Chapter 8

EIGHT

Ellion found himself looking forward to the mornings with an eagerness he hadn’t felt in years. Teaching Turi to read had become the highlight of his day. They would meet in the library after breakfast, and for a few hours, he would guide her through the intricacies of the Dendian language. She was a fast learner. Her mind was sharp and curious, and her progress was astonishing.

One morning, as they sat side by side on the bench, their shoulders touching, Ellion pointed to a word on the page. “This is the symbol for ‘journey.’ I would say you have been on one of those yourself.”

Turi studied the word and repeated it, her voice soft but confident. She looked up at him with bright eyes and skin flushed with excitement. “I think I’m starting to understand. The symbols are like a map, and each one leads to a sound, and the sounds come together to make the words we speak.”

Ellion smiled. He agreed with her analogy. “Exactly. You’re doing incredibly well, Turi.”

Her face glowed with pride. “Thank you, Ellion.”

His heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name on her lips. He never grew tired of it. It was such a simple thing, but it meant so much to him. He knew he was starting to care for Turi. She was not just a responsibility, but a friend. No . He would not lie to himself. He saw her as much more than a friend.

As the days had turned into weeks, Ellion found himself even more drawn to Turi’s intelligence, her kindness, and her resilience. He found himself wanting to spend more time with her. When he was pulled away from the fortress to attend to business at the settlements or to negotiate yet again with the Hecrons to the west, he just yearned to return to the fortress where she was. He looked forward to their meals together, their conversations, and their laughter. He found himself sharing his scant stories about his past, something he’d never done with anyone else.

One evening, after a particularly lively discussion about the history of the galaxy, Turi looked at him with a soft, thoughtful expression. “You know, Ellion,” she said, “you’re not at all like I thought you would be.”

He raised an eyebrow, curious. “Oh? And what did you think I would be like?”

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. “Cold. Distant. Cruel, even.”

“I see,” he replied, his voice low. “And now?”

Turi’s smile widened, and her eyes sparkled with warmth. “Now, I think you’re kind. And patient. And…surprisingly funny.”

Ellion laughed, a deep, genuine sound that filled the room. “I’m glad I could surprise you, Turi.”

She chuckled, her shoulders shaking with amusement. “You certainly did. I never would have imagined that the overseer could be so…Terian.”

His laughter faded and he looked at her, his expression serious. “I’m not Terian, Turi. I’m a Zaruxian. And I am still the overseer of your former settlement.”

She tilted her head and a shadow crossed her features. “But you’re more than that.”

Ellion hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He had never talked about his true role with anyone, not even Ara. But there was something about Turi that made him want to open up, to share the truth with her.

“It’s complicated,” he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “There are things you don’t know about the Terian settlements. Things the Axis have forbidden me from telling anyone.”

“I understand.” Turi’s eyes tightened, but she didn’t press him for more information. Instead, she reached out and gently touched his arm, her fingers warm and comforting. “Will you tell me one day?”

He covered her hand with his own, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. “I don’t know, Turi. It would change…everything.”

How did one tell the female he cared for above all else that she and her people were— technically —inmates in a penal colony? That an invading species pillaged their home world and defeated them centuries ago, and the survivors were put here to suffer? He was more than an overseer—he was their warden.

He cared for Turi. He was glad she was here and selfishly pleased that circumstances had thrust her into his life. She was not a responsibility, but, one day, she could be his mate, if she so wished it. That was against the rules. Utterly forbidden by the Axis. Even though Turi lived with him at the fortress, she was still a prisoner. She would always be a prisoner, despite the change in her status. But just then, none of that mattered.

He leaned in. His eyes locked on hers. Everything stood still in a single charged moment. Then, slowly, he leaned closer. His lips barely touched hers as he breathed in the unmistakable scent of arousal. She wanted this. The knowledge of it rammed through him like a shock of raw power. Need curled in his gut as she leaned toward him, eyes fluttering closed.

His wings extended and the one closest to her instinctively curved around her. He slid a hand around her waist, pulling her closer. She didn’t resist. Her tongue came out and wetted her lips and his cock throbbed against the confines of his pants. Hunger snapped and dragon fire burned under his collarbones. This was like nothing he’d ever felt before. Nothing he’d even imagined was within the realm of feelings he could have.

For a fleeting moment, everything was perfect. The weight of his duties, the secrets he kept, the rules he was breaking—all of it faded away, leaving only the two of them in this stolen moment.

But reality was not so kind as to let them linger. A harsh, grating sound echoed through the fortress, shattering the silence and jerking Ellion back to reality. He reared back, swallowing hard with ragged breaths as Turi’s face flamed with a dark flush, and listened to the sound that he knew all too well. Someone was at the entrance doors, demanding attention.

Turi looked up at him. Her voice was as rough as he felt. “What is that?”

