Feral Series V: Feral Foretaste Page 19

  Oh. Dear. God. Mumbo jumbo. Shoot me now. If only I could erase these points to ponder with the annoying high-pitch cyclical squeak of the rat's exercise wheel. “Okay. I'll try to think happy thoughts."

  "Have you spoken with Goro?"

  Um. Why? “No."

  "He should be informed of everything you learned from your stay with the !Dakos."

  God. Why did I come to see M'yote again? “Alright."

  Vult sat in his chair with the lights dimmed simulating night back on Treusch in the bedchamber he'd shared with his huv'ria.

  Alone. This was how my future would be.

  Unbelievable.

  I'd found my soul.

  Bonded with her free of my pheromones.

  And she humiliated me before the Council. Before all !Dakos.

  Gone. She left me. Alone.

  Where had I erred? I'd nurtured her in every way. Even given her freedom from the pheromones. Freedom to experience life with me after she struggled with having her emotions masked by my pheromones. I bent to her needs. And now I sit alone.

  Did I look the fool to whoever stood watching?

  Or just sit alone, the fool?

  If Anwa is right, if Cassie is the Goddess, something has to come of this insanity. There was nothing of sacrificing a Father to gain a future for the !Dakos in the legend. Not one mention of disgrace.

  I couldn't even satisify my soul. She is gone. And the Goddess left the !Dakos with the same problem as she found upon her arrival.

  Absolute utter dishonor. I do not deserve to sow my Sacred Seed.

  But, maybe, dare I begin to believe my soul truly set out on a journey to discover a way to cure the Treusch and the !Dakos? She'd asked me to accompany her. Yes. In the last moments of my humiliation, she invited me to come. But how could a warrior accept a trivial invitation from his soul after that very soul undermined his actions?

  Maybe I was wrong to stay.

  Maybe I should shave my head and purify myself of my endless doubt. Accursed doubt is what haunts me. Yes. If she returns, I will know I can believe her words.

  If. What a farce of a thought. My future brought me full circle, right back to waiting for a future.

  So we hopped back inside our little tin-can Crellon flying saucer and zipped over to planet Luvk where I easily hunted down the big warden of lab rats in his comfy Marshal office.

  Wrapped in kick-ass black leather, Goro stared me down like a demon from his comfy chair behind the shiny dark wood of his desk. “So you traveled here without your mate? This is odd, Cassie."

  Thank goodness Sok was guarding the hallway and not privy to this conversation. “You have no idea what I've been through."

  "Interesting. You and Theone essentially reported the same thing."

  Because of him. Oh to reach across the desk and pinch his head off. But my presence here was about making changes for the !Dakos. And proving to Vult how I felt about him through my actions for his people. Goro needed his head to help set the wheels of change in motion though. “The !Dakos have a colony located through some tear through space. To me, it's like they live in a hole where only Crellons have managed to venture."

  "A hole?” His black eyebrows arched.

  Like I can explain the Rift. “Work with me here, Goro. I don't know how in the hell to classify where I've been."

  "You've been to this hole in space?” He smacked his lips like a psychologist trying to hide his disbelief while I stretched out the vulnerable bleating patient under his psychoanalysis.

  "Yes. But the point isn't where the tear takes you. Rather what's significant here is a huge population of unmated !Dako males lives essentially trapped without mates beyond the tear. Like they're dead. Living hollow lives. And I'm here to ensure The Order of the Marshals understands they need the chance to live, at long last."

  His brow furrowed. “They aren't alive?"

  "It's like they're dead. And I can't work with the !Dakos knowing they have emotions just like us. That they only want to have souls which means a mate in the !Dako world—"

  "Mates? These killers?"

