Gigi (12 page)

Briq rumbled a warning when the Glaxians asked to sample her voice. He didn’t want to share her with anyone. He relented in the end, because she’d asked him to trust her. He’d do anything for her.

Since his physiology had been transformed it was uncertain if his reaction was typical. Her voice stimulated the production of calming hormones. His brain was literally susceptible to the different pitches in it. In the end, he promised Mor’u never to use the inhibitor.

She’d been mad at him for hiding his dependency. His fear redoubled when she asked the Glaxians if the inhibitor had any effect on the babies. He’d never thought about adverse reactions because the possibility of having younglings had never occurred to him. Ju’nii performed another scan and put their fears to rest. The babies were developing normally. Their DNA didn’t show traces of the inhibitor or the primitive creature.

* * * *

They altered their course for a star system deep in the O’nuryan Galaxy where another group of Jog’nafan had established a successful settlement. The
Fy’kul
stayed behind to negotiate the new group’s integration. Ju’nii remained on board the
Rag’mar
,
refusing to leave Gigi. Their journey back to the A’nuryan Galaxy would be full of risks.

If Gigi’s information was right, it verified what his spies on K’luk had reported. Traitors were conspiring inside Pendo’rah to take over the government. Staying on the sidelines was no longer an option. He was about to take an active role in the conflict tearing the twin galaxies apart. With the help of his friends, Briq would put an end to the Kreeh-noshian terror.

For months, they followed in the wake of destruction left behind by T’zaal. Things were worse than Birq had thought. Talk of dissention spread through the outposts. The Kreeh-noshians doubled their use of Jog’nafan mercenaries, cutting them off from the Protectorate.

Glaxians, Pendo’rahns and Trac’xians became the primary targets. Entire settlements were destroyed, and its inhabitants taken as slaves. Some of the attacks were so violent Briq prevented Gigi from visiting the sites. Thank the goddess Ju’nii had sided with him on those instances.

Outpost 0255 was the sector’s commerce hub under the jurisdiction of the merchant house. Located right in the middle, it was one of House of Mal’cious’ most successful ventures that rivaled the commerce planet, K’luk. The outpost’s high official was an inept civilian whose position had obviously been bought.

Something was amiss. He felt it at the edge of his consciousness. Someone had been following him for a while. The fool had a death wish, and Briq was more than happy to fulfill it. He’d walked in circles for the past ten minutes and finally entered a dark alley. He shed his cloak and blended right into the building’s blackened wall. He waited until the last minute before he sprang out and grabbed the Trac’xian by its neck.

“Before I kill you, mind telling me why you’ve been following me for the past hour?” Briq growled at the Trac’xian and slammed him hard on the floor.

“I…arrgh…I mean you no harm. I just want to speak with you.” He was surprised to find a well-dressed merchant and not the thieve he expected.

“You have ten seconds.”

“I know who you are. I recognize you from the pits. I’ve come to warn you of danger.”

“Is that so?” Briq growled as he squeezed his throat again. “Let’s have a drink.” He hissed and dragged him by the scruff of his neck.

The Trac’xian merchant was full of information on the sector’s activities. According to him, a loose confederation was taking shape. Merchants, mining consortiums and freight lines were coerced into joining. Accidents would happen to those who didn’t go along. A lost freighter here, a mining explosion there, sometimes family members would vanish without a trace.

Before scurrying away, the Trac’xian gave him a data module full of intel. Rag’mar analyzed it while Xy kept an eye on the locals. Meanwhile, it was time Briq took Mor’u to meet with the outpost high official. Word of her voice had reached him, and he’d requested a public performance.

The moment Briq escorted Mor’u inside the gathering chambers, all gazes were on her. His mood didn’t improve when the official took a special interest in her. He fawned over her like a love sick heqriu’l beast. He wasn’t very smart if he thought he could lure his mate away from him.

He would have thought he was used to the attention she sparked by now. It happened on each planet, outpost or station they went. Every male they came across desired her, some offering absurd amounts of credits or goods for her. Once he was even offered his own palace with over two hundred surrogates. Didn’t they understand no amount of riches could replace his branded mate?

