Page 26 of Wings of Desire

The words become his undoing. He throbs inside me, and a tight whine escapes his lips as his hot cum fills me up. Thefeeling as it tingles, numbing me from all the pain, leaves me sighing and melting into the cot as if my bones dissolved.

“I love you too.”

Gently, his large hand comes up, holding mine as he presses a kiss to the side of my face.

“Good girl.”

More to come

Afaint, constant beeping continues to chime, waking me from my deep sleep.

“What is that?” I wonder aloud sleepily as I tilt my head toward the offensive noise.

The constant chime continues louder and louder, growing in intensity. Beside me, Xakiras grumbles in annoyance, pulling our makeshift pillow over his head. “Make it stop,” he groans.

We had sex three more times last night, and I’ve never been more thankful for numbing semen. My eyes fight to remain open, as sleep pulls at my eyelids, begging to rest. “It’s a comms unit,” I mumble, rolling off the cot, allowing Xakiras’s arm to drop off the side.

With the inside of the tent in such disarray, it’ll be impossible to find the annoying chime. The sound continues blaring to life from the lefthand side of the tent, in the farthest corner near the wall.

In my groggy state, I nearly forget that this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. My pulse quickens and I move with renewed purpose toward the sound. Underneath a pile of ripped books, something shines underneath them. I move them aside carelessly, unconcerned if I bend their spines anymore.

Blessedly underneath them, covered with grass, the holo flares to life with shimmering lights. On the screen it says “Peony” in thick black lettering. As I hold it in my trembling hands, an uneasiness settles over me, unsure of what to say. “It’s my ship...”

Anxiously, I stare at my mate, who’s now sitting up staring back at me. “Otoki..” His voice is calm as he tries to give me comfort. “It will work out for the best. You must tell your people.”

“What if I make things worse?” I chew at my bottom lip, tapping my foot anxiously.

My nerves rattle my senses as I fidget with the holo in my hands. Looking down at it and back at Xakiras I begin to gnaw at one of my fingernails absentmindedly.

The cot groans, but I pay it no attention, as soon two strong supportive arms encircle me in a tight, calming hug. “I’m here, Echo.”

My chest rattles as I exhale the breath, I didn’t know I was holding. “You’re right. I need to,” I say, nodding my head, finding courage. “At least for their families.”

Deftly I slide my fingers across the screen until it requests a passcode. “One, nine, six, three,” I say, recounting the code I’ve used since my contract started.

“Hello, this is Echo from Crew J9876,” I say, maintaining a strong, commanding tone.

The voice on the other end is one I’ve heard over a hundred times. As always, she’s pleasant even if she assumes she’s speaking to someone above her station. My throat closes, and tears well in my eyes as I try holding sobs at bay. Jetta’s mother Hirana kindly asks in her thick southern drawl, “Where is your commander, Echo?”

She hides her concern deftly, though I see it in her eyes as she peers at the surrounding disarray in the tent. I swallow roughly. My throat bobs, but I find the nerve to continue explaining. “Ma’am, there has been a massacre.” My hands tremble, shaking the holo so much that Xakiras reaches out a hand to help steady it.

“Where is Jetta?” Hirana’s voice is strained, the look in her eyes grows concerned. I hear people in the background behind her murmuring, wondering what I mean.

I will myself to maintain a semblance of control over my emotions, though they swirl around inside my chest, begging to be let loose. “Ma’am, everyone is gone.”

The crew in the background behind her erupts into fearful whispers, but she raises her hand into the air to silence them, commanding their attention. A grave look crosses her features, and she says, “Continue Echo.”

“There are sapient species on this planet, and one of them, the Krel, attacked the camp.” I hold Xakiras tighter, hating the way my voice wavers and tears form in my eyes. “I—I think I’m the only one left.”

To conceal her grief, Lieutenant Hirana takes deep breaths. She’s likely mastered the art of suppressing any emotion she deems unnecessary, even if she desperately wants to let them out. I watch as she keeps her composure, even though her throat bobs and tears glisten in her eyes. “I will contact the Imperium and have you relay what happened.”

Having me speak with the Imperium alone is intimidating. I don’t want to do that. “Are you safe?” she asks, concerned.

Quickly I’m reminded that even if Mrs. Hirana is my superior, she is also my best friend’s mom and she has a genuine care for me. I wipe my snotty nose with my arm, inhaling a shuddering breath. “Yeah. I’m with one of the peaceful species called the Nocris.” I try to explain the difference, hoping that anyknowledge I give of the Nocris will help keep them safe. “They want me to speak with their leader as well.”

Lieutenant Hirana nods her head slowly, considering what I tell her. “We will be back for you in six weeks. Are you sure you’ll be alright?” she asks sincerely. “Don’t tell them anything until the Imperium is debriefed; do you understand?”

I hesitate to answer, feeling my eyebrows come together, confused about what they want me to do in the meantime. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be fine until then.”

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