Page 56 of Hope Forged
He abandoned them after they docked on the scimitar, a need to comm his brother driving him to return to his quarters. Once the door sealed him inside, he tapped the display vid. But first…
“Adviser Kanzo et Lenzo,” he said and waited.
“Illan, what a wonderful surprise.” The Etterian grinned at him, his ice-blue eyes startling against his bronze skin. Caused by the Ethera, his dark blue eyes had reverted to ice blue when he met his truemate. That had been another unexpected side effect of the Durn mutations. “Were you successful?”
“Indeed.” Illan offered a polite smile. “More than I dreamed I would be. I found Durns, Kanzo, but I need your help.”
“Whatever it is, Etteria will assist.” Kanzo’s expression was sincere.
Illan’s chest swelled, and tears burned the backs of his eyes. He’d taken their reverence for granted, not fully understandingwhat their support had come to mean to him, to the Durn legacy. “Ziamee has a creature she holds dear to her heart. She will not leave this planet without him. Would it be possible to create a habitat on a battleship for it to live in for the duration of the journey to Issneen?” The direction his life would take rested on Kanzo’s agreement. “Ulta, share what we know about Seba.”
“Sending the data now,” the male said. It was protocol for the pilot to be listening in case assistance was needed.
“A new creature we know little about?” Kanzo glanced down, then met Illan’s gaze. “We have a few battleships in your vicinity. I will task them to begin the conversion of a disused barracks. I am certain our lima kuu will be interested in this creature.” He laughed, dropping his gaze, then raising it, no doubt reading something off his O.D.I. “Indeed, they are. Lima Brac has been communicating with them. They are powering up a scimitar as we speak and will meet you at your location.”
“My thanks, Kanzo.” Illan kept his shoulders stiff, fighting the urge to slump in relief.
“Ziamee?” The Etterian male arched a black brow. “Is she of importance to you?”
“Perhaps.” Illan hummed, his thoughts spiraling outward. “I must gift her mother with something precious in exchange as per the Durn custom.”
“Having never dealt with what Ava calls in-laws, I cannot advise. Nor am I familiar with Durn mating rituals.”
“You have helped more than you know. My thanks, Kanzo. Please convey my gratitude to King Xeus.”
“I suggest you comm Queen Macera before she sends out a search party.”
Illan laughed. “I did promise.”
“I shall transfer this comm.”
“Appreciated.” Illan let himself slouch as he waited. The vid was solid black, then flickered to life. He straightened.
“Illan!” Macy bounced on the spot, tossing her unruly curls.
He grinned. Along with Quin, she was one of his favorite humans.
“Well, what happened? What was behind the signal?” she asked.
He didn’t have the time to go into all the details which she’d no doubt expect of him. So, instead, he said, “Durns. More than that, I may have found my truemate.”
She squealed.
“What is it?” Xeus boomed off-vid.
“It’s Illan,” Macy said, the brightest smile warming her features. “He’s met his Dar Eth.”
“Truth?” Xeus appeared on vid. “All is well, Illan?”
“It is, indeed, my king.” He explained why he’d reached out to Kanzo and that they were heading home soon.
“What’s a Seba?” Macy frowned. “My O.D.I. says it has insufficient data.”
“Ulta, where is the beast?” Illan asked the display vid.
“In the common, snoring so loud, it is causing my right eye to twitch.”
“Excellent,” Illan said and flicked the comm from the display vid to his O.D.I. “Come, let me show you.”
