Storm Clouds at Sunset: Beryllian Alliance, #2

By Katherine Matzen

Danielle's first wedding attempt was interrupted by an alien invasion.

 

Danielle "Dani" Hamilton is finally recovered from the injuries she sustained during the Falgaran attack on her home in Folly Springs, Colorado. Now she's ready to enjoy the fairy-tale wedding her human and alien Hatti Kanesh Clan friends have planned. Her bride courses for the seven course feast are nearly complete. Her dress is perfect. Even her canine companion is ready to play her role in the event.

 

Master Healer Lateef D'Oro long believed he would spend his life alone in the Healer Hall. Until he met Danielle on a planet far from his native Beryl. For him, it was love at first sight but he had to convince her they were fated to be together. Now, nothing is going to stop him from claiming his bride. Not his family, not his Falgaran enemies, and definitely not the lack of a matched pair of albino jangxing. He's okay with never seeing the giant, feathered lion-like creatures the Hatti use as bloodhounds ever again. But he'll do anything for his beloved Danielle.

 

But when the Kanesh Clanship returns to Earth, the jangxing aren't the only thing they bring home.

 

Storm Clouds at Sunset is the second book in the Beryllian Alliance series. It is a stand-alone story, but is better when read after At Night's End. All roads lead to Folly Springs, CO where Terrans and aliens coexist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Silent Owl Press, LLC
• Release date: Oct 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224230020

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Dress

Danielle Dani Hamilton twirled in front of the full-length mirror. The beautiful white lace and satin dress swirled around her legs like a flock of white swans, slowly settling to the floor as she stopped.

It’s beautiful, Anna. Tears stung her eyes as she looked at her reflection.

No point in letting it stay hidden in the closet. Anna White Bear’s face flamed red, and she turned her head away.

Thank you. Dani turned and embraced the older woman in a hug. I still can’t believe how much you and Charlie have done for me. I’m not sure I would have survived losing my family without you.

Oh, nonsense. Anna returned the embrace before pulling away to grab a tissue and dab at her eyes. You are a strong woman, Dani. You’d never let someone as petty as your father-in-law hold you down for long, even if he was the powerful politician he imagines himself to be. All we did was give you the space to get your feet back under you.

Dani nodded but knew in her heart Anna was wrong. She had almost given into the black hole of despair before Anna and Sheriff Charlie had whisked her out of the hospital after the accident that had taken her husband and child. And they’d stayed with her until she’d found Lateef and brought a clan of aliens to the small mountain town of Folly Springs they all called home.

Besides. Anna dabbed at her nose and blinked her eyes rapidly. You know Charlie and I were never blessed with children. You’re the daughter of my heart the Great Ones finally gave me.

Dani turned to look out the window for a moment as she worked to get her emotions under control. Her parents had died when she was too young to remember them. After a long list of foster homes, Anna and Charlie had taken on a parental role, even though she hadn’t met them until she was in her mid-twenties when she’d arrived in the small town with her husband and child to build a fancy home to entertain his clients. Then she’d lost both in an unfortunate car accident long before she’d met Lateef and the incredible alien Hatti clan.

Sometimes family is more than blood. She turned back to Anna. I can’t tell you how much you and Charlie have meant to me.

Anna tossed her long, black braid over her shoulder. I know, child. And we feel the same. I’m so glad you finally found the happiness you deserve.

Dani grinned. I don’t deserve someone as wonderful as Lateef, but I’m glad he fell into my life.

Literally fell from the sky. Anna laughed. She walked around Dani, making sure the dress was a perfect fit.

Dani nodded. It still feels like a dream. Finding Lateef, and then meeting the Hatti warriors searching for him and stopping a war. That’s crazy, isn’t it?

Anna clucked her tongue. Who are we to question the spirits? Maybe your meeting was pre-ordained.

Dani laughed. I hate to think it was all going to happen no matter what. I want to believe I had choices.

Anna rested a hand on her arm and captured her gaze.

We all have choices, daughter-of-my-heart. You could have walked away at any point. You chose bravery in helping your life mate and the strangers who became your people. I am so very proud to call you family.

Dani swallowed the lump in her throat, determined not to cry. She wasn’t anything special, no matter what Anna said. Heat flooded her cheeks. She’d been praying to die before Lateef had fallen into her life. She’d never do anything to make that happen, but she hated the fact that she hadn’t fought very hard to hold on to life.

I’m so very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. Her gaze shifted to the mirror and she once again studied the beautiful dress.

Anna hugged her from behind. One day, you’ll understand how important you are. Until then, heart-daughter, Charlie and I will keep reminding you of your value. As will Lateef and his family and all the other people in your life.

Okay! Dani held her hands up in surrender. My friends are incredible. I have trouble with the idea that I’m anything special. I’m not arguing with you, but I feel normal.

