Page 79 of Taken to Heimo
“We have been in deep discussion since we learned of Mathilda’s treason and since she vanished. We have debated at length on how to establish governance for this colony. Our initial thinking was to fold the colony into Cxrian and, once a new Bo’Raku is chosen, leave the governance of this moon colony to him or her.”
Oh comets, that is a horrible idea!I bite my lips together, but my whole body still jerks.
Raku tips his head forward and smiles. “Judging by your expression, I sense that this is not the choice you would make for your people.”
“Nox,” I blurt. “It is not.” Over my dead body.
Raku’s lips twitch at that and for a moment, I worry I’ve offended him. “It is with equal horror that your kin regarded me when I made this suggestion before them. And it was then that my Rakukanna and I determined that this would not be an acceptable solution.
“The acceptable solution however, was obvious. It only took Krisxox to suggest it the solar he returned you to us.”
Raku levels me with a stare. A hard stare full of meaning. “Xok,” I whisper, cupping my hands over my mouth. Both Miari and Kiki burst out laughing at that.
Light chuckles make their way around the room as I look around at all these people gathered. These xub’Raku gathered.
“You don’t mean…” My chest clenches. All my aches disappear. Or maybe they ignite. I feel like I’m running screaming, falling face-first over a cliff.
And that Anand is at the bottom, making sure I’m alright.
He suggested this.
My body starts to pound, a pulse quickening within me that I know spells doom…
“Hexa,” Raku says. “My Rakukanna and I would like to appoint you as Hu’Raku. You will be equal to all other xub’Raku and will govern the human moon colony as an independent, semi-autonomous planet within the Voraxian federation. You will report to no one other than myself and my Rakukanna. She will advise you on your budgets while Xhen’Raku will continue to oversee the protection of the colony until we have equipped you with your own xcleranx. Hu’Raka will be responsible for selecting said xcleranx and will do so from the new warriors he trains from the base established here.”
My face twists in confusion. Kiki is the one who says, “She doesn’t know about that yet, Raku. I had plans to show her the grounds after this meeting.”
“Then it will be done,” Raku replies.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
My hearts are clenching. My thighs are pressed together tight. My palms are sweating. “Hu’Raka?” I stammer. It takes me two tries and I flush, unused to being so inarticulate.
Miari nods, passing Dora off to Raku who places the baby easily on his shoulder. Dora looks impossibly small beneath his hands, which are entirely clawless and tender as he burps her.
“Of course. Raka are the male equivalent of Rakukanna. Krisxox would take your title. He has already accepted it.”
He’s already accepted the title.
“He’s only waiting for you.”
He’s only waiting for me.
Boom boom boom BOOM.
Oh no. The Xanaxana…I can feel her revenge coming for me.
I shiver all over as that bloodthirsty heat blooms between my hips and quickly, I reach for my tea and concentrate hard on its cold taste now that I’ve let it sit.
I squeeze my eyes shut and think of the cold plains of Nobu and Tur’Roth lashing Krisxox and that horrible oversized insect stabbing him once and then again. I think of Ashmara and falling from the sky in that horrible box and none it makes any difference to the surge of fire that wets me below the waist.
My lower lips clench and I groan. My hand knocks over the tea and all the males in the room stand up abruptly and start to move away.
Miari and Kiki share a confused look while Islu’Raku clears his throat and moves jerkily towards the door. “If it is no problem, I will take my leave…” He quickly paces out of the room while Va’Raku grabs Kiki by the arm and whispers in her ear.
Her eyes widen and that’s when it happens.
I burst into flame.“Xok!”
