I fall asleep with Addison in my arms and feel as though I am dreaming. This is so much more than I thought I could have. I can hardly believe that she is lying here with me. When I wake up with her still here, I know I want this every day. Want her by my side.

But I can hear the meteorite shower has ended. We must leave soon, even though what I want is to stay here with Addison in my arms. I watch her sleeping face for a moment more. She appears softer, more vulnerable, her shields not up yet to guard herself from the world. I smooth a hand down her back and kiss her forehead, reluctant to wake her when she seems so peaceful.

But we need to go.

"Addison. We must depart," I murmur.

She sighs, her eyes blinking open, focusing on me. I feel the moment she is awake, her entire body tensing against my own. She sits up, a pretty flush coloring her cheeks when she realizes she is unclothed.

"Uh, okay. I'll just get dressed then," she mutters, reaching out for her clothing.

I have the urge to pull her back towards me, to soothe her sudden anxiety, but then I hear Errol call out for us.

"Addison, Melchior—it is time to continue!"

Addison is dressed so quickly that I have to blink. That was...very fast. I follow suit in a slightly less manic manner, and we pack everything up together. I want to say more, want to have a moment to ourselves, but there is no time. We must leave.

I feel somewhat disgruntled at that as we exit the cave, Kate and Errol are already ready and waiting for us at the rover. But, once again, duty calls.

"I hope that is the last meteor shower we encounter for the rest of the journey," Errol remarks while we secure our belongings in the rover.

I nod. The delay may already have cost the settlement. Even though I recognize that, I find it difficult to regret it, not when I spent the time with Addison in my arms.

But it does mean that we must hurry. Without any more discussion, we sit down in the rover and continue on our way. The earlier tension between Addison and me has dissipated. I adjust myself discreetly when an image flashes in my mind, a reminder of just why that particular tension is gone.

I glance over at Addison to see her looking out the window, her demeanor contemplative. Is she thinking of last night too? I cannot address it now, not with others in the car.

There is not much conversation in any case, not when with all of us focused on what we may encounter at our destination. We do not have much farther to travel.

Cognizant of that fact, the anxiety level in the vehicle begins to rise as we near the settlement. What will we find? Were they able to hold off the attack? We won’t know until we arrive.

"We're here," Kate announces in a tense voice. "Just over this rise."

I lean forward to see through the windshield in the front.

"Oh no!" Addison gasps, looking ahead.

"Shit," Kate mutters.

Yes. I clench my jaw as I take in the scene.

The settlement is currently under attack, a small army of the invaders already encroaching upon its borders. It is clear the humans are having trouble holding them back, even with Zmaj help.

The distinctive flash of a lochaber catches my eye and I see Ragnar kill two of the invaders with one well-timed blow. After I see him, I can pick out Ryuth and Padraig spread along the line of defense, fighting with grim determination. They are excellent warriors, but there are not enough of them to hold back that many of the attackers alone.

I tense when I hear a loud bang. One of the invaders jerks in response and falls back.

"They have remnants of the guns from the ship, but they don't have any means to recharge them!" Kate shouts as we near, the din of battle making hearing her more difficult. "I'm guessing that's why they aren't just shooting out there willy-nilly!"

I scan the battle, feeling my stomach roll at the thought of Addison anywhere near the bloody mess.

"Errol," I say.

He nods, glancing over at Kate.

"I am going to drive through them. Hold on."

I brace myself, making sure to extend my arm in front of Addison to hold her in place too.

Errol slams his foot down on the accelerator and the rover leaps forward, right through a group of the invaders trying to enter the settlement. Some of them scatter just in time, but we run over more than a few, the bumps and staccato screams a clear indicator.

Pushing the brakes once we are through, Errol turns the steering wheel to bring the rover to a rocking stop right in front of a group of huddled human females, their eyes wide as they take us in.

"Addison, you and Kate stay here with the others," I order, opening the door.

"Okay," she agrees, not arguing.

Kate does not either, stepping out of the car with Addison. Errol and I abandon the rover as well. It was useful to get into the settlement, to leave Addison and Kate in a safer spot, but it is not practical to try to kill more of the invaders with it. Not when some of our own people are out there. There is too much of a chance that we may accidentally hit one of them in an attack.

We attack as we normally would. Lochaber in hand, we waste no time before joining the melee.

Taking a running leap, I swing my weapon in a hard arc in front of me, wounding multiple attackers at once and clearing a space to fight within.

One of those I cut in the initial attack growls, the sound oddly spaced just as their roars are. The cold hate I see in its full black eyes does not surprise me. I think the invaders came to Tajss with the idea that they would find easy prey here. Having us protect the humans really does interfere with those plans, and I have no problem with that.

Even if we weren't creating a new society together, I wouldn't want any sentient, intelligent creatures being taken as slaves. So I simply jerk my head at the angry invader, goading him to attack me—and he does. I dodge the blow he attempts to land, sweeping his legs out from under him. He manages to slash at my leg, but he's dead in the next moment.

