Page 17 of Whispers of the Void (Voidborn Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 17

RAIZ

* * *

I t’s been nearly three days, and there has been no answer from Las. At this point, desperation is gnawing at me. The longer we wait, the more likely we are to be discovered. I’ve sent Altis and Vynia out to find Las. Or someone else to guide us.

Hyva’s been subtly keeping an eye on Neev the past few days while also trying to replicate the medication she normally takes to suppress her natural cycles. I had no idea how often human females could become pregnant. Then on top of how frequently they become fertile, they’re also compatible with sixty percent of known species within the galaxy. It’s no wonder they’re sold at such a high rate in the dark markets.

Yet another reason to protect her at all costs. Aside from being my mate, the danger she could face out in the galaxy on her own is frightening. Despite being adult in age, she was so guarded by the Order that she’s naive to so much. It's frighteningly easy for her to fall into the wrong hands.

I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on about human psionic abilities, but there’s not much aside from their own planetary folklore. They generally don’t believe in these abilities, though there are humans who proclaim to be gifted in various ways. Mostly speaking with the dead or precognition.

It wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility that the man Neev saw in her mind was a manifestation of precognition. The problem with that is she said he wanted to find her. To help her. My instincts say it was an outside force, not something she came up with.

I haven’t seen her yet today, and as is becoming a habit, I reach out with my mind to brush against hers. I never invade her space, I just like to check in and make sure she’s okay.

I find her on the library terrace. She feels a bit melancholy, the slight sadness I sense has me walking down the hall before I can think better of it. I don’t know what excuse I’ll use to be near her, but I can figure something out on the fly.

Her tiny, human feet are bare while she leans against the railing and looks out into the water. She doesn’t jolt when she hears me walk out beside her, and I’d like to think that’s because she can sense me as easily as I can her. Even though she’s human and the mate bond will feel less intense to her, she should be able to feel the tether between us, regardless of whether she knows of its existence or not.

“What’s it like out there?” she asks quietly. “Under the waves?”

“It’s peaceful. Even with them churning above you, the deeper you go, the greater the peace you’ll feel.”

“Even on Kodia’s back?” She turns and meets my gaze.

“Well, no. Kodia and I enjoy moving fast through the water, pushing our limits.”

She smiles, but it’s sad. “I bet that freedom feels amazing.”

“It does.” I want to erase the sadness from her eyes and replace it with joy. Before I can think better of it, an idea flies from my lips. “Want to see for yourself?”

“Really? He’d let me ride him?” Her brow furrows.

“Yes.” I actually have no idea. I’ve never asked him to carry more than me. “I have one of the devices that will allow you to breathe underwater and keep your body temperature stable.”

The sadness in her eyes lessens just the slightest bit at the offer. I want nothing more than to permanently erase it. “Come with me.”

I turn and head for my study. I have to rifle through a couple drawers before I find what I’m looking for, but once I have the disc in hand, I pass it over to her. She looks at it quizzically.

“How is this going to help me breathe underwater?”

“May I?” I take it back from her and point to the back of her neck, visible because of the way all her hair is piled on top of her head.

“Yes,” she says hesitantly.

I take a step closer to her and wrap my hand around the back of her neck, setting the disk at the base. I press the top and step back to watch the tiny nanotech suit ripple over her body. Each small cell locks the eight around it, forming a thin barrier. I stop it from covering her mouth and nose just yet.

“Oh my stars,” she says, looking down at her body which is now covered by the suit. “It’s all over me.”

“Yes. It spreads under the clothing you’re wearing and once we get in the water, I’ll activate the head piece which will filter the oxygen from the water allowing you to breathe as usual.”

“Do you use these?”

“No. My skin is still made for the water, and once submerged my gills open.”

Her lips part in surprise. “I didn’t even realize you have gills.”

