Chapter Seven #2
The view of Earth from above was as dismal as it had always been.
It was one thing for a planet to have different climate and flora than what I was familiar with, but it was another for there to be such a complete lack of nature.
It was hard to spot any growing things from above, even when I knew to look for green, since so much of their planet was crowded with their structures and roads.
The amount of water on their planet was bad enough, but it was what they had done to nature that made my lip curl.
The shuttle landed with a shudder, the seal of the airlock hissing as it released, making me shake my head at the pressure change. My nose was immediately bombarded by the moisture in the air, coating my throat as it filled my lungs with the stench of the Human city.
I was doing Taryn a favor, removing her from the filth of her planet.
As the highest ranked on board, the others waited for me to descend the ramp first. The little clump of Humans was easy to spot, the three females who were to become Morraki mates waiting with the councilors they were tied to, plus the single representative of the race we actually needed.
Three more hostages to assure the Humans thought hard before betraying us, and a lone observer to be sure we behaved and did as we’d promised.
I had used Isolde’s failure to become omega after the first gala to remind Kael how weak Humans were, and then Rowena’s refusal to mate Jorath had been another point to my side, but I knew having all three successfully pass this time had been important.
It meant the serum was effective and we could make this work.
Even if we’d rather not be forced to.
I watched Saed as I strode across the rooftop before swinging my attention to Taryn.
Her already pale flesh seemed even whiter except for the bright spots on her cheeks and what I could see of her chest above her shirt.
Her breathing seemed to be faster than was natural, and her eyes had a glassy sheen, but being ill after the injection was expected.
Still, I didn’t like the way my stomach twisted, or the concern that stirred in my chest.
It felt too much like weakness.
Taryn swayed slightly, one hand braced on the railing that bordered the rooftop.
She caught herself, chin lifting with brows furrowed, as if daring me to mention it.
Her scent reached my nostrils when the wind shifted, bringing the smell of salt mixed with her naturally sweet scent, underlined by something thick and sharp.
The changes had begun. Her body was fighting itself, restructuring to make her something she hadn’t been born as.
My fault.
The thought hit harder than any blows in the Pit, but I forced my shoulders back and kept my expression set as Malrik stepped forward to greet his future mate. Darev hovered near his, speaking low and soft in a way I had never heard from him before, and I almost sneered.
It made my teeth ache.
The woman beside Taryn turned to her, whispering something as she wrapped my new omega in her arms. If she had been Morraki she would have been punished for touching what was mine, but I curled my claws into my palms and waited for the exchange to end.
The others were saying their farewells as a pair of Morraki moved to begin loading the baggage waiting beside the other two females. They each had stacks of containers, but when I looked beside Taryn, she only had two.
Taryn turned to face me again when her relative pulled away and walked towards the door to the interior of the building. Leaning down to reach for one of the bags beside her, she almost tipped over, and my hand shot out to steady her without my permission.
“You are unsteady.”
It was only an observation, but it came out harsh, as if I was making an accusation. Her eyes snapped to mine as she pulled away from my touch, fever-bright and sparking with irritation.
“I’m aware.”
She went to reach for the bag again, but the movement cost her. I saw it in the way she winced and her breath hitched.
“I will take those.”
I didn’t give her a chance to refuse, snatching the baggage from the ground. They were light, as if there wasn’t much in them.
Did she not have many belongings, or had she left them behind?
I shoved the question away as I studied her more closely.
The flush along her cheekbones was deeper than it had been the day before, and her pulse beat visibly at the base of her throat.
Heat radiated from her skin, prickling against mine despite the space between us even though I knew my temperature was naturally higher than hers.
Her body was fighting to remain Human.
Saed had warned that some women would experience stronger reactions to the serum. Human systems were not designed the same as ours, and the omega gene had to carve space for itself.
My jaw tightened.
“You need to rest and conserve your strength.”
Her brow arched as she crossed her arms over herself. She took every comment as an attack, her defenses always high, and while I could understand the reaction, it made trying to keep my own emotions in check more difficult.
“Why?”
The question made it seem as if her goal was to irritate me. That was fine. I had more experience with it.
“To be sure you’re ready for breeding when your heat comes.”
Her lips flattened, and something shuttered behind her eyes. There was no fear. It had almost looked like disgust.
That unsettled me more than anger would have.
