Blood of the Prime: Spark

By Erin MacMichael

New bonds, new abilities. Will they be enough to change the game?

Rhys's fiery union with Karra brings seeds of change rippling through his awareness. No longer afraid of Biak's harassment, he uses the bizarre connection between them to launch his own quest to stop the reptile.

When Biak unleashes his war on the Maians, he encounters some unexpected surprises. Certain that the young pilot is interfering with his campaign, his obsession with Rhys escalates into rage and his strikes into Maia and Alcyone become brazen and deadly.

While the fleet meets Biak's assaults head-on, Rhys travels with Karra to a geometric city in the Dreamcore where he senses the invisible presence of the T'nari League, a legendary group reputed to be fighting the Drahks. Driven to connect with the slippery League, he leads his family and friends on a journey to unlock the power of sexuality, blood, gold–and choice.

–"I’m just a match to light the fire. Before we’re done with this ride, we’ll all be up in flames."

Book I, Part II of the epic science fantasy series T'nari Renegades–Pleiadian Cycle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erin MacMichael
• Release date: Dec 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781944873073

Erin MacMichael

Erin MacMichael is a science fantasy author and artist, creator of the T'nari Renegades series of novellas, novels, covers, and artwork. Her cross-genre fiction infuses far-reaching concepts, vivid characters, and elements of the so-called fantastic into emotionally charged interplanetary drama.The T'nari series follows a renegade family who infiltrates worlds taken down or threatened by ancient reptilian clans addicted to violence. In the face of crippling pain and anger, the T'nari game masters weave their magic to reclaim realities lost to the repetitive nightmare.Erin's lifelong quest has been to explore past the boundaries of conventional thinking and figure out what really has transpired on this planet. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe and the British Isles, and ventured into the ancient sites of Egypt, Bali, Java, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her marvelous offspring and the magnificent Douglas Firs.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Erin MacMichael

Blood of the Prime: Spark is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination.

Published by Reality Raiders Press. http://realityraiders.com/

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover and interior design: Erin MacMichael

Cover and interior illustrations: © 2019 by Erin MacMichael

ISBN: 978-1-944873-07-3

For my T’nari kin who helped me launch this work

twenty-two years ago

All my love

CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

SPARK (Part II)

Gonlyn’s Journal

XIV Insights

XV Attack on Prion

XVI Revenge

XVII Broken

XVIII T’nari Blood

XIX Traps and Floodgates

XX Faces

XXI Chase

XXII Over the Edge

XXIII Battles of Tiān Lóng

XXIV Breakthrough

Author’s Note

APPENDICES

Summary of Blood of the Prime: Predawn, Book I, Part I

Glossary of Terms

List of Stars, Planets, and Places

List of Races

List of Characters

Reviews and Comments

Mailing List

Connect with the Author Online

Other Publications by this Author

SPARK

Part Ii

Tonight, everyone in Ti’angriel was elated. The flame came to life on Tarsus. We felt them touch us, if only for a brief moment. Kalán and Shirus laughed and danced and mutated into a thousand forms in their exuberance. Riál and Shión bellowed and beamed.

I share their joy, especially since it is an aspect of myself coming into play, wedded with a counterpart of my beloved Lennai. There are always showers of sparks when we find each other again.

But despite this breakthrough, I am still uneasy. There is no guarantee that they will discover the key to connect with us. It can’t be forced or given, or else we’d weaken or destroy the power behind what we do. Kalán and Riál have no doubt that both of my Tarsian counterparts will win through. To any reminder of my penchant for brooding and anger, Kalán laughs her tinkling laugh and Riál merely smiles, promising to throw plenty of clues in the paths of all T’nari players within the many levels of the game. They both have guided me well in all my long years, so I must trust in the portions of the plan that I cannot see and play out the role I helped create.

I wait with the others in the blue light of Alcyone for our parts in the playing field to accelerate once again. We have lived without our kin for far too long. It will be a release to be found by our Alcyoni cousins and to finally bring home our lost children from Unakiri. I hope they will forgive us for withholding the answers to their calls. Some agreements are difficult to remember, as are the reasons we made them.

Journal entry of Gonlyn a’Vennór

Sigil Master, Ti’úan

Beta Lobe of the Okadian Timeshell

Rhys awakened sometime in the dark hours just before dawn. His hair and limbs were entwined with Karra’s like some kind of intricate pretzel. He smiled. He could still feel himself encased warmly within her, which meant they both had dropped off into sleep right after their last fiery round of lovemaking. His heart rate spiked sharply as images of that torrid joining came flooding back through his mind—hungry, wild, completely consumed by desire for the other. The reality of loving Karra was a thousand times more intense than any of his most far-flung fantasies had been.

And this was just the beginning.

He carefully lifted one arm and ran his fingers lightly over the fluffy pile of her wavy hair and down her side. She didn’t stir which meant she must be dreamwalking. After spending every waking hour with her when he wasn’t on duty with the fleet and every dreaming hour he could recall over the past two weeks, he was becoming intimately acquainted with each nuance and subtle sign of her body language and thoughts.

