22. Falkion

Zeerah stands in the crowd for my confirmation hearing.

I drink her in.

She is beautiful, nervous, and she shifts her weight back and forth as she stands between Werrin and Marip. Her gaze flits to me, her smile broadens, and then she tightens her grip on her skinsuit collar and glances away, the adorable smile lingering.

As soon as this hearing is over, regardless of the outcome, I will touch her skin. Bury my face in her arms, tear open her skinsuit and rub my mark all over.

Soon.

I stand stiffly in the center of the ceremonial chambers.

High commanders range in front of me. Aristocrats fill the tiers behind my officers. The emperor and empress stand behind me, and the general master of the blades calls in on a massive viewscreen.

The master of ceremonies calls us to order. "We gather here to confirm Falkion as high commander." He recites my accomplishments. "Are there any objections from the High Command?"

"No," their spokesperson intones.

"Are there any objections from the Arsenal?"

"None," icy General Master Zai confirms.

The crowd rustles.

Once, the military was dead set against letting blades into their rank. I was the first to be accepted to a powerful captain's position. They were afraid the blades would take over.

We are not their primary fear anymore, that's certain.

The master of ceremonies continues. "Are there any objections from the Palace?"

Silence.

Hm?

I turn.

Emperor Ranse stares at me with deadly challenge.

A warning tingles up my spine. My left blade slides to the edge of its sheath, and my broken right blade scratches inside.

I shift into a ready stance to mirror him.

"The Palace objects," Ranse growls.

A gasp sweeps the amphitheater.

"I don't understand," I tell him.

"Captain Falkion, my own personal ‘hero' of the empire." Empress Allie crosses her arms over her chest. "I trusted you. I gave you a big duty over a person important to me, a person you promised to protect. I've just learned you broke your promise. So heck yes, the Palace objects."

I clear my throat. "Explain."

"You hunted and attacked my human rationality officer, Zeerah." Empress Allie is furious. "You even plotted her murder."

The empress's accusations echo, and the chambers erupt into pandemonium.

As Zeerah would say, H.

The master of ceremonies manages to calm the crowd. "The Palace objects. Falkion, do you have a response to the objection?"

Zeerah's eyes are wide and panicked.

I have no defense but the truth. "I did not plot to murder Zeerah."

"Don't lie to my face." Empress Allie could spit fire. "I saw video proof. You asked questions."

"So I could intercept and protect her."

"You chased her on multiple occasions even before the time in question. You hunted her like she was an animal. Like she was a lesser. And I can't forgive that." Empress Allie narrows her eyes. "Maybe it's time for a non-Arrisan to be on the High Command."

The high commanders erupt into protest.

The master of ceremonies fails to calm them.

One of the more irritable high commanders shouts at Empress Allie. "Non-Arrisans don't have enough Arrisan military experience!"

"Yeah, about that." She talks over the noise, anchoring their attention with her command. "What about the Xovisans? They have more experience chasing the Harsi than any of you do."

"You will never put a non-Arrisan on our council!"

"I refuse to replace Drin with another man who considers non-Arrisans to be disposable creatures."

The commanders look at me in a panic.

"You're wrong," I tell Empress Allie. "Zeerah is not disposable to me."

Empress Allie rounds on me. "Prove it."

"She is my life."

"Words are cheap."

I look at Zeerah.

She clutches her collar so tightly, her fingers turn white.

It's just like the first time she refused to show me her skin. To this day, she's refused to tell me what I did to her when I was under the influence of the drug.

She has always tried to reduce our visibility. Separate herself from me. Deny we have any connection.

I would pull open her collar and expose my red mark to everyone. Shout our connection to the edges of the universe. Flaunt it for all to see.

But she doesn't.

I wanted to be high commander so I could shape the empire into a place that was more friendly for Zeerah.

And I will not start that role by tearing away choices and destroying her privacy.

I have harmed her in the past.

I will not do so again.

She is mine, even if no one else knows it.

We know.

And I will leave here, not a high commander, but in her arms.

That's all I need.

I remain silent.

"Uh-huh," Empress Allie says.

This is it, then.

My confirmation hearing is over.

Falkion losing his chance to be a high commander is killing me. He deserves it. He'd be good at it. This is my fault.

My heart thuds in my chest. My mouth is dry. My throat is scratchy. If I just…exposed us…

Do you think one in your position should be showing off to the world, making arrogant claims and clamoring for the spotlight?

Ugh.

It's true.

Wouldn't exposing our connection make things worse for Falkion?

