Chapter 6

 

Commander Jaider Katon

 

I couldn’t get back to the village fast enough. The knowledge about the secret Compier base needed to be addressed immediately. I had all the information we needed to stage a raid, but more than that, I wanted—no, needed, Molly far away from me.

If I spent any more time alone with her, there was a big possibility I would take her again, and what I did was already weighing heavily on me.

I couldn’t blame it all on the drinking though, as I had been sober when I kissed her in the creek before, and yet I still yearned for her. I would never forgive myself if this got out in the open to all the Revian females. I have prided myself on being the one male in our society to stay loyal to them, and not seek out a human female, despite my father’s push to make it so.

And that was why no one could ever know. I would have to keep it from everyone, as I still had every intention of marrying a female of my own kind. There was no way I could let that one night with a human female stop me from keeping my promise, as they did not deserve it.

Maybe they don’t deserve a wretch like me.

Revian females are too good for me to break their heart and abandon them. They are kind, and always look after others before themselves.

I had to push Molly out of my mind and convince myself it was only lust I felt that night.

As soon as I returned to the village and sent Molly back to her living quarters, I immediately went to see my father to give him the results of my investigation.

“You were right, Father. We did find a Compier base,” I told him. “They have the human female named Emma as a prisoner. It’s exactly where you thought it might be on the other side of the Ridge Mountains of the Torik Forest. Molly even confirmed it’s indeed Emma they’re holding there.” I finished giving my report as I stood in front of him in his quarters.

“Good. You have done well, my son. We’ll report this to the Council now. I will walk with you there,” he said, putting on his belt and boots. As I waited for him to get ready, I took a deep breath and started to speak about another matter.

“The mission you gave me is complete. I would like to remind you of the bargain we made before we left,” I started. “You said that if I completed this, then you would allow me to be with a Revian female, and I’m holding you to that agreement.”

“Yes, I did, my son. Do not worry. I will honor our bargain,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. “You’ve done very well. Finding this base is very important to the Council, and you’ve proven that spending time with the human female has not changed your heart. If you don’t want a human female at all as your mate, then I can no longer stand in your way.”

I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief at my father’s words.

“But please wait a week before declaring this to the public,” my father asked. “I need to clear things up with the Council, as they will not take it lightly you are refusing the gift of a human female to mate with. Please allow me to work on it after we see to this raid on the base.”

“Sure, Father. I can work with that,” I said, nodding in agreement.

“Then let us go to the Council and tell them what you found,” he said, walking out of the quarters with me hot on his heels.

We went to the Council, and I reported everything Molly and I had seen. It was a long and grueling meeting, but the most important part was they wanted me to lead a raid, which was to happen in a few days. It would keep my mind off of things in the meantime, and I couldn’t wait to take the commands.

After the meeting, I went back home to my living quarters. I was very tired after not slept much the night before, and I needed some rest. I was about to open my door when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Karah moving towards me, looking very distressed.

“Where have you been?!” she shrieked, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ve been looking all over for you. They told me you left!”

“My father sent me out on a mission, and he wanted me to leave immediately, it was a very delicate matter. Please stop fretting,” I told her. I was already feeling guilty because of what I had done, and I didn’t need more from Karah’s jealousy to be added to the pile.

“I was worried,” she said, pouting as she tried putting her arms around me, letting her initial anger evaporate. I pulled away from her.

“I’m very tired, Karah,” I said, my words not completely a lie. “I haven’t slept in two days. Forgive me, but I’m going to rest now,” as she attempted one last time to grab me. I took her hands off and pushed her away from me delicately. She frowned but nodded.

“I understand. You must be very tired. I’ll see you later then. But I must know, Jaider, have you spoken to your father about us again?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Karah, I already talked to you about this.” I said.

“Why should I believe you?” she said angrily, her eyes blazing in a way I’ve never noticed before. “You wanted to kiss me before in the past. Did you not?” she said. “And you have always made it known to everyone in the community your commitment to Revian females, despite our barrenness. But maybe I should start seeing the truth about your real intentions. I’ve seen the way you interact with that human female,” she boasted. I sighed, already tired of this back and forth squabble.

“Please, Karah. Let us speak about this later. I haven’t the strength to discuss this right now. I’ll meet you for lunch tomorrow and we can talk some more,” I said, patting her on the shoulder before she could protest. I walked away into my living quarters, and closed the door.

I could barely take the guilt I was already feeling, let alone Karah’s craziness on top of it. Tomorrow Karah must know that she can no longer be a part of my life, and she must stay away from me for good going forward.

 

***

 

I awoke in the afternoon, and waited for Karah to arrive, but she never came. I shrugged it off, thinking she was going to come by a little later, and figured she must still be very annoyed with me.

If she were to ever find out the truth with Molly, her jealousy would boil over, and that is what I’m most afraid of.

I decided to go see my father again to talk about the plans for the raid. Our discussion was going fine until he asked me something that took me completely off-guard.