Fourteen days and nights of pure erotic bliss, incredible emotional highs, and an abundance of teasing and laughter. She was an amazing woman - sharp, kind, funny, extraordinarily talented, with a will and determination to match his own. He couldn’t imagine anything, anywhere, more completely fulfilling, more deeply satisfying than loving Karra.

Not only did he feel whole and happy, but strangely more than he ever had been. Since they had marked each other with her blood and his seed on the night of the solstice, he’d felt something inside stir and awaken. Altea had told him finding his mate would make him come alive, but he’d only had a glimmer of insight into what that might mean.

Even now, when he clearly recognized that he was opening and mutating in some integral way, his understanding of what was happening seemed just beyond his conscious comprehension. He was certain that his drive to find a solution to the reptilian problem was at the core, moving the powerful sexual energy through every corner of his mind and body. He felt altered in his cells and his senses, especially his inner faculties. Expand inward? The idea was starting to have an uncanny logic to it.

And Karra was with him every step of the way. Together, they were forging a strong, resilient partnership capable of moving into uncharted territory. Each time they made love, they briefly touched the grand stream of intelligence they had felt that first night in Ulva, barely grazing that vast source of raw energy and power, as if they could hold only so much of it within themselves at one time. It was like flexing new muscles which they never knew existed. In those edgeless moments, he caught glimpses of enormous webworks of plans, within which he and Karra—and the rest of some vast, familiar clan—were only a small portion. He intuitively grasped that each new infusion of energy was preparing them to take on something out ahead of them, once again felt, but yet unseen.

One of the candles on the table next to the bed spluttered and popped, throwing crazy shadows across the wide chamber in his private quarters at Tintágel. Their quarters, he reminded himself. He turned his head to glance over through the bedroom door to the darkened living room of the small cottage, remembering their arrival in the early morning hours after their long night in Ulva on the solstice. Worn out, but elated, they’d found the tables laden with vases of flowers and baskets of fruits and breads, along with Karra’s few belongings neatly placed just inside the door, compliments of his grandfather, Magnus. They’d sequestered themselves for two whole blessed days, emerging only for the celebratory dinner at his parents’ house in Krii and the raucous party with his teammates in the Tintágel compound the following night. All too soon, his time off had evaporated and he was pulled back into the demanding rigors of training, drills, and portal watch aboard Mirida.

Karra had been quite amenable to his habits of splitting time between Krii and Tintágel, content to be with him wherever he needed to be to meet the demands of his duties. He was pleased that she was beginning to adjust to the bustle of the capital city, but he could see that she was much more at ease in the quiet of the wind-swept coastal estate. She had immediately fallen in love with the breathtaking green ocean and craggy cliffs, deciding that it held the same kind of rough beauty as the desert she knew.

On his first afternoon off, he’d walked her up to the courtyard at the top of the hill above the sea to show her the other four dimensional shades under his jurisdiction and she’d been stunned when he shifted them to the plateau just outside her home cavern. She’d called for the courtyard to shift them back and forth at least a dozen times, marveling how desert mountains in one shade could be right on top of an ocean in another. She was fascinated with the odd sensations of Second Shade, which she likened to the shifting nature of the Dreamcore, and was quite astonished to be introduced to Izik and Ulianna in the thick jungles of Fifth Shade.

Of course, he’d saved the best for last on his tour through the shades. The moment she recognized E’liak’s lagoon, she’d pushed him down into the soft surf and had her way with him, over and over again for the rest of the afternoon. Since he had been planning that luscious encounter for weeks, he had dutifully put up little resistance to her insistent demands that he follow through with the elaborate promises he had made.

What are you grinning about?

Rhys looked down at the top of Karra’s head. How did you know I was grinning?

She raised herself up on one elbow and gave him a twisted smile. I saw you when I shifted back in. Well?

The lagoon.

Karra’s eyes rolled back in her head and she groaned, melting on top of him once again. She ran her hands up over his chest and rocked her hips into his side, bringing an instant response in both of their lower regions.

That did it. There was just no satisfying this woman, but he might as well give it ... at least one more go.

After another long, slow-burning, nerve-singeing blast of ecstasy, Rhys collapsed onto the rumpled sheets, panting and stroking Karra’s back. Ooooohhhhhh, it’s so good, every time. If I’d had the slightest clue it would be so heavenly, I would have come looking for you ages ago. What an utter fool.

Karra’s soft laughter rumbled through his ribs. That makes two of us.

The dim light of the coming dawn filtered into the room as they lay snuggled and secure in each other’s arms. The problems and challenges that loomed ahead of them seemed light years away.

It’s changing us, you know.

Rhys’s hushed words hung in the air around them.

I know. I can feel it.

Every time we climax, we go further into the stream, hold onto a little bit more. I hear things, know things. Right now it’s all flashes and pieces I can’t quite grasp.

