Chapter 58
Survii
It had taken marks, but Alanna was finally asleep.
Survii watched her face, hating that it wasn’t peaceful, even though she was finally resting. No matter what he did, he couldn’t banish that stress line on her forehead completely.
She wasn’t the only one either. All the females were bearing the emotional toll of their misadventure in a way that he, as a domini, could only appreciate, but not understand. Violence and danger did not leave scars on the psyche of his people the way it did other species.
And he hated, absolutely hated, that Alanna had to bear the weight of it because of him. Their anger and disgust were directed at him, but she suffered for it. And that was something that he couldn’t protect her from.
Though he did everything to mitigate it.
The females had all been fed and taken back to their nests.
Survii couldn’t see for sure, but he knew the other males were probably doing exactly as he had.
Namely, helping them bathe, changing them into something comfortable, then laying them down to rest. Maybe the others were also giving their females pleasure, anything to distract from the trauma.
But Survii did not, because that’s not what Alanna needed from him.
His sac ached, heavy and full since he hadn’t had the chance to fuck her in days and being this near to her, bathing and feeding and bringing her to her nest, were all part of domini courtship.
His own blood was still fiery from battle and needed an outlet.
But Alanna needed safety and security. A place to zone out completely where she wouldn’t get hurt or ignore someone on accident.
She needed just this. For Survii to be close enough that she could hear his heartbeat as he gently drew nonsense shapes on her back with his claws so she could sleep knowing that she was safe.
His combot, floating over their heads, gently flickered, alerting him to an incoming comm. He called for the bot to answer it and Atem’s voice came through.
“Survii, Earth is insisting on speaking to us.”
“Right now?” Survii responded softly so as not to disturb his mate.
“They’re pushing for it. I asked if it was about Tuvo or Hattie, but they say it’s not.
I’m not inclined to speak to them immediately.
Or ever again for this.” A furious growl crept into his voice.
“They have cost me the lives of my sister and a male that might as well have been my brother. I have to tell the couple that raised me that their son died on a primitive backwards planet by the hands of worthless, disgusting males whose very blood is poison!”
“Not tha’ bad…” Alanna’s mumble interjected before Survii could snarl his agreement.
“Go back to sleep, Vitralai,” he urged even as she turned her head to look up at the combot.
“Men aren’t that bad,” she said, still slurring her words, but able to enunciate them properly. “Don’t blame all of Earth for the actions of a few.”
“They represent a large enough portion that they can afford to blow up an airplane and send coordinated attacks out on all of us at once!”
“Yes, but there were others that helped us. The man on the docks who drove us around for nothing. Carlos. My family. My uncle. There are plenty of good people. You just stop hearing them because the bad ones yell so loud.”
“Alanna,” Survii spoke to her gently. “They were going to kill you. And any pup you carried, for no other crime than it was mine.”
She turned her head to face him now. “I know. But we knew that first contact came with risks. Hattie… Hattie wouldn’t want us to give up on Earth.” Her voice broke as tears filled her eyes. “Hattie would want us to keep trying. To search for the good and love that still exists.”
“Hattie is a better person than me.”
“Hattie’s a better person than most of us.” She sniffed softly. “Please, Survii. Talk to my people. Don’t give up on Earth. Let them show you that we’re still capable of great things.”
He growled, but it was a sound of annoyed concession that made her smile and snuggle against his chest with a soft sigh.
“Fine,” he said, holding her close. “Atem, I’ll have words with them. When the females are properly rested and calmed. Not a moment sooner. Have Navine tell them that. Our females come first, always, and they will respect that.”
Atem made a grunt of agreement and wished them both a good rest before ending the comm. Survii growled, discontent, as he curled himself around Alanna. Clutching her close. Taking a deep breath of her scent – fresh and clean from her shower.
“Thank you,” she said, snuggling his chest.
“Don’t thank me. I do it under protest.”
“All the more reason to thank you.”
He muttered dark things under his breath, but his threats and anger just made her smile as she leaned into him, sinking back into sleep. He returned to gently scratching her back as she slipped away – this time, without the worry line on her forehead.
