Alien General's Baby (Brion Brides 7)(21)

"I just called your way of life ridiculous," Naima pointed out, but to her surprise, Braen simply smiled.

"You are not the first and I am not a man who lets someone's disagreement shake my beliefs," he said, grinning. "I am a general. I am used to fighting for what I want. I don't want you to be pliant and spineless. Brions like spirit and you have a lot of it, to say those things to my face."

Naima groaned slightly, dropping her head against his chest. The sense of warmth that spread through her felt nice, even if it only added to the mounting confusion that stirred within her.

Then something happened that she absolutely hadn't expected. The general backed away from her, giving her a slight nod. The absence of his scent and closeness was so abrupt that Naima almost reached out to pull him back, but her dignity and resolve finally made an appearance.

"I won't deny that this is not what I want," Braen said with finality. "Whatever you think you know about the Brion bonds, you have still much to discover. I will give you everything if it is in my power to give and as I've said before, it is a lot.

“You are right about the Fearless. Right now, it's a more pressing matter. Perhaps, after we've brought peace to the galaxy, you might consider me again. I will not push you on the matter. For now."

There was a joke in there somewhere, a biting humor about Naima's impossibly high standards. She felt relieved. In truth, she'd expected a much tougher fight, more arguments, less reason.

Nothing like what happened. The words Braen had spoken were... genuine and heart-felt. They made her at once incredibly sad and happier than she could ever remember being. As much as he was controlled by what he thought was right, there was still reason in him. That gave her hope.

Hope for what, exactly?

She bit her tongue before she could launch into arguments with either herself or the general.

"Are you afraid?" Braen asked suddenly.

So much for romance. Thank the Gods.

"You heard Audrey," Naima replied, forcing herself to smile, and then sigh without any coaxing at all. "I mean, yes, yes, I am. Who wouldn't be a little intimidated?"

Braen's gaze told her the answer.

Brions didn't fear anything. At least not this one. Whether it was an immortal monster or the weight of love eternal, he was fine with every and any challenge.

At least on one account, Naima wasn’t quite so brave.

In any other situation, she would have rolled her eyes at that notion of Brion fearlessness. But she was far too close to the source of the rumors to doubt them now. Braen, like the rest of the generals, really didn’t fear anything. It was strangely comforting.

"Oh no," Naima protested. "Don't give me that again. I'm not going to climb under the bed and cry, but I think it's only fair to be afraid of the Fearless. Sensible, even. It’s in the name, after all. I would be pretty insane not to worry."

"I don't think it's unjustified to fear it," Braen said with what passed for a shrug. "Fear is healthy and as the name implies, the monster lacks that.

“I suggest you read the report of Audrey Price and the paladin, Tieran. They had to beat the Fearless back time and time again, because it kept coming at them at all costs. It is a beast with a singular mind. It sets its sight upon something and approaches it with all the subtlety of a missile."

"So kind of like a Brion then?" Naima said, grinning a little.

Braen smirked, but there was a warning glare in his eyes.

"We really do have a reputation," he said with a mocking sigh. "We are determined, yet even Brions can back down if the need calls for it.

“Even so, it is okay for you to be concerned. We have a daunting task ahead of us, but I want to tell you something. The Palians believe the Fearless can't be killed. They think I'm going to imprison it. I think that's an amazingly short-sighted goal. There will always be someone who could be persuaded to release it when I turn my back."#p#分页标题#e#

"You have got to be kidding," Naima blurted out before she could stop herself.

He can’t be saying what I think he’s saying…

"I wish I was." Braen said and the smile on his lips turned cruel and vicious for a second. "There is trouble already. The Chali Fleet has contacted us and are inbound."

"The traders?" Naima asked, frowning, noticing how Braen's eyes lit up when she spoke of them with obvious disdain. "Even they wouldn't be that idiotic."

"You'd be surprised," Braen said. "They have always messed with forces they can't understand, much less control. It's what differentiates them from the Palians, although they share the same insatiable curiosity."

