Chapter 16
Peyton
We napped and made love on and off the rest of the night. When the stones brightened the room, a quick knock stirred us awake again. Tahk was still inside me after having teased and played with me an hour or two earlier.
We had talked about everything in between bouts of lovemaking. Everything that had happened on Home World while he was gone, but not with his meeting. He was frustratingly tight-lipped, and every time I would try to draw his attention back to it he would distract me. So, I settled for filling him in on Nonya’s attack. When he started to hulk-out all over again, I quickly moved on to my tea with the Queen and then Hector and Ford’s plans to go back to Earth. He hadn’t seemed surprised by their decision. He had assumed they would want to rejoin Dahk One’s fight just as Borv had said he would. I told him about the Juldo attack but again he didn’t seem surprised. When I asked him, he had said Yilt had comm’d him and filled him in.
So, we talked about Hector. Tahk didn’t know much, he said the Juldo were very private about the virus, but that from what he did know, it was very likely Hector wouldn’t wake Hector at all. He would be blank, wiped of his memories. The virus would slowly take over his mind, filling it with Juldo history and beliefs. There was no real answer for when he would wake up. It could be months. The entire thing flabbergasted me. He made it sound like it was a curse or some kind of magic, not a virus. But Tahk explained that, too. The virus was more like a computer virus on Earth. It infiltrated your mind and wiped it, filling it with new data. Corrupting it.
Hector would have an unbearable urge to join with the Juldo. The virus would torture him with its demands. Gryo could give him supplements, but they didn’t have enough to last him, and it would only hold off the urge to join them for short periods of time. Hector would become a killing machine. The Juldo were a warring species, according to Tahk. Battle and bloodlust would consume him.
Eventually, his body and the virus would demand something more to keep him alive. Nano-mites. And though the Dahk used a certain altered version of them―nano nits― in their new healing practices instead of their healing vats, they weren’t the same as the Juldo’s. Juldo nano-mites healed, but they also changed the body. Morphing their skin and appendages into what I saw the day they attacked. Machines. Weapons.
His body would slowly become riddled with tech. The nano-mites would first reinforce his bones and muscles, before moving onto his skin and altering its properties there. Only the strongest of Juldo retained any of the Juldo virus’ red flesh and natural strength. Tahk said he had fought against Juldo that had once been their weakest, their bodies not able to withstand the virus prompting them to become so altered by nano-mites you couldn’t see an inch of red skin beneath the tech. Then they became some of the strongest among them.
It was frightening. Not only knowing what would become of Hector, but that there was so much out there. So much about space and its so many species humans could never have anticipated. The universe really was vast. I had once wondered on the ship to Home World, how had we lived for so long without encountering any of them? How had we gone so long without being invaded?
And I still wondered those things, but I was starting to see how we could have been one of millions of planets teeming with life. Billions even. It was only a matter of time, and we were still young compared to some, but it wasn’t so unrealistic to believe a planet could be hidden away as long as we were. That with all our history and years, we were still so young compared to some. Juldo never died. Their bodies so altered and built from technology I had no hope of ever understanding, they thrived thousands of years. Compared to a humans life, they were ageless. How could we compete with something like that?
I didn’t have the courage to ask Tahk about his age. I feared I wouldn’t like his answer and I worried he had no idea how short mine was as he spoke about the Juldo’s age like it was normal. Like he knew what it was like to live for so long. I was afraid he had no idea how little time we may have together compared to the other mates on his world.
The knock came louder, more urgent. I blinked away the dark thoughts as a sleepy fog left me.
Tahk groaned and shifted, stirring new life inside me. “Leave,” he snarled.
“I cannot, the King requests a meeting,” Haytu said from the other side of the door.
I squeaked in surprise and jumped from the bed. Tahk shouted and reached for me, but I ran for the bathing room and slammed the door.
“Get out here, mate,” Tahk growled from outside the room.
“No, your fathers right outside the door and I’m naked,” I huffed and searched for the robe I left by the bathing pool a few days earlier. Of course, Isin moved it.
“I am partial to your bare form.”
I laughed and shouted for him to leave me alone. I wrapped a clean cloth around me and relieved my self on the square toilet-thing. They didn’t flush like they did on the ship, and it always reminded me of porta-potties. I refrained from asking where the waste went in the castle―there were some things a girl just did not need to know. But for all the Dahk’s advancements in space travel and healing abilities, it always amazed me how they lived so simply. Then again, us humans were destroying our own planet carelessly. The Dahk already had a dying star, and eventually, their planet would follow, so they were more inclined to take care of their home. Something more that humans could learn from them.
