Tharon

THARON

N iam’s cropped hair brushed my chin as I held her. The metallic tang of the pod’s recycled air mingled with her scent - clean sweat and determination.

Her heart thundered against my palm, strong despite her delicate frame. My beast urged me to bundle her in my cloak and whisk her far from this cursed place with its artificial heartbeat and stale air. But she'd chosen to stay and fight. As always, her fierceness surprised me.

My claws flexed against her skin, careful not to break it. Such fragile beings, these humans. Yet she’d survived horrors that would break most Shakai warriors. Pride and rage twisted in my gut.

“I promise you this,” I repeated. “Whatever path you choose, I walk it with you.”

Niam took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening. The sweet curve of her neck drew my gaze as she tilted her head back to meet my eyes.

“You're right.” Her fingers traced the curve of my ear, sending tingles of pleasure through my entire body. “We'll make this work.”

Before I could capture her hand, she pulled away and returned to the glowing console. The loss of contact left me cold.

I watched her work, fascinated despite my discomfort. The screens lit up at her touch, responding to commands I couldn’t begin to understand. Such a contrast - my fierce little mate, so at home among this dead technology.

Her movements grew more animated as new patterns appeared on the display. “Wait... yes!” She pressed another sequence of symbols. “Look at this.”

I stepped closer, though the proximity to the controls made my skin crawl. “What am I looking at?”

“The priests of the Temple modified everything over the centuries since the crash.” Her fingers flew faster. “But underneath it all, the core programming remains intact. If I can access that...”

Understanding dawned in her expression. My Valti stirred at the flash of triumph in her eyes.

“I can do it.” She spun to face me. “I should be able to use the pod’s systems to disable the Temple’s integration protocols without destroying the city.”

Her brilliance filled me with pride. “Then we-”

“But I need to be inside Terr to do it.”

The words hit like a physical blow. My hands clenched at my sides as the beast roared to life. “No.”

“-”

“Absolutely not.” I moved between her and the console, blocking her view of the screens. “You’re not going back there.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “I have to. The Temple’s modifications mean the pod can’t interface properly from this distance. I need to be inside the Temple.”

“Then I’ll go.” The words tasted like ash, but better than sending her into danger.

“How are you going to pass for human?” She argued. “You don’t even speak Terran,” Niam pointed out, her fingers tracing one of the pod’s glowing symbols. “I can only speak Shakai because of a malfunction in the Temple’s language protocols during the lightning strike.”

My beast snarled at the reminder. Of course she spoke our language - she belonged with us, with me. But she made a valid point. The guttural sounds of human speech would mark me as an outsider instantly.

“There must be another solution.” I paced the confines of the pod, the artificial environment making my skin crawl. Every instinct screamed to grab her and run far from here, not closer to the danger.

“The Temple has to be stopped,” she said softly. “You know what they’ll do.”

My claws extended at the thought. Yes, I knew. The scars on her skull told that story clearly enough.

“Besides, you don’t know how to work the systems. And you’ll never be able to pass for human.”

“Then teach me.”

She shook her head. “It took years of integration for me to learn this. There isn’t time.”

“Make time.” The beast’s growl leaked into my voice. “I won’t let you walk back into that place.”

“You can’t stop me.” She lifted her chin, defiant. “This is my fight.”

“Our fight.” My hands gripped her shoulders, careful to be gentle despite the beast’s fury. “You’re my mate. Your battles are mine now.”

Something flickered in her expression. “I’m not used to that.”

“To what?”

“Having someone on my side.” She pressed her palm against my chest. “Having allies.”

The word triggered a memory. “That’s it - you already have allies. The women you sent to find the device pieces.”

“Lita, Mila, and Denna?” Her brow furrowed. “But they’re safe now, away from the Temple. I can’t ask them to-”

“You don’t have to ask them to risk themselves. But they might know something - more about the city than you do. You were kept isolated for your entire life.” I stroked my thumb along her jaw. “At least talk to them before rushing in unprepared.”

“I’ll remind you frequently.” I pressed a kiss to her temple. “We should return to Mahra’s camp. I can send a messenger bird to Lita - I promised to keep her updated anyway.”

Niam cast one last look at the pod’s controls, her fingers trailing across the metal surface. Then she straightened, decision clear in her bearing. “Yes. Let’s go before I change my mind about this plan.”

Relief flooded through me at her willingness to leave this cursed place.

Back in the initial cave, we retrieved the villart, who seemed as eager as I felt to put distance between us and the tunnel with its mysterious pod.

The journey back proved faster now that we knew the route. Niam settled naturally against me as we rode, her body fitting perfectly against mine. The beast was pleased at her trust, at how easily she accepted my protection.

By the time Mahra’s camp came into view, the sun hung low on the horizon.

The Elder emerged from her tent as we approached, her sharp eyes taking in how closely Niam sat against me. A knowing smile crossed her face.

Heat crept up my neck. The beast might not care about others’ opinions, but the man remembered too many years of cold calculation to be comfortable with such obvious emotion.

“Welcome back, children.” Mahra’s gaze lingered on where my hand rested at Niam’s waist. “I trust you found what you sought?”

“And more besides.” I helped Niam dismount, reluctant to release her even for a moment. “We need to send a message bird back to Zashi.”

“My scouts spotted you crossing the ridge,” Mahra said, her rings catching the fading light. She cast an appraising eye over us both and a knowing smile crossed her weathered face. “When I saw how you rode together, I took the liberty of having a proper camp set up.” She gestured toward a tent set slightly apart from the others. “I didn’t think you’d object.”

My blush deepened. But before I could protest, Niam's delighted laugh stopped me. The sound wrapped around my heart, precious and rare.

Maybe a little embarrassment was worth it, to hear that sound again.

“Come.” Mahra gestured toward an enclosure near the back of the camp. “Let’s visit the wing master and get your message sent, so you can attend to other things.”