by Rayna Tyler
“Totally possible and worth checking out,” Cara said.
“Sounds like you need to get your butt out of bed so we can go find out.” Sloane grinned and yanked on my blanket.
“A shower probably wouldn’t hurt either.” Laria scooted off the bed before I could smack her with my pillow.
***
Now that I had bathed, changed, and was feeling better thanks to the creevea Laria had insisted I drink, I was able to think more clearly. I stood near the control panel in the solarveyor we’d stolen from Doyle, the conversation I’d had with Laria and Sloane about Khyron swirled through my mind. Khyron’s actions, his plans for the future, his thoughtfulness when it came to me, did not correlate with the beliefs I had formed about the male I assumed had abandoned me.
Was it possible my friends were right? And, if they were, what did it say about me for judging him without giving him a chance to explain first? Had I been so consumed with guilt over my family’s loss and the death of a sister I knew deep down I couldn’t have prevented that I’d blamed Khyron to help ease the pain?
The click from Laria sealing the panel on one of the overhead units into place drew my attention back to what I was supposed to be doing, which was searching for something that shouldn’t be in the transport. Something Cara was certain Doyle had hidden and wanted back.
“There’s nothing out of the ordinary in any of these storage cabinets,” Laria said.
“Nothing here either.” Cara groaned, then realigned and secured the sheet of metal she’d removed from the interior wall. “I was sure we’d find something.”
“Guys,” Sloane called from the rear area of the vehicle. “I really think you need to see this.”
Laria flashed Cara and me a quizzical look, then led the way to where Sloane knelt on the floor. She’d removed the contents in a lower storage, including the back panel.
I stared at the concealed area amazed at how easily she’d located it. “Do we want to know how you knew there’d be a hidden compartment in there?”
“Probably not.” Sloane dismissed my inquiry with a shrug.
She never talked about her life after the crash or what she did during the years before the three of us found each other again after the war had started. We’d been close, almost inseparable on the Starward Bounty, but after the spaceship crashed on Ketaurrios, we’d ended up living in different locations.
Before finding Burke and being reunited, my friends and I all had to do things to survive. Things we weren’t proud of. Things we didn’t want to share with anyone. Sloane had developed an unusual talent for acquiring things, items that didn’t belong to her. I’d often wondered if the past life she refused to talk about included spending some time working with thieves or bandits that raided transports.
Sloane reached inside and pulled out a large square container. “It looks like your intuition was right.” She pried off the lid, exposing at least ten laser blasters.
“This is not what I’d expected.” Cara crouched next to Sloane and picked up one of the weapons. “At least now we know what Rick and Neil were really after.”
“Besides you, you mean,” Sloane said.
“But why go after Trixie if the lasers were hidden on this transport?” I asked.
“Maybe they were afraid of getting caught by Khyron’s soldiers and were waiting for an opportunity to get inside without being noticed.” Cara returned the weapon to the container.
“Or maybe when they spotted us leaving the city, they saw their chance to take Cara and possibly a way to get the lasers back,” I said.
“At this point, all we can do is speculate.” Laria headed toward the front of the transport.
“Where are you going?” Sloane asked.
Laria paused with her hand on the exit’s frame. “To let the guys know what we found.”
Chapter Ten
Khyron
I stood on the platform outside Burke’s dwelling, watching the humans perform their daily activities. It was hard to concentrate on moving forward with the collaboration items I had discussed at the previous evening’s meeting when all I could think about was Celeste. It had been several hours since I had returned to her home and left the chirayka blossoms along with her blade by her bed.
The ale she had consumed the evening before had ensured that she slept through my visit. While I was there, I noticed the small dish of glowing stones sitting on her bedside stand, similar to the one she told me helped keep her younger sister’s nightmares away. Did Celeste now suffer the same malady and need the soft glow to prevent total darkness in her room?
Did losing her family and the experiences she had suffered in the past haunt her dreams? If so, was I partly to blame for her bad dreams? Were they a result of my inability to keep the promise I had made when I left?
“I heard you carried Celeste home last night.” Jardun appeared at my side, his grin most likely an aftereffect of his time with Laria. “Can I assume since your head is still attached to your body that things with her are progressing well?”
“We have not had a chance to discuss much of anything, so I do not think progressing well is an adequate description.” I sighed and leaned back against the building. “She has agreed to join the team but wants nothing to do with me personally.”
“You must realize that what happened was not your fault.” Jardun placed his hand on my shoulder, a solemn expression settling on his face. “Celeste is an intelligent female, and I believe she will understand if you explain the events of the past.”
I knew there was some truth to his words, but it did not relieve my guilt. My scars, especially the long one on my tail, were a constant reminder of my failure to protect the female I loved.
Laria appeared from behind the solarveyor we’d used to travel to the settlement, which was still sitting near the entrance to Burke’s dwelling. The smile she flashed Jardun turned serious. “I hate to interrupt, but there’s something you both need to see.” She stepped up onto the platform, then reached for the door. “Just give me a second to get Burke. He’ll want to see this too.” She entered the building and returned a few minutes later with Burke and Logan following behind her.
