Page 68 of Alien's Eternal Mate

Shit, I didn’t even beat Jark on my own. My lifemate essentially saved my life.

The first of the Overtaken alighted upon our rocky hilltop. His face appeared grave, though it was hard to tell with the aggressive, painted designs on his visage. Another joined him, and another, then another still.

I knew that the worst thing I could do at that moment would be to project fear. I stood as confidently as I could muster, keeping my expression stony and my bearing regal.

When most of the invading warriors gathered on the hilltop, dwarfing our own number, the original stepped forward.

“I am Nikor, Sub-chieftain to Grhoma Jark. We watched as you cut our leader out of the sky.”

I waited for him to say something else. Or do something, anything. Instead, he just stood there silent and stoic, as if waiting for me to say something. And I got the impression he’d have waited a thousand years for me to reply if he had to, without so much as an exasperated sigh.

“I am Gro. Peace Chief of the Starlost tribe. Yes, I cut your leader out of the sky. He challenged me, and was defeated.”

Nikor nodded, but otherwise offered no reaction to my proclamation.

I hope they didn’t see what Arael did. My victory was far from honorable.

Nikor turned to his fellows and gave a curt nod. As one, they all bent their heads and clapped a hand across their bodies, striking their shoulders.

“We follow our new chieftain, Grhoma Gro!”

I winced at the additional title. In Masari, Grhoma didn’t translate directly to galactic standard. It was more of a concept than a word, combining tyrant, dictator, and god in corporeal form.

“Just Gro. No mortal Masari should ever call themselves Grhoma again.”

Nikor started, his mouth falling open.

Oh crap, did I just say the wrong thing? Maybe I should have owned being a god-dictator made flesh.

“As you say, calling oneself a god does not make it so. You possess wisdom beyond your years, Peace Chief Gro. And that is why we will follow you to the ends of the galaxy if need be.”

Pageus clapped me on the shoulder.

“That takes care of the Overtaken threat.”

“It takes care of the Overtaken threat to us,” I corrected him. “I need to stop the expansionism that Jark started.”

Arael came closer to my side.

“Forgive me, beloved, but I am not sure you should stop it after all.”

I stared at her for a long moment, waiting for the shock to die down.

“You would have me be a conqueror?”

“The Masari face many challenges,” she said, her eyes shining with an intense, inner light. “Facing those challenges together makes more sense than doing so apart.”

I couldn't refute her logic, but the path to unity seemed paved with blood.

“I don’t want to continue the cycle of violence. Besides, every empire I’ve ever studied has always ended the same way--sooner or later, the empire gets too big for its britches and collapses, either from outside forces or internal ones.”

“Too big for their pantaloons?” Arael said.

“Never mind. My point is, there’s a limit to expansion doing it Jark’s way. The best way to achieve unity is to persuade everyone to think it’s a good idea…in fact, if you can make them think it’s their idea to begin with, it works even better.”

I trailed off, realizing that I had a rapt audience of my lifemate, Pageus, Zey, and Nikor. They all stared, waiting for me to continue. I’d never held the respect of so many disparate beings in my entire life. I enjoyed the feeling, and yet the awesome weight of responsibility descended on my shoulders like a thousand Gs.

“Are you suggesting we ask other tribes to join us?” Nikor didn’t sound angry, or even incredulous.

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