Chapter 15 #2
“I lived without my mother because you judged her unworthy.” Twin flames burned in Ziamee’s eyes when she focused on Illan. “Leave him here. Take us to your home.”
“As you wish,” he said, splaying his hand at the base of her spine and leading her toward the kuta.
“This is ridiculous,” Amet called as they filed into the shuttle. But when he hurried to join them, Ziamee drew her blaster, slapped the yellow button, and fired. He crumpled, a gasp escaping his lips.
“Did you kill him?” Faerar asked, her mouth agape.
“No, just stunned him.” Ziamee strapped on her blaster, then hugged her mother. “It’s so good to see you. I want to know everything.”
“Same,” Faerar said, sweeping aside a stray braid off Ziamee’s temple. “Your male says you were injured? When? How?”
“My male?” Ziamee smiled at Illan. “You better introduce yourself.”
“Illan Tur-Lekbez.”
Faerar patted her chest. “May Elorach bless you.”
Illan bowed his head, acknowledging her greeting. “That is Medic Coll, and we left Data-Officer Brac in the Maloidian facility.”
She beamed at Coll, who piloted them to the Celeeri. “My thanks, Medic Coll, to you and your males.”
Illan strapped them both into their seats, trailing his fingers over Ziamee’s knee before joining Coll at the helm. A glance over his shoulder had the two females whispering to each other, their gazes filled with tears of joy and love.
Everything was coming to a head, with Ziamee agreeing to travel to Issneen, but he wasn’t a fool. Swept up in the emotion, she might’ve spoken in haste. He had to give her the chance to change her mind, despite how desperately he wanted to show her the universe.
He abandoned them after they docked on the scimitar, a need to comm his brother driving him to return to his quarters. Once the door sealed him inside, he tapped the display vid. But first…
“Adviser Kanzo et Lenzo,” he said and waited.
“Illan, what a wonderful surprise.” The Etterian grinned at him, his ice-blue eyes startling against his bronze skin.
Caused by the Ethera, his dark blue eyes had reverted to ice blue when he met his truemate.
That had been another unexpected side effect of the Durn mutations. “Were you successful?”
“Indeed.” Illan offered a polite smile. “More than I dreamed I would be. I found Durns, Kanzo, but I need your help.”
“Whatever it is, Etteria will assist.” Kanzo’s expression was sincere.
Illan’s chest swelled, and tears burned the backs of his eyes.
He’d taken their reverence for granted, not fully understanding what their support had come to mean to him, to the Durn legacy.
“Ziamee has a creature she holds dear to her heart. She will not leave this planet without him. Would it be possible to create a habitat on a battleship for it to live in for the duration of the journey to Issneen?” The direction his life would take rested on Kanzo’s agreement. “Ulta, share what we know about Seba.”
“Sending the data now,” the male said. It was protocol for the pilot to be listening in case assistance was needed.
“A new creature we know little about?” Kanzo glanced down, then met Illan’s gaze.
“We have a few battleships in your vicinity. I will task them to begin the conversion of a disused barracks. I am certain our lima kuu will be interested in this creature.” He laughed, dropping his gaze, then raising it, no doubt reading something off his O.D.I.
“Indeed, they are. Lima Brac has been communicating with them. They are powering up a scimitar as we speak and will meet you at your location.”
“My thanks, Kanzo.” Illan kept his shoulders stiff, fighting the urge to slump in relief.
“Ziamee?” The Etterian male arched a black brow. “Is she of importance to you?”
“Perhaps.” Illan hummed, his thoughts spiraling outward. “I must gift her mother with something precious in exchange as per the Durn custom.”
“Having never dealt with what Ava calls in-laws, I cannot advise. Nor am I familiar with Durn mating rituals.”
“You have helped more than you know. My thanks, Kanzo. Please convey my gratitude to King Xeus.”
“I suggest you comm Queen Macera before she sends out a search party.”
Illan laughed. “I did promise.”
“I shall transfer this comm.”
“Appreciated.” Illan let himself slouch as he waited. The vid was solid black, then flickered to life. He straightened.
“Illan!” Macy bounced on the spot, tossing her unruly curls.
He grinned. Along with Quin, she was one of his favorite humans.
“Well, what happened? What was behind the signal?” she asked.
He didn’t have the time to go into all the details which she’d no doubt expect of him. So, instead, he said, “Durns. More than that, I may have found my truemate.”
She squealed.
“What is it?” Xeus boomed off-vid.
“It’s Illan,” Macy said, the brightest smile warming her features. “He’s met his Dar Eth.”
“Truth?” Xeus appeared on vid. “All is well, Illan?”
“It is, indeed, my king.” He explained why he’d reached out to Kanzo and that they were heading home soon.
“What’s a Seba?” Macy frowned. “My O.D.I. says it has insufficient data.”
“Ulta, where is the beast?” Illan asked the display vid.
“In the common, snoring so loud, it is causing my right eye to twitch.”
“Excellent,” Illan said and flicked the comm from the display vid to his O.D.I. “Come, let me show you.”
