Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(9)

Destin shook his head. “I can’t,” he replied, his voice laced with regret. “You know as well as I do that is impossible. I’ve fought too hard and too long. The people there have stood by me and fought beside me. I won’t abandon them now.”

“I understand. I have been in your position; it is not an easy one to make,” Razor said.

“As have all of us, I’m sure,” Ajaska agreed with a heavy sigh. “I just hope the humans who came to my world do not find out what has happened since they left. I have a feeling life would become very difficult for my sons.”

“Why is that?” Destin asked, remembering last night when Ajaska told him about the group of circus performers who had turned his world upside down.

Ajaska grinned. “They are fierce and loyal. They would not hesitate to return to their world to fight. I’ve become very attached to them and have no desire for them to leave Kassis, not to mention that my sons would follow them,” he stated bluntly, his smile fading and a serious expression settling over his face.

“We agreed to not discuss these things today. It is Saber’s and Taylor’s day of joining. There will be a far worse battle to contend with if anything prevents it from happening. My Amate is determined to make sure Taylor has a traditional Earth joining,” Hunter reminded them with a look of warning.

“Destin, do you know how to tie one of these things? Jesse and Jordan are busy, and Kali said she was not around males who wore such a thing,” Dagger called out from the front steps.

Destin turned and chuckled, though his laugh had an edge of wariness to it. Dagger’s expression was a mixture of irritation, frustration, and panic. In his hand, he held a red tie. Destin had to admit the black suit fit Dagger’s broad shoulders perfectly. He liked Dagger, he really did, there was just something about the guy – as if he was always one step away from snapping – that made him leery.

“Yes, I know how to tie one. It’s one of those things you learn when you are a teenager and never forget,” Destin said, walking over to the front steps. He paused, glancing up at Dagger. “You guys are just huge,” he complained, motioning for Dagger to trade places with him on the step.

Within seconds, Destin had the tie done. Dagger mumbled his thanks, turned to glance at the line of transports starting to arrive, and muttered under his breath that he needed to find Jordan. As Dagger passed him on the steps, Destin noted that small beads of sweat were forming on Dagger’s forehead and his eyes were a little wild.

He must not be able to handle groups of people very well, Destin thought.

Destin turned when another transport landed along the curved driveway. His stomach clenched when he caught sight of the woman stepping out of it. Jersula Ikera was wearing a long gown that was slit along the sides. His gaze swept over her pale blue skin and snow white hair. Her hair was elegantly braided in an intricate hairdo that must have taken hours to create. The gown she wore clung to her form and was made of a shimmering white material that matched the color of her hair. As she stepped closer, he could see thin threads of silver and blue were woven through the material and that the threads sparkled when she walked. The outer cover of the gown was blue, slightly darker than her skin, and was swirled with white and silver. The combination was nothing less than stunning.

A possessive feeling swept through him that puzzled him. He wanted this woman. He had felt an attraction to her before, but this was different. This was a more primitive feeling combined with an urgency he had never felt toward a woman before. Oh, he had been horny, wanting to lose himself in a woman just as much as she wanted to lose herself in him, but never had he felt this fervent desire to know more about her, to keep her close, and to protect her. Hell, most of the women he had known were more than capable of taking care of themselves.

As long as they weren’t betrayed, he thought, remembering Maria, one of his lovers who had been brutally murdered by someone she should have been able to trust.

Destin was vaguely aware that Hunter had walked up to stand beside him. Off to the side, Razor and Ajaska discussed the transports that were arriving, comparing the variations in the different models. He forced his gaze away from Jersula, his jaw tightening in aggravation. He would be leaving the planet in a few days. He had no business thinking such thoughts.

Not only that, there was still too much to do back on Earth for him to have a long term relationship that wasn’t long distance. He firmly believed that if a man was going to be in a real relationship, he needed the time to devote to making it work. At the moment, time was a very precious commodity, and every minute of it was given to rebuilding Chicago. Taking this time off to come see Kali and Ami had been difficult enough.

“What is she doing here?” Destin muttered.

Hunter glanced over at Jersula. “She is representing her people. The Usoleum leaders have been very apologetic after the revelation of Councilor Badrick’s misdeeds. Most of the women and young girls who were shipped off your world have been found and returned, but his disgrace runs deep for the Trivator forces and the Alliance,” he replied.

“There are still eighteen of them unaccounted for,” Destin reminded Hunter.

“Thunder and Vice will not give up until all are accounted for, Destin. You have my word on this,” Hunter promised before turning to Jersula when she walked up. “Councilor Ikera, welcome to my home.”

“Lord Hunter,” Jersula murmured with a polite smile. “Lord Parks.”