by Hope Hart
“I am ready, Harlow.”
“I’m getting there,” she snaps, slowly shifting closer while I try not to vibrate with impatience.
I’m wrapped in her scent as she leans into me, placing one hand on my chest for balance. She moves closer, and then finally, finally her lips meet mine. She brushes my lips with her own, and they feel softer than anything I’ve ever felt. A piece of her hair falls across my face and I groan at the scent and feel of her. I open my lips slightly and she sinks in deeper, a tiny noise sounding in her throat. Could she be enjoying this even slightly?
She begins to pull away and I can’t help but growl. This seems to alarm her, and her head jolts back. Before I know it, I’ve snagged her arm, and I’m ready to pull her back for more.
The rage and terror in her eyes stops me, and I let her go, cursing as I run a hand over my face.
“Varian,” she says softly.
“Thank you,” I tell her, and her eyes widen in surprise. She backs up, and I decide it’s time to end this dream before I haul her back to me and make her admit that she wants me too.
Harlow
“Harlow, are you listening to me?”
“Hmm?”
Josh scowls at me from the driver’s seat. “You’ve been distracted all day.”
I blush, realizing I’m distracted because of my freaky dreams. How is the Arcav King suddenly able to visit me every night? I need to make it stop, because the more I see him, the more ‘human-like’ he seems. He feels things, and those feelings make me feel things in response. Things I don’t want to feel.
I want to keep him at arm’s length. I don’t want to see his face, make deals with him, or kiss him. I frown. Okay, so the kiss was good. But seeing the desperate want on his face when I pulled away was more than a little terrifying. That expression told me in no uncertain terms that he’s not likely to give up his hunt for me any time soon.
“Harlow?”
“What is it?”
“Is something going on?”
“Nothing, just some weird dreams.”
A fleeting expression crosses my brother’s face, and it looks almost like guilt. All the hairs on the back of my neck rise in response and I open my mouth to ask what the hell is going on, only to slam it closed. We both spot red and blue flashing lights at the same time.
“Shit.”
“You still got that gun?”
I pat the Glock reassuringly, but I’d rather turn myself in than shoot a cop.
Josh slides me a knowing look. “Maybe you should give it to me.”
“We’re not shooting anyone, Josh. Look how outnumbered we are!”
The checkpoint looks like a simple sobriety check, but I’m not buying it. I’ve got a pretty good feeling that they’re looking for me. Even if they’re not, the likelihood of a cop recognizing me is high. My face has been splashed all over every type of media, and cops are the most observant people on the planet.
It might be all over for me. Josh is wild-eyed beside me, and I wish that I was the one driving. I don’t trust him to not take us on a police chase, and the way his hands are white-knuckling the wheel is a dead giveaway that we’re up to no good.
“You need to calm down. If this is it, this is it. But you can’t turn this into Grand Theft Auto or a fucking shootout.”
He sneers at me. “They won’t even have guns.”
“We have one gun, Josh! One. How well do you think that’s going to go down against all those cops?”
He nods, and I hope to hell he’s actually listening to me. I blow out a breath, trying to make him listen to reason one more time.
“Look, we might get lucky. We could get a rookie, someone who doesn’t watch the news, or someone who just plain doesn’t recognize me. Try to keep their attention on you, and don’t do anything stupid.”
“Okay.”
We pull up, and I try to take my own advice, relaxing into my seat like I don’t have a care in the world.
The officer is young, with a wealth of bright orange hair and freckles. He’s not an idiot though, and gives Josh a good once-over.
“License and registration.”
Shit.
Josh hands it over, looking straight ahead, and I want to nudge him. He looks like a fucking criminal.
The cop shines his flashlight into the car, and I see his eyes widen the moment he recognizes me.
Chapter 7
Varian
I’m again meeting with my advisors, and the mood is somber.
“Humans have no real defenses,” Jaret says. “They’re a backward, barbaric race with laughable technology, breedable women, and plenty of resources ripe for the taking. If we are to protect our potential mates, we must create a strategy to defend the planet from the Grivaths.”
Methi clears his throat. “We do not currently have enough defenses in place, Your Majesty. Our sources say the Grivaths are just one human week from entering this solar system.”
Methi is one of my favorite advisors, due to his straight talk and level head. He’s also not one to dramatize, and I grind my teeth. A century ago, the Grivaths attempted to invade our Arcavia. We fought them off, but while our technology is superior, they have sheer numbers on their side.
“I was hoping to wait until my mate was settled away from this planet, but now is the time to strike. I want the Celestial Fleet on its way. Now.”
Jaret nods. “May I also suggest warning the humans about the Grivaths?
I turn and stare out the window. “It could cause mass panic. Panicking humans are dangerous humans. My mate could end up in even more danger.”
I can feel his disapproval radiating from him and shoot him a warning look. If he wants to talk frankly, I cannot have it happen in front of the rest of my men.
“Dismissed,” I tell them, and they leave at once. I turn to Jaret. “Say what you need to say.”
“They deserve a chance. If the Grivaths catch them unprepared…”
“Do you think we cannot protect this small planet?”
