Khyron's Claim Read online

  “Nope, she won’t,” Ben added with a bob of his head.

  When Travis didn’t respond right away, I was afraid he wouldn’t heed my warning. “This ain’t over.” He shoved the door open and strode outside.

  I followed far enough to watch him get in Joe’s transport and drive away. Letting him leave was probably a mistake, but there was nothing I could do about it. Even if I ran all the way to Burke’s place to get another vehicle, Travis would be long gone.

  I’d still need to let Burke or one of his guys know what had happened. At the moment, I was more concerned about Harper and the children. I returned my blade to its hiding spot in my boot, then turned to go back inside.

  “Is he okay?” I asked, glancing at Draejill, who was no longer crying.

  “A little shaken up, but I think he’ll be fine.” Harper tenderly rubbed his back.

  “Nice job.” I mussed Gabe’s hair, then added, “Both of you” so Ben wouldn’t feel left out.

  Ben, always the worrier, furrowed his brow and looked at me, then Harper. “You’re not going to scold Celeste for throwing knives in the house, are you?”

  “No.” Harper draped an arm around his shoulder and smiled. “I think under the circumstances, we’ll let it go this time.”

  ***

  After leaving Harper’s, I decided to head for Burke’s place to let someone know about Travis’s attempt to take Draejill. I knew there was a good chance Khyron might be there, but the child’s safety was more important than dealing with the personal issues I had with the drezdarr. Luckily, I ran into Logan halfway to my destination. He promised to relay the information on to Burke and also send word to the other settlements so they could be on the lookout for Travis. Our settlement wasn’t the only one with orphans or children with human and ketaurran parents. There was always the chance that Travis would try to steal another child.

  Logan was good at disguising his emotions, always presenting a hardcore exterior. But underneath his tough persona was a softy when it came to children. I’d bet anything that after he talked to Burke, he’d be stopping by to check on Harper and spend some time with the kids.

  Once that was out of the way, it was time to track down Laria and Sloane and find out what the heck was going on and how Khyron had known where to look for me. The clearing in the woods was fairly secluded. Ketaurrans rarely visited the settlement, and if he’d arrived on his own, very few would’ve told him where to find me.

  There were only a couple of places my friends might be, so I decided to start with our shared home first. I was glad when I arrived and didn’t see any of the vryndarr hanging around. I didn’t mind spending time with Zaedon and Jardun. Even Garyck, with his grumpy attitude, had kind of grown on me. The male rarely had much to say, and Sloane was the only one who understood his grunts and snorts. The ketaurran males were also Khyron’s friends and protectors, and I didn’t need them relaying any part of my conversation with Laria and Sloane back to him.

  I found Laria in the kitchen rifling through bare shelves that hadn’t been stocked since the last time we’d traveled.

  “Celeste.” Concern replaced her smile. “Is everything all right?”

  “No, everything is not all right.” I might be mad, but it didn’t stop me from giving her a hug, then punching her in the arm. “And a heads-up would have been nice.” I didn’t need to tell her I was referring to Khyron.

  “It was late when we got back, so Laria and I stayed at Burke’s place. When we got back home, you were gone.” Sloane walked into the kitchen, stopping a few feet away from me. “Are you going to punch me too if I give you a hug?”

  “I should, but no.” I held out my arms and accepted her embrace. It was hard to stay mad at either of them for very long.

  “Do you two want to tell me what happened? I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone where I went.”

  “About that.” Laria hopped up on a counter, a hint of red flushing her cheeks. “Khyron woke up right after you left, and he was pretty adamant about finding you.”

  I leaned against the counter next to her. “Why?” Khyron wanting to find me specifically didn’t make any sense. He knew I’d threatened to cut out his heart, yet when we spoke in the clearing, it hadn’t seem to bother him.

  “Not entirely sure, but he was doing that sniffing thing when he reached our quarters and said something about being able to scent you,” Laria said.

