STOLEN FROM HER ALIEN MATE

WARRIORS OF THE D’TALI: BOOK SEVEN

AVA YORK

STARR HUNTRESS

CONTENTS

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Are you a STARR HUNTRESS?

Rekker

Kazan

Rogue Mate

JARLATH

Memories of Mellida’s breathtaking smile filled my daydream. I leaned back in my chair, remembering how her raven-black hair shone when she tossed it over her shoulder. As soon as I saw her the first time, when she brought lunch from the castle kitchens, she lived inside my heart.

The loud clanging of a metal bowl against heavy iron bars interrupted my thoughts, chasing Mellida’s flashing blue eyes from my mind. I brought my feet to the floor, looking for the source of the noise.

“What do you want, Toc?”

A tall, broad-shouldered D’Tali leaned against the bars, sneering. Dirt smeared his light green scales. A beaten metal bowl dangled from his fingers. “Guard, when’s lunch going to get here?”

“Get back, Toc. Lunch will be here when it gets here. You’re early, anyway. We haven’t even gone to the kitchens yet.”

Toc stepped back from the bars fitted into the hard stone blocks of the prison floor, but lingered nearby.

“How’d a good boy like you get stuck with this job, Jarlath?” Toc spat on the ground and grinned at me.

“I won a bet. Now, I get to see your pretty face all day.”

“Aren’t you lucky?” Toc laughed.

Hezric, red scales dulled with age, sidled up. I wondered if my red scales would look like that when I grew old, too.

“Sounds like torture to me,” Toc growled.

“Shut your mouth, old man.” More inmates wandered up, looking for lunch, and found the brewing fight instead.

“You going to let him talk to you like that, Hezric?”

I groaned. Merkor’s comments would turn hungry inmates into combatants any minute. I leaned around the corner and called into the office where Kalan sat filling out paperwork.

“Kalan, you better get over here.”

He looked up, then dropped his pen and hustled around the corner. Inmates shouted and banged bowls on stone and iron. I grabbed a spear and sprinted to the bars.

Hezric spat on Toc’s boot. Toc roared. The gathered prisoners cheered, jeering them on.

“Break it up!” I jabbed the butt of the spear through the bars. I wanted to break up the fight, not have bloody prisoners when lunch arrived.

Toc grabbed Hezric, slamming him into the bars. The gathered prisoners cheered again. Scaled arms of every color hung through cell doors all the way down the halls. More guards rushed in from the prison’s entrance, bearing their own spears.

Hezric swung, landing a punch in Toc’s gut. Toc wheezed. I rushed to the door of the cell in which Toc and Hezric fought, pushing prisoners back with the butt of my spear. Kalan, Zariv, and Hurin rushed in behind me and helped clear the door of prisoners.

Recovered, six-foot eight-inches tall Toc wrapped a thickly muscled arm around the six-foot tall Hezric’s neck. Hezric beat at Toc’s arms and kicked at his legs. Toc didn’t flinch under the blows. Growling, Hezric bit into Toc’s arm and Toc bellowed.

I pulled the large ring of heavy keys from my belt and fit the one for this cell into the lock. I twisted my wrist and pushed the cell door in. The other guards followed me in, holding the crowd back with the sharp end of their spears.

I grabbed Toc’s shoulders, pulling him off Hezric. Kalan pushed Hezric out of Toc’s grasp. Hezric launched back at Toc, throwing another fist. Toc and I ducked the swing and Hezric’s fist landed square on Kalan’s jaw.

Kalan stumbled back, arms flailing. His hand found an iron bar and he leaned against it, holding his spear at the crowd. Hezric stepped back, winding up another swing. Faster than I could see, Hurin jabbed the butt of his spear between Hezric’s feet.

Hezric crashed face-first into the stone floor with a grunt. Hurin spun his spear and jabbed it toward Hezric’s neck. The metallic tip flashed in the light streaming from the windows set high in the walls and stopped less than an inch from Hezric’s throat.

Zariv stepped in, grabbing Hezric by the collar and dragged him from the cell. Toc jerked his shoulders and I let him go. He adjusted his shirt, grabbed his bowl from the floor, and sauntered back into the crowd.

I scanned the inmates faces, looking for the glimmer of more trouble, but they all backed away, laughing and retelling their favorite parts of the fight.

Kalan, Zariv and I backed our way through the door. Kalan shut it behind us, rubbing his jaw. I twisted the key in the lock, locking the door, then returned my keys to my belt.

“I’ll get this one to solitary.” Hurin pulled Hezric to his feet and shoved him along down the corridor, Hezric complaining the entire way.

Kalan held his head. His knees wobbled a bit. I helped him to the office and lowered him into a chair.

“The old D’Tali really got you, didn’t he?”

Kalan laughed, hurting his face, and groaned. “Hezric punches like an angry numa kicks.” He leaned his head back, massaging the purple scales on his scalp with his fingers.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on lunch duty?”

Kalan groaned. His hand slid over his face. “Oh, no. No, no, no, no. My head throbs, Jarlath. You must help me. I think I’ll vomit right on your boots if you try to make me go.”

I chuckled. “Well, let me take the burden of that task off your hands, Kalan. I’ll simply go in your place.”

Massaging his head with both hands now, Kalan thanked me and continued to groan.

I pulled the keys from my belt and laid them on the office desk. Kalan slid further down into the chair. I gathered my things. Glancing over at the cell, a blue-scaled D’Tali prisoner caught my eye.

The traitor, Lomav, King Dojak’s cousin, sat in a dark corner.

“You look full of yourself, Jarlath.” His irritating voice rang out into the hall.

“I have nothing to say to you, traitor.” I checked my pack, pouches, and pockets out of habit.

“You look happy. Hmmm. Could you be going to see your…human?”

I kept my eyes on my work. Lomav had always been a little slimy and rotten. I knew from experience he’d keep digging at me, trying to infuriate me, if I let him. I decided long ago to ignore him.

Lomav leaned his face against the bars. “You disgust me. Mating with a human, a mammal…” He shuddered.

Anger rose up my spine, but I refused to take the bait. I buckled on my sword belt and grabbed a spear.

“You’re a disgrace to the D’Tali, Jarlath. Just like Dojak.” I turned from his taunting voice and walked out the door, pretending like Lomav wasn’t there.

I made my way from the prison courtyard onto King’s Way, a wide lane leading into the city. I walked to town, my step giddy. I would’ve seen Mellida soon, anyway, when she arrived at the prison with the meals, but now, I’d get to see her much sooner.

All the moments I’d spent with her danced through my head. My heart fluttered at the memories of her laugh and the warmth of her company. I sighed. When the human women first arrived on that spaceship, I didn’t know what to think.

The concept of intelligent mammals alone, shocked all of D’Tali. King Dojak falling in love with the human woman, Sofia…well, no one could have predicted a D’Tali would fall in love with a human woman.

As shocked as I was to first hear of human women, when I heard King Dojak’s mate was one of them, I nearly fainted.

Then, I saw Mellida, her long black hair shining in the sun, bright blue eyes flashing above that smile. Only half-way to the kitchens, and a silly smile already stretched across my face. The castle grew larger as I drew closer.

Homes and shops, neighborhoods and alleyways lined the street down which numa drew carts filled with the kingdom’s bounty. Large, black-spotted, teal-skinned fruit filled one cart. Sheaves of hay bound in twine filled another. People bustled everywhere, selling wares and carrying supplies.

A small D’Tali boy raced by in a streak of blue scales. Three other boys, scales all shades of green, chased after him. I feared one would run in front of an oncoming numa, but all four skidded around a corner.

The blue-scaled boy dared a glance behind himself. Seeing the other three directly on his heels, the boy pumped his legs harder. Looking behind him, he never saw the ale-bellied shopkeeper sweeping the pathway in front of his candle shop.

The boy ran headfirst into the shopkeeper’s gut. The shopkeeper oofed and the boy bounced back into the boys chasing him. All four boys went down in a tangled mess of flailing limbs. One boy rolled into the street in front of an oncoming numa.

I grabbed the collar of his tunic and swung him clear before the numa had time to run him over.

“Thanks!” His smudged face smiled up at me.

I put him on his feet. His three friends ran up asking him if he was hurt as loud as possible. “The four of you, take better care.”

Shaking my head, I took the Queen’s Bridge over the River of the Ancestress flowing by the castle. Hundreds of boats floated by or docked at the piers in the distance.

My chest swelled with pride. King Dojak led Tahkath well and the D’Tali people prospered. Mellida’s laugh and enchanting smile filled my head again. Tahkath had prospered since the human women first came.

I broke into a run. The castle’s kitchens lay but a few blocks away beyond the castle wall and, in them, my Mellida awaited me.

MELLIDA

Sweat poured down my forehead as I hefted the last basket of flatbreads and lugged them outside. Tika, the gentle old numa who pulled the kitchen delivery cart, watched me pass. I nestled the basket atop the cart stuffed with baskets of coarse flatbreads, vats of soups and stews brewed from the kitchen’s trimmings.

The D’Tali castle kitchen looked nothing like the kitchens I worked in back on Earth. Close to two years before, I’d worked as a sous chef at a little gastropub in a trendy neighborhood. Mom said I was born a foodie, but for all her complaints, we spent many wonderful years together exploring little restaurants everywhere we went.

I took my time returning to the hot kitchen. The cart was packed, and until the prison guard escort arrived, I had a moment to catch my breath. I stroked the scaled shell on Tika’s back.

She swung her big head back at me and huffed, leaning into my hand.

I laughed. “Hold on, Tika.”

I fished a rough flour sack out of my apron pocket and scrubbed her scales with it. Her head stretched up like a dog and she snorted her approval. Numa looked nothing like dogs. Like most advanced life on this planet, numa were reptilian.

While I learned D’Tali at the school Sofia, Camilla, Isabella, and a few of the other women founded after our spaceship crashed for the last time, I’d overheard Janis say she thought the D’Tali were descended from this planet’s version of dinosaurs.

Had anyone told me two years ago I’d be part of a group of human women crashing their spaceship on a planet of big, smart, dinosaur men, I would’ve laughed in their face.

Well, that ship wasn’t exactly ours. It belonged to an alien race called the Skarg.

The Skarg abducted the human women on this planet from Earth, intending to enslave us. Something happened and their spaceship crashed near Tahkath. I shook my head to clear it from those memories.

We escaped. We are free. The D’Tali have been good to us.

I drew a deep breath and leaned against Tika’s strong neck. I wrapped an arm under, patting the other side. Tika stretched, huffing.

“Good girl, Tika. Soon, we’ll get to see Jarlath again. Aren’t you excited?” She tossed her snout, jangling her bridle. “I’m excited, too.”

Jarlath’s tall, broad-shouldered silhouette… I sighed.

Now, had you told me two years ago I’d fall in love with one of those dinosaur men, I would’ve told you that only happens on YouTube.

I blushed. Well, Mellida, there’s no YouTube here in Tahkath, or any other kingdom on this planet. You’re just lucky you went to too many renaissance fairs.

The inner truth stung, but I smiled anyway. I enjoyed my new life and meeting Jarlath filled me with a warm, golden joy.

Was this how Sofia felt when she met King Dojak? Or the other human women who came here on that spaceship with me and fell in love with a D’Tali like Queen Sofia?

The distinct ring of a guardsman’s armor chased away my daydreams. I spun to look. Through the kitchen courtyard strode Jarlath. At six-foot eight-inches tall, he towered over me. Most D’Tali towered over me honestly, but Jarlath was tall even for the D’Tali.

Our eyes met and joy broke over his face. Every time I saw that look on Jarlath’s face, I wanted to run to him and jump into his arms. I restrained myself, smiling instead. Jarlath gripped his chest with a hand.

“You, Mellida, are so perfect, I may die right here.”

I stifled a giggle, rolling my eyes at him. “Ridiculous.”

He stopped in front of me. Gentle eyes gazed into mine. Jarlath’s hand cupped my cheek.

“Sweet Mellida, every time I see you, I lose all sense. Every drop rushes out my ears. What would you have this poor man do?”

I fought the smile on my face and lost. A genuine laugh escaped my lips. “I’ll have you escort me on our task so I might return in time to enjoy the remainder of my day.”

Jarlath took Tika’s lead rope in one hand, offering me the other. “Shall we?”

I slid my hand into his and we made our way to the prison. I loved the way his eyes flashed when I took his hand.

“How did you end up as my escort?”

“Funny story. A couple of the inmates put on a show earlier, and Kalan took a solid punch to the head. So, Kalan is wobbling around after, he can’t see straight, and is whining. So, being my helpful self, I offered to take on lunch duty.”

“Poor Kalan. Sounds like that hurt.”

Jarlath laughed. “I doubt it. We D’Tali are tough, Mellida. He just wanted to play cards with the other guys. But, how can I complain? It gives me more time with you.”

My heart fluttered. This would all sound wrong on Earth, but the D’Tali were so genuine, I could let myself enjoy Jarlath’s sweet words. Besides, I knew he couldn’t be some player, like the men back on Earth.

The D’Tali, as a people, produced way more men than women.

Due to this imbalance, D’Tali women were rare and precious. There just weren’t enough D’Tali women for Jarlath to have had chances to flirt with.

We crossed the Queen’s Bridge. The wide waters of the river cut through the city, passing by the castle before trundling away into the horizon. The docks lay downriver on the outskirts of town. A wall separated it from the rest of the city. A jumble of buildings surrounded the street where we walked.

“Remember when we first met?” Jarlath smiled.

“Tolvin tripped over a cobble and couldn’t make the trip. You offered to help. Once you saw me, of course, you couldn’t stay away.” Jarlath winked at me and I laughed.

I squeezed his hand. “I only saw you because you dropped all the spears you were carrying.”

Jarlath groaned. “Your beauty stunned me.”

We walked in silence for a while. I watched the city bustle about me, drinking in the golden warmth between us. Jarlath broke the quiet first. “May I ask you a question?”

“Certainly, but I get to ask you one for each of your questions.” His big hand engulfed mine, his fingers stroking the inside of my wrist. No doubt, Jarlath was strong enough to hurt me, but I knew he’d never. Comfort radiated from him on a golden thread.

“Are you happy here?” Jarlath held his breath.

“When…when we first arrived, I was so confused, I didn’t know how I felt about anything. The shock of being pulled from my life, my family, the only world I ever knew nearly overwhelmed me.” I looked up into his eyes. “Now, though, I think I am. I enjoy my job. Learning entirely new ingredients and how to cook over a fire were a challenge, for sure.”

“Do we have nothing like what you knew?” His strong fingers continued their strokes. Little electric shock radiated from where our fingers met.

“That’s what’s funny. Funny-strange, not funny-haha. Everything here is similar, but different.” We stopped for a moment at the last livestock tank on the edge of town. Taki nuzzled her muzzle into the cool water and splashed a few times before settling into long slurps.

“And I am still strange to you as well?” Jarlath gulped.

A smile slowly spread across my lips. “Absolutely.”

Jarlath laughed. Taki swung her head to look at us, water streaming from her mouth.

“Strange and wonderful.” I blushed, took Taki’s lead and walked back to the path. Jarlath caught up to me in two long strides.

“Wonderful, huh?” His big hand stroked my long hair. I shrugged. The prison loomed before us as we drew near. “Your turn.”

I wanted to ask him how he felt about me. I wanted to ask him if he’d felt that golden warmth, too.

I wanted to ask him a lot of things, but Tika slowed to a halt and I realized we stood before the prison gates.

“I’ll have to save my question for later. For now, help me unload this food.” We walked to the rear of the cart and filled our arms. I managed a basket of bread on each arm while Jarlath’s huge arms and hands carried the handle of a large stewpot in each hand.

We carried the food through the gates, the courtyard, and through the main doors. Passing the long iron bars of a cell, I placed my baskets of bread on a long table near the office. Careful to remain out of reach of arms grasping at me through the bars, I stepped out of Jarlath’s way as he deposited the stew near the bread.

Inmates lined up, dragging their bowls across the bars and stomping their feet in rhythm. Jarlath ushered me into the office to wait while the guards distributed the food. I peeked around the corner to watch.

Dozens of D’Tali men crowded the bars of each cell, ignoring the guard’s commands to move back. Jarlath was the tallest of the guards, and most of the prisoners. Jarlath approached a cell, unlocking the door over a small, rectangular pass through in the bars.

He dropped the door open. Prisoners thrust bowls through and Jarlath ladled the stew into them. Kalan passed flatbreads into grasping hands. Prisoners pushed at each other. Their grunts and grumbles transformed into shouts, but they calmed quickly as each man’s bowl was filled.

I sighed, watching Jarlath work. Not only did he make me laugh, Jarlath looked like he just walked out of a comic book. The thick, corded muscles of the arms flexed and jumped with every ladleful. I worried for him, too, working here among so many violent prisoners.

I worried one day, instead of my handsome D’Tali coming to see me, one of his fellow guards would come and tell me something happened to him and he was gone, dead. I shuddered at the thought.

I realized I never wanted him to leave.

JARLATH

I ladled out scoop after scoop of stew and soup into prisoners’ bowls, but Mellida dominated my mind. She waited in the prison’s office for us to finish so we could walk the remains of the meal back to the kitchens. I liked to think she awaited my return as well.

Mellida’s soft curves and quick laugh enchanted me every time I saw her. An imagined lifetime of making her happy filled my dreams. The golden threads of the mating bond slowly binding us together pulsed with each beat of my heart.

I filled the last bowl and Kalan had given each man a flatbread. We gathered up the now empty pots and baskets, returning them to the cart. Tika casually grazed on a sheaf of hay stuffed in a wire cage on the prison courtyard’s wall.

Cart full and the inmates fed, we returned to the office. Steaming dishes of meats and vegetables in rich sauces filled a wooden table in the corner. A rough grain sack filled with fruits in bright colors. Kalan grabbed a warm, soft roll from a basket and stuffed it in his face while he piled enough food to feed six in a large dish.

“Leave some for the rest of us.” Hurin shouldered past Kalan, filling his own plate.

“Did you eat yet, Mellida?”

“Mell. Call me Mell.” She blushed and shrugged. “It’s my nickname.”

“Did you eat, Mell?” My heart threatened to jump from my chest as she smiled and nodded, her hair shining in the light filtering through the office window.

“I’ve had plenty of time to nibble while you worked.”

Hurin swallowed a mouthful of roll and turned to Mellida. “Mell, tell us more about Earth. Earth stories are the funniest stories.” Zariv grunted his agreement. A sliver of meat fell from Zariv’s full mouth.

Mellida laughed. “What do you want to hear about today?”

“Mammals.” Zariv groaned at Hurin’s suggestion.

I laughed and stuffed a roll in my mouth. “You always say ‘mammals’. No more mammals, Hurin. Mell here is all the mammal we need. I want to hear more about the flying machines.”

“I don’t believe machines can fly. The idea is too strange.” Kalan waved our conversation away, stuffing his face with a golden-hued fruit.

“We all went to see their spaceship when the humans first arrived.” Zariv laughed.

“I’ve only ever heard of machines crashing, Jarlath, not flying.” Hurin chuckled. Mellida laughed with us.

“Sad, but true, Hurin. Amber’s Rover works, but the spaceship is long gone now.” The room fell silent.

“Sorry, Mell. I wasn’t thinking how you might not want to talk about being stuck here, now.”

“Don’t worry, Hurin. At first, I really wanted to go back.” Mellida blushed again, glancing at me. “Now though, I’ve found reasons to make a home here.”

Please, let her mean me. I want to be a reason for her to be happy here.

I know we’re mates, but neither of us have had mates before and I don’t know much about human mating rituals. What if I make a mistake? What if I offend her? Then, will we be miserable, even mated?

“Do you miss it? Earth? With your flying machines and mammals?”

Mell’s eyes grew distant, then she smiled. “I think I’ll always miss it. The way an adult misses their parents’ home when they grow up and move away.” Her blue eyes turned to me. I thought I’d fall into them. She smiled. I nudged her foot with a toe. She blushed, but didn’t pull away.

I stood. “Time to head back. If we wait much longer, Tika will start back without us. She keeps a tight schedule.” The other guards cleaned up the dishes, placing the dirty ones in the cart.

Tika shook her head and bellowed. I slipped my big hand around Mel’s, red scales shimmering like fire in the light of the setting sun. We walked in silence for some time, basking in the golden warmth of the bond threading our lives together.

“Jarlath?”

I looked down at her. Tika plodded along the path. The cart creaked and the dirty dishes clanked with each rough cobble. Even surrounded by the cacophony of clanks, creaks, the cries of birds, and the general din of a thriving kingdom, Mellida’s sweet voice soothed my soul.

“Yes, Mell?”

“I…I’d like to ask you that question now, before I lose my nerve.” She chewed on a fingernail, big eyes watching me from under her raven-black hair.

“Ask me anything. I desire to hide nothing from you.”

Jarlath! What if she doesn’t like you and you just can’t tell because you know nothing about human women? My heart thundered in my chest. Tika slowed her pace as we approached the stock tank. She splashed the water then drank deep droughts of the clear waters.

Mell stopped close to me. She looked into my eyes. Her body shook. With a quick breath, she finally spoke.

“Do you want to kiss me?”

My knees went weak. I planted a hand on the side of the cart to keep from falling on my ass. Mellida’s words darted through my brain like a buzzing szecta in a swamp.

Do you want to kiss me?

My head spun. Do I want to kiss her? Of course, I want to kiss her! I realized I should say the same aloud. What if you took too long to respond and it’s already too late and she runs screaming and breaks your heart, Jarlath?

Sheer terror shot through me. I pulled my shocked mind together as quickly as I could. “Of course, I want to kiss you, Mell.”

Mellida’s eyelids fluttered. She leaned her body into me. Her perfect, curvy, human body. I cupped her face with a trembling hand. I stroked her shoulder with my other trembling hand.

My eyes searched her face, drinking in her perfection when I detected the disturbing hint of a smile and a glimmer in her blue eyes.

“I didn’t say ‘kiss me right now, you giant hunk of D’Tali, you.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Words but a husky whisper, I confessed.

“I do want to kiss you. But, if you prefer to start, I’ll be just as happy for you to kiss me.” Mellida bit her bottom lip then smiled. She patted my arm and sauntered off, leading Tika. She looked back at me over her shoulder.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” This woman will be the death of you, Jarlath. Oh, what a sweet demise.

Heart full and head fuzzy, I jogged ‘til I caught up to Mellida’s side.

“Do you like working at the prison?”

“I thought it was my turn for a question.”

She grinned her devious smile again. “Answer my question first, and I’ll think about answering yours.”

I chuckled. Mell always found a way to keep me on my toes and I loved her for it.

“Very well, yes. I enjoy my job. The inmates earned a place in those cells, but they still must be fed and cared for. We D’Tali have never been brutal the way the Aetamian were before King Kator.”

Mellida leaned her head against my arm. “I never thought of it that way.”

“Some of our prisoners are important to keep an eye on, too.”

She looked up at me. “Like who?”

I searched my mind and remembered Lomav’s disgusting behavior earlier that day.

“Like Lomav, King Dojak’s cousin. He tried to take the throne. He’s a terrible person, but there are always those who will follow a terrible person if he promises them power.”

Mellida patted my arm. Sparks shot through me everywhere her fingers touched. “Now, that sounds exactly like Earth.”

Tika slowed. I looked around and discovered we’d already arrived at the kitchens. My heart sank a little in my chest.

“It looks like our stroll has come to an end.”

Neither of us walked away. We gazed into each other’s eyes one last time before parting. I ran a hand over her long locks, playing with the soft strands. Her lips drew close to mine.

Kitchen staff we’d failed to notice clanged pots and pans as they unloaded the cart. They carried the used dishes to the wash sinks.

She stepped back slowly. “I have to go.” Her fingers fiddled with the straps on my armor.

“So do I.”

We parted. Mellida returned to the kitchen and her duties there. I picked my way back to the prison, thoughts full of Mellida. By the time I returned, the sun had set and my shift was nearly complete.

“Well, thanks for deciding to wander back, where the rest of us were actually working.”

“Ha ha, Hurin. Keep laughing. Nothing you can say will ruin my mood.” I floated through the end of my day, Mellida’s sweet lips haunting my mind.

Hurin sighed. “You’re a lucky man, Jarlath. Finding your mate.”

“Disgusting!” Lomav’s irritating voice rang out from a cell.

“Shut your mouth, traitor.” I placed a hand on Hurin’s arm, holding him back.

“Calm, Hurin. Nothing that comes out of that traitor’s mouth deserves a listen.” Contempt and disgust twisted Lomav’s mouth. He spat a glob of thick mucus in my direction.

“How can you defile yourself with that…scaleless mammal?” Lomav shuddered. “Just the thought of all that hair.” He doubled over at the waist, pretending to wretch.

Guards on the next shift filtered in, stowing their personal gear.

“The worst part? The half-breed mongrels those human animals pop out.”

Kalan slammed his spear into the bars. All eyes swiveled to him.

“That’s enough out of you, traitor.” Kalan raised the butt of his spear at Lomav. Lomav slunk back into a shadow at the back of the cell, cackling the entire way.

MELLIDA

I peeled my one-hundred-and-tenth pel fruit in preparation for the upcoming Ancestors’ Day festival. I only needed five more for the traditional Ancestors’ Day pel jam. I didn’t mind the tedious work. Peeling fruit came with a stool upon which to rest and plenty of time to daydream about Jarlath.

Bright memories of the time I spent with Jarlath yesterday frolicked through my mind. The look on Jarlath’s face when I had asked if he wanted to kiss me. I realized I’d giggled and looked around to see if anyone noticed. I should’ve been more careful to at least look like I was paying attention to my task, but the kitchen was so busy preparing for the feast, no one noticed.

I had worked hard since I first found my way down to the kitchens, I thought I deserved a small amount of slack. A woman needs time to fall in love. With an alien. I suppose I am the alien here. I looked around, dropping peeled pel number one-hundred-and-fourteen into the bucket.

Thulid, the castle’s Master of the Kitchens, stopped by my bucket while inspecting the kitchens. Purple scales aged to a lovely shade of lavender, Thulid leaned his appreciable gut against my worktable and peered into my bucket of peeled pel.

“How are you settling into the kitchens, Mellida?” His deep, rumbling voice rolled over me like a soft, old blanket. Memories of Grandpa floated through my head.

“I’m well, Thulid. I was just finishing up with the pel for the jam.”

Thulid laughed and patted me on the back. “Wonderful. Once we get this jarred, you should go on home. Tomorrow is a long day for all of us.”

“Thanks, Thulid. I’ll do that. It’s been too long since I weeded my garden, and I believe I may have a new crop of billin leaf, too.”

“Just in time for Ancestor’s Day.” He smiled at me and moved on. Thulid maintained a dignified, kind air most days. Let him catch you abandoning your post at a prep table or oven, and I swore he looked like a scaly Gordon Ramsey.

I was a tiny human, compared to the D’Tali rushing around me. At five-foot six-inches tall, I wasn’t tiny for a human woman, but these dinosaur men surrounding me all towered above six feet. I peeled the last pel and dropped it in the bucket, wiping sweat from my brow.

I set my knife down and grabbed the handle of the full bucket. I hefted it in two hands and waddled over to the cooler, a dark room of stone blocks chilled by water diverted from the river. I was strong, for a human woman, but everything here was made for people taller than the average human.

I hefted the slightly-too-large bucket to a shelf next to some aging numa cheese. I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. Within seconds my mind drifted back to Jarlath. After yesterday, I’d dreamt of kissing him, of what it’d be like to run my hands over the bumps of his shiny scales.

Arms encircled my waist. I yelped and spun, arm drawn back, ready to fight. My heart pounded in my chest. Jarlath chuckled, drawing his face out of range of my curled fist.

“Oh, you!” I slapped his shoulder, not that he’d notice through all that muscle. My hand felt up his bicep until his twitching pecs distracted me. The silly grin on his face and his dancing pecs set me laughing hard enough to tear up.

“Did you miss me?”

I tried to back away, laughing. I turned and walked to the kitchen.

“Maybe. Ask me tomorrow.”

Jarlath followed me through the kitchen.

“So, you’re asking me to join you in the human Dating ritual, yes? I mean, I can only imagine what human men must be like, but—as fast as rumors fly after Amber sneaks off to her favorite tavern—I heard human men were often strange even in the eyes of human women.”

I laughed. I laughed a lot around Jarlath. I passed under the arch and into the kitchen’s courtyard. The kitchen staff smiled at Jarlath as we passed. He patted backs and snuck appreciative bites of their dishes.

“You have the best job, Mellida, around this delicious food every day. I’d eat myself sick the first day.”

I chuckled, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the far side of the courtyard.

“Yes, I’m happy to see you.”

He tugged on my hand. I followed along like dancing a waltz. Jarlath drew me close, wrapping his arms around me. His big hands cupped my cheek. His gentle fingers stroked my lips. My heart galloped.

“This is ‘later’, Mell. I have come to collect my promised kiss.”

I gasped. “I made no such promise. I said, ‘I’ll think about it’.”

He grinned, running his hand up and down my back. My fingers traced the contour of his collarbone.

“And? Did you?” The longer he gazed into my eyes, the further in I fell. My entire essence glowed with golden warmth. Each second we were together, those golden threads bound us more tightly.

“Did I what?”

“Did you think about kissing me?”

I bit my lip. A blush crept over my face. “Maybe.”

His strong hand stroked my hair. I stretched up on my toes, yet could not reach Jarlath’s face. I grabbed it with two hands and pulled him down to meet me. Soft and gentle, belly fluttering wildly, I pressed my lips to his.

My lips tingled against his. Warm, golden energy flared to life within me. He slid his hand behind my neck, cradling my skull and returned my kiss as if born to it. My lips parted. Our tongues danced.

A small moan escaped my lips. I drew away. We both drew ragged gasps of breath. Never had I felt a kiss like that. For a moment, the rest of the world stood still around us.

“I have to go.” My voice sounded hoarse to my ears. I stepped back, but my fingers lingered. Jarlath didn’t speak a word. He watched me walk to the kitchens. He looked like he might break in two had we parted.

I returned to the pel fruit in a heady daze. I blessed the long hours cooking on the line while chasing my dream of being the chef at my own restaurant, for my hands knew the recipe. My head, well, had no chance of escaping reruns of that kiss.

It turned out I only needed one-hundred-and-one pel fruit for the jam, so I whipped up a quick pel cake. The cake baked while I filled jars. Making the jam filled the kitchen with humidity. Sweat ran down my back and between my breasts. The humidity might have made me miserable, but the cake turned out perfect.

I tidied my stations, washing my tools, utensils, and dishes. Jarvic, a young, orange-scaled D’Tali with a flair for spice, fussed at me for washing my own dishes. The kitchen labor was well divided, and dishes were technically Jarvic’s job, but I’d spent so much time in commercial kitchens on Earth, I felt compelled to clean up.

Wiped out from my day, I checked the jars of jam one last time, happy they all sealed well. I gathered my things, stuffing them in a leather pack I picked up at the market last month.

