These children might not be Tammy’s biological children, but she looks at them as if they were. If we allow any harm to come to her adopted children, she’ll never be able to look at us with the love and adoration we desire from our fated mate.
At least, I think that’s my reasoning? Or am I growing soft?
I nod at my mate and hold up four fingers. The smile she gives me melts the pain in my chest. I will protect this beautiful little creature and her four adopted charges – with my last breath, if it comes to that.
My adrenaline pulses. The auras of Hadone and Forn swell in my mind as we contemplate the upcoming battle. I feel the tinge of fear welling up in my mind. Unlike my blood-brothers I take no pride from battle, no joy from killing. I’d always preferred to teach the children of our tribe how to hunt and craft, rather than fight.
Or, at least, I did before we had to flee our ancestral home and live in solitude.
Killing. There’s always killing. I tried as best I could to keep our youngsters away from it as long as I could.
I turn and look at Tammy, and my heart swells. Tammy is a gem – a perfect, soft little creature as yet unmarked by war. I ache to keep her safe, and yet I can barely look at her. Knowing she exists is a dark pain; because I know what awaits her.
She is going to die today.
So will my battle brothers, and so will I.
Hadone courts death to erase his guilt. Forn courts it for glory and bravery. He wants to die in a hail of blood, fighting to his last breath to be immortalized in song.
But me? I have no taste for it. I have no death wish.
And yet death is all that awaits us. There is not an Aurelian triad in the universe that could make it through the mass of Scorp Warriors pillaging this city. The rumbles of thunder from the communities defenses have already slowed and stopped. Whoever was manning the weapons have clearly been overwhelmed and slaughtered.
There’s nothing to protect the people of this city now.
We’d only survived this long by creating a choke point – using the pile of Scorp carcasses blocking the entranceway to mount a defense against them.
The Scorp warriors could have slowly overwhelmed us – but they’ve chosen not to. Like the craven, disgusting beasts they are, they prefer to hunt easier targets… for now.
But is that what we’ll become if we leave this place?
Out there in the open, trapped between huge buildings, we’ll have nowhere to run. We won’t stand a chance.
I look at Tammy and despair overwhelms me. Here is my fated mate, and yet I can’t even tell her my name. It would be too painful to hear it on her lips and know that I won’t hear her speak it again for the rest of my life. I breathe in and smell her scent, and it makes my hackles rise as lust pulses through every cell of my body.
Gods, I ache for her – even if she was sent to be my doom. I ache for her, even if the God of Tricks brought me to this planet for the sole purpose of letting me see what I want before I lose it.
9
Tammy
Inside, my mind reels at the crisis. Outside, I try to stay calm and strong for the sake of Stacy and Tod.
Think, dammit! Think! What are we working with, here?
Let’s take a look at these three.
The one at the back – the one with the scar, who’d rescued the kids. Well, he doesn’t even want to look at me – like I’m something horrific. The one with the curly hair and the war-hammer? He clearly wasn’t too pleased about the idea of going out into the open to find Tyler and Runner.
But what about this third one? The one that sends tingles down my spine? I know he wants to help me. I need to focus on him, but he’s wounded.
I feel protective of the third alien, even though he’s over a foot taller than me and could pick me up with one hand. He’s my patient – and that means I’m responsible for his life.
I swallow hard as I stare at the pile of twitching Scorp corpses at the doorway. I have no pity for the beasts, but their deaths show the brutality these three Aurelians are capable of.
Why had fate thrown these aliens into my life?
I’m supposed to hate Aurelians. In fact, could they somehow even be responsible for this Scorp attack? It does seem too coincidental that they arrive at exactly the same time…
I glance toward my two young charges. The two little kids are tough customers, but they’re trembling. I don’t blame them. I kneel down until I’m face-to-face with the two kids. “We have to go find Runner and Tyler. If you stay close to me, you’ll be safe, okay?”
Stacy and Tod nod, trembling, and I wish that my words were true – and not just hopeful fantasy.
Out there, we’re almost certainly doomed – but perhaps no more than we would be remaining here.
Edgar grunts from behind me. He’s a little abashed from shooting an ally, but he clings to the rifle like it’s his only lifeline. “I can keep them safe. I’ll hold out here until the Capital sends reinforcements.”
I swallow hard, analyzing all the factors. It’s a tempting offer. If Edgar could hold out against the Scorp, I wouldn’t have to bring the two children out into the dangers of the city. Hell, I’d be able to cower here until help arrives.
If help arrives.
That thought is sour and cold in my mind.
Barl is low on the Capital’s list of priorities. The periphery states have suffered while the Capital prospered. Despite taking hefty taxes, they don’t send enough money for a proper
