Selas's Salvation

by Pearl Tate

  “Karen. Benard specifically wants Karen.” Grinding my teeth, I try to smile at her as she gives me a worried look, crossing her arms defiantly, and I’m glad we’re speaking in our native tongue she can’t understand. I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen that same expression and stance on Rachel. She doesn’t want to be left out.

  “You should pack up and head back. We’ve already sent out a team that’ll meet you halfway and escort you back. I’m sorry, Selas. But until this entire craziness gets settled, we need to stay together on the planet. We don’t want them to get their hands on anyone or anything that they could use as leverage against us.”

  “Okay. We’ll pack up and see you later this evening for debriefing and updates.”

  Karen’s moving toward me, and I can see her face fall at the same time a sinking sensation carries through our bond. I feel the same way, so she must be picking up on my own disappointment. When will this end?

  Are they going to force us to kill them? We aren’t blood-thirsty warriors intent on dominating and conquering. We just want to live our lives peacefully and enjoy the companionship of our mates and each other. Is that really so much to ask?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  - Karen

  I couldn’t hear exactly who contacted Selas, but it’s clear he’s been given orders to go back to the dome. It must have been Bren. Being able to understand their native tongue is going to have its advantages.

  “What’s going on?” Quizzing Selas as we gather up our belongings, he acts like everything is normal and he isn’t scrambling to pack everything quickly. We haven’t even eaten yet!

  “Benard. Threats… and there was some kind of weak attack inside the dome last night.”

  Gasping, I can sense how his own feelings are in turmoil and hate how he isn’t being more up front. “Is everyone alright? What happened?”

  Pulling me into his arms, Selas’s hair is the only thing that gives away how shaken he is. Fluttering down my shoulders, it strokes me, making its way down my still-naked back. Even my intentional distractions of bending over in front of him haven’t deterred his efforts. He’s hurrying.

  “I honestly don’t know everything, but Bren thinks the less stragglers we have outside the dome, the better. We don’t want to give them any leverage to use against us. It’s better we’re all in one place.” His lips crash down on mine briefly before he buries his face in my neck to take a deep breath.

  My arms wrap tightly around him. He isn’t telling me everything. I heard him ask who was asking for her by name. I’m guessing that was me. I made myself pretty popular in the short time we were there.

  “So, what do we know?” I really, really want him to tell me without me having to say I already know. We’re a couple. For better or for worse, we’re in this together, and he needs to realize I can help.

  “Let’s talk about it on the ride back.” I pull back and turn away from him at his stalling. Fine. But if he thinks I’m going to let it drop, he’s wrong.

  Moving quickly, we get the linens, food, and our personal items loaded in less than ten minutes. It only takes two trips up to get the vehicle ready.

  Bittersweet sadness washes over me as he slides the huge slab used as a door over the space. This is where my first time happened. I hope it isn’t too long before we get to come back and recreate the experience here again… and again.

  I didn’t even get to explore the area. As we shoot through the valley towards the canyon, I gaze at the nertel babies that scamper through the tall grass. They remind me of alpacas with their long necks and spindly legs. Someday…

  As we slow to enter the narrow canyon, I swivel my seat to face Selas, kicking off my boots to settle my feet into his lap. He’s already demonstrated his massage technique, and when I told him he was making me addicted to his touch, he answered, “Anytime.”

  Selas’s large hand engulfs my left foot, pressing his thumb into my insole and eliciting an audible moan from me. He loves that. The more vocal I am, the more enthusiastic he becomes.

  I wait for us to exit the canyon and pick up speed before pestering him for more details. “So… Bren is the one that called and said that the dome had some areas… attacked? What does that mean? What were they looking for?”

  Selas sighs, turning his own chair to face mine and grasping both my feet. “Yes. They specifically tried to get into the dorm where all the couples are. According to the males that were caught, they’ve been sent by Benard to get the females. He’s still claiming that there’s more to this, and they’re some kind of plant by the council. A lure?” His fingers dig in harder as his nerves kick in. “Honestly, we don’t understand the workings of a madman’s mind. Does he really believe this bullshit he’s preaching to the others? We don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. But he has followers, and people to do his bidding for him, bribed by food and weapons. All we can do is make sure we don’t give them any advantage.”

  “You know, one of the reasons that he’s been able to garner this support and more crazy followers, is because he’s communicating with them. Know what I mean?” I’ve thought about this a lot. Besides his trips out with teams, who’s communicating with the men outside the dome? Just Benard, probably.

  Selas nods his agreement. At least he’s listening to me. “We need to be more vocal and communicate better with everyone planet-wide too. Do we even know where Benard is hiding yet? I mean, what were these guys supposed to do once they got hold of a woman?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. We took off right after they’d had me. There were males captured and brought back to the dome we were interrogating, but we didn’t even get into that on the communication earlier.” Selas is still dancing around the real crux of this.

  I keep pushing. “So, what made them think we should go back right away? No one should have any idea where we are… maybe we were safer in that cave under the falls!” There’s no way I want to stay back there and sit this out, but he doesn’t know that. I want to be in on the action!

