Free Queen of the Savages - Complete by Lisa Lace

not in the way the Counselor wants you to believe."
    Tev stared at Tracy first, then slowly turned to Rev. A look of disbelief crept over his face.
    "They really told you not to look for me?" Tev had lowered his voice to a whisper.
    "More than told. They ordered me not to, actually."
    "But I..." started Tev and then stopped. "I suppose it doesn't matter now, but I did send a message through command asking for your help. When you didn't come I assumed you engaged in another investigation."
    "I got information you were last seen on Jaal's ship, but it wasn't from Command." Rev said bitterly.
    "This is fucked up," said Tev. "And where does she fit into all this?"
    "She's my mate."
    "You've said that before, but saying so doesn't make it true."
    "She bears my mark," Rev growled.
    "You don't have to tell me what she bears," snapped Tev. "I smell you all over her. "
    "Listen, big guy," said Tracy. "We're mated. That's it. Shouldn't you should be happy for your brother?"
    "Listen, Tracy, don't speak about things which you know nothing about."
    "Do not speak to her like that," said Rev.
    "Are you insane? She's from a Non-Aligned world."
    "Yes, she is."
    "She's not Kerdim. She can't possibly understand how a mating binds a man and a woman."
    "It matters not. When I met her, I knew her to be mine. I felt it in my soul. Until you experience that for yourself, you can not say anything about what binds us together."
    Tev shook his head and turned away from Rev.
    "Well, you are on the run now, and apparently so am I."
    "You could always turn me in," said Rev sarcastically. "You were about to, right?"
    "I like finding out all the information about a situation before I make a decision, Rev. You're my brother. Whatever affects you, affects me."
    "I'm sorry about that," said Rev.
    "I did enjoy being a tracker, but now that I'm aiding and abetting you that's out the window." Tev flashed Tracy a dirty look.
    Tracy pursed her lips. It wasn't her fault all these things happened, she had been peacefully on Earth before she was forced into a world of aliens and spaceships.
    "Maybe you can finally settle in at home and find your own mate," said Rev. "And for that you should thank Tracy. You know, she has saved my life multiple times. If it weren't for her, I'd have died on a desert planet far from home. So don't lay shit on her. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to rescue you from the wivers. I do assume you needed rescuing?"
    "I wouldn't say that," said Tev.
    Rev looked like he didn't believe him. "Oh really?"
    Tev's face flushed. "My cover was wearing thin," he said reluctantly.
    "I thought so," said Rev.
    Tev sighed. "Well we are officially retired as trackers. There is only one place to go now, and that's home. I have no idea what we'll do when we get there, but we should call them with our happy news."
----
    The image of an older Kerdim man appeared on the screen above the instruments in the pilot's cabin. Tracy thought that he looked distinguished, even handsome. He shared the same features as Rev and Tev, the shape of his face, eyebrows, and caramel-colored eyes. He smiled when he saw them.
    Around him were green plants and flowers of every color. Behind the man were graceful pillars. Tracy thought he looked like he was in an extraterrestrial garden, standing on a porch.
    "Sons!" he said, obviously happy to see his children.
    "Father," both men said.
    "I've not heard from either of you in a long time."
    "We were working, father," said Rev.
    "But we are coming home now," said Tev.
    "Is there a problem? Or problems?" The man gave both younger men a penetrating stare.
    "Have you heard from Counselor Ja-Idin Du?" asked Rev.
    "Yes, and I heard the most incredible story."
    Rev sucked in a breath.
    "But we can discuss all that when you get ho-"
    Rev's father didn't get to finish his sentence. There was a brilliant flash of light on the screen followed by the sound of an explosion, and Rev's father fell.
    "Father!" both men yelled.
    They watched