Author: Renee Rose; Rebel West; Alexis Alvarez
Date: 2018-12-06 08:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Science Fiction; Erotica; Fantasy; Bdsm; Aliens; Science Fiction Romance; Romance
Description: **THE ZANDIANS STILL NEED BRIDES.** It's the Zandian Lights festival, and the king declared a free-for-all. All human females may mate without petition. Without multiple partners. Without promises. Two warriors have pledged themselves to me, but I can't get excited about becoming their bride. There's only one purple-skinned male who excites me- Mykl, my master and supervisor. The gruff male with a dislike for humans. But I've also seen heat in his eyes, a tilt of his horns when he looks at me. So this holiday, my only wish is to snag his attention. And maybe even his heart.

Zandian Lights

An Alien Holiday Romance

Renee Rose

Rebel West

Burning Desires

Copyright © December 2018 Zandian Lights by Renee Rose and Rebel West

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Published in the United States of America

Renee Rose Romance

Editor: Maggie Ryan

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imaginations or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book contains descriptions of many BDSM and sexual practices, but this is a work of fiction and, as such, should not be used in any way as a guide. The author and publisher will not be responsible for any loss, harm, injury, or death resulting from use of the information contained within. In other words, don’t try this at home, folks!

Contents

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

From the Authors

Want More? Kept by the Zandian

Read all the Zandian Brides Series

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Other Titles by Renee Rose

Also by Rebel West / Alexis Alvarez

About Renee Rose

About Rebel West

Excerpt from Conquered by the Alien Prince

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Chapter 1

Kianna

He’s looking at me. Again.

I sneak a peek across the vast workspace covered with electronic parts in need of repair. Although the tall, handsome Zandian is a full fifty paces away, I sense his movements on the surface of my skin.

When he catches me looking, he crosses his arms and scowls. “Kianna, the part isn’t going to fix itself.”

I try to ignore the way his huge muscles bulge, because he’s such an ass. “Right you are, Mykl.” I roll my eyes. “How lucky I am to have such an insightful boss. You always teach me something new.”

He coughs and his scowl deepens. “Is that insubordination?” When he first took the position of supervising humans, Mykl didn’t understand our sarcasm, but after almost a solar cycle with me constantly teasing him, he’s well-versed. He arches a stern brow.

My stomach flips with adrenaline. He’s officially my master and supervisor, which means he’s allowed to discipline me.

Physically.

And I’ve heard from my human friends what deliciously dirty things can happen when they push their Zandian mates. If they tease them too much. Or break rules. For some reason, the Zandians believe the best way to condition humans to their society is through sexual punishments.

I love the idea. Anything is better than the cruel shock-sticks and starvation I was treated to at the factory where I worked as a slave before I was purchased at auction by Zandian warriors.

Of course, Mykl hasn’t touched me. He isn’t my mate. Not my friend. He doesn’t even like being my master, even though I sometimes catch him looking at me with hunger.

“That”—I gesture to the bench— “is a working class 4 phaser. You’re welcome.” I stand up, give him a sweet smile, and wipe my hands on my form-fitting breeches.

His eyes track my movements and turn from violet-rimmed brown to all purple. His scowl deepens. “Impossible. I just gave that to you last planet rotation. Check your work.” He strides across the room, reaching me quickly.

I suck in a breath at his proximity. “Already did. Twice.” When he gets this close to me, I feel dizzy. “Master Mykl.” I prod him more these planet rotations. I can’t resist the way he responds, with a growl and an admonition… but also with heat in his gaze. And I know I’m not imagining the tilt of his horns in my direction.

“Then do it a third time.” Ignoring my jab, he picks up the part and examines it, turning it in his strong, deft fingers. Looks at me. Back at the part. “By the stars. I think it might be correct.”

“Oh, it is.” I give him a look. “Trust me.” I can’t help but grin at his amazed expression.

“I never trust humans.” His answer is quick and automatic, and I’ve heard it from him before, but it slices into my gut, killing my smile. Of all the Zandians I’ve met, Mykl is the least open to humans. I think if he could have it his way, he’d ship us all out of here. Never mind the fact that his species need us as mates if they’re going to repopulate their planet.

I shake my head. “Then go do a sample run with it on the test ship on the strip.” I point past the large doors, where the airstrip waits. “You’ll see.”

“Follow.” He snaps the command and starts to walk, and I trot behind, jogging to keep up with his long-legged pace. “Try to stay with me, Kianna.”

“Oh, I’d like to stay with you,” I murmur.

“What was that?” He stops and turns around, piercing me with his gaze.

“I’d love to be able to walk fast enough to stay right by your side.” I widen my eyes for my most innocent look. “Too bad we humans are so frail and teensy.”

Zandians don’t roll their eyes, but if they did, he’d be doing it. I sense a tumult of emotion inside this fierce warrior who does his best never to show any of it.

“I suspect you are mocking me.” He fixes his gaze on me and I suck in my breath. “The human propensity for what you call sarcasm. I do not recommend such behavior, Kianna.”

Wings flutter in my belly—I shouldn’t love it so much when he gets stern. “Hmmm. I wonder what would happen if I kept doing it, though?” I muse.

“I’d assign you to another dome,” he snaps, “and find a new electronics tech who’s better able to work professionally with me.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Excuse me?”

“If that were to happen, I would wish you the utmost success in your search. This work is so critical to Zandia.” I smile. “It would be a terrible shame for progress to falter.”

“Human females,” he mutters. “If you were mine…” he starts. His horns are thick, his body taut. The way he holds himself makes me suddenly think that he wants what I want—

But he turns away. “Never mind.” He sounds irritated. “Go fetch Amber and initiate testing sequence 7A5.”

“Right away. Fetching in progress as we speak.”

It doesn’t take much. I look across the area, make eye contact, and raise my hand. A second later, my friend and co-worker is by my side.

“You’re fast for being so pregnant.” I touch her belly and give her a hug.

“It’s the young. I think he gives me energy.” She rubs her abdomen. “We’ve already named him and he knows the name, because when we say it, he kicks. Watch.” She clears her throat and looks down. “Jasper, this is Kianna! Say hi!”

A moment later, her belly bulges out.

“Did you see that?” She practically glows with excitement. “Also, he kicks whenever my mates have sex with me,” she whispers into my ear.

Mykl looks as uncomfortable as I’ve ever seen him. His face flushes a deeper purple. “Please save the personal discussion for later.” His voice is stiff. I know he heard what Amber said—this Zandian can literally hear for miles.

The image of Amber getting sexed up by her two mates pops up in my mind, and I try to shove it away. I wouldn’t know what it’s like to mate with one Zandian, much less two or more. I slide a little glance over at Mykl’s strong form. Stars, he’s looking at me again. My own face gets hot and I have to look away, because my brain is coming up with wild, impossible scenarios involving him bending me over the workstation and having his wild way with me.

“If you two can tear yourselves away from your chit-chat, perhaps you could engage in our actual jobs.” Mykl busies himself with the test module. “We need to finish this battle module right away because King Zander asked me to prepare the energy collection banks for the upcoming Crystal Eclipse.”

“Can that even work?” I widen my eyes. “The energy banks? We haven’t perfected that technology.”

“Well, we won’t know unless we try,” he responds. “And by try, I mean actually get our work done.”

“For a being who claims to dislike sarcasm, you’re quite skilled at it,” I can’t help but point out.

“I didn’t say I was ignorant of the technique.” He steps closer to me and the heat from his body radiates into mine, stoking the fire between my legs. “Merely that I dislike hearing it from your lips.”

Now he’s talking about lips. I gaze up at his. So full for such an angular face.

“What would you like to hear from my lips instead?” I can’t stop looking at his alien form, tracing with my gaze his hairless jaw, the dimpled chin.

Another step closer and he pins me against the work station, one hand on either side of my hips. My breath stalls in my throat. His eyes are dark, gaze smoky. They’re on my mouth. For a brief moment, I think he’s going to kiss me, but he abruptly steps back and turns away. “What I would appreciate, Kianna, is for you to complete your assignments as outlined without any sass. Is that too much to ask?”

“No. I mean, yes, I can do that.” Subdued, I steal a look at Amber. She tips her head at him and gives me a questioning glance. I shake mine and make a face.

“What are the energy banks for?” Amber looks at me. “This is the first I’ve heard of them.”

“King Zander wishes this solar cycle’s crystal ceremony to be a success.” Mykl’s voice is stiff. “He hopes it will encourage many more Zandians and humans to, ahem, choose mates. And he would like us to create the technology to absorb the extra radiation so we can use it later.”

Zandians survive mainly on energy from the crystals embedded in the core of their planet. Light beamed through these crystals amplifies its life-giving and healing powers, as they discovered when they were forced to live off-planet.

I tap my lips. “Because this is such a powerful surge? It only happens once every thousand solar cycles.” I consider. “And the burst of energy is a life-force like no other. It’s perfect timing that it’s happening now, as the planet and population are working to rebuild.”

“It makes sense to absorb as much of it as we can.” Mykl inclines his head at me with that rare look of pride he sometimes allows to show through his gruff act, and I flush. I’d like to absorb something from him, that’s for sure.

“Since I already have mates”—Amber wiggles and smiles—“we’re going to use the energy we absorb to help our baby be strong and healthy, and deepen our bond. I can’t wait. I’ve heard that when you stand in the rays of the heightened energy with someone you love, it’s indescribable.”

“But we don’t even know if it’s safe for humans, yet,” I caution her. “At the peak of the solstice.”

“Actually, this is breaking news.” She smiles and touches my arm, clearly excited. “I just heard from Bayla. She said she and Dr. Daneth completed a simulation this morning and all of their test subjects passed, humans and halflings both. So everyone will be free to bathe in the light. They’ll announce it planet-wide as soon as possible.”

“That sounds amazing.” My voice comes out forlorn, and I curse under my breath. “I can’t wait to hear more about it all.”

“King Zander declared a free-for-all for mating during Zandian Lights. All bonds will be recognized without petition—even single couple bonds. I think it’s a boon for warriors who don’t wish to share with another male, and a push to get unmated human females to choose a mate or mates.” Amber lifts a pointed brow at me. “Exciting times, Kianna.”

Nausea hits my gut. I know she’s trying to encourage me to take the plunge and accept mates like she has, but I just can’t get excited about it.

“What if a being rushes into a bad choice?”

“Actually, King Zander addressed that, too. He said bonds could be re-evaluated at the next Zandian Lights, or he would take petitions to dissolve bonds made any time.”

There are two Zandians who have made their interest known. Archer and Bow, two strong warriors, who seek me out every time they can. They’ve let me know they want to give me their crystals. Two handsome aliens who deserve a mate. And they want me—the human female who’s been the longest here without selecting a mate—nearly an entire solar cycle.

King Zander has never once told me to fall in line and pick someone. But I know it’s only a matter of time. After all, isn’t that why I’m here? And it’s more obvious every planet rotation that Mykl isn’t interested.

“Maybe you’ll meet some being too, Mykl.” Amber gives him a devious little grin. She likes teasing him as much as I do.

“Not likely.” He twists a bolt into place on a nearby bank unit. “Last thing I want or need is a human mate. I’ll just use the energy to strengthen my commitment to Zandia. Improve my skills.”

He sounds so disgusted with the idea of a human mate that tears come to my eyes. Why am I only interested in the Zandian who despises humans?

I turn away to compose myself. Take a breath. Remember that I’m lucky to be here on Zandia, a slave no longer. A free human with friends, and work, and food, and health. If I can’t have perfection in the form of a mate, well, it’s still a much better life than I could have anywhere else in the galaxy.

“The ceremony isn’t just about mates.” I clear my throat. “The crystal solstice is meant to be a time of coming together, celebrating the one true Zandian Star. Working together in harmony with all other beings here on Zandia. So even beings who aren’t mated can still celebrate the joy of life.”

“And how do you know this?” Mykl crosses his arms and stares at me.

“I saw the holo on it. And every being knows. It’s in the training for new humans now.” I swallow. “You know, as members of Zandian society, the Zandian Lights solstice ceremony is as much for us humans as it is for you.”

Mykl makes a scoffing sound. “I find it curious that humans think they know so much about ancient Zandian history. You’ll never really understand it. Or be part of it.” But he sounds sort of sad and bitter, not irritated like usual.

I don’t really understand him, but from his tone, I sense this is not a time to push or tease. So I stand up straight. “Tell me what to work on, Mykl. I’ll do my best to figure out the energy bank caps so we can get a head start.”

Mykl

“How’s the progress on the crystal energy banks?” My friend and Zandian warrior, Lanz, grins at me and drops his flight bag at his feet. The tarmac glows in the setting Zandian sun, sending orange rays across the vast landing strip.

I raise one hand to block the beams from hitting my eyes. “Going well. You just get back from a mission? You stink.” I punch his shoulder.

“Sure did. Domm, Mirelle and I just rescued two new human females.” He raises a brow. “Nearly lost our ship, too.” But his cocky grin says it was a smooth effort. Like usual.

“Not likely.” I snort. “The three of you are like an impenetrable force.”

“I’ll tell her you said that.” He grins at me. “I think she’s the only human female on this planet you respect even just a little bit.”

“It’s not that I don’t respect the others.” I shake my head. “It’s more a matter of what they represent.”

“I’ll tell you what they represent.” Domm jogs up and slings a dirty arm across Lanz’ shoulder, brother style. “The hottest vecking sex in the galaxy.” He smiles. “And undisputed domestic bliss.”

“Right. You three almost self-destructed.” I had the misfortune of having their mate placed under my watch while they were off on missions. She was quick and bright, but lacked the focus and intelligence of Kianna. She’s more of a warrior-type, that one.

“But now we’re better. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You should stop by and meet the new humans, once they’re acclimated. Since you’ve turned down every other available human on this planet.” Lanz checks his wrist band. Looks across the expanse of ships, blinking and flashing in the evening light. I know he’s looking for his and Domm’s mate, Mirelle, and for a second, something twists in my chest.

I force the feeling aside, and shake my head. “I just think we should be pushing harder to find more Zandian females.” This has always been my argument. Keep our blood pure. But even as I say it, the idea feels flat. A Zandian mate would probably require sharing amongst males, same as human females. There are just too many unmated Zandian males. And I don’t see how I could ever share.

I don’t even live with one other being right now.

How could I possibly share my space with two or three, or star forbid, four?

“Where, brother?” Lanz gives me a look. “Give me the coordinates, and we’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

“I don’t know.” Frustration wells up. “Listen. I’m grateful the human females are here short-term to help us carry our DNA and heritage forward. But some planet rotation we won’t need them anymore.” I shrug. “Be better off without them and their erratic emotions and unpredictable behaviors.”

The image of Kianna looms up in my mind—her constant teasing and prodding. The way she looks up at me with feigned wide-eyed innocence out of those huge, green eyes. The way her long black hair looks all silky and soft on her shoulders. I constantly have to guard myself against falling for her allure. Her beauty, the sensuality of her soft form, the musical lilt of her voice—all are like an abyss sucking me in, swallowing me whole.

“It’s no wonder you’re still alone.” Domm ducks free from Lanz, and punches me harder than I punched him, and I think there’s a degree of actual anger in it. “Time for you to open your eyes and see that Zandian life is moving on. Suggest you come along with us.” He raises a brow. “Because Mirelle is not just adequate to be my mate and the mother of my young, she’s perfect. I’d choose her any planet rotation, even if a thousand Zandian females showed up.”

“That’s right.” Lanz crosses his arms.

“Well, she’s different,” I allow. “She’s a good fighter. Even if she’s too emotional.”

“You need to be more emotional.” Domm grins. “Be good for you.”

Rumor is that Zandians with human brides become as emotional as their human mates. I would sooner die than face that fate.

I growl. “Get out of here. You’re getting soft.”

“Still see you later for sparring practice?” Lanz puts up both hands and dances. “You’re getting weak, old one. Hoping that you senior citizens can still muster up some strength to fight.”

“You’re going to go put some healing lotion on that place I hit you,” I tell him. “And as for senior citizen, yes, I may be a few solar cycles older than you are. But also several solar cycles wiser.”

He snorts even as he grins. Following his gaze, I see what has captured his attention as their human lifts her hand to wave when the group around her begins to disperse. Lanz slaps my shoulder. “Well, I’m wise enough to know that Mirelle’s far better company than you—”

“Not to mention a much more entertaining sparring partner,” Domm cuts in to add.

He and Domm grab their gear and head off, joking and pushing each other in a companionable brotherhood that makes me wistful—for a split second.

Then I shake my head. How in the stars can two Zandians share one female without getting angry and jealous? I could never do it.

I think about them going back to their domicile with Mirelle, and what they will be doing. Her loud cries, her soft skin…

But as I imagine the picture, the Zandian doing the vecking is me. And the soft beautiful human beneath my hard body, the one whose eyes flash and whose soft little cries undo me, is Kianna. The one whose alabaster ass tips up for my hand is the little female who sasses me every planet rotation here on the jobsite. The one I’m dying to take over my lap and punish and then veck until her eyes fill with stars and her lips are full of my name, only my name, forever.

I push one fist into the other. These thoughts don’t help anything. Sure, Kianna is the prettiest human on the planet. And I’ve seen the way she looks at me, her eyes full of heat and hope. And yes, I’d like to take her back to my dome and make her mine. For a solar cycle or two.

But I don’t want a human mate. And even if I’d be satisfied to get her out of my system, I can’t be sure she’d do the same. Humans, I’ve come to learn, bond completely. That’s the last thing I need.

I head back to my workstation and pick up the capacitors and resistors. My king has given me an order, and I will carry it out. I will create the perfect energy storage system so that we can capture the light energy from the solstice.

Still, as I cipher rapidly, working out equations regarding max flux and heat transfer, I’m thinking about Kianna’s smile.

Chapter 2

Kianna

“What do you think of this one?” In front of me, my friend Mirelle twirls, holding up a gossamer gown that looks like it’s made of spider silk and air.

“I think you and your mates won’t even make it to the Crystal festival.” I raise my eyebrows. “You’ll stay at home all solar cycle long.”

She laughs and turns pink. “Oh, stop.” She places the dress back on the bed, smoothing it with her fingers and arranging the sleeves. “It will be a fun change to wear this instead of my flight suit.”

We both look across the room to where her black trousers and fitted top hang on a rack, along with a state of the art helmet and boots.

“You are such a badass. No wonder everyone loves you.” I can’t imagine what kind of courage it takes to fly out into the void every cycle, relying only on your quick wits to avoid death at every turn. I shudder.

“Everyone loves you too.” She glances at her wrist. “Kee. Look how fast this is healing! See?”

I look at the thin white scar. “Wasn’t that cut open just yesterday?” I take her hand and pull her arm closer; she lets me. I whistle. “Wow, that’s something else.”

She nods. “Yup. It’s the new healing tech from the palace. Plus, you know, I have some Zandian blood in me.”

“From when your mates gave you a transfusion to save your life, right?” I let her arm go. It’s thin but strong, muscled and taut. She really is an extraordinary being. Maybe if I was more like her, tougher, smarter? Maybe then Mykl would—

“Yeah. Dr. Daneth is researching whether we can do something like that for all humans, but it’s still in the beginning stages. So I get to be a superhero for now.” She picks up the dress and slides it back into her clothing area. Looks back at me. “But you are, too.”

“I think you’d be a superhero even if you had sand in your veins. I mean, you’ve been an outlaw pirate fighter since you were born.” I can’t keep a note of jealousy out of my voice. “Whereas I can’t even garner the respect of my stupid master.”

“Mykl.” She comes and sits beside me.

“Yes. Mykl.” Even just saying his name gives me a little thrill, a little pop of adrenaline in my stomach.

“He’s a bit of a challenge.”

“You don’t say.” I narrow my eyes, and we both giggle.

“I think…” She hesitates. “I mean, I see him looking at you, sometimes.” She pauses again. “It’s different from the way he looks at me or Amber.”

“How do you mean?” I’m eager for this. Lap it up like it’s the purest of water, and I’m dying of thirst. “How?”

“Well.” She purses her lips. “Sometimes he looks at you for a long time, a few seconds longer than a being typically examines another. And his eyes are so fierce.”

“That could be because he hates me.”

“I don’t think so.” She shakes her head. “It’s more the kind of look that means he wants to eat you up. Devour you. Kill you, but in a good way.”

“Right.” I wrinkle my mouth. “More like in the traditional way.”

“He gets so irritated at you. It’s like you’re under his skin.”

“No, he’s just sensitive to being teased.”

“But mostly by you.” She raises a brow. “And he stands really close to you when you two are arguing. Closer than beings do. I think it means something.”

“It means he thinks I’m difficult, and he needs to get in really close to tell me all about it.” I’ve noticed all the things she said. I just don’t want to assume anything and then get my heart broken.

“I think he’d like to tell you all about his huge Zandian cock.” She sticks out her tongue.

I make a tiny scream of delight. “Mother Earth, no! He does not.”

“Bet you.”

“No.” I stand up. “So what is the human group doing to prepare for the festival?”

“The decoration committee asked if you want to help.” She goes to her food storage area. “Want some berries?”

“Please.” I join her at the table, where she sets out fluid tubes as well. “That could be fun.”

“The entire city will be transformed into a crystal paradise.” Her voice is reverent. “We’re going to have lanterns and crystals all over. The entire capital will sparkle with light and love.”

“Ribbons too?”

“Yes, made of spider silk.” She leaves the berries, grabs her comm device and pulls up some images. “Look at these renderings I got from Esalyn. This is how the main streets will look.”

“Oh, Mother Earth.” My voice is low. “It’s like—nothing I’ve seen.”

The human woman has skillfully drawn a perfect rendition of the main square, and the way it’s decked out with crystals and flowing cloths and shining lanterns makes something sing inside my soul.

“It’s not even the festival yet, and I’m already happy.”

“That’s why it’s so powerful.” Mirelle takes my hand across the table. “The energy in the air is already higher as the sun gets closer to the peak. The solstice itself is just the maximum point. And every being, not just Zandians, feels the energy.”

A pang of unease intrudes. “But the whole emphasis on mating selection.” I pull my hand away from hers. “That’s a big part of it, this time.”

“Well.” She doesn’t meet my eyes. Gets busy with the berries, arranging them on a plate with some kind of luscious cream. “It’s not a mandate, Kee. But yes, the king does want all unmated beings on the planet to make a real effort to choose. If they can. You know he doesn’t ever force.”

I nod. “I’ve been here an entire solar cycle and I’m still unmated.” And I feel super guilty about it.

Mirelle pushes the berries to me. “So I know you have a thing for Mykl. But if that doesn’t work out… I mean, how about those two warriors who like you? Arc and Bow? They’re handsome. Don’t you think?”

I shrug. In truth, the tall, fierce Zandians are—objectively speaking—are some of the hottest males on this planet. I know I’m lucky that such successful, strong and handsome beings want me. But it’s hard to muster enthusiasm at the idea of mating them. I can’t imagine being with one, let alone both.

“What if you just spent a little time with them? Just to see?”

“I guess.” My voice holds little enthusiasm. “I mean, is that an order from the king, or something?”

“First of all, I’m not his messenger. He has other beings for that. Second, didn’t we just talk about how he won’t force people into becoming couples?” Mirelle rolls her eyes.

“I just think I’m overstaying my welcome if I don’t get mated. I mean, every other human female finds someone right away. I’m taking too long.”

Mirelle looks at me, and her eyes hold sympathy. “I hope things work out with Mykl. And it’s fun to talk about him. But if it just won’t happen, you need to move on. Pick someone else. It’s better for you, too.”

