by Ella Maven
Daz turned his back on me, his massive shoulders heaving as his hands tore through his hair. I tried to touch him, but he flinched away. I looked hopelessly at the other males, but only Xavy met my eyes. His leg shook with nerves and he swallowed heavily.
His gaze darted to Daz before returning to me. “Daz’s other brother was killed in the Uprising,” he said quietly. “Sax is all he has left.”
Gar slammed his mug on the table and stalked out the front door. Nero followed, and with another sad look at me, Xavy walked out, closing the door behind him.
Daz didn’t speak for a long moment, his aura was a thick, dense, foul fog. I couldn’t wade my way through it. Finally, he sank down on a chair and stared into the fire. I padded forward on my bare feet, wearing nothing but my T-shirt, and perched on the edge of a chair next to him. He didn’t look at me or acknowledge my presence. His aura shifted to a putrid yellow and the guilt emanating from him nearly crushed me with its suffocating weight.
“It’s my fault Rexor died,” he said, his voice monotone as he continued to watch the flames lick at the stone. “I am the oldest, then Rexor, then Saxis. Rexor was a natural soldier. He followed orders, and he was good at what he did. He led a whole battalion of Drixonians in a major battle that turned the tide of the entire Uprising in our favor…” He blew out a harsh breath. “He was injured but not too severely. He wanted to keep fighting. I told him to rest. He didn’t listen, so I sent him on a mission I thought was merely reconnaissance.” His hands shook and he clasped his fingers together. “It was not. He died in an Uldani ambush.”
“I’m so sorry, Daz,” I whispered. “You’re not responsible for what the Uldani did.”
“He followed my orders to his death,” he whispered.
I took a chance and slipped from my chair. I slid onto the table in front of Daz. He jerked, and his lips tightened as he seemed to resist my intrusion on his personal space. I spread my legs and reached for his face. He held back, and with wild eyes and flared nostrils, all he allowed were featherlight touches to his cheek. Then his lids fell to half-mast and with a sigh, his shoulders slumped. He fell forward, and I cradled his head in my lap.
The amount of vulnerability he displayed in his position slayed me. I’d offered comfort, but that didn’t mean he’d take it. I couldn’t force him to accept anything I had to give. But now, with his face pressed against me, he let himself be petted and soothed.
He all but gave me his weight as his arms came around me. He squeezed tightly, and there was a desperation to the way he clung to me. I dropped kisses in his hair and rubbed around his horns where his scalp was sensitive.
“My time with you has been the best of my life,” he said. “And it’s killing me that the cost is my brother’s pain.”
I closed my eyes as more tears leaked out. “You’re not giving up, right?”
“No,” he said softly. It was a long time before he spoke again, his voice muffled against my thigh. “We think we know where he’s being held. I will stop at nothing to get him back.” He raised his head. “But you also have to understand, Sax would never, ever forgive me if I handed over females for him.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“He’s my brother. My blood. In fact, he’s a better Drixonian than I am. Better than most of us. And that is why we will find a way to get him back. But not at the cost of you and the other females. Not at the cost of any female.”
His aura glowed a fierce fire-engine red with conviction. He meant it. Every word. I brought his face up to mine and kissed him. He smiled at me and brushed away the tears on my face.
“So, you think he’s being held… where?”
He explained to me about the Alazar—the main building of the Uldani fortress.
My mind spun with ways I could help. When I’d seen Sax’s face on the comm, I’d known I wouldn’t rest until we had done everything we could do get him back. “Okay, and where would you have delivered us? There?”
“Yes, to their gates.”
So, I was their ticket to get inside. My expression must have mirrored my thoughts, because Daz’s eyes went wide. “No, no no—”
“Take me.” The words were out before I had a chance to fully realize what I was saying. Me, leading some rescue mission? Yet, as I spoke, I knew this was what had to happen. It was the right call. I wouldn’t drift on this planet’s current like I’d drifted on Earth. I had to stick that engine in the water and motor my way through in the direction I needed to go. I straightened my back and imbued as much confidence into my voice as I could. “Give me some cool techy stuff. Weapons. Lock picks or whatever. Grenades. Deliver me, they’ll release Sax, and then I’ll escape.”