I stopped by Thulid's office and collected my pay. Thulid insisted we all be paid before Ancestor’s day so we could all enjoy the festival. I stuffed the coins in my bra, thankful the other human women and I had found a tailor who’d work with our needs.

We had gone through several unsatisfactory solutions for human breasts, limited as we were by available materials, but the tailor found an imported Aetamian fabric with superior stretch.

We settled on a demi-bra design. The tailor made each piece to fit and I must admit, custom tailored clothes fit so much better than off-the-rack on Earth.

As good as the bra was, the tailored trousers we’d talked the tailor into making us may have been the best pants I had ever owned. I’d had the pair I now wore made from a lighter fabric to keep cool while working in the kitchens.

I picked up the pel cake and walked to the Auxiliary Barracks where many of the prison guards, including Jarlath, were billeted.

My tired legs felt heavy, but my heart floated in my chest, light and free. I stopped at the barracks’ door and asked the young D’Tali guard stationed there if he’d tell Jarlath he had a visitor. The young guard’s eyes about fell out of his head, seeing—and talking to—a human woman.

“Yes, mi’lady.” He snapped off a quick salute and sprinted inside to find Jarlath. I sighed about the ‘mi’lady’. I was a cook, not a ‘lady’. When other girls asked for dolls, I asked for fake food and a play kitchen.

Jarlath arrived, smiling wide. He stroked my hair, eyes huge. That golden fog between us pulsed more strongly each passing second.

“Mell.” He took my free hand and gazed into my eyes.

“I brought you a cake, since I had to run you off earlier.” I pushed the boxed cake into his hands.

“Thank you, it smells delicious.”

Kalan popped his head out of the prison gate and shouted at Jarlath.

“Jarlath, we need you in here. Hezric opened his mouth again and Toc’s tossing the old man around like a mad valanx.” Kalan disappeared behind the gate. Loud shouts rang out and I heard the crashing of bowls on iron bars.

“I have to go, Mell…” Jarlath’s head whipped back and forth between me and the door.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to me. I planted a hot kiss on his lips then looked him directly in his love-addled eyes.

“Don’t get hurt.”

He smiled at me.

“I promise.” He turned on his heel and ran back through the gate, pel cake in hand.

I sighed and made my way to my small cottage, not too far from the kitchens. I apologized to my poor, weedy garden, promising to tend it tomorrow.

Legs leaden and happier than I remember, I found myself in bed, still clothed. I drifted off to dreams of Jarlath and his electric kisses.

JARLATH

“Matrin, Harl, Trivrik, and…. Vortar, it’s your day. You know the drill. Step to the left wall. The rest of you, stay to the back of the cell.” The inmates in the cell divided themselves as I commanded with only a few shoves and elbow jabs.

With Kalan and Zariv backing me up, I twisted the key in the cell’s door. I swung the door open with a push. Keeping an eye on the larger part of the throng in the shadowy back corner, I waved the four lucky men into the hall.

Neither Matrin, Harl, Trivrik, nor Vortar gave us any trouble. I pulled the cell door closed and locked it, returning my keyring to my belt. Matrin slapped the hands of the remaining prisoners as he walked by.

“My debt to the king is paid, boys. Slick and Stinky here, gonna join me down at the tavern for a pint tonight.” Random prisoners shouted traditional prison goodbyes.

“Drink one for me, Vortar.”

“Eh, shut it, Matrin. We all know you’ll be back in here, irritating us again before the month’s out.”

“I’ll take those odds.”

“When I get back, I’ll remember to kick your ass, Rivmak.” With a laugh, Kalan and I shuffled the newly-free men down the hall. At the end of the hall, Mell waited for me. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her.

She busied herself sorting meals into the appropriate places while Hurin brought in tray after tray of meat trimmings and roasted vegetables. Ugly fruits the lords hesitated to eat filled reused rough canvas grain bags. Little from the castle kitchen went to waste in Tahkath.

I worked a few coins out of the coin pouch hanging from my belt. I hefted them in my hand, clinking the coins.

“I’ll toss you boys a few coins if you help the lady unload the cart. To get you boys started on your new life as reformed men.”

Trivrik had never made many friends during his time inside but perked right up at the offer. With a nod, he took over for Hurin.

Matrin and Harl joined Trivrik and Hurin kept an eye on the three, catching his breath. Vortar must have had better things to do, because he slunk into the street without ever looking back.

That was fine with me. Vortar spent too much time whispering through the bars to Lomav for my taste.

Cart fully unloaded, Mellida gave Matrin, Harl, and Trivrik meal bundles wrapped in canvas and tied with twine.

“There’s enough in there for a few days. Try to find work before it runs out. If you can’t, swing by the soup kitchen on this side of the Queen’s Bridge. They’ll know ways to find work.” The newly freed men bowed their heads to her. I only loved her more for the kindness she showed these men.

I knew these men as prisoners. I’d never known them as free men. I realized I had never thought about what their lives must be like leaving here and finding a way back to some semblance of prosperity.

Mellida smiled at them and shook their hands and wished them well, loading their free hands with pel cakes and loaves of coarse bread.

Even though Lomav glowered at them all from a shadowed cell, Matrin, Harl, and Trivrik showed Mellida the greatest respect. Lomav may have hated humans, but most D’Tali saw women as sacred, since D’Tali women rarely gave birth to girl children. Because D’Tali saw D’Tali women as sacred, most D’Tali saw the human women as sacred as well.

They thanked her and I handed them each enough coins to keep them out of trouble for at least a few days. I wanted to think I overpaid them for helping unload the cart in the spirit of Ancestor’s Day, but I knew Mellida inspired me to do so.

The newly freed men wandered into the night and the other guards filled bowls and passed out loaves. The prisoners quieted. Mell and I stole a moment together. I took her hands in mine.

“Hello, Mell. I’m happy to see you.”

She smiled up at me, bright blue eyes enchanting. I bent down, wrapped my arms around her waist, and lifted her up to my eye level. She squealed and giggled, winding her legs around me. I pressed my fingers into Mellida’s soft curves.

“Hello, Jarlath. I am happy to see you, too. If you’re going to carry me around, maybe we can go to the office. I don’t like the way that blue one in the corner stares at me.”

I turned my head, searching for the inmate who stared at Mellida, and locked eyes with Lomav.

“That’s Lomav, the one I told you about yesterday.”

She peered at him through the gloom shrouding his corner. She shuddered, averting her eyes and I carried her to the office. My heart grew fierce. I had listened to enough of Lomav’s vile meanderings over my time as a guard to know the rotten thoughts in his head.

“So now that creep isn’t eyeballing us anymore…”

“Eyeballing?” Visions of primitive, scaleless human men pelting each other with eyeballs ran through my head. I chuckled, waving away the silly thought.

“You know. Eyeballing. Giving someone the Evil Eye.”

I laughed harder and her bottom jiggled on my arms where I held her up. “Now you must be making stuff up.”

She gasped in mock outrage. “I’m not making it up. Here, watch.”

Mell scrunched her face, casting a baleful glare. I might have been afraid had she not looked so silly and so cute trying to stare me down. Once she seemed confident she had me properly pinned with her evil gaze, she raised an eyebrow.

I couldn’t stop my belly-rumbling chuckle. Tears sprung to my eyes. I tried to beg her to stop, to free me from her spell, but garbled every syllable till I gave up. Mell’s eyes watered too, and she finally released me, falling into laughs of her own.

“Anyway.” She stared at me, daring me to laugh, which almost made me laugh again. “As I was saying, now that we have some privacy, I should mention I have a really busy day in the kitchens tomorrow. I have to get up, like before the sun, which is evil in and of itself.”

She ran slow fingers over the scales of my scalp. I spent a moment panting, unable to process her words. Or move. Be honest. Her warm scent rose from her chest, enveloping my nostrils. I felt drunk. Her black hair fell, curtaining off our faces.

“How are you so perfect?” The whisper escaped my lips before I realized I’d spoken it aloud. She smiled, her blue eyes dreamy. She wrapped her arms around my neck. I risked a quick kiss. She flicked her tongue over my lip, returning the kiss.

My tongue met her lips, probing, seeking her tongue. The world around us both faded and spun…

Until Kalan, Hurin, and Zariv brought us right back to the reality from which we’d only just drifted. They cheered, patting me on the shoulder, then filled their plates.

“Get a plate before we eat it all and take a seat. The two of you can kiss later.”

I rolled my eyes at Kalan and returned Mell to her feet. She smoothed her clothes, cheeks bright. She smiled at me then filled herself a plate. I grabbed my own serving, and we all sat at the rough-hewn wood table.

“Mell, tell your man here there are better places to kiss than a stinking prison.” Zariv laughed at his own joke, stuffing half of an entire pel cake into his mouth. Mell chuckled. Hurin swallowed a mouthful of pafu stew and chimed in.

“I hear Nadan plans a special presentation about the Valley of the Ancestors where he tamed that… What did they call it?”

“A pteranodon. He plans to land the thing at the festival and tell new stories of your Ancestors, but his mate Janis is due any minute, so no one is certain if he’ll make it.” I smile. Thoughts I’d never had before dared to contemplate danced in my mind.

“Of course. Their child is most important. Nadan will have many days to teach. His child will be born only once.”

Mell looked at me and placed a hand over my own. “Apparently, Janis is furious she finally grew too large to train their pteranodon. I admire her. She had a hard time when we landed. I’m glad she’s happy.”

Hurin raised a glass.

“Let us toast!” We grabbed our cups.

“To what shall we toast, my friend?” Hurin stood, adopting a sober tone. He raised his glass high.

“To the wisdom of the Ancestors. To the golden power of the Bond. And to human women and how they’ve transformed our lives since they crashed their supposedly flying machine into our planet.” We laughed hard and loud, each joining the toast.

We fell into silence, enjoying the foods Mell brought us today. Once Kalan tasted the pel cakes, he ate about ten of them.

“These are the best pel cakes I’ve ever tasted.” Tears sprung to his eyes. He held his loud, gurgling stomach. “Oh, I have hurt myself.”

Mellida smiled. “I baked those this morning while you were still snoring.”

Hurin groaned then smiled at Mellida. “I bless you for your effort.” He fell into a cot set up in the corner. “I’m just going to lay here for a minute.”

We cleaned up our dishes and Mellida and I carried them to the cart. Taki huffed at us, then returned to her grazing.

I stacked the dishes in the cart and turned to Mell.

“Where were we earlier?” I grinned and picked her up again.

“It’s obviously your turn to kiss me.”

MELLIDA

Jarlath gazed deeply into my eyes. He held me in his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist. He leaned in close. With the gentlest of care, the massive D’Tali pressed his lips to mine. I melted. My lips parted, inviting him in and our tongues met.

I pressed my soft curves into his rock-hard body, twining my arms around his neck. One of his big hands cradled my ass cheek and squeezed. A soft, low moan floated from my throat. His tongue probed into me, caressing my tongue.

Our kiss parted. We panted together, reveling in our embrace. I leaned my forehead against his, stoking the back of his scaled neck. I wanted to touch his horns, but hesitated. I didn’t know if he would love it or hate it and I wanted him to love my touch.

What you want is Jarlath, Mell. Don’t start lying to yourself, now.

“Jarlath…”

“Mell.”

“We have to get the cart back soon.” Jarlath groaned.

“I suppose we should return to the castle.” One of his hands cupped my face. “Before Tika starts back without us.” I popped my head up like a meerkat. My eyes darted about.

“Where is Tika?” Jarlath spun about. Fifteen feet away, Tika plodded home. Jarlath grabbed my hips in two strong hands and tossed me over his shoulder.

“Eep!”

“Sorry, Mellida. Hold on.” Jarlath chased after Tika. My body bounced with his long strides. I squealed the entire way. Jarlath caught up to Tika and slowed.

“Ok, put me down.” With Jarlath’s help I slid down his front, laughing. I landed lightly on my feet.

“I run much faster than you, Mellida, with my long, D’Tali legs. I didn’t want Tika to get lost.”

I laughed harder, Jarlath smiling at me. I took his hand and we strolled, happy to match Tika’s casual pace.

Maybe it’s time to talk to one of the other human women who fell in love with D’Tali, Mell.

My gaze wandered around us. The D’Tali had begun to transform the city for the Ancestor’s Day festival. The day before, the buildings lining this street looked like a Medieval Earth village complete with an impressive castle, graceful bridges, and a wide, clean river.

Today, richly dyed panels of sheer, breezy fabric hung from every window. More panels hung from ropes anchored high on the buildings and stretched across the street. Gangs of small boys streaked through the streets and darted into alleys.

The D’Tali tied wide ribbons dyed in bright colors around their horns. The streamers fluttered, dancing in the breeze. D’Tali rushed into shops, stocking up before the shops closed for Ancestors’ Day. Tika bellowed at a passing numa. The numa shook its thick neck and huffed.

Jarlath turned to me, drawing in a ragged breath. “Whose turn is it?”

I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Turn to…kiss?”

He laughed. “As much as I’d like nothing more than to kiss you again, if we started again, we’d never make it back to the castle. I mean, which of us asked the last question?”

“I don’t remember. Let’s say it’s your turn so you can ask me the question in your head.”

Jarlath squeezed my hand. “Will…will you tie the Ancestors’ Day ribbons to my horns?”

“The way you say that… What do the ribbons mean?”

Jarlath smiled, a far-away look passing over his face. “The Ancestors’ Day story is one of my favorites.” His easy, genuine grin warmed my heart.

For the D’Tali, stories were their movies, TV shows, Netflix, cellphone, Kindle, and Facebook all in one. I thought it was quaint when we first came to Tahkath. Having lived here for the last two years though, I discovered a deep appreciation for new stories.

“Tell me, Jarlath. This will be a new story for me.”

“You didn’t hear it last year?”

I shook my head.

“No. I broke the heel on the boots I had and sprained my ankle. I spent the entire night in the infirmary.”

“So, this will be your first year? To see it all?”

“Yes. Now, tell me this story.”

He swung our clasped hands and drew a deep breath. “Long ago, in the Valley of the Ancestors, an evil warlord named Zolantath, The Crimson Terror, rose to power among the D’Tali. Zolantath coveted the beautiful Queen Jerah, the Good King Aelerik’s fated mate.”

Jarlath leaned down, bringing his face close as he lowered his voice. Memories of childhood campfires and sleepovers whispering ghost stories to friends in the dark flickered through my mind. I smiled, leaning into Jarlath’s strong arm.

“Zolantath gathered around him the most brutal of mercenaries and thugs, forming an army to rival the Good King’s own troops and marched on Good King Aelerik’s greathouse upon Tahk Hill. Zolantath’s army of brutal mercenaries and vicious outlaws surrounded Tahk Hill, riding giant numa.”

I shivered. “Terrifying.”

He grinned and maneuvered us around a loose cobble on the road. Tika shook her harness. I imagined the jingling of her tack were the sounds of the galloping numa across a wide plain. I imagined the sounds of the thundering hooves pounding into the earth.

Do I still call it earth if I’m millions of light years away?

Jarlath’s voice rolled over me. “Good King Aelerik’s people fled for the safety of the walls surrounding Good King Aelerik’s greathouse, the Crimson Terror on their heels.”

Jarlath crouched beside me as we walked, a villain in a vintage cartoon sneaking up on unsuspecting prey. I chuckled, hanging on every word.

“Good King Aelerik ordered the gates closed as the last of his people passed them.” Jarlath stood tall, waggling his eyebrow ridges at me. “For thirty-three days, Zolantath, the Crimson Terror besieged Good King Aelerik’s greathouse. On the thirty-third day, this day, Ancestors’ Day…the Good King challenged the Crimson Terror to a duel.”

A boy running head-first into my butt interrupted us. Jarlath lifted me out of the way before the three boys chasing him tackled.

“Didn’t I just tell you four to be careful the other day?”

The boys untangled themselves to a chorus of “Sorry,” and sped down an alley. Jarlath returned me to my feet and we caught up with Tika, who hadn’t bothered to wait. Tika was on her way home to a nice sheaf of hay. No one was going to stop her.

“Don’t mind them. Finish the story.” I slipped my hand in his and smiled.

Jarlath’s chest puffed up a little bit as he smiled. “Where was I?”

“The duel.”

“Ah! The Ancestors’ Day duel. Crimson ribbons are for the Crimson Terror. Gold, for the Good King, for his scales shone golden under the sun that day. White for the color of Queen Jerah’s gown, and green for the ribbon she took from her horns. Before the Good King rode forth, Queen Jerah tied her green ribbon to Good King Aelerik’s horns.”

“Who won the duel?”

“The Good King of course, the green ribbon streaming in the wind behind him as he rode down the Crimson Terror.”

“Good story.” Jarlath looked at me.

“Will you? Tie my ribbons?”

“I’d be honored to tie your ribbons.”

Jarlath’s chest puffed out further. “Thank you, Mell. You honor me.”

“How so?” We approached the Queen’s Bridge. My heart sank a little.

Soon we must part yet again.

“For a D’Tali, there are few greater blessings.”

“That’s beautiful, Jarlath.”

“Thank you, Mell.”

We walked in silence for a time, taking in the excited energy building throughout the city. From the castle’s high balconies, staff unfurled long rolls of fabrics to flutter and snap against the high walls.

The kitchen gate loomed ahead. As much as I loved my work, I didn’t want to part. Tika plodded up to her sheaf of hay and patiently ate while kitchen staff unloaded dishes from the cart.

Jarlath wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes, feeling golden warmth wrap around us. I lingered in his arms for a moment, then looked up. My eyes found his. I stretched up to the tips of my toes. He leaned down to meet me and our lips met.

For a short eternity, we lost ourselves in each other, kissing and tasting each other. Head spinning and heart racing, I pulled away.

“I have to get back to work.”

A happy smile crossed his face. “As do I.” His hand stroked my long hair. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring the ribbons.”

I giggled. “I can’t wait.”

We parted and I helped mix dough and bake loaf after loaf of traditional Ancestors’ Day bread. I worked hard mixing and kneading batch after batch of dough, covered in flour, and daydreaming about Jarlath’s kisses.

That golden feeling I’d felt growing inside…I wondered if that was the mating bond thing I’d heard some of the human women whispering about. What did mating bond even mean, really?

Sometimes Jarlath’s eyes seemed to flash gold. I heard a whisper here, or there, about the mating bond doing something to eyes, but was that what was happening with Jarlath’s eyes? I wished I had picked up more, but I hadn’t really hung around when the other women who crashed here with me talked about their sex lives.

I knew I felt drawn to Jarlath since the moment we first saw each other. His laugh delighted me. His kisses alone pushed the rest of the world away. I even liked his friends.

I should talk to the other women…but I didn’t know the others very well. Considering how fast the others were marrying the nobles, I kept my distance. I neither wanted, nor needed, some noble falling in love with me.

I was happy cooking and providing others with joy and sustenance. I never wanted to be some noble Lady, bossing people around—no offense to the other women. They had all been pretty great when we did interact. I just wanted a simple life.

I realized part of the simple life I wanted included Jarlath.

I was in love.

JARLATH

I rose early, heart in my throat. This Ancestors’ Day would be the first time Mell tied ribbons to my horns. I hoped it’d be the first of many. I smiled, jogging out of the Auxiliary Barracks gate an hour early. I pushed my way past throngs of revelers and shopkeepers setting up booths on the paths before their shopfronts.

A numa trundled by, pulling a cart piled high with red and white flowers. Soon these streets would fill with revelers, storytellers, fire eaters, jugglers, and musicians. Towering puppets meticulously constructed from canvas stretched over wooden frames gathered near the castle wall. In a few hours, teams of puppeteers would walk the constructions through the streets.

Streamers fluttered overhead from every window. Children streaked by, running errands. Piles of pel cakes and Ancestors’ Day loaves filled booths. Other booths roasted large haunches of pafu while others offered hearty haru pies filled with roasted chucks of root vegetables and dripping with gravy.

I drew close to my destination, the reason for my early day. I dodged a pack of musicians already drunk, laughing and stumbling about, then slipped into the shop. The proprietor, a blue D’Tali, scales faded with age, greeted me.

“Jarlath! So glad you stopped by.”

“Is it ready, Bratok?” My eyes scanned the wares filling his shelves, looking for my special order.

Bratok chuckled. “Your enthusiasm is endearing, Jarlath. Calm yourself but a moment longer.” Bratok turned and ducked under a curtain separating the shop’s public area from his shop in the back. I heard him moving things around and the crinkle of paper.

I leaned over his counter, trying to find a crack through which to glimpse the items I’d spent a chunk of my savings having Bratok create. Ducking under the screening curtain, wooden box in hand, he presented the box, placing it reverently on the counter before me. My trembling fingers stroked the smooth sides of the polished pallorawood box.

“Mates finding each other is always such a blessed event, I only feel grateful to help.”

I opened the lid of the box and gazed upon the gift. “Thank you, Bratok. Beautiful.”

He smiled at me. “Ah, it was my pleasure. Thank you for letting me be some small part of your joy and on such an auspicious day. May your love one day inspire new Ancestors’ Day stories.”

I laughed. “I’d make a magnificent puppet.”

We grinned at each other.

“Ah, the dreams of youth. Do tell me how she likes it?”

I closed the box, tucking it into my arm. “I will, Bratok. As far as I can tell, it is perfect, but what do I know of human things? Mellida will be the final judge of our efforts here.” We laughed, and with a wave, I stepped back out onto the street.

I shielded my eyes from the strong morning sun. The detour to Bratok’s shop changed my route to the prison enough I’d have to make the rest of my trek to work with the rising sun in my face. I dodged and wove my way through the packed streets, gift in one arm, the other blocking the sun.

As I neared the conjunction with my usual route, a shadow fell over the land. I lowered my hand with which I’d been shielding my eyes. Clouds had begun gathering along the horizon.

I hope it doesn’t rain.

Now able to see, I broke into a jog, arriving at the prison only five minutes late for my shift. I stowed Mellida’s gift with my other things in the office and attended to my daily duties. I walked down the corridors between the iron-barred cells. D’Tali in every color leaned on the bars, arms dangling through.

“Who wants to mop for Ancestors’ Day?”

Toc stepped up to his cell’s gate. “Here, Boss. Any chance to get out of here, even if it’s only to push mop.”

I gestured for Hurin and Zariv to cover me and I unlocked the gate. Toc stepped out and meandered over to the broom in the corner without a fuss. I locked the gate.

I waved Hurin and Zariv away and settled my back against the stone wall separating the cells. I settled in to keep an eye on Toc while he mopped the halls. Mell snuck her way into my mind. The pallorawood box sat on my shelf in the office. In it, the precious ribbons Mellida would tie to my horns and the closest approximations I could have made of the precious Earth objects I hoped would delight her.

Will she love them?

I sighed. Her bright eyes and shiny hair the color of a moonless night flashed through my mind. Memories of our kisses…her soft curves. A gobbet of spit flew at my boot. I swung my boot out of the way. The spittle plopped where my boot recently rested.

“Quit daydreaming about that filthy human.”

I pulled myself from my sweet contemplations to be greeted by Lomav’s disgust. I glared and turned my head to check Toc’s slow progress.

“You don’t need to look at me when I speak. It’s fine. Rude, but fine.” His fingers fiddled with the hem of the once fine tunic. Most of the D’Tali incarcerated here were simple troublemakers, petty thieves, smugglers from the docks and scoundrels.

I’d met a few like Lomav before.

“How can you stand all that hair?” Lomav shuddered.

Hezric sidled up. “You talking about those human women again, Lomav?”

Lomav turned to the grizzled Hezric.

“Vermin. All that scaleless skin… humans are obviously inferior to a proper D’Tali.”

Toc glared Lomav’s way. “Women are sacred, Lomav. You shouldn’t be talking bad about women.”

Lomav laughed. “Toc, Toc, Toc… These humans aren’t really women. They are just gross imitations of real women.”

“Shut your mouth, Lomav.”

I darted a gaze at Kalan as he approached us from the office-end of the hall. His eyes watched us all carefully. He looked at me. “Take it easy, Jarlath. Don’t listen to any of the numa excrement flowing out of that traitor’s mouth.”

I nodded my head and realized my fists had clenched, stretching the scales over my knuckles.

“I’m fine. Never expected a pile of numa excrement that tall to say anything worth hearing anyway.”

Lomav scoffed. When the traitor next spoke, scorn dripped from growled words wielded to gut. “There must be something deeply wrong with any D’Tali getting a hard cock over a filthy, hairy, vermin cunt.”

I exploded at the bars. Before anyone reacted, my hand flashed through the bars, clamping around Lomav’s neck.

A lazy, mocking laugh bubbled up through his throat. It took every ounce of willpower to keep from squeezing. My heart thundered in my chest. I realized hands grasped my shoulders and voices shouted at me.

Lomav’s eyes pinned mine while he laughed. Zariv spoke near my ear, words tumbling one over the next.

“Calm yourself, Jarlath. Nothing that slimy traitor says means anything. Let the guy go…” Even Toc stood at attention, ready to jump in.

I drew deep breaths.

“It’s time to fetch the lunch cart. You should go. See your girl…”

Mellida. Time to see Mellida.

I released Lomav’s throat one finger at a time. Hezric pulled him out of range. Without a word, I pushed Kalan and Zariv off me and walked out the door. Halfway to the kitchens and my beloved Mellida, my pace finally slowed.

I sought every beautiful memory of Mellida swirling in my head, trying to push away Lomav’s nauseating words. Her amazing smile. Her bright eyes so often filled with joy and mischief. The peaceful aura she generated when cooking.

Realization struck me, snatching the breath from my lungs. Mellida was my sanctuary, my comfort. Her soft way and easy laughs buffered me from the harshness of the rest of the world. I daydreamed of the day Mellida would accept the bond with me fully and we could start our life together.

I was ready for her. I was ready to laugh with her every day and sleep next to her every night. The possibility of sleeping next to her nearly knocked me over, but I stiffened my knees. I was close to the kitchens now. Soon I’d see my Mellida again.

Well, mine if she’d have me. The golden warmth strengthening in my core assured me she would. With each step, the golden glow intensified. The arc of the kitchen gate came into view. Under it stood Mellida, petting Tika’s neck. My heart swelled.

Had anyone been unfortunate enough to step between us at that moment, I would’ve run them over and not even noticed. Mellida’s smile filled my entire world. I ran the last few steps separating us and swept her into my arms.

She giggled. I held her close, nuzzling her neck, her natural perfume in my nostrils. I breathed deeply, losing myself in her scent. Her smooth arms encircled my head as her legs wrapped around my waist.

“Rough day?” Her voice fell on my ears like gentle, cleansing rain.

“I remember nothing before seeing you just now.”

Mellida giggled, drawing back. She smiled gently, her perfect lips irresistible. “I don’t care who’s turn it is.”

I kissed her. Her lips parted with a small moan. Our lips parted. We panted.

“I missed you, too. Now, put me down. We have work to do.” I let her slide down my body until her feet touched the ground, enjoying every moment.

“As you wish.”

MELLIDA

Jarlath and I followed Tika through the packed streets. Groups of D’Tali wandered from booth to booth, laughing as ribbons streamed from their horns. A particularly large D’Tali, even taller than Jarlath, walked by biting mouthfuls from a haunch of pafu, an Earth deer-sized creature, he carried in one giant hand.

I giggled. Sometimes when the giant D’Tali opened their giant mouths, I thought they looked like Terrence and Phillip from South Park. I sighed and squeezed Jarlath’s hand. Some things from Earth, I’d never be able to translate or explain.

“Tell me what you’re thinking so hard about, Mell.” I smiled at him while I decided how to respond.

“I just realized I think in your language, now. I can’t remember the last time I really used mine.”

“Would you like me to learn your language?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “No, no. Very sweet offer, but no. So many of those words don’t translate. Every animal is different, every plant and food. None of my references will make sense, and half of what I could talk about doesn’t exist here. And English is so hard to learn. D’Tali is fine.” He stroked my hair. I smiled up at him. “D’Tali is my future.”

Jarlath swallowed. We dodged a small gang of boys running somewhere. A couple of stray tayn, who looked a lot like reptilian Great Danes, trotted past Tika. Most complex life here was reptilian.

This is what Earth could have looked like—had that asteroid never killed the dinosaurs.

“What…what do you see in your future?”

Jarlath sucked in a breath. He blinked a few times before daring to dart his eyes my way. For a moment, I would’ve sworn Jarlath’s eyes glowed gold.

A trick of the light, that’s all…

“I think it’s my turn to ask a question first. You’ve asked me many questions in a row.”

I chuckled. “I have done no such thing, Jarlath. Face the truth. It’s time to answer.” His smile warmed me.

“I will, Mellida. But not just yet. Please bless me with your patience for a few hours more.”

My stomach fluttered. “Sure.” I squeezed his hand.

“For now, I beg you allow me one more question, Mell.”

“What is your question?”

Jarlath sucked in a great breath and took both my hands. His question surged forth.

“Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Ancestors’ Day Festival?” He held his breath, eyes wide, staring into my face awaiting my response.

I almost laughed. Tears stung the corners of my eyes. “Maybe.” Jarlath seemed to choke. “Joking. Of course, I will.”

He expelled all the air from his massive lungs. “What a relief! Thank you, Mell.” He leaned over, bringing my hands to his lips and kissed them. “Thank you.”

A suppressed laugh shook my belly and shoulders, setting the girls to jiggling. Those things had always seemed like more trouble than they were worth. Somehow, a boob always managed to get in the way of nearly any task.

Jarlath’s eyes darted to the motion and I swear, he whimpered before tearing his eyes away. Had I caught the eyes of anyone but Jarlath lingering on my breast, I would’ve slapped them. Jarlath…well, I relished his attention.

We walked in a happy silence for a while, enjoying the energy around us. Musicians began to set up on street corners and packs of wild boys ran by. Red capes flapped behind some. White capes fluttered behind others.

“What…what do you want, Mell? In your future?”

I looked up at Jarlath. He looked so…vulnerable. I thought for a moment.

How much of what I want do I dare confess?

“Good food. Laughter. Happiness. Time enough to weed my poor, neglected garden.” We laughed. Tika jangled her harness. I looked ahead. The prison building loomed close, heavy clouds gathering behind it.

I hope it doesn’t rain.

This festival was so special to him…and, because it meant so much to him, this festival was important to me, too.

Tika pulled to a stop at the prison stock tank and splashed the water before settling in for a long drink. Guards streamed from the prison gate, surrounding the cart. I tugged Jarlath’s hand. I pointed at a suitcase-sized trunk.

“Can you carry that to the office for me? It’s for later.”

“Of course, Mell.” He picked up the trunk in one hand. It had taken me two hands and some heaving to get into the cart in the first place. He took my hand in his other and we walked to the office. Jarlath placed my trunk in a corner near the shelves.

He walked up to me and smiled. His hand stroked my hair then cradled my face.

“As much as you want to kiss me, Mell, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait. I must help the other guards.” A laugh bubbled up.

