The Palace, Kozantei, Fourth Quarter, Andromeda Galaxy.

Zogan

Zogan sighed wearily. He sat up and looked out at the glowing moons that peeked through his withdrawn drapes. His mind was too busy, thoughts of Mya and war seemed to waltz around in there, locked into a never-ending dance. He rubbed his horn and climbed out of bed. If he couldn't rest then there was only one place he would go to, the training courtyard. He hastily pulled on his armor vest and pants with his boots. Zar harrumphed when Zogan passed by him, showing his obvious displeasure at being awoken, yet he still followed Zogan through the darkened corridors of his home, footsteps near silent. Stepping into the courtyard, his hearts pulsed as he looked up at Xentos, Mya's favorite moon.

Are you safe? What will we find in the morning? He worried, the inner sacred forest was not even remotely welcoming to those of Kozantei, far less for humans. Mya is strong, she is a survivor, and she will survive, a kinder inner voice whispered. He desperately wanted to believe it, his mind shied away from thoughts of the monsters that dwelled in the forest, some so horrific that they were the nightmares of the most seasoned warriors. He'd never questioned his world's customs until now, why the hell did they send their 'would be' warriors to face them?

He sighed and hefted up a curved sword, its black blade glittering wickedly in the moon's pale light. Be safe Mya, whatever you do. He pushed it out into the air, wishing he had her gift so that the thought and emotions would actually reach her, gods, he had no idea what he would do if something were to happen to her. He went into a simulator and set it to one of the highest levels. He wanted to be exhausted when he was finished, hoping sleep would at last find him when it was over.

A soft whirring filled the large square room, the four blank grey walls giving way to the illusion of a burning field, strewn with bodies, battling war crafts filled the skies along with the loud boom and crash of lasers fired. The ground below his feet vibrated. Looking around he noted the collapsing infrastructure of the simulation he'd been thrust into. The simulations were perfect for training all levels of warriors, everything was an illusion but that didn't mean the robot enemies created wouldn't kill you, it all depended on the level that was set when one entered the room. A shadow beast formed before him, mimicking a race that lived in the second quadrant, they were known for their aversion to light and closed culture. No one had ever visited their home world except for his father who'd been able to procure them as an ally to the Kozan many anums ago. The beast lunged at him morphing into two beings, the only way to kill the shadow creature was to sever its head from the rest of the body. So that is what he did. He descended into his gift, not really seeing but feeling his enemies as they moved and surrounded him. Everything a red tinged blur as his blade sung, detaching heads from shoulders, cutting them down in quick succession. His body moved swiftly and smoothly, a perfectly honed machine. It had been taught the dance of destruction and reveled in it.

At the end of the simulation a slow clap filled the room, Zogan ascended from his gift haze, looking around warily he saw both Azazel and Ravanna leaning against the wall, his brow bone lifted. Azazel was the one who clapped, while Ravanna sported a half smile on his face.

"Why are you up?" asked Zogan, whose chest rose and fell rapidly, he walked out of the room and into the cool air of the courtyard. The breeze caressed his raised scales as they eased back to their original flat texture.

"Imagine my dismay when Mara," Azazel's face morphed into fake annoyance, "woke me to say that someone was using the sim, unauthorized."

Ravanna snickered, "I imagine she didn't wake you gently."

Azazel turned an unamused gaze on Ravanna who laughed outright. Zogan chuckled and took a deep swig from his bottle. Azazel and Ravanna's kyeets were now trying to invite Zar to a game of chase, Zar rested his head on his feet and blinked up at them, breathing out harsh curls of smoke. He was not interested.

"Why are you awake brother?" asked Ravanna whose watchful eyes didn't miss the tremor of Zogan's hand as he drank his brae.

Azazel plopped onto one of the stone benches littering the yard, "Isn't it obvious?" His lips curled into a smirk, ready to tease Zogan who inwardly groaned.

Ravanna's eyes narrowed, "What's obvious?"

