Chapter 4
Diarvet
I couldn’t explain the fierce protectiveness that surged through me toward the human and youngling.
It was all I could do not to launch myself at the Wojonik when they dared ask about them, my claws itching to tear into their throats.
Revulsion churned in my gut when I discovered the female was a harem slave, knowing the horrors and degradation she must have endured.
The Kwado were notorious for their vile, twisted appetites.
Yet somehow, it hadn’t shattered her spirit.
Fire still burned bright in her deep brown eyes, defiant and unbroken.
The youngling was absolutely adorable. The way she gazed up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, so completely trusting, as if she believed I could shield her from every evil in the universe.
It made something deep in my chest tighten, made me want to be worthy of that faith.
Unable to resist, I reached out and gently snagged one of her spiraling pink curls between my fingers, the silky strand catching the light as a radiant smile bloomed across the youngling’s face.
Jolie watched the movement with predator-like intensity, her eyes tracking every subtle shift of my fingers through the pink ringlets.
Wariness radiated from her posture, shoulders rigid as coiled springs.
The protectiveness she showed for a youngling not her own caused a strange warmth to bloom in my chest.
“Why would you want to help us?” Her voice carried a tinge of disbelief, as though life had taught her to question every kindness. She studied me like a puzzle she seemed intent on solving, her gaze searching my features for any hint of deception.
“The Eden is one of three ships under Alliance auspices to rescue abducted humans,” I explained. I hoped the mention of the Alliance would ease the lines of worry around her eyes.
It didn’t. Instead, she tensed further, her slender frame going rigid as her expression sharpened into something almost feral. “I won’t go anywhere without Lilibet.” The words came out fierce and protective.
“Of course not,” I soothed, keeping my voice low and reassuring.
“So, you’ll help us get to Space Pearl’s unseen?” She asked, watching me. When a flicker of unease crossed my features, she pounced on it immediately. “What?”
“I do not think Space Pearl’s is the safest option,” I said carefully, not wanting to add to the burden she already carried.
As if sensing the tension, the youngling reached out with chubby fingers and snagged my fingers, still tangled in her curls. Her cherubic face lit up with an innocent smile that could melt the hardest warrior’s heart.
“Why not?” Jolie’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
“You are on the run from the Kwado Prince,” I explained, watching the color drain from her cheeks.
“There are more political ramifications in rescuing you from him than in rescuing you from a merchant or slaver. Without Jala and Praxxan’s help, I fear it will be difficult to protect you on the space station. ”
“Who are Jala and Praxxan?” The question tumbled from her lips with genuine confusion.
Her inquiry took me aback. Then, understanding dawned. She had been in a Kwado harem, isolated from the wider galaxy. Any information she received would have been suspect and crafted to keep her obedient.
“They own the space station and are well-known agents of the Alliance council when it comes to rescuing humans,” I explained. “They are traveling at the moment, helping to deal with the transfer of power on another planet.”
“So,” she shrugged with a forced casualness that didn’t quite mask the tremor in her voice. “What do we do? Hide until they return?”
“No,” I shook my head, casting a glance over my shoulder to scan the alleyway behind us. No sign or scent of the mercenaries nearby, but that could change in an instant. “With the Wojonik presence, you won’t be safe here.”
I felt a tickle along my skin and glanced down to where Lilibet ran her pudgy little hand up and down my forearm, giggling at the shifting colors of my scales in the wake of her touch.
My heart felt like it melted into a puddle inside my chest. Jolie watched the moment curiously, and her tension seemed to ebb.
“What do we do?” She repeated, her voice faint with a hint of fear.
I would do anything to keep her and Lilibet from ever feeling fear again.
“The best course of action is to hide you aboard the Eden while we contact the Alliance and ask for help. Once the Alliance Prime gives you and the youngling sanctuary, not even the Kwado Prince can usurp it. When you are safe, I can take you to Tau Ceti, Zarpazia, or another haven for humans.”
Jolie’s wary gaze landed on me. But as she shifted her eyes to Lilibet, her expression morphed into one of intense affection. Then she sighed heavily, obviously struggling to know which way to move forward.
“I like him, MeMe,” Lilibet’s voice was soft, but held a wisdom strange in one so young. “He is nice.”
“I thank you, princess.” I issued a formal bow, which made the smile on her tiny face grow. “I like you too.”