But there’s intelligence behind it, wouldn’t you say?

Oh yeah, unmistakably. I almost recognize it. He ran his fingers along the velvety skin behind her ear and down her neck. I think we’re being schooled for something with infinite care.

Karra shifted her head back on his shoulder to be able to look up into his face. You know, now that you say that, I had a very similar impression from the voice I followed through the Dreamcore. It’s strangely reassuring.

Nodding and watching her closely, Rhys pulled himself up into a sitting position against the pile of pillows at the head of the bed, dragging her along with him and keeping her pinned to his side with one arm. Tell me again about what you found in the Dreamcore and what the voice said, word for word. I’m listening better this time, he said with a flash of white teeth.

The first time Karra had brought the subject up right after the solstice, he’d had nothing but sex on the brain. She had, too, for that matter, but had made an attempt to describe the shimmering city she had been led to and the whispers from the mysterious T’nari League. Her words had barely registered and had fallen away quickly to the fevered demands of their bodies.

Are you sure about that? Karra ran a hand lightly up his thigh, causing him to suck in his breath and grab her wrist. He pulled her hand up to his chest and pressed it firmly against his skin.

Stop that, you little tease. I really want to know.

Alright, if you insist. The dreamwalker sighed and sat up, reaching down to pull the sheet up over them both, and nestled herself into the pile of pillows next to him. For the next half hour, she recounted how the murmured voice had led her to the plain of white sand under a cobalt night sky and described the shifting forms of the geometric city with every detail she could remember.

The sky is cobalt?

Yes, deep and rich, like the night sky gets overhead just before the sun completely fades.

I wonder if this city has an actual location somewhere in the Pleiades. Our primary stars are blue and there are dust clouds around several of them that glow cobalt from the starlight. That’s what it looks like above Tarsus.

Hmm, could be, or else it’s a dream construct based on someone’s memory of a place.

I suppose it really doesn’t matter if it has a physical location. The main thing is, can you get there again?

Yes, I’m fairly certain. I’ve been there twice now. The voice answered me a second time when I sent out a dream seed and Hano went with me. It was that same night you were attacked with the walls of water.

Oh, and what a lovely night that was. Rhys curled his lip for a moment before letting out a thoughtful sigh. Will you take me to the city? I want to study the geometry and see if I can pick up anything from this League. Maybe they’re the ones getting us ready for something. By the Prime, Karra, if they’re out there fighting the Drahks, I want to be a part of it.

Karra gasped and turned her head sharply. Rhys, you’re already part of this war. Isn’t that enough?

Don’t you see? If there’s a widespread League working against the Empire, maybe they have ideas we’ve never thought of about how to stop the bloody reptiles. We’re dying a slow death here at best.

Karra watched him and pondered his words. You’re right. We could use some strong allies. I’ve always thought the Schedaran penchant for isolation was counter-productive, maybe even dangerous.

In the long run, it is. The same thing’s been happening to Alcyone and Maia, not by choice. We need to turn this around and reconnect with a larger network.

Share what we know.

That’s right. Karra, this mysterious group found you. That’s enormously significant. They told us they’re waiting. For what?

Maybe we have something they want.

He smiled and nodded. Maybe we do. But until we figure out how to reach them, I’ve got to move and find some answers closer to home. I’ve been too passive since Biak started attacking me. He threw me off balance, but I’m done with being a victim.

Then you should go after him.

Rhys raised an eyebrow, surprised at her calm declaration. I’ve been thinking about that, but I don’t want him focusing on you.

He’s already seen me, Rhys. I’m not afraid of him. Besides, we’re protected. She watched him calmly, waiting for him to make the connection. Do you remember our first evening together by the river in Krii when I told you I’d have to find a way to protect what’s mine? Well, I did.

What do you mean?

Karra reached out and ran her fingertips over the smooth skin of his chest. I marked you with my blood. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we’re safe and that we’ll survive. Do you believe me?

He held her gaze, thinking back to the powerful energy field they had raised with the Schedaran elders around Dalnanna on the night of the solstice.

When she saw the glimmer of understanding in his eyes, she went on. I’ve seen some incredible things happen working with our sacred ceremonies. Crops growing in the middle of sand, broken limbs and crippling wounds healed in record time, shield walls erected against the harsh desert winds.

Rhys nodded slowly. Your blood will protect me.

My love will protect you, as well as your own will. The intention infused into the blood is what activates its power. You did the same for me. We’re both protected.

Something loosened in Rhys’s chest as the pieces fell into place. I feel it, clear through my bones.

Good.

You really are amazing. He reached for her face and bent down to kiss her. With your help, I’m going to find a way to protect the rest of us from Biak. He’s set on taking us down and could cause a lot more harm and grief before we stop him. It’s high time I learn to use this bizarre connection with him to turn the tables, and I’m going to start by tuning in to find out if I can see him. The bastard’s been hitting at me. Now it’s my turn.

