by Olivia Black
“We’re heading toward Sweshan. We will be there in two days’ time. After we drop off the other humans, we’ll return to Glecerus. And the choice will be yours.”
Georgie turned toward him. “It will be my choice?”
“You get to decide who your mate will be.”
“What about the marks on my skin?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
Georgie blew out a heavy breath. “The markings on my skin are permanent. They can’t be removed or erased. The manual that I received when I volunteered stated that, once a human is marked, no other Glecerian males would want him.”
“That’s true, for the most part. If a human is marked, and the mating is dissolved, most humans choose to leave Glecerus. The males on our planet are territorial, and they don’t want a human that is wearing another’s mark. But our situation is different. The mark on your skin is my family name, T’Rul.”
Rett reached out and touched Georgie’s right shoulder, running his fingertip down the human’s arm. He couldn’t seem to help himself. He didn’t have the strength to stop. It was instinct. Rett needed to feel Georgie’s skin beneath his fingers.
“And my brother’s rank within the community.” Rett touched the human’s other shoulder. “This can easily be covered with my own mark. Or not,” he added. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“What if Lund wasn’t your brother? What then?”
“I would still want you regardless of the marks on your body.”
Georgie scoffed. “Why?”
“Because you are mine,” he simply said, unable to fully express his emotions.
Georgie glanced down at his hands, breaking eye contact with Rett. “I didn’t think anyone wanted me.”
Hearing Georgie’s confession hurt him worse than being rejected. He now understood how vulnerable Georgie had been when Lund swooped in and stole him. It wasn’t Georgie’s fault. The human only wanted a mate. He wanted to be accepted and loved. And Lund had been there when Rett had not. The responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders. If only he’d handled the situation differently.
“I’m sorry.”
Georgie’s watery gaze found Rett’s once more. The human looked as if he might break at any moment. It was a look Rett hoped he would never have to see again. When Georgie’s stomach growled, Rett gave the young man a shaky smile.
“I’ll go to the dining hall and get you some food, unless you’d like to join me?” Rett held his breath, hoping Georgie might agree to accompany him to the dining hall and share a meal. If he did, Rett knew it would be a step in the right direction. And then, he might be able to win Georgie over.
“I’m not really hungry.”
Rett’s hopes were shattered, but he asked, “Are you sure?”
Georgie nodded. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m just going to lie down for a little while.”
“Okay.”
Rett rose to his feet and left his quarters. When he was inside the corridor, Rett leaned against the wall for support. He took a couple of deep breaths. He didn’t know what to do.
So he did the only thing he could. Rett pushed himself off the wall and marched toward the lift. He took it up to the top deck where the command center was located. He needed a communication device so that he could speak with his brother.
He ducked inside a small booth and closed the door for privacy. Rett pressed a button on a keypad, and the darkened screen lightened. He dialed Lund’s number, and before long, his younger brother’s face appeared clearly.
“Where is Georgie?”
Rett stared at his young brother’s image on the screen. It was obvious that the other male was distressed. His muscles were tense, his nose flared, and there was a scowl on his lips.
“He’s safe.”
Lund growled, the sound vibrating through the communication device. “Bring him back right now,” he ordered, his voice dripping with hatred.
“I will. In four days, we’ll be back on Glecerus.”
“I can’t believe you stole him.”
Rett sputtered. “Lund, you stole him from me.”
Lund pointed at the screen. “You knew I wanted him. You used your rank and status to purchase his documents. You stole him from me first. I was just claiming what was rightfully mine.” Lund’s face grew larger as he moved closer. “And he is mine.”
Rett closed his eyes and shook his head. “I didn’t know you wanted him. I swear.”
“Liar.”
“Lund—” he started.
“Georgie came to my club. He found me. When I saw him at the bar, he was crying. You had your chance, and you blew it. Luckily, I was there to pick up the pieces of his broken heart.”
“He was crying?”
“What did you think was going to happen?” Lund tsked. “You purchased his documents, and then you abandoned him. But why should that be a surprise? That’s what you do. Your job has always been more important than anything else.”
“Lund—”
Lund cut Rett off once again. “I want to speak with my mate. I want to see with my own eyes that he’s safe.”
“He’s taking a nap.”
“That’s convenient,” he sneered.
“I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Then why did you call? It wasn’t enough that you took him. Now you want to rub it in my face?”
Rett wasn’t sure why he’d placed the call. He’d been hoping that they might be able to have a rational conversation, like two grown males, but it didn’t seem as though that would be happening.
“As the lower ranking male, you could petition to become Georgie’s secondary mate. That way, Georgie won’t be forced to choose between us.”
A long time ago, the people of Glecerus had lived above the planet inside caves. In those days, there were family units, consisting of a primary mate and a secondary mate. Together, the males took care of the child bearer and the children. It was necessary since the living conditions were so harsh. A section within the Glecerian laws still existed to this day. A lower-ranking male had the right to petition a higher-ranking male to become a secondary mate within a family unit. Since Rett was higher-ranking, he couldn’t approach Lund, but Lund could petition him.
Lund shook his head. “I won’t share my mate with you.”
