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  A blip sounded in the room. “Cobra, you’re needed down here. Shit is getting real.”

  Benz scooped up Caris, and all raced from the room.

  Chapter Ten

  Caris would have screamed if the shield hadn’t controlled her emotions. Zell and Ryker were in a battle with Braylon and Dranos.

  There was blood drawn. No one moved to interfere.

  “Zell, you and Ryker vanish and we can settle this,” Titus shouted.

  “It would do no good, Father,” Zell yelled back and cringed as Braylon raked claws across his back. “You know Dranos can find us anywhere.”

  “Enough,” Cobra yelled. “We do not fight our brothers.”

  “We fight with them,” Braylon bellowed.

  Caris had to admire the play on words. She knew Braylon possessed a two-thousand-year-old shield. With a claw, he sliced Zell’s hair to his shoulders. Long silver white tresses floated to the ground and others gasped. A Zargonnii’s hair was important in battle.

  “That’s just dirty,” Zell yelled. His green eyes flared and he lasered through the gray shield for a second drawing blood.

  Both Ryker and Zell went flying with a wave of Dranos’s hand. Caris couldn’t stand anymore. Silently she pleaded in her mind with her heart. With reluctance Benz’s shield dropped. Benz started yelling as Caris weaved in and out through others, right into the fray. Dranos was beside her as Zell’s eyes blazed again, aimed at Dranos. The laser fired and Caris cringed but held her ground. Ryker screamed and jumped in front of Caris. Ryker dropped to his knees then side as the blast knocked him down. His shield fell.

  No one moved, in shock at the sight. Zell stood with his mouth gaping. He raced to Ryker as did Braylon. Dranos continued to stand beside Caris, a huge wing wrapped around her. Zell placed Ryker’s head in his lap, his shattered gaze went to Titus.

  “I almost killed him, I almost killed a female. What were we thinking?”

  “You weren’t thinking, my son,” Titus said. “I hope you are now. This is about more than Brave and your baby.”

  Ryker began to stir and allowed Zell to drag him to his feet. The pair, looking destroyed, disappeared.

  “Where did they go?” Caris asked Dranos.

  “They are going to say goodbye to their loved ones, for a while. Titus doesn’t have to banish them. In time, they can return. Right now we are still at war with the Annihilators. Something tells me those two warriors are going to make certain their children are safe. Like they should have done in the first place.”

  Benz came forward and took her into his arms. “That was a huge risk. You could have been killed.”

  “I wouldn’t have been. I’d never risk your life,” Caris said.

  He gazed at her quizzically. Dranos winked at Caris and vanished. Braylon strolled forward.

  “Dranos knew what would happen,” Braylon said. “He told me to stay out of it. It was hard to knowing a helpless female was walking into a brawl. But Dranos wanted to prove Zell and Ryker would never allow a female to be injured. Zell is a proud warrior. He could have killed you, Caris. Even knowing after the fact that he was set up, the idea will haunt him for a long time. Ryker too.”

  “I’m getting Intel Dranos is with the Angano. They are headed into battle with a ship, it’s an Annihilator,” Cobra said. “Zell and Ryker are aboard a Zargonnii war vessel. Well, they were. I’m guessing they are now aboard the enemy’s ship and waging war.” He turned to gaze at Titus.

  “When my son returns he will be pleased to be introduced to his baby,” Titus said. “I’m hoping Ryker will spend a little time with his daughter.

  It was subtle but the slight nod of Titus’s head was aimed in her direction. A thank you. Hers was a tentative smile in return.

  “I am headed home,” Titus said. “My mate is expecting. I’m hoping for a daughter. They are less drama llamas.”

  Caris laughed aloud. “My mother sure would have liked to have had that conversation with you.”

  Benz pulled her closer and his shield went up. Snuggling against him, she could sense the relief of the shield. She wanted nothing more than to go make love to her mate, and then cuddle with him and Indigo. Though Benz had suggested her fuzzy friend be given to the Zargonnii, perhaps a baby gift for Brave. Their planet would suit the little critter perfectly. The idea made her chuckle. She had no doubt the suggestion came from Cobra.

