Chapter 13
Peyton
A heavy weight slammed into me, throwing me into the ground. A high feminine screech echoed in my ear, and I gasped as talons pierced my shoulders.
“He was mine!” Nonya shouted and rolled me to my back. She brought her crazy sharp claws back and swiped at my face, and I rolled avoiding them slashing through my eye, but the tips caught my ear wrenching a howl of pain from me. She snarled and snagged the back of my coat, rolling me back over, her thighs caging me in.
I couldn’t avoid her second slash as it tore straight down my middle, shredding my coat. I gasped in relief when she didn’t hit skin. It was so thick, stuffing flew everywhere, temporarily distracting her. I lifted my knee and slammed it into her vagina. I hadn’t really expected it to do much, but she howled and fell off me. I stared in shock as she curled up on the floor wailing in pain.
I mean I didn’t have a dick, and I figured getting kneed there would still hurt a little, but she was acting like a dude. I shook my head and stood, now was not the time to get curious about alien female anatomy.
Looking around the room I tried to find something to defend myself, but there was nothing. Then I spotted the door and nearly smacked myself. Why wasn’t I just running and screaming for Borv? I leaped at the door just as she snarled and snagged my ankle. I went down hard on my face, bashing my nose into the floor. Bone cracked, and wet warmth spread across my face just as the pain kicked in. I shouted in agony and flailed as she dragged me backward on my stomach.
A bang sounded at the door, and it shook from the force.
“He cannot want you if you are dead,” she snarled and grabbed my hair, yanking and flipping me to my back. I grabbed for the stand beside us that held a bowl of blue fire-stones and pulled. It was so heavy it barely moved. Kicking her in the chest I used my other hand to pull harder. It rocked unsteadily before it began to tip. She snarled and lunged for me again, and my thigh burned from holding her back. Her claws scraped along the leather of my calf and I shouted angrily, pulling as hard as I could. Finally, the bowl tipped completely over raining blue stones down on us. I covered my head as they pummeled my stomach and arms and she shouted throwing herself backward. I scooted back, opposite her, scraping my spine along the floor and rolled to avoid the bowl as it crashed to the floor between us with a bang. Jumping to my feet, I grabbed the now empty stand and strained to lift it. It was heavy, but I managed to hold it awkwardly like a staff.
I could hear Borv shouting from the other side of the door and backed towards it. Nonya shook off the stones and stood. She was so intimidating with her fangs and claws, and so much taller than me. Her wings fluttered, and I knew she was going to fly at me. Just as she lunged, I bent low and brought up the stand to whack at her middle. The stand did nothing to stop her because she was just so much stronger than me, and I slammed back down onto the floor with her on top of me. Her claws dug into my ribs, and she snarled in my face. I grabbed for a loose stone. Just as she bent to bite me, I brought the stone down on her head. It did nothing, and she laughed wickedly.
“Dahk are not as weak-hided as humans,” she grinned and dragged her claws down my side. I shouted again in pain, the cuts were much shallower than they could’ve been. Her claws could have shredded me open, but she was toying with me. “Did you think I would let him dismiss me so easily?”
I shook my head as she dug her claws into my ribs. I winced and bit my lip to keep from shouting again.
“He thought to pawn me off to another,” she bared her fangs an inch from my face. “You are an ugly thing, weak. He cannot control himself because of the mating bond. But I will tear you apart, and then he will want me again.”
She was psychotic. There was no way Tahk would let her get away with killing me, let alone run back to her. “He’ll kill you,” I gasped.
“No, he wanted me before you, he will want me again.”
I decided to keep to myself how he never really wanted her but was instead forced into choosing a mate by his crazy mother. No matter how awesome it would feel to throw it in her face. It would definitely get me killed.
Borv was shouting my name and slamming into the door. How damn strong were those doors if Borv couldn’t take them down? He was the size of a tank.
“You―” I gasped as Nonya wrapped a clawed hand around my neck and squeezed, cutting off my words and air. All those deadly claws and she was going to choke me to death? I scratched at her hands and arms as she laughed wildly. My fingernails were no match for her thick skin. My vision started to waver, and my legs kicked at nothing. I couldn’t get my knee up like before.
