by C. W. Gray
Fire shimmered for a moment before shifting into his elemental form. A long ribbon of fire danced through the group, heating the hilts of the phasers, vibro-blades, and other weapons.
“Okay,” Moses said, blinking in shock. “That’s not something you see every day. All fighters, make a wall in front of the kids.”
“Shit, they have a pulse cannon,” Lucas said, growling.
The other approaching group rushed forward, and Val quickly passed Seshi to Crea. “Watch over your brother.”
He moved to stand between Kelly and Moses. Before he could do much more, a fine grey mist seemed to rise from the ground. He felt a familiar weight press against his leg before he heard a loud, eerie roar. The mist grew heavier and surrounded Val and the others.
“What the hell is this?” Moses asked, looking around.
Kelly frowned. “I know it’s Crellic, but I’ve not heard of anything like this in my studies. Whatever it is, it’s using the death element.”
The grey shield shifted and thickened until he could see the shapes that formed it.
“Nora?” His voice broke as her shape took form in the mist. A tall, Crellic woman stood beside her, holding her hand. Seshia.
Nora smiled at him before turning around and facing the approaching attackers.
Other shapes formed, people and pets both. He recognized the hunting cat as Lotus mainly because a guinea pig rode its back.
“Mama? Daddy?” Crea’s voice was small, and tears filled her eyes as she stared at two of the spirits forming the shield.
They all heard the pulse cannon fire into the mist, but the wall of spirits held around them. That pulse would have killed us all. Val shivered and looked behind him. Wyatt with Riley while Estella huddled over the twins. Crea stood beside her big brother, holding Seshi tight. Midge crouched at her feet, looking ready to attack any who approached.
His son’s black eyes moved back and forth, staring at the spirits surrounding them. He raised his fist and waved toward Marshmallow and Lotus.
“How long will this shield hold?” Moses asked.
“No idea,” Kelly said, swallowing hard. “I can try some stuff if it disappears, but mainly, I just grow things.”
“I’ve called enforcement,” Leti said, rocking Milo in his arms. His kids gathered around him, but they didn’t seem as worried as they should.
“They may not get here in time,” Moses said.
“They don’t have to,” Leti said, looking up. “Go get ‘em, sweet baby boy.”
Val looked up, eyes widening when he saw the large, Fire Veil dragon flying over their heads. He didn’t see any of the battle, but he heard Princess Buttercup roar. Then there were enough screams and crunching noises to remind him why he worked in maintenance.
When all was silent, the shield of spirits slowly faded. Nora had time to smile once more and mouth I love you before she disappeared.
“Val?” Crea gave him an agonized look. “That was my mama and daddy. They were there.”
He went to her and hugged her close, stroking a hand over Seshi’s head too. “They protected you, sweetheart. They love you so much that they came to protect you.”
She pressed her face against his shoulder and cried.
Val exchanged a look of shocked relief with Wyatt. That was too close.
A ribbon of fire streaked across the sky and landed beside them. Fire shifted back into his human form and propped his fists on his hips. “Everyone’s okay. Mo’s tending to the wounded now, but we took out the bad guys.”
Kelly winced and shucked her coat before tying it around Fire’s waist. “You’re naked, man. Quit waving your wiener around.”
Val held Crea and surveyed their neighborhood. The pets appeared to be accounted for, but Mo was bandaging up Aagy. Scythe saw him watching and ran to him, tongue hanging out. Val swore the dog looked proud.
“Princess, no! Bad boy. We are a civilized family, and we don’t eat people.” Leti ran to his dragon, Milo balanced on his hip. “Spit that out right this instant.”
Princess looked at Leti for a second, then quickly spit out the arm he was chewing on.
Val closed his eyes. “Oh stars, that’s disgusting.”
“It’s just nature, Mr. Val,” Rizzie said, shrugging. “Princess Buttercup has to take out the bad guys somehow.”
