 
### ANOTHER DAWN ON PLANET X

### Copyright 2015 Gabbo de la Parra

### Published by Kidwell-Lovely at Smashwords

### Smashwords Edition License Notes

### Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

### This ebook is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events, the names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

### This ebook contains sexually explicit scenes and language and may be considered offensive by some readers (M/M foreplay and intercourse).

### Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Comment

Glossary

Colviri Translations

Old Colviri Translations

About Gabbo de la Parra

Contact Gabbo de la Parra

Other books by Gabbo de la Parra

Meridian Teaser

### Acknowledgments

I dedicate this book to all the readers that enjoyed How I lost it on Planet X and Darkest Before Dawn (The Masked Man Serenade) and asked for extension and resolution. Each one of you encouraged me to give these men the true happy endings they deserved.

### Viv S. and Jaye more than betas, you two are critique alphas!
CHAPTER ONE

Don't always go up because it's tiring. Don't always go down because you will get lost. Be fair with your choices of ups and downs because they are the fabric of your destiny.

Colviri Proverb

DARIEN

PRY CITY - PLANET RANDELL

"It's been three hundred and sixty-seven standard days, four hours and twenty-nine minutes since the last time I was in your arms."

"I love you too, **ufel**."

"Imploding purple planets, Kekoa. I don't know how much longer I'm gonna be able to stand this separation."

"Any news from your father?"

"He keeps invoking council restraints and sending me in spurious errands."

"Well, that delivery of provisions to the Megare Colony was anything but spurious. You helped a lot of people in desperate need."

"That wasn't my point. Nothing can be more important than to be by your side again."

"Oh, my irked Fire Curls. I'm going to give you something to make the distance more bearable."

Flaming purple byotch.

Didn't Kekoa know that seeing him naked and stroking had the exact opposite effect of _bearable_?

"Come on, baby. I'm showing you mine, I want to see yours." Kekoa's glowing cobalt eyes twinkled wickedly.

"Doing this is the lamest palliative ever." Nonetheless, Darien started undressing.

"Every moment shared is valid." A lazy smile decorated Kekoa's insanely handsome face.

"Miss you, my priest." There went the whiny tone again. Darien was getting bigger and stronger, losing all his juvenile body, yet his puny attitude had resolved to stay. He wasn't the young, naive boy he had been when his father, a consul of the Cygnus Council, took him away from Kekoa, threatening to invade Colvis, the planet Kekoa and his family had guarded for many generations; a planet that didn't have anything to do with the Cygnus Federation. Yeah, he was not that boy anymore, but he neither was strong enough to contemplate a life without his mate.

"Stop it," Kekoa growled

"What? I thought we were going to masturbate in front of the screen for each other."

"Not that. The argument you are having with yourself. You need to accept how brave you are. I'm feeling bad enough already, being your only weakness."

"You haven't seen me facing a plate of Volorian liver— it turns my stomach." Darien diverted the conversation. Neither of them needed to wade through murky, still-unknown reasons to figure out the Federation's obsession with the planet Kekoa guarded.

"That's what I love about you, your funny bone."

After a mental slap, Darien and his cock were ready for an on-screen sex session. "What about this bone?"

"Mm-hmm, such a lovely bone. Soon, my Frizzy Red, very soon. Stroke that bad boy for me."

They copied each other's movements, a long stroke from the base, squeezing the head on the way up, milking clear liquid. Kekoa gathered some of it (using the middle finger of his free hand) and sucked with the lewdest expression possible.

"Shit. Do that again and I'm not gonna last long."

Kekoa chuckled, "What if I do this?" He scooted down, spreading his legs, and used his wonderful pre-cum to lubricate his tight hole. One thick finger disappeared easily.

"Grr, I'm supposed to be the one playing with that hole."

"Touch yours, baby. Let my fingers be yours, as mine are yours in this moment."

"Oh, Nova, yes. I want you inside me, and I need to be inside you so much it hurts."

"There's one good thing about these encounters."

Darien had problems following Kekoa's line of thought in the middle of his fingers' exploration of his burning entrance, neglected for so long. They had toys, but those could never compensate for the touch of your mate. He almost whined. "There is nothing good. I'm effing dying away from you." Darien saw Kekoa's wicked grin; it was slow murder.

"The longer we stay separated, the stronger our connection becomes."

"Stronger? I don't have hundreds of years like you. You know what. Stop talking and focus on that hole and cock. I want to see you come."

"Yes, my Captain."

"Fuck you," Darien hissed, using a word he was still having trouble adding to his vocabulary since it was obsolete in common language.

" **Eccesce.** I'm glad you reclaimed that word. It's simply delicious in your voice." Kekoa never closed his eyes as the speed of his maneuvers increased, and his moans and grunts replaced all coherent speech.

Like Pistons from Nova, Darien had three fingers inside him. Close, so close. He nursed his prostate, eyes locked with his mate.

And as if an alarm had gone off inside both of them simultaneously, they came— shouting the other's name.

"Meha's breastplate," they exhaled together, slowly descending from the blissful cloud of their orgasm, their bodies covered in glistening sweat.

Darien remembered the way his warrior smelled after coming: musky and sultry, the volatile essence of cinnamon and clove caressing not just Darien's nostrils but his entire body.

I need to find a way.

His had been the seventh archeological expedition on behalf of the Federation to Kekoa's supposedly uninhabited planet. All previous attempts had failed due to unknown reasons. Well, now Darien knew it had been Kekoa driving people out of the birthplace of his ancestors by inconspicuously sneaky methods.

The signal of an incoming call from the Cygnus Federation started flashing on Darien's screen upper right corner above a sprawled Kekoa. He didn't feel like answering, but what was the point of avoiding it? "Someone is calling, love. I gotta go."

"See you in two standard days?" Kekoa rolled to lie on his stomach and give Darien a nice view of that round, muscled ass— the son of a whore, torturing Darien unnecessarily.

"Sure. No matter where in the Universe I am, it's a date."

Kekoa chuckled and disappeared from the screen. The annoying flashing of the two-headed swan symbol continued. Darien accepted the call without on-screen visibility. "Captain Muselet here."

"Hello, sir. Is something wrong with your screen?" A thick masculine voice Darien didn't recognize inquired.

"I'm not dressed. How can I help you?"

"We have orders for you. The council has approved the rescue mission to Nova Gaia." The still faceless voice seemed a little hoarse, the speech of someone blushing. "I am sending the assignment authorization and details to your server."

It took them long enough; poor people had been abandoned for five standard years already. It was about time the council did something for them. Darien was presentable now and turned on the screen. The young man looked barely out of Academy and was pretty in an almost girly way, with baby blue eyes, thin eyebrows, perky nose, and plump lips— probably someone's fourth aide. The fact that he didn't even mention his name and rank as he addressed Darien spoke of how green and nervous he was (plus the eyes like plates as he saw Darien for the first time). But Darien didn't hold that against the kid; he wasn't that much older either. "Thanks...?"

"I am sorry, sir. Third Lieutenant Jay Dekker, sir. I am one of Consul Muselet's new aides."

Of course he was. For a man who didn't have a thing for other men, his father always surrounded himself with handsome aides (even those not human) and never females. Perhaps it was to keep Darien's mother's jealousy at bay, but who fully knew how his father's mind worked?

"Very well, Lieutenant Dekker." Darien tapped on the icon showing the new information received, and it opened; details scrolled beside the young lieutenant still surprised face. "I acknowledge the assignment. Is something the matter? You look flustered."

"Um..."

"You have permission to speak freely." Darien even smiled. Something he was doing a lot less lately.

"Well, sir, your brother Admiral Muselet is a legend, and many of us admire him not just as a military hero but as an exceptionally handsome man." Dekker hesitated for a second. "But I wasn't expecting you to be so..." He swallowed hard. "Formidable."

This wasn't the first time he heard men blathering about his brother's good looks or military record, especially when Ben's voracious libido was hand in hand with everything else. Darien rolled his eyes. "Formidable how?"

Still uncomfortable, as if wishing he hadn't opened his mouth in the first place, Dekker offered, "Sir, if I am not mistaken you are closer to my age, with Admiral Muselet being at least ten years your senior, yet you are as massive and equally, if not more, striking."

Darien contemplated the man on the screen, crossing his arms. It was true that in the past year he had to change his uniform size at least three times, but he thought it was because he had been focused so much on exercise (to keep his mind on something beyond work to not get crazy missing his mate) that the workouts were paying off. It never crossed his mind that he had become as big as Ben, who was a total beast. Darien certainly wasn't _that_ big.

"I'm flattered, Lieutenant Dekker, and I appreciate your candor. Now, I'm going to advise you to brace yourself because, being around my father, you will see and probably work with a lot of very handsome males, and you should not be reacting this way every time."

The crimson on Dekker's face deepened. "Thank you, sir. It's just that you look a thousand times better than in your file picture. It's something about the way your eyes shine. It's frankly unnatural. And your hair, sir— it is not regulation."

In that moment Darien realized he hadn't tied his hair, and it was cascading in a thick mass of red curls over his shoulders. He liked his hair brushing his shoulders, it reminded him of Kekoa's touch, and it was his sole act of defiance against everything his father and this forced situation stood for. He smiled benignly. "My hair is long for spiritual reasons. You know, under directive K-76876, like the warriors of Vega 6."

"Forgive me, sir, I did not know you shared those beliefs."

"I don't, lieutenant. Mine is a different spirituality. It was just an example. And I'm going to give you another piece of advice, free of charge. Never trust a person who shoves their religious beliefs down your throat for no particular reason. Fanaticism never brings anything good."

"I will keep that in mind, sir. Thank you very much."

With a nod, Darien uttered, "It was a pleasure to make you acquaintance, Lieutenant Dekker. You're dismissed."

"Sir." Dekker saluted, and his image disappeared, leaving only the assignment authorization on display.

The image of a red cork flashed at the very bottom on the left side of the screen, a video message waiting to be opened. Only one person used that signature, Ben. This was the what, two-thousandth message Ben had sent him since they separated, after removing Darien from Colvis?

Darien stared at the sad, blinking cork. Perhaps it was time to forgive and forget. Ben was just following orders; the real bastard in this drama was their father.

KEKOA

PLANET COLVIS

"Pan Kekoa, we're at your service."

"Tyke, Sun, your mission remains the same. Stay close to Darien and keep him out of harm's way."

"We received the coordinates you sent. We're on our way to encounter the rescue mission and follow them to Nova Gaia."

"I must stress again that he's not to know of your presence unless it's absolutely necessary. He'll be really pissed off if he learns I'm doing this."

Sun's bright eyes flashed with mischief. "But, our pan, wouldn't it be better if he were aware? Wouldn't he cooperate?"

"My mate is too proud. I'm not sure he'd even accept direct help from me if he has the means to resolve the issue on his own. No. Stay hidden unless his life is in peril."

"Very well, our pan." Tyke smiled. "If possible, one of us will board his ship in disguise. If not the tracker you put in him will keep us alert of his every move and vitals within the vessel. We can teleport the instant our help is needed."

"Good. Both our lives are in your hands because I won't be able to survive without him."

"It's our most ardent wish that you have a long life with your mate, our pan."

"I thank you for that. It's not our decision to be separated, but we'll find a way. I just have a really bad feeling about this particular mission. He has been all over the galaxy since his departure, but this time... I don't know how to put it into words."

"We have faith in Meha that we'll be there for him if anything goes awry."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that and I'm just being unnecessarily paranoid. Keep me informed."

"Yes, pan." Both men bowed in perfect synchrony as if they were one, and their image dissipated.

And to think that before Darien entered Kekoa's life, that uncanny way of moving in unison was an absolute turn on— now, it was simply amusing.

Full of that unsettling sensation churning inside him for days, Kekoa made another call.

"Why, the Guardian himself. What a pleasant surprise!" General Ur beamed.

"How are you?"

"Same old, same old. What about you? You don't look all there."

"I need you to go to the Oracle on my behalf."

"What? What's wrong?" Ur's face instantly turned serious.

"I'm not sure. Darien is going on a rescue mission to a planet called Nova Gaia in the Mobiri sector. They had a plague about five years ago, and it's taken until now for their Cygnus Federation to resolve to send help."

"And you're worried Darien might get infected?"

"No. It's not even that. The population was decimated, but the planet is a hundred percent safe to live on currently. I think the evacuation at this stage is more psychological than actually needed. Just to remove the survivors from the tragedy."

"I see. Then, what is it?"

"I can't name it. It's this disturbing impression that something is gonna go terribly wrong, and he'll die or something."

There were worse things than death but those differed from person to person: enslavement, disabilities, losing of one's wealth. His grandfather once said that people living without love were worse than dead.

"What could be worse than Death?"

"Ur, you know there are worse things than dying. You, of all people, shouldn't ask such a silly question."

"Those were extraordinary circumstances."

"Everything that happens twice is ought to happen a third time, even if it's eons apart."

"You're right. I'll get in touch with the priests as soon as we end this conversation." Ur hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "May I ask why you're not communing with the goddess directly?"

"I don't think I can summon the peace to do it."

"I understand. I'll get to it posthaste."

"Please. He'll be on that planet in less than thirty-six standard hours."

"The priests will not delay on a request from the Guardian."

"Well, this Guardian is going nuts!"

"I'll be back with an answer sooner than you can say _floccinaucinihilipilification_."

Ur was his commanding officer, but Kekoa blurted, his eyes wide like exploding planets, hands pulling his hair and shaking his head "Are you shitting me? That's a very fucking long word!"

"But I made you smile, didn't I?"

"Bared teeth are not a smile!"

"Guardian, have faith. Meha will not let your mate be lost."

"Faith I have. What I don't have is patience for the unknown."

### CHAPTER TWO

**SULE**

RESCUE STARSHIP HALCYON'S PEACE

Blessed be the Universe, for we are safe and on our way to a new home, to start a new life.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.03.18

The last twenty-four standard hours had been a blur. Aboard the _Halcyon's Peace_ , they headed for Tellura 12, a planet teaming with life but so dense, the usual standard week journey to that planet had to be turned into a thirty-standard-day trip to let the survivors from Nova Gaia adapt to what would be their new gravitational conditions.

As it was, the gravity was scheduled to be increased gradually, so Alaric and Sule were tired but excited. Since they registered as a couple, they had been lucky enough to secure a private compartment for themselves. It was a minimal space but more than enough for two men who were planning to spend as much time as possible on top of each other. This didn't mean they were sexual deviants but, after months of playing cat and mouse, they needed to make up for the lost time. Now, thanks to the promise of a better future, they could focus on each other and strengthen their physical bond with knowledge and peaceful experience. They spoke a lot as they made their way to the rescue ship on Sule's transport, but two standard days are not enough to learn all the little nuances that made a man.

"Almost done?" Alaric traced a finger from right shoulder to left shoulder over Sule's naked skin, his voice a grave purr. His pale skin looked almost lunar against the coppery tones of the metal walls around them.

Sule chuckled. "I'm done." The holographic keyboard and screen seemed to jump into his Novan ring over the tiny desk. He put it back on his middle finger.

"One day I'll review all those logs to see what they say about me from the time before we met." Alaric sat on Sule's lap, playing with the hair on his chest, his fascination with it never-ending.

"You'll find many things but never the word 'clumsy.'" Sule smiled. It was a private joke between them since their meetings, previous to actually speaking to each other, were mostly Sule rescuing Alaric from himself among the abandoned ruins of their former planet. This was after a catastrophic dust plague had wiped out the population, leaving a meager two percent alive.

"Oh, GM," Alaric murmured, nuzzling Sule's neck.

The use of his private nickname stirred that never-fully-dormant desire fluctuating through him whenever Alaric was concerned. Alaric gave Sule this name for his use of a gas mask. Something Sule did the first time he rescued Alaric because it was a particularly dusty day, and kept doing afterward so Alaric knew it was the same person by the markings on the filtering contraption. The day he finally took the mask off was after saving Alaric from a group of men trying to rape him while on his way to the rescue point. And to think that something as vile as that would happen precisely when help from the Federation had arrived at last.

"I don't know where I'd be without you," Alaric whispered. The nuzzling turned into lapping.

"That's why you love me?" Sule joked, stroking Alaric's forearms as he moved them to a more accommodating position on their two-person cot. The bedclothes were utilitarian but not unpleasant; they had a masculine roughness to them that was actually titillating, especially as they encompassed Alaric's lithe body.

Compliant on his back, Alaric wound legs and arms around Sule. "No. I love you because it's really hard not to love a Powerful Knight in dusty gas mask and commando outfit." He ground their still covered crotches together. It was time for them to lose their uniform trousers.

"Not a good enough reason." Sule's tone was light, but something in the back of his mind reared its ugly head, arching an eyebrow and snickering. Sule whispered, "You sound more grateful than in love. I was smitten by you since the first time I saw you."

More grinding.

"In my balcony under the rain," Alaric supplied between noisy smooches.

"Yes, you were the most sublime vision, with your pale skin and your close eyes, your face toward the sky as in deep contemplation."

"I just love the rain."

"How many loves do you have?"

"Only one, the other things are just stuff that I like a lot." Alaric nipped on Sule's bottom lip, "Now, are you going to make love to me or keep interrogating me?"

Shoving that ugly thing with its waggling eyebrows and bifid tongue into a far corner of his mind, Sule uttered, "No more questions." He trailed down the slender geography, punctuating every milestone— collarbones, nipples, sternum, stomach... with light kisses until he arrived at his destination marked by a mighty obelisk as boundary.

Deft hands unveiled the delicious cock, divesting Alaric of his trousers in five well-practiced moves. Once Sule had the hard member in hand, he lapped from base to head, making his lover emit a throaty sound that was command and plea at once.

No more encouragement needed, Sule devoured his prize, enjoying the texture, relishing on the girth. Humming contently, he lavished the gland, using wet, long swirls in tandem with the slow and deliberated stroking of the shaft. He saw Alaric's face contort, swept by the dark whirlpool drowning them.

"Blast me. GM, I'm gonna... gonna...aarggg."

A geyser burst, and Sule gladly swallowed every jet until there was nothing left. He climbed upward, where a panting Alaric waited for him with half-lidded eyes. They kissed, sharing the proof of their enjoyment.

Still hazy but determined, Alaric reached for Sule's cock. "Let me take care of you."

Sule grabbed the seeking hand. "Later, love. We're going to be late for first meal."

As Sule kissed his open palm, Alaric snorted. "If you don't chew it, it's not a meal." He wasn't happy about the nutrafluids.

"They explained this to us." True, they were coming from a place where food wasn't abundant, but at least it was solid— most of the time. "Waste management is easier the less they need to process it. Almost two thousand people on this ship. That's a gigantic septic tank, heh-heh."

"I know I'm being silly about the lack of chewing. If only it didn't taste like blood." Alaric grimaced.

"It doesn't taste like blood. It has a funky flavor, but I wouldn't say it's bloody."

Scrunching his face, Alaric stuck his tongue out. He escaped Sule's embrace, reaching for his trousers and pulling them up. They had scored a private compartment, but they still shared the ion showers and other facilities with fifty other men. Luckily, their lovemaking hadn't left any mess, just a hint of manly sweat. "We need to check your taste buds."

"They work fine on you." Sule winked and smiled broadly. He caught the visible tremor of Alaric's body.

"Blast me." Alaric shook his head. "You have that fricking _fuck-me_ smile. You sure we don't have time?"

"Sweetheart, we must socialize. We can't be holed up for thirty standard days."

Groaning "All right," Alaric offered his hand. "Let's finish dressing and become bloodsuckers."

ALARIC

RESCUE STARSHIP HALCYON'S PEACE

Their fellow survivors were dispersed in clusters about the immense mess hall. The _liquid_ meals were scheduled in three turns; theirs was the middle one, and they had missed almost half of their allotted time. The line to retrieve the transparent pouches was relatively short since most people were already sitting and conversing in hushed tones.

Living in a desolated place had left most of them standoffish, minding their own business, and seeking the minimal human contact possible. Apparently, the change of environment had mitigated that somewhat, but the current residents of the _Halcyon's Peace_ weren't as animated as Alaric remembered people could be when reunited in large quantities. Well, this was only the beginning of day two on the ship after all. The Nova Gaians would come around. They had been happy people, and they would be that again somehow.

Alaric looked around for a group to settle with and found that the most spirited was the one surrounding the little old lady who told him about the rescue as the column of survivors marched toward the rescue point. She appeared to be relating a very interesting story because those encircling her not only looked enraptured but _Oh-ed_ and giggled with her every word. He pointed at them. "Let's sit there, seems like a very fun group."

Sule shook his head and trailed after him.

In the middle of a dramatic pause, while the others had their eyes like plates, Alaric sidled toward her and bowed when her sight rest on him. "Your blessing, mother."

She smiled. "The ancestors' and my blessings, boy" Her whole wrinkled face illuminated. "Oh, I remember you. Glad you made it, sweet boy. Who's your friend?" If possible she beamed more, eyeing their joined hands.

"This is Sule Sarong, mother." Alaric let go of Sule's hand, and Sule bowed to the lady. "But where are my manners, my name is Alaric Aquinas!"

Her laughter was girly and pleasant as she nodded. "I'm Margarite. Just Margarite." She laughed more.

"Like the mineral," Sule offered. Nova Gaia had large deposits of the pink rock and used it in everything from construction and drilling to electronic components.

"Well, it also meant 'pearl' in one ancient Terran language. I need to go back to my story since I'm seeing a lot of disappointed faces." She giggled musically.

Many of the twelve or so faces ranged from mild annoyance to exasperation to impatience, but there were two or three— frankly hostile. Margarite picked up her story. A cow had fallen from a cliff after being tricked by a wolf hoping to eat her, but she fell right in the middle of some people in a circle chanting and praying for a sign, and then they didn't know whether to eat or worship her. It wasn't the story (which was funny enough), but the way Margarite related it. She made faces and changed voices, moving her hands and body comically.

Two stories later, Sule and Alaric said their good-byes, promising to arrive earlier the next day to join her. They disposed of their nutrafluids pouches and exited the hall, Alaric following Sule. The uniform trousers were practical and obviously not tailored, having been made for thousands of people; yet, they encased Sule's derriere deliciously, and Alaric couldn't wait to be back in their compartment and bury his face between those cheeks. Now that they were finally together, Alaric seemed unable to be separated from Sule's body.

They were on their way to two hours of Telluran Government Instruction and, after a break, two more of Telluran Geography. Good thing they didn't have to learn a new language; those were not easy on Alaric.

Luckily, time flew by, and, once again, Alaric walked behind Sule after all their lessons, appreciating the way those lean, hard muscles moved in his uniform en route to their quarters, when a nasty gravelly voice made him look away from his target.

"We meet again, pretty boy."

_Oh shit_.

"The handsome lad has a name. If I recall correctly I already kicked your sorry asses once. Wanna revisit that memory?" Sule shielded Alaric with his body.

"Now, now, we're all gentlemen here."

"I don't think you were ever one," Sule growled.

"You weren't so aggressive on your knees servicing us."

"A finished transaction. I was repaying you for bringing meat from the mountains. There was no coercion involved. I was willing."

"So what's your point?" said the ugly, apparent leader of the group.

"You weren't exchanging anything with him, just taking by force. That I would not allow. Not then and not now."

Exactly. Alaric had also traded sexual favors with this lot in exchange for game. There was no use for money on Nova Gaia after the dust plague; it all became barter. Nevertheless, one thing was consent, and another abuse and rape.

"C'mon, winter eyes, we refugees need to share."

"Like Hell," grunted Alaric, pushing Sule aside. "You and your ratty-ass band of leeches will get luckier licking latrines than getting a piece of me."

"We will see about that, pretty boy. I always get my prey in the end."

The goon wasn't ready for Alaric's jab.

"Son of a bitch, you'll pay for this." The moron rubbed his face.

"I'll gladly pay with credits from the same place that one came from," Alaric hissed still in a fighting stance.

Spitting blood, the goon turned tail with his gang trailing behind him.

"Where did you learn to hit like that? That's not a Depot move."

"Berserk remember? Last time they caught me by surprise. As long as my hands are free I can dish a good punch. We weren't friends, but I expected them to have an iota of honor at least."

"Let's hope they keep it gentlemanly. Nonetheless, a fragger is never a bad accessory. We shall talk to the captain about this since we're not allowed to carry weapons."

"I'm pretty sure those idiots could find a way to procure some if they wanted. We cannot let them have the upper hand."

Sule caressed Alaric's cheek. "Alaric _Berserk_ Aquinas, you need to breathe." He chuckled a little.

Alaric smiled and winked, he would not let those fuckers distract him from enjoying his man. "Let's go. I've plans for you."

"Is that so?"

"Yep, you just follow my lead, even if I'm behind you." Alaric downright leered at Sule.

Sultry steel eyes flashed with understanding. "I'm yours to command."

"Quick march, then." Alaric used a mock stern voice. "I want those trousers down the minute you enter that compartment."

With a click of heels, Sule saluted and went off double time.

By the time Alaric arrived at their quarters, almost a minute and a half later, Sule was trousers around his thighs and sticking his sweet behind up on their folded bed that doubled as sitting during their waking hours. A marvelous sight.

Wasting no time, Alaric got rid of his uniform and shoes and knelt, facing his prize. He caught a glimpse of Sule watching him over his shoulder—a wicked gleam in his eyes—before he held the quickly engorging cock with one hand and spread lightly fuzzed cheeks with his other. A moan escaped Sule, encouraging Alaric to use his wet tongue to tease the precious dot.