Anger surges. “Yeah, you think? Thanks for the news flash.”

At the startled hurt in her eyes, I sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just on edge. Please forgive me.”

“I forgive you.” She smiles. “Just… spend some quality time with them. Okay? I’ll set something up with my mates. A get-together for all of us. No pressure. Say yes?” A beat goes by. “I just want to see you happy. You know, so many couples or trios here on Zandia ended up loving beings they initially didn’t even like. sometimes when you spend time, that spark is there. Give yourself a chance just to see.”

“Fine. Set it up.” I swallow. “I’ll talk to them again and see how it goes. But no promises.”

Her smile is wide and enthusiastic. “Great! This is going to be fun. You’ll see.”

Kianna

I am not having fun.

“You look lovely.” Arc lowers his head briefly and a glimpse of heat flares in his eyes, turning them more purple.

“Thank you.” My cheeks heat. Both of them—Arc and Bow, stand in front of me, massive and strong.

Bow smiles. “We are honored to escort you to the crystal viewing ceremony.” He offers me his arm. As I take it, Arc is right there for my other one.

It shouldn’t be a hardship to have two of Zandia’s most handsome eligible males at my side, but instead of focusing on these two beings, I glance around the Royal Falls grotto and caves area surreptitiously, checking to see who’s present. And who’s not.

“This is one of the most beautiful and sacred places on Zandia, the same location that will be the epicenter of the upcoming solstice.” Bow acts like he’s a tour guide, and I stifle my irritation because I already know these facts.

“Yes, I’m aware.” I smile at him.

Arc continues as if I haven’t spoken, taking over seamlessly for his friend. “This solar rotation, the sun will hit the very edge of the massive crystal formation at the top opening of the largest cave, sending a spike of light partway down into the grottos, illuminating ancient carvings on the wall.”

“So it shall.” I bite my cheek. Look around once more. Arc has a chiseled jaw and strongly muscled arms, but Mother Earth, he’s sort of… boring.

The things he speaks of fascinate me, though. In just a few more solar cycles, the sun will hit the crystal formation head on, and the resulting light will diffract and diffuse along the crystal grid all through the caves and all across Zandia.

I don’t understand the physics of it, and I’m not sure our scientists do, either. All we know is that this thing happens once a solar cycle; when the sun hits the main crystal, the entire planet is bathed in a healing, empowering light. And this is the 1000th anniversary; the light will be extra strong at this solstice.

“Kianna. Let’s get a spot in front.” Mirelle comes up, her two mates behind her. She gives me a quick hug.

Relieved to see her, I squeeze her tightly. “That’s why we’re early, right?” I smile at how her two powerful warriors let her lead the way. When I see the expressions on their faces, besotted infatuation, I roll my eyes and smile. Then I bite my lip. Glance around again.

“Are you looking for someone?” Arc raises a brow. “I can summon anyone you wish.” He taps his wrist band.

“No. Thank you. I’m just examining the crowd.”

“So many beings here. It’s amazing.” Arc puts his arm around my shoulder, lightly, but the touch—deliberate—makes me anxious.

I feel eyes on me and turn, hoping it’s—“Oh, hey, Cressa.” I wrinkle my nose.

I don’t know her well, but Cressa is a recent addition to Zandia. She’s a few years younger than I am, and she works in the med area with Dr. Daneth and his mate, learning to be a physician.

“Oh. Kianna.” Her voice is flat, like mine. I notice that she’s dressed as if ready for a coronation—her dress fits her perfectly, and it’s even fancier than Mirelle’s. She’s so pretty—her skin is flawless, her eyes so wide and clear that she looks unreal. Her hair is a tumult of curls, all blond and red and brown mixed together. A rare combination.

She looks at Arc and Bow on either side of me, and her face tightens. “Arc. Bow.” She nods her head.

When she doesn’t step away, I realize I’m going to have to converse. “So. Cressa. How are things in the medical world?”

“Fine.” She blinks at me.

“Um, that’s great.” I glance to the side for Mirelle, but she’s darted away to chat with someone else. I hear her light laughter floating over.

“So.” I tap my foot.

“What are, ah, you up to these solar cycles?” She swallows.

Why is she bothering to chit chat? This is awkward at best. “Yeah, things. The solar cap banks, stuff like that.” I nod longer than necessary.

When she doesn’t answer, I start to say, “Well, I think we’ll head over—” just as she turns to Arc and says with a smile, “So Arc! I heard you’re going for lieutenant next month. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with that.”

“Thanks, Cressa.” Arc takes his arm off my shoulder and steps forward. He’s so polite. I really should try to appreciate him more. “I’m the youngest recruit ever, but I’m working hard and I’m confident I can do it.”

“Well, the way you handled the raid at Xeres 7 was impressive. If they review that documentation, I’d say you’re a sure thing.” She bounces a little and her smile takes over her face.

I try not to make a face. Battles are completely not my thing. I didn’t even know Arc was up for promotion—not that we have really spent much time talking.

“You learned about that battle?” Bow steps forward toward Cressa, too.

“Oh, well, yes.” She turns pink. “I did, actually. I find it fascinating. And anyway, it’s important to learn about battle history since I’m focusing on new techniques to handle war injuries.”

I feel eyes on me again, and this time I know it’s Mykl. I turn, and there he is. Looking at me with a narrowed gaze, like he’s displeased to see me with Arc and Bow. Could he possibly be jealous?

At first I’m glad if he is. Then I’m terrified. He barely likes me as it is. He’s not the kind of Zandian who’d pursue me if it was even more difficult.

Arc and Bow are still engaged in polite conversation with Cressa. “Excuse me for just a minute,” I murmur, touching Bow on the arm. “I’ll be right back—just going to speak with a, ah, friend. Being. Someone.” I scoot between their strong bodies.

But Mykl’s disappeared. I glance around wildly, trying to locate him, but through the increasing throng, I can’t see where he went.

“Veck,” I curse. Like my human friends, I’ve adopted some of the Zandian words into the Ocretian we all speak.

Then I think I glimpse his cloak over to the left, away from the masses, behind a tree. I head over, and there he is—in a semi-secluded spot. Strange to find privacy in the midst of such a gathering.

“Mykl.” I’m panting a little. “Hi.”

He scowls at me. “Where are your young warriors?”

Is he jealous? Hope—a dangerous thing—flutters up in my chest. “I left them when I saw you.”

The hardness in his face softens momentarily.

“It’s good to see you here.”

“Indeed.” His walls are back up already. He looks at me warily, like my body is a weapon that might go off any minute and take him prisoner.

“Are you here with anyone?” I glance around, but I’m pretty sure he’s alone. Like usual.

“Wouldn’t you say we’re here with a thousand other beings? Surely you have eyes in your head. Even humans can engage in reasonable crowd estimation, I’d think.”

I’m used to his stinging replies, so I ignore the intended dig. “Humans can engage in a lot of things.” The words come out a little on the sultry side, and something flares in his eyes.

A muscles twitches in his cheek and he looks me up and down. I’m wearing tight pants that show off my legs and ass, which—and I’m not going to brag here, I’m just being honest—is a pretty fine one. And a flowing Zandian top which is gossamer and light and clings to my breasts and curves when the breeze blows.

“You look impressive.” I note he’s wearing a traditional Zandian attire of a white tunic and pants.

“You look nearly naked.” At his words, we both seem startled. “I hope you’re not planning to wear something like that to work.” He clasps his hands in front. Covering for his interest, maybe?

I sidle closer, watching as a muscle twitches in his cheek.

He acts like he’s so disinterested. I think he’s protesting too hard. “I agree. I should wear less, because if my arms are free I can work more effectively. Perhaps a swimming costume?”

“Not what I meant.” Somehow we’re close. Very close. I feel his hot breath on my cheek, and my heart beats double time.

“Oh, well, perhaps I should obtain a costume like the females wear on Ralia. Full body cloak with only slits for the eyes.”

“It would work better if it masked your mouthy replies,” he says.

“I think you like my mouth.” I whisper the words, but he hears them.

His gaze drops to my lips for a beat, then snaps back up. His jaw tightens. “You are under a severe misapprehension.”

It sounds cold, but oh, that look in his eyes… could start a wildfire.

“Then enlighten me. Because otherwise I’ll have to wait several long solar cycles for enlightenment.” I gesture toward the crystal caves. “And isn’t sooner better than later?”

“Ah, Kianna,” he growls and leans down. We’re so close he’s pressed against me. I could say it’s because of the surging crowd, pushing on us from all sides. I could argue that we’ve been tossed together by the undulating currents in the seething mass of life. But we’re still alone in this small grotto. The truth is that I’m here because there’s no other place I’d rather be. And I swear, by the look in his eyes, he feels the exact same way.

A collective hiss and sigh of appreciation grows as the sun hits the edge of the crystal. The light is so brilliant—it’s easy to imagine that the next time the sun hits this crystal, it will light up the entire planet.

And as the beams spread out over all of us, I can’t resist. I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his for a second.

“Veck, Kianna,” he mutters against my mouth. “What are you doing?” Then he takes my lips with his, kissing me like his life depends on it.

I’m caught up in the moment. I’ve never felt like this in my entire life. I’ve not kissed a being before, but it’s like I know what to do. Mykl’s body and hands mesh with mine effortlessly. He snakes one arm around my waist, the other behind my neck pulling me to him. His hips press into me and his cock prods my belly, so hard I suck in my breath and moan, a breathy little noise.

He growls and nips my lip, then thrusts his tongue into my mouth, playing with me. I’m ready to swoon against him, but his strong arms support me.

I’m full of giddy tingles. Electricity. The light is like a lover’s caress, touching my hair, my cheeks, my eyelids. And then there’s Mykl, with his real embrace, and between the two sensations, I can barely handle the stimulation. A growing need in my core has me pushing harder into him, trying to ease the want.

Beside me, I hear someone murmur. It sounds like, “Are you seeing this?” The intonation makes it clear that she’s talking about me and Mykl, and not the crystal flash.

Fuck. Other beings have entered the grotto.

Mykl pulls away from me. For a second we both just breathe, harder than usual, before he turns his eyes away. “Kianna… that was a mistake. I am your master, not your mate. It will never happen again.” He runs a hand over his mouth.

“But I…” I’m still panting, still mesmerized by his aroma, his feel.

He takes my arms and holds me in place while he steps back. I’ve never seen his horns so thick, so slanted forward, like they’re reaching for me. “It was an… aberration.”

“An aberration?”

“If you don’t know what it means, I suggest you consult a dictionary. I thought you humans had a greater capacity for absorbing knowledge.”

There it is. The familiar cutting reply. He crosses his arms, looking supremely uncomfortable. “And I’m not sure your mates-in-waiting would appreciate the fact that you’re off kissing another Zandian. It’s not honorable.” He spits the words out, like my dishonor is proof I’m not worthy.

Oh, fuck me right now.

“That is not fair.” My voice rises. “You kissed me back. You liked it.”

“That may be, but it can’t happen again. Go find your young warriors, Kianna.” His brows slash down even more than usual.

“What if I don’t want them?” I blurt it out.

Again, I swear I see something flicker in his expression. Is it relief?

For one long moment, we stare at each other. His nostrils flare, a muscle jumps in his jaw. But he thrusts the knife in deeper and twists. “Find someone else. But it won’t be me, Kianna. It can’t be me.” He sounds tired, suddenly.

I suck in my breath. It’s one thing to know it. Another to hear it.

“Why? You think I’m not good enough?” I’m poking a fingernail into a wound. But I need to ask.

Regret flickers in his gaze, then he looks away. “If I mate any being, it will be a full-blooded Zandian.” His voice is low. “Or no being at all.”

I shake my head. “You’re such an ass.”

He rakes me with his eyes. “Don’t tempt me again. And never dress like this at work. You must comport yourself in a professional manner.”

Comport myself? Go take a flying fuck, Master.

He turns and walks away, pushing through the throng easily, leaving me there—surrounded by hundreds of happy beings, and entirely alone.

Tears come to my eyes and I swipe at them. Curse.

A few beings glance at me, curious. We were seen, obviously.

Oh, Mother Earth. What will Arc and Bow think, if they find out? They’ll think I’m some loose slutty human, and maybe they won’t want me anymore. They’ll start courting another human.

I know that should worry me, but instead, it gives me a giddy lightness in my chest.

Then the guilt presses back down. I look around me, at these incredible beings. Strong purple-hued warriors, tall and muscled, horned. Eyes flashing with pride. And the smaller, softer humans, whose laughter and exclamations are like a glue, binding us all together. I see the tiny halflings, some walking with their parents, some in arms—gorgeous combinations of the two species.

I see the future. A future that I, so far, have not fully joined.

I take a deep breath. When I see Arc and Bow approach, Cressa beside them, chatting away rapidly, as if her words might power a fighter jet, I stand up tall.

I owe it to Zandia to give this a shot, at least.

So when they come up to me and offer me their hands, I take them. Force a smile which feels as fake as the one pasted onto Cressa’s lips. Why this human doesn’t like me, I don’t know—and right now, I don’t care. I have bigger issues.

“The light is beautiful.” That much is true.

“Indeed.” Arc squeezes my fingers. He and Bow exchange a meaningful look. I’m intrigued by how they can communicate without words, although it also makes me uneasy. I don’t share in their special communication, and I feel like a young child left out of a game.

Cressa looks at the ground. Her bubbly chatter is gone. I notice that the trailing hem of her pretty gossamer dress is ripped, like some beings stepped on it in the exuberance of watching the crystals. She looks so bereft that for a second I want to hug her, tell her that whatever it is, it will be all right.

She sniffs and then looks up. Smiles. “Well, I guess I’ll be… going. Leave you, ah, three, alone.”

She sticks up her chin. “See you later, I guess, Kianna.”

“Sure, okay, Cressa. See you around.”

I’m eager for her to go, and also dread the vacuum her exit will create. If she’s not here to fill the space with Arc and Bow with her endless flow of words, I’ll need to talk to them.

What will I say?

Across the large field, I sense him. Mykl. I know this sounds crazy, but that kiss—it’s like it only strengthened some bond between us, even though he pushed me away. I look over, and he doesn’t look away. The second stretches out, and sounds go silent; all I hear is the power of his gaze.

But eventually he looks away, turns, and strides out of view.

I deflate.

Arc’s eyes are curious. “Everything all right?”

I take a breath. “It’s fine. I’m affected by the energy here.” Not a lie. It’s just that it was Mykl’s energy, not just the crystal energy.

“Us too.” Bow speaks for both of them. “We feel like this is a perfect time to talk to you about the future.”

The crowd is not dying down. Although the peak light is over, everyone seems to want to linger here at the epicenter of the event, talking about the even bigger light show that will occur.

“Can we go somewhere more private?” Arc takes my hand. “It’s loud here. Unless you want to stay and appreciate the light for a while?”

“Of course.” I force a smile. He’s really quite thoughtful. “We can go somewhere else.”

Away from Mykl.

“We have something we want to show you.” Arc sound excited. “It’s something—”

‘That we created recently while we were speaking of the future. Exciting.” Bow finishes his sentence.

I raise an eyebrow, sort of horrified. Do they also chew each other’s food and hold each other’s members while urinating?

I snort, wanting to share this awful, inappropriate joke with someone. Mirelle—maybe. Of course, she has two mates. But she’d understand that I’m not saying two mates is weird for everyone. Just for me. I also think Mykl would snort—reprimand me, but laugh. He likes my rude comments, I’m pretty sure. I swear he appreciates humor now, because I tease him so frequently—his whole disposition is lighter than when I first meet him.

Instead, I nod. “I like exciting things.”

It couldn’t sound more stupid, but both of them nod back, then lead me to their private hovercraft.

I have this horrible vision of the future. The three of us sitting around some dome, nodding at each other, while the two of them hold hands.

I cross my arms and watch the landscape blur past me. City buildings, tall and strong—shining metal and glass, although between them some rubble still exists here and there, left over from the devastation the Finn left. Patches of gorgeous trees and landscape. Over all of it, the new light, tinted rosy at this hour was lending everything an extra beauty. It touched each broken stone and blade of grass with a kiss and a promise.

I can’t stop thinking about the kiss with Mykl, and then of his hard words. Why does he have such a grudge against humans? Or it is just me?

I sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

Arc is perceptive. Or else just normal. I’m probably acting like my entire world is falling apart.

“I’m just thinking about the future.”

“We think about it all the time.” Bow speaks as Arc smiles. “And how we asked you to share it with us.” A muscle jerks in his cheek. Is he nervous?

“We want to show you our home. It’s new.”

The hovercraft stops, smooth and even, in front of a new building. Curved steel makes a honeycomb domed roof, and there is so much glass.

“Oh, it’s lovely.” Despite my internal mess, this place is glorious. “Look at all the light that comes in! It’s like living on the sun. But not too hot or anything.”

It’s perfectly arranged, and the view—of the city and then purple-hazed mountain outlines in the distance, is phenomenal. “Wow. You built this?”

“With help. Nothing but the best for our family.” Arc takes my hand. “We’d like to stand here in the sun after we give you our crystals. Talk about our future.”

I bite my lip.

“Because,” Bow adds, “we made you a promise. An offer. And Zandians never go back on their word.”

“It’s dishonorable,” Arc agrees. “Once we say something, we carry it out.”

I nod. “Of course.” Zandian honor.

Arc’s shoulders look tight. Is he worried I’ll renege? I mean, I never actually said yes, to them. Just… I never said no, either. And that was as good as a yes to them, I now realize.

Bow looks away and clenches a fist, then turns back to me, a smile on his face that looks somewhat forced. “So, Kianna, what do you think?”

“I think a family could be very happy here.”

Arc takes a deep breath. Hesitates a second before taking my hand. “May I kiss you?”

Stars, this is awkward. “Um, yes. Sure.” I clear my throat. Try to summon the slightest bit of excitement at the prospect.

“Good. Then I will.”

“All right.” I nod.

“Okay.” He nods.

Fuck, the nodding again.

He clears his throat too.

I close my eyes and wait, stomach muscles and toes clenched tightly. As if I’m going into battle.

When his lips touch mine, I squeak. Tense my back so hard it hurts.

Then I relax into his touch.

“It’s all right,” he murmurs. Kisses my neck, my jawline.

Despite my confusion, my body starts to react. I sigh and release the tension in my limbs. Tentatively, I reach out, put my fingers onto his strong arms.

“Touch me,” he whispers, his voice rougher now.

I squeeze—his muscles are like rock. Iron. It’s nice.

I squeak again when Bow comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, then soften. Allow myself to relax against him.

“Yeah, that’s it,” he murmurs.

“Just let us take care of you.” Arc’s voice is identical. As if they’re twins.

“Mmm.” As long as I keep my eyes closed, this is… nice. They are strong and sexy, after all, and the way Arc nibbles my neck, makes delicious little spikes of passion course through my body.

Yeah, I could get into this.

I push back against Bow for a second, feeling his arousal. Knowing that these two powerful warriors like me, want me—it’s a heady feeling. I lean my head back onto Bow’s hard shoulder, inhaling his aroma, and when Arc presses in closer, so I’m locked between their two bodies, I don’t fight it. I kiss Arc back when he lowers his head and puts his lips on mine.

But when Bow’s arms snake around and find my breasts, I freeze.

Naturally the two of them stop, also—so thoughtful. For a second, the three of us are locked into place like some odd statue.

I snort a little and then push them away, just a twitch of the hips, but they release me. Immediately.

“Maybe we’re moving a little fast.” I wipe my mouth, and the gesture makes me think of Mykl, back in the grotto. Then, to my horror, I burst into tears. Sobs, really, body-wracking heaves.

“Kianna!” Arc’s voice is startled. Concerned.

He reaches out for me, then drops his hand when I flinch.

I wipe at the flood of tears. Start to laugh at the same time. “I’m sorry. I’m, um, just overwhelmed. You know, human emotions.” I pause. “I should probably go.”

“Sure.” The two of them exchange another glance, tilt their heads.

Veck their secret language.

I feel as lonely as I did back when Mykl abandoned me, and I long to be back in my dormitory. I need to figure things out.

“Let us just show you…”

“The crystals we’ve picked out.”

My stomach tightens. A box is produced before I can say no. When they open it, I gasp at the pretty pieces of perfection that sparkle within. Small, gorgeous orbs that will—if I say yes to them—decorate my breasts. My ears. My belly.

I put a hand over my stomach and take a step back.

I don’t know why I want to vomit.

“Those are lovely.” I agree.

“We picked them out for you.”

I don’t know which of them has spoken, only that I need to leave. Now. “I’d love to see them again, but later. I’m feeling ill.”

“We’ll take you back to your dormitory. And in the future, when you are better, we will discuss details.”

“Of course.” I speak automatically.

They’re somewhat mechanical as they usher me back into the hovercraft, and none of us speak as we traverse the city to the dorm the Zandians set up for unmated humans. No human can live alone without a sponsor to ensure we integrate properly into their society. It’s humble, but twenty times nicer than what I had as a slave in Ocretia, so I love it. Our dorm mother, Octavia, is a sweet old Zandian female who was off-planet during the Finnian invasion.

“Goodbye.”

I can’t get away quickly enough, and I dart out fast enough to avoid any goodbye kisses, and run inside before they can even speak of accompanying me.

I close the door to my room behind me, relieved I didn’t run into Octavia or any friends on the way, and toss myself on the hoverdisk and wrap myself in a finely-woven blanket. I expect to cry but tears don’t come. Instead, I blank my mind out, remembering again how lucky I am to be here on this planet, in this situation.

The memory comes to me again.

I’m standing in a field, with someone who’s tall, way taller than I am. I reach barely to her waist. My arm is extended upward, and her hand keeps me safe. Around us the grass blows, tall, yellow dry grass, and the sound—a glorious rushing, like water, courses around me and through me. The field extends in every direction, and the grass is nearly as tall as my head, and I feel infinite. In this moment I’m so safe and powerful and protected.

I take a deep breath, and fall into the pattern of breathing I’ve developed just for helping pursue this memory. I make my mind empty, then focus on the bright Zandian star, letting it fill me with light. I breathe for a long time, observing the star, just existing. Then, when I’m ready—my mind knows—I allow the memory back in, and send the light from the Zandian star to illuminate it, teasing out the edges so I can remember.

It’s like a picture in my mind, a hologram. So crisp I’m there, smelling the air, feeling the wind. The woman’s hand. The memory advances, letting me see pieces of it that were hidden before.

“Run,” she tells me. I no longer know the language she speaks, but I know what she’s saying.

“Run as fast as you can. Feel the air. Feel the world. It’s part of you.”

She says my name, and it’s not the name I have now.

And I obey her. I run, and she runs too, and we laugh and laugh, racing around with the wind, while the grass bows down before us, honoring our joy.

“If you run fast enough, you can fly.” And we do. We fly together, hand in hand, our feet still on the ground, but our hearts in the blue sky overhead. We fly and fly, and my heart is full of joy.

Memory is a tricky thing. If you push too hard, you rip off the pieces that still hide in the mist, and they fall away and you lose them forever. The trick is to let the memory flow like the light of a setting sun, just watching, not directing. Allow it to caress you, and sometimes the light flows into those hidden corners, illuminating them. Telling you the new secrets that were locked away for so long.

Today nothing else new comes—not her face, not her name. Not the place we were, or why we were so free. But I love the memory nonetheless, because when I remember that feeling of pure joy, I believe I can feel that way sometime again.

I don’t know if it can ever be with Arc and Bow.

But it will never be with Mykl.

I don’t know what to do. So I toss and turn, while sleep eludes me, hour after hour.

All I know is that something about Mykl sings to me, the way the grass in the field called my name. I don’t want to give up. Not yet.

