Afterburn

Patrolling the coastal waters was much more fun than being locked up in space on the Ylydii ship, Burn had decided. He was home, the water tasted right, and every pulse he sent out bounced back with the comforting, familiar shape of his native landscape.

It’s Liana. Burn released another, more focused pulse, and went still as it returned with her location. She was far from the breeding caverns and swimming very fast in the wrong direction.

Burn had then broken away from the patrol and shot into the nearest, fastest current he could find. By the time he reached her, Liana had already crossed the thermal border of ’Zangian territory and was freezing herself in the outer currents.

Once Burn had found her and wrenched her out of the icy darkness, he kept her close. The outer currents’ frigid temperatures seemed to have sent her into a state of thermic shock, and she wouldn’t answer him when he called her name. Holding her against him seemed the only sensible way to bring her out of the icy stupor. It wasn’t what he wanted to do to her for being so brainless—hadn’t she been briefed about the dangers of dark water?—but for now he’d concentrate on keeping her alive.

Later, when she was herself again, he’d shake her until her fins snarled. Until then, he kept murmuring her name and swimming as fast as he dared.

Slowly the warmer waters and heat of his body roused her. What are you doing in the afterlife, Burn? Did they kill you, too?

That made her dark eyes pop open. What are you doing? She struggled against him. Impudent ’Zangian. Release me at once.

The impudent ’Zangian just saved your tail, you twit. He was so relieved and angry that he almost nipped her hide. Didn’t you know where you were?

Back to the royalty routine. Maybe not, but I know someone who does. Now be still or I’ll call for your mother and tell her what a thoughtless, reckless, silt-brain she has for a daughter.

Liana stiffened but stopped trying to wriggle away. There is no need for you to threaten me. I went for a swim. I must have gotten lost.

Right. And I was whelped yesterday. He brought her around from the far side of the breeding caverns and guided her through a seldom-used entrance. Go back to your chamber and stay there. If I so much as smell you looking out in open water, I’m going to have you locked up in a tank on the surface.

An older Ylydii female swam up beside him. Forgive me for intruding, but you are threatening my lady. Please desist or I shall have to poke you with this. The female displayed a diver’s prod.

He backed away and turned to the older female. She nearly froze to death in the outer currents. Summon one of the medics to have a look at her, but don’t let her out of your sight.

Burn gave Liana one last, frustrated look before swimming out and rejoining the patrol. Curonal and Loknoth said nothing to him, for which he was grateful. He needed time to cool his own blood and set his thoughts in order.

Nathaka has assigned some of us to guard the breeding caverns at night, Loknoth mentioned. There will be no opportunity for anyone to . . . become lost with us there.

She wants to kill herself, Burn muttered. Or she thinks someone is trying to kill her. I don’t know. She talks the way the enilcalliw do when they’re sick and try to beach themselves.

Loknoth finned caution. Her dam does not like you, Burn. She has repeatedly asked that you be kept away from her and her daughter.

The reason Liana had escaped the breeding caverns was because no one had been guarding her. I’m not letting her harm herself. If Carada doesn’t like it, she can bite my flukes.

Shon changed out of his uniform and wore civilian garments for the first summit meeting on K-2. Bataran had worn a prayer chain around his neck, but he saw no need to do the same. No matter what anyone thought, he was not Skartesh, and he did not practice their religion. He also made sure all the other delegates knew that he was an intelligence officer and an oKiaf as well as the chosen representative of the former cult.

Because Nathaka and Carada could not leave the water—it would kill the Ylydii, and the ’Zangian was too large and old to stay topside for very long—Ana Hansen had suggested they convert one of the large collection tank rooms into a meeting place for the delegates. The tank, which could be left open-ended on the sea side, acted like a view panel, and its audio monitors were converted to provide voice-activated, two-way communication.

All we need, Shon thought as he took his place at the table provided for him and Urloy-ka, is some food, hot beverages, and whatever analgesics are applicable.

Ana Hansen opened the meeting as she had all the previous gatherings, with greetings to all four delegates. “We appreciate your commitment to this endeavor, and will be on hand to provide whatever you need during your discussions.” She gestured toward another pair of transparent panels. “Aquatic delegates, please notify the guard posted outside the URD with any requests. Nonaquatic delegates, please signal one of our attendants from the observation room.”

“I have filed a grievance with colonial security about you, Major Valtas,” Carada said. “It is outrageous that a League military officer should be drafted to serve as a replacement for our Skartesh delegate, Bataran. You do realize that your appointment may place the entire peace process in jeopardy.”