Anna squeezed her again and stepped back to check the length of the hem. I can live with that. As long as you don’t start feeling like you don’t deserve to live again.

Dani snorted. I won’t. I can’t let Lateef down, ever.

Good. Anna nodded decisively. Glad we have that sorted out. She unzipped the wedding dress and turned around as Dani slipped out of it and back into her normal tee shirt and jeans.

Thank you, Anna. Dani said. Knowing you and Charlie were taking care of Abby and the farm was the only thing keeping me sane while I was stuck in the Healer Hall on Beryl. Healer Mellora is a wonderful person, but all I wanted to do was come home. The Alliance healers were all very good and professional, but Beryl was a long way from home.

Anna patted her back. I understand. Her voice was thick with unshed tears. I was about ready to make the aliens give us a ride to Lateef’s planet when Amarantha came back to let us know what was happening with you. I’m glad your man had the brains to send her back here while you were in such danger.

Dani wasn’t sure what to say. Amarantha deserved all the credit. She was a soldier for the Beryllian Alliance who tolerated no nonsense. She’d known that Lateef was preoccupied with keeping her alive and didn’t think of updating her Earth friends. Amarantha had taken the responsibility of informing her Terran friends of her progress in recovering from the poisoned bolt meant for the leader of the Hatti clan all on her own. Dani could never thank her for the simple kindness.

It’s all good, Dani, Anna said. I know we had some terrifying moments, but the entire experience brought the Hatti clan to Folly Springs. And now we know we’re not alone in the universe.

Dani nodded.

And you found the love that brought you back to life. Anna squeezed her tight. There is nothing in the world to top that.

Dani broke into a huge grin she couldn’t contain. All of the events over the last year had brought her to the peak of happiness. She couldn’t complain about any of it. She wouldn’t even change anything in her recent past. Including her encounter with the evil Falgaran who’d drained her energy and tried to kill her. It had all made her stronger.

Lateef is pretty awesome, isn’t he?

Anna nodded. He is. Not as sure about his brother, but every family has that stick-in-the-mud-butthead.

Dani’s breath caught in her lungs. I hope he’s the exception. I adore Rissa, but I haven’t met his other sister. Could she be like Johfrit?

Anna snorted. I seriously doubt it. People like Johfrit are special. Even good parents occasionally throw off a loser. Lateef is a keeper. And Rissa is great, too. No family is perfect.

Dani laughed. Thank you. I needed the confidence boost.

Anna squeezed her again. Life is good. And you deserve happiness. Don’t let anything from your past make you forget that.

Dani returned the embrace. I try. My inner critic is loud and obnoxious, but you make it settle down. Thank you.

Have you decided on your wedding dish? Anna put the dress on a hanger and covered it with a garment bag to keep it safe.

Which one? Dani collapsed onto the well-padded chair by the tall window in her bedroom. Even with all the new buildings on her land, she still lived in the original house, which the Hatti had remodeled while she was in the Healer Hall. And she had no complaints about the changes. Other than wishing she had thought of some of the improvements.

She and Lateef would move to the master bedroom after their ceremony. She’d gotten a sneak peek the other day. The room was a haven that could pass muster at any high-end resort. And the bathroom was to die-for. Not only would she have a shower with body jets which had the magical ability to loosen every stiff muscle in her body, but the supply of hot water never ended.

She’d always planned the house to be independent of an energy grid, and the original solar power was more than adequate for her needs, except after several cloudy days in a row. But the Hatti had upgraded the power system to something similar to what they used on their ship. They never had to worry about hot water, refrigeration, or a power source.

What do you mean? I thought you only had to do one dish to prove your worth to the Clan. Anna hung the dress in the closet and placed her hands on her hips as she stared at Dani.

Fortunately, Madam Amman is in charge of most of the courses. She shook her head in admiration. Seven courses for the guests, which includes all the clan members on planet, and she’s upset we don’t have any other clanships close enough to invite. Dani took a deep breath and willed her heart to beat slower. She didn’t want to disturb Lateef since he was working a shift at the Healer Hall on Beryl, and he noticed every time she seemed nervous or worried. It was a potential downside of the psychic bond they now shared.

"I need to prepare one clan dish to show I can follow directions, and one signature dish to prove I can cook on my own. And only for about a thousand people. Most of the clan will remain on the Alalakh since we don’t really have enough room here. Amman gave me permission to tweak the clan dish a little to suit our local ingredients, but it’s easy. For my dish, I’m making a pastry-filled chocolate sculpture of the valley, complete with mousse-filled goats and sheep. I wanted to do dinosaurs, but Amman thought the goats would be better. She grinned at Anna. More modern, anyway. Apparently, the clan left Earth before cacao beans were widely known, so anything chocolate is exotic."

