Chapter 2

H'zim's massive frame lurched forward as the flyer came to a bumpy landing, jolting him out of his brooding. His brother S'kal shot him a concerned glance, but he ignored him. He didn't want to be here. He'd had every intention of remaining in Port Cantor until he'd taken his revenge against everyone responsible for his false imprisonment. Instead he'd let S'kal talk him into coming here.

His brother seemed to think that getting away from the city meant he would leave the memories of the past three years behind. He was wrong. They still lingered, festering like an open wound. He'd finally agreed to accompany S'kal because he could plot just as easily at a more remote location - and perhaps, just a little, because of the worry in his brother's eyes. Even though he'd barely spoken a word to S'kal while he was in prison, his brother had visited him anyway.

The flyer had landed in a clearing front of a dilapidated farmhouse, its wooden boards weathered to a soft gray. He looked beyond the house to the overgrown fields and the sagging barn and shook his head. The farm was one of a cluster of farms that had been acquired by a previous owner who had been more interested in expanding his holdings than actually putting the land to use.

Commander Temel, the leader of the squad to which he and his brother had been assigned during the war, had purchased the property with the intention of providing homes for warriors still struggling with the aftermath of that long, terrible war. Restoring the farm to working order would be a formidable challenge - if he'd had any intention of doing so. He intended to use his time making plans for his return to Port Cantor.

S'kal climbed out of the flyer, his shoulders tense, and gave him an unhappy look.

"H'zim, are you sure you want to live out here? My mate and I would be happy to share our home with you. Or you could at least take one of the farms closer to the main house so you wouldn't be alone."

His jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together.

"I want to be alone. That was my condition for accompanying you."

He'd not only chosen the most remote farm available, he'd also made his brother promise not to visit him - mostly because he didn't want his brother mixed up in his schemes. The fact that his brother was now happily mated was another reason. Although he was genuinely happy for his brother, he couldn't stand the thought of being constantly reminded with what he could never have.

His brother's face twisted in a mixture of frustration and concern.

"I only want to help. You're still hurting?—"

"I'm fine," he snapped, his voice cracking across the clearing like thunder. "Just leave me be."

Something flashed across S'kal's face that he couldn't read, but he didn't respond. Instead, he reached into the flyer and handed H'zim the bags of supplies they'd purchased in Port Cantor.

"If you change your mind, turn left on the track in front of the farm, then right when you reach the larger road. The main farm is about a mile and a half down that road. Temel and his mate live in the big farmhouse. Evie and I live in the converted cider mill in the orchard beyond it."

Not only a mate, but a home, a community… Even though he'd fought with their squad, he'd never fit in as well as S'kal had done. The reminder only firmed his determination to remain alone.

He took the bags, clenching his fist around them.

"I won't change my mind."

S'kal sighed, then turned and climbed back onto the flyer. He hesitated in the door opening for a moment, then shot a look back over his shoulder, a hint of a smile on his face.

"You know I'll be back to check on you the second the month is up."

The month's isolation had also been part of their agreement. He probably should have insisted on a longer period, but he knew his brother would have balked at the notion - and to be fair, a part of him also wanted to see his brother. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, S'kal took his seat in the flyer, sketched a wave, and departed.

He watched the flyer as it disappeared over the trees, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Even though he'd been the one who had insisted on the restrictions, he felt unexpectedly abandoned. The silence felt oppressive, weighing on him like a physical force. He took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs with the scent of fertile soil and growing things.

The scent was foreign and familiar all at once, reminding him of the endless work of planting crops on the small holding his family had leased. He'd hated it then - and the idea still didn't appeal to him - but perhaps the physical work involved in cultivating the land would provide a distraction. The irony didn't escape him. The lease on their family's land had ended with his parents' deaths, and he and S'kal had joined the Alliance forces, looking for adventure and a passage off world. And now he was a farmer once again.

As he looked at the empty sky where his brother had vanished another pang of regret pricked at his chest, but he resolutely pushed it aside. He couldn't afford to feel, not yet. The wounds of his past still ached, making it hard to be around his brother, around anyone. He turned his back on the memory of S'kal's concerned face and focused on his new surroundings.