Just as I stagger forward from an attack from the rear. Growling myself now, I fling my new opponent off my back, using the blunt end of my lochaber to push my attacker away.

When I glance up briefly, I meet Addison's eyes. They are focused fully on me while she huddles with the other women watching the fight.

But I do not have time to more than glance at her as three other invaders attempt a concerted attack upon me.

My muscles burn as I continue to battle, using my lochaber to keep some distance, leaping into the air and using vertical space to avoid swipes with their weapons and hands. I land once more, crouching low and ready for another attack when a human runs up from behind us. A male.

"One of the women has been taken!" he yells. "They went that way!"

"We shall find her!" Ragnar returns immediately, taking Padraig's arm and running in the direction the male pointed to. If they do not retrieve her before they secure her in their ship, she may soon be off world and out of reach.

I look over at Ryuth as I try to catch my breath, only to find him looking back at me. He nods at me, gripping his gore-covered lochaber in his hands. Jackson, the human male seemingly in charge here at the settlement, steps forward as well with his group. We will have to hold the line without the others' help now.

The invaders attack with a renewed burst of energy when they see the Zmaj numbers have been cut down. But we do not give in.

I enter that mental arena, that cold, quiet place where fighting is second nature. Dodge, leap, stab, sweep. My muscles have their own memory, react almost on their own as I fight invader after invader, ignoring the pain of minor wounds and bruises.

The battle is arduous, but the front line has already done much of the work before we even arrived. The invaders that are attacking are dangerous, but I can sense the weakness in them. For the most part, they have lost that gleam of confidence in their eyes, that surety that they believe their tricks will work. It is more a battle of endurance at this point than anything else. And endure we do.

It takes time, my body continuing to move long after I feel the pull of exhaustion. We cannot stop. If we stop, not only will we be taken or killed, but those depending on us will be kidnapped as well.

Addison's face hovers in my mind's eyes, motivating me to hit with the same force, dodge with the same swiftness even though I am tiring. I refuse to give in. And that perseverance prevails.

The battle eventually ends, most of the invaders dead at our feet, others escaping, deciding to retreat. We stay in place a bit longer, ensuring others will not arrive, that this is not another trick they are attempting to use on us. But it is not. No others appear.

I catch my breath, turning to ensure the women are whole and healthy. They are, including Addison. I do not go to her, though I have a strong urge to do that.

Now that we have space and time, we take the opportunity to confer with the patrols on site.

"What other areas may be vulnerable?" I ask, Ryuth by my side.

"The flanks," Jackson returns, his face flushed and gleaming with sweat. "I'll show you."

We do a sweep of the vulnerable portions of the mining settlement, attempting to root out any invaders lying in wait while also devising a defensive plan. My mind should be firmly on the task at hand, but thoughts of Addison seep in throughout.

I feel my impatience, ignited by my desire to go back to her. After what we shared in that cave, our link has deepened. Neither of us know what the true implications of that change are. I worry at that thought while I try to focus on the defenses.

When we finally accomplish everything we need to ensure the settlement's safety, I almost run back to where I left Addison, eager to see her. She is not quite where I left her after that much time, but I find her easily enough, just in time for the heavily guarded communal meal.

"Are you all right?" she asks when I approach, looking me over in concern.

"Yes, only minor wounds and bruises. Are you well?"

She appears fine and whole, as expected. I would never have left with the others to secure the settlement's flanks otherwise.

"Yes," she sighs, her bottom lip poking out. "I wish I'd been more of a help though."

I shake my head, taking her hand in mine to lead her over to the communal meal.

"The best thing you could have done was stay out of danger. When another woman was taken by the invaders, it forced us to split our numbers. Never good during a battle."

She sobers, nodding.

"True." I see her glance around at the assembled people. "Why are we eating outside? Shouldn't we be under cover just in case?"

"It was Jackson's idea," I explain as we take a seat at a table that is already half full. "He thought eating outside in clear sight would send a message."

"That we're easy targets?" she quips.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

"No, that we are not afraid. Perhaps if we show no fear, the invaders will reconsider any attacks during the night. He thinks a show of confidence might make them wonder if we have something else at our disposal they do not know about."

"Hmm." She turns her eyes back to me. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

"Perhaps." I point discretely to where people are stationed, both humans and Zmaj. "The area is being carefully guarded. If it does not work, we will not be caught unawares."

She nods.

"All right, I guess that makes sense."

Errol and Kate arrive and the conversation shifts to something much more interesting.

"Seems like this may not have been an attack just to take people," Kate murmurs as she sits down next to us, her eyes scanning the area. "They've found some new ore in the mines. Might be the reason for this particular assault on the settlement."

"What kind of ore?" I ask, frowning. "What could they want that badly?"

"Vanadium," Errol responds.

I sit back in my chair at that. This does change things.

"Vanadium?" I repeat.

Addison looks between the two of us.

