Chapter 27
Maxsim
Ihaven’t slept a wink since we arrived at my home planet.
I still haven’t been able to get in contact with my mother.
Echo called his mother and requested if she could find out where mine is, but we haven’t heard back from her either.
I suspect something is amiss and something has happened to them both. It will be up to me to find them.
The ship has been orbiting Iceen for the last eight hours, waiting for the faraway sun to reach the side the landing platform is on.
The temperatures are way too frigid for anyone other than lightning cats to venture out before it is up.
Long ago, our ancestors made it so that people couldn’t transport directly into a building.
There’s a special electrical charge that runs through the cave walls and our home structures that disrupts a teleport beam.
This way they have to use the arrival platform and brave the weather on the short walk to the nearest dwelling.
We were hoping this would deter most invaders or people with not so honest intentions.
Not to mention anyone visiting is a little frosty, so it makes negotiations on our side more favorable because all they want to do is warm up.
Echo and I arrive at the teleporting room ten minutes before we are scheduled to beam down. I know that others will be accompanying us, but I’m surprised by how many when we get there. I thought it would just be William and Eric, but Caspian and Dr. Link are both here, as well as the Earth girl.
She and Link have a quiet, whispered conversation off to the side before he pulls her into his arms and presses a kiss to the top of her head.
I wrinkle my nose at the smell that starts to drift over from her.
Next to me, Echo whines softly, and I feel a scowl cross my face. That girl is going to be a problem.
“Ah, Maxsim, great. Seems like you have the same idea as us. We just want to get this over and done with,” William addresses us, and Eric and Caspian both wave.
I look around the room. “Where is Natalia?”
“Saxon and Xavier went down to the brig earlier. They were going to release the Aaz’axian Brannock and show him to a spare room.
He hasn’t decided where he wants to go yet, so we’ve offered him refuge here for now.
It can’t be easy having your life completely upended just because one man in the Earth Alien Alliance is an asshole.
I’m sure we can find something for him to do.
Anyway, they are going to grab her once they have taken care of him.
They should be back any minute,” Eric explains, pushing a couple of buttons on the controller.
Officer Kirk is nearby, but I know Eric likes to be hands-on.
The door opens behind Echo and me, and we step away from the doorway, but it’s just Trace, Sim, and Fuse. The other three cats move into the room, and William raises an eyebrow at us.
“Well, have you all decided what you are going to do? Are you going to continue with the circus or stay on Iceen when we leave?” he asks, and I exchange a glance with my fellow cats.
“Trace, Sim, and I would like to stay on with the circus if that is okay with you. We were hoping that maybe Minx would be able to come in place of Natalia,” Fuse answers, speaking up for the three of them.
William huffs. “Not if she’s going to be a problem like Natalia was.”
“She’s nothing like Natalia. She’s sweet, kind, and gentle,” Trace says quickly, and Sim nods.
“Yes, we want to mate with her, so if she doesn’t want to come, we will be leaving.”
Eric and William exchange a glance, and I have a sinking feeling they are going to say no.
“Oh, let her come,” a husky voice interjects.
We all turn to look at Lila. “You’ve been dealing with Natalia this long, and from what I understand, she hasn’t made any friends on board.
How much worse can Minx be? We need an act, and the cats are a big draw, plus she may be just what the boys say she is.
” She gestures to my streak mates, who are all looking at her like the sun shines out of her ass.
A small growl slips out from between my lips, and she must hear it, because her eyebrows rise, and she turns to look at me with surprise in her eyes.
“And you two?” William asks.
Echo nudges me, and I sigh.
“It all depends on what we find when we get to Iceen. My mother has not responded to any of my calls, and now neither is Echo’s.
I am worried Mazlan, Natalia’s mother, may have done something to both streaks in an attempt to hold onto her matriarch role, which is against our laws.
If she is challenged, she must fight to hold her position.
Challenges are taken very seriously on Iceen. ”
“Why doesn’t a male challenge for the position?
” Caspian asks. “It’s quite obvious that the males are bigger than the females.
You five are way bigger than Natalia, even Echo as an omega, and would easily defeat her in a fight.
I’m assuming the rest of the males on the planet are the same.
