Alien General's Beloved: SciFi Alien Romance (Brion Brides) (30 page)

Finally, he came to the riskiest part of his plan.

***

Corden could have sworn the Torons were waiting for him.

They rose when he approached. About a hundred faces looked at him, gathered in a hall near their special quarters, darker and more cavernous than most of the ship.

"You," said one of the beasts.

That was one way of greeting. Corden sized up his company, thinking whether they could really blame him for the four unlucky Torons simply because he was a Brion too.

"I hear you've been causing the captain trouble," he said. "She is not to blame. No one on this ship is to blame."

"We know," said the one who seemed to speak for them that day. "We want the black general, but he is gone. Hides in his ship."

"That is true," Corden said. "I will kill him, but you must do as I say."

The Torons didn't answer at once. Corden knew they had a problem with being ordered around after their long history of slavery, but he had no time for democracy. They either obeyed him or they were a problem.

"We listen," the speaker said.

Good.

"I promised you your revenge," the general said, "but you have to be patient and you have to do exactly as I tell you. Like this, you will get payback for everyone that has died. Do you understand?"

"We understand," said the Torons.

It took a while for Corden to explain his plan to them. Some of it was the language—he needed to make sure they got all the little details right. The Toron way of only speaking in short sentences was maddening when he needed them to repeat back what he'd said. In the end, the general was satisfied that the Torons knew what they had to do.

And the word
risky
just kept haunting him. The Torons were strong and loyal and fierce, but like all such species, unpredictable as well. Of anyone, a Brion would know the inherent dangers of that, blamed by the entire galaxy for their erratic behavior. There was no test he could conduct. Corden could only trust them to keep to his plan.

"You understand the dangers?" he asked at last.

"We do," said the speaker for the Torons.

"Some of you might die. In fact, it's very likely some of you will. Almost certain."

The Toron didn't answer. Corden knew he was saying things they were prepared for, but it felt wrong to send them into a fight without being honest about it.

He was almost gone when the ship's intercomm called Lana to the landing bay, saying General Worgen wished to meet with her. Suspecting the worst, Corden had to take a moment to calm the Torons. As soon as they heard Worgen's name, a heavy, thundering growl had risen all around him.

"Patience," he said. "Not yet."

"You promised," said the speaker when he turned to leave. "Remember that. You promised us his head."

"You'll have it," Corden said.

His mind was a mess. The whole plan was based on keeping everyone under control for just a little longer. If Worgen discovered him now, it would all be over. Why was he back on the
Flora
?

And Lana... Lana was with him. Corden growled, much like the Torons had.

He rushed through the ship, only to find that Lana and Worgen were no longer in the bay.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lana

It felt weird to be in her quarters with someone else other than Corden. No, not weird.
Wrong
.

Lana had had no choice in the matter, however. Worgen's arrival had been the worst kind of surprise. She hadn't been prepared for a surprise visit, which was why the bridge had to look for her over the ship's comm.

Lana was eating with the crew, getting her  first real meal after days of relying on fast bites whenever she had the time. It served many purposes, for example, seeing with her own eyes how high the tension was. And getting some warm tea in her after seeing two men almost kill themselves, as if that would make things better.

The scene was still vividly before her mind's eye. Lana understood
why
, but by God, the Brions had really medieval ways of proving their loyalty. She wondered what they would have thought of the Inquisition.

Taken notes, probably.

Worgen certainly would have,
she thought.

The mad general was pacing her room, saying nothing yet. A crazy idea passed through Lana's head: she wondered whether or not he could actually
smell
Corden in the quarters. Brion warriors had extraordinary senses, after all. She hoped they didn't include a bloodhound's skill set or the
Flora
was doomed.

Most of what was going on in her head was a welcome distraction from the fact that she was alone with Worgen. For the first time since Lana had met her real
gerion
, she was truly alone with Worgen and Corden was nowhere near. A part of her was glad; for Corden to be discovered now would be catastrophic. Another, much more realistic part was afraid that it didn't matter anyway.

"How are my warriors faring?" Worgen asked at last after a long silence.

"The Palians tell me everything is progressing nicely. Slowly, perhaps, but well," Lana said, trying to sound calm and collected.

It wasn't a topic she wanted to discuss. Worgen had ordered her to make it her business to know everything, while Corden and Yarel kept Lana in the dark on purpose. Of course, any other possible topic of conversation was just as bad, every word carrying the threat she might betray vital information.

"I will inspect them soon," Worgen said leisurely, walking around like he was really interested in interior design.

Lana suspected something bad was coming, but she had no way of stopping it. All she could do was be strong and fight until the end.

"Yes, General," she said. "I will signal the scientists when you order so. But they warn me their work shouldn't be interrupted at will, so you might have to wait a bit."

"They will show my warriors to me when I say so. I've given them plenty of time."

"As you say, General. I don't know anything about the techniques they use, but I don't think you're supposed to meddle with things like that."

That was as bold as Lana dared to get with him. Worgen gave her a hard look, his dark eyes unnerving Lana like nothing else   . They said eyes were the mirror of the soul. What did that say about a man whose eyes were almost entirely black? She could never read them properly. Lana only understood when he was mad, but by that point it was obvious by the people around him dying.

It seemed she got away with that bit of snark, since Worgen didn't comment on it further.

"You said you knew things about Briolina I didn't," he said instead.

"I never claimed that, General," Lana hastened to correct him, though carefully. "I said I
might
know a few things that have changed since you were last there. I can't say if I do."

"Begin, then," Worgen said, taking a seat in one of the chairs in the living room.

All right
, Lana thought.
This is not so bad. I can tell him this. Brions are capable of defending themselves, I'm sure.