The others were moving toward the shuttle, the stacks of baggage diminishing with each trip of the warriors loading it. She turned toward the ramp without another word, and I followed, wondering if I’d be able to live with myself if I managed to make her truly hate me.
Taryn took a seat at the back of the shuttle, leaning her head against the wall behind her and closing her eyes. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her knuckles white, and she startled when I dropped her bags to take the seat beside her.
“You are too tense.”
Her scoff was her only response, but at least she didn’t pull away from where my arm brushed her shoulder. Mounting a female who truly reviled me was a task I wasn’t sure I was up to, but knotting her was required to claim her.
The hum beneath our feet increased as the shuttle lifted and I caught the sound of Taryn swallowing. Sweat beaded on her temple, her pale hair sticking to her neck evidence of her illness.
The dark female with Darev put a hand to her mouth and the other ducked her head with her arms wrapped around her stomach, but Taryn only curled her fingers into the arm rests and sucked in a deeper breath.
She had the will of a warrior.
It was a good thing, something she would need to adjust to life on Morrakan.
When the shuttle docked with the Zeydrassk, I stood and lifted her bags again. Taryn finally opened her eyes and rose, swaying. It was subtle, but I noticed and stepped closer before I could stop myself.
Her eyes narrowed.
“I don’t need help.”
Her tone was hoarse and I raised a brow, tempting to point out the proof that she did, I decided to go easy on her since she didn’t feel well.
“So you’ve said.”
Huffing, she turned and stomped after the others. We exited into the docking bay, Taryn slowing as she came to the end of the ramp. The lighting was too dim for Humans to see comfortably, but fine for Morraki.
Warriors moved around us, securing the shuttle and unloading the others’ containers. A few glanced at Taryn with open curiosity, but none spoke.
They knew better. I wasn’t the only one watching them with an alpha’s intensity.
Taryn’s gaze flicked across the space. I wasn’t sure how much she could see, but it was obvious she was searching, cataloguing what she could. Even ill, she assessed her surroundings with awareness.
I was grudgingly impressed.
I turned toward the corridor to the lift, forcing myself to leave her to follow instead of throwing her over my shoulder like the rest of the baggage.
“Our quarters are this way.”
There was hesitation before her footsteps began behind me.
“I’m to stay with you?”
I smirked at the corridor ahead of me. The news was clearly displeasing. She’d have to get over it, because there weren’t any other options.
“Yes.”
A sigh barely reached my ears, followed by a soft mutter.
“Of course.”
No hysteria. No dramatics. Just acceptance. It was something I could appreciate, which confirmed she had been the right choice.
She made it halfway down the corridor before her steps faltered. She didn’t argue when my hand kept her from colliding with the wall and then remained on her elbow.
Her skin burned instead of being cool to the touch as she should have been. Fever ate through her, far beyond what I’d expected.
“You are supposed to be taking medication.”
She swiped a hand across her brow as I guided her into the lift and input my code and our destination. The others had gone ahead of us, leaving silence to fill the space when the doors closed.
“I did. It’s not time for more.”
It wouldn’t do for my Human to break while in my care. If she grew too ill, I would be blamed, whether I deserved it or not.
“Then you need to go to the Kethral.”
She shook her head as her fingers took hold of my forearm.
“No. I’m fine.”
You are not echoed through my head, but I didn’t voice it.
“There is no reason to push yourself.”
It was the closest I could come without making it sound as if I cared.
“Yes, there is.”
At least she didn’t deny it.
Curious, I tipped my eyes toward her while keeping my head straight. She’d closed hers again and it seemed as if my grip on her elbow was all that kept her upright.
“Why?”
She exhaled and swallowed before answering.
“Because if I stop moving, I might not start again.”
The words were simple, and they struck deeper than they should have. I knew that feeling well, and the thought that I’d caused it in another had my stomach going hollow.
I had no desire to hurt her, only to keep her at a distance.
I had chosen her, but she had agreed to the injection.
My claws pressed into my palms until skin split and the metallic tang of blood grew in the air. She didn’t notice, which was best.
I welcomed the pain, but it was far less than I deserved. Guilt coiled low and ugly in my gut. My stomach churned with it, chest aching at the unfamiliar emotion, and I’d be returning to the Pit again the moment I got the chance.
Choosing her had been necessary. Unmated and on the council, I needed to claim a Human. Picking her had been strategic. She was strong. It was for Morrakan.
I repeated the words until they rang in my mind, but I wasn’t sure I believed them.