Chapter 15

M

y heart is whole. "Darah, you have spellbound me." She was an enchantress."Terrek, I have not put a spell on you." She giggled.

"I love your accent; it's so sultry to me," I said. I gazed at her kissable lips aching for her to speak again. "It's called a southern drawl. I can't help it, I am a Texas

gal.""Texas must be a magical land to have produced myDarah," I mentioned as I watched her make her habitual tea. "Texas was home. The magic was my family. It lives in mymemory now. Being here with you is magic to me now, Terrek.you are my family." Darah said with sadness in her eyes. I did not mean to remind her of the loss of her family. Myown sadness surfaced when I thought of my family and theunknown of whatever the Kanenites were inflicting on them. "I love you, my Darah." I leaned down to kiss her headwhile she looked at her tea leaves.She was so cute with her morning teas and her Earth music. Watching her hold her cup and intently stare at her leaves wasa ritual that I found myself enjoying.We sat in a garden just outside the council building, whichwas scented with blue and white blooms that grew over thepergola seating area. Everything in the air felt refreshing, andhope pulsed through my being.Our training was not easy, and my Darah did not complain.Not even when I saw the pain in her eyes, she pushed through.I am very impressed by my Darah and the other females. "Umm," Darah sighed as she read her fortune. She was deep in thought, so I sat there silently supportingher.I am proud of the calm and accepting way I have adaptedto all the new knowledge, space travel, and the fact that aliensexist. I am glad to have allies who could help me fight thisupcoming battle.I hoped one day I could show Darah the village of ourpeople, and she would love our home there. My home wouldbecome the new chief house when my father officially retired.I needed to save all of them and hoped they would find meworthy.My sweet mate had not seen how great Laverian was. Shewas fighting for my people and my planet. She barely knowsanything of my world but was solely dedicated to saving it.Darah only knew of the silence in the jungle, of suffering,being wet and cold and hungry.There were so many wonders and beauty she had yet todiscover, and I prayed for a future where I could share all thethings that I love about my world with her. With both of mybeautiful mates.Flame, my other bond mate-to-be, has vowed to battle. Icould not have had a fuller heart. The Gods had shown mefavor with my two alien females.Thank the Goddess Harmony for bringing me, my truemates. I couldn't have dreamed of better mates. Darah is morethan I ever deserve. I will follow her anywhere.Flame was fierce, with a greatness about her. She was gorgeous as a woman, bigger than life as a leader, and formidable as a warrior. She could be a legend among the stars. I just knew it in my soul. The way we could combine as a family and the possibilities that lay before us were endless. I could have neverimagined it for myself. I was truly a blessed man."It's time to go to the council hall, my love." I stood andheld my hand out to Darah."Oh, yes, sorry, I was caught up in the leaves. I think wewill be meeting someone important soon." Darah grabbed myhand, I helped her up, and we walked into the council hall forour official meeting with Empress Zion.The seats were packed with people. Flame waved us to thefront row of seats. We sat next to her and the Tarin females. "Are we late?" I asked, wondering if we were holding upthe meeting."Almost." Flame said, giving me an irritated glance. "Sorry, Flame." I stared at the fire in her eyes until theyturned heated another way."Well, it's all my fault I got distracted," Darah told Flamewith a blush."You're lucky I saved you a seat. No harm done. I washoping to chat with you before the meeting." Flame teasedwith a wink.Flame was angry or amused, and I was unsure. I did notwant to anger her. She was formidable, and I have muchrespect for her. I found her sexy either way. If she was mad,Then I may have to find a creative way to rile her up from timeto time.It must have been hard for her to hold back her instinct.Our mating bond was unanswered, and it was not natural. Iwas finding my urges for Flame, harder and harder to resist. Darah was already bonded with me. She was an Earthlingand didn't seem aware of the mating call between all of us. Iwill need to find a good moment to discuss this with her. I didnot want to upset her with my affection and desire for Flame. The need to consummate our bond with Flame was beginningto be maddening."Introducing The Galactic Empire, her Majesty