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

Damn the male to the seas. Then again, they’d both been damned had they not? And they both survived the best they could. Rhal as the king’s assassin and he… He hated those memories and refused to acknowledge them.

“I am on an errand.”

“For a specific female and her youngling.”
The male sounded so smug.

Erun decided Rhal was the hole of an ass.
“The youngling is being neglected. It is my duty as a male to protect younglings.”

“The youngling is human. It is not an Ujal concern.”

“Any warrior worth his trident would—”

“And Tabby is not neglected.”
Rhal would not allow him to finish. If it were any other male… But it was not, and Erun knew they were equally matched.

“Her dam allowed her to almost be killed in the street by a human vehicle!”

Rhal sighed.
“You don’t have younglings…”

Memories of
why
he did not have a family of his own assaulted him. Being dragged from his home… Shoved at the slaver… The treatments that…

Something like pity filled Rhal’s gaze. Unacceptable.
“I do not have to have a youngling to recognize neglect.”

“But they get into everything. One moment they are beside you and the next they decide a great white shark is the perfect playmate. Or a humpback whale.”
Rhal shuddered.

“You would never allow—”

“It is not a matter of allowing them. It is a matter of their rapid disappearance before you know what has happened.”

“Your young Shae would not—”

Rhal shook his head.
“Oh, she would. And has. I am tempted to place a leash on the child when in the seas. Cara insists Shae is not a
puppy
. Things happen, Erun.”

“That does not negate her inattention. The males could have—”

“They were movers. But still, they did not because you were present.”

“She did not know—”

Once more Rhal cut him off. He was very tempted to strike the male. He would if he did not have
iggles—shrimp!—
to fetch.

“Admit you wish to know the female and that you are attracted to her. You followed her because you enjoyed her shape.”

“You do not know what you are talking about. Now, I must return to my task. Tabby is waiting for her
iggles
.”

“
What the hell are
iggles?”

Erun sighed.
“Shrimp. Come, assist me in hunting. There is a hungry youngling waiting.”

Rhal lifted a dark piece of fabric.
“And how did you plan on returning with the youngling’s meal?”

The fabric was actually a bag… to carry the shrimp. He hated Rhal at that moment. A flick of his tail brought him within reaching distance and he snatched the cloth from the male’s grip.
“You can leave now.”

He did not need an audience.

“No, I believe I will remain. Shae is
teething
and I will appreciate the silence.”

Erun did not know how to respond since he did not know of teething and instead continued his silence as he eased toward the shore.
Teething
was obviously a trial
dams
and
sires
experienced with their younglings. He would ask Vanessa if Tabitha had experienced such a thing.

The shrimp were easily found and just as easily captured. The bag nearly burst at the seams with the small creatures. He’d decided he would remain for dinner as planned and the swim had made his hunger rise.

“Did you capture enough?”
Rhal was laughing at his expense.

“Do you wish to journey with me to the sphere?”
he growled at the male.

Which made him cackle. It was undignified.
“No, once is enough for me.”
Rhal flicked his tail, bringing the bottom fins into view.
“The scales never fully recovered.”

All these passings later and Erun still regretted his actions that day. He’d known of Rhal’s reputation, his connections to royalty, his strengths and weaknesses. It was why, all those years ago while he was still enslaved, he’d fought hard to kill the male. If he killed the king’s assassin, his hope was the king would kill Erun in return.

They’d entered the space merely called the sphere. It was formed and controlled by the slaver, an arena with rounded walls that kept the battle contained. No laws, no rules, existed within the sphere. Merely blood, pain, and death. The assassin had nearly ended Erun’s life that day. Unfortunately, he did not and his prison had remained for seven more years.

“Come. It is time to return. The youngling will need feeding.”

“Tabitha isn’t a pet.”

Erun frowned.
“I know this. Why would you say this?”

Rhal shook his head.
“It does not matter. If you say such a thing in front of Vanessa, she will explain it to you.”

