Erun (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 4) (14 page)

“And how is it being replaced?” She had better say
him
or he would kill whomever was taking up space that rightfully belonged to him. He would—

A soft touch and low words quieted his growing anger. “By you. Your touch, your concern, your nearness, and even when you’re being an ass, it’s from a place of caring—if not love.”

“
Lofei
,” he murmured, and never more had he meant the endearment.
Loved one
. “I do not remember love. I’ve lived through so much pain. But when I look at you and Tabitha… You are not the only one who would kill—and die—for another.”

Erun’s words solidified her decision. Not that she hadn’t been leaning toward mating him before, but now there was no hesitation.

Did they love each other? No.

Could
they love each other? Looking at him hold Tabitha securely while she babbled to Faim about who knew what as they strode through the corridors… At the way his gaze found hers just as often as he scanned for threats… Yes, she could see they’d someday find their way to love.

“Momma! Listen to me.” She blinked and pushed those thoughts away since apparently her toddler needed Vanessa to
listen to her
.

“Yes, baby.”

“Papa Faim says time to get better.”

She shook her head, not realizing they’d made it to medical already. “Yup, but Momma and Erun have to talk to someone first. You’re going to stay with Sece and Papa Faim for a little while and then we’ll get both of us better, okay?”

“O. Kay.” The little one jerked her head in a sharp nod with each syllable.

Erun handed Tabby to the older male and then grasped Vanessa’s hand, twining their fingers together. “We will not be long.”

When Tabby just smiled and waved, they continued their journey, only pausing when they rounded the corner and heard Tabby’s order.

“Need ner’shmen, Papa Faim. In da baggies.”

Vanessa paused and looked to Erun. “Should we tell him not to give her candy?”

Erun smiled widely and shook his head. “I was not warned. It will build strength in the old male.”

“You are an evil, evil male, Erun fa Arex.”

She wasn’t sure why, but his eyes softened and he came to a stop, tugging her against him. “I cannot wait to mate you and carry your name.”

She furrowed her brow. Take her name? “But women usually—”

“Human women take the male’s name, but Ujal males take the female’s. Our lives begin through a
dam’s
strength. It is only right they are honored for their sacrifice.” He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss to her lips, the connection brief and nowhere near enough. “Walker is
his
surname. What was yours before your mating? What shall mine be?”

“Brooks. I was Vanessa Brooks before I married.”

He grinned at her, his expression light and soft and nothing like what he’d worn when they first met. “Erun fa Arex-Brooks.” Then the smile fell away. “I am very tempted to petition to have Arex removed from my name.”

“Erun…”

“It is an honor to carry a
dam’s
name, Nessa. And the last thing I wish to do is honor her.”

“I don’t want you to lose part of your past, no matter how much you might hate it.”

“No,” he shook his head and hugged her close. “My past is the first thing I want to forget. It is uncommon to break that tie, but I have no doubt Tave will grant my petition.” He paused for a moment as if trying to gather his thoughts. “How would you feel about it? On Ujal, the only reason a male is stripped of his
dam’s
name is through dishonor by either the
dam
or the son. There will be whispers wherever we go…”

“It doesn’t matter. No one matters outside our family.”

“Then it will be done.”

And that, apparently, was the end of that because they were striding down the hall once more, headed to prisoner holding. They passed through several doors, each one thicker than the previous, and each with two guards stationed outside them. She’d expected some sort of distaste to grace their faces, but instead she got nothing but respect. Yes, they all saluted Erun by placing their fists over their hearts as they shot to attention, but for her… it was the tip of their heads or a softly murmured
mistress
as they held the doors wide.

Erun must have sensed her confusion and brought them to a stop between two sets of doors, holding up a hand when one of the guards moved to approach.

“They honor you for what you have done and will do,” he murmured.