Chapter 3

Mykl

Today she’s wearing trousers that are even tighter than her previous ones. The ones she had on at the crystal festival, when we—Veck.

Are they painted on? She’s wearing them to spite me. She’s angry about the kiss, probably. Trying to taunt me. The urge to punish her long and hard has my cock lengthening along my pant leg. I have to turn away to compose myself. How does Kianna get more attractive each planet rotation?

“Hey, Mykl.” She sashays over to me, her voice full of that honey and bite that drives me mad. “Look.” She holds something in her hand, but I find it hard to pull my eyes away from her curves. The way her shirt comes down highlights the swell of her—

“Helloooo? It’s Zandia calling. Is Mykl here?” She pretends to tap on her comm unit. “Attention, looking for Mykl, last seen in the—”

“Enough.” I grab her by the arms. She sucks in a breath and her green eyes go wide. Those berry red lips part just a fraction. My cock surges against my pants, painfully constricted. “I told you not to dress like this.”

“Like what?” She plays innocent. We both look down at her chest, where her perfect breasts are barely covered.

Despite my best intentions, a growl comes from my throat as my cock punches out.

And she giggles. It’s the most irritating, adorable sound I’ve ever heard. She vecking giggles! The nerve of her. I have to do something. Make her stop this teasing. Because if she does not stop, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I tug her close enough so that we’re nearly touching. The heat of her body sends her scent to me, something light, like flowers in a field. Sunshine. “Stop.”

“Stop what?” She narrows her eyes.

“You know what.”

“Stop doing such quality work? But if I did, I’d be reneging on the promise I made to King Zander and myself to help this planet succeed.” She gives me a wide-eyed innocent look and licks her lower lip. Nods her head toward the table. “Once again, I did what you asked. Way ahead of time. I think that deserves some kind of reward.”

“Oh, you do, is that right?” My voice comes out low, a growl.

“Yes.” She sticks up her chin. “And if you weren’t so timid, you’d—”

“Timid?” My horns go on alert and I tighten my grip on her arms. “Timid?”

“That’s right.” A little smile plays on her lips. “Afraid. Terrified, actually.”

“Kianna, you are really pushing me.” I give her my most stern look. As her master, it’s my right and duty to punish her, to teach her the Zandian ways. I haven’t considered it because I have no interest in getting so intimate with humans.

Especially considering what I’ve heard about them. How they are aroused by physical discipline. How it creates a bond for training and molding them.

For keeping them.

And I don’t plan on keeping one.

Especially not this very tempting, terribly irritating, beautiful little brilliant human who loves to torture me with her full breasts and—

“I specifically told you I’m not interested in… anything. And you disobeyed a direct order. That’s just—”

“Just what?” her eyelids flicker. How can a being have such thick, black lashes? She tilts her head up toward me. “What it is?”

“It’s… insubordination.” My voice is lower now, softer. I slide my hands down her arms to circle her wrists. “Very disobedient. To keep offering something I don’t want.”

“Hmmm. So it is.” I’ve never heard this tone from her before. Sultry. Like sex, music. “I wonder what you should do to me?”

Her eyes close and her lips part. I growl again. Veck, I can’t resist her! It’s like my blood is boiling for this human. She’s the only one who can ease the itch. For one second, I wonder if it would be so wrong to… be with her. What damage could one time do? Just to see?

I’m about to lean down and take her mouth, but then I see the little smile on her face. Triumphant. Victorious.

I pull back, emotions all over the place. The predominant one being anger.

“This isn’t a game, Kianna.”

Her eyes fly open. “I don’t think it is.”

“Then stop trying to win.” I stare at her. “Stop trying to manipulate me. It won’t work.”

Before I can think it over, I pluck the part she was holding and set it aside before grabbing her up in my arms and striding over to the hoverseats at the side of the room, the one that beings use for breaks. We’re the only two in here, now, and it’s unlikely that anyone will enter. Still, the master door is unlocked. I ignore that.

“What are you doing?” Her voice goes up, a mix of alarm and fight.

It only kicks my lust up another degree. “What I should have done from planet rotation one. Teaching you who’s boss here.”

Veck, this is a mistake. But I can’t stop myself. Don’t want to stop, either. It’s like my hands are doing the only thing I want, and I’m dying for it.

I sit down and tug her over my lap. It’s the work of a second to arrange her slender, luscious form over my strong thighs.

She squeaks and squeals, twists to look up at me. The expression on her face—outrage, surprise—makes me chuckle.

“Mykl! Put me down at once.” She pushes at me.

“Gladly.” I smile at her. “After I’ve punished you.” I push her shoulder, gentle but firm, to make her lie flat.

“What?” She twists up again.

I shake my head. “You know exactly what I mean. From the second you set foot in my dome, you’ve done nothing but tease, sass and disobey. Try to rile me up. It’s time to get a few things straight.”

I use one hand to hold her against my legs by pressing on her back. With the other, I tug at the waistband of those tight pants.

“Stop!” She grabs my calves. “Mykl. What do you—”

“You know what I’m doing.” I bend down, letting my breath brush her neck. She stops fighting immediately. Her hands soften on my legs but she still holds me, her fingers loosen but don’t release their hold. Even through my pants, her touch makes me burn. The places where her fingertips meet my muscles come alive, nerves dancing. And veck, having her on my lap has made me hard as steel.

She wiggles on my lap. She can feel it, I’m sure.

“I’m going to spank you.” This time when I grab at the waist of her pants, she lifts up her hips slightly, as if encouraging me. Assisting.

My cock gets harder. I peel the fabric down and suck in a breath at the vecking creamy perfection of her thighs. For a second, all I can think about is tearing away that scrap of lace that covers her crotch, spreading those legs, and burying myself in her pussy. I lean over her body, unwrapping her long legs, inch by inch. When I toss the pants to the floor, I’m so hard it’s painful.

“But I don’t want to be spanked.” Her voice is quiet.

I don’t believe her for a vecking second. Because I smell her arousal, even through her panties. And when I look closer, I can see that she’s soaked the cloth. Oh, stars, what I’d like to do.

“You don’t?” I grab the lacy top of her panties and tug it up, hard, so that the fabric disappears into the crack of her ass and rides up against her pussy lips.

“Ohh,” she gasps and writhes on my lap. “I… don’t.”

“Mmm, well, that’s just too bad, then, isn’t it. Because it’s happening whether you want it or not. The only question is whether to take these off, or not.”

I tweak the waistband so it rubber bands against her hips, making a little snapping sound.

She gasps again. “Mykl.” There’s so much need in her voice that I nearly pull her up and kiss her.

But that would make things worse. I take a deep breath. “I want you to stop disobeying my orders. You need to do what I ask.”

“What do you want me to do?” She widens her thighs a fraction.

Veck, the things I want her to do.

“For now? Keep your hands down, don’t kick, and say thank you when I’m done.”

She makes a little noise of I don’t know what, maybe a question, but it turns to a cry as I raise my hand and bring it down hard across her ass.

The crack that rings out is so satisfying that I growl. My horns stiffen. “For this.”

I spank her again, a bit harder.

“Owww.” She hisses and bucks.

I hold her down with one hand. “Quiet. We’re just getting started.”

I spank her again on each cheek, then at the base of her thighs. “This is for all the times you didn’t listen.” I spank again. “And this is for the times you did what you wanted, not what I wanted.” I bring my hand down hard. By the one true star, her skin is the softest thing I’ve ever felt. I’m dying to finish the punishment so I can touch her—but no. I’m not going to do that. It would give her exactly the wrong idea.

“And this is for doing the exact opposite of what I told you.” I rain a flurry of hard spanks across her cheeks, fast.

“Mykl,” she gasps, grabbing my legs again. “It hurts.”

“It should.” I keep spanking.

“Stop it.” She digs in her fingernails.

“Stop it?” I spank harder. “Stop, the way you stopped when I told you not to tease me?” I crack her across her upper thighs. “Stop the way you stopped dressing so… provocatively?” Another one on her thighs, then a few more on her ass.

“I mean it!” She wiggles, scratches harder. It almost hurts, through my pants. But not quite.

“I hope you don’t think your delicate human hands can injure me.” I spank again and again. “Because not only would you be wrong, you’d get extra strikes for even trying.”

“Fuck you.” Her voice is determined and shaky.

“Fuck me? Oh, really?” I spank even harder. “Are you going say that again, Kianna?”

“Fuck you!” she shouts. “Mykl, stop it!”

“I’ll stop when I’m ready to stop.” My voice stays firm.

Her ass is a deep pink. “I’ll stop when I think you’ve learned a lesson.”

“The only lesson you’re teaching me,” she snaps, panting, clutching my legs like a vise, “is that you’re an asshole.”

“Keep up the insults, Kianna. This is what you’ll earn.” I spank her thighs again.

“I’m going to kill you!” she screams, and punches me with her fists.

“Wrong answer. Do you want me to use my belt?” I lay one hand across her hot flaming ass. She clenches her muscles and whimpers; I can tell it hurts by how hot it is. But I can also see that she’s even wetter than before.

Veck, spanking does turn my human on, just like the others. And if I wanted to take her now, she’d be receptive… and passionate.

No. Not my human. This human. This troublesome, difficult human who won’t leave me the veck alone.

“You’re not supposed to torture me,” she wails, her voice pitiful. “It’s a rule.” But she looks up at me and licks her lips. Slow. Deliberate. “Don’t you want to find another way to teach me a lesson?” She bites her lower lip.

“I’m not torturing you. I’m showing you who’s in charge.” I rub her ass. Try not to groan at the way I want to bite her lip the way she’s doing. Want to stick my tongue into her pussy.

She flinches, then relaxes into my touch.

Wrong answer,” she snaps. “You’re teaching me that you’re a bully.”

I stifle a snicker. Veck, she’s feisty. I love that. I’ve been with females on many planets, pleasure slaves, and not a one of them had this incredible mix of passion and sass. None of them knew how to push my buttons just like this. Probably because she’s a human.

A human.

“Zandians,” I point out, my voice taut, “have dominion over humans. We must tame our mates.”

“Mates, yes. But that’s exactly what you don’t want from me. Right?” She slumps over my lap. Goes quiet. Then she says, “Fine, Mykl. You win, okay? I’ll do what you want from now on.”

Her voice is so flat that a cold spire of dread pierces my chest.

Did I spank her too hard? She was turned on before—now it’s like that all disappeared. Veck. I never wanted to really hurt her. Just teach her a lesson. And also, the other thing, the thing I can’t allow myself to think about—

She lets go of my legs. “Can I please get up and get dressed?” She sniffles.

My chest tightens. “Not yet,” I growl.

“I’ve had enough.” She stiffens under my hands.

“No, you haven’t.” I don’t know what the veck is going on with me, all I know is that I need to bring this little human the pleasure she’s dying to have. I’ve heard from every mated Zandian how spanking and punishment turns on their mates, and how they pleasure them afterward in a way that’s explosive with passion.

She doesn’t deserve it. And it’s really going to send the wrong message. But veck if I don’t want—no, need—to give this small creature everything she desires right now. Now that I have her naked and needy over my lap, I’m not going to leave her wanting. Something inside me burns to finish what I started. It’s like I’m in a dream, on autopilot, doing this from a distance.

I run my hands over her ass and thighs. “Relax,” I murmur. “You’re right. There are other lessons to learn. Other things I can teach you.”

She sucks in a breath and her body comes alive again. I feel the energy coursing through her anew. It’s amazing how in tune with her I feel. Is it the light streaming in through the skylights? It’s close to solstice, and even sitting in the beams seems to make us crackle with new energy.

Or it is her skin; is it embedded with some irresistible life force?

I don’t know, and I don’t care. I stroke her over and over until she hums, a low gentle sound, her whole body easy and light. Expectant. Then I run my fingers lower, to the place between her thighs. She moans and spreads her legs, letting me in.

She is the vecking softest thing I’ve touched. So wet, warm. Tight.

I can’t wait for more.

Kianna

My ass stings from the spanking, and I’m angry that he held me down and punished me. At the same time, I’m euphoric, because after all, isn’t this what I wanted?

And it’s more magnificent than I dreamed. His strong hands on my ass, spanking, then stroking, his low growly voice. Right now I’m dying for him to do more.

He said he wants nothing to do with me, but I know that’s a lie. His every touch tells me he wants more, not less.

When he slides his hand between my thighs, I open for him.

He’s skillful with his strong fingers, just like I imagined. I don’t know where he learned this technique, and right now I don’t care. Later on, maybe, I’ll mentally behead every whore in every pleasure dome in the universe. Now I’m going to enjoy it.

He glides his fingers over my slick slit, then thrusts inside me.

“Mykl,” I gasp his name.

He takes his hand away, and flips me over so I’m sitting on his lap.

“You like that?” His rough whisper makes my skin burn.

“Yeah.” I tip up my chin.

When he takes my lips, he’s voracious. No hesitation. He kisses me like it’s his last task on this world. His tongue teases mine. “Open for me,” he demands, one hand pulling my head closer, the other tapping my thighs.

“Yes,” I say into his mouth, and then I lose myself in his embrace.

This feels so right. Kissing Arc (or was it Bow?) was… adequate. This? This is stunning. This is fireworks and magic and everything I dream about.

The angle of his hand is different now, and he strokes my clit with his finger. Soft, so softly.

“Mykl.” My cry is soft and plaintive, and I push into his touch.

“Like this?”

But he doesn’t need to ask. It’s perfect. Like he knew, he knows how to do it. For me.

My naked ass is sensitive to his strong thigh. When he shifts, his muscles move under my body and it makes me burn hotter. Mother Earth, he’s pure power. I want to feel him over me. Pressing into me, his length against mine. In me.

I whimper. “Please.” He smells like the machine shop, and his own essence below it. Something masculine, strong. I press my face to his neck, inhaling.

“What are you doing?” He sounds amused.

“I like the way you smell.” I don’t feel any embarrassment.

“I like your scent, too.” Before I know what’s happening, he scoops me up in his arms, and drops me back down onto the hoverseat. But gently, with care. Arranging me.

“Let me,” he whispers. A demand. A plea.

I lie back and allow him to spread my thighs. When he kneels between my legs, I gasp. And then, at the first touch of his tongue to my clit, I cry out his name. “Mykl!”

“Veck.” He sounds amazed, like he’s worshipping. “Kianna. So perfect. Delicious.”

His tongue, oh, stars, his tongue! He could take down entire planets. He teases my clit with soft strokes, then glides along my body, using the perfect amount of pressure to drive me insane.

“You,” he tells me, in between licks, “are. The. most. Troublesome. Female. I. have. Ever. met.”

“Am I?” I squeeze my eyes shut, seeing colors burst behind my lids. Cerulean blue. Amethyst, like his eyes. Emerald.

“Which is why I had to spank you.” His voice, a cross between a growl and a purr, makes me wild.

“Oh, you didn’t have to. You wanted to. Ah.” I writhe as he licks my clit in a way that nearly makes me come.

“I more than wanted to.” It’s like the words are torn from him. An admission only given because he’s entranced with my body. Like he’s fighting it. “Ugh.”

“Did you?” I push my hips up.

“Don’t you vecking come.” He grabs me with his strong hands, pulls me up just a bit, and slaps my ass. Hard. “You don’t ever come until I grant permission.”

“Then you don’t get to come, either, until you get my—ooowww!”

He slaps my inner thigh. “Mouthy little human.”

“You want to see what my mouth can really do?” I’ve never done what I’m thinking of doing. But I want to, for Mykl. In fact, I’m dying to feel his cock with my tongue. Make him as needy as he’s getting me.

“Later.” He sticks his tongue deeply into my body and I scream in pleasure, nearly lifting off the cushion. “Mykl! You’re going to make me—”

“Did you get permission?”

“No but—”

“Then you wait.” He sounds pleased with himself. “Or I’ll spank you again.”

I think he means it. I think he’d like that. And as much as I enjoyed it the first time—because it got me hot, right now all I want is the impending orgasm. And if he makes me take another spanking first, I’m going to die. Literally die.

“I’m waiting!” I grab my hair. “Stars, please.”

“Beg me. Say my name.” His voice is rough with passion. I look at him—really look. His horns are so hard. His eyes gleam with a passion I’ve never seen. An openness that’s new. It looks good on him.

A rush of emotion suffuses me. “Mykl. Please?” My voice is so soft. For a second, a split second, the image of the rushing grass fills my mind. Then it’s all Mykl, because he says:

“Yes.”

And when he puts his mouth back to my body, and his hands, too, I let myself go into his touch.

He’s got me, safe and secure, and it’s all right to fly away into the passion we share.

I let the orgasm grow as he licks me, no rush, no pressure to perform, and when it peaks, I scream out my pleasure into the glowing air. The light refracts all around me, flashing into my eyes and his, and I look at him the entire time, because he’s so beautiful to me.

And I come, and come, with his name on my lips and his face forever etched into my brain, with his heart and mine beating the same fierce rhythm.

I’ve never been this close to another being, and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in my life, before I even knew this kind of bond existed.

I know this will change everything.

Mykl

This changes nothing.

I loved the feel of her coming under my tongue.. Giving me her body.

The problem is that she’s giving me more than that—she wants to give me her soul. That essence of which humans speak, something we don’t have an exact translation for in the Zandian language. I suppose “heart” comes closest. But I can’t take Kianna’s heart. I can’t take any of her.

She’s still panting, an expression of pure bliss on her face, when I pull back and lie beside her, stiffly. I’d love nothing more than to have her put her mouth on me like she offered, and then come into her sweet pussy.

But I made a promise long ago to only mate with another Zandian or not at all. And as my father told me, it’s only by keeping our bloodline pure that we ensure that our warrior genes stay strong, so we can secure our future. And we Zandians keep our promises. It’s part of what sets us apart. It’s part of our code.

Even though this is on my mind, I automatically wrap my arms around her and tug her small body to mine, noting how well we fit. Two pieces of a puzzle. And it’s the most extraordinary thing, because just lying here with her—even though my cock is still rock solid with need, is somehow relaxing.

She stirs. “Let me.” Her voice is honey. “I want to make you feel good, too.”

Her small hands undo my trousers, and even though I meant to tell her no, I adjust my hips so she can tug the cloth down my legs.

“I think I’ll go like this,” she announces, and straddles me in reverse, so that glorious ass and pussy are right in my face.

“Kianna—” is all I manage, because veck, she bends down and takes me into her mouth and the whole planet tilts on its axis.

“Holy Zandian star.” I lie back and allow her to work my cock.

She’s never done this before; I can tell. She’s sloppy and tentative with her tongue, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever felt. Knowing she wants to do this, almost begged to do it—it sets me on fire.

“Suck a little tighter,” I advise her. “Pull harder on the tip.”

“Like this?” She comes up for air, then reapplies herself.

“Oh, stars, yes. Just like that.” My voice is taut with growing need.

This little human doesn’t need much instruction at all. With every second that passes, she gains confidence and skill, and suddenly I’m lost under her body, her hot tight mouth, her small working hands.

“Kianna, I’m going to…”

She doesn’t stop, only sucks harder and grabs my thighs with both hands, digging in. It doesn’t hurt; small human fingers wouldn’t, but it stokes my passion.

I grab her hips and smack her ass, once, again, wanting to lick her pussy, finger her, touch her, do everything imaginable to her—

And it explodes. My orgasm is immense, the best I’ve had in many solar cycles. In the moment of bliss, I’m completely vulnerable to her power, and I don’t vecking care. I come and roar her name and then growl, tugging her down beside me, letting the waves of pleasure wash over me.

She’s supremely self-pleased. I can tell by the way she wiggles and hums beside me, her little body pressed up against me. “Did you like that?”

“You know I did.” I stroke her hair.

We’re silent, then she speaks. “Why do you hate humans so much?”

I’d normally not talk about this, but for some reason, the words just come out. “I don’t hate them.”

“But you don’t want… one.” She tenses up the slightest bit. “For a mate. I just want to know why.”

“It’s a private reason.” I take a breath. She says nothing, and I continue. “I made a promise a long time ago, and I will not break it. A sacred vow to my father.”

“To avoid humans?” She lifts her head up. “Did you even have them on Zandia when you were young?”

I shake my head. “Not like now, no, but we were aware that Zandians could successfully mate with other species. The Finn were in the initial attack stages and we’d lost many warriors. My father had a gift…” I break off.

She touches my hand, saying so much with the simple gesture.

I look away. “I merely…” How can I say that I still miss him in a way that sends jagged daggers through my chest? Zandians are stronger than that. “He was one of the finest warriors Zandia has ever seen, Kianna.” I struggle for the words to describe his power. “He could fight like ten others.”

“Wow.” She weaves her fingers between mine.

“And I was like him, when I was young.” Now this part is something I don’t often talk about, not to anyone, not even my friends. “Then I was injured, and was no longer able to train.”

“I had no idea. You were injured?” She hovers over me, blinking. “Where? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” She touches my shoulder. Bites my lip.

I snort. “Not there.” I grab her hand and place it over my chest. “Here.”

She presses into my pecs. “But you don’t have scars.”

“Inside.” My heart begins to race and I concentrate to still it. “I breathed poisonous gas. The Finn unleashed it into a school, hoping to kill young Zandians. They did kill many, but I survived. My lungs were scarred, badly. I almost died. By the time I recovered, I’d already matured past the point where I’d need to really engage in training. It was too late for me to reach my full potential. And my lungs were no longer at peak capacity.”

“So you became an engineer? There’s honor in that, Mykl. The warriors could never do what they do without you as their base.” She touches my chest again, softly, her fingertips like silk.

I pull away. “I know that. It doesn’t make it easier to bear.”

“But I don’t understand about humans, though. Because, Mykl, humans are so compassionate and thoughtful. Surely a human’s emotional support could help you—”

“My father made me promise him that I’d mate a Zandian female who had genes that matched mine in power and lineage, so that our fighting skills could be passed on to the young.”

“Oh.” Her voice is suddenly flat.

“That I’d wait for her, as long as I needed to wait. Because that would be my duty to Zandia. I would honor my planet and my king by passing on the gift I cannot use, to a being who can.”

Of course my father could not have known when he exacted that promise that Zandian females would be nearly wiped out of existence. Only a handful remain, and those of breeding age are already mated.

She rolls away from me. “I see.”

“And Zandians don’t break promises.” I sit up.

“I understand.” She grabs for her pants.

I dress too. “So, Kianna, that is why nothing can happen with me and y… any human.” I shrug. “I just can’t. I’m waiting for my destiny.”

She nods, head ducked down, hair flowing over her face. I hear her sniff and my chest constricts.

Normally sniveling drives me mad, but I feel the curious inclination to comfort her.

I fight the feeling and pull away. “Please behave from now on. At work.” It’s a cruel thing to say after what just happened. But I don’t know how to handle this.

She puts her face into her hands.

Veck, I’m a monster for doing it, but I walk away.

I can’t be here with her, because if I stay any longer, I’m going to take her back into my arms and get carried away—to a place I can never go.

My promise matters. Zandia matters. I have to do what’s right.

She’ll be fine with Arc and Bow.

But as I walk out the master door and out into the sun, thinking about her with other males, I roar into the air, causing a few passersby to look, curious. Then I race away, fast, running as hard and strong as I can, until my scarred lungs burn with pain.

I embrace the pain. I deserve it after the way I just toyed with Kianna’s delicate human emotions. After I just used her with no intention of keeping her.

She’s been waiting for me.

I haven’t acknowledged what I’ve known until this moment, but I see it now. She hasn’t moved forward with her other suitors because she was holding out for me. And now I just crushed any hope she might have. Told her in no uncertain terms why I won’t—can’t—take her as my bride.

