Citrine (Deliverance #3)

54. Eli

54

Eli

They catch me up on the things they know about the aliens out there. My eyes get bigger and bigger the more they tell me. How they've been shot, stabbed, throats cut.

We have to eventually switch to English because we're terrorizing poor Rannek. He's settled down at the base of Amethyst's chamber, still taking his role to protect her seriously.

These women are absolutely amazing and my mind races, thinking of their plans. "So Drasuk thinks there must be a space elevator? But we need to find the rest of the women and protect as many prey males as we can before we can get to it?"

Ree nods. "They should all be on this continent, I think, which he said will have been terraformed to not be all that large. We need to kill all the vermin. It will take a while, though, and so I am so grateful for this island. I wasn't sleeping very well in the cave, just waiting for it to be found."

It makes me happy that, even though I had no idea what the heck was going on out there, I still managed to play a key role.

We spend a while longer discussing the changes we can make to the cove to make things more comfortable for them, since no one will want to stay in a cave forever. Ree asks me to convince Wroahk to patrol me around the lake shore on the opposite side of the island once Rannek finishes building protections.

Not just to kill hunters, which Wroahk is going to absolutely love, but to also look for any prey and try to speak to them.

I'm excited by the idea of building a community, though sad that it has to turn into an army soon. She's right, though. Until we take over the planet somehow, they will just keep coming, and at some point they will figure out we are on this island.

With a start, I realize that I put us at risk making that fire. "We'll need to build something to hide flames and only cook at night," I muse aloud.

"That's smart," Kira comments. "Cooking might attract prey, but from what the guys say, none of the hunters have heightened senses."

Ree wrinkles her nose. "Lucky for them. I'd give that one up in a heartbeat."

"What about Silver?" I ask her, then regret it when her face falls.

"All I can do is keep going back and asking the snake man to give her up. So far, he's protecting the area really well. Plenty of dead hunters, most of them crushed. I can smell her cryo chamber, but she must still be in it because even Thivoll can't smell her. I'll tell the male about our island the next time I visit, but pretty much all I get from him is 'moon daughter is mine,' the irritating serpent."

Movement catches my eye and my jealousy spikes again. She's got kitty claws.

What the hell? Why did I land on an island with a shark-octo thingy?

Though, fine… yes, I wouldn't trade Wroahk, even if it means I'm stuck in the water.

Kira glances over. "Silver's safe, Ree. You did well."

Ree lets out a huff.

Wait. I'm stuck in the water, which means I can't be of much help in this whole war campaign craziness.

"I don't think Wroahk and I will be able to help. We can't be out of water very long or it's… really bad."

Ree looks over at me, eyes roaming to take in my features. "We'll figure something out. There's a river not all that far from here and those tend to lead to the sea. We could always keep you covered in wet blankets and have one of the big guys run you."

I let out a laugh. "Oh, Wroahk is going to absolutely love that. Let's not let him know about that plan just yet."

"Well," Kira breaks in, "like Thivoll likes to say, he just hasn't figured out yet that you're the one in charge of him."

I laugh. "Oh, Ree, you get the polite one and the smart one? Look at you."

She really must have picked up a cat trait or two because she… preens. Literally fluffs up her hair like she's trying to make her fur more presentable.

Kira and I share a look and both start laughing. Ree's startled for a moment, then looks down at her hands and joins us.

Thinking of all of our males makes me realize I have another question… fear, really. "Ree?" I say hesitantly. "Uh, you're the nurse. So, uh, can we get pregnant? Because octopi lay eggs and I'm… not into that idea."

Both of their eyes widen. "I hadn't thought of that," Ree admits. "Which, of course, is completely crazy. My mom would be yelling at me so loud right now. It's been so crazy, but that sounds like an excuse a fifteen-year-old would make."

She pinches the bridge of her nose, then keeps talking. "Whatever. I don't know, Eli. I would say no way based on genetics, but those have clearly been altered."

Kira clears her throat. "Not to give the genali too much credit or anything, but I doubt they would sell sex slaves without including contraceptive. I mean, probably one that's easy to extract or, I guess, reprogram or something if it's nanite-based, but I just don't see most buyers wanting a bunch of half human babies."

We all let out a long sigh of relief. It makes sense, but none of us looks fully settled about it, either. I know I'm not.

It's been too much guessing since I woke up on those rocks.

A snoring sound makes us all look over to the big mound of fur near Amethyst. He must be exhausted to be sleeping so early.

Ree's face turns softer. "He's the first one I haven't sent out to do my dirty work. It feels good."

Her eyes are haunted and Kira shifts from her perch enough to sling an arm around her. "You are doing the best you can, Commander."

Ree pokes her in the ribs and then hisses and rubs at her finger. Kira sticks her tongue out at her, the odd yellow and silver swirling of her eyes still managing to show how cheeky she is.

Ree laughs and returns her embrace.

Then they both start purring and I about lose my mind.

"Do not freaking tell me you both… I… got… you… Arg!"

I really could strangle whoever was in charge of doling out this metamorphosis with my hair tentacles until the breath leaves their stupid body, but the snicker I get from Ree, and the fact that it clears the guilt off her face, is worth it.

Completely fucking unfair still, but worth it.

Soon after, the males return, but instead of everyone resting in the last hours of the evening, Kira suggests a different plan.

"Remember that genali camp we planned on raiding?" she asks Drasuk as she leans up against him and strokes the small spikes on his side.

"I do, yes."

She gets back her unhinged grin. "How about we make Wroahk a happy… uh, whatever he is?

"Happy shark man?" Ree quips.