Chapter 14 Axel
Chapter fourteen
Axel
I held Cix’s hand tightly as we walked into the conference.
There was something comforting about seeing T’ukka up on the screen, even with the really weird smile he had plastered on his face.
Mia was sitting next to him at the conference table, looking pretty damn tiny, and her brother was on the other side of her.
Logan was decidedly purple, though he appeared to be relaxed and happy.
Cix’s tail twitched, then lashed around my upper thigh, and I left it there, because I was pretty sure that for him, that was a bit like holding hands.
“This is your… husband, Lieutenant Mason?” the Secretary General said. His voice told me he either didn’t believe that I could be married to such a creature, or he wasn’t for men having husbands. Maybe both.
I nodded, pulling Cix against my side, trying to send him chill-out vibes because I could feel his mind turning at a million miles a minute.
“Cix has been a spy for the Aunga’ri Red Guard for a few years, and that’s how I met him.
He was able to infiltrate the Vul cell that was assassinating our political leaders and taking their places, and helped us to refine the technology that revealed their disguises. ”
“Can this weapon be replicated?” the Secretary asked.
“It’s not a weapon, really, as it does no harm to the person it’s fired at. It simply disables their cloaking technology,” I said. “But yes. We will share the specifications so that governments can understand exactly what it is doing.”
“Very well. Can you give me your personal assessment of the Aunga’ri objectives?”
I cleared my throat, glancing at T’ukka on the screen, who nodded. “They wish to establish a presence on Earth. Their planet was destroyed by the Vul, and as they fight off the Vul attempts to conquer other planets, they also seek a place to call home.”
“And if we say no?” one of the other Secretaries cut in.
“We will not force the issue,” T’ukka said. “We have discussed the consequences of a violent dispute with Earth and decided against it. But we also cannot provide our support in the coming war. Our leadership will not allow it.”
The Secretary General turned towards him. “Is a war certain?”
“I don’t know,” T’ukka said. “It’s yet to be revealed just how many Vul are embedded on your planet, and I do not know which resources they are seeking at this time.”
Everyone turned towards Cix, who ducked his head, his tail tightening around my thigh.
“Earth was found to be acceptably resource-rich, and there are plans to proceed. As far as I know, there are Vul already in many positions, but I don’t know how many.
We’ll need to interrogate the prisoners because it’s been weeks since I’ve been in contact with any of my people, so the situation may have changed.
Or perhaps we could scan as many civilians as possible. ”
“Do all of your people believe in this war over resources?” The entire assembly had their focus on Cix and he shifted nervously under the attention.
Under the table, I squeezed his knee, trying to send him reassuring thoughts, though I still wasn’t entirely sure if directing my thoughts at him was effective.
Cix shook his head. “Our leader is power hungry, but most of us are just… I don’t know.
Normal people? I didn’t want to be involved, and though most of the revolution is back on our home world, I’m sure there are others on this mission.
I have had no contact with anyone but Prince An’On’nas because I couldn’t risk my position while I was embedded as a spy. ”
The questioning continued, moving on from Cix, and soon we were dismissed to sit and watch.
He snuggled up against my side, and I let him, rubbing a hand down his back to comfort him.
My military training would have me stay formal in this kind of situation, but he needed me, and I loved him.
I wanted him home, in the Aunga’ri palace, curled between us on T’ukka’s big bed, and I hoped these hearings would end with a return of the Aunga’ri to the compound in Montana, at the very least.
“You did great,” I said, grinning, as we walked out to catch a shuttle up to the Aunga’ri ship. “The decision is out of our hands now.”
“What do you want the decision to be?” Cix asked, shading his eyes with his hand.
“We were all living in Montana before all of this chaos. I’d love to be back there.
I don’t expect to see the Aunga’ri living amongst the humans overnight, but allowing them to inhabit the structures they’d already built seems like a good compromise.
Come on, I have something to show you,” I said, tugging him into the shuttle.
He stopped the moment he saw our prisoner, gasping softly.
“Olzi?” Cix’s soft gasp had me worried that maybe he wasn’t happy about my surprise. He glanced up at me, his golden eyes wide.
“We found out he was your brother. He sort of seems like an ass, so if you have no interest in rescuing him to whatever hellhole they’re going to…” I shrugged and stuffed my hands in my pockets. “Your choice.”
Cix walked over and stood in front of his brother, his tail lashing out behind him, and crossed his arms over his chest. Olzi frowned. “What are you doing with no restraints on?” he asked.
“I’m not required to wear restraints in my husband’s shuttle,” Cix said, winking.
“What? You traitor,” Olzi growled, straining at his chains.
“You can think of me as a traitor. I prefer to think of myself as a revolutionary,” Cix said, squaring his shoulders.
He looked handsome and bold like this, and I saw how he must have been as a spy.
As nervous as he often seemed, when he was fixed on an idea, he could accomplish anything.
“You act tough, but I’ve been part of the rebellion for longer than you’ve been an adult, little brother.
We’re coming for those of you who bow to the government’s schemes without questioning who they’re hurting. ”
He turned back towards me and raised his eyebrows. Behind him, Olzi struggled again. “You don’t know what you’ve done,” he hissed. “They will kill you for being a traitor.”
“I have a family who will protect me,” Cix said, turning back. “They’ll protect you, too, if you want it. But you’ll have to agree to be on our side.” Then he turned away again and reached for my hand.
I grinned, winking at him. “So you can be badass.”
He shuddered. “I prefer not to be. It’s so stressful. But if necessary, I’ll do it.”
“You’re stronger than you think.”
“Oh, I know,” he said, winking.
“Come on. You probably need a snuggle now.” I sat down in one of the big armchairs behind the pilots. He climbed up into my lap and sighed happily. “Home to T’ukka and Mia?”
“Yes,” he said. “So strange that the ship has become our home.”
“They’re our home. Not the ship.”
I smiled, holding him close, letting my hands roam over his body, and thinking about how quickly everything had moved.
Something about being inside each other’s heads all the time had bonded us more rapidly than I would have expected, but there was no going back from that.
He liked touch, and the two of us became more aroused the longer we sat like that, but there wasn’t anywhere useful for sex on the shuttle. I tried to calm my mind and body.
“I loved being introduced as your husband,” Cix whispered.
“Me too,” I said, kissing his forehead. “Perhaps we’ll do a little ceremony and make it official. Or sort of official. We don’t have four-way weddings.”
“The Aunga’ri do, though. Historically, they wed in tribal groups. Families that would protect each other. I like that.” He paused and glanced up at me. “How would we be together on earth?”
“I suppose we’d marry as two couples. Perhaps you and me, T’ukka and Mia.”
His grin widened. “Oh really? That’s how you’d split us.”
I shifted, a little nervous. “I mean, I love them, but it makes sense, right?”
Cix moved, straddling my lap, leaning in, and nipping my ear. “I don’t know if you understand just how much I’m yours,” he whispered. “My holes are yours to use. My body is yours to control. I want them, but I need you.”
All right. I now had a very inappropriate erection.