” Caspian seems confused by our matriarchal society.
“Mostly because we are taught to respect our traditions from a very young age. This is how it has always been and always will be. We have no problems with that, but there are laws against males and females fighting against one another. If a male does challenge a female, then he must appoint a female proxy, and vice versa,” I explain.
By then, the sound of Natalia arriving becomes apparent to all of us. She is screeching so loudly she can be heard through the closed door. I cannot wait to be done with her. The immense relief I feel that she won’t be able to attack Echo anymore is breath stealing.
“Holy fuck, that’s loud,” Eric complains, putting his hands over his ears.
“I would like to meet this Minx, and we will decide from there as well as see what the situation is down there. I would like to spend as little time as possible on Iceen, because I want to get to Celestia for John,” William tells us firmly as the door opens, and Xavier and Saxon drag a struggling and worse for wear Natalia into the room.
“You will all pay for this. My mother will rip your intestines out when she hears of my treatment,” she screams at us.
Lila and Link have moved closer to us in a bid to get out of the way, and I see Echo’s nostrils flare as he scents Lila. Jealousy starts to niggle at my mind. Why her? Why not another lightning cat? Or really, why anyone at all? We are all each other needs.
At that moment, Natalia catches sight of him, and she lunges toward him with her claws out, surprising Saxon and Xavier who struggle to contain her. Before I can even react, Lila is in front of Echo, protecting him, her own fangs bared. Her eyes glow just like a Vilaxian’s during bloodlust.
“Step back, Natalia. I haven’t fed this morning, and your neck is looking mighty tasty despite the risk of a fur ball,” Lila snarls at her, and I watch in amazement as Natalia actually stops and listens to her.
It’s almost like she’s in a trance as she steps back and allows Saxon and Xavier to get a better grip on her.
The minute they tighten their hold, she starts to struggle again, hissing and spitting insults.
“Wow, she really is a nasty bitch, isn’t she?” Lila stares in amazement as the threats and foul language continue to spew forth.
I frown when I see Echo is huddled close to her, and she has put her glove-covered hand on his back and is rubbing him reassuringly.
I don’t even think she realizes she’s doing it.
My own jealous rage erupts, and I feel my claws extend and the teeth in my mouth change to fangs.
I can’t help the growl that escapes my mouth.
She turns to look at me in surprise, and that’s when she recognizes what she’s doing. She removes her hand slowly and holds it up. “Oh relax, Maxsim, I was just protecting your mate,” she says, and with shock, I do exactly as she says.
My jealousy recedes, as do my claws and fangs. Not because I wanted them to, however, but because she said it. I feel a rush of horror replace my fear. What is she? Is that Vilaxian compulsion?
“Why don’t you shut up?” Lila shouts at Natalia, who hasn’t even stopped to take a breath during her rant. The room instantly falls silent. Now everyone looks at Lila, who appears as surprised as everyone else.
“Hmm, I guess maybe you got compulsion too,” Saxon muses.
“Enough, let’s get this done. Xavier, restrain her, and for fuck’s sake, gag her. I cannot listen to that shit anymore,” William demands and strides up onto the platform.
Everyone but Dr. Link is wearing Iceen approved clothing.
As everyone else follows William, I see Echo admiring Lila’s outfit.
She’s wearing all white, which must appeal to him because it’s the color of his fur.
They look very pretty standing side by side.
The pants are skintight and hug her curves, as does the top which dips low in front.
The material isn’t very thick, so I’m guessing it’s specially treated to withstand cold temperatures.
In fact, everyone is wearing outfits that are easy to move in, so maybe they are anticipating trouble and have dressed accordingly.
She’s paired it with a long, fur-lined white coat and thick, knee-high boots. I watch as she brings the hood up over her head, covering her hair. She places herself between Echo and Natalia on the small platform despite the warlock having immobilized and silenced her.
I’m not even sure she realizes she’s done it.
She’s distracted as she talks to her kraken mate, who is in his human form and covered in the same kind of outfit as everyone else.
I quickly insert myself between my mate and Lila while she is preoccupied.
My skin itches at the thought of having her too close to him.
“Okay, Link, hopefully we won’t be long,” Eric says, the last to step onto the platform.