Larth inclined his head in acknowledgment, though reluctantly.
“You are correct. However, no one will consider taking the matter before the Intergalactic Nations if no one knows about it. Argurmas can protect humanity if we are allowed to do so without interference from the council. They seek to eradicate the necessity of mate-bonding from our species entirely. Too many of us are relying on artificial means of starting the bonding process due to the efforts to diminish it. Only the council has knowledge of this outside of our line. There is no circulation among regular communication lines—or even private underground lines that I have access to—that one of our own successfully bonded and bred with another species. We require knowledge, not silence,” he said wearily. “I just ask that you consider it, Ahanvala.”
Veral felt the tension uncoil from within his frame as he met his cousin’s imploring gaze, the formal words cooling his blood. His cousin addressed him now not as mother-kin but as the head of their household, reminding Veral of his greater duties. A frustrated growl tore from his throat, but it was the soft touch of his mate’s hand on his arm that diminished the hostility raging within him.
“He makes a good point, Veral. It may be worth the risk to break the silence. It could keep us safer in the long run if they don’t have the option of making us disappear in order to keep their secrets,” she observed, her agreement surprising him. A resigned amusement filled her eyes. “It’s better if there are no secrets, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I agree,” a stern voice broke in.
Featha frowned at all of them as she pushed her way forward, her expression softening only the slightest as she inclined her head to Terri in a gesture of support that surprised him.
“I came to see what was delaying my greeting of the new female only to overhear your argument. While your concerns are valid, Veral, I support Larth and Terri’s arguments. I care little of the people of the Black Stone lands in their towering cities, but we of the Great Dunes struggle the most with finding mates. Despite my ambitions, I do wish Dreth to have the opportunity to find a mate if he cannot find one among the Argurma. I know I am not the only mother in the Great Dunes who feels this way. I have spoken to many females throughout the territories in our correspondences and this is a subject of much grief for our people. Your mate would represent hope for everyone.”
Her lips twisted in the faintest of smiles, and she leaned down and gently touched his daughter’s head. “It has given me hope.”
Veral met the proud female’s eyes, struck by her admission.
“What would you have me do, Featha?”
To his further surprise, her smile grew.
“You have two weeks until little Harahna will be ready to depart. It is enough time to make the Council regret their lies and secrecy. We gather our records, and when you depart Argurumal, we will send out an anonymous signal relaying it over our planet and through Argurma-held space so it is received on all of our people’s open lines of communication.”
Veral closed his eyes against the weight of the decision he was being presented. It was crushing. He knew that they spoke with reason but the fear that clawed through him over the slightest chance of losing his mate and his daughter bit deep into his heart.
Terri’s hand tightened on his arm.
“Veral, you can share the weight of this decision with me,” she whispered. “You’re not alone and don’t have to shoulder the responsibility for everything all on your own.”
Opening his eyes, he met her warm brown gaze, a small tremor running through him with an agonizing crack of pain as some final resistance broke with in his programming. If he were capable of manufacturing tears, he would have; instead, he held her gaze, seeking comfort within it as he drew his family into his embrace.
“I do this all for you, anastha. What course do you think we should take?” he asked.
Her eyes moved, sliding over him, her expression filling with love.
“I don’t think I want anyone to miss out on this kind of love. Let’s do it. Let’s share it with everyone,” she said firmly.
25
Terri smoothed her loose robe with a free hand, her eyes straying to her mate as they walked through the training area. His brow was lowered as he inspected the droids carefully, reviewing their programming. He had been at it for days now.
She didn’t know what he expected to find, but he had been uneasy since the target droid malfunctioned. So much so that he hadn’t allowed her anywhere near the training yard unless he was with her. For extra security, Dreth and Larth trailed behind them, their bodies aggressively tense as they stood, their legs braced wide, just behind them.
Terri sighed and shifted Harahna’s weight in her arms.
“Do you really think someone messed with the droid?” she asked around a yawn.
As much as she loved the fact that Veral was including her in his regular duties around the compound, she was looking forward to sitting down. She didn’t understand how she was so tired. She had little to do during the day that was demanding—not compared to what she survived on Earth or the often brutal pace of salvaging. She only had to be on hand to care for Harahna’s needs that amounted to little more than feeding and changing her baby every few hours day and night. Taking care of a small baby should have been easy.
Instead, she felt like she was walking half-asleep, with less and less patience for Veral’s fixation on the droid malfunction. For the last week, he had stopped nearly every day to test another idea on the target droids’ programming to see if he could replicate what had happened. In fact, he applied himself to it with more enthusiasm than she had seen him take to anything else in his meetings and duties for the household.
Veral grunted, eyes narrowing as he opened the compartment on the droid in front of him. “That is the question,” he rumbled as he slid his fingers over the inner panel, connecting with the droid’s system. “Malfunctions among droids are common, but I do not like that it occurred with the target droid you were sparring with. You were attacked once before,” he reminded her.
“Yes, she replied. “But even you agreed that evidence pointed to it being an isolated event. I don’t see any connection between the two. Do you?”
His eyes flashed, and he stilled until reluctantly he shook his head and pulled away to promptly turn to the next one.
“No,” he growled, frustration seeping into his voice.