He sputtered for a moment. I’d actually rendered the great Daz speechless and aghast. “Do you even understand how impossible that is? What if they drug you?” He shook his head and his aura pulsed. “That’s not an option. Nope.”
“Then what’s your plan?” I demanded. “You have two days. We’ll tell them all the other women died. That’s plausible based on Anna’s story. So, all they get is me. Maybe they’ll take better care of me and keep me alive longer that way.”
He growled. “Fra-kee—”
“It’s a great plan!” I pleaded. He glowered at me. “Okay, I’ll concede it’s not a great plan, but it’s the best one we got. If he’s there, I’ll find him. I’m crafty, I swear. I stayed alive this long and managed to bag you, so I have to be doing something right on this planet. On Earth, I was a fuckup, but here I seem to be doing pretty well for myself, all things considering—”
Daz cut me off with a slice of his hand and whip-strong words. “I said no.”
“You know what?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t care what you say. You either help me or I go there myself.”
He jerked to his feet and slammed his fists onto the table on either side of my hips, nearly crashing his nose into mine. “Over my dead body.”
Now I wanted to win just so I could prove myself. “Then you’ll have to chain me up, but fair warning, I’ll scream the building down. Those are your options. Help me or I do it on my own. I would say my success rate is three percent on my own, but that’s what an ultimatum is.”
He fisted his hair. “I swear to God, female, you’re infuriating.”
I swung my legs and stuck my nose in the air. “Maybe but being infuriating is going to save your brother.”
A throat cleared, and we turned to see Nero with his head stuck through the window. “Hello. Couldn’t help but overhear since you are both very much not quiet. If I can make a suggestion since our fearless leader is not thinking clearly and is clouded with emotion for once in his life—”
“Nero,” Daz warned.
“Tell the Uldani we’ll meet them on neutral ground. I didn’t like the idea of us going near their gates anyway. They’ll bring Sax and you’ll act like you’re handing over Fra-kee. I’ll take out the Uldani and Kulks with my long-range gun and we get the fleck out.”
“There are so many things that could go wrong,” Daz growled.
“Then we sit down and perfect it as best as we can,” I said, my palms pressed together. “Nero has the beginnings of a good plan.”
Daz’s nostrils flared, and he stabbed a finger at Nero as he sneered. “I’m going to strangle you with your own tail in your sleep.”
Xavy appeared beside Nero, munching on a tein bar. He patted Nero on the shoulder “Daz has threatened to do that to me no less than ten times. He never follows through. You’re good.”
He walked away and Daz yelled after him. “I’ll take your tail and shove it up your—”
“Daz,” I snapped. “Focus.”
“Focus?” he said incredulously. “Focus? I think I’m the only who is focusing. On reality. They’ll anticipate we don’t plan on playing nice.”
“But they don’t know about Bess,” Nero grinned.
“Who’s Bess?” I asked.
“The weird fleck named his m
odified long-range solar gun,” Daz said. “I don’t like this. I don’t flecking like any of it.”
“You don’t have to like it,” I said. “But it’s going to happen. You’re either on board or you’re not, but I’ll be straight with you. I want your support, Daz.” I looked him in the eye and nearly begged. “Believe in us.”
His eyes drooped, and sorrow soured his aura. “I do believe in us, my cora-eternal. It’s the Uldani I don’t trust. They don’t play fair.”
“Well,” I said. “Then we won’t either.”
Seventeen
Frankie
“This is insane.”
“Mmm-hmm,” I answered Miranda distractedly as I ran over the plan in my head for the hundredth time. Well, maybe not hundredth, but that was my goal.
When I woke up this morning, the first thing Nero did was explain I was going to have to do a little acting. I couldn’t let the Uldani in on the fact I had any connection with Daz. Tomorrow, I’d accompany Daz to meet with the Uldani. The butterflies in my stomach had morphed into something nasty with beaks and teeth, but I ignored them. This was crazy. I was crazy. But damn it, I’d already turned my boat in this direction and there was no going back.