Has he tried to attack you since that day at your parents’ house?

Ohhhh, yes. He’s been beating at my shield night and day, but it’s kept him out and I’ve just ignored him. I’ve had much more interesting things to do with my time. With a smile, he lifted his head and sat up straight on the bed, shifting his spine to open it up. Something tells me I’d better see if I can find him now. He’s been quiet since yesterday morning, which gives me the funny feeling he’s got something else occupying his attention. That could be a very bad sign for us.

I’ll throw you a line if you run into problems.

Good, thanks. Taking several deep breaths, Rhys aligned his system with Alcyone and Tarsus. As soon as the column of energy joined through his spine and flowed into his toroidal field, he was ready to send out the mental probe. Here goes.

Be careful, Karra murmured, placing her hand on his knee.

Rhys deftly extended his awareness through the shield matrix surrounding his mind and opened his focus to look for the disgustingly familiar feel of his nemesis. He waited several minutes, keeping his breathing even, but the connection he had thought would be instantaneous was faint, clouded. It was there, but it felt as if he were reaching through a murky body of water, trying to pin down a shadowy figure.

Huh, that’s odd. He cracked his eyes open and blinked in the candlelight.

What? What’s odd?

He’s there, but it’s not as clear as when he comes after me. Hold on a minute. He threw his feet over the side of the bed and got up, walking over to a tall dresser where he opened the top drawer and pulled out a small wooden box. As he walked back to bed, he opened the box and emptied the contents into the palm of his hand. Flashes of bright light reflected off the gold object in his hand. This ought to help.

He sat back down and held his hand out to show Karra the delicate octahedron made from layers of polished gold wire.

There’s a tiny red stone at the very center. The geometry is solid gold.

It’s beautiful, Rhys. Where did you get it?

Magnus gave it to me when I graduated from the Academy. There’s a whole story behind it. Back when the fleet was fighting the Drahks trying to save Merope, an old friend of Mag’s brought this all the way from Rasalhague with a tall tale about a mysterious stranger with burning eyes who made him promise to deliver it straight into Magnus’s hands. Days later after Merope fell, Mag was holding this and heard a desperate voice call out to him across star systems. He held the link open and brought the last surviving Makhás masters to Tarsus. It changed the lives of all of us. The Makhás taught us … everything.

Rhys pulled a gold chain from the box and looped it through the top of the octahedron before lifting the ends up under his hair to secure the clasp around his neck. This piece of gold may have helped Biak find me in the first place. I wore it all the time until the day he moved inside and tried to take over. He touched the octahedron with his fingertips and looked up at Karra. I won’t let that happen again, but it might help me connect with him now.

He sat up and crossed his legs, straightening his spine once more to get the energy moving through his field. He nodded at Karra and closed his eyes, breathing deeply to turn his vision inward and move once more beyond the protection of the shield. Within seconds, the unmistakable emanations of Biak’s discordant energy poured through his senses.

Oh yeah, that was the key. I can feel him, Karra, loud and clear. Let’s see what the charming devil is up to.

He took several more breaths, careful to control his focus, and projected himself slowly and cautiously toward the jagged source, keeping himself from getting too close to the malignant creature.

Images of a landing field materialized in his inner vision. He seemed to be viewing the scene from a point in the air a good number of feet above the warlord’s crested head. Biak walked briskly beside another muscular Drahk in front of hundreds of black-suited Ka and Sobek Drahks standing in sharp military formation, bowing their heads in deference to their commander. Across the pavement, behind the lines of troops were the massive hulks of dark gray warships, open and waiting to be boarded. Rhys’s instincts told him that what he was seeing was far more than a simple inspection and that Biak was about to launch another raid.

He pulled his focus up and away from the warlord and scanned across the landing field. There were blocks of troops standing in front of a good number of ships, far more than the six discs he had witnessed in the first battle. The bastard had been busy adding to his forces over the past weeks, just as Yuri had reported. Rhys quickly took a count of what he could see while he had the chance so he could relay the information on to the admirals.

Abruptly, Biak pivoted and twisted himself around into a fighting stance, lifting his gaze up into the air as if looking for something—looking for him. The officer beside him stopped and turned, glancing up in the air to see what his commander found so threatening.

Rhys instantly let go of the connection and shifted himself back through the shield matrix into his body. He opened his eyes and blinked.

That was quick.

Yeah, I think he sensed I was around, so I beat a hasty retreat. He was inspecting his troops, Karra. I think he’s ready to move again. Hang on a minute while I give Magnus a quick call.

Rhys closed his eyes. When the image of his grandfather came into focus, he was startled to see the man already in his office.

Kind of early to be at the grindstone, isn’t it?

Magnus grinned and sat back in his chair to pick up the conversation. Well, well, well, if it isn’t the new sex god of Tarsus. You still in bed, boy?

You bet, and loving every minute. I’m surprised you haven’t harassed me about something before now.

Are you kidding? I’m sure nothing short of a system-wide invasion could pry you out from between the sheets.

