The figure is dark, dressed in blue-black robes, trimmed in gold and radiant tech that smokes. It has skin like Azrim’s coat, ink black with flecks of gold, but it stands upright.
With strong cheekbones, a small chin, and eyes like… Tessi.
“Circidians from the Cirubi galaxy. It’s outside of this one. We have had encounters with them before. They have…seeded planets.”
“You mean, they made us?”
“Not here. Other galaxies. But they are powerful and shouldn’t be messed with. We have passed by them unscathed, but I still have no idea why. Maybe we weren’t worth the effort? But they float through space on ships that ripple like ribbons in the wind. They defy physics as we understand them.”
I’m working around the taste of Tessi’s blood in my mouth, trying to sort the oddly smoky notes beneath the iron. “Is this why Tessi’s blood tastes not quite human?”
General Viriden hugs his arms as he watches her dream proceed with her looking up at my wolf form and the blips of this new species infiltrate her mind.
When I can’t stand it anymore, I step in front of the screen and face Viriden.
He hangs his head and backs up a step. “I always suspected that our brief encounter with them had rendered some…consequences. Tessi’s parents were both present during our meeting with the Circidians.”
I scrub my hands through my hair and lean back against the wall. I thought mating a human was going to be enough of a breach of tradition to make things difficult. But now I’m certain I’m never going to be allowed to bring her home.
Viriden tilts into my visual path. “It’s clear she wants you. If you pursue this, you can stay aboard my ship. I can always use your skills here.”
“That’s not the point. I wanted to go home with a mate so I could take Rhysan back, make our family whole again.”
“You’re not the only one who has lost family. Galactic peace affects thousands of planets.” Viriden looks down at Tessi. “Shior went home to have Tessi, and I never heard from her again. If you have scent-bonded with Tessi, I know you will want to stay at her side. But until we know more, that’s all it can be.”
“And my orders?”
“Protect her as a critical asset, until we can get this new situation sorted out.”
“I will.” But even as I look at her now, I feel the pull of my Shifter, begging for another taste of her luscious flesh.
Viriden scowls at me. “Don’t lose your head, soldier. And don’t lie and tell me you haven’t. I know how Mindorans are when they get in a rut. And I know you are by the way you stalk her with your eyes.
“Guardher. Do not mate with her. She seems to trust you, and you’re aware of the situation, so your teams have been reassigned to my force. I’ve already spoken with Mindoran command. This is a matter of intergalactic security.
“What I know thus far is that Myndrous were likely sent to hunt her down and capture her like the other special cases. The Nebs’ spiritual faction has records of strange incidences and monitors the federation for the things we reject. Then they portal in and take them.”
A crack runs through my chest. I feel cold inside and unsure if I can do what he asks.
“We are locking down the complex so she’ll be safe while we sort out this problem. We need you to keep her prepped andready to move at any given moment in case we lose control of the Neb situation.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you control yourself?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, because if Tessi falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to battles we don’t want to have and more good souls lost.”
14: Zorin
I still don’t understand why I can’t be with Tessiandguard her. But perhaps it is that I hate the idea that makes me think it is ill-founded.
She does make me feel out of control. And that isn’t good if I’m supposed to keep her safe and be monitoring our surroundings.
Viriden steps closer to me. “If she carries a child they consider a threat, or they believe is the one they search for, they could cut out the threat or throw her in an isolated cell somewhere you’ll never find her. They will take the child when it is born anddisposeof her. That is why Tessi’s mother returned to Earth to have her.”
I think Viriden is reading my mind, or at least very good at reading emotions.