  “Yes.” Selas’s agreement clearly lets me know he’s surprised. “It’s just that Amari was discovered there at one point by some of Benard’s men. At the time, we weren’t sure if they were working for him or on their own. Probably on their own, but we don’t know what kind of logs or records they kept of its location and who might now have access to that.”

  I sigh. I feel like I’ve given him plenty of opportunities to tell me. Come on! It’s killing me.

  “I know, Selas.” Pulling my feet from his lap, I keep my eyes trained on his as I scoot to the edge of my seat and watch him carefully. Only a subtle shift in his hands lets me know he’s wondering what I’m getting at. Whatever.

  Blowing out a breath, I lean back and just shake my head slightly. “Wasn’t part of the conversation with Bren about them asking for me by name?”

  Selas’s face morphs from slight surprise to narrowed eyes. “So, my nanos have given you our language already.” Nodding, he clears his throat uncomfortably before leaning forward and grasping my hands. “I don’t want you to be frightened—”

  Yanking my hands from his grasp, I cross my arms and pull my legs up, crossing them too. “Do I look frightened?” Shooting my eyebrows up, I wait for his response.

  “No…” Glancing briefly out the front, I follow his gaze. Wow! He’s really avoiding. What does he hope to see?

  “No.” My voice is hard. “In fact, I think the best course of action would be to send out a notice to everyone that we’re going to hold an assembly with all the mated couples there for a question and answer session. Anyone can come… instead of hiding, we should be educating.”

  Selas drops his face into his hands with his elbows on his knees. Rubbing his forehead with his fingers, he blows out a breath before answering. “You know, if that’d been a suggestion a few rotations ago, I probably would’ve been quicker to agree. It makes sense. We’ve been hiding the mates away. Not only for their protection, but you wouldn’t believe how hard it is for Amari and Devlin
to have everyone staring at them whenever they leave their place.”

  “But…” I encourage, knowing it’s coming.

  “But now, I totally get it.” Lifting his head, he grabs my knees, squeezing them tightly. “I’m hoping that now that we’re mated, I won’t feel quite so… territorial about others looking at you. But Karen… it’s… difficult.” Swallowing hard, his eyes stay locked to mine.

  What do I say to that? I’m flattered, but this is life or death. And I believe I’ve been sent here for a reason. If he can’t get over other men looking at me, how the hell am I going to approach him with my other blooming ideas?

  Like teaching Aikido—not only to my friends for their protection—but to him and his men? I can’t… won’t let him lock me away.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  - Selas

  Karen’s so smart. On top of being quite deadly with her weapon, she has a quick mind and has been able to come to a conclusion about the situation very accurately. After all, wasn’t going out and educating what I was trying to do with Kene and Tier?

  Only she’s taken it another step farther—and too far. What male in their right mind is going to let his mate…

  “What exactly are you proposing?”

  “Speaking with them. Having an assembly where they’re all invited to a question and answer session. Wouldn’t it be better for them to know that stealing one of us is a futile effort?” She raises her eyebrows again and leans in until our faces are almost touching. “You’ll be able to find me, right?”

  “They could kill you to get back at me for some slight I’m not even aware of! Or just because I was appointed here by the council.” My voice is deep and pained. The idea is horrifying. Just entertaining the idea of her putting herself in a position where she’s a target… it causes physical pain to consider. As my mind clouds at the thought, Karen leans back and snaps her fingers in front of my face.

  “Hey! Hey, focus here, Selas.” Blinking, my gaze zooms in on her serious expression across from me. “You’re not looking at the big picture. I could have a heart attack in the next five minutes. Or we could crash in this vehicle in the next ten. Nothing is guaranteed. But what is guaranteed, is that this situation is escalating, because Benard is able to talk these guys out running around to join his crazy ass cause. We must figure out how to do the same. You do realize we have the advantage?”

  Karen glances out the front, and then pulls herself up straighter as I wait for her to expound. What’s she referring too? More firepower? The backing of the council?

  She slides her feet into her boots one at a time as she glances up at me briefly while talking. “You have us. The girls that everybody wants. The mates that everyone is coveting, and according to what Lisa and Jo-Anne have mentioned, there’s an agreement being worked out with the Ashen by Sol on their trip here to have access to getting more Earth women. Isn’t that really what everyone wants?”

  Leaning back and crossing her arms, Karen doesn’t look happy. “I’m not jumping up and down about it, but I’ve been assured that anyone else taken from Earth will only benefit from leaving. I don’t know exactly how they can guarantee that, but we’ll see…” Her head cocks to the front window. “Is that who you’re expecting?

  Glancing left, I see that another vehicle is getting closer right as a short range hail filters through the communication device. “Yes, they’ll be escorting us back.” Answering them quickly, I watch as they stop and wait for us to catch up, turning around shortly before we reach them.

  Bren wasn’t fooling around because there’s two, and one circles around behind us to follow from the rear. I appreciate the care that everyone is taking, but I believe it’s just as much to do with the killing rampage I’d likely go on if something were to happen, as well as for our protection. We’re all aware of the mating rage, and very few of us have the control someone like Amari is capable of. I’ve no idea if I’d be in my right mind if something were to happen to Karen.