"Oh, yesss," Sule groaned, pushing back and gyrating; his movements inadvertently turning his cock into a piston in Alaric's stroking hand.

Flat against quivering skin, Alaric's tongue descended, leaving a wet trail from hole to glans. There, he lavished the leaking head with pecks and swirls and swipes until Sule's motions were erratic and the noise reached _YOU'RE KILLING ME_ level 5. Intently, Alaric swallowed inch by inch until hairy testicles tickled his lips, and he pushed further, using his nose tip to torment the orifice that was ablaze.

His throat closed around Sule's cock, and Alaric moved up and down minutely, rubbing that place of need he was dying to plunder. His entire body trembled with readiness and anticipation, but he was determined to wait until Sule couldn't take any more and demanded to be ravished.

"BLACK HOLES AND IMPLODING PLANETS, FUCK ME."

Alaric released the column inside his mouth, dragging his lips over the silky surface and squeezing curses, moans, and growls out of Sule. He spat and buried a thumb into the awaiting furnace, rummaging the bag along their seat-bed for lubricant one-handed.

"You want this?" Alaric taunted the writhing mass below him.

"My craving for cock is turning murderous, Alaric. Put it in me now." Sule clenched around Alaric's slowly swinging thumb.

"I thought I was the commander of this mission."

"A mutiny is brewing. Trust me." Sule growled as he extricated himself from Alaric's hand and grabbed him by the back of the neck. "Now, sit and let me ride that fucker, or you're not getting any until Tellura 12."

Well, Sule would suffer as much as him with that outcome, so who was Alaric to argue when his lover was so eager to make him see stars? Alaric sat, not on their seat-bed but on the floor, and positioned Sule in a way where he could use the edge as support as his lean frame bobbed.

A huff came out of Sule as Alaric's cock inched in.

Maddening warmth encased Alaric, not just the part doing the penetration but every particle of his being. Burning waves roamed over him. The heavy spin of Sule's reddened manhood hypnotized him.

Sule leaned sideways and seized Alaric's mouth, tongues sparring in tandem with Sule's sinuous undulations. Both ends fought for a deeper penetration. After what seemed eons, Sule left Alaric's lips swollen and tingling. And Sule's close eyes and O-forming mouth was a glorious sight to behold, and Alaric drowned further. He needed to taste the exquisite glistening skin, and he left his almost-flat position to devour a dark nipple and wring more delightful and loud sounds from Sule.

"So close, sweetheart. So close." Sule's raspy voice was a trigger, a command, an inevitable directive. "Fuck, yesss."

Hard muscles squeezed Alaric's cock, sending him to oblivion, making him squirt like a geyser on an abandoned moon— an invisible explosion of ecstasy.

"By the ancestors" was all Alaric could hiss as his body settled, enveloped in dissolving rapture minutes later.

Sule chuckled without a word, little spasms still milking Alaric's cock, which resisted deflating.

"Don't let me walk behind you again." Alaric pleaded. "The temptation will kill me, and we cannot do this every day."

"Why not?"

"You said we need to socialize," Alaric answered, panting

"You know this is technically our honeymoon trip. And what is a honeymoon without lots of sex, even around enemies?" Sule's wicked grin was mesmerizing.

"I love how you find a silver lining in everything." Alaric grinned back.

"It's the only way to not let a fucked-up situation fuck you back."

### CHAPTER THREE

**DARIEN**

RESCUE SHIP HALCYON'S PEACE

_Twenty-five standard days to go_.

Darien sighed. This was by far his longest mission, and for some unfathomable reason, he couldn't communicate with Kekoa from this sector of the galaxy. That was making the situation a lot more frustrating than usual.

Besides, it wasn't part of his orders, but Darien had learned that the Federation was confiscating all armament from Nova Gaia as payment for the rescue of her inhabitants and was planning a twenty-standard-year program to establish a concentration camp on the now desolate planet, taking advantage of the abundant natural resources. Hacker skills were a good thing when you worked for a Federation that never did anything out of the kindness of its collective good heart. And why a concentration camp if there weren't any current wars?

"Captain, we have two evacuees seeking an audience with you."

An audience? What was he, some king? The computer was probably just repeating their words.

Although this mission had two ships, Darien was the one in charge of the operation. He had an open door policy regarding the people aboard his ship; evacuees had usually gone through really traumatic experiences, and he felt it was his duty to be present for them. He knew Panthero Jaye, the captain of his sister vessel _Halcyon's Calm_ , had a more bureaucratic approach to her dealings with people in general, but that was her own business, not Darien's.

"What's their issue?"

"It's about protection from a gang."

Nova Gaia had polite society, but there was no way to know if all the survivors were decent people. Darien would need to talk to these two to figure them out. He was good reading people— at least humans.

"Their names?"

"Alaric Aquinas and Sule Sarong, sir."

Darien punched commands on his board. These men had registered as a couple. He didn't want to be biased just because he missed his mate like Nova. He also needed to stop using Nova as a bad word if he was to interview them. Their pictures on the screen didn't give anything. Aquinas had been a Senior Chief Gunner appointed on the _Victorieux_. Sarong had been a Marine Corps Captain, a combat teacher at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Hivernoir. Their age difference wasn't abysmal, just eight years, compared to his and Kekoa's, where his mate was more than five hundred standard years his senior.

"Okay, grant them access to my reading room."

"Aye, Captain."

Now, in this particular case, he wasn't sure if it had been a good idea to offer acknowledging all concerns of the evacuees, personally if necessary, when he had welcomed his charges upon departing from the planet. A gang on his ship was not something to be idle about, but he needed to tread cautiously with these informants. They might be from a rival group just trying to have the upper hand and gain the good graces of the ship's captain to further their agenda.

His reading room had a desk, a couple of chairs in front of it, and several love seats. Efficient features in a simply efficient environment, devoid of adornments and personal touches. He chose to sit behind the desk to put some kind of barrier between them. A mere precaution.

Under normal circumstances, from Nova Gaia to Tellura 12 was a five-standard-day trip at supralight speed, in this case it was a thirty-standard-day ordeal to help these people adapt to the gravity of their new home, heavier than their birth place, but normal for those used to live on the central planets of the Cygnus Federation.

The two men entered the room, and they didn't look like starved survivors. They were thin in a lean, muscular, healthy-looking way. With more weight on them, they would be fine specimens indeed. Or it was Darien's jaundiced viewpoint comparing them to seven-foot-three Kekoa as he did with every man he saw.

"Gentlemen, please sit." Darien gestured toward the chairs facing him.

They unlaced their fingers and uttered in complete sync, "Thank you, Captain."

"How may I help you?"

Sarong spoke, "We had a scuffle with a trio before we left the planet, and now they are kind of seeking retribution."

"I take they were the losing party, then."

"They tried to rape me," Aquinas spat out. Sarong patted his knee.

"You understand I don't have any jurisdiction over anything that happened before you boarded this ship."

"We know, Captain. That is not what we seek. We just want to be able to defend ourselves if the occasion arises."

"You both look able-bodied to me." Darien knew it was an awful thing to say, but if they wanted his help, they might as well be direct.

"We want weapons," Aquinas grumbled.

Giving both men an intent look, Darien brought their information into the terminal in front of him. They hadn't been stripped of any weapons upon boarding. He gave them a no response. "All evacuees were searched and none was permitted to keep weapons. Other than fisticuffs, I don't see much danger for you two."

"Captain..." Sule said, his nice, silver eyes pleading. "These men are crafty, we're absolutely sure they will come up with a way to obtain weapons and use them against us and the crew at large if they deem it fitting to gain what they want."

"Do you have these gentlemen's names?" This was an effing rescue mission, by the sake of the seven planets, not a battlefield for old feuds. Darien had one thousand evacuees on each of the two ships plus their crews; a huge percent of the success of this effort was the good behavior of his charges. He remembered the numbers had changed to a thousand and three thanks to women giving birth in the last five standard days. Luckily, there were no more pregnant women aboard.

Between his teeth, Aquinas answered, "No. We don't know their names, but we can identify them."

There were six hundred and twenty-seven male evacuees on this ship, including these two; a long time to browse through pictures. "Let's do something. At least, find out where these men are staying, so I can round them up and have a conversation with them. After that, we'll see about your request. In case of further aggression, I could confine them until we reach our destination." Darien stood up, letting them know the meeting was over.

Sarong got to his feet, pulling a reluctant Aquinas with him. "Thank you very much, Captain. We'll inform your first mate as soon as we know where they are bunked."

Something about Sarong reminded Darien of his brother Ben. _The whore_. Darien thought fondly. Nevertheless, there was nothing slutty in the mannerism of the man in front of him. If anything, he looked truly smitten by the young man beside him. Then again, you could never speculate about Ben, unless you found him drenched in cum with seven males whipping their cocks at him. That image had scarred Darien. Good thing it wasn't something he had actually seen but a mental construction of adventures flauntingly shared by Ben.

Unsure of why, Darien offered, "Come straight to me once you have those details."

"We'll do that," Aquinas huffed as he gave a courtly nod and trailed after Sarong.

How these men (who seemed so opposite) were together, was anyone's guess.

KEKOA

PLANET COLVIS

"I am truly sorry, master, but there is nothing wrong with our receptors. I cannot find an explanation for our inability to contact Pan Darien." The head android murmured softly, "I could try to triangulate with Pan Darien's Shadows, though. It would not be a private conversation but communication would be possible."

"Very well, try that. I'll go ballistic here if I don't talk to him soon. We've never been incommunicado this long since those first months after he left the planet. I can't go back to that, not now."

"I am sure there must be an explanation, master. We just need more time to figure it out. I am contacting the Shadows as we speak." The head android punched keys on the back of his hand.

Sun's blank face appeared on the screen. "Pan Kekoa, is everything all right?"

Kekoa couldn't sit anymore. He got to his feet and started pacing in front of the screen in his bedroom. "No. I'm feeling murderous. I haven't spoken with Darien since his new mission started. The head android says he could try to triangulate communications through you."

"Is that wise, our pan? He's not supposed to know we exist."

"Of course he knows you exist. Don't you remember he raised a stink when he found you and Tyke were taking care of my carnal needs before he appeared?"

The slight pink on Sun's cheeks made him more attractive, but it didn't do anything for Kekoa, if anything, it irked him more. "With all due respect, I think this lack of communication is clouding your judgment, our pan. Our primary objective here is stealth. Pan Darien would not take kindly having shadows. As his unobtrusive bodyguards, we can't compromise _our mission_ by contacting him so you two can chat."

"How dare you?" Kekoa hissed.

"I swore to protect him, and I will do so even if I have to protect him from you." Sun's face softened a little. "As your friend I beg you to think rationally. There's no need for a triangulation. He is fine. By his readings, we know he's as pissed off—as you are— about your absence, but don't do this."

"I need him." Kekoa whined in a way that would make Darien proud and disgusted at the same time. He chuckled. "You're right. I'm acting like a youngling. You're lucky you have your mate beside you all the time."

"It wasn't always that way. That's why I understand how you feel. But even if you two cannot get in touch during this whole mission, it's still just twenty-one more standard days left." A heartbeat later, Sun's eyes widened as he realized his mistake.

Kekoa thundered, "You think a month is nothing!? As soon as Darien is back on Randell, I'm sending Tyke incommunicado to the other end of the galaxy for three months to see how _you_ like it."

Sun visibly shivered. "You wouldn't."

"Find out why the fuck I can't talk to him, and I might not."

"Immediately, our pan." Sun bowed, and the screen turned black.

Kekoa was being a beast, but he was so frustrated he needed to take it out on someone. Now he didn't even have the option to fuck the living daylights out of another man, his entire existence utterly linked and belonging to Darien. It was not fair to take it on Sun, though. He and Tyke had hoped Kekoa was their third, the one that would complete their mating triad, and now Kekoa was threatening to send Tyke away. Moreover, that was something he couldn't actually do because Darien was never on his home planet for more than a week before being dispatched to another distant mission.

The Oracle had said that their time to be together was close, but what did that mean when Colviri lived at least more than twenty times longer than humans? A short time for them could be a hundred human years. What if this meant that they were going to be together soon but in the afterlife due to something terrible happening to Darien?

Oh, it couldn't be that, he didn't have an heir. If Darien died, he would die too, and who would take care of Colvis? Meha would not leave her planet without a Guardian, would she?

The head android had left the moment he started his conversation with Sun. Good, not even a machine needed to see him in this state; he was a mental mess. He punched commands, and Darien appeared on the screen. It was a recording of a previous interaction with Darien showing Kekoa how to make the Muselets' famous _Engedékeny_ sauce. The way those eyes, like orange flames, shone with mischief as he stirred the delicate potion, how he bit his lower lip when he concentrated, it all made Kekoa want to cry, want to laugh. He remembered the delicious aroma, since he was copying the actions in his own kitchen, wishing Darien was there with him to taste the product of his efforts.

Kekoa knew his mate was fine, Sun had just stated so. There was no point in driving himself to Planet Bedlam with no fuel to return home. He would calm down and call Sun later to offer an apology. The Shadows did not only deserve his respect but his appreciation. They were good men and considerate friends, putting up with all Kekoa's booyu crap and bad temper. Once Darien was back in his arms, Kekoa would conjure up a way to help them find their mate. He might not use his esoteric powers—as priest of the goddess Meha—for his personal purposes, but he could use them for the good of others at large. He never had the need to use them before since he was alone on Colvis, but it was time to repay the Shadows' goodwill.

"Master? I found the cause."

Darien blew a final kiss, and the screen went off. Kekoa turned to face the head android expectantly.

"An unmarked ship is disrupting all communications not in our frequency within the Mobiri sector. It has the same invisibility capabilities of the Shadows' ship. We did not discover it before because we were looking into regular frequencies, master. My apologies."

"What gave you the idea?"

"Well, we just enlaced with the Shadows without problem so the Colviri and Colviri-like frequencies must work." The head android looked sheepish due to his previous lack of creativity.

"And you can't find any identification?" There was no point in being stern with the android; he'd discovered the cause after all.

"Not at all, master. Even its design is untraceable. It is either very old or so extremely new that it has not been added to the archives."

Kekoa rubbed his chin with thumb and forefinger. What was going on?

"Do you want me to send the Shadows to investigate?"

"No. Just alert them. Their mission is to protect my mate. They ought to be close to him now more than ever."

He understood that sensation nagging at him for weeks now.

He didn't like it a bit.

### CHAPTER FOUR

**ALARIC**

RESCUE SHIP HALCYON'S PEACE

Sule rolled up the painting in the smallest way possible.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving this for you."

The thin roll found its way into a vial, no longer than the space between middle and ring finger and no wider than half a pinkie. The screwing cap to seal it had a little loop where Sule had fashioned a metal cord. His creation dangled from his fingers as he smiled at Alaric.

"I don't understand," Alaric said.

"I've noticed the security measures to access individual accommodations are not the best. The same code we use can be used in other doors," Sule offered.

"That's not very intelligent. The designer of these facilities deserves a severe dressing-down. Actually, that person deserves a buh-bye without a severance package." Alaric chuckled.

"Well, taking into consideration the purpose of these rescue ships, I presume the Federation expects all passengers to respect each other's space."

"In a perfect world, perhaps." Alaric walked toward Sule.

"There is no reason for them to assume there will be quarrels among the evacuees. What I'm saying is— if I figured it out, our little antagonists could do the same."

"And trash our place."

"Exactly. No cameras exist in couples' quarters, just on the ones shared by several individuals and other communal areas."

"How do you know all this?"

"I'm an observer, sweetheart. If I weren't aware of such little things I would never have been able to help you as I did back on our planet." Sule settled the slim vial around Alaric's neck like a pendant. "The canvas is a tad darker than your perfectly pale, unblemished skin." He commented, caressing Alaric's naked shoulder slowly as if memorizing the texture.

"Thank you."

"You're most welcome. I know this is very important to you. "

"It's the last thing left of them, but you are important too." Alaric would do his best to keep this little painted portrait of his family safe, the only thing he brought from Nova Gaia beside the clothes on his back, but if he had to destroy it and leave everything behind to save Sule, he would without batting an eye.

"I'm your future. This—and he tapped the glass tube softly—is your past. We wouldn't be what we are today without yesterday. That accumulation of experiences gives us as much weaknesses as strengths. We just need to learn to use them in our favor. And you need to let your training kick in. Stop drowning it, once we're on Tellura 12, we can join the military there."

Alaric kissed Sule's velvet lips, murmuring a string of thank-yous into his mouth. As the kiss ended, he caressed the vial, examining it and ignoring Sule's last comment. "Did you bring this aboard?"

"No. I already made a few friends in the right places within the ship."

Sule let it go. There would be time for it later, and Alaric knew the subject would rise again. He simply didn't want to deal with it now.

With a tight hug, Alaric rested his head on Sule's chest. "You are incredible."

"Many of my skills resurfaced thanks to you." Sule kissed the top of Alaric's head. "We already agreed that we'd fight for each other."

"And if the time comes to do so, I will."

"Wouldn't it be better to be prepared then?"

"What'd you want me to do, GM, start shooting people?" Alaric sighed, "We don't even have a rusty gamma gun. I'm telling you—and he tapped his temple—it's all in here, not lost at all."

"I believe you. I'm just a practical man, more prone to action than contemplation."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be in one of your drilling exercises."

Sule poked Alaric in both flanks, using a single finger of each hand, and tickled him. "Uh-huh, you prefer to drill _me_." His laughter was thick and sweet, equal to slow moving molasses.

It made Alaric weak all over but hard on the appropriate places. He never knew a sound could be so arousing. It couldn't be the tickling, right?

"You seriously need to stop or we're not gonna make the test!"

Failure wasn't possible since the Tellura 12 Government examination would not be an actual grade but a corroboration of their knowledge. Still, Alaric had always had excellent marks, and not even a fricking fake test would lower his standards.

"It's all about Margarite's challenge," Sule commented with a semi eye roll.

"What are you talking about?" But Alaric knew very well what it was.

"I know she said she'll get a better score."

"I'm onto her. She must have been some Telluran Minister's lover or something. It's uncanny how much she knows without being a native."

"Or she has a very bright mind. Never thought about that option?"

"Oh shut up and kiss me."

"Yes, sir."

"Attaboy."

"Alaric Aquinas, Sule Sarong," A mechanical voice called from the PA over their heads. "Captain Muselet is waiting for you on corridor 23-45-87. Please join him posthaste."

They looked at each other perplexedly.

"I guess it's _buh-bye_ to that test, sweetheart." Sule grimaced.

SULE

RESCUE STARSHIP HALCYON'S PEACE

They found the captain, and he greeted them with a crisp, "Follow me."

"Might I ask what's going on, Captain?" Sule didn't like the young captain's countenance.

"Your deviant friends have been harassing other people too. I'm going to put a stop to it." Captain Muselet unholstered the fraggers he had on his hips and pushed one to each, drawing up a third from the back of his waist.

"Hmm, shouldn't we be doing this with the ship's security?" Alaric didn't look alarmed but resigned.

"They are busy somewhere else. You two are trained men, and due to your interest in the matter, backing me up shouldn't be an issue, correct?"

"Correct, sir." They both answered in unison.

"Good, they're in Conference Room 15, taking a test. Two more turns."

"What's the plan, Captain?" Alaric's voice sounded steady enough.

"I'm going to call them out of the room, and we escort them to the effing brig. Cell first, questions later."

The captain couldn't be older than Alaric, but he was at least six-three and muscular. Five standard years of scavenging ought to diminish one's frame, even having a little in-house vegetable garden, but Sule remembered when he was as wide as the captain. Now, he didn't know if he wanted to go back to those days; a body like that took time he could happily dedicate to Alaric.

They reached Conference Room 15, and Captain Muselet addressed the officer supervising the test. "I need evacuees Devereux, Martin, and Kroger."

"Yes, sir." The officer nodded, surveying his list and scanning the room afterward. "Gentlemen, you heard the captain. Please bring your tests. You will continue them once you're done."

Done they were and would carry out those tests in a cell, if they were lucky. The three men stood up grumpily from the back and handed their sheets to the officer. They wore unnecessary overcoats. This was something odd Sule had noticed in more than a few survivors since the temperature aboard was perfectly adequate for their uniforms. He was sure these men had procured weapons, and he was glad he had one in his hand.

With enough common sense to wait until they were out of the conference room, the leader asked in his gravel-chewing voice, "What's it, capt'n, a special assignment for special fellows?"

"We're escorting you to the brig. Your behavior is unacceptable. You're to be confined until we land on Tellura 12."

"In your fucking dreams, capt'n. Boys." And a huge Delta43 was drawn from each dirty overcoat.

From there, it was shooting and running for cover for Captain Muselet, Alaric, and Sule. If Sule had learned something about the configuration of the ship during the past few days, Captain Muselet was taking them in the opposite direction of the bridge. Perhaps he had a contingency plan. As they were nearing one of the escape shuttles corridors, the _Halcyon's Peace_ gave a violent lurch.

Squatting in a corner, while Alaric and Sule shot, Captain Muselet yelled, touching the comm device in his ear, "What was that, Sathr?" The first officer, if Sule wasn't mistaken, gave info to the captain, and those flame-looking eyes narrowed with each word.

"Too far to target?" Muselet mouthed a cuss, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Start evacuation immediately. We're close to some uninhabited moonless planet."

The corridor swayed again, more forcibly this time, accompanied by the ruckus of an explosion. The trio of goons staggered and lost their footing.

Almost instantly, a manly voice emanated from the PA. "Please, proceed in an orderly manner to the preservation shuttles' corridors." It coaxed the passengers gently.

"Come on," the captain ordered. He opened a shuttle after they ran a couple of yards. "In here." But as they entered, an explosion on the opposite wall sent a chunk of bulkhead into the shuttle's console, activating the ignition, and the door closed with a thump.

"Purple _byotch_ ," exclaimed Captain Muselet as the shuttle disengaged, jostling them. "We could have saved at least seven more people with us."

"Well, Captain. The only people close enough were those idiots chasing us, and I don't think the word _save_ is appropriate in this situation," Alaric offered in an extremely serene voice.

The captain shook his head but didn't say anything, removing his long, red braid that was almost around his neck after the disengaging shake. He sat and started inspecting the instruments on the console. Alaric and Sule did likewise.

Through the windows they saw the massive ship attacking them. It didn't look like any vessel Sule had seen before. An elongated box, it didn't seem to have fore or aft, just top and bottom; an insanely big, metallic shoebox gleaming and firing at the two _Halcyons_ as if they were drunken sitting ducks. Both rescue ships were trying to fire back, but their ranges weren't large enough.

Thank Universe the other shuttles began launching out. The enemy ship didn't appear interested in the escaping shuttles; it kept firing at the main ships. Sule couldn't understand why somebody would want to attack vessels that have the rescue insignia clearly on their hulls. There was nothing war-like or threatening in their designs or coloring.

"We've lost the positioning and communication systems." Captain Muselet interrupted Sule's musings.

They were not going to be able to converge with the other shuttles. No steering was possible since all was automatically programmed to bring all the shuttles together in one place to facilitate their rescue based on the first pod to land. That would have been theirs, but since their PS wasn't working the others would not follow it. They were on their own with no way of communicating with the others either.

"So where is it taking us?" Alaric looked at Sule and rolled his eyes.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Muselet growled and looked up at the slightly purple planet they were approaching fast.

The shuttle's computer voice emerged, eerie and rusty. "Planet Welken 5. Classification: Mercury 3. Atmospheric composition: 90 % breathable. Life on planet: Plantae 8 - Animalia 2. Type: Forest 4. Sustainability: 93%. Grav: minus 20 %."

At least there aren't giant animals to deal with.

The atmospheric breach was a painful jolt. As the pinkish clouds dispersed, Sule noticed they headed toward a heavy forested area. The shuttle had scanned the surface and was taking them to a place where they could find sustenance if the rescue took too long.

Landing was a rough affair thanks to the lack of clear space amid the multicolored tall trees. It must be the equivalent of autumn on this planet. Alaric looked more annoyed than concerned, and the captain was his usual unreadable self again.

They moved toward the exit. "Scanners," Captain Muselet pitched one to each, "we scout no further than five miles and meet back here in a standard hour. Use your scanners to check for edible and poisonous plants and animals. We will settle camp on the best place after the reconnaissance. Any questions?"

"None, sir."

They descended and walked in three separate directions.

Ninety standard minutes later, the sky was darkening, and they had settled camp ten paces away from the shuttle. It had landed on the perfect spot for awaiting rescue.

"Are you all right?" Sule sat on a fallen log where Alaric was resting his back.

Alaric stopped sipping his nutrafluids. "Still tastes like blood. It certainly wasn't the ambiance."

Sule chuckled. "I can get some turnips and make you a soup." He had discovered a brook not far from them.

"Nah, we'll think about that tomorrow." Alaric kissed the side of Sule's thigh. "I'm glad we were together when this shit happened."

"Me too." Sule ruffled Alaric's hair.

By now the sky was solid black, and the fire made strange shadows dance over Alaric's face. His Alaric touched the tiny tube with his family portrait inside. "Good timing."

"Yeah," Sule said softly.

The captain came to sit beside them with a plop, unfazed by their intimacy. "What a long day," he mumbled almost cheerfully.

