The Alien’s Equal: Drixonian Warriors #7 Page 14

  We stood in the center of the Alazar near their hub building. All around us, the city smoldered amid the crumbled walls. A small handful of civilians huddled together with their children, but we had no intention of hurting them. Daz had sent some of our warriors throughout the city to root out any remaining enemy soldiers and also to ensure there were no innocents trapped in the rubble. The rest of the Drix army hung back in a silent group, watching as Daz stared down the last of our enemy. The Kaluma stood around us and while Bosa was visible, I suspected a few remained blanked.

  “We have surrendered,” Kuala spat at Daz. “What are your terms?”

  Daz, standing with his feet braced apart and forearm machets dripping with blood, looked down his nose at Kuala. I thought I saw a bit of brain matter clinging to one of his horns, but I’d tell him later. “Terms?” His lips curled. “You expect me give you Uldani scum terms?”

  “We surrendered.” Kuala sneered. “Your precious honor won’t let you touch me now. And that’s what you Drix are all about, isn’t it? Honor?”

  “I, for one, don’t give a fleck about honor,” said Bosa as he slammed a booted foot into the commander’s back. With a pained cry, the Uldani pitched forward face first into the dirt and writhed as he gasped for air.

  Daz shot Bosa a tired look before he gripped the Uldani’s hair and placed him back on his knees. The commander wiped his face with his shoulder and panted. “This is outrageous. You killed our Kulks and our army. We’re tied up and surrendered. You must give us the terms for our release—”

  Daz cut him off with a booming question. “Did the Uldani unleash the virus on Corin?”

  Kuala’s jaw snapped shut, but I didn’t miss the flinch. Daz didn’t either, because he cocked his head in a way he often did when he spotted prey. With careful movements, he crouched on the balls of his feet and leaned closer to the commander. “I’ll ask again, and I’d like an answer. Did the Uldani unleash the virus on Corin that killed our females and most of our elder males?”

  Kuala didn’t speak. He remained silent as his body dissolved into a trembling mass of flesh. Daz extended his claws and placed them under his chin, forcing his head back until the Uldani’s neck bulged painfully. The commander squeaked in an undignified voice, “I surrender.”

  With a growl, Daz shoved Kuala who fell on his back and lay sprawled there, staring up at the starry sky, chest heaving, eyes closed. I didn’t feel bad for him. I didn’t feel bad for any of these fleckers.

  A few shouts and the shuffling of a small scuffle broke out in front of us. Marching down the cobbled streets of what had once been the Alazar marketplace was Gram and his soldiers. In front of him, he pushed a dirty Uldani male with his hands tied in front of him. He protested the whole way, sputtering and blubbering as he pleaded for his life. This was no soldier, as he wore the uniform of the Uldani’s med unit.

  After I’d explained to Daz my deal with Gram, which he agreed upon, the small Uldani had disappeared. I figured he was ensuring the safety of his soldiers, but it seemed he’d been busy.

  Gram shoved him to the ground in front of Daz. “He might be able to answer some of your questions.”

  “We’ve surrendered!” Kuala shouted as he struggled to right himself. “Don’t say a word, Volp. Not one—” His words were cut off when Bosa slugged him in the side of the head with his club. The supreme commander hit the ground with a thud, and this time he didn’t move.

  “Can you refrain from killing anyone right now?” Daz growled.

  “He’s still breathing.” Bosa shot back.

  Ignoring the Kaluma, Daz nudged a trembling Volp with his boot. “Who are you?”

  The Uldani tried to speak, but his lips only fluttered uselessly.

  “Volp had an interesting job.” Gram stepped forward. “We were told he was in charge of developing medis, but while working in the med unit, I uncovered some things that made me think Volp had a lot of other duties.”

  “P-please,” the Uldani stuttered. “Don’t hurt me—”

  “Did the Uldani start the virus?” Daz asked. He had a single-minded focus on getting the answer to that question, as it was one we all wanted to know. If the Uldani were responsible… well then honor didn’t have a place here.