“It’s the only logical decision,” Rett insisted.
“Absolutely not,” Lund said. “As the primary mate, you would be able to make all the decisions where Georgie is concerned. I’d have no rights other than the title of mate. I won’t give you that power.”
“Lund—”
“I’ll see you in four days.” Lund broke their connection by ending the call.
Rett stared at the blank screen, shaking his head. If only they could get past the animosity, then they might have a chance of becoming a family unit. Rett sighed heavily as he stood.
He opened the door to the private booth and stepped out. He took the stairs down to the deck below and walked toward the large dining hall. A few crewmembers were seated at the tables, enjoying a quick meal while others stood in line, waiting to be served.
Rett grabbed a tray and got in line. His mind was filled with thoughts of Georgie.
An alarm sounded, red lights flashing around the dining hall. Dropping his tray, Rett started running back toward command center. He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew what the alarm meant. It was a distress signal.
Chapter Five
Georgie sat on the bed, unmoving. He ran the events of the last couple of days through his mind—the singles dormitory, the pleasure club, meeting Lund, becoming the male’s mate, his introduction to Rett…everything. It was an emotional roller coaster. Up and down…up and down. From depressed and sad to elated and happy to scared and uncertain. He’d experienced a wide range of emotions, and still, he had no idea what the future held for him.
His stomach gurgled, but Georgie ignored the need for food. He was emotionally wiped out. And whatever had been
in that injection that knocked him out kept his mind fuzzy.
Forcing himself to stand, Georgie walked around the room, investigating his new surroundings. This room was different than the one he’d woken up in. The bed was larger, covered with soft blankets. The wall unit was filled with official Glecerian uniforms and a few other articles of clothing. And on the desk sat a handheld rectangular tablet. He picked up the device and tapped his fingers against the surface. He didn’t know how to use it, but he experimented for a several minutes, trying to figure it out before finally giving up. He placed it back on the desk and walked toward the opaque glass door.
Georgie pressed his hand against the wall, and the door opened without any trouble. He leaned his head out and looked down the corridor. It was empty. Stepping out, Georgie started walking down the long, arched hallway. He stayed close to the wall, taking small, measured steps. He didn’t know where he was going, but one thing was for certain. He wouldn’t be a prisoner on this ship any longer.
When he found a set of stairs, Georgie descended. He went down to the lowest deck, into the underbelly of the starship. Georgie walked around and soon discovered pods. They looked like coffins, except these had glass tops, and were made for a single passenger. Georgie walked closer. He ran his hand over the top of the pod, and it opened with a hiss, welcoming him inside.
He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was around, but he was alone. After a moment’s hesitation, Georgie climbed inside the pod. He sat there for a moment contemplating his next move. For the next four days, Georgie would be on the starship with Rett. And although Georgie believed the ambassador, he really wanted to speak with Lund. He had so many questions.
Why had Lund asked him to be his mate? Why would the male claim him? But mostly, he wanted to know why Lund hadn’t told him the truth. His hero, the male who had rescued him from going to Sweshan, had actually manipulated him. The betrayal stung Georgie deeply.
Lying down, Georgie took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. The glass top closed, sealing Georgie inside. He pressed both hands against the glass, trying to get out, but it was locked. Without warning, the pod shot away from the starship. The force of the blast pressed Georgie back against the soft material. He sucked in a shocked breath and closed his eyes. The engine hummed loudly, sending the glass capsule flying into space, jetting him far away from the Glecerian starship.
When Georgie finally opened his eyes, he was surrounded by pure darkness. After a little while, the engine slowed, the sound dying down until Georgie could finally think clearly. A deafening silence instantly surrounded him. If it were possible for silence to have a sound, it would be slightly terrifying.
A computerized voice spoke suddenly, startling Georgie. “Emergency life capsule activated. Distress signal has been sent out. I am currently triangulating our location.”
“Oh, shit,” Georgie murmured.
“Proximity warning,” the pod said.
“What does that mean? What the hell is a proximity warning?”
“The vessel has been identified as the Tiberius, Planet of Noglion. They are hailing the life pod.”
Georgie lifted his head and looked around. He stared out into space, looking around. There was a ship. It was far off, but it was within range, and it seemed to be traveling closer, moving toward him at a fast pace.
“They are hailing us,” the voice informed Georgie once more.
“What should I do?” Georgie questioned aloud.
“Opening communication.”
“This is Commander Gru Poez’iq of the planet Noglion.” A man’s deep voice filled the speakers. “We received your distress signal, and we are here to help. Who are you? Which starship do you hail from?”
“Um…” he murmured, stunned that someone other than the Glecerian crew was rescuing him. “I’m Georgie Larson. I’m human.”
There was a long moment of silence. “Human.”
“Yes,” Georgie verified, “from Earth.”
“Where’s your ship, human?”
“I was on a Glecerian vessel. I…uh…” Georgie cleared his throat. He wasn’t sure what to say. “It was an accident. I made a mistake. I need to get back to the ship.”
“Docking clamps have been activated,” the computer voice announced.
“Wait!” Georgie shouted. “What’s happening?”
“We’re rescuing you, little human.”
