Chapter 25 #2
The female beside me scoffs. “Yeah, because Lunas keep trying to kill them off. How do you protect a world when there’s only one of you left? It’s no wonder his Shifter is so desperate for a mate.”
“Whatever. They’re gifted. They should just use their magic to keep us safe.”
“It obviously has its limits,” Kareena replies.
“Or he’s choosing not to keep us safe.”
Kareena sips her drink, then mutters. “Can’t imagine why. If everyone was attacking me for what I was, I wouldn’t be eager to defend them from the enemy, either.”
Her friend gets up and storms into the bathroom.
Kareena looks up at the TV, notices me and gapes as she scans the TV again.
I throw back the last of my drink, toss my credits over the counter to the barkeeper, and get up.
“Wait… Aren’t you….”
I throw Kareena a glare and storm out of the bar. Zorin needs me. I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but I’ve not been there for him despite everything he’s done for me since Jezza died. I know he’s felt the loss of her almost as deeply as I have.
From my pocket, I pull out a Denarsoan com I stole off the portal crew, rewire it as I walk across town, and call our lieutenant.
“Who is this?”
“Sir, it’s Azrim.”
“Az… Wow, I did not expect to hear from you.”
“Myndrous have shown in the lowlands.” I tell him what happened. “They were looking for a female and a pup.”
“I… I know, Azrim.”
I stop and look back into town around the side of a tree trunk, just to make sure I’m not being followed by Kareena or anyone else.
“What am I missing?”
“Isonians are in orbit. They’re trying to push the Denarsoan ships out of the system. Have you not seen the battles in the sky? Three Neb ships are on their way. We’re putting together crews as we speak.”
“Battles?” I look up. “I see only stars.”
“They are masked. The Nebs are looking for gifted creatures. We’re not sure what they want them for, but they’re hunting. That’s why they’re here and why they tried to take Tessi.”
“Tessi?”
“Zorin’s scent-bond.”
My chest tightens. “Fuck. What do they want her for?”
He sighs. “I’m not supposed to talk about it.”
“Sir. He’s my brother. We’re the last of our bloodline. Tell me. If he needs me, I need to be there.”
“No. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
I slump against the tree. “What are you saying?”
“Azrim, everyone on the team knows you fractured when you lost Jezza. You’re unhinged. I can’t send you to Abr. You won’t clear psyche evals even here. I’m not risking an intergalactic incident just because you want...”
“With all due respect sir, Zorin lost Jezza too. He got to go. He found a mate. She needs to be protected. And fuck evals. We have been short handed for the last year.”
“They can’t bond.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
He groans. A chair squeaks in the background. “She’s…”
“What?” I practically shout at him.
“Half Isonian.”
I pull up the image of her in Zorin’s arms. They look so happy.
“Does he know?”
“Yes. But he’s staying with her anyway, on Viriden’s orders. The high council is considering revoking his citizenship. We have a relationship with the federation, but you know how closed-minded the old wolves are.”
My temples pound with rage. “Who gives a shit what any of us are when life is on the line? There will be no future if we keep kicking souls out of our lives just because we don’t follow the same belief system. Life doesn’t give a damn.”
“I know.” He clicks a pen. “I suggest you head home, get things ready to move, and secure the perimeter. They’re participating in Abr to keep up appearances and not worry the galaxy. But they’re going to be in danger as soon as they leave that complex.”
He tells me about the ghostwalker and how Viriden warned him about Tessi’s need to be protected. “So Isonians are watching the sky, but we have to keep her safe so they can focus. I’m just not sure we’ll be enough. The Aegeris loyalists are fewer in number every year.”
“Yeah. Either the empire kills us or the Lunas. Maybe it’s time we leave.”
“Don’t abandon us when we need you most,” he says.
“I mean all of us.”
Air rushes over the com, crackling the speaker. “It’s on MTF HQ’s desk. We’ve already been packing up to go mobile in case we have too much portal activity too close to the base.
“Just get home. Secure it. And be ready to leave the moment I call you. Nebs are headed this way. Get armed up soldier, and back on a secure com please.”
“This is secure.”
“I can’t read the signal.”
I nod. “Call it a burner. I’ve got a few on me.”
He laughs sadly. “Such skill and yet you wander the woods like you’re just a Shifter, when you’re not even a Shifter first. You’re a descended of a goddess who made herself into one of us.”
“We all hide until we’re needed,” I say. ‘It’s the only way we survive on this world.”
“Watch your back. I’ll send out the alert info you shared to those who patrol the planet.”
“Yes, sir.” I hang up and start the long run back to Zorin’s house.
I thought Jezza could tame me. And she did. But I have always wondered if it was wrong of me to introduce such chaos into her life. We were fire and water. Now I fear Zorin is going to do the same to Tessi.
Worse yet, I wonder what it is she might be capable of that the Nebs want. But I’d be lying to myself if I don’t feel a spark in my chest every time I replay the image of her smiling up at Zorin. She’s as beautiful as Jezza, even if she isn’t like our kind.
A flare of interest threatens to awaken in my core.
Shut up. She’s not Jezza. She’s not ours.
But Zorin wanted her to be ours.
And suddenly I like that idea a little too much.