Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (63 page)

“Indeed,” Calm as Thunder said before Dare Viper to Bite responded and the barbs became unseemly bickering. “Warriors, please escort the offender to
the haze
.”

“
No
,” Singing Water shouted startling the gathering. “
You cannot do this to me
. Wait!” She slapped at the clawed hands reaching for her. “I demand my kindred be informed, so the ruling may be protested.” Lifting her chin, she drew herself up tall to look down on the Elders. “The cousin of my father holds a seat on the Southern Senate. He will be enraged I am being treated this way, for an alien, no less.”

Cobra’s mouth worked without sound as he rocked back, wanting her out of his space. “Even now, you show no remorse. You insult the one you harmed so grievously.”

“Oh, swallow your fangs,” she spat her voice brimming with vitriol. “Do not deny this,” she gestured around, “is what you wanted.
You did this to me
.”

“Thsst! I could not even
conceive
of this madness.”

Sensing blame would not influence him to defend her, Singing Water’s face crumpled. “I did it for us.”

Cobra studied her, his face wreathed by sorrow. “I almost believe you, wish you did care enough.... You acted for you, and you alone. That is why I do not pick up the knife in your name.”

“Very well.” A sneer twisted her features. “If you will not protect me, my kindred will.” Her eyes cut to the Elders. “As soon as this Senate contacts them.”

“Denied.” Wind Dancer said, happy to see an end to the atrocious argument. Rä did not act so reprehensively. “The vote has been cast.”

Singing Water stomped her foot. “I insist my kindred contacted.”

Raging, she lashed out at the nearest thing to her, pushing over an ancient statue of a firebird in flight.

The priceless artwork shattered on the stone floor in a crash of sound.

“
I demand it
,” she shrieked.

“Spoilt,” Fiercely scoffed. “Rotten. You are-”

Venomous held up a hand, slanting a look of pity at Cobra.

He had wondered why the Rä’Vek acted cool towards his ‘timid’ mate.

It was apparent they witnessed the true nature of the female Cobra had nested with.

“They shall, of course,” Calm to Thunder assured her manner frosty, “be sent a notification of your transgression, a transcript of the testimony spoken during these proceedings, the recorded evidence, and confirmation of your sentencing.

“You cannot do this. You have no right. My kindred are powerful. Elder Rising Tides–”

“Is not recognised by this conclave,” Dare Viper to Bite said in a cutting voice his compassion for her plight diminishing under her deplorable behaviour. “Rising Tides’ power as an Elder holds no sway here. And this is not a case deserving of the Great Senate. Therefore, you will abide the judgment of your Elders and go.”

He jerked his chin, summoning the guards to seize her.

Backing away, face wild with panic, she twirled to Cobra, hand at her throat. “
My Rä’Vek
.”

“He, who is widowed, Cobra that Strikes is yours no longer,” Calm as Thunder stated. “Be gone.”

The warriors forcibly removed her from the enclosure.

Head held low, Cobra followed after her.

“Scholar Wise are the Brave,” Wind Dancer began, “is it your opinion this investigation can be closed? Or is there other pertinent information this Senate must be made aware of?”

“None, Elder.”

“Praise Zython.” Calm as Thunder shivered. “The investigation into the atrocity that befell She, Lumen of the Stars is closed, and this conclave is ended.”

“Home?” Fiercely asked as the space cleared.

Venomous turned to stare after Cobra.

He experienced an echo of the agony he felt
shunning
his life giver.

His hearts squeezed.

He’d had his Rä’Na to cleave to in the raw aftermath.

Who would Cobra that Strikes turn to for comfort?

“Not yet,” he murmured.

“He will be fine. He does not feel for her as we do our life mate.” Fiercely scowled. “I want to go back to the lair and find out what Lumen was thinking protecting that horrid creature.”

“Not her. Us.” Venomous went to the Senate Quarter vestibule, finishing over his shoulder, “Lumen was protecting her males.”

A scene much like the one he’d experienced himself not too long ago played out.

Mouth tight, Cobra that Strikes had his back turned.

“
Do not turn your back on me, Rä’Vek
.” Singing Water paced as she vented her spleen, spittle flying. “You will admit your part.”

“I shun you.”

“You pushed me to this.”

“
I shun you
.”