  Volp cringed at the answer just as Kuala groaned and seemed to come to. “Volp,” he muttered. “Don’t.”

  Daz bent at the waist to roar in the face of the terrified Uldani, “Did the Uldani start the virus?”

  “Yes!” Volp shouted. As if surprised at his own answer, his face drained of color, turning nearly white as he slumped into a ball.

  “Volp!” Kuala cried.

  But the med unit member ignored him, clearly acting in his own self-interest, and hoping he was spared if he confessed. “Yes, the Uldani started the virus. It was only intended to weaken you enough to ask for our help. We never intended for it to kill all your females. When we realized what we’d done, we panicked and began to look at ways to breed more Drix.”

  We’d all suspected the Uldani had started the virus, but hearing the truth felt like a stake in the cora. My sisters. My mother. They’d all suffered for no reason but the greed of the Uldani, for the way they coveted our power and strength. For once in my life, I cursed the abilities of my race. If we’d been less skilled, the Uldani never would have tried to subjugate us for their own uses.

  Daz hadn’t moved or reacted. The truth rendered him motionless as he continued to stare at the Uldani with black eyes. Finally, only his lips moved as he asked, “Under whose orders?”

  “What?”

  “Under whose orders did you create and unleash the virus on Corin?”

  Volp swallowed, and his gaze slid to Kuala. Only Daz’s neck craned to the supreme commander, who’d managed to get to his knees once again. Knowing he was beaten, he lashed out with the only weapon he had. Words.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore,” he hollered as he gazed around a the Drix looming over him. “Your females are dead. You have no way of getting home since we destroyed all your cruisers and warships. And do you think we merely sold your brothers we stole?

  “No,” Volp whispered harshly. “Please, Commander—”

  “Volp and his team experimented on most of them, looking to create even more powerful soldiers. Of course, there were many mistakes. So even if you find them, which you won’t, they’re mutants. Beasts. Good for nothing but slaves for the Plikens—”

  Gar didn’t let him finish. The big warrior rushed forward and with a vicious sweep of his arm, gored Kuala in the stomach. His body, severed at the waist, hit the ground in two pieces. The Supreme Commander of the Uldani army, who had terrorized us for one-hundred and fifty-cycles, lay dead, his lips still curled in a sneer, his eyes wide and unseeing.

  Gar wasn’t done. Growling and roaring, he plowed through the other three Uldani commanders and Volp, impaling a few with his horns as he beat them with his fists and tail. It was bloody and disturbing, but no one stopped him. Not even Daz. We stood back and let our massive warrior with a cora bigger than he let on take out our vengeance on the remaining few who had caused us so much pain and anguish. They’d taken everything from us.

  When he was finished and what was left of our oppressors lay before us in a bloody pile, he stumbled back. Only then did a curl of purple return to his black eyes and he seemed to come back into himself. His chest heaved as he gazed at the destruction he’d wrought.

  Gar, a warrior of view words, lifted his chin to Daz. “These fleckers don’t deserve honor. Where was honor when they murdered our females? When they stole our brothers from us and disrespected their bodies?” Gar spat on what was left of the Uldani commander. “I didn’t want the scars of their deaths on your cora, drexel, so I added them to mine. My mate will heal me like she always does.”

  Daz stepped forward and clasped the back of Gar’s neck. He brought their foreheads together and while the bigger warrior remained stiff at first, as Daz’s lips moved, speaking to him quietly, slow
ly Gar relaxed. When they parted, Gar had returned to himself, his eyes once again purple and his fists loose.

  As I stared at the once proud city around us, I couldn’t dredge up a single feeling of empathy for the slain Uldani. Daz turned to Gram, who stood nearby with a neutral expression on his face. If he didn’t mourn for his own leaders, then I wouldn’t either.

  “I want any information you can find on what Volp and his team did to our warriors.”

  Gram nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

  Daz’s jaw clenched, and he glanced at Sax, who had gone uncharacteristically quiet and pale ever since Kuala had spewed his words. Daz swallowed as he fisted his hips. “My brother was among those taken.”