“Who says I want to kiss you?”

“Of course, you want to kiss me. It is your turn, and I cannot kiss you again until you kiss me first.” The bubbling laugh reached a full boil and I cackled.

“I see. Well, you will simply have to finish your tasks so we can get down to business.” Jarlath winked and jogged out of the office to help the other guards.

Unlike most other days, Kalan and Zavik passed out basket after basket of Ancestors’ Day loaves before portioning out the rest of the meal. The D’Tali inmates were cared for, but rarely were they served sweets. Ancestors’ Day must be a real treat, between the pel cakes and now, the Ancestors’ Day loaves.

I’d spent hours mixing and kneading the dough for those loaves. I brushed each with a combination of numa butter, haru eggs, and refined dachu fruit which produced a sugar much like Earth dates. They had baked in banks of giant brick ovens till the sweet glaze turned a rich golden brown.

Flaky and delicate, I fell in love with the decadent loaves at the previous Ancestors’ Day Festival. The other women had brought them back to me, and then and there, I decided I had to get off my generous rear and learn to cook on this planet.

I glanced at the trunk I brought. In it lay a small leather pouch and a traditional white dress patterned after Queen Jerah’s from the story.

The dress had cost me a small fortune, as the tailor had been required to alter a D’Tali child’s dress pattern to fit my curves. D’Tali produced so few women, the tailor was forced to use an extra costume from a production of the traditional Ancestors’ Day play.

I had to give the tailor credit, though. He had been the first D’Tali tailor to accommodate the human women and we appreciated his efforts. I hoped Jarlath would appreciate our efforts when I changed into it for the festival.

I wiped sweaty hands on my trousers and peeked out of the office door. The guards had completed unloading the cart. Jarlath backed up while Hurin unlocked a cell door. Toc sauntered through, carrying a handful of loaves.

“Thanks, Boss.” Toc saluted Jarlath with a loaf.

“Yeah, well, you deserve something for mopping.”

“I even tried to do a good job. A little good luck for the holiday.” Hezric sidled up next to Toc. Toc handed Hezric a loaf. I couldn’t believe it, with as much as I’d seen them fight.

Jarlath smiled, waving at me while he rushed by carrying two vats of a D’Tali dish I can only describe as tasting like bacon mac and cheese. I had yet to learn that recipe. I waved him over. He placed the large pots in place and dashed over.

“Can I lock the office for a few minutes? I need some privacy.”

“Of course, Mell. Just open the door when you are done.” I smiled at him. Jarlath smiled and returned to his duties.

I pulled the office door closed behind me and turned the lock. D’Tali locks were intense affairs. Large and made of iron, any fantasy movie set back on Earth would die to have them. I tiptoed over to the trunk and carefully opened the lid.

I reached in and took the dress in my fingers. I didn’t recognize the soft fabric between my fingers, but I loved the way it shone under the light. I draped the dress over the back of the chair, slipped out of my everyday tunic and loosened the laces on my boots.

I sat in the chair and worked the heeled boots off my feet. I slipped out of my trousers, carefully putting my discarded outfit in the trunk, then took the new dress and slid it over my head. With a little wiggling, I finally got it over the girls and hips.

The dress hung a bit awkward as the back still needed to be laced up, but I could not complain about the plunging neckline. The fabric sparkled in the light and the skirt floated free and dreamy. I laughed, feeling like I was going to prom all over again.

I took the small pouch from the trunk, loosening the cord cinching the top closed. I fished my fingers in and pulled from it two, long, green ribbons. I quickly put my hair up with the ribbons. Ribbons and raven-wing black locks tumbled down my back.

I smiled. Now I needed a little help lacing this dress.

I crept to the door and peeked out. I hid as much of the dress as I could behind the open door. Jarlath turned, smiling.

“Can you give me a hand in here?”

MELLIDA

Jarlath trotted up to the office door. I backed up, still hiding behind it. He slipped in, staring at the open trunk. I closed the door behind me, twisting the lock. I spun to face him, arms crossed over my chest to keep the dress from falling off.

“How can I…” Jarlath turned to speak, but words failed him when his eyes fell on me, holding up the dress. His limbs stiffened and he froze.

“I need a hand.” I twisted, pointing to my bare back. Jarlath gulped. “With the laces.” His left eye twitched. He gulped, again. On legs of lead, Jarlath walked up behind me.

“Tighten it like the laces on a boot.”

Hands trembling, Jarlath slipped his fingers in the laces near the base of my spine. He pulled the laces, and the fitted waist of the dress tightened. He pulled each lace up my back till he reached the last at the top.

I smiled. The dress clung to my body. Jarlath tied the ends of the laces and stepped back, his pants audible. I turned slowly and looked up at him. Jarlath stood, eyes caressing each of my curves.

“How do I look?”

“Like every sweet dream I’d ever had.”

I smiled and leaned against him. I laid my hands on his chest and stretched up to the tips of my toes, my lips hovering a hair’s breadth from his.

“Good answer.” I kissed him.

Jarlath wrapped a strong arm around me, drawing me against him and my breasts jiggled where they peeked over the top of the bodice. With a growl, he kissed my neck.

Someone banged on the door. We both stepped back like teenagers caught under the proverbial bleachers. I giggled, giddy.

“Come on! Shift’s over and we want to get to the festival!” I rushed to the door and unlocked it. I opened it, stepping back.

Kalan looked down at me in a Queen Jerah dress and nearly fell down. Zariv and Hurin followed him in. “You look amazing, Mellida.”

“Stunning.”

“Wow.”

I grinned, drinking in the attention. “Thanks. Jarlath promised to take me to the festival, and I wanted to do something special.” Kalan took my hand.

“Mell, you are special every day.”

Each of the guards hugged me. I stowed the rest of my things in the trunk. Guards for the next shift arrived and fussed over my dress. Jarlath returned my trunk to the cart, and we followed Tika back onto the road.

In a clearing to our right, D’Tali stacked logs for that night’s bonfire. Children laughed and danced. Stray tayn trotted circles around the activity searching for dropped scraps. Teams of D’Tali placed the last-minute touches on stages and what looked like a wrestling ring.

We followed Tika as she plodded her course through the streets. New sights and sounds presented themselves to my eyes so quickly, Jarlath and I reached the kitchens before I even noticed. Jarlath placed the trunk in the corner of a dusty storage room until I could retrieve it later.

Thulid hugged me and insisted we go to the festival immediately and enjoy ourselves. We laughed and waved. Jarlath led me by the hand to the far side of the kitchen’s courtyard. His knees quaking, he pulled a pouch from his belt, loosening the closure with a finger.

He fished out ribbons in green, crimson, white, and gold. He tied the pouch to his belt then fell to one knee. Even on one knee, he matched my height. He presented the ribbons to me, breathing hard.

This must be so special for him.

I took the ribbons and tied them to his horns like I’d seen others tied. They streamed down around his red-scaled face as tears welled in his eyes.

“Thank you, Mell. I’ve dreamed of the day the woman I loved would tie my ribbons.” He leaned in and kissed me.

I wrapped my arms around Jarlath’s thick neck and lost myself in his passionate embrace. When we parted, I leaned my forehead against his for a moment.

“We better get to this festival, if we’re going.” He chuckled and returned to his feet. He offered me a hand. I slipped mine in his and smiling, we strolled back out of the town. The sun set and the D’Tali lit thousands of torches to light the way.

We made our way down the main street and over Queen’s Bridge. A loud cheer rose up behind us. We stopped, looking for the source of the celebrations. The huge puppet constructions I’d seen earlier swayed down the street. A massive effigy of the Crimson Killer seemed to walk towards us through the crowd.

As the Crimson Killer puppet passed us, I saw D’Tali underneath. Hands worked the puppet from below, moving large levers and poles. The Good King Aelerik’s massive puppet strode by next. We gasped in awe with the rest of the crowd.

We continued our trek, passing the onlookers. My tummy rumbled.

“I heard that. Let’s get a haunch of pafu!”

I chuckled. Jarlath’s enthusiasm infected me. “Sure. Can we find an ale, too?”

Jarlath grinned and pulled me to a nearby booth. “Two pafu haunches and two ales.”

I tugged on his arm and he looked at me. “I can’t eat an entire pafu haunch. I’m happy to nibble yours.”

“Oh, yes. Good point. Excuse me, shopkeeper? Make that one haunch.” The shopkeeper might have been annoyed had he not been so busy already. A few minutes later, we strolled down the street sipping our ales, the largest pafu drumstick I’ve ever seen in Jarlath’s hand.

His giant mouth ripped great hunks of meat from the haunch. I picked at it, pulling off a bit of meat while pointing at each new sight. The puppets caught up with us, passing us again. The puppet of Queen Jerah followed the Crimson Killer and the Good King Aelerik.

A skirt made of white blossoms hid most of her puppeteers. She looked like she floated along the street. Ribbons streamed from her raised hand, flapping in the wind. Heavy clouds blocked out the two red moons, but Queen Jerah appeared to glow against them.

We strolled our way down the street, passing the puppets’ slow advance. A sudden gout of flame shot in front of my face. I gasped and a firebreather bowed and spun away. Jugglers followed by gaggles of musicians playing D’Tali flutes and string instruments flourished by.

My ale tasted delicious and the pafu warmed my belly. Jarlath’s easy company made each moment bright and filled with laughter. I struggled with the thought, the concept, I belonged here on this strange planet.

We followed the crowd out of the city and across the grassy clearing. Jarlath tossed the stripped pafu haunch into a cart set up to collect festival trash. We tied the empty ale mugs to our belts by the handle and held hands once again.

We wandered up to what I’d thought looked like a wrestling ring when we passed earlier. In it, a D’Tali costumed as the Crimson Killer did battle against one costumed as the Good King Aelerik. Half play, half wrestling match, the Crimson Killer and the Good King enacted desperate battles to the cheers of the loitering crowd.

Near the bonfire burning high into the night sky, a band played. D’Tali beat drums, trilled on flutes, and strummed stringed instruments. The D’Tali danced around the band. One would dance into the middle, show off his moves, and dance away to cheers or jeers. When each dancer was done, another would jump in the middle and try to outdo the others.

“Would you like to dance?”

I laughed. “Yes, but I’m afraid I only know Earth dances.”

Jarlath’s handsome face smiled. “Teach me an Earth dance, Mell.”

I waved him close and arranged our hands.

“Ok, follow along.” We swayed gently, close together as I gazed up into Jarlath’s eyes. “My turn.”

I pulled his face down to me, stretching up to reach his lips. When our lips met, the world faded again. After a short eternity of Jarlath’s lips on mine, our tongues gently exploring and dancing, we came up for air.

“Look, Mell. The best part.” Jarlath pointed behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and gasped. The puppets had finally caught up. The Crimson Killer followed by the Good King and Queen strode across the flat plain. The Crimson Killer arrived at the bonfire first, but the puppeteers didn’t stop.

With practiced care, the Crimson Killer’s puppeteers aimed their charge directly into the fire. Flames licked up the puppet’s wooden struts and painted canvas. The bonfire roared, pulling the crimson effigy into fiery oblivion. The puppets of the Good King and his Queen Jerah followed the Crimson Terror to his fate.

“Wow!” As the word escaped my lips, the clouds broke. Torrential rains poured onto the fire, the festival, the various stages.

Rain. While I wear a white dress. Great.

“To the prison! It’s closest. We can wait it out in the office.”

I nodded at Jarlath’s shouted words. We ran across the clearing. Jarlath outdistanced me in moments. He doubled back, scooped me into his arms, and ran far faster than I ever could have.

JARLATH

I ran through the driving rain, Mellida in my arms. Her long, black hair plastered to her face. She clung to my neck in the white Queen Jerah dress she had worn for the festival. The ribbons Mellida had tied to my horns stuck to my neck and face.

We sprinted through the prison gate. Once inside the building, I carried Mellida’s shivering body into the office. I set her on her feet and turned to bank the fire, working to bring it roaring back to life. Mellida grabbed a blanket from the cot in the corner, wrapping it around herself.

Grokol, the night shift guard, strolled through the door. “What are you doing here?” He looked about, taking in the scene.

“Waiting out the rain. This was the closest shelter.”

Grokol nodded, eyes darting nervously about. “How about the two of you just make yourself at home till the rain passes and I’ll find somewhere else to be for a while?”

Mellida smiled up at Grokol. “That’d be very kind of you.”

Grokol bowed. “Anything for young love.” With a grin, he backed out, closing the door behind him.

Mellida shivered hard. Worry for her gnawed at my gut.

“Jarlath, I have to get out of this dress. It’s so wet, I feel chilled down to my bones.” She stood, walking up to me wrapped in her blanket. She turned, presenting her back, and dropped the damp blanket.

Fingers trembling, I worked the laces of her dress loose. My fingertips brushed the soft skin of her back. I moved her wet locks out of the way and to the side of her neck. I tugged at the last of the laces, loosening the entire dress.

I turned to give her privacy while she changed, desperately wishing to know every inch of her. The wet dress plopped on the floor and the blanket rustled behind me. Mellida laughed.

“You are safe to turn around, now.”

Drawing in a quick breath, I turned. Her Ancestors’ Day dress lay over the back of a chair near the fire to dry. Across the office table stretched a garment of a shape I’d never before seen. My head spun when I realized it must have been made to secure Mellida’s breasts.

My jaw worked, but no words came out. I scratched behind my elegantly pointed left ear.

“Are there any other blankets? This one is pretty damp by now, and cold.”

I blinked. “Yes. I will get more blankets.”

I rushed from the office, yanking the door closed. I retrieved every clean blanket from a storage room and ran back to Mellida. I presented her with an armful of blankets. She chuckled.

“Put them on the table, there.” I placed the blankets on the table. Thunder cracked outside. “Now, you get out of your wet clothes.”

I looked down and remembered I was soaked to the scales, too. Well, Mellida had skin and hair, not scales…very pretty skin. I realized all logic and rational thought had fled my mind as soon as Mellida asked for help with her laces.

She waddled her blanket-bundled form near the fire. One arm snuck out of the blankets and grabbed the iron poker and fussed with the fire. I turned from her and unbuckled my sword belt. I lay the belt on the office desk. I unbuckled my armor and deposited the pieces on a mannequin in the corner.

I stripped off my soaked tunic, wringing the water out into the trash can and lay it out to dry on the end of the office table closest to the fire. Mellida had the fire where she wanted it, plopped down, and unlaced her boots.

I removed my own boots, setting them next to hers by the fire. I grabbed a blanket and draped it over my shoulders before stripping off my soaked trousers and small clothes. I hung them over the back of a chair and wrapped the blanket around my waist.

I turned back to the fire. Mellida stared at me. Her gaze traced the contours of my arms, shoulders, and chest. She breathed a heavy sigh and waved me over. We sat shoulder to shoulder watching the fire dance and crackle.

Rain pelted the window. Thunder rumbled. Mellida turned to me. “My turn.”

She rose to her knees, taking my face in her hands and placed the softest kiss against my lips. Mellida’s kiss ignited my soul, tendrils of golden warmth enveloping us. I felt her next to me as if we shared a single soul.

My tongue parted her lips. Her tongue found mine. My arms wrapped around her and her blanket. Mellida’s hand on my chest pushed me back. My eyes darted to her face, terrified I’d done something wrong. I knew so little about human women, I worried I’d somehow offended or hurt her.

When my eyes found hers, I saw a smile and mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. She unwrapped her blanket, letting it drop to the floor. Stunned, I forgot to breathe. Before my eyes hung her full breasts, nipples peaked and crinkled.

“Breathe, Jarlath. Or this night will end in a different kind of excitement than I’m looking for right now.” Fascinated by the jiggle of Mell’s breasts every time she moved, I had no idea what she said, much less what she meant by her words.

“Uh huh.” She laughed softly and leaned in for another kiss.

“Touch me, Jarlath, before I die from wanting you.” Her kiss landed. She trapped my lower lip in her teeth and tugged. A deep groan filled my belly. Any resistance I may have had snapped. I slipped a hand behind her head and kissed Mellida deep.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

Small moans escaped her lips. I took one of her breasts in my hand. I slid my other hand into Mellida’s long hair. She wiggled in my arms till she snuck onto my lap, straddling me. My fingers found her perfect nipples and stroked them.

“Harder,” she whispered.

A little thrill shot up my spine. My cock filled and twitched, bobbing against Mellida’s leg. She giggled. I pinched the nipple between my fingers. Mellida gasped, then moaned.

“More…”

Panting hard, I pinched her nipple, tugging and tweaking. Mellida mewled little sounds of pleasure and bounced in my lap. I pulled my hand from her hair, taking her other breast, bringing her neglected nipple to my mouth.

I licked the hard nub, drew it into my mouth and sucked. Mellida moaned louder. She wiggled a hand between us and wrapped her fingers around my thick shaft. I groaned.

“Mell…” The perfume of her arousal reached my nose and I had to taste her. “Mell…” I freed her breasts, grabbed her by the hips and lifted her off my lap. pulling a few blankets down from the pile. I lay them over the rug beside the fire, and lay Mellida back on them.

“You are so perfect, Mell…”

I ran my fingertips from her neck down, over her full breasts and belly. She moaned, back arching. Her legs spread and I saw the source of her heady scent for the first time. I stoked a finger down her folds and through the honey leaking from between them.

I licked my finger. Mellida tasted delicious. I brought my face close, losing myself. She jumped when my hot breath neared her sensitive flesh. My eyes darted to her face, checking to see if I’d made a mistake.

She put her hand on the back of my head and pushed me into her pussy. I went to work. I licked her folds, spreading them wide with my fingers. Her dark little hairs tickled my nose, but I didn’t mind. Mellida moaned, hips writhing against my face.

I discovered a swollen little nub at the top and licked it, too. Mellida cried out, so I licked the nub again. Mellida’s moans and cries grew louder with every nibble. I circled my finger around her entrance then dipped a finger in.

Mellida tossed her head from side to side. When her hips weren’t quivering under my tongue, they’d arched in my face. She liked the first finger so much, I slid in a second. She thrust her hips on them, over and over, so I pounded them into her while my mouth played with her button.

Mellida’s cries became guttural screams. I clamped my lips around her nub and sucked. Mellida arched her back, a ragged scream tearing from her throat. Her inner walls clamped down on my fingers. Mellida’s entire body shook, then collapsed into my arms.

“Oh, God, Oh, God, Oh, God…” Mellida spoke unfamiliar words. I decided they must be English. Smug pride rose into me watching Mellida shake and quiver in my arms, knowing I brought her such delicious pleasure.

MELLIDA

I laid there, chest heaving, Jarlath’s beautiful face grinning smugly from between my legs. For a D’Tali who’d never known a woman, Jarlath caught on fast. Aftershocks from the mindblowing orgasm rolled through my body.

“Have I pleased you, Mellida?”

A laugh rumbled in my belly. Jarlath’s eyes bounced with my laugh-jiggled nipples. The memory of an old cat my mom had, who enjoyed watching basketball on TV, came to mind.

“Yes, Jarlath. That was an amazing orgasm. Not everyone can make that happen.”

“The part where you twitched and screamed and clamped down on my fingers?”

I blushed, yet still laughed. “Yes. We call that an orgasm.”

“At first, I worried I’d done something wrong, hurting you. I worry about that.”

“Well, bless you for worrying.”

“I have a gift for you, Mell.”

I propped myself on my elbows. “You do?” I wondered what Jarlath would’ve thought to get.

“Yes. You’ve given me so much already, I wanted to give you something special for Ancestors’ Day.” Jarlath pushed himself to his feet and retrieved a wooden box about the size of a large jewelry box.

He sat on the blankets facing me. I pushed myself upright, eyes never leaving the box. Jarlath placed it on the blanket between us. I reached for the box, but he covered it with a strong hand.

“The box is made from pallorawood. It is a new import from the Aetamian and highly prized for the dramatic grain patterns and colors.” He drew his hand away. “Please enjoy.”

“Wow, Jarlath.” I ran my fingers over the highly polished box, admiring the striations of deep purple, gold, and pale yellow.

“I went to the school and spoke to Camillia between her classes. I asked her to help me understand what gift I could give you. I took Camillia’s sketches to an artisan.”

He drew a deep breath. I opened the lid.

“Jarlath…” Tufted, velvet lining, dyed a deep red, cushioned a silver-handled hairbrush. Fingers trembling, I lifted the brush from the box. It was the perfect shape and size for my hair. “This is beautiful. Thank you.” I took it and stroked through the tangled mess my hair must have been by then.

“You like it?”

“Oh, Jarlath, it’s beautiful.”

“I am so relieved to hear that. Camillia asked me what I liked about you but stopped me before I could tell her all of the things I like. It’s a long list. She told me I needed to focus on one and let it be my guide. She said I had many reasons to give you gifts for all of the ways you enchant me.”

I laughed until I cried.

“I don’t understand why this is funny.”

I regained some measure of control over myself, laying a hand on Jarlath’s arm. “I couldn’t possibly explain in D’Tali, but trust me, my laughter is born in joy.”

“Mell? May I brush your hair. It is so beautiful. And soft.”

I offered him the brush. “Go slow, be careful, and take your time.”

I turned where I sat so he could reach my long locks. For a few silent minutes, Jarlath ran the brush through my hair. It felt amazing, like at the hair salon.

He sighed. “Your hair is so beautiful, I regret that D’Tali have none.”

I turned to face him. “You like it that much?” He nodded. “Well, maybe you can brush it again one day.”

“I’ll brush your hair every day you let me.”

I giggled. “You don’t worry you’ll find another girl later and decide you don’t like me so much anymore?”

He looked at me like I’d grown an extra head. “No, Mell. There will never be another woman. You are my mate.”

I fell silent. I wanted him to be right, but this fated mate thing was still strange.

“What does that mean? Really?”

“That we were made for each other. I felt the golden threads of the bond binding us since I first saw you. Didn’t notice my eyes flash golden?”

“Well, I thought it was a trick of the light or something.”

“It is no trick of the light, Mell. A D’Tali’s eyes flash in the presence of his mate, only.”

Jarlath is my mate.

“I’ll never leave you.”

He will be with me until one of us dies.

“I…I feel it, too, the bond.”

I didn’t know which of us started the kiss this time, but my lips were on his before I realized either of us had even moved. His big tongue explored my mouth. His hand slid into the raven-black hair he’d so recently brushed.

I threw my arms around his neck and crawled into his lap. Our tongues danced. One of his big hands grabbed a breast, stroking it, kneading it. Moans escaped my lips. His fingers found my nipple and began to play with it.

I loved it. I ground my hips in his lap, wiggling and writhing. Jarlath’s cock swelled, and I ground my clit on his shaft. Jarlath gasped. I pulled back to see his face. His head hung back, mouth open, eyelids fluttering.

I wrapped my fingers around his thick cock. For a moment, I wondered how I’d get that monster in me. I decided, success or failure, we’d have fun trying. I stroked him, examining every centimeter of Jarlath’s cock.

My fingers traced the big veins, the ridges, the swollen head. Jarlath shuddered and looked at me.

“Mell…”

I kissed him again. The world around us faded. All I needed was him. I lifted my ass, hovering above his thick cock head. I pulled back, gazing deep into his golden, glowing eyes. I lowered myself onto him.

The fat head of his cock pressed at my entrance. Juices from my throbbing pussy dripped onto his lap. His hand slid to my hips. With slow circles, I worked myself onto him, my inner walls stretching to their limits to accommodate him.

Until that moment, I never would’ve described myself as a size queen. Working Jarlath’s thick cock converted me. I’d never been stretched so wide or felt so full. I rocked my hips, inching him in deeper and deeper.

We both panted hard when I took the last inch of him into me. Gasping and moaning, I finally took his entire length.

“Oh, Mell, you feel so good.” His big hands gripped my generous ass, kneading and squeezing. As soon as I adjusted to his girth filling me up, I rocked my hips up and down his shaft. Jarlath moaned, his cock twitching inside me.

I rode him harder. Jarlath growled deep in his chest. I slammed myself onto him harder and harder. He roared, grabbed my hips and thrust his cock deep into me. Pleasure shot through my body. My clit throbbed.

With two fingers, I rubbed circles around my clit. Jarlath thrust his beast deep. My tunnel clenched around his cock. With a grunt, he pounded his cock against their grip. An orgasm tore through me. I cried out, my body shaking and going limp. My head hung back. I screamed through the pleasure, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Jarlath held my body and rolled me over onto my back. My back arched through an aftershock. My breasts bounced nearly into my chin. With a low growl, Jarlath slammed his monster cock as deep as he could go.

I cried out. The world outside of our joined bodies faded to nothingness. My pussy throbbed, building to another orgasm. Jarlath leaned down and took a hard, peaked nipple in his mouth. His tongue played with the sensitive nub, flicking over and around it.

He sucked, tugging and nibbling the sensitive flesh. He pounded one long stroke into me and I came undone. The orgasm broke over me, flooding my entire essence in pleasure. I cried out with each wave of the mindblowing orgasm. Wave after wave of ecstasy wracked my body.

Jarlath’s thick cock swelled and impaled me like a lightning rod drawing strike after strike of intense pleasure. His balls tightened and he grabbed my hips, thrusting his entire length into me. I cried out. Another orgasm crashed through me.

Jarlath roared, filling me with his hot seed. Golden threads wrapped us, weaving us together. I floated for a moment. We panted heavily, Jarlath propped on his elbows above me.

“I love you, Jarlath.”

He wrapped his arms around me, rolled to the side, and held me while we both came down. “I love you, Mellida.”

I turned, snuggling my ass into his lap and cradling my head on his meaty arm. He wrapped the other arm around my waist, careful to avoid my breasts. I chuckled, grabbed his hand, and brought it to my breast.

He grabbed a handful and snuggled his face into my neck. We lay there, spooning, floating on our happy, golden cloud for a small eternity.

I heard a crash and shouting outside the office door. Our heads turned and Jarlath tensed. New shouts and a few clangs later, he jumped to his feet and rushed to dress. I snagged one of the blankets and drew it around me, lurched to my feet and grabbed my dress.

The office door flew open. In the doorframe, torches flickering behind his smug expression, Lomav stood holding a spear.

JARLATH

A sadistic grin stretched across Lomav’s blue-scaled face. Mell stood behind me, wrapped in a blanket, clutching the Queen Jerah dress. I glanced at my armor draped over the mannequin in the corner. My eyes darted to my sword belt, wishing it were within reach. If I must battle King Dojak’s vile cousin naked, I wish I’d at least had a sword in hand.

“Don’t move, Jarlath.” He stepped into the office. Behind him followed Torkin, Markil, and Hezric. I didn’t know Torkin and Markil well. Neither had been incarcerated here long and had quickly gravitated to Lomav’s arrogance. Traitor or not, some were simply drawn to Lomav’s delusions of power.

“How did you get out, Lomav? Where is Grokol? What did you do to him?” Lomav laughed and waved behind him. Torkin and Markil turned, stepping out of the room. Hezric fiddled with a spear, half grin on his face.

“Bring the prisoner!” Lomav wallowed in the power he held over everyone in the prison. Torkin and Markil dragged Grokol into the office by his arms. He hung limp between them. They tossed him into a pile in the corner, his sightless eyes staring into nothing. Mellida gasped, turning her face away from the morbid sight.

“Poor Grokol. Tsk, tsk.” Lomav shook his head, lips twisting in mock pity. “He was just trying to get away from all the mammal’s grunts. Wandered a little too close to the bars… Pavil here, got an arm around his neck.” Lomav patted Pavil on the back.

Pavel looked at me, eyes set into pale green scales nearly as dead inside as Grokol’s. Pavel rivalled my own height but had never given me much trouble. I didn’t remember ever hearing him speak. Lomav’s irritating, mocking voice drew my eyes back to his face.

“After Pavil snapped Grokol’s neck, getting the keys was easy enough. No one really heard a thing over all the noise the two of you made. Sounded like you were fucking a barnyard in here with that animal’s braying.”

My blood ran hot. My heartbeat pounded my ears. My shoulders tensed, and my hands clenched over and over, wanting more than anything to get my hands on his neck. Mell’s hand on my arm stopped me. I looked at her, blinking through my red-tinted thoughts.

“Jarlath, don’t. He’s looking for an excuse to kill you.”

Lomav scoffed.

Mellida shot Lomav a cutting glare. “He just wants to make you so angry, you stop thinking and lose control.” My eyes darted back to Mellida. Her words made sense. My rage began to fade.

“Even your animal is smarter than you.”

Blood rushed in my ears. My eyes snapped back to Lomav.

“She’s not an animal, Lomav.” I glared at him, clenching and unclenching my fists.

“Poor, stupid Jarlath thinks this animal can love him, but she’s no better than a tayn in heat, rutting with the first cock she can find.” A deep growl rose in my gut.

“Don’t listen to him, Jarlath. Don’t let him get to you.”

I breathed hard, clinging to the sound of her voice.

“Pavel, please escort Jarlath here to the cells. It’s time we made our escape. I want to be gone hours before the next shift arrives.”

I spread my arms wide to protect Mellida behind me. Lomav laughed. Pavil, Markil, and Torkin stepped forward and fanned out.

“Jarlath, Jarlath, there are too many of us here. You may be a big man, but you don’t stand a chance against us all. You can’t protect your animal. But I do hope you try, so I will have the excuse to cut your ugly head from your shoulders.”

“Just go, Jarlath. I will be fine. Find me later, ok?”

My eyes darted to Mellida. Her bright blue eyes looked up at me, pleading, begging me to listen to her words. Fear warred with anger and guilt inside my chest. Rather than fear for myself, I feared for Mellida trapped in Lomav’s hateful company.

“Mell…”

A hard look passed over her face. I’d never seen Mellida furious before. A mean smile tugged at her mouth. “You have to stay alive to rescue me. Now, talk these jerks into letting me dress.”

My heart filled with such pride. Mellida’s inner fire burned as hot as a brick oven. She was fierce, but she was so delicate compared to the D’Tali. Through the golden threads of the bond between us, I felt her strength, her determination.

I sighed. I nodded, turning to Lomav. “Fine, Lomav. I’ll cooperate. I only ask that you give us enough time to dress.”

Lomav sneered.

“You can cover your disgusting, scaleless mammal, but you Jarlath, will stay as you are.”

My jaw twitched.

“Keep an eye on the weapons. Get them dressed and bring them to me. We’ll let them have a moment to lie to each other about how he’ll save her before we go.” Lomav left the room.

Torkin and Pavil followed Lomav from the room. Hezric found some numa cheese leftover from dinner and nibbled on it while searching the office for loot. Markil stayed, but averted his gaze.

Mellida handed me a blanket. “Hold this up so no one can see.”

I spread the blanket between my hands. Mellida dropped the blanket wrapped around her, pulling the now dry dress over her head. She wiggled it over her curves until the skirt finally fell in place. She turned her back to me. “Lace me up.”

I tossed the blanket to the side and cinched up her laces.

