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Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Qaldreth Command Council

Planet of Ivoy

A s they strode into the hall, many Qaldreth, in a kaleidoscope of hair and eye colors, quietened and watched them head to the center. Despite being used to thousands observing her, this small gathering of warriors twitched her fingers and scattered her heartbeat.

Drafe squeezed her hand. Breathe , mhi’ vatia, you will not be harmed. I am forever your guardian.

She met his gaze and winked. As I am yours .

They paused in front of a dais where seven Qaldreth warriors sat. One had the same coloring as Drafe’s—Meorri aac Kish Udap.

His scowl was monstrous to behold. “We receive no recent word of your mission, no status updates, then you arrive with a live specimen. I am not impressed, Meorri aac Drafe Arrak.”

Red hot fury exploded across their bond, but when she snuck a peek at Drafe, only his jaw clenched.

“Our mission was successful, revered members of the Q.C.C.” Aehort stared down each man. “The source of the pods were discovered and vengeance taken for the Ots killed.”

“Good.” Kish Udap studied her. “You are without Awayar aac Caah Taed, the finest in his field. How did his death serve the Qaldreth?”

Drafe scanned the council. “I tasked him to remain with the humans, to help rebuild, and to serve as a bridge between our species, Kish Udap.”

A white-eyed udap nodded, his hair flowing down his back unruffled. “An excellent choice, Drafe Arrak. We of the Awayar make outstanding ambassadors.”

“He is not trained in such a capacity, Rath,” Kish Udap growled at the white-haired commander at his side. “But the deed is done, the Ivoy avenged, and your bond with Aehort has strengthened, Drafe Arrak.” He tapped the desk. “Yet before me, I find a stranger.”

“She is as I foresaw.” Aehort chose to sit on a stone bench, his face a mask of boredom.

“Oh?” Another commander, Zuphayr aac Srim, arched a blue brow. “And what did your visions reveal?”

“An ally.”

Oh, Aehort, thank you . She smiled at him then looped her arm through Drafe’s. You have helped me heal, my love. The loss of Ande still haunts me, but with you and Aehort, I am whole again.

Warm adoration from Drafe crossed their bond.

It has been a pleasure, Vic of Earth, Aehort sent.

She laughed at him. It’s Meorri aac Victoria now.

He dipped his orange head. So it is.

“Now I see.” Kish Udap leaned back in his chair. “And how did it come to be that she has your symbiotes, Drafe Arrak? The Jakar has performed no symbiotic transfer, nor would we have condoned such an action.”

“Calm yourself, Kish.” Eran Udap stared at Vic, his brown eyes almost human.

She appreciated that the symbiotes shared their names and ranks, but still, to be studied as a specimen irritated her. Drafe squeezed her hand. She drew in a calming breath and willed her leg to stop twitching.

“This was unexpected.” Eran Udap rose and climbed off the dais, pausing in front of her.

He captured a lock of her hair to test between two fingers.

“Yet her bond with Aehort Uz and Drafe Arrak is strong. Her species must be remarkably acceptable to the symbiotes.” He flicked a wrist. “Summon the Jakar. We must test her.”

Her blood ran cold. Aehort had expected as much and warned her accordingly. She could do this.

Drafe tensed. I cannot lose you, Vic. I have tasked Vaen to await you on the shuttle. Run if you need to.

She shook her head. I can endure, besides, I won’t abandon you, Drafe. Do not ask me to.

“We have run tests on the return voyage and have made the findings available to the Maed Board,” Drafe said, scanning the udaps.

“I will determine which tests are necessary, young Drafe,” the black-eyed, pale-skinned Jakar glided toward them amid a cloud of incense. “Come,” he gestured to Vic.

She fell into step behind him. Argh. How old is he? I mean no disrespect, but a robo-dog can walk faster than this.

Drafe smothered a chuckle. Patience, Vic. Ceremony and protocol matter here.

She forced herself to stare ahead even as laughter barreled up her throat. Imagine the expression on his face if I swept him off his feet and carried him to the temple.

Aehort snorted. If we must flee, then I insist you carry him, Vic, and let the symbiotes record it for posterity.

Do not encourage her. Drafe widened his eyes at Aehort. It was the last image she saw as she left the chamber.

“T he newest ots were expecting you, Aehort Uz. Since the mission was a success, they have taken an interest in policies regarding the categorizations of newborns. They await your input.” At Eran Udap’s news, Aehort rose and glided out of the hall, leaving Drafe to face the Q.C.C. alone.

“We are all Qaldreth warriors, and there are no outsiders. What say you, Drafe Arrak?” Srim Udap threw out his hands, encompassing the gathered males.

Drafe shared each step of their investigation, as Vaen had communicated to the Q.C.C.

They knew all this until Vic had found her way onto the Aroagni , and with the retaking of the Mula Pesada , communication had become sporadic.

So he shared the footage from Vic’s eye implant.

His chest swelled with pride at her actions, that of a warrior.

The hall was privy to where her gaze lingered on parts of his anatomy when she leaned in to hug or kiss him.

They witnessed her killing Carne without hesitation.

He ended it before they suffered through two days of mating until she had, at last, purged the implant.

Shuffling from foot to foot, he scanned the council, trying to read their thoughts while enduring a surge of lust. She did that to him, had from the moment their gazes first met.