  “Let’s go home,” Cobra shouted.

  Home.

  Epilogue

  Caris could make out the broad span of his back. Ankou was turned slightly and the view beyond him was breathtaking. They were perched upon a mountaintop with rolling hills below. The sky was an aurora borealis. Caris was beyond surprised, because her wall was still up. Had Zell and Ryker been right? Not about Dranos being a danger but maybe Ankou’s will was stronger. When she stood little more than a foot away, he turned. His gaze was sad. He lifted his hand to cup her chin but stopped, his hand went back to his side.

  “It will take decades for my people to recover. It would appear the Annihilators were almost annihilated. The warriors were kinder and spared our females and children. A mercy we never expected. It will be a long time coming before any of our mothers will allow their sons from their sight.”

  “Do you expect me to feel sorry for you?” she asked.

  “I didn’t slaughter. It was my father. His greed has almost destroyed us.” He chuckled in a bitter way. “Who the hell steals clouds?”

  “Why didn’t you stop him?”

  “When you don’t see the faces of the people you kill, it’s hard to show remorse. The image of the crying children—I never knew their fear before. I saw the fear on our children’s faces and it almost killed me. My father was never the one to see ‘imaginary’ friends. He was never the one who got close to see the humanity. I did. When you are of a different species you think differently.”

  “That’s not true. What about compassion?”

  “Tell me, have you ever stepped on an ant? Killed a bug?”

  “That’s different.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a bug, and a bug…”

  “My father thought of others as bugs. Pests who had what he wanted. Why should bees keep their honey?”

  “But we didn’t kill the bees to take their honey,” she argued.

  “So we should have enslaved worlds for our needs?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s time I find Heller. She’s out there, somewhere.”

  “Where will you look? And what if the Castians or Zargonnii find you?”

  “The Castians know where I am.” He glanced over his shoulder. Caris followed his gaze. Benz was leaning nonchalantly against a boulder. Caris frowned.

  “Who’s dream am I in?” she asked both of them.

  “We are all here and yet not,” Benz said. “You have not led Ankou to us, have no fear.”

  “Different dream dimensions,” Ankou said. “I’m not anywhere near you, Caris.”

  Caris reached out to touch Ankou but her hands went through air. She looked up into his sad expression, and she remembered the fun they had as children. She had loved him so long ago. A child’s love for her best friend.

  “Heller and the Annihilator,” Benz drawled. He went to Caris who he pulled against his chest.

  “The female has nothing to fear from me,” Ankou said with a lift of his chin.

  “She could be in her eighties if she still lives,” Caris said.

  “I don’t care. We have a youth fountain on my planet. Remember, Caris, I’m as old as you. We take our first dip into the pool while in our prime. The effects last for years but many go before a raid.”

  “You pump up to not engage in combat?” Benz said with a growl and sneer.

  “We ruled the universe. Even your kind hid from us.” Ankou growled and sneered back.

  “No longer.”

  Caris could feel her mate’s muscles stiffen. They might one day meet again. The idea
was sad. She hoped Ankou would find his mate. When Ankou settled his gaze onto her, Benz went stiff. Rigid, and strong, her powerhouse would soon put his armor up with her inside. His reaction was sheer stealth as he could move faster than the wind.

  “Goodbye, Ankou,” Caris said before the shield closed in around her.

  “Take care of her,” Ankou said.

  Caris saw his image melt away with the blaze of colors surrounding them. When she blinked they were home in their bed. She lay beside Benz.

  “You let me say goodbye. How did you know I needed to?” Caris asked.

  “You are my mate. I sensed your need. He will never enter another of your dreams.”

  Benz caressed the side of her cheek. Their lips soon met and the kiss lingered. Caris was crushed to his chest. Her forehead pressed against his warm flesh.

  “I’m happy it was you who found me,” she said. “I keep thinking of what it would have been like to be naked on a dead planet with no one and nothing. Staying crouched in a ball wouldn’t have been a good idea, but wandering for days and having no food or water would have been a brutal way to die. I was so scared when I saw you. You were so kind. I should have been grateful sooner.”