"Vanadium? What is that? And why would the invaders want it?"

"It is an ore with electrical properties that can be quite useful," I explain, tapping my fingers on the table. "Have you seen it?" I ask Errol. "Does it appear to be so?"

It is a very distinctive ore. He nods.

"A deep red, so deep it is almost black. I cannot be certain, but it appeared to reflect a violet color."

I nod, staring down at the table. This could change a very great deal.

"Electrical properties?" Addison asks, focusing on exactly the right thing.

"Yes," I confirm, meeting her eyes.

I can see the dawning excitement in them. She understands exactly what this could mean. Our conversation is cut short, however, when the food arrives and more people fill in the empty section of the table.

By silent agreement, we focus on the meal and on lighter topics while we eat. Better not to accidentally say something that might have unintended political ramifications. The people here have grudgingly accepted some kind of working relationship with us, but that does not mean they are happy about it.

Despite our decision to keep the conversation light, the dinner is somewhat tense. The knowledge of our vulnerability is not far from anyone's mind. Luckily, despite that edge to the meal, nothing happens. Nobody attacks from the dark of night. We do not have to abandon the tables and draw our weapons mid-bite. We finish the meal in peace.

Everyone decides it is time to retire directly after. It is not late, but a fight such as that is draining. When Addison and I leave the communal dinner, we find quarters for the night together. Neither of us speaks of it. It is simply assumed that we will be together tonight.

Once inside, we lay out our pallets. But when Addison tries to set her own some distance from mine, I pull it over so it's right next to it instead, creating a larger one for both of us to use together. She looks up at me, biting her lip.

"Addison," I murmur, reaching out slowly to draw her into my arms. She comes easily, sighing as she rests her head against my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist. I rest my head against hers, tightening my arms.

"I did not like having you so close to the battle. All I could think of was what would happen to you if we failed to hold the front line," I murmur into her hair.

She draws back so she can look up at me.

"Well, I didn't particularly like to see you in the thick of it," she points out. "Feeling helpless is not all that great either."

I nod. I suppose that is true. I shake my head, reaching up to cup the side of her face with one hand.

"You are right," I concede, looking into her lovely eyes. "But I do not want to think of it anymore. We are alive and together. I want to enjoy that victory..."

When I lean down, she rises up on her toes to meet my kiss. I sigh in pleasure. This is what I've been wanting ever since we left that cave. I reach down to cup her curvy backside in my hands so I can lift her up to a comfortable height. Her lips are soft, gentle against my own.

I carefully drop down onto the pallet with her still held in my arms, not breaking the kiss. She tugs at my clothes impatiently, but I am more than happy to oblige the silent request. I break the kiss to remove them quickly. She does the same, but I am done first, so I move to help her with her shirt.

As soon as it is out of the way, I cup the soft curves of her breasts, tipped with soft pink nipples. I cannot help but stare.

"I would keep you unclothed always if I could," I confess, squeezing her gently. “You are so beautiful.”

She smiles, reaching down to run a finger over my member. I close my eyes at the light touch, my body moving towards it of its own accord.

"You aren't so bad yourself," she murmurs.

My eyes drift open. "I want to be inside you."

Her smile fades, her eyes darkening. "Then come here."

I do not go slowly. Laying my body over hers, I reach between her legs, my fingers encountering her wetness.

"I'm ready," she breathes into my ear, biting down gently on the lobe. "Come inside."

My body trembles at the invitation.

Reaching between us, I angle myself, seeking her soft, warm entrance. I rise up on my forearms so I can meet her eyes as I slowly sink into her. They lose focus, her mouth slightly parted, her eyes half closed.

Then I start to move. Slow, languorous thrusts, our bodies sliding against each other perfectly. I watch her the entire time. The way her face flushes. How her hair frames her face, the slight messiness of it more appealing somehow. The water that glimmers over her skin as she grows more heated, as she nears her pleasure...

When she reaches her climax, her head falls back, a low moan leaving her lips, and she squeezes down on me with those delicate muscles. I groan, my hands clenching into fists as I join her. Watching her, feeling her clench down on me, all of it is too much.

But when I close my eyes to enjoy the moment, to revel in it as I desire, I do not see darkness. A burst of light appears instead. And then a view of...the city? As soon as I recognize it, the view shifts once more.

This time to a dark cave, rushing through narrow tunnels, stopping abruptly in front of a rocky wall, flickers of light from a torch highlighting the craggy surface...and a deep vein of rich red.

Vanadium.

As soon as I recognize it, the image slowly fades to show the city once more. And then...black.

My eyes snap open to meet Addison's own wide-eyed gaze.

"The city?" she asks, clearly shaken.

I nod, my jaw tight. "And vanadium," I add.

"We need to take the vanadium to the city," she murmurs, certainty in her voice. "Quickly."

I nod, the same sense of urgency beating inside me. The vision was simple but the message clear, and I have no intention of disregarding it.

Not now.

Not after everything I have seen.