Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (54 page)

“We do not even get to warm the egg as is proper,” she spat. “I doubt the half breed will ever welcome our touch.”

“
I do not know you
.”

She took a jerky step, but stopped as he recoiled further. “She is the one–”

“No more,” Dawning Light whispered voice reedy. “No more lies. No more hatred.
No more poison
. I refused to believe this of you, but I see the truth on your face. You have always been difficult, wanting impossible things your way. You pushed us to the brink with your demanding ways, yet we cared for you. We gave you all you desired.” He, too, withdrew with a revolted expression as she went to touch him. “You have gone too far this time, and we cannot save you.”

Shaken by the wall of cold, Venin shied back. “I wanted to send her somewhere better. Somewhere she could be happy.”

“
Don’t
.” Lumen pushed forward. “Do not stand there and pretend you care. I begged you not to do it. You called our hatchling an aberration. You told Beowyn to kill it.”

“This is truth,” Beowyn grated. “It turns my stomach. A warrior of honour would never hurt a cub.”

“You said nothing,” Venin snapped. “You were happy to take her.”

“Aye. I would do it again, a thousand times over, to keep her from
you
.”

Venomous could not bear to look at his life giver.

The weight of his fury landed upon the a’Rä. “Do you deny you kidnapped my Rä’Na and sold her to the Great Alpha?”

They exchanged a look.

It was clear from their expressions contesting the evidence was pointless.

“No,” one replied.

Wind Dancer tore his gaze from his mate.

His mouth thinned. “Choose judgment. The vote, the blade or exile?”

“I choose the knife,” the quiet until now a’Rä said in a strong voice.

“Hunter, hand Gently Falls the Rain your blade,” Wind Dancer ordered of Cobra that Strikes.

Grim, the Rä’Vek unsheathed the unadorned dagger at his waist.

“May I not have a warrior’s blade?” the a’Rä asked.

Venomous gritted his teeth. “No.”

Gently Falls the Rain winced, but took the dagger Cobra offered, tolerating the insult.

To die on a blade used for animals signified the a’Rä was no better than one.

“What’s going on?” Lumen asked, arms crossed over her chest, chafing.

The air temperature dropping because of the storm.

“Last testimony?” Wind Dancer asked ignoring the question along with everyone else.

Gently Falls the Rain glared at Venomous. “The alien does not belong here. It will be like the blood pure all over again. I sought to preserve our peaceful way of life, I meant her no harm.”

“A ridiculous leap of reasoning,” Venomous said, voice cold. “That time of darkness was caused by people
like you
, not my Lumen.”

“What do they speak of?” Éorik asked.

“The blood pure hail from our primitive past,” Deathly enlightened. “Two thousand solars ago, our species blended so deeply with others, less than a sixth of the population were purebred Rä. A fanatical sect emerged and propagated the belief that if you possessed a drop of offworlder blood, you were no longer Rä, and to be treated as lesser. It took solars to end the eradication of offworlder mates, and those who refused to shun them.”

“You’re talking about honour killings,” Lumen whispered her face ashen. “The family murder the members they think disgrace them.”

“Yesss.” Deathly crossed her arms to clasp her elbows. “The Great Senate voted unanimously to close our borders. The mixed blood were purged during the dark time, and their descendants shunned. We rebuilt our civilisation, and stopped travelling the stars to avoid the offworlders that might awaken us. It is a part of our history we remember with shame.”

Beowyn’s expression sharpened. “One human is no great threat. Unless there are others here?”

“No,” Lumen whispered rubbing her forearm. “Just me.”

Gently Falls the Rain sniffed. “You may think my reasoning flawed, but my intentions were–”

“
Pure?
” Venomous finished, scathing. “How noble you make your evil seem.”

“I was the one who suggested the Verak.” The a’Rha jerked its head to Venin. “The Rä’Na wanted us to slit her throat then dump her body for the razorbeasts.”

Venomous felt the world tilt.

Fiercely looked moments from beating the perpetrators to death.

Even Cobra growled in anger.

Drawing herself up, Venin Stings the Sweetest hissed. “
Lies
.”