  According to everyone I’ve spoken with, a red haze clouds your vision, and you almost have an out of body experience. It’s one of the things that was touted as good to have disappeared from our genetics, and one of the few things I still agree with our homeworld on. No one wants to lose their mind and go on a killing rampage—potentially even hurting those you’re friends with, in an effort to get to your mate.

  “Has anyone explained the mating rage to you?” Karen hasn’t said anymore since we started following our escort and appears deep in thought as she gazes out the window.

  “Yeah, it sounds pretty kick-ass. Is there any chance that a similar female version might happen for me?” She’s serious! I’m shocked as I look at her eager and expectant expression, and a smile tilts my lips. She’s so fierce, my mate. But I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

  “Would you like that?” She nods eagerly, her eyes wide. “It’s not spoken of in a positive light. When we discuss the matings of the past, not having the mating rage is considered a very good thing. You do realize that often you don’t remember things clearly when you go into a rage? It’s a single-minded focus, and not always the most logical thought process…”

  She nods, cutting in. “Yeah, but you get so much stronger and tougher. Do you have any idea how appealing that is to a woman? To not have to be scared of being attacked, hurt, or raped? That’s what a lot of martial arts are about for women—preparedness. Not being taken by surprise and making sure that you’ve the muscle memory to deal with anything if it happens.”

  “Is that why you started?” This is a topic I’ve almost been afraid to bring up. I know she’ll continue her practice. Frequently over the past rotation, I’ve watched her movements that are almost a dance as she moves through patterns that I’ve never seen before. I can tell she’s breathing, and see it’s similar to our daily reflections in that the focus is internal as she moves through her practice.

  “Not really. I started when I was ten and just for fun with a friend, but it quickly became so much more. I like it. The way I feel, the focus…” Karen lifts her shoulders as if baffled herself about what drew her to it. “I think I just needed the exercise and probably the attention. My father was never home, and my mom was great—don’t get me wrong, but I think I craved the attention or something.”

  She laughs self-deprecatingly, and I grasp her hand, squeezing it. “I believe it interested you because of this moment right now.”

  “What do you mean?” Karen’s fingers intertwine with mine as I look out at the scenery around us on this planet.

  “Because this moment would come. You and I… together… and you’re going to need to defend yourself. Not only to live here by my side, but to save me like you did when you arrived. I believe it all happens for a reason. Don’t you think it’s odd that you were taken from Earth at the same time as Jenny and Rachel, and yet, you weren’t sent on their spacecraft?”

  Staring at her, I see the dawning understanding. Her mouth drops open as she nods slowly. “Yeah… and even though everyone else’s marks showed up, ours took a long time. I could feel you here on the planet before I even had the marks develop. Isn’t that backwards?”

  “I’m not sure there’s a normal with matings. But I do believe there’s usually a reason. We may never know—”

  “Or maybe the Ashen have something to do with it?” Karen’s excited interjection makes me wonder if she could be right. How much of this do they know will happen? Are they gods? Or could they just have some scientific capabilities that peer into the future? “Maybe we’ll be able to ask them?”

  Her eyes are bright with excitement, and even though I dread the thought of trying to communicate with the Ashen based on what I’ve been taught, I know they can’t be all that bad if Sol agreed to travel back with them. Travek’s logs that I’ve reviewed over the last few rotations say they agreed to give him his mate in exchange for representing the mated couples and finalizing the agreement for us.

  “Maybe.” My agreement makes her smile,
stretching her lips beautifully, and I’m in awe again at how alluring my mate is. Her white, even teeth flash with her eyes from the bright sunlight streaming in around us. We haven’t spent that much time out in the natural light in the last rotation, so I haven’t had a chance to admire how light her blue eyes are and the way the sunlight makes her fine curls shine like rays of light themselves.

  Only a short while later, we enter the dome, and the filtered sunlight doesn’t have the same effect, but she’s still beautiful. I’m cursing our interruption from work, fanatics, and the council. Why can’t we just have a normal, plain life where we meet, mate, fall in love…fuck…

  “Selas, you’ll consider what I said, right? You’ll talk to the other mated guys about allowing their mates to be there if we organize an assembly like I talked about?” I thought I explained that none of them would go for that? I’m not even sure I agree…

  Some of what I’m feeling must show on my face, because I feel pure… frustration… anger…

  “Well, I think you’re making a mistake.” Our vehicle slides to a stop. “What has to happen before you’ll decide to let the women speak for themselves to these guys? It might be just the motivation they need to hear that we’ll…” She makes a sweeping gesture to the females that are standing on the perimeter with their mates as Bren and Amari move towards our transport. “…never be interested in them. And if they force themselves on us, they’ll never end up with their own mate. I’m guessing that’s how it works, right? You probably have some internal trigger in your genes that decides if you’re ready. Please, please tell me that rapists and murderers don’t end up with mates…”

  Her voice trails off as she opens the door, hopping out before leaning back in to grab her jo without looking over at me. She stomps off towards Hannah and Rachel, utilizing her jo as a walking stick.