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  “No! It’s nothing—we haven’t been lying to you. I have some additional cybernetics—computer-synthetic upgrades—because I do a lot of technical and scientific analysis. That’s all it is.”

  “Do it again.”

  “Um….”

  Caleb gave her a mild shrug, seemingly unconcerned. He might have even been suppressing a chuckle.

  “All right.” She blinked and reopened the connection.

  ‘As I was saying, the beverage served with dinner—’

  “Shush. We’re under observation.”

  ‘Ah.’

  Cassela’s head tilted as she reached out and ran a light hand over the glyphs. “Wondrous. I think perhaps you are an emissary of the Gods.”

  Then quite possibly the most ridiculous thing to ever happen in her entire life occurred. Cassela dropped to one knee, followed immediately by Pinchu. Their heads bowed. “Forgive us for any offense we have given you. Allow us to bestow honor upon you and fulfill any requests you desire to ask of us.”

  Caleb had covered his mouth with a hand, barely stifling outright laughter. She glared at him in mock disgust. “Please, get up. Stand. I’m not a god, or related to a god, or sent by a god, or doing a god’s bidding. Our technology is simply more advanced than yours in this respect.”

  They stood far slower than she’d have liked and exchanged a look. “We understand the need for discretion. We will not betray your secret.” Pinchu turned to Caleb. “And you? Are you from the gods as well, or are you her champion?”

  His lips rose in blatant amusement. “If you mean can I make my eyes and arm glow, no. She’s special in that respect…among others.”

  She tried to convey her annoyance to him, but her continued scowl nearly dissolved into laughter as well.

  Their hosts focused back on her, and she did her damnedest to keep a straight face as Pinchu bowed. “So she is. What can we do for you, Alex Human who is not of the Gods?”

  “Do for me?”

  “How can we make your visit most pleasing for you? Name it, and we will provide it.”

  “Honestly, I’m fairly tired. It’s been a long day. The hospitality of your guest suite for the night is more than enough.”

  “Very well. Let us show you to your rooms and bestow blessings upon them.”

  The guest suite turned out to be near the end of a seemingly unused wing of the house, which thankfully meant they would enjoy a measure of privacy. Large and open, with high ceilings like the rest of the house, it contained furniture generally recognizable as a bed, a table and two chairs, plus an unidentifiable object or two.

  The left side of the room held a pool similar to but smaller than the one in the main room. A lavatory nearly as large as the bedroom was in the back. It included a contraption that had to be a toilet, a narrow, v-shaped protrusion that might be a sink, and a tiled cubicle with a high rail in the far corner.

  Cassela and Pinchu bid them good night, lavishing enough fanfare on her to make her damn uncomfortable, and at last they were alone.

  Caleb wandered over to investigate the unfamiliar furniture. But it had been two days since she’d showered, and the cubicle in the lavatory appeared as if it could be a shower. Curious, she reached inside it and pressed on the square button halfway up the wall.

  She squealed as water exploded from the surrounding three walls, dozens of jets hidden in the tiles pouring water into the cubicle with the force of cannons. Despite standing mostly outside of it, she was instantly soaked from head to toe.

  Caleb laughed from the doorway behind her. She whipped around to glare at him, for real this time.

  “You look like a wet rat.”

  “Kind of feel like one….” She pushed sopping wet hair out of her face. “Okay, so…the force is due to all their fur, or their thick skin underneath all their fur, or some related reason. Regardless, our bodies aren’t built to endure it. Bath it is.”

  She began peeling her wet clothes off, giggling as she did. She was definitely lightheaded now. “I think there may have been a little wine in the water they served with dinner.”

  “I think the water may have been wine.” His voice had taken on a sultry sing-song quality that sent a delightful shiver up her spine.

  She draped her clothes on the rail at the top of the shower. When she turned back around, Caleb was on one knee gazing up at her.