  "You met Theone's mate, Flonn. Don't give me a hard time here. I've seen and heard more truth than you could squeeze out of Theone's quiet !Dako mate. Hell, so many Crellon slavers are plucking folks off every world in the universe and selling them on the black market. Why don't you set the !Dakos up as the cavalry and send them in on a little slave recovery.” Yes. That's the answer! “A !Dako warrior can travel across space by simply stepping from a place like here to their home world in an instant. No spaceship needed. Just send in the cavalry. Give those warriors a chance to work for us and find mates the good old-fashioned way. Most females I know love being saved by a soldier. The bigger and hunkier the better."

  Goro eyed me warily.

  "I'm not flying high on some extraterrestrial peyote if that's what you're thinking. My guard will be happy to show you how everything works."

  Goro nodded. “After we finish here. I want to hear about the cleansing."

  Damned subject. “I've just learned of a way to attempt to heal the females in utero."

  "You didn't cleanse the planet?"

  "Would you if the process left you totally dependent upon an extraterrestrial population you just met? Blind, Goro, blind."

  Goro stared at me blankly for two breaths. “No."

  "Right answer. I was mated to Vult. He decided to seek a different route for repairing the genetic damage and save my vision in the process. And here we are, problem yet to be resolved."

  "Where is he?"

  "Long story. But I'll be heading back to see him just as soon as I finish speaking with you. M'yote's taught me how to detect illness in people. So, I need to go Handle a few problems."

  "Handle?"

  "Micro-cleanse person by person. My goal is to cleanse the genetic anomaly haunting the !Dakos and help them give birth to viable females. In the end, they can have normal families and live wherever they choose. After all, they have that colony."

  Goro studied me a moment then nodded. “Very well. Before you unleash that army of yours on the Crellons, The Order of the Marshals should visit Treusch."

  Shaking Goro was like a girl trying to drop the last ten pounds on a diet. He marched onto the Crellon spacecraft, perched his butt in the seat beside the Crellon pilot, and appeared to command the trip simply with his presence. Or shall I say observation? What should we expect, after all, he goes by commander? And in his lethally powerful black leather topped with his wild black mane, he appeared every fraction the commander. Even more so when he took the lead at Treusch and stomped into the Council's meeting room, a place I had yet to see. Although, I had a strange sense of deja vu simply because the room was the spitting image of the one at the Colony. Even Hirm stood like a statue, his piercing amethyst gaze cutting right through me without an ounce of emotion.

  "Goddess.” Hirm, dressed in the standard silver !Dako pants and black boots, nodded his squared jaw. He still looked as indomitable as ever even though his sexy muscled upper body screamed at a girl to give him a break.

  Only a fool would cut anyone slack with the suffocating air hanging as thick as it did around us. Were the !Dakos intimidated by male outsiders? “Councilor.” I reciprocated the nod and studied the three other councilors and their various hairstyles.

  All three wore the same grim expression.

  "Who have you brought with you?” Hirm asked, his venomous gaze sliding to Goro.

  "Commander Goro from The Order of the Marshals. My superior."

  Hirm's straight-lipped smile almost curved up with curiosity.

  "I accompanied your Goddess to determine if her idea to incorporate !Dako abilities into The Order's business is possible."

  All four councilors froze.

  Turned off. Thinking. Processing. Connecting with their !Dako network neighborhood. The Central Node.

  Goro shot me a sideways glance.

  "They're discussing your revelation.” I wink
ed.

  Well, at least Vult wasn't here, ignoring me.

  The walls shimmied.

  !Dako warriors took form.

  Not warriors. The Five Fathers in their black space armor. Including Vult.

  My heart took a swan dive.

  He didn't even look at me.

  My huv'ria stood steps away, out of my line of sight. To calculate the distance would have been a ridiculous waste of time. I'd already focused too much energy on winning the Goddess's affections. She chose to humiliate me. She could choose to acknowledge my presence.

  Hirm blinked out of his connection with the Central Node. “The Five Fathers have been summoned to hear your proposition."

  Proposition? Hirm wasn't the councilor to toy with. His tight topknot should warn Cassie of his lack of patience.

  Goro thrust his hands behind his back and straightened a fraction. “Cassie has informed us of your colony."

  Not a good point to began with in easing tensions between two cultures. My huv'ria, the spy.