We may very well have some action in Maia in the next couple of hours. Call Yuri and Miros so they can mobilize the fleet.

Magnus nearly jumped out of his seat. Why? What happened? Are you alright?

Relax. The shield’s been holding beautifully. I just paid the bastard a little call on my own and caught him inspecting his fleet. He’s ready to move. Eighteen ships, Mag, just as Yuri said, and tell him that Prion’s the target.

Prion? How do you know?

Rhys grinned.

Right. You and Quinn. OK, I’ll get on it. You’d better make the most of your last few minutes of peace. Give the lovely Karra ... a kiss for me. Magnus waggled his dark brows and smiled wolfishly.

Like hell I will. Talk to you later.

When Rhys came out of the contact, he found Karra watching him. What?

A slow, lazy smile crept over her face as she studied his eyes and placed a palm in the middle of his chest. You really are a wizard, she said, reaching up and nipping the ridge of his jaw.

Rhys tightened his arms around her and collapsed back onto the pile of pillows. Aw, you desert women are so easy to impress. Don’t you have any stud power back at the caverns? What about ‘Well’?

Mmmmmm, yes, how could I forget Ben and his rather large ... well .… Karra stretched her long legs down the side of Rhys’s and rubbed a foot up and down his calf, grinning wickedly when he stiffened with annoyance. Before she could taunt him further, the foot of the bed rocked dramatically as a rather bouncy something landed and perched with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Karra’s eyes widened in shock before her features flared with horrified indignation. Hano! She frantically grabbed the sheet to pull it up over herself while Rhys casually laced his hands behind his head, leaning back into the pillows with a smile on his face.

The small blond man squatted on his haunches with his elbows across his knees, staring at Rhys intently. He seemed thoughtful and contemplative, as well as completely unconcerned with the furiously scowling woman draped in a sheet in front of him. I was right about you, he muttered almost inaudibly. It’s already begun.

Karra pounded an angry fist into the mattress. Just what do you think you’re doing here? You’ve always been a pain in my ass, Hano, but now you’ve gone too far!

The elder calmly shifted his gaze from the reclining man to the beautifully flushed woman. In a grave voice, he answered. On the contrary, my dear, I’ve never gone far enough. There is something I need to tell you that I should have explained years ago. Listen carefully.

Hano spoke in a low, purposeful tone, infusing each word with meaning. My youngest brother on Ushua, Nial Emmon Dahl, had three sons, the second of whom, Pasha Dahl Jinn, made it onto Levy, the Mirrel ship that brought us here to Tarsus after fleeing Schedar. Pasha died of a lung condition about two years after we arrived, but had married a young woman named Rell and fathered a baby girl months prior to his death. Rell remarried and her new husband adopted the infant as his own, so the child carried his last name and her mother’s, Nivian Tovik Khurias.

Karra sucked in a loud breath. My grandmother.

Hano nodded, his dark eyes never leaving her shock-filled face. Nivian only had one daughter—Nalla Samian Khurias who married Tavi Gordon Jas.

My mother and father! So that means—Hano! Karra tore across the bed to wrap the man in her arms, completely unmindful of her state of undress.

Hano’s eyes spilled over with tears as he hugged her tightly. I’m sorry, Karra, I’m so sorry. It was awful when we lost your parents. With your grandparents all gone, I should have claimed you then instead of allowing you to be raised with the other orphans of the cavern. I’ve caused you a lot of pain by letting you think you were alone. I love you and I’m sorry.

Karra pulled back and gripped the small man by the shoulders, shaking him gently. Hano, it’s alright, do you hear me? It’s alright. We made a special bond in spite of that, didn’t we? Why didn’t you tell me before now?

The ancient man wiped his eyes and shifted his gaze over to Rhys. I saw him in a vision when you were little. I didn’t know who he was or where he came from, but I knew without a doubt that there was something important about the two of you coming together in the future. I was afraid you’d cling to me when you met him, so I held you at arm’s length all these years. Damn, we do the stupidest things when we’re afraid. The elder sniffed and shook his head before he suddenly became very aware that a naked woman was holding his shoulders. He squeezed his eyes shut like a little boy and turned bright red.

Karra’s rich laughter filled the chamber. I’ve never seen you embarrassed, Hano. You get no sympathy from me. You brought this on yourself, appearing in our bedroom out of nowhere. Just how did you manage that, anyway? Rhys has been teaching me the basics of how to project a transport matrix and I wanted to surprise you when I got it down.

Oh, I can guess, Rhys grinned. And your teacher would split a gut if he found out just how you used your new skills, wouldn’t he, Hano?

The elder’s eyes lit with mischief. How do you think I got these coordinates in the first place? We had to have a landing place to practice with.

So you used our bed? Karra ground out between clenched teeth.

Only when you were in Krii. We figured it would come in handy. Just being practical, my girl. I think I’ve been mighty considerate not dropping in while you were actually in it before now. We have work to do. You two have had enough time to diddle around, haven’t you?