He rubs his hand over his horns and frowns. “I think your attention is… divided. Which is natural, of course. While it’s unlikely the Givaths will manage to break through our defenses, it can’t hurt to inform the key leaders.”
“As long as those leaders know not to warn the populace unless we give clearance.”
“Of course.”
“Okay then, warn them. But I don’t want it to come to that. We took this planet to find our mates. We can’t risk losing them to war. Any of them.”
Jaret looks relieved, and I know he’s pinning all his hopes on finding his mate soon. While blood from human females is constantly tested, there are four billion female samples to process. The genetic profile of those samples is sent back to Arcavia to be analyzed, which is why it took so long for me to find Harlow.
My thoughts are immediately hijacked by visions of my mate. I absently wave a hand at Jaret, who chuckles and strolls out, obviously well aware of where my attention has turned.
I wonder where she is, and what she is doing. I’m grateful that her brother is with her, even though he can’t be trusted. Hopefully he can help her if she comes across any humans who recognize her.
The sense of helplessness and frustration I feel is intolerable. While part of me is proud of my fiery, independent mate, another just wishes she was with me and I could finally make her mine. I don’t want to be someone she fears. I wish I had all the time in the world for her to come to me of her own free will, and it pains me that I can’t give her that choice. I wonder if she will ever see me as anything more than the man who wants to take her freedom.
I rub my temples. Rulers do not have the luxury of hoping for a love match with their mates. My mother’s parents are a perfect example. Softer feelings are for Arcav who do not need to ensure the continuation of our race. All I need is to keep my mate close and avoid the insanity that comes with a missed mating.
Harlow
The cop schools his face, as he checks behind him, and
I close my eyes as I wait for him to sound the alarm, but he turns back. Distantly, I realize his hand is shaking.
“I would never sell out another cop,” he says in a low voice, and Josh jolts in his seat.
“I don’t care what they say about politics, humans who sell each other out are scum.” He hands my brother his license, and takes another good look at me.
“Have a haappy night” he tells us, and I feel my eyes widen as he drawls out the ‘a’, making it a flat ‘ha’ sound.
He gestures for us to drive forward, and my brother doesn’t hesitate, stepping on the gas.
Josh turns to me as we pull away, face pale. “What the fuck was that?”
I’m shaking, I realize, and feel as if I could burst into tears at any minute. I’m a cop, and I’ve spent years running into the types of situations other people run out of. But one look at that police checkpoint had me shaking like a virgin on her wedding night. If I wasn’t so relieved, I’d probably be a little disgusted in myself.
“He was HAA,” I tell him, and raise an eyebrow at his blank face. “Jesus, Josh, Humans Against Arcav? Ring any bells?”
He shrugs, completely fine with his ignorance. “Oh, that’s what the HAppy night was about?”
“I guess so. I don’t know if it was blind luck that we got him and not another cop, or if Blake had something to do with it.”
We make our way to the next hotel in silence, and I’m once again questioning if I can live like this. Always on edge, always terrified I’ll get caught. I blow out a breath. Life will be better in Montana. Sure, this part sucks, but it’ll all be fine when I’m no longer on the road.
I sure as hell don’t want to see the Arcav King in my dreams tonight. But when has he ever given a shit about what I want?
I can’t believe I was reminiscing about our kiss just moments before I could have lost my freedom forever.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I mutter, waiting in the car while Josh checks us in at the next motel.
It’s exactly like what Tim said about his sister. The sad thing is, I can see exactly how it must’ve gone down with her. Whatever chemistry is created with our ‘mating’ is the strongest I’ve felt with anyone in my entire life. Shit, our kiss couldn’t even really be called a kiss- it was more like a peck, and I was still frightened by how much I wanted to push Varian down on that bed and have my way with him.
I might’ve, too, I realize. If he wasn’t the Arcav King, if I wasn’t fighting for my freedom, and if the Arcav hadn’t shown up uninvited to our planet, I would’ve jumped him without looking back.
Unfortunately, he’s not just a random seven-foot man with horns. And I can’t afford any more slip ups.
We make our way to our rooms and shower. I try to block out as much light as possible, and shrug as it streams through the thin blinds anyway. God knows I’m tired enough to pass right out. Constantly feeling on edge sure takes it out of a girl.
Chapter 8
Harlow
I sigh as I take in the Arcav King. He’s sprawled lazily on the bed in my small motel room, and of course, the other bed is empty again, my brother nowhere to be found.
“Is everything okay, mate? You look unhappy.”
This guy. Is he trying to be an idiot? Or does it just come naturally? Of course I’m unhappy.
“I’ve asked you not to call me that.”
“But you are my mate. I find that the more you deny it, the more I feel the need to remind you.”
“If you want me to talk to you, you need to stop.”
His eyes light up, glowing in a way that human eyes never will, and I realize I’ve pleased him. I almost snort at the idea that he could be an idiot. If anything, I’m just one of the many pieces on his chessboard.
“Harlow. I will call you this, and you will talk to me.”