When I emerged, Tahk was dressed and standing in front of the partially open door. His body blocked Haytu from seeing me, so I ran to grab clean clothes and shut myself back in, dressing.
Tahk looked beyond frustrated when he saw me fully clothed, so I grinned at him and skipped out the door before he could make a grab for me.
“Daughter,” Haytu greeted me with a wicked grin. I flushed and followed him and Tahk through the castle. There was something disturbing about my father-in-law being so comfortable about his son's sex life. The Dahk were far more open about what happened behind closed doors than I would ever be. Our audience back on Dahk One proved it.
We met Uthyf in his office. He sat behind a large table with his arms crossed. “I have been waiting for you since you arrived.” He scowled at Tahk.
Haytu chuckled, “When you find yourself a mate, my King, you will see some things are more important.” See? I shifted uncomfortably. I was not a prude, but seriously, Tahk’s father?
“The Queen has been abducted.” Uthyf stood and slammed his palms on the table. I jumped.
“I am aware.” Tahk crossed his arms and glared back at Uthyf, cool and calm. I shifted guiltily. Tahk was worried, and obviously needed time with me, but Uthyf had a point. I shouldn’t have distracted him for so long. There were more important things.
“If you are aware, why have you not started the search.” Uthyf was pissed and clearly worried about the Queen. I swallowed heavily. I didn’t want to regret a moment with Tahk, but the King was doing a pretty good job of making me feel selfish.
“I have.” Tahk surprised the room. Haytu seemed the most surprised, and Uthyf dropped some of his hostility. “I have dispatched Ryt with a team. They left as soon as we arrived. I have also spoken with Wohn. They have not made any progress in their search for the assassin but are now aware of the Queen’s abduction and the possibility the assassin may be the culprit. They will search for her as well as Aryx’s slayer.”
“And you? Why are you not searching?” Uthyf crossed his arms again, and Tahk gnashed his teeth.
“You once served me,” he said, low. “Never once questioning me, and you do so now. Do you have so little faith in the Dahk that serve me, as well?”
Uthyf’s face stiffened, and his eyes narrowed. “I served you, as my brother requested, and because I was not King. You know very well my skills were wasted on your Council. You are as a brother to me. I have respected you and followed you through many battles, but I cannot follow you now as I once did. I am King, and you will answer to me as such.”
Tahk seemed to vibrate with fury, but Haytu just grinned like it was all very entertaining.
“Well, my King, I do not search for my Queen, because I will be returning to Earth.”
I gasped, and it echoed in the silent room. Haytu shook his head in disbelief, and Uthyf’s jaw ticked. We were going home? Oh man, I wanted that so badly. I missed Earth, Vitat cannibals and all. Okay, maybe not the Vitat, but I still missed it, and I was going crazy thinking about what was happening back there. I just knew if we went back, Tahk and I could find my mom. I knew it.
“You know why I do this.” Tahk held Uthyf’s gaze.
“Your Pythe is aware of the Galactic Council’s terms.” Uthyf’s eyes flicked to me meaningfully.
Tahk growled at him and spun to face me. “You told her? Why?”
“Why shouldn’t he have?” I asked him. Why did he want it kept from me?
“My yula, I did not wish to worry you. I will not let them enslave your species.”
“Neither will I,” Uthyf added flippantly.
“And why do you now have such a concern for the humans, beyond your brothers wish to save them?”
“Tahk, we had spoken of this before you left,” Haytu waded in hesitantly, he seemed taken aback by Tahk’s attitude. I was, too. I thought Uthyf and him were on good terms. Now it seemed something was coming between them.
“Yes, and the King made it clear his view was skewed, his opinion intolerant where the humans were concerned. Beyond the possibility of the Dahk finding a true mating amongst the humans, why would you risk a war with the Order?”
“Is that not enough?” Uthyf asked. I was growing more confused. Haytu and Uthyf had earlier made it sound like it was about repopulation. Not true matings. Why not come out and tell Tahk?
“No. A true mating is a blessing, but you know the resources it would cost to defend the humans long term for only the possibility of a Pythen mating.” Only? Were we so expendable to everyone? Only worth saving if they got something out of it? Now that Tahk was back, all my outrage from my meeting with the King was flooding back. Surrogates weren’t so bad a request, but, come on, we were dying. I couldn’t believe Tahk had that opinion. I glared at him. He sighed. “You know I do not feel the same, my mate. I speak only as the Dahk would.”
I guess. I mean I understood they couldn’t just start a war they couldn’t finish. Everyone needed incentive. But it still hurt more coming from Tahk than it had Uthyf or Haytu.