  "And she's used her guard to show how you transect space,” Goro continued.

  Perfect. Incriminate one of !Dako's best warriors while you're at it.

  The room was astonishingly quiet, nonetheless.

  "All of these points she has used to encourage The Order of the Marshals to ask for your assistance."

  "What is this madness, Vult?” Hirm opened a connection to my mind through the Central Node. “Your huv'ria is supposed to be cleansing the planet."

  "She is the Goddess, Hirm. You said yourself that the only female who could do what she must is a strong-willed one. Perhaps we should listen to the rest of this proposal?” If at least to allow me a moment to think of a way to save her.

  "Cassie will explain the rest.” Goro turned his nose to her.

  She seemed flustered for a moment but jolted into Goddess mode, taking one step between Goro and the Council.

  Into my line of sight. But avoiding making eye contact with me. Interesting omen.

  She sucked in a deep breath. “The !Dakos need a new purpose since the end of the Blood Wars. And I have observed the !Dakos want only one thing, to live like normal humanoids. To have normal lives. To have mates.” She flicked her gaze to me then away. “And to have children, including viable daughters. All these things can be easily remedied."

  Nobody moved.

  Perhaps the Goddess would shower us with something beyond our comprehension. Rather, divine intervention. Since she had little need of her mate at the moment.

  Cassie began walking, slow measured steps, to one end of her !Dako audience, the end farthest from me. “The Crellons are harvesting humanoids throughout the universe. Enslaving people. Not for mates as you !Dakos have shown me is your sole reason for interacting with other cultures.” She tossed me a glance.

  Only a fool would believe there lay a hidden meaning in her point directed toward me after her recent actions.

  She continued pacing out a line before the towering wall of my brethren. “And the Crellons sell sentient beings as if they were nothing more than boots or grain.” She stepped before me, keeping her gaze locked safely from my view.

  What was she up to?

  "But I think the !Dakos could solve most of their problems by working with The Order of the Marshals.” She pivoted to pace back the way she'd come.

  Right beneath my nose.

  She whipped out a finger and waved it. “And in the !Dako manner of space travel, a !Dako warrior could slip into an auction in the black market or inside a Crellon slave ship effortlessly. A !Dako warrior could disrupt these activities and complete his Mate Quest in the process."

  "Vult, the Goddess has my attention,” Hirm said through the Central Node.

  "Back on my home world, we call this type of warrior the cavalry. He runs in, saves the day, gets all the glory.” She scanned the line of thoughtful !Dakos with a sinister smile. “Not a bad idea?"

  "But what about cleansing the planet?” Hirm barked.

  Yes, her fear. How would she handle that subject?

  "I've spoken to my mentor. You know him, the next in line to rule Prall, M'yote. He instructed me on how to heal people.” She began pacing again. “I will need a little practice, but I think I can correct the genetic issues in the embryos.” She studied us with wariness. “But I need to practice."

  "What's the general concensus?” Hirm asked through the Central Node.

  How would the Council rule?

  "There's no reason the Goddess should be harmed in helping us,” Olwan said.

  More voices cut in.

  "None of us think she should suffer. Especially the loss of her sight when she's to raise Vult's children."

  "But what of the home world? Will our daughters contract the condition during their lives and pass it on to the next generation?"

  What a foolish concern. “The Goddess is immortal. She will heal those who require healing."

  "And Vult will see to it that the Goddess lives safely among us,” Hirm decreed.

  Maybe. Or maybe not. That wouldn't be difficult if she wished to be my mate. But all things hinged upon Cassie's feelings instead of pheromones. I'd humor the councilor. “As you wish."

  The Central Node connection silenced.

  I blinked out of the discussion to find Cassie watching me.

  What would she do once she found the Council and Five Fathers in agreement with her plan? Her brilliant plan. My little Goddess.

  "Goddess, we have considered your proposal."

  She squared her shoulders and turned her focus to Hirm.