***
Once again, Survii stood on the communication platform without Alanna.
Romival stood to one side of him, Atem to the other.
One for translation, the other a silent threat.
Havali remained back with the females, but he glared along with the others as the screen flashed to life and, once again, Secretary General Lie and President Townsend filled the screen.
“Where is she?” John asked immediately, looking around. Survii didn’t need a translation to know he meant Alanna.
“She’s safe,” he growled, crossing his arms over his chest. “No thanks to your people. I warned you, John, did I not? About coming after our females.”
“Please, Survii,” he started quickly. “The actions of this group do not, in any way, reflect the beliefs or desires of Earth as a whole. This was a rogue group that happened to be well funded. That’s all.
Angry people with nothing better to do than be mad at change and see monsters in every shadow.
They can’t handle something being stronger or more powerful than they are, so they react violently to anything they perceive as different. ”
“We have a word for that in my language, John. Kalitsokii. It means, those who are weak who try to appear strong with anger and fear. It is an insult. And a disgusting thing to be.”
“And we are in full agreement,” John rushed to assure him.
“We have been working tirelessly on our end to find out who these people are and to destroy their terrorist cell. They’re calling themselves the Pro-Human Advocates League, or PHAL, for short.
They’re a fringe group of radicalized racists that have targeted your people and claim it’s in the interest of protecting Earth and its women. ”
“I don’t care what they’re called. I care that they came so close to killing my mate.
To killing my mate’s sisters and friends.
They took Tuvo and Hattie away from us! You should count yourself lucky that we don’t come down there and root out the problem ourselves!
” He ended on a roar, fangs snapping in the air, unable to contain his fury. Not even trying to hold back.
Let all of Earth know his anger. Let them fear the power he wielded.
“And they likely won’t get the chance again.”
“You said that to me before!”
“Yes, but we found their financial backer this time. The billionaire who allowed you to go to his island – Phillip Morrison. We’ve found ties between him and PHAL.
He sent you there specifically so he could launch this attack on you.
He’s the one who financed the entire thing.
Without him, it wouldn’t have happened, and his assets are all frozen.
He is in custody. It won’t happen again. ”
Survii growled. “No. It won’t. Because our females are not touching down on Earth again. We will not-”
“Wait!” John cut him off before Romival could even translate.
Recognizing ‘no’ when he heard it. “I know you’re angry.
And you have every reason to be. And we’re angry too.
That was my niece that was nearly killed.
Alanna is like a daughter to me. I helped raise her.
I love her! We are fighting for the same cause, Survii. ”
Survii’s tail lashed at the air. Angry, but quiet. Watching the other male carefully. It was the first big burst of emotion he had seen from him. And even now, he coughed to clear his throat and adjusted his tie as though tightening it would restore control over his emotions.
“This group does not represent the view of Earth. They do not speak for us. Their intentions and agendas are not ours. We denounce them. We condemn them. And we will do anything to bring them to justice.”
“Anything?” Survii repeated.
“Of course. It is our dearest hope to rid our planet of hatred such as this. Within reason, of course.”
“Will you agree to allow us to assist you in tracking and dispatching them?”
“Arresting them.”
“They deserve death for their actions.”
“We are willing to discuss this.”
“Add it to the agreement,” Survii demanded. “Add to our agreement that Earth is open to our assistance in tracking criminals and disgusting people like this.”
John looked back to Sargent General Lie. The other male did not appear at all willing to agree to such a thing. But the expression in Survii’s face must have warned him about the repercussions for denial at this point. Lie whispered something to John.
The president turned back to him. “We are willing to open negotiations to that. Separate from the agreement we’ve already made.”
Survii looked to Atem. Their representative among the Coalition grunted in confirmation.
Turning back to John, Survii nodded. “We will accept that. For now.”
The concession seemed to relieve Secretary General Lie. Relief that angered Survii. How dare he look satisfied with this? There was nothing good about this. And how dare he put his concern for their agreement above his concern for the females that were nearly harmed?
Disgusting.