She brought her other hand up and scraped a claw lightly down my cheek. “You are nothing,” she whispered. “After the bond is severed, you will be nothing to him.”
Black dots filled my vision, and my mouth gaped for air I couldn’t pull in. In a last-ditch effort to save myself, I abandoned my useless scrapes down her arms and went for her eyes. They proved to be far more sensitive than the rest of her as I shoved my thumbnails into them. She howled and threw herself back. I gasped and choked crawling to the door as she cursed and screamed. I barely managed to pull myself up holding onto the door handle as she slammed me back against the door. I just managed to unlock the latch as she was ripped from my back. I slumped and turned to see Syn grappling with her on the floor. Another Dahk flew in through the terrace just as Borv barreled through the doors. Jyn helped Syn subdue the screeching female, and Borv lifted me from the ground.
“Take her to the lower cells,” Borv growled and carried me from the room.
“I will kill you!” Nonya screeched. “He’s mine!”
Syn cursed repeatedly, and Nonya’s shouts cut off.
Borv ran through the castle, down the stairs, and to the healer's room.
Gryo startled and fumbled with a machine by Ford’s side as Borv barreled into the room, and Ford and Hector gaped at me from their cots.
“What happened?” Gryo shouted and rushed to my side as Borv carefully placed me on a cot. I winced from all the aches and pains and cupped my throbbing nose.
“Nonya.” Borv rumbled, his chest heaving.
“Stupid female, she will lose her life for this.” Gryo huffed and started to poke and prod at me. I smacked at his hands. “Cease, I must assess your injuries.”
“You’re hurting me more!” I mumbled through my hand.
Gryo sighed, annoyed, and left to gather supplies. “Humans, they are so easily injured. How do you survive each sunring?”
I scowled at him. That crazy harpy had claws and fangs, and she was freakishly strong. I could barely fight her off. She was terrifying, and I seriously hoped I never had to go up against Myrna because she seemed far more threatening than Nonya, and I doubted she would toy with me first. She would slice me open without warning. I hardly just got into a normal catfight.
I always knew how dangerous the Dahk were with all their claws and deadly skills, but it wasn’t until I was staring at one that actually intended to kill me that I realized just how hazardous it was here for us.
I shivered. I couldn’t fight off one of them, let alone a whole bunch who clearly were not cool with Tahk mating a human.
Gryo went about cleaning and bandaging my cuts. It was a slow and painful process. My nose wasn’t broken, but it took a while to stem the flow of blood. I had gashes down my calf and arms, and the sides of my stomach had both deep scratches and puncture wounds. Every breath hurt. Borv cursed and paced the room, occasionally shouting for someone and then roaring for them to leave. He didn’t relax until Uthyf came barreling through the doors.
“What happened?” He barked and ran to my side. “Explain. Now.”
Borv barely got the words out through clenched teeth. Uthyf heaved in his own anger for long moments before storming from the room. “Take me to her,” he rumbled to someone outside the room.
I shuddered hearing the wrath in his voice. Things did not look good for Nonya, and I was suddenly curious about the Dahk’s justice system. “What’s going to happen to her?”
Borv bared his fangs at the door. “The Commander will have rights to her punishment as your Pythe and leader of your House. He will have her put to death.”
“Really, is that normal? Isn’t there a trial or something?”
Gryo chuckled a little too evilly for even him. “No, there were witnesses to her attack. The Commander will sentence her to a painful death, and let it be a lesson to any who would conspire in future.”
“How will she die?” I asked. But did I really want to know? This was the kind of stuff that might have me seeing the Dahk through a harsher light and stop comparing them to superheroes.
“That is not for you to worry over.” Haytu came barreling in the room with a stricken look on his face. “I am sorry, daughter. I should have sensed her lurking in your room.”
“It’s not your fault…” I trailed off as disbelief rushed through me.
Myrna rushed into the room, her own face bleached in worry. Her eyes wild with fright. “Is she well?” She cried and clutched my hand to her chest.
“I’m f-fine.” I looked to Haytu in total shock. Where was my malevolent mother-in-law? Could aliens abduct aliens? Were there really such things as body snatchers? I swear if she could cry, tears would be running down her cheeks.