This, from the man who told him to ‘get to it’? she asked dryly, jerking her thumb at Rhys. Hano, you’re too much.

So I’ve been told. Speaking of which, how are you feeling these days, old boy? Besides randy.

Rhys lowered his arms and crossed them over his chest, cocking his head to one side and eying the elder dreamwalker for several moments. What do you know, Hano?

I know there’s a key in that strange city and you’re going to find it.

Rhys nodded slowly. We’re going to have to go one of these nights. At the moment, we’ve got an attack from Biak brewing, so we’ll have to play things by ear.

The Schedaran appeared troubled by that bit of news and sighed heavily. Alright. Karra, bring him when you can. I’ll watch over your fishing hole and wait for you both to appear. The elder reached up, kissed Karra on the cheek, and promptly vaporized out of the room.

Rhys turned his gaze to his mate, staring at her with a smoldering look that sparked an instant response. Without a word he opened his arms and she catapulted herself into them in one vigorous lunge, swinging her thigh up over his hips to position herself over his already rising heat.

Within minutes they were riding the back of the dragon, hurtling toward a river of flame.

* * *

Árak tore through the dense jungle underbrush, making his way down the slope at an angle toward the sound of ragged panting moving along the creek bed below. Off to his right, Lizán’s tan form slipped through the vegetation with barely a sound.

The long night cycle was about to set in, making shadows deep and unpredictable, precisely the time of day when the forests of this forsaken moon were the most dangerous.

The man below was alone, the peculiar whistle of his labored breathing indicative of a lower-class Sobek, making him a prime target for any Ka-rim elite. The mere fact that they could hear him signaled he was desperate, either injured or on the run from pursuit.

Árak slowed his pace to creep down the last few yards, approaching the edge of the trees with caution, searching for a point where he could see into the narrow gap in the forest above the running water. He slipped around a cluster of large boulders and crouched behind the fronds of a giant fern near the base, gauging the man’s approach while Lizán positioned himself behind the trunk of a thick tree.

The grayish brown form of the panting man appeared a few dozen yards away and splashed along the wet stones of the creek. He held one hand to his side and grunted, watching the ground intently to keep himself from falling as he ran.

Árak unsheathed his claws and glanced over at Lizán to time their attack. He was about to launch himself out from behind the cover of the fern when a heavy, dark-skinned Drahk shot out of the foliage on the other side of the stream and flew straight toward the smaller crocodilian. The injured man yelled and stumbled, attempting to turn back upstream to flee, but the Drahk grabbed him from behind and threw him into the shallow water, pulling the man’s arm behind his back to pin him to the ground.

With a silent curse, Árak tucked himself back behind the curling fronds. He had no desire to be seen by the snarling Drahk below. The fewer who knew Bálok’s heir was stuck here on this moon, the better. It would be horrifying enough to face his powerful grandfather, if and when they were ever rescued, and he had no intention of weathering the humiliation of judgment by those beneath his station.

He looked over at his partner while the rough sounds of a beating carried up through the trees. Lizán was as still as a statue, his green eyes fixed on the men below. Árak watched him carefully, waiting for any sign of recognition of the assailant. He depended on Lizán’s knowledge of the ranking officers from the warships in order to remain anonymous and deferred to Lizán’s call every time they needed to feed. So far, they had managed to avoid the elite and kept their assaults to the lower ranks of Drahks and Torgs who were less likely to recognize him. With any luck, Jabál and Titus, the two captains they’d spotted in the jungle, had yet to realize he was here.

Lizán shifted his gaze to his and shook his head, letting him know it was best to avoid an encounter with the man below. They were about to withdraw back up the slope when two large Drahks flew out of the forest, working together to knock the mottled brown Drahk off of the prone Sobek and pin him to the ground on the far bank. The man shouted and yelled obscenities, struggling to free himself, but fell silent when a tall, light gray Drahk sauntered down the creek bed and stopped a few feet away, tipping his head to the side to scrutinize him.

I thought it was you, Solomon.

Tembok.

Árak threw a quick glance at his partner who froze and tensed before making a quick hand signal to indicate the newcomers were officers from the Kaifa under the command of Jabál. Árak squinted his eyes to study the confrontation below and pulled himself further down behind the cover of the fern. The light was fading quickly, but the harsh sounds of Drahkian echoed through the trees with sharp clarity.

The gray Drahk laughed and flexed his claws lazily in the air in front of him. So you remember who gave you that scar across your jaw.

Solomon growled and struggled against the iron grip of the two men who held him down. I never forget a face from the ring.

"Neither do I. When we caught sight of you two day cycles ago, I was surprised. What are you doing here, Solomon? We haven’t seen any other officers from the Issin."

The pinned man looked away and scowled, but refused to speak. At a nod from Tembok, one of the officers threw a hard fist across Solomon’s face.

Tell me, or we’ll beat it out of you.

Fuck you!