Alaric and Sule looked at each other and smiled. Sule offered, "Captain, I'll take the first watch."

"Thanks, Sarong."

"Please call me Sule, Captain."

"Thank you, Sule. You both can call me Darien."

"Here." Alaric removed the blanket over his legs, presenting the captain a spot under it.

Darien's eyes flashed with appreciation and... mischief. As he sat he drew the blanket over his shoulder, covered Alaric and himself with it and winked. "Thank you, Alaric."

"Ahem," Sule coughed. "If I may ask, how old are you, Capt— I mean, Darien?"

"Twenty-six standard years." Darien looked at him inquisitively.

"Same as Alaric." Something rubbed Sule the wrong way. He couldn't quite call it jealousy, but it wasn't a fuzzy, nice thing either. "I guess you read our files."

"Indeed."

They stared at each other, none of them budging. Sule decided to act like an adult after a standard minute or two. "Okay, I'm going to get a rifle for the watch." He moved to his feet.

"I appreciate it. I'll take the next watch. Just wake me up when you're ready." And with that, Darien closed his eyes, burrowing into the comfort of the blankets and Alaric's nearness.

Alaric had an odd expression on his face, and when their eyes met, he grinned tentatively. Sule smiled back and walked toward the shuttle.

Three standard hours later, Alaric and the captain snored softly, propped against each other, their heads touching: one dark like midnight and the other red like embers. They reminded Sule of little kids who had run rampant all day long and now rested exhausted. He couldn't deny they looked good together. Closer in age and beauty, they would make a perfect match. That thing Sule couldn't name tugged at him. It whispered it was his fault they were in this predicament. He should have killed those men back on Nova Gaia. Now they would have been in a shuttle with other survivors or crew, and not isolated around this handsome captain with his snake-like, flaming braid and stupidly broad shoulders.

External noises silenced the foul, nagging whisperer. Sule moved toward the sleeping men without making a sound and nudged them awake. Neither of them jumped, just looked at him enquiringly. He did a hand gesture indicating company and stealth. They maneuvered until close to the fire with their backs pressed together, aiming their weapons in three directions.

Two tall, muscled men with luminous white hair became visible. Their weapons were up as if in surrender, but they didn't stop until they were facing Darien. They knelt on one knee, and one murmured, **"Ofen gokate u lonvu culse, Pan Darien."**

Darien's eyes grew like plates. **"Incoton!"** He motioned Sule and Alaric to lower their weapons, then spoke to the white-haired men, **"Delbo?"**

" **Pan Kekoa eltosox,"** responded the other one.

Darien palmed his forehead in a movement that made him seem a toddler. **"Vefe nidaolek tekto?"**

" **Ofen nowiateso naobro."** Together they answered firmly, but their faces were sheepish as if caught in a very naughty action.

" **Soguk cokno tlu gufen usu kugo."** Darien shook his head in exasperation, and the two men stood up, but kept looking at the ground."

"What's going on?" Alaric sounded equally exasperated. "Who are they?"

"They came to rescue me— well, us. We go with them." Darien put his hand on Alaric's shoulder and squeezed. A movement that made Sule flinch. "They have been following me. My mate sent them." His voice then turned murderous. "And he's going to pay for it." He ordered the two men, **"Gufen."**

One walked ahead and the other followed them, guarding their six.

Mate?

### CHAPTER FIVE

**DARIEN**

SHIP PHANTOM WINGS 9

They didn't take him to Colvis.

The ship was en route to Mireeh, closer to the Mobiri sector and also in the opposite end of the galaxy from Kekoa.

Kekoa...

His first reaction had been utter disbelief; it went from there to murderous aggravation. Now that his head had the chance to cool off, he was thankful. Darien didn't know how long they could have been stuck on that planet, away from the other survivors. The Cygnus Federation took a lifetime for every single move; they could have taken months to send a search party.

Darien wasn't familiar with Colviri vessels; thus, he wasn't sure how long this trip would take. He always thought he would end up with Kekoa on his desert planet, not in the one world his people had chosen to start their life anew millennia ago.

Technically, he wasn't _ending up_ on Mireeh, it was just a practical stop while they figured out what to do with him or the Federation came knocking, demanding him to go back. However, since the Colviri were not part of the Federation and had massive destructive power, what would be the outcome of that unwelcome request? Surely the Colviri would not start a war because of him; more likely they would hand him over. And he would be once again doing errands for his father and his cronies, away from his mate and dying a little every effing standard day.

Tyke and Sun approached him slowly, almost hesitant. They bowed, and Sun spoke. "Pan Darien, would you like something to eat?"

"I'm not hungry." He was weary, though. "I apologize for being an ass earlier. It's not your fault, you were only following orders. I thank you for rescuing us."

"We do it gladly." They nodded. "Our heart is with the Guardian."

"Have you been taking care of Kekoa?" Darien arched an eyebrow. He knew these men had been Kekoa's sex pets or whatever.

"No. Once the Guardian has found his mate, no other male or female would do for him."

"Are you two mates?" They had said _our heart_ , not our hearts.

"Yes, but our mating is three-lateral, still open to welcome that who will make us complete."

"Whoa." Darien was aware polyamorous relationships existed, but he hadn't expected matings to have such quirks. "Does it hurt? I mean, being incomplete?"

"It's more frustrating than hurtful." Tyke smiled.

Darien rolled his eyes, he could relate to that statement easily. He didn't want to think about mates and frustrations anymore, so he decided to change the subject. "Where are Sule and Alaric?"

"Eating. That's why we came looking for you, hoping you'd want to join them," Sun offered.

"That young one, _Alaric_ , has been wolfing down food like he hasn't been feed properly in one standard month."

"Yes. I heard him complaining about the nutrafluids." Darien chuckled. It wasn't his favorite food either, but one made do when in space, especially working for the Federation. He couldn't wait to be home and in front a giant plate of fried merula.

His stomach groaned mutinously. His head might be full, but his body needed solids.

"We have merula," Tyke singsonged. "We know it's your favorite." He waggled his eyebrows. This made Darien recall a distant conversation (more like an argument) he had with Kekoa about the absolute difference on the meaning of waggling eyebrows in their cultures. For the Colviri, it was just a gesture to add physical affirmation to a statement; for the people of the Federation, it was blatant mockery.

His stomach redirected him to the proposed meal. "Sweet Meha, how did you know? Never mind. Let's go." Darien followed the muscular Colviri that for some reason weren't as tall as he thought they would be. He found Alaric rubbing his tummy, a sated grin on his handsome face, and his eyes fighting to stay open.

Both men almost jumped to attention when Darien entered the room, exclaiming, "Captain."

"I'm not your captain anymore." Darien sidled to sit by Sule. "We're all equals here," he said this looking at Tyke and Sun, who looked puzzled, and Darien repeated it in Colviri. Since the Colviri language was second nature for him now, he forgot for a moment their rescuers didn't speak common language.

They shook their heads in negative. "You're the Guardian's mate, and you're above us. We serve you as we serve him. We can't be equals."

All right, Darien wasn't going to argue traditions with them, and especially not since he would have to translate the whole argument for the benefit of Sule and Alaric. He had been rude to their rescuers on Welken 5; he was not going to do the same again. He grimaced and nodded.

A house android came with a steaming plate of merula, the sweet aroma wafting and making Darien's spirits lift. Not fried but broiled, the tender fowl was golden and juicy, and his mouth watered instantly. And to think people made fun of Merula 9, thinking the planet was named after the bird, when it was the other way around.

The side of mashed yammu looked equally delicious, all creamy and rosy.

"Hold your rockets, I thought the Colviri were vegetarians. How do you have merula?"

"We are, but we know you are not. We stopped at a trade post while you slept after we rescued you," Sun started. "We wanted to offer something to placate you once you awoke," Tyke finished.

"You sedated us?" Darien narrowed his eyes.

"A little, Pan Darien. You have just gone through a very stressful experience. We only wanted to help."

Alaric and Sule were waiting for him to translate. Darien chose not to share the detail of them being drugged to prevent alarming them. He waved his hand. "I was just asking them how they got the merula. The Colviri are vegetarians."

"Well, for vegs, they really know how to cook animals! That is the best merula I had in ages," Alaric blurted enthusiastically.

"It was really good." Sule assented and looked at Alaric with palpable devotion. "The captain needs to eat, sweetheart. Let's leave him alone."

"Please stay." Darien cut a piece of merula and popped it into his mouth with relish. It was divine. When he finished chewing, he asked the Colviri, "Do we have learning helmets aboard?"

"Apologies, my pan, we don't."

"What's our ETA?"

"Two jumps."

That meant thirty-six more standard hours. "Please find a program where they can learn the Colviri basics. They need to be able to, at least, partially understand what's going on around them."

"At once, Pan Darien." Both bowed and left.

"What was that, and why do they bow so much?" Alaric asked, eyeing Darien's merula plate with furtive interest.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you about it another time. For the time being, I asked them to find something to give you a basic knowledge of their language. They have some amazing learning helmets but not aboard." Darien took another bite.

Alaric scrunched his face, and Sule patted his hand across the table. It was such a domestic moment— longing squeezed Darien's heart.

Time for topic change.

After two spoonfuls of mashed yammu, Darien asked. "So, tell me the story about these goons we were fighting before we were so unceremoniously sent to space."

"I should have killed those whore sons when I had the chance," Sule growled without the slightest remorse.

"Alaric is kind of pretty, if one goes for the emaciated type, but enough to kill for?"

"Thank you?" Alaric hissed, apparently debating whether to be flattered or insulted.

Purple byotch, Darien, they come from a dying planet, that comment was uncalled for. Emaciated, really? Compared to whom?

"I'd kill for him," Sule matter-of-factly summarized.

Darien tried to mollify them. "I wouldn't expect anything less since you two are in a relationship. It's a tacit commitment."

"You mentioned a mate. What's that supposed to mean?" Sule arched an eyebrow, and Alaric glared at Sule, as if his comment had been completely out of line.

We can go in that direction too.

"More than a standard year ago, I was stationed on a deserted planet. Well, the Federation thought it was uninhabited, containing only ruins of a dead civilization. I'm an archeologist first and navy captain second." Darien popped in the minimal morsel so he could continue his narrative without too much delay. "This was the seventh time the Federation attempted excavations on the planet— supposed to have a curse, according to some documents obtained during their firsts efforts. It turns out the planet wasn't as devoid of life as the Federation believed. To make a long story short, the planet has a guardian, and I was destined to be his mate."

Darien was not going to tell them why Kekoa's ancestors abandoned their planet for a new one, enforcing a hereditary post to protect it since they couldn't completely break ties with it. His mate came from a long line of Guardians. And the fact that the Colviri normally lived around twenty-five hundred standard years always made Darien's head spin thinking of how many eons ago the first Guardian had been enthroned.

"So why are you two not together?" Alaric asked, his eyes big.

"My father, who is a high consul of the Federation, didn't think it was a good idea. So he threatened to invade the planet because I was technically... a hostage."

"Black holes, that is so wrong." Sule seemed less hostile after this new information sank in.

"I left him to save his home, and I don't regret it. There are things on that planet that don't need to be in the hands of the Cygnus Federation. I miss him like Nova, though." Darien palmed his forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"We know you're using it based on the characteristics of Spyta Breotan, instigator and mastermind of the Great Vole Holocaust: Nefarious, Ominous, Vicious, Abominable. Equating him to what the ancients used to call Hell." Alaric explained, smiling and squeezing Darien's hand reassuringly.

"The meanings of things change." Sule commented inscrutably.

Phew.

Wait. What?

SULE

SHIP PHANTOM WINGS 9

Blessed be the Universe, for Alaric Aquinas and I are safe, although my heart is frightened.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.04.03

They approached the enormous green planet, circled by several rings of asteroids. Sule stood beside Tyke. Thank Universe he had learned to differentiate them, even though they didn't seem affronted if you confused them. They weren't exactly identical but for the untrained eye they might seem interchangeable.

"I think you might like this." Tyke punched several buttons on the control board, not interfering with the androids' navigation of the ship. He was left-handed like Sule.

In common language, an ethereal, melodic voice announced stats. "Planet Mireeh. Classification: Jupiter 2. Atmospheric composition: 93 % breathable. Life on planet: Plantae 7 \- Animalia 4. Type: Aqua 4. Sustainability: 100 %. Grav: 300 %."

Darien joined them. "I always thought Mireeh would be a lot more like Colvis. Never crossed my mind it would be an Aqua 4 planet." And its gravity was a heavy of that of Tellura 12 and the central planets of the Federation. He just hoped Sule and Alaric could adapt to it fast enough since they didn't have the chance to finish the rescue ship's regularization process.

"All our continents are **ulcajavausux** , and they move using the planet's rotation as **jiolmu vosakka-docus**. We brought the soil with us when we **ofakwufen** from Colvis."

Okay, Sule didn't get three words of that conversation; by association he inferred two of them. "Ahem, Darien, what does **jiolmu vosakka-docus** mean?" He asked in common language.

"Centripetal Force?" Alaric interjected, leaving Darien's other side and moving beside Sule. "And **ulcajavausux** is the plural of manmade, right?" He beamed at the captain and Tyke.

"You're right." Darien dipped his head.

"Wow, I'm amazed at how easily this language is coming to me. I always had trouble learning new languages. I flunked Fuburu three times before passing the exam." Alaric returned to Colviri speech.

The Fuburu were a non-humanoid group settled not far from their home planet with a very important trading post for the Nova Gaian Corps and thus a requisite for all its members. They were a proud people that due to religious beliefs refused to trade in any other language than their own. Alaric had commented his conflict with new tongues before but didn't elaborate; the fact that Colviri came easily to him was a little unnerving for Sule. That ugly, mocking thing still nagged at him even if now he knew Darien already had somebody in his life. What if Alaric was enchanted by the Colviri culture in general and its men? Both Sun and Tyke were beautiful specimens.

"I'm very glad." Tyke nodded. "When we discovered the planet there was no dry land, and the elders decided not to excavate and rather built islands to avoid interfering with the ecosystem. In time, as the population grew these islands became continents that are basically ships moving over the surface of Mireeh."

"Darien said you are vegetarians, how do you get crops if you don't have land?" Sule was intrigued.

"Sule, we have lived on this planet for more generations than I can recall. We have more than enough land now, and recycling has always been fundamental to our race. Nothing is wasted on Mireeh."

"But how do you get metals for your ships? Those can't be just recycled materials."

"Mireeh has twenty-seven moons, and they provide us with all the elements we need to thrive and be happy."

"Besides, one of our warships equates to at least fifteen if not twenty of your Cygnus Federation." Sun chuckled as he joined them. "We don't wage war amongst us, nor seek it with outsiders, but we know how the Universe works, so..." He let each of them finish that comment as they saw fit.

They entered the atmosphere, and (as they breached a dome of lilac clouds) the immensity of the artificial continent they approached and its serene majesty left Sule speechless.

"We will alight on Rennikkah, our principal city," said Sun.

Structures became discernible, and they reminded Sule of ancient Terran layouts, but instead of rock or marble or granite, everything shone with metallic and ethereal glint. The towers were high, the curves were soft, and trees trembled with purple hues. But the thing that amazed Sule the most was the translucent green of the sky. It felt like being immersed in a giant aquarium.

"Why is the sky green?" Alaric uttered, awe coloring his words. Sule could see Darien was wondering exactly the same thing.

"It's the molecules of mirium in the air. As the light traverse them the maximum visible spectrum is green. Wait till you see a sunset, you'll never want to be in any other place of the Universe again." Tyke explained proudly.

The crisp voice of one of the androids assaulted Sule. "Phantom Wings 9 requesting permission to land. Coordinates 57-35-98-76."

"Phantom Wings 9, permission granted," came the reply, "Coordinates affirmative."

A metal and crystal hangar welcomed their ship, its transparent cupola closed behind them. Tyke spread his hands and gestured toward the exit of the bridge. "Please follow me."

Alaric took Sule's hand and squeezed it, towing him to walk after the white-haired men and Darien. He gave Sule a radiant smile. "This is so exciting."

"Is it?"

"Of course, Sule. What's wrong with you? You've been acting strangely since these guys found us."

"Am I?"

With an almost eye roll, Alaric drew up their entwined hands and kissed the back of Sule's. "I'm going to expand your vocabulary, even if I have to coerce you into using your tongue more freely."

This made a wave of desire roll over Sule's body, and his knees wobbled a little. "I'm sorry."

"Did you notice the Colviri don't have that phrase in their language?"

Sule shook his head. He hadn't.

"They apologize and ask for forgiveness, but don't say 'I'm sorry'. I wonder why?"

"Maybe they don't give a fuck about others."

"I don't think so."

A group of men and women, dressed in flowing clothes, waited for them at the platform and immediately bowed as they saw Darien. After the tight uniforms their rescuers and Darien wore, the loose garments seemed absurdly refined.

"Seems like this business of being a Guardian's mate is pretty important here," commented Alaric casually. They followed the throng through a maze of high-ceilinged corridors with metallic walls that shone with multicolored sparks.

"I don't think he's all that. He called you _emaciated_."

Alaric sniggered, amused. "Not like I'm bulging with muscles, love." He squeezed Sule's hand. "He doesn't have to find me attractive. You're the only one that counts in that regard."

Sule only wished his heart wasn't tainted with jealousy and accepted that statement as truthful.

### CHAPTER SIX

**KEKOA**

PLANET COLVIS

The ethereal blond woman with agate eyes appeared on the screen. "You know this is really hard for me. If I'm discovered..."

"It's in your best interest to use a secure line, Lady Imada." Kekoa gave her a reassuring smile.

"If Bennar finds out I'm in contact with you..." She visibly shuddered, which made her look more like a wreckage survivor than before.

"It's not like we have long chats every week, my lady. Consul Muselet should be none the wiser. How can I help you?"

"Tell me you have news about him. He wasn't with the people rescued after the attack to his ships. I know you keep track of him, so you must know."

Kekoa nodded silently. "He's with my people. Something happened to his escape pod, and he ended far from the other survivors. My agents took him to Mireeh, which was a lot closer and will not start an intergalactic war, since it isn't Colvis."

"And where is this Mireeh planet?"

"That information you don't need, Lady Imada. I haven't spoken with him, but be assured he's in fine condition. He will be back with you in no time."

"What guarantees do I have of that?"

"I will not force him to be here, in his home— with me, if your husband and the Federation plan to use him as an excuse to destroy this planet. I accepted his decision more than a standard year ago, and as much as I suffer for it every day, I stand by him. Nevertheless, if he chooses to come _home to me_ , no power in the Universe would dictate otherwise." Kekoa arched an eyebrow.

Imada Muselet swallowed visibly. "I understand."

"Let's not be hasty. I hope we can all be a happy family someday."

"For the sake of my son, I wish the same, Lord Kekoa."

"It's in your hands to discover the reasons your husband and his abettors have for this obsession with Colvis."

"I have no more access to that notion than you do."

"You're in his bed, my lady. There is a lot one can learn in that battlefield. You should know this without my input."

An anxious mother transformed into the haughty wife of a consul of the Cygnus Federation. "Yes, your lecture is unnecessary in such matters."

"Well, use those skills to help _my mate_ and the countless lives that are in jeopardy if I decide to enter in a war with your Federation. Colvis alone has the power to obliterate them, and if I call upon my people..."

She visibly flinched at the use of the word "mate," exactly what Kekoa was expecting. She didn't care if Darien and Kekoa were together and happy. She only cared that Darien was at grabbing distance.

"Are you threatening the Cygnus Federation?"

"Nope. I'm asking you to do something good for _your_ son."

Her image disappeared as she huffed, disgruntled. Darien's picture slid back into place and encompassed the entire screen. It was one of the many paintings Kekoa had done of him, Darien naked, floating in the air— his long, wavy red hair whipping about him as if assaulted by a sudden storm. Kekoa caressed the cold cheek. "Seems like we're alone in this battle, Curly Red."

ALARIC

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

"So, it is time for an explanation."

Sule looked up from his holographic keyboard. "Huh?"

"No, huh? You have barely kissed me for the last seven standard days and been avoiding my touch like the dust plague. What's going on?" Alaric was beyond furious; the only thing missing was smoke coming out of his ears.

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." Sule quickly put his eyes back to his writing. As if Sule knew Alaric would notice his discomfort if he watched him enough.

With his forefinger, Alaric punched the escape key on the board, and it sprang back into Sule's ring. Sule jumped. "Hey, I didn't save that."

"It's safe in your fricking brain. It isn't going anywhere until you write it again. Talk." Alaric pushed the strong shoulder, and Sule bumped into the cushioned high back of the comfy chair.

"No." Sule shook his head, his mouth tight— similar to someone avoiding a bitter medicine.

"I know you're hiding something, and since I cannot persuade you with sexiness, I'm gonna wring it out with frankness."

At these words, Sule's eyes became silver saucers, his pupils dilated to the point of terror. Yet, he didn't say a word.

"You think saving me was a mistake. You loathe the fact that you're stuck with me now on this planet, so fucking out of the way we can't even speak their language properly," Alaric hissed dangerously.

Now terror was not only on Sule's eyes but it encompassed his entire handsome face. "How could something like that occur to you?"

"The fact that you seem disgusted by my touch helped a lot."

"You are wrong."

"Then start talking because you're breaking my heart." Alaric knew he sounded utterly dramatic, but that was exactly how he felt, like Sule was tearing his heart apart, and that really pissed him off.

"I've got nothing to say." Sule returned to his secretive behavior, not looking at Alaric's eyes.

"Well, it's either you can't stand me, or... your heart has another purpose now." It would be a stretch of the imagination, but Alaric said it anyway. "You've simply arrived to the conclusion that Darien is a better match for you."

Sule sprang and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. "Never. You're the one who fancies that dammed captain!"

"Ah-ha. How did that idiot notion _occur_ to you?" Alaric hissed, but a big percentage of his rage evaporated; Sule was just jealous.

"I don't know." Sule let go of Alaric's shoulders. "You seemed so comfortable with each other. You're the same age. You look good together." But as he said these things, his face was turning a very unbecoming shade of red.

"It sounds stupid when it is not in your head, doesn't it?"

"Yes." Sule's boots became the most interesting thing in the whole Universe. "I should have talked to you."

Alaric lifted Sule's chin with a finger under it, staring at his eyes. "It's my fault. I was so hungry for human contact I didn't realize how my behavior might be seen." He gave a swift little knock to Sule's jaw using his knuckles. "I didn't peg you for the jealous type." He chuckled softly. "Then again it has always been only the two of us till the rescue ship, and there, well..."

"We still weren't around people long enough for that ugly part of me to rear its nasty head up."

"Your eloquence is devastating." Alaric kissed Sule before he could formulate a riposte.

Hands found hard muscles. Thighs pressed against hardening crotches. Tongues parried, and moans emerged, filling their quarters with the sounds of passion for the first time.

"I missed your lips so much," Sule murmured as they surfaced for air.

"And I missed all this." Alaric kneaded Sule's buttocks, so strong and malleable at the same time. He yelped happily when Sule took _his_ behind in hand. "Oh, I like that too."

"You're gonna like it even more in a moment." The whisper in his ear was tantalizing. "But first, will you ever forgive my stupidity."

"No harm done." Alaric gave a peck to his lover's nose. "We're still learning one another. Our hearts know we are right for each other, but our heads need a little more time to assimilate that truth."

Sule arched an eyebrow, frozen in mid-grinding, waiting.

"All right, I'll spell it out for you." Alaric laughed riotously. "I forgive you." He pulled hard, so their cocks nuzzled each other through their fabric restraints, using Sule's sweet cheeks as lever.

Soft lips went to Alaric's neck, followed by teeth that tenuously grazed the skin before sinking with delicious force. A moan escaped Alaric as he shivered, forgetting his hands and their purpose for a moment. Sule knew that was his weakest spot and was using it to turn his knees into noodles, goose bumps erupting everywhere.

Alaric was ready to be conquered.

SULE

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

"Be sure, nothing is more important to me than you in this Universe." Sule slowly traced a long line from Alaric's collarbone to his jaw.

Eyes closed, dark lashes fanned over blushing cheeks. Alaric murmured in a throaty sigh, "Blast me."

Sule chuckled inwardly. He loved when Alaric dominated him, but right now, all he wanted was to make Alaric his, take him hard and pour all the stupid nonsense that had been clogging his veins for the last days into a battering claim. Make Alaric writhe with pleasure and see those beautiful eyes clouded by ecstasy.

Gradually, Sule moved them to the floor.

Bluest, like the bird of happiness of their ancestors, Alaric's eyes focused on Sule. "My life is yours. My body is your temple."

The crimson tunic was swiftly removed, and Sule dove to master a rocky nipple, while making fast work of Alaric's trousers. He had noticed Alaric had been going commando just to drive him crazy, and he was happy about it. Grabbing the almost completely hard cock, Sule pumped it.

Alaric's moans were swallowed by Sule's mouth as he covered those delicious lips forming a constant O. Soon they were both naked, and Alaric in his desperation had turned them around and was straddling Sule, grinding, rocking, undulating.

They lay close to an oval window exploding with the purple, pink, and yellow hues of the dying sky, the ring of asteroids surrounding the planet a magnificent arc, an infinite marble rainbow. This invasion of color framed Alaric's pale torso, his eyes and his movements stealing Sule's breath and coherent thoughts.

