Having someone to share my pain with helped, and I finally felt like I could let go of some of my worries. Over the next few days Gemma and I spent as much time together as we could, and I began to relax in her presence. It was a wonderful feeling, and for the first time I allowed myself to consider the possibility that I might have a whole life this happy.

That idea made me smile, and I couldn't keep myself from thinking about it. Maybe. Maybe I should keep her with me, if she was keen to brave the dangers of my world.

There was time for me to make that decision, though, and other urgent matters to attend to first. The food situation was growing worse, and while the serpent-meat the Halloran's crew had traded us helped a little, it wouldn't see us through forever. I needed the deal with the Perhar clan, the one that had been interrupted when Gemma had been swept away by the storm.

Fortunately, rearranging the meeting was easy — the Perhar wanted a deal nearly as badly as we did, and the delay had hurt them too. I might not like how greedy their Protector was, but it did come in handy on occasion. It only took a few days before their great ship was back in our harbor, and Alishan Perhar was back in the great meeting hall. Her bodyguards were practically vibrating with tension as they stood behind her, but she seemed as calm as ever.

"I'm so glad that you returned safely," she said, offering me her hand with a smile. Somehow it reminded me of the great sea serpent more than anything else. There was something undeniably predatory about her and the way she looked at me. Not just me, either: she looked at my island as though planning how she'd deal with it differently.

I kept my manners, though, taking her hand briefly.

"I apologize for the delay in our talks," I started, but she waved that off.

"Nonsense. You had an obligation to fulfill, I understand that," she said, voice dripping honey. Sweetness to hide the taste of poison, I thought with a suppressed shudder.

"More than that," I said. "I'd have gone to the rescue of any of my people, of course, but this was special."

As we spoke, I took my seat across the table from her. She smiled, leaned forward. "Of course. Your precious human mate about whom we've heard so much. I do hope that I'll get to meet her."

"Perhaps that can be arranged, but Gemma is attending to her own business," I said, reluctant to let my love into the same room as Alishan. Something about the gleam in Alishan's eyes told me it was a bad idea.

But if my reluctance showed, Alishan ignored it and continued without a pause. "I'm certain she has a lot to learn about our planet, but surely she can spare me a few minutes of her time. Come, Corvax, I have to meet the woman who won you from me."

I was never yours, I wanted to snap back. But I managed to restrain myself and nodded. It wasn't unreasonable, and I knew that Gemma wanted to help in the negotiations. If meeting her was something that would make Alishan more receptive to the talks, perhaps it would be worth the inevitable discomfort.

Dispatching a warrior to ask Gemma to attend, I tried to get the meeting started. Alishan was all smiles and empty words, speaking a lot but not actually saying anything. I gritted my teeth — if this was how negotiations were going to go then they would take a lot longer than I wanted them to.

The only good news was that she had brought a ship full of grain as an opening 'gift' for my clan. I knew that she would have a favor to ask in return, but that didn't matter. Having storehouses full again mattered a lot more.

"That will free up workers to restore out fields," I said, genuinely smiling at the thought. "You have the thanks of the Rohar."

"All I ask is that we be allowed to fill the ship for the return journey for free," she replied. "We have a number of pods on their way down the skystalk right now; just let them through."

Alishan's smile was that of a shark, but if that was her price it was cheap enough. I messaged the port, telling them to let through the Perhar shipments. The sooner our debt was paid, the better I'd feel.

"There," I said. "You'll have your goods as soon as they arrive."

Before she could respond, the door opened again to let in Gemma accompanied by Jarax. Alishan glanced at her comm bracelet as she stood, a gesture that made me frown. Who could she be expecting a message from here? We were far out of range of her home.

"You must be Gemma," she said before I could ask. "I can see why Corvax here likes you."

Gemma blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, Alishan," she replied, stumbling a little over the unfamiliar name. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her language skills had come on in leaps and bounds, and while her words were accented they were clear. The two women hugged and for a moment I thought that the awkwardness might be past. That maybe we could get down to business.