  Gram winced, and his eyes lowered. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’ll leave behind a crew of Drixonian warriors to help you clean up and carry out judgements on the elite.”

  Gram inclined his head. “Thank you, drexel.”

  “Thank you for saving my brother.” His eyes slid to me. “And my other brother. The truce between us is solid.”

  We marched out the gates after leaving a small crew behind. This planet had never felt like home, and I’d never felt like more of a visitor than now. I’d expected to feel vindicated after defeating the Uldani, but I didn’t feel much but weariness. I didn’t want to believe Kuala that they’d destroyed all our ships—we’d found one cruiser after all—but even if they hadn’t, we had no idea where they’d stashed them. It could take many more cycles before we found a way to get home.

  I ached for Corin, and my next thought was I wasn’t sure how to tell Justine I’d never fulfill my promise of taking her and our chit to the devas shrines.

  Fourteen

  Justine

  The sun was beginning to rise when the Drixonians emerged from the gates. I expected victory celebrations or at least some smiles, but almost every face was grim. When I didn’t see Nero right away, I began to panic. I knew he was okay as the tree of his aura was still alive, albeit very still. No breeze blew through its leaves, and that sent a chill down my spine. I ran forward, ignoring Shep’s shouts from behind me. I kept sprinting toward the group of emerging Drixonians.

  A figure shoved between Daz and Sax, and then Nero was racing toward me. I leapt as we drew close and he caught me in mid-air. My legs circled his waist as my arms wound around his neck. “You’re okay.”

  “I promised I’d be okay,” he whispered in my ear.

  “You’re doing really well on this promise thing.”

  His body went stiff for a moment before he gently placed me back on the ground. He didn’t acknowledge what I’d said, which bothered me, but now wasn’t the time to get into a lengthy discussion.

  “You shouldn’t have run forward,” he chided.

  “Yeah, probably not, but I wanted to see you. How did everything go? Is Gram okay? What happened to all the Uldani?”

  His hand slipped from the top of my head down to my upper back as he urged me forward toward the tree line, where Shep and Hap waited. “I’ll tell you soon, okay? I’m tired and hungry.”

  His admission, said with a strained smile, surprised me. It was one of the few times I’d heard any of the Drix admit any sort of weakness or human-like needs. But of course, he was tired and hungry. Now that he mentioned it, I was starving too. When had I eaten last? I couldn’t even remember…

  “Yeah,” I nodded, falling in step next to him. “I am too.”

  “Let’s eat, mate,” he murmured into my hair. “Then I’m ready to return home.”

  I glanced behind me at Alazar and hoped I would get a chance to see Gram again.

  * * *

  On the way home, Nero and I rode in the Kaluma’s returo. Fortunately, the bronze aliens hadn’t lost any of their warriors, and they were in good spirits. Bosa laughed with his crew as they told stories of the invasion while I dozed. Nero and I had eaten, and while Nero sat with his eyes closed as I lay beside him, I knew he wasn’t asleep.

  Shep and Hap rode with us as well, since Shep spent a substantial portion of the ride working on Nero’s leg. There was muscle damage which had mostly been repaired by the medis, but the outer scales of his leg were badly mangled and burned. Nero hadn’t cared what it looked like—neither had I—and the good news was he would regain almost full use of his leg.

  My arm was a little swollen, but not nearly as sore as I expected it to be. The claw marks in my face were gone, and Shep told me that my fast healing was largely due to my loks. I hadn’t realized the mating bond afforded me that ability, but I thought it was badass. I immediately thought of my pregnant friends, and I was happy they’d have some enhanced healing on their side when they had to give birth to some horned babies.

  By the time we drove down the tree-lined path leading to the gates of the Night Kings clavas, I was slightly rejuvenated from my cat nap and eager to see my friends. It had only been a few days, but I missed them something fierce. I wanted to touch Frankie’s belly and hug Naomi. I wanted to pet Luna and check on Mozart with Bazel. I wanted my family back. And okay, a large part of me wanted to show off my loks, even though I knew there was going to be a lot of I told you so’s.