"We don't have lube." Sule didn't want to hurt Alaric, but his body was too enthralled to respond to any command, much less to embark on a journey in search of lubrication.

"I don't care." Alaric moved to all fours and kissed Sule quickly, backing without breaking eye contact until he was hovering over Sule's leaking cock. Holding the shaft like a control stick, Alaric plunged without hesitation.

His entire manhood disappeared, leaving Sule's head spinning and his eyes rolling backward. "Imploding planets," came out of Sule, rasped. Saliva dripped over his balls, Alaric's head bobbed, and Sule was losing his grasp on reality. Before his turmoil could be translated into words again, Alaric was impaling himself slowly but determinately, a progressively louder groan his war cry.

Instinctively, Sule's hands flew to Alaric's hips, caressing, steering, memorizing. In response, Alaric's hands alighted over Sule's pecs, becoming levers to help his concentric motions.

Reduced to their breathing and the sinuous actions of their passion machinery, the Universe became a cocoon where only two beings resided, unable to discern where one started and the other ended, a closed circuit once their tongues joined the tumult.

Eons of pleasure later as his imminent climax approached, Sule took Alaric's massive cock in hand and stroked in tandem with Alaric's roll, bringing a constant stream of "oh fuck's" that surged with throaty vigor. The first jet landed on his lips, and the taste made Sule burst in overflowing volleys of seed— his body convulsing and letting ecstasy possess him.

As their bodies savored the experience, in the calm after the storm, Alaric murmured, just lifting his face a little from Sule's chest, where he rested comfortably. "I'm glad we did this. I needed it. Wouldn't be nice to be grumpy tomorrow due to the lack of sex."

Sule chuckled. "True. It's not every day that you are presented in a royal court."

"We're lucky to be sponsored by the Guardian's mate."

"Thankfully, I have a completely different perspective about that situation now." Sule felt some fire cover his cheeks. He had been such a ginormous asshole.

Alaric rested his head back over Sule's chest hair, rubbing his face with languorous motions, and patted his side soothingly. "I know, GM. I know."

### CHAPTER SEVEN

**DARIEN**

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

"Well, you're family now, so you don't have to worry about anything." Queen Kailen Ju Katan grabbed Darien's arm and towed him as she nodded to the people bowing around them.

"Family?" Darien almost choked.

"Why, yes. You didn't know Kekoa is a prince of the blood? The first Guardian was the King's brother.

"Wow. I had no idea."

"The Royal line usually has only one or two descendants. After my King died, I lost my son too, and I'm not keen on using artificial methods to have another heir. It'd be a good idea if you had two children with the Guardian, one to guard Colvis and another to be the next king or queen." She winked happily. "Sure, it hadn't happened in five generations, but it won't be the first time a child of the Guardian becomes heir to the throne of Mireeh." Her head bobbed lively, making all the colored jewels threaded in her snowy luminous hair flash merrily.

She didn't look older than him, but with the Colviri that could mean several centuries, and it was a horrible slight to ask any female her age not matter her species.

"I don't know what to say, Your Majesty." Darien couldn't wrap his head about the whole "having children," much less one of these children becoming queen or king. Well, that would certainly make his father happy— the power hungry nutcase.

"Say yes, just to keep it in the family." She giggled this time.

Then Darien remembered something. "Your Majesty? I thought people died along their mates."

"If you find it. Not every union on this planet is a mate-match. Don't get me wrong, I loved the King with all my heart, but we were not mates in that sense." She patted his cheek. "You're of the few lucky ones."

This information made his relationship with Kekoa more special— and even more frustrating.

"Once you have found your true mate no one else would do. Can you even look at other men?" The Queen seemed deeply interested in this question as if she hadn't previously met someone mated.

"I can appreciate beauty." Darien had never mulled over his lack of interest in other men previously, he just thought it was because he was in love. He hadn't been that focused on manly bits even before Kekoa entered in his life.

"But you don't feel desire." It didn't sound like a question.

It was strange and embarrassing to discuss desire and attraction with Kekoa's Queen; first children, now this. "It didn't cross my mind it was because I was mated to the Guardian, Your Majesty. This is true— other men don't appeal to me." And even if they did, he wouldn't say so in front of her. He wasn't as tactless as many people in the Federation Council thought he was.

"Oh, to have a love like that," the Queen murmured dreamily. "So potent, one cannot live without the other."

Darien didn't know if this was a good thing. He would surely make Kekoa die before his time since he was only human and with a minimal life span compared to the Colviri. These were things his mind hadn't processed before. The longer he was in front of the Queen, the more his love appeared to have a doomed outcome.

"Your Majesty? You said one to guard Colvis and another to be heir. Shouldn't the firstborn be the next in line to the throne?"

"Oh, no, Pan Darien. Nothing is more important than to guard Colvis, not even ruling the Colviri. The first and foremost duty of the Guardian is with goddess Meha's planet. His second duty is to make you happy, then the throne." Queen Kailen winked, "But never tell I said that aloud."

Darien shook his head. "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty."

She looked at him for a moment with that indecision one usually found in someone about to buy something really expensive and utterly useless, but indispensable. "You are so handsome, and that hair like fire. And you're kind of big for a human. Never seen one myself, but you're almost as tall as us." This coming from a woman who was at least half a head taller than him seemed like a nice compliment. "Well, I guess if you had stayed with the Guardian you would look more like the Colviri by now."

What?

"I'm afraid I'm not following you, Your Majesty."

Her cheeks colored and she made a subtle grimace. "My mouth keeps running to unknown places." She put her forefinger over her lips and sought someone amid the court. Once she found this person, she stopped a servant passing by with a tray. "Please, tell Pan Kinno Irad, the Queen wants a word with him."

It surprised Darien to hear a queen saying "please." His father and mother would never say such a word to a servant; they would simply order.

"Come with me." She guided him toward the throne where she sat, offering him a seat in one of the many cushions surrounding the ornate chair. Apparently, people sat at her feet to talk or listen to her. "Pan Kinno would have a better grasp of the scientific explanation than I'd ever dream of." She smoothed the many folds of the skirt of her translucent sparkling dress.

The first balding Colviri Darien had ever seen approached them, zigzagging through the crowd. He was weathered, and Darien didn't want to calculate how old the man must be to look this way. For some bizarre reason, he reminded Darien of images of monks from old Terran files, not that he was wearing robes or anything of the sort; it was the parsimonious way in which he moved.

"Your Majesty." Kinno Irad bowed deeply, then did a less deep bow. "Pan Darien."

Darien stood up and bowed lightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Pan Kinno." He offered a smile.

Kinno looked at him quizzically for a heartbeat as if he hadn't been expecting Darien to bow to him; he returned Darien's smile mechanically.

"Would you be so kind as to explain Pan Darien the physical changes he will experience by being mated with a Colviri?"

"Of course, Your Majesty." Kinno studied Darien for a while without a single word.

Seated again, Darien didn't know what to do with his hands, cross-legged as he was, and worked very hard not to roll his eyes nervously. The scrutiny seemed almost physical through the sheer fabric of his shirt, close to a hand groping his torso. He hadn't chosen this attire, and now the near-transparent material made him feel naked. Luckily, his pants were something similar to impenetrable velvet.

"Since I learned that the Guardian was mated to a human, I've done some investigating, and I can conclude he has been through some changes already." Kinno nodded confidently. "You see, Pan Darien, the Colviri rarely mate outside our race; foremost, because we don't interact with other races. We did before we moved to Mireeh, and when it happened it was usually Colviri males and the absorption of their semen created genetic mutations in their mates." He paused, probably to let this information sink in.

"You mean like invasive cells?"

"You might call it that, but it is not dangerous for you. Actually, it will make you have the lifespan of a Colviri and become stronger. You must have noticed your change in girth and height."

Speechless, Darien only bobbed his head. He thought it was due to exercising and stress eating.

"Something similar, although in a lesser way will happen to your charges due to the mirium in the atmosphere of the planet. They will grow stronger and their lifespan will increase most probably a tenfold. This is one of the reasons why this planet was chosen. Mirium is a potent cellular enhancer."

Alaric and Sule approached timidly as if cued. Darien did notice they had adapted to the gravity of the planet easily, perhaps the mirium helped with that too. Queen Kailen did a gesture with her hand inviting them to come closer. Tyke and Sun were behind them. All four men bowed to the Queen and then addressed Kinno, with Sun making the introductions to Darien's fellow humans.

Not knowing how to feel about Kinno inquiring into their physiology, Darien only smiled and nodded politely as the Queen commented that the entertainment would start soon— an ancient homage to Meha, to welcome him as mate of the Guardian.

Bugles called, and the serene and soothing melody that had been playing from a sound system stopped. The court parted to give way to a group of men and women who came rushing into the hall, pushing heavily adorned hovering carts with musical instruments on them. They did complicated choreographed maneuvers to position themselves and almost instantly the music began. A group of dancers entered now, and, in high contrast with the musicians, these were close to naked, only covered by flowing shimmering gauzes around their waists.

There was something charming and primal in the tune and in the way their bodies moved. Powerful drums made Darien want to dance with them, and he noticed many people were swaying as if enthralled by the beat. He looked at the Queen, who was simply tapping her finger on one of the arms of the throne, somehow aloof to the enveloping music. Her eyes found his, and she nodded, understanding that he needed to go to his feet and move with the others.

Darien settled between Sule and Alaric and put his hands on their shoulders. Both moved in sync with him, in perfect harmony like something they had practiced together their whole lives. A chant in a language that wasn't Colviri, but that Darien recalled as similar to the incantations Kekoa had once muttered in front of Meha's statue, rose from the musicians, and the court joined en masse. The music became more frantic, and dancers were pirouetting, cartwheeling, somersaulting, undulating. Many spectators were whirling like spin tops with their arms extended. Alaric dislodged from them, moving with supernatural fluidity toward the center of the dancers, and started to gyrate too. The dancers surrounded him like this was what they had been intending all along.

With an unexpected bang the music stopped, and Alaric went to the floor as if struck by lightning. The entire court exploded in a loud gasp. The dancers moved aside, leaving a corridor toward the throne. Sule and Darien ran to Alaric with Tyke and Sun on their heels. Before they could reach him, Alaric sprang to his feet, his hands on his hips and a hauteur in his eyes and posture that wasn't his, it didn't even seem human. He stared at the Queen with an arched eyebrow; she stood up and called, "The priests!"

Two men came forward as people parted to give them way. They wore silver outfits similar to armors like the one Kekoa had worn when they gave their offerings to the goddess back on Colvis. What made them more distinctive, beyond their outfits, was the fact that their heads were shaved. They marched up to Alaric and bowed, speaking in that melodic but strange language. Alaric nodded and answered back almost in frustration.

They spoke again and Alaric growled, jerking his head toward the musicians, and everything in that area floated as if gravity had been nullified there. People screamed, and those who were not floating hurried away. One of the priests made a placating gesture, speaking fast, and Alaric grimaced. Everything, including shrieking musicians, crashed loudly on the floor.

This time, Alaric pointed at Darien, Sule, Tyke, Sun and, lastly, at the Queen amid a volley of the incomprehensible tongue with an unnatural tone to his voice. The other priest looked at the Queen nearly apologetically, "Our mother, Meha, commands a private council with Your Majesty and the humans."

KEKOA

PLANET COLVIS

"What?!"

"I know. This is huge. It hasn't happened in—"

"Fifteen generations," Kekoa interrupted General Ur.

"—and before that, when she advised to leave Colvis and find a new place." Ur was too excited to feel slighted.

"Unbelievable. She has so many ways to communicate with her children, why a living vessel?" Kekoa commented.

"Something really big must be brewing somewhere. Of course, the alarmists are saying that she chose a human because we must have done something to offend her, that we aren't her people anymore." Ur shook his head. He had never been fan of scaremongers.

"Meha's breastplate. This happened when? Five standard minutes ago, and the stirrers are already working double shift?"

"Mireeh doesn't have enemies, so they have to create fear for their own entertainment."

"My only true concern here is, why not use Darien if she was going to use a human?"

"I have no more clue than you regarding this. Do you think she's displeased because he left you?" Ur looked worried, which was not an appealing image.

Kekoa had to deflect him. "You've been around scaremongers for too long, my general. Besides, Darien left to save the planet."

Ur tsked. "You know that's utter nonsense. Your weaponry could have annihilated their fleet in a snap."

"His father sent his only brother to procure him. The cunning bastard."

"Well, Tyke and Sun are with them. We'll have a report as soon as the meeting is over. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake sending those two to you."

"Why would you say such a thing?" Kekoa asked.

"Their devotion to you is frankly creepy."

They were not just Darien's bodyguards; they were now Kekoa's friends. "General, they're good warriors."

"I know, but you haven't fucked all my warriors." Ur's face gave away nothing. Kekoa couldn't figure out if it was a joke or a real concern.

Kekoa tried a light approach. "A lifetime ago, I'd have considered that a challenge."

"Thank Meha for that. It'd do me no good if all my fricking warriors were daydreaming about you and your manhood. Not that they need too much encouragement to go there. You and I have never spoken of how hard I had to work quelling the fights to go to your _aid_. At the end, I sent Tyke and Sun because they seemed the least interested."

"Then you made the right choice." Kekoa smiled leeringly.

"Asshole," Ur blurted, snorting.

"I'm not gonna show it to you. It has an owner now."

Ur gaped, bewildered. "I have never!" And he understood. "You're insufferable sometimes." Shaking his head, his general huffed, "I'll get back to you as soon as I have any news."

"Thank you." Kekoa sobered up. "And it's about time I had the chance to talk to my mate."

"I will arrange something. We're not sure if the Federation is intercepting or interfering with your lines. We're keeping Darien on ice until we have a clearer notion."

"Not happy about that."

"Me neither."

### CHAPTER EIGHT

**SULE**

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

Once, while in a Fuburu trading post waiting for provisions to be loaded onto their ship, his peers took Sule to a "secret" _wemerile_ or horse ceremony. This happened during his first year as recruit, and, supposedly, some of the deities of the Fuburu possessed believers and rode them, giving omens and advice to those in the gathering. All those years ago, Sule had dismissed it as a scheme to swindle tourists; still it left a lasting impression on him. Now these people were saying that the deity they all worshiped was in control of Alaric's body, using him to communicate her commands.

The possibility of the reality of what he witnessed long ago slapped Sule hard on the face. What was happening now had that tingling of truth he had learned to trust over the years; it was making goose bumps erupt all over his body.

Apart from the Queen and the priests, Tyke and Sun were the only Colviri in the room, and thus they acted as her bodyguards. She shouldn't be in danger here, but they were flanking her nonetheless.

" **Soi mu sili ekmej eze feze xoe."** The supernatural voice of the goddess floated from Alaric's lips.

The Queen, Darien, Sun and Tyke looked expectantly at the priest. Despite the fact that the court en masse was singing in this language, it seemed something they had learned to recite without truly understanding the meaning of the words.

DRE-Gun Gen, the one priest that appeared to be younger of the two, spoke gravely. "Our mother wants us to open to the galaxy."

DRE-Han Ki nodded approvingly, perhaps proud of his pupil.

" **Alu oj hio razu aweju ruwu bmaike viwo viliu."**

"She's using a human vessel as proof of her command."

Queen Kailen Ju Katan went to one knee, prompting all of them to do the same, and spoke with her eyes staring pointedly at the floor, "Your command is sacred, Mother."

From the corner of his eye, Sule saw the goddess put her hand on top of the Queen's sparkling white hair and colored jewels. **"Imil ojef mejmioje. Epwi umfa dule."**

"You're a great queen. Make me proud," DRE-Gun Gen translated.

Sule saw tears running down the Queen's reddened cheeks. Maybe she was feeling the same controlled euphoria he was feeling. Darien certainly was because his eyes were watered too, same as Tyke and Sun. The priest seemed more controlled, but Sule was sure they were shaken behind their cool exterior.

Alaric, no, the goddess put her hand over Darien's flaming head. **"Civo awil bulu, zive miuca lowoij ciaj mioju."**

And Darien visibly shuddered, goose bumps emerging all over his torso, undisguised by his gauzy oxblood tunic.

"I gave you a mate, and I will give your progeny a kingdom."

A quick eye exchange happened between Darien and the Queen, and she smiled lightly.

Now it was Sule's turn, since apparently she was saying something to each of them. The hand on his head felt heavy, not like she was pushing him down but as if Alaric's natural density had multiplied thousandfold. Besides that, the energy wrapping around him like many zapping cords wasn't exactly enjoyable.

Her voice came out similar to the growls she had uttered in the hall when the priests were questioning her. **"Vikruj noe Alerik jaihewij, cioci vemi ebmu kem woboi ijca cmelimu."**

DRE-Gun Gen snorted, and DRE-Han Ki elbowed him openly. But the young priest almost had a fit of laughter and said shockingly "I can't, master. I can't."

"Well," DRE-Han Ki started.

Sule tried to look up, and the goddess pushed his head down.

"Our mother used a rather crass phrase, but the idea is that her foot will be shoved so deep in your behind, you're going to taste her big toe if you distrust Alaric again."

She let go of his head and glared at him as he looked up, contrite. Sule offered in a little voice, "I'm so sorry, Mother. Alaric didn't deserve that, and I know it now."

This seemed to mollify her, and she put a hand over Tyke and the other on Sun. As they were flanking the Queen this was illogical for the normal expanse of Alaric's arms, but there was no effort on the goddess part. In all honesty, Alaric appeared twice his natural size. **"Ka ilbulu doiji, oviz zafem siwijul ilbimej."**

Composure had returned to DRE-Gun Gen, and he resumed his role as translator. "Your mate comes. And from the most unexpected place."

At these words, the goddess gave Darien a pointed nod, but he seemed lost like everyone else. She did the same two-handed touch over the priests' heads. **"Ki wimirij,"** was all she said. After a long pause, because apparently the priests thought they didn't need to translate their own message, the goddess smacked DRE-Han Ki's head, and it wasn't playfully at all.

"We deserve each other." The older priest hurriedly blurted.

She patted DRE-Han Ki's head and caressed DRE-Gun Gen's softly, then moved away from them and stood rigidly in front of all. Her voice boomed, **"Darhen."**

Darien gave her his full attention. She started reciting names; seven names sounding vaguely familiar to Sule and clear as a bell to Darien because his eyes were getting bigger with each one. The last name, Bennar Muselet, Sule recognized after a moment as Darien's father.

Drained of color, his face aghast, Darien shook his head, surely in disbelief.

The goddess did a gesture that was more universal than the cradling of a baby in a mother's arms, the slice of throat. A macabre laughter erupted from her. It was truly alarming, and it affected them all, but Darien the most; he seemed about to faint.

Her hand, no, Alaric's hand entered his own chest, and she pulled out an orb of intermittent light like a hologram. Letting it float over her palm, she arched an eyebrow. Darien whispered, "Colvis."

That was the planet Darien's mate guarded. The goddess nodded and beat her chest with her free hand. That was universal too, "mine" she meant. Sule didn't understand why she wasn't talking and having the priests translate. This was too archaic, too disturbing.

The hologram of Colvis got squashed between her fingers, and she growled the name of Darien's father again. The captain howled, "NOOOO." He launched himself at her feet. "I won't let him, I won't." Darien was shaking terribly. Sule felt embarrassed having to witness this, because it could only mean that Darien's own father was trying to destroy the planet of the man he loved, and that was something no child should bear from his own roots.

Meha pulled him up. Tears ran down his cheeks, and she kissed his forehead, smoothing his long red curls, a benign smile on her face. She touched his chest and patted hers; a less violent image than when she beat her chest before, but Sule understood the meaning too. Darien was in her heart as he was in hers. She'd take care of him like a mother.

Letting go of Darien, she gave all a last browsing, then spread her arms and closed her eyes. They heard a murmur similar to a thousand voices sighing at the same time, and Alaric collapsed in a heap over the dark reflective floor.

ALARIC

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

He didn't understand why he was on the fricking floor, in this strange room, with so many people surrounding him, full of worried looks. Two men, with shaved heads and wearing silvery armors, patted both his hands, one on each side of him. Alaric had never seen them before. They spoke in Colviri, "All is fine, you are fine."

Of course he was fine, he couldn't remember why he was lying on the cold floor, but he felt absolutely great, like he hadn't in a long time, probably even before the dust plague decimated Nova Gaia. That seemed like an eternity ago.

Tyke and Sun gently but forcibly moved the bald men aside and helped Alaric to his feet. He thanked them, and they looked at him with a reverence they had only showed to Darien before. And that creeped the fuck out of him. "What?"

Benign smiles adorned their faces. Those actually were stamped on each face in the room; all but Sule's.

"How did I get here? Why are we not in the Great Hall?" Alaric asked Sule.

But it was the Queen who answered— with a question. "Don't you remember anything?"

It took a moment for him to register the full implication of the question. Something did happen, and he was clueless. "I remember this great feeling of euphoria when I started to move toward the dancers, and they encircled me. A second after that, I woke up here, Your Majesty."

Darien shook his head. "It wasn't a second. Trust me."

Alaric took Sule's hand. It was cold and rigid, but it grasped his. He asked again, "What's going on?"

"Well," Sule started.

One of the bald men (the one that seemed older of the pair, even though it might be more by his demeanor that due to actual age) spoke, "Pan Alaric, my name is DRE-Han Ki. I'm Head Priest of Meha, our mother, our guide, our celestial Queen. The goddess used you as vehicle to manifest among us, her children."

His first thought was: _You have got to be shitting me._ But they'd not be joking with something like that, much less the real queen, Kailen Ju Katan. Alaric looked at the Queen, and she nodded at him ceremoniously, with an expression designed not only to convey it was true but to tell him to be calm.

There was something absolutely wrong about the fact that he had being used without his consent, but he couldn't summon an ounce of rage; he couldn't even feel disgusted or filthy. All he felt, amid his consternation for the blackout, was subtle but evident wellbeing and contentment. A touch freaked out, but above all covered in light and feeling airy; a truly complex dichotomy. "All right."

"Alaric, that's all you have to say!?" Sule blurted out, his eyebrows reaching his hairline.

"Well, since I don't remember a thing, and none of you is screaming and tearing your clothes apart, it couldn't have been that bad. The message must have been at least pacific."

All eyes turned to Darien, and Alaric groaned because of course they knew something —a lot— he didn't. "What now?"

Darien patted his shoulder. "The message was indeed peaceful in nature, the outcome might not be."

"Speaking of that," Queen Kailen said, like someone remembering she had to be somewhere else, "I need to address the court. Outrageous rumors must be flying like a meteor shower by now." She smiled at Alaric and walked away with Sun and Tyke behind her.

His eyes followed them, and after less than a standard minute Darien's bodyguards returned, walking behind a man that was easily as big as them both combined, and with an air of being used to telling everybody what to do. Something about his outfit spoke of military rank, even though it wasn't truly a uniform in the way Tyke and Sun's had been on their way to Mireeh. It was very regal though, maybe he was a prince or the Queen's father. His white hair (braided in a myriad links) added to his commanding aura. Alaric heard Darien said the word "Ur." It didn't sound like a simple word but a name.

Unctuous DRE-Han Ki welcomed the imposing man to the group before Darien could open his mouth coherently. "General Ur, so good to see you. But what brings you to this little meeting?"

"These guests came with the Guardian's mate. Therefore they are my responsibility too." His booming voice left no doubt that an argument about his statement wasn't allowed. Although Alaric noticed a fleeting puzzlement on Darien's face betraying the validity of the information the general had just thrown into the priest's direction.

"I'm afraid young Alaric is our responsibility now. He needs to become a priest of the goddess." The priest grabbed him and pushed him toward the other bald man. "DRE-Gun Gen, see that everything is arranged, so his training can begin at once."

General Ur grabbed Alaric's left upper arm and pulled. "Why?"

"Because it's a great honor, and he cannot live a common life anymore."

"Is she going to be using him to communicate with us all the time now? What about the rites and the oracles?" Sun interjected, seemingly ready to enter the tug-o-war.

"True. Do we have to put him in a temple and come with our questions to him?" General Ur arched an eyebrow, staring suspiciously at both priests. "How do we know which temple, what gives supremacy to one temple above the others to have _the_ vehicle of Meha?"

"Hold your rockets," Sule growled. All eyes turned to him. "No one is taking Alaric away from me."

The younger-looking priest growled back, "I apologize, but that is not your decision to make." He tried to pry Alaric out of the general's hold.

"Nor yours. I was here, and the goddess didn't say anything of this."

General Ur surprised Alaric with a quick nod and a wink, apparently approving Sule's words.

The verbal sparring continued. "How do you know? You don't understand her like we do," countered DRE-Gun Gen.

"You were translating, you..." The hiss was deadly. "We don't even know if she's going to come through him again!" Sule's voice had risen with each word.

Patronizingly, DRE-Han Ki uttered, "These are matters too deep and complicated for a mere human to understand."

That was it.

"I'm not going anywhere." Alaric shrugged the priest away. He let General Ur embrace him protectively. "And I remind you the goddess chose a _mere human_ as her vehicle. We can't be as stupid as you think we are if she has chosen one of us and not a Colviri." He felt like huffing but he didn't. It would have seemed childish.

"The matter is finished," Ur commanded. He pushed Alaric softly toward Sule.

Both priests turned on their heels and stormed out of the room.

Darien and the beastly General said in unison, "Well done," and chuckled, looking at each other.