“They’re in here.” She led us around the back side of the solarveyor and stopped near the open entryway.
“What’s in here?” Burke ignored the step, then groaned as he grabbed the metal frame and hoisted himself inside.
As soon as the rest of us were standing next to him near the control area, Sloane and Celeste carried a large metal container from the back of the transport and set it on the floor near our feet. The blade I had returned was strapped to Celeste’s hip, reminding me of the warrior she had become. It conflicted with my inherent nature to protect females, yet did not stop the proud tingle starting in my tail and surging through the rest of my body.
“Laser blasters.” Cara lifted the container’s lid. “Doyle might want the toxins back, but I think he also sent Rick and Neil to retrieve these.”
With everyone crowding in the small space to observe the contents inside the container, I used the opportunity to move closer to Celeste. Even if my being near her was not her choice, it still had a calming and reassuring effect on my system. Not to mention one whiff of her scent and I was immediately and uncomfortably hard.
I forced my thoughts to return to the weapons and the ramifications of what possessing them meant.
“Where did you find them?” Burke leaned forward and ran his fingertips along the smooth edge of a blaster. “We’ve been in and out of here numerous times and never saw them.”
“That’s because Doyle did a good job of hiding them, and if it weren’t for Cara we never would have thought to look for them,” Sloane said.
Intrigued, I glanced at Cara. “What prompted you to start a search?”
Cara tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “It was the way Rick said he was after what we stole from Doyle that bothered me, so I thought it was worth checking out.”
Celeste nud
ged her friend. “It was actually Sloane who found the hidden compartment behind one of the storage units.”
Burke furrowed his brows. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Sloane grinned, her glance taking in the group, then returning to me. “No Garyck?”
It appeared the interest between the two was not one-sided. “He took Zaedon and Thrayn hunting with him.”
“Finding the lasers makes sense.” Logan scratched his chin. “I got the impression Rick was holding back when we questioned him. Now I know why.”
It was good to know I was not the only one who had noticed Rick’s aversion to answering some of the questions with more detail.
“This definitely changes things and might give us an advantage.” Logan directed his remark at Burke.
“Khyron, I think these are too dangerous to leave sitting around. We should keep them locked up until we have a chance to discuss what we’re going to do with them. We also need to make sure no one outside of our group finds out we have them.”
I was certain Burke consulting me for advice on how to proceed was for Logan’s benefit, a reaffirmation that he was committed to moving ahead with the collaboration and expected all the males under his command to comply. “I agree.”
“Good, then we should get these secured before anyone sees them and starts asking questions.” Burke took a step back so others could get out of the transport.
“Where?” Jardun lifted the container with ease.
“We can put them in the same room with the container Vurell had us lock up.” Logan exited in front of Jardun.
Besides Celeste and me, Burke was the last to exit. He paused outside the entryway. “Khyron, once they get these taken care of, we can go on that tour we talked about…if you’re still interested.”
“That would be fine.” I realized Celeste still hadn’t made any effort to leave.
In my haste to turn, I banged the end of my tail on the doorway’s metal frame.
The action did not go unnoticed by Celeste, who squinted sympathetically. “Khyron.” Hearing her speak my name without a hint of anger made my heart race.
“Yes.” My tail was one of the most sensitive parts on my body, and I tightened my jaw to keep from growling through the pain radiating along my scales.
“I wanted to thank you for making sure I got home safely last night, and for returning my knife.”
I was glad she did not further my embarrassment by asking me if I was all right like a dam would a child. “You are welcome.” I took a step closer but kept my hands fisted against my thighs. She was speaking rather than avoiding me, and I did not want to do anything to change it.
“I can’t believe you remembered, or went to the trouble to pick them.” She bit her lower lip.
Had the gesture somehow changed the fragile connection between us? If so, I would need to thank the Melissa later for her words of wisdom and for showing me where to find the blossoms. “It was my pleasure.” I wanted to tell her I remembered everything about her, the details of every moment we ever shared.
“You are feeling better, then?”
“I am.”
There were so many things I wanted to say, needed to ask, but with our friends hovering close by, this was not the place to have that discussion. “Laria gave you the creevea?”
Her gaze widened. “That was from you?”
I nodded, inching a little closer. “I carry a supply of the dried leaves with me. It does not have the best taste, but the healing properties are very useful.”
“You’re right about the taste.” She released a nervous giggle. “That stuff is nasty, but it really helped the pounding in my head.”
“I am glad.” Only inches separated our bodies. I caressed her cheek, the urge to capture her lips with mine overwhelming. The need dissipated as soon as I heard a growl and felt a heavy weight trap my tail to the floor. Both actions were immediately followed the hysterical shrill of Melissa’s voice. “Fuzzball, no.”
I turned to find a furry creature with pink scales pawing and nipping at my scales as if my tail was an object meant for chewing. I snatched him off the ground and held him up so I could get a better look at him. He squirmed and playfully attacked my chin with the forked end of his orange tongue.
