by Rena Marks
“He probably thinks she’ll fall for them,” Robyn said. “Leah was sponsored by Trance and fell for him. Heather fell for both Jett and Brax.”
“I didn’t think of that. No wonder,” Amanda said. “Poor Kieran. I hope he can change so I can explain to him that we assigned Vien and Potierre to her because their home and old-style ways mimic her lifestyle.”
“What a mess,” Robyn said.
“Dr. Amanda Becker,” Leo, the house computer said. “Your subject’s vital signs show she is regaining consciousness.”
“Let’s go break the news to Alannah that she’s now an Iota Nine dreaded redhead,” Amanda said.
The two women walked the short distance from Robyn’s office to medbay. They entered the room where an oxygen mask was kept over Alannah’s lower face. With a touch of a button, the mask was lifted by a robotic arm.
“Lady Alannah? Can you hear me?” Amanda said gently.
When Alannah’s eyes opened, they were no longer the brown they had been but a golden color of hazel tinged with red, either a strange genetic misprint or a side effect of the lasers used.
“She’s not going to like that,” Robyn whispered under her breath.
“Where am I?”
“You’re in medbay located in the city of Xenia. You collapsed from dangerously high levels of vitamin B and have been weaned slowly down.”
Alannah’s hand flew to her hair.
“Yes, your birth attributes have returned.”
“I can’t—”
“Alannah, there is no one here to see your differences.”
“But one day when I return, what will I do then?”
Amanda didn’t bat an eye. “We will deal with that when that day comes. Now, would you like to tell us why you had gone to such extremes as to change your appearance at the risk of your health?”
As if suddenly aware that she was no longer in pain, Alannah sat up.
“Dear Goddess. My head is clear. There’s no pain. My stomach’s not queasy. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like?”
“You’ve never been without pain?” Robyn asked, her voice less evenly modulated than Amanda’s.
“Yes. I’ve been on the script since birth.”
“Your dosage is four times the amount of your script,” Amanda said. “How is that possible?”
“It’s not all mine. From what I understand, my two sisters and mother are also on the script, but their meds were all given to me to keep my symptoms at bay.”
“Your symptoms? Your hair and eye color?” Robyn asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you aware of how it’s affected your health?”
“No. Like I said, I’ve been this way forever.”
“Why wouldn’t your family just get a license to color your hair? A license to change your eye color?”
“Because a license is recorded and my family didn’t want any record of my mutation.”
“It still seems extreme to compromise your health,” Robyn said.
Alannah shrugged.
“You had a taste of all of the different people of Xenia,” Robyn said. “I know it was a surprise, but you’ll get used to the many differences that make up the city. In the meantime, two of them have agreed to sponsor you. We think they’ll be the most compatible for you since they study old world Earth. They’re also gentle and elegant, and are two of the kindest and most intelligent—”
“Are you forcing me into a relationship with them, then?” Alannah’s voice was matter of fact.
“What? No! It’s purely platonic,” Robyn stammered, for the first time at a loss for words.
“Has that happened before?” Amanda asked, more gently.
“Of course. It’s why I was in a relationship with Lord Nolan.”
“We would never force you into anything you’re not comfortable with. Legally, you need sponsors to stay in Xenia and these two are perfect for that. They’d love to learn from you and I think you can learn from them. If you don’t have sponsors, you’ll be forced to become imprisoned to remain here instead.”
“What…differences do they have? Dietary requirements? Any attributes?”
“Attributes? You won’t be a servant, Alannah. You’re a lady and they know and will treat you as such.” Robyn’s eyes caught Amanda’s. “Leo, pull up a hologram of Vien and Potierre Xeno Sapien, please.”
The two holograms popped up between the three women. Vien looked almost human except for the eye in the middle of his forehead. Potierre was a bit less than human, but friendly if the wide smile was any indication. He was bipedal, at least. But his red skin and lobster-like claws clearly marked him as other.
Poor Alannah looked horrified. “I can’t imagine what they did to these people.”
“More than you can imagine,” Robyn said softly. “I hope you can get to know what’s on the inside. It takes some getting used to see their outside appearance, but like anything, you grow accustomed to their looks. Just like they’ll grow accustomed to yours. And you’ll grow accustomed to yours.”
Alannah sucked in a breath. “Do I look very different then?”
“Yes, but you’re beautiful,” Amanda said softly. “Your hair is deep, burnished shade of dark red. Your eyes are different, too. Even for humans. Your gene pool has been tampered with. A golden hazel with a distinct shade of red.”
Alannah blinked. “They are? I had no idea they were that different.”
Robyn stood up and opened a drawer, pulling out a hand mirror. She handed it to Alannah.
When she looked at herself, her faze froze. “Oh,” she winced. She was hideous. There were no words. But then again, there was no longer a threat of her mother offering her up on a platter to another lord. “So…different.”
“You’ll feel less colorful the more you’re around the Xeno Sapiens,” Robyn said. “You’re just used to the outer world.”
“I guess.”
“Knock, knock?” Vien Xeno Sapien called from the door. “May I be introduced to Lady Alannah? Potierre is at our domain, preparing her quarters.” His voice rang with barely contained excitement.