Sule hugged Alaric hard from behind, and everyone joined in the good natured laughter.

But something told Alaric that those priests were not _finished_.

### CHAPTER NINE

**DARIEN**

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

Immediately after the priests stormed out of the room where they had retired to hear the message of Meha, a religious council had been convened, and it almost fathered a civil war. One faction, following DRE-Han Ki, wanted Alaric to be revered as a living embodiment of the goddess. The other, led by an obscure mystic— DRE-Macian Isaa, wanted him to live a normal life and let the goddess decide when she —if ever— needed his body again. The last time Meha had used a living vessel, she only used it once and that had happened fifteen generations ago (which in standard years was around thirty-six thousand years), a few generations after they moved to Mireeh. So there was no real reason to think it could happen again.

For a reason Darien couldn't fathom, the priests did not use the regular methods of communication with Meha, or any other esoteric aid. They had decided to do this in a brainstorm instead of search for the goddess' own wisdom.

The commotion had been so great, the Queen sent troops to surround the principal temple in Rennikkah. DRE-Macian Isaa offered as solution that the ultimate authority regarding the goddess' wishes was no other than the Guardian, who was in fact her Supreme Priest. Thus Kekoa was summoned in a holoconf, and they posed the problem to him. Kekoa asked for a day and a night to commune with the goddess and bring an answer. And her response was that she would happily accept whatever path Alaric chose. It was his decision and no one else's.

Darien was pissed off because during all these conversations not even once was he allowed to speak with Kekoa, and their communication-blackout was starting to drive him beyond crazy. Never since their separation had they been this long without exchanging at least a few words. To make matters worse, after Meha's words regarding Alaric's future, General Ur had to take him and Sule on a spaceship to avoid the constant besiegement of DRE-Han Ki's followers. Thus, Darien had no human confidants and was ready to cuss the Universe at large; his father's new threat to Colvis the _kirsuber_ on top of the whole mess.

And the Queen hadn't stopped pestering him about the damned heir. What chance did they stand to have an heir when he and Kekoa couldn't even be in the same sector? Sure, artificial babies didn't need their parents' intercourse to be begotten, still this was utterly unfair.

"There are no random occurrences in the Universe, Darien. That a half human child is going to be the next ruler of the Colviri is a sign. It's a sign we shall embrace the other members of the galaxy and stop this life of distance from our neighbors. Perhaps it's time for others to know and embrace us as well. This is Meha's command." Queen Kailen Ju Katan patted Darien's hand, five standard days after the goddess had possessed Alaric.

"I understand that, Your Majesty. And as soon as I have the chance to speak with Kekoa regarding children we will figure this out. Any news on the Federation's plans?"

"Our spies have been working overtime to find details."

Although the Colviri didn't participate in the Cygnus Federation or any other galactic conglomerate, the instant Darien was taken from Colvis they installed spies amongst the Federation's High Council to find out what was going on. They were suspicious because that had been the seventh attempt to dig on the planet for no logical purpose. The only reason for such persistence would be that they had decoded some of the information in the temples to create weapons of mass destruction and were looking for the rest. Obviously none of this information was on the official records of the expeditions, and Darien only learned this hypothesis due to his connection with the Colviri.

"Do you think if I go back I'll have a chance to dig deeper?"

"I honestly doubt it. Your liaison with us would be your greatest handicap."

Heavy footsteps outside the powder room where they sat made them both look toward the door. After two knocks, General Ur entered and bowed to Queen Kailen. "Your Majesty, you look lovely today." He did a less elaborate bow to Darien and smiled, winking. "Pan Darien, always a pleasure."

"Why, general, I thought you were guarding our human guests on the _Logandi_." She giggled because there was no real reason for Ur to have taken that duty; he could have sent any other officer.

Ur chuckled. "I've never been a fan of DRE-Han Ki, nor him of yours truly. I think my presence amid the situation would be effectively annoying."

"I'm pretty sure Alaric would not be happy to learn he's but a pawn in you scheme against the Head Priest." Darien commented without hiding his mirth.

"Oh," Ur smirked widely, "but he's in on the charade, and he loves every minute of it. Sule is less warm to the game, though."

"Well, let it be recorded that I'm giving you my most severe reprimand for deceiving the Head Priest." But the Queen couldn't keep a straight face and burst laughing. "Oh sweet Meha, who am I kidding? DRE-Han Ki's face when the Guardian forwarded the goddess' message was priceless. I seriously contemplate commissioning a couple of banners with that expression."

"Your Majesty is wise." Ur bowed, his smile wide and cheeky.

"But you didn't come all the way from our orbit just to include me in your prank. What's going on?"

"True. There's an uncommon agglomeration of Federation ships three sectors away from our system."

"They cannot see us. We are nothing but a black hole to them." Nevertheless, the Queen had sobered up.

"Yes, Your Majesty. And all the other security measures are working perfectly. I just don't like this sudden convergence so close. I think we should be prepared for an imminent attack."

Queen Kailen nodded. "Nothing wrong with being ready. Give the order, general. And send some ships to guard Colvis too." She looked at Darien with a reassuring grin.

"At once, Your Majesty. Would you mind if I take Darien for a stroll with me?"

"Of course not. I must be boring poor Darien to death with my constant children babbling."

"Not at all, Your Majesty." Darien went to one knee and kissed the back of her hand.

As they walked away from the officers guarding the powder room doors, Darien turned to General Ur. "Is Kekoa all right?"

"Yes. Why would he not be?"

"I don't know. You seem unnecessarily grave for a simple stroll."

"You're too sharp for your own good. Yes, something is up."

"What is it?" Darien felt a really strange sensation on the pit of his stomach.

"I'm sending you to Kekoa for three standard hours, but no one else can know."

KEKOA

PLANET COLVIS

" **Ufel?"**

No. His mind was playing tricks on him. It couldn't be Darien's voice. Kekoa turned around and found Darien smiling at him, in all his glory. Flaming curls cascaded over his now broad shoulders, his face radiant with happiness and lust. He had grown almost as tall as any Colviri.

"If this is a dream let me die in it to never suffer your absence again."

Darien rolled his eyes. "Not a dream, and no one is dying." He advanced, a touch of uncertainty in his steps. "I can't believe I'm here either." He stretched his arms toward Kekoa.

But Kekoa flung himself at his feet, clinging to his thighs, his face nuzzling the long-desired crotch. "Oh Darien, what miracle of Meha is this?"

"General Ur sent me for three standard hours." Darien went to his knees, and both devoured each other's faces with a thousand kisses. "Four hundred and eight standard days away from you. I'm nothing but a shell. I feel so empty without your arms around me." He murmured, sounding like tears threatened to escape.

"You saved Meha's planet, she would find a way for us to be together. I know it, **ufel**." Kekoa studied those eyes, magnificent agate jewels able to convey so many things in silence. He kept squeezing Darien's arms, still unable to believe this gift.

"I don't regret my decision, but it is torture. Purple damaging suffering," Darien murmured.

"Let me ease your pain then, with my hands, my lips, my body. Let me condense more than a standard year of need into these little hours."

During the first standard hour they relearned the map of their skins, traveling through valleys and hills with fingers and lips and tongues, without leaving a single speck untouched. Hard cocks were teased; avid digits titillated hungry holes, building with each passing moment a transcendental urgency until the only thing left was the burning of their bodies on the altar of consummation.

Parched, their lips swollen, Kekoa called the head android and asked for water and aged liquor. Moving to his feet, he offered his hand to Darien. "It's time to move these maneuvers to our bedroom. I'd do this with you on the sand, under the scorching suns, but a soft bed has its merits."

A bright smile rewarded Kekoa. The strong grip enticed him.

It all was part of the game they used to play before their separation, extend their foreplay for hours, reaching the point of combustion only to stop and start again, waiting until they were blind with need and acted solely on instinct to conquer their aroused flesh.

Darien had appeared at the door of his painting room, after using the portal that connected Mireeh to Colvis, surely after alerting the androids of his incoming presence and ordering them to let him surprise Kekoa. Now they walked through illuminated corridors that seemed more bright thanks to his mate's presence.

As they entered their chamber, Darien let out a strangled noise, astonishment taking over his features. "Kekoa." He pointed at the seven portraits around the room.

"I needed to find a way to have you close to my bed every night. I slept better knowing that your image watched over me." Kekoa smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Is it creepy?"

Darien didn't answer, just sprang up and squeezed him— his strong legs around Kekoa's hips, devouring him with adoring kisses, leaving him breathless and grateful.

"You approve?" Kekoa murmured amid the rain of pecks.

"Approve? Now you need to make at least a dozen so I can have them with me at all times!" Darien beamed.

"You want your own portraits?" Kekoa was sure his expression was dumfounded at best.

"No, silly. Yours." Darien squeezed him more, his hefty cock seeping moisture, crushed between their stomachs.

In that moment, the head android entered with their beverages, placing them on a nearby table. Kekoa deposited Darien on an oval armless swiveling chair, telling the automaton he would serve the drinks himself. He gave his mate a tall glass of cold water first. Both drank, releasing moans of satisfaction. He kissed Darien's cool lips. "Strong now?"

"From you, always."

A shudder ran through Kekoa. Those three words were uttered with conviction, lust, and promise laced in the strongest of bonds. He could crumble to his knees now and forget his plan, but he wanted Darien crazy, inflamed by desire. So he reined in his wayward emotions and smiled, winked and moved toward the liquor.

Two flutes were swiftly filled, and Kekoa returned beside his mate. Darien took the offered drink and sipped happily. Kekoa sat on his heels at Darien's feet; he noticed Darien's eyes appreciating him over the rim of his glass. The look was almost a physical caress, still something different altogether. Kekoa wanted to squirm under the weight of those burning jewels, and his cock gave an involuntary yet visible jerk.

Thick fluids coasted along his shaft and rounded his contracting balls; the Colviri overflow of pre-cum was a blessing and a total mess in this case, but he didn't care. "Do you remember what you did to drag me in the first time we made love?" Kekoa's gaze zeroed in on Darien's equally rocky and leaking manhood.

Darien nodded silently, his eyes shimmering with undisguised mischief. He lowered his flute, but Kekoa stopped him, putting a hand on his thigh and shaking his head.

"It's my turn to use liquor as seduction instrument." Kekoa saw the slight tremor over Darien's body. He set his glass on the floor and took Darien's, shifting forward and lapping at the engorged column between muscled legs until it was clean of its own dew but glistening with Kekoa's saliva.

"I'm so effing close," Darien groaned, his hands entangled in Kekoa's long mane.

Kekoa chuckled inwardly; Darien had returned to his custom of not saying 'fuck' since common language had abandoned it. Well, he'd have his glorious mate begging to be fucked with all its letters soon enough. Kekoa hadn't even realized they had been talking in common language and not Colviri until that moment.

Straightening himself a little, Kekoa helped Darien to turn around and knelt on the pristine oval chair: the long curve of his spine concave, his muscular ass up and inviting— heavenly cheeks spread in muted offering. He poured a few drops of liquor over Darien's coccyx and let it trickle over the puckered entrance.

"Purple _byotch_ ," Darien exclaimed as Kekoa tasted the memory of bitter fruits from his fleshy ring. By the sudden movement, he knew Darien was clutching the border of the chair desperately, almost forcing himself to stay there and enjoy, instead of taking control of the situation. Kekoa pumped Darien's cock with one hand; the other served more drops to the lovely cup of muscle.

After a particularly strong pull that made Darien howl and writhe, Kekoa growled, "You ready for me?" And he stood up. Darien didn't use his voice to answer. His hands reached back and grabbed succulent globes, his hole twitching, and his body pushing instinctively toward Kekoa's erection. Another growl. "Say it. I want to hear you." Kekoa just pressed the tip over the opening and took hold of Darien's hips but did not move further.

"Please, FUCK me. Fuck me like you've never fucked me before."

And Kekoa obeyed. Both groaned as Kekoa inched forward and Darien squeezed around him. Soon, all his length was surrounded by heat and desperate contractions. Kekoa slowly withdrew, tormenting himself, tormenting Darien. Moans accompanied the outward slide. A loud cry welcomed his return, intensity building until their bodies crashed against each other with the force of their need like opposite pistons, like colliding suns.

"Masters?" The head android voice floated above them. "Fifty Cygnus ships have entered our system."

They froze, covered in sweat and panting.

Before Kekoa could react and speak, Darien huffed, "By the seven planets." Then he ordered, "Activate all defense protocols. Aim all canons to those whore sons. Have no mercy."

"At once, master Darien."

Kekoa chuckled, pinching hips and sliding all the way back in. "You can be scary."

Darien twisted his body so he could look Kekoa in the eye. "You'll know scary if you don't finish me."

### CHAPTER TEN

**SULE**

STARSHIP LOGANDI

Blessed be the Universe, for even among the confusion of this new life and everything it entails, Alaric Aquinas sleeps every night in my arms.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.04.16

Kiusan Sieve, captain of the _Logandi_ , explained to Alaric why they had been able to be away from any conglomerate for so many centuries. "The rings of asteroids have electromagnetic properties that, in conjunction with similar elements in all twenty seven moons, create a reading equal to a quasar because all these different waves translate in your instruments as gamma rays. We enhance all these natural properties with manufactured devices installed in all the right locations. It's very simple, unless you have our type of equipment, you cannot compute us as a planetary system, you only see the signature of a quasar coming from a dangerous black hole and nobody wants to be close to that."

The captain's quarters were masculine but a little eccentric since the captain was an avid hunter and had many stuffed creatures adorning pedestals or hanging from the ceiling amid the dark tones and utilitarian furniture; perhaps, he was also an accomplished taxidermist. The trophies must be from their moons because the only animals on Mireeh were behemoth sea creatures bigger than this ship.

Alaric laughed, "Of course not. I understand the strategic advantages of such clever cover, but I'm still in awe of the Colviri for choosing an entirely aquatic planet."

"Generations ago someone spoke of creating underwater cities, but the idea didn't stick because nobody wanted to live away from the benefits of the atmosphere. Mirium doesn't appear in water naturally. Besides, the Irads, only living creatures on the planet upon our arrival, welcomed us with open arms, figuratively speaking of course, and we didn't want to disturb them more than it was necessary."

"You mean the giants in your oceans! How do you communicate with them?" Alaric's eyes were wide.

"Telepathically. I can arrange for you to swim with them once you are back in Rennikkah. It's a magical experience, and you'll feel in communion with the planet." Kiusan gave Alaric a disarming smile.

Sule mentally smacked himself, he needed to learn to accept that Alaric was a wonderful person, independently of how handsome he was— that people would always find him interesting. These things didn't have anything to do with sexual attraction; he must grow up and leave the gas-masked rescuer dead on Nova Gaia.

"Still, you don't have mountains or valleys. What's your poetry, your art about? The geography of the planet is artificial."

"We have mountains and lakes on our moons. We have been on this planet for twenty five generations. Do you know how long that is in standard years? What might seem artificial to you, is as natural for us as the stars, the asteroid rings, and the moons that are so very small in the sky because they are far away, irrevocably attached to the gravity of our enormous planet. Even if we didn't have these things in our surroundings, there's always the beauty of the Colviri, the mountains of our men's shoulders, the tender slope of our women's curves, the fierceness of our passion, the voice of our children. Art is not just geography— it's a state of mind."

Hearing these words, Sule understood the sentiment as he was able to appreciate Alaric's frame poetically, the cadence of his voice, the power of his body when they made love.

Kiusan continued his impromptu lecture. "The rotation of Mireeh around our sun is almost three standard years, so we have really long seasons, but we don't have to suffer cold if we don't want to. Although there is an island close to the South Pole that we keep there for those who like the snow and the pleasures it brings. On the other hand, our crop continents can always be in the best place to keep everything growing all year long. The crops are cultivated in separate, artificial continents depending on the type. And as you know, we do lots of recycling and reuse." The captain opened his hands with a semi shrug. "This is all new to you, but for us it is all we know, and we love it. Now, I read in your file that you were a chief gunner with your planet's navy." He eyed Alaric with interest.

"Yes, Captain. And GM here too." Alaric chuckled. "I'm sorry. Sule here was a combat teacher for the Marine Corps."

"Well, I love warriors in love." Kiusan smiled brightly. "What does GM stand for?"

"It's a nickname I gave Sule thanks to a _gas mask_ he used to wear every time he saved my ass back on our home planet."

"Those initials don't translate the same to Colviri. Luckily for you, not all of my people are as inquisitive as me. Nevertheless, I hope we could have time in the future to hear the whole story." Kiusan's eyes moved from Alaric to Sule as if hoping they would just start telling the story at once.

"We sure will, Captain. Do tell, is it possible for us to join the Colviri forces?" Sule asked wanting to change the topic casually and patting Alaric's hand. They sat close together, while the captain lounged slightly to their right as the Colviri custom dictated that you never sat directly in front of another person unless you were at a table.

"I don't see why not. You both have military backgrounds, and if you pass the trials, you'll be accepted immediately."

"Excuse me, Captain." The voice of Commander Roh, second in command of the _Logandi_ , flooded the room. "General Ur needs to speak with you."

"Open the channel, Roh."

A holographic image of General Ur's entire body appeared before them, he was pacing, his hands behind his back, when he realized he was in front of them he stopped. "Oh, hello Sule, Alaric." He nodded to both. They returned the greeting, and he addressed Captain Sieve. "Fifty ships of the Cygnus Federation are on their way to Colvis."

"Does Darien know this?" Sule exclaimed before the other two men could speak.

"He's actually on Colvis. I sent him to spend a couple of hours with his mate, and now this happens." General Ur grimaced.

"What? How is that possible? Colvis is on the other side of the galaxy." Alaric's face was pure shock.

The old general smiled fatherly at Alaric, shaking his head lightly and making his myriad braids oscillate softly. "There is this portal in the palace—"

Captain Sieve cleared his throat, and Alaric jumped, realizing he was hijacking the conversation. "You want us to go there," Kiusan stated calmly.

"Yes. Take other twelve ships with you. That should be enough." General Ur turned back to Alaric and Sule. "I sent Tyke and Sun to Colvis because Darien refuses to come back to Mireeh. He has this strange idea that if he's there the Federation will not attack the planet. Nevertheless, we are on alert here, just in case the Federation has the brilliant idea of investigating _our little quasar_ a bit closer."

They all nodded.

"Unless..." Uncharacteristically, the general seemed to hesitate. "You two rather be teletransported to Rennikkah for safety."

Sule surprised even himself as he took Alaric's hand and offered evenly, "We're going, sir."

ALARIC

STARSHIP LOGANDI

"Are we going to get there in time? We're so far away."

Captain Sieve gave Alaric a strange look, then seemed to realize something. "I keep forgetting you weren't raised Colviri. We'll be there in around ten standard minutes. Our transdimensional generators make everything a jiffy."

"So you just jump from one place to another?" Sule sounded impressed.

"More or less. Once we calibrate the coordinates we break dimensional barriers. Still, transdimensional travel is quicker than moving through material distances.

"And that's the same principle applied to the portal to go to Colvis?" Alaric asked

"Oh, no. That's completely different thing. It has to do with goddess Meha and her mysteries. Although she has appeared in many places all over Mireeh, Colvis is still her planet and, as a race, we need a direct link to it."

"Anyone can use it, this portal I mean?" Something odd shone in Sule's eyes. A thing Alaric had never seen before.

"Basically, yes," Captain Sieve offered. "But, it's heavily guarded. A couple generations ago, a group of fanatics almost broke through because according to them, their _leader_ had received a vision of Meha telling them to go worship her on Colvis." He did air quotation marks around the word leader with his fingers.

"That doesn't make any sense." Alaric shook his head. He wasn't able yet to wrap his head about the fact that the Colviri said generations in the same way humans say decades. The living span of this people was around two and a half thousand standard years, and they called this amount a generation. They spoke of things happening eons ago like they were recent events. Alaric guessed that their concept of time was utterly different due to their longevity. "If she has manifested herself on Mireeh, why ask people to go back to a place they abandoned?"

"It was discovered later that the so-called leader was not just on potent hallucinogens almost around the clock but that he had a colonization agenda." Captain Sieve fought between amusement and disgust. "Everybody knew there was something fishy since even though regular people can receive visions and messages from the goddess directly or through the oracles and rites, really big things always come to the priesthood first."

"Couldn't they abuse that power?" Alaric asked and then remembered what Darien had told him about the goddess berating Sule. It had been a shock. The clergy would not risk Meha's ire if they used her for their own purposes.

Captain Sieve shook his head slowly, his long ivory hair in a single tight braid along his back, his clasped hands covering the end of it as he turned to look at the giant screen behind him. "That's a very dangerous thing to do."

"Ten seconds to arrival point, sir." The helmsman's voice announced. "The Sasta planetoid will hide our position."

"Weapons at the ready in all ships." Captain Sieve turned back to Sule and Alaric, behind him on the bridge. "We'll intercept the Federation fleet before they reach Colvis."

The screen before them which had been sliding from one muted color to another suddenly came to a halt, showing dark space dotted with myriad stars and simply too many warships to be only fifty.

An expletive rose, hissed from Captain Sieve's lips, but his hands remained behind his back, perhaps a little more clenched than before, not something really visible if you weren't expecting it. "How many?" he asked, his voice steady.

"Two hundred and fifty, sir."

"Inform General Ur of this new amount. Request reinforcement, we'll do our best until they get here."

"At once, Captain."

"Let them fire the first shot."

"Thirteen against two hundred and fifty?" Alaric tried his best to not sound alarmed, but the amount of armament they were facing was absolutely terrifying. A fricking shield can only stand so many hits at once. He hoped the Colviri weaponry was as good as they thought it was.

Putting his hand on Alaric's shoulder, the captain grinned and squeezed it. "More like almost two hundred against two hundred and fifty. Remember one of ours equates to fifteen or more of theirs."

The odds weren't that good, but maybe both fleets would just stand there facing each other. Surely the Federation wasn't expecting anyone to defend Colvis, according to what Darien told him regarding the Federation knowledge of the Colviri's existence, which was supposedly nothing. Yet, if he had so many ships facing just thirteen, he'd be counting on a massacre.

"Have faith," Sule whispered in Alaric's ear.

"Are we doing the right, thing?" Alaric asked Sule softly.

"The Universe doesn't make mistakes. If we're here, it is for a reason. It's our war now."

In his heart Alaric knew Meha would approve Sule's words. His connection with her was becoming stronger every day. Darien had given him so much support regarding this; he understood what Alaric was going through, even though he hadn't been possessed too, Darien had felt her presence surrounding and moving him while on Colvis. "I believe this can be done. I just don't have blind faith in me."

The Cygnus Federation fired first, hitting the ship closest to theirs. Sule circled Alaric's shoulder with his arm as the ripple of the impact rattled the _Logandi_. "It doesn't need to be blind."

"Well, Captains, let's defend the planet of our ancestors." Captain Sieve was talking to the twelve captains of this minute fleet through the open frequency. "You know the ratio, go for it." With a thunderous voice and his fist in the air, he added, "MEHA."

To that deafening cry, shots started to emerge from all ships on both sides.

In bevy formation, clusters of Federation warships singled out Colviri ships. The thirteen captains gave as good as they took and soon the enemy was losing vessels, but not at the necessary rate to ensure the survival of their group. Around thirty-five Cygnus ships were down by the time they lost their first.

The Colviri ships were half the size of the Federation's, and even as powerful and quick as they were, they didn't stand a chance if twenty fuckers fired together directly at one. And the Cygnus' heads discovered that was the way to attack after seventy or so of their destroyers were pieces of shattered debris floating aimlessly.

General Ur had already informed they were assembling a group to back them up; nevertheless they were taking too long to arrive. The Colviri were losing ships fast. Kiusan Sieve gave orders with frigid calm, but their prospects were bleak, and soon it was only the _Logandi_ and the _Nana Buruku_ facing a devastated but still dangerous Federation Fleet.

An eerie moment of silence settled between the two forces, both sides preparing for the final clash. "Twenty ships are entering the area, Captain." Commander Roh's voice came out firm but the defeat rang clear.

"Colviri?"

"Cygnus, sir."

Captain Sieve cursed, and turned to Sule and Alaric. "Gentlemen, it has been..."

"Captain, one of the arriving ships has a hailing signal!"

"On screen."

A red-headed man, uncannily similar to Darien appeared, grinning and with an arched eyebrow. "I bet you need some help."

All the Colviri looked confused, they didn't speak common language.

"Who are you?" Sule was the first to react.

"I am Admiral Ben Muselet. I've just committed treason, and my ships are yours to command."

Sule put his hand on Captain Sieve's shoulder. "We are saved." He then smiled at Alaric as he translated Admiral Muselet's words for the captain.

And that smile did wonderful things to Alaric's soul— because everything, even their being on this ship, happened for a reason.

### CHAPTER ELEVEN

**DARIEN**

PLANET COLVIS

"You have outdone yourself, a hero and a traitor in the same fart."

"Oh, shut up and give your big brother a hug." Ben grabbed Darien in a bear hug that would have left him like a broken twig if the Colviri genes hadn't worked their magic on him. "You are so big, what have you been inhaling, huh?"

He hadn't been inhaling or tasting or sucking anything until just recently, but he wasn't going to give those details to his whore of a brother. "None of your business. Are you gonna explain yourself or I do need a truth serum?"