“I am so sorry, Mellida. I should never have put you in this kind of danger. We were having so much fun, and the rain and when that dress got wet, I saw everything and I just wanted to get you warm…”

She looked over her shoulder at me and winked. She spoke to me in a rushed whisper.

“Jarlath, we’ll talk about all of this later. Right now, I need you to listen. Don’t let him pick a fight with you. Ignore everything he says. He won’t kill you without an excuse, he likes torturing you too much.” Mellida sat in a chair and pulled on her boots, lacing them up.

“How do you know Lomav so well?”

Mellida blinked. “I don’t know Lomav personally, but I knew men on Earth very much like him. And I watched a lot of Criminal Minds.”

“Is that more English? Mellida, I don’t understand these words.”

Boots laced, Mellida stood. She patted me on the arm. “Don’t worry, it’s one of those Earth things I don’t know how to explain. Back to the point. Stay alive now. Find me later. I love you.” She stretched up on her toes, pulling me down to meet her. She kissed me till I quivered then patted my cheek.

I turned back to the guards.

“We are ready.”

The guards waved us through the door, following behind. I noticed my sword belt strapped to Lomav’s waist. Inmates raided the Guard’s Armory across the hall. My eyes darted from face to face.

Only a few of the inmates had been freed. Those who scoffed at Lomav’s hateful ramblings remained behind bars, banging bowls, demanding release. Lomav ordered the cell from which he had escaped open.

Pavil pulled Grokol’s rings from his belt and unlocked the cell door. He put a hand on my back and shoved me in. I spun around, but the door already clanged shut. Pavil locked the gate, a gleeful grin plastered on his sickly-yellow face.

My hands curled around the iron bars. My lungs drew in hard breaths. Seeing Mellida in her perfect dress, surrounded by Lomav-loyal scum turned my stomach. Lomav sauntered up next to her, inspecting her face, lips twisted in disgust.

“If this…thing were more than an animal, I’d let you kiss her goodbye, Jarlath. But she is just an animal.”

I glared daggers into him. He took her by the upper arm and dragged her through the prison door and out into the rain. The inmates he had freed followed behind.

Mellida looked back at me over her shoulder. When I lost sight of her, I thought my heart might break.

Silence descended upon the prison. None of the inmates left behind seemed eager to disturb me, as of yet. They remained in their cells. Lomav hadn’t freed them. In a matter of hours, a new shift of guards would arrive. Were any of them to take the opportunity to exact some measure of revenge upon me, next shift’s guards would make the rest of their incarceration torturous.

I tried to shake the immovable bars. Rage rose in me like molten rock. I gripped the bars hard enough to stretch the scales over my knuckles. The muscles corded in my arms. My shoulders trembled.

I felt her moving away from me, the anger pulsing along the bond between us thinning. Lomav’s mocking cackle rang through my head. I threw my head back and roared.

I took deep breaths, trying to pull my thoughts together. Chest heaving, I turned, leaning my back against the cold, iron bars keeping me from chasing that sniveling wretch Lomav, ripping out his throat and rescuing my sweet, sweet Mellida.

The rage began to drain away. I sighed, closing my eyes, and slid down the bars onto the cold prison floor.

Naked, I waited for the next shift’s guards to free me.

MELLIDA

Lomav pushed me ahead of him through the driving rain. The white dress I wore clung to my body, the water-logged fabric heavy. Torkin glanced my way, his shocked eyes wide as he noticed how the rain rendered my dress translucent where it clung to my skin.

With a grunt, he pulled his worn, filthy tunic over his head and handed it to me. “Cover yourself. I’ll find you something cleaner when we arrive.”

“Why do you even bother? She's an animal. Naked numa don’t shock our sensibilities.”

I glared at Lomav but refused to take the bait. I worked the filthy tunic over my head. It hung on me like it was fifteen sizes too large, but it covered the girls from curious eyes.

Do what you must so you can do what you want, Mell.

Our strange band trudged through the downpour. The weather reminded me of those documentaries about the monsoons in India back on Earth. The bonfire smoked in the distance. Bits of unburnt puppets, ribbons, streamers, and all other manner of festival detritus spread across the plain.

The rain ended any meaningful attempt at conversation, which was fine with me. I hoped to keep my head down enough to be forgotten. I had no intention of staying within Lomav’s grasp any longer than I must. I was determined to find a way, any way, to disrupt his plans.

Lomav found my bad side and he’d regret it.

With every step, I felt myself move further and further from Jarlath. Those golden strands binding us together grew more and more taut. Soon, I could still feel the golden warmth, but could no longer tell where Jarlath was. My heart sank. I wondered how he’d find me now.

Water streamed from the castle walls’ drainage ports. As far as I could see through the curtain of rain surrounding us, no one else moved. Lomav had made his escape in the early hours and Tahkath had yet to wake. We passed into the city and veered south.

Lomav led us into a back alley, setting a brutal pace for my shorter human legs. Lomav walked ahead of me. Torkin and Hezric flanked Lomav. Markil brought up the rear. We trekked along the sides, taking what refuge awning and roof overhangs provided.

We sprinted from cover to cover. Now, rather than the rain constantly pummeling our heads and shoulders, it only pummeled us in between. I couldn’t decide which was worse. I panted heavily as we ran. Kitchen work kept me strong, but my ass and legs burned running through a vertical river this long.

We sprinted across a side street to the mouth of another narrower alley. A sudden gust of hard wind slammed into us, funneled and compressed by the three-story high buildings.

Damn, this feels like a damn hurricane. Not that anyone here would even know what a hurricane was. Is it even a hurricane if this isn’t Earth?

Worse, even when I do find shelter from this weather, I’ll still be stuck with Lomav. Why did I have to travel so far to be stuck with people saying the same kinds of vile bullshit?

I worried I had finally lost my mind, considering how frequently I talked to myself these days. I couldn’t worry too long, because I saw an opening.

The D’Tali ran faster than I did. When we reached the alley entrance, they ran in, but I didn’t. I slipped down the street. I ran with every ounce of energy left in my legs. They’d already had a big day and I didn’t appreciate all the fucking running Lomav had made me add to it.

When I get my hands around his scrawny neck…

I heard no footfalls behind me and I’d hoped I’d successfully escaped. Then I remembered I couldn’t hear anything over the rain anyway. I dared not look behind me yet. Small rivers flowed downhill through the cobblestone streets.

I worried I’d trip. Had one of the cobbles been loose or missing under the water flowing through the streets, I’d never see it before I stepped in it and twisted an ankle.

Lightweight tables and wooden stools floated along like boats racing. A gust tore a bit of shredded awning and flung at me. I dodged, panting, and stumbled into a flight of steps at the entrance of a building. A set of stairs led to a basement, which might have been a good place to hide had it not been filled with water.

I pushed ahead on exhausted legs heavy as lead. A jumble of waterlogged detritus flowed around a corner. It slammed into my legs, barking my shin. A tangle of unidentifiable cords and ropes tumbled by the water into knots, caught on the toe of my boot. The mass washed up under my foot, tangling around my heel.

I fought to remain upright against the force of the water while untangling my boot. I tried to wiggle my fingers between the tangled strands of cord, but a sudden gush of water jerked them tight. I feared the cord would sever my finger, but the water relented long enough to pull my fingertips free.

Big hands grabbed my shoulders. I screamed, looking around, eyes wild. Pavil loomed over me, muscles rippling over his scarred torso. He jerked me up by an arm, wrenching my still tangled leg.

“Stop pulling, you monstrous oaf!” I slapped at the hand which squeezed my upper arm so hard I felt the bone creak. “I’m tangled! My boot is caught.”

Pavil pulled a knife from a sheath tied at his thigh. He released my arm and grabbed my leg. With the knife he cut and sawed through the mass, pulling cord after cord from my boot. He severed the last, and the water whipped the entire mass down the street.

My other captors caught up, marching through the water far more easily than I. Exhausted, my knees trembled. My chest heaved. I pulled long, limp strands of hair from my eyes. Lomav leaned in close.

He grabbed my neck, sneering in my face. “The next time you run, animal, I’ll have them put you down.”

I glared at his vile face. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

Lomav slapped me across the face. My cheek stung. Anger roared to life in my gut. Lomav’s followers jumped. Silence rang louder than the slap had. He waved at Pavil. “Carry her. She can’t keep up.”

Pavil grunted, turning my way. “Don’t give me any trouble.”

I shuddered but was too exhausted to do much more. Pavil grabbed me by the waist and threw me over his shoulder. I propped my head on my hands, elbows braced on Pavil’s back and the group returned to the alleyways.

We trudged through more turns than I’d kept track of. I wondered how so many people followed such a vile little toad. Then again, I didn’t know why so many people back on Earth followed horrible men either.

What had felt like a hurricane earlier calmed to a mere downpour. I looked around, realizing I didn’t recognize this part of the city. Paint peeled from the buildings around me. Compared to the well-kept portions of the city, I could only describe the buildings past which we traveled as run-down shacks.

Pavil slowed. I twisted, trying to see where we were, but Pavil pulled me off his shoulder and set me on my feet. My exhausted legs wobbled under me. I worried I might collapse until Markil offered a steadying arm.

Lomav knocked on the worn, wooden door of one of the shacks. My legs strengthened during the wait. The door opened a crack and Lomav pushed his way inside. Torkin, Markil followed Lomav in. Pavil’s hand on my back encouraged me to follow next. He shouldn’t have bothered following me in. My legs were in no condition to make another run for it.

Yet.

“Hello, Kurn.” A sadistic smile stretched Lomav’s face. He advanced on a remarkably short D’Tali. Kurn’s green scales had faded with age and one of his horns had been broken.

Kurn cringed, backing into Pavil’s mountainous frame. “Uh hello, Lomav. Haha, I thought you were in prison…”

Lomav leaned close and hissed. “Just got out, looking to say, ‘Hello,’ to an old friend…” Kurn gulped, running into Pavil. His head whipped between Lomav and Pavil.

“So… You stopped by, haha. How…kind.” Kurn trembled, hand drawn up to his chest. His trembling hands rubbed each other.

“Now, you don’t mind putting me and my boys here up for a while, do you?”

“Uh no, of course not, Lomav, heh.” Lomav patted Kurn on the back, smiling mere inches from Kurn’s face.

“Excellent, because I seem to remember a debt you owe me…”

Kurn drew in on himself. His eyes darted around the room.

“Anything I can do, Lomav. I’m happy to repay the favor.” Kurn cringed, face averted from Lomav’s.

Lomav leaned in, drunk on Kurn’s submission. “Good.” Lomav retreated, finding a chair. He unbuckled Jarlath’s sword belt, leaning it against the wall behind his chair. He sat in it like a King on a throne holding court. He turned his gaze to me. “Someone, secure this animal so it doesn’t wander away, again.”

Pavil grunted, grabbing some rope from a pile in the corner. With a sigh, I held up my hands. Dark, dead-eyed look inscrutable, Pavil tied excellent knots around my wrists.

“Thank you for not tying it too tight.”

Pavil grunted in response, then led me down a hall. He opened the door to a small storage room, not much larger than a nice, walk-in closet. He pushed me in.

“These clothes are soaked. Think you can find something to help?”

Pavil grunted again and closed the door. I looked at my new cell with a sigh. I leaned my back against a crate and slid to the floor, my legs splayed to the sides.

I drew in a deep breath, fighting the exhaustion of the day. Now out of the rain, but still in wet clothes, I shivered. I squeezed my eyes shut, about ready to have a damn good cry, when Pavil opened the door again.

In his arms he held a clean towel, blanket, what I hoped was a dry tunic, and a pillow. From his arm dangled a waterskin. He plopped the load atop a nearby box.

“None will disturb you for a while.” He left, closing the door.

JARLATH

I sat, naked, locked in a cell. My back leaned against the cold iron bars, my arms propped on bent knees. Lomav had taken Mellida and I couldn’t do anything to stop him. I hadn’t been able to keep Mellida safe. I rubbed my eyes, fighting the self-loathing thoughts swirling through my head.

Mellida had done nothing but bring joy since I met her. She worked hard in the kitchens helping to feed the bustling castle, the prisoners, and the guards. She brought light and laughter and good company everywhere she went.

She’d made friends with Hurin and Zariv and Kalan. She showed kindness to the imprisoned men, helping the newly freed to find their feet. My heart swelled with thoughts of her. The golden warmth inside my chest glowed.

I hoped she felt my love all the way from here. I didn’t know how the bond worked or what its limitations were. I didn’t know if she felt me, but I sent her all my heart just in case.

Toc strolled up. My eyes darted to him. My height and just as wide, Toc cut an imposing figure. He leaned back on the bars next to me and slid down. We sat in silence for a moment. Toc tossed a set of polished Haru bones carved in old runes on the floor between his knees. He inspected the bones, gathered and threw them again.

“Don’t try anything.”

Toc shook his head. “The next shift will be here any minute. Wouldn’t be real smart to start trouble now.” I looked at him. “I told the boys you’ve been a decent guard.”

“I see your buddy Hezric left you behind.”

Toc shook his head. “Don’t have any reason to be out there with Lomav. Don’t much like what he has to say. All the women I’ve known are my mother, my aunt, my grandma. Like most of us, I never had much hope of finding a mate. Mellida is nice enough. Don’t see the point of hating humans.”

“I got lucky. ‘Til Lomav took her.”

Toc looked at me. “Well Boss, when those guards arrive, you must find her. Finding a mate is a sacred thing. The human women bring hope to all D’Tali.”

“Lomav would disagree.”

Toc shrugged. “Lomav is a small man in love with causing pain. He doesn’t really care about humans, he just enjoys being able to hurt others and twist their hearts.”

“You sound like Mellida.”

“You are a fortunate man, Jarlath.”

The squeal of the prison’s front door made me jump. I got to my feet as quickly as I could, gripping the bars. Hurin walked in.

“What?” His eyes darted around at the chaos left in Lomav’s wake.

“Hurin! Open this gate. Get me out of here.”

Hurin looked at me, eyes wide. “What happened? Why are you even here?”

“Let me out of this cell and I’ll tell you everything.”

He walked over, keys in hand. Kalan walked in, followed by Zariv.

“What happen…”

“Kalan, Zeriv—Lomav escaped. When it started raining at the festival, Mellida and I ran here to wait it out.” Hurin unlocked the gate, letting me step out, and closed the cell behind me. I ran for the office and grabbed my trousers.

“Grokol stepped out to give Mellida and I some privacy since we were soaked and drying our clothes. Somehow, Pavil got ahold of Grokol, snapped his neck and stole his keys. Lomav ran off with Mellida. Hezric, Pavil, Markil, and Torkin escaped with him.”

I pulled my tunic over my head, grabbing my boots.

“Woah.”

“Looks like they raided the armory, too.” Kalan looked around, straightening the room.

“Lomav took my sword.” I sat in a chair, pulling on my boots and lacing them.

“Someone needs to inform Captain Drevok. I’ll take full responsibility.”

Zariv groaned. “King Dojak will be furious when he hears.”

I shuddered.

“I’m the reason Grokol was out there. The king can have my horns after we find Mellida.” I stood, grabbing my armor from the mannequin in the corner. Zeriv’s eyes snapped to me.

“Zeriv, you find Captain Drevok. Tell him what has happened and that I’ve gone after them.”

“You’re going after her now?” he asked.

I nodded, pulling my chain shirt over my head.

“Zeriv runs fast and Captain Drevok will be here soon enough. He’ll know what to do and can call in men from the barracks to help us search.”

I shook my head. “They left close to two hours ago. I don’t know what he wants with her, but I don’t want her in his clutches any longer than necessary.”

“We’ll go with you.”

I buckled on the last pieces of armor. “No. One of you has to stay, guarding the prison.”

Kalan popped his head into the office. “I’ll stay. Zariv, get out of here already. The sooner you return, the sooner we can get this mess sorted out.”

“Shouldn’t you wait for backup?” Zariv’s eyes darted between me and Kalan. “We can have a squad here from the baracks in no time.”

I shook my head. “Lomav would know we were after him and where we were if we took so many with us. It’s better if I go alone.”

“Lomav took men with him, Jarlath. You’ll be outnumbered.”

“Zariv, I’ll be fine. Eventually, Captain Drevok will begin a search, too. I’m hoping, maybe, I can find things and ask questions no one will tell Captain Drevok or soldiers.”

With a great sigh, Zariv nodded. “Very well, my friend.” He clasped my hand. “Find Mell. We’ll handle the rest, even if King Dojak demands our horns for it, too. Mell is precious, and the bond is far too sacred to lose her now.”

“Thank you, my friend. I’ll find her.”

Zariv smiled and trotted out of the prison. I strode from the office to search the armory for a sword I could use.

Hurin followed me. “So, what do you need me to do?”

I sighed, turning to him. “Let me borrow your weapons? We’re close in size.”

Hurin nodded. He unbuckled his sword belt and handed it to me.

“Thank you. I’ll get them back to you.”

He untied the knife from his thigh, passing it over. I took it and strapped it to my own thigh. “Don’t worry about that, Jarlath. Just bring our Mell home.”

I patted him on the back and he handed me the knife from his boot. I strapped the knife’s sheath to my ankle.

“Hurin, after this go to the gate guards. Lock down the city. One way or another, Lomav won’t get away from me.”

“I’ll go, but I think you need to wait for backup.”

I turned to look at him. “I wish I could, Hurin. I wish I could.”

Hurin sighed. “You’ll need a cloak or everyone will know you are one of the King’s guards on sight.” He turned on his heel and marched back to the office. A moment later, he returned with a dark, heavy bliqqawool cloak. He handed it to me.

“Thanks, Hurin.”

He shrugged. “Find her.” We clasped arms.

“I will.”

Hurin nodded. “I’m off to the gate. Take care.” He turned, jogging out the prison door. I followed him.

“Jarlath…”

I turned back to Kalan. “Don’t let Lomav get to you. He enjoys it too much.”

I laughed. “You sound like Mellida.”

Kalan grinned. “Then you are a fortunate man.”

“So I hear.”

I left the armory, walking toward the door.

“Boss?”

I turned to look at the cells. Toc stood there, hanging from the bars.

“What do you need, Toc?”

“Take care out there. Lomav has more supporters out there than you may think.”

“Any idea where I should start looking for them?”

Toc shrugged. “I’d head south.” Toc turned and strolled away.

“Thanks.”

I flung Hurin’s cloak around my shoulders and strode out into the rain. On the horizon, a wan sun struggled to rise. A thick bank of thunderheads roiled, slow, inevitable. The bond’s golden glow settled deep in my gut. I knew Mellida was still alive, but she had traveled too far from him to tell where she might be.

Memories of Mellida’s touch, her easy laugh, haunted my mind. Her humor and the feel of her soft skin under my fingers…I shuddered to think what she must be enduring at this moment.

I trudged through the rain, stepping over broken bits of things the wind had ripped from the city and dropped out here on the plain.

That must have been one wild storm.

I imagined Mellida trudging through the deluge, fierce winds whipping her, Lomav dragging along by her beautiful long hair. I remembered the way her hair flashed in the light of the fire, her head thrown back in the throes of passion.

Rage reignited in my blood. The few other people out at this time of day gave me a wide berth as they passed. Heat and menace radiated from me.

I must look like death. I feel like death incarnate.

I took a deep breath and pushed my rage away. Rage wouldn’t help me find Mellida. Rage wouldn’t help me save her. Radiating menace certainly wouldn’t help me blend in.

I wondered where to begin my search. Perhaps at the wall gate. Would anyone have even looked with the storm? Toc had told me to head south.

How far south? Where do I begin?

THE FABRICS IN CRIMSON, green, white, and gold the city’s people had draped yesterday in a beautiful celebration hung wet and limp, plastered to the walls. Discarded ribbons and wrappers from the Ancestors’ Day Festival floated down the cobble streets on temporary streams. The streams ran dark with the collected soot and dust of civilization.

Ancestors, let this rain wash us clean.

When I reached the main gate, I turned south. Each moment I hoped that golden glow inside would tell me I had found her, but I hoped in vain. I passed through street after street as the city woke, searching for some sign of Mellida.

Not certain what even to look for, since Lomav was unlikely to have advertised his presence, I began asking random people passing by.

“Have you seen a human woman around here?”

The purple-scaled D’Tali looked at me like I had lost my mind. “No? Aren’t they all at the castle?” He turned back to his business and I moved on.

Would they even be on the main streets? Would I if I were them?

Doubtful.

I turned into an alley on my right. A stray tayn chuffed at me in surprise, then sprinted away. As I moved further south through town, the buildings looked grimier. More trash stuck in the corners of the street. Rain plastered discarded paper over steps and piles of discarded items.

This was the poorer, rougher part of town. The people who lived here worked for low wages and rarely had the means to keep up repairs on buildings or replacing broken windows. No one here had the money to scrape off old, peeling paint when they weren’t certain they’d have the money to eat.

A boy stared out a window. He leaned his head on his chin, watching the rain that kept him inside.

“Boy. Did you see a human woman come by here this morning?”

Bored eyes swiveled over to look at me. “All I’ve seen is rain.”

I sighed and moved along. It seemed like boys ran everywhere in this town. One would think one of them would’ve seen a human walking around here. I came out of an alley into a small, low-rent market.

Shopkeepers wearing dingy tunics and worn trousers puttered about under awnings watching the rain fall with little hope of business.

I saw a bakery and my belly rumbled. I realized I hadn’t eaten since yesterday at the festival with Mellida. My heart clenched. I stepped into the bakery and a cloud of yeasty warmth.

The old baker, a D’Tali with faded orange scales, looked up with a smile. “Welcome traveler. I haven’t seen you here before. What brings you down this way?” His hands kneaded and beat a round of dough.

“Well met, baker. Two things. First, I smelled your bread all the way out in the rain and realized I skipped breakfast.” I scanned the loaves piled on the shelves behind him. He plopped the dough into a bowl and covered it with a damp cloth.

“I can certainly help you with your first concern.” He wiped flour from his hands. “I have some timmaw egg and Lukadian vap pies topped with a numa cheese in a flaky crust.”

“Sold. I’ll take four.” My mouth watered and my belly grumbled.

“What was the second thing that brought you our way?” He slid four pies from a stone warming oven. He grabbed a tray, plopped the pies on it, and tossed in a spoon for good measure. He smiled and slid the tray across the counter.

“I’m looking for a human woman.” I took the tray of pies to a small table and chair and sat down. I grabbed the spoon and attacked the pie. The baker whistled.

“Human women. Don’t see many of those down here. Don’t see why any would want to come this way.”

I swallowed the last bite of the first pie. “She honestly didn't want to come this way. She was in some…rough company at the time.” I dug into the second pie. It was a good pie but I was certain Mellida could make better. I pointed at my head. “Long, black hair. Bright blue eyes. A laugh to capture your heart. She loves to cook.”

“Ah… So, she’s your mate?”

I looked up at him. I knew I looked raw, desolate. I nodded. “Yes. Yes, she is.” I fell silent, but for the third pie going down my throat.

“She loves to cook, you say?”

“Yes. Delicious food.” I watched him, hopeful he’d know of a way to help, give me a clue, anything.

“I have never met a human woman. What are the humans like?”

I leaned forward. “Help me find her and after I rescue her, we’ll return and you can meet her yourself.” I dug into the fourth, and last, pie, awaiting the baker’s response.

He leaned back in his chair for a moment, rocking it on the back legs. “Few jobs require one to wake as early as a bakery.” He scratched the bridge of his nose. “My hangup here, is my worry certain…people may find out I helped you. Then where would I be?”

“I swear nobody will know. This conversation never happened.”

He nodded. “Well, I’d suggest starting in the docks and surrounding areas. Maybe hit up the Rusty Bucket.”

I raised an eyebrow. “The Rusty Bucket?”

The baker nodded. “It’s a tavern down by the docks. If anyone has seen a human woman hung over the shoulder of someone who looks like they just walked out of a prison, someone at the Rusty Bucket will know.” He looked at me. His eyes told me his words were not flippant or idle.

“A human woman thrown over a shoulder, huh?”

The baker nodded. He gathered my empty dishes and I thanked him. I put a generous stack of coins on his counter—probably more than I needed to.

He called out to me before I stepped back out into the rain. “Take care.”

I nodded, smiling, and continued my search for Mellida. I asked a few more random people as I wandered through the maze of spall streets and alleys. I stopped a drover lazily tapping the end of a crop on the hind end of an entirely unimpressed numa.

“Have you seen a human woman come through here?”

The drover sneered. “I ain’t seen no human women ever. I heard they was all at the castle.”

I sighed. “Thanks, anyway.” The drover poked his numa’s shell again and the numa trundled along. I noticed a tall figure, cloaked against the rain. He strolled down the street.

I’m just being paranoid.

I turned and made my way to a cheese shop. Mellida told me many Earth mammals produce milk and that humans make thousands of varieties of cheese. We D’Tali had only numa cheese, but I knew Mellida loved it. She told me it reminded her of the best part of the life she left behind.

I pushed open the door and stepped into a room stacked to the ceiling with cheeses in every variety and color.

“Welcome. What can I get you?”

I scanned the cheeses, not really seeing any of them. “I need a good, sturdy cheese that will last me a couple of days.”

The cheesemonger smiled and chose a round of cheese coated in red wax. “This is your cheese right here.” He patted the round.

“Not too footy?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Nice sharp bite, melts well.”

“Sounds like just what I’m looking for.”

I handed him a few extra coins and leaned into the counter. “Have you by any chance seen a human woman around here lately?”

The cheesemonger’s eyes went wide. He gulped a few times, eyes darting between me, the door, and the extra coins in his hand. I added another coin to the others.

“Uh, uh, if I did, I certainly don’t know where they went or where they are now.”

I nodded my head. He might not be willing to give me specifics, but he saw Mellida.

I’m on the right track.

I nodded, thanked him for the cheese and went on my way. Carrying a large wheel of cheese in one arm seemed to put the people on the streets around me more at ease. Now when they looked at me, they’d just see a man about his business in the city and not a big man in armor asking around after a human.

The nerves on the back of my neck tingled. I looked behind me. The stranger who I’d thought was watching me earlier stepped out of an alley. I turned into the next alley I came across, then took a sharp left and the second right. I slipped into a shadow where two buildings met and waited to see if the stranger still followed.

Within minutes, he appeared at the alley entrance. He stopped, looking around, trying to decide where I may have gone. He stepped into the alley where I hid. Steps slow and careful, he approached. I couldn’t make out the face hidden within a deep cowl.

His steps brought him almost within range.

He stopped, searching for a hint of me.

“Take care asking so many questions, friend.” He took another step forward, but not close enough for me to attack. “Never know how far your questions may travel in a place like this.”

I hoped he couldn’t hear my heaving breaths over the rain pelting our heads, but he turned my way.

He threw back his dark, heavy cloak and rested a hand on the pommel of his sheathed sword.

“Keep asking questions like that and you’ll start getting the wrong kind of attention, if you know what I mean.”

MELLIDA

As soon as Pavil left the room, I pushed the largest crate I could find in front of the door. I doubted it’d keep anyone out for long. I hoped at least the noise of anyone trying to force their way into the room would warn me.

I looked down at the rope tied around my wrist. I wiggled my hands, collapsing my thumb into my fingers. I’d always been flexible, and I had picked up this trick in the sixth grade playing with some handcuffs. My best friend at the time had been Sally Potts and she stole the cuffs from her daddy who was a police officer.

I had thought it great and slightly naughty fun at the time. I never thought I’d be using the trick to get out of wet ropes on an alien planet. Well, c’est la vie, as the French say. Millions of lightyears away. Focus, Mell.

I wiggled one hand, then the other. A few minutes later, I slipped my left hand out of the ropes. Without both hands to keep them taut, the ropes fell off my right hand. I rubbed my wrists, massaging my left thumb which had done the hard work. As soon as the soreness faded, I turned my attention to my waterlogged clothes.

I managed to shuck off Pavil’s disgusting, drenched tunic after a short struggle, tossing it in a corner near the door. I didn’t want the thing, and I couldn’t imagine Pavil wanting it back either. My dress dripped a puddle on the floor.

After some maneuvering, I managed to get my arms into a position to loosen the laces of the dress and shuck it off, too. I twisted the excess water from the dress and hung it over a clean-enough crate.

Wanting to dress as quickly as possible and avoid any awkward situations, I grabbed what turned out to be a clean tunic over my head. It had been made for a teen-sized D’Tali and hung to my mid-calf, but the fit wasn’t terrible around the top.

I shrugged and moved on to my soaked boots. I loosened the laces and pulled from my boots feet wrinkled from hours of wet. I set the boots aside, hoping they’d dry before I had to put them back on. I’d just had them made and loathed to ruin them so soon.

humans couldn’t shop for shoes off the rack here. Every shoe must be handmade by a cobbler. I never appreciated the value of custom shoes till I had my first pair made. This pair had kept me on my feet through long days already.

I looked around the room and sighed. Light streamed in from a window far out of my reach. I looked for boxes and crates I could stack, but most were too large or too heavy for me to lift. I decided to save my strength. Maybe I could maneuver my way out of this…not that I had a lot of other choices.

I grabbed the blankets and pillow and crawled into the corner of the room furthest from the door. I snuggled into my nest and dozed. I didn’t want to fully sleep, but my exhausted body demanded some measure of rest.

Sometime later, the sound of the door catching on the crate woke me. I heard Pavil curse through the door. I rubbed grit from my eyes and stood. Though I was still tired, what little rest I had managed refreshed me some.

I pulled the crate back out of the way and Pavil shoved his way through the door. He glared at me, noticing my lack of bindings.

“It was really hard to change clothes tied up.”

He blinked at me, shook his head and stepped into the room. He half-turned his face back to the door and spoke at an unnecessarily loud volume.

“If you promise to be good, I’ll untie you.” He raised an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged. “I promise to be good.”

Pavil rolled his eyes. I shrugged at him again.

With a sigh, Pavil waved me over. “Come get some food.”

My belly rumbled. I realized I hadn’t eaten anything since the festival with Jarlath the day before. Pavil turned and I followed him out into the room where Lomav sat upon his makeshift throne.

I kept my head down and stayed quiet, listening to the conversations around me. Pavil stopped at a large iron cookpot dangling from a chain over the fire. I sniffed. It smelled palatable enough, if not good. Pavil handed me a bowl and a spoon, and I took a quick taste.

A little bland, but edible.

I ladled a portion into the bowl made for larger hands. Pavil pointed to a chair near the storage room door. With great care, I carried the big bowl of steaming, brothy soup over and settled into the chair. The wistful memory of eating phở with my friend Meghan in high school rose in my mind, to be quickly pushed away. Not here. Not now.

I sipped my soup and listened to the traitor hold court.

“How soon can we move to the warehouse?”

Pavil shrugged. “Shouldn’t be too long. Markil is making the arrangements now with our guard.”

Lomav’s ears twitched. “And you are certain the guard will let us pass through and not raise an alarm?”

Pavil nodded. “He has a weakness for Aetamian ale. Hard to come by, but Markil is arranging the delivery.”

