Page 36 of Wayfinder (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #5)
The Vaktaire warrior led the Duke through everything they’d learned while rescuing my friends.
How child slaves had been used to mine a drug called mumje that could enslave every being in the universe—until Daisy and Daicon rescued them.
How the Kerzak, in league with Nansar, tested the effects of mumje on the human settlement of Tau Ceti until my friend Clara and Tarook spoiled their plans.
The worst was Nansar’s copiability in trying to reverse the effects of the Garoot healer on humans, which left my friend Agnes dying in agonizing pain until the Hakkar cured her.
The Duke took it all in silently, the only emotion on his face, the slight tightening of his jawline as he learned of his son’s involvement.
“And you think Nansar has one of the human females in his possession?” he finally asked.
“Yes.” I could tell from Khaion’s expression he regretted what came next. “I watched Nansar take the human Willa aboard his ship when we attempted to rescue her from the Aljani outpost on the Korfu moon.”
The Duke closed his eyes, no doubt feeling the weight of the news settle heavily on his shoulders.
The truth was a bitter pill to swallow. Not only had his own child been responsible for multiple atrocities, but it was apparent Nansar also wanted him dead.
The silence in the room was palpable, each breath thick with tension and sorrow.
What did one say in a moment like this? I felt my heart settle into a heavy beat, affected by Ako’s predicament.
“What we do not know is why,” Khaion prodded softly.
Duke Ako sighed heavily, opening his eyes. His gaze fell on the wine bottle, and he reached for it like a lifeline, topping off his glass before answering.
“The Alliance ruling council has been in discussion for some time regarding bringing Earth into the Alliance in order to better protect its resources and people. I have been a driving force in these discussions.”
Beside me, I felt a deep growl rumble in Jutuk’s chest.
“So, if the poisoning had been successful, Nansar would have used Pearl as a scapegoat to argue against bringing Earth into the Alliance,” my mate said. No wonder he growled.
“Worse than that I fear.” Duke Ako sighed. “There are some that believe the Earth should be exploited for its natural resources and people. My death blamed on a human’s hands might have opened the way for that.”
“Why does Nansar hate humans so much?” I asked.
“I do not know.” Duke Ako rubbed the space between his brows with the pad of a finger. “Nansar’s mother was human... one I cared for a great deal.”
I bit back the question lying on my tongue.I didn’t need to ask, not really. From the set of Duke Ako’s body... the way sadness and longing flashed across his features as he spoke... whoever this woman was, he had loved her.
I tore my gaze away from the Duke, feeling the moment he suffered needed privacy.
I swung my attention back to Khaion, just in time to see him glance off camera, his expression a mix of amusement and aggravation.
Whispers and giggles responded to his glance, and his smile deepened, for a moment before the Chieftain squared his shoulders and dropped a mask of professionalism over his features.
“My Duke, if you will forgive me, I have a few crew members that would like to say hello to Pearl.”
“To me?” I blurted, confused.
Duke Ako glanced from Khaion to me, giving assent with a wave of his hand. A second later, a flurry of motion shimmered in the holo-field, and the faces of my friends Emmy, Agnes, Clara, and Daisy came into focus.
“Pearl!” They screamed in unison.
“Oh, my God!” I might have fallen to my knees if not for Jutuk’s hand on my shoulder, keeping me seated.
Duke Ako chuckled in amusement, but he looked utterly exhausted as he rose from his chair.
“I will leave you all to get reacquainted. Please enjoy the atrium as if it were your own.” With that, he disappeared through the golden doors.
My heart ached for him, wishing there was a way to ease his pain.
“Oh my God, Pearl... are you alright?” Emmy, as usual, took charge, her halo of red curls bouncing around her face.
She’d been a gorgeous sixty-year-old, but de-aged forty years, she was utterly breathtaking.
“Khaion said you had to compete in some kind of wild man cooking competition where you had to kill the food with your bare hands.”
“Well, it wasn’t that hard,” I snort-laughed. “But yeah. And I won it!” Beside me, I felt Jutuk hum with suppressed laughter.
“Well, of course, you did,” Agnes snorted. God, she was gorgeous. She’s been a beautiful sixty-something. But young, healthy, and happy, she looked luminous. They all did.
“Seriously, are you guys all right? You look great!” I gushed. There were so many questions flying through my brain that I found it hard to settle on just one.
“Better than alright.” Clara’s smile was radiant. “Oh, Pearl, so much has happened. You look freaking gorgeous, by the way.”