"So dramatic. I'll give you all the details as soon as I eat something. Ship food is the worst."

"We don't have meat here."

In that precise moment, Kekoa, Tyke and Sun entered the waiting room near the hangar where Ben's ship had landed. "Little bro, I see plenty of meaty beef, and I want some."

"Back off, slut. The one in blue is mine." Darien growled, hoping that for once his brother didn't want to eat everything with a cock between its legs.

"Yummy. The other two are scary, but I'd consider that a treat more than a threat."

"The last time you were close to my planet you came to take my mate away. Circumstances are different now. Welcome to Colvis." Instead of taking the hand Ben had proffered, Kekoa gave him a monster hug that would make Ben's worst seem like a girly slap.

Darien enjoyed seeing his brother's feet swing as Kekoa lifted and shook him, before putting him down.

Karma is a byotch.

Ben was a little rattled (he was used to be the biggest man in a room), but he mustered his most brilliant smile and purred, "And these two are?"

"These are Tyke and Sun, Darien's bodyguards."

"My, my," Ben said, flexing his arms like a bodybuilder in a competition. "It's a shame I'm so big and strong I don't need anybody to keep me from trouble."

And that was the thing with manwhores, Ben wasn't the biggest man in the room anymore, but he still pranced like it was his Universe's given right to conquer every available man in the vicinity. Darien didn't roll his eyes, first, because he was a big boy, and second, the man-eater was still his superior and he didn't want to appear insubordinate. Still his mouth was quicker than his brain and restraints. "Sun, Tyke, would you please have sex with my brother and be done with it?"

Kekoa's eyes were enormous thanks to his shock, Ben smirked, apparently enjoying Darien's bluntness, and the Shadows looked at each other, like they always did— in understanding without using words, and said in one voice after a quick inspection of Ben's frame, "Gladly."

"Well," Darien unnecessarily dusted his shirt, "now that _that_ event is settled, stop undressing each other with your eyes, and let's have dinner like decent people."

Ben murmured in Darien's ear as they walked out of the hangar, "I don't know how you manage to be decent with such a hunk of a mate."

Darien lashed, "Perhaps it has to do with the fact that, thanks to our father, I've been away from him for more than a standard year."

Ben for once, miraculously, looked contrite. He lowered his eyes for a second.

"Love?" Kekoa had turned around, extending his hand to Darien. "Be nice to your brother, **ufel**."

The voice was soothing, and the vile that had risen so quick, evaporated instantly. It hadn't been Ben's fault his father had used him as a tool too.

"I'm sorry, big brother."

"I'm sorry too, little bro."

Taking Kekoa's hand, Darien looped his arm around Ben's, and they all walked behind Tyke and Sun.

"So, what's for dinner?" Ben was eyeing the Shadow's asses, encased in black body-hugging _elastia_ uniforms.

"Some veg delicacies," Darien offered, glad Ben had returned to his slutty self because he couldn't handle an apologetic brother for too long. It was just not right.

Sun turned his head without breaking stride, mischief written in big halogen letters on his face, his long white hair gleaming under the corridor's light. "We'll get you meat soon enough."

The ripple of his brother's trembling took Darien by surprise. Then he realized all their conversation had been in common language. That was why Ben had been so flirty, there was no language barrier (not that such a thing would stop the admiral, no siree!).

"When did you two learn common language?" Darien asked.

Tyke responded, "It seemed appropriate." He too had naughtiness inscribed all over him. "All Colviri will do so soon since we're commanded to open to the galaxy." He said he word "open" assessing Ben in the most brutal manner.

Darien suspected the foot-play under the table would be unbearable.

They entered the dining room. After a few courses brought by the house androids, Ben commented casually, "You remember Consul Wunnaous Dullu from Merula 9?"

Tall, wide shoulders, grey silver hair, handsome: totally Ben's type.

Also, one of the men named by Meha while possessing Alaric.

"Yes. What about him?"

"I briefly _dated_ him, and one night something about Planet X slipped out of him after an orgasm-induced confessional."

The Shadows had puzzled faces.

"In my few communications with Ben while I was doing archeological research here before I met the Guardian, I called Colvis, Planet X. In the Federation records it is called Planet XZ345," Darien explained.

"As if it were any random asteroid," Kekoa's voice came out hard. He'd never liked that name. It was a grudge he still held against the Federation (among other things, of course).

"What else did you learn during this _confessional_?" Sun seemed more interested in hearing Ben speaking than in his actual answer.

"He said something about the lengths the Federation was prepared to go to colonize Planet X. I'm sorry, Colvis. He told me these things thinking they might make him look fascinating, as if I was interested in his babbling."

"I guess you certainly were after that." Tyke arched an eyebrow with a chuckle.

"Yes. It didn't sit right with me why they had to send my entire fleet to pick Darien up. Father never had the courage to tell me the real reason." Ben narrowed his eyes. "True. The Federation thought the planet was uninhabited, but after they found out Kekoa was here, even alone as he is, the whole thing turned from colonization to invasion. This, no matter how you put it, is wrong; thus I did some digging on my own. Your ancient temples are the key."

"That's how you ended up here then." Something strange was growing in Darien's stomach, and he didn't like it. If he heard it all, it would make it a death sentence for his father.

"Uh-huh. The info in the temples gave the Federation a clue of the magnitude of the weapons they could accomplish if they had time to analyze them in detail. My suspicions were confirmed when the heads sent so many warships to these coordinates without a logical explanation. Luckily for you, with my clearance I decoded the orders swiftly and took a side. I contacted those captains I knew were loyal to me and who will side with honor. I don't want to be part of a group that doesn't respect other's sovereignty." Ben sported such a disgusted look the flirty man was miles away. He turned to Darien's mate. "I have to say Kekoa, what were the Colviri thinking when they decided to etch those diagrams on the walls?"

This appeared to amuse Kekoa. "We were not expecting a warmongering race of humans to try to use that knowledge to conquer others eons later. It was for our own benefit as a reminder of the power of Meha and how her wisdom protected us."

Ben grimaced.

"It's been a long time since so many people have been stationed on Colvis. We need to make sure all are being taken care of. I want to visit them tomorrow, Ben." Kekoa said, sobering up.

"Glad you said tomorrow because tonight I have other plans." Ben's smirk reminded Darien why he didn't like to be around his brother when available men were within arm's reach.

The Shadows nodded with the same disgusting smirks; the only thing missing was them licking their lips.

Cleaning his mouth with a handkerchief nonchalantly, Ben added, "I also discovered why the Federation took five standard years to send a rescue party to Nova Gaia."

"What?" Was there more than the confiscation of weaponry and the project of a concentration camp?

"Yeah, but I'll tell you about that some other time. I have business to attend." And Ben stood up and beckoned Tyke and Sun, crocking a massive index finger.

Horny piece of shit.

The Shadows followed Ben like _kettir_ after a bouncy toy.

"Did you notice they didn't even ask to be dismissed?" Kekoa chuckled.

"They deserve a severe dressing-down. That wasn't very _protective_ of them." His lover's humor lifted Darien's sulky mood instantly.

"I'm sure your brother will take care of undressing them... Since you're here with me you don't really need bodyguards."

"You're the best boss ever."

"I know."

KEKOA

PLANET COLVIS

So this is Alaric, the man Meha chose to be her vessel.

Alaric and his lover, Sule, descended from the teleportation platform. Both men were lean with efficient muscles made from hard work and not for show. Sule was the taller and visibly older of the two and openly protective of his companion. Darien embraced them fondly, and Kekoa noticed he purposely embraced Sule first, although Alaric had extended his arms before. Sule returned the hug but with less enthusiasm than Alaric.

Darien walked them to where Kekoa awaited. "Welcome, gentlemen," Kekoa said. "I apologize for not bringing you sooner, but we try not to have that many guests at the same time underground." He offered his hand to each in turn, following Darien's pattern.

"We are more than aware of your reclusive situation, Guardian." Sule had a strong grip and cunning eyes.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Guardian. You're a legend on Mireeh. I'm just so glad Darien is here with you. He missed you so much." Alaric grasped Kekoa's hand in both of his.

"I am very glad too, Pan Alaric. I'm happy also to know that Darien has found a friend in you."

This brought a slight coloring to Alaric's cheeks.

"But please, call me Kekoa. Now that you're under the protection of Darien, you're part of my life too, and we will all be friends," he said this looking very directly at Sule— not a challenge but a reminder.

Sule inclined his head minutely, acknowledging the hint.

From the teleportation area, they strolled to a balcony facing the vegetable garden and orchard. Androids worked in the wide expanse. Hovering carts brimming with fruits edged toward the main building.

"The Colviri really know how to work with plants. This is magnificent. I can't believe we're underground." Alaric was leaning over the rail, almost jumping in his excitement.

Alaric's position brought to Kekoa's memory one of his first times alone with Darien, and his body stirred with need and heat. It would not be appropriate to sport a hard-on just now. What would his guests think of him? He cleared his throat, and Darien caught his discomfort, those burning eyes zeroing in on his crotch. That didn't help. "Yes, you could say we have a fertile hand."

"I'm fascinated by your androids. They look positively human." Sule wrapped an arm around Alaric and pulled him, steering him away from the rail.

Kekoa chuckled. "I don't think our engineers had your race in mind when they modeled our androids. They looked like that long before the first humans came to dig on Colvis. Although, you're not the first race that came to investigate the ruins."

"I didn't know that," Darien said, and his baffled face was simply adorable.

For reasons Kekoa couldn't fathom, being around Sule and Alaric made him more in tune to Darien's presence, and it was truly distracting. "Twice already people had come, not only to explore but had tried to conquer the planet."

The three humans gasped. "That's terrible," Alaric blurted.

With a smile, Kekoa dismissed it. "The power we have on Colvis will always keep any intruders at bay. When they realize it's not an easy feat, they go away to never return."

"Luckily, thanks to Admiral Muselet, what was left of the armada the Federation sent was obliterated. Seems ironic Colvis was saved by the same race trying to control it." Sule grimaced.

Kekoa agreed with Sule, but didn't say anything, waiting to see where this line of thought was heading. He kept his expression neutral.

"Sule, those were humans killed." Alaric chided his lover.

"As well as Colviri. Don't you see we were trained to accept the deaths of our enemies? The Colviri are our people now, there's no changing that fact." Sule patted Alaric's hand, and the younger man nodded, understanding.

Darien rested his head on Kekoa's shoulder.

"Power fathers envy, and envy fathers war. We knew this day would come, since what happens twice always happens a third time." Kekoa stroked Darien's arm.

Alaric looked at Kekoa with a hopeful countenance. "I hope the Federation is done with Colvis then."

"I'm sorry, sweet Alaric, something in my gut tells me this is far from over."

The head android came to view. "Master?"

"Yes?"

"The helmets are here."

"Good. Take them to the teleportation bay and send them out."

"At once," said the head android, retracing his steps.

Both Alaric and Darien asked at the same time, "Helmets?"

"Ben and I had a conversation, and we decided that we needed volunteers to learn Colviri in each of his ships, so in the event of a new attack from the Federation, the communication between our forces was expedited. We don't know how much time we have. A portal to Mireeh has practical uses, you know?" Kekoa squeezed Darien but his eyes were on the other two. "If you want to go back to Mireeh, the portal is at your disposal."

"What happens twice, happens a third time," Sule murmured.

"You were offered this option before?" Darien sounded amused.

Sule shrugged a little. "Yes, by General Ur. So I'm mentally prepared because it would happen again."

"Guardian, we appreciate your concern, but this situation is also ours now." Alaric smiled. "What we need to do is learn how to handle the weapons on your ships to be helpful and, since we already know Colviri, we can be liaisons too."

"That can be arranged. These are special circumstances." Kekoa agreed.

After Ben had helped them to defeat the Cygnus Federation remnant, the reinforcement sent by Ur arrived, and a mixed force currently encircled Colvis.

"I'll talk to Captain Sieve. I take it you'll be comfortable with him."

"Thank you." Alaric and Sule seemed satisfied with the opportunity.

"Wouldn't you be better aboard one of my brother's ships?"

"They are Colviri now, **ufel**." Kekoa kissed Darien's temple.

### CHAPTER TWELVE

**SULE**

PLANET COLVIS

Blessed be the Universe, for Alaric Aquinas and I have found a home, and we are ready to defend the Colviri, who had embraced us.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.05.03

Kekoa had taken them to offer a sacrifice to Meha. If seeing the goddess possess Alaric had been shocking, witnessing the magic involved in her rites was overwhelming. Walls turning into an altar, a dagger emerging from the breast of her statue, the floating sacrificial offering, how it had been devoured by something similar to a black hole. It all was petrifying and, at the same time, exhilarating.

Nova Gaians believed in the Universe as a creative and expansive force but based on science and not attributing to it anthropomorphic characteristics. Nevertheless, they were not closed to supernatural phenomena because they obviously didn't have the answers to all the mysteries of the Universe. Uncharted territory still existed and always would.

Alaric and Sule had also been training with the crew of the _Logandi_ for the past couple of weeks, and the atmosphere was becoming more and more relaxed as days passed. Deep in his heart, Sule hoped the Federation had finally decided to leave Colvis alone and to pursue other endeavors along the galaxy.

A third of the Colviri navy had been moved to surround Meha's planet since they discovered, thanks to Admiral Muselet, that the federation had not just learned about the magnitude of the weapons concealed on it, but also the probable location of Mireeh via the tracker the guardian had implanted in Darien without his knowledge (and that was a fight Sule had certainly been glad not to witness). The Cygnus scientists found the tracker and used it for their own benefit, patiently waiting for Kekoa to do something stupid and gain information from it. The moment Darien had disappeared into the Mobiri sector's black hole, they knew there was something fishy about it and sent a party to survey the area. The admiral had deserted before the confirmation of their suspicions, but by the way their hounds were sniffing around, it was a matter of time.

Nonetheless, among all these things, there was something that offended Sule more than anything else. "I can't believe the Federation is planning on turning Nova Gaia into a concentration camp," he said as his log jumped into his Novan ring.

"I know. It's preposterous. There's not even a war going on currently." Alaric circled Sule's neck. "I mean this thing between the Federation and the Colviri doesn't look like something that might leave war prisoners behind. I know they are wondering about Mireeh, but their main focus is clearly Colvis and its secrets."

"And after that? Don't you realize that if they unleash the knowledge preserved here, no one in the Universe is safe?"

Alaric's shudder was like a physical blow to Sule. He turned Alaric around and sat him on his lap. Alaric rested his head over Sule's chest, caressing the hair there with one hand softly. "I hope to Universe they desist and leave Colvis alone."

Sule hoped the same. He kissed the hair on top of Alaric's head. "Let's sleep. We have an early return to the _Logandi_ tomorrow."

"It was nice to spend time with Darien and Kekoa."

They left the desk and moved to the large bed in one of Kekoa's subterranean base guest's rooms, holding hands. Sule reached the bed backward and pulled Alaric into an embrace as he reclined over the burgundy coverlet. He gave Alaric a peck on the nose. "They are good people."

"So cold." Alaric chuckled. " _'They are good people,'_ " he said in a deeper voice, mocking Sule. "You should have warmed to them already."

"I have," Sule murmured removing a hank of hair from Alaric's brow. "And I'm glad they came to our lives. Thanks to them I've learned a lot about myself."

"Well, I deserve some credit too. If I hadn't been a clumsy fart back home we wouldn't be here like this."

"You, sir, are absolutely correct." Sule pulled Alaric down, kissing him deeply.

Their kiss was becoming more heated by the second when the melodic voice of the head android floated above them. "Sule and Alaric, sirs, your presence is required in the command room posthaste."

Alaric groaned.

"It must be important." Sule untangled himself from Alaric and started picking clothes to dress.

"It better be. I was starting to forget the planetary mess," Alaric growled as he started to dress too.

Seven standard minutes later, they found Kekoa and Darien, both with their hands clasped behind their backs, facing a giant screen that dominated the command room. It showed too many ships (Sule recognized immediately) to be a good thing.

"They are coming," Darien commented, his voice conveying no emotion.

"We need to go back to the _Logandi_ at once." Alaric put a hand on Darien's shoulder and squeezed it.

Sule felt glad when the gesture didn't affect him. Thank Universe he was done with being a jealous moron.

"No." Kekoa turned to face them. "You two are coming with us. I'll man my own ship, and something tells me you need to be by our side." Determination shone powerfully in those strange, glowing, blue eyes.

Nodding, Sule offered, "Let's get ready then and fight for Meha's planet." Purpose filled him as he saw Alaric's approving smile.

Kekoa put heavy hands on Sule and Alaric's shoulders. "Let's fight, warriors."

ALARIC

STARSHIP JIOLMU

"What I don't understand is why doesn't Meha destroy your enemies?"

Aboard the Kekoa's warship, they were ready to face the Cygnus Federation massive armada.

"'Your mother should not birth your children. Your father should not beget them.' Parents are guides, strongholds, safe havens. You must go to battle on your own and discover if you are capable with your own hands. Meha has given us the tools to defend ourselves. It's up to us to meet the challenge and come out victorious," Kekoa answered Alaric.

From that perspective it made sense, but a little _Deus ex machina_ was never bad, right?

Darien snorted and Sule, Kekoa, and Alaric turned to look at him. "I'm sorry. I saw Sule's expression like he was waiting for us to offer you two to go back to Mireeh, since what happens twice is meant to happen thrice. It was just too much." He snickered.

Sule smiled softly. "Nothing escapes you, does it?"

"I'm certainly glad we're able to have these light moments right now. We know what's at stake here." Darien grimaced, his eyes moving back toward the screen.

As much as the _Jiolmu_ was an older version compared to the other ships in the Colviri fleet, Kekoa's personal warship was impressive and needed a lot less people to manage it. The Guardian had compared it to a petite woman with a voracious appetite; which had Alaric giggling like a school boy when he heard it. "I didn't know Tyke and Sun had rank to command warships," he said.

"Yes. They both are captains who graciously accepted to become my mate's Shadows." Kekoa looked at Darien with the same disarming expression Sule usually regaled Alaric.

Darien had confided to Alaric that the Shadows also used to be Kekoa's sex playthings, and that they had hoped for him to be the third in their triple-mating, only to discover that he belonged to somebody else. Alaric wondered if he would have been as graceful as Darien regarding that situation.

"Ben would say I blackmailed General Ur to put them on their own ships, away from him, just to spoil his party." Darien almost rolled his eyes.

"And did you?" asked Sule, doing a very poor job at disguising his amusement.

"I am not going answer that." Darien rolled his shoulders, looking at anything but at Sule. He flailed his arms a little when Kekoa roughly pulled him toward that big body.

"You wouldn't do that to the admiral, would you, love?" Kekoa uttered with a chuckle.

Darien looked upward, asking a higher power for patience or perhaps endurance. "You people seem to think I dislike my own brother."

"Master, we received confirmation of the Federation position. They are entering our system," the communications android informed them.

Only two other planets and a small planetoid were part of the binary star planetary system of Colvis; that meant their enemies would be at their door very soon.

"Contact the block chiefs," commanded Kekoa.

"At once, master."

The blackness of outer space was replaced by the twenty faces of the captains commanding the Colviri blocks, each a hundred ships unit. Admiral Muselet and Tyke and Sun were among them.

"Gentlemen," Kekoa spoke in Colviri, "we're about to send a message to the Cygnus Federation. A terrible and final message. We will not wait for them to attack this time. We will not cower or be passive. As soon as they are within range, we shoot to annihilate. We show them the power of the Colviri by the grace of Meha." Kekoa took Darien's hand with his left, brought it up to his lips and kissed it. "Admiral Muselet, you have the blessing of our Mother, defend your new people and make the Colviri proud of counting you as a brother, not just by blood, but by fire as well."

"I'll defend my new family with my arms, with my heart, with my soul," said Ben Muselet with such a perfect Colviri inflection that he left Alaric in awe.

Kekoa nodded. "Time to put an end to this. Meha!" he yelled, bringing his right arm up.

A war cry repeated on the two thousand ships surrounding Colvis.

As soon as the twenty faces disappeared from the screen, the massive Cygnus Federation Fleet emerged with uncountable ships.

"What's the ratio?" asked Kekoa.

"Ten to one, sir. Their force has not dispersed around the planet. Their concentration is heading our way." The android seemed to hesitate. "Do you want me to contact the other blocks and bring them this way?"

"Let's see how we fend for ourselves first."

"Yes, master."

Sule held Alaric's hand but spoke to Kekoa. "I think is time we get to our battle stations."

Kekoa shook his head. "Stay with us on the bridge. Let the androids handle the weapons."

"We want to help. It's our battle too," Alaric offered, not happy with the child-like quality of his voice.

"Your presence here helps my mate. That's more important right now."

"Thank you," said Darien softly and kissed Kekoa's cheek.

A squeeze in his hand made Alaric look at Sule.

"He's right," Sule offered with a little smile. That way we are close to each other too." Since their positions as gunners would have separated them.

Alaric nodded. "Okay."

On the screen the seemingly random patter of the approaching fleet swiftly turned into many bevy formations. The faces of five block chiefs appeared on the lower area of the screen. "We await your orders, Guardian."

Kekoa smirked. "We'll shoot together." They agreed with bobbing heads, and their images retreated. "Helmsman," Kekoa addressed the android steering the warship, "position _Jiolmu_ lower than the tip of the first bevy group in a 45 degree angle."

"Yes, master."

The five blocks around _Jiolmu_ followed the same maneuver, aiming at their respective targets.

Two standard minutes later, the flag ship of the closest group was within range, and Kekoa yelled, "Fire."

Five hundred ships fired at the same time.

And the massacre began.

### CHAPTER THIRTEEN

**DARIEN**

STARSHIP JIOLMU

Apparently we're not strong enough to deserve to keep Colvis.

One standard hour into battle, and the Colviri forces had been reduced to a mere ten percent. Thank Meha Ben, Tyke, and Sun were still alive and with some warships under their command. Sule and Alaric had been devastated when the _Logandi_ had been destroyed. They were forging a deep connection with Captain Kiusan Sieve.

They did damage to the Cygnus Federation Fleet but it hadn't been enough to demolish the enemy. Now with only two hundred and one warships functioning, the possibility of success was not just vague but frankly null. At least, if they were about to die, Darien was beside his mate, and that was the only thing that really mattered to him.

Sensing his discomfort, Kekoa put a finger under Darien's chin and forced him to look into Kekoa's iridescent cobalt eyes. "Not all is lost."

"I cannot fathom a way out of this."

"Reinforcement is coming."

"Even with transdimensional travel they won't be here in time to save us," Darien whispered with a grimace.

They were circling the planet, keeping out-of-range distance from the Federation Fleet, but they couldn't stay that way forever. The enemy was bound to catch them or start descending on the planet to claim it as theirs.

The remnant of warships had been distributed between Ben and Tyke and Sun. The three chiefs emerged on the screen. Sun spoke, "Your orders, Guardian?"

"We wait for our brothers and sisters. We've fought to the best of our abilities. Now we are in the hands of Meha until they come. Just move and keep your distance."

They agreed, and their images dissolved, leaving the menacing panorama on the enemy ships on their heels.

Sule and Alaric stood behind the empty captain chair, leaning on a semi-circle rail, when Alaric wailed and landed on his knees with his hands on his temples as if his head was exploding. Sule knelt beside him instantly, trying to find out what was happening. Alaric became silent and straightened himself up, as if nothing had happened, but his demeanor had changed and the expression he bore was unquestionable.

Meha was among their children.

She moved toward Kekoa, Alaric's body almost floating.

Kekoa went to one knee and put a hand over his heart. **"Wo mioje,"** he said reverently.

" **Wo oyu, wo gemvoej."** Meha put a hand over Kekoa's head and softly caressed it.

Still on his knee, his head down, Kekoa spread his hands in an imploring gesture. **"Citi nezzevu, buvmel bimvujemwi?"**

" **Bum ilu hoji."** She pulled his chin up, using almost the same gesture Kekoa had used on Darien just moments before. **"Coijil ni, bimu ca rumepuj lagmi bijlejvu siwitel nezzevu."** She shook her head. **"Ca imil iz wiyum."** She helped him to stand up and held his shoulders. It was impressive how she made Alaric seem even taller than Kekoa. **"O etime ci mizihu vi ca remfe."**

Sule looked at Darien, and Darien shrugged. He was as lost to their conversation as Sule was. There was no way to do anything until the goddess addressed them directly or allowed Kekoa to translate, which she didn't seem inclined to do.

" **Vilcmadi Colvis."**

Kekoa's face became a mask of pure horror. "No, mother, please." He slipped in common language.

Meha shook him. **"Il ze ajore numwe vi cimwojem ruj ilcu beme loirbmi."**

What was she telling Kekoa to do with the planet that his mate seemed so terrified? Was she telling him to relinquish the planet? It couldn't be.

" **Ij Mireeh zul umerazul rujgowej ilci wijleyi ezul Dre."**

Well, Darien understood "Mireeh" and "Dre," which was the priests. By the seven planets, curiosity was killing him, but, beyond that, it was heartbreaking to see Kekoa almost reduced to a frightened child. His body trembled in Meha's hands as if he were holding back sobs.

" **Jevoi ci tazbeme bumsi ilwo umvij,"** the goddess said with a soft smile, and Kekoa nodded resigned. She turned to look at Darien. **"Darhen."** She extended one hand to him.

