EIGHT
“THE OFFSPRING IS well,” Privanax told her after spending most of the time with her in silence. Despite a couple questions the older healer had asked her about the estimated time of conception—much to her embarrassment—he’d been a male of very, very few words. And she’d once thought that Devix was quiet when she’d first met him. Privanax had nothing on him. “It grows quickly within your womb.”
The healer was wearing white robes, his horns so long that they completely curved around his skull and touched the base of his ears, like a ram. His eyes were a light blue and his skin looked dry, probably due to the intense heat on the planet.
He wasn’t quiet in a standoffish way, Cara knew. He was quiet because he was focused. He’d barely said anything when Vaxa’an, Rixavox, and Devix dropped her off in his ‘labs,’ didn’t say anything about an unknown human female in his presence. He took it all in stride, told her to hold still as he drew her blood, and then began to run his tests.
Cara liked him. He seemed like a no-bullshit type of male, exactly like the men she’d grown up around, exactly like her father.
“Yeah?” she murmured, trying to look past him at the screens he had set up in the otherwise sterile room. As if she could read Luxirian or interpret what the strange symbols on the screen even meant. “How long will it be until I give birth?”
“The lavrix’an gave birth after three and a half lunar cycles,” he replied.
“Three months,” she said slowly. “Three and a half months, I mean. That seems…crazy.”
“Tev, the other human females said much the same,” he told her.
“Others?”
“There are two other human females gestating offspring right now. The mates of two Ambassadors, one being your mate’s blood brother, Ambassador Rixavox.”
“Right,” Cara said slowly. She’d known Rixavox’s mate was pregnant, but who was the other woman? “So the pregnancy will follow how Luxirian females’ cycles were as opposed to humans? Devix told me females were only pregnant for about three months.”
“Less than three lunar cycles, typically,” he replied. “But tev. Your gestation will be rapid compared to normal human pregnancies. I will need to monitor you closely over the gestation.”
“We aren’t staying here for the whole pregnancy,” Cara told him, furrowing her brow. “We just wanted to get another opinion, to make sure that the child was safe.”
Privanax frowned. “I do not advise that you leave, female. Kat—our lavrix’an—had trouble after a full lunar cycle of gestation. She bled. I feared the offspring was lost, but the Fates were kind. The Fates might not be as kind for you, considering your mate’s past actions.”
Cara stilled and all liking for the healer flew out the window.
“My mate’s past actions,” she repeated, her voice deathly still. This was exactly why she didn’t want to stay on Luxiria, because she knew that they would get this kind of ignorance from all sides.
“Tev.”
“And you believe it? That he was capable of rape?”
He turned his gaze on her, icy and steady. “It was decided at the tribunal that he had committed the unspeakable crime. I remember it. I was there.”
“Let me make this very, very clear,” she said softly. “He is my mate. I know him better than anyone else, probably even better than his own brother at this point. And he did not rape Arvalla.” Privanax’s eyes narrowed at the name. “Yes, I know her name. Devix told me all about her and her lying, piece of scum brother. Frankly, I wish that I see them while we’re here. Because I have a few choice words for them. And right now, I have a few choice words for you. I won’t say them, but don’t you ever accuse Devix of doing something that he was not capable of. Ever. He has been punished in ways you cannot even imagine. And the fact that he’s here, on this planet, with his people that betrayed him, and the fact that he’s not tearing everything to the ground just speaks of his character and his restraint.”
“Female—”
“So if these Fates are truly kind and all-seeing as you say,” she continued, “they already know he’s innocent. And they wouldn’t punish an innocent male, now would they?”
Privanax looked at her, his face unreadable. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she knew she had to get out of there. She needed to see her mate, needed to feel his touch to calm her down.
They’d only been on the planet for a couple hours, at most, if she had to guess. But already, she was longing for Rozun. Her home. Their home.
“Are we done here, healer?” she asked, her voice like steel.
“Unfortunately, female, we are not,” he answered. “The Prime Leader gave me instructions that you are to wait with me until he has met with your mate. So, it seems you will have to endure my company for longer.”
“Terrific,” she answered.
* * *
“And how did you find your luxiva?” Vaxa’an questioned, his voice echoing in the small, dark quarters of the council room.
It was just Vaxa’an, Rixavox, and Devix inside, something he was grateful for once the Prime Leader began to interrogate him about his actions the past eight rotations.
Already, he’d told them about his time on Petrika, though Rixavox had known he’d been there. Devix realized that Rixavox had searched for him in secret after his exile, since Vaxa’an didn’t seem to know that he’d been at that vile colony.
