by Susan Hayes
She exhaled and shook her head sharply. “No. This is fine. It’s just a blood test. Right?”
“And a few scans. Nothing more.” He took a seat, pulled the other chair closer to his, and then patted it. “We’ll do this together.”
She sat down and he felt an almost primal sense of satisfaction when she reached out and placed her hand on his. He turned his hand over and let their fingers intertwine, a small intimacy that felt amazingly good.
The machine came to life with a soft whir and began to explain what would happen. It had a sexless, soothing voice, and in a matter of minutes it had done its job and retreated back to its corner.
“So. I’m curious. What result are you hoping for?” she asked suddenly.
“I want this to be confirmed.”
Her eyes widened a little. “Even though a temporary bond would mean a lot of hot sex and then you’d be free to go on your way again?”
He gave her a wink. “I like how you’ve already decided that the sex between us will be hotter than the center of a star. I don’t know how all of this will work, or what our lives will be like, but I see no reason why I’d want this feeling to fade.” He felt more alive than he had in years. Decades, even. If he had a mate, he wouldn’t be alone anymore. She’d be here, waiting for him whenever he returned. Something was deeply appealing about that idea.
“I never said anything about stars,” she protested, but she was laughing as she did.
“It was implied.” He lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “And I have no doubts about that either. Whatever problems we’re going to face together, physical attraction will not be one of them.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” She nodded to their still-joined hands. “Right now, it’s all I can do not to…” she trailed off as the door opened and a Vardarian walked in.
“Greetings. I am Healer Tariq A’Nir. I have your results.”
Kade’s first instinct was to get between the other male and his mate, but that quickly faded as he noted the healer wore a sky-blue armband on his bicep, marking him as a mated male, but the color indicated he was also in mourning for his female. He settled back into his chair. There was no threat to his mating claim here, only someone deserving his sympathy.
Shadow leaped into the conversation. “It’s really happening?”
Tariq smiled at them. “It is. Congratulations. Both of you are manifesting all the signs of the sharhal. In fact, you probably should have come to see me sooner since I gather you wanted confirmation before proceeding with this relationship. Judging by this data, you must have encountered each other at least a day ago.”
Shadow laughed. “Try an hour.”
The healer frowned and glanced at the terminal in his hand. “Are you sure?”
“Very. I only arrived on the planet this afternoon. Could it be my age?”
Shadow frowned. “Your age? Why would that be an issue? And how old are you, anyway?”
“More than forty years by human standards. But fear not, I’m still young enough to keep my mate happy for at least another two centuries.”
“Ah,” the healer interjected. “I see what you mean. You thought you had become one of the onar?”
“I did.”
“Interesting. I’ve heard of this happening before. For some reason it is more common among males who lost their anrik before finding their mate, as you did. It means that the sharhal will affect you both with greater speed and intensity.” He cleared his throat discreetly. “I suggest that whatever plans you have for the next few days, you cancel them.”
Shadow spoke up. “How long do we have before we have to…I mean?” She waved her free hand in the air between them. “I’ve known Kade for less than an hour. How long do we have to get to know each other before we need to consummate this craziness?”
“A day. Maybe two. I know that won’t be long enough by the standards of your species, but I’m afraid that’s all the time you have.”
Shadow swallowed and then nodded. “I understand. Once this is past, we’ll have the rest of our lives to learn about each other.”
“Yes, you will.” The healer gave them a warm smile, but Kade could see the shadows of grief in the other male’s eyes. “This is a very special time. Enjoy it so you can always cherish the memory of these first days together.”
Tariq straightened, his expression turning back to one of professional courtesy. “I’ll leave you to learn about each other. Congratulations. May fair winds follow you all of your days.”
Once they were alone again, Shadow exhaled sharply. “A day?”
“Or two,” he reminded her.
She flashed him a small, bittersweet smile. “Sorry. I’m still trying to come to terms with all this. I know this wasn’t planned. Veth, I was in an information session just today talking about the mating practices and sexuality of the various species living here. I didn’t expect it to go from theory to practice so quickly.”
“And you hoped to initiate a bond with Denz.” He tried to imagine what it must be like for humans. They tried to form romantic connections but could never be certain of the outcome. Their relationships weren’t always permanent, even when they wished them to be. It had to be emotionally exhausting.
“Hoped being the operative word.” She got to her feet, and he took a moment to admire her.
She had long legs clad in practical but unflattering pants that hid her curves. Her top was similar to the vest he wore, only it covered far more of her body and was a dull green color with no embroidery or other decoration. Her skin fascinated him. She had no scales to protect her, and her flesh was marked with a dusting of darker spots he’d learned were called freckles. They were an odd race. He’d even heard that the paler humans had skin that darkened when exposed to sunlight. Was she one of them?
“What?” she asked when she caught him looking at her.