Unless she did it first, Shon thought. “Lady Ambassador, I would not be here if not for the will of the Skartesh people. I do not come here representing the interests of anyone but them.” He saw Urloy-ka shift in his seat. “I have done what I could to protect this species in the past. My record speaks for itself.”

“That would be the record that details how you underwent physical alteration in order to impersonate one of the Skartesh’s most sacred leaders in order to infiltrate the cult?” the Ylydii asked, her tone sugary.

“What Major Valtas did saved many lives among my people,” the Ninrana delegate said unexpectedly. “I will not have him disparaged for the role he played in the defeat of the cult takeover on my homeworld.”

“We can debate suitability for the remainder of this session,” Nathaka said, “or we can discuss the issues that need resolution among the species we represent.”

Carada wasn’t finished. “I want it on record for this, and every other session, that I object to the selection and presence of this intelligence officer.”

“When we last met,” Nathaka said to Shon, “we were discussing a number of possible sites for establishment of an independent Skartesh colony, as well as to conduct research with replenishment technology to restore and maintain a viable water source on Ninra.”

“The Ylydii are still pleased to extend the use of one of our moons to the Skartesh, and the financial and technological means to bring water back to the Ninrana,” Carada said. “I have stated this before: We are a generous people, and we wish to help.”

“As long as both species accept Ylydii law, and aquatic governments to rule over them,” Urloy-ka tagged on. “As I said before, Lady Ambassador, that is unacceptable to my people.”

“I must refuse on behalf of the Skartesh as well,” Shon said. “They wish to be isolated from constant contact with other species, and will only accept a colony where they may be self-governing.”

“Have you forgotten about the civil war presently raging on your planet?” Carada asked him. “If someone does not step in and take charge, you will kill yourselves long before the water dries up.”

“Nearly every species experiences civic turmoil when great change comes upon them,” Shon said. “War cannot always be avoided, but fighting one does not indicate the lack of quality leadership. In fact, wars often result in a long period of peace, as leaders and their people learn from their mistakes.”

“I have provided a viable solution to all the issues at this table, Delegate Valtas. What do you propose as an alternative?” Carada demanded.

“Help each other through exchanges rather than concessions,” Shon said. “Ninra is rich in mineral ores, many of which the Skartesh will need to build their colony. The Skartesh may teach their methods of agriculture, which will give the Ninrana the ability to raise crops with minimal irrigation and reduce some of their dependency on water.”

Urloy-ka nodded. “We would be willing to participate in such an exchange. But that does not solve our need for water, or the Skartesh’s need for their own settlement.”

Shon turned to Nathaka. “There are a number of moons around Kevarzangia Two that could provide a colony for the Skartesh, and a testing site for the technology to replenish Ninra’s water supply. Since your species cannot live off-planet, you will never be able to use them. However, the war is not over, and K-2 needs strong allies. Skartesh warriors would defend their settlement and your world.”

“I object,” Carada said. “You are forming a triad alliance which completely cuts out Ylydii involvement, and I will not have it.”

Shon had been expecting this. “You are not being deliberately excluded, Lady Ambassador,” he lied. “But what can you offer to help enhance his plan?”

“You would allow the Skartesh and Ninrana to operate without any management, when I feel sure that both species have every intention of taking over this system. All they need are the means to do so. They must be closely monitored by species who do not wish to invade planets that do not belong to them.”

“Such supervision is a type of invasion, Lady Ambassador,” Shon told her. “Given the history of the Ninrana and Skartesh, extending such trust may seem perilous. Yet if we do not take risks, we cannot change, and we cannot grow.”

“You are a male, Major Valtas. A violent, deceitful male who has participated in selfish and meaningless acts of aggression. It is our view that enough destruction, death, and chaos have been wrought by the male-dominated species in this system.”

“It is time someone placed the blame where the blame belongs.” Carada moved into a vertical position in the water. “The Ylydii are willing to teach you how to live in peace, as we do, but you cannot be allowed to run free. As younglings obey their mothers and grandmothers, so you, too, must be brought into the center of the circle. It is the only sure method to keep you from harming yourselves until you gain the maturity and experience to curb your hormonal tendencies.”

Urloy-ka rose. “Several centuries ago, females on my world were not allowed to assume positions of authority. We considered them too simpleminded and emotional to make sound judgments. We have since learned that both males and females are necessary to a healthy and balanced society. Gender bias no longer exists on Ninra.”