  “I don’t need your gratitude,” he said.

  “What I feel for you is so much more. You have given me a real home, love, and a planet to call my own. I lost so much too often. With you I have gained everything. I hope you feel you’ve gained something?”

  He chuckled and cupped her chin. “You say you gained a planet? I gained more than the universe. Love isn’t a simple word. Four letters that consume and devour and I can’t get enough. Your smile conquers me, and fills my heart to burst with pleasure. A touch from your hand can bring me to my knees and yet empower me. There is nothing I’ve ever seen that compares to your beauty.”

  Caris could feel the blush creep up her throat and face. He was sincere. She was home and home she would stay.

  The End

  In case you missed it, here is an excerpt from Unearthly World Christmas, available on Amazon:

  Unearthly World Christmas

  By: C. L. Scholey

  Chapter One

  Titus watched his son Zell and the other children make snowmen, snow ponies, and snow warriors from inside his dwelling. A gentle white dusting was falling from the sky, the beautiful flakes added to the two feet of trampled snowfall. Winter was Titus’s favorite time of year; at least it had been since finding and rescuing his mate Zabbie. Everything outside seemed covered in a security blanket of peace and serenity. That was until the children were set loose to invade the sheer perfection. Titus chuckled as a snowball exploded onto Zell’s back, and the teen howled in laughter. He was mistaken. The children only added to the perfection. The snow made him smile, but it was the children’s happiness that moved his heart. It had been that way now for years since humans came to live with the Zargonnii warriors. Titus was still amazed at his overwhelming joy.

  Sticks from live animated trees had the snow creations waving their hands, or moving hooves and feet to gather more sticks, using them like hands and fingers. This enabled the snow creatures to move around the backyard and chase the laughing children. The trees weren’t angry. Titus’s mate informed him the trees were feeling adored by the attention. They loved a good laugh and much like humans shed skin cells, the trees dropped older branches, still capable of movement but aged and tiring.

  Taking over the snowmen and other imaginative creations gave the branches a new lease on a dropped lonely life and inspired the tree branches growing older. Their fate wasn’t one of a sorry state. Languishing on the jungle-like ground of the planet before decaying into mulch wasn’t appealing. Though the branches would continue to whisper into the winds, an essence left behind, before that happened they played once more. When introduced to a holiday called Halloween, the trees reveled in making humans scream as Zargonnii children placed odd costumes on the trees. Titus loved the white bed sheets covering the trees best. Glowing eyes were settled onto the trees giving strange eerie light wherever human or warrior traveled. Painted white and a show of rattling bones was heard from above an unsuspecting head.

  Ryker, a half-Castian, half-human teen, laughed as Braylon, also a young human teen with a Tonan shield, finished his snowman. It exploded into his face sending snow flying in all directions. The tree branch beneath raised a long taloned finger as though to complain before falling to the ground. Braylon’s entire Tonan shield came up immediately to protect him. The young howling human raced for Ryker who disappeared at his approach, only to reappear behind him. Braylon launched another assault but each was thwarted making Titus and the others chuckle. As fast as lightning, Braylon’s swift reflexes pelted snowballs while Ryker vanished and appeared launching another snow attack.

  Arms reached around Titus’s waist and a warm body snuggled next to him. The beauty of the human was reflected in the glass before him, and she never ceased to make his heart flutter. Titus turned as he welcomed his mate into his embrace. Zabbie smiled up at him. Her head reached his white furred chest as she placed her chin onto him. He could see the red of his eyes in her liquid pools of love.

  He lifted his hand to run his fingers through her silky thick hair. Zabbie’s smile deepened. She turned at a squeal of laughter and he could feel her body quiver against him as she laughed.

  “The boys look happy,” she said. “The trees do too if the heightened whispering is an indication. I’ll never get over the amount of snow here and the way it stops, as though it can’t cross a line into the southern Zargonnii territory. One second it’s endless white, then green and brilliant colors. You’re not sorry I make it snow here are you, to match our neighbor’s yard?”

