Chapter Thirty #2
Kael tightened his grip on the side of my head, the blunted tips of his claws pressing into my scalp enough to sting and make me focus on the silver eyes drilling into mine.
“His shame changes nothing. Not for me.”
His conviction pulsed in my chest, but so did his worry.
“If Rowena is returning to Earth instead of bonding with one of you, and my father loses his status, you won’t have a strong enough tie to the council to keep them from changing their minds.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, letting out a breath.
“Earth needs us more than we need them. We both know this, but that scale will balance as we move more Humans to their colonies. They will not risk anything now, and there were already plans for another gala. I will insist it happens sooner, so there will be as many ties between Earth and Morrakan as possible before the point where they consider shara’valryn. Breaking their oath.”
I swallowed as he pulled away but nodded my understanding.
I didn’t fault their mistrust, Humans barely trusted each other, and the plan made sense.
If enough council members had relatives bound to the Morrak, it would keep them more inclined to peace, but even then, those members would eventually retire and be replaced.
“This will have to continue. Forever. And even then, there’s still a chance…”
I trailed off but Kael gave me a little smile.
“There’s always a chance. And we will be prepared. But Human technology isn’t advanced enough to pose a threat, and sharing ours was not part of the agreement. We provide protection and passage on our ships only.”
I knew how desperately Earth needed to expand the colonies we’d established to relieve the pressure on Earth’s resources, and I knew there were threats out there that we had no chance of standing up to, but the Morrak seemed to have everything.
While they lived simply, with minimal technology in their homes, I’d seen enough on the Zeydrassk and on the surface where they built their ships to know that it was a choice.
Humans had ventured into space, but our ships were slow, and we didn’t have the assets to build more. We had more ore than food, but not enough for something of that scale. And I couldn’t figure out what Earth had that Morrakan needed.
“What do you get from the alliance?”
Kael brushed a strand of hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear.
I got the feeling that he was trying to decide how to respond, and part of me shrank at the thought that he might not trust me with things that sensitive.
It was exactly the kind of information my father would have wanted me to pass on so he could take advantage.
“The contract states we get our choice of Human women as mates.”
He brushed his thumb beneath my eye even though the tears had already dried.
“And as allies, we lessen any threat to ourselves.”
I huffed.
“Keep your enemies close?”
His lips tipped up again, and he leaned in to brush them across mine, but I knew that wasn’t it. What they were providing Earth was valuable, vital, so there had to be more.
“We get a portion of the land on Halcyon and Arcadia to establish bases there, with rights to anything we find on our land.”
That would seem important to most Humans, but after being on Morrakan, I knew it didn’t mean the same to the Morrak.
If Korvashan was the capital I had to assume it was the most populous, yet it wasn’t crowded the way New NewYork was, or any other city I’d visited on Earth.
I didn’t think they needed land, but it was possible they needed other things they could get from it.
Minerals or ore. Even water, or crop production, although the plants that thrived on Morrakan wouldn’t do well on a planet like Halcyon or Arcadia.
I didn’t know too much about the colonies, but I knew they were similar enough to Earth’s climate that our crops thrived there.
“And, we get a connection to the Qy’shaeuhl.”
My eyes widened as the pressure in my chest lifted. Somehow I knew, that was the real reason behind it all.
“If the Qy’shaeuhl weren’t helping Earth?”
His lips twitched again, but it wasn’t with amusement or approval. I saw it on his face before he spoke.
“Then there would be no alliance. We would watch to be sure Humans didn’t become a threat, but the Morrak are not… compassionate.”
I licked my lips, thinking over what he’d revealed. The distraction helped me focus on something other than my father and what he’d done, and I tried to figure out what the Qy’shaeuhl could have that the Morrak wanted as Kael took my hand and led me through the tunnels.
I gave up when we made it home. The Qy’shaeuhl had so much, I knew what they’d shared with Earth was a bare fraction of their technology and wisdom.
I followed Kael to our bedroom. Even though it wasn’t yet midday, my eyes were drawn to the bed. Between the change and then my heat, I was still more tired than usual, and I was hit with the urge to crawl back into the blankets and let sleep carry away my worries.
“What do you want from the Qy’shaeuhl?”
Kael had answered the other questions, so I figured I might as well just ask.
Kael removed his boots, unbuckling his belt as he turned to face me. His expression was solemn, and something inside me tensed as I waited for the answer.
“A future.”
Surprise and confusion swept over me, but he didn’t make me ask him to explain.
“We have never been as prolific as Humans. Betas may produce one luthra, perhaps two in their lifetime. Omegas have higher fertility, often birthing multiple luthra, but omegas are rare. Alpha and omega pairs always produce alpha or omega children, but only one in four luthra turn out omega.
“Alphas are usually warriors, and the death rate exceeded the birth rate for a while. Many clans and bloodlines were lost. With the rarity of omegas, contracting for a luthra became more common than bonding, so that each bloodline remaining could continue.”
His explanation gave more reason to them wanting to change Human women into omegas but didn’t clarify what the Qy’shaeuhl had that they needed.
I sat and began pulling off my own shoes.
“I still don’t understand.”
Kael had opened his shirt, but he paused, coming over to take my hand and pull me up. Reaching for the buttons on my blouse, he tried to work them open, struggling when his claws got in the way.
“If things continue, the Morrak will die. Beta fertility has dropped to where a pair is lucky to produce one luthra. Many don’t. Even omegas aren’t conceiving with every heat anymore.”
My mind was torn in two different directions with that information. Worry for the Morrak warred with the words “conceiving with every heat”. I’d completely forgotten about the prospect of getting pregnant even though I knew a heat was meant to show when a female was fertile.
Kael continued before I could get lost down either trail of thoughts.
“The Qy’shaeuhl have what they call the Lifeforge.
It can… repair genetic decay. Increase fertility.
Saed helped create the serum that turned you into an omega, and it’s possible he could create one for betas willing to change dynamics.
Either would give my people a future instead of the slow death we are facing. ”
My heart was racing, and while I’d begun asking what the Morrak got from the alliance, I was still caught in the thoughts of pregnancy. That was what it all boiled down to, producing the next generation of Morraki.
Kael had managed to unbutton my shirt and was pushing it off my shoulders. I let it drop to the floor before my hands went to my belly, and I tried to find a way to ask the question most prominent in my mind.
“Kael…”
I shook my head, looking away. My heat had only ended the night before. It was too soon to know, but the insecure part of me that still expected him to leave me had new fears to play with.
Large hands cupped my face, heat burning into my front as Kael pressed himself against me.
“Serenya, veyrari, we will face whatever comes. Together. The bond is eternal. Whether you give me many luthra, or none, I am yours.”
Once again he seemed to read my mind, and I let out a half-strangled laugh.
After having the connection between us I couldn’t imagine it being gone, and I finally understood what the doctor had meant when I received the injection.
I didn’t think I’d have been able to believe Kael without the connection between us, but being able to feel that piece of him that was part of me now, I did.