“Briq, stop it,” Mor’u gently scolded with a smile. “We’re trying to help, not create more problems.”

“I’ll not stand by and allow some overconfident official think he can steal you from me.”

“Sweetie, you already know what I feel. I don’t know why you’re so upset.”

“I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

“How does he look at me? I’m huge and my face is swollen.”

“He looks at you as if he owns you. You’re mine, Mor’u, only mine.”

“And you’re my champion, my Briq. Stop sulking. The show must go on.”

The explosion detonated ten minutes into the show. Briq asked Xy to follow the official just as he left the settlement. Why was he sneaking out in the middle of Gigi’s performance?

Briq barely reached her when a second explosion rocked the structure. He ran to her side, using his tail to propel himself through the air. His suspicions paid off hours later when Xy dragged back the bloody official.

Mor’u entered the room right in the middle of the interrogation. Briq stopped beating the traitor. He was embarrassed by what she’d witnessed. It was at that moment he knew he’d underestimated her.

His mate walked right up to the man shackled to the wall, her expression full of concern and sadness. What was she up to? He felt her rage and contempt for the official, but her face showed nothing but caring and compassion.

“Briq, please stop hitting this poor man,” she admonished in a stern voice.

“Mor’u, this is no place for you. Xy, please escort her out.” He felt a fresh spark of determination coming from her.

“I’m not leaving this poor soul. He’s bleeding and needs medical care,” she replied tenderly as she touched the official’s cheek.

What game was she playing? She knew he felt her barely contained anger. Why was she pretending concern? Briq almost killed the official the minute she reached out with a towel and gently wiped the blood off his face.

 She appeared to purposely lean over as she offered him water. The cold gleam in her eyes took Briq by surprise. She looked like an emissary from the goddess with her sweet smile. It didn’t fool him. She could barely hide her hate.

“Gigi, I won’t ask you again. Leave.” He reached for her arm, but she moved away.

“Please, can’t you see he’ll kill you if you don’t tell him what he wants to know? I almost died during the explosion. He’s very protective of me. He thinks you meant to harm me.”

Briq kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen next. He didn’t have to wait long. The official whimpered in fear.

“Please forgive me, my lady. I never meant to see you hurt,” he babbled. “I placed the device away from the stage because I knew you’d be safe.”

“Shh, I know, dear, I know. But you have to understand. My mate is now very upset.” Briq growled a warning as she caressed the official’s cheek. “I’ve seen him rip Jog’nafans and Kreeh-nosh apart just for standing too close to me. I don’t know how long I can keep you safe. Please tell him what he wants to know and all this will be over.” Briq notice the catch in her voice, and the lone tear sliding down her face. What the frackk?

Only the bond between them kept the traitor alive. Otherwise, he would’ve skewered his frackking body by now. The coward broke down, confessing everything he knew. The conspiracy ran deeper than anyone had suspected. No one knew who to trust, because each faction had their own agenda. The outposts wanted their own seat in the council. The official asked her forgiveness once more.

“You know why I can’t forgive you? You almost killed my children. I want to show you something before you die, you pathetic piece of crap.”

Briq couldn’t stop what happened next. Mor’u opened her tunic and exposed her body. Her belly was now softly rounded, their children resting within. The official took a sharp intake of breath as his gaze rested on Gigi’s brand.

He looked horrified at the implication. A branded mate was sacred. The scream died on his lips as Briq tore his head off with a clean swipe of his spike. Mor’u didn’t even flinch. She was stronger than he’d thought.

“My lady, I didn’t know you were trained in the art of interrogation. You must tell me the name of this technique.” Xy broke the silence with one of his usual smarmy comments.

I need to talk to him about that
, Briq thought.

“Oh, it’s called good cop, bad cop. It’s when two people interrogate a prisoner but one pretends to care about the scumbag.”

“Mor’u, I saw the tears run down your face, but I couldn’t feel your grief. You looked sad, but you felt nothing but anger inside. How’s that possible?”

“It’s called acting. I’ve been told I’m very good at it.”

“Your acting won’t work on me. I’ll always know your true feelings.”

