by Tana Stone
“True.” He said the name out loud, liking the way it sounded.
If she wasn’t a tribute bride, that meant she was one of the brides who’d rejected her mate. He felt a small flash of annoyance that any female would not want to be mated with one of his fellow warriors. He’d always felt the humans that were abducted from Earth were lucky to be taken from a planet fast on its way to destroying itself, and even luckier to be matched with a species as noble as the Drexians.
The fact that he’d never taken a tribute bride was no reflection on the program, or on humans. Unlike some on the Drexian home world, Varden had no issues with his people taking humans as mates, or with the half Drexian-half human babies that resulted. He found the Earth females attractive, as well, even though his contact with them was limited.
No, none of these things were the reason behind his lack of bride. Simply put, he’d missed his window. When he’d been in his prime, he’d been a fourth son, and so far down the list his name had never come up. But all that time he’d been steadily moving up the leadership ladder, until he was finally appointed captain of the Boat.
Learning how to lead an operation as massive as the space station that housed thousands of aliens had absorbed every moment of his time, and before he realized it, he was no longer the young warrior he’d once been. His hair had gone prematurely gray at the temples, making people think he was older than he was, although his bronze skin was unlined and he was as muscular and fit as any of his officers—frequent Kranji practice ensured that. But his time-consuming job and few gray hairs reminded him that tribute brides and babies were not something that was in the cards for him. He’d quietly taken his name off the long list, and had never felt bitter about it.
Varden started to punch in the code for his Kranji program when the name on the other panel pulled him back. What did this Gulf of Mexico look like?
Curiosity got the better of him, and he punched in his captain’s code so he could join the simulation in progress, knowing that it was technically speaking against protocol to do so. Once someone was in the holodeck, only an emergency override could allow someone else access. He’d never taken advantage of his authority before, but he felt an inexplicable desire to see the simulation.
Just a peek, he told himself.
The doors slid open silently, and he stepped inside, his mouth dropping open as he took in the scene stretched out before him. The Gulf of Mexico was more beautiful than anything he’d ever seen before. He stepped forward, realizing the ground under his feet was soft and his shoes were sinking into it. He took them off and left them by the door, his bare feet making imprints in the white, powdery substance as he walked toward the thing that captivated his attention.
Water extended out as far as he could see, bright and turquoise-blue as the fiery sun shone on it. Waves rolled in, cascading onto the ground in front of him and rushing up to his feet in a torrent of bubbles. The cool water felt bracing as it swirled around his toes, sucking the ground out from under him as it rushed backward.
Reaching down with one hand, he dipped his fingers into the water and tasted them, flinching from the saltiness.
“I wouldn’t drink too much of that,” a voice called out.
Varden spun around and saw a blonde woman walking toward him, wearing a pale-blue dress that was suspended from her shoulders by string ties and carrying a pair of flimsy shoes hooked over one finger.
“The salt water will just make you more thirsty,” she said, “although I doubt that would matter, since you’re not real.”
He blinked at her. This must be True, one of the Earthlings who’d rejected being a tribute.
She waved a hand at him. “This has Ella written all over it.”
“Ella?” he asked.
The blonde looked him up and down, even walking around him to get a better view. “The badass martial-arts outfit is a nice touch, considering she knows I have a thing for martial-arts movies.”
He glanced down at the black Kranji uniform that crossed his chest and was belted at his waist.
“Did she make you left-handed?”
He held up his hands. “Left-handed?”
“Do you write with your right or your left hand?”
“Left,” he said, wondering what the pretty human was babbling on about.
She closed her eyes for a beat and made a soft moaning noise. “Of course you do. I’m surprised Ella didn’t make you look like a young Jean Claude Van Damme. Then I’d really be in trouble, although you’re pretty hot yourself.” She reached up on tiptoes and touched the hair at one of his temples. “I like the distinguished grays.”
As breathtaking as the setting was, Varden was beginning to think he’d made a mistake sneaking into the simulation.
“So, what?” she asked, pushing her long, straight hair out of her face, as the breeze blew it forward. “Miss Computer Expert added you into my holodeck program because she thought I needed a man?”
Varden opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say. Hi, I’m not a simulation. I’m actually the captain of the ship. He instinctively knew she’d be humiliated by the reveal, so he decided to shrug.
True turned back toward the water. “Maybe she’s right, although I think this has more to do with her being head-over-heels, and wanting everyone else to feel the same way, than me actually needing a guy.”
He didn’t say anything, but he watched her profile as she stared out at the water.
“It has been a lot quieter now that my best friend is living over on the officers’ deck. I can’t just pop into her suite in my PJs.” She drew a line in the soft ground with her toe. “And now that Shreya is going over there, too, it does feel a little lonely.”