“Me?” I snorted. “They have mirrors on that spaceship, right?”
The cacophony of giggles that used to drive me crazy sometimes now felt like a comforting hug.
“We’re good, all of us, better than good, actually.” Emmy blushed as she wiped at the happy wetness clinging to her lashes. “We’ve all found a second chance at love in space.”
“Excuse me?” Beside me, Jutuk tensed enough to draw my gaze.
“What’s she trying to say is that each of us has mated with a Vaktaire warrior.”Agnes clarified.
“Seriously?” I chuckled, watching a broad smile grow on Jutuk’s face.
“Seriously,” Emmy echoed and launched into the story of how Khaion rescued her from the Trogvyk ship before it exploded.
One by one, each of the girls—me included—told how they and their handsome warriors met and fell in love.
While Agnes and Daisy’s stories broke my heart a little, Clara’s tale had me hooting with laughter.
Oh my god, Clara!” My hands fanned frantically at my face, trying to calm myself. At my side, Jutuk chuckled, although he maintained much better control of himself.
“Oh, please.” Clara rolled her eyes. “At least I didn’t try to skewer him with a kitchen knife.
“We haven’t even told you the best news yet.” Daisy positively glowed with excitement.
“You’re all basically married and glowing with happiness. What else could there be?” I challenged.
Daisy brightened further. “I’m pregnant.”
That was the best news ever! I knew how much Daisy had always wanted a child of her own. “Oh, Daisy, I’m so happy for you.”
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I felt Jutuk’s arm tighten over my shoulders.
I leaned into him, awash with the sudden blissful fantasy of being pregnant with his child.
I’d never wanted children before. I always thought it wouldn’t be feasible with my career.
But with Jutuk... everything was different.
“Ladies, if you don’t mind, I need another word with Jutuk.” Khaion stepped back into frame, his hand coming to rest on Emmy’s shoulder. My friend smiled at her mate and went up on tiptoes, meeting his lips for a quick kiss.
“We’ll see you in a few days.” Agnes waved broadly and issued a lecherous wink. “You two have fun on that spaceship.”
“I love you guys!” I waved back, wiping away happy tears with my other hand.
The chaotic rumble of the girls faded, leaving Khaion alone on the screen.
“Any word from Charick?” My mate didn’t bother hiding the worry in his tone.
“Not yet,” Khaion muttered, his golden eyes darkening. “We should arrive at the citadel in a few rotations.”
“Us as well,” Jutuk agreed. I let my gaze flicker to the windows, showing the vastness of space beyond. It didn’t look like we were moving at all, although I suspected we were doing something like a million miles an hour.
“At least we know whatever we are walking into Duke Ako will be prepared to deal with Nansar,” Khaion said.
“We will be ready,” my mate vowed, thumping his chest with a fist.
“Good work, both of you.” Khaion smiled as his gaze danced between me and Jutuk. “Uncovering the plot to poison the Duke stopped untold tragedy.” His eyes narrowed a bit, and the corner of his mouth quirked like he was fighting a smile. “Oh, and one more thing, Jutuk.”
“Yes, Chieftain?” Jutuk’s brow furrowed curiously.
The quirk of Khaion’s lips turned into an all-out grin. “I’m not going to say I told you so... yet.”
The screen went dark before Jutuk could respond. I felt the tremor of amusement rumble through his chest as he pulled me closer.
“What was that about?” I prodded, as he leaned down to kiss me. “Why is Khaion going to say I told you so ?”
My mate laughed as he lifted me, settling me across his thighs. “Before we met, Khaion bet me I would fall for you, even after you threw the knife at my head.”
“Well, that’s what we humans call a sucker bet,” I teased, linking my arms around his neck.
“I’m very glad the Chieftain proved correct, my mate,” Jutuk murmured as I leaned closer, letting my lips trail along his jawline.
“Me too.” I sighed. “And I promise not to throw any more knives at you.”
Jutuk sank his fingers into my hair, pulling me back just a fraction so his golden eyes could gaze into mine, holding such love it stole my breath.
“You can throw every single blade in the universe at me... as long as you are mine.”
“I’m yours,” I breathed, letting myself sink into the promise and showing him exactly what I meant.
In cooking, they call it a chef-d’oeurve .
A masterpiece. The pièce de résistance .
A chef’s greatest creation. Despite all the delicious things I’d created over the years, wrapped in my mate’s arms, the vastness of space welcoming us to explore.
.. this, with Jutuk, was truly the most delicious thing ever.