Planting her feet wide apart, she screamed, “
You lust after her
.”

“
Have you not done me enough harm?
” Cobra bellowed. He shoved at the air as if pushing her away. “Must you destroy
everything
I am? Are you not happy I must bear the stain of your actions
for the rest of my life?
”

“Admit it, and I will go.”

Breaking tradition, Cobra turned.

His features etched anguish. “Then give me truth and I shall repay you in kind. Admit you never cared for me. Admit you did what you did to Lumen for yourself and no one else.”

“Truth, I never cared for you. Your low birth was a humiliation I endured each time I was forced to acknowledge you were mine.
Truth, your touch made my scales crawl
.” Her face wrinkled with the revulsion saturating her words. “Since you made me female, I prayed Grandmother would make me a widow. Truth, since that filthy alien came, I wanted her dead, and I would have tried to see her so, over, and over again until she was.”

Cobra wilted.

He pressed four fists over his hearts. “Truth, I desire another.”

“I wish you misery and loneliness for the rest of your life.”

“Little changes then.”

Clutching the skirt of her softsuit, stamping her feet, Singing Water screeched.

She stopped to glare, face misshapen.

Nose crinkling, she spat in his face. “
Unnatural
.”

Singing Water twirled to tromp through
the haze
without looking back.

Venomous gave the male a moment.

The vestibule was empty, so Cobra was able to deal with his sorrow in peace.

Fiercely murmured, “That was horrific. You were right to stay, he is alone.”

Venomous said nothing. He strode across the space and halted in front of the embarrassed Rä.

“There is no need to comfort me. I nested with what you saw for over an aeon. That was the female no one but I knew existed.” Cobra’s head lifted, expression awash with abject relief. “Her hatred was a poison that infected my life. I am sorry it tried to consume yours.”

“It is over. As long as you are at peace, that is all that matters. Do not forget my own life giver betrayed me. I know of poison.” He paused. “If ever you need a friend, my lair is open to you.”

Cobra tried a smile, but it faded into an expression of intense longing. “Venomous One?”

Patient, expectant, Venomous quirked a brow. “Yesss?”

Hesitating, Cobra bowed his head and averted his gaze. “Nothing.” Frame sagging, he offered a lethargic good parting then turned to leave.

“Cobra?” Venomous grabbed the male’s shoulder, wrenched him around then slammed the heel of a palm to his chest.

Alarmed, Cobra struggled in vain to free himself from the grip of the powerful warrior before his disgrace was discovered.

He gave up and twisted his face away in shame at Venomous’ sharp intake of breath.

“Your hearts beat for her,” he whispered, feeling the beats under his fingers align with his own.

Cursing, Fiercely elbowed Venomous aside then felt for himself.

He shoved the other male away, infuriated, fists clenching, but then his gaze slid questioningly to his primary nest mate who appeared unruffled. “You knew!”

“Aside from Singing Water’s screaming accusations, you mean?” Venomous clicked his teeth. “He knew slight, intimate details only we would know. Not because he was told them, but because he watches her.”

“He is her lesser mate. He would know such things so he might better care for her.”

“Truth, yet I sensed there was more behind it than preparedness. Always coming to high meal. How he reacts with crushing force when he thinks her in danger. He looks at her.... He looks at her the way
I
look at her, only with longing. He knows the value of what he covets.”

Cobra made a pained noise, and looked as if he might be sick. “I vow I will never–”

“Cobra,” Venomous interrupted with an upheld palm, exasperated. “Ask.”

The male’s chin jerked towards his chest. “Ask?”

“You are widowed, and aligned to my Rä’Na. You know our traditions.”

Cobra’s mouth dropped open.

He hissed, anima rising in a riotous flood of vibrant, blue-tinged shades. “You would consider it?”

“I would accept it.” An amused snort. “Did I not tell you to ask?”

“V-Venomous One,” Cobra stuttered shocked to utter words he’d daydreamed of speaking. “I wish for Lumen of the Stars to be my Rä’Na.”

“You do not need time to grieve?”

His back snapped straight. “I refuse to lose another moment of my life to that female.”

Grinning, Venomous crossed his arms. “Then I will not stand in your way.”