“No!” he cried out, panicking within the confines of the pod. “I need to get back to the Glecerian ship.”
The pod started to move backward, almost as if a vacuum was sucking him. Georgie covered his face with his hands and sighed heavily. Why did he get inside the pod? Why the hell had he left the ambassador’s quarters?
It seemed that he was making a lot of bad decisions lately. Georgie shouldn’t have left Lund’s dwelling. If only he’d stayed inside their home, he would be safe right now. Georgie groaned, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered to no one in particular.
The pod hurtled toward the Noglion alien ship rapidly. He’d heard of the desert planet. The males on Noglion kept their human pets naked at all times. They demanded that their pets wear a collar and leash to show their ownership. Georgie didn’t want to live on Noglion. He wanted to be back on Glecerus.
The speed in which the pod was traveling slowed. Georgie stared up, watching as the capsule moved past giant, textured metal tentacles that fanned out, blocking out the night sky. Georgie shook with fear, blood pumping through his veins so quickly that he became dizzy. It took a while, but the pod finally entered the belly of the alien ship and came to an abrupt stop.
For a moment, Georgie stared up at thick columns of black metal. Tubes and wires ran the length of the ceiling. It didn’t take long before the pod was surrounded by humanoid-looking aliens.
The males were enormous, similar in stature to the Glecerian people, standing nearly seven feet tall. They each wore a pair of brown leather sandals that laced up their thick calves, tan-colored loincloths, and giant bronze bands wrapped tightly around their biceps. Their skin looked as though it were covered in scales, from the top of their bald heads down to their feet.
The scales on each male were different, the diamond-shaped markings in various colors—greenish gray, olive green, and tones of brown. Their thick muscles were on display, massive and intimidating. But it was their eyes that caught Georgie’s attention because of the thin, elliptical-shaped pupils and bony brow ridges. The Noglion males seemed to share similar traits with reptiles.
A clawed hand reached out, touching the pod. The male’s sharp nails clicked against the glass enclosure. The door unlocked, hissing as it moved upward, opening.
Georgie shrank back, but there was nowhere for him to hide. Lifting his hands, palms up, Georgie showed the universal sign for surrender. He wasn’t even going to try to fight these males.
“Take a step back. Give the boy some space.”
Georgie slowly sat up. He crossed his legs, staying inside the safety of the pod. His shoulders curled forward protectively. Georgie glanced at the males, his gaze bouncing around the space, trying to take it all in. The men didn’t approach him. They stayed back several feet, as if they were afraid to spook him. All eyes were trained on Georgie, watching him closely.
“I am Commander Poez’iq.” The large male that had spoken before stepped forward. “You are safe here.”
“I…” Georgie paused, chewing on his lower lip before saying, “I need to get back to the Glecerian ship.”
Poez’iq ignored him by saying, “We don’t get many humans on Noglion.”
“Is it because the travel costs are so expensive?” Georgie asked. He was tempted to ask about the planet’s customs in regards to their human mates but decided against it. He was at their mercy, and he didn’t want to offend anyone.
“Our planet isn’t blessed with wealth,” he said.
“Commander Poez’iq,” a voice interrupted. “We’ve got a communication
coming in from Glecerian Ambassador Rett T’Rul. He says that the human, Georgie Larson, belongs to him.”
The commander’s bony brow ridges rose. “You have a mate.”
Georgie nodded. “Yes.”
“Were you running away, little human? Do you seek refuge?”
“No, I want to go back.”
“Let’s find out how much you’re worth.”
How much am I worth? Georgie shook his head. Not much.
Poez’iq held out his hand. Georgie stared at the appendage for only a moment before reaching out and taking his hand. His palm was slick, the scales softer than Georgie ever imagined. Poez’iq helped Georgie out of the pod. Once he was standing beside the commander, Georgie dropped the male’s hand.
“Follow me.”
He meekly followed the commander out of the docking bay, down a dark corridor. Multiple hands reached out to touch Georgie’s arms as he passed a line of Noglion males. The touches weren’t sexual in nature. They were merely curious as to what his skin felt like.
When they reached the bridge, Georgie saw Rett’s face on a huge screen. The male stood tall, wearing an official Glecerian uniform, clearly showing his rank.
“I’m sorry,” Georgie blurted out.
Rett didn’t respond. Instead, his focus was on Commander Poez’iq. “I appreciate you taking care of my mate.”
“Let’s get down to business, Ambassador. You know what I want. You know what my people want.”
“I’ve already spoken with High King Q’Tal, Commander. He’s agreed to deliver a larger group of humans to Noglion after our next trip to Earth. And as a sign of good faith, to prove how important our alliance is with Noglion, I am willing to offer you two humans for rescuing my mate.”
Poez’iq smiled. He seemed quite pleased. “We have a deal.”
“I will pilot over a small ship and make the trade.”
“Rett…” Georgie started, but the screen went blank, Rett’s image disappearing. Georgie let out a heavy sigh and his shoulders dropped in disappointment.
“Don’t worry, little human.” Poez’iq patted Georgie’s back. “Your mate is worried about you, but he can’t show any weakness, even if we are allies.”
