Naidka has the gall to make demands, trade Amara for the ooman, Amara's ooman.

Now, she should have known better...

The half-breed caused an uproar, bringing her back here. I had no choice but to detain him.

"You'll release him, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive, he saved me."

He'd killed Bahn, and I'm appreciative of what he did for Amara, but he should have stayed hidden. Instead, he ventured into the ooman camp with her, where the hunters had gathered to search for her. They'd have ended him on sight, if I hadn't of been there.

Unconscious in his arms, my heart literally plummeted to my feet. Relieved that she was alive, I thanked him, before calling for him to be confined. Sending word to my brother, he responded, leading the hunters in the search for Naidka.

"You're not going to kill him, he's important to me, you can't."

"If you'd have been here, instead of disobeying me, this wouldn't have happened. This is your doing, he'll give his life, to protect the others.

"What, no... Vata you can't, please..."

"There's nothing to be done about it, his fate is sealed." Hurt and then anger play across her face, before she slowly makes her way past me. " What about Dominic, any news on him."

"No."

I have her guarded, followed and watched for her protection, and also because she's not to be trusted. Roaming freely, she'll get herself into trouble, trying to help someone else.

I can't help but to wonder, if being with one of our females, would be as much trouble as my ooman mate.

Chained, he's brought to me, insignificant in size, compared to the guards at his side. "Leave us."

They do as commanded, his gaze never leaves mine, as I make my inspection of him. I'd saw the markings on her body, the bite marks, no one else would dare touch her.

"Why did you come here, you knew that it was unsafe."

"Amara's impulsive, doesn't seem to worry about the consequences."

I can't stop the small smile, following his analysis of her. He's right, she's quick to act, and the results are often disastrous.

"I did it for her, she would have went after her human mate, knowing that the chances of him being alive weren't good. I had to know that she was safe."

"Her safety cost you a great deal."

"I accept responsibility for my decision."

"What is it about her, that compels one to blindly follow her, and another to take chances with his life, to ensure her safety?"

"Why would you ask me something, that you already know the answer to?" He inquires.

He loves her, a love that cost him his life. "Was it worth it?"

"Loving her? Yes, it's a shame that I couldn't continue my legacy with her, but my time spent with her was well worth it."

"You do know who she is to me?"

"Of course, but being as how I'm to meet Cetanu soon, I should be able to speak freely."

He retains some aspects of our nature high handed, proud, brave, but his size is offensive.

"Are the others like you, your height? Are there none of greater size?"

"For some reason, the gods have ruled against the half breeds, in the length category." He replies.

Then it's the god's will, that we dispose of these fraudulent duplicates of us.

"May you receive Cetanu with ease." I tell him.

"He'll be well received."

She's still not speaking to me, I'd gifted her with weapons constructed just for her, wrist blades, and a plasma gun, not even a thank you. Taking her to see some, of what the oomans consider the wonders of our planet, she's yet to show any enthusiasm.

Gigantic carnivorous plants, that she used for target practice, caves made of crystal, a forest where it rains gems, she gathered several large sacks of them, and my personal favorite, the city of Zhen, where the ancients live.

Our scholars, and geneticists, the oldest of our kind, the highest honor that one can achieve. We live long lives, and we live for the hunt, with the hopes that one day we can advance to ancient status. Most never make it to elder status, so ancient level is just a dream.

"The last time that I saw you, you were a little yautja. Now look at you, clan leader, your father must be proud." Says, Boroh.

He's one of the ancients, and a family friend.

"I can only hope, that he's admiring me from table of the gods."

"I know that he is."

His atrention's drawn to Amara, before bowing slightly to her. "And who's this lovely creature, with sad eyes?"

"My mate Amara."

"Your mate? Good, maybe you can usher in a new way of thinking, as your elder father's attempted to do. The Vohtou clan's in desperate need of a revision."

Leaving Amara poring over a virtual educational text of our history, I let Boroh give me an examination, where he feeds my body nutrients to boost my vitality.

"I'm here for more than just a friendly visit."

"Everyone who comes here, is here for something other than just a visit."

"I want you to infuse her, with our blood."

"We don't do that anymore, it's forbidden to give the oomans the gift of long life, you know this."

"I ask out of desperation, she's not happy with me."

"She's a female, are they ever truly happy? No matter what we do for them, it's never enough."

"She wants me to give her children, and if this is what will make her happy, then I'll honor her request."

My words are followed by a long silence, before he prepares a tube.

"I hope that you'll succeed, where your elder father failed."

"He didn't fail, he has a whole clan of half breeds, stemmed from his seed." I state.

"He failed in getting the clan to accept, the unification of ooman and yautja blood."

The tube suctioning my blood leaves me weak, to the point of unconsciousness.