“I don’t right now.” I finger the material of her shirt. “Take your clothes off and let's go for a swim. Kodia has been wanting my attention anyway.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I grab her hand, linking our fingers as if it’s the most natural gesture in the world and begin pulling her toward the door.

She follows and doesn’t try to shake my hand off, so I leave it. The battery-operated motion lights I had installed for her on the staircases light up as we walk down the worn stone stairs to the stone transport landing. She keeps back while I walk to the edge of the water and tap the surface a few times, calling for him.

I wait, and within a minute Kodia breaks the surface. His black eyes alight with happiness and what could only be called a toothy grin stretched across his face. I’m sure he looks strange to her, maybe even frightening, but he’s just a playful animal. I can’t ask his permission the way I’d like, but as scratch behind his ear, I look over my shoulder at Neev.

“Come here,” I tell her quietly.

She takes slow, measured steps and then kneels beside me.

“Hold your hand out to him.” I place my hand on the small of her back in encouragement.

The two of them look at each other for a moment and then Kodia makes the first move, pressing his nose against her palm. Whatever he smells, likely the mate bond between her and I, makes him immediately look at me. In his eyes I see his absolute acceptance of her. I know if I’m ever gone, and he can protect her, he will. His black tongue snakes out of his mouth and licks her.

“Is that a good sign or does he think I’m dinner?” she asks me.

“He accepts you.” I stand and begin to strip out of my clothes. “Take your clothes off.”

She looks down at herself and follows my instructions. The nano suit covers her like a second skin so as she strips down, I have a vague idea of how she would look naked. It’s enticing enough to make cock harden in its sac.

I turn quickly and look down at Kodia. The last thing we need is my cock to extend outside my body. It’s bad enough it did so the night I shared Neev’s bed. Once I have my desire back in check, I turn to her again.

“Are you okay with me speaking into your mind while we’re underwater?” Neither of us will be able to speak normally, so it’s this or nothing. “Before you answer, I do need to tell you that the more you allow me into your mind, the easier it is for me to enter at will.”

“What do you mean?” She tilts her head.

“Think of it like a path. The more often it’s traveled, the easier it is to traverse. It’s how I can speak so easily to Hyva, Altis, and Vynia. I don’t even have to try anymore, and they’ve given me full access to come and go as needed with the understanding that I won’t cross any boundaries.”

She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and silently considers it for a moment. “Okay.” She looks up at me. “I trust you.”

My chest warms.

Thank you, your trust means everything to me. I smile down at her as I speak the words into her mind.

You’re welcome. “Did you hear that?” she asks.

“I did.”

I push my pants past my hips, and she quickly averts her eyes. Her skin is flushed and warm when I reach behind her neck and press the top of the disc, engaging the mask. The rapid increase of her heart rate has me reaching down and gripping my hand in hers.

It’s okay. Get ready to jump.

She nods and grips my hand tighter.

Three.

Two.

One.

We both jump off the side of the landing and into the cool darkness of the sea. Kodia swims under us, and I slide down onto his back. I tuck Neev in front of me, locking my thighs around her.

Grab hold of his spines. I demonstrate, my chest flush against her back as I lean forward and grab two of the spines that run down his neck. He moves fast through the water so hold on and lean as close to his body as you can.

Okay. This is so weird, being able to breathe underwater.

Good weird? I smile against her shoulder, fighting the desire to run my lips over the delicate curve of her neck.

Definitely good weird.

As soon as he feels us secured, Kodia takes off, leaving the grotto and jetting into the sea. He dives deep, cutting through the kelp forest and around the huge boulders dotting the sea floor. A dark shadow cuts through the distance as he carries us out into the open ocean.

What’s coming toward us? Her question is laced with uneasiness.

That’s just his mate. She’s harmless. To us.

She comes alongside us, her dark eyes catching on Neev with a keen interest. Then she’s spiraling through the water, her barrel rolls creating a spinning vortex behind her. I barely have time to lock my body around Neev’s and instruct her to hold on tight before Kodia begins doing the same thing.