I did the right thing, though. Leading her on is a cruelty.

I’m waiting for a Zandian. I have to. And when we find the rest of our scattered species out in the galaxy, and I know we will—I’ll be ready to take on the challenge of siring strong, perfect warriors. Like my father and grandfather, and those before them. I come from one of the strongest warrior lines on Zandia.

If I weren’t injured long ago, I’d be out there like Lanz and Domm, rescuing others. Instead, I’m vecking stuck here designing the tech that powers them. And I don’t mind. It’s doing my part for our future.

But I want to own the future in a visceral way, too. Bring new life to our planet. Send forth a child to do what I can’t any longer. But what’s needed for Zandia’s future.

Why, then, does the image of Kianna’s belly swollen with child keep flickering in my mind?

And the thought of touching another female—even a Zandian—depress me?

Chapter 4

Kianna

“What happened? Anything to tell me?” Mirelle prances through my door. If she weren’t a fighter pilot, I think she could be a dancer. Once again, I’m struck with jealousy at how easily she won the hearts of her mates.

I look away, out the window of my home. “We, yes. We kissed. Then we…” How to describe it? “Were intimate.” My face is hot, and I can’t help but smile, even if my heart breaks at what came after.

“Oh, Kianna.” She claps her hands and grins. “That’s such great news! Did they give you their crystals?” She comes up to me, face eager. “Show me.”

“Crystals? No.” I scoff. “In fact, he left—oh. You’re talking about Arc and Bow.” I tighten my hair tie and sit down. Put my face into my hands.

“Who are you talking about?” Her voice goes up. “Did you…” She hesitates, her voice soft. “Mykl?”

I nod.

“Oh, Mother Earth.” She comes up and sits beside me, wraps her arms around me. “Oh, Kianna.”

I shake my head. “He said he’s waiting for a pure-blooded Zandian female to carry on his super special warrior genes. A solemn promise to his dying father.”

She squeezes my hand. “I see.”

“Yeah.” I wipe my eyes. “He’s attracted to me, but I’m inferior.” I shrug. “Not good enough for his precious DNA. It is what it is.” I stand up and pace. “He told me to leave him alone. He’ll never want any human.”

“I’m sorry.” Mirelle is somber. She knows as well as I do how the Zandians believe in their word.

“There’s nothing I can do, I guess.” A tiny inkling of an idea starts to grow in the back of my brain, though. Just a flicker. A crazy, insane little plan.

I look out the window. “I mean, unless I suddenly turn into some fierce warrior princess and go off and do some kind of amazing feat, the thing people write about in history books. Then maybe, just maybe, he’d accept me as an inferior but acceptable substitute.”

Mirelle gives me a look of such sympathy that I almost die. “Kee. You deserve someone who doesn’t just tolerate you, but thinks you’re the most amazing being on this planet.”

“Like Arc and Bow?” Their kisses were tepid compared to Mykl’s.

“They’re good males, and will give you a good life.” She sounds cajoling. “It won’t be so bad. You’ll learn to love them.”

“And they’ll think me the most amazing being?” I roll my eyes. I sensed many things from them: honor, integrity, kindness. Strength. But unrelenting passion was not one of them.

“I don’t know.”

We’re silent for a second.

“Can you teach me to fight and fly like you?” I look at her, eyes wet with tears. “Remember the time you killed that vipn, before we were friends? Then you started training me? We can do more of that.” My voice rises with hope.

“Aw, Kee.” She touches my hand. “I don’t—”

“I don’t expect to be exactly like you.” I stand up, my voice fierce. “But I want to stop being exactly like me.”

“You can come to my new class. But…” she hesitates. “If you’re not doing it for the right reasons? It’s not going to go anywhere.”

“Who are you to tell me the right reason?” I snap.

“I’m not.” She gives me an even look. “Only you can tell me if it is.”

I slump back down. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Give Arc and Bow another chance?” She squeezes my arm. “For now, just think about it. And don’t forget. We’re meeting later to work with the planning committee. Helping with the ceremony setup will surely lift your spirits.”

Kianna

“Hand me the orange ones, please?” Mirelle’s voice is tighter. I wasn’t sure why but since she’d left my home a few hours earlier, it’s like her anxiety has ratcheted up, notch by notch. If I could see her mind, I think it would be stretched out, ready to snap.

“Did I do something? I’m sorry if I complain too much about my situation.” I wipe my eyes; they’re still swollen and damp from earlier, and because my sadness hasn’t abated. I pick up the soft orange ribbon and pass it over for her to tie to a sparkling lantern. “Here.”

“What?” She frowns. “I’m fine. Of course not. You never do anything wrong.” But she doesn’t take the fabric.

“It’s just that you seem… on edge.” I put the soft bundle down beside her pile of crafts. Around us, other human voices rise together, a warm chatter of camaraderie and excitement as we prepare festival decorations. It’s amazing to see us all: medical staff, fighter pilot, farmers, teachers, mothers, all coming together to work on a common goal.

She glances around her and lowers her voice. “I’m just having a hard time getting ready for my next mission.”

“You don’t usually talk about that. What’s wrong?”

She looks to and fro, then takes my hand. “Can we talk in private?”

Nobody notices us leave, or if they do, they give it no thought: We are good friends, after all, usually inseparable. Only her behavior might clue someone into the fact that she’s worried.

We head out of the large meeting room into the quiet of the hallway, and then out the side door into a tree-lined square. It’s empty but for the shadows of the setting sun, and the lone cry of a lesser marjoric, whose red plumes gleam like garnets in the long soft rays. It cocks its head and regards us with a beady eye from its branch, but doesn’t stir. Perhaps waiting for crumbs; this is a popular lunch area for humans.

We sit on a stone bench and Mirelle looks down at her feet. “This has never happened before.” She rubs her hands together. “I can’t feel it.”

“Can’t feel what?” I lean closer.

“The move. My roundabout kick.”

“I don’t follow.”

“I created a new move the other sun while Lanz and Domm and I were rescuing those new humans from an Alph-4 auction.” She takes a breath. “It just came to me when I needed to fight a Mok—you know, the ones with three arms? I did a new leap and twist tumble and kick.”

“Well, that’s awesome.”

“It was.” She nods, licks her lip. “And Lanz and Domm told everyone about it. Every being. Talked about it incessantly and how I need to teach it in my class so all fighters can use it as needed.”

“That sounds like an honor.”

“Except I can’t remember what I did and they expect me to start teaching it tomorrow.” Her voice gets louder. She stands up and crosses her arms. “I can’t vecking remember any of it. It’s like a sick blurry dream. All I can think of is the panic and fear and the look in the Mok’s eyes.”

She squeezes herself hard, like she’s trying to get smaller. Startled, I get up and come closer. “Mirelle, I’ve never seen you like this.”

“What, I’m not allowed to get upset?” She makes a little noise and shrugs off my hand when I put it onto her shoulder. “Don’t touch me right now.”

“Fine.” I put my hands up, a little hurt, but more concerned. “You seem very disturbed.”

“Well, I am.” She glares at me. “Do you even have a clue what kind of pressure I’m under on a daily basis? Every being thinks it’s so easy. Strong, feisty Mirelle. She can kill and then have fun, all in the same planet rotation! What a life! What they don’t see is that sometimes?” She takes a breath and her voice wobbles. “Sometimes the kills all come back to haunt me at night. Even with my mates beside me.”

“Oh, Mirelle. I had no idea.”

She shrugs. “It’s the life of a warrior. It is what it is.”

I close my eyes and the image of the rushing grass fills me. I slow my breathing and do the thing I’ve taught myself with my heart rate. Then I do the other thing, where I sort of slide my mind to the side, just a bit, and suddenly the woman’s face becomes clear. Her name is Rhianna, and she’s my…

My eyes fly open. “Mirelle, I can help you.”

“Oh, you can?” She shakes her head. “Unless you can get inside my brain and wring out the memory of how to do that fighter move, you can’t do a thing.”

“That’s just it. I think I can get into your brain.” I’m so excited that my words tumble out fast. “I can teach you.”

“No you can’t.” But she loosens her grip on her body. “How could that be possible?”

“I’ve been doing this thing.” I feel my cheeks redden because it’s odd to explain. “I move my mind around and let the thoughts clarify.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It will.” I reach out and when she takes my hand, I smile. “It will. Just try something with me. Will you?”

She shrugs. But I sense interest in her stance and her expression. “I guess so. Sure.”

I look around and we’re still alone. Even the bird is silent, preening her feathers with a long, silver beak.

“First we’re going to breathe together. But in a special way.” I slide off my shoes, sit down and cross my legs. “Join me. Arrange your legs like this.” I pat the ground right in front of me and put my feet up on the opposite thigh.

“What’s special about it?” She narrows her eyes. But she sits down. Takes off her shoes and arranges herself in the lotus position so she matches me. “Like this?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Now. We breathe in until we fill our diaphragm with air, then we whoosh it out like this.” I demonstrate. “Put your hand on my body to feel how I do it. It’s different from regular breathing.”

Mirelle is a quick study. It’s unbelievable how fast she learns the five different ways of breathing I’ve discovered, even the one where you hold one nostril shut, breathe in and out in a specific way.

It sounds odd, but it clears the mind. Makes it sharp as a Zandian sword, the edge so fine it can cut air. As clear as the still waters of the grotto, where you can see a mile down to the shimmering formations beneath, the ones that have lived there for millennia.

Now I speak to her, explaining what to do with this breath. “Next time you breathe out, empty your mind completely. All you see is the glowing Zandian star. Keep your eyes closed, and focus on the star. Just that.” I take her hands in mine. “Hold my hand while you breathe. Relax.”

Mirelle’s muscles loosen. Her hands in mine are soft and lax.

I don’t know how long we breathe together, but I sense when she’s ready for the next part.

“You see only the star. But now you’re going to do your new kick next to it. You’re relaxed and calm. Your body knows how to do this. Watch yourself, Mirelle. Watch like on a holo. Keep breathing.” I make my voice flow like the stream, dancing over rocks, limber and lithe. I send it into her mind, sending it into the dark crevices she can’t access.

Her eyelids flicker but her breathing doesn’t falter.

“You can feel your body perfectly. Each muscle, each tendon. You’re watching what happens. Do you see it?”

She sucks in a little breath.

“Tell me how it goes.”

Her voice is calm and soft. “I prepare like I’m doing the A3 kick, but then I…” she trails off. She’s silent for a long time.

She pulls her hands from mine and stands up. At first I’m terrified that it didn’t work.

Without speaking, she crouches down, then roars, a fearsome, beautiful sound, and leaps.

I catch my breath. It’s the most graceful, destructive thing I’ve seen.

“I got it back!” She screams. She does the move again. Again.

She comes over and bends down, squeezes me awkwardly, so hard I can’t breath. “Kee, you fixed me! You got into my head. I didn’t think you could, but you did. Oh, sweet Mother Earth. I’ve got it back.”

There are tears in her eyes and she doesn’t bother to wipe them, and they shine like little stars in the light. “Kee, you’re a genius. How did you do that?”

I flush. “I’m no genius. It’s just a thing… that I do.” I stand up, and one knee pops. I shake it out and shrug.

“It’s incredible.” She steps back and does the thing again.

I want to ask how she does it, to teach it to me. For a second, I imagine myself leaping and screaming, and Mykl’s face, amazed—because I’m a warrior, too, someone he can respect.

But even I know I need many solar rotations of training to even come close to trying what she can do.

I bite my lip, both pleased and sad. “I’m glad I helped.”

“I’m going to go directly to the training dome.” Her words tumble out. “Teach this right now, to whomever is there. Oh, Kee, I love you.” She grabs me again and I hug her back. Maybe my life is a wreck right now, but fuck, it does feel good—to do something useful. Something valuable. And as she hurries away, happiness in every footfall, my own eyes tear up and I smile, watching her go.

Chapter 5

Mykl

“You’re on that again?” Lanz points at my ultra-far-reach scanner. “Why do you even bother?”

“Some planet rotation I’ll get the message for which I’ve been waiting.” I twist wires together and reach for my soldering tools. “It passes the time while I work.” Kianna is off duty today, and Amber isn’t here, either—she’s on leave expecting her young. Apparently human females need time to prepare for the birth.

Lanz snorts. “Some planet rotation you’ll wake up and realize that you’re too old, and you wasted your life waiting for something that will never arrive.”

“When I prove you wrong, I expect you to bow down and apologize on one knee.” I narrow my eyes.

“Oh, I’ll grovel and writhe around like a Marsan worm if you find a batch of Zandian females by listening to that scanner.” He smirks. “I’ll eat dirt. I’ll cook you a meal. I’ll be your pleasure slave for a planet rotation.” He likes to joke around like this now. In the past, I would have punched him. Now, I admit it’s mildly humorous. He’s almost as funny as Kianna—I push her out of my mind.

I snort. “Veck off. You’re the last being I’d want as a slave.” Thoughts of Kianna fill my mind again. She was a factory slave before Zandia acquired her. Not a pleasure slave—thank veck. If she’d been a pleasure slave, I would spend every planet rotation here wanting to kill every nasty being who used her.

“What’s the news, then?” He taps the volume button.

Static fills the air, then snippets of tower talk from a hundred thousand light years away: Two Marrians discussing airspeed velocity to leave their planet.

“The usual. Nothing. Yet.” I raise my eyebrow. “Where are you headed?”

“A pleasure slave auction. Checking for human females.” He crosses his arms. “Which we learned about from our official scanner and our army-sanctioned comm listening devices.”

“Veck you.” I grimace, but it lacks bite. “Where?”

“In the Midrian belt.”

I whistle, a low tone. “Isn’t that still deadly territory?”

He nods, somber now. “But we have Mirelle.”

I purse my lips. “So you do.” Even I acknowledge that their team is stronger with her; that they can do things with her that they never could before. “Be safe.”

“Always.” He smiles. Touches my shoulder. A look of concern passes over his face. “You seem upset. Everything okay?”

Veck these mated Zandian males and their newfound emotional sensitivity that comes from their humans.

I shrug his hand off. “I’m fine.”

“All right.”

He’s not that sentimental—he knows to leave me alone when I need it. He waves and jogs off toward his craft, and I’m relieved to see him go.

When he leaves, I take my scanner and open it up. I insert the new part I’ve been working on now for the past solar cycle.

My heart starts to beat faster, because I’ve had my mind set on this for so long.

Our current scanning capacity only reaches so far. But I’ve figured out a way to tap into Ocretian satellites and find transmissions that bounce off them—expanding our reach by another million light years. Into parts of the galaxy that have, to us, been dark. Silent.

Oh, sure, sometimes we can intercept transmissions if we search for them. But this will be a vast surge of communications, like I’m opening a pipeline.

I can only dream of what I’ll learn. Surely something will be useful for Zandia. Maybe even the very thing I long for most of all.

Or at least the thing I thought I longed for.

Kianna

“So, I told some of my students about what you did.” Mirelle grabs an apple and bites into it. Juice runs down her chin, and she wipes it with one hand, then swipes her hand on her dirty flight pants. We’re in the lunch area where many human females congregate during the planet rotation to eat together.

“What I did? What do you mean?” I blink at her and put down my fork. “Mirelle?”

“The thing you did for me.” She chews and swallows. “You know, when you got into my head and helped me find my move.”

“Mirelle!” My stomach roils. “You weren’t supposed to tell anyone.”

She blinks. “What you did? It was amazing. It needs to be shared. I taught the class and, Mother Earth, all the young warriors can do that move now. It’s incredible. Without you, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“But it’s private.”

I’m not hungry anymore. I push my plate away, leaving my fruit uneaten.

Mirelle slides closer to me on the bench. She lowers her voice. “I think you could do it to more beings. And that it would be as good for you as it would be for them.”

My heart starts to pound. “ I can barely do it for myself. I didn’t even know if it would work for you. And it probably only did work for you because we’re friends.”

“I tried to do it for Sparr, but I didn’t know how. Please, can you just try?” She grabs my hand. “He’s so smart and talented, but he’s about ready to give up on fight class and join the ag workers. I know if he just gets this breakthrough, he’ll be at another level.”

“Help him do what?” I cross my arms.

“So like I was stuck on my move? He’s having trouble remembering the sequence of actions he needs to do for a general…” and then she says some things that are like garbled nonsense to me, because it’s all fighter words.

Blood rushes in my ears. “No, I can’t.”

“But I already told him you would.” Mirelle’s voice is patient.

“Oh Mother Earth. You’re so bad.” I scowl at her. “You had no right.” Still, part of me comes alive. I remember how amazing it felt to help Mirelle. Could I do it again? For another being?

“I’m sorry.” She cocks her head. “But it’s important. And you did say you wanted to be more warrior-ish, right? This is helping fighters. He’s waiting over there.”

She gestures past our little lunch grove, and I see him—a tall, handsome warrior, waiting under a tree, his body language tense. Like he’s waiting for something bad.

“Fine, but, Mirelle, you owe me.”

“Okay.” She takes another bite of her apple and sets it down. “Can we go now? I told him you’d do it really quickly.”

“Oh Mother Earth. You owe me more than one thing. Like seven things.”

“That’s fair. We can leave our stuff and come back.” She waves at our food.

From a distance, this young male looks as upset as I feel.

As we approach, he looks up and the expression on his face, of such anticipation and hope, makes me forget my anxiety. All I know is that I want to help him.

“Greetings.” He raises his fist at a 90 degree angle, as is traditional for Zandians who are meeting for the first time. “I am Sparr. Mirelle”—he nods at her—“says you may be able to help me with an… issue.” He swallows. I can tell that his Zandian pride makes this difficult for him. They don’t like to ask for help.

“I don’t know if I can.” I take a breath. “But I can try.”

“She’ll do the thing,” promises Mirelle, and touches his arm.

He frowns. “I am not accustomed to close contact in such an intimate way. Mirelle explained that you need to hold my hands.”

“I understand.” I nod. What I did with Mirelle was definitely intimate, in a way that Zandians don’t usually engage. “Perhaps you can sit further back. You do not need to hold my hands. Just listen to my voice and practice the breathing I will teach you.”

“That will be acceptable.” His voice is stiff. He looks around, as if checking for privacy.

“We can go to the fight dome.” Mirelle points. “It’s close and will be empty at this hour.”

As we walk, I try to sync myself to this being’s essence. He’s nervous, but strong. Young, yet not headstrong; I can see it in the way he walks and holds himself. He’s actually reticent, I think—not just with his words, but his actions. Like he doesn’t trust himself yet.

Like Mirelle, he learns the breathing techniques quickly. Unlike her, though, he does not want to close his eyes and relax.

“I keep my eyes open.” He fixes them on me, his shoulders tight. “I need to be alert at all times.”

“I understand.” I glance around. “Perhaps Mirelle can keep guard while you relax.”

He considers this. Frowns. “I am not sure.”

“It’s all right.” Mirelle goes to the door. “Trust me, Sparr.”

He hesitates, then nods. “All right.”

He squeezes his eyes shut, tightly. “Now what?”

“Now we just breathe.”

As we sit there, at first I only feel broken energy. But slowly, as I talk, I sense that my voice is relaxing him, because the current between the two of us starts to hum. Not aloud, of course, but in my imagination. I can see it in my mind, strands of glowing blue and yellow light connecting our chests..

“Relax and focus on the Zandian star.” My voice is soft like honey. “All you see is the star.”

His eyes flutter and relax. Finally he’s sitting there without all of his muscles clenched.

As I continue to talk, I sense when the moment is right.

“Now I want you to think about your task. What is it?”

“I need to memorize the sequence for the …” and he says the thing that Mirelle mentioned, and it makes even less sense this time.

But it doesn’t matter if I understand it. All that needs to happen is that he understands it.

“You know it already,” I promise him. “Do it there, in your mind. Slowly. Methodically. Step by step. You know it perfectly. Let your body carry it out.”

He sways back and forth, moves his hands. Little gestures, tightening and loosening his fists.

“Tell me what you’re doing.” I concentrate on the light.

“I’m starting the auto-seg,” he begins. “Then I adjust the input variables.” He goes on, his voice fluent and strong, through a—and I’m not exaggerating—ten minute long recitation of complicated instructions. Also, they are somewhat boring directions. But through it, his body is soft and relaxed, his voice flowing without a hitch.

When he’s done, he breathes deeply.

“That’s it.” I nod. “You have it. Do you feel it inside you?”

He inclines his head. “Yes, I do.”

He opens his eyes. Blinks. Looks a little disoriented for a second. Frowns, like he’s concentrating. He moves his lips, like he’s reciting something, then his eyes widen in surprise and delight.

“I know it. I know it!” He leaps to his feet. “By the star, I know it!” He sounds incredulous, then determined. “Mirelle, I have it now. I can do it.”

He whirls on his heel, then turns to me. Bows his head formally. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

He opens his mouth, like he wants to say something more, but shakes his head. “I must go.”

After he leaves, Mirelle hugs me. “Oh, Kee, I knew you could do it.” Her voice is triumphant, and when I look at her, she has tears in her eyes.

I’m confused. “Why are you crying?”

“Because you needed this.” She sniffles and swipes her eyes. “Kee, you have a gift. And if you share it, I think you’ll be happier. I know you will. I wanted to give you that.” Her voice is tremulous. “I wanted to make you happier.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But warmth spreads through me, like a glow.

“Doesn’t it feel good to help others? I mean, you do it all the time at work. But something like this, something unique?” She looks into my eyes, squeezing my hands. “Isn’t it something else?” Her voice grows hushed. “Like magic?”

I close my eyes and focus on the light. The grass rustles in the wind and Rhianna squeezes my hands. She’s my mother, and she loves me.

I let go before I push too hard. But the thing is inside me now—I was loved, and deeply. I’ll never get Rhianna back, but that love is in me, and I can use it, share it.

I open my eyes, and Mirelle is there, looking at me with love. She’s not my mother, but she’s my best friend, and I grab her in my arms. “It is like magic.”

Now I’m the one crying. All I know is that maybe it won’t matter as much, about Mykl, about Arc and Bow, about my missing past. If I can help people and share this great feeling, it will fill enough of the gap to keep me going.

Chapter 6

Kianna

I’m asking for trouble. And I do mean literally, asking for trouble.

I stand at my workstation with my bare legs slightly parted, my ass tipped up. Before I came to work, I put on a short, too-small tunic without leggings and a pair of thigh-high boots. The fabric clings to my curves and the boots highlight my legs. It’s every bit as provocative as I mean it to be.

Wanting Mykl’s punishment is masochistic at best. I know how it will end—with him rejecting me, again. And yet I can’t stop thinking about his last punishment. The way he took such easy control of my body—took out his frustration on my ass. The way he pleasured me afterward. Let me pleasure him.

I want it again.

Need it.

After our talk last time, I don’t harbor illusions of pushing past his barriers and getting him to accept me. I understand he believes he can’t. But that doesn’t change my craving for his attention.

I hear the door open and close behind me. Mykl’s heavy footsteps sound, then stop. When they resume again, they’re coming swiftly toward me. I suppress my grin.

“Kianna. What in vecking creation are you wearing?” Mykl’s deep growl goes straight to my core.

I turn and give him my best wide-eyed innocence. “What do you mean?”

His gaze travels over my curves, and stalls out on my legs. His throat works and I notice the bulge in his trousers grows. For a long moment, neither of us move, unless you count the way his horns thicken and tilt in my direction. His eyes glow a distinctly Zandian shade of amethyst, like two glittering gems. When they lift—with apparent effort—to my face again, they narrow. “You think this is a game, little human? Provoke your master and giggle later with your friends?”