The door panel opened to admit Burn and several of the ’Zangian guards in uniform. “Excuse the interruption, Major, but we need you out at the breeding caverns.”

“Two guards are missing from their posts, and there are signs of violence.” Burn looked grim. “We don’t know what attacked them, but from the blood in the water, it probably killed them.”

“Dr. Selmar, what you’re proposing to do is dangerous. Once accomplished, the results would be irreparable.” The image of the League xenobiologist wavered as the signal scattered for a moment, and then resharpened. “Have you considered other options?”

The idea had come to Teresa in the middle of the night, when she had woken from a nightmare in which Dair had given birth to a mogshrike. Feeling more useless than she ever had, she had wept and paced the floor and cursed the universe for making her who she was and Dairatha a stubborn, blind fool. She had felt wretched beyond belief, until a thought popped into her head that was so outrageous it nearly made her question her sanity.

“I know what I’m asking you to do, Dr. Wupga,” she told the screen. “I also invented alterforming, so I know better than anyone precisely what’s involved here.”

“It would have to be done off-planet,” Wupga warned. “The procedure violates the current colonial ban on alterforming, and I will not put myself or my staff at risk of detainment.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Never mind what she was going to have to sacrifice. “I understand. There is an aquatic medical facility on Qi-iq, about half a light-year from K-2. All you need do is bring the surgical team; I’ll provide the necessary tissue and organs and so forth.”

“Presently, yes. However, before the ban was made into law, I was able to salvage and cryonically preserve enough tissue, organs, and bones to do a hundred such procedures.” She had never considered using them for this purpose, but the only way to advance science was to keep an open, fluid attitude. An attitude that had to go both ways, even if this procedure could not.

“You do not feel a conflict of interest here?” Wupga asked. “Do you know how people will regard you after this is done?”

She would be despised and reviled, but not by anyone she cared about. The people she loved would understand her motives. If they didn’t . . . “It doesn’t matter.”

“Very well. Please notify me when you have a target date and transport arranged, and I will assemble my team and meet your party on Qi-iq.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Teresa grabbed the edge of the console as the ship lurched, and the sound of the shore lines being retracted buzzed outside the cabin.

Teresa terminated the relay, encrypted her notes, and saved everything to her personal database before walking out of the cabin. “I think you should do the honors, Captain Argate.”

The Briggs was the sleekest long-range expedition vessel Teresa had ever boarded. Designed to function under any sailing conditions, the ship’s gleaming arutanium deck stretched ten meters wide and twenty meters in length, with a Haazen free-form hull that could be altered to cruise, break through ice floes, or ride the wildest of waves. Outfitted with the newest League tech, the ship also carried four roomy surface inflatables and a sea-to-air shuttle, which could be used to evacuate the entire ship’s complement and an additional twenty under rescue conditions.

Teresa didn’t know any of the crew, made up of MRD veterans who had served with Noel, but found them to be like most crews, a fairly taciturn bunch. On the other hand, the staff members she had selected to come on the ’shrike hunt were brimming with enthusiasm.

“Have you been to the observation deck?” one of her researchers asked earlier. “The hull walls are completely transparent from stem to stern. It’s as if they put engines on the URD and launched it.”

Noel took position in the command tower and slipped his hands into the master control grips as he powered up the ship’s engines. “Here we go.”

They were launching out of the same inlet where they hoped to lure a ’shrike, so the hull was currently retracted to its flat, reef-skimmer form. As soon as they cleared the delicate formations and were in the open sea, Noel changed the hull to a pointed, wave-breaking plow.

Teresa checked the console in front of her seat, which displayed the keel’s depth scanners. They had clear water ahead of them, and the twin pulse-screw engines were bringing the ship up to optimum speed. The wind whipped her hair back, salting it with spray from the bow plumes, and she felt a laugh bubble up in her throat. She had stayed too long on land; out here was the wonderful sense of true freedom that she hadn’t even realized she missed so much.

Two streamlined forms, one dark, one light, breached through the starboard wake and dove back into the depths. Both were wearing special thermal wraps to boost their protection against the colder water of the open sea.

Teresa had, too. She knew that Dair had gone to confront her father, and she hadn’t been all that sure that her stepdaughter would keep her promise to help with the hunt afterward. The ’Zangians were as fiercely loyal to their parents as they were to their natal pods.

I’m the only mother Dair has ever known, she told herself, fighting a new wave of guilt. She knows I’m right, and that’s why she chose to be loyal to me.

