Dekkir (Galaxy Alien Warriors #1)(55)

I looked to Tabirus, who was gaping in horror along with the others. “How do we kill it?” I demanded.

“I . . .” He shook his head slightly, staring at the thing circling and lunging as it tried to get at Dekkir. “I have no idea.”

Wickman aimed carefully as Dekkir pushed the thing back again and fired at its chest. Norcross staggered, clutching the wound, but I could see the skin rolling closed almost immediately. “Damn. How is it that everyone else is getting powers and healing old injuries, and he’s turned into a monster?”

“It’s because he was one to begin with,” Tabirus said solemnly. “The Strain’s effects depend on one’s brain chemistry, for that is the seat of its colony within a living thing.”

Dekkir’s eyes narrowed. He had already stabbed the thing, and even lopped off its arm . . . only to watch a new one sprout in its place in seconds. Norcross laughed madly, clawing at Dekkir’s face. The two were at a stalemate: Norcross couldn’t land a solid hit, and Dekkir could not make one count.

I stared at them. The brain is the seat of the Golden Strain’s colony within a living thing. The brain. The brain.

I focused as hard as I could and called out to Dekkir’s mind, Destroy his brain!

Dekkir kicked the creature away with a booted foot and then swept his legs with the shaft of his spear, knocking Norcross onto his back. Before the abomination could recover, he whirled, raised his spear, and drove it through its head, cracking bone and sending its brain splattering. Norcross convulsed, and his screeching went silent. A moment later, his body went slack.

I sighed in relief as Dekkir straightened. I wanted to run to him, but he held up a cautious hand, watching the corpse. Finally, satisfied it was dead for good this time, he sighed his own relief and walked toward me, leaving his spear embedded in the floor behind him. “It must be burned,” he told the others.

I noticed Wickman nod.

Then I was in Dekkir’s arms, breathing in the clean smell of his sweat and shivering with relief as I clutched him closer. “It’s done, my love,” he murmured. “The battle is over.”





CHAPTER 23 / GRACE

A few days later, Dekkir and I stood at the window of our small, carved-wood suite in the heart of master healer Neyilla’s tree tower, watching clean rain bounce down the leaves of the trees around us. My shoulder had healed in an hour once properly set. The only reminder I had of my captivity was the set of manacles that sat on the table as a souvenir of what Dekkir and the others had helped me win back. He and I stood at that window, naked, his warm, muscled form pressed against my back as his arms circled my waist and shoulders. His nose was in my hair, and his breath blew softly against my scalp as we stared thoughtfully out the open window.

“So what did Tabirus say?” I asked drowsily. My muscles still ached a little from the last bout of lovemaking, and I wanted more, but I was also dead curious. My mentor had been too busy training the hundreds of newly inoculated humans in the use of their powers to spend much time contacting me telepathically.

“Once everyone at the base is adapted properly, he will return with Wickman to Earth with the proposal of a further peaceful exchange of resources and knowledge. He will also be explaining the Golden Strain to them and bringing several people with him to demonstrate its ability to enhance humans and other organisms. It is his and Wickman’s hope that they will be able to negotiate peace. He also plans to use old Lyran science to help them repair your world.”

I smiled hopefully. “Good.”

He hesitated. “It was suggested that you return with them, to aid in facing the inquest. But Tabirus said he would understand if you stayed.”

“Good,” I replied, voice firm. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Earth was not withdrawing fully from Lyran space, but most of the soldiers were being recalled. In their place, more scientists and technicians would be sent, along with transport ships. In just a day, they had negotiated with Dorin the right to mine silicon and iron from one of the moons. In return, Earth had signed a twenty-year non-aggression pact. It stunned me that it had all happened so fast and filled me with hope that I would soon be able to introduce Dekkir to my family after all.

For now, though, all I wanted was more time with him.

I turned in his arms and ran my hand up and down his chest, leaning up to kiss him. He responded with a little rumble, his hot mouth tasting of the minty tea we had shared and his hands starting to slide over my body. His warm, slightly rough palms left tingling trails behind, and he shivered in turn as I caressed his chest and sides, then ran my nails lightly over his back. His sex stirred against my belly, and I smiled up at him.

Peace between our planets meant the last great challenge to our union had finally died. It could not have come at a better time, for now I was under the master healer Neyilla’s care for a unique reason. In my belly, which had been unsettled for weeks, now grew the first hybrid child of our two races.

When I finally saw my mother, I could tell her of my adventures with a clear conscience. Wickman had promised to advocate for me with Command. Both our actions had been maverick and even a bit defiant compared to protocol, but following protocol had led Norcross to causing the deaths of dozens of innocent soldiers and even more innocent Lyrans. And now a child would be born. Mom would be a grandmother in under a year. If she shed tears now because of all of this, they would be tears of joy.