Page 30 of Benet

Shaking his head, Dmitri pulled out more of his own history. “As I explained to Benet, Generation One is a misnomer. The Khagrish spent quite a long time trying to arrive at a baseline for what they wanted. Many false starts, incorrect mutations, men who were more their alien predator than humanoid. There were a few warriors from time to time who I can vaguely recall had a more reptilian appearance, nothing as pronounced as your scales and neck frill. Those cubs were taken away promptly and never seen again. We assumed they were terminated.” Marushka had a look of horror on her face so Dmitri reached over to squeeze her hand in reassurance. “Our story is a dark one, devochka, but we keep our honor through it all.”

“Strength through the pack and the Great Mother,” Kyden said in agreement.

“But to complete my thought, I’m Generation One in the sense I was created in the early phases. I assume what the scientists called Generation Two was the first larger scale, stable population of men.”

Kyden and Talinn exchanged glances. “So our kind has been in captivity longer than the time frame we were taught,” the Alpha said. “Sobering news.”

“Nothing we can do about it.” Talinn was philosophical.

“So tell me how it is that Benet has become Badari in some fashion?” Kyden said matter of factly. “I sensed both of you when we arrived at the planet and I was certainly surprised.”

“I was astonished when you spoke to me telepathically,” Benet said, rubbing his forehead. “Neat trick. We could have used the ability in the arena more than a few times.”

“I had to push,” Kyden admitted. He focused on Dmitri. “And I had to force it on you as well. Was your Generation not telepathic?”

“Not to my knowledge.” Dmitri rubbed his forehead. “Gave me quite a headache.”

“We were told by our healers it was a side effect of an experiment the scientists carried out and they had no idea we gained the ability. It’s a closely held pack secret in my time.” Kyden turned his head to make the point to Marushka.

“And mine,” Talinn agreed, serving himself more of the beef.

“I won’t tell anyone,” she said, not sounding offended in the least by Kyden’s obvious warning. “I have all kinds of secrets of my own and I’m well practiced at keeping them.”

Benet leaned over and kissed her. Dmitri’s heart ached for the two of them because he couldn’t see how their love story could have any kind of a positive ending. He saw Kyden watching the pair closely and was tempted to issue a warning about the impossibility of taking Marushka from her home but bit his tongue. That discussion was between Benet and Kyden. “You asked how Benet gained Badari attributes? We have to thank Marushka.”

“She saved my life,” Benet said, kissing her hand. “And of course Dmitri was the primary factor.” He recounted the story of the gang who’d attacked him.

Dmitri was pleased to see both Kyden and Talinn were upset and angry on behalf of their friend as the account unfolded. The two men had their talons deployed and their eyes were glowing amber.

“So I dragged myself to my apartment rather than die like a dog in the street and Dmitri and Marushka found me, passed out on the floor in a pool of my own blood.”

“He was dying,” Dmitri took up the tale. “I’d had a vision from the Great Mother a few days earlier and she told me our blood was the magic. With Benet bleeding out, I knew we had to get my blood into him, which is where Marushka came in.”

“I’m a licensed veterinarian,” she said, spreading honey on a roll. She licked her fingers and took a bite before adding, “It’s illegal for me to work on humans but many of the principles are the same?—”

Kyden held up a hand. “Wait, I thought you were a Grand Duchess.”

“I am. I always loved animals and I used to follow the vets at my father’s country estate when I was a kid. Actually, Imperial Princess Alessandra encouraged me to fight for what I wanted and to insist I be allowed to go to school for it. She fought long and hard to become a doctor. I miss her.”

“What happened to her?” Kyden asked.

“She was the Empress’s heir apparent but then she disappeared on a trip to Freemarket, the pleasure planet.” Marushka lowered her voice and they all leaned in to hear her next words. “I have it on good authority she and her former lover got together and managed to escape somewhere in the galaxy to live a life they wanted, not the life the empress decreed for her. Ekatereen kept them apart for twenty years and we all believed she’d executed him. But against all odds they reunited on Freemarket.” The Grand Duchess’s envy of the happy outcome was plain in her face and voice. “It’s been a few years now and there hasn’t been any sign of them.”

“Believe me, the Empress has searched, which tells us the couple succeeded. I liked Alessandra,” Dmitri said. “She would have made a good empress. But getting back to Benet, Marushka agreed to do a transfusion for me.”

“How could that have worked?” Talinn asked. “We’re not remotely human for all we have red blood.”

“It shouldn’t have,” Marushka agreed. “But there was nothing else to be done. I couldn’t just sit there and watch him die.” Tears shimmered in her eyes and Benet gave her a quick hug.

“The will of the Great Mother,” Dmitri said. “Over the course of the next few hours Benet began to heal as we do and by morning he was ambulatory.”

“I could tell I’d been beaten up,” Benet said, rubbing his chin, “But I should have been dead. And since then I’ve gained extra muscle mass, more endurance, definitely more speed, and now I discover I have telepathy. With you anyway.” He pointed to Kyden.

“It’ll improve as we practice more,” Kyden assured him. “You should be able to communicate with Talinn and Rennyr as well. And Dmitri.”

Clearing his throat, Dmitri addressed Kyden directly. “The Great Mother also gave me a message for you. I’m to tell you’re your mate requires your blood if you hope to have children.”

There was silence as everyone stared at him but he’d said what he had to say and there was nothing to add.

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