Robyn raised her eyebrows at Alannah, who took a deep breath and nodded.
“Please do,” Robyn called out.
All three of his eyes were wide when he entered.
“Vien, please meet Lady Alannah Holland of Iota Nine,” Amanda said, her lilting voice hiding the slight sarcasm in her tone.
“My lady,” Vien said, his voice deep as he bent at the waist in the perfect execution of a bow. “May the Goddess smile upon you.”
“Thank you. May the light dawn within you, Mr. Vien.”
And then his excitement shone through too much to continue his well-rehearsed mannerisms. “I’m so excited you’ll be staying with us! We know everything that humans like to do. We have quite a selection of old movies and old music from our friends, the Trasks. They come to visit their granddaughter, Ava, each month. Potierre and I wish to find human mates one day—not any time soon, mind you. But we think it’s important to be well-versed in other cultures and we have the fifth floating city down pat.”
Alannah had a gracious smile on her face. “I see why you have given me to him now.”
“Yes,” Amanda said softly. “Vien and Potierre have studied traditions and cultures from the nine cities. They were both so excited to represent Xenia.”
“Potierre wished to be here also,” Vien said, snapping back into his Iota Nine persona. “But he did not wish to overwhelm you when you have just woken.”
“I understand,” Alannah said, reaching for her burgundy locks absently.
“If you will excuse me, I will be in the waiting area until further notice.”
“Thank you, kind sir.”
When he left the room, Amanda said, “You haven’t noticed yet because we had you under the strength of direct oxygen, but you’re going to be quite weakened. You’re severely anemic, a side effect of the sudden withdrawal of vitamin B. Because of the years of trau
ma to your organs, the other doctors and I decided it’s best to let you recover naturally. It’ll take several weeks, possibly up to eight. Potierre and Vien are aware and will make your stay as comfortable as possible.”
“Weakness is nothing now that I know what life should feel like,” Alannah said.
“Alannah,” Robyn said. “How is your relationship with your family? We’re worried the bounty hunter threat might extend to them.”
A guarded mask came over Alannah’s face. “My father has passed. My mother and two sisters still live. Anastasia and Danielle.”
She never named her mother.
“How would your family feel about protection here?”
Alannah gasped, her protocol forgotten. “If you thought my reaction was shocking, it would be even worse with them. My family is…not kind. My sisters…they don’t know any better. They were taught to behave a certain way, but I can tell there are some times when they question it. My mother, however? She wouldn’t be kind.”
Chapter Four
Kieran:
HIS MATE HAD A different gown from the one she wore in his memories. A bit plainer, but still more elegant than anyone in the city had ever worn. She sat outside the giant home of Potierre and Vien, who simpered at her side as each vied for her attention.
It was nearly impossible to fight his instincts to slaughter both males.
The only thing that kept his monster urges in this animal form at bay was her obvious enjoyment of their company. He couldn’t break his mate’s heart by killing those she had chosen to be her own mates. No matter if it killed him.
Finally the two idiots left her alone to enjoy the warmth of the sun. After a bit, she rose from the settee and wandered into the gardens. She was a bit thinner than he’d expected, but graceful. Despite her size, she had adequate curves in the right places. She just appeared delicate—small shoulders, long neck. Her hair was a deep burgundy shade. Her lips were full, though the bottom was larger than the top. She had a small dimple in the center of her chin. But mostly—she had sad eyes. Perhaps it was because her fringe of lashes was so thick and heavy they appeared to weigh her eyes down, but he wanted to be the one to make her smile. To wipe the sadness from her eyes.
She was utter splendor.
Who is out there?
He startled at the barest thought breeching the edges of his mind. Not his. Not asking him out loud. No, the thought from…her mind. She knew he watched.
I know there’s someone beyond the trees.
She wasn’t talking to him but to herself and unaware she was projecting her thoughts. He allowed himself to slink from the trees, his head and tail bowed low in submission.
It’s a dog, I think. Someone’s lost their dog and he’s running wild.
He snorted mentally. Dog? He was too big for a dog. Try wolf.
She froze.
What the hell? She knew. She sensed his thoughts just as he read hers. She didn’t know what he said, but she sensed his derision at her words.
It dawned on her at the same time.
“It’s okay, pretty boy,” she said softly. “I don’t mean to scare you. My thoughts—it’s called telepathic communication. It’s an expanded sense. I used to have it as a child but the ability wore off with the increased prescriptions I was on.” A small smile curved her beautiful lips. “It was the only time my sisters and I got along.” A look of melancholy crossed her face and she shook it away. “No one knows I can do it. No one but you.”
He growled softly, afraid to scare her.
“Are you hungry?”
Hungry, yes. He hadn’t yet realized how hungry. He whined.
“I’ll go get you something,” she said. “Wait.” Then, as if afraid he wouldn’t understand, she said again. “Will you wait?”
When she returned, it was with two bowls, one full of sloshing water and the other containing meat with vegetables covered in gravy. She set them down at the edge of the garden, trying to entice him closer.
