The Sands of Argurumal (Argurma Salvager Book 3) Read online

  He frowned in consideration. He would need to keep close watch over Terri to make sure that the intense dry heat of the desert did not sicken her. Although she came from a desert environment, it was not as dry, nor was the gravity as heavy as it was on Argurumal. Despite her strength, cleverness, and resourcefulness, he was worried about his small mate. The planet would not be kind to her, and, despite his assurances, the odds were not in favor of his mother-kin being pleased with him bringing home an alien female.

  Especially not one bearing an offspring of only half Argurma blood.

  Tension radiated down his spine as he plotted out their course. As much as he preferred not to seek out advice on the matter, he opened a line to Kaylar. The male’s mother currently sat at the head of the household. If anyone had any insight as to how his mother’s sister might receive his mate and offspring, it would be him.

  This better be good, Veral. You interrupt my hunt, Kaylar’s brusque voice snapped through their connection.

  Veral paused in surprise. He had given his cousin such convoluted coordinates to Earth, tracing the most haphazard route that he could come up with, that he had not truly believed the male would find his way there before turning his attention to something more profitable.

  My apologies, cousin. Your hunt? he inquired cautiously.

  The male’s amusement came through so clearly that he could visualize Kaylar’s sharp grin.

  Clever of you to attempt to hide this planet from me. I imagine it is due to some softness you have developed when it comes to your mate that you wished to protect her people. It is admirable, but a waste of effort. What was it that you were truly attempting to do with this?

  To delay you until you lost interest, Veral retorted honestly.

  There was a stunned silence and then a chuffing laughter that filled their shared mental pathway. More than that, there was an edge of excitement that indicated that the male was on the trail of the one he pursued.

  Clever indeed. Perhaps that would have been true once, but things change. This was worth the wait, and with all my assignments cleared, I have had nothing but time to unravel the tangled trail you gave me. Now tell me, to what purpose do you contact me now if not to inquire on the fruits of my hunt?

  Does your mother, Featha, still head the household?

  Another weighty silence fell before his cousin begrudgingly answered.

  She does, but I have no immediate knowledge of anything going on within the household. She and I have not spoken in many revolutions.

  That surprised Veral. Of all his mother-kin, Kaylar was the male who was entrusted in a way that Veral had never been due to his mother’s misfortune, with upkeeping the welfare and honor of their line. Although Argurma offspring had their pasts erased, upon the finalization of their implants, they were reintroduced into their extended family units to provide them with guidance and tutelage even if the parents had chosen not to rear their offspring when they were younger. To guide a juvenile Argurma was considered the responsibility of the entire family, and those who had not yet met their offspring established lineage bonds with them, which determined inheritance.

  As his mother’s heir, Veral had not been forbidden from the Monushava complex of his mother’s line. Yet no one had made a secret that there were concerns he would draw scrutiny onto their line rather than being the son of an unfortunate isolated case. It was one of the reasons that Veral had not felt duty-bound to remain on Argurumal, hiding his malfunctions like the rest of his line did. His absence had made it safer for everyone. So Featha took up the head of the line, and Kaylar was entrusted to guard it.

  This turn of events, however, was not one that Veral had ever calculated for.

  For what reason?

  Another mirthless chuff filled their connection as well as a general dismissive feeling.

  My mother did not like that I refused to mate. She did not find my reasoning satisfactory because I did not wish to bring a female to our complex whom we would all have to keep pretense around. I was not amenable to her objection over my refusal. It has been five revolutions, twenty-three rotations, four hours, and three minutes since I was last in communication with her. For what purpose do you wish to know?

  There may be a medical emergency with my mate, Terri. Something unexpected has occurred, causing our offspring to develop unnaturally fast. I will need to seek the opinion of our line’s medic.

  And you are worried that she will not be welcoming, Kaylar reasoned.

  Among other things, Veral agreed. He hesitated for only a moment as he debated with himself on how much to tell. Terri carries a female of the line.

  Tension flooded the pathway, and a sort of shocked stillness that Veral could appreciate. When Kaylar spoke again, his mental voice was halting as if he were attempting to find the correct response.

  This is surprising… Are you aware of the reason that the council wishes to have Earth females?

  For some experiments. Terri mentioned something about breeding, but there is a high probability in her moment of duress that she misheard. Our kind doesn’t breed with others.

  She is correct, in a manner of speaking, his cousin admitted slowly. They want to dissect and study the effects that breeding and bonding with one of our males has on their physiology… not only on the females but on any offspring conceived. They have been unable to find the cause of the malfunctions within our own species and are hoping that observing the alien females might give them further insights to where inhibitors can be placed without doing significant damage. To our knowledge, we have had no other instances of mating bonds between an Argurma and another species, much less offspring bred, and so the council sees this as a profitable opportunity.

  Veral’s claws extended from his fingertips and dug into the metal of the armrest with a metallic screech as a tremor of rage ran through him. His cousin’s silence was understanding even though the male was currently in pursuit to fulfill the whims of the council.