“Even as you stand beaten, you fail to act with honour. Why did I follow you?” Fangs clicking, Gently Falls the Rain turned to face
the haze
. The a’Rä knelt then rested back on its heels. “Tell my kindred, I spoke truth in the end.”

“
Hey
,” Lumen said with more force. “
What is happening?
”

“It will be done,” Cobra swore.

Angling the blade to point just under its breastbone, the a’Rä repressed its anima as it rose to protect.

In a short, brutal thrust, it sheathed the blade into its chest.

Lumen screamed, causing the Rä to flinch, and skittered back.

Gently yanked the blade free then plunged it again with a harsh rasp for air.

Hands falling to the side, Gently Falls the Rain folded over in a bow.

With a final twitch, the a’Rä grew still.

Lumen chanted, “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.”

Wind Dancer turned to the other a’Rä who watched resignedly. “Roam the Highest Peak?”

Serene, the a’Rä spun around and peered into the storm. “I choose exile.”

“W-What about t-the vote?” Lumen’s hand pressed her forehead, the other fisted in the material of her softsuit. “Doesn’t that mean judgement goes to trial before the Elders?”

“Yess,” Deathly said in a quiet aside. “But the transgression.... Lumen of the Stars, the Senate will vote unanimously to sentence the a’Rä to painful death. They are not mated, so punishment is severe. There can be no other judgement. Choosing this end is valiant. It removes the pain of inflicting the burden of punishment from the kindred, and the a’Rä regains honour. Gently Falls the Rain and Roam the Highest Peak may now enter Grandmother’s embrace without shame.”

Roam the Highest Peak turned to the female he’d wronged, and who protested on his behalf. “You speak for me.” His head cocked. “I do not believe your presence on my world is right, but I apologise for the harm I caused you.”

He inclined is head then faced
the haze
.

Distraught, Lumen moved forward.

Deathly as It Goes slid into her path.

Gold-braided quills swung as she jerked her chin. “Do not. Your males fight to remain in control. They want blood. This is all they get, and you must let them have it.”

“
Venom
.” Lumen’s tone was sharp. Her finger jabbed towards the floor. “Stop this
now
.”

“No,” he bit back.

“Roam showed concern when I was hurt, hesitated when I was given to the Verak. I can forgive this.”

“I cannot.”

“Nor can I,” Fiercely said.

“
Someone
,” Lumen beseeched when Deathly would not let her pass, and her mates refused to intervene. “
Someone do something
.”

Troubled by her reaction, Cobra started towards her.

He stopped cold when Venomous spun with a vicious snarl.

Beowyn spoke to Lumen with quiet intent. “You must understand, small one, any who
think
to dare harm you will wonder, if he does
this
to kin, what would he not do to them?”

“Last testimony?” Wind dancer asked again.

“There are three others as guilty,” Roam the Highest Peak replied.

Venomous lowered his face, felt as if he’d lose the contents of his stomach.

How many times have I told my mate she is safe amongst my people?

“Name them,” Fiercely demanded.

“I do not betray my own,” Roam said.

Venomous laughed, a rough, bitter sound. “You betrayed me. Fiercely.
We were your own
.”

Jaw clenching at the truth of those words, Roam the Highest Peak stepped outside into the forsaken plaza.

The a’Rä did not falter, even as raging zephyrs buffeted its body.

Its long strides covered the distance towards the roiling, heaven-high barrage of emerald and onyx silt and sand.

Roam the Highest Peak vanished as the dust storm swelled and devoured him whole.

Clutching her head, Lumen hunched. “I wanted them punished but this is....”

“He may survive.” Fiercely grabbed her shoulders when it seemed she’d swoon. “We are strong, and Roam has regained our respect. A clan may take pity on the a’Rä if it survives, and makes it to a settlement outside of the province.”

Shrugging him off, Lumen whirled with a cutting glare.

Her face crumpled, and she shook her head as her eyes watered.

She shoved into his arms.

“Enough of this. I can take no more.” Dawning Light turned his back to
the haze
and Venin Stings the Sweetest. “I shun you.”

Venin’s face slackened. “R-Rä’Vek?”

The warriors and hunters not restraining the disgraced Rä’Na turned their backs.