Lomav shrugged. “What is a barrel of Aetamian ale to me? A small price to pay.” Lomav leaned in, eyes gleaming. “And my supporters, what of them? Do they answer my call?”

Pavil nodded his big, yellow-scaled head. “The message to gather went out as soon as we arrived here.”

Lomav cackled, rubbing his hands together.

“Excellent, Pavil, excellent.” He cackled louder. “Won’t Dojak be surprised when my army has him on his knees at my feet.” Lomav leaned back into his chair with a contented sigh.

My spoon clanged against the bottom of my bowl. I looked down and realized the bowl was empty. I glanced up to see if I drew anyone’s attention. Pavil and Lomav stared at me.

Contempt and disgust twisted Lomav’s face. “You. What am I going to do with you?”

I stared at Lomav, determined to give him nothing. Pavel threw Lomav a dark look I would have taken as a warning.

Lomav didn’t bother to notice.

Pavel hasn’t been too happy with Lomav’s rhetoric. Why does he follow Lomav, then? Is there an ‘in’ here? Can I use this? Can I make myself a wedge between these two?

“Leave her be, Lomav.” Pavil growled his words.

Lomav eyed Pavil for a moment then looked away as if he couldn’t bother to care about such petty things. I got up and carried my bowl to the wash bucket.

“Don’t get too attached, Pavil. She’s not even D’Tali.”

Pavil shook his head. “Women are precious. With as few women as are in Tahkath, the human women give more of us a chance to find mates.”

Lomav shuddered. “But, to mate with an…an animal, Pavil. It is beneath us all.”

Markil opened the door, striding in, interrupting the entire conversation. He bent over, bracing his hand on his knees, panting. When he’d caught his breath and could finally speak, he addressed Lomav.

“Sir, the Aetamian ale has been delivered to the guard. He says wait till dark, then knock on the gate three times.”

Lomav scoffed. “Your dock guard seems a bit full of himself, Pavil.”

Pavil shrugged. “He’ll let us through, that’s all that matters.”

Lomav nodded. “I suppose that is true.”

I set my dishes to dry and returned to my designated chair. I curled my knees up under the extra large tunic and wrapped my arms around them. I lay my chin on top and struggled to stay awake.

Nightfall is hours away yet. I can’t stay awake that long.

I hoped Jarlath would find me soon. I knew he lived. I could feel the golden life-force in my chest, the thing the D’Tali called the mating bond. I felt him more strongly, like he’d moved closer but not close enough for me to pinpoint where he was.

Pavil turned to me where I fought heavy eyelids. “If you promise to give me no trouble, I won’t tie you back up.” He raised a brow ridge at me. I caught a small grin before it had the time to manifest fully, but I’m convinced Pavil saw it.

“I won’t give you any more trouble.” My face stayed passive as the lie rolled off my tongue. While I preferred to tell the truth as Momma had taught me before she passed away so long ago, some situations called for a good lie.

Pavil searched my face, then nodded. Would he even know how to detect a lie on a human face?

“Don’t leave that animal free, Pavil. It’ll find a way to cause us grief.”

Pavil shot Lomav a dark look but held his tongue. He turned back to me, fists clenching. “Consider that storeroom yours till we move. Get some sleep, you will need your strength tomorrow.”

I swiveled my sleep-deprived brain toward the storeroom door then back to Pavil.

“Can I get another blanket?”

JARLATH

Unrelenting rain pelted down upon us. I stepped from the shadow which had failed to hide me from the stranger’s sight. I threw my cloak back and placed my hand on the pommel of Hurin’s sword. We stood, facing each other.

Slow, deliberate, the stranger drew his sword.

“Why follow me? Who sent you?” I drew my sword, crouching into a fighting stance, clutching my wheel of cheese in my off hand. It was perfectly good cheese, and was big enough to smack someone with, should the need arise. I saw no good reason to discard it.

I shook the hood back, exposing my head to the rain. If this stranger insisted we fight, I wanted to be able to see. We circled, taking each other’s measure.

“I wasn’t the only person following you. I was just the only one you saw. This sneaking around thing is new for you, isn’t it?”

I hefted Hurin’s sword in my hand. Hurin’s sword had a different weight than my own, but it was well balanced and he took good care of it.

“All those words, and you didn’t get around to answering either of my questions.”

The stranger threw back his hood and rain danced off his teal scales. A long, angry scar ran down the side of his jaw.

“No one sent me. Lomav has spies throughout this part of town. With all the blundering questions you were asking about human women, you were easy to find.”

My blood boiled at the mention of Lomav’s name.

“Tell me where Lomav is.”

The stranger laughed. “If only it were that simple.” His eyes flared wide. “Duck.”

The stranger drew his sword and lunged. I braced to defend against his blow, but he rushed past me instead. I heard the clang of sword on sword and spun. Behind me stood three D’Tali, swords drawn.

One of the attackers crossed swords with the stranger. The stranger bore down on his smaller opponent. The green-scaled D’Tali grunted, struggling against the force the stranger put upon their crossed swords.

The other two, one blue and one red, lunged at me. I parried Blue’s thrust, spun between Blue and Red, and slammed the cheese wheel across the back of Red’s head. He yelped, stumbling forward.

Blue danced in with another thrust. I parried that thrust as easily as I had Red’s, wondering who taught Blue to fight. A quick riposte unarmed Blue. His sword flew, clanging to the ground as he stumbled back.

Red was young and hotheaded. He didn’t seem to appreciate me knocking him in the head with cheese. He roared, lifting his sword high for an overhead slash. While the move had its technical uses, this situation wasn’t a good one. I glided in to block and swung my wheel of cheese up into his jaw. I heard teeth crack.

Red jerked his sword into a horizontal chop at my side. I spun my sword into a block, pommel up, blade pointing at the ground. I pivoted on my back foot and slammed my other heel into Red’s left knee. I heard a sickening crunch. His leg collapsed at an unnatural angle and Red crumpled to the wet ground.

“Sorry about that knee. Next time you jump someone in an alley, and they smack you with a wheel of cheese, know that is the time to walk away.”

Blue stared at his companion, jaw hanging open. Red rolled around on his back, clutching his ruined knee with both hands, screaming. I watched the rage rise inside Blue. He curled his fingers around the grip of his sword, retrieving it from the water. Blue’s rage consumed any sense or training he may have had.

With a defiant roar, Blue charged at me yet again. He swung his sword at my left side. I pivoted out of the blade’s path, blocking his sword with mine. I carried the motion through, sliding my blade along the length of his with a hiss.

By the time my blade had hissed all the way to the crossguard of his sword, the pivot put my right shoulder squarely under his chin. I elbowed his sword arm hard, flinging his blade wide. With a backward jerk, I bashed the pommel of my sword into his face.

Blood gushed from his nose. His body went limp. The sword dropped from Blue’s hand landing on the street with a clang. He dropped hard to his knees. His hands flew to his face. He burbled and screamed. Most importantly, he was out of the fight.

“Find me when you have a few more years under your belt, boy. And learn your blade is the least of the weapons you carry.”

The ringing clash of sword on sword from behind spun my head. Green and the stranger exchanged exploratory blows. Green must have had more experience than Blue and Red.

If this was a training mission, I hope Blue and Red have learned their lesson.

Green’s eyes darted to me, growing wide. Now, he fought both I and the stranger. The stranger feinted to the right. Green took the bait, moving to block a blow which would never come. The reactionary response left Green’s left side wide open.

I thrust a quick jab into his left flank. I retracted my thrust with the speed of years of training. Green oofed, doubling over. The stranger took the opening. He slashed down in a diagonal attack, severing Green’s sword arm in a single blow.

Green wailed, clutching the bleeding stump where his hand once connected to his body.

“Take off your belt.” Green looked up at the stranger, eyes uncomprehending. The stranger yelled at the shocked D’Tali. “Take. Off. Your. Belt.” Green’s trauma-slowed mind looked down, trying to understand the stranger’s words.

The stranger cursed. “Here, help me.” He reached for Green’s belt. “Hold him.”

I sheathed my sword, moving behind Green. Clutching my cheese in one arm, I wrapped the other around Green’s torso, moving it out of the stranger’s way. The stranger unbuckled Green’s belt, strapping it around Green’s severed arm.

I held Green still enough and the stranger cinched the belt down, stemming the flow of blood. Green had grown pale. The stranger and I dragged him to a wall, propping him against it. He panted in shallow breaths but retained consciousness.

“The youthful arrogance to attack two veteran fighters with only two untrained young men for backup shouldn’t be a death sentence.” I turned to Blue who had finally made it to his feet. He’d managed to stem the flow of blood from his nose.

“Get your friend to a healer or a barber. Red, over there, will survive till you can send someone for him. If Green survives, tell him to train harder before his next fight.” Blue cowered, glaring. His eyes flicked to Green and he nodded.

The stranger and I rose to our feet. He looked at me. “If you’ll give me the chance, I’d like to explain.”

I considered him for a moment. He stood nearly my height, but he was broader across the chest. Though I’d thought he’d followed me, he instead fought to defend me. He even took the time to give Green a chance at survival.

Perhaps he’s worth a chance.

“Perhaps we could talk elsewhere? Before anyone else shows up.”

He laughed. “Follow me. Try being a bit less conspicuous? I’d prefer to draw less attention.”

With a wry grin and a nod, I offered the stranger my hand. He clasped my forearm in greeting.

“Well met, stranger. I am Jarlath.”

“Zalko. Well met.”

I unclasped my hand from Zalko’s arm. We pulled our hoods up over our faces and our cloaks around our sheathed swords. We walked to the end of the alley, boots splashing with each step.

Zalko poked his head around the corner and scanned the connecting street. “Clear.”

He stepped out into the street. I pulled abreast of him. We maintained a casual, unhurried pace. We walked in silence for a time, weaving through the maze of streets.

“Why did you come to my aid?” I glanced at him but couldn’t see through his hood. I returned my eyes to the street and the path ahead of me.

“Let’s say I have my reasons.”

“Let’s say you share those reasons?”

Zalko sighed. “I vow I will and you’ll find those reasons sufficient. For now, believe I wish to help you and your human woman.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.

We slowed to a stop in the rain. I turned to look at him. “Believe also, I wish to stop Lomav.” I studied his teal-scaled face for a long moment.

Zalko must be quite old for his scales to have faded so. Who is he to Lomav? Who gave him the scar which marred the right side of his jaw?

“This, however, is a terrible place and time to have such a discussion. We are wet and if I don’t eat soon, my guts will mutiny and strangle me soon.”

I laughed, nodding. “Excellent points all.” My belly rumbled. “And I look forward to finally eating this cheese.”

MELLIDA

“Stop banging the door! Give me five minutes and I’ll let you in.”

Sudden silence replaced the sound of Pavil slamming the door into the crates I had stacked in front of it before falling into a deep sleep. I could almost hear him thinking from the other side of the wooden door.

“Human…”

“My name is Mellida.”

“I’ll return in five minutes.” I heard his heavy boots walk away.

I’ll be ready whenever I damn well please.

I stretched in the nest of pillows and blankets I’d managed to talk Pavil out of that morning before settling in.

Making me sleep on the floor of the storage room.

Muscles, sore and stiff, protested every movement. I groaned, wanting to get out of there but not wanting to move. I stripped a pillowcase from one of the pillows and took the dress from where I’d lain it on a crate to dry.

The white fabric still felt damp on my fingertips and I sighed. I’d worked hard for the wages which bought this dress. A white dress seemed so right. I’d meant for Ancestors’ Day to be a special day. With care, I rolled the dress up and stuffed it into the pillowcase.

I grabbed my boots and sat down to put them on. I loved Jarlath, his laugh and his joyful exploration of the world. Even as big as he was, as strong and dangerous, every day he chose a million little ways to be decent to people rather than choosing to hurt.

I had wanted Jarlath for so long and damnit, Ancestors’ Day was the day I chose to do something about it. I knew long ago, I’d have to make the first moves. Jarlath had no clue how to read the signals I’d sent him.

I was his first kiss. I was his first everything. Then Lomav had to go and ruin it all.

Pavil knocked on the door this time. “Are you ready… Lady Mellida?”

Oh, no. We’re back to the “Lady” thing again. I rolled my eyes.

“One moment.” I heard his feet shuffle on the other side of the door.

I dismantled the crate sculpture I had created earlier while half asleep. I drug the last of the crates out of the way and opened the door, pillowcase flung over my shoulder.

“Bathroom.”

Pavil gulped, apparently shocked at the realization that human women too, must pee. He pointed down a hallway. “First door on the right.”

I patted him on the arm. “Thanks. I swear I’ll be right back.” I hobbled to the bathroom on sore legs. While there, I searched for a possible escape, but the only window was also out of my reach.

I relieved myself and washed my face and arms. I wished I was home in a shower. I sighed and went hunting for breakfast.

Pavil handed me a tippur, the D’Tali version of a breakfast sandwich, and a cloak. I stuffed the breakfast sandwich in my mouth and put on the cloak. I still heard the rain falling on the tin roof.

At least I won’t be as wet this time.

Lomav poked his head through the front door. “Don’t you have that animal yet? Why isn’t she tied up?”

“People will notice us dragging a tied-up human around.”

Lomav harrumphed. “Fine. Bring her.” He stepped back outside, the door flung open behind him.

Pavil nodded at the door. “Go.” He followed me out the door.

Much like last night, Lomav took the lead with me walking behind. Hezric and Markil flanked Lomav and Pavil brought up the rear. We splashed with each step, but the cloak kept the rain off my head. The storm had lost most of its gusto, but the clouds settled in for a marathon.

The first of that planet’s moons had risen high in the night sky. The second red moon loomed on the horizon, ready to chase the first. Scant evidence of the festival remained. The streamers of colorful fabrics fluttered in every street but days before had been removed and discarded.

A few D’Tali walked the streets in this impoverished portion of town. I smelled the distinct tang of a fish market nearby. I suspected we must be close to the wall separating the docks from the rest of the city. Many gates arched the wall’s length.

Most of those we passed had hoods pulled up against the rain. Five small boys peered out from a window. They watched us walk by. One popped his head up. His eyes grew wide. He elbowed the boy to his right, pointed at me, then pointed at his own rear. The rest popped their heads up, pointing and fussing.

That must be the boy who ran into my butt the other day.

Pavil glared their way, and all five heads hid below the window.

I worried he’d realize the boys recognized me. Pavil turned his head away without slowing our pace and I breathed a relieved sigh.

Hundreds of boats from nations up and down the river docked at Tahkath daily and thousands of pounds of goods moved back and forth daily. We neared one of the smaller gates designed to accommodate pedestrian overflow from the busier gates. Lomav called a halt.

“Pavil, check on our guard.”

Pavil’s eyes darted between me and Lomav.

“Don’t worry about the human.” Lomav stepped behind me. I felt the sharp prick of a knife tip poking into my back, aimed at my lung. I froze and concentrated on breathing. Sweat trickled down my forehead.

“It promises to behave while you are gone.”

Pavil hesitated for a moment. I hoped he’d insist on taking me with him. Instead, he nodded and disappeared into the gate.

The knife’s tip sent a wave of fear crashing through me. Despite Pavil’s rough handling, I knew he didn’t want to hurt me. Lomav, on the other hand…

The golden glow inside me flared. Where before, fear gripped my mind, that golden glow created clarity. Jarlath grew closer. He’d find me. Eventually, one of my captors would make a mistake. Eventually I’d find another opportunity to run and find Jarlath.

The storm had calmed. I wouldn’t be running through hurricane-force gales the next time I ran. I drew in calming breaths, trying to remember what the yogini had said about breathing the one time someone managed to talk me into yoga.

Pavil returned. “Come.”

Lomav leaned down and stage-whispered in my ear. “Don’t cause me any trouble, animal. At the first sign of trouble, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

“Well, if you want to be cliché about it…”

“You can’t even speak proper D’Tali.”

“It’s English, prick.”

Lomav scoffed. Speaking in a language he couldn’t understand must’ve pissed him off. I doubted the advisability of antagonizing the jerk, but it sure was satisfying.

He laid a hand on one shoulder and prodded me forward with the knife.

We followed Pavil through the gate and I never saw the guard. Hundreds of warehouses filled the land from the wall to the river. Large flatbed carts pulled by teams of numa flowed through the dock’s streets like blood through a body.

Waterfowl flocked to the fish market near the northernmost wharf. Packs of stray tayn circled, trying to steal an easy meal. Everywhere I looked, the docks bustled, regardless of the rain. At this point, the River of the Ancestors widened to nearly a mile in width.

Pavil led us across a wide thoroughfare and into another side street. Carracks and caravels bobbed in the river. Small ships, called picards, ferried goods from the ships too large to dock to the wharfs where legions of dock workers awaited.

A shallow-bodied barge piled high with tons of metal slowly docked at the end of one wharf. As the barge’s edge crawled within range, sailors leapt from the railings. Landing on the long wooden walkway, they turned in time to catch large ropes thrown by other sailors still aboard.

The gears of D’Tali’s industry ground along regardless of festivals, holidays, finding my mate... The sailors and dock workers performed a well-practiced, choreographed dance while Lomav held a knife to my back. I drew comfort from the golden bond inside.

We had moved further from Jarlath and I could not feel him as well as I could before we passed the dock wall. I missed that energy, that closeness. I missed my mate.

We will reunite, Jarlath. Come for me. We’ll find each other guided by the bond.

A cloaked figure slipped out of a shadow and fell into formation behind Lomav. We took a left and two more joined in. At the end of another alley between the massive warehouses, another cloaked figure joined us, but this one fell into line next to Lomav.

“Tell me about the preparations.” Distracted, Lomav forgot to poke my back with his dagger.

“Many still support you. The word has gone out and men have been gathering at the warehouse all day. We expect many more to come in over the next few days.”

“Days? Will it take that long? I hesitate to leave Dojak in power a moment longer than I must, with all the damage he has already done to us.”

“Many had to go into hiding when Dojak took the crown and claimed the throne. Some had to hide outside of the city.”

“Bah. Very well.”

Pavil looked at us over his shoulder. “We’re here.”

JARLATH

“Are you lost?”

Zalko laughed. We’d trudged through the rain for what felt like a small eternity.

“No, I’m not lost.”

“Are you certain? Because I’m certain I recognize the pattern of the paint peeling from that building. The one that looks like a numa standing on a man’s head?”

Zalko sighed. “Have you no patience?”

“Very little when Lomav holds my mate hostage.”

He nodded. “I’ve attempted to avoid those of Lomav’s supporters lurking about.”

My eyes darted from a shopkeeper to a random passerby to a numa drover trundling down the street. I searched for one of Lomav’s lookouts.

Would I even really know what to look for? Do they wear special pins on their cloak? Do they bear a special tattoo? Share a secret hand sign? Do they simply know each other, or are they drawn to gatherings of the like-minded?

And what part does the scarred Zalko play?

“So, we have a specific destination?”

“Yes, Jarlath. We have a specific destination.”

“Want to enlighten me?”

Zalko sighed heavily. He stopped for a moment and looked me in the eye. “We’ll never find enough information out here on the street. Please extend me your patience for a bit longer.”

I nodded. I knew Zalko made sense. “So, where do we go then?”

“There is a tavern down by the docks called the Rusty Bucket. We’ll take rooms at the inn across the street. If anyone has information, that’s where we will find it.”

“Lead the way.”

Zalko patted my back and we continued winding through the streets. I felt the golden warmth inside flaring and waning as we made our twisted turns. I wanted to follow that warmth rather than this extended trek through the city.

Zalko halted us where an alley opened to a wider lane. He studied every nuance of the larger street, muttering curses under his breath. “I’ve tried to find a way around Lomav’s sentries for over an hour now. I’d hoped they were randomly posted in strategic locations so I might find a back way around them.”

My eyes searched the street. “The three men sitting at the table outside the whorple nest of a pub pretending to play bones and drink?”

Zalko nodded across the street, leaning back on the wall. “Try to look casual, like we’re just two friends chatting in an alley.”

My eyes darted to the tables across the street. The pub was small, recessed from the street. I doubted one could serve more than a handful of patrons at a time. Paint peeled from the walls on either side of the pub. A tatty awning stretched between the walls, providing some shelter from the rain.

“Lomav’s men. There are men like them stationed at nearly every intersection.”

“How can you tell? I’ve been trying to spot something which gives them away but can’t find anything.”

Zalko shrugged. “I used to know Lomav. The purple D’Tali with his feet propped on the chair is one of the sons of a noble disgraced when the King bested Lomav.”

The purple D’Tali’s face radiated malice and resentment. He might be pretending to play bones, but his eyes searched for an excuse to vent his rage.

“Looks like he didn’t appreciate the change in his family’s fortunes.”

“There are many who feel the same. King Dojak’s rise changed the fortunes of many. Some, like the young man there, lost much.”

“What do you suggest?” I stepped further back into the alley to speak with Zalko.

“I doubt we’ll find a sufficient route around. Whomever has managed Lomav’s affairs during his incarceration seems far more organized and strategic than Lomav ever was.”

“So we’ll have to go past.” I squared my shoulders, pulled my hood down as far as it’d go, still allowing me to see, and prepared to walk down the street.

“Friend, leave the cheese. By now, the three we fought at the beginning of our search will, surely by now, have reported their fight. They’ll be looking for two cloaked men carrying a wheel of waxed cheese.”

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving the cheese. I paid for it and it has served me well so far. I didn’t carry it this entire time just to give it up now. The cheesemonger highly recommended it.”

Zalko chuckled. “Fine. At least let me help you disguise it.”

I nodded. He stepped up, moved the cloak on my back, taking my wheel of cheese. A few minutes later, he had it strapped to my back under my cloak. We scanned the street once again. Zalko turned to me.

“Follow me after a count of forty. Follow my route. Do as I do. Stroll, do not rush. You’re not a prison guard here. Here, you are just another dock worker. Slouch.” He smiled. “Best of luck.”

Zalko stepped out on the street and transformed before my eyes. In the alleyway, Zalko had been the tall, strong, broad-shouldered old fighter. Now a hunched, old sailor walked down the street with the barest hint of a bum right knee.

I smiled in appreciation, realizing how I must have stood out so badly. I’d never thought about the way I walked or how much a walk changed the way others perceived me. Zalko’s impression of an achy old sailor annoyed with the rain taught me the lesson being jumped hadn’t.

I counted to forty and stepped out into the street. The rain pelted my cloak. I channeled the angst I remembered from my youth and slouched, brooding. I leaned back enough to change my center of balance.

Fighting my instinct to glance at the men idly throwing bones at the tables, I brooded my way down the street. I fought the nervous urge to glance their way as I passed. I held my breath. I listened as hard as I could through the rain and the noises of a busy city.

When none of the men jumped me from behind, I released my trapped breath. I took a right where I’d seen Zalko turn. He crouched around his boot. I took the opportunity to catch up to him and we took the next left.

After a few blocks and a much more direct route, we turned into the door of the King’s Tayn Inn. I hung back while Zalko rented rooms and ordered a meal to be sent up. The Innkeeper handed us our keys and we trumped up the stairs.

Zalko had rented the two rooms at the end of the hall. He checked the hall behind us for prying eyes, then unlocked one of the rooms and we slipped inside.

We doffed our cloaks, hanging them near the fireplace. Zalko unstrapped the cheese from my back and removed my armor. I built up a fire, then turned to Zalko.

“I believe I’ve found the end of my patience.”

Zalko opened his mouth to answer, but a knock on the door interrupted him. A kitchen boy brought in a meal of rough bread, stewed whatever they had on hand, two full ales, and a few pieces of spotty fruit. I missed Mellida more than I thought possible at that moment.

Zalko thanked the boy, closed and locked the door, then sat down to join the food. Around mouthfuls of food, Zalko began to explain.

“I have known Lomav for many years. I once even vowed my blade to his cause. I was young and poor, and Lomav promised a better life than I was likely to find on the poor side of town.”

I nodded, listening while I ate.

“Eventually I saw his promises for what they were—illusions. His rhetoric quickly followed. When I confronted him?” Zalko traced the line of the scar across his jaw.

“So, it was Lomav who gave you that.”

Zalko nodded. “The coward managed to get me with a sword before running off. I was too angry. By the time it healed, Lomav was in prison. When I heard Lomav’s men were hunting the mate of a human woman seen in his company, I knew I’d need to find you myself before his men did.”

“With as much as he avoids a fight, I’m surprised Lomav could have gotten through your guard.”

Zalko pinned me with his gaze. “Make no mistake—Lomav may run from every fight he can avoid, when he’s cornered, he’s vicious. I underestimated him and learned a hard lesson.”

“It will matter little. He has my mate and I’ll find her.”

I felt Mellida. She lived in the golden light in my soul. I couldn’t tell exactly where, but I knew we were close. I yearned for her.

Belly full of warm food, the exhaustion of the time since Ancestors’ Day pulled at my limbs.

What day was it now, even? When did I last sleep?

I rubbed my eyes, fighting the need to rest and recover from the joys and the stresses, the shocks, fights… Memories of the time since Ancestor’s Day mingled in my sleep-deprived mind. Since Mellida first wore the white Queen Jerah dress, so much had happened.

Zalko’s voice brought my drifting mind back into the moment. “Rest friend. After the sun sets, we’ll go to the pub and see what we can discover.”

My mind spiraled as sleep claimed me. I dreamt of Mellida.

MELLIDA

After slogging through the city in the rain for what felt like a small eternity, I welcomed the shelter of the warehouse. The fading evening light filtered through high-set windows. Bunks lined one wall where Lomav’s supporters had set up a temporary barracks.

A fire crackled and popped in the large fireplace at the back of the warehouse. Mismatched tables and chairs had been set up here and there, but it looked like crates provided most of the seating. A few rugs covered the stone floors.

“Tie the animal up, Pavil. I don’t want it causing me any trouble.”

Pavil turned to Lomav, shaking his head. “She works in the castle kitchens. She can at least be useful while we have her.” Pavil placed a big hand on my shoulder, directing me to the fireplace.

“Stop calling that thing a ‘she’. It isn’t a D’Tali. It isn’t even reptilian. It is merely a scaleless, hairy animal.”

A dark look descended over Pavil’s face. “I said ‘no’, Lomav. Leave it. She cooks.”

Pavil turned from Lomav and escorted me to the door.

I marveled at the power in play before me. Pavil obviously detested Lomav’s hateful rhetoric, yet still helped and supported him. I wanted to know why, but kept my mouth shut until I had a better idea of the details.

Can I turn Pavil against Lomav?

With each disgusting, xenophobic, sexist word which dripped from Lomav’s mouth, Pavil appeared closer to squashing the vile little weasel.

I can work with that.

“I’ll need a knife to cook.”

Pavil glanced at me. His eyes rolled and he sighed. He pulled the knife at his waist from its sheath and handed it to me.

“Don’t give that animal a knife!”

My head swiveled to Lomav. “How am I to cook without a knife, at least? Will you task one of your men to cut the food for me while I sit there and tell him what to do?”

Lomav shook his head.

“Pavil, just tie that thing up. Don’t arm it.”

Pavil turned on Lomav, brow heavy with anger. “She’s cooking, Lomav.”

Pavil and Lomav stood, staring each other down. Menace radiated from Pavil. I gulped, wondering if blood would soon flow. Lomav stared into Pavil’s impassive face. My heart beat in my ears. Lomav flinched first.

“If it causes any trouble, Pavil, you bear the responsibility.”

Pavil nodded. The tension filling the warehouse dissipated. Pavil turned his back to Lomav and waved me over to the fire.

I set to my task, searching through the supplies. I gathered a few essentials, piling them on a table. I fussed with the fire, adding wood and moving the coals around to create a proper cooking zone. My choices were limited, but I managed to mix up the D’Tali version of biscuit dough.

I found a few baking trays and had the biscuits on the fire within minutes. As they baked, I went to work on a haunch of pafu. I looked at that haunch, then looked at my knife. I turned and called out to Pavil who sat at a table a few feet away watching me work.

“Option one: I can maul this haunch with this little knife, and in an hour I may have it ready to cook. Option two: I can spitroast the haunch and everyone can enjoy it six to ten hours from now. Option three: Give me a bigger knife.”

Pavil’s brow ridged shot up his face at option three. “What is option four?”

I shrugged. “Get me some help.”

Pavil laughed. He stood and joined me at the table, unsheathing a large dagger strapped to his thigh to make quick work of the haunch. While he worked, I gathered root vegetables, sat down, and started peeling.

I hummed while I peeled. More and more D’Tali wandered in. The biscuits browned and I scurried over to remove them from the fire. I dropped the steaming biscuits into a basket on the table and started a second batch.

I had no idea how many of these malcontents I’d need to feed, but I was determined to have as many eating out of my hand as possible when Jarlath found me.

Soon, a crowd gathered around us, trying to eat the still-steaming biscuits. Various condiments appeared on the table near the biscuits, retrieved from personal stashes. The D’Tali pulled up seats and rearranged tables till a semi-circle of seats ringed the fire.

I smiled. Now I had an audience. Channeling years of Food Network shows, I worked my magic. I looked at a young, yellow-scaled D’Tali, who watched Pavil and I work.

“What’s your name?”

“Me?” His eyes grew wide and he pointed at his chest.

“Yes, you.”

“Uh…uh…”

“Your name is Uhuh?”

The other D’Tali laughed around mouthfuls of biscuit.

“Heh… No, mi’lady…”

I sighed. “Call me Mell.”

The young, yellow D’Tali gulped. “Mell. My name is Dak.”

“Nice to meet you, Dak. Can you please put the vegetables in that pot for me?”

Dak nodded, eager. He grabbed the hem of his tunic, creating a trough, and filled it with vegetables. I walked with him to the fire.

I scooped a hunk of rendered fat and chunked it in the pot with a few cubes of the pafu fat Pavil had trimmed. The pot sizzled. Dak emptied his tunic of vegetables into the pot. I handed him a large, sturdy metal spoon.

“Now stir.”

Dak nodded, stirring the food with a smile.

I threw in a few spices and took the second batch of biscuits from the coals. I dumped them in the basket and started the third batch.

Dak looked at me. “What is it like to be a mammal?”

I laughed. “I’m not sure how to answer that. We’re like you, but without scales.” I gathered up the chunks of pafu from Pavil and tossed them in a mixture of flour and spices. Emboldened by Dak’s question, the rest of the gathered D’Tali peppered me with more.

Let’s see Lomav convince them I’m an animal after this.

“You came from a different world?”

I nodded, adding the dredged pafu to the pot. “A world called Earth.”

“What is Earth like?”

“Well, a lot like this world. With a few major differences.” I poked at the fire, rearranging the coals to keep the biscuits perfect and the pot cooking. “Can someone get some water for this stew?”

Another D’Tali, this one with deep emerald scales, jumped to his feet. He trotted to the water barrel and scooped a tankard of water.