Already, he’d told them of Sarkon’s offer of employment, that he’d been working as a mercenary across the Quadrants for six rotations, doing whatever Sarkon requested.
And he’d told them of making a home on the colony of Rozun.
And finally, Vaxa’an reached the topic of his mate, his female.
“Much like you, Prime Leader,” Devix said, “I am not proud of the way I discovered her.”
Vaxa’an’s jaw ticked and Rixavox was watching Devix carefully across the steel table they were sitting at.
“How?”
“Sarkon had purchased her,” Devix said. “He paid for a Baquarian to win a human female from the Pit. The Baquarian was victorious and took the only human female left…my Cara.”
“When was this?” Vaxa’an questioned, his gaze intent.
“Over two lunar cycles now,” Devix returned.
“Impossible. We led an attack before that. We saved the human females that were at the Pit, and could find no others.”
“Then you missed her.” Devix brow furrowed. “She had been there for a long time. Sarkon heard about the raid, but still sent the Baquarian to find a human female. He had the first fight and she was the last human, or so he told Sarkon in a Com connection later.”
Vaxa’an exchanged a look with Rixavox, but then nodded his head at Devix to continue.
“Sarkon sent me to retrieve her from the Baquarian. On Petrika,” he said, running a hand over his horn. “Her face was covered when I first saw her, but even then I felt my Instinct begin to waken. Yet, I tried to deny it.”
“Why?” Rixavox asked softly. “Why deny a gift from the Fates?”
“It was my last task for Sarkon. My debt to him for taking me from Petrika would be paid,” he said. “After I delivered her, I could live in peace on Rozun. It was the only thing I wanted. I did not believe I deserved a luxiva at that time.” His eyes slid to Vaxa’an. “Also, Sarkon told me that if I delivered her, he had proof that I had not raped Arvalla, so that I could clear my name.”
The Prime Leader’s face remained unreadable. “How did an Azatian come about proof? In a Luxirian matter?”
“He had scouts. Numerous scouts. He told me that a few found Pidixa when he was off planet, when he was drinking Brew, and that they…extracted a confession from him.”
Rixavox’s fist clenched on the table. “Do you think he was lying?”
“No,” Devix replied. “Sarkon was manipulative, but he never betrayed his word. He valued loyalty and I believe he knew the reasons for my exile before he ever approached me. Getting a confession from Pidixa was the only way he could have my complete trust. He would not have lied.”
“You speak of him as if he has passed into the blackworld,” Vaxa’an commented.
“He has,” Devix replied. He turned his eyes to his Prime Leader and said, “I killed him.”
Rixavox grew still. “Why?”
“I spent six spans with my luxiva journeying to Azatia,” Devix said. “Only two made me realize that I would never be able to deliver her to Sarkon. I betrayed him and routed us to Rozun. It was my plan to find Cara passage to Earth if she wished, though I was hoping to convince her to remain with me,” Devix said, looking down at the table, tracing the swirls of metal with his eyes. “It was not long before Sarkon came for her. He knew I had taken her to Rozun. Human females are expensive,” he said, gritting his jaw. “He wanted what he paid for. And he wanted to punish me for my betrayal.”
“He threatened your luxiva?” Rixavox asked, his voice a growl.
“Tev,” Devix replied, looking up at his blood brother, who had his own eyes. “He brought two scouts with him. They had tracked us to our home from the capitol one span. Cara got upset when I told her I had found a trader who could take her to the Fourth Quadrant,” he murmured, remembering that night. “She left the dwelling to walk. I was about to go after her when I heard her scream.”
An unexpected growl tore from his throat at the memory. That sound would be permanently imbedded in his mind. He would never be able to forget the terror he felt, the icy grip of fear and panic tearing at his throat.
“I went after her. I found the two scouts first. I crushed their hearts in their chest,” he said. “My luxiva had ran from Sarkon, had managed to get away, but he caught her. I found them and he had a blade against her throat. Cara managed to break away, to stun him for a brief moment. And I killed him without a second hesitation,” he said.
“Vrax,” Rixavox cursed.
“I would do it again,” Devix told them, his voice as hard as the table. “Killing him once did not feel like enough.”
“He threatened your female, brother,” Rixavox murmured. “Any male would do the same and relish it.”
Vaxa’an said nothing and Devix continued, “She chose to stay with me. To not return to Earth. We had just started our lives together when we learned she was carrying an offspring. That is why we came. I had heard rumors on Rozun that other Luxirians had taken human females as their mates. I just…I want Cara to be safe, to know that this offspring will not harm her.”