After several more strikes to his head and chest, Solomon panted for breath and spat blood out of his mouth. Tembok leaned down and pulled Solomon’s jaw up to look into his eyes. How did you get here? Answer me!

I was … on a personal mission for Lord Biak.

And you failed. The officer let go of his face with a hiss and straightened, staring down at the man on the ground.

Solomon glared up at him. Just like you, Tembok.

The crocodilian man stirred in the rippling water and let out a soft groan. Tembok walked over and gave the man a harsh kick in the side before turning his head back toward Solomon, pointing down at the prone Sobek. "He belongs to us, Solomon. He’s from the Kaifa."

Asshole. I need to survive, too.

"You can live off the Torgs and stray pilots in the forest. I think we may have seen a couple from the Issin. Stick to your own."

I haven’t seen anyone I recognize from my ship. The Torgs and saurs are disappearing.

I know! Damned Maians! Tembok snapped and walked back over to tower above the captive officer. All the more reason to protect our prey. This man is ours. It’s his duty to provide us what we need until we get out of here.

Solomon frowned and closed his eyes, rolling his head back and forth against the rocks. Fool, he whispered, swallowing tightly. He’s not coming.

What did you say? Tembok lunged forward and grabbed Solomon’s jaw once more.

The dark Drahk cracked his eyes open and sneered up at the other officer. Lord Biak’s not looking for anyone. He doesn’t know we’re still alive.

Are you fucking kidding me? Tembok shouted into his face. With a vicious yell, he raked his claws across Solomon’s chest, opening deep gashes in his muscles. Solomon cried out and flinched as Tembok straightened, snarling with anger. Finish him off.

The officers pounded Solomon mercilessly while the three of them siphoned off the waves of pain and fear rolling out of him. Tembok stood and watched while his men beat the rival Drahk until he was no longer conscious.

Up the slope in the darkened forest, Árak felt as if he had been hit with a heavy blow to the gut. He turned to Lizán and held the chartreuse eyes for quite some time, churning with the news of his brother’s ignorance. Without a sound, the pair moved off into the shadows of the falling night.

* * *

In another part of Tiān Lóng’s vast jungle, Dieter van der Meer walked through the undergrowth as he approached the huge dark form of an old tree. He made no effort to mask the steady fall of his steps on the moist forest floor. He knew a wounded Drahk was hiding in the gnarled tangle of tree roots spreading away from the thick trunk and he had no wish to startle the frightened man. To his left and right, Kai and Akira, the two Tori starship captains on his team, followed closely behind while Renshu and Perrin stayed out of sight to scan the area to make sure no other reptilians were in the immediate vicinity.

Dieter held up his hand and brought his party to a halt a short distance from the tree.

We wish to speak with you. We mean you no harm.

He had called out in Mothertongue, wondering how much the man understood, but if the uneducated Torgs he had spoken with could comprehend his speech, then he was reasonably certain his words were getting through to the Drahk a few yards away.

Dieter moved forward, stepping carefully over the jumbled network of ropey roots running over the surface. Around the far side of the trunk, a dappled green and brown-skinned man lay in the crevasse between two of the sloping seams of the bark, cradled by the smooth skin of the tree. Blood from multiple slashes across his arms and chest trickled down the sides of his body. As soon as he saw Dieter, he started and lifted his head in alarm, darting his eyes between the small blond human and the green and blue birdmen before twisting his head sharply to peer out into the dim forest.

Relax and lie back. We just want to talk.

The Drahk jerked his crested head back around, looking up at Dieter with wild, dilated eyes. He made a grunting sound, breathing rapidly, openly agitated with fear.

They’ll kill me if they see me with you!

We scanned the area. There is no one around but us. We won’t put you in danger.

The Drahk’s head fell back against the bark of the tree and he watched the human warily through slitted lids. What do you want?

You’re injured. We have medical supplies that can treat your wounds. Dieter took a single step forward, reaching for the small pack slung over one shoulder.

No! The man shook his head adamantly. It’ll stink. They’ll know you gave it to me.

The emissary paused for a moment, assessing the man. I thought you might say that. He lowered his hands and slipped them into the pockets of his khakis to draw out two handfuls of leaves. He held them out in front of him for the wounded man to see. These plants can help you. One will stop the bleeding and the other numbs the pain. If you need more, you can find them growing all over the jungle.

The Drahk panted quietly and watched him.

Will you let me give them to you?

After a moment of hesitation, the man lifted a trembling hand. Dieter was silently relieved to see that the Drahk’s claws were retracted and that he was willing to accept help. He stepped forward slowly and dropped a wad of leaves into the Drahk’s outstretched palm.

Crush the leaves in your hand and pat them down over the tears in your flesh. That’s it.

The man winced as he pressed the leaves into the seeping wounds in his chest. He groaned and panted rapidly, working through the stinging pain, but he extended his hand again so Dieter could give him the other plant.

Do the same with these. It should give you some relief.