As soon as Noel eased back the engines to cruising speed, Teresa unfastened her harness and joined him in the command tower. “I’ll go below and monitor the mass tracker,” she told him. “Once I lock on to a ’shrike, I’ll signal Dair and Onkar. I want them out of the water before we release the bait. They are strictly for backup at the extension wall when we return to the inlet.”

“Habit. I’ve been doing it since the day my kid was born,” she told him. On impulse she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“For saving the people I love, and for not being such a selfish dolt anymore.” She looked back, but she could no longer see the coast. “We’re really going to do this. Catch one of these things.” She shook her head.

“That’s just it. It’s not a game.” She dragged a hand through her hair. “This is as real as it gets, Noel. People’s lives are on the line. So is the future of an entire species.”

Graleba kept her word to Burn and hovered and questioned Liana until she thought she might utter a continuous pulse of shrieking frustration.

I know you do not, my lady. Graleba gave her a hurt look. I was so worried when that ’Zangian brought you back. Your fins were covered with ice. Do you know that you might have died out there?

If only a ’shrike had found her before Burn had. All she had wanted was a fair exchange, and a swift end to her misery. Was it so much to ask? Now she would be watched and followed and controlled every moment she spent on this world.

Graleba stayed with her until the night guard came, and only then did she reluctantly agree to go to feed and rest. I will return in the morning, my lady. Sleep well.

Liana, who had been restlessly circling the chamber, said nothing. There was nothing to say, but at least now she could be alone with her thoughts. Thoughts of the one, of what could not be said, of the utterly useless thing she had been reduced to.

If she was lucky, the guard might not be as vigilant as Burn. Liana edged toward the opening of the chamber, trying not to disturb the water. She could see the outline of him—another huge male—and stopped breathing in as she eased around the corner behind him. He was paying no attention, and if she allowed herself to drift all the way to the bottom, surely her coloring would blend—

Liana froze, and then darted back into the chamber. And then darted back out again to face him. What are you doing here?

Preventing yet another act of idiocy, Burn said. He inspected her. Recovered from the last one, have you? Well, my lady, you can haul your little tail back in there, because you’re not getting past me.

Offensive is better than stupid. He cocked his head. Maybe I should petition the summit and see if they’ll make me the next leader of Ylyd.

Liana started back into the chamber before circling back to him. I do not require a night guard who disparages my government and my person. You are dismissed.

You probably are, but that doesn’t matter. It’s me, he said, and pointed toward the surface, or a week in a tank. You choose.

Liana surged forward and hit him as hard as she could. Burn didn’t flinch, didn’t grunt, and to add insult to injury, didn’t even move. I don’t need you, she told him in her coldest voice, and I’m not afraid of you. Go away.

The ends of his fins had been altered to function more like humanoid hands, with articulated digits that mimicked fingers. These he threaded through the gillets on one side of her face, very gently, and lifted until she opened her eyes and looked directly into his.

Everything hot and tight and outraged inside her collapsed into a muddle. She wanted to nuzzle him, and take refuge against his warmth again, and stay there until all the storms in her life had passed. And she couldn’t.

Please, Burn. If orders wouldn’t work, perhaps demeaning herself and begging might. Please go away. Please leave me alone.

No, Liana. He put one of his fins across her back and led her into the chamber. If you want anything, I’ll be right outside. Rest now.

Liam looked up from the medical chart he was reading and frowned. “Is the summit over? I thought you had another week.”

“It isn’t. Norash decided that the most overworked and underappreciated official presiding over the summit should take the night off.” She set down her case and held out her hands. “Come and appreciate me before I fall unconscious.”

“I don’t know whether to kiss you, or admit you for exhaustion.” He came over and, after making a show of checking her pulse, brushed her mouth with his. “Dare I ask how things are progressing?”

“We’re making a little headway, despite Ambassador Carada’s best efforts to derail every discussion. She’s been in high dudgeon since her daughter blundered into the outer currents. Two ’Zangian sentries disappeared three days ago while they were guarding the Ylydii; Major Valtas thinks they may have been attacked and killed.” She sighed. “Did you do the smart thing and not check messages?”

“No, I was stupid. Three hundred or so signals came in just today. Two hundred and ninety-nine are mostly bureaucratic nonsense, but there is one I think you should hear.”

“What’s wrong with Teresa’s lab chief?” she asked, and then answered herself. “Oh, right, T’Kaf went to have a look at that barax colony.” She enabled the recorded message and listened as the N-jui chemist described the disturbing changes with the barax and the direction their new hive was taking.

