Page 42 of A Kiss of Frost

The Fereg drifted closer and he tensed, trying to remember what weaponry lay behind the illusion. Long limbs - thin, strong, and clawed. The Fereg did not tend to favor weapons, preferring to rely on the power of illusion and their own natural abilities which might give him an advantage.

His hand trembled on the hilt of the knife. A hand that had not trembled since the day his first training master had him hold a sword at attention for an entire day. But the Fereg bore his female’s face and even though it was only a pale imitation, he could not bring himself to strike her. The horrible facsimile smiled.

“Afraid, Tandroki?”

Keffi chittered beneath him but he was afraid to look down, afraid to take his eyes off the Fereg. She suddenly screeched, a grating, high-pitched cry and the illusion faded, replaced by her true form - a bony skeletal frame and writhing tentacles surrounding a gaping sharp-toothed mouth. His grip tightened, and he slashed the blade across her neck. Her body collapsed and the ship shuddered.

His female raced over and clutched his arm.

“Are you all right? Is she really dead?”

“Yes, thank Moroz.”

He pulled her into his arms, his hands shaking again, from relief this time.

“I almost failed you. I knew it was only an illusion, but I could not bring myself to strike.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m glad Keffi was here.”

“Keffi?” he asked, remembering the noises he’d heard.

She gave a choked giggle. “He bit her. That’s when the illusion faded.”

He looked down to find the drone at his feet, purple blood still staining the white fur around his mouth. Somehow, he was not surprised. Drones were not supposed to act autonomously, but Keffi had surprised him time and time again.

“You are a very worthy warrior,” he told the pika solemnly, and he was quite sure Keffi understood.

“I can’t believe his ship has been here all this time, buried in the ice.”

“I’m not sure it was buried in the ice. At least not originally. I think the Fereg caused the ice to form in order to hide the ship,” he said looking around. Despite its age, the ship appeared remarkably intact.

“And she’s been feeding off of people this whole time?”

“Yes. I suspect she was feeding off of me even before she called me here. That is why I had those bouts of weakness. I think she’s been trying with Johnny as well but he wasn’t quite old enough to fall into her trap.”

She shuddered and tightened her arms around his waist.

“So many wasted lives.”

“Yes, and I would have been one of them if I had not been blessed with such a courageous and intelligent mate.”

“And a very intelligent pika,” she added, smiling down at Keffi. But then she bit her lip and looked up at him, her eyes uncertain.

“This is what you’ve been looking for, isn’t it? A ship to take you home.”

Home.No, Tandrok had never been home.

“I –”

“Is it too badly damaged?” she interrupted. “Will it take a long time to repair?”

“It is old, but I do not see any structural damage. I have no doubt that the nanites could repair it if I chose to make the attempt.”

“If?Does that mean you’re not going to try?”

He smiled tenderly down at her worried face.

“Of course not. My home is here with you and the children. It is the only home I have ever had and the only home I could ever want.”