  "The !Dakos accept this offer and will proceed with what The Order of the Marshals deems necessary to serve you."

  Her expression flashed with relief. Or was that shock? “Thank you. Commander Goro can attend to the details.” She pivoted and marched out of the room.

  She wouldn't be getting away with my honor back on the line. Hirm had decreed I'd guard her. And I wouldn't lose face again. I sifted through space and stepped into the shadowy corridor next to Sok.

  Cassie's black-cloaked form receded away from me down the hall.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sok shot me a glance but fell in behind my huv'ria's departing form.

  Not a bad idea. I followed the warrior and my charge.

  She never looked over her shoulder. Nor did she speak. She headed straight for our bedchamber like she owned the compound and halted at the door.

  Our door. Hers and mine. She would not knock. Not my huv'ria.

  Enter. Accept we share the same space. One body one soul.

  She reached for the door but stopped, whirling to Sok, her gaze landing on me. She began to speak, froze, then planted those sweet lips into a straight line. “Have you been there the entire time?"

  "He followed us from the Council chambers, Goddess,” Sok replied.

  She shot him a caustic glance. “And you decided to keep that to yourself?"

  "Yes.” Sok wasn't a warrior to bother with mind games.

  She sighed long and loud, staring me down. “Why didn't you speak to me?"

  Noting she went to the Council behind my back probably wasn't going to help me win this battle of body over soul. “I was summoned to the Council. I couldn't speak unless spoken to.” A nice lie wouldn't hurt as long as Sok kept his comments to himself. “Say nothing, Sok,” I warned through the Central Node.

  The warrior stepped sideways, leaving nothing between Cassie and I.

  She inhaled, blinked, exhaled, and shifted her footing.

  Apparently, uncomfortable. But she betrayed me. Insulted me before all my brethren. She would speak first, giving me an indication of what lurks in her mind.

  "I thought you'd be happy that I found a way to fix everything,” she said.

  "I am. Quite surprised and pleased."

  Her mask melted into relief. She threw herself at me, snaking her arms around my chest. “I'm sorry, Vult. I had to do something. Y
ou tried to bury me in a hole in some other dimension."

  So very true.

  Her eyes rimmed with glistening rings.

  "We can have your daughters now. I'm going to work until I can't think and I just touch things healing them. You'll see.” She forced a weak smile.

  My soul begging for forgiveness? What fortune. I pulled her curves into my chest and sighed. “I'll help you."

  Her smile beamed.

  The way a soul should resonate in the vast darkness of space.

  She pressed her cheek against my chest.

  Sok opened my creaking door and stepped aside, assuming his guard stance.

  There was no sense in us torturing the unmated warriors with our embrace. I nudged her shoulders toward the door. “Let's talk inside."

  She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the distant bed.

  Not a bad destination to meld our body and soul back together. But things must be said. “We should sit and talk."

  She tugged my arm deeper into the room. “Yes. Sit and talk."

  The smile on her face should have warned me something else danced in her thoughts. Mischief by the ease in her step.

  She landed atop the bed. “Let's talk."

  Excellent place to speak of all sorts of things.

  My heart kicked into a trot.

  That grin would be my undoing. “I really wish to discuss your plan, huv'ria. But I don't think you truly wish to discuss anything."

  Her mask grew stoic. “Fine. Okay.” She settled her palms against the purple bed cover and waited.

  A little chastised. Poor soul. Draining of color like a child being scolded. I settled down beside her.

  She studied the black leather covering her knees.

  I knew what would infuse her mood with color. “I was wrong to take you to the Colony."

  Her pointed nose turned to me. “It's alright. I won't hold that against you. You didn't want to lose your soul."

  The way she clarified her understanding in !Dako terms was truly a gift. I cupped her warm cheek with a hand and gazed into those deep brown eyes. “Thank you for understanding. But I was weak. And you proved the stronger of us both."

  A smile budded on her lips. “I had to do something to give you your daughters. I couldn't do anything stuck on the Colony. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed you with the Council."