by Kali Argent
To her surprise and annoyance, Kylir laughed. “You’re meeting a king, not a stray dog.”
Oh. Right. Point taken. “So, should I bow?” She’d never met a king before, but that was what people did in those old fairy tales. “Yeah, I should bow.”
“I think you should probably just take a deep breath and relax. The Vasera is a former elite, and she’ll likely be the one to greet you.”
Commander Ivy Dalton of the exploration vessel known as the Dreamweaver. Crash landed on Xenthian. Mated to the ruler of the planet. Now, Vasera Ivy Blackthorn. A star—and infertile human female—who had recently given birth to the first Xenon-human hybrid in recorded history after being miraculously healed by something extraordinary on the planet.
It was a mystery, a puzzle to be solved, and the sole purpose for Astrid’s journey. If she could cure the virus left over from the war with the Zyphir, maybe things would finally start to change on Earth. If she could reverse the disease that still rendered so many women barren, there would be no need for fertility testing. No need to mark little girls as special or lacking before they really even knew who they were.
If any woman could conceive, the importance placed on fertility would be null. The special few who bore the scroll tattoo wouldn’t have to worry that a pair of elites might claim them against their will. Parents wouldn’t sell off their daughters. People would bond because of love, not duty.
Eradicating the virus was only the catalyst, though, the start to finding a solution for the real problem. No matter how long it took, she wouldn’t quit. She wouldn’t give up. Failure was not an option.
“How long until we land?”
In answer, Kylir pointed through the wide window in front of them. “We’re here.” He didn’t look at her, but the corner of his mouth curled slightly. “Welcome to Xenthian.”
CHAPTER THREE
The flight to Xenthian had only taken a few hours, but it had felt like years to Kylir.
Sitting close enough to smell Astrid’s floral perfume. Trying not to react every time she said his name. Holding himself in his seat each time she smiled at him. Not pulling her into his arms to shield her against sad memories.
It had been fucking exhausting.
The entire trip had been hell, because despite having the desire to do all those things, he didn’t have the right. Great galaxies, he felt like an ass just for thinking such thoughts. She wasn’t his, and according to the swirling pattern of lines with the initials HA near her left eye, she never would be.
“Welcome to Sommervail.” Vasera Ivy Blackthorn nodded. She didn’t offer a hand to shake, but that was probably because she had her arms occupied by a squirming infant. “This is Ellora.”
Astrid’s eyes rounded comically, and her lips moved to form words, but no sound came. Shaking his head, Kylir smiled brightly and lowered his head a fraction in the universal sign of respect.
“Thank you for the welcome, Vasera, and congratulations. She’s as lovely as her mother.”
The child was indeed a beauty with raven curls and big, golden eyes that seemed to look right down into his soul. She couldn’t have been more than six months old, but there was something about her energy that felt…ancient.
He couldn’t hear people’s thoughts or see the future like some D’Aire. He wouldn’t know how to perform a mind scan if his life depended on it, and he wouldn’t want to at any rate. He wasn’t a seeker, nor was he a walking lie detector, but he could sometimes get a read on someone’s energy. Although, that probably wasn’t the best way of describing it.
What he felt wasn’t necessarily emotions, but not exactly energy, either. It was somewhere in between, something altogether unique. He’d never had much use for it, especially since the ability was inconsistent at best. It was more something that happened to him rather than something he purposely used.
“My mate is in a meeting at the moment, but he’ll be along a little later. I’m sure you’d like to get settled after your journey.” Turning her back on them, she flicked her fingers toward a set of towering, wooden doors. “Or would you like something to eat first?”
Intrigued by the way the doors opened of their own accord with barely a sound, Kylir started to follow the Vasera, but paused when he realized Astrid still hadn’t moved. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Her eyes practically sparkled when she looked up at him. “I’ve never seen magic up close before. It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?”
Ivy had opened a door. Nothing more. It really hadn’t been much different than the automatic doors on the shuttle.
“Yeah, it’s amazing,” he answered without a hint of sarcasm. “We should probably follow her, don’t you think?”
“Oh, right.” Still, she didn’t start walking until Kylir gave her a little push between the shoulder blades.
Together, they followed Ivy into a cavernous room illuminated by tiny balls of flame that flickered and danced within opaque glass orbs that floated overhead. Now that was impressive, much more so than opening a door.
“Hello, leelan.” Rising from a long, wooden table situated in the middle of the grand hall, a petite female with golden hair held her hands up in front of her. “Here, let me take her while you entertain your guests.”
Dressed in a gown made of shimmering blue, she swept toward them with graceful strides, her kind eyes taking them each in before settling on the babe in Ivy’s arms. When she reached them, she stretched her arms out a little farther, laughing when the child cooed and leaned toward her.
“Ava, are you sure?” Ivy asked, her jade eyes weary. “How are you feeling today?”
A wave of sadness seeped into Kylir, the emotion so powerful he could feel it like a physical punch, and he rubbed absently at his chest as he watched the females. Disoriented by the sudden onslaught of feeling, he took a step back, then another, shaking his head as he did so. Something lingered beneath the sadness, something cold and hollow.
It felt like…death.
