Page 60 of The Blind Hordesman

“You’re a coward for not answering his challenge.”

All the males freeze and turn to me. I stick out my chin.

Father leaps out of his chair. He’s at me in seconds, hand on my throat, squeezing.

“You can’t kill me,” I say. “I carry your future.”

He snarls and releases me. “I can kill you, Rickie Lee. The second your Hordesman kneels, I will.”

“Who will inherit your throne?”

“Nobody!” he shouts. “I have a chamber of youth that humans made to keep me fresh. Have you never wondered why I don’t age?” He laughs. “You thought you know me. You thought you were smart when you turned yourself in, but the fact is, all I want is for Loven’s son to kneel before me. The heir you will give me is just a bonus, but not the prize.” Father smiles. It doesn’t reach his eyes. He spins away from me and orders the Swarm males to prepare the hatchlings. The two males leave. The Teleans await his command, and Father simply nods. My palms sweat, and I rub them on my dress.

Father sits and motions me closer. “Come, my dear.”

I approach his chair.

He taps his knee. “Sit.”

I do, and Father wraps his arms around me, twists a lock of my hair. He brings it to his nose and inhales. “You are my favorite. I love you more than I loved Domitay. Did I ever tell you that?”

I swallow and shake my head.

“You’re pretty, smart, and a breakthrough in biological warfare. My beautiful weapon, and now you will serve me. I will truly miss you when you die. Let’s hope your Hordesman plays no tricks and everyone kneels as they should.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” I say. “You can leave now, and I will deliver you a Sewa male, and he will conquer the world for you.”

“I will conquer the world. When I have the gate, I have the Earth. He can go after the Regha King then, and my bloodline will retake the throne.”

“The gate isn’t here.”

“They brought it in exchange for you.”

“The channels are open,” a Telean says.

“Hordesman,” Father says and points at the screen zoomed in on the housing. “I have your Omega. Bring me the gate, and I will release her. Don’t bring me the gate, and I will carve your baby out of her.”

On screen, five males exit the housing. They carry lifted shields so I can’t see their faces before they form a tight triangle. The round shields ignite, and a blue tech like the dome glows over the metal shields. Under the cover of the tech-reinforced blue shields, the males move forward and reach the water. One separates and lowers his shield. It’s Seer.

I move to stand, but Father holds me back.

Seer wears a blacktil, boots, and beautiful red armor, and in his left hand, he carries a box. Warm, bright white light shines inside it. He extends his hand and drops to his knees. My breath catches.

The Teleans inside the control room cheer.

A single shell floats on the water and opens. From it emerges a woman with long reddish-brown hair. She glances back, and it’s me. It’s a replica.

“Seer will know,” I say.

“Seer relies on smell, and by the time hers wears off, I will be long gone.”

“It is done,” the Telean says. “We get the gate and leave.”

The girl on the screen runs to Seer, and he takes her, lifts her out of the water with one hand, the other still holding the box by a string. She’s draped all over him, her face buried in his neck, and I tap my knee, burning with jealousy.

“He’ll bed her,” Father taunts. “Looks like you, talks like you, but sterile.”

Seer places the box holding what I presume is the space gate on the water.

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