“Someone’s at the main doors.” His voice was grim. He rose to his feet, already knowing who it was likely to be. The Riests had been dealing with a lot of angry Terian males. As Ellion had feared, the disappearance of the six females had caused an uproar in the settlements. Not only was Settlement 112-1 in disorder, but the two other settlements who had males expecting mates were upset, too. The Riests had done their best to quiet the people, but it wasn’t working. Ellion had met with the Riests several times since the abduction, but he couldn’t disclose what truly happened to the females.

And now the Riests were here, at his door. For them to come all the way up the cliffs to the fortress meant things were becoming a crisis.

As Ellion strode towards the main entrance, he could feel Turi following close behind. “Stay hidden behind me,” he said, knowing it would be hard for her to do so. The entrance was wide open and well lit. He knew she wouldn’t stay out of the way completely. She was stubborn and brave, and she deserved to know what was happening to her people.

The massive double doors slid open as Ellion approached, revealing three red-hatted Riests standing on the threshold. Their faces were stern, their eyes tight. At their head stood the High Riest, his expression particularly grave.

“Overseer,” the High Riest said, bowing low. “Please forgive our grave discourtesy of coming to your home.”

Ellion crossed his arms and held his wings high and out just enough to be intimidating. His body still pounded with desire. His breath still came hard. “Speak quickly, Terians,” he said, infusing enough annoyance in his voice to dispel any thoughts they had of lingering.

Another round of bowing. “We beseech you for an explanation regarding the six females who have disappeared from Settlement 112-1. The people are confused and sickened by the loss and there is rampant fear that more will vanish.”

Ellion stood tall and scowled down at them in a display of authority. He despised these males but understood the role they played. “As I told you when last we met, I am aware of the situation,” he replied. “I have nothing new to tell you.”

The High Riest wrung his hands. “Please, Overseer. It has been weeks. What are we to tell the people? Our birth rates are already depressed. The loss of six females of breeding age will make it harder to meet the Axis’ demands as we have fewer hands to work the crops and fewer offspring to put to work.”

Ellion’s eyes narrowed. He was well aware of the Axis’ demands. There were plenty of them on him, as well. “The Axis also demand thoroughness and accuracy,” he countered. “I will not provide incorrect information based on speculation.”

“Females are being locked indoors and can’t work, or hobbled on both hands and feet. Even the children,” a different Riest said. “Most people believe the females ran away, but if they had, you would have found them, Overseer.”

Ellion’s jaw went tight. He knew that news of the conditions of the females would provoke a reaction from Turi. As he feared, she let out a surprised gasp.

The High Riest’s gaze flicked to the space behind him, where Turi remained out of sight. “What was that?” he demanded. “Is a settlement female here in the fortress?”

Ellion flared his wings, shielding Turi from the High Riest’s scrutiny. “That is not your concern,” he said firmly. “She is under my protection and is not involved in this matter.”

The High Riest’s face reddened as he shook his head, appearing to be stuck between outrage and confusion. “All Terian females are our concern, Overseer. They are the life and future of our settlements.”

“And yet you treat them like animals whose only use is to breed and toil,” Ellion snarled back, causing the Riests to step back in fear. “If you valued them at all, you would treat them like the precious creatures they are, instead of binding their legs so they can’t walk and not allowing them even the right to have a choice in their own mates.” Ellion’s patience was wearing thin. He could feel the anger rising within him—anger that came with dealing with the Riests and the Axis and the endless rules and secrets. “I suggest you return to your settlement. Tell the people that it’s unlikely these females will return,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “The Axis are aware of the situation. They have nothing to tell you, and neither do I.”

The High Riest seemed to sense that he had pushed Ellion far enough. He took another step back and gathered his robes and cloak around him. “Very well,” he said with a bow and a surreptitious look around Ellion to find the source of that female gasp. “But the settlements cannot endure more losses, Overseer. Our situation is dire.”

“Then perhaps the Riests can lower themselves to work the soil,” Ellion said coldly.

The look of horror on their faces was irritating, to say the least. They were prisoners, too, although they didn’t know it. Nothing separated them from the average farmer whom they punished for breaking rules made to subjugate them.

“Yes, Overseer. We apologize for disturbing you.” With that, the group of Riests turned and slunk away, their red hats disappearing into the distance. Ellion watched them go, jaw clenched and hands curled into fists at his sides.

Behind him, Turi let out a soft sigh. “They’re gone,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ellion turned to face her, his expression softening. “Yes,” he said. “For now.”

Turi’s brow furrowed with worry. “I’m sorry I made a noise,” she said. “What they’re doing to the females of the settlements is wrong. None of them deserve such treatment.”

His fists tightened. “I know.”

“The things you said, about how they should treat us.” She swallowed and looked up at him with wide, bright green eyes. “That we’re precious. Did you mean it?”

“Every word.” Ellion reached out, gently cupping her cheek in his hand. “I’ll find a way to make this right,” he promised. “For them. For all of us.”

There were no rules for a Terian taken from her settlement. He’d make them himself, and if anyone tried to take Turi from him… The thought of it made his dragon fire burn deep in his throat. Let them try , he thought to himself. She is mine.