  And yet you hunt for them, he bit out.

  I do what the council demands. We both know the risks of going up against them. You have gotten away with your unlicensed departure from Argurumal, but I cannot risk their further disapproval on our line. It does not bring me pleasure, but I will do my duty.

  Releasing the armrest, Veral dropped his head into his palm and rubbed the sensitive spot just above his orbital sockets. The bone was thinner there, unprotected by the thick bone that covered his brow. Unfortunately, it brought him little relief from the tension that clawed through him.

  And you have no problem hunting and caging a female knowing that you hand her over to death? he asked, unable to avoid pricking at his cousin’s reasoning.

  The feeling of forced nonchalance came through so strongly that Veral was disturbed by it. Kaylar was being dishonest but would not admit it even if Veral confronted him with it.

  I cannot show any feeling toward it. You know that. Our programming is for obedience. I will be immediately labeled as malfunctioning if I do not control myself and keep some distance. As you should have done. You would not now be in this situation if you had.

  Veral thought of his mate, who was likely eating at that very moment in the galley, and their offspring whom he had seen so clearly on the hologram. He was protective of both of his females and would not give them up for anything, not even if he had known then what he would be facing now.

  I regret nothing.

  Good, since you have little choice on the matter now. As for your mate, it is not wise to take Terri there, but I understand your reasoning. Do not be concerned about my mother. Despite my arguments with her, I know that our line will keep Terri and her young safe. A female of the line will be celebrated, even if they need time to become accustomed to the idea of the offspring being half-alien. But they will help even if it is to upset the efforts of the council. Many of the females believe that our malfunctions are natural and will resent the council’s experiments to eradicate it.

  Veral bowed his head,
comforted by his cousin’s observations as he finalized his course.

  My thanks, cousin. He hesitated but tentatively offered his advice. When you find your prey, I ask that you not be too hurried to bring her back to the council. Really see the female and think hard about what your decision will mean.

  A sigh drifted through their connection, accompanying a reluctant agreement.

  It will change nothing, cousin, but I shall keep your advice in mind.

  Of course, he replied just before the connection between them closed. His lips twisted in a smirk as he considered just what his cousin may be in for when face to face with a human female, trying to reason with her rather than just hunting a nameless prey.

  Soft footsteps drew his attention to the entrance of the flight deck, and his mandibles vibrated with pleasure at the sight of his mate on deck, Krono lazily striding at her side. She grinned as she slid into the chair beside his command station and leaned forward to press her lips against his jaw in affection. As she drew back, a soft sound escaped her, her eyes riveted to the viewing screen.

  “Is that our trajectory?”

  “It is,” he agreed. He moved his hand, drawing up an image of the orbital path around Argurumal. The red planet gleamed like a gem broken with black lines of hard, jutting stone of their mountain ranges. “And this is our destination.”

  “Amazing,” she whispered. “And all of that is sand?”

  “Everything red. The black striations are mountains.” He drew up one section of a sprawling red desert near a wide mountain range on the southern continent of the side of the planet hit most frequently with the storms that shaped the great dunes. “This is where the Monushava complex is located. The household of my line,” he clarified.

  Terri leaned forward and folded her hands together before pressing them to her lips as the screen drew closer until she could clearly see the wind-whipped sands stirring as lightning broke out over the deserts. A shiver ran over her. She swallowed and gave him a weak smile.

  “I guess that is home.”

  “Home,” he said slowly, tasting the unfamiliar word on his tongue.

  He was uncertain how he felt about it. It did not feel like anything he recognized as home. The Wanderer was his home. Even before Terri had come and made it into a true home for them, it had been his sanctuary. He did not associate any such feelings with the complex that he had not seen since his adolescence and his mother’s death. He shook his head slowly and met his mate’s eyes.

  “No, anastha. It is merely a place that we are going as necessity demands. This is our home, not that place.”

  She gave him a doubtful look, but he chose to disregard it as he drew up her hand to his lips and pressed his mouth against the delicate skin of her knuckles. He did not care about his mother’s line hidden away in the complex. They had made no effort nor any indication that they wanted him. Not like his Terri. All he cared about was his mate.

  3

  Two weeks was all the time that it took to arrive on Argurumal. The ship dropped down over a vast desert on the opposite side of the planet from most of the major cities that had formed around supplies of natural ground water. The darkness of the desert at night as they skimmed over the sand reminded her a lot of home, except the desert floor wasn’t hard and compact but rather a rolling landscape of red sands that she could clearly see from The Wanderer’s front exploration lights.

  Terri stared as the complex slowly came into view. It looked like a small walled-off village except that it was one large, winding house rather than numerous tiny houses. The tops of the tall walls were barely visible behind the enormous, gated wall that surrounded the property. The black stones of the structure and wall were nearly identical in composition, each swirled with red sediments, giving the place an almost magical look. Terri wondered if the blocks were cut and hauled down from the mountains piece by piece. They certainly didn’t look anything like the synthetic structures they had seen in their travels. They didn’t even look like the old brick buildings she’d seen on Earth. She wondered how much of that was fact and how much was illusion. A society as advanced as the Argurma wouldn’t be living in stone buildings.