“You are not fine! My son would have been devastated to hear of your death!” She screeched and smacked Haytu on the arm. “Where is the despicable female? I will slay her myself!”
I nearly fell off the cot. “What’s happening right now?”
“What?” Myrna snarled and then immediately softened back into a terrified version of herself. She fluttered her hands all over my injured body. “There is so much blood! Gryo what say you? Why have you not healed her? I demand―”
“Mate, calm. She will heal.” Haytu pulled her away and hugged her to his side. “Any more of your theatrics and you may very well impede her ability to recover.” He chuckled to soften his reprimand.
She huffed and pushed away from him. “Has Tahk been told of this?”
“No!” I winced when the scratch on my ear pulled tight. Softer I continued my protest, “he doesn’t need to be bothered right now.”
“Nonsense, he must return at once!” She crossed her arms and glared at Haytu when he didn’t immediately rush off to call his son.
“He will be made aware after he meets with the Council on the human's behalf.”
“She will not stay here a moment longer. She must stay with us where we can assure her safety and comfort.”
Haytu grinned at me as if to say ‘see, I told you she would come around.’
I still wasn’t convinced she hadn’t been body snatched. “I’m not leaving.” My friends were here, and there was no way Myrna wouldn’t return to hating me, and then I would be stuck with her.
She looked to her mate, exasperated. He chuckled and shook his head. “We will broaden her guard. Tahk will be home soon.”
“Move her rooms to those beside ours.” She glared at Borv who was holding back laughter. I scowled at him, but he ignored me and agreed. Nothing good would come from staying beside her. I would never be able to hide from her now.
She deep breathed before looking back at me. “I apologize, daughter.” She practically choked on the words but was surprisingly sincere. “If I had not encouraged her to pursue Tahk’s attentions she may have taken his dismissal easier.”
I was surprised that not even a little of her tone held any censure towards me. It was my doing after all that his consorts were dismissed when she clearly wanted him to keep them.
She flushed and straightened her clothes. “I will have a healer assigned to your rooms and speak with the Queen about expanding your guard.” She turned to leave but then stopped and turned back. She winced before coming back and patting my hand. “Rest, daughter. I will return to check on your healing progress.”
My mouth was still gaping long after she left. Haytu chuckled uproariously and patted my thigh, avoiding any injuries.
I snapped my mouth shut. “What happened to her?”
“She gained a daughter of another species that captured her only dahkling’s unbending devotion. She was not so ready to accept such a threat vying for his attentions. But after that new daughter was nearly taken from the son she adores so deeply…” He trailed off, allowing me to finish his thought.
“She changed her mind. It took almost being filleted, go figure.” I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t trust it right away, she hated me so much when I met her, but I couldn’t deny the tiny little curl of hope blooming. If I could win over Myrna? Well, it would be pretty awesome to have such a terrifying mother-in-law on my side. I doubted her change of heart had anything to do with me personally, more how Tahk would feel if he lost me, but it was progress. “It seems too easy,” I murmured to myself.
“She has not known you long, but she has seen how Tahk looks at you. It worried her at first, but I think your words penetrated that fierce instinct. You are a part of my son. Therefore, you are just as precious to us.”
“Uh, thanks.” I looked away and tried to hide my burning cheeks. Haytu knew how to go right for the feels. I would never have imagined Commander Tahk’s dad to be such a softy. It was kind of awesome. His mother must have given him all her aggression while his father taught him how to a woo a girl so damn easily.
I slept for a while, Borv keeping guard alone until Syn joined him. Hector had told Gryo he was either leaving, or someone had better hunt down Vivian and bring her to him. He was worried about her safety after my attack and for good reason. Her gasps of dismay woke me briefly before whatever Gryo had given me for pain pulled me back under. When I woke again, Colt was snoring on his own cot, and Bobo was hounding Isin, who was quietly shuffling around the room with plates of food.
I sat up and ate with everyone, answering all of Vivian’s questions and calming Isin when he insisted I needed a healing vat. My injuries sucked, but the Dahk’s topical creams were already healing them much faster than anything humans had. Just like the scratches on my arms from the Vitat, they would be mostly closed by the time Tahk got back.
