Page 15 of Whispers of the Void (Voidborn Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 15

RAIZ

* * *

I can just barely make out Neev’s violet eyes beneath her hood. I’m so glad she chose to wear what she did because if I had to watch any of the males lust after her the way they are the other females in the room, I’d lose my mind. As it is, my thrumming is so loud I’m shocked that no one hears it.

Maybe they do, and they’re just too considerate to say anything.

You need to get yourself under control before Las shows up. Hyva says into my mind. If he hears the thrumming and puts together how important she is to you, it’ll put her in danger.

As if I don’t know that already. I know. And had I known that her presence with us would send my protective need into overdrive I would have had her stay back. Probably with Hyva, so he could have kept her busy.

I just couldn’t stomach the thought of being away from her another night, making her stay exiled on my estate like some prisoner isn’t what I want. Not that I have a clear idea of what I actually want.

Besides her.

I want her.

I feel the need grow with every passing day. Stars, every passing minute, if I’m being completely honest.

“Here he comes,” Altis says quietly as the male we’ve been waiting on finally enters the pub.

He walks with a noticeable limp, probably from an injury from one of his missions in youth. He was a Commander before I was even born and fought in several of the Brotherly Wars. Basically, petty squabbles between houses over land and water rights. He pulls out a chair between Hyva and Altis, sitting without greeting anyone.

“Thank you for coming, Las.” I give him a nod of greeting. I set a small box on the table and hit the button on top. It’s a noise barrier to keep our conversation from being overheard. Thank fuck for alien tech that isn’t nullified by electromagnetic storms.

The male hates being out in public, much prefers to spend his time underground exploring. It’s one of the reasons he’s the best to lead us through the caves and tunnels to the temple. He’s mapped out nearly half the continent, helping to find places fit to build underground cities as our population grows.

“What exactly are you hoping to find inside the temple? I’m not interested in helping you loot.”

“We don’t want to loot.” I lean forward. “We just want to look at several of the old texts, see what they say about the Bak’hura.”

His eyes narrow as he examines me. This is the part about letting him in on the plan that’s the most dangerous. He could stand up and go to the Sovereign right now, tell him I’m looking into things I shouldn’t be, and I’d be executed on the spot. The Bak’hura is our most vital and horrendous tradition. The blood rite that decides which child will lead their house and which will die. I want it to end.

As our society has ventured further out into the galaxy and come into contact with more civilizations, it’s become increasingly obvious we need to leave that tradition behind. Multiple people have approached the Sovereign with the sentiment, but every time they leave ready for a funeral pyre.

I care too much to advocate for it when I have no one to leave my house to. Not to mention all those I’m responsible for. I’ve heard rumblings that the Bak’hura had been suspended for centuries before the Sovereign brought it back during my grandparents’ time. In the hundreds of years since, it’s been normalized, and most accounts differing from accepted history have been wiped from our records.

It’s a risk to bring someone I don’t know into the fold. But from what I’ve heard, he’s no supporter of the Sovereign. Still. It takes every drop of my will power not to hook my foot around the leg of Neev’s chair and pull her to my side as Las stares me down with an inscrutable look on his weathered face.

Fuck it.

I do just that, ignoring her yelp of surprise as the chair scrapes across the floor.

“All those texts are written in the ancient languages. No one knows them anymore.”

“That’s not a problem.”

“How many will go?”

“Just those you see at this table.” They’re the only ones I trust to do this with me.

“Payment?”

“Twenty-five thousand credits paid tonight. Seventy-five thousand upon return.”

Las stands abruptly. “I’ll give you my decision in three days.” He points at Neev. “And I suggest you get her out of here quickly.”

Altis is on his feet and heading for the door to check things out before I can even say something into his mind. Hyva and Vynia radiate tension as they glance around the crowded room. If Las’s quick departure and warning have done one thing, it’s eased my mind that he can be trusted because if I had to guess, what’s coming our way is no good.

“A band of the Sovereign’s inspectors is headed this way,” Altis says into my mind. “I’ll slow them down while you get Neev out the back door.”

Why the fuck is he sending his inspectors here? It’s never happened in all my time as Lord. I’ve occasionally asked for their assistance when I’ve been off on missions. Otherwise, enforcement of laws and traditions is up to each Lord. The inspectors shouldn’t be here.

“Come.” I grab Neev’s hand, helping her up. “I’m taking her home. You stay inside and help Altis if he needs it,” I say to Hyva and Vynia.

Neev trails behind me, her hand clutching mine just as tightly as it does hers. Her fingers are small and warm against mine. Any other time I’d wonder over them, but not now. I can’t risk engaging in mate-like behavior. I pull her out through the back exit and into one of the dank alley ways.

“One inspector just broke away and is heading for the back alley.”

I look around, searching for anywhere to stash Neev where they won’t notice her. But there’s no alcoves and only one exit, which is where the inspector will be any second now. There’s only one thing to do, and while I know I’m going to enjoy it, I don’t know if she will.