  She turned to look up at Veral seated at her side. He stared out ahead at the landscape, his expression closed, not revealing a hint of what was going on internally.

  She leaned toward him. “A penny for your thoughts,” she murmured.

  His eyes snapped up to her, narrowing at the corners slightly as they did whenever he was trying to work out something that he did not understand.

  “I’m interested to hear what you’re thinking of right now,” she clarified with a smile. “A penny is a coin that was used on Earth a long time before I was born. Like offering a credit to hear whatever’s on your mind.”

  A soft, amused snort left him. “A strange sort of bribery to reference,” he remarked. “If you merely mean that you wish to know my thoughts, then say what you mean, anastha.”

  “Fair enough,” she chuckled. “So, what are you thinking?”

  A slow hiss escaped him. “I am thinking that it has been a great many revolutions since I have been here. We have little choice but to come here, but I am uncertain of how my mother-kin will greet you. I will be displeased if they disrespect you.”

  “Ah,” she sighed. “Yeah, I admit I am a bit nervous. How huge and rugged everything is doesn’t exactly put me at ease either. It looks like it’s inhabited by a whole bunch of warriors who are going to come swarming out at us without a moment’s notice.”

  “Astute observation. The Great Dunes people are comprised of many strong families. The greatest warriors of Argurumal can be found within the provinces of this side of the planet.”

  “From where I’m standing, that doesn’t surprise me any. I guess I just expected your home to be a bit more… I don’t know… technological,” she murmured.

  Veral chuffed at her side, his vibrissae sliding with his amusement. “It has an intentional design. The outer wall is stone. It protects and insulates us from the harsh desert. It is meant to be simple and durable. You will see that the protected interior is fashioned for our technological needs.”

  She gave the stone gates a skeptical glance as the ship moved off to the side and slowly began to descend into what she assumed was a large docking structure attached to the side of the wall. She frowned. Nothing there looked like it belonged to any species who soared through the stars in superior starships. Instead, everything she had seen looked like it was better suited to keep out some sort of monstrous beast. Veral chuffed again as the complex disappeared from sight, behind the thick stone wall that now surrounded The Wanderer. He had no doubt noted her expression and had been entertained by it. If he was, he didn’t otherwise comment as he gently took her arm and led her from the flight deck through their ship. She was grateful for the support when the impact of the planet’s gravity hit her fully as the ship powered down. A soft groan of dismay eked out, but she didn’t complain. It was a little bit more difficult to move quickly or with ease, but it wasn’t that bad.

  Exiting the port, she glanced up to see a large dark metal shield slide silently shut above them, enclosing their ship in the docking area. The complete darkness of the docking bay made her freeze until several interior lights suddenly snapped on, casting pale illumination. Veral’s own eyes glowed in the dim lighting, letting her know without a doubt that he could see perfectly well. Still, she was comforted by some range of visibility available. Curling her fingers tighter around his, she stared at her surroundings in awe, Krono a noticeable presence as he trotted at their heels, until they finally came to another gate at the end of the corridor.

  At first, she wondered if they were going to have to bang on the door or do something to get someone’s attention, but to Terri’s surprise, the gate swung open with a heavy whoosh of displaced air and sand as it parted to reveal a beautiful stone courtyard lit up with electric lanterns filled with pulsing energy, casting a soft pinkish glow over their su
rroundings.

  Enormous dull orange and puce potted plants filled the perimeter of the courtyard, intersected by plants of softer pinks and lavenders that clustered in the shade of the larger plants. In the middle of the courtyard was a shaded foundation in which she could make out the ripple of water from the cascading drops that descended from a cubic figure in the center. In such a dry world, that rippling water called to her, but a gentle tug from Veral brought her back to reality as he led her further in the courtyard. From where she was, she could just barely see a doorway peeking out between the dense fronds. That was clearly their destination, given the direct path Veral set toward it.

  The doors parted, and a large female stepped out. About as tall as Veral and with similar features, she was wrapped in a crimson robe with a simple belt just under her breasts. Glowing blue cybernetic eyes turned to Terri and stopped, widening slightly at the corners. A hiss left the female, and she strode forward, mandibles spread wide with aggression as she grabbed a handful of Veral’s longer vibrissae.

  Terri’s mouth dropped open, in equal measure horror and insult. She knew damn well what it did to Veral whenever she grabbed them, and for this female to her put her hands where they didn’t belong made her furious. Thankfully, Veral didn’t seem to be enjoying it. He snarled at the female, his own vibrissae widening in response. Terri didn’t wait around to see what happened next. She stepped forward, her back rigid as she closed in near the female. With cords of reinforcement from her symbiont lacing over her hand, she reached forward and closed her fingers around the wrist of the Argurma’s offending limb.