Flummoxed at the turn of events, Fiercely seemed ready to battle it out, but then exhaled gustily. “Grandfather’s hood!” A troubling thought occurred, and his brille narrowed. The emerald ripples of his anima roused in challenge. “Agree I am second. We will fight, if you prefer?”

Overwhelmed by the calm acknowledgment of his formerly licentious feelings for their Rä’Na, Cobra hastily held out four hands claws down, showing the soft backs in submission. “I would be happy to be third.” His voice was a dry rasp. “Honoured.”

Chest puffed, Fiercely clasped his shoulder and shook it roughly. “Then welcome, nest mate.”

He stilled his congratulations, lips twisting oddly, and then he burst into hysterical laughter, slapping his thigh.

Cobra startled.

“What is funny?” Venomous asked keen to share in the joke.

Fiercely jerked straight his shoulders quaking. “
You have to tell our Rä’Na
.” He bent over and howled, clasping his middle as he staggered.

“Perhaps I should leave it a while,” Cobra muttered. “I do not wish to upset her when she is in swell.”

Venomous bared fangs. “My Lumen may look fragile, but she is mighty when her temper is riled. You return to the lair with us.”

“This might anger her?”

“Yesss.” Venomous sighed. “I fear what happened to Singing Water will distress her human sensibilities. She did not take my life giver’s
shunning
well.”

Fiercely sobered. “She must be scolded, Venomous. Had we not found out what truly happened, it would have ended badly. She was
alone
with that corrupt Rä’Na in our lair not a single moon ago. I vow, my hearts have not stopped racing.”

Riding the goodbeasts back to the lair, Cobra pulled reins a number of times to receive condolences from Rä he hunted for, withstanding exclamations of distress and sadness his old Rä’Na committed such a wrongdoing.

When the first Rä delicately inquired as to why he travelled in the company of the Rä’Veks involved in the downfall of his old life mate, he endeavoured to make noncommittal remarks, but a wily old a’Rä backed him into a corner.

He forced Cobra to admit as he was Lumen’s lesser mate, he had asked to join the clan, had been accepted by the Rä’Veks, and rode to seek the approval of who he hoped would be his future Rä’Na.

Rather than the denouncement expected, the a’Rä rushed him along, calling out a promise to pray to Zython to bless the union.

As they reached the lair, Venomous and Fiercely received notifications to their communicators the a’Rä that aided Venin Stings the Sweetest and Singing Water had been confined, and would be adjudicated upon at the next conclave.

Relieved, they stabled their mounts and went inside to find Lumen dancing to music with the Zýt.

Half its muscled length coiled, its tail rattled in time to the beat.

It bobbed unsteadily, spotted hood flaring as it wound around Lumen’s twirling body then playfully bumped against the underside of her jaw.

Her wild hair was sloppily bound in a thong on the crown of her head, and she was dressed in a cream softsuit that made her skin glow.

Spinning with a beaming smile, she threw herself at Fiercely, humming the dyad cadences of the melody when she couldn’t remember the lyrics.

“Sweetheart, you smell yummy.” She nipped his lips then pulled free to wrap her arms around Venomous then crush her mouth to his. “I missed you. Come dance with us.”

Laughing, she wiggled a circle around them, waved at Cobra then went to dance away.

Fiercely switched off the music as Venomous caught her arm.

Sensing the heaviness they brought to the atmosphere, she gave him a probing look. “Babe?”

“Singing Water has been shunned, the remaining two accomplices who conspired against you are no longer a threat, and I no longer consider Cobra that Strikes your lesser male, but your third, and my nest mate.”

Face slackening with each word, her welcome expression fled and her smile withered.

A spasm of disbelief flitted across her face. “
W-what?
”

Fiercely clarified. “Singing Water faced the
shunning
, the other two beast-coverers that sought to harm you–”

She lifted a hand to disrupt. “No, I heard him, sweetheart. I just ... I just ... I....” Horror-struck, she double blinked. Pressed both palms to her cheeks, mouth making an ‘o’ shape. “I’m She, Tempestuous like the Wind.”

“No,” Cobra refuted in a careful tone, shooting the other males a worried look. He was scared her mind broke under the shock. “You are She, Lumen of the Stars.”

“For Honour and Duty
,” she shrilled as if that explained. “My life is a hologram drama, and not even one I like.”