Darien went willingly. She took his hand and placed it over Kekoa's hand and closed them together. **"Alcivil vulwi ruwbezerij, wejcijfewi umfazzule."** She left their hands united and turned to Sule. **"Solej."**

Sule reluctantly moved toward her and knelt humbly. "Mother."

Meha took Sule by his arms and made him stand; she kissed him on the forehead and said, **"Helbum kaij rewoju, lofai elo."** A gentle grin and an arched eyebrow accompanied her words. She released him and spoke to Kekoa, **"Ju owbumce vujvi, du loiwbimi bumuciyu ewo baikuzu."**

Tears slowly ran down Kekoa's cheeks. **"Duli, wo mioje,"** he said and bent to touch her feet. **"Kijvorijul."**

Darien understood this action because he had seen people do this to the priests back on Mireeh; Kekoa was asking for her blessing.

" **Kijvofuci,"** she intoned, putting her hand over Kekoa's head. She then looked in turn to Sule and Darien, nodding her head in apparent approval. A moment later, Alaric's body trembled, and he fell to the floor, a helpless mass.

Sule sprang to support his lover, cradling Alaric in his arms and making cooing sounds as he gently patted pallid cheeks.

"What just happened?" Darien asked.

"Meha possessed Alaric." But Kekoa's answer seemed more to gain time than to state what was already obvious.

Kekoa's downcast expression was too hurtful to snap at him for dodging the question like that. Darien touched a strong arm and asked quietly, "She ordered you to give up Colvis?"

Shaking his head, Kekoa covered his face with one hand, and the tremor of his body was like a punch, a kick, and a lash (in one single movement) to Darien. Still no answer.

"Guardian, whatever she told you, you must comply." Darien embraced his mate and held him hard.

"I know, but it is not easy."

Kekoa's dejected tone made Darien's eyes water, but he needed to be solid ground and support Colvis's Guardian. "It doesn't matter. It needs to be done. You must accept her wisdom."

It was Kekoa's turn to squeeze Darien almost to the point of pain. He spoke as if pronouncing a death sentence, "She ordered to destroy the planet."

KEKOA

STARSHIP JIOLMU

The simultaneous gasp of the three humans felt like a slap.

It brought Kekoa back to his senses.

Darien was right. As Guardian, it was his duty to accept Meha's wisdom. It was her planet after all.

"Can you even do that?" Sule asked as he helped Alaric to his feet.

Darien looked at Kekoa with so much disbelief written on his face that it was impossible not to feel the size of a toenail. Kekoa shrugged the awful sensation away, and grinned at his mate. "You just told me to follow her orders." He turned to Sule and Alaric. "Yes, from the inside. The energy of all our underground complexes comes from the planet core. If we detonate all the reactors together the chain reaction would blow Colvis to smithereens."

"Meha talked to him through me, didn't she?" Alaric asked Sule.

Sule nodded. "What bothers me the most is that you don't remember anything once she's gone."

"It would be really messed up to remember telling the Guardian to destroy the planet," Alaric offered with a sheepish little smile.

"True," Sule agreed. "What now?" he asked Kekoa.

"We alert General Ur and the blocks." He turned to the communications android. "Put the head android through."

"At once, master." But what came on the screen was General Ur instead.

"The Queen is devastated."

So Meha's sentence has reached the priests already.

Ur looked very disgruntled himself. "What's the plan now?" he asked.

"Recall the back up. There's no point for it now."

"But they are twenty standard minutes from your position."

"We don't need to risk more lives. Not with what I'm planning to do."

The general shook his head and sighed. "I'll contact them and tell them to turn around."

"I'm going to send all my androids through the portal, General Ur. Make sure they are taken care of."

"Consider it done."

"Let me handle this side of the procedures." Kekoa sighed. "We'll be on Mireeh soon."

"May Meha—"

Kekoa stopped Ur, lifting his hand and shaking his head. "No need for that, general. This is hard enough as it is."

"All right. I'll be here to give you a hug when you arrive."

"Thank you."

"Shouldn't you organize with the blocks first?" Darien entwined their fingers and squeezed.

"I need to have the androids setting the bombs first. It's not a quick process." Kekoa saw Alaric swaying in Sule's arms. "Is he okay?"

Alaric shrugged away from Sule. "I am. This is just beyond sad. To destroy a planet so your enemy doesn't get his prize. Too much, really."

Sule embraced his reluctant lover. "Everything happens for a reason."

"I know, and I'm pretty sure Meha knows what she's doing. That doesn't mean we have to throw a party."

Darien sighed. "Not another dawn on Planet X."

"What was that?" Sule asked.

"I used to call Colvis, Planet X, before I started loving it. It was where I found love at the end. It's an effing _tragesty_."

They all looked at him askance.

"What? Nobody says fuck anymore."

"We do," Alaric offered.

"Purple _byotch_ purists," Darien hissed under his breath.

This made Kekoa chuckle. Soon they'd have a life together where he could make Darien get used to the word "fuck" and all its inflections. But first he needed to destroy the planet he had been guarding since he became an adult, more than five hundred years ago.

"Communications, the head android."

"Why save the androids?" Alaric asked.

"They may not have souls, but they have taken care of me since I became Guardian. They deserve my gratitude. They are not just machines. I couldn't bear to see them destroyed with the planet."

"You're a softie." Darien gave Kekoa a kiss on the cheek.

"I am grateful."

The head android appeared on the screen. "Yes, master?"

"Execute command forty-nine, sixty-six, thirteen, seventeen, thirty-nine. Set time for eighty standard minutes."

"Did you have this as a contingency plan?" Sule's eyes were big, consternation clear.

"No. It's the order and combination of numbers that would make them rewire the reactors to become bombs." Kekoa addressed the head android again. "Once you finished those commands take all the androids to the portal and proceed to Mireeh."

"As you wish, master."

"Communications, contact the blocks now." Kekoa ordered.

The Shadows and Ben emerged on the screen. Ben was the first to speak, "Finally, Guardian. Are we ready to kick some ass?"

Darien snorted beside Kekoa.

Tyke and Sun only shook their heads; their eyes lowered and half smiles adorning their faces. They were truly smitten with Darien's big brother.

"Not in the way you think."

Three heads nodded, awaiting orders.

"Ben, contact your captains and organize evacuation of your block to Tyke and Sun ships. Set all your ships in auto-pilot en route to engage the Federation Fleet. Tyke and Sun, once you have teletransported all the crews, set course to Mireeh and transdimension the fuck out of here. Meha ordered to destroy Colvis, and you have fifty standard minutes to be out of the explosion range."

"Yes, Guardian," Sun and Tyke said in unison.

With eyes like plates, Ben seemed baffled for a moment, then a mischievous grin bubbled up. "You're going to destroy the fleet with the explosion!" He seemed to remember his status as admiral and sobered up. "I like it."

"Enough kick for you?" Kekoa asked, mirroring Ben's grin.

"Absolutely."

All three chiefs disappeared.

"What about us?" Alaric moved closer to Darien and Kekoa. "Are we going to transdimension too?"

"No, Alaric. It would be a disservice not to witness the destruction of my charge and say good-bye."

"The destruction of your home," Sule murmured softly.

"Dear Sule, my true home is wherever Darien is." Besides, he had been relieved of his Guardian's responsibilities by the owner of the planet herself.

### CHAPTER FOURTEEN

**ALARIC**

STARSHIP JIOLMU

They jumped out of the fleet's range in a maneuver that left Alaric dizzy, and returned to wait for the explosion at a safe distance.

"The portal has been sealed," said General Ur on the screen with excruciating finality.

"Thank you."

Alaric was not able to decipher Kekoa's tone when he uttered those two words. As he had said before, they would accept the command of the goddess, but it was impossible to be cheerful about it. The atmosphere within the ship was one of resignation with an unhealthy dose of impotence.

"Just a few more standard minutes now." General Ur's voice almost cracked. "I'll leave you to it. See you soon, my son." His image dissolved, and the saffron orb of Colvis replaced him.

Kekoa had been on his feet throughout the battle, moving around and giving orders, and after that as he organized the evacuation of the blocks and everything else. Now he was on the captain's chair, in a very defeated position with Darien knelt beside him, holding his hand.

"Look," Sule said gently, pointing at the screen. Minuscule balls of fire were popping.

"That's not it." Kekoa's voice was frankly from the grave. "Those are the empty ships colliding with the Federation Fleet or being destroyed by it."

Right, the decoys.

Three or four heartbeats later, light emerged from fractures breaking all over the surface of Colvis. As the fractures became larger, the light shone brighter and soon the planet was expanding and exploding. The burst engulfed the Cygnus Federation's vessels, ending with it their obsession with Meha's planet.

"I would never be able to erase this from my fricking memory." Alaric hid his face on Sule's chest. A drop of water landed on his cheek, he looked up and saw tears running down Sule's face. Sule pulled Alaric's head down to his chest, and they both trembled in despair.

"Darien," Sule whispered after several heartbeats.

Alaric moved his face toward the captain's chair and found Darien sobbing uncontrollably over Kekoa's lap. Kekoa only caressed the red head mechanically with an almost catatonic countenance, eyes lost but fixed on the floating debris— only remnants of Colvis.

"Should I?" Alaric stared at Sule at arm's length without breaking their embrace.

"Yes."

Quietly, Alaric left Sule and walked slowly to kneel and put his arms around Darien, shaken by Darien's muffled sobs. Alaric rested his head on a broad shoulder. He didn't know what words could ease their pain. A hand patted him, and he looked up to find Kekoa nodding at him encouragingly, approval visible through his sadness.

"Your orders, master," the android helmsman asked.

Kekoa took a deep breath. "Take us to the Mobiri sector, but do not transdimension, jump. Let's take the long road."

"At once, master."

Darien raised his head. "Why? Don't you want to be on Mireeh as soon as possible?" He sniffled.

"Yes, love, but I need to take off the tracker you're carrying first."

Alaric felt Darien stiffen.

Uh-huh. That is not a good sign.

"Right. The tracker you installed without my consent."

"It was for your protection." Kekoa's sheepish grimace would have been comical under other circumstances.

"I wasn't a child when we met. You didn't need to go behind my back to protect me!"

Slowly, Alaric disengaged from Darien, whose voice had been rising with each syllable. He heard Kekoa growl, and it was a frightening sound.

"You would have never accepted it, and you know it." Both men were getting to their feet and in each other's faces.

Sule did a hand gesture, calling Alaric to his side and out of the line of fire.

"You could have made me see reason!"

"Are you fucking serious?" Kekoa hissed, took Darien by the arms and joggled him. "We just blew our planet. Do we really need to have this argument right now?"

This reined Darien in; he unclenched his fist and sagged in Kekoa's hold. "I'm an ass."

Kekoa encircled Darien and rubbed his hand up and down Darien's back. "No. This is a raw moment. Your mind is just looking for a diversion. Let's get that tracker out of you and go home."

"Okay..."

"Sule, Alaric, please wait here," Kekoa told them.

They nodded.

Darien and Kekoa left the bridge hand in hand.

"Like a rollercoaster, huh?" Sule commented.

"Good thing we're so level-headed." Alaric pursed his lips.

"Mister Berserk, really?"

"I don't go berserk at you, do I?"

"'Cause I haven't given you a reason." Sule chuckled.

Alaric gave him a playful glare. "And you'd better not."

Sule shuddered mockingly. "Never."

Forty-five standard minutes later, Kekoa and Darien returned to the bridge. Not two seconds after their entrance the communications android announced, "Consul Muselet requests a conference, master."

After looking in confusion at Darien for a heartbeat, Kekoa ordered, "Put him through."

"I want my sons back." An older, very angry version of Darien appeared on screen.

"Surrender then."

"Never. This is not over Wana'ao."

"I just destroyed the planet of my ancestors. What makes you think I will not destroy you if you come after my family again?"

"I will end you."

"I don't have to listen to your booyu crap." Kekoa ended the communication by abruptly punching a key on a panel Alaric hadn't given much attention.

"That was rough," Darien said.

"He'd better stay away from the Colviri if he wants to live."

"I'm going to have to make peace with the fact that we might need to hunt him down and finish him." Darien wore a sad grimace.

"I know. It's hard."

"He brought this on himself," Darien stated matter-of-factly

Listening to this, Alaric gave thanks to Universe he had had normal parents and caressed the little vial with his family painting over his chest.

SULE

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

Blessed be the Universe, for Alaric Aquinas and I are together in a new home, surrounded by friends.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.06.07

Sule looked at the stretching form of Alaric, far, far away in their bed. Their quarters within the palace were not far from Darien and Kekoa's, and in less than five standard hours they would go to the mayor temple for their friends' wedding, but, before that, they'd have a nice intimate breakfast with them. Sule hit the escape key, and the holographic keyboard jumped into his Novan ring.

He moved from the desk toward their bed after a glance through their oval window, where the first rays of a new day made Rennikkah start to shine as they touched its tall, majestic buildings. "Come on, stop stretching like a cat and get ready."

Alaric stopped in mid-stretch and opened one eye. "Why are you dressed so early?"

"Don't you remember what day is today?"

"Huh?"

"Breakfast. Temple. Wedding." Sule counted with his fingers as he climbed on the bed, advancing on his knees to tickle Alaric.

"Oh sweet Meha!" Alaric disentangled himself from the covers and jumped, a frantic whirlwind picking things up in his way to the bathroom.

Almost.

They sat with Darien and Kekoa around a circular table a while later, Kekoa's androids from Colvis coming and going with delicious and fragrant dishes.

"So the treaty is finished," Sule commented as he poured syrup over his _dandaloos_. For whatever reason Darien had been avoiding any talk regarding the wedding so they indulged him.

"Yes. The Federation ceded Nova Gaia to the Colviri as repayment for the destruction of Colvis," Kekoa confirmed with a nod and a hand gesture asking for the syrup.

"So many deceptions surfaced during the talks. My father had so many intrigues set in so many places, rotten things will spring unexpectedly everywhere for a long time. It's sad the Federation has forgotten the principles it was founded on."

Sule couldn't quite decipher Darien's expression after these words. He thought he saw resignation, contempt, and sadness in a mixture that shouldn't be on a man's face on his wedding day.

"What do you mean?" Alaric asked.

"Do you know why the symbol of the Cygnus Federation is a swan?" Darien responded.

"Cygnus means swan in an old Terran language." Alaric answered with a smile.

"Yes, but beyond that because the swan symbolizes "Viveka." Prudence and discrimination between the good and the bad or between the eternal and the transient. The two heads represent the ability to look in more than one direction to discern options."

" _Hamsah shwetah, bakah shwetah, kah bhedah hamsa bakayo?"_ Sule recited.

"The swan is white, the crane is white, so how to differentiate between them?" Darien translated.

" _Neeraksheera viveketu, Hamsah hamsah, bakah bakah!"_ Sule added.

"With the milk-water test, the swan is proven swan, the crane is proven crane!" Darien nodded toward Alaric. "Only the swan is able to drink the milk without drinking the water."

"Oh." Alaric's eyes were lake plates.

"That lesson was in Sanskrit, a language even older than Latin from where the word Cygnus comes from." Darien grinned softly.

Alaric shook his head but didn't roll his eyes. "I'm so bad with tongues, especially dead ones." He then shrugged and continued eating.

Those words brought all kind of ideas to Sule's mind, but they were not appropriate to comment during a nice breakfast among friends. He looked at Darien, and that sad expression remained there. Perhaps this was why he wasn't chirpy about his impending nuptials, with his deceiving father at large and his stubborn mother refusing to even contact him, just his brother Ben would be by his side.

"I have an even better lesson for you. 'A lie never lives to be old,'" Kekoa said with a sigh.

"Terran Sophocles said that." Alaric uttered around a spoonful in his mouth, impressed. Sule became impressed both with Kekoa and Alaric since not even well-educated people on Nova Gaia would remember a quote like that one.

"General Ur would say something smart like 'Better kill it at birth.'" Kekoa grimaced.

"Lies neonaticide is the best truth policy." Sule offered.

"Gentlemen, this conversation is turning a bit morbid, and today should be all about happiness and puffy, rosy things. Just because we're men doesn't mean we don't dream about our wedding day. Ouch." Alaric glared at Sule after an elbow connected with his ribcage. "What was that for?"

"Don't you see that Darien is sad? Only the Admiral is here to accompany him in such an important day." Sule said softly.

"Shit." Alaric stood up and embraced Darien around his shoulders from behind. "I'm an insensitive brute. I'll be honored if you let me be in your groom procession."

Darien turned to look at Alaric and patted one of his hands, a small grin making his eyes glint. "Are you asking my permission? I thought you were part of it already. Who's going to control the Queen not to carry me on her shoulders?"

They all, even Kekoa, shivered a little. Her Majesty had been so vocal in her rejoicing about the wedding it was somewhat scary.

"Sule." Alaric pointed at him. "You're in Kekoa's party."

"Yes, sir."

Four hours later...

General Ur carried Kekoa on his immense shoulders as Kekoa's wedding procession moved from the left aisle toward the middle aisle of the Central Temple of Meha. Darien's procession veered toward them, both groups singing.

Here comes your love

Love turned song

Song turned flesh.

Here comes your love

To seal your bond

To take you home.

Dressed in bright hues resembling flames, both Darien and Kekoa had their faces covered with veils made of strings of yellow petals. Admiral Muselet carried his brother, Sun and Tyke flanking him, Alaric and Queen Kailen Ju Katan immediately after.

Both parties merged, and the grooms were deposited in front of the priest, a giant statue of Meha behind him. Since Kekoa as Guardian of Colvis was Meha's Supreme Priest, he could choose the one to perform the ceremony. He chose DRE-Macian Isaa, the obscure mystic who has supported Alaric against those wanting him to become a priest of the goddess.

Sule noticed the relief on Alaric's face when he saw the priest. He probably thought he would be face-to-face with DRE-Han Ki, the man ready to force him to be cleric and away from Sule. Sour as ever, DRE-Han Ki had insinuated upon the arrival of Kekoa that since there was no need for another Guardian after the destruction of Colvis, he should be celibate as the rest of them. Queen Kailen Ju Katan silenced the intrigue with an incontrovertible statement: Kekoa's progeny would be the heir to the throne of Colvis, and that heir needed two parents, and that was it. Period. With no more Colvis, royal duty trumped priesthood, at least according to the Queen, and nobody was going to argue with her.

"Beloved children of Meha," DRE-Macian Isaa said, "today is a joyous occasion. The last Guardian of Colvis comes to seal the bond with his mate in the eyes of our Mother and the Colviri." His bald head shone like a halo thanks to the rays of the high sun entering through the oculus above him. He raised his old hands over Kekoa and Darien, and with a beatific smile intoned, "By my hand, one blessing united, say your vows." Both veils of petals slowly moved toward his hands, leaving the grooms grinning at each other.

Entwining their fingers, they chanted in unison, "From the dawn of time my soul has been journeying, now I have found you, now I have my place till the end of days. I'm bound to you by love, not chains. From this day, not two heartbeats but one. Life not mine or yours, but ours."

A wind-like murmur rounded the nave of the temple, and the two veils of petals ascended from DRE-Macian Isaa's hands toward Meha's chest, where they disappeared absorbed into the statue. This gave Sule goose bumps. He wondered if he should marry Alaric under the Colviri rites since his lover had been the goddess's vehicle.

"Be one. Be prosperous. Give fine Colviri to the people," cheered DRE-Macian Isaa as he kissed Kekoa and Darien's cheeks and sent them toward the assembled, who were parting to give them way.

Darien and Kekoa headed for the entrance, running giddily and holding hands; both long manes flowing behind them, one like snow, the other like fire. Everybody inside the temple reached for another's hand and ran, following the grooms.

Alaric found Sule, a big smile decorating his face. "That was beautiful, wasn't it?"

Sule laughed. "Yes, it was!" They held hands and move with the group, spilling out of the temple. A great crowd was outside, cheering and throwing multicolored petals at the two grooms, who stood on the stairs of Meha's temple, waving happily— the embodiment of a happy ending.

### CHAPTER FIFTEEN

**KEKOA**

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

They had escaped the wedding banquet. Well, more like elegantly vanished because they were desperate to be alone now that their union was official.

"Hmm, you taste delicious," Kekoa murmured, his lips closing over Darien's.

"Maybe it's all the liquor." Darien chuckled and steadied himself using Kekoa's shoulders.

After many heartbeats, the kiss ended. One hand brushed long, red curls away from Darien's neck; a tongue lapped leisurely, deliberately. Kekoa felt his mate tremble in his arms. "All mine to relearn your body with no hurries, **ufel** ," he whispered into Darien's ear. His hands found the hem of the flaming-hued tunic and dragged it up, touching skin and sensing the goose bumps his touch left in its wake.

"Without hurrying seems like a great idea." Darien's voice quivered as the tunic was taken away from his body and flung carelessly.

Solar eyes stared at Kekoa with clear devotion. It made Kekoa's body thrum with desperation, with need, with ravishing hunger. But he had promised himself that he would do this calmly, methodically, to savor every new inch of Darien's body, enhanced by the Colviri cells. Something he had not been able to do, using the reverence it deserved.

His fingers traced broad, tanned shoulders. Darien's skin was golden in high contrast with Kekoa's almost snowy complexion. He continued his journey, squeezing bulging biceps, sinewy forearms. Long gone was the nubile, youthful boy that claimed him back on Colvis. This Darien was a wide, muscular match to his body; a massive man able to give and receive, granting no quarter. A force Kekoa was ready to dominate and be dominated by in the proper way because with one thing and another since the destruction of Colvis it hadn't been possible, not with the care and skill their colliding bodies needed to remain sane.

Darien's hands fought with Kekoa's clothes. "Get these off."

"Shhh. Let me take care of you. Let me worship you as I have worshiped you in my mind for eons." Kekoa's finger pressed softly over parted lips. "Do nothing, just feel."

A sharp intake of breath. "You're gonna drive me crazy."

But Kekoa felt Darien's body relax somewhat, the captain collecting himself and waiting for his opportunity to strike.

Kekoa grinned and kissed Darien's chin, then his Adam's apple, and that way started to create sensitive milestones over his lover's map: nipples, flanks, abs, belly button. Kneeling, he made short work of Darien's trousers: fire curls, a rising column, and a delicious sac his reward. He inhaled deeply, dragging his nose along fuzzy balls and a thick, leaking cock.

"Purple imploding planets," Darien hissed, his legs shaking.

Knee-high boots were easily disposed and dark trousers followed them; all while Kekoa nuzzled Darien's blazing crotch, humming delightfully and chuckling inwardly at his lover's exhaled curses.

Kekoa traced the hard cheeks behind Darien as his tongue circled Darien's cock head. He kneaded strong glutes before using them to push the nice girth parting his lips, slowly but deliberately into his mouth. As the foreskin retreated all the flavors of his lover's desire exploded in Kekoa's taste buds, and he was glad he was already on his knees because the tremor of excitement that seized him would have made him crumble.

Darien grabbed Kekoa's head and helped with a countermovement designed to keep all the gears purposely swinging and taking them to a land where Love and Lust ran into each other to become one. Hips and jaw gyrated— eager participants of this piston dance, but Kekoa wanted more. His nose smashing against vibrant, red hairs wasn't enough; his throat closing around the formidable head was just a scrap of all he needed from his mate.

More hands were necessary; still an idea came to Kekoa. With great effort he released Darien's cock and pulled him down to crouch in front of him. He saw the perplexed look on the handsome face, the question in those agate eyes. After caressing muscular thighs, Kekoa wetted his middle finger and moved his hand between Darien's legs. Simultaneously, he claimed Darien's mouth (by gripping his chin) and presented the wet digit onto the tight entrance, closing his eyes and inhaling his mate's moan.

Circling, teasing, but with the utmost care not to breach the sweet hole, Kekoa strummed Darien like the most exquisite instrument, extracting tormented sounds made of short breaths, moans and expletives— all but any form of "fuck."

"You want to kill me. I can't believe you want to be a widower so soon," Darien hissed, pushing his body downward, trying to impale himself on the elusive finger. "Please, end this torture."

"Just need two words, and I'll stop playing with you." The teasing became slightly harder, just a bit more pressure. The sliding of Kekoa's finger on the gingery fuzz around the burning center was pure agony, threatening to dissolve his determination to prolong and savor this as much as possible.

Darien opened the eyes he had been squeezing while moaning and shivering, and, with a devastating glare, roared, "Fuck me. Fuck me till I cannot walk like a decent man."

His finger breached the gates it had been pestering. Narrowing his eyes, Kekoa hissed "On your back then."

Slowly, calculatingly, Darien stood up and walked backward toward their bed, his sphincter firmly clamped around Kekoa's finger, the most devilish grin decorating his face. Kekoa chuckled and followed, moving on his knees. Darien deposited himself on the bed and loosed the grip.

Kekoa withdrew his finger, but not without playfully rubbing Darien's prostate several times first, making him groan and writhe.

"Fucker."

"That's my Curly D. That's the fire I want to hear."

Hard and ready, Kekoa took his clothes off quickly, never losing eye contact with his mate. Those eyes trained on him were flint and fuel, trigger and target, aim and assault. He pounced on Darien, his mouth going straight to that needy hole— to taste and mark. He devoured Darien, his hands holding ankles, keeping his prey vulnerable, relishing on the texture and warmth.