Dainty fingers touched his elbow, dragging him out of the hell he’d fallen into and chasing away the chill. “Are you okay?” Astrid asked. She took a step closer, pressing right against his side, and stared up at him with obvious concern. “You look really pale.”
“Uh, yeah.” He paused to clear his throat. “Yeah. Good. Just good. I mean, fine. I’m fine.” His gaze flickered to the female called Ava, and words just tumbled from his mouth without his permission. “You’re dying.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He hadn’t meant to say that. Holy fucking nova, he didn’t know why he’d said that. He didn’t even know how he knew.
“I am,” Ava answered as she took the child from Ivy and cradled her close, nuzzling the top of her tiny head. “Don’t be sad for me.” She smiled, and her warmth settled over him like a living blanket. “I’ve lived a long and wonderful life, warrior. It is simply my time.”
“I’m sorry.”
Why, he didn’t know exactly. He was sorry she was dying. Sorry that he’d said so out loud. Sorry that there was nothing he could do to help. Sorry for being sorry. Damn, he was a mess.
“Empathic?” Ivy asked as casually as if they were discussing the weather.
“Not really.” Taking another step back, he shook his head. “I mean, I get flickers here and there. That’s about it.”
“But not since you landed on the planet,” she deduced, her smile a little too knowing. “Don’t freak out. It happens a lot here. Abilities are kind of amplified on Xenthian, especially when you’re first acclimating.” Lifting her right hand, she tapped at her temple with her index finger. “Trust me. I know from experience.”
A soft gasp came from his left side, and Astrid snatched her hand away from his arm as if he’d electrocuted her. “Sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” She hadn’t done anything wrong, and he rather liked having her hands on him.
“Touch usually makes a gift like yours stronger.” Crossing her arms behind her, she moved farther away from him. “I
didn’t realize, but I’ll be more careful now. I don’t want to make things more difficult for you.”
A tinkling laugh came from across the room, and Kylir glanced up in time to see Ava sweeping through a door with the child still tucked into her arms. “What’s funny?”
Ivy smirked, but her eyes were on Astrid, not him. “I think he probably doesn’t mind you touching him.” One, sculpted eyebrow rose toward her hairline. “Something to think about.” She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin, looking every bit the queen she was. “My new personal attendant, Darbi, will show you to your rooms.”
“Who?”
“Hello, sir. Lady.” A female appeared in front of him, literally materializing right out of thin air, and bowed shallowly. “If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters.”
A thick lock of her midnight hair had come unwound from the knot at her nape, and she ducked her head shyly as she tucked it behind her pointed ear. Stars, but she was tiny, even compared to the other females in the room. Thankfully, he didn’t get a huge rush of emotion from her, but he did detect an undercurrent of excitement.
“Hello, Darbi.” Astrid greeted the attendant with a smile and a bow of her own.
That did it. The excitement immediately morphed into panic that flooded Kylir’s veins and left his hands trembling. Grunting, he took Astrid by both shoulders, holding her firmly, and pulled her upright out of her bow.
“Oh. Am I not supposed to do that?”
The look Astrid gave him was so full of confusion he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re fine.” She was trying so damn hard not to offend anyone, to conform to the culture and expectations of the natives, that he couldn’t bring himself to tease her. “Darbi,” he said, “when you’re ready.”
“Of course. Right this way, sir.”
Taking Astrid’s hand, he looped it through the crook of his elbow, pulling her along beside him as he followed Darbi out of the great hall. By the time they reached the wide, curving staircase, he realized why he still felt so on edge. Astrid wasn’t the only one who was nervous and trying her damnedest not to show it. The sweet-natured attendant was about to vibrate right out of her skin with anxiety.
“How long have you been the Vasera’s personal attendant?”
Darbi’s foot paused on the next step, but she shook her head and kept going. “Only a couple of weeks. I was a kitchen attendant before that.” She shook her head. “You’re the first visitors we’ve had since I changed positions, and I’m still learning my new duties. I’m sorry if I make a mistake.”
Winging his elbow out to the side, he nudged Astrid to get her attention. When she looked up at him, he tilted his head toward Darbi. It would be easy for him to offer words of encouragement to reassure the attendant, but he wanted Astrid to have a chance to make up for her earlier faux pas. Not because he thought she’d done anything wrong, but because she did.
Thankfully, she caught on right away. “Did you enjoy working in the kitchens?”
“Oh, yes, very much, but I enjoy caring for the Vasera as well. She’s very patient with me.”
At this, Astrid looked up at Kylir and mirrored his frown. “Why would she need to be patient?”
With her back still to them, Darbi shook her head again. “I often make mistakes. I’m slow, because I can’t use much magic, but Vasera Blackthorn always tells me to just try my best.”
Astrid’s frown deepened as they neared the landing at the top of the staircase. Just when it appeared she wouldn’t say anything, her expression cleared, and she straightened her spine with a bright—albeit, fake—smile.
“Then, you must be naturally gifted. I never would have known you hadn’t always been the Vasera’s attendant if you hadn’t told me. I’m sure she feels very fortunate to have someone so capable looking after her.”