“I was thinking there is a great deal I don’t know about you, or your species.” He stood and tugged her a little closer. “I’m looking forward to learning all I can.”
“I am, too. I guess we should get started on that. Do you have any suggestions on where we should begin?”
He had a vivid mental image of taking her back to his ship and spending a few hours memorizing every inch of her body and discovering all the ways he could please her. The erection he’d managed to throttle back roared to life in an instant. This time, he was standing right in front of her, and there was no way to hide it.
She lowered her gaze and then raised it again, and he caught a shimmer of heat in her eyes. He watched as the tip of her tongue swiped over her lower lip, and a surge of lust hit him hard. “I have a few ideas.”
“So do I. But that’s the sharhal talking.” She moved in closer and laid a hand on his chest. “I don’t want our first experience to be just about sex. I’ve never had the chance to choose to be with someone. I’d like it if we could wait a little while, even though I know it’s going to happen. This way, at least I get some say about when.”
Her words shook him to his core. There was a time he’d had his choices taken from him, too. But after Rantz’s death he’d reclaimed his life, or as much of it as he could. Losing his anrik had been difficult, but the loss also gave him back his freedom. He could do this for Shadow. “Then I leave the choice to you. Nothing will happen without your consent.” He covered her hand, pressing it firmly against his chest. “And I swear to you that for as long as I live, I will do all I can to make sure you always have a choice.”
She swallowed hard and then nodded, her gray eyes bright with tears. “Thank you.”
A new feeling overtook him, pushing aside the lust and need and settling deep in his heart. She was his mate. The other half of a soul he wasn’t even sure he had. He would do anything to keep her safe.
Something about that thought tickled at the back of his mind, but he was too caught up in the moment to pay attention to it. Whatever it was, it could wait. Right now, all that mattered was Shadow.
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Footsteps and muted voices reminded them both they weren’t really alone. “I think we should find someplace else to continue this discussion,” Shadow said.
“Agreed. And I know just the place.”
“Your ship?” she asked.
“No. I’ve been stuck onboard for far too long. I need fresh air and open sky.”
Her eyes widened. “We’re going flying?”
“With your consent, of course. If you don’t want to—”
She cut him off with a delighted squeal. “Yes! Yes, please! That would be wonderful.” Then her face fell. “Oh. Are you sure you can? I mean, the gravity is a little higher than your world, and I’m not exactly small.”
“I can manage a short flight.” He grinned. Her enthusiasm was so contagious he couldn’t help but be caught up in it.
“Then take me flying, my mahoyen.”
For a second, the universe went still. She’d called him her mahoyen. Her mate. She was acknowledging the bond between them, and something deep inside him roared in approval. “As my mate wishes.”
5
Shadow let herself float along on a cloud of blissful anticipation. It was easier than trying to think through the fog currently wrapped around her mind. That couldn’t last, of course. Too many questions were left to ask and loads of plans to make. Where would they live? How would things work when she wasn’t supposed to leave the planet, but her mate was a trader who didn’t even reside in the colony?
Important thoughts would pop into her head only to be pushed aside by other, more distracting things, like how Kade’s golden skin gleamed in the sunlight, or the predatory way he moved. Most of the beings on Liberty were trained to fight, but something about Kade marked him as different. He wasn’t just capable of violence. He was prepared for it. Even here.
They kept walking until they reached one of the many plazas that had been part of the colony’s design. Eventually they would all have fountains or sculptures, or so she’d heard, but for now they were little more than open areas with a few benches and empty flower beds that wouldn’t be planted until next year. All their agricultural resources were going to the acres of crops being grown and tended by farmers and a fleet of specialized droids. Once they were self-sustaining, they could focus on other projects.
She raised her hands to indicate the surrounding buildings. The structures had been “printed” in massive blocks by machines using a mixture of local soil, sand, and bonding agents. For now, they were unused and uniform, their purpose undetermined. Later, they’d be finished and transformed into whatever the colony required. “When I first saw places like this, I didn’t understand why anyone would build something before it was needed. But now, I like what it represents.”
“And what’s that?” he asked.
“A prosperous future where all of this is full of beings going about their lives.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way. Right now, I’m rather happy it’s empty.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I need some room to do this.” He flashed her a wicked grin that revealed his fangs and then unfurled his wings. They were somewhat bat-like in design with a thin membrane stretched out over a framework of bone and cartilage. At full extension they had to be nearly twice as wide as he was tall.
She’d seen members of his species with their wings on display before, but never this close up. Curiosity made her fingers tingle with the need to touch them, but she didn’t dare, not when it was common knowledge that the delicate skin near the base of their wings was an erogenous zone. They were both befuddled by pheromones and lust enough already. There was no sense in tossing rocket fuel on that fire.
“We’re going flying now?” she didn’t bother hiding her elation. This was something she’d wanted to do since the first time she’d seen a Vardarian in flight.