I almost missed the subtle movement as Alishan brushed her communicator. But there was no missing the result.

An alarm sounded almost instantly, and I heard the castle guns fire. My own comm bracelet vibrated, messages coming in fast. I had no time to look at them. It hardly mattered, anyway. The enemy was right in front of me. Who else could be attacking but the Perhar?

It didn't make sense, though. No one could bring enough forces to bear on us from the sea. My mind raced even as I leaped from my chair, but I couldn't figure it out. This attack was suicide, the castle would tear them apart.

One of Alishan's bodyguards met me, his knife flashing as he leaped between me and his mistress. He'd been ready for this, primed to strike, and it was almost enough. I slipped aside just in time, the blade scoring a fine line across my chest. My claws slashed out, tearing at the flesh of his arm, and he howled. The knife went flying, leaving us equally well armed.

Jarax grappled with the other guard, neither of them getting the upper hand. Outside, I heard running footsteps, and the guns fired again. I tuned it all out. All that mattered right now was reaching Gemma.

My foe slashed with his claws, and I ducked away. He followed, stepping right into my fist, and I felt his nose flatten. Another slash of my claws and I opened his throat, blood spraying across the room. As he fell, clutching at his wound, I turned away.

"I would advise caution," Alishan said. "Startling me would not be in Gemma's best interest."

One of her arms was tight around Gemma, and in her other hand she held a knife to my mate's throat. I froze. Alishan smiled.

Gemma squirmed, face dark with rage, and I winced at the sight of the blade digging into her skin as she did. There was little chance I could cross that distance fast enough to save her if Alishan decided to strike.

"If you harm her, I will kill you before she hits the ground," I said with cold earnest, meeting Alishan's eyes. She paled slightly, nerves showing, but didn't relax her grip.

"You might want to check your messages," she said. Frowning, I glanced down. There were messages from the castle defenders, of course, but also from the port. With a frown, I flicked one open.

A hologram opened, showing me a transport pod at the base of the skystalk. Kalpans burst forth from it, charging to the attack, and it all clicked into place. This wasn't just an attack from the sea — the castle guarded against that too well. But timed to coincide with alien mercenaries, it stood a chance... and the pods I'd let through had been full of them. I growled. The Perhar had taken advantage of our weakness, and I'd let them.

Caught between the two forces, we'd have a hard time. Maybe an impossible one.

"Don't make me do something we'll all regret, Corvax," Alishan said. "Call for your men to cease fire and let my brother land."

The fear in Gemma's eyes burned my soul. I couldn't let her die. Not here, not like this. I gave the order, and Alishan smiled.

"Release Gemma and we can forget all of this," I told her. I meant it, too. No matter what harm the attack had done, I'd overlook it if they backed off now. But she shook her head, almost sadly.

"I didn't want it to come to this, but the opportunity won't come again," she said. "I'd hoped that you'd choose me. Together we could have ruled the planet, Corvax. Instead you picked a human female, and now there's only one way this ends."

The great guns fell silent at my orders, and I knew the Perhar attackers would be here soon. A raid would be bad, but this seemed like they had more in mind than the usual plunder of inter-clan warfare. They can't think that they can keep control of this island, can they?

Jarax and the surviving bodyguard had finished their inconclusive battle and stood, watching each other warily. We could win the fight, easily, but only at the cost of Gemma's life. My blood ran cold at the very thought of that.

Silence fell across the room as we waited for the arrival of the planner of this outrage. Protector Ashir Perhar strode into the room as though he owned it, looking around with a pleased smile. He was flanked by a couple of Crosan guards and followed by more of the Kalpan mercenaries. Behind them followed my own warriors, an uneasy ceasefire holding, and the Council of Elders followed close behind.

"This was a dishonorable trick," the Eldest said, voice quavering. I braced myself — if Ashir tried to attack the Eldest for that insult, he'd have to go through me.

But the Perhar Protector just laughed. "No trick that works is dishonorable," he said. "And this has worked well indeed. I'd thought the human would be a danger to my plans, but instead she's been the final part of them."

