Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
GWENDOLYN
Somber faces fill the cafeteria—no, the dining hall—as I look around.
Everyone is present, all Ruk and humans, to hear what Slavic has to say.
Heather and Bambi are seated off to the side with Falon and Bikar while all the mated couples are settled together.
Slavic, Ruarc, and Einar hadn’t been gone longer than several hours before they returned to the Zenith.
During the interim, Murgul and I had spent an enjoyable time in what I now know is the helm room.
It’s the place that Bikar stays for the most part, since it has the main comm system in it as well as the controls that pilot the ship.
I was surprised that Murgul’s role involves so much technology, and I can’t help but be impressed.
My man is so much more than meets the eye.
It also didn’t escape my notice that Bikar was giving us perplexed, suspicious looks the entire time we were there.
My best guess is he, as well as the others, have no clue that Murgul can speak into my mind.
Since he didn’t say anything to anyone else about it, I haven’t either.
There is a reason Murgul doesn’t want them to know, and I’m not going to start our relationship with strife because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
Now, Slavic is slumped in his seat with Ruby leaning into his side, offering him what comfort she can as he brings us all up to speed.
“Brothers… there was nothing. The settlement is exactly where Kallen said it would be, but there are no traces of any life on the planet, and it appears it’s been that way for a long time. Possibly rotations. Kallen, do you have any idea how long you were held captive by the Velgriddix?”
Leaning around the dark bulk of Murgul’s body, I wait for Kallen’s response.
“I really do not know, Slavic. It was hard to keep track of time on that vile ship.” Her voice is full of frustration, and my heart goes out to her when a scoff catches everyone’s attention.
Ruarc has a sneer on his face as he barks out a condescending laugh before sneering in Kallen’s face. “How do you expect us to believe anything you are saying? It seems to me that you have done nothing but lead us on a fool’s errand!”
Chaos breaks out as Slavic, Einar, and Falon jump to their feet with outraged roars, talking over the top of each other in their anger.
“YOU… DARE!”
A chilling silence falls across the entire room at Murgul’s broken roar.
Sinuously gaining his feet, he menacingly stalks across the room until he is looming over Ruarc, his tail whipping back and forth behind him, similar to an angry cat, and those deadly-looking claws have slipped from the ends of his fingers.
Something about his countenance is… different somehow.
I know it’s Murgul… but does he look bigger?
“A mate… is a… gift…! Rebuking her… with your… delusional rantings… is nothing short… of lunacy! Get. Your. Head. OUT. OF. YOUR. FRACKIN. ARSE!”
I can tell he’s in tremendous pain—the cords in his throat stand out starkly beneath his skin, every word a visible effort.
Yet despite that, he still manages to voice his displeasure at his brother’s behavior, stubborn pride winning out over agony.
If that doesn’t tell me how seriously he takes a mate bond, not much else will.
Glancing around, I notice that everyone is frozen as if they’re too afraid to move lest the slightest action provoke Murgul into losing what little composure he has left.
Carefully, I stand before slowly walking over to where Murgul and Ruarc are.
A low rumbling sound catches my attention, and as I get closer, I realize it’s coming from Murgul.
Taking a deep breath, I slide into the small space between the two of them, laying my hands on Murgul’s chest before leaning all of my weight into him.
I press the full length of my body against him, touching him with as much of my person as possible, hoping I can calm him.
His muscles are rippling beneath his skin, almost like something is trying to escape from his body, and he’s fighting it with every ounce of willpower he has.
“Hey, Murder Boy. Show me those pretty blue eyes for a second, will you?”
“I know what it is you are trying to do, bright one. You do not need to worry; I will not kill Ruarc for his blasphemy against his mate… but he does need to bleed for the offense. A mate is a gift… and should not be squandered.”
“Be that as it may, I don’t think the rest of your brothers believe you’ll stop at a simple beating, ending with a bloody nose or a busted lip. Not by the looks on their faces, anyway.”
Pushing against his chest, I apply pressure until he takes a begrudging step backward, and then another, until Murgul and I are back in our original seats with me planted securely in his lap. Keeping my eyes on Murgul, I call out to Ruarc.
“Ruarc, it would be best if you kept your mouth shut for the rest of the meeting. Murgul is beyond angry with you right now, and if you say anything else insulting to Kallen, he is going to hurt you. A lot. Honestly, if you say anything disparaging about her within earshot of Murgul, he’s going to fuck you up. ”
Sniggering across from me draws my gaze, and I notice Ruby and Rowan sitting side by side with their hands over their mouths, desperately trying not to laugh.
Winking at them, I settle deeper into Murgul’s lap before looking pointedly over at Slavic, ignoring the quizzical looks Einar is shooting between Murgul and me, before prompting the large, grouchy Captain to continue with an empirical wave of my hand. “You were saying?”
Slavic rolls his eyes in exasperation but begrudgingly carries on.
“Erm… yes. Since we do not know how long Kallen has been gone from Deapra, nor do we really know what has happened to the rest of the Ruks that were with her. I have decided our next step will be a prolonged scouting mission on the planet’s surface, where we will look for any trace of mam and our youngling sister. ”
Kallen shoots him a quelling glance, her amber eyes flashing in the light, and Slavic heaves a heavy sigh before continuing. “As well as all the other females. Does that satisfy you now, Kallen?”
She smirks, green lips pulling around a pair of dainty tusks, before replying. “As a matter of fact, it does.”
Slavic nods at her before glancing over at Ruarc and then to Einar. “Good. I am glad we have, at least, that much decided upon. Ruarc, Einar, and I will be the ones heading the scouting mission. Bikar, Murgul, Falon, and all the females will stay on the Zenith.”