EmpressZion of Gias." A female bellowed, silencing the audience asEmpress Zion walked into view.The Empress wore a formal uniform and had her grayhair tight in a braid. She presented powerfully as she took herraised seat and sat."Greetings, warriors of the Galactic Empires. I have summoned you here this morning to declare war on the enemyknown as the Kanenites. Our intel has introduced us to a newuniverse. The Kanenites have declared war on us by invadingtwo of our class three planets."The lights dimmed as a hologram filled the space aboveour heads and displayed a 3-D star system map."As you can see, this is the universe of the Kanenitessystem." Empress Zion zoomed in on a giant gas planet withseveral moons that had atmospheres rotating around theorange and yellow giant.This moon is where the atmosphere is inhabitable for life;the Kanenites have residential outpost housing here. They usejumper ships to transport the warriors to and from the slaverprison moons, for every shift rotation."The Empress zoomed to another moon. "As you can see,the slaver's Assimilation Stations have hostile atmospheres.Each moon is a prison for newly acquired enslaved people."Empress Zions's face grew menacing with angry features asshe continued her presentation."This moon is for the females." A large moon was zoomedin on where the surface showed buildings." It was a greyishmoon with an atmospheric terraforming unit that made theenvironment barely sustainable."The elements are hazardous outside, a grey soft sandystone for a surface. An atmospheric shield secures the buildings on this moon. We shall refer to this as target A. We shall rescue the females here and deliver them to the medical cityship that will be extremely defended nearby."The view was dispersed, replaced by a three-dimensionalblueprint of the building on the moon target A. The femaleswere housed in bunks that gave no room to sit in. They werelocked in unless they were able to shower and take the rehabilitation courses that shocked and tortured them into conversion and obedience.I lost my breath and gasped in shock and fear at the realization. I needed to get to my people immediately. I had to stopmyself from leaving my seat."From the information retrieved from the Kanenites shipand our spies, we learned that each building was designed totrain enslaved people for that building's expertise.Sex slaves here. Childcare enslaved people here. Serviceenslaved people here," The Empress zoomed in on each building."All despicable and against Galactic laws. This is Kanenitesterritory, and we have no authority there. However, theseKanenites drew first blood when they crossed our borders, stoleour defenseless people, and harvested our protected planets." Empress Zion looked fierce. Her body grew, her eyesblazed red, her nails grew into black claws, and her tiny caninefangs grew long and sharp. I felt fear as her energy went outin a wave of determination. Her transformation was a shock. I growled as I glanced at where the females were imprisoned. Darah squeezed my hand. "We will rescue them," Ipromised with a whisper.Target Moon B. was zoomed in on next. "This is the male'sprison and assimilation camp."The surface was fire and magma. The males are housedin a tall mountain above the lava and fire. They were collaredwith a sedation pump and electric shocks to manage the men. "They are brutally trained for fighting entertainment. Asport that the Kanenites bet on. Men not passing the evaluation are sent to the meat market to be harvested and made into animal food."A gasp erupted as the hologram zoomed in on a slaughterhouse for the disqualified men.My eyes filled with tears, and anger vibrated throughout my body. Darah grabbed my hand harder. Flame rubbed my shoulders in concern."Some prisoners belong to the Kanenites universe. It has been decided by the Galactic Empire that we will offer all these prisoners refugee status, and they can live on any planet they choose within our universe.""This is an immense undertaking. Laverian and Tarin must be reinforced and upgraded to a class seven planet. We will establish a border defense line between the Kanenites universe and our own. Since Laverian and Tarin are in our universe, they are our responsibility, even if unnoticed until recently. The Kanenites universe borders our universe by these two planets.""The prison moons are on the edge of the Kanenites universe, allowing us to travel quickly from Laveriane space. We shall start our line of defense from there." Empress Zion stared over the collective audience.The energy in this room felt palpable. I don't think the Kanenites were ready for this fight.