“Son, did you mate with the human female?” he asked while I looked over the battle plans. I froze up and looked up at him, my eyes wide. How did he know?

“Why do you ask?” I probed, not giving him a straight answer.

“It is something I will need to know before approaching the council about your refusal of her,” my father answered grimly. “If you’ve mated with her, then how do you know she isn’t carrying your child as a result? If she is, then it’ll make things much more complicated with the Council, and you’ll be forced to take her as your wife. Do you understand where I’m getting at here?” he asked.

I swallowed, unable to say a word. I hadn’t thought of this possibility. I was so focused on keeping what came about with Molly a secret, that I didn’t thoroughly think about the consequences of what happened, and what it would mean to the Council. Of course, they wouldn’t accept that I would use a human female for breeding, and then just throw her away. It didn’t work that way.

I moved away from the table and sat down, holding my head in my hands. I heard my father hiss sharply.

“Your silence makes me think you did mate with her on your mission,” he said, and I could hear the disapproval in his voice. “I will not go to the Council and tell them you refuse her as a wife until you figure this out. This is your mess now,” he declared.

“How long? How long does it take to know if a human female is with offspring?” I asked, and he shrugged.

“Only a couple of days. It just takes a very short time for them to be tested, and you’ll know whether or not she is pregnant with Revian offspring,” he answered.

“Then Molly should be tested tomorrow or the day after.” I said.

“Take these, then,” my father spoke, taking my hand and dropping a ring of keys in my palms and closing my fingers around them. I looked at them in confusion.

“What are these?” I asked.

“Those are keys to new living quarters. Take Molly there. This is where she’ll be staying until we figure out exactly what’s going on with her.” Father replied. “If she’s caring your offspring, then she’s going to need a very comfortable space, and she’ll have the freedom to roam the village.”

“Is that wise, Father? To allow her to walk around the place?” I asked, brows furrowed.

“Where can she go?” he countered. “She cannot run away. Also, it’s better for her to start adapting to our lives here, and she can only do that if she becomes a part of it, and not living as a captive.”

“I see. I understand. I’ll go to her now and take her there,” I said, nodding.

A few moments later, the guard unlocked the door and let me inside Molly and the other human females’ living quarters.

She blanched when she saw me.

“Molly, come with me,” I said, stepping into the doorway. She said nothing as she stared at me, making no effort or saying anything to defy my order. Instead, she stood up and quietly followed me.

“Your silence is startling me. Are you not going to ask me where we’re going, or a hundred other follow-up questions?” I asked playfully in an effort to lighten the atmosphere. She kept her head down and refused to look at me.

“I have nothing to say to you,” she murmured.

Now I really did think it was possible she was carrying my offspring. I suddenly felt more connected to her, and I wanted to take care of her, make her to feel safe with me, and most of all, for her to look into my eyes and speak to me again. I was craving for her attention.

What the hell is happening? What are all these emotions surging inside of me?

“I understand why you’re upset, but you should know you’re being rewarded. The mission you and I completed was well-received by the Council, and therefore, you are being given your freedom and your own living quarters,” I told her. She raised her head up, her eyes twinkling and making my heart beat faster.

“Freedom?” she repeated happily, her smile growing. “You mean I can go back to Earth?” she asked, and my shoulders slumped.

“No, I mean you have the freedom to roam the village as you please,” I clarified, frowning at her. “You can learn about our village life, and roam the forest trails if you want to. This is your new home.”

I stopped in front of a small round building located only a few buildings over from my own home. I handed her the keys and she gasped in shock.

“This is for me?” she asked and I nodded, grinning. “But what about the others? What about Betty and Amy?” I shook my head.

“I don’t know their fate. For now, enjoy the village, and I’ll return when I know more,” I replied, opening the door for her.

I walked away and went off to find Karah. I still didn’t know why she hadn’t come to me yesterday, but I had enough of her tantrums, and I needed to clear this matter up with her before she finds out more on her own.

After searching for a while, I finally found her alone, walking down a forest path.

“Karah, what are you doing here?” I called, jogging up to her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You didn’t come to me for lunch,” I said, and she shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I didn’t come to you because I was angry,” she answered simply, steeling me with a glare. “After I left, I went to the landing port to find out where you went, and do you know what I found out?”

I looked at her, not saying anything.

“I found out you were spending a lot more time with that human female Molly, and she went with you on your mission,” she hissed, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

“It’s true,” I said, feeling a little guilty for some reason.

“It was something my father forced on me,” I answered.

“Did you mate with her?” she whispered, and I swallowed the lump in my throat before nodding once.

“Yes.”

“No! No, no, no!” she cried, putting her hands over her mouth as she shook her head in denial. “How could you?! You are scum!”

“I am sorry, I have no excuse,” I said, my chest tightening.

“I hate you!” she cried before turning around and running away.

I hated myself too in that moment. What had I done? I felt I had broken the trust of all Revian females in that moment, and now everything I stood for was in question.