“Add it to the pot, please.” Steam whooshed from the pot when the water hit. I took the spoon from Dax, and quickly stirred to pull all the flavor up off the bottom of the cast iron pot. I retrieved the third batch of biscuits and dumped them in the basket.

I mixed up the dough for a fourth batch.

“Tell us more of your Earth.”

My head swiveled to Pavil. “Very well, Pavil.” I plopped into a chair for a minute, facing the crowd of D’Tali who had gathered about. Rough faces of every color and age watched while I settled. “I suppose I have a moment before I have to start cleaning up.”

The emerald-scaled D’Tali rushed over and began to clear away the mess I’d made prepping dinner.

“When Nadan and Janis found the Valley of the Ancestors, they discovered parts of the history of your people long forgotten. Earth was once like your world a very long time ago. Creatures much like your ancestors covered the land, filled the seas, and flew through the air.”

“How long ago?”

My brain struggled to find the words to explain the concept of a million years to these medieval dinosaur men.

“So long ago, their bones turned to stone.”

“What happened to the Earth Ancestors?’

“A giant rock fell out of the sky and killed most of them. Afterwards, mammals took over and eventually, humans emerged.”

“Like we came from the Ancestors, here?”

I got up to retrieve the fourth tray of steaming biscuits, dumping them into the basket. I placed the tray I’d used for the biscuits on the hearth to cool and served myself a biscuit drenched with numa butter.

“Pavil!” Lomav’s shout startled the gathered men. He stalked across the warehouse, glaring daggers in my direction. “Enough of that human’s lies. Come tell me where our plan stands.”

Pavil sighed, washed his hands and knife, and joined Lomav at a table.

The rest of the men gathered around them, but Dax continued stirring the stew.

“Men are still gathering, but all should arrive within a few days. Nadan’s mate, Janis, went into labor on Ancestors' Day, delaying his presentation. In four days, the human women and the D’Tali court will gather to see what Nadan has to say.”

Lomav chuckled. “And we’ll be there.” Lomav lost himself in thought for a moment, rubbing his hands like the mustachioed villain in an old black and white movie.

And now, I have valuable intel for Jarlath—when we next meet.

I sighed, remembering Jarlath’s strong arms and wonderful laugh.

JARLATH

An hour after the sun had set, Zalko woke me. I rubbed sleep out of my eyes. I had not slept long enough to feel fully refreshed, but I was ready to find Mellida.

While I slept, Zalko had found a backpack and stuffed my cheese wheel into it along with some supplies. A boy delivered some firm loaves, haru sausages and numa cheese.

Zalko and I ate in silence. I strapped on my armor, laced up my boots, and buckled Hurin’s sword around my waist. I slung my cloak over my shoulders, and we strode from the room.

“Remember—casual. And let me ask the questions. In fact, try to act bored.”

I quirked a brow ridge at him, then nodded agreement.

Bored. Bored, resentful, youth.

I shook my shoulders, letting the character settle in. I noticed Zalko’s slight limp had returned as we strode through the drizzle to the Twisted Rigging tavern across the street.

Zalko pushed through the door. We stepped into a dimly lit room with a low ceiling. A crusty old D’Tali stood behind the bar wiping glasses with a stained rag.

A few D’Tali hunched at the bar, nursing a tankard of ale. Others huddled around tables, playing cards. Others threw bones in the corner.

Zalko and I made our way to a free corner table and sat hunched like the other patrons. Channeling my youthful angst, I thought I fit right in.

After a few minutes, Zalko rose. “Let me get us some ale.”

I nodded, leaning back against the wall behind me and brooded. I pulled my knife and fished a whetstone from one of the pouches dangling from my belt. Zalko exchanged words with the bartender as I honed the knife’s edge.

After a few minutes, Zalko returned with two tankards of ale. I sheathed my knife and slipped the whetstone into my pocket. I slouched over my tankard and spoke in a low voice.

“What news?”

“Friend, we are in luck. Rumors say Lomav’s supporters have been gathering in a warehouse at the docks.”

“And Mellida?”

“Rumor has it a human woman with black hair accompanied him.”

My muscles tensed. I wanted to fling the table out of my way and run as hard as I could toward the dock.

“Calm yourself, friend. I still await the specific location.”

I shook my head. “No need to wait. Just get me close. She is my mate. As soon as we are close enough, I’ll know exactly where she is.”

“Finish your ale, friend.”

I downed the ale and strode out of the door. Half a block later, Zalko caught up.

“Jarlath, slow down. There were other reasons to wait…”

“How can I wait? How can I leave her in Lomav’s hands a moment longer than I must?”

“And how are you going to get her out of there with Lomav’s men all over the place? Are you going to rush in there, only for Lomav to have you captured or killed?’

I stopped walking. My shoulders and fists clenched over and over. I blew out a deep breath. “What do you suggest?”

Zalko put a hand on my arm.

“Return to the inn with me for a few moments so we can give ourselves the best chance to succeed.”

I nodded. We returned to the inn. I paced the floor of our room for ten minutes. Someone knocked on our door. I heard a thump and stopped pacing. Zalko opened the door. A crate sat directly outside our door.

Zalco hefted the crate, carrying it into the room, and shut the door. He opened it and drew from it two worn cloaks.

“Your cloak is too nice. You’ll be obvious. Here, put this on.”

Zalko tossed me the worn cloak. I doffed mine, folded it, and stuffed it into my pack. Zalco did the same with his good cloak and we fastened on the tattered old cloaks. He clasped my shoulder and looked me in the eye.

“Remember, when we find her, don’t give yourself away. Stay patient. We’ll find an opportunity to save her, I promise.”

With a nod, we left the inn and began our journey to the docks—and to Mellida. We trudged through the drizzling rain. I hoped the sky soon emptied itself fully and the sun would return.

Each step closer to the dock wall brought me closer to her. That golden glow inside grew stronger and more distinct every block. My heart thundered in my ears. My pace quickened. A hand on my arm brought me to a halt.

“Jarlath, remember to play your character. This isn’t the time to lose yourself in your eagerness.”

I took a deep breath and remembered to slouch. We continued, strolling along at a torturously slow pace. The bond pulled at me, tugged at me, urging my feet to hurry. I breathed carefully, resisting the need to run to her.

Memories of Mellida’s laugh, her bright blue eyes, flashed through my mind. Soon, the dock wall loomed ahead. My heart leaped in my chest. I felt her waiting for me.

Zalko made his way to one of the smaller, overflow gates. A paunchy guard who reeked of Aetamian ale halted us. In a flash of hands, Zalko exchanged a bribe and the guard let us through.

The golden bond pulled at me.

“She’s that way.” I looked at Zalko, daring him to disagree or propose yet another delay. He looked back to me and smiled.

“Then let us go get your Mellida, yes?”

Without another word, we pushed forward though the busy streets of the docks, winding through them, the internal golden warmth as our guide. We passed bustling dock workers, dodging numa pulling cart after cart.

I love you. I’ll find you. I’ll hold you in my arms again.

I pushed all my love for Mellida through the bond. I wanted her to know rescue was close and safety was nearby.

Does she feel it, too? Does she feel my love over the bond?

I shook my head to clear my mind. The bond pulled me down a street to the right. As I turned the corner, the bond slammed into me. I was close. I felt where she was. She was so close. I struggled to stroll casually. I wanted to break into a run and not stop until I held Mellida in my arms.

“I feel her. We’re close.”

“Take care, friend. We’ll need a clear idea of what we’re up against before we’ll know how to get her away from Lomav.”

I took a deep breath. “I know. Follow me.”

A few streets and alleys further and a warehouse loomed tall before us. Various rough D’Tali loitered about laughing and throwing bones. Eyes followed us as we approached the door.

A tall D’Tali with a serious frown stood before the door, arms crossed over his chest. Zalko flashed him a hand sign I couldn’t see. The door guard nodded and stepped aside.

We entered the warehouse. The smells of sweetened, fruity desserts hit me first. As soon as I stepped in, she drew my eyes. Mellida bent over the fire tending trays of delicious-smelling deserts. She straightened. Slowly, she turned my way.

Our eyes met over the distance of the long warehouse. The golden bond roared to life within us. I felt her love, her anger, her determination. I sighed in relief.

Mellida quickly turned back to the deserts and I tore my eyes from her before anyone noticed she filled my world.

How is our bond so strong I can track her? And feel her through it?

I’d never heard of such benefits of the bond, but then again, I hadn’t exactly pried into anyone’s relationship either.

Perhaps because we’ve spent so much time together? Or maybe this is something special between Mellida and I. She is so good with people. Maybe she is special in ways I can’t even describe, yet.

Zalko rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder. He leaned close and whispered so none overheard.

“Mingle. Count heads. Get a clear picture of exits. We’ll take our time working our way through the crowd.”

I nodded. With excruciating slowness, we took in the warehouse. Many had gathered here, answering Lomav’s call. The number of D’Tali who had chosen to gather around Lomav surprised me.

Bunks lined one wall where barracks had been set up. D’Tali lounged upon the beds, wasting time. A small armory had been set up on the wall opposite the bunks. Stacked crates partitioned off sections of the open warehouse into nooks and small gathering spaces.

Tables, chairs, and crates formed a semi-circle around Mellida and the fireplace. A young, yellow-scaled D’Tali assisted her with the cooking. At a table near her, sat Lomav. He filled his chair with the arrogance of a self-declared king.

Pavil joined him at the table. I adjusted the hood of my cloak, hoping no one recognized me. I looked around for the other escaped prisoners. Matrin, Harl, and Vortar, three of the recently released prisoners, sat together at one table.

Torkin and Markil flanked Lomav where he sat, soaking in Lomav’s self-declared wisdom. Zalko and I kept our heads down and made our way over to the fireplace. We joined the line of D’Tali waiting for Mellida to serve the desserts.

The line felt like it took forever. For all the rushing I’d done to find Mellida, these last few steps to her seemed to take the longest. Love poured into me over the bond.

I struggled to keep my eyes off of her, worried someone might notice, but I wasn’t the only person around fascinated with the human woman in their midst.

A few more steps, and I’d finally be reunited with my Mellida.

MELLIDA

Jarlath…

I had felt the golden warmth grow stronger and stronger. I knew Jarlath had found me and drew near. With each moment, my heart beat harder and harder.

When I looked up and saw his face, it took every ounce of self-control I had to stop myself from shouting his name and running to his arms. Love flooded into me over our bond.

Taking deep breaths, I focused on the pel fruit turnovers baking over the coals. Jarlath slouched his way through the warehouse followed closely by a hooded companion. When Jarlath joined the line for dessert, I thought I’d faint.

I worried Jarlath would be recognized. There were more than a few here who’d identify him on sight.

How long will he be able to keep that hood up? What will they do to him if he’s caught?

Sweat poured from my forehead, trickling down my back and onto my boobs. I dared a glance at the line. Only two D’Tali stood between us.

I wanted to touch him. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to grab Jarlath’s hand and run away back to our life before Lomav had escaped.

I served the other D’Tali in line from the last batch of desserts. They took their treats and wandered off to find a seat and enjoy them. Jarlath stepped forward. I gulped, daring not to look him in the eye.

What if someone sees his eyes flash in the presence of his mate?

I handed him a turnover, daring to stroke his hand with mine. His touch sent shock up to my shoulder. I pulled away, pretending nothing happened, pretending my mate didn’t stand before me. Jarlath whispered.

“Mell…”

My name on his lips stole my breath. “Careful…”

“I’m going to get you out of here.”

“I know you will.”

The bond surged with his love. My knees trembled. I wanted to melt right there. I drew in a ragged breath and Jarlath slouched off to a shadowed corner.

Jarlath’s companion stepped forward, hand out, palm up, awaiting his own turnover. He spoke low during the exchange.

“My name is Zalko.”

My eyes darted about, terrified someone would suspect them. I noticed Pavil looking my way.

“There are a few bowls of stew left.”

“I’m here to help.”

I plopped a turnover into his waiting hand. “I’m sorry, the biscuits are all gone. The best I can do right now are turnovers and stew.”

Zalko looked at me and I got my first glimpse of his teal-scaled face. A vicious scar scrawled across his jaw. I made a point of cleaning the small knife I had talked Pavil into.

“Thank you.” Zalko took his turnover and joined Jarlath.

I passed out a few more of the turnovers, then plopped onto a chair to catch my breath. Four hours of cooking, even with Dax’s help, took a lot of energy. I tried my best to relax, but Lomav’s grating voice struck a nerve.

“The human animals are perverting Tahkath. Dojak has let them contaminate far too much of our society already.”

Nervous glances darted my way. Pavil cast a disapproving glance at Lomav. Lomav’s irritating voice cut through the noise of the warehouse. As the gathered D’Tali fell quiet, Lomav wallowed in having ensnared the attention of the entire building.

“Not only has Dojak caused so many of us ill-fortunes, but he’s betrayed the essence of the D’Tali. He would have us become a kingdom of half-breeds.”

Maybe it was the fatigue. Maybe it was simple irritability. Maybe it was the confidence flowing through the bond. Either way, I was one more xenophobic comment away from starting a fight.

“That’s why it’s so important to strike quickly, before the human influence spreads and we can no longer even recognize who we are as D’Tali!” Lomav stood, chest swelling. “Just look at the ‘school’ the humans started.”

A random voice from the audience chimed in. “One of my brothers goes to the school. Says he’s learning how to be a better healer.”

Lomav’s lip twisted into a sneer. “Your poor brother. The humans say they’ll ‘teach’ us, but they simply indoctrinate. They are warping your brother. They are, bit by bit, stripping away what makes us D’Tali. They say they have better ways, but the D’Tali ways have made us strong long before the humans invaded.”

I laughed. Lomav accusing the human women of invading was too far. Any resolve I had to keep my head down fled on the heels of Lomav’s words. He glared at me.

“Invaded!” I failed to keep myself from laughing harder.

“Shut your mouth, animal. Don’t insult the good, pure D’Tali here with your contempt.”

“Contempt? Contempt for what? The ridiculous idea that twelve women kidnapped from Earth by Skarg slavers constitutes an invasion? What’s not to laugh at? None of us asked to be kidnapped. We spent the entire trip here from our home locked in a cage.”

“So you say, but we have no way to prove your words.”

“A crashed Skarg ship wasn’t enough proof for you?”

“Who is to say that ‘ship’ really belonged to the Skarg? I say that it was a human ship from the beginning.”

He turned to the crowd watching our exchange like it was the latest episode of their favorite TV show. Since there were no TVs in D’Tali, this was probably the best entertainment available.

“This ‘school’ teaches lies!”

“No, they’re just teaching your people knowledge hundreds of years more advanced.”

Lomav hissed. He crept closer, imposing his body over me. “See? Even now, this animal shows contempt for who we D’Tali are.”

“Stop twisting my words. Some humans once lived very much the way the D’Tali do now—hundreds of years ago. The way you live here now is history to us. Our people grew and learned better ways and gained knowledge.”

Lomav stepped closer, looming. “Your words betray you. Everyone here sees you think you’re better than we are, so much smarter…”

“Now you’re putting words in my mouth. I never claimed to be better than anyone. Humans have simply discovered knowledge the D’Tali have yet to learn.”

“The D’Tali don’t need human knowledge. How advanced can you be when you are only a mammal?” He took another step closer. My blood boiled.

I didn’t care how big he was or how hard he tried to intimidate me at that moment. I got to my feet and stared Lomav down.

“I’m not an animal! I’m a person, Lomav. And how can you hate human women so much? The D’Tali don’t produce enough women to survive much longer. I say we humans are the D’Tali’s best hope for a future at all.”

Lomav closed the remaining distance between us and shouted into my face. “Humans aren’t the future of the D’Tali. You and the half-breeds you whelp, are our downfall. You’ll destroy everything making us D’Tali.”

“Seven of the twelve human women who were brought here against our will have found mates among the D’Tali and you don’t think fate is involved? Explain to me how that is a mistake, because to me that means we were destined to come here.”

“Blasphemy! Rutting with an animal and claiming it is the most sacred mating bond insults everything we are. Your existence insults everything we are.”

“The golden light I feel inside is my bond to Jarlath. I feel him. I feel his love. I feel the golden threads weaving us together.”

Lomav spat at my feet and growled in my face. “Stop perverting all that is most sacred to our people with your filthy lies, mammal!”

“Stop perverting the minds of the D’Tali who look up to you with your hate.” I turned to the crowd. “There are five more human women who’ve yet to find their mate. What if one of them is your mate? The D’Tali live far longer than humans. What if one of the children now being born is destined to be your mate? Do any of you here have a mate?”

“Temptress!”

“Delusional, self-important ass!”

Pavil lay a hand on Lomav’s arm. “Be calm.”

Lomav spun on him. “I will not be calm, Pavil. I will not be calm until our people are rid of these vile parasites. I will not be calm until Tahkath is once again ruled by D’Tali and not by human animals!”

Spittle flew from Lomav’s mouth. Fires of xenophobic hatred danced in his eyes. He leaned in close. I felt his breath on my face.

“I will not be calm until this mammal taint is carved from our people. I will not let animals defile the D’Tali. I will not let you humans breed the best of what it means to be D’Tali out of us.”

“Your hatred is tainted, Lomav. Your hatred and your cruelty and your jealousy. I’ve watched you. You like to make yourself out to be important, as if what you had to say mattered. What I don’t see is you saying a damn thing making anyone’s life better.”

“The life of every D’Tali will be better once your kind are eradicated!”

“How? How does that make anyone’s life better? How does that teach people the skills to cure disease? How does that feed people or bring them love or create children or make peace with the Aetamian? Because we human women have brought all that to the D’Tali people and more.

I’ve known men like you before. You take and wallow in the attention your hatred brings you. You don’t mean a single thing you say, all you want is the power to hurt others, to bend them to your will, and that makes you the animal.”

Lomav grabbed my neck and squeezed.

JARLATH

I felt Mellida’s anger flow through the bond. The argument between her and Lomav drew the attention of everyone in the warehouse. All eyes fell on them. Mellida’s fierce words and Lomav’s rage gathered every soul. The D’Tali faces whipped back and forth as the argument raged.

I drew close, more and more worried each second Lomav would lose control of his temper. I knew a man like Lomav couldn’t bear to be met eye to eye. Oh, how my heart swelled with pride, though. Mellida’s righteous rage only made me love her more.

For every step Lomav took closer to Mellida, I took two. I’d guarded Lomav at the prison for something like two years now. I knew he was close to losing his last vestige of self-control. Then, he grabbed her by the throat, and I saw red.

Before I even knew I moved, my hand gripped Lomav’s forearm. In his rage, he focused entirely on Mellida. He raised a hand to strike her, but I stepped between. The blow which could have killed Mellida smacked into my hard flesh.

Lomav blinked, seeming to come out of his blind rage. He looked at me. Recognition bloomed across his face, followed by terror.

“Pavil!”

Lomav need not have shouted, Pavil had already leaped to his feet. Lomav released Mellida. She fell to the floor, gasping for breath. I wanted to hold her, to pick her up and soothe her, but Pavil intervened. Pavil swung at me. I sent Mellida my love over the bond and ducked.

Lomav cowered back. “Get him!”

Vortar and Hezric surged to their feet, ready to jump in. Zalko dropped the worn, tattered cloak from his shoulders. He drew his sword and stepped in to cover me. With Zalko at my back, I focused on Pavil.

He matched me inch for inch, pound for pound. He may not be a trained soldier, but his body was a roadmap of a lifetime of brawling. I barely registered Lomav’s earlier blow. My bulk easily absorbed what could have killed Mellida.

The yellow D’Tali who’d assisted Mellida with the cooking pulled her out of the way, and I could tell she trusted him over the bond. Pavil kicked a chair out of the way, and I dropped the old cloak I wore and drew my sword.

Pavil and I circled each other, searching for an opening. He wielded a dagger, slowly backing up to a collection of swords leaning against a crate behind him. With no intention of allowing Pavil to reach them, I slashed diagonally at Pavil’s arm.

He pivoted to the right, dodging my blade, swinging his dagger toward my unarmored armpit. I slapped the dagger away with the greave covering my left forearm. I slashed horizontally at his torso protected by only a tunic.

Pavil swayed back, my attack missing him by a mere inch. He rebalanced and kicked a chair at my legs. I knocked the chair to the side with an arm. Pavil stepped back, closer to the swords.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Zalko battling Hezric and Vortar. As mean as they’d both been behind prison bars, they weren’t any match for Zalko. He moved with practiced, experienced grace, and the confidence that he’d already survived the blow which had left him so horribly scarred.

Mellida’s assistant, whom I nicknamed Yellow, assisted her back to the fire and out of the way of most of the chaos. D’Tali had turned against D’Tali.

One faction formed a semi-circle around the fireplace. They shouted, “For Mell!”

Another smaller faction escorted Lomav further into the warehouse and away from the chaos. The rest of the D’Tali brawled with little to no organization. They appeared to be fighting for the fun of it, throwing wild punches and wrestling across the floor.

I lunged, aiming the tip of my sword at Pavil’s gut. He sidestepped. His heel caught on an overturned table. Pavil fell backwards, crashing into the table. The table’s legs popped and crunched as his weight tore them to splinters.

He rolled, stopping within reach of the cache of swords. Jagged bits of table leg bristled along his back. Blood stained the back of his perforated tunic. He growled and groaned but didn’t slow. I rushed him, racing to reach him before his hand curled around the handle of a sword.

His grasping hand groped the cache of weapons. Sheathed swords clattered along the floor. I was nearly on him, readying a two-handed, overhead blow. His fingers scrabbled, desperate to wrap around any available means of defense or attack.

My blade whooshed down. His fingers finally wrapped around a scabbard. He swung it up, bracing it with both hands. My nearly six-foot long blade slammed into the scabbard. The force of the blow reverberated through the muscles of his arms.

He grunted, deflecting my blade to one side and kicked at my thigh. I turned at the last minute, deflecting most of his kick’s power. He took the opening and rolled away. Pavil sprung to his feet, unsheathing the sword in his hand.

On his feet and armed, Pavil presented a far more dangerous opponent. We circled each other, encircled by the chaos of blows and shouts of what had turned into a good old-fashioned street brawl.

Pavil jabbed at me, testing my responses. I slapped his blade away with my own.

“Why, Pavil? Why do you fight for Lomav?”

Pavil grunted, throwing a series of slashing attacks I easily blocked.

“Do you hate humans as much as Lomav?”

Pavil jabbed at my belly. I blocked, slapping his blade away. A grin spread across his face. He hissed at me.

“Lomav is a fool. Yet many would and have responded to his call to arms.”

I slashed at Pavil’s side. He pivoted back, continuing to circle. “And?”

Pavil shrugged. “Just because they gather for Lomav, doesn’t mean they won’t follow me if something were…to happen…to Lomav in the future.”

I noticed his arm tire. The tip of his sword dipped toward the floor, betraying his fatigue. He might be big and experienced, but he’d spent the better part of the last eighteen months in prison without the opportunity to train.

“So Pavil, this is all about power for you?”

“Well, I don’t hate humans.”

I smiled grimly and jabbed at him, forcing him to counter and block on his fatigued arm. I knew how tiring flinging a nearly six-foot long metal blade was.

About a year into my training, when I first enlisted into Tahkath’s armed forces, I had taken an injury and spent two months recovering. When I’d returned to my training, my arm, weakened by the time away from training, dipped the same way.

Pavil feinted a slash to my left. I tapped his blade away. Considering our well-matched size, I decided wearing out his sword arm was my best strategy. My left foot bumped an overturned chair. I grabbed it, throwing it at Pavil’s face.

He knocked it aside but opened himself up for a quick slash and I took the opportunity. Finally, I landed a blow, slicing into his right flank. He dodged at the last minute, preventing the strike from emptying his bowels onto the floor, but his left hand held tight to his core.

Enraged, he charged in a flurry of quick blows. I parried and blocked, taking step after step back. When I backed into Zalko, I couldn’t step back any further. Pavil lunged, thrusting at my shoulder.

“Move right!” Zalko sidestepped with me. Pavil’s thrust shot past us, impaling Vortar. Vortar oofed, doubling over Pavil’s blade. Pavil struggled to disentangle his blade from Vortar’s body.

Zalko, Pavil and I heaved great breaths, staring at each other. From the corner of my eye, I saw a group of the D’Tali had formed a defensive line around Mellida. I stepped back, slow. Zalko followed, moving toward Mellida.

Pavil wrenched his sword from Vortar’s body. Hezric lunged, thrusting at Zalko. Zalko pivoted, avoiding the blow. Torkin slashed at Zalko’s side. Zalko threw up his sword in a hasty block, leaping back to gain distance from Torkin’s blade, and crashed right into me.

We went down in a tangled heap, Hezric, Torkin, and Pavil slashing and jabbing at us. Zalko swung a wild blow, severing Hezric’s arm. Hezric leapt back, screaming, holding the bleeding stump which had once been his sword arm.

Torkin stepped in, preparing an overhead, vertical strike. On my back I had few options, so I kicked him right in the crotch. His aim slipped. His sword sliced through the strap of my backpack.

I rolled to the side. My pack slipped off my shoulder. Pavil stepped in, trying to slice through my neck. I swung the pack, filled with my wheel of cheese, smacking Pavil across the face. Pavil staggered.

Zalko jumped to his feet. More of Lomav’s people crowded in, swords drawn. Halfway to my own feet, Pavil roared, enraged. He jabbed multiple thrusts at my chest, my legs. I blocked and parried as fast as I could swing my sword.

Pavil’s sword arm may be out of shape, but his newfound rage fueled his exhausted arms. Our swords met over and over, flashing in the light of torches and fires.

Zalko fought back attack after attack, his sword a frenzy. A D’Tali ran from the defensive line protecting Mellida. He swung his sword in a diagonal slash, aiming for Pavil.

Pavil turned, swaying back at the waist to avoid the D’Tali’s oncoming blade. As soon as the D’Tali’s blade passed Pavil’s body, he slashed his sword up, into the D’Tali’s chest, cleaving him near in two.

The D’Tali fell atop my legs, pinning me in place while I defended against the random strikes coming my way.

Pavil turned back to me. My blood ran cold. With my legs pinned and the mob of Lomav’s supporters slashing and jabbing swords my way, how would I ever get out of this?

Mell…

MELLIDA

Oh. Hell. No.

A mob of Lomav’ supporters swamped Jarlath and Zalko. As good as Jarlath and Zalko fought, no two fighters could hold out against so many. They fought hard and fierce. When the D’Tali Pavil killed fell on Jarlath’s legs, I lost my last shred of patience.

When the fighting started, Dax helped get me out of the way. I coughed and gasped for breath after Lomav had tried to strangle me. As soon as I caught a few breaths, Dax and I retreated to the fireplace, trying to keep me out of the way.

Several of the D’Tali rushed to the fireplace. At first, Dax and I thought they meant to attack. My argument with Lomav must have gotten through to this group though, because they formed a defensive perimeter instead.

I searched for a dagger light enough for me to wield. The little knife I’d been given earlier was far too small to be of much help. I saw none though, as most had been stored in the makeshift armory on the other side of the warehouse.

I didn’t know if it was the influence of Jarlath’s fierce spirit flowing into me over the bond, or if it was my own blooming inside my soul, but the time for me to act had come. I pinned Dax with a look which made him gulp. I pointed at the pot over the fire.

“Bring that. It’s time to finish this. We’re not letting Lomav get away and I’m not about to let my mate die. Follow me.”

I grabbed the big metal spoon in one hand and the fire poker in the other and went to war. I pushed my way through the defensive line, screaming at the top of my lungs. I charged in, swinging that spoon and fire poker with arms strengthened by years of stirring, scrubbing, and hauling food.

I heard Dax scream behind me, following on my heels. Little soup remained in the steaming-hot, cast-iron soup pot Dax wielded, but scalding soup was the least of his impromptu weapons. Dax swung that pot like a wrecking ball.

We fought our way through the backs of the D’Tali swarming Jarlath and his friend Zalko. I smacked legs and shins, knees, and crotches with my dual-wielded cooking utensils. Dax didn’t need to aim a scalding iron pot. Everything he hit with it steamed, screamed, and crunched.

From the corner of my eye, I realized the defensive line had followed, grabbing anything they could use as a weapon. I raised my spoon high in the air and let out a blood-curdling scream. My little army screamed right along with me.

Dax and I made quick work of the D’Tali between us and Jarlath. I’d smack at a leg or sword arm otherwise engaged. Dax would follow with his wrecking ball of iron. Soon Lomav’s supporters gave us a wide berth, terror on their faces.

That’s right! Don’t fuck with human women!

Jarlath kicked at the body tangled in his legs, blocking blow after blow. Pavil raised his sword for another vertical slash at Jarlath, and I dove between the two.

“No!” Pavil’s eyes went wide. He jerked his strike to the side to avoid me. I knew Pavil believed women were sacred, human or D’Tali, and I used it against him.

I’ll never know why he supported Lomav though he hated Lomav’s rhetoric, because Jarlath’s sword thrust up through Pavil’s throat and into his brain.

Time seemed to stop. Every D’Tali in sight drew in a shocked breath. Jarlath jerked his blade from Pavil’s head. The yellow-scaled giant slowly sunk to his knees. His eyes glazed and he fell face first to the floor.

No one dared move. No one dared breathe. Jarlath kicked himself free, pulling himself to his feet.

I broke the silence.

“That is enough out of all of you. Half of you are just fighting for fun!” I turned, slowly meeting the eyes of each D’Tali bold enough to meet my gaze. Dax set his pot down with a clang.

“Look what Lomav has done to you. D’Tali killing D’Tali for what? So an arrogant, hateful man can gain more power?”

D’Tali hung their heads and shuffled their feet.

“A man who would deny you the joy of finding a mate simply because that mate might be human…”

I shook my head in disgust.

“King Dojak’s soldiers already search for Lomav, to put the traitor behind bars where he belongs. Before he can harm more of you. Before he can lie to you more. Before he can stoke fear and hate and bring more death.”

I drew in a deep breath.

“Help us find him. Help us track him down. Don’t let him escape again to cause more pain. Help us stop him once and for all.”

Dax gulped and spoke up. “What happens to us when the king’s men arrive?”

I turned to look at him. I held out my hand and Dax took it.

“I’ll speak to King Dojak for each of you who, right now, choose to do the right thing.”

Dax smiled. I released his hand and took in the crowd once more. “The rest of you…are on your own. We can’t keep you here. We can’t make this choice for you. Go. Now. Before they arrive.”

D’Tali looked around. More than a few took the opportunity to run, but far more than I expected stayed. I nodded.

“All right. Now, some of you must know more about Lomav’s contacts than we do. You know where to find him.”

I looked at Jarlath. His eyes flashed golden. Several in the crowd gasped. Whispered, “It’s true!” and “They are mates!” rang through the warehouse.

I took Jarlath’s hand.

Jarlath looked over the crowd and spoke. “Split up into groups of five. Travel with your group. Do not underestimate Lomav.”

Zalko pointed to his scar.