  A smirk danced on the corners of his lips. “Oh, my mistress, Emissary of the Gods, how may I serve you?”

  She stared at him, stupefied. “What are you doing?”

  “I am but your humble servant, supplicant before you. State your desire, my mistress, and if it is in my power I shall grant it.”

  “Stop.”

  “But I cannot. My purpose is your purpose, my desire your desire. I exist to ensure my divine mistress is pleased.”

  “You had better stop right now or I will make you follow through on this nonsense.”

  His other knee dropped to the floor. “Please. I cannot rest until your needs are met.” He started moving toward her, still on his knees. “Command me, I beg you.”

  “You’re drunk.”

  “On the radiance of your presence, and the power you wield over me.”

  She cackled, too loudly—clearly, so was she. Still…it felt safe here. For this moment at least, they were safe. So perhaps she could play the role of demi-goddess, with one exception: no glowing eyes. She never, ever let Valkyrie in during sex. He had asked her not to early on, but she wouldn’t have done so in any event. It was for them, and them alone.

  She inhaled deeply, breathed out, and gave in. “Kiss me.”

  His hands wound around her ankles and gradually rose up to her thighs in a tantalizing caress. He placed a gentle kiss above each of her knees.

  She’d meant stand up and kiss her, but…. “More.”

  His palms swept up to cup her ass as his lips trailed up her thigh. He gazed up at her, eyes twinkling in devilish delight and growing passion. “Here?”

  She quickly nodded, reveling in the disparate sensations upon her skin—his firm, almost rough grasp in wondrous opposition to feather-soft, reverential kisses. “More.”

  He complied, and only his arms holding her up prevented her from sinking to the floor as her legs melted and gave way.

  Her fingers fisted in his hair, for balance and other reasons. “Bozhe moy, priyazn….” She sucked in another breath. “Take your clothes off and carry me to the bath.”

  “It would be my deepest pleasure.” He stood agonizingly slowly while tugging his shirt over his head. Instantly her hands and her mouth were on him.

  He grumbled against her lips. “I can’t comply with your commands if you won’t let me take my pants off….”

  “I’ve got them.” She fumbled with the clasp, not because she didn’t know how it operated but rather because her hands were trembling. It came free, and her palms slid beneath the material and along his hips. He pitched in to shimmy them to the floor, then seized her thighs and hoisted her up to his waist.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and sank her fingers back into his hair; it was getting long, and she adored the thickness of it. Distracting her from it was the heat teasing her, just beneath her. She began sliding downward.

  He slammed her against the wall with a growl. “If you don’t stop that this instant, we will not make it to the bath. The choice is yours.” Then his mouth was devouring hers.

  Considering he’d refused to stop his antics when she’d asked…but the water was too inviting. “Ah…bath, yes. Bath.”

  “As you wish, my mistress.” He readjusted his grip on her, lifting her higher, and crossed into the main room toward the bath.

  One step down, another, into the water. It was cool, in thrilling contrast to the fire of his skin on hers. As one they plummeted and the water rose to consume them. For an infinite fraction of time they floated weightless, limbs and lips tangled together.

  Then her feet reached the bottom, and she urge
d him up to break the surface. Backwards, onto the ledge running down the length of the bath beneath the water.

  When his back hit the tiled edge, she took a deep breath and submerged once more, gripping his hips and having her way for as long as her lungs allowed, then a little longer.

  She resurfaced to find him gasping for air as much as she, eyes wide and ablaze with need. “How may…” his throat worked as he pulled her into his arms, and his voice dropped to a low, velvety purr “…how may I at last give you fulfillment, my mistress, my love?”

  Her knees found the ledge on either side of his hips, her hands came up to cradle his face…and she grinned.

  Married sex, she decided for the third or tenth or hundredth time, was without a doubt the best sex to be found in any universe, however many of those there ended up being.

