this kind of shield before the Druel attack?”
Galvan glanced at me in surprise, before his gaze swing to Morrdrook, who folded his arms.
“Answer her question. Aunna, is my Shahess.”
“You cannot take a different species as mate, it is against planet laws. A non-Zakiu female cannot be a Shahess! They were given to you by the Druel, how can you trust them?”
I could feel the rigid tension rolling off Morrdrook as he rose to his feet to tower over the scientist. Makkiu and Nular also rose, taking a stance behind Morrdrook.
Galvan’s eyes widened as he realized just the kind of trouble he was in for blurting out something so discriminatory. I could see the smaller man tremble in fear. Still ever the fighter was my man.
“Oh, not a smart thing to say.” Abby folded her arms, a fierce glare in her green gaze.
“You will respect every human mate here. They have not only saved our lives, but have changed the fate of our planet. I am Shah of all of Zakiu, my word is law. Aunna is my Shahess . She carries my bud and she can speak for me if she wishes. If you do not care for it, then scientist or not, it will be a very painful death for you.”
“I…I apologize, my Shah, of course. I did not mean. It has been a long time…I am unaccustomed…” The man trembled, under an imposing force of three Zakiu gladiators, very willing to rip even one of their own apart to defend their women. Heck if I was him, I’d be trembling in fear too. God, I loved my Zakiu.
“Just quit while you’re ahead,” Joan advised.
Abby snorted and I rolled my eyes as I stood up to skirt around the men and put my hand on Morrdrook’s arm.
“Can we just focus on getting this shield up and running, please?”
“Yes, forgive me, my Shahess.” Galvan, shifted forward, tumbling out of his chair and onto his knees before me.
I turned to glance down at him, feeling only compassion for what he must have been through witnessing the death and destruction of his people.
“It’s okay, please get up. We’re all in this together, Zakiu and humans, and if we can’t work together, we might as well just sit on the city steps and wait for the Druel to arrive.”
“We were peaceful but proud people and many other nations from around the galaxy species came to us to trade. Through our arrogance, we thought nothing could harm us, until the Druel came and deceived everyone.” Galvan drew in a deep breath, his gaze on mine as he continued. “Once the attack started, we focused on saving as many as we could from the biological entity destroying the people. Then the Druel started stealing the Zakiu from the streets. I knew we needed more defense than just against the sickness, so Essence and I started designing the Guardian Shield. I managed to finish the plans but could not build it by myself. The Druel were doing regular sweeps of the city, searching for living Zakiu to take. If they found me or any of those I’d put into stasis, I knew all would be lost, forever.”
“You did what you had to do, but now we must focus on building this Guardian Shield and not squabble over differences in species.”
“You are right, my Aunna.” Morrdrook’s arms slid around me. “You must tell us what needs to be done to build the shield. This is our last chance for a life free from Druel. This is our last chance to save our people.”
Nular stepped forward to grip the scientist’s arm, hauling him to his feet.
“First we must start waking the others. We are going to need many hands to work.”
Morrdrook nodded towards Nular and Mikkiu.
“I will call the others and begin. Abby, you will go rest. I see how weary you are.”
“I’m okay honey, there’s no need…”
“Abby.” Nular’s stern tone made her falter.
“The same goes for you, Joan. You have done too much already,” Mikkiu added.
Joan smiled at her guy.
“Aunna, take your friends to a comfortable room. You will rest too.” It was a command and one I wasn’t going to argue
Galvan glanced at me in surprise, before his gaze swing to Morrdrook, who folded his arms.
“Answer her question. Aunna, is my Shahess.”
“You cannot take a different species as mate, it is against planet laws. A non-Zakiu female cannot be a Shahess! They were given to you by the Druel, how can you trust them?”
I could feel the rigid tension rolling off Morrdrook as he rose to his feet to tower over the scientist. Makkiu and Nular also rose, taking a stance behind Morrdrook.
Galvan’s eyes widened as he realized just the kind of trouble he was in for blurting out something so discriminatory. I could see the smaller man tremble in fear. Still ever the fighter was my man.
“Oh, not a smart thing to say.” Abby folded her arms, a fierce glare in her green gaze.
“You will respect every human mate here. They have not only saved our lives, but have changed the fate of our planet. I am Shah of all of Zakiu, my word is law. Aunna is my Shahess . She carries my bud and she can speak for me if she wishes. If you do not care for it, then scientist or not, it will be a very painful death for you.”
“I…I apologize, my Shah, of course. I did not mean. It has been a long time…I am unaccustomed…” The man trembled, under an imposing force of three Zakiu gladiators, very willing to rip even one of their own apart to defend their women. Heck if I was him, I’d be trembling in fear too. God, I loved my Zakiu.
“Just quit while you’re ahead,” Joan advised.
Abby snorted and I rolled my eyes as I stood up to skirt around the men and put my hand on Morrdrook’s arm.
“Can we just focus on getting this shield up and running, please?”
“Yes, forgive me, my Shahess.” Galvan, shifted forward, tumbling out of his chair and onto his knees before me.
I turned to glance down at him, feeling only compassion for what he must have been through witnessing the death and destruction of his people.
“It’s okay, please get up. We’re all in this together, Zakiu and humans, and if we can’t work together, we might as well just sit on the city steps and wait for the Druel to arrive.”
“We were peaceful but proud people and many other nations from around the galaxy species came to us to trade. Through our arrogance, we thought nothing could harm us, until the Druel came and deceived everyone.” Galvan drew in a deep breath, his gaze on mine as he continued. “Once the attack started, we focused on saving as many as we could from the biological entity destroying the people. Then the Druel started stealing the Zakiu from the streets. I knew we needed more defense than just against the sickness, so Essence and I started designing the Guardian Shield. I managed to finish the plans but could not build it by myself. The Druel were doing regular sweeps of the city, searching for living Zakiu to take. If they found me or any of those I’d put into stasis, I knew all would be lost, forever.”
“You did what you had to do, but now we must focus on building this Guardian Shield and not squabble over differences in species.”
“You are right, my Aunna.” Morrdrook’s arms slid around me. “You must tell us what needs to be done to build the shield. This is our last chance for a life free from Druel. This is our last chance to save our people.”
Nular stepped forward to grip the scientist’s arm, hauling him to his feet.
“First we must start waking the others. We are going to need many hands to work.”
Morrdrook nodded towards Nular and Mikkiu.
“I will call the others and begin. Abby, you will go rest. I see how weary you are.”
“I’m okay honey, there’s no need…”
“Abby.” Nular’s stern tone made her falter.
“The same goes for you, Joan. You have done too much already,” Mikkiu added.
Joan smiled at her guy.
“Aunna, take your friends to a comfortable room. You will rest too.” It was a command and one I wasn’t going to argue
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