AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her friend would never recover.
And he was tired. She heard that in his voice.
All the Cancris on the planet had been through horror after horror.
But Luam’s experience was…extreme.
He’d once had a mate. Whom he loved more than life. And they had a son who was born in the same solar cycle Roshini was born.
The three of them had the bad fortune to be visiting his mate’s family’s settlement on the planet rotation of that location’s Betrayal.
His son had been chosen by the Invaders to die.
Luam had stepped forward, offering to take his much-beloved son’s place. An Invader with an itchy trigger finger had shot at her friend.
The projectile had grazed his temple and knocked him unconscious but it hadn’t killed him. When he came to, everyone in the settlement, including his mate and his son, were dead.
Her friend’s entire family had died. Brutally.
Leaving Luam alone.
Her friend had been solitary for five long solar cycles, and he’d continue to be that way for the rest of his lifespan. Cancris mated only once.
He was also in extreme agony. That pain wouldn’t ever dissipate either.
Roshini suspected he was forcing himself to continue living for her, to implement the Plan. “My friend?—”
“I’ll be fine.” Luam summoned a smile. “I just had too much fermented beverage and too much excitement at sunset. Give me a planet rotation or two, and I’ll be back to my ol’ self.”
Her heart said that was a lie. But she wanted desperately to believe his words. “I’ll return at sunrise.” She placed the digger in her pocket as she returned to her mounted transport.
“I’m counting on that.” Her friend straightened to his full height.
And she saw a hint of the male he’d been when she’d met him – strong and determined. She gave him a small smile, climbed on her machine, and flew back in the direction from which she’d come.
She had a cyborg to pick up.
* * *
Drift was standing at the base of the mountain when she reached the drop-off point. His booted feet were braced apart. His expression was concerned.
She suspected he could have jumped on the back of the mounted transport. As he had jumped off it.
But he didn’t. He remained where he was.
She stopped the machine in front of him. “Are you coming with me or what?”
“Come here.” He reached out his arms.
Fates. She wanted to accept his offer of a hug. “Someone could be watching us.”
“There’re no beings detected on my lifeform scans.” Her cyborg must have thought of that possibility. “And I’ve surveyed the area. There aren’t any devices hidden in rocks or buried in the sand.” There was a hint of humor in his voice. “You’re safe, my female.”
“No one on this planet is safe.” She frowned at him. If she went to the male, she’d fall apart. And no one had time for that foolishness. “We should get going.”
“You’re safe from physical damage.” Drift didn’t move. “Either you come to me, or we stand here all planet rotation.”
“You’re impossible.” But she went to him because they didn’t have time to stand there all planet rotation.