  27

  IRELTSE

  * * *

  THE SHIP HANGAR THEY WERE TO TOUR was located inside the city, in a sector that looked much like every other sector of the urban area. There was no distinct military base, no division of purpose separating this structure from the business offices across the block.

  War and the execution of it appeared to be central facets of their existence, Caleb mused. It felt a bit dissonant given one-on-one they were a friendly, thoughtful species. They formed lasting bonds with one another, valued their children and took pride in their surroundings, all features of an advanced, civilized society. But few things were so simple—and he was beginning to believe that included most sentient life.

  They had taken an aerial vehicle from Pinchu’s home to the hangar, and in the full light of day he’d been able to give their transportation proper scrutiny. It probably shouldn’t have surprised him that the vehicle was in most respects nearly identical to human vessels serving the same purpose. It was larger, like everything here, with massive seats and no roof, but the basic shape was the same. The engine stayed hidden, but it gave every indication of operating on the same core principles as their terrestrial engines.

  He supposed there were only so many functional ways to convey humanoids from one place to another.

  Alex practically vibrated with anticipation at the prospect of inspecting the alien starships as Pinchu led them to the entrance of the hangar. The degree to which seeing her so enthusiastic and happy pleased him…he lacked words for it. He retained the smallest amount of caution regarding the Khokteh, the minimum needed to be ready should events turn against them, but she had embraced them completely.

  Cassela and Pinchu had toned down their worshipful attitude this morning, though they watched Alex constantly. Their attention was delivered with what seemed like veneration, but he couldn’t yet read the nuances of their expressions well enough to be certain.

  He was intrigued about this religion of theirs, but broaching the topic of religion wasn’t advisable at family dinners, much less to aliens who had contemplated killing them a few short days ago, so he thought he’d give it another day or two. Valkyrie ought to have some information on it, too, if they ever found themselves with downtime. Downtime they didn’t promptly fill in the most spectacular manner.

  Alex squeezed his hand in excitement as they stepped into the main hangar bay. He chuckled and waved at the rows upon rows of ships gleaming in the natural light provided by a glass roof. “Go. Play.” She flashed him a quick smile then hurried on ahead.

  As with the vehicle which brought them here, the Khokteh starships were of a fundamentally similar design to their own. The proportions tended to be more vertical, doubtless due to the species’ height, and the cockpit of the fighters took up a larger percentage of the body. There were other differences in the details, but they were at their core starships like any other.

  Alex ran a hand along the hull of the nearest fighter as he caught up to her. Its exterior was made of a mahogany metal, serving as proof the Khokteh were able to competently construct in metals; they merely chose not to when it wasn’t necessary, as in their architecture. The fact the planet was rich in stone and poor in metals surely played a role as well.

  Cassela joined them at the ship. Alex glanced over at her, eyes animated. “Do you fly?”

  “Me? No. I much prefer a spear in my hands.”

  “I doubt I’d be very good with a spear, but I wouldn’t give up flying for anything.”

  “If you insist it is this wonderful, perhaps I will learn at some point. After the birth.”

  Alex’s hand fell away from the hull. “You’re…pregnant?”

  Oh, this was going to be fun. According to Valkyrie, Khokteh females carried their offspring in pouches, like the kangaroo on Earth and osphraniala on Seneca.

  “I am. It will be many cycles until the birth, however.”

  “That’s…excellent.” Alex shot him a restive look, and he shrugged, saying you’re on your own as clearly as possible without words.

  He knew children weren’t something she planned on anytime soon, which was equally fine by him. There had been enough life-changing events for them both in the previous year to last several decades. His niece was wonderful, but he fully recognized this was in no small part because he could give Marlee back to Isabela at the end of his visits. So maybe one day, but one day far away.

  Pinchu had left them to speak to one of the workers at another vessel, but now he returned. “Yes, I am to be a father at last. I could hardly convince her to slow down long enough to carry a child.”