  The gates were already open, as the warriors, faster on their bikes, had already reached the clavas. There, waiting at the entrance, I caught sight of lots of hair blowing in the wind and a big fluffy welf. As soon as the Kaluma opened the returo, I was out of the ramp, running toward my friends. We met in a massive tackle hug, which was kind of our thing, although we had to be more careful now with all the protruding bellies.

  I felt surrounded by love, which only escalated when Miranda noticed my loks. “You went and found yourself a cora-eternal?” she screeched.

  Tears in my eyes, I shook my head.

  “No?” she held up my wrists. “Then what are these?”

  I felt Nero’s heat at my back. “I didn’t have to leave to find him. He’d been right here the whole time.”

  Frankie snorted while Miranda shot me a suffering look. “That was the corniest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” She turned a glare on Nero. “Who are you and what have you done with our grumpy, cynical Justine?”

  Nero’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. “My little bird is too tired to be in a bad mood. I’m sure tomorrow she’ll be back to her old self.”

  A bunch of aw’s rang out at his term of endearment.

  I nodded. “He’s right. I’ll be rolling my eyes at all of you in no time.”

  “Go sleep the day away,” Val said, putting on her nurse voice. “We’ll have someone deliver food to you in Nero’s hut so it’s ready when you want it.”

  I squeezed her hand. “I’d love that.”

  Her gaze took me in. “Do I need to check you over?”

  “I’ve been seen by the good doctor Shep. The injuries I had seemed to have healed quickly once…” I wiggled my wrist.

  Val smiled. “I remember that.”

  “Oh!” I shouted, startling Val. “That reminds me, did you get a chance to talk to Sax?”

  Her expression softened. “Yes, he told me about Gram, I—” tears welled in her eyes, and I regretted bringing up a time in her life that was terrifying. “I wished I could see him again to thank him. He saved our lives.”

  “I know what you mean. He saved ours too.”

  “The Uldani will hold an election to determine a council, and I know Gram will have a place at the head of the table.” Nero squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sure there will be a time we see him again.”

  Val wiped at her eyes and nodded. “Now go sleep. When you wake, we expect a debriefing. Sax already has a bug up his ass about someone else having a better escape story than him.”

  I laughed as I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Let me tell you … ours is a doozy.”

  * * *

  Nero

  When I opened my eyes, my hut was lit only by the light of a flickering lantern. I lifted my hand to reach for Justine, but the furs beside me were cold. A faint scratc
hing sound reached my ears and I rolled my head to find my mate curled up in one of my chairs, a fur draped over her lap as her hand moved across a piece of paper.

  Her expression was serene, and her hair was pulled back onto the crown of her head, where it sprouted out of its tie in all directions. When she lifted her head and met my eyes, a wide smile crossed her face. “You’re awake.”

  When we’d returned to my hut, we’d both taken a turn in the cleanser and then fallen asleep immediately. I’d been weary to my bones in a way I’d never been before. The sight of my mate went a long way to soothe my sadness.

  “I am,” I sat up, wincing at my still sore body, and reached for the tray of food on the table near me. I could see Justine had already nibbled a bit. “Did you get enough to eat?”

  She nodded. “Val brought enough to feed an army.”

  “What are you drawing?”

  A red tinge flushed across her pale cheeks. “Something for you.”

  “For me?” I popped a guara slice in my mouth and chewed the tangy, refreshing fruit. “Let me see.”

  “I’m not done yet.”

  I beckoned with my fingers. “Let me see anyway.”

  She pouted. “I don’t like showing my art until it’s finished.”

  I kept my hand held out, waiting patiently. I stuck my lip out in a pout like I’d seen Bazel do.

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes with a soft laugh and unfolded herself from her chair. She wore a sleeveless shirt with straps over her shoulders and a pair of what the women called underwear. The lantern light made her golden loks glow. She placed a knee on the furs and plopped down beside me. Setting the paper in my lap, she pointed to it. “I tried to draw Corin.”