  He’d been asleep when I was in his room. I remembered the way he’d caressed my legs with his tail. Had he been able to sense my presence?

  Laria placed a hand on my shoulder. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I think he still cares about you.”

  “I have to agree,” Sloane said. “You should have seen him when we found Trixie abandoned and he thought you’d been hurt. I thought for sure when Garyck showed him the blood that he was going to lose it. I didn’t know ketaurran scales could get so pale. Not that Khyron’s looked super healthy at the moment.”

  The mention of his scales reminded me that his body was purging itself of a poison that had almost killed him. I remembered his agonizing moans and wondered if he was still in pain. There was no way he’d healed completely after I left, yet he’d spent the majority of a day traveling in an uncomfortable solarveyor across rough terrain to find me. What did that say about the male? And what did it say about me and the way I’d reacted when he found me?

  “Sooo, how did it go with Khyron? Did you try to take his head off?” Sloane clapped her hands together, her eyes beaming with curiosity.

  My friend knew me too well, and I answered her with a smirk.

  “Yes,” Sloane squealed and jumped up and down.

  Sometimes her childish antics were confusing, so I turned to Laria, since she was the more rational of my friends. “Care to explain?”

  “I assume you met Thrayn,” Laria said.

  “If you mean the ketaurran male who threatened to toss me in a cell, then yes, I met him.” And I’d been less than impressed.

  “Well, Sloane and Thrayn had a bet about how you’d react when you saw Khyron again.” She smiled. “Let’s just say he’s not going to be happy about giving her his blade.”

  “And it’s a nice blade too.” Sloan giggled. “Has a blue-black finish.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t just steal it,” I teased.

  “I might have if Thrayn hadn’t been so arrogant and in need of an adjustment about the way he viewed human females.” Sloane dropped into a chair, then propped her feet on the edge of the table.

  “Oh, and before I forget, Cara told us what happened with Trixie,” Laria said.

  “Wait, why aren’t you mad? I promised to take care of her, and now she’s damaged.” I’d been so focused on Khyron, I hadn’t realized until now that Laria was taking what happened to her transport better than I’d expected.

  “Because I know Doyle’s men are responsible, not you.” Laria slowly curled her lips into a devious grin. “And I found out that Logan will be the one interrogating them later.”

  Logan was a nice enough guy but had a reputation for being ruthless when it came to protecting humans. I’d be surprised if Rick and Neil were still alive after he finished with them.

  “That reminds me, we’re invited to Burke’s for the evening meal,” Laria said.

  “Khyron’s still here, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, they all are.”

  My body was a conflicting mess of emotions. My stomach clenched into a tight knot while the rest of me warmed at the thought of being in the same room with Khyron again. Part of me wanted to see him, to be near him. Another part of me, my rational side, urged me to stay away. “You two have fun, because I’m staying here.”

  Sloane sighed. “Sweetie, you can’t avoid him forever.”

  I crossed my arms defiantly. “Watch me.”

  “Well, it wasn’t a request, and you are going,” Laria insisted.

  I pushed away from the counter. “If Khyron thinks he can come her
e and start ordering me around, then…”

  “Khyron didn’t say a word, and this has nothing to do with what’s going on between you. Burke wants us there.” Laria swept her hand through the air. “All of us.”

  “The guys should be done interrogating Doyle’s men by then, and hopefully we’ll know whether or not we should expect more trouble,” Sloane said.

  “Hey, guys. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help overhearing.” Cara strolled into the room. She had an open invitation and usually popped in and out whenever she wanted. “Doyle’s insane, used to work for Sarus, and badly wants the toxins we stole.” She walked over and took the chair next to Sloane. “So yeah, I’d say we should expect trouble, and a lot of it.”

  ***

  Khyron

  My time with Melissa had been enjoyable. The chatty child had been amusing and enlightening. The majority of the information she’d shared pertained to the other children and herself. It saddened me to learn that so many young ones had been left without their parents to care for them. Celeste had always been very protective of her younger sister. She must have been devastated by the child’s loss. Was that why she spent a great deal of time at Harper’s and working with the young males?