I hold my breath. I don’t want to answer in any way that will stall my punishment.

“Do you?” he snaps.

I force my lips to move. “No, Master.”

I don’t usually call him that. I’ve made it a habit of acting too familiar, challenging his old-fashioned, stodgy need for formality and respect. Challenging his beliefs about the roles humans play with Zandians. I never wanted to be slave-y and yield to his authority.

Until now.

Or maybe I always wanted to yield, I just craved a little hands-on correction first.

To my satisfaction, he grips my arm and spins me to face my work station. One large hand claps down on my nape and he pushes my torso over the table.

“You wish to tease my cock, Kianna?” His hand crashes down on my ass, hard.

I suppress my giggle at hearing him say cock. I wouldn’t have believed he had it in him to talk dirty. I allow my hips to shift, a subtle waggling of my ass intended to entice him.

It works.

He shifts his hand from my nape to between my shoulder blades and holds me down as he spanks me. It’s hot and hard, each smack burning as the next one arrives. It’s exactly what I crave. Satisfying on some deep level.

It’s connection.

Satisfaction.

Completion.

No, not completion. Not yet. But a girl can hope.

Mykl’s hand catches on the back of my tunic and he stops spanking me to shove it up to my waist. His sharp intake of breath tells me he’s discovered what I’m wearing underneath. My panties are black spider silk with little bows at the backs of my legs and a cut out on the top that displays my ass cleavage. Amber ordered us both a pair back when she took her mates, but I hadn’t worn mine until now.

He mutters a curse in Zandian I haven’t heard before. “Take off your panties.” The words are stiff, as if he’s barely restraining from tearing them off me himself. The thought of my tight-laced boss losing control over me has my pussy clenching with need. I hook my thumbs in the waistband of the panties and make a show of slowly dragging them down my hips and over my boots. I step out of them and he snatches them from my hand as I stand back up.

“Back in position,” he snaps.

With pleasure.

I bend back over the counter, widening my stance slightly.

He presses a hand into my back and starts to spank me fast and hard. I have to concentrate to stay in position, because the urge to dance away is immediate. He doesn’t stop until my ass is hot and burning and that’s when he spanks between my legs.

I gasp, tucking my butt and scooting my feet together.

He slaps each of the backs of my thighs. “Open those legs. You wanted me to see that pretty pussy. Show it to me.”

I can’t help the whimper that falls from my lips. It’s one part wanton need, one part fear. My heart pounds with excitement. Dragging my lower lip between my teeth, I widen my stance.

He slaps my pussy again. My folds are wet and swollen, and the sound of the spank is carnal. I moan.

“If you think I’m going to give you pleasure this time, you’re sorely mistaken,” he says, yet he spanks my pussy again.

My eyes roll back in my head.

He’s so off-base, as usual.

This is pleasure. I am going to come from a pussy spanking alone. The burning of my ass and my humbling position only add to the erotic tension of the moment. Another smack. I catch my breath, then let it out with a mewl. The hand at my lower back moves to the top of my pelvis and when he pins me with it, has the effect of tilting my ass even more. Spreading my cheeks, presenting my pussy.

He starts slapping, fast and light. Little smack-smack-smacks over my nether lips until I have to bite my lips to keep from screaming.

I need to touch myself. I want to finish so badly.

I let a moan escape and Mykl stops abruptly, like he just realized he’s pleasuring me.

No.

Don’t stop.

Frantic, I push away from the table and cup my mons, rubbing, rubbing rubbing, until—

Stars, yes.

Sweet Mother Earth.

“Did I say you could come?” Mykl thunders.

I jump at the intensity of his rebuke and when I look over my shoulder at his expression, I think even he is surprised by it. For a few beats, we just stare at each other, panting. I want him to kiss me. Or fuck me.

Anything but walk away.

I steal a glance at his cock tenting his pants. Would he allow me to give him—

He frowns and gives a quick shake of his head. “No,” he says after another beat. Without taking his gaze off me, he reaches to a shelf above me and pulls down the sella oil—a plant-based vegetable oil we use to lubricate parts.

“You don’t get to suck my cock this planet rotation, Kianna.”

I watch, mesmerized as he pumps a generous amount of oil into his palm.

“And you already know I can’t breed you. Turn around and get back in position. Stick your ass out.”

His intention dawns on me and my eyes widen.

The smallest of smirks plays around his lips, making him look sexier than I’ve ever seen him. He dips his fingers in the oil in his palm and smears it between my ass cheeks, rubbing a generous amount over my anus.

Oh sweet Mother Earth. What did I get myself into?

My heart beats erratically. Looking back, I watch in fascinated terror as he frees his cock from his trousers and strokes the long, purple appendage with his greased hand.

I nearly groan at the sight of his firm malehood, the memory of its velvety steel in my mouth flooding back to me.

He pushes my cheeks wide and nests the head of his cock at my back entrance. I hold my breath and squeeze my eyes closed.

Nothing happens.

“Open for me, Kianna.” Mykl’s voice is gentle, coaxing. Nothing like what I expected. He knows I’m afraid and he’s waiting until I’m ready.

That knowledge comforts me and I relax. As I exhale, he gently pushes, the head of his cock breaching my entrance.

I cry out, shocked by the intrusion. Mykl continues pressing forward until the head clears my tight ring of muscles, and then he stops as I pant, getting used to the sensation of being stretched. Feeling so full.

“Mykl,” I plead.

“You’re doing so well, Kianna.” Again, I’m surprised by his caring, his encouragement. Still, his need is barely leashed. His fingers dig into my hips and I sense the shaking in his thighs against my ass. “Take your master, now. Take all of me.” He eases forward and I concentrate on relaxing to let him in. Each inch fills me, stretching me wide, taking everything from me.

I never knew how much I craved surrender. All these months I’ve pushed and prodded Mykl, daring him to do something about this attraction between us. He may have his reasons for not mating me, but now I know with certainty. There’s no denying this chaotic pull between us. And having him take me fully—demand my total and complete yield to his authority—feels so right.

He pushes all the way in, then backs out and fills me again. Each stroke changes me. Rearranges the very molecules of my existence. I am his, completely. No teasing, no irritations. Just his powerful control of my body. His need matching mine.

His pleasure intertwined with mine.

He pumps into me, slowly at first, then short, fast thrusts. He bumps my stinging ass with his loins, punishing me a second time with his thick cock, sending tremors of pleasure down my thighs.

I cover my mouth to muffle my cries, because they fill the room—my needy mewls tangling with his deep growls and grunts until we make a symphony of sounds, an overlay to the slap of flesh against flesh.

“Kianna, yes… veck, yes.” Mykl’s voice grows rough, broken.

“Take it,” I urge, although I have no idea what I’m encouraging him to take. His pleasure? My ass? My heart.

Yes, take it all, Master. Please.

“I’m going to come,” he growls, bumping me hard on each instroke.

“Yes,” I gasp. “Please.”

He reaches around the front of my hips and slaps my clit again and I explode into my climax, stars bursting and dancing before my eyes.

He roars and fucks my ass harder, faster, until he, too, reaches his summit and hurtles over the other side.

When my vision clears, I find I’m staring down at my work surface, Mykl’s torso folded over the top of mine, cradling me.

“Veck, Kianna.” His lips move against my neck. “That was… unwise. I’m sorry.”

I feel the curious urge to both laugh and cry. I know better than to do either around Mykl, so I say nothing. After a moment, he eases out of me. He walks to the sink and wets a towel, which he brings back to clean me with.

“Kianna.” He sounds stiff again.

I duck my head and step into my panties he hands me. “You don’t have to say anything.” I pull them up and rearrange my tunic. “I know where you stand.”

I return my focus to my workstation, picking up the power cell I’ve been working on and examining it with far more intensity than the job requires.

“Right. Well.”

I don’t look over.

After a moment, Mykl leaves and I swallow the lump in my throat.

It ended the way I knew it would.

And again, my heart is breaking into a million pieces.

I have to stop this. The only being getting hurt here is me.

Mykl

It shouldn’t hurt so much.

Leaving Kianna at her work station after taking her so roughly—after punishing her and vecking her ass—it’s all wrong.

And yet I don’t know what else to do.

I can’t mate her. I’ve already explained why I can’t.

She knows why I can’t.

Why, then, did she goad me into that?

Why did I let her? I knew what she was doing, and I still walked right into it.

I craved it as much as she did.

And like last time, the orgasm I had went beyond any experience I’ve had in my life. It’s like Kianna knows how to unlock some masculine part of me I threw away when I found out I could no longer serve my king as a warrior.

But I am from a long line of warriors.

And that’s why I must breed with a Zandian, as I promised my father.

I can’t allow this to happen with Kianna again. I only hurt her, and she’s the last being on Zandia I ever want to wound. She’s far too precious to be treated like a sex slave whom I can bend over and veck any time it suits me.

No, she deserves some being who can be a true mate. Offer her the love and laughter the humans crave.

Even if I wasn’t promised for Zandia, I’m not capable of nurturing a relationship with a human. I lack the sensitivity required.

No, Kianna’s better off without me. And if I need to transfer her to another master in order to keep my hands off her, I will.

Chapter 7

Mykl

I’ve been waiting so long, that when I hear the words from far-flung space pirates, I don’t believe it at first.

I drop the auto-tuner and it clatters on the work table as I grab the scanner, as if holding it will bring me closer.

“One Zandian female… sector B… heading to auction in Segron 8…”

Then there’s static, but I got what I needed. I activate my comm unit.

“Master Seke!” My voice is ferocious with urgency. “Emergency mission requested. There is word of a Zandian female headed to auction.”

Seke’s response is immediate. “Where?” His tense excitement comes through.

“In Sector B in Segron 8.”

“We have never flown into that airspace.” Master Seke’s voice is clipped. “Pilots would have to endure five times the usual hyperdrive jump just to get into the territory. It’s many light years farther than we’ve ever travelled.” He pauses. “In addition, we have no auto-nav for that areas. The solar bands are deadly.”

“You know we have to do this.” It’s not even a question. My voice rises. “I’ve been studying the star maps for solar cycles. I have them memorized.” I’m curt with urgency. “I know them like my own hands. We can do this.”

“You are not a pilot. You haven’t trained for this.” I know what he’s saying: You’re not a warrior. I kept up with hand combat training with Master Seke on the palatial pod, but when they moved to the training pod and began training pilots, I was put to use in engineering because of my lung condition.

“I don’t need to be part of the on-planet extraction team.” My hands tremble and I clench my fists. “Send me along to navigate. I will stay on board once we arrive and guard the craft.” I have to do this. It’s my destiny.

Static, then he barks orders, clearly on the open channel to all fighters. “Team A: Lanz, Domm, Mirelle, and Hektor, report to Dr. Daneth immediately for advanced hyperdrive preparation and instructions. Team B: Arc, Bow, Sparr, scramble backup and prepare to hang at the Sector B border in case your help is needed. Stay tuned for further instructions.”

My personal nav beeps, and Master Seke’s voice rings out. “Mykl: Join crew A at Dr. Daneth’s quarters. But if you have any hesitation when it’s time to go to manual navigation, you abort the mission immediately. Is that clear? I will not lose some of my best warriors for an uncertain mission.”

“Understood.”

I make my way to the health dome, where my friends are already undergoing injections and transfusions. Accepting breathing masks and kits of devices.

It’s dangerous, but everyone on our planet knows that when we hear about Zandians, male or female, we go get them. That’s part of our mission, our honor, our lives.

Maybe I’m not the warrior I should have been. But I can help direct, and then—when we rescue the Zandian female—I will mate her and fulfill the promise to my father.

I should be thrilled. I am thrilled.

Aren’t I?

Mykl

“Veck, that was the most horrible hyperjump I’ve ever done.” Lanz’ voice is foggy. He shakes his head and his tone improves. “Stars, that was violent. Team check in. Everyone good?”

“Fine.” Domm’s voice is firm.

“I’m fine.” My voice sounds far away, but evens out as I continue speaking. “All good.” My chest feels tight. I haven’t been on a jump in many solar cycles, and I’m not used to it. I just hope my body and lungs will hold out on the auction planet, where the thin atmosphere and higher content of flourinated gasses are difficult for even the top notch fighters to handle with ease.

“I’m fine.” Hektor, the other member of our team, chimes in.

“Clear.” Mirelle’s voice is even. “For me it wasn’t that bad.”

“It’s your softer physiology.” Lanz turns to her. “Once humans acclimate to hyper, they excel at withstanding the pressures when they have the proper preparations.”

“Thank the stars for Dr. Daneth.” Hektor clears his throat. “That was brutal. Can’t imagine how we’d survive it without his help.”

“Gonna need you at the controls now, Mykl. Entering the solar bands.” Domm’s voice is neutral, but I see the urgency in his eyes. “Remember what Master Seke said. Any hesitation, we abort. No shame, no repercussions. This is a very dangerous mission and we won’t risk our lives.”

I nod. “I’m fine and I can do this. I’ll adjust the auto when necessary. I have the maps memorized. Especially the part where we need to fly manual to get into the Segron air territory.” My fingers fly across the console, and the only thing I feel is eager anticipation.

“Segron is popular with the Finn. Dr. Daneth gave us masks to wear in case they release toxic nerve gasses during our rescue. I just hope they haven’t injured our female out of spite.” Domm’s voice is low and serious. “None of us should get our hopes up. She might be… non-salvageable.”

I never get nervous. But the mention of nerve gas and spite, Zandians rendered useless, makes my head spin. For a second, I’m back in that school as a youth and I’m breathing in the thick, noxious black-green smoke. My lungs burn and I’m dying and—

“Veck.” My eyes blur over and I rub my face in my hands.

I look back at the screen. To my horror, my concentration is entirely shot. My eyes skitter across the solar bands, unable to focus.

I suck in a breath.

Mirelle is by my side in a flash. It’s uncanny the way this human can read Zandians. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t focus. I just need a second to adjust.”

“We don’t have a second. We need you on point now.” Her voice is firm. “If you can’t do this, you need to abort.”

“I can do this.” My voice rises. “I just—”

“What’s the issue?” Domm looks over my shoulder.

I growl. “I can’t focus on the screen.”

“Well, you need to figure it out,” he says. “Or abort. We have about two minutes before we need to make the call.”

“I know that.” My tension rises. But my brain refuses to cooperate. “Veck!” I roar. I’m about to say “abort…” when Mirelle grabs at the controls and pushes a button. Without warning, Kianna’s voice rings out into my headset. “Mirelle? Aren’t you on mission?”

“I’m on mission with Domm, Lanz, Hektor and Mykl. We need your help. Mykl needs you.”

“My help?” Her voice is high and surprised. “Mykl?”

The sound of my name in her voice does something strange to my insides. Like they shift and rearrange. I try to ignore the sick feeling of guilt that comes over me. As if I’m being untrue to my female. I’m not. I never promised her anything. She knows this is the only honorable destiny for me.

“Mykl can’t focus. Talk him through it.” Mirelle’s tone is a little desperate. But also confident.

At first I’m horrified that she’s saying this in front of everyone, including—worst of all—Kianna.

“Kianna’s a tech, Mirelle. Not a fighter. She knows nothing about this!” I slam my fist onto the console.

“She has a gift.” Mirelle touches my shoulder. “She does this thing where she get into beings’ heads and helps them do things. It sounds crazy, but believe me, it works.”

I glance around the cabin. Every being is tense, looking at me and Mirelle. I know how much this mission means to all of us. We can’t get this close and then fail—because of me.

It does sound crazy. But for some reason, I trust that Mirelle knows what she’s doing. She’s not one of Zandia’s best fighter pilots because she makes mistakes. If she says Kianna can help me, then I believe it.

“Tell her what’s wrong. Then do exactly what she says.” Mirelle’s leans forward. “We don’t have much time. If you can’t figure this out, we’ll have to turn back.”

“If we need to turn back, that’s all right.” Domm shakes his head. “We must prioritize our own safety.”

“We don’t have a choice,” I snap. “If we don’t do this now, the Zandian female will be gone. We’ll never get her.”

“Then talk to Kianna.” Mirelle’s voice is soft but firm. “What do you have to lose?”

I nod. “All right.”

I touch my ear, my comm earpiece, as if that will bring me closer to Kianna.

Her voice fills my head. “Mykl, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t make my brain focus.” I can’t describe the problem properly. “I memorized the route through the bands, but now I can’t find it. It’s lost in my head.”

“Okay.” She takes a breath and I imagine how she must look. The little furrow she gets between her brows when she concentrates. The movement of her full berry-colored lips. “Close your eyes. I want you to breathe deeply in and out. Follow mine, okay?”

Over the comm, she breathes audibly, and I track her respiration, matching mine to hers. She’s breathing more slowly than I am, and after a few moments, a sense of calm washes over me.

It’s like she senses it. “Now I want you to breathe even more deeply. In for a count of three, then out for a count of three. Focus on the Zandian star. That’s all you see, right in the center of your forehead, right in the center of your mind. You’re looking at it and just breathing.”

I imagine the star, glowing hot silver and white, brilliant, right in my mind.

Kianna’s still speaking, but her words flow into a soothing mélange of sound, and everything gets quiet as the star pulses brighter and brighter in my mind.

I’ve never felt closer to her—to any being. For a split second, something inside me balks at the mission. Why am I even out here? Why am I not back there, with her, making her mine? At this point in time, it all seems so clear—she’s meant for me, even if she’s human. How could I ever have doubted it?

When she suggests I think about the solar bands and review the pathways in my mind, it’s the easiest thing to do. There they are, laid out in front of me, as clear and bright as anything I’ve ever seen. The path I memorized is there, obvious, easy. Her voice guides me to them, and then it’s all me. And it’s on.

I open my eyes and grab the controls. We’re at the border and we’re out of time. But I can do this now.

There’s no time to explain how much she helped, but I manage to say, “Kianna, love, thank you.”

I don’t know why I used that word. And I don’t have time to ponder it, because I have to leap into action. “Course adjust to X-7.” My hands dance as I maneuver us around and through the shifting streams of flux. “Adjust to X-8. X012.”

Mirelle ends the comm with Kianna, and I sense the space lessen, as if she was actually here with me, in my arms like before. But there’s no time to think about this, either.

It’s a dance to make this craft move, and all of us work it hard all through the airspace, until the planet looms in front of us, glowing in our viewing glass, with all of its moons and satellites dancing in obit.

We’re here. And it’s time to do this.

Mykl

“Veck, where are they?” I glance at my wristband comm, over and over, but it remains blank. Silent.

I’m on our craft—still masked, parked in an isolated patch of desert several miles from the auction dome. I’m on sentry duty with Hektor.

But I’m dying inside.

There is a Zandian female here, and I’m not helping rescue her.

“They should have been back by now.” I snarl the words.

Hektor watches the screens for action. “Patience. We don’t know what obstacles they have.”

“You know the protocols. If a team takes more than 1.5X the allotted expected time, we send a backup.”

Hektor looks at his wrist comm. “They’re still within time.”

“It’s not right. Something doesn’t feel good about this.”

I pace the craft, and glance out the windows. “I think they’re in trouble.”

“Commander Lanz specifically told us not to follow unless they maxed out on time.”

I make a decision. “I’m going.” I grab my vest and weapons gear.

Hektor frowns. “We’re both supposed to stay here.”

“They need me. And only one person is necessary as guard.”

I put on the facial mask that has disguising tech so we’re not recognized as Zandians, and the headgear that hides our horns.

I still train hard, fighter or not, and it’s an easy run to the dome.

As I approach, I slow my pace and blend into the crowd of random beings on the small airfield, keeping my eyes down and my pace firm. This is a place where beings don’t ask questions, and nobody wants to interact more than necessary. It’s not hard to act like I belong.

The auction domes always stink—unwashed bodies, fear, and sex. And not in a good way. I haven’t been in one of these in many cycles, and it’s hard to maintain my composure as I push through the door into the vast, dim crowded space.

The cries and abject misery of the slaves, tied up, begging, fills me with an impotent rage so strong that I clench my fists and have to take a deep breath so I don’t start randomly killing slavers left and right.

I have a mission. I mutter an apology to the one true star and scan the area, looking for my partners. For the Zandian female.

I push past a crowd of buyers gathered around a slender green creature shackled inside a rough iron cage. Her owner prods her with a shock stick and she screams; the crowd laughs and jostles, calling out numbers. Stein.

Her eyes are luminous and wet and I look away because if I keep looking, I—veck this place. Veck our galaxy, and the way beings treat each other.

I growl and stride faster, ducking my head down because I think the anger in my eyes will burn like a laser and make it clear that I’m here for one reason only—rescue.

It’s then that I see them. My horns go on alert at the sight of the purple Zandian female.

And I was right—there is trouble.

Lanz is supposed to try and buy her outright using stein—I see him there. Mirelle, disguised as a male, is in the fallback position, and Domm is across the dome.

But the crowd is shouting and pushing, even more frantic than the mob around the green creature, and I can tell that this won’t end well.

I lock eyes with Lanz and see immediately that he’s glad I’m here. We’re going to have to take her and run, because this crowd is out of control.

As I push my way forward, two Middraxians start fist fighting, then one guts the other with his sharp claws.

The scent of entrails rises like a cloud of toxic gas and other beings cough. An Ocretian steps right into the mess with his boot, unaffected, and raises his hand to the owner. Mine.

Others step back, because he holds a long-range stunner and it’s set to high power.

The Zandian female sees me. When our eyes meet, there’s a thrill of recognition. I know she recognizes me as her own—the crystals in our cells call to each other. She’s weak, though—without Zandian crystal to give her life force energy, she’s been surviving on food alone. Which means she’s small, like Master Seke’s two daughters who survived in servitude.

I dart my eyes to Mirelle, Lanz, Dom. Stars, she follows my gaze. Smart female. That doesn’t surprise me; after all, she is Zandian. But it’s still amazing that without words she is already communicating with me.

She will make a perfect mate. Of course, we need to save her, first.

Domm turns his hand in a gesture Master Seke teaches every warrior. It’s the sign for Attack system 4. This means that on his command we’ll swarm in a pre-planned fashion, each carrying out a task. As I’m not originally part of the plan, I will add myself where necessary.

The female widens her eyes. She’s tethered by ropes and chains, but Domm has the tools to cut them. Mirelle has weapons and so does Lanz, and I have myself.

“Go.” Domm speaks in Zandian, and all of us burst into action.

It’s the work of seconds for Lanz to slice the Ocretian’s throat, the one who already has his sharp nails on the body of our Zandian. Ocretians never give up; killing him is the only option, if we don’t want him to follow us tirelessly.

“Hektor, glide the craft and meet us on the tarmac,” Domm barks the order into his comm, then whirls and drops a rabid Midraxxian.

Mirelle takes out the slaver with her roundhouse kick and a scream that has the crowd reeling.

I use my fists and my dagger to clear a path and as soon as Domm frees her bonds, I scoop her up into my arms.

She grabs onto me but swoons, eyes shutting, and I see how frail she is.

“You’re safe now,” I tell her in Zandian, and her eyes fly open. “You’re mine now. I will protect you.” My voice is fierce. “You’re mine. I will mate you and take care of you. I won’t let you down.”

She looks at me with wonder, uncomprehending maybe, then swoons back into my shoulder.

“Hurry.” I start to run, my lungs already burning. I gasp harder, and panic. The others are still fighting off attackers, and I need to get her to the ship. I cannot fail.

Suddenly I know what to do: I remember Kianna. How she talked me through the solar bands. I imagine her soft voice talking about the star. Inside my mind I focus on that bright orb, and think about nothing except making it to the ship. And I fly.