13
Death watched King Xaran closely as the Dramiad advisors continued their speech about the benefits of trading with Dramacus. An hour into their discussions, Xaran looked at his communicator and smiled.
The Dramiad king stood abruptly. “Enough of this. There will be no trade between my glorious planet and this floating heap of metal and bolts.”
The man’s advisors stared at him in horror. “Your Majesty,” one said, mouth hanging open. “We’ve not finished the presentation.”
“Quiet,” Xaran snapped.
Fasi narrowed his eyes. “You might want to remember you’re a guest on this station. Rude guests occasionally get tossed out an airlock.”
Xaran stared down his nose. “You don’t frighten me, Grell.” He moved to stand behind Death’s chair and settled his hands on Death’s shoulders. “I have the ultimate weapon.”
Edgar squawked and pecked at the man’s hands.
Xaran cursed, then moved the hand closet to the raven Fyreling.
Death’s eyes narrowed. He felt something odd, like a gathering of spirits. Whatever it was, it was far away from him at the moment.
“You may want to remove your other one too,” Lorry said dryly and stared pointedly at Xaran’s hand on Death’s shoulder.
“I can remove it for you,” Brisco said with a grin, waving a small knife.
“How come he gets a weapon, but I don’t?” Morgan asked, pouting.
“He wasn’t supposed to have a weapon.” Fasi rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You all give me a headache.”
Xaran ignored them. “At this very moment, my people have Dr. Morrick’s family in their sights. They are gathering them now. If he doesn’t want to see them hurt, Death as you all call him, will kill everyone in this room that doesn’t serve me.”
Death fought back his flair of panic at the thought of Val and their children and grandchildren in trouble. They were having a picnic today. Out in the open.
Seshia’s spirit appeared across the room. “Your family and the others are protected, beloved. Worry not.”
She disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.
Sebastian stared at the place the spirit had stood, then turned to him. “Was that who I think it was?”
“I said quiet,” Xaran snapped, glaring at Sebastian. “Dr. Morrick, do it now or your family will die.”
Death took a deep breath and looked around. Not one Charybdis Station citizen looked worried; however, the man’s advisors looked horrified. The king’s guards did not. Interesting. “Lord Admiral, may I?”
Fasi sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Damn it, go ahead. I can’t believe I sat through an hour of that boring presentation for this.”
Death focused and pulled the soul from Xaran’s body. He heard the man’s body crumple to the floor. As soon as the guards moved forward to attack, Death took their souls as well, letting the filthy balls of energy float into the air and disperse. Their bodies thudded to the floor, eyes blank and unseeing. Death knew their bodies would live on with assistance, but without souls, they were just a pile of meat.
Renee stepped away. He could hear her ordering enforcement to his home. His friends were on their communicators almost instantly, checking in with their families.
Lorry gave him a worried look. “Are they okay? You don’t seem worried.”
Before he could answer, Fasi stood up and faced Xaran’s advisors. “I suggest you return to your ship and advise the king’s heir that he is dead.”
“He’s still breathing,” one of the advisors said. She stared behind Death. “I see his chest rising.”
Fasi pulled out his phaser and fired one sho
t. “Now he isn’t.”
Death turned around. Head shot.
The advisor paled. “They’ll demand war.”
Councilwoman Rundel leaned forward. “I suggest you convince them that would be a bad idea,” the old Siren said. “Your king threatened Dr. Morrick’s family and tried to coerce him into killing our station’s leaders. Do you think he’s going to be kind to your armies?”
Death smiled wide, and Edgar hopped to his shoulder, eying the Dramiads. “I won’t. Just so you know.”
The advisor swallowed hard and nodded. “We’ll leave now.”
“Darling, will you and a few of the others escort them out?” Fasi asked.
Renee stood and smiled. “With pleasure.”
“We’ll send your dead to your ship,” Fasi told them, then turned around to face Death. “Why are you not worried? Renee messaged enforcement immediately, and they should be arriving at your house now. Our families were having a picnic today. They’re together.”
