Page 44 of Venomous Heart
Ava came running, her face streaked with tears. Arlen watched in horror as she threw herself at the Mantrilla with her fists raised high.
His blood curdled and a terror like none he’d ever known choked his heart.
13
Ava
Her mind was wiped clear of thoughts. Only fear remained, and fear was everything.
“Stop!” Ava screeched, going straight for the large insect-like creature she knew had the power to take away what her heart could never live without. “You can’t take Uril away.”
“You are protected by your Eok mate’s laws, hybrid.” Prime Councilor Aav’s metallic voice had a shrill, irate tone. “But this specimen is not. His mere existence is forbidden in at least a dozen genetic engineering treaties.”
“His name is Uril, notspecimen.” Ava felt the tears running down her cheeks as Prime Councilor Aav watched her, those two black eyes like windows into an evil that could swallow all of them. “And I’m not going to allow you to take him.”
Prime Councilor Aav turned on Ava, the terrible clacking of her mandibles so close, Ava could smell the acrid, foul smell of her mouth. “I am the Prime Councilor of the Ring.” There was an edge to her voice, a thread better not stepped on. “I do not take orders from creatures such as you.”
From somewhere behind the Prime Councilor, Uril screamed, the sound full of fear as the male Mantrilla held him in their long, claw-like hands. There were no emotions showing on their alien faces, only a total obedience to their matriarch’s orders.
Golden eyes settled on Ava, full of abject terror as Uril struggled against the restraints. His dark hair fell over his brow and his pale green skin was flushed with the strain of his struggle.
He’s exerting himself too much. His heart can’t take this.
Panic filled Ava’s veins, entering her cells as the world began to spin, too fast for her to focus. All she could see was Uril, struggling and screaming. All she could see was the flush in his cheeks and the slight purplish tone of his lips as his heart struggled to pump enough oxygen into his blood.
He’s going to die.
Rage invaded Ava and she pounced. She didn’t think, didn’t pause. She pounced on the Prime Councilor, who stared at her, her mandibles remaining still for once in what could be only interpreted as surprise.
Then two thick blue arms closed around Ava’s waist and she was tackled to the ground. A huge body bent over hers protectively, a hand covering her face as the world rolled upside down.
She screamed but it was lost in the wall of flesh closing in all around her. Then her face was cradled against warm skin and she found herself on her feet, but there was no escaping the prison of those two big, powerful arms.
Mandibles clacked furiously and movement blurred at the edge of her vision. Ava struggled to move, to see anything that was happening.
“Let me go!” She pushed against Arlen’s arms, but it was like pushing against a mountain.
“Your mate has threatened violence against the Prime Councilor of the Ring.” The metallic voice was edged with outrage. “You know the punishment for that.”
“Ava is no threat to you with her bare hands,” Arlen answered, still refusing to let Ava out of the protection of his arms. “She was merely trying to protect the young male.”
“That young male is a hybrid,” Prime Councilor Aav answered in a fast, high-pitched tone that sounded like the tearing of metal. “The law is clear. Should any hybrid be found, they must be surrendered to the Gene Protection Council. Your mate defied that law. Her life is mine to take.”
Arms tightened around her and Ava struggled to breathe as Arlen hissed, a pure, feral sound. He pushed Ava rudely behind him, then turned to face Prime Councilor Aav, his talons out and his body rippling with tension.
“You cannot take an Eok’s mate’s life without consequences.” Arlen spoke loud and clear despite the tension. “Her offense against the Gene Protection Council does not warrant death.”
“Her offense was the threat of violence to the Prime Councilor of the Ring.”
Ava inched to the side to see the terrifying figure of Prime Councilor Aav towering above Arlen’s regal height. Yet, the Eok didn’t show any fear in the face of the monster; his talons were out and his eyes steady, defiant. Deadly.
“While you are on your seat in the headquarters of the Ring, you are Prime Councilor.” Another voice came from somewhere to the side, and Ava watched a steel blue Eok warrior walk calmly toward the scene, his eyes cold and blue, missing nothing of the situation. It was Kamal, Arlen’s older brother. “But you do not bring the title with you when you travel.”
Mandibles clicked with anger as the Mantrilla soldiers answered Kamal’s words, but Ava’s translator didn’t provide her with words. She got the gist of it, though. They weren’t happy. Not happy at all.
“That is but a mere formality.” Ava watched, shocked, as the Prime Councilor backed down, stepping away from Arlen. “I am still Matriarch of the Mantrilla, wherever I go. Violence against me is violence against my nation.”
“Mantrilla and Eoks have a peace treaty dating back two hundred years. Attacking a member of an Eok warrior’s family would breach that.”