“Frankie, look at me,” Miranda insisted.
I sighed heavily and swung my gaze to her. The setting sun beamed off her skin, coloring it a smooth mahogany. We were outside, which the males barely tolerated as they preferred us safe and secluded behind the walls of the building. Hap stood guard nearby, munching on some fruit, while Xavy leaned against the building, sharpening several wicked-looking blades on a whetstone.
Daz, Gar, and Nero were inside. Plotting.
Miranda stabbed the rock we sat on with a stick. “I’m sure there’s another way.”
I wished I could make everyone understand that it was important to me—and my future—to do this. On this crazy planet, I wanted my big blue alien. For life. There was no way we could be happy with his brother’s death hanging over our heads. Dax’s last living relative. His mother had died in his arms. His other brother had been blown to bits—something Dax blamed himself for. Sax had to come home. There was no other option.
“There probably is another way,” I said. “But we don’t have time to devise another plan. You didn’t see the condition of Daz’s brother in that video. I did. I cannot live with myself if I don’t help. The Uldani are terrible assholes who want us for our wombs and are torturing Daz’s brother to get what they want.”
Miranda narrowed her eyes. “But this isn’t on you. We didn’t ask to come here.”
“Okay, you’re right. But we’re here now, and I’m not going to sit back and do nothing. I sure as hell can’t look Daz in the eye for the rest of my life knowing his brother died and I did nothing. He wants his brother back, and I want that for him.”
She wrapped her arms around her shins and tucked her knees to her chest. “I hate this.”
I snorted. “It’s not like I’m excited about it.”
“Can’t we just dress Hap up to look like you and send him along with Daz?” Miranda peered at me from under her long lashes and smirked.
I laughed. “Imagine how much foundation that would take.”
“He’s kinda pretty though. He could pass as human.”
“He has a tail!”
She chewed the inside of her cheek as her eyes danced. “Oh, I forgot about that.”
Hap popped up beside us. “Did you say my name?”
With his dimples and full lips, he really was adorable. His wavy hair blew in the wind like he was on stage for a rock concert. I only wanted Daz, but I also couldn’t help but notice Hap had a Captain America-level ass.
Miranda eyed him. “Shit, I forgot about the horns too.”
“Foundation ain’t gonna cover those,” I said.
Miranda giggled.
Hap frowned. “I don’t get it.”
“Earth humor. You wouldn’t understand,” Miranda said.
“Oh my god, I want my own bike and that slogan as a bumper sticker,” I said, which sent us into a fit of giggles again.
“You’re supposed to be resting.” Daz’s deep voice sliced across the clearing like an unleashed arrow.
Miranda and I both jumped, and Hap jerked to his feet so fast that he stumbled. “I am resting,” I said.
His nostrils flared. Oh, he was not amused. At all. “This isn’t a game, Fra-kee.”
I wanted to snap at him, but he was right. “I know, Daz,” I said softly.
His expression softened a fraction. “Dinner is ready. Come inside and eat.” His gaze swept across the clearing, taking in Miranda, Hap, Xavy, and me. Then he retreated into the building.
Miranda huffed beside me. “I know he’s not going to hurt us, and it’s clear he’s utterly devoted to you,” Miranda said. “But Daz still scares the shit out of me sometimes.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “He has that effect.”
I made to heave myself off the rock, but her hand on my arm stopped me. “Hey,” she bit her lip and then reached behind her neck. She fiddled with something there before dropping her hands, her necklace clutched in her fingers. At the end of a black cord was a wire wishbone. She placed it in my hand. “My mom gave me this when I turned sixteen. I consider it my good luck charm.”
“Miranda—”
“I want you to borrow it.”
I tried to give it back to her, but she shook her head. “I can’t. This is yours. Something your mother gave you…” The words hung in the air between us. You’ll never see her again.
Miranda swallowed. “Please take it. For me.”
I curled my fingers around the necklace, realizing what a gift this was. “Put it on me?”
With shaking hands, she fixed the clasp behind my neck and brushed her fingers over the wishbone where it lay flat on my chest. “I hope it brings you luck.”
