Page 9 of Healer (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #4)

A Kerzak.

A big fucking Kerzak.

A creature bred for blood and death. The warrior training received in my youth lay embedded in my DNA, like Agnes’ illness, but it had been years since my last battle. My only goal was to buy Agnes time to escape.

The Kerzak raised his weapon and roared loudly.

The sound echoed through the air, causing nearby trees to tremble.

I sucked in a deep breath, issuing my own loud, vicious roar, which stilled the surrounding jungle to silence.

Except Agnes, who lingered behind me, her breath tinged with whimpers of fear.

“Run, Agnes,” I hissed, raising my scimitars into battle position.

The Kersak swung his massive blade in a wide arc over his head. I steeled myself for battle… and death.

“Stop!”

Not Agnes, but a decidedly female voice.

A Kerzak female strode into the clearing. A beautiful creature, especially for a species where it proved sometimes difficult to tell male from female.

Slender and shorter than the male by at least a foot, pale gray fur covered her body, save for the creamy color of her face. Her eyes were a rich honey color, and hair that most Kerzak females wore short flowed over her shoulders in a deep silvery gray.

The female moved regally, putting herself between me and the male.

She laid her hand in the center of his chest and that simple touch seemed to vanquish his hostility, the massive blade falling limply to his side.

When she turned her gaze to me, her expression seemed serene, although calculating.

I sheathed my blades in a gesture of peacefulness, knowing I could have them in my hands at a second’s notice if needed.

“Why have you intruded upon our home?” Her button eyes bounced from me to Agnes and narrowed curiously.

As if sensing some type of invitation, Agnes moved to my side. I slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against me. The protectiveness I felt for her was like a fire in my blood. It was more than doing my duty to my Chieftain and his mate... just more.

“We did not mean to trespass,” I said, giving a long, slow nod to show respect. “We travel to the eastern settlement and didn’t realize this portion of the jungle was inhabited.”

The female’s curious gaze flickered back to me and held. The male moved to stand behind her, his hands resting protectively on her shoulders.

“You are Vaktaire. I know of your kind.”

Nothing in her expression gave away what—if anything—she meant.

“What do you know?”

The female smiled, strangely beautiful and genuine. Beside me, I felt Agnes relax.

“I know your people to be warriors, but fair and good. Your kind were always friend to my family.”

Family?

The comment seemed strange and leading. I glanced at Agnes, her bright grey eyes making my heart thud faster, before returning my attention to the female.

“Who might be your family, lady?” The title fell from my lips without conscious thought. It just seemed right.

The female’s smile dimmed sadly. She leaned against the male as though needing comfort for what came next.

“My name is Vienda. I am the only surviving spawn of Ardika Vey and Paluma Oy, crowned regents of the Kerzak.”

Shock staggered me, causing Agnes to slip an arm around my waist in support. In any other circumstance, the gesture might have distracted me, but not now.

“Someone massacred the Kerzak royal family over fifty rotations ago,” I protested.

I’d served as part of an Alliance team tasked with investigating the destroyed royal vessel.

I personally had closed Queen Paluma Oy’s unseeing gaze.

The carnage was sickening. The attackers stabbed her over a hundred times, while they not only decapitated but also eviscerated King Ardika Vey.

Her younger brother... there had been barely enough left of him to bury.

Someone wanted to make very sure the regents were dead.

Very dead. Many believed that the attackers took the princess as a slave… or ate her.

The female—Vienda—sighed heavily, her eyes traveling skyward. “That is what Ambassador Yaard would like everyone to believe.” She raised her hand, gesturing us forward. “Come, let us have refreshment. This is a tale that needs drink.”

We followed at a safe distance, moving through the neipta fruit trees into sight of a small home built into the hillside. The door was round like a ship’s porthole, with two small windows to let in the light on either side. Outside sat a series of rough benches around a circle of stones.

“It’s a hobbit hole,” Agnes whispered as we passed through the doorway. I nodded but made a mental note to ask her about this hobbit later.

My arm tightened around her waist, keeping Agnes pressed close as we entered a small but cozy room filled with handmade furniture and decoration. This was not the home of warriors. This home belonged to a family.

The male motioned for us to sit on a bench beside the stone fireplace.

