Chapter Fifty-Four Zann
“Hey, Zann,” Curran calls to me as we enter through the base gate after our shift at the shipping docks.
Though we have only been back on base for a couple days, Corrina has been arranging the necessary documentation for Krish, Davix, and me to have free access to the base.
We have not completed the required contract to make us officially her marriage partners yet, but we hope to accomplish that soon.
“Can I talk to you privately for a moment?” he asks.
I tilt my head and regard him curiously. “Of course,” I tell him. I wave Davix and Krish ahead. I can catch up with them in our new quarters before we meet Corrina for dinner. “Is anything wrong?”
“No, not really.” Curran says. He begins to walk away and motions for me to follow him. “I hear you’ve been ring shopping,” he says conversationally.
“Yes,” I nod enthusiastically. “Corrina has explained that it is a symbol of the marriage contract, so I am very excited to wear something to let others know that I am hers. But Krish is concerned that a ring is such a small thing that others might not notice it.”
Curran chuckles. “You could opt for a ball and chain instead.”
“Is that a normal sign to indicate marriage? Corrina has only talked about rings.”
“You know what, never mind about that. But you should talk to Corrina about other options. Different cultures have different practices.” He stops talking abruptly as a group of soldiers pass by. Curran salutes them and we continue on our way. “You’re readjusting to life on the base?” he asks.
“Yes, it has been an easy transition. We did not own many things, and the owner of our apartment home thought she would find someone else to live there quickly and easily.” I am puzzled by Curran’s questions.
These are not the kinds of things that would require a private conversation.
Many of these things we have discussed openly with Wenschel and Ryder and others over meals or in passing.
Although I will have to ask Corrina about whether a ball and chain would be more appropriate for us than a ring.
“Uh huh,” Curran replies, and then he is suddenly pulling me into a doorway. I am not familiar with this particular building, but from the layer of dust on the equipment stored here, it is not used often. “You care about Corrina, right? Really care about her?” he asks intently.
“Of course,” I reply immediately. “Are you going to threaten me again?” I ask, calmly.
Curran has repeatedly told us that he would make our lives unpleasant or simply end them if we hurt Corrina.
At first, I was irritated and insulted, but I realize that it is one of the ways Curran shows his affection for Corrina.
And I must admit that the idea of Corrina being hurt – again – makes me very angry.
So, I understand and am trying to be patient with Curran’s repeated questions about our feelings for Corrina.
“You know it is not necessary. Neither my brood brothers nor I have any intention of hurting Corrina physically or emotionally. I only want to be with her and make her happy.” I pause.
“But if it makes you feel better, I will keep telling you this. And you can continue to threaten us.”
Curran gives me a genuine smile. “It’s actually not about that, but I appreciate it. My threat from before still stands.”
“I remember,” I assure him.
“What I’m more worried about is Vertage,” Curran says.
Although there is no one around, he glances around and lowers his voice.
“He’s not necessarily smart, but he is vicious and vindictive.
And he’s directed all of his anger and resources at Corrina.
” Curran hesitates. “As you know, he’s scheduled to be shipped off to a detention facility soon.
But I worry that with his connections, he will find a way to somehow still get to her. To hurt her.”
A growl escapes my throat. “We will not let that happen,” I snarl.
“I know that you wouldn’t,” Curran says.
“But no one of us can be around Corrina all the time.” He lets out a heavy sigh.
“I just worry that as long as Vertage is alive, he is a potential threat to Corrina. And I thought that as someone else who cares about her, you would understand, and maybe even share, my concerns.”
“I do. Thank you for telling me this,” I reply.
“Just trying to look out for her. Except for Yuva, there is no one else in the universe who means more to me than Corrina. I don’t need another scare like the one we had.
” With that, Curran reaches up and squeezes my bicep.
“Don’t mention anything to Corrina, though.
She already accuses me of worrying about her too much. ”
“I will not say anything,” I tell him. Curran nods once more and then slips through the door.
I stand in silence for a few more minutes, thinking about his words.
Although there is much I still do not understand about humans, I have learned that men like Vertage and Lianov do not care who they hurt in their pursuit of money and power.
And I have learned that there is nothing I would not do to keep Corrina safe.
???
I do not know how Vertage managed to escape from captivity in the short distance between the base and the secure shipping dock, only that he somehow has.
I watch him slink through the shadows towards a small vessel.
Krish and Davix are on lookout nearby, so I pause to listen for any signs of danger before following our prey.
I smile to myself when I hear arguing coming from the open ramp of the vessel.
I raise my hand in a silent signal. A moment later, Krish and Davix appear by my side.
“This ends now,” Davix signs, and I nod. Then I follow the raised voices into the vessel.
There is only Vertage and one other human on board the vessel, and both are quickly and easily subdued by the three of us.
“I do not know you,” I say to the stranger, “so I will give you the opportunity to live if you leave this station and do not come back.”
“Not a problem,” the man says, his hands raised in surrender. “This asshole was trying to cheat me anyway. And there are plenty of other stations where I can do business.”
“Then we will depart with this man so that you may go,” Krish says in a low voice.
The stranger watches us as we exit his vessel. Vertage struggles and flails against Davix’s grip, but my brood brother only tightens his hold. A moment later, the vessel departs and it is only the three of us and the man who plotted Corrina’s death.
“Do you recall what we did to Lianov?” I ask Vertage softly. His eyes are bulging from Davix’s hand around his throat, and he works his mouth furiously. “We tore him apart until there was nothing recognizable about him. I have dreamed of doing the same thing to you.”
Davix loosens his grip enough for Vertage to suck in a desperate breath. “There’s no need to hurt me. I’ll give you whatever you want,” he gasps furiously. “I have money, gems, metals, anything you could ask for.”
I smile at him, letting him see my sharp teeth. “We only wanted Corrina,” I tell him, “and you almost took her from us.”
“It won’t happen again,” he says quickly. “Just let me go and I’ll disappear.”
“It will not happen again,” I say, and then I slice through his throat with my claws.
The wound is clean and quick – quicker than he deserves.
But as I stand over Vertage with my brood brothers and watch until the light fully dims from the human’s eyes, it is enough to know that he cannot threaten Corrina anymore.
As his blood pools on the darkened metal floor, I gather Krish and Davix and we disappear into the shadows once more.
A quick swim in the dark waters of the lake wash away any evidence of Vertage’s blood on our bodies, and then we make our way silently back to base and to Corrina.