  After Melissa had shown me where to find the blossoms she’d insisted I give to Celeste, I had escorted her back home, then returned to Burke’s dwelling. Thrayn, of course, was sulking, and the other members of my team were not happy that I had been out on my own without an escort.

  Not long after my arrival, more of Burke’s males made an appearance. They were part of a group who took turns patrolling the outlying perimeter areas bordering the settlement. Their presence was a deterrent to any bandits or mercs who were not intelligent enough to avoid the community.

  During our introductions, I sensed the same uneasiness I’d experienced the evening before, though their trepidation was nowhere near the level of disdain I had sensed from Logan. And, for the second time, I wondered if something drastic had happened to the male during the war to cause the underlying hostility.

  After our brief meeting, Burke had given our group, less Laria, Sloane, and Cara, a tour of the building he referred to as the command center. The building was much larger than it had appeared when we arrived. It was obvious in the layout and the way Burke commanded his males that he had utilized whatever military training he received on Earth.

  “What is being done with the males who attacked Celeste and Cara?” I asked when we returned to the main room. I doubted Burke would allow them to leave. Then there was the matter of trying to harm my ketiorra. That alone guaranteed their deaths.

  “Logan is getting ready to interrogate them if you’d like to watch,” Burke said.

  “Yes, thank you.” Using pain to extract information from another being was not a method I enjoyed, but it was necessary for continued survival, not only for my people, but also for the humans. Doyle’s previous connection to Sarus, before we’d received word of his death, coupled with his current involvement with the toxin, made him a dangerous adversary. One whose actions I could not afford to ignore.

  Later, after the evening meal Burke had scheduled—an event I hoped Celeste would be attending—we would be discussing the collaborative plans I envisioned for the future. Until then, observing the interrogation and discovering whatever Doyle’s males had intended to do to Celeste and Cara was a priority.

  I glanced at the males in my group, who also appeared eager to hear whatever information Logan could extract.

  “We use the building behind this one for storage.” Burke headed toward the back of the dwelling. “We haven’t had to use them in a while, but there are a couple of small rooms where we’ve kept prisoners.”

  Vurell and Nayea, the same ketaurran female I had spoken with earlier, were already in the room. Vince had informed me she was the community’s resident physician. She was kneeling on the floor next to the chair the male named Rick was bound to, with Vurell hovering next to her, his pale peach scales an interesting contrast to her dark orange ones.

  Vurell picked up the small container sitting next to her on the floor. He dipped his finger into the thick yellowish-brown substance, then wrinkled his nose after sniffing it. “What is this concoction you have applied to the human’s skin?”

  Nayea frowned up at Vurell, snatched the container from his hand, then placed it back on the floor and out of his reach. “It is a healing salve I make from the suclorra plant.” She finished binding the knife wound in the male’s shoulder with a cloth.

  “Interesting,” Vurell said, helping her to her feet. “The same plant can be used to make a poisonous toxin.”

  “Not many are aware of that fact. How did you know?” Nayea asked.

  “If you two are finished comparing medical notes, we’d like to get started.” Logan interrupted, then cracked his knuckles.

  “It would be wise not to use your sharp tongue on me, or forget who tends your injuries.” She leaned forward to retrieve her supplies, then pinned Logan with a sharp glare before giving him her back and smiling at Vurell. “If you would like to learn more about the ingredients, we can continue this conversation elsewhere.”

  “I would be very interested.” Vurell held the door open and waited for her to leave in front of him.

  Zaedon coughed to hide his amused grin. The action was not lost on Vurell. He paused to narrow his gaze in warning before exiting the room and slamming the door.

  Jardun playfully elbowed Zaedon in the ribs. “Teasing Vurell is never a good idea.”