He bounded out of his quarters and into the common, twisting so that Seba filled the tiny vid on his O.D.I.
“Oh,” Macy gasped. “It’s like a tiger with two tails, four ears, and one, two, three…six feet.” She gasped in awe.
Seba chose that moment to wake up and stretch, blinking his pink eyes at them. He nudged Illan on the thigh, requesting a scratch behind the ears.
“I want one,” Macy said.
“No,” Xeus said. “Not until we know more about his species.”
“That is also the plan, to find Seba a mate. Hence, the enclosure I asked Kanzo to organize.” Illan lifted his chin and said, “This is what I promised Ziamee would be possible.”
“And it is.” Xeus looped an arm around Macy and pulled her close. “Whatever you need, Illan. Of course.”
Illan’s chest swelled. “You have my eternal gratitude, King Xeus.”
“I suppose you have to go?” Macy pouted.
Illan smiled. “We will have time to catch up when I am home.”
“True,” she said. “Goodbye for now, old friend.”
The comm ended on her side, as expected of her position as queen. Illan grinned. Not that she cared about protocol.
“What do you think, Seba? Ready to find a mate?” He knelt beside him and nuzzled his neck.
The beast purred, then threw one paw over his shoulder, keeping him close.
“I like you, too,” Illan teased. “Want to stay for a comm with my brother?”
With a snort, Seba flopped down, then rolled over, offering his back for a rub.
Illan grinned. “Fair enough. Iddan Tur-Lekbez.” He directed his request at the closest display vid.
“Illan, so glad you commed,” Iddan said, switching his attention between him and something off-vid. “Much has happened since you left.”
“How so?” Illan sank onto his ass, his spare hand buried in Seba’s fur.
“An assassination attempt, a human female with psychic abilities, and a Durn with dishonorable intentions.” Iddan leaned in to say, “And working with the Yithians. He claims he was forced to, but that has yet to be confirmed.”
“Is he behind the deathkill switch?”
“We suspect so, yes,” Iddan said. “Also, Maloidian has shown to be involved in the upcoming war, and not for Etteria’s good.”
“Maloidian?” Illan jerked back. “Strange that you should say that. We stumbled upon an odd facility buried in the jungle. Guarded by Maloidians.”
Iddan hummed, his brow furrowed. “I thought the planet was uninhabited.”
“So did I. Perhaps the archives were altered?” Illan scowled at that thought. Who would dare?
“Such data changes leave fingerprints. I will investigate. Send what information you have on this facility.”
“Brac is there, now, trying to understand its purpose.” Illan drew in a steadying breath. “That is not why I commed.”
Iddan waited.
“I need a dhutyani. Any ideas?”
Iddan’s cheeks paled, excitement brightening his eyes. “You found your truemate?” His voice was above a whisper.
“She matters to me, but what I feel is different to your life-fusion.” That was as honest as Illan could be. He couldn’t see himself walking away from Ziamee, but did he love her?
“I knew the moment I saw Cyndi. For you, the process might be subtler.” Iddan chuckled. “Regardless, what interests her mother, father?”
“They are xenologists,” Illan said, an image of Faerar’s ruined garden coming to mind. “Fauna and flora?”
“Mm, let me give this more attention.” Iddan frowned, but hope warmed his eyes. “Will I be seeing you soon?”
“Indeed. We have a few tasks to attend to before we leave for Issneen.”
“Wonderful. Until then.” Iddan ended the comm.
Illan sat there, lost in thought. He lay down, hugged Seba, and enjoyed the warmth seeping up from the floor. This was a simple life: sleep, eat, and repeat. The beast had no concerns.
“Illan?”
He whipped his head up, blinking at Ziamee. “Sorry.” He stretched. “I must have fallen asleep.”
“I need help ordering my mother garments. Coll wants to heal her, but I think it’s best she be better clothed for that.”
He climbed to his feet. “Of course. It is time I taught you.”
“Agreed,” she said, her smile sheepish.
“There is much I must tell you,” he said as he ushered her into the officer quarters. The shower running stated Faerar’s location. He marched to the replicator and gestured to the menu. “Enter your mother’s size. Then everything you order for her will fit.”
“That simple?” Ziamee crowded him, bringing her sun-kissed scent with her.
Illan swallowed hard. “Yes. Same with the rehydrator. I am certain she is hungry for something…different.”
“Pizza?” Ziamee chuckled.
“I was thinking kandyru. Perhaps Coll can insert an O.D.I. while the med-E.D. heals your mother?” It took all his strength to shift away from her.
She trailed her fingers down his chest. “Please.”
Before he could stop himself, he snatched a kiss. “I shall await you in the common.” He bolted, desperate to avoid the temptation of her even though he longed to stay, to taste her lips, to bury himself in her sweet body.
Perhaps, he’d said to Kanzo. He was unsure whether Ziamee was his truemate when he’d witnessed Iddan and Cyndi’s mind-blowing life-fusion. His might be more subtle? His brother could be correct, in the beginning. Now, what pummeled Illan’s body was by no means understated.
He could only hope the final stint in the med-E.D. might grant him a little control.