The High Command must have seen all the secret video evidence already. With Drin as Falkion's patron, they probably did think they were replacing one with another.

His worth is degraded by my presence.

I saved him from the Harsi, but I can't save him from me.

"You have no further response to the objection?" the master of ceremonies asks Falkion. "Be aware if your nomination is rejected, you may never be nominated again."

"I understand." Falkion pulls back his shoulders. "I will retire."

There's a shocked murmur.

"You don't have to go that far," one of the high commanders tells him. "We will give you a command."

"I require more flexibility."

The commander chokes. "For what?"

"Private reasons." Falkion meets my eye. A careless smile glimmers there.

"You will explain," the commander orders.

He tips his head. He will not explain. "If it were up to me, I would shout the reason to the edge of the universe."

My heart thumps.

If it were up to me…?

Hot blood streaks through my veins.

If it were up to him, he'd announce our connection to the edges of the universe?

Truly?

I mean, I do believe him. He's never once tried to hide his obsession with me. I'm the one who meticulously protected his reputation, who tried to erase all damaging traces of myself, who tried to keep his image pure and "Arrisan" and clean.

But if it doesn't matter anyway… If he's staying silent out of respect and throwing away his entire career for me…

Tears well up in my eyes.

I wipe my cheeks and sniff. Stupid allergies.

"The Palace rejects the nominee," the master of ceremonies intones. "Falkion is—"

"I object." I push through the crowd and descend the tiers to the confirmation floor. "I object to your objection."

Everyone stares.

And it's a hot, uncomfortable feeling.

But Falkion beams.

And I'm a hero of the H-ing empire.

I've got to start acting like it.

Allie puts her hands on her hips, following my progress across the floor. "The man was plotting to murder you."

"He's incapable of harming me."

"You don't know that."

"I do." I reach his side and slide a finger into the edge of my skinsuit collar. "And I can prove it."

The skinsuit parts down to my collarbone, exposing Falkion's red mating tattoo across my neck and shoulder.

Allie's eyebrows shoot for her hairline.

The crowd gasps. Werrin, Marip, and the other officers look stunned.

Falkion grins.

I've done it. I've come out of the shadows. I left my place.

Falkion doesn't love me out of obligation. He loves me for me. He entwines my fingers and kisses the tips. My heart squeezes.

"Uh…huh. That changes things." Allie blinks rapidly. "The Palace withdraws our objection."

The master of ceremonies claps. "The newest high commander is—"

"Wait! Wait," several high commanders beg, and the ceremony, once more, grinds to a halt.

A couple of high commanders are clearly horrified. Snippets of their argument about having another "lesser sympathizer" drift to us.

Falkion couldn't care less, clearly.

He pulls me into his arms, buries his face in my marked shoulder, and breathes deep.

His warmth tickles me, his lips press against my skin, and his electric male scent awakens me with a throb of desire. "How long until they reject you?"

"Mm." His deep sigh accompanies his hands, squeezing me right here, in the center of the hearing, in front of everyone. "I can't wait."

Allie clears her throat behind us.

He reluctantly releases me.

She points at my shoulder. "How in the world did this happen? I mean, good." She nods at Falkion's clear protectiveness. "But you don't have any lusteal in you, right? I have so many questions. Without the lusteal, is this in any way good for you?"

"I still get the benefit," I assure her. "The good one. Ones. Multiple. Er, you know what I mean."

She lifts one brow. "Oh."

Yep.

Awkward.

She draws herself up formally to address Falkion. "You spoke the truth. I apologize for accusing you."

"You were protecting Zeerah." He holds me tight to his side, formal and correct with her, and the opposite of the hotheaded man I first knew. "Thank you."

They recognize each other.

Now we wait.

Clegs later…

It takes the High Command an unusually long time to decide what to do with me.

Zeerah leans against me, though, and if she wasn't yawning, I would stay here forever.

The high commanders finally return, and the ceremony continues.

"Do you have an objection?" the master of ceremonies asks the High Command again.

Their speaker grits his teeth. "No."

I misheard.

No?

No?

Zeerah gasps.

The audience shares my stunned silence.

After slightly too long, the master of ceremonies recalls himself and claps. "All recognize High Commander Falkion."

The silence continues.

Empress Allie glances back at Emperor Ranse, smirking. I think her threat to put a non-Arrisan on the council frightened them. Their misfortune catapults me to the greatest height once more.

I smile serenely at her.

Then I step forward, eject my blades, and cross them. "I vow to protect the empire and everyone in it."

The entire amphitheater feels my subtle emphasis on everyone. And I feel their respect.