Varden had never given much thought to the reject section of the station, although now he suspected it would feel isolating to be separated from the rest of the station. He felt a pang that this pretty human was lonely enough to strike up a conversation with what she thought was a computer-generated character.
True inhaled deeply, raising her arms over her head and stretching. “I know the stars are beautiful, but somehow they can never match the ocean for me.”
“This is beautiful,” he said.
She nodded. “We used to come here when I was a kid. At least, the Earth version of it.” She bent and picked up a handful of the powdery substance covering the ground, letting it cascade through her fingers. “I remember playing in sand like this, and thinking it was the softest thing I’d ever touched.”
Sand. The white stuff was called sand. Varden couldn’t help but be interested in this curious place from this human’s past. He also couldn’t help but be fascinated by her.
“Back then, I was happy. My family was happy. Everything was different.” She released the last bits of sand and wiped her hand off on her dress. “But things change and life moves on, right? No sense wallowing in it. I got through that, and I’ll get through this, too.”
He didn’t know what she was talking about, but he could hear the quiver in her voice before she cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders.
“I’ve probably used up all my time already,” she said, turning and giving him a smile. “But it’s always worth it.”
“You will be back?” he asked, not knowing exactly why he wanted to know.
“Always,” she said. “And I guess I can count on you being here, thanks to my meddlesome friend. Not that I’m complaining. It was nice to talk to something other than the seagulls.”
She started backing away, then seemed to change her mind, walking quickly back, dropping her shoes, grabbing him by the front of the Kranji uniform, and pulling his face down to hers. Her kiss was a shock, not only because it had been years since he’d been kissed by a female, but also because it was more aggressive than he would have expected from her.
Her tongue parted his lips as she moved one hand from where it had fisted his uniform to rake through his hair and pull him closer into her. She moaned softly, and he felt all the
blood in his body rush south. As her tongue stroked his, his cock throbbed, and he wrapped both arms around her, lifting her off the ground. His body buzzed with need as he became almost dizzy from the taste and the feel of her, his head swimming as his tongue swirled with hers. Her soft body against his hard one felt more right than anything he’d ever experienced.
After a moment, she pulled away, and he lowered her back to the sand. Varden was breathing heavily, and his hands tingled from where he’d held her.
True stumbled back, touching a finger to her lips. “Wow. Ella really outdid herself with you.”
“True,” he said, his voice husky. He wanted to tell her who he was, and that he wasn’t a computer-generated character created by her friend.
“You were just what I needed,” True said, smiling as she backed away. “Thanks.”
He watched her disappear through the door, his heart pounding. What had just happened? He wasn’t sure, but he knew that—strange as it might seem to him—the reject bride was just what he’d needed, too.
If only she didn’t think he was a hologram.
Sneak Peek of JINGLED: A Holiday Novella— Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors #7
Chapter One
Reina bustled down the corridor, her shoes echoing off the shiny floor as she took long steps. She touched a spindly hand to the bobbing blue swish of hair that extended over her head and sighed.
The human women were at it again.
As a tribute bride liaison, she was used to handling requests from the human females the Drexians brought up to the space station. It wasn’t unusual for her to deal with everything from hysteria to disbelief to anger when the Earthlings learned they’d been abducted from their planet to be brides for a warrior race of aliens. Although most of the women eventually were happy with the arrangement—especially after they saw the hunky Drexians—Reina was not unaccustomed to drama.
As a Vexling—a species known for their attention to detail and desire to please—her instinct was to solve every problem and keep everyone happy. And she really did want her tribute brides to be happy, although sometimes she wished they didn’t rope her into every scheme they came up with. She’d been involved in last-minute bridal showers, surprise weddings, and even something one tribute had insisted on called a “gender reveal party.” Human’s need to know the gender of their children so they could then dress them in certain colors baffled her, but she’d gone along with it.
And now this.
She reached the inclinator and swiped her hand over a panel to one side, waiting for a moment before the compartment doors swished open, and she stepped inside between a Gatzoid tapping away on a tablet, and a Neebix holding his tail in front of him.
The inclinator was crowded today, no doubt everyone busy as the space station got back to normal operations. It had been many weeks since the station—know by most as the “Boat”—had taken on new tribute brides or even allowed incoming transports of Drexians. The attacks by their enemy, the Kronock—along with sabotage of the station and the discovery of traitors within the Drexian leadership,—had kept them on high alert. Like everyone, she was glad things were returning to normal, although the latest request by the tribute brides was not normal.
“Reina?”
She turned and spotted another Vexling at the back of the compartment, his nearly translucent, spiked hair extending high above the other heads. Her pulse fluttered, and she hoped her gray cheeks did not betray both her surprise and pleasure at seeing Vivan.
“Greetings of the day to you,” she said, extending the formal Vexling greeting, since they were in the company of so many others.
“Thank you,” he said, as he wiggled his way to stand next to her at the front of the compartment that surged upward. “To you, as well.”