“The gestation was not easy for my female, Devix,” Vaxa’an warned. “Even now, I fear spilling my seed inside her, so soon after our son’s birth. You made the right choice, coming here. Though many will not see it that way.”
“I did not come to cause trouble,” Devix told the Prime Leader. “Despite what you believe about me, about what I did, I only want what is best for Cara.”
“And despite what you may think of me, Devix,” Vaxa’an started, “I do not believe you raped Arvalla.” Devix inhaled a short breath, staring at his Prime Leader. “But you know our laws and we must abide by them. The female did not speak against your guilt or for it. I had no choice but to exile you. Others, however, are convinced of your crime. It will not be easy for you, being here.”
It was strange, hearing him speak of what happened, because Devix didn’t feel anything. He didn’t feel anger, but he didn’t feel relief either. Devix knew he couldn’t change what had happened. He wouldn’t change what had happened, because if he hadn’t been exiled, he wouldn’t have met Sarkon. And if he hadn’t met Sarkon…Cara would have been lost to him. Forever.
“It was a long time ago,” Devix said. “It does not matter anymore.”
Vaxa’an shifted his eyes to Rixavox and then centered them back on Devix. “If Pidixa learns that you have returned to Luxiria, it is in his right to challenge you to a warrior trial.”
Rixavox said, “He will want to, even with his lies. Warriors will question him if he does not.”
Devix had once been a better warrior than Pidixa. And though Devix kept up with his training, he knew that Luxirian regiments were much more intense.
As if reading his thoughts, his brother asked, “Have you been training?”
“Tev, but not as much as we used to.”
“You must be prepared,” Rixavox told him.
“We will not announce your arrival,” Vaxa’an said, “but soon, word will spread. Especially if they see your luxiva. They will want to know who she is, why she is here. Luxirians will recognize you. Pidixa will know eventually. You must begin training.”
“Cara cannot know,” Devix said. “It will upset her. She does not understand the Luxirian way, the rights and laws in place. She thinks them barbaric and unjust. She will want to leave.”
Rixavox said, “Then for her sake and for the offspring’s health, she must not know.”
“One more matter before we return you to your female, Devix,” Vaxa’an said.
“Tev?”
“I am assuming you have not performed the ravraxia with her?” Vaxa’an questioned.
Devix’s lips pressed together. The ravraxia. The mating ceremony. A time spent between fated mates, where they invited the Fates to look inside them to bless their union, called the Seeing. And after the Seeing, after the initial mating of the ceremony—after which there would be many, many more matings—was the blood bond.
“It can only be performed at sacred places on Luxiria,” Devix murmured. “So how could we have? The Fates have no presence on Rozun.”
“Do you wish to perform it while you are here?” Vaxa’an asked quietly.
Devix stilled. “You would allow that?”
“Your female may see our ways to be ‘barbaric and unjust,’ but outside my responsibilities as Prime Leader, I see you, Devix,” Vaxa’an admitted. “It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I know you are innocent and by performing the ravraxia you can prove to all that the Fates believe you are as well.”
Devix’s heart thudded in his chest. He’d never believed that he could perform such a ceremony with his fated mate, had given up on the possibility.
Vaxa’an continued, “Another pressing reason why you should perform it with your female is because she is human. Lihvan’s human female and Rixavox’s are both pregnant, but their conception happened after a blood bond. Our blood strengthened them, made them adapt easier to Luxiria, and we believe that it makes the gestation period easier on their bodies. Your female…”
“Does not carry my blood,” Devix finished for him, huffing out a sharp breath.
“Tev,” Vaxa’an said, inclining his head. “It would be best for her and the offspring if she does.”
“I have not told her about the blood bond. Or how…intense the mating ceremony is, from what I have heard.”
“It is intense,” Rixavox said. “More intense than you can imagine, but it will bind you to your female so that you can always feel her. Even now, I feel Sessela’s presence in my mind, though she is in the Golden City.”
Devix watched his brother, was happy beyond belief that he had found a female for himself.
“Tev, of course, we will perform the ravraxia,” Devix said.
Vaxa’an jerked his head in a nod. “I will make preparations and you and your female may leave in a couple spans to the plains. The sooner, the better.”
Devix tilted his head down, holding Vaxa’an’s gaze. He watched as the Prime Leader stood from the table and Rixavox and Devix followed.
“For now, let us return you to your female,” Vaxa’an said, “and get you settled in the Golden City.”