Uthyf and Haytu shared a private look.
They were being cagey. I didn’t understand why.
I was not going to let them yank Tahk around. If they didn’t want him to know, they never should have told me. “They want the humans as surrogates.” My word seemed to confuse him, and I shook my head in frustration. “They aren’t concerned about mating the humans. They just want us to procreate.”
“You would fertilize them? We are not the Chutary. The Dahk require a mating for procreation.” Tahk seemed shocked and appalled at the very idea of surrogacy. I had a hard time seeing the problem, and it made me feel bad. It’s not that I would just hand over every single female to the Dahk, but it seemed an even trade for our safety. If Uthyf and Haytu were to be believed, the women that agreed would be well taken care of. A lot of them might even welcome it after having suffered at the hands of the Vitat.
Uthyf walked from around the table and stopped in front of Tahk, “You said yourself we must evolve in these beliefs and practices if we are to survive. The humans offer a viable opportunity to ensure our growth.”
“Yes, through a mating, not to be used as cattle.”
I sort of wanted to hug him for that.
“Son, why do you fight this? The human females would be cared for, praised for their service. You must see how the opportunity would entice many who struggle to have dahkling.” Haytu looked to me with worry. I narrowed my eyes at him. He knew something, and I had a feeling he didn’t want me here to hear it.
“I am not so ignorant to not see it. But you are fools if you believe your Dahk would welcome them so easily. They already do not accept my mate. You have heard of your own Council's outrage at her and the other human's arrival. She must be guarded at all times for fear of a threat by my own Dahk!” Tahk huffed heavily. “Already her life has been in danger of being lost. Nonya’s House was outraged and disgusted by my mate. Their scorn only drove her anger further resulting in her sanity breaking.” I tried not to flinch. I knew the Dahk were wary of me, but I had no idea it had gotten that bad. “I had thought Uthyf against such things. Then I leave for such a short time only to return to hear of these schemes. And you speak to my mate of them? I have already heard of the Galactic Council’s plans to enslave the humans. I will not hear of my Dahk doing the same.”
Jeez, Tahk made surrogacy sound so bad. Maybe what I thought it was, was totally different from what the Dahk thought.
Uthyf scowled at Tahk and lifted his chin. “You think my Council has corrupted me.”
“Do you deny it? Who presented this to you?”
“Perhaps you should wait outside, daughter.” Haytu glanced at me again, his strange worry more obvious.
“No,” Tahk growled at his father, still glaring at Uthyf. “She stays. Answer me.”
“Gryo.” Uthyf spat and backed away, breathing heavily.
Tahk was quiet as he watched Uthyf regain his composure. When the King finally turned back around his voice was grave. “Our birth rate has grown too low. Aryx has kept our dire position from all but his closest healers. Gryo was made aware after you returned from Earth. The healers had been torn on whether to inform their new King about their dead King’s search for a solution. Gryo came straight to me. Aryx knew of the human's viability and had plans to enslave them, just as the Order plans to do. Not as I do.”
I stumbled back. No, no. He was wrong. This was all wrong.
“No, that is not the King I knew.” Tahk bared his fangs and stormed away. He stopped at the wall and braced his hands against it. “He would not enslave a species, I fought many wars for him, I freed many in his name.”
“I am sorry, Son, but he speaks the truth.” Haytu grabbed Tahk’s shoulder and squeezed. “Even I was kept in the dark. Aryx conspired with only Hull and those he deemed partial to him on the King’s Council. You were to liberate the humans from the Vitat, and Klando and Jirt were to intervene after you succeeded. They had orders―” Haytu stopped and shot me an apologetic look. “They had orders to begin enslavement the moment the last of the Vitat were destroyed.”
My breath snagged painfully, and I rubbed my chest from the shock. “An entire species? Dahk One’s large but there’s no way you could’ve caught all of the humans. There are billions of us.” I was shaking. I couldn’t believe what they were saying. The Dahk were sent to save us, not enslave us.
Haytu sighed and looked to me with a deep sadness I felt all the way to my bones. “There would not have been so many of you left.”
“No.” Tahk rumbled low. “Aryx could not have known the humans would survive at all. Too many could have been lost by the time the Vitat were beaten back.” Tahk shook off his father’s arm and walked to me. His face was grave. Knowing. I backed away, not ready to face the understanding in his eyes. Tahk looked stricken. I clenched my eyes, blocking him out.
I couldn’t un-hear Uthyf’s next words, though. They were too harsh, too painful.
“He sent the Vitat. Aryx facilitated the human invasion.”