Page 48 of Alokar
Ewok’s family was absolutely wonderful. Daicon and Daisy loved Ewok fiercely. George, despite being an entirely different species, embodied the quintessential younger brother.And I’d never seen a baby as adorable as little Jordan, with tiny fingers that curled around mine, human features, ivory pelt, and those impossibly large blue-gold eyes.
Everyone else aboard theHistoriawas just as lovely. Despite being royalty, Duke Ako and Duchess Helene were gracious and friendly, going out of their way to ensure my comfort and well-being. Captain Adtovar and his mate Maddie, along with all the others I’d met, made me feel so welcome that the ache of leaving Earth dulled to a manageable twinge.
The Prime, however, still seemed intimidating, at least in my imagination. She’d been unable to join us for dinner due to pressing commitments, and now she waited for us in Duke Ako’s office. My stomach twisted with nerves at the thought of meeting her.
Duke Ako and Duchess Helene accompanied us, of course, as well as Captain Adtovar and War Chief Xabat. Daicon and Daisy were invited to join us as well, but Jordan had grown fussy as the evening wore on, and they’d decided to put her to bed instead. Adtovar’s mate Maddie had also bowed out. Newly pregnant, she was having an awful time dealing with nausea and fatigue.
When we entered Ako’s spacious office, with its high ceilings and walls lined with tomes of ancient texts, I couldn’t help but tense with nerves. Ewok’s grip on my hand tightened fractionally, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a soothing rhythm while his gaze touched my face with such affection and unwavering support that the tension melted from my shoulders.
The Lady Prime sat at the head of a long conference table crafted from what appeared to be polished obsidian, positioned at one side of the Duke’s office.
She was absolutely exquisite.
Definitely alien, but undeniably gorgeous in a manner that transcended species. Tall and lithe, with elegant proportions, she possessed a light tan pelt instead of traditional skin, which seemed to shimmer subtly in the light, giving her an otherworldly glow. Her dark hair lay woven into an intricate crown of braids atop her head. She wore flowing robes in rich shades of deep red, royal purple, and vibrant teal that not only denoted her position within the Alliance but also draped over her slender figure in a way that was both regal and graceful. When her extraordinary eyes swept over me, I gasped audibly. Not because of any harshness in her expression. She seemed genuinely warm and friendly—but because the golden sun swimming in a cobalt sea effect of her gaze was so startling and beautiful that it left me momentarily speechless.
“Lady Prime.” Duchess Helene stepped near and took my hand, her fingers warm and reassuring as she drew me forward. “May I present Hannah Rainwater from Earth. Ewok’s mate.”
The Prime’s elegant features registered surprise for a moment, her luminous eyes widening slightly, then her expression transformed into a smile so warm it could have melted ice. “I am pleased to meet you, Hannah.”
“Likewise,” I managed, my voice steadier than I’d expected. I thought about attempting a curtsy, but had absolutely no idea how to accomplish it without embarrassingmyself, so I simply bowed my head in what I hoped was a respectful gesture.
“Please sit,” The Prime gestured to all of us with a fluid motion of her hand. We found places around the massive table, the chairs adjusting automatically to our forms. I settled between Ewok and Captain Adtovar, feeling small, but protected between the two massive males.
A short, rather rotund creature with pale green skin hovered attentively in the corner. Large almond-shaped dark eyes dominated his round face, and pale purple lips pursed in concentration as he took notes on a sleek datapad. The Prime introduced him as her attaché, Sahikas, and his obvious dedication to his duties was both impressive and slightly amusing.
The Prime fixed my mate with an appreciative stare, her eyes lingering on him with unmistakable approval, and a warm smile illuminated her elegant features. “Ewok, you will be pleased to know that we have verified the remains to be Yaard and his death recorded. Excellent work.”
“Thank you, Lady,” Ewok grinned, his chest swelling with pride as he gave a reverent nod, his chocolate-silver fur catching the light.
The mesmerizing gold and blue gaze bounced between Ewok and me for a moment, studying us with the intensity of someone accustomed to reading between the lines. “Can you give me the details of the mission for the official record?”
Between the two of us, Ewok and I recounted everything in careful detail, starting with the moment when Yaard murdered my father. We painted the full picture of ourhunt through the mountains, Rodney’s death, and the final confrontation where Yaard finally received justice. The only detail we deliberately omitted was Hank’s knowledge of Ewok’s true form. Ewok and I made the conscious choice to keep that information to ourselves. Hank was a sweet old man, and we didn’t want to cause him any trouble. Besides, he was one of the precious few people my dad had trusted completely—and that meant something to me.
“And your mate, Hannah,” The Prime’s gaze centered on me, those otherworldly eyes seeming to peer directly into my soul. “She accompanies you willingly, knowing she can never return to Earth.”
“I do,” I said with the seriousness of a wedding vow, my voice ringing with conviction.
While there was no physical necessity for me to undergo treatment by the Garoot Healer, I’d decided to let George put me through it before we departed for Kerzak. With the vast difference between human and Kerzak lifespans, going through the Healer would ensure my mate and I could savor centuries together instead of being limited to just a handful of years.
Those luminous gold eyes studied me for a long moment, as if weighing my words against some internal measure, then she smiled, gesturing at her attaché with one elegant hand. “Sahikas, you may file the official report and are dismissed for the evening.”
The short, pale-green creature looked so profoundly relieved that his entire being seemed to deflate, and I nearly giggled at the sight.
The Prime waited until her assistant shuffled out of the room, his small feet pattering against the polished floor, then she sighed deeply, her gaze touching each of us, heavy with the weight of concern.
“Hannah, I must ask—when Yaard kidnapped you, did you have much opportunity for discourse?”
“It wasn’t pleasant, but yes, we talked,” I admitted, a bitter, metallic taste coating my tongue at the memory of his cruel words. “Mostly he just threatened to eat me.”
The Prime and Duke Ako shared a glance laden with implication. “Did he mention anything about an entity called the consortium?” She continued.
I started, my muscles growing tense as dread crept up my spine. “He did. I thought it was just bluster, the ravings of a madman.”
The Prime sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Can you tell me exactly what he said?”
I thought for a minute, carefully pulling the words through the jagged shards of anger that clouded the memory. “He said he had help from the Trogvyk in getting to Earth. Then he said something about the consortium being a vast network that had infiltrated and gained control both in the Alliance and on Earth, and that he would rule over it all like some emperor.” The words turned sour in my mouth. “He swore humans would get treated as nothing more than livestock when he ruled.”
“He said something similar to me right before we killed him,” Ewok added, his voice deepening with remembered fury. “That the Alliance’s rule was over and the consortium was everywhere.”