As soon as I clear the dome doors, there’s the glimmer of our craft through my eyepieces—it’s masked to everyone but us. The team follows on my heels.

Once we’re on board, our escape is quick and effortless. Our craft, so advanced, is impervious to any pursuers, and soon we’ve jumped to hyper and are light years away.

“Are you all right? Open your eyes.” I bend over her, intent. I’m still panting, my lungs on fire.

“Here, use this mask. Heal yourself.” Domm tries to hand me something and I bat it away.

The female opens her eyes. But instead of looking at me, she glances over my shoulder. At Hektor. She gasps and shudders, then passes out, and he growls. Leans forward.

“Put her in the pod!” I’ve never heard him so fierce.

We place her into the healing pod, and crystal energy glows all around her.

I grab the pack from the floor and put it to my mouth, gasping at the healing mixture that soothes my scarred tissue. There’s a reason I’m no longer a fighter—I can’t keep up in these extreme situations. Thank veck for Kianna’s unusual assistance.

Kianna. Why does thinking of her sear so badly?

“Leave her for now.” Domm raises his hand. “We will close the pod for maximal healing.”

As the pneumatic lid hisses shut, the lights glow more brightly, and her chest rises and falls.

“Will she be all right?” Mirelle, wide-eyed, puts her hands on the glass, her face right up to it.

We’re all mesmerized. We don’t see Zandian females often and this one is stunning.

“She’s exquisite.” Mirelle’s voice is hushed. “She’ll be okay, yes?”

None of us speak. Finally, Lanz says, “I think so, yes. She was standing and cognizant when we arrived, just weak, probably from life without crystals. Unless she has severe internal injuries, she should recover and grow strong quickly.”

Hektor clenches his fists. “If she needs it, I will give her my blood. I’ll give her everything.” His voice is tortured.

“I claimed her.” I clench my fists. Again, the searing in my chest. “I spoke to her as I carried her. Told her she was mine.” It was wrong of me to lay claim to her, but I have no choice. My promise to my father must be fulfilled. Even though for the survival of the species, King Zander probably would grant her to no fewer than five males. But I don’t have to petition to mate her. Not with the king’s decree for Zandian Lights.

“Do you think I care about that?” His eyes burn. “I just want to see her live. And thrive. If she chooses you, that does not matter.”

I look away. “Brother, I do not wish to fight.”

Lanz steps up. “None of us will fight, and we all need to replenish. Mirelle, fluids, now. The rest of you, use your crystal enhancers. Mykl, use another lung breathing pack. That’s an order.”

We fall back, obey, eyeing the healing pod as we use our kits. Hektor can’t take his eyes off her, and I should snarl and hold my ground, but I find myself remarkably… unenthusiastic.

Even as I stare at the female I’ve claimed, my thoughts turn back to Kianna. Her scent, the feel of her silky hair between my fingers, her human beauty—different, but no less exquisite. How she helped me get to this very moment. I feel such gratitude for her that I wish she were here so I could look into her eyes and tell her how heroic she was, how special.

In my mind, I kiss her. I imagine how she’ll react, her little moans and whimpers. I remember how soft her skin was. Unlike Zandian skin, which is much firmer and harder. Do Zandian females even enjoy the mix of pain and pleasure that the little soft humans seem to crave? I frown. It’s hard to imagine that they would. Although who knows?

The female stirs. Opens her eyes. Clear brown rimmed with purple. She raises a hand and the dome hisses open.

She sits up, blinks, then stands.

“My name is Alena.” She speaks in Ocretian, then switches, haltingly, to Zandian. As if she barely remembers the words. “I heard Zandia was free, but I didn’t know how to get word to my species. But you found me, anyway.”

She looks at each of us in turn, lingering on Hektor. She gives him a small smile, then turns to me. Her smile fades. She looks into my eyes, determined and steadfast. “You claimed me while you saved me.” She bows her head. “I am grateful for this rescue. I would be honored to be your mate.”

I step forward and take her long, elegant hand in mine. It’s cool and firm, and doesn’t send sparks of arousal down my spine. She’s tall, like me. I sense her quiet strength in the way she stands.

She looks once more at Hektor, then down at the floor. Her shoulders slump.

“I am Mykl. I promise, I will do everything to make your life perfect.” I raise my voice to catch her apparently flagging attention.

She looks up at me, and I stare into those eyes, so similar to mine. I wait to feel a spark of intense recognition, as if our essences are meant to be together. Instead, I note that she has flecks of gold in her irises and that she smells different from Kianna.

I take a breath and squeeze her hands. “Perfect,” I repeat, enunciating, as if saying it more carefully will make it so.

This is everything I wanted. My father’s dying wish, my promise, my legacy. My genes. She’s the one I’ve been waiting for all this time.

Why does it feel so very wrong?

Chapter 8

Kianna

“I did it.” I’m exuberant, shouting to nobody but myself. Alone in my room, I dance around, whirl. “I did it!”

I heard him start barking commands before the comm cut off, and it was clear that wherever they’re headed—I never know, because missions are classified, I helped him overcome his mental hurdle.

I sit down on my hoverdisk and giggle, full of joy. I’ve never felt so close to him as I did just now, when he’s literally hundreds of thousands of miles away, so far away that without our light-hopping craft, I could never reach him in a million years.

But I was in his head, and he let me in. He let me help him. It was so intimate and fantastic that I shout and whoop again.

And he used the word love.

This is going to change everything, I just know it. I don’t care what he thinks or says about humans—what we just shared was a true bonding experience. He must think differently about me now. He simply must.

I’ll go to him, when he returns. I’ll be there at the landing dock, on the tarmac, and as soon as he gets off that craft, I want to look into his eyes and see if I’m right.

But when I head to the field, prepared to wait for hours, if I need to—something is wrong. Because gathered there are about a hundred beings, all chattering, clustered together.

At first I worry that something is wrong, until I see their faces: Reverent. Excited. Luminant.

The energy is palpable.

“What is it?” My voice is hesitant, because I think I know. Something in the way the Zandians are looking at the sky, all of them together…

“They’re bringing back a Zandian.” I don’t know who tells me, but the words send a knife into my chest. “Female.”

“By the one true star. We knew there must be more out there.”

“This is so amazing!”

Even the humans are excited—all except me, that is. Why wouldn’t they be? We all love Zandia. Who wouldn’t want to find more of our hosts, whose species is nearly extinct, alive in the universe?

Except I know what this means for me. For Mykl. All he’s wanted is a Zandian female, and now he’s getting one—one, that I can’t help but remind myself, I helped him access.

Tears well up in my eyes and I shake my head with a small laugh. What are the odds? It’s almost humorous, in a horrible way.

“When are they arriving?”

“Does anyone know if she’s alive? Injured?”

The crowd is getting louder, but as more beings approach, so does Master Seke and a phalanx of soldiers.

“Clear the field, please,” one of them calls, his voice amplified by his comm. “All beings return to your homes, thank you. We recognize this is exciting, and you will all be updated as soon as we have information. But we need you away from this area for your safety and the well-being of those on the approaching craft.”

Nobody wants to leave; you can see it in the way we drag our feet, looking back at the sky as if we’ll see the flashing lights of the craft if we just look once more.

I don’t go home. I sit and wait in a tree grove just beyond the field. I don’t know if I technically should be here, but nobody else is around, so it hardly matters.

I must have fallen asleep, because I awake suddenly to the roar of the engines, reverse thrusters, and noise on the tarmac.

I stand up, wiping my snarled hair from my eyes, and a trail of drool from my cheek, watching them exit. Mirelle first, thank Mother Earth she’s all right—every time she leaves, I worry. Lanz, Domm. Hektor.

Ground crew swarm around and a medical team is there—I recognize the stiff gait of Dr. Daneth and the softer motions of Bayla. There’s Cressa, too, and a waiting hovercraft with flashing lights—I assume they’re waiting to take the Zandian female immediately to the med bays for care.

I hold my breath.

And it’s then that I see them. Mykl and the Zandian female. She must be injured, because Mykl’s carrying her in his arms.

The beings gathered around cheer and clap, and I tear up too, despite my concerns. She’s beautiful; this I can see, even from a distance. And she’s Zandian. Precious to this planet. Necessary for the survival of their species.

I put a hand to my mouth and stop breathing as Mykl lifts her effortlessly into the medcraft, then steps up. More personnel join them, and this craft zips away, lights flickering in the emergency pattern.

The whole planet buzzes with new energy. Everyone is spreading the news, rejoicing, questioning. Just in time for the crystal solstice, the arrival of a Zandian female signifies a blessing from the stars, from the ancients, from Zandia’s past. It’s a great harbinger for a positive future. Everyone is gathered together in joyful celebration.

Except for me.

I’ve never felt more alone in my life.

Kianna

“Kee, please look at me.” Mirelle’s voice is pleading. “Just stop. Get away from that vid.”

I flick my finger and the holo volume goes up. “Do you want to train with the best? Are you between jobs on Zandia? Come join us on a three-month intensive training course to enhance your combat skills. At the end of the session, you will not only better protect and serve Zandia, but you will have found reserves of strength inside yourself that you never knew existed. Skills that will prepare you for whatever comes next in your life.”

On the screen, human females demonstrate roundhouse kicks. Some of them are shown in a pull-back image flying craft. “These humans, like you, never did anything with flight or combat training. Now they’re ready to take on any task they choose!”

“They don’t say it outright,” I tell Mirelle, “but this training course? It’s for the duds. The ones nobody wants.” I flop back against the bench. We’re alone in the lunch grove, and I’m obsessing about what to do now.

“That’s nonsense.” She reaches past me and snaps at the screen, and the holo disappears.

I speak into my hands. “You know, the older ones, maybe, still strong but past prime childbearing years. The ones who for whatever reason, aren’t right for mating. Keep the poor dears occupied, you know?”

Mirelle crosses her arms. “Laxmi went on that training course, and she met her commanders and now mates, Derrack and Konner, while she was deployed.” She narrows her eyes at me. “They now have twin halflings.”

“One anecdotal example. The rest of us might as well give up now.” I hear a strange sound, sort of a snuffling, a few paces away. Probably one of the Willi birds. I ignore it.

“So because you can’t have the male you want, you’re giving up on life?”

She sits beside me. “Come on. You’re better than that.”

“Tell me about her.” I bite my lip.

She hesitates. But she knows who I mean. “She’s… disoriented.” She shrugs. “It’s hard to say. I’ll know better, we’ll all know her once she is released from med and starts interacting.”

“What happened to her?”

Mirelle shakes her head. “It’s not my story to tell. But what I can tell you is this. She’s been enslaved for years, escaped, then was enslaved again. I don’t think—she’s seen a lot of bad stuff, Kee. It might take her a long time to get past it.”

“What’s she like, though?” I lean forward. “Different from humans. Is she just like the males? The same lack of humor, and the sense of duty, and all of it?”

“Well.” Mirelle thinks. “She’s not been around humans, so she’s not very emotional. Yes, she seems very inclined to follow her honor and commitments. She’s strong, already recovered physically for the most part. Reticent about any feelings she has. She seems… pleasant.”

I nod. “And she… ah… likes… Mykl?”

“He claimed her, Kee. She accepted, right on board the ship. I’m so sorry.”

When I start crying, she grabs me into her arms. “It’s going to be all right.”

“I don’t see how, though.”

Mirelle doesn’t answer, because there is nothing to say. Sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way we want. Sometimes our dreams come true—I was freed from the factory where I was enslaved. I found purpose and benevolence on Zandia. But the dream of a mate who makes my heart race? Well, sometimes, other beings’ dreams are realized instead.

An unpleasant thought occurs to me. “Arc and Bow asked me to accept their crystals right before the crystal solstice. That way we could use the light to celebrate and strengthen our brand new bond.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Her voice is decidedly neutral. She doesn’t look at me.

I swallow. “I suppose.” I wipe my nose. “Do you hear that? I keep hearing that stupid sound. What is it?”

“I think It’s someone crying.” Mirelle glances around the grove. “Should we go see?”

“Might as well.” I shrug. “The two of us can cry together, like a symphony. Maybe we can compose a new musical piece called The Sounds of Despair and become quite famous.”

“I don’t know if I like your sense of humor when you’re sad.” Mirelle gives me the side-eye. “Very morose.” She steps forward and pushes aside some vines. “Hello? Is anyone here? Are you all right?”

The sniffling stops abruptly. I step forward and see Cressa, with a startled look on her face. Her eyes are as red as the streaks in her hair, and swollen, like she’s been crying for hours. Her nose is red, too.

“What’s wrong?” Mirelle goes forward immediately and Cressa turns away. Her shoulders shake.

“Nothing.” She swipes at her face. “I’m fine.”

“If you are ill? We can help.” Mirelle reaches out a hand.

Cressa pulls her hair back and sighs. “I’m not sick.” Then she whirls and looks at me with such venom that I take a step back. “I’m sad. And angry.”

“Why?” Mirelle starts.

Cressa’s already speaking. “Because at this, of all times! The solstice. To see a beautiful gift wasted, tossed away, it makes me furious.”

“What gift?” Mirelle wrinkles her nose.

But I know what she means. I drop my gaze and look at my shoes.

Cressa adds, “Some of our best and brightest. Zandians who deserve someone who’s loyal and true, who loves them as dearly as life itself.” Her voice quivers and breaks. “And to see it all squandered for nothing? When there are other humans who would give anything, and I mean anything for them? Mother Earth.”

She renews sobbing so hard she can barely breathe.

When the sobs pass, she looks up at me again. “Mykl plans to mate the Zandian female, Kianna.” She shakes her head. “And Arc and Bow plan to mate you during Zandian Lights.” Her voice gets really quiet. “And it appears that you and I may have something in common.”

She stands up, and her tears stop while she looks evenly at me. Now she’s not fierce, but so sad that I want to cry myself. Of course, I wanted to start bawling the second she mentioned Mykl and the female.

“Tomorrow, Kianna. Right before the solstice. Just when you’re having your ceremony, too.” She shakes her head. “Mother Earth.” Then she blows out a breath. “Well, I suppose I’ll get through it.” Her voice is flat. “There’s always the Outlander program.” She snort and walks away.

“That’s the same holo you were watching.” Mirelle pokes me. “You want to be roommates with her?”

When I don’t respond, she says, “I’m sorry. None of this is funny.” She sighs. “Do you have your gown ready for tomorrow?”

I nod. “Apparently. Lorca delivered it.”

She picks a small pink flower from a Jax bush and puts it in my hair.

I bat it away. “Stop. I don’t deserve to be pretty. This isn’t the time.” The bloom floats to the ground.

“These are for strength, Kee.” She picks it up and holds it out on her palm. “Lanz told me. They’re medicinal. Something about helping people relax and getting mental fortitude.”

I roll my eyes. “From a plant?”

She tilts her head. “Why not?”

“Do I eat it?”

“Mother Earth, no. It’s probably poison in its raw form. They distills it down. You can use it, you know, like a symbol.”

“Oh, okay. I love how symbols are so fortifying.” I roll my eyes.

“You weave them into a crown to wear in your hair when you have the mating ceremony.”

She starts plucking more of them. “Come on, help me. You’re going to be the most lovely mate at the festival next planet rotation.”

I blink hard. I can’t possibly follow through with this charade of a mating ceremony with Arc and Bow. But how will I survive on this planet once Mykl and his Zandian female are together? Seeing them everywhere? It’s going to kill me.

I suck back a sob and gather flowers, as if the small blossom can be woven into a lifeline, one I will use to pull myself out of this hell and into a more generous future.

Chapter 9

Mykl

“You were kept as a pleasure slave for years?” I keep my voice low and even, as to not upset Alena, the female.

“Yes.” Seated beside me in the grotto, she nods. Crystals shine around us. She comes here daily now to soak up sustenance as she continues to heal. I have joined her, and each time we meet, my misgivings grow deeper. Like I’ve made a colossal, unfixable mistake.

“The memories must be painful. Damaging. I will do my best to ensure that your life from henceforth is tranquil.” The breeze blows the gauzy sleeve of her gown onto my arm and I brush it away, because it feels like an insect. I do it carefully, though, so as not to offend her.

She inclines her head. I am not sure if she is agreeing that yes, her memories are difficult, or yes, she would like a smooth cohabitation.

I rub my jaw. “Ah, are you implying yes to the first or the second?”

“Both.”

“I see. Sensible, of course.”

“Yes.”

We sit in silence.

I sneak a glance at her profile. It’s so odd to see a female like myself. It’s like looking in a blurred mirror. Water with ripples. There’s her strong jaw and high forehead. Her bright, seeking eyes. That patrician nose. Her high, small breasts and her long elegant legs. All lean muscle and power. The being I’ve wanted for my entire life. Here she is. It’s critical that I properly appreciate her. I must not waste this opportunity, one any Zandian male would kill to have.

“I, ahem. Young? How do you feel about…” I think about mating her, how her naked body will feel under mine. But all I can imagine is Kianna.

Stars, I must focus.

“It is my duty to Zandia to provide young.” Her voice is prim and even. “I will make it my goal to do so admirably and in a way that will honor our planet. Dr. Daneth removed the contraceptive device and said that I have not been… damaged, in that regard.”

For the first time, I note signs of chinks in her armor when she flinches and licks her lip briefly. I see her tongue, and recognize that I should probably want to bite it or kiss it. I think about Kianna and her soft, small, wicked little mouth.

I stifle a groan and adjust my pants. Veck! This is not the time. Or, rather, it could be the time, but the physical manifestation has been brought about by the absolute wrong female.

“I will pierce you with my crystals at the solstice. The light, it will heal you the rest of the way.” My voice is hopeful. I can hear a tone in there that I don’t myself understand. Like I’m pleading with her. “It will make us happy together.”

She looks at me. “Do you really believe that?” It’s the first time she’s spoken with any emotion at all. And it sounds like anger.

I look away for a second. “I’ve heard the light has restorative properties.”

“That, yes. But the other?”

I shake my head. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you?”

“For me, specifically?”

I continue without answering. “I was going to be the best fighter Zandia has ever seen, then I was injured. But I can pass my skills on by mating a Zandian female who is as strong as I am.”

“So I’ve been told, by Dr. Daneth and King Zander. They are all eager to see me bred.” She sounds disgusted.

I swallow, my misgivings growing larger. “I promised my father on my honor I would mate a Zandian.” I offer it like an explanation. An excuse for why this wrongness must be right. “And that Zandian female is you. You are what I’ve wanted my entire life.”

She tilts her head. “Do you know what I’ve wanted my entire life?”

Startled, I open my mouth. Hell, I never even asked. Never considered her thoughts on the matter. “What?”

She stands up. “To be free, for one. To be here, on Zandia.” She waves a hand. “I dreamed of it every night, Mykl. Every planet rotation. It was the only thought in my head. Everything I endured, each planet rotation longer, was so I could be here.” She glares at me, fierce.

“And now you are here.”

“And now that I’m here”—her voice falters—“I’m lost.” She stops talking and turns her back to me. “And what is being offered to me is not what I need.”

“Perhaps…” I don’t know how to talk of these things. “Once you are here longer, you will learn to enjoy your situation.”

She looks at me again. “Other beings speak of true happiness. Joy. Love. Do you think…” she whispers the next thing, her large eyes darkening, “I could ever have that, too? With you?”

I look away because my lungs hurt, for some reason. My mind races. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t you want that for yourself?” She touches a branch on a nearby tree.

My answer is immediate. “I have my promise to keep. Fulfilling that will make me happy.”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “Many promises end up being chains that can choke a being instead of saving him.”

“What does that mean?” I growl, but I’m not mad at her. I’m just frustrated. And curious. For all the hours we’ve spent together, this is the most real, meaningful conversation we’ve exchanged. It’s like I’m finally getting to know her, the real her. Not just a random Zandian female, but her.

“A chain of pain that hurts not just you, but many others.”

I think immediately of Kianna. Arc and Bow. Hektor. And this female in front of me.

“Do you prefer Hektor?” I hold back my breath. The strange thing is, I hope that her answer will be yes. “Do you wish to mate him instead of me?”

“I want time to decide.” She looks at me. “But yes, I think I do.”

The elation makes me giddy and my head spins. But the promises…

“How do you know? You barely know Hektor. What is it that makes you know… he’s the one?” I lean forward, intent on her face. As if her reply will help me understand something about myself.

“When I first saw you, I felt immense gratitude and relief. I knew I could trust you. But when I saw him?” A little smiles spreads across her face. “It was like a thunderbolt, Mykl. Like my empty chest was ripped open and filled back up with something beautiful.” Her smile broadens. “And he felt it too. I sensed it.”

“So that was it? You just… knew? Like that?”

She nods. “I didn’t know such a thing was possible. But yes, exactly like that.”

“We don’t have that with each other, you and I.” I’ve known it for some time now. Still, saying it terrifies me. Because it means that my carefully planned out life is going to deviate in a way I can’t predict.

“Hektor has been visiting me in the sick bay.” She clears her throat.

“Behind my back?” Despite the fact that I want her to choose Hektor, it still rankles that I’m not in charge of this situation.

She rubs her lips together. “Hektor would be willing to share me. I understand that is the way now—many males mated to a single female. Are you willing to share?”

My lip curls before I can stop it. Sharing a female would be impossible for me. I can barely stand other beings in general. Living with more than one? Having to negotiate and yield to other males? Never.

If I were honorable, I would offer to share her. Especially since she clearly prefers Hektor. But her interest in Hektor feels like an out. Maybe a sign, not that I believe in signs.

She lets me off without answering. “Hektor said that on the way to get me, you did something miraculous. You steered the craft through the most difficult band of light asteroids that exist—all manually—and only because your human Kianna helped you focus.”

My human. Kianna.

My face grows warm. “He should not have spoken of that.”

“He said the look on your face when you figured things out was like lightning hit you.”

“I suppose it felt like that, in a way.” I close my eyes. “It was fundamentally startling.”

As I think about how I felt on the craft, so close to Kianna, something suddenly becomes clear in my mind. “My promise to my father, I’ve been thinking about it the wrong way. I need to focus on the spirit of the thing, not the words. I can’t be locked into that.”

She nods.

I stand up straight and look into her eyes. “I release you from your promise to me. Do you release me?”

“I do.” She smiles.

I pull her into my arms for a hug. “Thank you. I will never forget this.”

Kianna

I take a breath and knock. “Cressa?”

She’s down the hall from me in the dorm, but I’ve never visited her quarters.

When she opens the door, her eyes are red. Once she realizes it’s me, her face goes stiff. “Kianna, I don’t want to talk to you right now. Anyway, don’t you need to get ready for your ceremony?” She glances at my arms. “Is that your gown?” Her voice goes up. “Mother Earth, do not tell me that you’re asking me, of all beings, to help you prepare.” She narrows her eyes and starts to close the door. “Go to your best friend Mirelle for that.”

I put my foot into the opening so she can’t close the door. “Wait.” I swallow hard. “You’re not going to help me get ready. I’m going to help you.”

I raise my arms up, offering her the gown. And the crown of flowers that I made using the blossoms I started picking with Mirelle. “Please.”

“Are you mocking me?” She blinks.

“Can I please come in? It’s important.”

The tone of my voice, or maybe something in my face convinces her. She opens the door wider and steps back.

I enter. It’s homey and warm, full of bright colors and pretty fabrics. I place the gown on her main hoverseat and lay the wreath beside it.

“Cressa, I’m not getting mated to Arc and Bow.” I wind my hair back into a ponytail with my hands, then let it loose. “But I think you should.”

“What?” She’s so startled that she stands still, and her mouth hangs open. The look of joy and trepidation in her face kills me.