“A spirit told him everything would be okay,” Sebastian said and looked up from his communicator. “Kelly said all the pets are alright. I had to ask her about the kids. She said they’re good too. No fatalities on our end.”
Leti’s mate, Hack, looked up from his communicator. “Leti’s mad at me for worrying about him. Can you believe that shit? He said he is a soldier now and can handle twenty or more attackers. What the hell?”
“He does have Princess Buttercup,” Draif drawled, looking up from his own communicator. “Lucas said a shield of spirits protected them while Fire and the pets took out the attackers.”
Fasi turned to the council. “Can you all handle this mess? I need to see my grandkids.”
“Go,” Rundel said, waving toward the door. “We’ll call maintenance to deal with the bodies.”
Death stood slowly, Lorry and Morgan at his side. “Seshia said they were alright,” he whispered to the two. “I felt whatever that shield was as well.”
“We need to see them,” Morgan said, voice shaky.
“Yes.” Death led the way from the room.
“Shuttles are waiting,” one of Fasi’s assistants said.
“Thank you.” Fasi smiled sadly. “I wish this weren’t becoming a common thing. Our own families shouldn’t be attacked in our own territory.”
Draif looked up from his tablet. “I’m double checking everything, but early indications show they sneaked in with Xaran’s guards, then broke off at the market, changed clothes, and rode a tram to our neighborhood.”
The large shuttle landed in the center of the walkway between their homes, and they unloaded quickly. Edgar lifted from Verion’s shoulder and flew straight to Val and the others, Lorry running after him.
Death stopped and closed his eyes, relief filling him after he saw his mate and children safe.
“I told you they were alright,” Seshia said.
He opened his eyes, and she was there.
She smiled. “We protected them.”
Death wanted to ask her how. He wanted to know about this ghost shield that saved them. There was a more important question, though. “Why?”
Seshia gave him a thoughtful look. “Many of us simply wanted to protect the innocent, but that wouldn’t have been possible without your son. He is what allowed us to gather the strength to shield them.”
Death shuddered. “He’s that powerful?”
She nodded. “Seshi is very special, beloved. The spirit world needs him. That’s why so many shielded him.”
“I’m scared for him,” he admitted quietly.
“Don’t be.” She gave him a solemn look. “Seshi isn’t dangerous. He is a beacon of light, not something to be feared. Do you know that no living being has ever been able to see animal spirits? This station will be a good home for him. Besides, I swear to you, Nora and I will guard him.”
“Thank you.” He looked toward Val. His mate sat on one of the long benches lining the community garden, Crea and Seshi in his arms. Wyatt and his children were spread out across the rest of the bench. “I can’t lose them.”
“We will do our best to see that you don’t.” Her form started to fade. “Nora and I need to rest. I have more strength than she, but the shield has weakened even me. We’ll see you soon, beloved.”
He watched her slowly disappear, then shuddered, thinking of all he could have lost that day. He hurried to Val’s side.
Val looked up. “Xaran?”
“Dead.”
“Good.” Val held his arm out.
Death slid onto the bench, against his side. “I’m glad you all are safe.”
“The pets kicked butt,” Crea said, sniffling. “Scythe was a good boy. You would have been proud of him.”
Edgar cawed softly.
“Seriously, Edgar,” Crea said, wiping her eyes. “He really did kick butt. Midge guarded Seshi too. We have good pets.”
Scythe peeked out from where he was curled up under the bench with Midge. “Woof.”
“Good boy,” Death said and leaned down to scratch his ears. “You’re my best boy ever.”
The dog’s face melted into pure happiness as Death loved on him, making him feel guilty. I need to remember to do this more often.
Another shuttle landed, and a cleanup crew got out. Poppy and Clyde ran toward them.
“What the fuck happened?” Poppy asked, looking around and counting everyone. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Is Seshi okay?” Clyde asked, eyes wide.
“He’s alright,” Val answered, shaking his head and handing Seshi to his uncle. “We’re all alright.”
