Knotted in Blood and Honor (Claimed by the Morrak #2)

Prologue

Rhydek

“There is a Skarashk colony ship in the same area of space as Halcyon, yet you’re here, demanding we hold the next gala now?”

My lip curled before I could stop it. The sound of the Human’s voice scraped like sand on raw flesh.

I didn’t know his name and didn’t care to, but at least he’d had the spine to speak instead of hiding behind polite silence like the rest of them.

The unease in the room said many shared the thought, even if they lacked the courage to speak.

“What Councilor Lindiwe means to ask, is what is being done about the Skarashk colony ship, and if it’s a good idea to hold another gala at this moment when the threat should be our focus?”

Leyra was one of the few Humans I knew, only because she was the elected head of the Human council, and one of the few who truly understood how close to extinction her species was.

Half of the problems Humans faced were because they had too many leaders, yet none who held real power.

They fractured authority until no one could truly lead because too many voices would rise to contradict them.

Kael’s growl was quiet enough that the Humans couldn’t hear it. He’d already explained, but Humans never seemed to absorb what they were told, like a child who touched a flame despite being warned that it burned.

“We have three ships tracking the Skarashk vessel to see if it changes course. They have made adjustments that will bring them close to Halcyon’s system, but there are other potential targets, and while we do not plan to let them reach their destination no matter which planet it is, we want to be certain of their target before acting. ”

“Why?”

Another Human who needed to hear their own voice asking a pointless question. I couldn’t help baring my teeth in a smirk as Kael’s claws dragged over the tabletop and his kethra flared. I understood the alliance was necessary, knew the stakes, but dealing with the Humans was taxing.

“If we know their target, we can analyze the planet and determine if there is anything unique about it that will help pinpoint others the Skarashk may target in the future. Zeyd is vast, and there is no way to monitor all of it at all times. If we know what parameters they need, we can concentrate efforts near systems with those types of planets.”

“And you think three ships is enough?”

Another interruption, but at least the question was worth the air it took to voice that time. Humans loved to bleat “Why” without listening to the response or having a purpose behind the question. Tactical discussions at least approached the edge of competence.

“One patrol vessel and two warships have a seventy-five percent chance of victory against a single colony ship.”

“That estimate assumes perfect conditions,” a calm voice said. “And a typical Skarashk vessel.”

Every head in the room swung to the Qy’shaeuhl at the end of the table.

Just looking at their strangeness had my tail lashing behind my chair.

They were the real reason we had to endure this farce.

Humans were mostly useless on their own, but with the support of the Qy’shaeuhl, they became… inconveniently valuable.

“Is there reason to believe this ship is different?”

Leyra asked a valid question, one that hadn’t occurred to me even after Kael had mentioned previously that Saed stated lower odds of success than we’d predicted.

The Qy’shaeuhl on the end nearest me tipped his head before turning to the other two beside him.

I’d never heard the female on the opposite side speak, but the male in the middle, Saed, had come to Morrakan with the first two Human omegas, and while I resented the necessity of their help, I’d seen what came from their presence.

Another inconvenient necessity.

“The readings from the initial report suggest this ship is larger than previous Skarashk vessels. That on its own might not cause concern, however, given the length of the conflict between the Morrak and the Skarashk, adaptation is inevitable. They are not mindless, even if they do not hold our values. The probability that this vessel differs in ways other than size is significant enough to lower the chance of success to, at best, sixty percent.”

I didn’t miss the way Kael tensed, although most wouldn’t have noticed. The way Serenya’s kethra brightened was more obvious, his Human mate worse than a child at controlling her markings. She was learning, but not fast enough.

“I have other vessels moving closer to the expected interception point in case greater force is needed. The Skarashk will not reach Halcyon, I can guarantee that, but with Rowena’s decision to return to Earth, having more bonded pairs between our people is essential to the alliance.

Some already question our association with Humans. The gala must happen.”

There were murmurs throughout the room. None missed the implied threat that without more ties between us, we might decide it was too much risk to protect their colony. Without our ships and warriors, Halcyon would be lost, and then even the wealthy on Earth would face the reality of starvation.

They didn’t need to know we would never allow a Skarashk colony ship to land on a planet, inhabited or otherwise. The Skarashk were a plague that needed to be exterminated, down to the last pod. Allowing a colony ship to take root within our galaxy would be inviting our own slaughter.

I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of taking a mate since I had sworn not to after losing the omega I wanted, especially a Human one, but I had more discipline than to show my discontent in a meeting with the other council the way the Humans did. The lack of unity amongst them was revolting.

“We can move the gala date forward, but we need time to make arrangements and inform the candidates,” Leyra responded.

“Time is something we are short on.”

Kael’s reminder had Leyra nodding, but we’d dealt with humans long enough to know that anything requiring cooperation between a group of them would be delayed.

“We understand. I think two weeks should be enough—”

“One,” Kael said as he rose.

Serenya’s eyes widened and her kethra flared again, showing she was startled by his abrupt move as she scrambled to stand as well, but she would learn. True leaders did not allow debates or excuses.

“I have a war to fight, and as was stated, there’s a chance my warriors will be needed to protect Halcyon. We will select three more Human women in one week, whether you hold a gala, or stand them in a line in this room.”

Rising, I followed him from the meeting room, the others of our group not far behind. A Human week was shorter than our talren, but there would still be several days of waiting before I was forced to do my duty for my species.

Perhaps by then the thought wouldn’t make me want to rip things apart until there was nothing left but shreds.