn, and he’s a rude, bad-tempered jerk in serious need of an attitude adjustment.”
“Enough, Yakira,” Wulf scolded.
Detja laughed and embraced me. “I like you. You speak your mind. We are much alike.”
“Thank you,” I whispered in her ear. “What’s your secret for handling bossy warlords?”
“Sex. Lots of sex,” she whispered back.
I grinned. “I think we will be friends.”
“I agree.” Her smile vanished. “You were there when Malik died? Are you sure he is dead?”
I had to say I was a bit surprised by Detja’s questions. “Dingle killed him with a single laser blast to the chest.”
“He made no attempt to teleport away or defend himself?”
“No, he was dying from severe internal injuries.”
“Did he suffer?” A predator looked out of Detja’s eyes. I bet she picked that up from Zarek.
“He did.”
“Good. He inflicted great pain on my family.” She eyed my battle suit. “Are you expecting another attack?”
Wulf grimaced. “With Yakira, my lady, it is better to be prepared.”
“As with all Jones females.”
Lothel and Ziyad teleported in. He bowed. “My lady, may I present my mate, Ziyad.”
My very best friend smiled, exposing her sharp, serrated teeth. It was a truly terrifying sight. “It is a pleasure to meet the Overlord’s mate.”
Oh Goddess. She was deliberately trying to scare Detja.
Not a bit frightened, Detja walked over and hugged her. “Welcome to our clan, Ziyad. You will never be shunned or abandoned again. You are a valued member of our family.”
“Family is very important. Without it, we have nothing.” Moisture glistened in Ziyad’s eyes.
Bui dropped down to my shoulder. “Where me family?”
As if on cue, h
undreds of enormous golden tarantula-like spiders scurried toward us. A Tabor the size of dinner platter stopped in front of me. “Bui.” It was a cry of joy.
“Grandma!” Bui dropped down on top of her. “Bad man took me. Yakeee saved me.”
The silky-furred Tabor looked up at me. “I am called Tae. Thank you for rescuing Boo’s baby and making sure her leg will be replaced.”
“It was my pleasure, and the Overlord made all the arrangements for the surgery.”
Bui skittered up the wall. “Where your mom?”
“Kira,” a familiar melodic voice cried.
I spun around. A petite curly-haired female ran out of an open terrace doorway.
“Mom!” I caught her in my arms and held on tightly. Roses. I remembered she always smelled like roses. I remembered her voice, her touch. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I knew you weren’t dead. In my soul, I knew you still lived. I never doubted it for a moment, and I never stopped looking for you.” My mother sobbed into my neck.
“Now you’ve found me, and we’ll never be parted again.” I kissed her cheek and noticed Ziyad watching me anxiously. I automatically switched to mind talk. “Mom, this is Ziyad, sister of my heart.”
My mother grabbed Ziyad’s hand. “You are now the daughter of my heart. Welcome to our family. Please call me Mom.”
Happy tears ran down Ziyad’s cheeks. “Mom, you reside in my soul.”
Bui jumped on Mom’s right shoulder. “Me Bui. Me family.”
“Yes, you are.” Mom patted her gingerly.
I linked with Wulf. “I think Mom is afraid of spiders.”
“Her heart rate is elevated.” He scooped up Bui and set her down by her grandmother. “There are Karakors bugs inside and some mealy bugs infused with ale for the adults.”
The Tabors eagerly scampered through the doorway.
“Thank you.” Mom went up on her tiptoes and kissed Wulf’s chin. “Spiders scare the crap out of me.” She turned to Lothel. “Who is this handsome warrior?”
Ziyad’s smile was giddy with joy. “Mom, this is my mate, Lothel.”
My mother gave Lothel a narrow-eyed glare. “You take good care of her, or you will answer to me. Understand?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Goddess, I had neglected to introduce Mom to Wulf, but then, she knew who he was, didn’t she? “You’ve met my mother, right?”