“You mated a non-Qaldreth?” Kish Udap pointed at the door she had disappeared through.

Drafe gritted his teeth. “She is my vatia sahaar .”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

He scanned the council without fear. “As you know, when it happens, it is unexpected and cannot be denied.”

“And you did not reveal this to me, why?” Kish Udap growled. “Such an event is to be cherished, Drafe Arrak, not used in this callous manner.”

“I am not ashamed of the warrior female who is mine for eternity. I needed you to see her for yourself. She is beyond worthy of my affection, to birth my sons. But…there is more. The human she killed hurt her and, in doing so, inserted into her their version of symbiotes known as nanites. I now carry these.” He withdrew his sword and sliced his palm.

The cut healed before it could bleed, but the idea of pain lingered.

Kish Udap leaped over the desk and grabbed the sword. He sliced Drafe’s palm again with the same result. “She carries these in her?” At Drafe’s nod, he faced the hall. “Summon the Jakar. Bring the female.”

“This is remarkable. How did this occur? Do the humans have the same symbiotic transfer ceremony?” Eran Udap took Drafe’s sword to test the blade. “The sword has not been tampered with.”

“Could we harvest these nanites , insert them into our warriors?” Kish Udap slapped Drafe on the shoulder with a hearty chuckle. “You have done well.”

A growl pierced the excited murmurs. “You congratulate him?” Ulvus called from the rear of the hall. “He abandoned Caah, mated another species, and this mating sickness has spread to Nenn Maed with a blind human female. Do not be so easily deceived, my udaps.”

“I have read your reports, Ulvus Sava. They reek of bitterness. Your hatred for Drafe Arrak is well-documented by symbiotes and personal accounts. Anything you say will be measured against this.” Srim Udap captured Drafe’s palm to stroke his thumb across it.

“Incredible. We had healing before but never to this degree. It is as if there was no wound.”

“Ulvus Sava is correct.” Drafe smiled at the shock contorting Ulvus’s face.

“Nenn wished to heal a blind female and formed an attachment to her. She is onboard the Aroagni , having agreed to travel with us. She is a Maed for the humans and her knowledge on her species might be of help to the Ivoy and Qaldreth.”

Eran Udap laughed. “You excel in unexpected ways, Drafe Arrak.”

“I am nothing without my crew, my udaps. Their performance was beyond all that I could have asked for.”

“They will be rewarded accordingly.” Udap Kish flicked his fingers.

I’m here, Vic whispered. Why did I need to return?

Drafe relaxed, relief sliding down his body. Are you well?

He hasn’t done anything yet. I have so much pent-up energy, I need a good, long fuck after this.

Drafe groaned, closing his eyes against the expected wave of hot need she aroused. Vic, I cannot sport a hard koq before my udaps.

She halted beside him and slipped her hand into his. What did I miss?

As one, the council gathered around her, stroking her hair, her skin, or splaying her five fingers, so delicate against theirs.

“If you cut her hand, does it heal as fast?” Srim Udap asked, running a thumb along her palm.

Huh? She glanced at Drafe, her brow furrowed in concern. What healing are they talking about? You cut your hand?

“She does not know, my udaps. Vic, your nanites heal me. Watch.” He asked for his sword, then sliced his palm and held it up for her to see.

“What the farg?” She grabbed his hand. “Nanites encourage healing, but I didn’t know they were this good in you. Try me.” She offered her palm and didn’t wince when the sharp metal pierced her skin. Before blood could pool, the skin knitted together. “Huh.”

“Her blood is red,” rippled through those gathered.

“I have had enough of this garak shit.” Ulvus withdrew his sword and leaped over the heads of males.

“Drafe.” Vic vaulted to meet Ulvus, her skin shimmering under the venai lights.

Drafe wasn’t quick enough to stop her and was helpless to aid her despite the instinct to do so.

She collided with Ulvus, but as they plummeted to the floor, it was Ulvus at the bottom, her knee at his chest, and her hand on his throat.

Ulvus tried throwing her off, but she spread her thighs and gripped his torso.

He tried stabbing her with his sword, but she was too close to him.

When they landed, his sword clattered to the side amid his deep groan.

They glided to a halt at the base of the council’s desk.

Drafe bolted forward. “Don’t kill him, Vic.”

The udaps gaped, but he couldn’t take the time to explain.

She did not glance his way. “He’s an asshole.”

Drafe held out his hands, showing her he was unharmed. He has sinned in front of the Q.C.C . Let them handle it.

She snorted, tossing a derisive glance at the udaps. Like your elder did when he stole your water pouch?

Drafe crouched beside her, sensing her crumbling resolve. “Vic, gevatia , please, hide your armor and leave him be.”

Ulvus’s cheeks paled as she met Drafe’s gaze. “Fine.” She leaped off Ulvus, kneeing him in the ribs as she did so. “But only because I love you, Drafe. That’s twice now. The third time, I’ll kill him.”

“There will not be a third time.” Kish Udap gestured to the guards, and they descended upon Ulvus, escorting him out of the hall. “You have the Q.C.C.’s gratitude, Meorri aac Vic. I would like to extend a formal welcome to the Qaldreth and my Meorri tribe. Please, dine with me this night.”