Azazel shook his head, tongue flicking out, fllt. Ravanna was always oblivious to anything other than battle. Zogan pitied the person who would have to get his attention to mate with him, getting Ravanna's mind to be on anything else but planning and protecting would be a lifelong, difficult task.

"He feels love... isn't that right Zogan?" Azazel asked, his face growing uncharacteristically serious. Zogan pondered the words, love? He didn't think that was the correct sentiment, what he felt for Mya was more than just the puny word. His feelings were as deep and true as his world's oceans, there was nothing that he would not do for her. She'd become his light and warmth, a steady burning fire that had kept him warm during the cold unsettling nights when war and death had plagued his mind relentlessly. She gave of herself so willingly, so completely he'd wondered how he could've ever thought to care or proclaim love for any female that was before her. She was everything, his beginning and end. She was his mate.

The word clanged through him as loud as a knell and he simply responded with, "She is my mate."

Ravanna's head snapped up at that, while Azazel just smiled knowingly, as if he'd already figured it out solars ago.

"Have you told her?" asked Azazel, still serious, peering up at Zogan. Ravanna still wore a look of confusion and his eyes bounced between his closest friends.

Zogan shook his head, "We didn't speak of it before she left, I'm not even sure she knows," he sat on the floor near Zar and ran his hand along his snout.

"Wait, what?" asked Ravanna, "The human female?"

Azazel, cut his eyes at Ravanna, "Ravanna, no offense, but you're really dense."

Ravanna snorted and shrugged his shoulder, "I just didn't think that it would ever happen...a mate for Zogan." He pondered the thought, and a small smile found its way onto his face.

"I do not know what to do..." said Zogan, his eyes fixed on Zar, "My hearts ache, what if something happens to her? How can I live life knowing that there are risks everywhere? How do you do it Azazel? How-"

Azazel held up his hand cutting off Zogan's rambling as it began to increase in volume. He was at once grateful for the interruption, sure that he'd been headed into a full-blown panic attack, his chest expanded and fell as he took some deep breaths.

"First off, you and I both know that Mara and Mya are not the same." Azazel began, his eyes softening.

Ravanna nodded, "I don't think there is anything that could kill your Mara, believe me it's been tried."

Azazel frowned and his retort was cut off with a rumbling reply from Zogan. "You are not helping."

They both looked sheepish, a little bit. Zogan sighed, the anxiety he felt about Mya's safety was going to send him mad. How could a male respect his mate's wishes and let her be free to do as she chose. Especially if it meant going headstrong into the cursed Zon hive-quarters.

Azazel gazed down at him, his eyes full of understanding, "She is more than capable, even Mara has said so."

"And we all know how hard that must've been for her to do." Ravanna sniped as he leaned away from Azazel to avoid the elbow aiming for his ribs.

"I know that she is, but my hearts seem to be unable to accept that as fact," Zogan rubbed at his chest, "it is unsettling."

Azazel nodded and grinned, "Welcome to the life of being bond mated...my advice," he paused, "Be there to protect her, and when she needs you make sure that she knows that you are always by her side, her warrior, lover and friend."

Zogan and Ravanna blinked at Azazel, not at all accustomed to words of wisdom from the wise cracking soldier. Ravanna's mouth opened but it was Zogan who said, "Very wise words, brother."

Azazel nodded; his expression forged into mocking self-importance. Zogan cracked a smile, this was the Azazel he was used too. His panicked thoughts eased a little in Azazel's and Ravanna's presence, he was thankful for both finding him in his time of need.

"I'm the only single one left, what am I? A piece of rotting gorvhep fruit? Why do I get picked last?" Ravanna muttered.

Azazel laughed and smacked him hard on the back causing Ravanna to pitch forward, Zogan burst out laughing. Azazel was brawny, wider than the two of them, he felt sorry for Ravanna being on the receiving end of that slap. "If you opened your eyes, I think you'd find more than enough females and males that want your attention."