“Play along.” I stop us and lift her into my arms. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

Her eyes are round as I back her against the wall. “What’s going on?”

“No time to explain.” I pull my cloak around her and hope she forgives me for this.

Just as the inspector rounds the corner, I crash my lips to hers. She gasps against me, and I use that opportunity to slide my tongue between her soft lips. My fingers dig into her round ass as she moves from shock to participation. Footsteps slowly approach us, so I angle my body to block sight of her while never letting my lips leave hers.

She tastes so good. Better than any sweets or wine I’ve ever tasted. My chest thrums deeply when her hand slides over it.

I hear the inspector coming closer, but I can’t stop. Now that I’m locked in this moment with her nothing else matters. There’s only her, and the stardust she’s crafted of. Her tongue runs along my fang, and my cock hardens against her heat.

“Break it up.” The inspector comes to a stop beside us.

I really thought he might just leave. Most would. The Sovereign wants us procreating.

“We’re busy.” I turn my head, making sure to keep blocking his view of Neev.

I’d rather he not see my face either, but I will drop my hood if I need to exert power in this situation. As Lord of House Asterean, I technically have more power but to push that in a delicate situation such as this would be risky.

Neev’s heart beats wildly against me, every pulse matched by my own. Her scent, the same one that called to me that night on the patio, fills my nostrils. I’m teetering on the precipice of losing my temper knowing that this random male can scent her like this.

“Step away from the female.”

Neev leans into me, her fingers tightening into my shirt. Now instead of the scent of her arousal filling the air, it’s the metallic tang of her fear.

“You’re scaring her.” I pull us away from the wall, and she drops her legs from my waist.

“Nothing to be afraid of, female.” He turns his attention back to me. “Take your hood off.”

With one arm still around Neev, I do as he asks. Recognition flashes over his face as soon as he sees me. “Lord Asterean, I didn’t realize it was you.”

“Now you do,” I say dismissively. “Take your leave.”

“I can’t do that until I see your pet.”

Neev stiffens against me.

“This is my female, not a pet.”

“Whatever she is, I have to see her.”

“Why?”

“The Sovereign wishes to ensure there’s no humans on the planet.”

“I haven’t been informed of that decision.”

“It’s new. Representatives of Oculus Nine are on the way to retrieve a stolen human. Said she was taken by one of us.” He strolls toward us. “Apparently she’s their most important treasure.”

Neev stiffens against me, not a breath leaving her lips.

The inspector’s arm whips out fast as lightning and pulls her hood back. My talons are out before he can part his lips to speak. He signs his own death warrant when he reaches out and touches her hair.

He. Touches. Her.

A red mist coats my eyes, fury singing in my blood. My talons tear through the flesh and bone of his neck before he even registers my movement. Blood arcs through the air, splattering on the ground and walls as I lift him off the ground. His legs kick once, twice, while he weakly smacks at my hand.

I don’t hear anything.

I don’t see anything.

All I know at this moment is brutality. I must protect her at all costs.

“Raiz.” Neev takes a step back as I lower my arm and let the inspector's body fall limply to the ground with a loud splat. “Why did you do that?”

“He touched you.” I bend and use his cloak to wipe his blood off my talons. It’s callous, but I can’t bring myself to care. No one touches my mate without her permission. Ever. I grab her hand. “Come on, we have to go before they find you.”

I open all the bridges I have between my mind and Altis, Vynia, and Hyva. I just killed one of the inspectors. We’re taking the emergency tunnels below to get back home.

Neev shakes her hand free of mine and plants her feet. “You just killed him.”

“He was going to send you to the Sovereign. We don’t have time to argue about this.”

“You can’t be sure.”

“He touched you.” I reach for her, a pang in my chest at the anger in her eyes.

“You can’t kill anyone that touches me.”

Watch me.

“We must go now.”

When she makes no move to leave with me, I bend and throw her over my shoulder and start running. I need to make it two streets over to the hidden entrance of the tunnels. Neev wiggles against me, but she’s no match for my strength.

It takes half the time to make it to the tunnels as it would have with her running. Once I traverse the steps, I could set her down. But I’d rather have this conversation at home, not where anyone could overhear, so I leave her over my shoulder and begin to run.

My feet splash through the puddles that line the smooth obsidian walls. This particular tunnel used to be a lava tube, about half of the tunnels on the continent are old lava tubes. The underground is also dotted with hundreds of hot springs. It makes traveling through them a bit more comfortable.

“How can you see anything?” Neev asks as she bounces on my shoulder.

“My eyes are made for this.” That makes me think, I should ask Cuna if they can fabricate some sort of lenses for her to wear underground. We’ll obviously have torches, but, if something happens and they’re put out, it would help for her to be able to see like we can in the dark.

I make it to the door leading to my estate and type in the code to unlock the door. As soon as it swings open, I set Neev on her feet and close it behind us. I take a deep breath and ready myself for the onslaught of her anger.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“Save your life?” I ask.