"And you'll still meet them?" Naima asked, surprised. "Why?"

"I know my enemies. The Chali are one of the most dangerous, even though they pose no military threat. They are intelligent, which is not the same as wise. I want to keep a very close eye on them as we proceed.

“There is something at play here if they dare to approach me. We need to find out what that is before I confront the Fearless. It is dangerous enough alone, I don't need to be stabbed in the back by its allies.”

Braen paused for a moment, as if choosing his words next. Naima found herself hanging off of every syllable he spoke.

"I tell you this so you would know what lies ahead for us," the general continued, making Naima think guiltily about the secrets she kept. "Everything I plan and everything that might happen. It will all be for you, my gesha. Remember that. You come first and always will. We will settle this when the Fearless is dead, once and for all."

Of course he’s saying exactly that… He plans to kill something that can’t be killed. Great. That’ll work. And then he’ll claim me as his blushing bride and everything will be rainbows and unicorns from there on.

Naima was about to say something, but thought better of it. She'd argued enough for one day. Besides, Brions didn't lie, especially about their sacred bonds. Never about their fated. Everybody from Terra knew that.

Hell, the Brion generals and their human mates were the closest thing they could get to fairytales back on Terra those days. Real modern love stories, marked with blood and loss and victory. Every woman wanted one of their own.

Naima had never wanted to get one and now that she had, it was everything the stories had promised. All the glory, and all the pain. The price one paid for the promise of eternal love was still too high.

Even vanquishing something that could not die seemed like an easier and more feasible task than believing in love eternal, which was fair on both parties.





12





Braen





The Benevolent sailed through the emptiness of space, surrounded at all sides by magical, undiscovered worlds that no one had ever seen. If you looked hard enough and crossed the borders of the Galactic union  , that was.

Braen thought about those mysterious places often. Generally, Brions were very attached to their own system and Briolina in particular. The home world was their true mother much more so than the women who had given birth to them. It was nothing personal, Brions simply felt a deep connection to the beautiful, feral planet that shared their wild spirit.

He was different, though.

For a while now, Braen had considered asking the Elders for their approval to take his army and go explore beyond the union  's borders. After all, other species did it all the time, it was how the union   grew. Only his gaze was aimed even farther, leaving the troublesome borders behind and going to places no one even dreamed of.

As with everything, Naima put even that part of his life into new light.

Forever pushing boundaries, but now with a purpose.

The thought brought a smile to Braen's lips as he looked out of the view screen on the wall of the great flagship. Waiting for his gesha, the general felt truly excited for the first time in as long as he could remember. After he had killed the Fearless and made sure Naima was safe, he imagined they would fly away together and discover all that uncharted space had to offer.

Any uninhabited worlds belonged to their discoverer by galactic right. Of course, Brions would claim any new systems he discovered, but Braen would make sure he was given what he wanted. His own corner of the universe, for one.

As she entered the small hall where they met every morning, Braen was struck by just how gorgeous Naima was. Not only her body, which enticed him more and more every time he laid eyes on her, but her spirit, shining brighter than any of the stars.#p#分页标题#e#

Even dressed in a dark green gown that matched her eyes, with softly sparkling jewels in her red hair, the general still couldn't tear his eyes away from her smile. It was pure and warm and freely given.

"Good morning, General," Naima said, walking to his side.

It hurt to hear her call him that, but not as much as seeing her unhappy would have.

"Miss Jones," Braen replied, as she'd asked him. "How did you sleep? I hope the equipment I had installed in your quarters isn't disturbing you."

"Like a baby," Naima said cheerfully, looking rested and much happier for it. "I barely notice the sounds. Actually, I think they're kind of a lullaby, singing me to sleep."

Braen raised an eyebrow.

"They're there to protect you," he pointed out, "however I'm glad you are okay with the safety measures. Are you sure you won't permit guards in your rooms? I trust the sensors to pick up any sounds of distress, yet they're only machines. A living being is a different matter. They could distinguish between a gasp and a cry for help."