Death watched Morgan check on Wyatt and the kids. All his friends were cuddling their loved ones. “I’m sorry. This is my fault.”
Val snorted. “No, it’s not. It’s that stupid king’s fault.”
“He wanted me.” Death shook his head. “I should have just taken care of him.”
“That would have caused problems,” Fasi said, hugging Mo and Rizzie. “You can’t control the actions of every person in the galaxy, Verion.”
Death met Val’s gaze. “We could move to Frost Veil.”
Val nodded. “I don’t think it’s necessary, but we’ll do it if you feel like we should.”
“Damn it, Verion.” Fasi glared at him. “I don’t like the cold.”
“Princess is a Fire Veil dragon,” Leti said from Hack’s arms. “What would he do on an icy planet?”
“Do you know how hard it is to keep pipes from bursting on a frozen planet?” Poppy asked, shaking her head. “Impossible.”
“You all wouldn’t have to come,” Death pointed out.
“Yes, we would,” Alois said, hugging Sebastian and their kids. “Do you really still not get it? You’re part of Charybdis Station now. Just like the rest of us.”
“I really would hate to leave,” Lorry said, lips tilting up in a half smile.
Crea frowned. “We’re home. Stop being stupid and hug me.”
A broken laugh escaped him, and he pulled her from Val’s lap and into his arms. “My smart Crea.”
Later that night, the street was clean, and the children and pets were in bed. Lorry and Sai had decided to sleep over and had taken one of the guest rooms.
Death tucked the covers around Crea. She had cried on and off all night. Seeing her parents’ spirits had been good in some ways but upsetting in others. Scythe stretched out beside her, head resting over hers on the pillow.
He quietly shut her door, then peeked into the nursery one more time. Seshi slept soundly, and a very faint Nora sat in the rocking chair next to Seshi’s crib. Midge slept on her favorite pillow beneath the crib.
He waved, then shut the door.
Val waited for him in their room, Edgar already resting on his perch.
Death went straight to his mate’s arms, the stress of the day finally catching up to him. “I can’t lose you, Val.”
Val squeezed him tight. “You didn’t. Gods willing, you won’t. We have children to raise and a
life to share.”
“I lost Seshia and Sandra, but I survived. I could still find peace in this galaxy. Without you, there would be no peace. I need your smiles, your hugs, and your loud snores. I need you, Val. I love you.”
Val bent down and kissed him. “I love you too.”
They moved to the bed, and time passed in a tangle of bodies and sheets. Death breathed deeply and reveled in his mate’s scent and the way their bodies fit perfectly together.
This was living. Val’s arms were his home.
14
one month later
Val waved goodbye to Clyde and Poppy as he left the tram, then shifted his toolbox to his other hand. It had been a long day, and he was ready to be home.
Their neighborhood had been quickly put back in order and was back to normal again. A soft caw drew his attention. Edgar was flying around the neighborhood with Mustachio and Roxy. Well, as normal as this neighborhood gets, he thought wryly.
The Dramiads hadn’t been happy that their king was dead, but considering what the man had done, they couldn’t justify a costly war with Charybdis Station, especially considering they would lose.
Xaran’s eldest son had barely reached adulthood, but he had already taken the throne and sent a formal apology to Fasi.
“Should have sent it to Veri,” Val mumbled, anger filling him as he thought about the attack. They had come close to dying simply because of one man’s arrogance, and it frustrated Val to no end.
As usual, Muffin met him at the street corner, making him smile and effectively dispelling his bad mood.
He took a minute to pet the goat. Muffin was missing the tip of one ear from the attack last month, but otherwise, was doing well. “You’re a pretty boy, Muffin. So brave and good.”
Muffin bleated softly, then turned and walked with him. They passed Leti’s house. The young man was sitting with his best friend, Draif. They both watched as Sebastian and Kelly worked on growing a row of delicate Fallon Lilies along the walkway.