“But I haven’t…”

“You have raised an Ujal youngling to the best of your abilities on your own. When you discovered your loved one was intent on harming the youngling, you defended her with your life, and even now, you betray a male you once called mate in order to keep her—and others—safe.” He cupped her cheeks and she saw the depth of his emotions and strength of his conviction in his eyes. “You are one of the strongest females I have ever met, Vanessa Brooks, and these males recognize it as well.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Now, come. Let us finish with this task and return to our youngling. As she said, it is time for you both to be
better
.”

With Erun at her side, they passed down the final hallway and came to a stop outside the last door. A large window allowed them to see into the space, the room empty save a single table and two chairs. Constantine—not Con—sat in one, his wrists bound to the hard surface with gravcuffs. They could attach anyone to anything. Press them to a table, a wall, a hair… It didn’t matter. They simply required contact and the press of a button, and they would not move until released.

“Are you prepared, Nessa?”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “As I’ll ever be.”

And she was. Ready to say goodbye to the man she thought her husband was and even more ready to welcome her future. Anything she’d felt for Constantine died the moment she’d heard what Erun knew about her ex’s activities.

They were decimated when she spoke with Constantine.

Constantine got involved with Leox around the time they’d adopted—
purchased—
Tabby. As a high-ranking law officer, he was able to hide Leox’s activities and smooth the way for the operation.

Part of the price for Tabitha was him partnering with Leox. The same Leox who’d purchased Erun and made his life hell. Leox—together with his brother Deaz—used stolen genetic material to manipulate DNA and impregnate human women with Ujal hybrid children. The women thought they were merely surrogates to couples who didn’t want to meet the person who carried their baby.

The truth was the sale of the female children helped cover the cost of raising the boys to become slaves—fighters and workers.

By the time Constantine was done, she was sick. And not just because the man she’d loved could be so depraved, but also because she was involved even if she’d been ignorant.

“How could you, Con?” She ignored Erun’s growl. “How could you do that to
children
?”

Her ex-husband’s gaze was flat and unemotional. “You wanted a brat and I gave you one. Now I’m the one suffering for making you happy.”

This wasn’t the man she married, not the one she fell in love with. Part of her grieved for what she’d lost, but if this was what she would be living with today, she was glad he’d faked his death. “I never wanted this. I never wanted a baby so badly that you had to buy her off the streets.”

“Look,” he leaned forward and Erun stepped beside her, but her ex didn’t seem to care about the towering Ujal. “I know what you’re saying, but the fact is couples want kids. Leox is doing what needs to be done to fill that empty space in the economy and lining our pockets at the same time.”

“You’re not even sorry.” She shook her head, disbelief clouding her mind.

“The kids are happy.”

“The ones forced to fight? They’re happy? Or the ones who slave under punishing overseers? They’re happy too?” God, the outcomes were too warped to count. She pushed to her feet, glaring down at the man she used to love. “How about abuse, Con? I know they’re beaten, but what else happens to those boys?”

He pressed his lips together, his jaw set at a stubborn angle she knew well. She slammed her hands on the metal, ignoring the sting that came with the hit. “What else happens to them? How many boys were sold to perverts? How many
girls
were sold to perverts instead of loving couples?
How many?
”

He remained quiet beneath her glare for one moment and then two and then… he deflated, the first hint of guilt entering his eyes. “I don’t know.”

Her gust twisted, agony squeezing her heart. That could have been Tabby. Her daughter sold to some pedophile who didn’t want a daughter to love, but to abuse. “I want everything, Con. Every name, every number, everything you remember. You’re going to tell them all of it.”

“What do I get out of it?” The cocky, self-assured smirk was back.

She hated that smile. Wanted to claw it off his face. Instead, she remained in place and let the full weight of loathing fill her expression. “I’ll ask them to kill you quickly.”

“No, I want—”

Vanessa leaned toward him, lowering her head until their gazes met. She made a promise she wasn’t sure she could deliver, but the words came out just the same. “You’re not walking out of UST alive. Period. You tell the Ujal everything you know and they won’t feed you to a great white shark a piece at a time.”