  “I’ve gotten used to it over the years.” Titus could see from where he stood the line Zabbie spoke of. The vivid greenery was only feet away.

  Each year around this time his mate craved snow. On the first day Titus woke to snow those many years ago, he was beyond surprised. Zabbie was as mystified, but then she gave him a small sad smile and explained she must have made the snow unconsciously while sleeping.

  When he asked her why the melancholy look, she shrugged him off with a passing mumble of a holiday long ago on her planet. That was the only explanation and he never pushed, some of her memories were painful. Life on her Earth planet was something he wished she could forget. If his mate wanted snow in their backyard for a month, he wouldn’t argue, nor would he question. Sometimes one of the kindest gestures a mate can offer is respecting silence.

  Zabbie smiled and cocked her head; Titus wondered what she heard. The mystery of the trees belonged to females, not males. All were chasing each other around the backyard again: children, branches, snowmen and other creations. The snow warriors were a little disturbing. Zabbie called them snow zombies. The warriors were zapped only to be remade as the flurries twisted and swirled from the ground up. Titus had a deep urge to join them, but the feel of his mate pressed so snuggly against him made him want to savor the moment a little longer. He swore ever since having Zell it felt like time was moving faster.

  Zell stopped suddenly, and a spray of snow flew up to cover all of the children, coating them in a white fluffiness. The boys, each thirteen, turned as one in surprise while they shook the wetness off. Titus, ready to spring into action, tensed, then heard childish laughter and relaxed. He knew who had graced them with his presence. He should have known wherever Braylon was a specific other soon followed.

  “You can’t hide from me,” a small voice with the hint of a baby lisp on the verge of disappearing shouted.

  Cy’s young son, Dranos, floated into the backyard, only to squeal, pinwheel his arms and plop onto his behind in a snow bank. Titus laughed at the child’s disgruntled look as he brushed himself off. The little male was learning his powers, and he still had a ways to go. Some were still to be determined. Braylon groaned so loud and with so much animated exasperation Zabbie chuckled. Titus wondered why the teen was so
surprised to see his brother. It seemed Braylon made it his mission to hide from Dranos who was equally determined to find him.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be having a nap?” Braylon yelled.

  “I’m five. I’m not a baby,” Dranos said with a snarl. His little fists clenched and a sudden snowball smacked Braylon in the chest as the child struggled to his feet.

  Zabbie chuckled and in a voice barely above a whisper said, “He’s no baby all right. He is spectacular.”

  Dranos gazed into the window and waved at the couple. Thank you. Titus heard in his thoughts. From Zabbie’s exasperated expression he knew she heard too.

  “Dranos, what have you been taught about mind reading?” Titus chastened knowing the boy couldn’t have possibly heard Zabbie.

  Sorry.

  “And stay out of my mind too,” Braylon said on a growl.

  “I can’t read your mind with your shield up,” Dranos yelled.

  Titus also knew Zell and Ryker had the ability to stop the boy from invading their thoughts. Dranos was a mystery. He was human and Zargonnii but also something else. His mother had somehow been altered by an Angano, but not in the way other humans were altered by another species related to the Angano, the Gorgano. The Gorgano were extinct. The Angano were hiding on their own planet far away and had been for the last five years. Life on the Zargonnii and Castian planets was quiet.

  The human race was welcome on not only the Zargonnii planet but Castian planets. By the time Dranos was two it was determined the little male could speak any language, all Earth languages as well as other alien life forms. He was a joy and a wonder to most. But Titus could see Braylon scowl and sighed. The teen wasn’t always nice to his younger sibling.

  Braylon allowed his shield to drop from around his face, he narrowed his gaze, a decided evil snarl on his lips and Dranos began to cry. Zabbie was quick to slip into knee-high boots and stepped through the glass-like material that allowed only a select few to pass. She was shoving her arms into a coat. Nothing else could penetrate the material protecting their home, including weather. Everything going into or out of the dwelling was programmed into a device by the window. Titus followed her.