Chapter 14
Lila
I’m unable to repeat the same trick that I did previously by using my magic to harvest the fruit, my energy being at an all-time low, so Brannock and I have to fill the baskets the old-fashioned way. Xavier has no limits anymore now that they are aware he is a warlock, and he completes his quota within the first hour. It took him a little bit to figure out how to magic the fruit off the bushes without them exploding, but he finally figured it out. We all had a laugh as he exploded a whole bunch, covering him and a few closer harvesters with the juices, but he was growled at by Oak and Elm. Neither of them is nervous around him because they don’t know who he really is, and they threatened him with punishment if he did it again. I kind of would have liked to have seen that, to be honest, but he got his magic under control, so I guess we won’t.
When Elm and Oak discovered what he could do, though, they made him fill an extra ten baskets. I thought he was going to have a tantrum and announce that the crown prince of the warlocks did not do manual labor, but he surprised me by staying quiet. He is going by the name Xane, and when people asked why a warlock was harvesting fruit, he explained he was looking for a little adventure, telling everyone that Brannock and I are his harem when they ask.
By the end of the day, Brannock and I managed our quota, but I’m exhausted. I’m so tired, I can’t even fly, so I walk alongside my Aaz’axian friend as he carries our final basket to be placed with the others that have been harvested. These are beamed aboard as the crew sits around, waiting for their turn to return to the ship. We are a sweaty, sticky group, but we had no casualties today, everyone staying within the green barrier as we moved across the field. There are quiet conversations happening all around us as Xavier approaches us in his mist form, taking a seat next to us. The people close by shuffle back, not wanting to get too close to the warlock. We overheard mutters of disapproval from our fellow crew members when he used his magic to make the job easier. Discontent isn’t a favorable option in a crew like this. It breeds jealousy and aggression.
“You better watch your backs tonight. A few of these people are gunning for you,” I tell him quietly, and Brannock nods, having also heard the rumbles.
Xavier scoffs. “We’ll be fine. They’d have to be lucky to get the jump on either of us, though I’m kind of glad you are staying on the surface now. You would be the obvious target, since you’re small and a part of my harem. That’s one way to cut me down—remove my power source.”
“I didn’t think about that,” I reply, my worry for them making me feel worse. My head is throbbing, and my stomach rolls with nausea. I’m not sure if that’s because I’m hungry, worried, or my lack of energy.
“Okay, everyone, gather in the same groups you traveled down in, and let’s get moving,” Elm shouts. There are grumbles and groans, others obviously feeling the pain of hard work today. The clearing that was full of baskets is now empty, and it quickly fills up with the first group. We watch as they disappear, and the space is quickly filled with the next group, everyone eager to return to the ship for food, showers, and a rest.
I look around to find Master Z, unsure if I’m still supposed to remain on the planet or not. Maybe he was exaggerating about me dying if I didn’t stay behind. I can’t see him anywhere, so I decide to travel back to the ship. I’ll head straight to my room and change into my Lila form, which should keep me from succumbing to the weakness of the earth elemental form, but I couldn’t very well tell him that.
The third group disappears, and it’s our turn. Just as I’m about to approach the clearing with Xavier and Brannock on either side of me, protecting me from our fellow crew, a hand lands on my shoulder, stopping me. I watch the people already in the clearing stumble backwards at Master Z’s sudden appearance. I know it’s him without even looking because that same wave of comforting warmth I’ve been feeling all day washes over me. It’s like stepping into a warm bath on a cold winter night. The first bit stings a little before you practically melt into it.
“Come with me. She will be safe with me, I promise,” he says to Brannock and Xavier. Xavier’s mist slides inward, exposing his form to everyone. It’s not his true form, but a slightly different version. He’s pinker than his normal lavender hue, and his hair is not the deep indigo it normally is, but a pale lavender. He’s still wearing all of my marks, but I can tell I’m the only one who can see them. He’s making everyone else see a lot less of them to make light of how powerful he is.
I see the shock in Xavier’s eyes, and he stutters slightly. I feel an instant rush of anxiety and try to step away from the being whose hand is on me. I have never seen my warlock at a loss for words, and my heartbeat starts to race, but he gives a resigned nod and puts his hand on Brannock to stop him just as they disappear.
My mouth drops open in shock once more. What the actual fuck? My husband just left with no arguments after one assurance from this creature. How did he get him to give in so easily? And what was the shock in his eyes? Why didn’t he talk to me inside my head? Did he manage to get inside this being’s brain? The warmth and comfort I was feeling seeps away, replaced with anxiety once more.
