Chapter 1
Pyravor never saw it coming. I launched myself from the shelf of the cliff, gliding down silently before I spread my wings and was on him, claws out and fangs bared. He spun, snarling, but I was quicker. I landed, claws on his back, fangs at his neck, taking him down in the way our ancestors had taken prey down for thousands of years.
He wasn’t alone, though. Zyvar stalked me, using Pyravor’s foolishness as his cover. With a powerful flap of my wings, I launched myself in the air, twisting around so I could deliver a kick. My second in command was fast and my kick only grazed him, still it was enough to send him stumbling a step. That was all I needed. I lunged after him, slicing towards his throat. He bent back, proving the flexibility of the smaller male, and pumped his wings, using them to dodge me and come at my side, slashing at me as his wings propelled him forward.
Pyravor joined Zyvar. I battled them, growls and the sound of slicing flesh the only noise disrupting the darkness. All animals, predators and prey, had fled when we’d started our training.
They worked in unison to pin me against the rocks so my wings wouldn’t have the space needed to help me move, but I never let them get an edge. It was an admirable effort though, and I breathed heavily.
The nearly imperceptible swish of wings above had us all tensing, gazes to the night sky. A dark shape blotted out the soft silver moonlight. His scent identified him as one of my own.
“Captain.” I rumbled when he landed in front of me.
Captain Jzulyk inclined his head and clapped his wings together once in respect. “I’m sorry to have to interrupt your training, but the humans are on the move.”
Anger burned through my veins and a low growl sat in my chest. They’d been dangerous pests in the galaxy ever since they learned of the existence of other species and joined the intergalactic community.
We initially attempted to form a mutually agreeable relationship, especially since our quadrants are close, only a week apart by fast ship. Ultimately it proved unsuccessful and ever since they were responsible for the death of many vorpyr. If they were on the move, we would monitor their actions. Luckily, Jzulyk reported that they were not heading anywhere near us, instead going to one of the Intergalactic Oversight Commission’s neutral planets on the outskirts of Quadrant 9. I wondered why they were going out that far. It sounded like they were doing fine in forging trade agreements with other species. We needed to keep an eye on that. Trade agreements were one thing, alliances, including agreements to support each other during conflict, would need to be violently opposed. We could not have our closest planetary neighbors do more damage to our vorpyrren.
“Details.”
Zyvar and Pyravor stepped closer.
“Our spies fear they’re up to something. Their Interplanetary Consortium’s military has been more active.” His eyes flashed. “I have it on good authority that they are running training sessions on how to take down a flying opponent.”
This time a snarl did rip through my chest. The other two echoed my sentiment.
“They don't know enough about us to simulate fighting one of us.” I let out a dark laugh, low and cold. “If they try anything, they will be in for a brutal surprise.”
The analysis was done. I gazed wistfully out at the villagers we’d spoken to. Analyzing and finding ways to preserve this endangered language made my heart sing, but the trip had been short. Too short, in my research loving opinion.
“You always get that look each time you have to go home after fieldwork.” Dr. Isly joined me at the landing site where we had stacked our black duffels, waiting for the helicopter. She pushed strands of her unruly black and gray hair back into her ponytail.
I offered her a small smile. “It’s true. I never think we have enough time in the field. But short or not, I really missed this. Thank you for inviting me to come.”
Her expression was full of distaste. “Why they’ve kept you stuck behind a desk for so long and keep excluding you from the work you should be doing is beyond me.”
I grimaced. “It’s my own fault for throwing such a fuss when the Consortium Military took my research. Now I swear I’m on some ban list.”
“It was historic research, Jacqueline. Very few have been able to study the cultures and languages of alien species, and none have tried to study the vorpyr given, uh, that we don’t get along at the moment.” The understatement of the year.
“You’re right, but it still got me on their bad side. The dean wouldn’t tell me the details, only that it was strongly suggested that I stay at the university teaching instead of going out on field missions.”
She snorted. “What nonsense. What did you do to warrant a reaction like that? You never told me the entire story.”
I had tried suing, I tried using the Quadrant 4.7 Freedom of Human Knowledge statute, I’d even made a stink about it online and had other professors up in arms about it. Everything and anything that I could use to get my work back. Suddenly the social chatter about it died down and lawyers stopped even taking my calls. The matter was one of Interplanetary Security and I had no grounds, I was told. Jaron had to drag me out of my drunk stupor after the multiple days I’d spent depressed, and I still hadn’t forgiven him for dunking me face first in a cold fountain. I swear I wasn’t as drunk as he accused me of being.
I left out the part about the my-world-is-ending phase of the whole thing but told her the rest. She didn’t need to think I was an alcoholic. I still couldn’t drink scotch after that.
“My goodness. Your research was simply on their culture, right?”
I nodded. “Past civilization to be exact.”
“It’s such a shame.”
The whirring of a helicopter had us shielding our eyes as we looked up. It was time to go. I sent a longing glance back at the few people who were waving goodbye and lifted my hand.
It was three weeks after I got back from the trip with Dr. Isly and the days were dragging.
