Page 50 of Alien Devil's Wrath
I felt his anticipation mixed with wariness. Not of the ship, but of what came next. Introducing me to his brothers. His crew. His family.
The bay doors opened silently. We landed between two modified fighters, everything here clearly built for speed and violence. Good.
“They’re waiting,” Zarek said.
I could feel them—six distinct heartbeats in the bay. All Vinduthi. Except, one wasn’t quite the same. That would be Tamsin, Talon’s mate. Zarek had mentioned her during the flight.
“They think you’re alone,” I said, reading the formation. “Expecting you to report mission success and injuries.”
“Yes.”
The hatch opened with a hiss. Zarek went first—protocol, probably. I counted to three, then followed.
The bay lights were dim, but my new vision turned shadows into clarity. Five Vinduthi males stood in formation, with a human woman nearby. I recognized them from Zarek’s descriptions during our flight—his brothers, his crew. Deep violet traceries on Rylos, the leader. Emerald green on Varrick. Cobalt blue on the massive one, Talon, with his mate Tamsin beside him bearing matching blue sigils. Black traceries, barely visible, on Kallum. Gold on Brevan.
They all stared as Zarek walked toward them with me beside him.
The silence stretched. I could smell their shock—sharp and metallic. Their eyes tracked the iron grey patterns visible on my neck and arms. The designs that matched Zarek’s.
“Zarek.” Rylos broke the silence. “Report.”
“Mission successful.” Zarek pulled the Regalia from his vest, tossed it to Rylos. “Second key recovered.”
Rylos caught it without looking, his narrowed eyes fixed on me.
“And this?”
“Bronwen.” I answered before Zarek could. “His mate.”
Varrick choked. Brevan’s hand moved toward a weapon he wasn’t quite drawing. Even Talon shifted, though Tamsin touched his arm lightly.
“You claimed her.” Not a question from Rylos. Just flat acknowledgment.
“Yes,” Zarek said simply.
“During a mission. Another one? First Talon brings back Tamsin, now you?—”
“It wasn’t planned,” Talon rumbled.
“She’s human,” Brevan said. “Was human.”
“Now I’m improved.” I kept my tone clinical. “The transformation optimized every system.”
“You brought another civilian into our operations,” Rylos said.
“I brought my mate.” Zarek’s words carried finality. “Who saved my life multiple times. Who got me through security I couldn’t have navigated alone. Who killed Joric Slade.”
That got their attention.
“Slade is dead?” Talon asked.
“Very.” I let a small smile touch my lips. “Crushed trachea, severed carotid, separated vertebrae. Three seconds.”
Tamsin made a small sound—approval, I thought.
“She’s a complication,” Rylos said.
“So was I,” Tamsin said. “Complications can become assets.”
