“They are not the most intelligent or respectful creatures.” General Viriden grimaces. “I will alert Earth’s authorities that a contact of mine has discovered them. What colony are you near?”
“Halfhaven.”
He nods. “Okay. Best get inside.”
A growling howl echoes through the woods.
Radar picks his head up.
General Viriden grunts a note of disgust. “Definitely Myndrous. Get yourself somewhere safer, Tessi. Until we can get them in custody, you are going to be safer with permanent security.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“Then maybe look into the Alien Bride Race. It connects protectors looking for mates with…”
I frown. “Women who need an escape from a shitty life. I know.”
“I have some friends who met there. They are very happy.”
“I appreciate the pep talk. But I better go so I can save battery. Thanks for getting the word out. I’ve tried to talk to police in town and even the military. But unless I already carry a rank, they don’t care what I found. They think I’m a crazy alien fanatic. So I just stay out of the way.”
“Shior was too smart to raise a quitter.” He eyes my armor. “Anyone who can stitch in anti-Neb boning into the collar of their armor knows a thing or two about surviving.”
If only he knew the reason why. “Myndrous aren’t the only monsters here. Some humans are pretty awful.”Like Carielle.
“Your mother was highly respected among our people. They both were. Stay in touch, Tessi. I can’t move our fleet right now,but I will look into getting you an escort. I want to help in any way I can. And maybe someday, I will tell you about them.”
“Thanks. I’d like that.”
I close the com, douse the fire, then pack everything into the pod. Once Radar is loaded, I hover us up and over the mountain range, far enough that I don’t think the Myndrous will be able to follow. At least not in one night. After a scan of the area, I set us down, and shut off the pod. The back of it has benches, so I take one, and Radar jumps onto the other.
“At least we have a solid roof tonight.” Our luck proves even better as the pitter-patter of rain on the hull greets my ears.
It is the safest I have felt in a long time, and yet I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about Carielle shooting at me and how Falgus and Reji want a threesome.Now this Myndrous either wants me dead or to carry his pups.
Gross and weird.
My body finally relaxes, and all the bumps and bruises of the day complain with more force. I have a cut on my arm I didn’t know about, and a bloodied scrape on my cheek and shoulder that makes them feel like they’re on fire.
But it wasn’t the tumble down the cliff that scared me most. It was seeing the Myndrous charging Radar. I reach across and stroke his head, lingering on the softness of his fur, the warmth of him, and his loyalty.
Why can’t more people be like dogs?
He is my world now. And I’ll do anything to keep him safe.
Even…maybe…looking into the Alien Bride Race.
3: Zorin
Azrim’s lonely howls fill the darkness every night. I have used them to find him and slink into the shadows to watch the moon rise and fall by his side.
I expect nothing from him, no acknowledgement, and no conversation. That’s not what he needs. He merely needs me to be present.
As I leave each morning to report for duty to our Mindoran Tactical Forces, I hear him quietly crying, a shuddering noise that makes me hate the world even more. Azrim is the only reason I’m alive. He sacrificed to keep me alive when our pack was destroyed. He kept us together, taught me to hunt, fed me, and found us a new home. If anyone deserves the comfort of a mate, it’s him. And I’m certain, in his mind, he isn’t surprised that she was taken from him.
He always thought she was too good to be true.
I lost Jezza, too, in a different way. If Azrim had died in combat, it would have been my responsibility to care for her and raise Rhysan. That is just the Mindoran way.