“I’m not a princess,” she giggled.
“Are you sure?” I cocked an eyebrow, feigning skepticism
“Yes,” she giggled harder.
I issued a very theatrical gesture, one I’d seen my cousin Vraxxan do when he was signaling to his courtiers. “We will remedy this amiss at once. Once you are aboard the Eden, you shall be known as Princess Lilibet.”
“Yay!” Lilibet squealed with utter glee.
“Promise me,” Jolie said quietly, for my ears alone. “Promise me I can trust you. Not for my sake, but hers.”
An ordinary promise would not suffice. Not for this. I went down on one knee, thumping my chest with a fist. “I give you my vow as a warrior. You can trust me to keep you and Lilibet safe, but I must ask you one question.”
“What?” Jolie’s expression wavered with worry.
I sighed, hating that I had to ask, and hating more what would need to happen if the answer was yes. “Were you or Lilibet implanted with a tracker?” It was common practice for slaveholders, especially wealthy ones like Qurbaga.
“No,” Jolie shook her head so hard that strands of her golden hair bounced around her face.
She raised her arm, indicating a small scar on the inside of her wrist. “I had one, but my friend Binwee helped me cut it out.” She frowned, and it made me wonder just how hard it had been to accomplish what she said next.
“I made sure he never put one in Lilibet.”
“Good,” I nodded. “Now we need to get to my ship.”
Jolie’s eyes remained narrowed for a few minutes more, then she visibly relaxed. “Okay. But how do we get to the dock? It’s farther away than Space Pearl’s.”
I pulled the small, square metal device from my pocket. While outlawed by the Alliance, those of us involved with rescuing humans had found the cuddwisg device most helpful and received special permission from the Alliance Prime for its use. “We will use this to disguise you.”
“That?” Jolie frowned, unsure. “You only have one, and it’s small. Use it on Lilibet and I’ll....”
Her readiness to sacrifice her own safety for the youngling touched something deep inside me. “I believe it will work for both of you if you will trust me.”
Her eyes met mine and held, making my blood heat. “I hope I can,” she whispered.
“Lilibet, can you ride on your MeMe’s back and hold on tight?” I asked, an idea forming.
Pink curls bounced as she nodded eagerly. “It’s called piggyback, and we do it all the time.”
I helped Jolie settle Lilibet securely on her back, adjusting the youngling’s small arms around her neck, then stepped away to dial up the disguise I had in mind.
“I will need to place this in your pocket,” I told her, and at her trusting nod, slipped the cuddwisg device into the pocket of her worn cloak.
The air shimmered and undulated around them like heat waves, and the frail figure of a human female and youngling morphed into something far more menacing.
“Did it work?” Jolie blinked at me, this time with eyes so dark they were almost black.
“Yes,” I said, biting back a smile at the transformation.
She frowned at me suspiciously and spun in a slow circle until spotting a piece of slick metal further down the alley that gave off a fuzzy, distorted reflection.
Jolie trod toward, stopping with a startled squeak when her reflection came into view.
“Holy shit!”
“You said a bad word, MeMe,” Lilibet’s disembodied voice came from the vicinity of Jolie’s shoulders, tinged with gentle reproach.
“I know I did, honey, but....” Jolie sputtered, staring at her massive, fur-covered reflection. “Holy shit! I look like one of those... those....”
“Kerzak,” I supplied, this time not bothering to suppress my satisfied grin. “I chose the ruse on purpose. No one usually wants to mess with a Kerzak.”
“I wonder why,” Jolie snorted in a voice that told me she knew all too well about the Kerzak and their fearsome reputation.
“We look like the teddy bear you made for me,” Lilibet chimed with innocent delight, but her voice grew wistful. “I left it on my bed, MeMe.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” Jolie murmured. I could hear the heartbreak reflected in her tone.
“Once we get aboard the Eden, I’ll get you another teddy bear,” I offered, although I had no clue why a youngling would want a toy that looked like a Kerzak.
“Promise?” Lilibet’s voice wavered with fragile hope.
“I promise.” I would get the youngling all the teddy bears she wanted and pretty much anything else, I suspected. I felt myself wrapping tighter around her little finger with each passing moment.
“Lilibet, you have to hold on tight and be very quiet, okay?” Jolie’s voice was stern but not scolding, carrying the patient authority that reminded me of my own mother.
“Yes, MeMe.”