“You should have them. Not me.”

“What, you don’t want them anymore, so I should take your leftovers?” Her voice is scornful, and then she starts crying. “What are you doing?” She sinks down and puts her face into her hands. “Oh, Mother Earth. Help me.”

I tentatively put my hand on her shoulder. When she doesn’t brush me off, I hug her. “Cressa, they don’t love me. And I don’t love them. It was all a big mistake. They are young and thought they should ask me, and I only said yes because, well, that’s complicated. But we don’t belong together.”

“I knew that much.” She sniffs.

“That planet rotation at the grotto? You asked about one of them becoming a lieutenant?”

“Arc,” she says immediately, looking up, her eyes shining. “He’s so smart and talented!”

“Yes, and I can’t even remember which one it was.” I flush. “That’s how unmatched we are.”

I add quickly, “And they have nothing to say to me. But when you came up that day, they both lit up. Like they were full of joy.” I shake my head. “I’ll never feel that way with them. And they won’t, with me. It would be wrong to accept their crystals. We’d all of us be miserable, eventually.”

“I love them. So, so much.” She swallows. “And I was dying because you were going to mate them, and you don’t even care for them! I could see it. Everyone can see it. Everyone who bothers to look, that is.

“I love them,” she repeats, her voice trembling. “I felt they loved me too, but they were always with you.”

“Cressa, they want you. They are only accepting me because of their initial promise and their Zandian honor. I need to release them from the promise, because otherwise they’ll go ahead with it, no matter how unhappy they are.”

I stand up. “Look, the dress might not fit perfectly, but I bet Octavia can adjust it. And this flower crown is for you. Mirelle told me these flowers signify strength and love and things like that. I picked them for hours and made this. Not for me, but for you.”

I lift the thing up, adjusting the delicate ribbons that blow in the breeze from the open window, and place it onto her head. “Look.” I point her to the mirror.

She gasps and puts a hand to her mouth. “Oh, stars. It’s so pretty.” She’s mesmerized. “Kianna, is this real?” Her eyes well up again. “This isn’t a dream or a joke?”

“It’s true.” I take her hands. “And I’m sorry.”

“For what?” But she’s already picking up the gown. “You said Octavia can adjust this?” She giggles. “Oh, I never thought I could have this.” She turns to me. “But what about you?”

Her face goes solemn.

I look away. “I’ll be all right.”

“But what about Mykl?”

I squeeze my eyes hard. “He’s mating the Zandian female. I hear she’s pretty amazing. What a blessing that our planet won her back, and just before the Zandian Lights, too.”

“I won’t ever forget this, Kianna.” She hugs me, hard. “Thank you.”

“Let’s just get ready. And once you are, we both need to go explain things to Arc and Bow.”

“What if they don’t want me?” But she knows that won’t happen. She feels it in her bones, as well as I do, that those two will be overjoyed to see her in the crown instead of me. And that thought—that I’m bringing happiness to three other beings—is enough to sustain me as I help Cressa get ready for the biggest planet rotation of her life.

Mykl

It’s almost time for the Zandian Lights festival, and a crowd gathers. Every being is respectful, but the energy of the place is immense, and it’s difficult to make my way through the throngs of Zandians and humans.

Everyone is waiting for the peak light to occur. The air already shimmers and crackles with energy, and as I suck in the fresh air, I swear my lungs feel lighter than they have in several solar cycles. Maybe not healed, but fuller, easier. I stand taller, too, I think. Everywhere I look, beings glow with a beauty I’ve never before noticed.

I don’t care for decorations like lanterns and ribbons, but even I have to admit that the whole area looks fantastic, something from a dream.

“Happy Zandian Lights.”

“Happy Solstice!”

Beings hug one another, or salute, as is their comfort, and give the special greetings.

But even though energy pulls me to be part of the whole, I’m desperate to find them. I must find Kianna, Arc and Bow and halt their ceremony before it’s too late.

I just hope that I’m not too late. Maybe she gave up on me after I turned her down for the Zandian female. Maybe she hates me now. Maybe—worse—she’s indifferent, doesn’t care about me at all.

Panic seizes me and I look around wildly.

“Where’s Kianna?” I grab the nearest Zandian.

“Who?” He shrugs. “Happy Solstice to you.”

“She’s getting mated. She’s a human.” I resist the urge to shake him. “Happy Solstice.”

“Brother, I don’t know her, but there are many mating ceremonies. Look.” He points to the side, by the waterfall.

I see a trio exchanging crystals. A group of four are clustered together, looks of bliss on their faces.

Then I see them—Arc and Bow, unmistakable. Dressed in the formal Zandian clothing of white tunics and trousers.

Kianna is there between them, in a flowing gown and a wreath of flowers and all kinds of tulle and fabric in her hair. Her back is to me, and as I stare, Arc and Bow each put an arm around her and lean in.

Veck!

I race forward as fast as I can, pushing beings aside left and right, and when I reach them, I grab Kianna.

“Get your hands off of her!” I roar. I tug her away from them and glare at the nearest one, Arc. “I must speak with her.”

He glowers and his hand goes to his dagger. “Stand back. You are interrupting our ceremony.”

I growl. “I don’t vecking care. I have something to say to her and I must do it now. Kianna—” I whirl her around.

My hands go slack on her arms. I let go, stepping back. “Who… who are you?”

Am I going insane? This is Arc, there’s Bow. This is their mate. But instead of Kianna, it’s a human I vaguely recognize. She has masses of red-gold hair topped with a wreath of flowers, and she’s completely decidedly not the human I love.

“I’m Cressa.”

“I don’t understand. Where’s Kianna?” I feel like I’m underwater.

“Arc and Bow and I love each other. Kianna doesn’t love them. We straightened things out.” Cressa smiles. She looks beatific.

“Brother, step back. You are interrupting our ceremony.” Bow barely contains his rage. “We wish to gift her our crystals at the peak of the light. Please let us have it.” He glares at me.

Cressa looks at me with sympathy. But also some shrewdness, I think. “She said she’s going to the Outlander program directly after this ceremony. In fact, she might be headed there now.”

“She can’t do that,” I mutter. “She’s not right for that. She has other gifts, better gifts she can develop. Don’t you know that she’s a genius at mind relaxation and empowerment?” I clear my throat. “And stars, nobody would leave during the ceremony for a thing like that. I’m sure all off-planet travel is halted for the duration of the solstice. Why would you even say a thing like that?” My voice rises until I’m pretty much roaring at her. “She can’t be going to the Outlander program!”

Cressa pulls a sympathetic expression, but I swear she also looks pleased. These humans are so vecking complicated—

Arc and Bow growl and step forward, so I put up a hand. Bow my head. “My apologies. I am… feeling emotional.” I’m not accustomed to this; if it means I have a chance at Kianna, I’ll muddle through these new feelings.

I move back. “Where is she?”

“We do not know.” Bow is clearly running out of patience. “If you’re so interested, I suggest you go search for her.”

The first intelligent thing this young idiot has said. I still want to rip him apart because he was courting Kianna and probably had his hands on her at one point. I take a breath and compose myself. “I wish you three a happy ceremony and a joyous life together.” Thank veck it’s not with Kianna.

Cressa turns back to Arc and Bow, then whirls around one last time. “She said she can’t bear to be here when you start your new life with the Zandian female. But apparently you’re not mating her anymore?”

“I’m not.” I growl. “She’s with Hektor now.” It’s still not clear if she will mate Hektor alone, or a group of Zandians including Hektor. The truth is that I don’t much care, because she’s not the one for me.

“This is complicated.” Cressa smiles. “But very good. And since you said that, maybe she’s not going to the Outlander program right now. Maybe she’s here somewhere, watching the lights with Mirelle. Maybe you can find her, if you look, say, over there.” She points, then turns, and this time she’s so intent on her mates that I know none of them will hear another thing I say.

I turn around, scanning the crowd, but I can’t find her.

The sun sinks lower in the sky, and the air takes on a new intensity, as murmurs ring out from all sides.

“It’s almost here!”

“Look at the crystals glow.”

King Zander speaks from the smooth white stone dais in front of the crowd. His lovely human mate stands beside him, holding the hand of their young. “Fellow Zandians and humans, happy Zandian Lights.”

The entire crowd echoes it back, a hum of togetherness and family.

“We are gathered here to honor our community, our planet, and the one true Zandian star. We have won back our planet and are working to empower our future. I thank each and every one of you for your sacrifices and gifts that you share with each other. Together we will make Zandia a powerhouse for ourselves and future generations to come. Let us allow the crystal light to bring us new energy and strength.” He nods, and at his approval, a new batch of lanterns light up, all across the fields and grottos.

It’s honestly the most lovely thing I’ve seen—with the exception of Kianna. If I can’t see her face, hold her, I think I’ll die.

“Kianna!” My voice carries, and many beings turn to look.

“Kianna!” I keep shouting, as if I can summon her with the force of my desire.

Suddenly I see her—she’s standing with Mirelle, Lanz and Dom. They’re across the grotto, but she’s here: Not on some ship bound for the Outlander program, but here. I still have a chance.

“Kianna.” I come up to her and touch her shoulder. My whole body thrums with need.

When she turns and her gaze falls on me, her whole body changes. “Mykl?” The thin note of hope in her voice slays me. “What are you doing here?” She looks behind me. “Where’s Alena? Are you mated already?” She bites her lip. “I’d like to offer you my sincere congratu—”

“No. I’m not mating her today. Not ever.” I reach for her hands.

“Oh, Mother Earth,” she gasps, and sinks down. Mirelle grabs at her, but I get her first. Now I’m sitting on the ground, holding her in my arms, while the light from the crystals starts to spin and glisten, reflecting off every surface. Mirelle smiles and steps back to her mates, leaving me and Kianna alone.

“Listen to me,” I beg. “I vowed to carry on my genes with the Zandian who is best suited to me. But the Zandian best suited is you. You’re human, but you belong to Zandia. And you get me. The way you helped me traverse the solar bands? It was like we were one being. We meshed perfectly. Didn’t you feel that?”

“I did! But… but… then you came back with her in your arms. You asked her to mate you.” The pain in her voice crushes me.

I pull her closer to me. In my arms, she’s warm and soft. She feels so right. “And I was wrong, Kianna. All along, I wanted you but tried to convince myself I didn’t, because I thought I had to mate a full-blooded Zandian. But that wasn’t making me happy or her, either.”

“And suddenly you think I’ll make you happy?” Her voice falters. Like she can’t believe what she’s hearing.

“I know it. You already have.” I think of how dull my life was before she sashayed into my lab and turned my existence on its head. She teased and flirted and coaxed me out of my stodgy resistance, even though I gave her no reason to persist. She is smart and resilient. Beautiful and strong.

I take her face in both hands and look into her eyes. “I’m positive.”

“But your promise?” She nibbles her lip.

“I’m fulfilling it, Kianna. My father asked me to choose the best one to carry my skills forward. I’m doing that. You are the best one for me. Together, we’ll be a great team. I truly believe that our young will be perfect. Because how could they not? We will work so well together.”

She tightens in my arms, and I add, “But it’s not just about the young. It’s about you. I…” I struggle to find the words. I have never allowed myself to feel such emotions, and it’s difficult to do it. As I speak, it becomes easier. “It’s about you. And me. I simply… want you. I… love you.” Once it’s out, I know it was the right thing to say, because the look in her eyes, of such joy, is immediate.

Still, she hesitates. “But for so long you said—”

“Listen.” I touch her face. “All these months, I’ve craved your laugh. Enjoyed your little remarks. Learned to appreciate your humor. You changed me, little by little. Allowed me to open up. It was only because of you that I was able to reach into myself and do what I needed to rescue Alena. She’s going to be perfect for Zandia… and for someone else. But for me? It’s been you all along, Kianna. You’re my destiny. I just didn’t see it.”

“Mykl.” Her voice is so full of emotion that I grab her more tightly.

“Please. I love you. Tell me it’s not too late. That you didn’t stop loving me.”

She hesitates, and I think I’m going to die.

Then, she makes everything all right again when she whispers, “I never stopped. I love you, too.”

“Then be my mate. Love me forever. Just me and you. I can’t share you—I won’t. Say yes.” My voice trembles and I don’t care.

“Yes.”

She says it just as the crystal beams burst like fireworks above us, and as the crowd roars with appreciation, I bend down and kiss her. A perfect kiss, as perfect as she is. The light goes through us and into us, and I know that Kianna and I are meant to be together, forever. A perfect match.

Chapter 10

Kianna

All I know is that he’s carrying me home, in his strong arms. His gait is determined, his grip secure. The light still shimmers all around us, and I feel drunk on the rays. Maybe I’m just gripped with emotion for Mykl; I can’t yet believe it’s true: he chose me.

“Here we are.” He stops in front of his dome and flicks his left wrist, holding me effortlessly with the other arm, and the door slides open.

“There was no time to prepare crystals.” He shifts me and sets me down in front of him and looks into my eyes. “But you’re mine already, even if your pretty nipples don’t yet hold my gems.” A beat. “Isn’t that right?”

I suck in my breath. “Yes. Wait! My breasts…”

He gives me a wicked grin. “It won’t hurt, the piercing. Much.” He raises one brow. “And if I’m not wrong, you don’t mind a bit of pain during your pleasure.”

“I don’t!” Why am I bothering to protest? We both know it’s true.

“Mmm, I believe that’s a lie.” He reaches out and rips my gown so suddenly that I squeal in surprise. “And do you remember what happens when you disobey me?”

“You didn’t tell me not to lie. In fact, you grumbled one time that humans are categorically unable to prevent themselves from doing it.” I gasp as he pulls the destroyed fabric from my body, so I’m standing there in just my panties.

My nipples harden under his gaze, and I quirk a little triumphant smile when his breathing deepens.

He narrows his eyes. “Then I shall have fun attempting to train it out of you. With my hand and my belt.” He puts one hand to his waist, to the thick strap of leather, and I nearly swoon.

“Why, Master Mykl, it looks like you want to teach me some kind of lesson.” I bat my eyes. “If only I could figure out why.”

“You know why,” he growls and tugs me into his arms, so I press up against him. He smells fantastic—his own essence and his sweat, mixed together in a way that intoxicates me. “Because you’re my vecking mate, and you’re going to obey me from now on.”

“Haven’t I always?” I pull one hand free from his tight embrace and run it down his body. “Mother Earth, you’re so muscular. So hard.” His impressive chest. Lean waist. Narrow hips. Powerful thighs. My palm draws closer to the place I’m dying to touch.

“Yes, there.” He leans down and bites my neck, lightly at first. When I press my palm against his cock, feeling it through his trousers, he growls and bites me harder.

“Mykl,” I gasp out his name, legs buckling.

He chuckles and swoops me back into his arms. “Yes, love?”

When I look into his face, the emotion there is unmistakable. I press my palm to his cheek and hold it there, feeling the warmth of his taut, firm skin. “I’m so happy.”

His irises change to purple. “As am I.” He looks away, then meets my eyes again, and his jaw flushes a deeper purple. “I am not… accustomed to regular declarations of feelings. You must give me time.” But his smile is proof enough that the words don’t matter. I can see what I need in his eyes.

“All the time in the world,” I promise him, and press my lips to his.

He kisses me back, playing my mouth with his tongue, then pulls back. “Take your panties off for me, Kianna.”

He strides to the hoverdisk and puts me down. “Do it slowly. Then hand them to me.”

My face burns. “Mykl—”

“Now.” He crosses his arms and raises a brow. “Or did you need some motivation first?”

At my expression, he smiles. “I’m your master, like you so aptly called me earlier. And that means you do what I say, when I say it.”

“Yes, Master.” The truth is that I like to be his little submissive female in the bedroom. Just remembering the last time we were together has me pressing my thighs together, ready to moan and beg for his undivided attention.

I wiggle the string panties down my thighs, past my calves and feet, and twirl them on one finger. “Come and get it.” I giggle, then scream when he flashes forward and pins me to the bed before I can say another word. Damn, he’s fast! Warrior or no, his reflexes are on point.

“Did I tell you to tease me?” He presses me to the bed, his huge hands holding my small ones down against the cover. His hips press into mine and I can feel how hard he is. He shifts to position his iron length so he presses into the seam of my thighs, and I whimper, spread my legs a little, wanting more.

“Well, not with words,” I admit. “Oh, ow!”

He bites my nipple, then sucks it. “Try again.”

“Maybe? Ow, ow, no!” I giggle and push against his body, in vain. “Ow. I’m sorry. No, you did not.”

We’re both breathing hard.

“That’s much better,” he murmurs. He lowers his mouth to my breast and I brace for his teeth once again, but this time it’s his tongue. He flicks it out, teasing me softly, licking me, caressing me, until I squirm under him.

“Mykl, please.”

I try to open my thighs wider, but he’s got them trapped. When I push my hips up, I’m locked down. I can’t get what I want! It’s hot and frustrating and it turns me on even harder.

“No. You’ll wait.” He releases one of my hands so he can reach down and spank me on my outer thigh. “Is that clear?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my eyes closing, as he puts his lips to my other nipple and repeats the teasing.

He shifts his hands so that our fingers are interlaced; he’s still holding me down, but it’s so much more intimate. He uses his thumb to stroke my palms even as he holds my hands. For a second all I can think about is how much I love him, and how amazing this is—to be his, now, and forever.

At his next words, I fall right back into the passion.

“I’m going to enjoy making you beg for it,” he says, almost conversationally. He lifts his hips up a centimeter and nudges my thighs just a bit wider with his leg, but before I can really spread the way I want to, he settles back down. But he’s exposed my clit just enough so that when he presses the bulge in his trousers against my eager body, it sends shocks of heat through my core.

“Ooh,” I moan, and use all my strength to push upward, hoping for more stimulation.

“What did I say?” He slaps my thigh again. “If I want to tease you, that’s what I’m going to do. You’re going to lie nice and still for now and accept it.”

“Yes, Mykl.” My voice is tense with need. “But please.”

“No talking for now.” He presses his body to mine, then pulls away, over and over, mimicking the motions he made last time he vecked me, until I’m nearly sobbing with desire. My clit is swollen with the need for release. When he finally adjusts his body and slides his hand down to touch me, I start to beg.

“Please let me come.”

“I think that first we need to see about your punishment.” He screws a finger inside me and thrusts it, and for one glorious second I think he’s just saying it because the idea turns me on.

Then he removes his hand and rolls off my body. “You deserve a good spanking, Kianna.”

“But why?” I’m ready to cry because I just want to feel him inside me. “No, I don’t.”

“Do I need to list all the reasons?” He sits up and reaches over, tugging me closer. “First, you allowed me to think you were mating Arc and Bow.”

“But that’s not fair! Come on, you were going to—”

He doesn’t let me finish. “Second, you allowed Cressa to tease me about your whereabouts.”

“But that’s not fair, either! I have no control over what she or any being—”

“And third?” He pauses, while he arranges me over his lap, so I’m over his hard thighs, ass pointing right up at the ceiling. “Third, just because I want to.”

“That is not a good reason.”

“It’s the best one of all,” he tells me, stroking my ass with his hand. “As your master and mate, I reserve the right to punish and pleasure you at my will. You will do well to remember that.” But his voice, although firm, is fond. And I feel no fear, just a pleasurable sexy anxiety about what he’s going to do to me.

“I am serious,” he adds, bending his head down so his breath brushes my neck. “I will keep you in line, Kianna. With a firm hand. For fun, at times, like now. Other times, as a real lesson.”

I shudder with a mix of trepidation and desire. His spankings hurt, but they spark such deep bonding and pleasure that I long to be under his control.

“Yes, Master,” I whisper, wiggling on his lap. “Anytime you want, Master.”

“Finally, the right answer.” He chuckles. “The time is now.” He raises his hand and brings it down hard across both cheeks, a sharp spank.

“Ouch.” I pull back in surprise, but he holds my hips in place with one hand.

“Maintain position. Rule number one for you, Kianna. Otherwise I’ll give you extras with the belt when we’re done.”

He slaps me again and again and my ass starts to sting. I twitch but force myself to lie in place.

“Do you think you’d really want a dose of the belt after I finish with my hand?” He rains a flurry of spanks over my upper thighs.

“No! Ow. I do not. Mykl, ouch.” I kind of do, though.

“Shh.” He continues spanking, and it feels like he’s spanking harder. “Rule number two.” He spanks me right across both cheeks again. “You don’t ask me to stop punishing you. You’re allowed to tell me it hurts, but you may not ask me to stop.”

“Mykl!” I twist to look up at him, narrowing my eyes.

“No, back down.” He pushes me gently. “I’ll learn your body and responses, and I won’t take you too far. Rule three. No arguing.”

“I don’t think I like—”

He spanks me harder, over and over. “The penalty for breaking any of the rules is the belt, to start. Possibly a punishment strap. Or a cane. We’ll take it from there if more is needed. Dr. Daneth has plenty of suggestions on how Zandians can tame their feisty mates.”

This should make me angry. Instead, it makes me burn even hotter for him. I trust this male. I’m so fucking needy right now that I might come just from the impact of his hand on my ass, because each time he spanks me, the vibrations and pressure travel to my clit, which I’m also busy pressing into his legs.

I grab at his thighs, squeezing. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

He grabs a handful of my hair. “Veck, Kianna, if you need to tell me to really stop, you say it in Zandian, like this.” He says a word, but I’m not paying attention, because if I time my hip-thrusts with his spanks, I can increase the pleasure in my clit, and I might be able to—

“Did you hear me?” He pauses.

“What?” I open my eyes.

He laughs. “You hungry little human. I need you to listen to what I just said.”

“Yes, yes.” Impatient, I push my hips up. “Of course.” I wiggle my ass slightly.

“Then what did I say?”

“You were telling me how bad and naughty I am, and how I’m not allowed to do all kinds of things.”

“Tell me the word I just taught you.”

I lick my lips. Repeat it back. Then I wiggle my ass at him, because even though his spankings make me burn, they also send me to the stars. “Fuck me.” It’s a plea and a poem. I push my hips back into his for more of that delightful friction.

He bends down. “All in good time. And for now, stop trying to get yourself off. Keep those hips still. You want to know what the punishment is if you orgasm without permission?”

“What?” I can barely breathe.

“I’ll veck your ass like last time, but not let you come until the next planet rotation. Make you wait for it. Maybe two planet rotations.”

“No! Mykl—”

“So control yourself,” he murmurs. “And follow my rules for the last part of your spanking.”

He rubs my skin lightly, until I relax over his hard thighs. Then he spanks me extra hard. Again.

I whimper and suck in my breath, realizing he’s not holding me down. The jerk, he’s testing me— seeing if I stay in place like he told me to do.

It’s a struggle, because my instinct is to flinch away from his hard hand. My ass is burning already, but I force myself to stay in place as he spanks me, without shifting, without speaking.

When it starts to burn beyond what I can take, I cry out.

Without a word, he stops spanking and pulls me into his arms. “You see? Didn’t I stop when you needed me to?” His speaks into my neck, and one of his hands finds my pussy. “And now you’ll be rewarded for such excellent behavior. You’re going to be so fun to train, Kianna.”

“I’m not a pet to be trained.” But my words lack bite, because his strong, clever fingers are stroking me just the way I like it.

“Not a pet,” he agrees. “My mate. My sweet, responsive little human. I’m going to teach you to veck just the way I want.” He slides his fingers into me, rubbing the spot that causes my thighs to quiver.

“Mother Earth,” I gasp.

“To do what I say, when I say it. You’ll be my personal pleasure slave,” he promises me.