The ceremonies conclude. Normally, this is a time of celebration. I'm celebrating with Zeerah, on her new Starbreaker.

"Allie let me pick out any ship." She leads me into the grav tubes. It's possible to circumnavigate the whole ship in a click. "A Starbreaker is much bigger than I originally planned. But then I thought maybe I was playing small. With this size, I won't be a target again."

I approve.

"We'll have to fill crew positions." She trails her fingers across the smooth consoles of the bridge, then continues to the officer's hall, counting the high-level rooms. "I've never had a crew before. I mean, not more than my cousins."

"Now you will have many positions."

"Olasi said there's always a lot of transfers when a ship is decommissioned, and I'm pretty sure your crew would walk through fire and hullcrack with you."

"With me?" I follow her into her captain's quarters. They are nicely furnished, but more importantly, private. I pull her into my arms. "Not only with me. They'll walk through fire and hullcrack with you."

She smiles, shy. "You think so?"

I nuzzle her soft, dark skin. "I would also."

She meets my lips.

Once, I chased her, but now she stands firm, even chases me. Her tongue meets mine, pumps my mouth, and I feel my very soul sucked into hers.

I once wanted to inhabit her body, embed myself in her so deeply even our thoughts would be one.

But now we're united, and the whole universe knows.

And that gives me great satisfaction.

Many of our unions have been desperate. Stolen moments.

This is our time, now.

No one will separate us again.

Zeerah removes her skinsuit, and I imprint myself on her, trace her ligaments with my tongue, and taste every bit of her with my mouth. I pull down her Humana fabric chest harness. Her nipples contract, and she makes a sweet whimper that squeezes my jack.

I slide my tongue over her full nubs.

She giggles. Her light sounds make my heart burst with happiness. "Are you going to claim me or eat me?"

I'm going to savor her. "Yes." And I suck her into my mouth.

She makes a sensual mewling noise and threads her fingers through my hair. "Falkion…you…"

I drop to the floor and kiss from her adorable toes to her pretty ankles, up her perfect calves. Kissing the backs of her knees makes her shiver. I drizzle kisses up the inside of her thighs to her plump buttocks. I rotate her and cross her pubic bone, remove her soft undergarment, and nuzzle into her socket. I tongue her folds, memorizing every part of her.

She writhes, presenting her beautiful damp socket to me. "Come on."

"You have to want me." I continue up her flat belly, taking my time. "Always want me."

She grips me, encircles my jack with her clever fingers, and drags me to her entrance. "I want you."

I want you.

The rest of the world fades.

I want youfrom the woman I chased across hundreds of actungs of my dreadnought, who I pursued with every skill I could muster, who I begged to share a single moment with me of her own free will. I want you. The words echo in my head, and all over again, I'm back in the bait ship, staring at the most important person in my life.

Even though I've already marked her, my inner teeth flex, and their acid droplets roughen my throat. "You want me?"

She nods sweetly.

I rise, hook her willing thighs around my waist, and rub my length along her wet seam.

She makes the most enticing noises.

Heat floods my jack. I cup her soft breast, thumb the dark nipple I've already teased with my teeth.

"I want you, Falkion," she pants. "Please."

I let her tilt forward, aligning us, and stand firm as she impales her socket on my hard jack.

High commander, captain, blade. None of those titles matter.

Herwarrior, her protector, hers.

This is where I belong.

I want you.

Zeerah groans with relief. Her body sucks me in. She's warm, slick, enveloping me.

I catch her hips, align us properly, and then I surge.

She rocks upright and cries with release. "Oh, that was a good one."

But I barely hear. Her cry glides down my spine like an electrical signal and squeezes my jack. My release pours into her socket, streaking from me into her.

We are the universe. She and I.

I go up on my toes and then down again, steady.

She catches her breath and smiles at me, mischievous. "Are you done already?"

"No." I surge into her, watching her face go slack as the pleasure washes over her again. My own satisfaction over being able to bring that expression on her face is only enjoyable for an instant before her release pulls mine from me again.

In her arms, I feel infinitely powerful. "Unless that is your wish."

"Mm." She licks her lips, eyes still closed as she savors our connection. "Ah…"

I turn her and bend her over her brazier, squeezing her pillowy buttocks. My skin slaps hers, and my contentment rises with every pleased murmur. She is my future, my life. My reason for surviving. I will go on as a high commander to make the empire a safer place for her.