I roll my eyes. “We have nothing to say to each other.”
“That could not be further from the truth. While you may be denying it right now, we will spend the rest of our lives together. I want to get to know my mate.”
I shoot him a warning look, and the corner of his mouth tips up. I stare at the giant, intimidating-as-hell alien who looks like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He appears almost boyish, and out of nowhere, I get a vision of him as a tiny towheaded boy… running around and causing havoc with horns and a wicked grin.
“I’m tired. If I talk to you, will you let me sleep tomorrow night without any of this freaky dream shit?”
Varian looks displeased at the thought, but slowly nods. “If this is what you want.”
“Okay.” I sigh and move toward the other bed, but he’s faster than I could’ve imagined, and reaches out, snagging my arm and pulling me onto his bed.
“Hey!”
He moves away, maneuvering that bulky body like a cat, and I eye him as he leans against the headboard and smiles at me.
“I would like you to sit close by.”
I think about it. I’m sitting at the bottom of the bed, and his face is a picture of innocence as he looks at me with eyes that glow like a cat’s at night.
“Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
“Tell me about your life.”
“Why? You must know everything there is to know about me by now. You and everyone else on the planet,” I say bitterly.
He ignores my dark tone. “I want you to tell me.”
I can’t pass up a opportunity to bargain. “Let’s play a game.”
His face lights up, and I can’t reconcile this playful male with the man who threatened humanity just a few days ago.
“What kind of game?”
“We take turns asking questions. If you choose not to answer, you owe the other person a favor.” I know he’s an alien of his word. All of the human women who were hurt because they looked like me have already been miraculously healed, and news networks are interviewing every single one of them.
“I like these terms.”
I roll my eyes, certain he’s thinking about the last deal we made, and the way I trembled when he kissed me. I steel myself. That’s not happening this time. I need to get him on the back foot.
“Great, I’ll start.”
He nods, even though he had originally asked me to talk first. I can’t shake the feeling that he has something up his sleeve, and I choose my first question carefully.
“Why did you choose Earth?”
He stares into space for a moment, and then meets my eyes.
“My brother, Korva, lost his mate. This is incredibly rare for our species, and it drove him insane. No one understood what he was going through, so he decided that we all must know how he felt. He took a trip to Earth when humans were still relying on beasts to get from place to place.”
I blink at that. “You mean horses?”
One large shoulder shrugs. “You should lie down, Harlow,” he says in a wicked voice, eyes scanning my body. “You look tired.”
“Does that line seriously work for you?” I ask, rolling my eyes. I am uncomfortable though, so I scoot my feet up onto the bed, wrapping my arms around my thighs.
“Keep going,” I tell him.
“Korva came to Earth, breaking interplanetary law. Humans thought they were alone in the universe, and to introduce them to other alien races before they discovered space travel could have had dire consequences.”
I wonder how many other alien species there are. Are humans still unevolved and primitive compared to all the other species? Or are there others, completely unaware that everything they know about the universe could change one day?
Varian sits up, leaning closer. I allow it, more fascinated than I’d ever admit.
“Korva gave us a loophole,” he continues, stroking a finger along the top of my foot. “Humans were biologically compatible with the Arcav, and he had discovered a single gene responsible for mating. He introduced that gene into human DNA.”
I pull my foot away, instantly annoyed. All of this is all because of on
e alien who refused to pull himself together and move on with his life.
“Continue,” I order, and Varian reaches out again, seemingly fascinated with my skin.
“Arcav have mates for a reason. Without a mate, Arcav males begin to have trouble focusing. Their decision-making becomes impaired, and they are quick to rage, often requiring complete solitude in order to remain stable. Eventually, they reach the point where they can no longer be around other males without attacking.” His face falls. “We have already seen this happen to three good Arcav males who should have found their mates. One was killed while attacking one of my commanders, and two more are in prison while we search for their mates.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “But if coming here is breaking interplanetary law, why did you risk it?”
“While the King may choose to take advice, all final decisions are made by him alone. I have no heirs, and my brother can never take the throne. Without a mate, I have no doubt that civil war would break out as power-hungry Arcav fight for the throne.”
“Sounds like you need a more democratic process,” I say. “So basically, this is all on your brother.”
Varian nods, brow lowered. “He has shamed our family and our people.”
I feel an uncomfortable pang of sympathy for Varian and the other Arcav. I’m guessing they don’t want to be here almost as much as we don’t want them here. But ultimately, they are here. I pull my foot from Varian’s reach again, trying to ignore the hungry look on his face as he eyes me. He doesn’t want me as a person. He doesn’t know me as a person. Instead, he just wants whichever woman’s DNA matches his.
“It is my turn.”
I nod, and shift under Varian’s gaze. He looks at me as if he’s imagining me naked, and I frown at him as butterflies dance in my stomach in response.
“Why are you working as a human security officer?”
“You mean a police officer?”
“Yes.”
I stretch out my legs and give in to the feel of the bed under me, leaning down on one elbow. Varian has proven he can be trusted this far, and my muscles ache from the constant tension.