“Please don’t hurt him.” Melissa sobbed, a tear trickling down her face. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to bite your tail.”
“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry.” Celeste moved to kneel in front of the child, then brushed the moisture from her cheek. “Khyron would never let anything happen to Fuzzball.” She glanced up at me. “Would you?”
“My ket…” An astonished gasp from Celeste had me correcting myself before I admitted out loud that she was my mate. “Celeste is right. I would never harm him. Though you might want to teach him tails should not be used to sharpen his teeth.” Keeping the small creature clasped to my chest and doing my best to avoid his tongue, I crouched next to the young female. “Where did you find him?”
“Near the clearing where the boys practice with their blades,” Melissa said.
“Chonderras are very rare. Were there others?” I asked.
“No, just Fuzzball.” Melissa stuck out her lower lip, holding out her hands and wiggling her fingers.
After the animal happily went to the child, I got to my feet, then helped Celeste stand, glad she had not refused the gesture.
Melissa peered up at me, taking a step closer and speaking as if Celeste could not hear her. “Did you give her the chiraykas like I told you? Did she forgive you yet, or is she still mad?” She put a hand by the side of her mouth. “’Cuz if she is, I can help you find something else that might work.”
I glanced at Celeste, who appeared amused and was doing her best not to smile. “I am not sure,” I said to Melissa. “I am still working on it and will let you know if I need further assistance.”
“Okay.” She smiled at Celeste. “Well, I better get back so Harper doesn’t worry.” Without waiting for a response, she hurried off with Fuzzball bouncing in her little arms.
“Khyron,” Jardun said as he walked around the back end of the transport, then stopped when he saw Celeste. “Burke and the others are ready to go.”
I resisted the urge to glare at my friend for bringing an end to my time with Celeste. “One moment.” I turned back to Celeste. “Perhaps we can continue our discussion after I return.”
“Perhaps.”
Her smile was all the encouragement I needed, a guarantee that I would seek her out later.
***
Garyck, Zaedon, and Thrayn had not returned from their hunt by the time we were ready to leave on our tour, so Jardun, Logan, Burke, and I were the only ones in attendance. I had not bothered to ask Vurell if he wanted to accompany us. He spent a lot of his time with Nayea, something I was grateful for, which meant he spent less time hovering over me and prodding my slowly healing body.
The trip I assumed would take no more than a few hours ended up lasting most of the day. Seeing the layout of the settlement and having Burke explain what he did to protect the humans was important. It did not, however, keep my thoughts from wandering to Celeste, or diminish my eagerness to spend more time with her.
We had taken one of the smaller transports and traveled on a narrow road that ran along the perimeter of the wooded area bordering one side of the settlement. Along the way, we stopped briefly to meet with Marcus and the three males on his team, who were alert, armed with blades, and appeared to be well-trained. Marcus must have briefed them about the prior evening’s discussions, because the welcome Jardun and I received went better than I expected.
After answering their questions, we returned to the transport and continued driving. I watched the landscape on the right side of the road gradually turn from sand to rock. Caves were not uncommon, and the occasional shadows I noticed on the upper ledges were most likely the openings to small caves, possibly larger caverns.
“What are they doing out here?” Logan ran his hand ove
r the controls, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
I turned my attention from the side viewing pane to the one above the main operation control panel and spotted Garyck, Zaedon, and Thrayn walking toward us.
“I thought they were going hunting.” Jardun opened the access door.
“So did I.” I followed him outside, curious to find out why they were this far from the settlement. The meat Garyck had provided since our arrival had come from small animals living in or around the wooded area.
“Maybe they weren’t having any luck,” Burke said, walking up behind us with Logan.
“Garyck is very skilled and would have obtained his quarry long before now.” There was another reason they were here. A reason I was certain I would not be pleased to hear.
“Not sure what you’re doing clear out here, but there’s room in the transport if you want a ride back.” Logan’s offer sounded sincere.
Zaedon grinned. “That would be appreciated, after we…”
Garyck pointed at the road and, with his usual abruptness, asked, “Is this the only way to access this area?”
“Yes, unless someone wants to spend a lot of time walking. This is the only ground level and smooth enough to accommodate a transport. Even the larger solarveyors have difficulty getting back this far,” Logan said.
“Were you aware there was something living out here?” Zaedon directed his question at Burke.
A tightness crept into my chest. My first thought was for the safety of Celeste and the young ones who frequented the wooded area.
“Over the last few years, we’ve only gotten glimpses of it and assumed it was a cave-dwelling creature. Our males have been warned to stay away from the rocks and, so far, we haven’t had any problems with whatever it is,” Burke said.
“I agree with the assessment, but I do not believe he is a creature.” Zaedon ran his hand through his hair. “Garyck showed me the tracks he found. I believe what your males and you have seen is really a ketaurran male. I also believe if he wanted to hurt anyone, he would have done it by now.”
