“Honor in seeing the hunt to the end,” Kiefgr blurted out, slamming a fist to his chest in salute.
Reevar sighed, dropping his hands into his lap. “Kannatch, this is going to be a hunt worthy of songs and books.”
Xexis grimaced, “Zhat muq brotesqu.”
His pack repeated his words as they all relaxed back against the walls of the lab, staring into the floor like it could give answers.
Chapter Forty-One:
Iftherewasevera time that Aphrodite went full gear head, it was that moment. Elbow in elbow with Rexna, spread out in the loading bay, wrenches and drones whirling with soldering irons hissing nearby, they worked in tandem. Rexna completed the shell of the light compulsion cannon while Aphrodite worked on building up the internal components. The cannon took less time than upgrading everyone’s armor. Because all their armor was working platelets, there wasn’t much to work with and much they could do…so instead, they attacked the problem a different way. They created armor covers that wouldn’t suffocate their breathers and worked on better helmets. Aphrodite didn’t know what even they were trying to adapt to or defend against, but she’d be damned if she didn’t try. They said the void devoured light? So she built internal lights into their suits between the platelets and the helmet so nothing could slip between the cracks. They said the void rotted life, she added better filtration systems and light components to the covers for their filters and around their helmets.
She would break the stars if she had to ensure Xexis came home with her. This was her fight, the Brexzkit asked her to help, she wasn’t about to lose another crew because of something that was meant for her and her alone.
Aphrodite didn’t realize she was sobbing until a warm hand cupped her shoulder. She’d stripped a bolt having twisted at itso much. Rexna rubbed her shoulder tenderly, taking the item from her hands. They shook like leaves in the wind, her vision blurred with tears. “I can’t let them die.”
“I know.”
“They’re not allowed to leave me.” She choked on her own tongue, drying her tears on the back of her wrist.
“I know.”
The pair sat in relative silence as Aphrodite stared at all their work and fearedit wasn’t fucking good enough. All her tech, all her inventions, all her gadgets and gizmos could do nothing if she didn’t know the enemy they were up against.
“Mphronatch?” She jerked upright and twisted, finding Grooug stepping down into the loading bay. “Rexna, the Kannatch has requested your presence in the command deck.”
The technician bowed their head to Grooug then to Aphrodite. Aphrodite sat in the middle of their mess helplessly as the tall Vroz clambered to their feet and left the loading bay. Instead, Grooug took their place and settled down beside her. She flopped against him, head on his shoulder. Grooug sat still, a pillar, strong and ready to weather a storm.
“Mphronatch is worried about a hunter’s death. It is an honor to die on the hunt.”
“But what if I can keep you from getting hurt? What if you don’t have to die? What…” She trailed off, exhaling a shaky breath. “Why are you all okay going if you are so sure you’ll die?”
“We may not, but when you hunt, death is always possible. To be a hunter is to be bound by duty.” He explained softly,putting his head ontop of hers. She could feel the muscles in his pincers moving.
She took a deep breath, sinking against the hunter. He sat there, calm and soft as she stared out at the wasteland of tech around her. The words that came out of her mouth tumbled out. “Grooug, why don’t you want a mate?”
He snorted, “Hunt is my priority.”
“Mmm, so you don’t want any distractions?” she teased, peeling her face off his shoulder.
“Distractions get you killed.” His words rang through her deeply. She jerked to look at his face. His eyes were far off, staring into the stars as they sped toward the void. After a long moment, he spoke, “My father was in danger. My mother took a killing blow to save him. She died in the hunt, an honor. But my father missed her all his days. He died years later of a broken heart. Mate’s are two halves of a whole, and when one is gone, the other withers.”
Aphrodite wrapped a hand around his bicep and smiled softly as he glanced at her. “So, you’re afraid of losing them in a hunt?”
“I fear nothing…but I know pain. I witnessed that pain. And it’s pain I want to avoid.” His voice didn’t waver, but his gaze darted down to where their hips met, then to the mess around them. Without having to motion, he was referencing the ache in her chest as well. Not just his parents, but her pain.
“It’s not all pain,” she whimpered, shifting to pick up one of her many messes. Poking absentmindedly at the pieces, not sure how to tell him, despite the pain…Despite the worry and the heartache, despite everything she would never trade having met Xexis for anything.
“But pain is the strongest.” He squeezed prodded her with a finger. “You should go be with the Kannatch; you’ve honored us with your technology.”
And so, Aphrodite scraped herself up off the floor and avoided all the traps of the armor and tech around her. Climbing up the steps, inches before she reached the bridge, she stopped. Xexis froze, mid-step down. She smiled. He softened, breathing a heavy exhale and stepping backward. She followed him up onto the bridge, then back into the bunks. Pulling him by the hand to the back wall of the ship before tossing herself into his arms. He engulfed her, holding her tight.
“My Mate,” he sighed.
“Just, please,” she begged, nuzzling her face into his throat. “Just don’t talk about it. If we talk about it, I’ll convince myself it’s hopeless. So, let me pretend this can’t possibly go wrong.”
He nodded. Pressing his cheek against the side of her head, they sank to the floor in each other’s arms. Aphrodite pretended they were at home. They were in their rooms, cuddled up in their bed, lingering in that precious time before he had to go to court and waking up. She clutched him hard and begged the stars to help them.
Have mercy, she pleaded.See us through this, she thought as loud as she could,keep them safe.
