Out of the Ashes (Maji 1)

Oh yeah, how could I forget?

I frowned. “Can they come see me in the palace then?”

“Of course.”

“Perfect,” I chirped. “Someone will escort you to the palace tomorrow once you’ve had the day to settle in and a good night’s rest.”

“You will see them this evening,” Surkah commented. “It is morning time, not yet midday, and we have a welcoming feast for all humans before dusk. All human females are being brought to their homesteads, so they become familiar with their new homesteads and get some rest before being brought back to the city for the great feast in seven or so hours.”

I looked at the twins. “Are you okay with all that?”

They nodded, and this prompted Alri and Avri to step forward.

“If you join us, we will bring you to your homestead. A ground vehicle is being brought for our use.”

Though they were nervous, Envi took Arli’s offered arm with a timid smile while Echo was content to simply walk by Avri’s side. We all watched them leave in silence, but I jumped when Surkah squealed.

“They will mate those females. I would bet all my rubies on it.”

Rubies?

Nero shook his head, and to Kol, he said, “You have started a mating effect, cousin.”

Kol grinned. “Shall we find you a nice female to—”

“No,” Nero cut Kol off hastily. “No, thank you. I am enjoying being a single male.”

Kol snickered, and absentmindedly put an arm around me when I came to his side. Though I was enjoying the playful family bickering, my attention drifted back to the grass. It was so shiny, so green, and so freaking pretty.

“If you like the grass so much, you will enjoy flowers even more,” Surkah said. “They come in all shapes, sizes, and colours.”

I hummed. “I can’t wait to see them all.”

“Would you like a garden?” Kol asked me, his thumb brushing over my shoulder. “That way you can plant and grow whatever you wish.”

My breath caught. “I can have my own garden?”

“You can have whatever you want, my princess,” Kol said, stroking his hand over my shoulder.

“Yes, please.” I beamed.

“It is settled.” Kol nodded. “We can pick a spot once you’re settled into our wing of the palace.”

That surprised me.

“We have a whole wing?” I asked.

Kol snorted. “We all have our own wing. It is made for our future families.”

“Wow,” I murmured. “How big is the palace?”

“Three times bigger than the Ebony.”

I gasped. “Holy shit.”

Everyone laughed, and before we could speak further, another group of women got our attention. Only this time, it was a Maji female who got my attention as she stalked towards another Ebony ramp to the right where some humans were still exiting. I watched with wide eyes as the tall female with jet black waist-length hair picked up what appeared to be a blue rock, and she lobbed it at a male Maji who was laughing with a redheaded human and helping her down the steps at the end of the ramp. The blue rock hit the male in the back of the head, and he spun around almost instantly. I gasped when I saw the male’s face. It was Dash, Vorah’s friend, and he looked pissed until he saw the Maji who threw the rock at him.

“My Isa—”

“Don’t you dare call me ‘your’ Isa,” the female bellowed, her growl loud and menacing. “I saw you with… with… it.”

Dash continued to carefully approach her with his hands raised in surrender, and I could have sworn he wasn’t even blinking as he kept his eyes trained on her.

“I was only talking with the human female, that is all—”

“Liar!” Isa shouted.

I felt sorry for her when I saw she was now crying. Many of the female Maji came to her side, and nearly all of them hissed at Dash who looked distraught himself. He came to a stop when it was obvious the other females weren’t going to let him get close to her. If I had to put credits on it, I’d say he knew they’d attack him if he moved any closer.

“What is going on?”

I didn’t have to look to know it was Mikoh who spoke. He rounded Nero and stepped in front of Surkah in a defensive stance.

“Brother,” Isa cried and reached for him, her arms fully extended.

Mikoh was lightning quick as he rushed to Isa’s side.

“What has happened?” Mikoh asked Isa, placing his hands on her shoulders and scanning her from head to toe for signs of injury.

“It’s Dash,” Isa cried, latching onto Mikoh’s arms. “He was with a human female. Laughing and smiling, he had his hand in hers. I saw it.”

I heard a terrifying growl come from Mikoh, and it sent the nearby female Maji scattering.

“I was helping her off the craft, Commander,” Dash explained with his hands still raised in front of his chest. “The Shipmaster ordered us to be kind to the humans. I was just following orders. I would never dishonour your sister. I swear on my honour.”

I looked at Mikoh’s sister who was behind her brother with her face pressed between his shoulder blades as if she was hiding from Dash’s view and finding comfort from her brother at the same time.

“Did you tell her so?” Mikoh asked Dash as he used one arm to reach behind him and pat Isa’s back.

Dash lowered his hands when he realised Mikoh was no longer a threat.

“She didn’t give me the chance.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “She threw a rock piece at my head.”

My lips twitched when Mikoh laughed.

“Act first, ask questions later. I fear I taught her that.”

“I am not surprised.” Dash grinned.

Mikoh turned and placed his hands on his sister’s shoulders once more. Isa wasn’t as tall as Surkah was, so the top of her head only came to Mikoh’s shoulders.

“I believe him,” he said, softly.

Isa sniffled. “Of course, you do. He is in your unit.”

Mikoh clicked his tongue. “You’re my darling sister, Isa, and there is next to nothing I would not do for you, but harming your intended for following orders from our prince will not happen.”

Dash is Isa’s intended?

“I have never touched another male out of respect for Dash,” Isa shouted at Mikoh and shoved his chest with both of her hands. “And I never would, not even if it was a direct order from the Revered Father!”

Gasps were heard, though I had no idea what was so shocking about her exclamation.

“I know that, my Isa,” Dash said as he moved closer with tentative steps. “I was only being friendly to the human female.”

“He was,” the redhead said from behind Dash with a shaky breath. “He was just helping me down the steps, ma’am.”

Isa peeked around her brother and growled viciously at the woman, and it caused the woman to gasp with fright and stumble backwards until she was within the safety of her group.

“Isa,” Mikoh and Dash said in unison while I said, “Hey!”

All eyes landed on me, and I could have sworn Mikoh rolled his.

“Don’t scare her, you big bully!” I said to Isa, marching over to her and ignoring Kol’s groan from behind me. “Your intended said he was helping her, and the woman backed him up on it. Don’t get pissy with her because you’re insecure about your relationship with Dash.”

“Nova,” Dash groaned. “You’re not helping.”

“I don’t care,” I stated. “Your female had better learn that us human women are on a new planet with another species and that we are very scared. Having her and any other scare us further is not cool! We’re making the best out of a very shitty situation, so give us a damn break!”

I wondered why the human women looked past me and every Maji in sight bowed … until I heard a familiar growl.

“I thought I told you to be nice, shiva.”

Without turning around, I pointed at Isa. “She started it by throwing a rock at Dash and growling a

t my fellow human. You heard it just as well as I did.”

Isa gasped and looked at Mikoh, who shook his head as if to say “It’s not worth going there.”

I turned to face Kol, who was staring down at me. I smiled up at him, but his face remained stone like. I raised a brow and smiled wider until my cheeks started to hurt, and when his lips twitched, I relaxed my face.

“You smiled so you can’t be mad at me,” I stated.

His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Is that so?”

I nodded. “Is it.”

“I shall remember that.”

I snorted and turned when I heard murmurs. Some of the human women were muttering amongst themselves while nearly all the Maji females were whispering and staring at me like I was on display. I turned back to Kol.

“Do I have something on my face?” I asked him.

His eyes scanned my face.

“No,” he replied.

“They why are your people looking at me and whispering?”

He snorted. “The people are looking at you because you’re talking to me.”

“I don’t understand.”