The clearing surrounding the rundown house was a choked tangle of weeds and wildflowers, but he could see the potential to make it into an attractive homeplace. The overgrown fields beyond also showed the promise of future prosperity. The distant mountains had a rugged beauty that soothed his battered soul. The only sounds were the soft sigh of the breeze and the distant chirp of a bird. He took another breath and let the silence settle around him, no longer oppressive but peaceful - a soothing contrast to the cacophony of his memories.

He circled the house, studying every nook and cranny. Despite the neglect it had suffered, it confirmed his opinion that it could be restored. He could work with this, make it his own…

No.He was not staying here. S'kal thought that time away from the city would help him heal. He knew better, but he intended to use the time to determine the best way to get his revenge on those responsible for his unjustified prison stint.

His gaze strayed to the distant mountains again as he walked up onto the porch and dropped his bags. As he leaned against a crooked post, he thought of all the years he'd spent fighting alongside the other members of the squad. He'd always chafed at rules, especially the stupid ones that seemed designed to get them all killed. More than once, his rebellious streak had landed him in trouble, but he'd do whatever it took to get the job done, even if it meant bending – or breaking – the rules.

After the war, he'd thought he'd left that recklessness behind, but even though the war had ended, the shadows lingered over all of them. None of them had had an easy time settling into civilian life. He knew that was why Temel had eventually come up with the plan to take over the farms and provide a place where they could find peace, but it had come too late for him.

His restlessness had led him into trouble - and into the arms of the female who had betrayed him. He'd never made the mistake of thinking there was anything permanent between them, but he'd trusted her and she'd used that trust to set him up, landing him in a Port Cantor prison cell. He'd spent months in that cell, replaying every moment, every conversation, wondering how he could have been so stupid. Eventually he had decided that she had probably been little more than a pawn - a suspicion that had been confirmed by his early release.

His skin crawled at the memory but he pushed it aside, determined to concentrate on the present. But the past refused to let him go, the need for revenge burning like a fire in his belly. They had taken everything from him – his freedom, his reputation, his brother's trust. Now it was time for them to pay the price.

"That's what I need," he muttered to himself. "Revenge. Nothing more, nothing less."

He pushed open the creaky door, expecting to find the interior of the farmhouse as bad as the exterior. Ragged curtains covered the front windows but despite the dimness, he could see that the inside was in far better shape. The wooden floors had been scrubbed clean and the minimal furniture was worn but tidy, its surface free of dust.

His eyes narrowed as he took in the unexpected neatness. His brother had said the farm had been abandoned for some time, left to rot. But this… this looked like someone had been taking care of the place. Could S'kal have had it cleaned in preparation for his arrival? He considered, then discarded the idea. Not only had S'kal not had time to arrange it, why wouldn't he have said something? And why wouldn't whoever had cleaned the place also have cleared away the blown leaves and branches on the porch and opened the curtains?

He tensed as the faint sound of singing drifted into the room, a soft, melodious voice that seemed to be coming from the back of the house. He padded silently in that direction, through a kitchen that was equally clean and tidy to a closed door at the far end. His hand closed around the doorknob, hesitating for a moment before he turned it.

Curtains also covered the bathroom window and the singing filled his head as his eyes adjusted to the dim light within. A woman sat in the tub, her red hair piled high on her head, her eyes closed as she sang. Steam rose from the water, carrying the scent of soap and cleanliness and a delicious underlying sweetness that had to come from her.

His gaze snagged on her curves, his mind stuttering as he took in the sight of that lush flesh, flushed and flowing from the warmth. For a moment, he forgot to breathe. S'kal had obviously been wrong when he said the farmhouse was abandoned. There was a woman, a human woman, sitting in his tub.

As he stood there, frozen in surprise, his mind kicked back into gear and suspicion crawled up his spine, his gut twisting with unease. What was she doing here, and how did she end up in his house? Had she been sent to betray him too? The thought stung, a familiar pain blooming in his chest. He'd thought he was done with that kind of treachery, but it seemed he was wrong.

His jaw clenched as he took a step forward.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Her eyes flew open, huge and brown and startled. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the tub. Then, her face went pale, and she sat up, water sloshing around her as she threw her arm over her chest - which only enhanced the already luscious swell of her breasts.

His gaze followed the movement, focusing on those tempting curves before he jerked his attention back to her face.

"Get out of my house," he growled.

He expected her to cower away from him. Instead, her eyes flashed as she lifted her chin, a spark of defiance in their depths.

"I was here first."