Vienda disappeared behind a leather curtain, emerging moments later carrying a tray with a jug of pale green liquid and four wooden cups.

The fruity scent of the liquid reminded me of valat, wine from my home world, although the taste proved much stronger.

Agnes took a sip, giving a small moan of pleasure that made my cock thicken. I shifted to gain some control over the errant member.

“You know my father wanted to change the way of the Kerzak?” Vienda asked, settling on a fur-covered settee beside the male.

“Your people are warriors,” I stated the obvious, letting my arm drape across Agnes’ shoulders.

She cuddled close to my side. I liked her closeness…

a lot. Not just because it was easier to keep her safe.

I like the way her touch made my skin tingle and how her floral scent filled my head like a drug.

It was difficult to tear my senses away from the lovely human and concentrate on our hosts.

“Like yours, yes,” Vienda agreed. “My people are many. Most honorable and good, but a few follow the vicious way of blood and blade. My father wanted all of Kerzak to adopt a more peaceful path. Sadly, not all his counsel agreed, and they could not be trusted.

“You were betrayed by an ally?” We’d always wondered how assassins accessed the Kerzak royal barge. The regents’ guards were legendary in their prowess.

“Yes, by my father’s closest advisor, Ambassador Yaard.

” Despite her manners, Vienda made a face that showed her to be a thoroughly bloodthirsty Kerzak.

“We traveled to a meeting with Duke Ako and Alliance elders when those loyal to Yaard attacked our envoy.

He orchestrated the murder of my parents and younger brother and had me brought here.

“They murdered your little brother?” The tone in Agnes’ voice sounded heartbroken. She’d dedicated her life to helping children. The loss of one lone child, even an alien child lost to history, bothered her.

“Yes. He was next in line to the throne.” Vienda’s honey-brown eyes misted.

“Shouldn’t you be next in line to rule as the eldest?” Agnes pressed. The sadness in her voice shifted into something stronger, more curious.

“The Kerzak believe females are not fit to rule,” I told her softly, the arm I held around her shoulders giving a gentle squeeze.

Agnes stiffened, brows furrowing. “Well, that’s some shit!”

I froze, remaining on edge until I realized the rolling sound coming from Vienda was laughter.

“Isn’t it”? The female agreed, raising her glass.

“Why did the ambassador allow you to live?” I asked. No one else aboard the royal barge received that concession.

“At the time of the attack, our laws considered me still too young to take as mate. So, he dumped me here, along with a contingent of guards, to await the time when he could claim me.” Her face twisted with disgust. “Marrying royal blood would open a way for him to claim the throne.” A glance at her mate saw Vienda’s expression soften.

“Thankfully, the gods saw fit for Talamus to form a mate bond with me. He killed the other guards and claimed me.” She stroked the male’s knee, and his face widened in an uncharacteristic smile as he nuzzled her head.

“Didn’t that piss off the ambassador?” Agnes asked, watching the Kerzak.

“Greatly,” Vienda chuckled. “But not even Yaard is brave enough to defy the gods’ wishes. When he returned to find us mated and me pregnant with our daughter Irsay, he left, not to return.” Vienda’s gaze traveled to a curtained doorway, and beyond, I picked up the sound of a child’s soft snoring.

My attention returned to find Vienda eyeing Agnes curiously.

“You are human?”

“Yes.” Agnes straightened. “I was abducted and brought here for experimentation, but Hakkar rescued me. He’s my hero.” The hand she rested on my forearm gave a squeeze. I’d never felt prouder.

“We have seen many humans brought here over the years,” Vienda mused, her eyes narrowing. “You are the first I have known to escape.”

“I took her from the Ulkommanian.” At the mention of the name, the twist in Vienda’s features told me I didn’t need to extrapolate. “We travel to the settlement of Poikash to rendezvous with my ship, the Bardaga.”

Vienda leaned against her mate, silent as she finished her drink. Setting the cup on the tray, she rose, arm sweeping out in a welcome gesture.

“Then let us invite you to share the hospitality of our home. You can rest and re-equip yourselves for the remainder of your journey.”

I opened my mouth to refuse. As gracious as Vienda seemed, I would not consider Agnes truly safe in any company but my own until we left this planet behind.

“We’d love to!” Agnes blurted, wearing a wide smile.