“I, too, once followed Lomav. I was young and angry, and I believed the lies he fed me. When I learned his promises of riches, power, and glory were lies, that Lomav would never allow another to claim any of those things, I confronted him.”

Zalko turned so all would see his scar clearly. “We fought. His words angered me. I gave him a single opening. He gave me this to remember my lesson. Do not listen to what he says.”

Jarlath spoke next.

“Once Lomav is captured, we’ll turn him over to the king’s men. Now arm yourselves and split into your groups. Zalko will coordinate your assigned search areas.”

Dax looked at me. “Um, Lad—Mell?”

“Yes, Dax?”

“I’d like to stay with you.”

I nodded.

“I’d be honored to have you with us. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

“Of course.”

I turned to Jarlath. My heart surged. I threw my arms around him. He wrapped me in his embrace. For a short eternity, Jarlath filled my world. Those golden threads wove around us as if to make up for lost time.

I stretched up on my toes, pulling him down to meet my lips. I kissed him with all the passion built up over days of being parted. My lips parted. My tongue sought out Jarlath’s. His tongue met mine and danced.

Jarlath held me close, stroking my hair. We parted lips, whispering all the little things in our hearts.

“Mell… I missed you so much.”

“Jarlath. May we never part again.”

He pulled back, cradling my face in his hands. “Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head. “No. He wanted to, but Pavil wouldn’t let him.”

Jarlath scooped me up in his arms. I put my arms around his neck.

“I’m so sorry, Mell. I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop him from taking you.”

I shushed him, stroking his face with a hand.

“No. Don’t blame yourself for the bad behavior of another, Jarlath. You found me as soon as you could. You rescued me. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’ll never let you go again.”

“That’s going to make taking a pee really awkward.”

Jarlath laughed deep in his belly.

“Not to mention work. You’re going to spend the rest of our lives carrying me everywhere?”

I grinned, feeling pretty sly. Jarlath slapped my bottom playfully, chuckling.

“I brought you a gift.”

I leaned back, staring at him in shock.

“I was kidnapped and dragged halfway across town, slept in a storage room in a nest of blankets, had to wear a filthy prison-issue tunic, fight a raging river, and navigate a gang of traitorous giants, and you took the time to get me a gift?”

Jarlath’s eyes grew wider with each part of my story. “You have so much to tell me.”

“When we have the time, I’ll tell you the entire story.”

Jarlath nodded and set me back on my feet. He took my hand and retrieved his backpack. He unbuckled the clasps, reached in, and withdrew a giant wheel of cheese coated in red wax.

“Cheese?” I inspected it a bit closer. “Is that blood?”

“I also have so much to tell you.”

A green-scaled D’Tali, whose name I’d yet to learn, sprinted up to us. He braced his hands on his knees, heaving breaths.

“We…found…Lomav…He’s headed to the docks! He’s…trying…to find a ship…to board.”

I turned to Jarlath.

“The cheese will have to wait.”

JARLATH

I held Mellida close. The smell of her hair intoxicated and soothed me. I cherished one more kiss. She pulled back, smiling.

“Go. Find Lomav before he finds an escape.”

“Yes, my love.” I turned to Zalko. “Zalko, can you please stay with Mellida? I trust you.”

Zalko nodded.

“I’ll protect your mate. Honestly, I’m not as young as I once was and that was a difficult fight. I could use a short break.”

I clasped Zalko’s shoulder.

“You fought well.”

The young, yellow D’Tali who had wielded the cook pot had found a spear and flanked Mellida. I smiled.

How is she so good with people?

“What is your name, son?”

“Dax.”

“Don’t leave her side, Dax. I’m leaving you and Zalko to protect my mate. There is no greater task.”

Dax’s chest swelled with pride. He saluted me. “Yes, Sir! I won’t let any harm come to her.”

I nodded and turned to the green-scaled D’Tali who’d brought us news of Lomav’s plan of escape.

“Show me.”

He nodded and we headed to the door.

“What’s your name?”

“Lorkot.”

“Well met, Lorkot. Where are your brothers now?”

“Some of them are waiting outside.”

With a quick, wistful look at Mellida organizing her new gang of followers, I smiled, and we met Lorkot’s brothers outside.

“All right. Tell me your story.”

Six boys spoke at once, but they each had different things to say.

“Calm yourselves!” My drill sergeant in training would’ve been proud of my tone. The boys fell silent. Some even closed their mouths. I pointed to the smallest, who seemed familiar. “Where do I know you from?”

“I ran into your mate the other day.”

“I remember you. What is your name?”

“Krenik.”

“Well met, Krenik. One at a time, tell me while we walk.”

We trudged through damp streets. The rain had finally ended and we’d made good time. They wound their way to the wharves. Lorkot, the eldest of the six brothers, spoke first.

“One of my brothers said he spotted Lomav running for the ships. With the city gates locked down by the King’s order, it’s probably his best chance of getting out of Tahkath.”

“If he can find a captain who will allow him passage.”

“True.”

The streets through which we trudged were unnervingly deserted. The docks rarely shut down like that. On any other day, rain or shine, the docks bustled. Trade never took a break that I knew of. Day and night, dock workers, sailors, and drovers worked to keep the backbone of Tahkath’s industry thriving.

That night was the first night I hadn’t seen a soul on the streets. With the city locked down, and Lomav’s supporters roaming about since he escaped, I guessed the word had spread.

“Why were any of you even looking for Lomav?”

“We were at the market…getting Mom some supplies.” Krenik’s eyes darted between the youngest three of his brothers, daring them to contradict his obvious cover story.

“I never thought I’d really see a human woman. They all stay at the castle. When I ran into you, I had to tell everyone about it. Dalthar down the street said I was a liar. He doesn’t believe the human women are real…”

Lorkot cut Krenik’s story short with a hand over the younger brother’s mouth. “You know how rumors spread. Before long, everyone was talking about the human woman. Then the guards locked down the gates and the guards began searching.”

Another of the brothers interrupted Lorkot, picking up the story where Lorkot had left off.

“That’s when Dalthar came over and said sorry for calling Krenik a liar because he saw some men carrying a human woman through the streets and she looked like the one Krenik said he ran into and…”

Lorkot covered this brother’s mouth and got to the point.

“They all got ahead of the human woman, to see if she was the same human woman or if it was a new human woman. They saw her pass.”

Krenik cut in.

“Then we heard the guards talking about Lomav and many men started watching the streets.”

“And they were mean and no one liked them hanging around and we heard they were with Lomav…”

Somehow, the brother who never seemed to breathe while talking, had freed himself from Lorkot’s grasp. They wrestled until Lorkot wrangled his mouth under control again.

“So we figured it all out. No one notices us running everywhere and we hear lots of stuff. When we heard there was a fight, we sent our other brothers and friends out to keep an eye open.”

Krenik looked up at me, big eyes round, as if he’d practiced in front of a mirror. “And we like the human woman. We heard she had new stories.”

Lorkot cut in. “When Dalthar spotted Lomav sneaking to the wharves, he sent word and I ran to get you.”

All six brothers walked next to me, their chests swelled with pride.

“Good lads. Impressive job. Now, I have some important tasks for your team. One, none of you get close to Lomav or his people. None of you put yourselves at risk. All we need you to do is pass messages. Do you understand? The information you carry is far too important for any of you to get caught and I want none of you hurt.”

Slightly disappointed they wouldn’t immediately be inducted into the King’s Guards, but serious about the importance of their assigned role, the brothers agreed.

“Two. Notify the guard and bring them here. Number three. Find Mellida, the human woman, and my friend, Zalko, and get them here. You’ll do as they instruct as if they were me, understand?”

The brothers nodded with a chorus of salutes.

“Four, find me more information. Lorkot is coming with me and we need to know to which ship Lomav ran.”

The brothers saluted and all, but Lorkot, sped into the night.

He and I walked in silence to match the empty streets, and my mind thought of Mellida. For all the ways I appreciated her before, today added even more. I’d thought I was lucky my mate turned out to be smart and funny and beautiful.

Now, I knew her to also carry within her chest the soul of a warrior. Within mere hours, she had reached the hearts of so many D’Tali, turning them against Lomav’s hate and exploitation.

Ancestors be praised! My Mellida galvanized a group of rough characters and escaped convicts into an army.

My heart swelled. I could not be more proud or more in love with her than I was at that moment. Never have I ever seen a more glorious sight than Mellida charging into battle wielding a poker and spoon. Mellida was a woman worthy of an entire Kingdom and I had been blessed beyond all hope to be her mate.

Minutes ticked by with each block we passed. The scales on the back of my neck tickled. My ears twitched. A shadow on my left whispered at me.

“Pssst. Hey. Psst. Over here.”

Lorkot and I slowed, slowly approaching the shadow. In it stood a D’Tali wrapped in a deeply hooded cloak. He nearly matched my height, but his thick shoulders looked a mile wider than mine. He nodded at an alley to the left.

“The traitor went that way.”

“Thanks friend.”

“He has gathered men the entire way. Take care. The people here…we just want to live and work. No one wants to get caught in the middle of the king and the traitor. Most have hidden themselves, hoping to wait this out.”

I placed my hand on his arm. “We’ll make this quick and people can go about their lives. Thank you for the help.”

He shuffled his feet, eyes darting about. “Are there only the two of you? Lomav has many men. Vicious men.”

I nodded, thanking him. Lorkot and I turned down the alley. After a few blocks, a boy I didn’t recognize sprinted up to us. He stumbled to a stop, heaving and wheezing. He pinwheeled his arms before flopping them against his knees. Propping himself up and swaying, he panted out his message.

“I’m…Dalthar…Krenik…says…” Dalthar sucked in a huge breath then spoke in a rush. “Lomav and his men were spotted trying sneaking aboard The Ancestress’ Star.” He drew in another deep breath. “They took Captain Gorev hostage. He's my uncle, please help.” Dalthar expelled his breath like a blacksmith’s bellows.

“Of course, we’ll help. Run back and tell the others to meet us there. Lorkot and I will see what information we can gather.”

Dalthar groaned, but nodded, sucked in a few more deep breaths and sprinted away. Lorkot and I moved through the streets with great care. We kept to the shadows, searching carefully before turning corners and moving on to new blocks.

Soon, the docked ships loomed dark against the night sky. The river lapped against the pilings and piers jutting out into the River of the Ancestress. Small vermin scurried in the shadows around stacks of crates and rows of barrels.

The mournful creak of ships’ rigging and furled sails covered the sounds of our steps along the wooden planks. In the distance, at the end of a long pier, bobbed The Ancestress’ Star. Around her loitered more men in one place than I’d seen in total since leaving the warehouse.

Inside, I felt my bond with Mellida flash. She was on her way. Our love would lead her to me.

MELLIDA

Warehouses cast jagged shadows across the cobblestone street. I led my ragtag force of D’tali toward the wharves. I felt every impact on the bottom of my tired feet. My legs burned with exertion. The wheel of cheese, the gift Jarlath had given me when he rescued me, bounced against my back.

I’d stuffed it into my pack along with the dress and slung it over my shoulder. It bounced off me with each step, but it was like a massage on my sore muscles, and I didn’t mind.

I’ll be feeling this in the morning.

We moved slowly through the rain-slickened streets, senses alert for any sign of an ambush. Lomav was a tricky devil, and I wasn’t about to let him get the drop on me for a third time.

I gripped the spoon in my hand, its sturdy weight reassuring. If I concentrated, I could feel the golden tether between Jarlath’s soul and mine grow slowly looser or tighter as he moved about Tahkath on his own search.

It will be easy to find each other when someone spots Lomav.

The recent heavy rains had washed the stone architecture of the city clean. When the sun occasionally broke through the heavy clouds to shine down upon the smooth stones beneath our feet, they revealed deeper hues than the usual browns and grays.

A commotion broke out behind us. I turned around. Unable to see over the massive, scaled forms of the D’tali behind me, I stretched and bobbed, trying to find a view. Slowly, the D’Tali parted, allowing me to see the source of the ruckus; a young D’tali boy, his scales a deep purple.

He rushed up toward me, a big vein pulsing in his neck. The boy bent over at the waist, resting his hands on his knees. He panted heavily, struggling to regain his breath.

“Krenik,” he gasped. “Your mate…Jarlath told me…tell you…”

Krenik collapsed to one knee.

“Dax, get him some water.”

After a short rest, and half of a waterskin, Krenik caught enough of his breath to speak. He looked up at me with big eyes. His budded horns had just begun to grow. I wished I knew enough about D’Tali children to guess at his age.

“Jarlath bade me tell you Lomav has been spotted heading for the wharves looking for a ship.”

“Did he say which ship?”

Krenik shook his head.

“Then it’s to the wharves we go.” I turned to Dax. “Can you lead us there?”

Dax nodded. Zalko took point, leading us through the empty cobblestone streets. I heard a numa chuffing in the distance. Dax kept his head on a swivel, taking in all sights and sounds while guiding us toward our goal.

Zalko paused. He placed a hand on Dax’s shoulder and called a halt. His eyes darted about. He sniffed intently and growled in distaste. He took a left, waving. We followed in his wake.

Dax slowed his pace, nostrils testing the air. His yellow scaled face scrunched up in dismay as we turned the corner.

“It’s like I thought,” Zalko said. “The drainage pipes here clogged and flooded the street.”

I put my hands on my hips and regarded the sight before me. Here, the street ramped downward a few feet, snaking a narrow path between the two-story buildings casting the scene in deep shadow. It made for a sort of bowl, creating a dark, debris-strewn urban pond.

A pair of small birds took flight as the crate upon which they perched shifted in the murky water. I shook my head.

“I don’t think we should take the risk of going through there. We have no way of knowing what’s under that water. It might even be a trap set by Lomav, for all we know.”

I turned to Dax, arching my brow.

“Do you know of any other ways to get through here? Or another way around? How far will we have to backtrack?”

Dax licked his lips nervously. “I…I don’t know.”

I put one hand on my hip and arched both brows. “Dax?”

He heaved a sigh. “We’ll have to go back a few blocks. I just worry we’ll be stopped by the king’s soldiers.”

“Why worry about the soldiers? They’re looking for Lomav, too. We both want the same thing.” I shook my head, the wind carrying the stench of the fetid water to my nostrils. “Isn’t it less likely we’ll run into Lomav if we head that direction? I don’t want to lose him.”

“Yes, but it’s more likely we’ll run into the King’s Men,” bellowed a tall green-skinned D’tali. He gestured at his brethren, many of them former cohorts of Lomav. “If the guards find us, they’ll likely wish to return us to the jail.”

“If they don’t skewer us right there on the spot,” groused an older D’tali, whose purple scales had faded to pale lavender.

I regarded my makeshift army with mounting concern. Now that the immediate threat of Lomav had been removed, the glue which held them together was in danger of falling apart. No doubt they had lives they wished to get back to as well, and families they wished to protect.

Then, I remembered the battle we’d just been through. They weren’t simply opposing Lomav,they’d protected me. Could it be I was the impetus for their gathering?

It made sense. The D’tali revered women. Only Lomav let his prejudices toward humans taint his perception of that.

“Hey!” All eyes fell on me. I leaped up onto a barrel glazed with rainwater and stood with my hands on my hips, gripping my spoon like a scepter. The D’Tali looked up to me, their mouths silent and their eyes laser focused. It was a bit daunting, but I drew on my golden link with Jarlath for courage and steeled my nerves.

“I know a lot of you are afraid of going back to prison. Some of you others are afraid of what might happen if Lomav turns his baleful eye your way. But you’re forgetting something.”

I gestured to the aged D’Tali. “You, sir! Look to your left.”

“What?”

“Just indulge me. Good…now look to your right. What do you see?”

“A cutpurse and a drunkard?”

Laughter bubbled up from the lot of them.

“That’s not what I see. I see two men who are standing side by side with you. You see, you’re not alone. You don’t have to face Lomav by yourself. You don’t have to face an uncertain future all alone.”

I pointed toward the large D’tali with emerald-green scales. “You! Can you break a single arrow in your hands?”

He smirked. “With ease, my lady.”

“I have no doubt about that! You’re like the Jolly Green Giant.”

For a moment I thought I’d offended him. Then, his lips stretched out into a wide smile. “Jolly Green Giant. I don’t know what it means, but I like the sound of it!”

“Anyway, you can snap one arrow…but what about two?”

“Certainly,” Jolly replied.

“What about six arrows? Or ten?” I gestured toward the throng of D’tali, doing a quick guesstimate in my mind. “What about twenty-five arrows? Could you snap those, Jolly Green Giant?”

“I—no, I don’t think I could.”

“Exactly. We are stronger together than we ever would be apart.” I turned to Zalko and nodded. “Lead us on the alternate path.”

“Yes, mi’lady.”

I groaned. “Stop with the ‘Lady’ stuff. Call me Mell.”

“Yes, Mell.” He smiled like I had given him a gift.

These D’Tali are so strange. And, I think I love these scaley, horned giants.

I giggled.

If only Grandpa could see me now, organizing these D’Tali the way he organized the Railroad Union.

Zalko took point once more, and Dax flanked. Krenik sort of fell into our group, and I didn’t offer a complaint. He’d already proven himself useful as a runner and messenger.

And I know he’s going to follow us no matter what I say. This is too exciting. He’ll cherish the story of the time he was part of history. He and his friends can spend years arguing about which of them has the best story from today.

Our ragtag group wormed its way through the streets of Tahkath. The flooding caused us to make another detour. It took us even closer toward the dock wall, much to Dax’s chagrin. To his credit, he never offered a verbal complaint. I could tell by looking at the tension between his shoulders that he was worried.

We bunched up behind him when he reached a T-junction. Rows of buildings lay to our left and right paths. For a moment, I couldn’t tell what spooked him. Then, I heard the jangle of tack and harness, the steady tromping of booted feet.

A group of armed D’Tali appeared from around a slight bend in the street. I recognized the king’s heraldry upon their breastplates. They moved with a military precision which my own group could only imitate.

My relief soured when I realized they might just do as Dax feared, and attempt to arrest my little army.

A D’Tali with a spined helmet marched in the lead. His eyes widened when they fell upon me—human women being a novelty and all—but they narrowed again when he beheld my roughneck army.

An uneasy tension spread over both sides. The theme song from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly ran through my head.

Oh, just another reference I can’t explain to Jarlath.

No one seemed willing to make the first move. My eyes flicked back and forth between the guards and the convicts before making a decision. Drawing on my growing self-confidence, I grinned fiercely and stepped up before the commander.

“Yes! Your arrival is most fortunate! King Dojak’s nefarious cousin has escaped prison and even now, plots the demise of your noble liege! He has been spotted at the wharves, seeking passage on a ship that he may return with an even larger force and overthrow the king. Let us draw weapons together on this day and give him his richly deserved reward for his treachery!”

My voice echoed off the stone buildings for several moments after I finished speaking.

Maybe I went a little too Errol Flynn…

I feared my words had been for naught. The captain looked back at his men, as if checking to see if they had any ideas. I sighed.

“He kidnapped me, tried to kill my mate, Jarlath, one of your prison’s guards, and I’m determined to find him. Either you’re with us, or stand aside while I hunt that traitor down and give him a piece of my mind!”

The captain drew his sword and pointed down the lane leading to the wharves.

“For the king and the people of Tahkath! Lomav will pay for his treachery!”

A great cry arose from behind me. I shouldered my wheel of cheese, lifted the spoon high into the air over my head, and screamed right along with them.

I ran toward the wharves to be by my mate’s side, a conjoined army of convicts and soldiers thundering along behind me.

JARLATH

I crouched and snuck from shadow to shadow down the street. Lorkot followed me, dashing from place to place.

“What are you doing? There are too many of Lomav’s men around here.”

“I know. I’m just trying to get a better look at the Ancestress’ Star and her defensive capabilities.”

“Oh. I thought maybe their defenses were set up to protect them from a large force, not a lone warrior.”

I glanced over at Lorkot incredulously. “Where did you hear that?”

“The Ballad of Broken Tusk.”

“Broken Tusk is a good story…but this isn’t a children’s tale.”

The sun broke through the towering thunderheads. I shielded my eyes from the glare with a scaled hand.

“Only a fool would rush in without assessing the enemy’s capabilities first.”

I assessed, and it was not a pretty picture. The Star was a former military frigate from the old Aetam wars, converted into a merchant vessel. Thus, it sported two ballistas on the fore and aft decks. I knew the narrow rectangular slits on the side of the hull could each house a crossbowman.

The safest place to be on the Star, was ironically the Star’s main deck. The arrow slits were no problem, and no sane captain would order their ballista to fire at a target on the deck.

Getting there would be the challenge. In order to reach the Star, we’d have to move down a deck so narrow that fewer than four could walk abreast at once. The entire walk, we’d face the fire from the ballista and possibly more artillery concealed inside.

I didn’t like our odds.

“What’s wrong?” Lorkot asked. “Are you done assessing?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your assessment?”

This is a great challenge, indeed.

“Well, it’s going to be a tough slog, Lorkot. Those Ballista are putting a serious crimp in my strategizing.”

“I remember, in the Ballad of Broken Tusk, when Sipik had to storm the castle, he snuck in at night and cut all the ballista’s strings.”

“A fine strategy, save that it is currently day and there’s no way I could approach the Star and survive.”

I looked down at Lorkot as an idea struck me. “Lorkot, have you ever dreamed of nautical adventure?”

“I used to play pirate when I was a dumb little kid,”

I suppressed a chuckle. “Well, I think you look like a fine cabin boy.”

I explained my plan to him. A boy his age could move about with relative ease. His task was to sever the cords on the ballista. The Star probably had extras on board, but it’d take time to string them, during which, the weapons would be useless.

“If you even think you are suspected, jump into the water. The splash will be my signal to create a distraction so you can escape. Understand?”

Lorkot nodded.

“Then go.”

Lorkot moved down the deck. I sheltered behind a stack of crates. Birds cawed and screeched in the skies above, now that the storm had passed. I felt the sea breeze on my scales. Its caress reminded me of Mellida. My mate. The source of my strength.

I waited while Lorkot wove his way through the throng of cutthroats and traitors outside the Star. As I expected, Lorkot’s youth, and the fact he remained unarmed, allowed him to walk up the gangplank without a passing glance.

My heartbeat thudded in my ears. I kept glancing back toward the dock wall, hoping backup would soon arrive. Soldiers, or Mellida’s ragged army, would be a welcome sight.

I peered intently at the Star’s foredeck. To my delight, the rope on the ballista mounted there hung slack.

Good job, Lorkot.

From what I could tell, none of the crew seemed to have noticed.

“Come on, Lorkot. You can do it.”

Yells erupted from the deck. A flurry of activity erupted on the deck of the Star. I caught a flash of Lorkot running. He leaped over the edge of the deck, but a scaled hand caught onto his tunic and threw him back onto the weathered timbers.

I looked to the aft deck. My heart sank. The second the ballista remained functional.

I had to act fast, before they decided to skewer Lorkot. The ballista would be slow to reload. They would only get one shot at me before I closed the distance with Lomav’s men. Surely, they wouldn’t try to shoot me while I stood in the midst of their allies…

With a sudden shout, I drew my sword and charged the deck. My shout worked; all eyes turned toward me, allowing Lorkot a few more precious moments of life. Unfortunately, Lomav saw me, too.

“Turn the ballista on him! We’ll skewer him like a roast!”

The ballista crew on the foredeck shouted in dismay when they discovered their weapon had been sabotaged. The crew on the aft deck, however, swiveled their weapon my way. I saw one of Lomav’s men swing a hammer, knocking the chuck free. The ballista fired with a heavy thwonk.

A spear, longer than I was tall, darted toward me in a black blur. I threw myself to the weathered timbers of the dock just in the nick of time. I felt the passage of the spear as it missed me by mere inches.

The dock vibrated under my body. I risked a glance back and saw the ballista bolt embedded in the dock only two feet away from my outstretched foot.

Close.

Then I was up, charging Lomav’s army. Legs pumping, chest heaving in deep gasps of air, I fired myself like a crossbow bolt toward them. The ballista team scrambled madly, but even they knew they’d never get a shot in before I reached their men.

I drew upon my love for my mate. The golden glow of fate lent strength to my sword arm and heart. Foes all around, but still I charged, fearless and free, right into the heart of the melee.

My sword took one man through the chest. I kicked him off my blade just in time to parry a wild blow by a man with a spear. I grasped the haft of the spear and yanked him in close, driving my crosspiece into the bridge of his nose.

Both men fell. Only one screamed. Neither died, but the man I’d impaled certainly gave it his best effort. I sensed movement behind me and brought my sword up in a two-handed grip over my head. I got the blade between me and decapitation—barely.

A man charged me with an ax. I pivoted on my heel, allowing him to cleave in the chest of the man who’d attacked me from behind. As he gazed in horror at his mistake, I kicked him off the dock into the water. His armor made him sink to the bottom like a stone.

With a hiss of rage, a green-scaled D’Tali hurled a throwing knife my way. It spun in, flashing in the intermittent rays of the sun as it homed in on my left eye.

My hand snapped up faster than a striking sslii, catching the handle. In the blink of an eye, I spun around and hurled it—not at the attacker, but up toward the deck of the Star. The throwing knife buried itself in the chest of the man holding Lorkot.

“Jump!” I hollered.

Lorkot leaped into the water, and relief flooded my body. He’d be safe at least.

About myself, I wasn’t so certain. Lomav’s men encircled, surrounding me, their weapons drawn. They no longer charged madly into me, the bodies of their fallen brethren warning enough to take better care.

I knew they had me. More than two dozen weapons pointed my way, promising death. They knew it, too. I saw them grin, contemplating the ways they’d make me suffer, before allowing me the dignity of death.

“Well?” I asked jovially. “Who’s next?”

I was high on the golden glow of my mate bond, growing ever stronger. I knew something they didn’t know. Mellida would arrive any minute. I knew she wouldn’t come alone.

“Wait, what’s that?” A D’tali missing one eye pointed down the dock. Ironically, he was the first one to see the advent of an incoming legion. Pride swelled my breast. My glorious mate, Mellida, led the charge, spoon in hand, face contorted in a battle cry of supreme ferocity.

I took advantage of the distraction to break free of the circle. Zalko skidded to a halt by my side, and we each fended off the strikes of a skilled foe.

“Good to see you again, friend,” he said.

“And you.”

We riposted at the same time, then skewered our foes. We rushed the gangplank as Lomav’s forces crashed into the combined throng of the King’s Guards and Mellida’s company.

“We must take down the aft ballista,” I shouted to Zalko as we hacked our way through blood and steel.

“Then take it down, we shall. For the king!”

We fought our way to the aft ballista, and I severed the cord with one adroit swing of my sword. My sense of triumph proved short-lived, however.

“You think you’re going to stop me, you mammal-loving freak?”

I turned around. Lomav faced me, wielding a sword in each hand.

“Now you die!” he hissed, leaping to the attack.

MELLIDA

I ran through the grand melee on the docks, taking advantage of my smaller size to dart in and out between the towering D’Tali. I lashed out with my heavy spoon, every blow a cheap shot. The spoon smashed crotches, crunched scaly toes, and cracked shins with every pass.

My legs screamed in protest as I dragged myself atop a pile of crates to get a better vantage and hopefully spot Jarlath. I had yet to lay eyes on him, but thanks to the golden thread connecting us, I knew he was both alive and nearby.

I gasped, jaw falling open in shock as I beheld the battle from above. Lomav’s zealous supporters crossed swords and spears with the better-armed king’s men and my own ragtag force of supporters. There were no battle lines, no regiments, nor ranks. The three different forces had merged into one grotesque mass of squirming limbs, flailing weapons, and screams of agony.

One of Lomav’s goons leapt onto the crates beside me. His face split in a wicked grin as I held the spoon up before me defensively. I didn’t have good enough footing to swing my spoon as a weapon, and he had the advantage.

A sudden sword flashed into view, cutting off the man’s hand at the wrist. His sword clattered to the rain-swollen dock below. His hand still clutched the hilt of his sword.

“Are you all right, Mellida?”

Zalko climbed up beside me, scarred face twisted into a worried frown.

“Yes.”

I had only minor injuries, even though I was on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. He gestured at the melee.

“It has degenerated into chaos.”

I frowned. “Not for long, it hasn’t.”

I cupped my hands. “Fight as a team! You’re stronger together!”

An elderly D’Tali in my ranks had a sudden gleam in his eye. He moved over to where Dax struggled with a bigger, stronger opponent and hamstrung Lomav’s man. Then, he and Dax moved over to assist Jolly Green Giant. The three of them made short work of their foe.

The captain rallied his own men. Soon, Lomav’s goons were being pushed back, and victory seemed imminent.

I caught a flash of sunlight off steel on the deck of the Ancestress’ Star. I gasped when I beheld my mate facing off against Lomav, himself.

“Jarlath!”

I leapt off the boxes and ran up the gangplank. As I set foot on the ships’ main deck, Zalko caught me with an arm around my waist.

“No, Mellida. Jarlath must do this on his own.”

“But, Jarlath has been fighting and running all over town for hours, and Lomav is fresh!”

“Please trust me.”

I breathed deeply and nodded.

Jarlath and Lomav circled each other like cagey veterans rather than charging in. Their eyes searched for an opening as they moved across the still-damp timbers of the deck.

“Jarlath’s a better fighter, right? I mean, he’s a trained warrior and Lomav is just a noble.”

Zalko’s tight-lipped response made me worry. After a grunt, he shook his head.

“Not necessarily. Soldiers have less time to practice the blade than noblemen, and Lomav is a duelist without peer.”

“You could have said something reassuring, Zalko.”

“Um…Jarlath fights for you with the strength of your bonded love. Lomav fights for greed and hate. Jarlath fights for the greater cause.”

Jarlath attacked. My breath caught in my throat. He brought his sword down in a curving arc toward Lomav’s forehead. Lomav caught the strike between his crossed swords. A grating screech raised the hackles on the back of my neck as the three blades ground against each other. Sparks flew, only to be smothered in an instant by the rain-soaked deck.

Jarlath tried to shove Lomav backward, since he had the size and strength advantage. Lomav countered by allowing himself to be pushed, using the momentum to leap backward a dozen paces. Once again, I found myself impressed with the strength and athletic ability of the D’Tali.

“An amateur’s move,” Lomav sneered as they circled again. “Of course, I’d expect no less from one who ruts with animals.”

Lomav tried to goad Jarlath. Jarlath knew it as much as I, yet he couldn’t resist the temptation. He charged in, swinging his sword with powerful, sweeping strikes. Lomav gave ground, leaping up onto a pile of coiled rope, parrying each.

Lomav’s rope perch gave him leverage, but also poorer footing. Jarlath’s foot snapped out and kicked the coil of rope.

Lomav’s eyes went wide. He toppled to the deck. He rolled desperately away from Jarlath, who chopped down with mighty blows. Jarlath’s sword cut nicks out of the ship’s deck, but never tasted Lomav’s flesh.