Zogan nodded, Ravanna had been very forthcoming about his sexuality. He was open to anyone, sharing that all he cared about were emotional connections rather than what was present under someone's dressings.

Ravanna huffed at this, oblivious as usual, "Who? What? Where?"

"Yavik has had an interest in you for a very long time Rav, truly you must have realized?"

At the mention of Yavik's name Ravanna's pupils danced, blowing up and shrinking rapidly.

Interesting.

"Yavik?" His brow bones drew together in confusion, "I-I hadn't realized..."

Azazel shook his head, "Of course not, you wouldn't know someone was interested in you unless they held a sign over their heads and waved it in front of you!"

"That is true Rav, Mya has told me that he practically swoons over you, maybe you should try talking to him as more than work colleagues." Zogan offered.

Mya would be so proud of him, she'd told him about Yavik's crush on his logistics lieutenant so that he could find a way to bring it to Ravanna's attention, who knew the opportunity would present itself tonight? She'd been tired of seeing Yavik try to subtly get closer to Ravanna and had been ready to confront him about ignoring her friend, she'd only been talked down when Zogan had let her know about Ravanna's cluelessness with all things love and romance. His upbringing had been.... difficult.

Ravanna placed his forearms on his knees, his eyes grew distant. Azazel and Zogan shared a look. The look on Ravanna's face was the same one he wore when he was planning for battle. Intense concentration and calculation, Zogan already felt sorry for Yavik and all that he was about to receive, he hoped Yavik could and would survive Ravanna's full blown attentions. Now that he would finally get it.

Azazel and Ravanna had left Zogan alone with his thoughts a few quints ago. Zogan sat next to a dozing Zar on the soft grassy ground, and still gazed up at the moons that lit the sky, feeling connected to his mate through them. He felt better after his talk with both Azazel and Ravanna. His mate was strong and brilliant, more than capable, he repeated those facts internally like a mantra. He trusted that she would make it through her trials and everything else that was to follow. He refused to accept that life would bring them together just to tear them apart. Zar sat up suddenly and growled, the vibration thrumming through Zogan's chest, he smelled her before he saw her.

Aini.

She stalked into the light wearing a slip of a dress, so sheer that nothing of her body was left to imagination. Zogan's calm vanished like a wisp of smoke. He didn't want to deal with this, not when his hearts were filled with a cautious happiness at the thought of him finding his mate.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice low, sultry but it rubbed across Zogan's senses as slimy and pretentious.

Zar looked at her intently, lips frozen into a grimace, tail whipping deceptively calm on the ground. His every sense was trained onto Aini, who shivered under the gaze of the kyeet but kept her eyes trained dutifully on Zogan.

"Why are you here?" he said, as calm as he could. Whenever Aini sensed she could get a reaction out of him she was like a blood beast on a scent. He would not give her any of that satisfaction.

She sauntered forward, hips swaying. "I'm here for you, what do you need?"

Zar growled louder at her approach and she froze on the spot.

"Whatever I have need of, believe me, you cannot provide it."

She did her fake pout, forehead creasing, "This has never been the case before... don't you remember? Are we still caught up in the past?"

Zogan rose from the ground and placed a hand on Zar who was absolutely ready to tear her apart.

"I'm tired, I can't deal with you or any of your filth right now." He strode across the yard leaving her standing under the moon, resembling a goddess of moonlight under its silver rays.

"I'll forgive you for that," her voice carried across the space to him, "Our love is strong enough to survive this Zogan, or have you forgotten the things that you've promised me?"

Zogan looked over his shoulder, taking in the sight of her, the curves of her body, the long glistening black hair and shook his head.

"I never loved you, and I never will."

He left, with Zar following closely behind, albeit unwillingly, he wanted to attack the female that dared to approach his master without his permission. They were both walking along the hallways of the palace towards Zogan's room, unaware of the crazed smile that crept across Aini's face at their retreating figures.