into my hands as the Sonarian finally joins the couple who stopped moving towards us briefly. I couldn’t move out to greet them if I wanted to because of the one still wrapped around my legs.
Mathadar is the one to speak first. “Greetings, Peacekeeper. You and your queen are welcome aboard our vessel.” Turning his attention to the Sonarian, he dips his head respectfully. “Welcome, Queen Trovena. As you can see, we followed your commands. All your males are alive and healthy.”
“You have my thanks, King Mathadar. I will take them with me this day.” I remember she had originally wanted answers about how they were abducted and for what purpose, but the investigation Kryos and I performed revealed all we needed to know on that front. The Moltan were interested in mutating the Sonarians to keep on hand as a front line of defense during battle.
Mathadar responds smoothly. “We were pleased to be of assistance.” While he makes polite conversation with the peacekeeper, I try to figure out what’s going on. My eyes are on Trovena, because I don’t particularly like how she’s looking at our former prisoner.
“What have they done to you? You are changed. What is your name?”
“I am me, little changed on the inside. My name is Lugon.”
“You have been despoiled, Lugon. I will accept you nonetheless.”
I croak out a strangled noise, because she pointing out that his DNA has been mutated by the Moltan. Although our healers repaired most of his face and neutralized the steroids they were using to enhance his size, he’ll never look quite like the others. He’s not what you would call ugly, just different.
He rubs his face against my leg. “I think not. You have enough males. Be gone with them and leave me be.”
“You must be ignorant as well as altered by the enemy.”
I choke up a little to see her rip away at his pride this way. He didn’t sign up to be mutated. Therefore, he doesn’t deserve to have it flung in his face this way.
“I am the only female of our kind for millions of parsecs in every direction. If you wish to breed it will be at my discretion, for our people will never allow an abomination such as yourself to touch paw to ground on the Sonarian home world.”
He rolls over and scratches at his neck with one gigantic paw. “I am yet young and have many years before I must think on breeding. Perhaps if you come to me later, I will consider your offer.”
My mouth falls open, because this pompous woman deserved that response.
She huffs out an exasperated breath. “You are a foolish male. I offer you a home and friendship. Even one unfit for breeding should see the benefit of such.”
Once glance at Borak and I know he’s as disgusted by the situation as I am. I grab a huge piece of fruit from the basket and reach it down to my new friend. I feel terrible for this Lugon. When he sees the fruit, his head snaps up to look me in the eye. I see a world of gratitude reflected in his sparkling green eyes.
“You honor me greatly this day.” Reaching out with his front teeth he gently takes the fruit from my hand and scarfs it down in an instant. Licking his lips, he stares up at the Sonarian queen and coos, “It tastes like home and friendship and respect.”
I don’t know what that means, but the fruit made him so happy, I feed him another piece. Queen Trovena takes a step backward, shaking her head back and forth. “Do you know what you do, humon?”
I’ve got no idea in the world what she’s talking about, so I tentatively reach Lugon another piece of fruit, expecting Mathadar to step in any moment now and get things moving in the right direction.
Trovena snorts, gesturing to the contented male at my feet with one paw. “Feeding a Sonarian male sweet fruit is to lay claim to him. Is this what you intended?” I feel like smacking my stupid self. Of course that’s why the Sonarians were daydreaming about their queen offering them fruit. It wasn’t simply a social nicety; it was a way of accepting them into her family structure, into her pride.
My head whips around to look at Borak. He nods, glancing down at Lugon who is still at my feet. His uncertain voice sounds off. “Sonarians do make excellent protectors.” That’s Borak’s way of giving me permission to