“Really? And what do you think I’m feeling now?”

He scooped her up and ran out of room with the sound of Xy’s laughter trailing behind. Briq was going to beat his frackking ass during their next combat session.

Chapter Ten

Heaven

Briq watched Mor’u walk out of the docking bay. Her steps were slower now. Her pregnancy was developing faster than a human’s. She was the reason he decided to take up Dru-lah’s offer. The risk he took by coming back was big, but his mate’s and children’s safety outweighed everything.

Before her, dangerous smuggling runs had been the norm. The thought of coming back didn’t enter his mind. His people considered him lost, dead in battle. Shame from what the enemy had done to him kept him away.

His soul was embittered by his need for revenge. For years he’d put his life on the line, spying on the Kreeh-nosh. He’d built a network of spies, and paid informants from all over the galaxies. His sources ran from the lowliest surrogates to the wealthier merchants.

One of those merchants had offered him a completely-equipped asteroid. It came fully-loaded with a state-of-the-art weapons system. The inside boasted a self-contained living habitat complete with a hydroponic garden and lake. He’d stayed there several times and thought it’d be perfect for him. Briq even considered contracting a Trac’xian companion, but had changed his mind. He didn’t want one because of the credits she could earn.

After rescuing Gigi, his primary focus became her safety. He really believed the asteroid with all the defenses and self-contained environment was the perfect hideout. Now he knew better. The asteroid wasn’t safe. It might’ve been perfect for him and Xy, but not for a pregnant mate.

“You’re a very fortunate warrior, my friend. She’s truly beautiful.” Dru-lah’s compliment didn’t bother Briq. His friend’s heart belonged to another.

“I need to come clean and show you something before you agree to be my supplicant.”

“You can trust me. Whatever it is we’ll face it together, my brother.”

Briq removed the top part of his flight suit. “This,” he said, pointing at the brand around his waist.

“Brand? You and Gigi are branded?” Dru-lah exclaimed excitedly. “Of course she’s from Earth, just like Amada.”

“Yes, now are you sure you want to do this?”

“More than ever, my brother. More than ever.”

* * * *

The sight meeting her eyes was indescribable. They’d finally reached Pendo’rahn a couple days after joining Dru-lah. During that time a lot on the conspiracy had come to light. The men agreed to bring the intel to Pendo’rah and present it to the council.

Carrying two children took a toll on Gigi. Her belly was larger at this stage because her children, according to Ju’nii, were developing faster than human babies. Everyone around her treated her as if she were made of glass. Briq tried to keep a brave front, but she felt his fear.

During those times her voice was the only thing that kept him sane. Sometimes she just rocked him to sleep while singing. She loved him more than she’d ever thought possible. Having his children was the most wondrous thing she’d ever known. She only wished Melissa and Gustav were there with her.

“What do you think of Pendo’rah, Lady Gigi?”

“It’s incredible, Dru-lah. It reminds me of a planet in our system called Saturn because of the rings.”

“I’ve been reading more on Earth. Our people aren’t that different. We too have our share of internal conflicts.”

“Do you think Pendo’rah is on the brink of civil war?”

“I hope not. I have no doubt we’ll stop T’nbros, and find out how widespread the conspiracy is.”

“I’m afraid for us. I don’t want to stay here if my mate isn’t welcome. He’s everything to me.”

“My friend is a lucky warrior to find such a rare jewel. I assure you, Lady Gigi, you and your ul’naah-maa-roh
will be safe.”

His last comment went unanswered. Her mate was nearby. She turned to the door, then stepped into his open arms. Nothing else mattered when they were together. No one else existed in their world. She didn’t care if the Pendo’rahn considered him tainted or grotesque. Since his present form was all she knew, she loved him no matter what.

He was impressive and handsome. His quiet dignity gave her the strength she needed to face their future. Her only fear was losing him to a completed mutation. He’d had one already while fighting T’zaal. The rage had induced it, making alterations in his DNA. He now had a tail, and a playful one at that.

“Stop trying to impress my mate with your Pendo’rahn warrior routine, First Commander Dru-lah. She has eyes only for me,” Briq joked playfully.