I ground my teeth. "You were behind the attack on Gemma," I guessed. "On the space station. Those were your Kalpan thugs."

He laughed again, and I knew I was right. Beside him, the Kalpans bristled, but I cared nothing for their feelings.

"You have my attention," I told Ashir. "And we can speak together as Protectors. Let my mate go."

"Oh no," Ashir said. "Not when she gives me such lovely leverage. You would never agree to the demands I had in mind, no matter that they would have put us in command of the entire world. Now, though, I can have it all."

My eyes narrowed and my vision darkened. I'd have slain him on the spot if it wasn't for the knife to my beloved's throat. Which, unfortunately, proved that he had a point.

"Very well, name your terms," I said, forcing myself to sheathe my claws. "Lay them out and if I can honorably agree to them, you'll have my word in exchange for her life."

He simply laughed. "No, Corvax, I am not so naive. No matter what oaths I have you swear, you'll break them as soon as your woman is back in your arms. And we both know I cannot afford to hire these mercenaries forever. No, I shall leave the arrangements in my sister's hands. Do as she says and your mate will be an honored guest on Perhar, at my side. If there is any difficulty, though... well. You know better than to make me spell that out."

I turned my glare on Alishan, who flinched but held her ground. "I had hoped to stay under better terms, Corvax. Alas, this will have to do."

She carefully let go of Gemma, who shot her a glare that ought to have killed. Kalpans took hold of my mate's arms and dragged her back behind Ashir.

"I cannot give away my lands for her safety," I said. It tore my heart to say, but it was true: even if Gemma died as a result, my duty bound me. Some things were more important than us, though it didn't feel that way.

Gemma nodded at me, understanding and accepting, and my heart ached with love and pain. My mate knew the truth as well as I did, and her anger was at the Perhar who'd put me in this position.

Ashir Perhar's smile didn't waver. "I know that, Protector. I am bound by the same bonds to my own clan and wouldn't expect you to give up yours. But there are favors you can do for me without betraying your clan, and while I hold Gemma you will. Things will proceed as they should have done, had the human female not interfered. You and my sister will mate, and our clans will ally."

I winced, horrified at the idea. That wasn't a reasonable request, but nor was it one I could discard out of hand. Not when so much was on the line. Before I could say anything, he continued.

"My sister will stay here with her guards, and your elders will arrange the ceremony as swiftly as they can. Don't worry, Corvax, you will still rule your own people. Alishan will just advise on the best course, as a good mate should."

Alishan's smile could have swallowed worlds. "And perhaps we'll even grow to like each other, Corvax," she said. "You never know."

I'd rather be close to a zhak, I thought. That would be safer, and more pleasant.

Before my anger made me say anything I would regret, the Eldest took my arm. His touch was a warning, and I drew strength from it. To fight now would doom Gemma and would hurt my clan sorely. I had no doubt that we'd win, but at what cost?

But bending before the Perhar demands had its own cost. Could I survive that? Could the Rohar?

"Don't," Gemma called out. "Corvax, don't take the—mmph!"

A Kalpan clamped his hand over her mouth, silencing her. But I could see the plea in her eyes. She didn't want to die here, but she didn't want to see me sacrifice my clan either. And I could read the anger in her expression. She'd didn't want the Perhar to win using her as a tool.

It was a choice that tore at me, but in the end there was only one way I could resolve it. Only one option that gave me a chance of saving all the people I loved. For now, there was no other way.

"Very well," I said to Ashir, trying to keep my rage and pain from showing. "But if you harm Gemma, you know that I will kill you."

Ashir laughed, delighted. "Of course, Corvax. The human will be safe with me amongst the Perhar. And when the next ship to her homeworld comes, I will send her on her way unharmed — as long as you have done as I asked by then."

I ignored him, looking past him at Gemma. Trying to tell her with my gaze that everything would be alright, that she'd be safe. As the mercenaries dragged her away, she looked back at me and I saw her fear, her horror — and her faith in me.

I swore to myself I'd justify it.