The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,56

tied up and surrendered. You must give us the terms for our release—”

Daz cut him off with a booming question. “Did the Uldani unleash the virus on Corin?”

Kuala’s jaw snapped shut, but I didn’t miss the flinch. Daz didn’t either, because he cocked his head in a way he often did when he spotted prey. With careful movements, he crouched on the balls of his feet and leaned closer to the commander. “I’ll ask again, and I’d like an answer. Did the Uldani unleash the virus on Corin that killed our females and most of our elder males?”

Kuala didn’t speak. He remained silent as his body dissolved into a trembling mass of flesh. Daz extended his claws and placed them under his chin, forcing his head back until the Uldani’s neck bulged painfully. The commander squeaked in an undignified voice, “I surrender.”

With a growl, Daz shoved Kuala who fell on his back and lay sprawled there, staring up at the starry sky, chest heaving, eyes closed. I didn’t feel bad for him. I didn’t feel bad for any of these fleckers.

A few shouts and the shuffling of a small scuffle broke out in front of us. Marching down the cobbled streets of what had once been the Alazar marketplace was Gram and his soldiers. In front of him, he pushed a dirty Uldani male with his hands tied in front of him. He protested the whole way, sputtering and blubbering as he pleaded for his life. This was no soldier, as he wore the uniform of the Uldani’s med unit.

After I’d explained to Daz my deal with Gram, which he agreed upon, the small Uldani had disappeared. I figured he was ensuring the safety of his soldiers, but it seemed he’d been busy.

Gram shoved him to the ground in front of Daz. “He might be able to answer some of your questions.”

“We’ve surrendered!” Kuala shouted as he struggled to right himself. “Don’t say a word, Volp. Not one—” His words were cut off when Bosa slugged him in the side of the head with his club. The supreme commander hit the ground with a thud, and this time he didn’t move.

“Can you refrain from killing anyone right now?” Daz growled.

“He’s still breathing.” Bosa shot back.

Ignoring the Kaluma, Daz nudged a trembling Volp with his boot. “Who are you?”

The Uldani tried to speak, but his lips only fluttered uselessly.

“Volp had an interesting job.” Gram stepped forward. “We were told he was in charge of developing medis, but while working in the med unit, I uncovered some things that made me think Volp had a lot of other duties.”

“P-please,” the Uldani stuttered. “Don’t hurt me—”

“Did the Uldani start the virus?” Daz asked. He had a single-minded focus on getting the answer to that question, as it was one we all wanted to know. If the Uldani were responsible… well then honor didn’t have a place here.

Volp cringed at the answer just as Kuala groaned and seemed to come to. “Volp,” he muttered. “Don’t.”

Daz bent at the waist to roar in the face of the terrified Uldani, “Did the Uldani start the virus?”

“Yes!” Volp shouted. As if surprised at his own answer, his face drained of color, turning nearly white as he slumped into a ball.

“Volp!” Kuala cried.

But the med unit member ignored him, clearly acting in his own self-interest, and hoping he was spared if he confessed. “Yes, the Uldani started the virus. It was only intended to weaken you enough to ask for our help. We never intended for it to kill all your females. When we realized what we’d done, we panicked and began to look at ways to breed more Drix.”

We’d all suspected the Uldani had started the virus, but hearing the truth felt like a stake in the cora. My sisters. My mother. They’d all suffered for no reason but the greed of the Uldani, for the way they coveted our power and strength. For once in my life, I cursed the abilities of my race. If we’d been less skilled, the Uldani never would have tried to subjugate us for their own uses.

Daz hadn’t moved or reacted. The truth rendered him motionless as he continued to stare at the Uldani with black eyes. Finally, only his lips moved as he asked, “Under whose orders?”

“What?”

“Under whose orders did you create and unleash the virus on Corin?”

Volp swallowed, and his gaze slid to Kuala. Only Daz’s neck craned to the supreme commander, who’d managed to get to his knees