“Send a copy of message T9843 to Security Chief Norash,” she told the companel. “Mark urgent, highest priority, and encrypt for his pass code only.” She glanced at Liam. “Does spicewine induce insomnia?”

“Good.” She went to the prep unit and prepared a server for each of them, and then went to sit with Liam on the sinfully comfortable couch. “To invading insects,” she said, lifting her spicewine in a toast.

“To the availability of competent exterminators.” He clinked the edge of his server against hers. “T’Kaf sent a wrill specimen over to me and asked me to look at it. It was riddled with some sort of parasites that aren’t Hlagg and can’t be identified by our species database. I sent it down to Pathology for our bright new resident Omorr to have a look. We’ll have to isolate them and find out what they are before they attack the aquatic population.”

“One by land, one by sea.” Ana took a large swallow of wine and slipped off her footgear. “Do you ever think about transferring to someplace a little safer to live? Say, the Hsktskt homeworld?”

“Before we start packing, we’d better find out why the barax intend to undermine and attack the colony.” He saw her expression change and put his arm around her shoulders. “Ana, what is it?”

“I had a funny feeling when I read the initial report, but now I think I know.” Ana felt chilled. “The barax began building their hive in a gnorra grove.”

“Since barax bore into root systems, there’s little doubt they came in contact with the Core.” She stared down into her wine as memories of thousands dying crowded into her mind. “Well, that’s it, then. Another plague.”

“Not necessarily.” His hand stroked her upper arm with a soothing motion. “We negotiated directly with the Core. They understood that our removing them from the trees was accidental. They promised to let us live here in peace.”

“The barax didn’t. If they’re under Core control now . . .” She didn’t want to complete that thought. “I wish Duncan Reever were still here. He was the only one who could communicate with the Core directly. I’ll have to send in orders to have the entire area quarantined until we figure out what to do.”

“We can’t make it public knowledge,” Liam said, his expression grim. “The last time the Core were removed from their environment, they killed thousands of colonists.”

“I don’t think anyone will remember that part of it.” Liam picked up his planner and made a note on it, then looked down at her. “You need to go to bed.”

“Do you know why our relationship is so perfect? We’re both sleeping through it. Hey.” She clutched at his shoulders as he swung her up into his arms. “Keep this up and I may just marry you.”

Ana didn’t think anything could have woken her up that night, until she heard Liam’s voice as she had never heard it, hoarse and desperate, calling out in the darkness.

Ana sat up and saw that Liam was rigid, his hands fisted in the bed linens, but he was obviously still asleep. The emotions radiating from him were so strong they made her gasp. He was in agony, trapped in a nightmare with a dying woman he couldn’t save.

Liam came out of the nightmare with a terrible cry, and for a moment looked at her blankly. “Oh, dear God.” He jerked her into his arms and held her tightly. “It was so real. I couldn’t do anything. I tried, but nothing worked.”

Ana knew her lover had lost his first wife to a brain tumor for which she had refused to seek treatment, and had blamed himself for her death ever since. Her heart wrenched as she stroked his back with her hands and tried not to feel jealous. Rosalind was only a memory; she couldn’t fight that.

“Forgive me for disturbing you,” he said after a long time. “I don’t know what brought that on. I haven’t had nightmares in years.” He looked down at her. “Thanks for waking me up.”

“Sweet Ana, I didn’t have a nightmare about losing Rosalind.” He wrapped his arms around her and shuddered. “It was you. I dreamt that the Core plague returned, and I was standing in the hospital, watching you slip away. Some fool had sealed you in an isolation room and I didn’t know the codes. I couldn’t get to you.”

They had both been among the last colonists infected with the Core, and Ana remembered only too well how many friends she had watched die before her own lungs began to fail. “I want to get married,” she said suddenly.

“No. I want to get married today. Tomorrow. As soon as we can.” She pulled back so she could meet his startled gaze. “I don’t care if we have thirty years or three months or seventy-two hours left to live, but I’m going to live them as your wife.”

For three nights Liana tried to escape her chamber, but each time she tried Burn was outside, waiting for her. He wouldn’t obey her orders, and he only laughed at her threats. She hadn’t tried physical violence after her first, pitiful attempt—he was too strong—and so was trapped not only in the chamber, but in the slowly tightening noose of her own frustration. To make matters worse, the strong emotions she had been suffering had shifted her body into full estrus. Ylydii females could mate at any time, but in this state she wouldn’t be gentle, and she wouldn’t care with whom she mated.