I hugged her. “I hope so too.”
After dinner, Xavy broke out his “spirits.” The women hadn’t had any yet, because Xavy hadn’t been able to communicate what it was. Now we knew, and we all decided when in Torin, right?
“I’m sure I’ve swallowed worse stuff than alien hooch,” Justine said, swirling the liquid in her mug. She sniffed it. “Smells okay.”
I gave it a whiff. I could definitely smell the fermentation—it had an underlying fruity scent. “I’m moderately terrified of ingesting this, but I could also really use something to take the edge off my nerves.”
Tab held up her mug. “To Frankie being a badass bitch tomorrow.”
“To Frankie,” the rest of the women echoed.
“Cheers,” I said and threw back a gulp of the brew. Effervescent bubbles popped on my tongue, and the cool spirits slipped down my throat to settle in my stomach. Warmth followed, a pleasant burning that only alcohol could provide.
“Tastes like hard cider,” Tab said, smacking her lips. “I love it!” She turned to beam at Xavy. “It’s delicious.”
He grinned at her and puffed out his chest. “Thank you.”
“Refrain from complimenting Xavy too much,” Nero teased. “His head is nearly big enough to float us all back to Corin.”
Xavy lifted his chin haughtily. “Well, I know one less male who won’t get a ticket aboard the Xavy Rocket.”
We drank. And drank some more. The girls and I showed the men how to arm-wrestle. As typical males, they jumped right into the competition. Gar ended up coming out on top after beating Daz in the championship round, three to two. He celebrated by chugging his entire mug.
All my limbs felt loose and disconnected. These spirits were strong, and I certainly wasn’t the only one feeling them as Naomi danced in a corner to a song only she heard. Gar watched her like a hawk and several times, he reached out to steady her as she tripped over her feet with a giggle. Every time, he huffed in annoyance but that didn’t stop him from hovering over her to prevent her from getting more than a bruise.
I skipped into the bathroom with Tabitha, becaus
e apparently even on alien planets, us women needed to pee in groups. We spent a long time complimenting each other’s hair before doing our business and stumbling back out into the main room to catch Xavy in the middle of a story.
“And then,” Xavy said, his eyes glowing with mirth, “Gar comes flying out of the room roaring, ‘the small one is dying!’”
Having given up on her dancing, Naomi sat cross-legged on the floor laughing so hard tears leaked from her eyes. “I was coming back to wash the bedding.”
“So,” Xavy went on. “He finds Hap and Naomi in the expeller with bloody clothes on the floor and loses his flecking mind.”
“I’m so glad you all find this funny,” Hap said with his arms crossed. “Meanwhile I thought he was going to rip my head off.”
“So, Gar picks up Hap and tosses him out of the expeller,” Nero said, his cheeks ruddy with the effects of the drink. “Seriously, I was sitting here minding my own business, and I just see Hap’s body flying through the air.” He pointed to a dent in the wall. “Hap’s shoulder did that.”
“For fleck’s sake, Gar,” Daz murmured.
“She was bleeding,” Gar grunted. “I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“While Hap is moaning on the floor,” Xavy said, “Gar sprints out of the expeller with Naomi in her arms. And I hear her trying to talk to him, but he’s out of his mind.”
“I didn’t understand what was going on,” Naomi said. “He was so angry and frantic. I finally got him to put me down, but how the hell did I explain that this bleeding was normal?”
“Oh my God, Naomi,” I said. “I’m so sorry that happened to you when you couldn’t explain.”
Naomi shrugged. “I was embarrassed at first, and then got over it. It’s biology and natural. Even an alien planet doesn’t prevent my body from working like clockwork. I just didn’t want him to think I was diseased and toss me out to be eaten by some… thing.”
“How did you get through to him?”
“Justine and Miranda helped formed a sort of protective wall in front of me. Gar raged like a bull while Tab helped me strip some of the bedding and make pads. It certainly wasn’t fun, but we made it work. I think once Gar realized we weren’t panicking, he calmed down. Sort of.” She eyed him, but Gar stared into the fire. “He still wouldn’t let me out of his sight, afterward.”