“We are. There are two ways we can do this. If you face me and put your legs around my waist and your arms round my neck, I will be a very happy male, but you won’t get to see much except my handsome face.”
She laughed. “Maybe we should stick to something less distracting for our first flight.”
“I thought you might feel that way. Option two is I carry you in front of me.”
“I like that plan better…this time.” She hadn’t meant to say that last bit out loud, but it snuck past her filters.
Kade’s smile shifted into something so primal and sensual it made her toes curl and sent a river of liquid heat flowing down her spine. “This time.”
He crooked a finger at her, and a few moments later she was cradled against his bare chest.
“If you feel off-balance or dizzy, don’t close your eyes. Find the horizon and lock your gaze on it, and let me know if you need me to land.”
“Just like a spacewalk. Got it.”
“Exactly like that.” He turned his head and kissed her quickly on the mouth. It was barely more than a brush of the lips, there and gone before she could react.
“What was that for?”
“Because I find a smart, competent female extremely sexy, and I happen to have one in my arms right now. I couldn’t resist.”
Veth. If being mated meant a lifetime of moments like this, it would be easy to forget this hadn’t been her choice. Maybe too easy. “You forgot your promise already.”
He grimaced. “My apologies. I did forget. Nothing happens without your consent.”
“We’ll talk about that more, soon.” She smiled. “After we go flying.”
Kade’s arms tightened around her, and he took several running steps forward, his wings extending behind him. She held on, careful not to squeeze too tightly, and before she knew it, they were airborne.
He circled the plaza a few times, spiraling upward with each circuit. Once they were clear of the rooftops, he flew off toward the foothills that overlooked the colony. The air rushed past so quickly it was difficult to speak, so she didn’t try. She just drank it all in. The silvery loops of the river gleamed between the stretches of lush, green land. The mountains rose up beyond the hills far enough away that they appeared more blue than green with splashes of white she knew were glaciers.
It was beautiful, and amazing, and felt like she’d been given her freedom all over again, only this time she was even free to defy the laws of gravity.
The flight ended before she was ready. They landed on the top of one of the nearest hills. It was covered in wildflowers and a mix of red and gold grasses that hissed and undulated in the breeze. Kade set her down carefully, staying behind her with one arm crossed over her body as he pointed back the way they’d come.
The colony was easy to see, even without adjusting her vision. The buildings in use were all painted in bright, vibrant colors while the emptier sections were still in their neutral earth tones. Beyond Haven was the ocean, a sparkling swath of deep blue that stretched out to the horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“Breathtaking,” he agreed.
“Are we talking about the same thing?”
“Probably not,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Though the view is very pretty. It’s why I fly out here whenever I visit.”
She placed her hand over his, and her thumb brushed against the edge of the circular scar on his wrist. She knew enough about his species to know he’d gotten it in the blood-binding ritual that had linked him to his anrik. “How long have you been alone?” she asked.
He stiffened and then sighed a little. “Rantz died many years ago. We were barely adults when it happened.”
“Do you miss him?”
There was a long, poignant pause before he answered, and she caught a confusing muddle of emotions that she couldn’t make sense of before they faded again. “No.”
“But he was your anrik. Your blood-bound brother. Isn’t that supposed to be a special bond?”
“It can be. But not every match is a good one. My parents paid a great deal of money to a family of higher social standing in order fo
r me to be the anrik of their youngest son. Rantz and I were not well-suited.”
“Wait. Are you saying your parents sold you in exchange for status?”
“In a way, yes.”
“That’s horrible. I know no species is perfect, but I thought the Vardarians were better than that.”
“If we were, this latest diaspora would not have happened, and this colony wouldn’t exist. Everyone here, cyborg or Vardarian, came to this place because they wanted more than the life they had.”
“Except for you.” And Denz, she thought.
“I’m not so different. After Rantz died, I was free to choose my own path, which is why I spend as much time as I can away from my home world.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Rantz was born into a life of luxury and privilege. I wasn’t. My father and his anrik, Marik, mated far above their station. They worked long and hard to build up their shipbuilding business, even with my mother’s wealth to help them. My mother loves her mates, but she always resented her change in social status. She wanted nothing more than to reclaim her place in the upper echelons of Vardarian society.”
“So, finding you an anrik of higher status, even one you weren’t well matched with…”
“Was all part of her plans to increase our family’s standing, yes.”
“Did you tell her how you felt?” She was trying to understand how anyone could choose to do that to someone they were supposed to care about. Family was meant to protect each other. Weren’t they?
“I told her. And when that didn’t work, I argued. I fought with her day and night for a week, and when it was clear she wasn’t going to change her mind, I appealed to my father and his anrik. They were both away from home at the time, and all I got back from them was a message telling me they trusted my mother to make the right decision for me. They never even spoke to me about it.”