Darbi stopped in front of a large, arched door, and spun toward them. Tears welled along her lower lids, but her smile was bright enough to rival a thousand suns. “Thank you, Lady Astrid. I’m touched and humbled by your kind words.”
Subtly, so as not to draw attention to himself, Kylir covered the hand that rested on his forearm and squeezed it gently. It had been precisely the right thing to say, and he was proud of her, but still, the words shouldn’t have affected him the way they did. He shouldn’t have the insane urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless.
Thankfully, before he could follow that disastrous line of thinking, Darbi spoke again. “Your room, my lady.” Her pale green eyes flickered toward the hand Kylir was still holding. “I’m sorry. I was told you would need two rooms.”
“Yes.” He dropped Astrid’s hand and took a measured step to the side. “We definitely need two rooms.”
Without missing a beat, Darbi nodded, her grin never wavering. “This way, Lady Astrid.” She pushed the door open, using her own strength instead of magic, and ushered them inside. “Your belongings are just there.” She pointed to a spot near the empty fireplace. “I hope everything is to your liking, but if you need anything, please ask.” Turning toward the door they’d just entered, she indicated a small panel with three buttons and a speaker. “This intercom will connect you to the kitchens, security, and the attendants.” She pointed to each button as she explained their function. “Is there anything I can do for you now?”
“I think I’m just going to unpack and shower, if that’s okay.”
Darbi lowered her head. “Of course, my lady.” Straightening, she looked up at Kylir as she motioned toward the door. “This way, sir. Your quarters are just next door.”
He followed, waving distractedly to Astrid as he left, his mind a million lightyears away. Before they’d departed X21, Commander Tavish had explained that their wrist units wouldn’t work on Xenthian, but he desperately needed to talk to someone.
“Darbi, is there any way for me to contact someone off the planet?”
“Of course, sir.” Inside his room, she led him to a massive mirror hung over a writing desk and encased in ornate gold. “Please know that any communication will be monitored. I’m sorry for the lack of privacy, but—”
He waved away her apology. “No, that’s okay.” Tightened security was only to be expected, and what he had to say wasn’t really a secret. “I understand.”
With a nod, she climbed up on the writing desk and pressed a small, black dot in the upper corner of the mirror. The reflective surface shimmered, then melted away, revealing a glowing opaque screen. Jumping back down to the floor, she smoothed her hair back from her face, then folded her hands together in front of her.
“What is this?” He’d never seen anything like it, but it was pretty damn cool.
“Comm glass. I understand that it works similar to your wrist unit, but if you need assistance, I’d be happy to help.”
“I think I’ve got it.” He forced himself to smile, but inwardly, he was eager to be alone. “Thank you for everything, Darbi.”
She bowed her head, then simply vanished from the room without another word. Poof right out of fucking exitance. Kylir sighed. That was going to take a while to get used to.
Alone in the room, he took a minute to calm his racing heart, then stepped in front of the comm glass. “Contact Kasar T’Kari on the D’Aire home world.”
The communication devised beeped twice before a pleasant, feminine voice spoke. “Contact not identified. Failure to initiate communication.”
He grunted, but really, he should have expected it. Lifting his arm, he brought up his father’s contact information on his wrist unit, then relayed the details to the AI attached to the comm glass. A heartbeat later, his father appeared in the mirror.
“Kylir, is something wrong?”
“Hi, Da. Good to see you. How have you been?”
His father gave him a bland look. “Apologies. It’s good to see you as well, son.”
Kylir chuckled. “No, nothing’s wrong, but I do have a question.”
Kasar watched him, his blue eyes n
arrowed at the corners. “Where are you?”
“Xenthian.”
Shock crossed his father’s face, just a minute change in expression that was gone as quickly as it had come. “Okay, ask your question.”
Taking a deep breath, then another, he opened his mouth, but the words he’d meant to speak stuck in his throat. It took three tries, but eventually, he managed to stumble through what he wanted to ask.
“How did you know Mom was your keeper?”
If it had been his mother, she’d have squealed for joy, then gone on forever, wanting to know everything about the female who had finally won his heart. His father just blinked once, very slowly.
“The universe stopped.”
Well, that wasn’t very helpful. “I don’t understand.”
Kasar gave him one of his rare chuckles. “Just that, son. The universe stood still, and there was just your mother. No one else existed. It was a little like feeling every emotion all at once, and I almost passed out from the intensity of it.”
“Oh.” Hanging his head, Kylir rubbed the back of his neck, disappointment settling into his heart. “Okay.”
“Look at me.”
His head snapped up immediately. “Yes, sir.”
“It’s not the same for everyone, son. With your mixed blood, it may not be as intense for you. That doesn’t mean what you feel is wrong. It’s just different.”
Hope blossomed, then instantly vanished in a wave of pain. “Da?”
“Yes, son?”
“If she is my keeper…”
His father dipped his head encouragingly.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.
“Da, what do I do if she already belongs to someone else?”
CHAPTER FOUR
It had been months since the dream had woken Astrid in the middle of the night. Three months and four days since she’d bolted upright in bed, gasping for air and shaking so violently it felt like her bones would shatter.
A hand on her thigh. Lips against hers. A soft breath. A whispered “yes.”