She dropped her voice low. Menacing. She wasn’t sure they would do what she promised, but the threat was damn good. “They can keep you alive for days, weeks, months… You think they can’t? Look at the hundreds of kids Leox created
without
proper medical facilities. What do you think Tabitha’s blood father can do? He’s the royal physician, Con. He can do whatever the hell he wants to you, keep you alive, and no one would stop him.” She pushed away and moved to Erun’s side. “You decide how you want to play this, Con, but you’re going to tell them. It’s just a matter of how you’ll die at this point.”

With that, she turned and strode to the door. She was ready to leave, ready for this part of her life to end and the happiness to begin.

With Erun.

It was fast. It was crazy. It was… right in its own weird way.

Erun was at her back as she left, his hulking presence comforting while they moved back the way they came. Once again each guard gave her a small show of respect when they passed until they were striding down one of the main halls once more. The bustling traffic of the station surrounded them, Ujal and humans striding between offices or stopping for a quick hello.

Life continued… as if Tabby wasn’t ill. Or Vanessa wasn’t about to become one of them. Or that there were untold numbers of children who deserved love and care.

Nessa stuttered to a stop, staring at all of them. Happy. Smiling. Content.

When so many others weren’t. The weight of her part in those children’s suffering consumed her and guilt reared its ugly head.

“Nessa?” Erun’s concerned voice slipped past the rush of blood filling her ears, her heartbeat silencing everything else.

A panic attack. She was having a panic attack.

She needed to breathe, count each inhale and exhale, focus on something. Find a focus and stay centered and…

Erun was talking, she heard him, but didn’t
hear
him.

Suddenly she was swept into his arms, lifted from her feet, and he strode… somewhere.

If she could speak, she’d tell him hauling around a person in the middle of a panic attack probably wasn’t a good idea.

Then cool air filled her lungs, the scent of the ocean—something close to Erun’s natural aroma—surrounded her. He’d taken her outside, beyond the confining press of the walls and into open air.

There she could breathe. No one else was taking up every hint of oxygen.

Erun slowly lowered her feet to the ground and she bent at the waist, propping her hands on her knees as she continued to regulate her breathing. A quick glance revealed he’d gotten her farther away from the station than she anticipated, leaving them nearly alone. The sea stretched before them, the sun kissing the surface as waves gently lapped at the sandy shore.

“
Lofei?
” The question was low and hesitant. Nothing like the Erun she’d grown used to.

With one last deep inhale and slow exhale, she pushed upright. “I’m fine. It just all kinda…” she waved her hands. “Fell in on me. Scared me a little.”

A lot
.

Then his arms were around her, his body curling around hers, and instead of feeling constricted, she felt safe and secure. Able to truly breathe for the first time since everything in her world had collapsed. She hadn’t realized the depth of her emotions—her fear—but they were banished by Erun’s touch. She sighed and leaned into him, allowing him to take her weight while the soft rush of water settled her mind.

He must have sensed her relaxation and spoke once more.

“You must tell me when you feel this way.” He sounded frustrated and… afraid? “I cannot care for you as a mate should if you do not tell me what you need. I cannot read minds.” He mumbled low but she still heard him. “This is what Rhal meant when he talked of difficulties.”

That had her grinning. “Difficulties? Maybe that’s something I should talk to Cara about.”

Erun grunted. “Do not get my fellow warrior in trouble with his mate. He has enough problems with his
ankle biter
.” He huffed. “I do not know what that is, but I know that having trouble with one scares him. Badly.”

And then the last remnants of her worry drifted away. Not because he was rushing to solve her problem, but because he was rushing to care for her. Which was amazing… and precious.

“Do we need to hurry back?” She loved Tabby—she did. And she was worried about the changes to come for both her daughter and herself. But for one moment, one snippet of time, she wanted to walk with Erun on the beach as nothing more than Vanessa and Erun. Not devoted mother and a male who saved them both.

Two people, not two answers to a problem.

“What do you need,
lofei
?” Concern tinged his tone.