Selati, a big construct forced to work in the cobalt mines of Ilmare, is terrified of the overseers. Danger dogs his every breath, somehow the leader of his ragged work crew, and he finally has enough when the mine itself almost kills him. Humans or no humans, he refuses to let his crew die down in the dark. As his crew takes their stand in their bid for freedom, rescue comes. Freedom in the light and a whole new life awaits.<br><br>It’s a duty Aleledai takes great pride in, saving his fellow Caniean. Humans might have created them to mine and nothing more, but like all things, the Caniean are not the mindless beasts humans intended to work to death for resources. Selati’s rescue is probably his greatest accomplishment, because something about this one becomes everything Aleledai was missing, that made freedom perfect.<br><br>Humans don’t let go of their things easily, though and war is coming, no matter what the Caniean want. The price of freedom is always high. Aleledai only hopes the price isn’t everything he’s found worth living for.

A Soldier's Horizon

The need to be closer, twined together, gave Selati the fantastic idea. He edged over the top of Aleledai’s scales and twisted Aleledai with him as he wedged every inch he could in the center of his lover’s coils. Aleledai’s bright laugh was the sound of the shallow part of the pond, gentle waves lapping at the rocky shore. Scales whispered together as Aleledai twisted with him, new loops forming in an interlocking pattern of copper, black, green, white.


“What are you doing?” Aleledai asked around his breathless chuckles, lips brushing Selati’s soft and easy. Selati shivered when their skin slid together, hips to chest. The thunder of Aleledai’s heart was clear despite the muffled barrier of flesh and bone.


Chapter 24