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“Yes.” The friend’s response contained more heartbreak.
Strike released his hold on his female at the same time the Powluk released his hold on her friend.
The two females ran to each other and fiercely hugged.
Strike met the Powluk’s gaze and nodded.
The male’s head dipped in shared acknowledgment.
The females needed that physical contact to emotionally repair.
“He had me abducted, Kess.” The friend sobbed. Her damage was severe. “He told them not to harm me, but those were just words, and anything could’ve happened. They could have tortured me, killed me. He knew that and he took that risk.”
“He wanted war.” Strike’s female’s cheeks were wet also. “Oh, Talley.”
They hugged again. Harder.
“He wanted his budget increased.” Bitterness edged the friend’s voice. “That’s what he wanted. If this was about killing the enemy, he wouldn’t have worked with them. No. It was all about the credits. And he was willing to risk his daughter’s life to increase his budget.”
Humans and their love of credits. Strike shook his head. He would never process their obsession with numbers in a database.
The females embraced and chattered.
The Powluk, Tsadok, moved closer to Strike. “I owe you gratitude for bringing my mate’s friend here, and for…” He waved his hands around them.
And for rescuing them. Strike didn’t require the words to be spoken. “We’re orbiting your planet.”
The male grunted. “I have to return to the surface. I sent my guard home early, as I believed I’d be spending time with my mate on her planet. The male was to tell my father the negotiations had gone longer than expected. I have to tell him…” He swept one of his hands over the narrow strip of hair on his otherwise bald scalp. “I have to tell him something that won’t lead to war.”
“You’ll tell him something that will lead to war but not war with the Syndiculs.” Strike relayed the plan he and his female had formed.
During that information transfer, the females drew near them and listened.
Strike linked his fingers with his female’s. Her other arm was wrapped around her friend.
Tsadok held the friend’s hand.
“I’ll tell my father that to further unify our two planets, I’ll choose one of the Syndiculs as my mate.” The male gazed at the friend. “He won’t be surprised by that proposal. I’ve mentioned you to him. But this will give him a public reason to approve of our bond.”
“I’d like that.” The friend sighed. “Especially as we won’t be gaining my dad’s approval. I don’t want to ever speak to him again.” She looked at Strike’s female. “I know I have to go back to Syndiculous 5, but I can’t go back to that house, Kess. I can’t trust him. Fates.” She tilted her head back and stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know him. He told strangers to abduct me.”
“You can stay with me.” Strike’s female jutted her jaw. “My mom will be okay with that. She considers you part of the family already.”
There was no mention of Strike in that arrangement. And that damaged his emotional system. “My female.”
“You can stay with me also.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “If you want to do that, my male.”
He wanted to do that. More than anything. “I have to?—”
“I know what you have to do.” She looked away from him. “We have the return journey.” The cheer in her voice had a sharp edge to it. “We’ll focus on that.”
“We’ll have more than that.” He got the impression she was saying good-bye to him permanently, and that alarmed him.
She hugged her friend. “Stay with me, Talley.”
The friend glanced at him. “Only a fool wouldn’t want to stay with you.” She returned her attention to his female. “We’ll have fun, you and I.”
“I’ll travel to Syndiculous 5 as soon as I’ve settled the situation with my father.” Tsadok made that vow.