The tension in the Drahk’s body eased and he let out a deep breath, holding his hand over the gashes in his chest while the tingling effect of the medicinal leaves spread into his torn muscles.

Dieter stepped back a pace and looked down at the injured reptilian. Those are some nasty cuts. Who did that do you?

The man stared at him for several heartbeats and then dropped his eyes. The emissary waited, giving the man a chance to decide to talk, but after a period of silence, it became obvious the lone Drahk was still reticent to speak.

Did the Ka-rim attack you?

Startled, the man looked up. After a moment, he nodded once, holding Dieter’s gaze.

We’re aware that the elite have been hunting the rest of you, but you’re all by yourself. Wouldn’t you be safer in a group?

The Drahk shrugged. Maybe. Some of the pilots set up a camp.

You’re not a pilot?

I was on one of the hangar crews in the lower docks.

Could you join the camp?

The man shook his head impatiently. They only want the best fighters.

Ah, I see. Do the Ka-rim leave them alone?

Don’t know. Probably. They come after— The man hesitated, clenching his jaw.

Isolated men like you?

The Drahk grunted and shifted uncomfortably.

We can move you to an area where there aren’t any Ka-rim.

The dark eyes latched onto Dieter and the man’s facial muscles twitched. Unconsciously, his hand rubbed at the deep wound in his chest.

The emissary pressed his advantage. I need to talk to the ranking captains in the jungle. If you tell me what you know about them, I can offer you sanctuary from their vicious attacks.

The man’s eyes widened with terror. No! They’d kill me if they ever found out! They said they’d rip apart anyone who talked to you!

Dieter frowned and glanced aside at Akira before turning back to the agitated man who was panting rapidly once again. None of them ever need to find out you spoke with us.

I can’t! You’re the enemy. You trapped us here in this miserable place. Don’t you know how awful this is?

We’re trying to stop the Empire from taking our worlds. When we put you here, we didn’t know that the nobles feed off of other people or that they’d turn on you.

There’s nothing else for them to do, the man spat. Who else are they going to feed from?

Don’t you want to get away from them?

The Drahk made a strangled sound of desperation, but wouldn’t answer.

They’ll probably attack you again.

It’s what they do! Don’t you see? They’re stronger than we are. We serve them—we always have. We all just need to survive until Lord Biak gets here!

Dieter was stunned. Is that what you think? That Biak will come rescue you?

Yes—he’s powerful. He’ll come, and when he does, he’ll murder all of you!

But won’t he punish you and everyone else on this moon for falling into our hands?

The Drahk flinched. I don’t know! He might. I’ve always been loyal. I follow orders! He shook his head and his gaze fell to the ground. He’s got to come for us. There’s no other way out of here! Clearly rattled and upset, the man leaned forward and braced himself with his hands on the bark of the tree, trying to get up.

Alarmed, Dieter took a step toward him and held out his hands. Sit down, please! You’ll break open your wounds and start bleeding again.

What do you care? Get away from me! The man tried to rise on shaky legs, but swayed and nearly fell over.

Dieter rushed forward, throwing his arms out to catch him, but the man yelled and unsheathed his claws, raking his hand through the air to ward off the human. Leave me alone!

Kai grabbed Dieter’s arm and jerked him back out of range a split second before the razors came down. Akira raced forward and threw an energetic shield in front of them, gingerly pushing the injured Drahk down to the ground. The man collapsed back against the tree, breathing heavily, looking up at the three of them with mistrustful eyes.

Akira’s voice sounded in the shaken emissary’s mind. Dieter, we can’t do any more here. We can move him anyway if you still want to help him. The new area down south is ready.

No, he needs to make his own decisions. We give the Torgs a choice before we send them up north.

And they’ve all gone with their animals, so far.

Dieter let out a long, frustrated sigh and put his hands on his hips. He stared into the frightened reptilian’s face, trying to understand such a different mindset. The light was nearly gone, but he could still see the unmistakable gleam of fear in the other man’s eyes.

Damn, I hate to leave him here like this. I pushed him too far.

Their terror runs deep, Dieter. It’s ingrained in all of them. They’ve believed in the power of their rulers all their lives. This man doesn’t know any other way to think.

I see that. He’d rather risk another attack at their hands than face being killed outright for betrayal. He’s probably seen plenty of brutal executions in his life.

Kai’s voice chimed into the internal channel. It’s inevitable that we’ll find more injured men, Dieter, and they may not all feel the way this one does. Let’s leave him where he is. We’ll find the captains on our own.

Reluctantly, Dieter nodded. Aye. At the very least, let’s make sure we leave no trace of our presence. That much we can do for him. Akira, will you scan the area and erase any footprints we may have left?

I’ll take care of it.

Dieter rubbed his face with one hand and reached out to the other two members of his team standing guard in the forest. Renshu, Perrin, have you picked up anything?

All clear, Dieter. The closest presence is miles away.

We’re leaving the Drahk where he is. Cover your tracks and transport back to the base as soon as the