Goraath stood in the doorway of the guest room, looking at the space they’d prepared. Clean sheets. Clear surfaces. A window that let in the cold morning air. It looked nothing like the room his parents had shared. All the personality had been stripped away, packed into crates or stored in closets. Now it was just... empty. Waiting.
His datapad chimed from the kitchen. Probably the warriors confirming the female’s arrival time. Or logistics about the transport route and where to meet them.
He didn’t go check. Not yet.
Instead, he walked out the back door and stood on the porch, looking out over his land. The valley spread before him, purple crops swaying in the morning breeze. The krulaati grazed in their enclosure. The mountains rose in the distance, snow-capped peaks catching the first rays of sunlight.
His.
All of it his. Built by his parents, maintained by him, preserved through years of solitude and hard work. But in a few hours, he’d have to share it with a human female who probably wouldn’t last a week.
The thought should have been comforting. Should have made this easier.
It didn’t.
The datapad chimed again. Insistent and annoying as draanth. With a sigh, he went inside to check it. It wouldn’t shut up until he did. He suspected Kaalden had coded it that way just to be annoying.
ARRIVAL CONFIRMED - 1300 HOURS
TRANSPORT WILL ARRIVE IN THE COLONY CENTER
TRANSPORT WILL DEPART AFTER 24 HOUR SETTLEMENT PERIOD
Reading it twice, he set the datapad down.
Three hours.
Grabbing his jacket, he headed back outside.
Three hours until she arrived.
Three hours until he lost the last thing he had left to protect.
His solitude.
Chapter 2
The landing gear hit ground with a jarring thud that rattled Juni’s teeth.
She gripped the armrest and watched through the view port as the colony center came into view. Buildings clustered together like they were huddling for warmth… low structures made of dark stone and metal. Beyond them, purple fields stretched toward the mountain ranges that looked like teeth biting into an orange sky.
“We’re here.” Finley’s voice shook.
The outer airlock door opened and cold air rushed in, sharp enough to steal breath. Juni stepped onto the ramp behind Val and shivered as the wind cut straight through her standard-issue tunic. It found every gap in the fabric and burrowed into her skin.
Holy shit, it was cold.
The colony center spread out before them. There were maybe fifty buildings, all utilitarian and weathered, and in front of them a crowd of tall, broad Latharian men.
Her stomach twisted. They were all out there. Waiting. Watching.
Including him.
A Latharian man stepped forward from the crowd. He was older, with silver threading through dark hair that fell past his shoulders.
“Welcome to KT-6174.” His voice carried across the landing pad. “I am Kaalden, colony leader. We are grateful for your presence and your willingness to help our community survive.”
Her throat tightened suddenly. Grateful. That was more than she’d expected.
