When Worlds Collide (MxM)✔

Chapter 26 - All About Humans

Aino POV:

Aino stood before the two rulers, head bowed and ears laid flat.

His mate, Inventor Kade, had been taken against his will and vanished somewhere in the Enderwood Jungle. Aino knew that the other humans had been involved, but when he tried following Kade's scent, it vanished with a strange burnt smell accompanying it.

He had convinced Hunter Dapp to let him search for another day before returning to the city. After the massacre they saw, it became imperative to warn the locals of the oncoming threat.

The weapons that the humans used were simple enough to understand. The device had a trigger that launched a small pebble at high velocity, which allowed it to penetrate thick skin and even bones.

The one used from the flying machine, or 'Airplane', was able to shoot hundreds at a time and was much more dangerous than the one Kade had demonstrated.

An uncomfortable wave of need and nausea pulsed through his veins at the thought of his mate, but it quickly abated. He was still suffering the effects of his extended season, but with everything else happening he had to get over it quickly. Fighting his need was causing unwanted bouts of queasiness that were becoming just as distracting as his other bodily reactions.

Doctor Ropir's suppressant worked by making him too groggy to give in to his temptations. But with his mate missing, his senses were on overload, screaming at him to drop everything and hunt Kade down.

Kade. A being from another world. A world that wanted to invade theirs. A world full of more dangerous weapons and flying machines. Such technology could bring Terra to its knees.

"Can you do it?" King Nyx asked.

King Toca wasn't showing his nerves in the carnivore's presence for once. The two had converged in Nyx's castle, which was a rare occasion since Tear'ain residents feared ever coming into the carnivore's land. But the Kairn'ver Kingdom was closest to where the invaders were, and thus the best place to hold this meeting.

Inventor Aino was fondly reminded of how Kade would refer to Kairn'ver as merely the 'Carnivore Kingdom' and Tear'ain as the 'Terran Kingdom'. It was an adorable quirk, though it must be confusing since Tear'ain was certainly not the capital for all Terran kind.

The human also rarely referred to anyone by their proper title. Inventor Aino wondered if it was a cultural difference that stopped him from addressing people by their title first, which was proper etiquette.

Ah, his mind had wandered back to his mate. What were they talking about? Oh, right. "I believe I know of some elements that can be utilized to mimic the weapon I saw."

"How quickly can you make a prototype?" King Toca asked.

Inventor Aino cast a glance toward King Nyx and scowled. "It depends on how reliably your metalworkers can produce what I need. The last time we worked with Kairn'ver, your materials were subpar at best."

King Nyx looked genuinely annoyed by the bite in his voice. Good. "I will let your rude mark slide for the sake of time, but remember we are going to need to work together now. So if there is a problem with our metal, then you may bring your workers here to help."

"I will issue an order." King Toca suggested, rubbing his chin. "But I don't want them to feel disgruntled by it. I'll have to offer a reward to compensate."

"For someone so strict, you're such a pushover."

Now it was King Toca scowling at the carnivore.

The two kingdoms were practically night and day. Tear'ain was rich with craftsmen, who could make all kinds of goods at the drop of a hat. Meanwhile, Kairn'ver specialized in animal husbandry and was falling behind in terms of inventive prowess. Though their farming skills were superior.