“Come on,” she crooned. “Here you go.”
He waited for her to back away, wary of scaring her with his full form. His scars. His ugly lumps and bumps. He hadn’t been able to look in a mirror, but he was sure those scarred spots wouldn’t be covered with fur in this form. No, he’d probably have bald patches there.
She could sense his wariness, but of course not his words.
“Come on, sweetie,” she said softly. “I’ll take you swimming. We’ll get you cleaned up. I can brush your fur, get the dirt out. You’ll be beautiful.”
A growl escaped before he could control it. He didn’t like that his thoughts were so easily invaded. What if he slipped and spoke in his mind?
“I’m sorry. I’m just learning to control it. I’ll try not to invade unless you communicate it.”
She returned to the settee, giving him room to slink into the garden and enjoy the food she’d left.
When he finished, he lay in the sun, content with watching her. Determined to be wary, but failing miserably.
“Finished? Let me clean you up, sweetie?” In her lap, she had a brush.
Fuck him. He was going to lay his head in her lap like an obedient dog because that was what she thought he was. His poor vixen was clueless that he was twice the size of a dog.
“Come here,” she coaxed.
Slowly, so slowly as to not scare her, he slunk forward, low to the ground to appear smaller, his tail tucked, his head down. And then he lay across her lap. Her soft hands came across his back, letting him get used to her touch, her scent.
Fuck, just fuck. He was lying halfway across her. What he wouldn’t do to be able to shift, but he couldn’t. Not only was the urge not there, but the fear of her rejection was. She appreciated this form and he couldn’t scare her with his lumpy, misshapen human form. Then very carefully, she reached for the brush. She dragged it down his body in short, easy strokes, more getting him used to it than actually cleaning him. But the strokes felt good, and he whined softly.
“I know, baby. Feels good just to have touch, doesn’t it?”
Of course, he didn’t answer mentally, just projected feelings. Trust. Gratitude.
“I come from a far away land,” she said. “Iota Nine. It’s frowned upon to touch there. To show emotion. People must remain neutral. As children, my sisters and I hugged each other. Held hands when no one was looking. But more than that, it was the secret between us. That when we were reading out loud, we were holding hands under the table.”
Because he couldn’t help himself, he dragged his tongue over her wrist, tasting her for the first time.
Exquisite.
Shame over daring to taint her with his ugly form hit him, making him whine again.
“Stop that,” she said. “Friends don’t feel shame.”
He projected false outrage at her for invading his thoughts again.
She laughed, completely comfortable with him, which made him feel good. So good. “I’m sorry. I will get a handle on it.” She petted him. Him, the ugliest excuse for a being ever.
Her brushing became bolder and he snoozed for a bit, for once his defenses down. After a while she put the brush down and just kept stroking him.
“Are you ready, boy? We’re going swimming. I’m sure I saw a pond around here somewhere.”
Reluctantly he rose, feeling the loss of their connection immediately. She reached for a small bag, stringing it over her shoulder and began to walk.
“Vien and Potierre brought me here in one of those cart things. With wheels?” She shook her head, leading him out of the garden. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I know what wheels are, of course. Old school stuff. I had no idea they were used here.”
She continued to walk—but the wrong way. Poor befuddled love. He carefully nudged her into the direction of the pond.
“I’m sure I noticed it was this way from where they brought me in. It’s not far…though, to be fair, I was in the shuttle cart thing. Potierre was driving, you know,” she said, con
spiratorially. “While Vien was very gracious and insisted I take the front seat, I really wanted to sit in the back and watch Potierre drive. His hands…they’re like lobster claws. I wanted to see how he used them. Is that awful? No one from my city would ever think that, much less tell another. He handled himself beautifully, though. It made me think. Are they just as curious about me? Their manners are perfect. So impressive. We have a grand time. They’d like to host a party to introduce me to others, but they’re giving me time to acclimate first.”
He knew why, of course. She was horrified at all the different types of people in their city. People like him. But right now, she considered him safe. A…pet. Maybe in her fancy city, all animals were pets. She didn’t even know the difference between a wolf and a dog, much less that a Xeno Sapien could turn into a wolf. Hell, that one surprised him.
“There it is!” She sounded gleeful. “I knew I could find it.”
He whined, not able to let her get away with that one.
“Oh, okay. You helped.”
She was gracious enough, he supposed.
More so when she looked him up and down and then looked at her dress. “Potierre and Vien bought me these dresses. They’re along the same lines as my party dress, but I didn’t have the heart to tell them it was for a party. I think they think females dress like this all the time on Iota Nine.” She laughed softly and even though he was jealous that she had feelings for her new mates, he was glad that she was happy. “Still, I can’t imagine they’d want me to ruin it.”
And then the sound of a zipper hissed and his ears shot up. The dress came down over her shoulders, down her hips, over her legs, baring soft, silky skin that was too creamy to be real.
She stood in her under things—sheer lace that enhanced rather than disguised the shade of her sexy feminine spots. Areas so delicate and beautiful he had the uncontrollable wish that he could shift at will. His muscles trembled with an ache that confused him.
