Page 35 of First

“I convinced Skarrp to feed the women the apples and we saved the seeds for you. Iknew you would need them. Ijust had to find a way to get them to you,” she said, her voice soft but unwavering, her gaze filled with a determination that mirrored hisown.

He couldn’t express the depth of his emotion, the gratitude that overwhelmed him, the love that threatened to shatter the cage of his pain. “These could make all the difference.”

“That’s my hope.”

The Marauder looked up, focusing briefly on the two of them. Winn deliberately snuggled against Jo’Nay, the pet snuggling against her master, close enough so his hand could cup her cheek as though he were caressing his creature.

“Do you think you’ll be able to escape?” she asked, her question whisper-soft. Her eyes shone with a fierce determination. “Can you kill Skarrp?”

She spared the Marauder another swift glance, reassured to discover his attention had returned to his electronic device. She gently placed the apple seeds in Jo’Nay’s mouth.

He bit into the seeds, the bitterness a tangible reminder of hope, of a future they would fight to reclaim. The cyanide within them, apoison to most, held the power to reverse the genetic modifications, but more importantly to heal what Skarrp had done to him. He looked at Winn, his heart overflowing with a love that defied the boundaries of their different species, their different worlds.

“I love you, Winn.”

Her eyes softened, reflecting the depth of her own love. “And I love you, Jo’Nay,” she replied, her voice filled with a tenderness that soothed the turmoil withinhim.

As he swallowed the seeds, he felt a surge of warmth spread through his body, afamiliar sensation that signaled the beginning of the healing process. He closed his eyes, leaning against Winn, drawing strength from her presence as the apple seeds began to work their magic, repairing his damaged cells, restoring his vitality, renewing hishope.

Then he opened his eyes, fire burning in the violet depths. “Who has my sword?” he whispered harshly. “Because whoever it is, he won’t have it for long.”

Chapter 16

ZAR’RYN, Second of the Intergalactic Warriors Alpha Legion, arrived on the outskirts of Earth just in time to see several Marauder ships disappear into the vastness of space. They moved with a haste that indicated their sudden departure was due to an unforeseen threat.

Him? Or something else?

His gaze swept across the sector, searching, assessing, his warrior instincts on high alert. And then he saw it. Jo’Nay’s ship, amagnificent vessel of Vettian engineering, crippled and drifting, its hull scarred by the ravages of battle.

A cold dread gripped Zar’Ryn’s heart. Jo’Nay, First of their Alpha Legion, awarrior renowned for his skill and cunning, was in danger. Without hesitation, Zar’Ryn maneuvered his own ship, asleek, predatory craft, alongside Jo’Nay’s wounded vessel.

“Transport,” he commanded, his voice a low growl, the urgency of the situation evident in his tone. An instant later, he materialized on the bridge of Jo’Nay’sship.

The bridge revealed a scene of chaos. Control panels flickered erratically, their delicate systems overloaded by the recent attack. The sharp tang of scorched circuits and molten alloys clung to the air, heavy and suffocating, stung his nostrils. Scattered debris, twisted metal, and shattered glass littered the deck, remnants of the Marauders’ attack and a testament to the ferocity of the battle.

He could still feel the faint thrum of the ship’s engines, struggling to maintain life support, evidence to the resilience of Vettian engineering. But what chilled Zar’Ryn to the bone was the absence of his First.

He’d arrived just moments too late. His ship, theVengeance, had picked up the faint distress beacon, adesperate cry for help that had echoed through the vast emptiness of space. He’d pushed his ship to its limits, ignoring the warning pings from his own AI, his heart pounding with a mixture of dread and hope. Hope that he would be in time. Hope that he could save Jo’Nay, his First, his brother in arms. Dread that he wouldn’t be intime.

But as he’d emerged from the swirling chaos of the jump point, all he’d seen were the retreating shadows of the Marauder ships, their engines spitting fire as they vanished into the darkness, confirming he’d arrived too late. He hadn’t been able to prevent the abduction, hadn’t been able to protect his First. The weight of that failure, abitter taste in his mouth, fueled the rage that burned withinhim.

“Jo’Nay!” he roared, his voice echoing through the ravaged chamber.

Silence met his call. Only the faint hum of damaged systems and the hiss of escaping atmosphere answeredhim.

Zar’Ryn slammed his fist against the console, fury radiating from him in waves. Where were they? Where had those scavenging scum taken his First?

His gaze, aFinal Flight color combination of aged whiskey with bleeding hints of ink-black, swept across the ravaged bridge of Jo’Nay’s ship. He’d transported to the vessel, renowned for its speed and agility, dismayed to discover it a crippled shadow of its former glory.

The boarding ramp had been torn apart, leaving a gaping wound in the ship’s side. The corridors were eerily silent, the emergency lights casting long, menacing shadows that danced with the flickering rhythm of the failing life support. He’d found no sign of life, no trace of Jo’Nay, only the chilling evidence of violence, of a struggle that had ended in defeat.

Zar’Ryn, his senses heightened, his warrior instincts screaming at him, swiftly assessed the situation. The evidence of battle was everywhere. Scorch marks, black and ugly, marred the once pristine walls. The remnants of energy weapons fire, the unmistakable signature of the Marauders, littered the deck. Dead bodies, all Marauders were everywhere, testament to Jo’Nay’s desperate attempt to defend himself. And yet…

They had taken Jo’Nay. There was no other explanation.

Rage, aprimal fury that burned like a supernova, surged through Zar’Ryn’s veins. Those scavengers, those bottom-feeding parasites, would pay for what they had done. He would hunt them down, one by one, and make them suffer for their transgression. His First would be avenged. Even though his own hair and eyes had begun to darken as his Final Flight swiftlyapproached, he’d gladly sacrifice himself if it meant Jo’Nay’s freedom.

Zar’Ryn stepped cautiously along the corridor toward the bridge, his instincts on high alert. The once-sleek and efficient layout of the ship was now a chaotic mess of scorch marks and destroyed panels. He retraced his steps toward the bridge, his footsteps heavy on the metallic deck, his senses on high alert.

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