The question of Cassidy.
* * * *
After his session with Ilid, Degorsk flew to the island headquarters of the fleet. He arrived at Tranis’ office. After an affectionate greeting, he settled in the seat across the desk from his Dramok.
“Ilid doesn’t hallucinate the Darks after the fact, thank the ancestors. If he did, I’d be a lot more pessimistic about his recovery. He does jump at shadows though…as we saw on the recorded footage, the aliens look similar, except for the tentacles.” Degorsk shuddered. Ilid’s description of the Darks scurrying around his spyship creeped him out. “He’s constantly checking his peripheral vision to make sure no one in his vicinity is being ridden.”
“Poor kid,” Tranis sighed. “You can help him, though?”
“As long as the creatures don’t show up here. He’s terrified for good reason, if what you’ve told me is true.”
“I wish Admiral Hobato would take it as seriously.”
“Have him sit down and talk to Ilid. That’ll convince him, get him over this stubborn streak he’s developed.” Degorsk scowled, irritated at fleet bureaucracy. He liked Hobato on a personal level, but as a representative of the fleet, he was no fan.
“If I decide to bring Cassidy in as a scientific consultant, she should see the recordings of your sessions with Ilid,” Tranis said. “Do you think he’d agree to it?”
“If it’ll keep the Darks out of the empire, he’ll probably be fine. I’ll ask.” Degorsk gave his clanmate a level stare. “I might not be okay when it comes to involving her, however. She doesn’t need the stress.”
“I don’t have to remind a doctor what the studies say about human women and pregnancy. She isn’t as fragile as your fears tell you.” Tranis’ gaze was gentle. “Besides, she wouldn’t find researching alien beings from another dimension upsetting. She lives for that shit.”
“She’d find Ilid’s condition distressing. I found it nerve-wracking, and I’m trained for traumatic encounters.” Degorsk gave vent to some of the stress. “We’re so fucked if those things make it here. Totally fucked.”
“Cassidy could help us avoid it. You’re a lot of the reason she’s as tough as she is.”
Degorsk waved him off. “There’s tough, then there’s facing impending doom. Hey, when did you become the optimist of this clan?”
Tranis laughed. “When you started freaking out over fatherhood, apparently. You’ve been a wreck since Cassidy decided to continue the pregnancy.”
Degorsk opened his mouth to deny his assessment, but there was no sense in it. Tranis was right. “Great, now you’re a therapist to boot. I guess I’ll retire and run off to live in a cave.”
“You might as well stick around. We’d follow you wherever you go.”
“No escape, huh?” He grinned, a hint of his happier nature peeking through. “It’s nice to be indispensable.”
“You should have
figured out you are years ago, my Imdiko.”
* * * *
Only three days away! Pre-order now: Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, print
Time
is running out to halt the Darks’ march to the Kalquorian Empire’s
annihilation.
Finally home on Kalquor, Dramok Ilid is haunted by his encounter with the Darks, which he barely survived. His struggle far from over, Ilid’s sanity and the empire’s existence hang on a quickly unraveling thread. When he learns the Darks have arrived on Kalquor, even his family’s love may not be able to keep him from an unthinkable end.
On Earth II, head of planetary security Nobek Kuran’s hands are full: meeting his potential in-laws, training his replacement, and keeping tabs on a rogue lieutenant governor with a secret agenda. His troubles are only beginning when a deadly attack on those he loves drives him to the brink of murder. Meanwhile, spy Nobek Selt finds himself growing far too close to his subject, reporter Blythe Nelson. Does his clan dare to romance a woman devoted to uncovering the truth, including their secret activities on her world?
Having wiped out the entire Bi’is civilization, the Darks have seized control of the Galactic Council of Planets and attempt to bring the Kalquorian Empire to its knees. Clans Tranis and Piras are desperate to stop the enemy from destroying Kalquor and its allies. Can Hope Nath and Chief Engineer Lokmi capture a lethal enemy capable of passing through all known barriers?
Releasing January 26
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