Wow. Anna sat in the matching chair. Hard to believe they don’t have chocolate.

Dani nodded. The clan chefs have been absolutely gaga over chocolate. The master botanist acquired seeds and saplings and even imported midges to pollinate the cacao trees on the ship and here. That’s what they’re working on in the smallest greenhouse.

I wondered what all the activity was about. Seemed like a lot of commotion last month. Anna grinned. I can’t say I’d be upset at having our own candy factory.

I don’t think it will go that far, Dani said. But who knows with this crew? I didn’t expect my toiletry business to expand like it has. If you’d asked me what my life would be like in the future a year ago, this wouldn’t even have been a guess.

Dani took a deep breath and stared out the window. There were a few more buildings visible around the main house, but most of the growth was underground or highly camouflaged. Most of the new gardens were hydroponic, which made sense since the alien clan had spent most of their time on board the enormous space ship. Only a few of the Hatti lived on Earth with her. Most of them remained on the Clanship Alalakh and continued the trading circuit they’d developed over the years.

At least I don’t have to bake or decorate the cake. The process is full of clan symbolism I can’t even begin to understand. But bring a wheelbarrow to the wedding party. Everyone will be too full to walk afterwards.

Anna laughed. There will be dancing. We’ll burn off all those calories.

Good point. Maybe we should make sure there are a couple of dance rounds between the courses?

I’m sure Amman has everything figured out. This can’t be the first wedding ceremony she’s overseen.

Dani shivered. I don’t think so, but it seems like such a big deal. Even the tweens are excited.

Every kid loves a party. Anna patted her knee. And the entire town loves those Hatti kids. They are always so cheerful and helpful. Even Fran hired a team to help her out.

No, Dani breathed. Does she realize they come from…far away? Dani couldn’t help trying to hide the true origin of the Hatti tweens.

Yep. That young scamp, Lokar, saw Fran fighting with a raccoon one evening. Scared it off and came back the next day with a way to keep her trash can sealed. She actually gave him a candy bar in return.

It was Dani’s turn to gasp in amazement. Fran was the meanest person in Folly Springs. Not nasty evil, but she was cranky and anti-social and didn’t want to accept help from anyone because it made her feel incompetent.

Anna nodded. Now Lokar and a couple of his friends are doing odd jobs for her and making sure she has some good meals. She actually showed up at the last town hall sober.

Dani struggled to close her mouth. She’d known the alien Hatti kids had made a good impression on the town, but hadn’t expected that to include Fran, the woman who hated everything and everyone.

I keep saying you did a good thing when you brought the Hatti home. The whole town got a boost. It might not last forever, but all the local artisans and food-related vendors are doing good. The Hatti bought almost the entire batch of honey from the local hives.

I’ve heard the honey is a big trade product. And our spring water has some special property that makes baked goods different. They were bragging about selling a ton of water after giving out samples on the last trip.

Anna snorted. Millie at the bakery has always told me that. New York might have the best bagels because of their water source, but Folly Springs water is good for everything. And no one knows why. Amman told me the clan’s chemists had analyzed the water, but couldn’t find the reason why it’s so special.

I’m betting on love, and some kind of cosmic link to… something. Dani laughed. I don’t know why we need an explanation for everything.

Anna nodded in agreement. I guess it’s human nature.

Dani’s smile faltered. Have you watched the news lately?

Anna snorted. I gave up on TV news years ago when they started spending half the show talking about their personal lives and reality shows like anyone cared.

I know. Dani shuddered. But I have to admit something feels weird lately. They spend hours on things I know didn’t happen, and a few minutes on things that did happen, but they spin to make it look bad, even when it wasn’t.

Anna rose to her feet. No point in worrying about the craziness of the outside world. I’m glad we are more self-sufficient than ever with the Hatti here. Don’t have to worry about being cut off from civilization when you have space ships.

Danni grinned. So true. We’re set if there’s a nuclear apocalypse. Not as sure about the next winter blizzard.

Nothing can stop winter storms. Anna brushed the garment bag, flicking off invisible motes of dust. Now your dress is ready, you can’t lose any weight. So make sure you eat, but not too much.

Not much chance of that being a problem. Healer Mellora and Matriarch Amman agree I am in the most appropriate weight range and will ensure I remain there. Fortunately, it isn’t a problem since the food is so great.

And always tastes better when someone else cooks.

At least I don’t have any more medicine to drink. And the coffee station now has more than very mild decaf options.

Anna laughed. I’m not sure how you survived that phase of your recovery.

It wasn’t easy. Dani shuddered. But Lateef smuggled some of the good stuff a few times when Amman was busy with her sweetie-pie, Taltos.

Dani resisted the urge to reach out to her love. She’d promised the Hatti Matriarch to do