The sensible thing to do would be to request she be removed to the Ylydii ship, or summon one of the Ylydii males and get it over with. Liana was open, having mated with a select number of males from the synchrony in the past, although she had never caught a pup. Some said it was the affliction; others that she was meant for higher things. Liana had never experienced any pleasure while taking one of the little pipsqueaks, but she had done her duty.

No. Liana retreated to a corner, and didn’t move again until her attendant had gone. She would stay inside the chamber tonight and meditate; sometimes that helped calm the rush of need.

The ’Zangian hovered outside the chamber in the usual place, his back to her, his eyes moving as he scanned the open water beyond the caverns. For a moment Liana simply watched him, admiring the differences between him and a typical Ylydii male. His size, strength, and speed no longer seemed so bizarre to her, although she had more difficulty accepting his dominant personality.

You know so little of my people. Liana glided away and allowed her petite veils to unfurl. At the same time she released a few slippery notes of luresong—not enough to captivate, only to tease—and waited for him to come to her.

Don’t you like it? She turned, showing her primary colors. We sing it to our males back on Ylyd. They like it very much. She sang a full scale, spinning the wave around him, and braced herself for the impact of his body. Surely he would hurtle himself at her. Any moment now.

Not really. It makes you feel things . . . differently. She swam around him, making sure not to touch him. How do you feel?

So she could not tempt him with luresong. It emphasized what an exceptionally strong will he possessed. There were still her secondary veils, the veils that she never unfurled before any male. Come into my chamber. I want to show you something.

It was dangerous. The thin space between showing herself and revealing her affliction could be easily crossed, and estrus was one of the strongest catalysts. The last thing Liana wanted to do was hurt him. At the same time, she ached to let go. To be what she was, and not hold back. Surely he could take some, if not all, of her colors.

Once they were inside the chamber, Liana turned and presented herself in the upright position of unveiling. Watch. Slowly, carefully, she unfurled her secondary veils.

Burn remained silent and stared as Liana’s extended veils surrounded her in a web of color. He went around her, close but not touching, close enough for her to sense the heat of his blood. At last he faced her again.

What do you think? She knew she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. No ’Zangian female could give him this.

I think you have more colors than I realized, he said at last. They are pretty. He noticed her gape. Uh, very pretty?

I am showing myself to you. Displaying all my beautiful colors and singing for you. And it means nothing to you. Liana wanted to bite him for that.

No. A proper male would be overcome by my beauty and luresong. He would respond with uncontrollable desire, and beg me to take him. She whirled around, unable to bear the sight of him. You’ve succeeded in humiliating me again. Congratulations, Sublieutenant.

You heard me. He inched closer. I don’t even have to see you to feel desire for you. When I sleep, you’re in my dreams. When I move through the water, I can taste you. You’re always with me.

’Zangian females have their ways. They are very playful just before they come into their time, always teasing the males who interest them. When they are ready for a mate, they run away. The males who desire them chase them down.

I don’t understand what you mean by afflicted. Burn looked all over her. You look normal. Beautiful. There’s nothing wrong with you.

Every generation, a female is born with a green stripe below her eyes, and green in her eyes. Liana pointed to the blaze of emerald color beneath her eyelid. It’s a mark of a royal, and no one knows when or to whom she will be born. She just is.

They turn green when—it doesn’t matter. There was no way Liana could condense ten thousand years of tradition into a few sentences. What is important is how it affects life. Being of the green, as I am, brings more than status. A royal female develops differently from other Ylydii females. We are stronger and more intelligent. We are born to rule alone, so we are afflicted with the ruler’s curse.

I can’t. She turned away. I’ve only used it once, and I didn’t mean to. No one told me what it would do. I didn’t even know I had it. She would not think of her father. She would not. Accidents happen, and things that are done cannot be undone. I will not harm you.

Burn swam closer. There are stories about Ylydii females. How they mate and then kill their mates. Is that what it is? How it is, for you?

He had drifted closer, and she could feel the heat of his big body again. So this showing off and singing is all you do when you mate.

Our males are small and timid. They have to be courted. On impulse she surged against him, wrapping her veils around him, turning him so they were belly-to-belly. We Ylydii are very good at courting.

I can see that. Burn rubbed his cheek against hers before he slipped out of her embrace. Thank you for telling me about the differences.

No, my lady. Burn backed away from her. If you do, I won’t be timid, and I won’t be satisfied with courtship. If you do not wish to be mated to a ’Zangian with no royal marks or blood, then you must never do this again.