We entwine until she gives way to pleased exhaustion, and then I carry her to her sleeping pod. This is too small. We'll have to get a new one, more comfortable. I manage to put her on me, sleeping under her weight, and still close the pod.

Welcome home.

I wake long before she does. Normally, I would get up and do my exercises. Sharpen my blades. I'm still getting used to my broken one. There are not many of us with broken blades in the empire. Usually we only break them in exceptional circumstances, the kind which a person does not walk away from.

Instead of doing anything, I remain in the pod and study her.

In sleep, her expression is so peaceful. Trusting. When she's awake, thoughts flit across her face constantly. It's interesting. In sleep, I can study the interplay of light and softness, the rich smoothness of her warm brown skin so different from mine, and so intriguing.

She takes a deep breath, and her dark lashes tremble, then part. She looks at me, smiling softly. "Hey."

My heart swells fit to burst. "Zeerah."

She yawns. "How long have we been asleep?"

"A few clegs. Not enough for a human."

"Mm." She stretches. "I caught up while you were being interrogated. You were there for so long. I can't believe you're a high commander now."

"A Standard Year ago, a blade would never have reached this position."

She snuggles against me. "Things change. I changed, you changed."

A Standard Year ago, I could never have imagined the satisfaction of spending a quiet moment with someone who fully and completely owns my soul. But now, I treasure this time. We will not always have such good times, such quiet moments, and so I am so grateful to have this one with her right now.

One small thing bothers me. "I apologize, again for the conditions that made you expose yourself."

"I chose to."

"Still. For all the past times. For my first attack, which I still can't remember, I apologize."

She stills.

A sliver of concern needles into me. "I did hurt you—"

"No." She twitches and rubs her nose. "You didn't do anything."

"Your reaction suggests otherwise."

She sighs. "H. I didn't want to tell you."

"I hurt you."

"It's embarrassing!" She lifts up to frown down at me. "Okay? It's just me. All me."

And she finally tells me.

I fought the Vanadisans, distracting them so she could escape, but then I caught up and cornered her. Still dripping with blood, snarling and growling, I was like a wild beast.

"I thought you were going to eat me," she tells my shoulder, her lips imprinting the words on my gray skin. "And even though you're not supposed to do this with Arrisans, I cried and begged for my life."

My blades shift in my forearms. She's absolutely right. Showing weakness in front of any Arrisan—in this case, in front of my past self—triggers me incredibly. I want to leap into the past and protect her from me. Slash with my broken blade, snarl at myself to get back or else.

"But, instead of attacking, you made this whimpering sound. I've never heard any Arrisan make it before or since. You patted my head with that big handcuff-mitt. You about knocked me out."

She laughs breathily, remembering it.

"And you said, ‘Ah, ah.' Just like that. You were drugged out of your mind, couldn't form words, couldn't see. You were cross-eyed, squinting through tears, drooling, and you looked like you had brain damage. Despite all that…" She pats my head, stiff as in memory, and makes the "Ah, ah" noise.

She nestles against me again. "That's when I knew you would never harm me."

Considering my behavior, both before and after, I'm not sure she came to the correct conclusion. "I tried to hurt you."

"And you failed. I was safe."

"You are safe." I press my lips to her cheek. "I'll always protect you."

"I know." She yawns. "I know it."

Even though she said she was rested, her breathing steadies and little twitches move up and down her limbs.

I stroke her arm, soothing her in sleep.

Once, I was her planet's version of the Harsi. We arrived without warning, destroyed everything we touched, nearly annihilated her race.

But her ancestors survived.

And through a million unlikely coincidences, we met.

Against the odds. Against our own biology.

We became mates.

"I love you," she murmurs sleepily against my chest. "Love you, Falkion."

"You are mine," I tell her in reply. "I am yours."

"Forever and ever." She sighs. "Yeah."

Forever and ever? That's poetic.

Forever and ever.

As long as the stars burn in the sky.

She is my soul, my light, my guide.

We have so much to learn from each other. So much to undo, so much to transform.

Together, we're going to do it.

The Palace, the Arsenal, the High Command.

The Science Center.

Engineering.

We've taken over all the key areas that control the empire. Our destinies are forever altered. And we survived the Harsi because we worked together. We became stronger, smarter. And we're going to keep doing it. The empire will never be the same because we're going to make it different.

Zeerah and I.

Empress Allie and Emperor Ranse.

General Master Zai and his mate, Esme. Lia and her crazy engineer, Atana. Noemi and science officer Ukuri. Catarine and her blade who started this all, Sithe.

We'll forge a new destiny for Arris.

A new destiny for the empire.

Together.