Her silky hair flows over my shoulder as she relaxes her body between Kodia’s and mine. I can feel his joy through the bond I share with him as clearly as I can feel hers. Never in all my life have I felt this level of happiness.

If I could keep us down here forever, I would.

Once they begin to slow down to normal speed, I recognize the reef they’re taking us to. It’s beautiful and full of creatures that Neev’s likely never seen before. Unless of course she saw them in one of the books she’s spent every free second reading.

Are you okay? I loosen my grip on Kodia but keep Neev tucked against me.

Yes, that was incredible. Where are they taking us?

To a reef they like to hunt near. They’ll likely let us off to explore while they go find something for dinner.

Is it safe to be without them?

You’re always safe with me. There’s very little that can hurt me underwater. And there’s not a chance in hell I’d let anything dangerous near her.

As soon as we get to the reef, I drift off the side of Kodia, taking Neev with me. This part of the ocean is teaming with life because we’re closer to the side of the planet with constant light. The sunlight filters down through water, the rays scattered into beautiful beams that dance over the sandy seafloor.

I swim alongside Neev, pointing out all the flora and fauna as we pass by. The colors of this reef are some of the most vivid I’ve seen on our planet or any other I’ve visited. Bright orange corals and pink underwater flowers are so stunningly contrasted by the aqua blue water around us.

There’s one more place I want to show her before we have to go back. I grab her hand and lead her down into a rocky cave. I go through a narrow opening first and then turn to help guide her through and then watch as she takes in the sight around us.

Oh my stars. She spins in a circle taking the sight around us in. What are they?

Bioluminescent sea worms.

Ew. Worms? She moves closer to the cave wall to get a better look. Thousands of the worms drift in the currents as half their bodies hang out from cracks in the walls.

Careful. They’re venomous.

She pulls her hand back but keeps looking around the small space. There’s just enough space for me to stand and not hit my head. I watch her take everything in and then turn back to me. She floats up until we’re face to face and cups my neck. Her hand runs over my jaw as she looks at me. Into me.

Thank you for showing me all of this.

Her eyes dip from mine down to my lips, and my heart picks up its pace. Before I can do anything, she’s pressing her lips against mine. It’s a chaste kiss since she’s covered by the suit. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s the most intimate exchange I’ve ever had with a female.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing we’re underwater or a bad one, because if we were on land I’d have her pressed against the nearest surface while I kissed her senseless. What happened between us in the alley of the village would look tame compared to the way my hands would rove all over her body.

She releases me, and I immediately miss her soft curves and warmth pressed against me. But I can wait. I will have her eventually. There’s not a doubt in my mind.

She’s mine.

* * *

The need to steal more time with her is one that won’t release me. We don’t have time to hide away from our responsibilities, but it doesn’t stop me from taking her hand and pulling her toward the hot springs hidden away in the caves around the estate.

“Where are you taking me?” she asks, leaving her hand clasped in mine.

“Are you cold?”

“Yes, a little.”

“There are a few natural springs tucked away down here. They’re heated by geothermal vents and full of minerals that will help soothe your muscles from all the swimming.”

I grab a torch from the wall as the light dims the further back we go. She falls in step beside me.

“If I wasn’t with you, would you need the torch?” she asks.

“No.”

“How’s that going to work for the tunnels?”

“Hyva has found lenses for you to wear over your eyes that will make your vision equal to ours. So as long as you can tolerate the feeling of them in your eye, you should be good.”

The air becomes heavy with heat and moisture as we step into the cavern with the hot springs. The sound of the water gurgling up from below and lapping at the edge of the stones echoes off the walls. I release her hand and walk around the pool closest to us, lighting the sconces hanging from the stone walls.

She stands on the edge of the pool, looking around and taking in the space. The walls are made of the same stone as those inside the estate, just in the raw form. The veins of silver and white sparkle against the black in the dancing firelight.