Pretensions of grandeur petering, Venin Stings the Sweetest bawled. “
Do not forsake me. Do not.
”

Burrowing closer to Fiercely, Lumen sobbed.

He cupped the back of her head, and pressed her cheek to his chest. “Do not watch.”

Clutching his sides, she pressed her other hand to her ear to block out the dirge.

Wind Dancer shuffled around to face away from his life mate. “I s-shun you.”

Contorting in undignified shock, expression twisting into raw disbelief, Venin struggled to reach her mates, brille snapping up and down.

“
Rä’Veks
,” she cried. “
My Rä’Veks
. I beg! I beg!”

Wailing, she collapsed onto her knees, arms outstretched in supplication.

When her plea’s did not break them, she stooped over to rake her claws across the stone.

Tore her chest and face bloody.

Bashed her skull with balled up fists.

“
Nooo
,” she moaned. “Forgive me. If not the razorbeasts the storms....” Keening, she crawled towards Venomous. “My son. Forgive my trespass.” She grasped his boot. “Spare me.”

“For the beat of my hearts.” He shook free of her hold. “For the
miracle
that grows within her.” Venomous turned his back. He imagined he was stone inside. “
I shun you
.”

Hurling curses, she reared up to strike his armoured shoulders with her fists. “
Ungrateful, perverted spawn
.” Flailing onto her back, she kicked his legs. “
I hate you. I wish you died. Curse you! Zaconda curse you, and your tainted clan
.
Death to your freakish offspring
.”

Cobra grabbed her by the scruff of her softsuit
.

He dragged her kicking and spitting towards
the haze
then dropped her there. “I will take you no further. Your kindred have suffered enough. Get up, and embrace this fate of your own making.”

Then he too gave her his back, ordering the Rä who had yet to turn to do the same.

Veraks observed the customs of their hosts, and so out of respect, followed suit.

Though Venin Stings the Sweetest shook, wailed and prostrated herself, her kindred did not go to her.

Grief carved grooves into Wind Dancer’s face, but not once did he make as if to turn.

Dawning Light leaned on his nest mate.

“
Go
,” the male grated. He did not look behind, clear who he spoke to so bitingly. “As your second mate, I command you to leave us to our shame. Leave us in peace.”

H
uddling into Fiercely, I watched Venomous, Dawning Light and Wind Dancer stand with their backs to Venin Stings the Sweetest, who ranted and refused to walk through
the haze
.

“Why don’t they leave?” Beowyn asked, puzzled. “The female has no shame. She will torture them with this as long as she can.”

“It is the
shunning
,” Cobra that Strikes explicated. “The kindred remain to exorcise their grief. After this, it is not proper to express sorrow outside their lair. Venin Stings the Sweetest is no longer considered kindred, and not welcome in this province. She is dead to us. Only if strangers take pity on her elsewhere will she know home and hearth. She will wander alone, ignored until she succumbs to the long sleep, or is savaged by the beasts that roam the wilderness.”

Éorik bobbed his head towards me and Fiercely. “They are kin, yet they have moved away.”

“Venomous and I agreed Lumen need not stay if she grew distressed.” Fiercely palmed my belly. “We fear she has become too upset too often.”

“Ah.” Éorik returned to watching Venin’s spectacle, his nose wrinkled.

“The Rä are kind,” Beowyn murmured to his Commanders.

I twisted my face to him, stiffening. “You call this
kind
?”

Éorik’s head cocked. “Aye. If you were my One, those sexless ones would scream for death as we speak. Only the female would be spared torture.”

Beowyn grunted. “A beheading for that one. Quick.
Quiet.
”

Sick crawled up my throat.

My gaze darted anywhere but towards
the haze
.

Roam the Highest Peak had marched fearlessly to his fate.

He’d apologised then spared his kindred pain by taking his punishment into his own hands.

As ever, Venin Stings the Sweetest was being a selfish cow.

Venomous and Wind Dancer were being lenient.

If it went to a Senate vote, she’d meet an end much like Beowyn described.

Still, she could not find it within herself to give them this last bit of peace.

“What of the conspirators the sexless one spoke of,” asked the Verak Commander whose name I didn’t know.

Becoming still, my gaze shifted.

Singing Water was as pale as I’d ever seen a Rä.