He decided to ignore the male and merely flicked his tail and headed toward Vanessa’s home. He had spent too much time with Rhal while a youngling needed him. Was this what Rhal spoke of? The ease of distraction even with responsibilities?

It took less time to return, his body flexing and pushing against the currents as he sought the female’s house. He eased toward the shore, his head popping above the surface before he encouraged his body to return to his two-legged form. He did not see any danger—only Vanessa and Tabby playing on the sands—and willed his scales to recede. His tail separated, giving him two human legs and he placed them on the ocean’s floor.

Tabby spotted him and she immediately shouted the name she’d assigned him.
Daman
. It was not his true name, but when she smiled, he did not care.

Vanessa remained in place for a brief moment before pushing to her feet. Tabby continued her run toward him and he quickly strode toward the shore, anxious with her so near the waters. Vanessa was not neglectful? She was about to watch her youngling—human youngling—race into the seas!

He increased his pace just as Vanessa upped hers and he realized she clutched his clothing. He was reminded humans took issue with nudity.

They met halfway between the shore and her home. Tabitha’s small weight collided with his legs and he felt her tug on the heavy bag he carried. He allowed her to play as he focused on the female before him.

“Iggles iggles iggles…”

“You claim you do not neglect her, that you are a good
dam
, and yet she nearly made it to the waters!”

She jerked back as if he’d struck her and then shoved the bundle of cloth at him. “You were a good thirty feet from the water when you came forward. I may not like you, but I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to Tabby.”

“And how do you know this,” he hissed.

“Because Rina said she’d trust you with Theresa’s life. That I should give you a chance to not be an asshole.”

It was nice to know the principessa’s trust extended so far.

“That does not mean—”

“Momma,” a soft whimper silenced their argument. He had forgotten Tabitha.

Perhaps there was truth in Rhal’s words.

“Momma, owie. Momma… Momma hurts…”

Vanessa dropped to her knees beside Tabitha. “What hurts, baby?”

Her question ended with a gasp and he focused on the child as well.

The scaled child.

Pale scales covered Tabitha’s hands and arms, the delicate gold hue reappearing along her neck. His gaze dropped to her legs and he realized they traveled there as well. Her cries and whimpers continued, the yellow color reddening the longer he stared.

She was in pain and her skin held proof that something was wrong with her. When delicate fins slipped from her calves, his mind focused on the need to assist Tabby. He dropped her
iggles
and reached for the youngling. He tore at her clothing, ripping the dress she wore to shreds and her under coverings soon followed. From there… her legs fused, slowly fighting to form a tiny golden tail so like his own when in the waters.

She was transitioning. He shot a glare to Vanessa. For the first time?

“Mommaaaa…” Tabitha reached for her
dam
, but Erun intercepted her and snatched the child to his body. She screamed once more, but he could not cease the youngling’s pain. His only available path lay in bathing her in fresh water. Then he would contact Rina. No, he would approach Faim. He would support Erun’s petition to have Tabitha removed from Vanessa’s care.

His opinion had changed during his talks with Rhal. Being a
dam
could not be an easy task and she was alone. Perhaps she hadn’t been neglectful.

Until now.

“What are you doing with Tabby? What’s wrong with my daughter? Erun?”

He spun on her and growled. He knew the expression that graced his features. It was one he often wore before he destroyed his enemy in the sphere. “She is not your daughter. She is Ujal and I will see you rot in a human prison for what abuse you have committed.”

Erun ignored her further pleas. He had more important things to attend to. Mainly… keeping Tabitha alive.

For her scales continued to emerge even as he bathed her in pure waters. Her transition refusing to cease and overtaking her even as salt-free liquid coursed over her small form.

And then… her small lips, the tiny bits of flesh often split in a joyous smile, turned blue.

No one would tell Vanessa anything. No one said a word as she stood in the doorway, watching the doctor—Faim—examine her daughter. More than one assistant glared at her while the lone female in the room looked at her with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

All the while Erun remained at Tabby’s side, his large, scarred hands gentle as he cradled her small body. Tabitha whimpered and whined, twitching in what could only be pain as Faim looked her over. The one time Vanessa tried to step closer, dislodge Erun from his position, the staff intercepted her.

