12. Kal’va

We did not sleep that night, nor get much rest. Neither of us wanted to miss a moment with the other, not when we had so few remaining. Doing our best to forget about the deadline, we buried ourselves in pleasure, and while we recovered, conversation. I treasured the knowledge I gained of my mate and her people, every word from her lips a jewel to hold close.

It was a magical time, a night that I felt could last forever. Alas, that was not so. As the hour approached, I reluctantly stood, lifting Tal'ia with me. She said nothing—what was there to say?—as we made our way, hand-in-hand, back to the surface.

We paused at the humans' camp so that Tal'ia could pick up fresh clothing from their matter-printer. Paulo blushed and averted his eyes from her naked body, while Juliette whistled at her in what seemed to be approval. Tal'ia's answering finger gesture wasn't approving in the slightest, and I wished I had more time to understand the strange relationship between my mate and her friend.

Then we stepped out onto the desolation of black sand that stretched in every direction.

Dawn threatened, the red sun clawing at the horizon. Baleful stars watched as I left the tomb complex for the first time in forever. Beyond sat our enemies' ship, and beside it, a sleeker, smaller vessel I presumed to be Taverner's launch. A searchlight illuminated a circle of desert sand, and in that circle, she waited. The smile on her face reminded me of a venomous predator, and her eyes gleamed with hunger. My shiver had nothing to do with the temperature.

"Good morning. It's a pleasure to meet you in person," Taverner said, warm courtesy at odds with her icy demeanor. "You accept my terms, I take it?"

The temptation to kill her was nearly overwhelming, and I hissed as I entered the circle, my mate close behind me. It took a moment to find my calm again and speak. "I accept them. I do not have to like them."

"Oh god, no. I'm not an unreasonable woman. I don't ask that you like your situation, only that you recognize it."

The light blinded me to everything outside it, which was no doubt on purpose. I heard soldiers shift their weight on the sands, their hearts beating fast and their breathing shallow. Afraid. That showed good judgment.

Better would be to turn and run. They threatened my mate, and I would kill them for it given half a chance.

"The other humans. Proof of life." Anger clouded my words, and I let it. To be underestimated might prove useful.

Taverner shrugged and gestured, a primitive hologram springing up between us, showing the rest of my mate's crew. Tal'ia took a step forward to speak with them, and I trusted her to determine whether they were real. I stepped around to Taverner, keeping out of easy striking distance to reassure her.

"I am here. You have what you bargained for. Keep your word and I will keep mine."

Her crooked smile was anything but friendly. "Ms. MacKenzie is safe, as are her crew if they take the deal. I keep my promises, if only because my reputation would not survive otherwise."

"And if any refuse?"

She shrugged. "If they are too stupid to sign, I cannot trust them not to go to the media. I hope none of them make such a foolish mistake, and take no responsibility for their fate if they do."

I nodded. That was as fair as I could expect.

"Now, we are leaving. I don't want to stand in this sandpit a second longer than I have to. Bad enough that I'm on-planet at all." She shot a hateful look at Rush as she spoke, and I almost smiled.

"I will help move the demolitions equipment back aboard," I said. Taverner shook her head.

"No, you come with me. The Colonel will handle the explosives, and I want to learn more about your capabilities. We depart immediately, and you can tell me all about the civilization that ruled here so long ago."

With that, everything changed. I stopped dead, and she turned to face me, raising an eyebrow.

"You are lying," I said with flat certainty.

"Nonsense. Your mate is safe. You have my word." Her lips pressed together in a thin line, she bit off the words. "Now come with me. I have need of your services immediately."

"Then get the humans to safety immediately," I countered. "I will stay until you do."

She maintained her perfect poise, giving away nothing of her thoughts and plans. Her impatience to leave was a clue, especially when all the humans would remain with Rush. It was Rush's nasty smile that gave the game away.

The truth struck me like lightning. They didn't want help removing the explosives because they weren't taking them anywhere. Once I was off the planet, they planned to destroy the tomb anyway, banishing whatever ghosts remained of the honored dead. Once that was done, they'd use Tal'ia as leverage to control me. She would never be safe, and it would be my fault.

Their plan would fail, of course. Most obviously because I'd die on the way to orbit, though they didn't know that. I didn't intend to let it get to that point, though, not if I could help it.

I lunged forward without warning, taking my warform as I did so. Diamond claws glinted in the starlight as I slashed at Taverner's throat. If I killed her, it might end the fight in a single blow. I almost made it. She froze, but her guards did not. One man tackled her, taking her to the ground under my attack. The other snapped a shot, his laser tearing into my stomach. My defenses absorbed some of it, but there was too much energy in the beam, and it burned my armored skin. I staggered and, with a gesture, sent a blast of black sand at him. With no time to shape it, and his hardsuit sealed, all it did was knock him on his back.

My momentary distraction gave Taverner time to scramble away, and her remaining guard showed commendable loyalty, throwing himself between us and buying her time to stand and run while I tore out his throat.

Her head start wouldn't be enough. I rushed after her, my longer legs eating up the distance. And then the ship's turret swung toward me.

Corpse-eaters.I had just enough time to swear before they fired.

A red flash and a deafening thunderclap announced the laser, but I felt nothing and was sure it had missed. Then I tried to step forward, and my legs failed me. I glanced down and saw the hole bored through my chest, big enough for me to put my fist through. The smell of ozone and burned meat filled my nose as my vision grayed. I managed one last step toward my prey, then toppled. The Final Gate swung wide, and I fell into the Eternal Dark.