  “Jardun is right. You might want to avoid acquiring any wounds in the near future.” I stifled a chuckle when Zaedon’s smile faltered.

  It was time to address getting the information we needed from Doyle’s male, so I tipped my head in Burke’s direction. “Whenever you are ready.”

  I remained in the far corner of the windowless room with Jardun and Zaedon so Burke and Logan could interrogate the male. I had Thrayn standing guard in the hallway and had asked Garyck to keep an eye on the females, not because I believed they were in any danger, but because he had suffered through being tortured himself and did not need to relive the memories. Neil, the other male, was being kept in another room similar to this one and would be questioned once they finished with Rick.

  As leader of the planet’s inhabitants, no one would argue with or try to stop me if I interfered with the questioning. I refused to abuse my position and chose not to challenge Burke’s leadership. I had sworn to my sire before his death that I would carry on his wishes to unite the different races on the planet, not tear their worlds apart with the same lust for power Sarus had possessed.

  I watched Burke’s second-in-command. He seemed detached and determined to do whatever was necessary to get the information we needed, which included bruising and bloodying Rick’s body, as well as his own knuckles.

  Apparently, loyalty was not a requirement in the world of mercenaries. It had not taken long after Logan threatened to use a blade that Rick responded to his questions.

  “What does Doyle want? Why did he send you?” Burke asked.

  He’d been leaning against the wall to my right with his arms crossed, letting Logan do all the work. I had no doubt he would intervene if it became necessary.

  Rick spit blood on the floor and gritted his teeth. “He sent us to retrieve what you stole from him.”

  “Be more specific,” Logan insisted.

  Rick jerked his head in my direction, his disgust for ketaurrans evident in his dark gaze. “He sent us to retrieve the toxins.” He returned his attention to the floor, refusing to look at Logan when he answered.

  My tail twitched, and dread slithered along my scales. There was something in the way he spat out the words, something in his tone, that made me doubt his truthfulness.

  “And the females. Why did you attack their transport?” Logan asked, his hand fisted, ready to apply another punch if Rick refused to answer.

  Thrayn’s growl followed by �
��Female, you cannot go inside” filtered into the room from the hallway outside.

  “Thrayn, I suggest you get out of the way. I really don’t want to hurt you.” After hearing Laria’s raised voice, Jardun widened his eyes, then rushed to open the door.

  “Am I too late?” She patted Jardun’s chest, then shifted sideways to get inside the room.

  Jardun frowned. “Laria, you should not…”

  “This is not my first interrogation.” The determined glare she aimed at Zaedon and me threatened bodily harm if she received any arguments. “It was my transport they damaged, so I’m staying.”

  So far, Laria had been helpful when it came to dealing with Celeste. I did not want to risk damaging the alliance and directed the conversation in a different direction. “How did you get away from Garyck?” I asked.

  “I left him with Sloane.” Laria’s innocent grin made me wary.

  “Should I be worried?” I remembered the smaller female’s propensity for being unpredictable when it came to dealing with my friend.

  “Nah, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” She waved her hand dismissively, then focused her attention on Rick. “I remember you.” The sound of her voice suggested the memories had not been pleasant.

  “Was it you or the other guy who thought it would be a good idea to ram Trixie?” she asked.

  “Who the draeck…” Awareness glinted in Rick’s gaze, and he scoffed. “Are you kidding? You really gave that piece of junk a name?”

  Red spread across Laria’s cheeks, and she pursed her lips. “Don’t you dare say anything bad about Trixie.”

  “Or what?” Rick sneered.

  I could not believe Jardun had not already grabbed the male by the throat for speaking to his ketiorra in such a manner. Instead, he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, seemingly entertained by Laria’s behavior.

  “Or…” Laria drew out the word as she slipped her blade from its sheath, then slowly tapped it against her palm. “I can show you how skilled I am at carving a male’s private parts.” Her glare lowered to Rick’s lap.