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EARTH DATE: JULY 22 10:00 AM
Sarisia, Galadin Star System
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“STOP STARING AT HER, Night.” Kahea frowned at her husband. “You’re making her nervous.”
“She should be nervous, she almost cost me my Empress, my brother, and my father.” Night’s voice was hard, his face expressionless.
Kahea rolled her eyes and looked at Brooke, who was sitting beside the bed that Theiv rested in. “I’d tell you that Night is more growl than bite, but that would not be true. However, he’s not a tyrant. He’s a fair ruler of the known universe. Just tell him what you told me.”
“I’ve already been briefed by my father.” Night turned his stormy purple eyes on his wife. “You’re also in trouble, beloved.”
Kahea grinned and winked at Brooke. “Does it involve spankings and being tied up?”
Night crossed his arms and glowered.
Brooke was terrified for a lot of reasons by this hardened warrior king, not the least of which was the fact that she could smell the pheromones that her body was releasing. She wanted to disappear, to run, to hide, but the small medical suite they were in did not allow for any of that.
“Drace’s formula was a success,” Night said, his voice a deep growl of displeasure. Kahea’s eyebrow rose, and Brooke shrank back in her chair, glancing towards the door.
“You would never make it.” Night said, his voice a whip of fury. “I’m glad that my father, at least, had the common sense to come and talk to me.” He looked at Theiv who pushed himself half up in the bed as if he would attempt to protect the woman who sat beside him. “We believe this might be an antidote.” He set a small vial of shimmering gold liquid down on the bedside table. “It’s untested, and there is a high chance that it will fail, and it comes with the risk of unknown side effects.” He set an injector down on the bedside table. “This is a potent, instantaneous sedative. At the first sign of a loss of control I would have injected myself, and my medical staff would have given me the experimental antidote.”
Kahea shoved back her chair and stalked over to her husband. “And yet you came into this room knowing the risks.”
“The blood samples from Brooke, when combined with my blood, prove the experiment was a success, but there were anomaly's. Things the doctors could not explain. It was decided that we must know for certain if the formula Drace devised would work the way it was supposed to. The instant I came in this room, I could scent the pheromones that Brooke is releasing. And, yes, they have a powerful effect on me, but with a twist. All I can think about is fucking Kahea.”
Kahea grinned and winked at Brooke. Brooke blushed, and Theiv let himself drop back on the bed with a laugh that turned into a pain filled groan.
Night continued to look fierce. “Don't think it is that simple. Drace’s formula is a success. There is still danger. We don't understand the anomalies in Brooke’s blood. My medical staff is running tests to see if they can figure this out. It is imperative that we speak with Havyn. Where is she?”
“The Karisean we told you about escaped with Havyn as his captive.” Theiv said. “There is something you need to know, Night. The Karisean was Raine, King of the Windborne.”
Night swore. He exchanged a look with his wife, and then he stalked over to the communication system built into the medical suite’s wall and punched in the code to his Prime Commander, Jorel Wildhaven. “Jorel, we have a situation, please set up talks with the Karisean’s at once. And listen to this discussion, I’ll need your input later.” He looked back at Theiv and Brooke. “This has the potential to turn into a bloody war. Did Raine see Brooke?”
Theiv nodded, “He spoke with her, scented the Karisean in her and discovered that she’s developed a wing base. He would have taken her with them when he escaped, if I hadn’t burst in at that moment.”
Night Draakon, Emperor of the known universe, shook his head. “He’ll send someone to collect her. Rain is going to want her under Karisean protection. You know the Karisean’s are fanatical about remaining isolated from the rest of the universe and preserving their genetic uniqueness.” He paced across the room and back. “This is an incredibly volatile circumstance. Your woman contains the DNA of four of the most dangerous species in the known universe. By the Creators, every one of those races is so protective of their females, that to even consider harming one is to court death. Drace is insane. He may have started an intergalactic war!” Night shoved his hand through his hair and turned, furiously pacing the room again. After a moment he came back, and Kahea put her arms around his waist, leaning against his chest.
Brooke sat in her chair, a growing horror seeping through her veins, stunned by what she was learning.
“They’re all going to want her, Theiv. Every damn one of those species is going to claim her!” Night was furious. He turned to his Commander. “I want emergency meetings with the Liege Commanders of each of these species. I want an emergency session of the Accord set up. And I want an overhaul of our security protocols! I won't tolerate this threat! And get my medical staff in here. Theiv needs to be given the antidote.”
An icy coldness slid through Brooke. It was right. She knew it was right. Theiv needed to be free of her, but even though she understood, she had to fight the panic. Wrapping her arms around herself she nodded, her voice faint. “Yes, please, give him the antidote at once.”
She swallowed to relieve the dryness in her throat, then jumped when Theiv’s hand grasped her arm and he hauled her onto the bed with him. “No.” His voice was flat, hard, and Brooke stared at him sensing a terrible fury.
“Brooke is mine. You have seen the mark of the dragon on her. She is mine. I will not take the antidote.”
Night turned and looked at his brother. “Theiv, you don't have to—”
“No.” Theiv slashed his hand through the air. “I choose to be with Brooke. I am her Protector.”
“Think, Theiv. There is no choice in an addiction. There is no choice when you are forced by this formula to mate with her.”
Brooke felt that hissed truth like a slap. She bowed her head and fought the tears. She couldn't hold Theiv to her like this. She wouldn't force this man of honor to live with the repercussions of Drace’s evil. And she would not risk his life with the dangers that would follow her.
“Night!” That was Kahea’s shocked voice, but Brooke did not look up.
“Theiv.” She spoke softly. “You should take the antidote.” Silence, dark and dangerous, met her words. She looked at Theiv, and the fury in his gaze made her tremble. She looked away.
A low masculine sigh, then the Emperor spoke again. “I will send a diplomatic mission to your world, Brooke, to establish first contact and invite Earth to join the Accord. We won’t allow your world to be destroyed by the evil intentions of this man and the powers that back him.
Night looked at Kahea, his eyes showing regret for his angry words. “I will send ambassadors to meet with your leaders. There are many things to discuss. And if your leaders are open to it, we will provide a squad of warriors to patrol your star system until a Terran squad can be established.”