  Cassela looked as if she was preparing to sling a playful retort at him when sirens began ringing out in the hangar. Everyone stiffened, and Pinchu’s hand came to his ear. “Three Nengllitse—” the translator stumbled before substituting [military formations, approximately regiment-sized] “—are approaching from the southwest.”

  Cassela nodded sharply. “I will oversee the defense of the city’s most important infrastructure—the schools, the hospitals. You need to get to the Center.” She started to take off running, but Pinchu grabbed her arm and drew her to him. “Be careful. You cannot act only for yourself now.”

  “I must act for our shikei, as must you.” She touched her nose to his and departed.

  Pinchu began running toward the exit. “Come! You will be safe at the Center.”

  Alex groaned. “I knew this was too easy.” Then she too took off running.

  The Center was in a state of semi-organized chaos. Khokteh hurried in every direction, many carrying enormous guns that resembled rocket launchers. Sonic booms from fighters filled the air minutes after they arrived.

  Alex grasped Pinchu’s arm as they followed him through the maze of hallways. “We don’t want to be a distraction, but can we help?”

  “I will not allow you to risk your lives on our behalf. In my office—here. Stay!” He gestured at the open doorway ahead before jogging away in another direction.

  Alex acted like she wanted to follow Pinchu. Caleb urged her inside the office, where she immediately ran to the open balcony. At least the office was recessed deep into the building, with staggered floors extending beyond it both above and below to offer them some small protection.

  The outskirts of the city were on fire, and the low rumble of crumbling stone echoed in the air. Overhead, fighters of a slightly different design than the ones they had viewed earlier buzzed the buildings.

  A laser shot up from their left to impact a fighter in the distance. A ball of energy surrounding the fighter absorbed the impact completely, suggesting the attackers sported robust defensive shielding. Four blocks away a large transport hovered several meters above the ground; its bay opened and easily a hundred soldiers leapt out. So there would be fighting in the streets. Caleb’s growing unease ratcheted up toward combat mode.

  Alex stared out at the scene in horror. “Valkyrie, get out of here. We can’t risk you being captured.”

  The Siyane was parked far outside the city, but still conceivably in the line of fire.

  ‘I will retreat to the unpopulated northern region until the battle is finished.�
��

  “No. Leave the planet. Hide in space.”

  ‘But what if you need to depart unexpectedly and rapidly? In fact, I would suggest all of us depart now.’

  “We’ll be safe. And if we need you, it won’t take you long to reach us. Now please, go!”

  ‘I am uncomfortable leaving you here…but I will comply.’

  She breathed a sigh of relief. “What do we do?”

  He gazed out at the battle now raging all around them. “We stay here. We don’t know their technology or how to operate their weapons. We don’t know their procedures or military protocols. And…Alex, we don’t know if the attackers are actually bad guys. This isn’t our fight.”

  “But they—”

  “I like Pinchu and Cassela, too, but there are a thousand factors at play here we don’t understand. Yes, the Nengllitse are the aggressors today, but what if the Ireltse military carpet-bombed their homes last week? What if they murdered children, or took them as slaves? We just don’t know.”

  “They could have killed us, but they didn’t. And as soon as we could understand one another, they welcomed us. These are thinking, feeling, rational beings here, and they have as much of a right to live as anyone. That’s what I know.”

  An explosion rocked the walls. Close.

  He checked outside to see a ring of soldiers lining up at the street level to surround the building. As expected, two blocks away soldiers were now fighting in the streets. Overhead the bombing continued unabated, and the reality that the attackers’ shields were more powerful than the weapons attacking them was tipping the balance in the wrong direction.

  The Khokteh—the Ireltse Khokteh—were losing. If Pinchu’s military didn’t turn the tide soon, their own lives were going to be at risk.

  This altered the equation.

  He pressed a fist to his forehead and ran through the variables one more time. “Let’s go find some weapons. But stay close to me.”

  She smiled gamely. “Where else would I be?” Then she grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door.