“No, I showed him who and what I am,” Master Z mutters to me as the rest of the group gives us a wide berth as they continue to return to the ship until only Elm and Oak remain.
They approach us. Elm looks confused, glancing from me to the being behind me, but Oak looks pissed.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he snaps at the male behind me.
Elm stiffens and elbows his partner in the trunk, but Oak ignores him.
“If you want to use this little one as a fuck toy, I firmly applaud you. Maybe I’ll have a turn once you’re done. I’m sure the warlock won’t mind. I’ve heard they like to share their harem and feed off the lust it creates, but you can do it back at the ship. I don’t want anything to happen to her if you get bored. She is an asset to this operation, and when she’s back to full power between her and the warlock, we should be able to harvest well above our quota for the season.”
The being’s hand tightens on my shoulder, and I feel the air around us chill significantly. Goosebumps break out over my skin, and a shiver of terror runs down my spine.
“Oh fuck.” Elm backs away, holding his hands up. “I have nothing to do with this. You can do as you please. I have no quarrel with you.” He makes a very smart choice. Too bad the same can’t be said about Oak.
Oak still hasn’t caught on to the danger right in front of him, but Elm backs far enough away so he’s now in the clearing.
“Go,” the being behind me intones, and Elm disappears in a wave of light, transporting to the safety of the ship.
Oak just crosses his arms and raises an impatient eyebrow. “Well, come on then.”
Now it’s just the three of us in the clearing, and I watch with horrified fascination as the green barrier that had been keeping us protected throughout the day starts to shrink, but Oak doesn’t even notice.
He just taps an impatient foot, like he’s dealing with two unruly toddlers. Fuck, can’t he feel that ominous chill that resonates from the male behind me? I’m practically paralyzed with terror, even though I know I am not the focus of his anger.
The green barrier shrinks farther, and the sounds of nature that have been missing all day finally start to reach my ears. Terrifying yips and howls punch the air as the wind kicks up and starts to rustle the halla bushes, causing a few missed fruits to fall off here and there, littering the ground beneath them with orange blobs, because they split on impact.
Oak finally seems to catch on to the fact that he is in danger. He drops his arms and looks around as the barrier continues to shrink. It’s only just surrounding the three of us now, and I can see the flupkups. They are worked up into a frenzy, a mass of writhing, energetic fur with overactive salivary glands and snapping teeth. They sound even scarier than the howls and yips, because they are kind of purring—a sound you expect to come from an overindulged, relaxed house cat. I have no doubt that if the barrier shrinks more, we will be devoured. I step back, feeling the being’s body behind me, but I’m too scared of the furious Furbies to worry about who or what the creature behind me is. He made it pretty obvious that he means me no harm.
Unable to look away, I watch the green barrier shrink. Oak yelps and takes a step toward us. Master Z wraps his arms around my waist, yanking me against him, and takes another step back, shrinking the magic barrier even more. The scents of orange blossom and cedar reach my nose, and I relax again. The fragrance is comforting and slightly arousing, but I’m still alert to the danger occurring directly in front of me.
Oak shrieks as a bright blue flupkup latches onto his wooden arm. He shakes it hard and steps back into the circle of the magic barrier, the flupkup disintegrates on contact. His arm drips with a sappy-looking substance, which I’m assuming is his blood.
“Please don’t,” Oak begs, but I can see in his eyes, he’s resigned to his fate. He shouldn’t have spoken to a more powerful being, one who controls his safety like that. Even the naive Earth girl recognizes the truth in that.
The being gathers me closer to him, his touch gentle in a way I hadn’t expected. I’m still unable to make out any of his features, his arms draped in that blasted cloak, but I feel safe and comfortable, so I don’t struggle.
The barrier winks out of existence in a flash, and the flupkups pounce, Oak disappearing in a swarm of brightly colored fur. His screams are piercing and horrifying, and I feel a tear leak down my cheek as they cut off. I’m not sure he deserved that punishment, but I have come to understand the galaxy doesn’t work like Earth does, and these kinds of reactions and punishments are normal and expected to keep your reputation and power base. I stay quiet and watch until the swarm finishes devouring their meal before disappearing throughout the halla bushes, not paying one lick of attention to either of us.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” Master Z murmurs behind me, not really sounding sorry at all.
“I’m sorry he was an idiot who overestimated his worth,” I reply, and I hear him chuckle.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere more comfortable, and then we can talk.” We dissolve into particles as he teleports us away from the halla field, and I can’t help feeling excited that I might finally get some answers.