But as he continues to tease my G-spot, he uses his other fingers to play with my clit, and it’s like he’s my personal pleasure slave at the moment. “You’ll worship me,” he adds, but his voice is so reverent, that it’s clear he’s completely under my spell, just as I am for him.

The sting and burn on my ass is the perfect complement to the tingles his fingers are drawing from my body. I don’t know why I love this mix of pain and pleasure, but fuck, he knows exactly what I need.

“I want you inside me.” I press my lips to his. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

“I want that too.”

He lays me down on my back and stands up to strip his clothes. My eyes widen as he rips off his shirts, his trousers. His cock is so hard and long, deeper purple at the tip. I part my thighs in anticipation, heart pounding.

He straddles me, one strong thigh on either side of mine. “You’re mine.” He grabs me behind the thighs, lifting my legs slightly, then moves one hand to guide his cock to my entrance.

“Yes.” I close my eyes.

“Look at me, Kianna.” His voice is firm.

I blink and catch my breath at his fierce gaze.

“Watch me as I veck you.” He rubs his cock over my entrance. “I want to see your face while I do this.” He’s so thick, that even though I’m ridiculously wet, I feel the friction of skin on skin as he begins to enter my body.

“You’re so tight,” he mutters. “So perfect.” One inch. Another.

My body opens for him as he moves, and although I expected it to hurt, all I feel is pleasure. His eyes seem to flare darker purple as he moves.

He keeps his eyes on mine as he pushes his cock deeply into my pussy, and once he’s almost fully seated, he smiles. Triumphant. He thrusts once, and I cry out, a strangled moan, as a fierce pain tears through me. A second later it’s gone, as quickly as it came.

He stills, examines my face. “Okay?”

“Yes.” I look up at him, entranced. “More.”

“Your wish is my command.”

“I thought it was the other way around.” I gasp as he pulls out, then pushes back in. “Oh.”

“It’s both.” He pumps again, a little harder. Checks my reaction.

I grab his hips with both hands. “Go harder, Mykl. Or do you I need to give you some motivation?” I raise one eyebrow, mimicking the way he did it before.

He laughs. “You’re in trouble for that one, little human.” He reaches down and slaps what he can reach of my ass. Then he pumps me faster, until I can barely breathe.

I reach back and try to grab his ass, although I can barely reach around his body. I’m wild now, pulling at him, digging in my nails, touching him everywhere I can. “Mother Earth.”

I can barely breathe. The feeling inside me grows, and his eyes—so full of emotion I’ve never seen from him—put me over the top.

“I’m going to—” I whisper, as his thick cock brushes my clit.

“Together,’ he growls, his hands strong and hot on my body. “Now.”

I let myself fly into the storm and cry out his name as my body surges with the most delicious sensation of my life. He roars, thrusts again and stiffens, and my entire pussy gets hot with his come. The feeling of his essence inside me hurtles me into a second orgasm, even better than the first. I’m helpless, gone in his arms as I clench my body and gasp, barely breathing, as wave after wave of pure perfection flow through me.

“Kianna, veck, love,” he murmurs, his voice rough and broken.

We adjust our bodies and he wraps his arms around me. My thighs are sticky with his cum, and when I glance down, I exclaim in surprise. “The colors.”

Friends have told me about how Zandian cum is rainbow-hued, but seeing it for myself is nothing like imagining it. “Pretty.” I giggle and push closer into his chest.

“Not as pretty as you.” He has a smile in his voice. He strokes my hair, my shoulder. Like he can’t take his hands from me.

I love how he smiles more since he met me, and that he attributes that to my influence. Furthermore, in the short time since he claimed me, I feel that monumental changes have taken place in both of us.

Whatever was missing in him is now here, the ability to trust me and enjoy me completely. As for myself, I no longer have that nagging feeling that I’m unloved. Instead, the knowledge of my past and my present swirl together, and I have even more of myself available to share with Mykl. The Zandian I love.

“If that’s how you perform, I have to say that I’m very glad I chose you over Arc and Bow.” I preen and twist, reaching up to nip his ear.

“Mention their names once more and I’ll fetch my strap,” he growls and bites my ear in return, and tingles travel down my neck and into my nipples.

If I weren’t so sated, I might giggle and say “ArcandBow” really quickly just to see if he makes good on his promise. Instead, I stretch along his body and run my hands over his impressive triceps. “Who? I do not know these beings of whom you speak. They must be insignificant underlings.”

“Damn right.” He squeezes one nipple gently and drops a kiss on my head. “You do learn fast, little human.” He sounds pleased.

“Ah, finally you recognize the true value of humans.”

I was teasing, but he stills in my arms. Then turns and takes my face carefully in both hands. “Kianna, does that still worry you?” He looks into my eyes. “I swear it, I… love you. I respect all human females, especially you.”

I can see that although he believes this, it’s not easy to say it. I almost want to tear up and put a hand to my mouth as I watch him struggle over the words, the delivery. His shoulders are stiff, his face determined. Mother Earth, it’s hard for these proud Zandians to let their feelings out sometimes once they start having them.

“It doesn’t worry me, Mykl.” I touch his firm cheek, tracing the contours. “I was teasing.”

He nods, solemn. “I assumed so, but I wanted to check.” He’s still tense. “I don’t always know.”

Mirelle told me it gets easier for them all the time, especially with lots of sex with humans. She said she’s got her Zandian males right where she wants them—the perfect mix of fierce dominant owner and respectful, sensitive partner.

Like Mirelle, I don’t want him too sensitive. I snort to myself, thinking of Arc and Bow and their tepid embrace. Good luck to Cressa with all that. Of course, with her, if they feel true passion, maybe they’re as wild and dominant as Mykl is with me. I shrug mentally. Then I push them out of my mind.

“I respect you too. Always have. And I love you. You know that.”

He smiles at me, and now I do feel moisture in my eyes, because his smile is so beautiful. And it’s for me. The thing I wanted so long, the being I craved, he’s mine. It’s unbelievable. A true gift from the universe, right on the solstice, the most magical day of the solar cycle.

“You’re not going to the Outlander Program.” He circles my wrist with his strong fingers. “I forbid it.”

“What if I really wanted to go?” I lift up my other wrist to his hand so he can grip that one, too.

“Do you?” He quirks a brow.

“No.” I flush. “I briefly considered it, when I thought you were going to…”

He nods. “I understand. But you know that program isn’t right for you.”

I frown. “Because I’m too weak?” I stiffen in his arms.

“Relax.” He kisses the side of my face. “Because you’re too smart for it. Your mind relaxation thing? That’s what you need to develop. That’s going to change Zandia.”

“Oh, no,” I say, and I’d wave a hand in dismissal if he didn’t have both of them captured.

“Oh, yes.” His voice is firm. “You know it, too. It’s all right to admit it. That you do something important for this planet. That you have critical skills no one else can replicate.”

My face is hot again. I clear my throat. “I have discussed starting a class to teach it to warriors who need to focus.” I swallow. “Apparently Master Seke is quite supportive and thinks it can be an important training tool for warriors.” I beam. Then I add, “But I don’t want to brag.”

“There’s a difference between fatuous pomposity and genuine pride in one’s quality work.” He pulls me closer and whispers into my ear “And you know what? If I need to use my strap to help you remember, I will do it, Kianna. One of the spankings that might be more punishment than pleasure.”

I feel a new surge of moisture between my thighs. “Mykl…” I gasp, reaching down to stroke him. Stars, he’s already hard again.

He snorts. “You’re impossible.” But he’s smiling.

“What about you?” I touch his chest and press lightly. I want to fuck him again, but I need to ask a burning question that’s on my mind. “Are you done with warrior stunts? Will you be content to stay here and do engineering work, or will I have to master you completely and cuff you to the bed and make you into my pleasure slave just so I don’t have to worry about you leaving on warships to dangerous rescues?” I’m joking, but I’m aware there’s a note of desperation in my voice.

“First of all, the one being cuffed will always be you. Let’s be clear.” Then he stops smiling, and looks right into my eyes. “Kianna, you worry that much?”

I nod, feeling tears well up. “Even just thinking about the possibility makes me panic.”

He sighs. “I pushed myself to join that mission because I was so dedicated to retrieving the Zandian female, even though it strained me to the limits of my physical abilities. I recognize that although I was an asset on that trip—partly due to your help—I’m a better fit for work down here. Beneath the stars. Not among them.”

He sounds forlorn, in a way. I suspect that this will be a lifelong struggle for Mykl. One that I’m ready to help him fight.

“Oh, Mykl.” I squeeze his hand. “You and I? We’re in the stars as much as any being. We don’t need to touch them to experience them.”

He examines my face. Looks at me for a long second. Then he nods. “Yes. As long as we have each other, we can be happy here, supporting the ones we love, helping build better fighters.”

“Every star came from somewhere,” I remind him. “A solid base from which it spun off into glitter and light. The base may not be as flashy, but it’s just as intrinsic to the essence of the whole.”

He smiles. “You are wise, Kianna.” He strokes my arm. “I am lucky to have you as my mate.”

“I am just as lucky.”

“Then let us be lucky together, forever.” He kisses me, and I barely have time to admire the speed at which he’s becoming comfortable exchanging meaningful promises. Because his talented, sexy hands move to my breasts, and his cock lengthens, hardens even more to pulse against my hip. My body surges with adrenaline and desire, and I can't wait another second to have him, again.

I don’t know if it’s luck, or fate, or some magic in the Zandian Lights. Whatever movements of the celestial planets brought me and Mykl together, I’m grateful. And I know that together we are going to have an amazing life filled with love. I press my body to his, the dazzle of the solstice lights still imprinted beneath my lids, and as we become one, all of my dreams shine out, happy and bright.

The End

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Mastered by the Zandians

Kept by the Zandian

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Check out the first chapter of Kept by the Zandian

Taisha

I can barely breathe.

If I don’t get out of this supply area soon, I’m going to die.

I can’t feel my legs and my lungs are on fire. I’m not even sure I’m on the right ship. This supply box seemed like a perfect place to hide when I escaped from my Ocretion owner, but once the ship jumped to hyperspace, things settled—on top of me.

Crushing me.

The pallet above me presses heavily on my chest, and my arm is stuck in an awkward position, fist still clenched around the syringe of poison. My pack of supplies digs into my shoulder blades. It’s pitch black and the air is thick and dusty. Only my panic and racing heart keep me going.

The engines thrum and I feel the vibrations in my body—is that the way a Zandian ship sounds, or was my pallet traded to the Falcon ship beside it on the tarmac? If so, I’m in terrible trouble: The Falcons are rumored to be even crueler than the Ocretions.

My mind swims and suddenly I see him in front of me again, the Ocretion guard I encountered as I ran toward the airfield and the starships: His warty thick hands squeezing my neck, his stink attacking my nostrils, making me gag.

“Trying to escape?” His hissing voice is full of pleasure. “We’ll see about that. I will personally oversee your punishment, human slave.”

“No!” My voice is barely audible as I gasp for air.

“The shock sticks will only be the start,” he says, relishing the words. Squeezes harder.

My vision goes spotty, colors flickering, and then I remember the syringe in my hand, to be used as a last resort, and swing my arm upward, hard and fierce, puncturing his thick gray skin.

Closing my eyes and begging the universe to save me.

And miraculously, a mere three seconds later—just like Leylah promised—his hands soften, relaxing like a flower at night. His whole body goes slack until he falls lifeless. A sack of bones and stench.

Suddenly light blinds my eyes. I hear voices, and my body shifts as they lift away the pallet.

I’ve been found.

The voice I hear is low, masculine, and deep. “What the veck?”

I don’t answer, as if staying silent will somehow save me now.

“Who are you and what are you doing on my ship?” He speaks in Ocretion and then repeats it—I assume—in a tongue I don’t understand.

I blink at the sudden light—the first I’ve seen in over two planet rotations. My mouth is dry with lack of fluid. Thank Mother Earth they’ve pulled the crushing weight from my body, so at least I can breathe.

I’m supposed to say something, a phrase I was taught, but my brain won’t cooperate.

Flashes of orange—is he a Falcon? Now all I see is the Ocretion in my mind, squeezing my throat. I scream and fight him off, my pinned arm shooting up, nerves firing. I stab wildly at the air.

“Get off me! Get away!” At least that’s what I mean to say. My voice doesn’t work, though, and the sounds come out like horrible squeals, like wheels without oil. My body starts shaking so badly I can’t control myself. My hand reflexively opens and the syringe is gone, and all of the sounds around me fade into the distance.

“Stars, I’m hurt! My arm. She poisoned me.” The speaker sounds more irritated than injured. Certainly not dead like the Ocretion I killed when I escaped. “Veck. It’s numb.”

Taut voices join in. “Stand by for med support.”

“Secure her and remove her weapon.”

“Assess her for danger.”

I cough and try to focus, but the sounds zoom in and out. Some being grabs me, moves me. I’m limp.

“She’s neutralized.”

“Get this pack on his arm immediately. Captain, tell us what is happening.”

And then that voice, rich and low. “It’s fading now. It wasn’t completely numb because I could still move my fingers. But I felt it. What the veck is in that syringe?”

My words start to return and I cough. Whisper, “I am a human.”

“Obviously,” one of the beings says drily.

“I request asylum.”

“Why did you attack me? Were you sent as a spy?”

That voice.

It’s not the cutting, nasty tones of an Ocretion. It’s… deep and sexy. He moves closer to my face, so close his breath feathers across my skin. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

I force my lids open and blink, my eyes acclimating to the brightness of the corridor, and I scan my surroundings. The being in front of me is a warrior dressed in white garb, with a sword at his belt. His skin is an even light purple, and huge muscles stand out on his lean, tall form. Atop his head are two horns that appear more like appendages than the hard bone of a beast. His jaw is defined, square. His lips smooth and full.

Stars.

He’s breathtaking. Totally different from the Ocretion masters who owned me back on Romon-3. But I thrust those thoughts away—they’re the least of my concerns. The important thing is that he’s Zandian.

I chose correctly when I stowed away. If I play this well, I could save my life.

“I am a human,” I repeat. Then everything starts to fade. Before I lose consciousness, I make sure to repeat the words Leylah taught me, when she made me rehearse every syllable in his language. “I request asylum. I will do whatever you want. Please help me.”

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Alpha’s Blood

His Captive Mortal

Alpha Doms Series

The Alpha’s Hunger

The Alpha’s Promise

The Alpha’s Punishment

Other Paranormal

The Winter Storm: An Ever After Chronicle

Sci-Fi

Zandian Masters Series

His Human Slave

His Human Prisoner

Training His Human

His Human Rebel

His Human Vessel

His Mate and Master

Zandian Pet

Their Zandian Mate

His Human Possession

Zandian Brides

Night of the Zandians

Bought by the Zandians

Mastered by the Zandians

Zandian Lights

Kept by the Zandian

Claimed by the Zandian

Stolen by the Zandian

Other Sci-Fi

The Hand of Vengeance

Her Alien Masters

Regency

The Darlington Incident

Humbled

The Reddington Scandal

The Westerfield Affair

Pleasing the Colonel

Western

His Little Lapis

The Devil of Whiskey Row

The Outlaw’s Bride

Medieval

Mercenary

Medieval Discipline

Lords and Ladies

The Knight’s Prisoner

Betrothed

The Knight’s Seduction

The Conquered Brides (5 book box set)

Held for Ransom (out of print)

Renaissance

Renaissance Discipline

Also by Rebel West / Alexis Alvarez

Read More by Rebel West / Alexis Alvarez

Zandian Brides Series (with co-writer Renee Rose)

Night of the Zandians

Bought by the Zandians

Mastered by the Zandians

Zandian Lights

Kept by the Zandian

Claimed by the Zandian

Stolen by the Zandian

Sci-Fi Romance

Conquered by the Alien Prince: Luminar Masters, Book 1

Steamy, Contemporary Romance

Perfect Match

A Handful of Fire

Boston

Dream Girl

Kinky/BDSM Romance

His Firm Direction

Casey’s Choice

Capturing Kate

Myka and the Millionaire

Return

About Renee Rose

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RENEE ROSE loves a dominant, dirty-talking alpha hero! She's sold over a half million copies of steamy romance with varying levels of kink. Her books have been featured in USA Today's Happily Ever After and Popsugar. Named Eroticon USA's Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, she has also won Spunky and Sassy's Favorite Sci-Fi and Anthology author, and The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance. She's hit the USA Today list seven times with her Wolf Ranch books and various anthologies.

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Renee loves to connect with readers!

www.reneeroseromance.com
reneeroseauthor@gmail.com

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About Rebel West

Rebel West writes hot sci-fi with aliens so sexy you’ll swoon! She’s into photography and travel, and when she’s not figuring out ways to get her main characters together, she’s out with her camera looking for inspiration. Find her under her other pen name, Alexis Alvarez, where she writes contemporary romance and kinky/spanky/BDSM books.

Read More by Rebel West / Alexis Alvarez

Sci-Fi Romance

Conquered by the Alien Prince: Luminar Masters, Book 1

Steamy, Contemporary Romance:

Perfect Match

A Handful of Fire

Boston

Dream Girl

Kinky/BDSM Romance:

Hammered

His Firm Direction

Casey’s Choice

Capturing Kate

Myka and the Millionaire

Return

Her Vampire Temptation

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Website: http://graffitifiction.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alexis-Alvarez/e/B0107LJQEM

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexisAlvarezAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14127116.Alexis_Alvarez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisAlvarezWr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexis_alvarez_writer/

Excerpt from Conquered by the Alien Prince

By Rebel West

“What you deserve,” he snaps, his eyes wicked, “is a hard spanking right now for your continued insubordination. You take that, and maybe I’ll consider rewarding you.”

He’s hard under my body, and I know that this time he won’t be able to stop, no matter how many meetings he has.

“Do it,” I whisper into his ear, and bite the lobe, hard.

He growls and presses his hands against my body. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Yes, I do. I want it.”

“You really do?” He pulls back to look into my eyes.

I stick up my chin. “Are you afraid of me?”

He laughs, a dark, dirty chuckle. “Far from it, Cali. But once I start, you might be the one who experiences a little frisson of fear. You think you can handle that?”

“Yeah. I do.” My voice is tough, confident.

He smiles, and suddenly my stomach flips. I’m prey, and he’s the hunter. And I fucking love it. He scoops me up and puts me on my feet, in front of him. “Let’s see you ask for it, then. Last time you disobeyed me, do you remember what I threatened?” He raises an eyebrow and touches his belt.

My whole body sparks, like I touched a live wire. “You told me... you’d use the punishment strap on me, if you needed to spank me again.” My nipples are hard with desire.

“And here we are,” he says conversationally. “And I do need to spank you again. So unfortunately for you,” he slaps his thigh meaningfully, raising one eyebrow, “and your tender ass, this punishment is going to be far more memorable than the last one.”

He unbelts something from around his waist. It looks like leather, and it’s a lustrous black. Supple. My breath catches in my throat with fear and desire. The mixture is a drug to my veins.

He doubles it up and slaps it into his palm. “But we’ll start with my hand, like last time. Come.”

He nods at me and points to the spot between his spread legs.

I swallow hard and walk back to him, stand in between his thighs, feel the warmth of his body.

“Remove your garment, like last time.” His voice is granite, and I wonder if it’s taking all his willpower to play with me like this first, instead of just toss me onto the bed and fuck me hard.

Fumbling, I undo my jeans and slide them down my legs, and then off. I hold the denim in my hands until he takes it from me and tosses it behind him on the bed.

“This time we’ll start without the panties,” he says softly. “Give them to me, please.” He holds out one hand.

When I hesitate, he snaps and points at my crotch, and I flush hard, then slide the panties down and step out of them. These he tucks into a pocket in his pants, and the sight of this is erotic enough to make my nipples harden and a surge of moisture flow between my thighs.

“Assume the position, Cali,” he says, patting his lap. “We’ll start this way at least, to warm you up for the strap. And as a reminder, you are to call me Master while I am disciplining you.”

I slide over his lap, sucking in a breath as his strong, warm hands grab and reposition me.

“Thighs as wide as you can, please.”

“Yes, Master.” I do it, barely able to handle the suspense. My whole body is aching for his touch, rough, soft, all of it. I want it all.

“Good.” I sense him raising his hand.

“Hold on!” I grab his leg. “Just a minute. Please.”

“What?” He stills his movements.

“I’m—will it hurt more than last time?” I gulp, unsure about the strap.

“It will.” He lays one hand on my buttocks and rubs. “Still no more than you can handle, but it will be worse than last time. You will tolerate it, even if you don’t like it.” He bends down to whisper, “After all, don’t you deserve to be punished for your transgressions?”

Why does this shoot flares of arousal through my body?

“Yes,” I answer, my skin on fire. “I do.”

“Relax your buttocks. You know my rules.” He taps my ass.

I force myself to soften my muscles.

“Your bottom is so soft,” he remarks, stroking my skin. “It will be a pleasure to punish you and turn it red.” Without warning, he lands a hard slap across my left ass cheek.

“Ouch.” Before the word is fully out, he spanks me again on the other ass cheek, and begins a firm, punishing rhythm. He spanks harder than he started last time, and before long I am kicking up my feet and twisting on his lap.

“Stop moving,” he warns, directing a volley of spanks at my sit spots, “or I’ll do this.” The spanks increase in intensity and then he slaps the base of my thighs until I cry out, “I’m sorry! I’ll stop.”

“See that you do,” he tells me, and returns to the original pattern of spanking all over my ass.

It’s hard not to wriggle and squirm, because my ass is already burning beyond belief, and the sting is making me want him so badly I could almost come right across his thighs, lying here, without even a touch to my clit. “Are you almost done?” I whimper.

He pushes my thighs apart and slaps his hand right onto my pussy. “I’ll tell you when I’m done. Don’t ask again. Your job is to take what I give. If you ask again, I’ll spank here.” He slaps again, harder, against my soft nether lips, and I almost fly apart.

“Lock,” I beg. “Master,” and I don’t know what I’m asking: Stop, more, please?

“Shush,” he commands. “Lie still and accept your punishment. We still have quite a ways to go.”

Conquered by the Alien Prince by Rebel West

Amazon and KU

Conquered by the Alien Prince - Sample

Conquered by the Alien Prince

Luminar Masters, Book 1

An Alien Sci-Fi Romance

By Rebel West

A sexy silver alien with ripped abs, a top-secret patient with a mystery illness, and unicorns – and Dr. Emily Taylor’s experience on Luminar is just getting started!

It’s not easy being one of Earth’s top neuroscientists at age twenty-four, but Emily’s dedicated her life to research, leaving little time for dating. When she travels on a confidential mission to Luminar, her local delegation lead – handsome Prince Lock, turns out to be domineering in all the right ways to bring out her passion.

But he’s an alien prince and she’s an earth human, and there’s no way they could have a *real* relationship. Plus, anti-human protestors and threats against the Luminar monarchy are causing havoc, putting her mission, and maybe even her life, into jeopardy.

This interplanetary romance will need to have a bond of steel, because the glorious nights of kinky passion are just the start to an everlasting HEA.

Enjoy the first book in the Luminar Masters Series by Rebel West. The books are interconnected and can be read in any order. Guaranteed HEA and no cheating!

Note: This book contains elements of dominance and submission. If this material offends you, please do not buy this book.

Table of Contents

- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Want FREE books?
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- From the Authors
- Want More? Kept by the Zandian
- Read all the Zandian Brides Series
- Want FREE books?
- Other Titles by Renee Rose
- Also by Rebel West / Alexis Alvarez
- About Renee Rose
- About Rebel West
- Excerpt from Conquered by the Alien Prince
- Conquered by the Alien Prince - Sample