Too soon Darien pulled Kekoa's hair, yanking him from his feast. "Inside me now, or I'm the one who's gonna be a widower before his time."

His eyes were mere slits, and he was biting his lower lip, and Kekoa couldn't think of anything more beautiful in the whole Universe. He let go of Darien's ankles. He traced the calves, the sensitive skin behind the knees, the back of those bitable thighs, and ended up spreading the perfect muscles of that fine ass that belonged only to him.

Sure of their goal, his hips maneuvered his cock until its tip was at the gate, ready to conquer. His own fluids eased the way, and, before he could rein his body in to take it slow, he was to the hilt in his Darien, master and slave in the same heartbeat.

"Sweet fucking _byotch_!" cried Darien.

Kekoa pulled back, mesmerized by the sight, enthralled by the beauty of his shaft gliding forward again until that fleeting instant when red and white hair entwined as their bodies crashed.

The tide rose; the tempo increased; both hearts galloped toward bliss, freed and unashamed— unaware of time or space.

Kekoa sought Darien's mouth, their torsos rubbing, hands grabbing and kneading. His hair was a wild curtain, swayed by their love rhythm, a white veil leaving just their faces to focus on. "I love you, Darien Wana'ao."

"Not more than I love you... Kekoa Muselet. You're finally mine... and nothing could change that."

"Nothing, my love. Nothing." And with those words, Kekoa stopped holding back his climax and saw flashes of light, his body shattering and reuniting with each spasm as he flooded his mate.

"Arrggg" was all the warning Darien gave, his cock spurting jet after jet between their stomachs, goose bumps sprouting and a divine smile easily sliding onto his face moments later.

Darien stretched, perhaps a standard hour later, jostling Kekoa, who had fallen asleep with his head on Darien's chest. Kekoa felt a hand removing the hair that covered his face; he opened his eyes and looked at a grinning Darien.

"Ready for round two?"

"Absolutely," Kekoa croaked with a lazy wink.

DARIEN

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

"I don't like it," Darien grumbled.

"What?"

"You're going to do with them the same thing you always do. These are our friends."

"I didn't know you liked your former Shadows that much."

"Ben," Darien hissed and narrowed his eyes.

"It's not easy to explain but I like them, Darien. It's not just lust. There's something else here."

"Tell that to your cock and ass. Apparently they are not feeling that something else."

"Hey, I haven't..."

Darien couldn't mask his surprise, his utter disbelief. "What? Are you trying to say you haven't had sex with them yet?" He shook his head. "I thought you have been doing that since before we arrived on Mireeh."

"Well..." Ben grimaced.

"Ah-ha, I knew it, you effing dog."

"It's not what you think. There hasn't been actual penetration."

The urge to put his hands on his ears and start chanting, "la, la, la, la" was overwhelming, but he wasn't the naive little brother anymore; he was a married man, and he had been the one to bring this conversation up. "I don't need details. I just think it's a bad idea for you three to go on that trip."

His brother's face contorted, and it wasn't due to a bad signal or any problem with the screen. "Now because you have your mate, random sex is a bad thing?"

Darien snorted. "Like I can control that libido of yours. I simply _do not want you_ to hurt them."

"You are aware Tyke and Sun are grown-ass men, right? They don't need you to defend them. Should I be a horrid _byotch_ and bring to your attention the fact that they were fucking your husband before you met him?"

"The operative word in that question is _before_."

"How worldly of you." Ben snickered.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Darien exhaled with a huff. "You know what? Just don't be your usual whorish self and fuck them and everything else on Akere." The thirteenth moon of Mireeh was a luxury resort and therefore there would be many, many men to make Ben forget about the Shadows and go back to his usual modus operandi.

"Oh, that I can promise. Those two big Colviri warriors are all I need." Ben grinned and pulled Tyke and Sun into the screen. They ended up flanking him and waving at Darien.

"Oh, sweet Meha. You two were there the whole time?"

"Yes, Pan Darien." They nodded together. "We appreciate your concern," said Sun. "And we're glad you care for us as much as we care for you," Tyke added.

The three of them smiled, surely noticing the coloring Darien was feeling on his face. He opened his mouth to say he didn't know what when a beep sounded on their side. Ben tapped his earpiece and gestured with one finger, asking for a moment. He moved a little away from Tyke and Sun. "Aha. Excellent. I'm taking care of it right away."

"What's going on?" Darien asked.

Tyke and Sun exchanged knowing glances.

Ben's expression was somber as he finished his conversation. His face bore the severe admiral's mask he was capable of summoning in a heartbeat.

This is not good.

"Well? Say something."

"They found father," Ben said succinctly.

A million scenarios came to Darien's mind; they had been trying to find their father for months now. "Is he dead?"

"No."

Even his former Shadows exhaled gratefully.

Ben took one hand of Sun and another of Tyke and kissed them one after the other. "Guess that trip to Akere will have to wait.

"What are you talking about?" Darien didn't like what he suspected his brother was plotting.

"I'm going to get him, Darien. It's my duty."

"Are you effing crazy?"

" _Fucking_ crazy, Darien. Say it." Ben barked.

"Sure. Are you out of your fucking mind?" Darien huffed. "Let General Ur deal with him."

"No. This is my fault. I could have stopped him instead of deserting the Federation."

"Then you wouldn't be here with us." Sun kissed Ben's cheek and rested his head on one of those stupidly broad shoulders and circled his waist.

Darien got distracted by that action, noticing that Ben was still shorter than Sun and Tyke. There was no real reason for his brother to lie to him, but the fact that in all these months Ben hadn't changed (due to Colviri cells affecting his body) confirmed he was telling the truth.

"We would have never met you." Tyke took Ben's chin and kissed him on the lips softly, almost with reverence.

Ben gulped and shivered. His whore of a brother shivered in the hands of this Colviri man! Perhaps it was true there was something special there.

"Ahem." Darien coughed. "You don't need to do this, Ben."

This brought Ben out of his melting process, and he glowered at Darien. "You have been telling me what _not_ to do since we started this conversation. That's quite enough. I'm doing this, and I don't need your permission because I have General Ur's sanction."

The big asshole has been plotting with Ur all along.

"We'll go with you. That should ease some of Pan Darien's concerns." Tyke said firmly.

"Just to appease Darien?" The purr was more like the Ben Darien was used to.

"Of course not," Sun murmured, "you're not getting rid of us so easily."

And for some reason Darien didn't want to seriously analyze, the idea of Tyke and Sun with Ben on this mission was actually soothing.

### CHAPTER SIXTEEN

**SULE**

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

Blessed be the Universe, for I can call the man of my life mine, and together we are about to be of service to our people with the highest of honors.

Sule Sarong's Personal Log - Standard date 5772.11.25

True, Sule had seen the petal veils ascend and be absorbed by the statue of the goddess while they were in Kekoa and Darien's wedding so many standard months ago. However, experiencing it in his own wedding had been inconceivably overwhelming because the moment they were out of sight he sensed his bond to Alaric become tangible, more than a feeling— something one could actually touch and rely on. A very difficult thing to explain. Ironic that Darien had been the one to carry him on his shoulders during his wedding procession, which was the equivalent of giving him away to his husband-to-be, after all the silly things he had felt regarding Alaric and Darien's friendship at the beginning of this journey. Kekoa had carried Alaric with a great deal of priests in his groom procession, and it seemed absolutely fitting in a bizarre and unexpected way.

Now, as he knelt beside Alaric in front of the Queen, the sensation was different and at the same time equally powerful. It was such a contradiction to be humble and proud at the same time, but all that headiness was grounded by the steady pale blue eyes of the man next to him.

This ceremony was usually done individually, but since they were a married couple, the protocol allowed it. Queen Kailen Ju Katan placed her scepter (an artifact used in very limited occasions) on Sule's right shoulder, then on top of his head, and finally over his left shoulder. She did the same operation over Alaric, and set the scepter on a cushion, held by a page.

"Stand up, **iccol** Sule Aquinas," the Queen said, her voice imposing. She took him by the shoulders and kissed him on both cheeks. "Make me proud."

Sule had a knot in his throat but uttered firmly, "Yes, Your Majesty."

She ruffled Alaric's hair before telling him "Stand up, Alaric Sarong," and kissing him on both cheeks too. "Make Meha and me proud."

"That's an order, Your Majesty!" Alaric answered, and this made the whole court laugh.

"And I know you'll see it through." The Queen smiled and winked at him. She turned Alaric and Sule toward her subjects and in a booming tone said, "Praise my new **iccolox** , Regents of Nova Gaia." Standing between them, the Queen raised her hands, holding theirs in a triumphant gesture, and all assembled exploded in cheers and applause.

Kekoa and Darien were in the front row, being the loudest.

Sule hadn't cried on his wedding day, and he was doing his damn best not to cry in this moment, after being knighted and becoming ruler with Alaric of their home planet.

Six standard months later...

PLANET NOVA GAIA

THE HEART OF GAIA (REGENTS' OFFICIAL RESIDENCE)

It was raining and the vision in the balcony brought memories of a life that seemed very far away. The tall, naked frame was a study of manly beauty and definitely arousing as the water ran down magnificent hairless skin and round muscles.

"Good thing that balcony doesn't open to a street like the one I saw you in the first time," Sule murmured as he started to undress. It had been a long day, but if anything could recharge him quickly, it was Alaric and all the promises his body offered, drenched in rain and with lightning and thunder as background.

Alaric turned around to face Sule, leaning on the marble rail, his arms spread, his hands resting over the hard surface, his stance ready to embrace Sule. "You know how much I like the wild energy of a storm. And moments such as this are the reason why our bedchamber opens to the gardens."

Sule entered the balcony, and the first drops of rain touched his skin, soothing and exciting in the same breath. The sky lit behind Alaric as if for an instant he were a supernatural being, angelic and benign, even if the grin on his face screamed mischief. "You, sir, are a naughty, naughty Regent. You shouldn't have escaped the meeting like that."

With one last step, the space between them disappeared, and Alaric moaned as their skins touched; Sule's lips brushed Alaric's softly, not quite a kiss, just a tease expecting him to want more.

"It wouldn't have had the same effect if we have come here together, don't you think?" Alaric murmured.

"Definitely not. I love when you surprise me, sweetheart."

Now the kiss became real, and the grinding of their pelvises was real, and the desperation of their hands was real. And the more their bodies entwined, the more the rain, the lightning, and the thunder became secondary, just a faint memory of something enveloping them.

In a single mass, they moved to the wet floor, not disturbed by how cold or hard or slippery it was. All they needed was each other, and the space for that encounter was inconsequential. They rolled twice, thrice, and Alaric ended up on his back, laughing, with a hank of dark hair plastered on his forehead. Sule removed it and lowered his face to kiss close eyes, a perky nose, colored cheeks... velvety lips. He felt Alaric's hand languidly stroking his shaft. His body shuddered, and it didn't have anything to do with the thunder rumbling above them.

"I want it," Alaric murmured softly.

"It's yours."

"Turn around, let's take care of each other." Alaric slowly eased the grasp on Sule's cock and helped him move clockwise until both were facing the other's already stiff member.

It might seem silly to say that Sule's mouth watered because they were under the rain, but there was no other way to describe the reaction the sight of Alaric mouthful of a cock did to him every single time. He gave it a tentative lick, cursing the weather a little because it took away any resemblance of fragrance; nevertheless there were his other four senses eager to be unleashed upon the magnificent piece.

Before Sule could dive, wonderful heat enclosed his cock head. "Sweet 'verse," he hissed before immersing himself in all the textures and sensations Alaric offered. As one, they embarked on a journey of mutual satisfaction, the howls of the wind, the kisses of the rain, the flashes of the lightning, and the roar of the thunder enthusiastic companions, cheering and encouraging them.

Tongues swirled, fingers teased, hips pumped: a savage mechanism fueled by the elements and the powerful force of a love that had conquered the decimation of one planet and the destruction of another; a love so deep that Sule's heart exploded and imploded every time he was in Alaric's presence, let alone when melting in his arms. A love so big he would risk his own life without thought to keep Alaric safe, to keep Alaric happy, to be able to see a smile on that glorious face. A love so potent he would not hesitate to become a monster for the sake of his man. And they braved the uproar that was becoming a tempest as the ship that was their bodies neared the jagged seashore of their climax.

They both surfaced, almost simultaneously, one thought holding the impending crash at bay, _inside me_. Sule crawled back till his face was on top of Alaric's. "Take me. Hurt me. Make me bleed because I'm yours to destroy, yours to mend." His voice another's, one with the thunders deafening them, surpassing any _YOU'RE KILLING ME_ level they had ever reached before.

And the fury of the storm was nothing compared with the fire he saw in Alaric's eyes— with the power that made Sule's body shiver like a tiny leaf, unable to withstand the tumult of the winds.

Alaric surged and unfolded, taking Sule with him, turning their bodies, placing Sule against the rail to face the violent sky, to accept Alaric's body within him. Rain rivulets ran down Sule's back as Alaric spread his cheeks, and lightning seized him in two extremes when his hole was breached and sharp teeth closed on the space between neck and shoulder. His moan, drowned by the boom above, came out like a plea, not to cease but to ram harder— to bite deeper.

The piston, alive with energy, battered, struck, demanded. Sule gave. Sule surrendered. Sule offered. One with the commotion around them, their bodies collided, willing and content. Mouths found each other as a spine curved, and hands gripped hips for dear life.

"I'm so fricking close, Sule. I can't hold it any longer."

"Don't. Just make me yours, fill me up."

"Blaaaaast me!"

Jet after jet went deep, claiming, turning passion into a physical manifestation, into the perfect culmination— yanking Sule's own orgasm from the inside. Spasms shook him, and Alaric enfolded him, shushing him with loving words and soft caresses, with healing kisses along the back of his neck.

They stood like that for many heartbeats, cradled in the storm's violent bosom, easing down from the rush of their lovemaking, Alaric's chin resting on Sule's left shoulder. Alaric's cock left Sule at its own pace, and when that happened Sule turned around to face his lover without breaking their embrace. They smiled at each other and kissed, tasting rain and love and happiness.

"Good thing the rainy season just started," Alaric commented, arching an eyebrow.

"Good thing indeed, Mr. Berserk."

### EPILOGUE

Thanks to the mirium in the atmosphere (that Sule and Alaric breathed while living on Mireeh), the two Regents of Nova Gaia, will have a long, healthy life in which they would help rebuild their planet and bring hope to its returning inhabitants.

Ben, Tyke, and Sun's mission to find Darien's Father and bring him to justice takes many months; months in which the trio learn a great deal about one another and how spectacular they will become as a whole.

Imada Muselet, Darien's mother, divorced Bennar Muselet in absence to re-marry, this time two former aides of her ex-husband. You already know the name of one.

As the Colviri open to the galaxy, new alliances and trading routes arise, and with them the fulfillment of Meha's request.

General Ur found love in the curvaceous body of human commander, Aida Lee, one of the heroes of the battle of Colvis.

Margerite, the sassy story-teller that befriended Sule and Alaric during their stay on the _Halcyon's Peace_ , returned to Nova Gaia to become Foreign Affairs Attaché. And yes, she did have a torrid romance with a consul from Tellura 12. *wink wink*

The Cygnus Federation goes through a massive reengineering, changing the ways things are done and returning to their original ideals for the benefit of the galaxy.

Queen Kailen Ju Katan appoints Kekoa Muselet as the first representative of the Colviri for the Cygnus Federation, thus becoming not just a High Consul but the new head of the Galaxy Security Council.

Darien and Kekoa's first child is a girl, destined to be the next queen of the Colviri.

KEKOA

RENNIKKAH CITY - PLANET MIREEH

"Keda Enoa Ki Muselet"

"So you're bringing the Ki back. You lost it in your name."

"My father wasn't much of a traditionalist, but I think our daughter and future queen of Mireeh should follow that custom."

"I guess it's fair since we exchanged surnames." Darien chuckled, looking at their beautiful baby girl in Kekoa's arms.

Keda's thatch of hair was a swirling mass of white and red, but she didn't have Darien's wonderful solar eyes. Her eyes were Colviri iridescent blue.

"And because of that our descendants will always have a human last name," Kekoa said with a big grin.

"Unless they marry someone older. You took my last name and, because you are older, that's the name they carry."

"Keda will make it a law. For all to know that the mate of the last Guardian of Colvis was human and his children will rule the Colviri forever more," Kekoa proclaimed proudly.

"You can be such a silly thing sometimes." Darien caressed Kekoa's cheek.

"And that is exactly why you love me."

"You're absolutely right, **ufel**."

###

### COMMENT

In Colviri tradition when same sex couples unite their lives they exchange surnames, with their children carrying the new surname of the older of the two. Same happens with triads (even if they are of mixed genders: M/M/F or F/F/M). In Darien and Kekoa's case, Kekoa is chronologically older (by several centuries, mind you) and as he takes Darien's last name their kids would have the particle Ki which means 'from' before Muselet.

In male/female marriages the woman takes the name of the husband presided by the particle Ju which means (equal). In Queen Kailen Ju Katan's case Katan was the last name of the deceased King. The last name of the rulers could change but the bloodline is continued. Well, until now when Kekoa will impress upon his daughter to make it law to keep the Muselet name as the name of the rulers of Mireeh.

GLOSSARY

Engedékeny: Hungarian— indulgent.

Kirsuber: Icelandic— cherry

Rennikkah: From the words Re (king) and Nicca (niche) in Maltese.

Wemerile: Literally dance in Fuburu, but meaning a ceremonial gathering where deities come to the material plane to interact with believers. (This is an actual practice within Santeria and other Animist Belief Systems.)

Elastia: A Colviri material similar to our nylon but thicker and breathable.

Kettir: Icelandic— cats

Tragesty: (Tragedy + Travesty) It's a word they use in the future! Don't bring the fire squad!

Dandaloos: Basically pancakes but in the form of cupcakes.

### COLVIRI TRANSLATIONS

**Ufel:** the equivalent of English, baby.

**Eccesce:** means soon.

**Pan:** the equivalent of lord or sir when addressing someone with respect.

" **Ofen gokate u lonvu culse, Pan Darien."** We have come to rescue you, Pan Darien.

" **Incoton!"** You two!

"Delbo?" Why?

" **Pan Kekoa eltosox."** By order of Pan Kekoa.

" **Vefe nidaolek tekto?"** How did you know where (I was)?

" **Ofen nowiateso naobro."** We always followed you.

" **Soguk cokno tlu gufen usu kugo."** Stand up and let's go to the ship.

" **Gufen."** Let's go.

**Ulcajavausux:** Artificial(s) Colviri adjectives do have plural inflexions.

**Jiolmu Vosakka-docus:** Centripetal Force

**Ofakwufen:** (we) emigrated.

**Iccol** (plural **Iccolox** ): the literal translation is "utter" (as in complete; absolute; entire) but it is used to designate a knighted person.

OLD COLVIRI TRANSLATIONS

" **Wo mioje"** My Queen.

**"Wo oyu, wo gemvoej"** My son, my guardian.

**Citi nezzevu, buvmel bimvujemwi?** I've failed you, will you ever forgive me?

" **Bum ilu hoji."** That's why I came.

" **Coijil ni, bimu ca rumepuj lagmi bijlejvu siwitel nezzevu."** You have faith, but your heart suffers thinking you failed me.

" **Ca imil iz wiyum."** You are the very best.

" **Vilcmadi Colvis."** Destroy Colvis.

" **Il ze ajore numwe vi cimwojem ruj ilcu beme loirbmi."** It's the only way to end this forever.

" **Ij Mireeh zul umerazul rujgowej ilci wijleyi ezul Dre."** The oracles are giving this message to the priests on Mireeh.

" **Jevoi ci tazbeme bumsi ilwo umvij,"** Nobody is going to blame you because it's my command.

" **Alcivil vulwi ruwbezerij, wejcijfewi umfazzule."** You two please me, keep making me proud.

" **Helbum kaij rewoju, lofai elo."** You're doing all right, keep it up

" **Ju owbumce vujvi, du loiwbimi bumuciyu ewo baikuzu."** No matter where, I always take care of my children.

" **Duli, wo mioje,"** I know, My Queen."

" **Kijvorijul."** Give us your blessing.

" **Kijvofuci,"** I bless you.

### About Gabbo de la Parra

### Born a Sagittarius in the fabulous year of the Rooster of '69, at the hour when his cat was about to become a complete dragon, Gabbo de la Parra landed on the Caribbean Coast of the outlandish Republic of Panama to start the adventure of life.

Love and the Internet brought him to Middle Tennessee to embrace the American Dream and his husbandly romance. Writing has been an important part of his life since a very early age, and it's a pleasure to share his stories with others thanks to the wonderful opportunities this land provides. His main genres are Historical and Sci-Fi, and he's been combining both lately. Still he dabbles in all genres that embrace hot guys and their pursue of Love in the most descriptive ways possible.

He is the author of the Spaniards series, Prince of Atlantis and other titles available for your eReader devices.

### Gabbo cherishes Life with a southern gentleman, close to a lake in a townhouse (crowded with the spirits of Gabbo's characters) with their pets: black esoteric kitty, Luna; street-smart Russian Blue, Bella; and white emo-twink Maltese, Chance

### I absolutely love that you took the time to read my book.

### Stop by and say Hi!

Twitter: @GabbodelaParra

My blog: Manly Romance by Gabbo

### Other books by Gabbo de la Parra

Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover my other books

### Bridegroom from Heaven (Spaniards # 1)

### The Stallion & the Dragon (Spaniards # 2)

### Connection

### Prince of Atlantis

### Nashville Dreams

### Immaterial

### Darkest Before Dawn (The Masked Man Serenade)

### How I lost it on Planet X

### Tarnished Toys

### Nor Sub Nor Dom

### The Road from Maryville

### Wand-losing & Other Things You Shouldn't Be Doing

### Cenotaph

### Meridian

### Meridian Teaser

PROLOGUE

LOS ANGELES - YEAR 2120

"Welcome, children of the San Pedro neighborhood. Today is a very special day. Your Assignment Day has finally arrived."

Fourteen-year-old Kupra Lapin wasn't particularly excited about this day, or more accurately night since all citizenship issues were conducted during the night because the Regents of the West Area were vampires.

The girl beside Kupra looked like she was about to receive the biggest ice cream cone her tiny mouth was able to devour. He didn't know any of the other kids around since his foster family had just moved to this area, and the school year would begin next month.

"Okay, let's introduce the Assignment Board..." the vampire lady started saying names that didn't mean anything to Kupra. It wasn't like they would ask if he remembered any of this except for his final assignation. Each person named nodded boringly without even truly looking at them. "Well, now. The moment you've been waiting for. Your assignation determines your future within the West Area. Embrace it," she said cheerfully.

Clearly wishing to be somewhere else, the members of the Assignment Board sat as incandescent orbs emerged from an urn in the middle of the dais where they perched. One of these bored vampires must be really old because Kupra heard once that only really ancient vampires had magical powers of this kind, and there weren't that many of those here in America. They preferred the Old World. It could be just gossip since he heard it back in the South Area.

Each luminous blob landed on a kid's stretched hands. The one landing on Kupra's dissolved, and a little metal plate with a single word became visible.

COMPANION

It was the modern word for courtesan.

CHAPTER ONE

LOS ANGELES - YEAR 2125

DAY ONE

"You sure you wanna do this? Thirteen hundred miles ain't gonna go easy on your tiny butt."

"Listen, _Tiger_. I'm paying for this. How my butt fares the trip is none of your business."

"Ain't you a feisty little bunny?" Tiger pinched K's cheek, using an annoying baby voice that was grossly at odds with his imposing frame.

K pushed Tiger's hand away. "Would you stop that?"

"Alright." Tiger put his hands up in surrender. "Where's my gold?"

"I'll give you your first half in our first stop for the night. When we are hours away from the city limits."

Tiger arched an eyebrow. "You don't trust me?"

"I don't trust anybody. Don't take it personal."

"I ain't the trustin' kind either. I just wanna be sure you ain't plannin' on swindle me."

"You have got to be shitting me." K's laughter was full of sarcasm. "You're the shady character here."

"Moving people around ain't nothing shady, Bunny. I'm ready to go, but you need to show me the gold first." Tiger narrowed those weird, violet eyes of his. You didn't see that color every day in Los Angeles. Lots of red eyes, but violet was seriously uncommon.

"Fine." K pulled up his blue T-shirt, allowing Tiger to see the slim gold bars secure in the girdle-purse fastened around his waist. "Satisfy?"

"Yeah." Tiger gave a crisp nod. "Hop on then."

K let go of the hem of his Tee, straightened his canvas jacket and adjusted his backpack. This was a two, three day tops trip to Meridian, where humans were not second class citizens but owners of their destiny. After four years of demolishing training and a year suffering the paws of male and female vampires having their way with him it was enough. Many people would consider being a companion a glamorous job, but K hated it.

No amount of self-convincing would shake K's revulsion for the race of those drugged bloodsuckers who killed his parents a few short months after moving to the city, even if the actual culprits had been convicted and eradicated. Ten-year-old K was left in the hands of a foster family thanks to the vampires' support system. These strangers weren't bad people, but K had been old enough to remember his real parents and not get attached to those strangers.

The only good thing about his profession was that his rates afforded him his freedom quicker than other occupations would have. He was _sneaking_ to freedom in the middle of his quote unquote vacation, but he wasn't going to argue semantics with himself.

**Thanks for reading this teaser. Cheers!