Reina darted a quick glance at the fellow Vexling. Like all of her species, he was tall and lanky, although Reina had always thought that Vivan had a squarer jaw than most Vexling males. She knew he worked in the station’s procurement department, determining what items were needed from Earth during the transports to the surface to obtain tribute brides. Vivan had often been the one to help her when her brides required something specific and did not want a holographic version.
The Boat relied on sophisticated holographic technology to create much of the fantasy settings for the humans, but some things could not be manufactured by light diffraction. That was why the space station had an entire department devoted to procuring specific items from Earth to make the human women feel at home. Since they were the key to the Drexian’s survival, their happiness was paramount.
“You must be busy,” Reina said.
Vivan nodded. “It has been many cycles since a transport returned from Earth. We are eager for its arrival.” He focused his gaze on her. “You must also be glad to receive new tribute brides.”
“Of course,” Reina said, although she was relieved the brides would not be arriving that day.
Despite loving her job, she had welcomed the slower pace of things when the transports of the tribute brides had been halted. Her work partner, Serge, had grown increasingly impatient at not having a wedding to plan. She, however, had enjoyed getting to know some of her recent brides instead of having to immediately move on to the next arrival.
Vivan’s large eyes studied her. “You seem worried, Reina.”
“Not worried.” She shook her head. “Perplexed. Maybe you can help me.”
He took her hand. “You know I will always help you.”
Reina knew her cheeks were flushing as the inclinator door opened, although she was grateful when everyone exited around them. She and Vivan did not step off. The doors slid shut again, although the compartment did not move.
“Reina?” His voice was quiet, but it made her jerk her head to meet his gaze.
All Vexling eyes were gold, yet his seemed more luminous to her. She swallowed and tried to focus her mind. What did she need to ask him? It had seemed important, but now she couldn’t remember. Think, Reina. She closed her own eyes to shut out the distraction of Vivan’s.
“Christmas,” she said, her eyes snapping open.
“Christmas?” he repeated, tilting his head at her.
“A human holiday,” she went on. “We’ve had tributes want to celebrate it before, but usually they did it in their suites. Now, a group of my brides want to throw a station-wide Christmas party.”
“That sounds intriguing.” He did not drop her hand. “What is involved in a Christmas party?”
“From what I can gather there is a lot of food, many drinks, songs called carols, and presents given out by a fat human man wearing red.”
Vivan’s high forehead wrinkled. “We do not have any fat male humans, nor do I think it would be practical to procure any.”
“From what I understand, humans often dress like this fat man and use padding to look larger than they are.”
Vivan’s blinked a few times. “Fascinating. As long as I have been procuring things from Earth, I continue to be surprised by what humans enjoy. One day, I will have to tell you about the Slinky.”
“I would like that,” Reina said, jumping slightly as the inclinator doors opened, and a pair of Drexian warriors entered.
Vivan dropped her hand, and they moved to the back of the compartment, as the Drexians activated the inclinator and it rotated before accelerating.
“How can I help with this Christmas party?” Vivan asked in a low voice, as the Drexians discussed the Kronock.
“I don’t suppose we have any tall, pointy trees on the station?” Reina asked, looking straight ahead.
“Do trees have something to do with the fat human in red?”
Reina tried to recall what Mandy and Bridget had said about the trees. Christmas trees, they’d called them. They’d both been talking so fast that it had been hard to make sense of it all. “I think the humans cover the trees with balls, and the fat man puts the presents around the bottom.”
“This is very strange in
deed,” Vivan muttered. “I can see why you are concerned.”
“The tribute brides want to have this Christmas party on the promenade in a week’s time. I’d hate to tell them no, especially since some of them have been through quite a lot.”
“I heard about the reject who was rescued from the Kronock hybrid. I am glad she is all right.” Vivan glanced at her. “After all the things that have happened on the station, maybe a party would be good for everyone.”
The inclinator stopped, and the two Drexians got off. Vivan also stepped off. “I should get to work before they send out someone to procure me.”
Reina giggled. “Of course.”
“I will see what I can do about these Christmas things,” he said, giving her a small bow with his head before starting to walk away.
Reina shot a hand between the inclinator doors before they closed. “Would you come?”
Vivan turned back around. “Come?”
“To the party?” Reina asked before she could think better of it.
A small smile curled his gray lips. “If you will be there, I would not miss it.”
Reina let the doors close and sagged against the walls of the compartment, her hands fluttering at her throat. Now she had more than the Christmas party to worry about.
To be continued…
Want to read more? Turn the page to order or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!
Also by Tana Stone
The Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors Series:
TAMED
SEIZED
EXPOSED
RANSOMED
FORBIDDEN
BOUND
JINGLED (A Holiday Novella)
TAMED is now available as an audiobook! Listen on:
AUDIBLE
AMAZON