Around last meal, I was ready to leave the healer’s room and head off to meet Uthyf’s House companions with Isin. The King had said he would have one sent down to my room. Gryo fussed and outright shouted when I got up from the cot, but though I was sore, and my nose still throbbed, most of the cuts were superficial. I couldn’t stay on the cot another second, and Hector and Ford felt the same because they demanded they leave, too.
Syn and Borv refused to leave my side, and there were five new Dahk following us as we made it up the stairs. Ford broke off to go to his room with a single guard. But Colt insisted he wanted to see one for himself and followed us to my soon to be old room.
We made quite the spectacle as we walked the upper levels, two female humans, Hector who glared at anybody that came within a foot of Vivian, Colt who whistled out of tune, and Isin who shouted at Bobo every time he tugged on his long hair. The dog was convinced Isin was a chew toy.
Dahk stopped and stared, and I started to worry this was a bad idea, and that I should just head to my new room, but I was curious, and Frederick was lonely.
Hector stopped at his and Viv’s room, claiming his desperation for a shower. When she refused to go in with him, still angry he planned to go back to Earth, he got in Borv’s face and demanded he not leave Vivian’s side, and the giant nodded seriously and swore she would be protected. Clearly torn, he watched Viv with worry as she ignored him, and it took a few more reassurances before Hector gave in to exhaustion and went into the room. A guard searched the room, then remained behind outside his door.
We went to my door that had been broken but was now fixed, and we shuffled in, all ten of us.
Yilt met us inside with a wide grin. “I have brought Uthyf’s companion for you to meet. Mantu is rather excited to meet you in return.”
“Where is he?” Vivian asked excitedly, searching the room.
I am here.
A voice spoke, in my mind.
We spun around in surprise. Viv squealed and fell over Bobo, and Colt shouted in surprise falling over Isin. I screamed and nearly climbed Borv.
“Spider!” Vivian shrieked and pointed.
“That ain’t no spider!” Colt shouted and crawled backward. “I ain’t never seen a spider bigger than my dog!”
Mantu was much bigger than Bobo. He was easily double my size, and he had at least twelve legs.
And he apparently got very offended when three humans screamed at the sight of him.
Humans are loud creatures.
There was something very wrong with a spider speaking in your mind. I shuddered and climbed higher onto Borv. He chuckled and lifted me off. “Mantu will not harm you.” I squealed when he placed me on my feet. My body shook from the force of my shudders. Its dozens of black eyes watched me, and I gulped, backing into another Dahk.
Hector ran into the room, wrapped in a towel. “What―” His eyes widened on Mantu.
“Uh, Isin, I don’t know about Frederick meeting him. He might eat him.”
Isin chuckled. “Arachtinus are not carnivorous. He will not harm Frederick.”
Mantu shuddered, all his legs moving up and down as he shifted. Lifeblood holds no appeal.
“Nope. I can’t do it.” Vivian scrambled for the door. “A massive creepy crawly is bad enough, if it’s gonna talk in my head, I’m out.” She ran from the room, pulling Hector with her. Colt was hot on her heels.
“Cohlt, I did not take you as so easily frightened.” Yilt guffawed as Colt gave him the finger and ran out. The room erupted in laughter with him. The new guards thought our fear was hilarious. I tried not to follow Colt. This was my new world, and though I was suddenly thrilled Tahk did not have any companions―in fact, I would do a whole lot of persuading, so he never got one―I needed to get used to it. I was not leaving anytime soon, if ever.
Bobo barked excitedly and pranced in front of the spider, trying to get his attention.
Strange beast.
I tried not to scrub my head to get rid of the slithery voice.
“Is that the only way it can speak?” I asked Isin.
Mantu shuffled agitatedly again, and I jumped.
I am not an it. I am Mantu, human.
“Right, sorry.” I huffed and glared at Yilt. He was finding this far too funny.
“It is how all companions on Home World communicate, only those of lesser intelligence cannot.”
“Right, maybe we can introduce Frederick to one of those with lesser intelligence.”
Mantu snorted in my head. I was going to shake right out of my boots if I didn’t get my shudders under control.