Jarlath’s blade impaled the deck on a particularly vicious blow. In the second it took Jarlath to wrench it free, Lomav made it to his feet.

Lomav went on the offensive. My hand flew in front of my mouth. His twin swords lashed out with swift, measured blows meant to keep Jarlath off balance. Jarlath struggled to get his blade into the right place for a parry. At one point, Lomav knocked Jarlath’s sword out wide with a clever riposte. I gasped. Lomav’s second sword darted in for the kill.

Jarlath twisted his body to the side in the nick of time. They came together in a grapple, swords bound up in a deadly ballet as they each sought better footing.

“Look out!”

I shouted too late.

Jarlath’s back foot came down on a discarded piece of equipment. The large, cylindrical pins were used to secure the ropes for the sails. When Jarlath stepped on it, the pin rolled. His foot shot out from under him, and he fell to the deck.

The fury in Lomav’s eyes blazed. He leapt into the air, attempting to impale Jarlath with both of his blades at once.

I threw my hands up, intending to cover my eyes, but the golden thread which connected me to Jarlath wouldn’t allow me to look away. Instead, my wild eyes stared out from between my splayed fingers as Lomav came in for the kill.

Jarlath rolled back onto his shoulders, tucked his knees, and thrust out with his feet. His attack connected with Lomav’s chest. Lomav flipped head over heels onto the raised aft deck.

I nearly fainted with relief as Jarlath scrambled to his feet. He gave chase, running after Lomav. The traitor leapt off the aft deck and sought to use the main mast as cover.

Jarlath and Lomav dueled around the thick post, metal ringing off metal. Jarlath blocked one of Lomav’ vicious attacks. Lomav’s left-hand sword flew over the deck, plunging into the River of the Ancestress.

Lomav fled to the mizzenmast, Jarlath hot on his heels. Lomav’s free hand darted out, seizing a dangling bit of rigging. He slashed a taut rope with his sword. The ballast yanked him up into the sky.

Jarlath let out a frustrated howl and sought a way to reach his foe. Lomav leapt onto a horizontal wooden beam halfway up the mizzenmast and sneered.

“You can’t win, Jarlath. You know why? Because I’m fighting for something bigger than myself. I’m fighting for the purity of the D’Tali. I’m fighting to preserve our culture, our heritage, our—”

An overripe, purple-shelled melon exploded on Lomav’s face. Red juicy pulp smeared his features as he plummeted toward the deck below.

“Nice shot,” Zalko said in awe, slapping me on the back.

“I was sick of hearing his shit.” I shrugged, wiping my hands on my tunic.

Lomav landed in a net filled with more of the melons, breaking his fall but coating him utterly with the pulp. He sputtered and cursed as he dug his way out, miraculously still holding on to his remaining sword, though the blade had snapped in half during his fall.

A purple shell covered his eyes. He flung it off, staggering about. “Who dares fling food at their future king?”

Jarlath stepped up behind Lomav and tapped him on the shoulder. Lomav turned around just in time to catch Jarlath’s pommel in the center of his forehead.

Lomav folded like a wet blanket, flopping onto the deck and laying there with his eyes glazed. Jarlath kicked away what was left of Lomav’s sword and nudged Lomav with his foot.

“Sleepy…” Lomav drooled.

“Oh, Jarlath.” I ran toward Jarlath, tired feet pounding on the deck. Jarlath’s sword fell from exhausted fingers. We came together near mid deck. I leapt into his arms and he wrapped me in his arms.

I didn’t care that half the city was watching. I grabbed Jarlath’s face in my hands and gave him the most desperate, passionate, pent-up kiss in history. We melted into each other. If not for Zalko’s polite throat clearing, we’d have dropped to the deck and continued the make-out session, in earnest.

“Zalko, thank you for taking care of my mate—”

Zalko’s eyes went wide. He shoved Jarlath out of the way and took a belaying pin in the thigh for his troubles.

There, a melon-spattered Lomav stood, another belaying pin in his hand. I stared at the sharp, pointy end of the pin and shuddered. Zalko applied pressure to his wound. I couldn’t tell how bad it was from where I stood.

Blood ran in a trickle between Lomav’s eyes, mingling with the melon pulp like a disturbing snow cone with extra syrup. The rage in his eyes was all the more frightening for his bloodied state.

“I’ll never allow mammals to weaken us! Never! Die, Jarlath!”

Lomav charged in with the belaying pin. Jarlath smacked it out of his hand with an almost casual swipe. Lomav looked out in confusion as his improvised weapon flashed through the air and clattered to the deck.

“Lomav,” Jarlath growled. “I tried to show you mercy. You don’t care about purity, that’s just the excuse you use to get followers to your cause. You’re just a vain, egotistical, greedy, cruel man. And the world has had enough of you.”

Jarlath seized Lomav and lifted him into the air. Lomav rained down blow after desperate, flailing blow, but was helpless to resist. Jarlath hefted Lomav above his head.

Jarlath roared. I roared right along with him. Every indignity I’d suffered at the hands of Lomav, every time he’d threatened to kill me, was bound up in that roar.

Jarlath brought Lomav down over his knee. The traitor bent in half, backwards. A sickening crunch rung out. Lomav’s head lolled to the side, his tongue thrust out in a dark, grotesque imitation of a child’s taunt.

Jarlath helped Zalko to his feet. With Zalko’s thanks, Jarlath rushed to me. He ran his big hand over my hair. He searched my face and arms for wounds. I laughed, taking hold of his face to still him.

“My love, are you all right?”

“I am now, Jarlath.”

JARLATH

Mellida’s bright blue eyes pierced my soul. The world around me faded beside her and the love I felt radiated from her heart. Her love for me outshone the torches, the stars, and the red moons.

I rushed to her and scooped my Mellida into my arms. She melded to me as she slung her arms around my neck. Our lips met and we kissed each other with a passion fueled by our separation, by longing and worry.

Our tongues danced, demanding to be met. We found each other over and over. Mellida pulled back. She drew in a deep breath. She blushed, laughing softly.

“Well, I missed you, too.” Her eyes flicked to the side and I remembered we were not yet alone. “This wasn’t the kind of ‘show’ I had in mind.”

I chuckled. I wasn’t entirely certain what she’d just said. Human women used odd phrases sometimes. Their Earth language must be strange. I did, however, become aware every D’Tali had turned to watch in wide-eyed wonder as I kissed a human.

Her big blue eyes looked up into mine. My breath caught in my chest.

“Jarlath?”

“Yes, Mell?”

“Can you do something for me?”

“Anything, my love.”

“Take me home.”

I leaned my forehead against hers. “Shall I carry you?”

A chuckle shook Mellida from deep in her chest.

“I’m not saying I want to walk anywhere—after finally being with you only to be kidnapped by a traitor, drug through town, raising an army, and winning a small war…I’m not walking anywhere. But, do you think we can find a cart to take us?”

“Can I hold you until someone gets us a cart? I just got you back in my arms. After everything, I’m just not ready to let you go, yet.”

Mellida snuggled against my chest. “Yes. Just hold me.”

I kissed the top of her head, stroking her hair.

“Dax?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Can you arrange for a cart to take us home?”

“Yes, sir!”

Dax spun on his heel and sprinted away. Soft little snores floated up from my arms before Dax even arrived with the cart. He placed Mellida’s pack in the back and I sat in the back, the sleeping Mellida cradled in my arms.

We trundled back through the dock wall and through the streets of the city. We turned onto a side street near the castle’s kitchens. The drover pulled to a stop in front of the small cottage Mellida rented.

I slung the pack over one shoulder, thanked the driver, and carried Mellida past her overgrown garden and inside. I placed her on her bed, threw some blankets over her, and built a fire.

The fire roared to life and chased away the early-morning chill. I drank what seemed like enough water to drown a numa and began unbuckling my filthy armor. My belly grumbled, demanding I replace some of the energy I had expended since the festival.

A grin spread wide across my face.

Finally, time for my cheese.

Piece by piece, I stacked my armor in the corner as I removed each. I bent double and wiggled out of my chain shirt. I sighed in relief with the weight of all that metal off my exhausted body and lay it over the pile of armor. I pulled off my tunic. Cuts, mud, blood, and I didn’t know what else, had ruined the quilted fabric.

I tossed the tunic atop the pile, plopped into a chair, and worked off my boots. I stripped off my filthy trousers, tossing them into the pile, too.

I slipped into Mellida’s bathroom and washed as much of myself as I could with a washcloth, pitcher, and basin. I trudged back to the pack I didn’t even remember dropping upon arrival.

I tore open the pack’s clasps, slipped my hands around the waxed wheel which had become so much more than cheese. I washed every hint of the fight from the smooth wax and dried it with a towel.

I placed that wheel in the center of Mellida’s table and pulled up a chair. For a time, I sat in that chair, elbows on knees and chin in my hands, staring that cheese down.

You and I, my friend, have been through much, have we not?

Fire roaring behind me, cheese staring me in the face, I fell into a deep sleep.

Mellida rode by on a cart with wheels of cheese, wielding her spoon. Armies followed her, wielding cook pots and kitchen utensils. She wore the white, Queen Jerah dress and she chased Lomav.

Lomav wore the red cape of the Crimson Killer and they both were as large as the Ancestors’ Day puppets. Their giant legs strode through town, weaving their way to a giant bonfire floating on the River of the Ancestress.

An appreciative moan and the scraping of a chair across the floor dispelled my vivid dreams. I woke to see Mellida stuffing cheese into her mouth. She wore a delicate, knee-length shift. Her dark hair hung damp and clean.

“Mmmmmm.” Mellida’s eyes rolled back in their sockets. “This is delicious!”

“You cut my cheese.”

Mellida giggled.

“That means something entirely different in English.”

“How can cutting cheese mean anything other than cutting cheese?” I grabbed a hunk of cheese nearly the size of my fist and shoved it into my mouth.

Delicious.

“In English, ‘You cut the cheese’ means you farted.” Mellida drained a waterskin and found some pel.

“What? Why?”

We peeled the pel. Mellida shrugged. “Like, you cut open a stinky cheese and then, everyone can smell it.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You humans…” I sighed. I stacked my fruit on a hunk of cheese and popped it into my mouth. “This is good cheese.”

“It tastes like victory.”

I held out my hand to her. She slid hers into my fingers and smiled. My eyes searched every inch of her. “Are you really all right, my love?”

She nodded, swallowing her fruit. “Now that I’ve had a nap, food, a quick rinse off, and two waterskins, I feel pretty great. I might be a little sore, but I’m far too happy to be reunited to complain.”

“I could help you with those sore muscles…a little lotion…strong hands…” I wiggled my brow ridge at her. A grin spread wide across her face. Mellida giggled and crawled into my lap.

“Oh, yeah? A little rub down? Is that what you’re proposing, sir?”

I nuzzled into her neck. “Maybe. What are the chances my ploy will work?”

I wrapped an arm around her waist. She stroked the scales on my scalp. I looked deep into her eyes.

“I am so sorry I let Lomav kidnap you.”

She cradled my face in her hands, shaking her head. “Jarlath, my love, not even King Dojak could have stopped Lomav at that moment. Jarlath, you came for me. You rescued me. We kicked Lomav’s butt. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

I stopped her words with a kiss. Whatever thoughts either of us had before our lips met, fled before the passion of that kiss. My lips parted. Her tongue darted between, calling mine out to play. Our tongues danced, wrestled, and played.

Mellida stroked one of my horns. Her touch lit me alive, like fire. A deep moan growled from my belly, rumbling through my chest. Mellida’s hips rocked in my lap. Her shift-clad body slid along my chest and abs.

Her smell engulfed me. My cock swelled against my smallclothes. Golden heat radiated between us. My essence expanded, melding into hers. I forgot where I ended and she began and gloried in her love.

Her hands traced my ears and down my neck. Her slow, deep kisses stole my thoughts and my breath.

“Mellida…”

She kissed me deeper, grinding her delicious, wet pussy against my rock-hard shaft. With a growl, I surged to my feet, bringing Mellida with me. In a whirl, I carried her to her bed.

She refused to stop kissing me long enough to see my way and we nearly went down on the way. I stumbled the last few feet, hands full of her perfect backside, and we landed on the bed in a tangle of laughs and limbs.

I kissed and stroked, loved and touched every inch of her within reach. Mellida seemed determined to do the same. I slid my hands up her perfect curves and filled my hands with her full breasts.

My fingers quickly found her hard nipples. I rubbed little circles around her areola with a thumb. She shuddered under my touch. Soft, breathy mewls and moans escaped her lips.

Mellida pulled at the hem of her nightgown. We fumbled with the gown between kisses. I pulled back, panting. She rolled onto her back, tugging at it, but the garment was twisted about her.

I grabbed the neck and ripped the gown in two. Mellida squeaked.

“I’ll buy you two more.”

Mellida wrapped her legs around me, but I slipped through. I had to taste her. I placed my hands on her thighs, spreading them wide. I dove in with long licks of her dripping labia.

Mellida shuddered. I licked and nibbled her labia. Her folds opened up to me, blooming under my tongue. She tasted delicious, and I sought out her swollen little nub.

I licked circles around her clit. Her thighs quaked under my hands. I rubbed circles around the sensitive nerves around her opening and sucked on her nub. Mellida released a little cry.

I replaced my thumb with a thick finger, dipping the finger into her wet tunnel. I hooked my big finger around the ridge inside and sucked hard.

Mellida’s back arched. Her inner walls clenched on my finger. I pounded her harder. With a scream, she came.

MELLIDA

The orgasm flowed through me, pulsing with each breath. Jarlath ran another, long lick over my throbbing pussy and a second orgasm crashed on the heels of the first. I cried out, clasping my hands to his head.

My knees trembled. He looked at me, a smug smile on his face.

“You look far too pleased with yourself.”

He laughed. “And why shouldn’t I be pleased with myself? But if you were, in fact, not having a good time, I can stop.”

I laughed, slapping his shoulder softly. “Don’t you dare stop making me feel good now. I just rescued you and saved the day. I’m invested now.” His belly rumbled with a deep laugh.

Do I still call it a belly if it is covered in perfect abs?

“So, you’ll be with me forever?”

“Jarlath, you are my mate.”

He crawled next to me. He stared deeply into my eyes. “Do…do humans feel the bond the way we do? I can feel you, like our souls are connected with a cord.”

I nodded. “And I can feel you, too. I know where you are.”

“And how you feel.”

“And your strength and…”

“Love?”

“Yes.”

I cupped his face in my hands. I stroked his face.

He gulped. “Do…do you want children with me, Mellida?”

“Would you like children?”

“I asked first.”

“I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I…think that, until I was certain the way I felt about you was real before I got that far… In case the answer was ‘yes’.”

I turned my head to Jarlath. One of his fingers stroked my cheek.

“And? Now? Do you know?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, you know? Or yes, you want children?”

I giggled, trying to repress a smile. “Yes.”

He dropped his forehead to the bed. “You are impossible.”

“Yes, Jarlath. I’d welcome children.”

He kissed me. His hungry mouth met mine. He pushed the remains of my shift from my shoulders and down my arms. I worked the straps the rest of the way down my arms, discarding the remnants of the torn shift.

I kissed Jarlath the entire time. I didn’t know if I enjoyed kissing him more than I enjoyed making things more difficult for him. I decided to enjoy both.

He laughed around my kisses. “Would you be still?”

I laughed. “Make me.”

Jarlath froze. He stared at me wide-eyed. He leaned his face close to mine. “What exactly are you asking me?”

I shrugged, body wiggling underneath him. “I had enough of being in charge for at least a week. Your turn.”

A sly grin curled the corner of my mouth. I wiggled the girls at him. His eyes bounced along like ping-pong balls. Jarlath dove in, face first.

He slipped his big hands around my wrists, gathering both in one hand. He pulled my wrists over my head. The other hand curled around my breast. He squeezed gently, pointing the hard, peaked nipple at his face.

Jarlath flicked his tongue over my nipple. Little tendrils of pleasure streaked through my breast and I felt juices trickle down my folds. He licked agonizingly slow. I whimpered, wiggling my hips at him, trying to tempt him to more.

I looked down, and Jarlath just smiled at me and licked my nipple slowly again. I panted, exhaling small, breathy moans.

“More.”

“Say please.”

“Fine, please.”

He engulfed my breast in his mouth. He nibbled and licked and sucked at it. He trapped it between his lips and tugged. My hips bounced. My pussy throbbed.

“Oh, Jarlath, Oh, please…”

His hand released my breast and slid down to my folds. I was so ready for him to be inside of me, I thrust my hips at him. My back arched.

He ran his fingers over my drenched folds. He slipped a finger inside, then two.

“Oooh, yes…”

He slid his fingers in and out in a steady rhythm. My hips rode his fingers. He curled his fingertips, hitting my G-spot. I cried out.

My entire body felt alive. My pleasure, my arousal reverberated through the golden bond enveloping us. Jarlath’s absolute love and appreciation, his arousal and pleasure, crashed into my own.

Nothing existed but where we touched. His mouth moved to my other nipple. New sparks of pleasure flowed through the nerves from the other nipple. His mouth nibbled and nipped.

His fingers pumped into me. I spread my legs further. He thrust his fingers deeper.

“Jarlath…”

Pleasure built inside me. My body clenched on his fingers. A cry tore from my throat. I orgasmed, inner walls clenching over and over.

Jarlath released my wrists. He pulled his fingers from me. I gasped at the emptiness his fingers left behind. His hands scrambled to remove his smallclothes. I rushed to help him, more than ready to release his perfect, thick cock.

A moment later, his smallclothes hung around his ankle and I wrapped my fingers around his shaft.

“Wha…Mellida, you don’t…”

“Hush.”

I licked the thick head, swirling my tongue over the sensitive skin. Jarlath gasped, falling backward onto the bed. I smiled then worked my lips around the tip.

I ran my tongue along the underside of his shaft then flicked. Jarlath groaned. I pumped his shaft with my hands. Jarlath wrapped his hands around my ass, pulling my pussy to his face.

I pumped my mouth on his cock. I released one hand from his shaft and stroked his balls. He rubbed his face into me, then tongued my throbbing clit.

I ground my pussy on his face. We held each other, laying on our sides, rocking and licking one another. I took his cock as far as I could. Jarlath reared back, releasing a long moan.

He stood. His cock slipped from my lips. We both panted, chests heaving. He ran a hand down my chest and over my belly. I arched my back at his touch.

“Mell…that feels far too good.”

I grinned at him.

“Oh no. I know that look, Mell.”

I chuckled and sat up. With a wink, I turned around and bent over the bed. I looked at Jarlath over my shoulder. I must have looked a sight with my hair mussed, bending over in front of him, wiggling my ass.

He reached out and stroked a finger down my spine from my neck to the small of my back. He stepped up to me. His thick cock bobbed against my ass cheeks. His wide hands stroked over my ass, kneading my cheeks.

One hand released an ass cheek. I felt the head of his cock push against my entrance. I rocked my hips back and Jarlath slid right in.

My inner walls stretched around his thick head. He plunged deep as I moaned. His hands gripping my hips, Jarlath thrust. I slammed my hips back into him, my breasts jiggling.

Jarlath bent over me, bracing himself on one hand. The other cupped my breast. His fingers played with my nipples. I threw my head back.

Jarlath plowed into me, filling me over and over. A new orgasm loomed on the horizon, rolling in like thick clouds. Lightning strikes of pleasure shot through me.

His big arms surrounded me. His thick, perfect cock filled me. His fingers tugged on my nipples just enough. My fingers shot down to my clit. Strokes frantic, I rubbed against the swollen nub till my core clenched on Jarlath.

He grunted, pounding me harder, deeper. I broke, waves of pleasure crashing through me, and screamed. My knees buckled and I collapsed on the bed. I cried out with each wave of the orgasm, each aftershock.

Jarlath rolled me over. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled us up further on the bed. Staring deeply into my eyes, our souls bonded forever now. He wrapped his strong arms around my body, holding me close to his chest.

My mouth found his and we fell into each other with a deep kiss. With a few moves of his hips, the head of Jarlath’s cock knocked at my entrance.

“I love you…” I watched him melt as my soft words flowed through him. What had been a golden warmth before had ignited into a raging inferno.

“I love you, Mell. I love you.”

He thrust his cock inside me. His cock slid all the way in, filling me more than I’d ever been filled. His love filled me over the bond, his body filled mine, and we filled each other’ minds.

We were complete.

He drew himself from me in a long, slow motion. My hand roamed all over the small bumps of his red scales. His eyes glowed as golden as our fated love. The light of the fire flickered along his red scales.

He thrust into me and I moaned. In this light, eyes aglow, Jarlath looked like an avatar of fire above me. My body writhed beneath him. He pounded into me.

Another orgasm built inside of me, fueled by our mutual heat.

“Mellida!”

Jarlath gasped. I felt his already huge cock swell further. He stared into my eyes. He wiggled his fingers between us and rubbed my clit. My body exploded in pleasure.

The best orgasm of my life, so far, ripped through me. I screamed through wave after wave of pleasure. With a deep growl, Jarlath came, overwhelmed by my pleasure.

He filled me with rope after rope of his cum. I came again, before the last orgasm had even passed.

Chest heaving, Jarlath fell to the bed next to me. I rolled halfway onto his chest and collapsed.

Within minutes we slept. Jarlath held me the whole night.

JARLATH

Krenik barreled past, followed by five of his brothers. They careened about, screaming as loud as their young lungs would allow, happily playing. Mellida chuckled. She looked up at me.

“Do you think this guy will come out like that?”

She pointed at the swell of her belly.

“I’m hoping for a girl.”

Mellida laughed. “A girl is only more trouble, you know.”

I wrapped my arm around Mellida and held her close. “Especially if she takes after her mother.”

We stood outside our little cottage. Once I had rescued Mellida from Lomav, I never slept another night at the barracks.

“I’m so glad we bought this place. I really do love it. And, I’d hate to leave my garden, now that it’s doing so well.”

I smiled at her. “I’m just glad your prisoner therapy program is working out so well. I will admit, when you first suggested it, I was unsure what to think.”

Mellida shrugged. “You and everyone else. Good thing you and the others decided to give our Earth wisdom a chance.”

A group of inmates who’d been particularly cooperative, worked Mellida’s garden. The men seemed to enjoy the work and they ate the crops they grew. The inmates also gave us less trouble overall, with a chance to get their hands in the dirt.

The kids just gathered for the stories. Mellida sniffed beside me.

“Mell? What is it?”

She waved my concern away. “I’m just so touched that so many would come to help today.”

My eyes scanned our little plot of land. Shirtless D’Tali erected the framework of a new extension to our cottage. We’d added a new wing with two new rooms.

To make room for our first child.

I placed a hand on Mellida’s belly. Camilia assured us our child grew healthy and strong and that, in only three months, we’d finally meet our child. Mellida insisted she didn’t want to know more about the life thriving inside of her.

“Wait! You. Yes, you. What are you doing?”

Mellida stomped off to inspect the work of a D’Tali new to the garden. I chuckled and watched her bear down on him. For as much as Mellida claimed to not want to be a noble or tell people what to do, she was good at it.

A lot had changed since Ancestors’ Day. Thulid put Mellida in charge of feeding the prisoners. Queen Sofia and the other women saw it as an opportunity to take their school to the prisoners.

Truly, Queen Sofia’s argument that many of the inmates would cause less trouble if they had better things to do than cause more trouble once released, swayed my mind.

Young Dax walked up.

“Well met, Dax.”

“Well met, Jarlath.”

“Do you yet regret enlisting in King Dojak’s army?”

Dax laughed, shaking his head. “Not at all, sir. But I thought I’d start out by mucking numa pens.”

“How’d you avoid that critical step in your development as a soldier?”

“Ah. Blame the human women, sir. Queen Sofia convinced King Dojak it’d be a good idea to have recruits take a few classes at the school. We still work hard, sir. Now we go to school as well.”

I clapped Dax on the back. “Excellent news. You’ll make a fine soldier, one day.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Dax saluted and joined Lorkot, who waved. I waved in return.

Mellida slid her arm back around my waist. “They’re all lined out now. I have Toc supervising.”

“Excellent. He turned out to be quite helpful.”

Mellida looked up to me, blue eyes sparkled. She motioned at Dax and Lorkot with a hand.

“I’m happy to see Dax and Lorkot seem to have made friends.”

“As am I, my love. Convincing them both to enlist was an excellent idea.”

Mellida laughed. “Yes, Jarlath, it was good of you to help them out.”

I kissed Mellida on the top of her head.

Zalko trod over, chest heaving. He leaned his hands on his knees.

“Jarlath. Mellida.”

“How is it coming, Zalko?”

Zalko nodded his head, catching his breath. “Very close now, lady.”

Mellida groaned.

Zalko held up his hand. “Sorry, I forgot. A lifetime of habit. One wall left to put up, then we must secure those with the rafters. That’ll give the thatcher a framework for the roof straw.”

“Wonderful. Did I hear you were teaching at the school?”

Zalko nodded, standing upright. “Yes. They’ve been kind enough to invite me to instruct the recruits on personal combat.” He chuckled. “When you said human women could save the D’Tali, I believed you, though I didn’t understand how true your words were.”

“Do you regret it? Us crashing into your lives and changing everything.”

Zalko shook his head. “No, Mellida. Not at all. You’ve brought us hope for a better future.”

Mellida blushed. I kissed the top of her head.

“Excuse me, my love. I think my break is over and I should help build our home.”

Mellida pulled me down to kiss me on the lips. “Thank you, Jarlath.”

Zalko and I joined the crew of D’Tali maneuvering the last side of the building into place. Many grunts and much hard work later, the last of the construction had been completed. The work crew broke, patting each other on the back and laughing hard.

Boys ran up to pass out waterskins. Dalthar raced another boy to hand me the first waterskin. Mellida took the skin from the other boy. She tossed a towel up into my face. I caught it, chuckling, and wiped the construction dust from my face, neck, and chest.

“We’re done for the day. The thatcher is scheduled to arrive in the morning.”

“Mmmm, my handsome Jarlath has such big muscles.”

I laughed, catching her around the waist, and kissed her. “It wasn’t even your turn.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No. I just get three turns in a row.”

“Three? I only skipped one of your turns.”

“It’s something from Earth called interest, and I’ll explain it later.”

The other women unveiled a feast. With good cheer, Nadan had a fire crackling in the fire pit. People dragged up crates and chairs, gathering all around.

Someone brought out an instrument and after a few minutes of tuning, music filled the garden and the street. Nadan and Janis strolled by. Rheva, their six-month old daughter, sat in her daddy’s arms waving a breadstick like a conductor’s wand.

Camilia chased after Ania. The girl was two and a half and enough trouble for four children. Mellida and I chuckled as Camilia jogged by, catching up to her daughter.

“Get back here, Ania. Stop laughing, Mell... This is you in a few years.”

Mell laughed harder, wiping tears from her eyes. I rubbed Mellida’s back.

I looked at her. “I can’t wait, Mell.”

We kissed. Hand in hand, we strolled over to the feast. Great platters piled with roast pafu and haru steamed on one large table. Fruits of myriad colors, sizes, and textures overflowed baskets on another table. The bounty harvested from the garden that day covered the other in sheaves of herbs, vegetables, and piles of fresh, leafy plants.

A few tayn bounded past in graceful arcs, pafu leg bones in their jaws.

The sun set and people gathered by the fire. Stories were told, old and new. Some told stories of Earth. Others told stories of the Ancestors. The two red moons rose large on the horizon.

People ate and danced and laughed. The party raged long into the night. Parents and elder brothers carried their children to bed when they’d finally fallen asleep in their laps.

Toc and the other inmates thanked Mellida and I for including them and cleaned up. Soon, only Mellida and I remained.

We sat in our garden chairs, watching the moons set and the stars pass through the early hours. Mellida yawned. She stretched her arms wide, then patted my arm.

“This was a good day.”

I smiled. “Yes it was, my love.”

“I am, however, not as young as I once was. I love you. I’m going to bed.”

We kissed. I squeezed her hand.

“I’ll be there in a moment.”

She walked to the cottage, fingers lingering on my hand as long as we reached each other.

I stood and grabbed the pail of dirt from the garden shed. I toted it over to the fire’s dimmed coals. I poured it over the top, covering the entire pit with a good layer. I returned the bucket and looked back at the rising sun.

With a smile, I returned to our cottage. I closed the door behind me and wiped off my face and arms with the towel in the bath. I stripped down and tossed my clothes in the corner. I slipped off my boots and crawled into bed with my mate.

Mellida snuggled in close, murmuring sleepy words of love.

My love. My mate.

Here, now and forever.

DON’T MISS the next chapter of the D’tali - Protected by her Alien Mate!

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REKKER

Rekker wasn't expecting to be matched.

On the eve of being sent to retrieve a mysterious artifact, he's sent something just as enigmatic.

A HUMAN WOMAN, lush and curved.

His mate.

Even worse, she wants nothing to do with him.

His blood burns for her, but the need to make her happy overrides everything.

He'll find a way to set her free, even if it means he'll be alone. Forever.

But when danger comes from an unexpected source, they're thrown together. And when his mate turns to him, he'll protect her.

KEEP HER.

Claim her.

Lila Kanes never wanted any thing but a quiet life on her family farm. She certainly didn't want to be claimed by a massive alien mate.

THROWN INTO THE STARS, she'll do whatever it takes to find a way home.

BACK TO EARTH.

Back to her family.

SHE COULDN'T POSSIBLY WANT to stay with the hot, horned alien with the amazing body, who made her feel like the most precious thing in the universe, could she?

RIGHT?

REKKER IS the first book of the Warriors of Vaznik, a stand alone series in the Warlord Brides universe. There's no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA for each couple!

CLICK HERE to keep reading Rekker, book one of the Vaznik Warrior Mates!

KAZAN

An alien warrior resolved to return to battle. A woman determined to get back to her life.

They'll fight the match, but can they fight fate?

A MATE IS the last thing on my mind.

Especially one as sassy as the human female they say is my match.

Even if her lush curves call for my touch, and her fiery spirit is equal to my own.

I will endure the thirty days demanded by the Protocol.

But with every look, every word, I can feel us bound closer together.

Will I be able to leave her, even for her own safety?

KAZAN IS the first book of the Jorkan Protocol Mates. Spend the night with this perfect steamy, funny science fiction romance escape. There's no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA for each alien warrior and his mate! Hot, steamy alien yumminess!

CLICK TO GET IT NOW!

ROGUE MATE

Science fiction romance is the destination of the Rogue Star…. Hop on board!

OUR RESCUERS ARE a group of pirates. Or smugglers. They're not exactly answering questions, either.

More importantly, they're giant, golden skinned aliens...

And their rogue of a captain seems very interested in the little human commander.

Me.

ROGUE MATE IS the first in the Rogue Star science fiction alien romance series. Click now to start the adventure!

Copyright © 2020 by Ava York

All rights reserved. These books or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Contents

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Mellida

Jarlath

Are you a STARR HUNTRESS?

Rekker

Kazan

Rogue Mate

Copyright