They ignored her hissed threats. They ignored her growled demands. They ignored… her.

Tabitha was Ujal.

Vanessa was human.

And that seemed to be the end of that.

At least she’d been smart enough to grab her cell phone as she ran out the door. Getting to UST had been a blur of running, bare feet pounding on pavement, Tabitha pressed to Erun’s shoulder. She clutched the small device, holding onto it like a lifeline while the medical staff worked.

Worked and didn’t ask
her
what to do with
her
child. Their attention was on Erun. On his directives and demands.

Without taking her gaze from Faim and the lone female who seemed to be his primary assistant, she operated her phone from memory. It rang once… twice… and then an out of breath woman answered the phone.

“Bitch, this better be good.”

“Rina,” she swallowed the sob that rose in her throat, but her friend must have heard the pain in her voice.

“What happened?” Rina became all business, no teasing in her tone. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Tabby. We’re at UST medical and they won’t let me see her and they think she’s Ujal, but oh God, Rina. They won’t let me near her.”

“I’ll handle it.” Rina didn’t even ask questions, didn’t delve into the situation beyond the fact that Vanessa said she needed help. It’d always been that way. They used to joke about it.

Yo, bitch, wanna help me bury a dead body?

Sure, lemme get my shovel.

Except now it was more about saving.

Flat silence reached her—or didn’t reach her—telling Vanessa that Rina ended the call. She clung to the cell phone, willing it to ring. Willing anything to happen that would grant her access to Tabitha. Her cheeks were cool and damp and she wiped at the wetness. Tears. Tears trailed long, winding paths down her face. The longer she remained separated from Tabby, the longer their whispers remained urgent and concerned, the harder she cried. But silently. She didn’t want to give them a reason to kick her out.

Their accusing glares told her they wouldn’t hesitate to banish her. No one had taken the time yet.

Suddenly the doors to medical parted and the staff closest to the entry spun to face the newcomer. Anger and glares poured from them in waves, but those feelings immediately fell away and transformed into respect with a hint of fear. They froze in place and Vanessa stole a glance toward the entry, risking that quick look before returning her attention to her struggling daughter.

“Rina!” She called for her friend and rushed toward the only person who could get answers and make unquestionable demands.

Like ordering everyone to let her close to Tabby.

Tave was behind her, his overwhelming presence seeming to steal all the air in the room. He stood tall, arms crossed over his chest and unbending anger filling his features. “What in the darkest seas is going on in here?” He strode toward the single occupied bed. “Faim?” he barked out the doctor’s name.

“With all due respect, Prince Tave, I do not have time for you. I have a delayed transition youngling whose genetic material must be stabilized. Answers can wait.”

No, answers were needed now.
Now
.

She gave her friend a pleading look. “They won’t let me touch her. They won’t let me near her.” She rushed toward Rina, her pain running over and consuming her. “
Please
.”

Rina grasped Vanessa’s hand and dragged her to the bed. “Erun, release the child and step back.”

“Principessa—”

“Move.” It was an order, filled with conviction and demand and her best friend was imbued with a strength Vanessa had never witnessed.

“She stole an Ujal youngling. She damaged the child and no one even knows if Tabitha will live. I cannot allow such a being near her. I must protect—”

“She’s
my
baby,” she cried, uncaring about the noise she made or how desperate she sounded. “
Mine
.”

“Who you may have killed,” he growled and her heart froze, clenching with pain. The truth was in his gaze, each word etched in the harsh lines of his expression.

No one thought Tabby would live.

They all thought it was her fault.

“No,” she whispered. She couldn’t take another death, couldn’t take another pile of guilt and pain heaped upon her. She’d die. She’d be buried beneath the emotions. They’d choke her. Smother her with their unending weight. “No.”