“No.” She throws her arms wide. “Kill for me with no regard.”

“It’s the same thing.”

“It’s really not.” She strides toward me, poking me in the chest with her blunt, harmless fingernail. “You have no idea what his intentions were.”

“I know the Sovereign. That’s all there is to know, because his intentions are never good.”

“You are the most infuriating male I’ve ever met.”

“I’m not too offended as it’s a short list.”

She scoffs and turns around, walking down the tunnel toward the house as if she knows where it leads. She’ll figure it out when she gets there but still. Frustrating human. “Don’t look for me tonight.”

As if I can’t smell her from rooms away. Or hear her. I’m so attuned to her, to everything about her that even the sound of her beating heart is easily identifiable to me.

* * *

Sitting across from Hyva, Vynia, and Altis two hours later, I still can’t tear my thoughts from her. Even when the stakes have never been higher. They managed to get rid of the inspectors, even finding the body of the one I killed. From what they were told, it isn’t just my sector that they’ve been going to. Unrest is growing in all corners, and this is the Sovereign’s attempt at quelling it, sending out bands of inspectors to make his presence known.

Could he know I’m planning something? Does he believe Neev is with me or hiding under my protection? Surely the Order wouldn’t have told him that I had her. They would have to know that would put her at risk, and if they’ve come this far to get her, there must be a reason.

She’s more than a linguist and transcriptionist. When I cut the connection between the ship and Sister Andria, she was mid-sentence. What were they hiding about Neev? The bigger question is does Neev know what it is? Is she keeping secrets?

Not that it matters. She’s my mate. Even if she rejects the bond, I’ll do anything to keep her safe.

“Raiz.” Hyva smacks his hand on my desk, jolting me from thoughts of Neev. “Have you been listening?”

“Yes.”

The glare he shoots my way makes it clear that he doesn’t believe me.

“What are we going to do about the fact that she’s your mate?” Altis asks.

“What do you mean, do about it?” I turn my attention to him. “There’s nothing we can do about it. What’s done is done.”

“Does she know?” Vynia asks.

“No.”

“Don’t you think you should tell her?” She gives me a pointed look. “She probably doesn’t even know what it means.”

“The thrumming will only get louder until the bond is joined,” Hyva adds. “Has she noticed it?”

“I believe so. She seems to be drawn to it.” Like the way she melted into me on the way back from the beach. “It’s happened a few times when she’s needed me.”

“She hasn’t asked about it?” Hyva stands and walks out of the study before I answer. He’s back within seconds, holding one of the books she’s been reading to familiarize herself with our history and biology. “I think there’s a section on mates in the back of this book.” He busies himself skimming the pages.

Talking about her makes me desperate, the need to pull her onto my lap and secure her to me is overwhelming. If I close off all my senses and focus on her, I feel her as she sits in her room. An ache spreads within me starting in my stomach and radiating through my limbs. An overwhelming yearning to go to her settles over me. Something feels wrong, but she told me not to seek her out tonight.

I look to Vynia. “Will you go check on her?”

“Now?” She tilts her head as she looks at me.

“Yes. Something feels off, and she told me she doesn’t want to see me tonight.”

“Okay.” She pushes to her feet. “Why doesn’t she want to see you?”

“She’s angry that I killed the inspector.”

“Why did you kill him?” She’s asking out of curiosity, not judgement.

“He touched her.” That’s the true, most important reason, but not the only one. “And he put together who she was and would have told the Sovereign.”

She inclines her head. “Fair enough. I’ll go check on her.”

“Do you think the Order is really coming for her?” Altis asks after the door closes behind Vynia.

“I hope not.” Because they won’t like how that ends. Neev with me and their ship in shambles. “I’m more concerned about the male that was speaking to her in her mind the last time she had an episode than anything else.”

“I still haven’t found anything that says humans have that type of skill,” Hyva says without looking up from his reading.

“What if she’s not just human?”

That forces his eyes up from the text. “Genetically her DNA is all human. Nothing mixed was identified by my scans.”

“Could they be hiding something from the IGC?”

Humans are a relatively newer group to the InterGalactic Council. The IGC mandates that every species shares an extensive history of civilization and genetics in order to join. It’s why Zeahiri hasn’t joined. The Sovereign doesn’t want to share our customs.

“That’d be risky,” Altis says.

“But there’s definitely a reason they might want to keep this ability quiet,” Hyva replies.

“Do you think she can mind walk?” Altis asks me.

“Not that I’m aware of. I’ve stayed out of her mind as much as possible.” The more often I go inside it, the more likely it’d be for me to form a permanent connection. Mate or not, she deserves to be able to consent to that. It’s an intimate thing, the bridge between minds, and shouldn’t be abused just because I have the power to do so.

“I only see one way through all this,” Hyva says.

“What’s that?”

“You’re going to have to tell her. Everything.”