I step down into the water, barely suppressing a moan of pleasure at how good the heat feels. She hesitantly dips a toe in before bringing her eyes to mine. Part of me wants to invade her mind, to know every thought hidden behind her violet gaze.

“You should remove the suit before getting in.” I know she’s uncomfortable with being nude, although she seems to handle me being naked well.

Watching me through wary eyes she reaches behind her neck. “Will you turn around?”

Disappointment settles over me at her discomfort, but I immediately do as she asks. I don’t turn back around until she tells me she’s ready. My breath rushes from me in a whoosh when I see her. She’s piled all her hair up on her head again, so the entire length of her neck is visible. If I look closely, I can see the flutter of her pulse beneath her pale skin.

The swell of her breasts rises and falls with each breath she takes. She sinks down into the water until her shoulders are submerged as her eyes drink me in. I’m standing where the water is waist deep, hitting just at my hips and leaving all the muscles of my body on display.

“What do you think?” I finally ask.

“Of?” Her eyes dart to mine from my abs.

“The hot springs?” I smile at her slowly.

“Oh. They’re nice. Good and hot.” She smiles back at me nervously.

“If this one isn’t to your liking, the far spring is cooler.” I point to the back of the room. “And the one right beside us is hotter than this one.”

“Like Goldilocks.”

“What’s Goldilocks?”

“It’s an old earth fairytale. A story that parents would tell their kids at bedtime. It’s about a little girl who walks into a family of bears’ house looking for the perfect place to rest. She tries everything in threes, too cold, too hot, just right, etc. I honestly can’t even remember the rest.”

“I see. Do earth animals have homes like humans?”

“No. Just a fictional account. Don’t you have anything like that? Something you tell the young to make them want to follow the rules or be good Zeahirians?”

“No. We don’t tell our children made up stories.”

Now is the time to open up to her about the Bak’hura. Not that I want to. The risk that she’ll find out what I’ve done and hate me for it makes me want to carry her out of here and fly off into deep space. I can barely handle the truth, how can I expect her to do so? “Our childhoods are not full of love and warmth.”

“Oh?” Her head tilts as she waits for me to continue.

“Brutality is our religion, violence our language. That’s ingrained in us from the very beginning. As you know, we’re almost always born with a twin.”

She nods, following along with my story.

“When we become adolescents, usually around the age of twenty-five rotations, we enter into a blood rite called Bak’hura. It’s a battle to the death in order to serve at the head of your house.”

She inhales sharply as the words settle in. Her eyes turn glassy as she watches me.

“It’s barbaric. No one should have to kill their sibling, yet we’re all forced to do so. It’s why I brought you here. To translate our oldest texts and find a way to convince the Sovereign to end the practice.”

“What if he doesn’t want to do that?”

“Then I’ll start a war. It has to end. The Bak’hura is horrendous. Evil.”

“But what about Altis and Vynia?”

“Vynia was born missing half her leg. The Sovereign doesn’t count her as whole.”

Neev scowls. “I don’t know how to feel about that. On one hand it’s offensive and wrong. But on the other hand, they didn’t have to participate.”

“She’s proven her worth over the years. Not that she should have had to do so.”

“Hyva?”

“He was born as a single. Rare.”

“Your twin?” she asks quietly.

“We fought. It was vicious and brutal.” I tilt my head back and point to the scar running across my neck. “He gave me this right before I tore his throat out. I nearly bled out alongside him.”

I expect my words to repel her. To show her the truth of the monster she sits across from. If she had any sense, she’d run from me. No matter how much I hate that I did it, if I had to do it again, I would. For the reason that he would not be looking for ways to better our world. It makes me just as much of a monster as him, but I won’t ever regret it.

To my shock, she crosses the distance between us and wraps her arms around my neck. I sit in stunned silence for several beats of my heart and then wrap my arms around her.