"Briolina is guarded by many things," she said. "The defenses haven't been tested in a while, though. The armies are usually enough to keep any enemies away, and who would attack your home world anyway?"

A crooked smile gave Lana her answer, so she went on.

"There is a perimeter of defense platforms, I think," she said. "I don't know how many or where they are exactly, but I think they move. I also heard they can detect jumps into the system, so they lock onto the target before you're even there."

Worgen regarded her with the same passive look he'd worn since he stepped off his fighter. Lana could get no indication of whether she was doing something wrong or right. Or if she was even telling him anything he hadn't known already.

"Go on," Worgen said.

"They will be waiting, you know," Lana blurted out, only then remembering to add: "General."

"The armies?" Worgen asked. "I know."

"Don't you fear them?"

Lana bit her tongue. It seemed like she had no control over it anymore. Why did her mind insist on getting her in trouble?

Worgen was smirking. The smile twisted his face into a hideous mask, somehow even more terrifying than his wrath.

"
Fear
," he repeated. "Brions do not fear."

For some reason, Lana couldn't stop herself from speaking. The mad general seemed to tolerate her arguing for the time being, so she thought it might be a good idea to use his leniency. Find out something that Corden could use later.

"I read that one of their generals said something about that," Lana said. "One of the twins."

When Worgen didn't respond, only kept looking at her with that damned smirk, she went on.

"There were two generals, twins. Faren and Gawen. When they got their flagships, Gawen named his
Fearless
. His brother said he was a fool. That every man feared something. And that denying that fear only made you blind."

"What happened to them?" Worgen asked, his voice completely calm despite the fact Lana had just called him an idiot in a roundabout way.

She wondered if he caught it. Also, if she was suicidal to talk like that to him.

"Faren is one of the generals you'll have to face. Gawen is dead."

"Pity," Worgen said, "he sounded like one of the only reasonable Brions left. His brother is a coward."

Lana wondered if anyone had ever called the Monster of Briolina that. Or lived to tell the tale if they had. Probably not.

Worgen questioned her about Briolina's defenses and the generals for a while. Lana told him everything she knew honestly, thinking that there was no harm in that. It's not like Brion generals hid themselves or their victories.

She was quite sure that if asked, they'd send everyone in the galaxy a memo about what they were up to. Not a very secretive lot, but most certainly capable of defending their own home world.

If it wasn't for the
slight
problem of
Abysmal
.

"You're not worried about them at all?" her voice was asking.

"They will be nothing but my trophies once Briolina is mine."

"Some of them might give you a real fight, General," Lana pointed out.

"And they will die," Worgen said, rising. "Don't worry your head over that. I will deal with them all. The Monster and the one to slay the hivemind and the
grothan
. And once Briolina is restored to its glory, I want you by my side."

Lana felt like she'd been slapped in the face. She noticed too late how close the mad general had come. Stumbling away, her back hit the wall before she could figure a way out.

"You have a
gesha
now," she said in a hurry. "Don't you?"

"Her? No," Worgen said. "I needed someone to inspire my warriors. They will fight better if they believe I am even more powerful. But it's you. I've known all this time."

This can't be happening. This is all wrong. There can't be overlapping bonds, this doesn't happen!

"Did you have the recognizing moment?" Lana asked, feeling the warmth of his armor pressing against her, blessedly not on fire at the moment.

Worgen's mouth drew into a thin line of annoyance.

"No," he said. "I don't need it when I know it will be you. All of the other women here are empty, pitiful creatures. You are the only one who is worthy of me."

That would be a lot more flattering if you weren't a psychopath
, Lana thought.

Only even that thought was buried under her entire being rebelling against Worgen's closeness. She'd felt the wrongness before, like Worgen was tainting the room that belonged to her and Corden. But he was taking it a step further. Lana had always found him repulsive, but now she could no longer bear his touch.

Corden
, her mind called, but her true fated wasn't there.

When Worgen leaned in, Lana slapped him. The next second, she was staring at her hand, her mouth open. It had been a reflex, an instinct to push him away.

This is the end
, she thought.
He can't forgive this.

The hungry smirk on Worgen's lips begged to differ. Lana could not believe her eyes, but the general actually backed away from her. She was breathing heavily, knowing how closely danger had passed her by. She'd nearly called out Corden's name.

"Good, very good," Worgen said, his voice dropping to a hiss.

The desire in his black eyes was poison. Lana saw none of the kindness, the caring she'd seen when Corden was looking at her. All Worgen wanted was to possess her, because she answered some standards that he had for his match. Lana wondered what had happened to the girl he'd chosen for his lie.

"Your
gesha
," she said. "Your fake
gesha
, I mean. What did you do to her?"

"She's alive," Worgen said, "to keep up appearances. Once I have the recognizing moment, I'll get rid of her, of course. There is no need for you to be jealous."

Lana said nothing to that, mostly because she couldn't. The words that had been so easy before now refused to come.
She's alive
could have meant absolutely anything. Was Helia in a room of her own, scared and alone? Or was she passed around by the warriors in some communal hall? Or locked in some cage?

She felt sick, but couldn't let any of it show. Captain Lana Cormac had to be
jealous
now, but she let silence speak in her stead. Honestly, Lana didn't think she could utter the words herself.

Worgen laughed, a hollow chortling, moving in again to caress her. His hand made her skin itch and Lana dearly wished she could back away through the wall. She was pressing herself against it as hard as she could, but Worgen had closed the distance between them again.

When the mad general's gloved hand moved to slide under her clothes, Lana yelped.

"No!" she cried, pushing him away.