“Terraforming,” Korum said. “It’s called terraforming.”
“Right,” Mia said. “If you can terraform Mars, why not just do it to a planet elsewhere? Why does it have to be in such close proximity to Earth?”
“Because the proximity to Earth will make the project easier,” he explained quietly. “We’ve never done something of this magnitude before, and we’ll need a base from which our scientists and other experts can operate. Earth can serve as that base for now. This won’t be an easy task. It will take years – possibly decades – to make Mars habitable, and it will be nice to have our Centers on Earth close by in case of any emergencies. Once we’ve worked out all the kinks in the process, then we can terraform other planets located in habitable zones throughout the different galaxies.”
“Other planets besides Earth and Mars?” Mia turned in his arms, meeting his gaze. For the first time, she realized the full depth of his ambition – and it shook her to the core. “You’re building an empire, aren’t you?” she breathed. “A real-life intergalactic empire . . . Earth, Mars, these other planets in the future – the Krinar will rule them all, won’t they?”
“Yes.” His eyes gleamed brightly. “We will.”
* * *
Korum could see the shock on her face, and he softened his tone. “Would that be such a bad thing, my sweet? Your people will benefit from this as well. If anything were to happen to Earth, humans would survive and prosper at our side.”
He could feel the tension in her delicate frame, and he cursed Saret for planting doubts in her mind that day. Korum had planned to tell everything to Mia in due time, to explain his intentions in the most reassuring way possible. He’d known there was a possibility she would question him after she regained her memory, but he hadn’t anticipated his own reaction to her questions. Her distrust, her propensity to think the worst about him – it was all too reminiscent of the beginning, when she had spied on him and betrayed him to the Resistance. The wounds from that time were still too fresh for him to be able to remain as calm and soothing as he’d hoped to be.
“At your side – and under your control, right?” She made a move to free herself, and Korum let his arms drop, taking a step back to give her some space. He didn’t bother responding to her question; the answer to that was obvious.
An intergalactic empire . . . He didn’t usually think about it in such terms, but it was not a bad description for what he hoped to accomplish in his lifetime. Ever since he could remember – ever since he had been a small child – Korum had dreamed of exploring and settling other planets. He saw it as their destiny. As beautiful as Krina was, it was also just one tiny planet among trillions – a piece of rock dependent on its star and vulnerable to various cosmic disasters.
Earth had always fascinated him, with its Krina-like characteristics and a species that was strikingly similar to the Krinar themselves. In his youth, Korum, like many others, had regarded humans as inferior, with their weak, fragile bodies and primitive way of living. It wasn’t until the recent centuries that he’d begun to understand that these beings were as intelligent and resourceful as the Krinar themselves. In the past, what Mia feared would have been a legitimate concern: Korum of a thousand years ago wouldn’t have hesitated to simply take Earth away from her people. Now, however, he didn’t want to deprive humans of their planet; he just wanted to ensure that the Krinar had a place on it too.
He had never thought his ambition was particularly outrageous. He knew that other people did, however. Even his own father seemed intimidated by Korum’s drive at times, not understanding that his son merely wanted what was best for their species. A group of planets populated and controlled by the Krinar was a logical next step in their evolution, and Korum saw nothing wrong with working toward that goal.
Now he just had to make his charl see things from his perspective. “Mia, listen to me,” Korum said, watching her intently. “I know you’re afraid, but I’m not lying to you. I didn’t tell you any of this before because it’s the equivalent of classified information – not because I was trying to conceal something evil. I just received final clearance from the Elders for Mars, and we’ll reach out to your governments next, to inform them about our intentions. That way, they can adequately prepare the population and nip any potentially dangerous rumors in the bud. Nobody has to get hurt in this – and we’ll do our best to ensure that it doesn’t happen.”
Her sexy little tongue came out to lick her lips, and he found his eyes glued to her mouth, picturing that tongue licking something else entirely. Damn it, focus. With effort, Korum lifted his gaze to meet hers, ignoring the stirring in his cock. Now was not the time to think about sex; he had to convince her he wasn’t about to exterminate her kind or steal their planet.
“Do you swear?” Her voice was soft, tremulous, and he could see hope warring with doubt on her face. She wanted to trust him, but she needed more reassurance. “Do you swear that you don’t intend my people any harm? That when you build your empire, it won’t be at the cost of my species’ well-being?”
“Y
es, my darling,” Korum said. “I swear it. Unless humans strike at us, we won’t do anything to harm them. Those who wish to leave Earth will be well compensated for their choice, and we’ll live alongside your people on Earth, Mars, and whatever other planets we find. It won’t be so bad, my sweet. I promise you that.”
And stepping toward her, he drew her into his embrace again, exhaling in relief when he felt her arms sliding around his waist as well.
Chapter 29
Mia put on the shimmerstone necklace Korum had given her and surveyed herself critically in the three-dimensional mirror located in the bedroom. She was dressed in formal Krinar clothing, a gleaming white dress similar to the one she’d worn to the fight. Her hair was pinned up and covered with a silvery net that matched the sandals on her feet. She looked festive – and ready to face the Elders.
By all rights, she should be nervous. After all, she was about to meet the oldest Krinar in existence, whose names were legend among Ks and whose mandates determined the fate of humanity. The Krinar who were about to decide her family’s lifespan. Yet she felt strangely calm, as if nothing could touch her right now.
Her mind kept dwelling on this morning’s conversation with Korum, going through it over and over again. Mars, Earth, an entire intergalactic empire . . . There was really no end to her lover’s ambition. Mia had no doubt that Korum would ultimately achieve his goal – and that he would be at the helm of this empire he was about to build.
And she would be at his side. Her head spun at the thought. She, who had never wanted anything more than a quiet, ordinary life, would be there to watch the Krinar empire taking shape, at the side – and in bed – of the man who was going to make it happen.
Did that make her a traitor to her people? Or was it like Delia said, that by Korum falling in love with her, she had already done more to help humanity than any efforts by the Resistance?
She believed him when he promised the Krinar wouldn’t harm humans on purpose. He had always kept his promises to her. She just wasn’t sure how everything would unfold when people learned of the Ks’ intentions for Mars. Would there be renewed anti-K movements? Would the human population panic and try to strike at the invaders, leading to the Krinar retaliating against them? Mia would be devastated if that happened.
But the thought of leaving Korum was unbearable. She couldn’t live without him; it was as simple as that. She loved him with every fiber of her being, and she knew he loved her just as fiercely. Maybe that made her a traitor . . . or maybe it made her the luckiest woman alive. Only time would tell.
For now, there were Elders to meet.
“It’s best if I do most of the talking,” Korum said as they approached a clearing in the middle of the forest. “They don’t like unnecessary conversation.”
“Of course,” Mia said. “We won’t say a word.”
“No, you might have to,” he told her. “They’ll probably want to talk to you and your family directly – in which case, I strongly suggest you respond to their questions as honestly and concisely as you can.”