“Yes. They’re tired, Mags. The mission has been long and other than the hunting planet we had the misfortune to stumble upon, it has been fruitless.”
“And therefore, they want to give up? Abandon our people back home?”
“Some do, not all.”
“Damn. We must find a way out of here before they all defect and succumb to Primarian testosterone, or whatever it is that makes them so damn alpha and attractive.”
“Agreed, but how?”
“I have no fucking idea.” She cursed as she threw her towel across the room, regretting it when another sharp pain stabbed into her side.
One day seeped into another until a full week had passed. As captives, their prison was luxurious. It was also well guarded, and of course, they were restricted to their gilded cage. The excuse was that they were unfamiliar with the city and its laws; therefore, it was for their own protection. Maggie wasn’t buying it. They weren’t trusted yet, especially after the escape attempt on the ship.
They were free to move around their quarters and the common areas, in what resembled a posh hotel. But they wore clothes selected for them—dresses, long and flowing, and nothing like what they were used to—went as a group for meals prepared for them, and pretty much waited around to be claimed.
They did attend the classes the commander had mentioned. Primaria 101, they called it, which included the history of the people, their customs, and a primer about their culture. This was something Maggie wasn’t the least bit interested in, because if it was up to her, they weren’t staying. Although like everyone else, she was strongly encouraged to attend. And, since it was held outside the women’s cell block—um, rather, their dormitory—she went along without too much fuss, because it beat being cooped up all the time. Those that attended were also given a tour of the city, under guard, of course, which they more politely called escorts. Maggie didn’t protest that either, feeling it would do no good, in the first place, and second, it was her only real opportunity to search for a path to freedom.
Ariad was much like she imagined ancient Greece would have been like, especially with the bold-colored tunics the men on the street wore, and the flowing ankle-length dresses worn by the women. The city itself was immaculate, the buildings gleaming, many with columns and scrollwork, and made of white stone, some of which were swirled through with bright colors in a marbled appearance. And most of the people went about on foot, although there was a trolley that ran occasionally. There weren’t any cars or buses, but overhead, she could see the occasional shuttle coming and going.
The city was situated in a valley surrounded by rolling hills that expanded into towering, snowcapped mountains in the distance. And like the buildings, the landscape gleamed with vivid colors, although strange compared to what she was used to, from the bright yellow grass to the pink leaves on the trees that matched the pink of the twin suns overhead. Instead of the brown brush and the dry, dusty drought conditions she was used to at home, the hills were a dazzling green, bright yellow, and vivid pink that shimmered brilliantly in the sunshine.
All in all, Ariad was quite beautiful.
Today altered somewhat from the routine in that at dinner they had special guests join them, several of the elders, some red tunic–wearing warriors, and, much to Maggie’s surprise, two of the original eight crew members taken captive. Lana and Mailynn.
Both were competent scientists, well-educated and prior to this cluster-fuck, loyal soldiers, but neither could be considered overly confident or assertive; they were followers, not leaders. She would have loved to have had a few minutes with Eryn, instead. With her expertise in security and having been here twice as long, she would have already sized up the weaknesses of the Primarians. It was likely the reason they got Lana and Mailynn instead.
They were escorted immediately to places at Maggie’s table by two of the warriors. Lana’s male was attentive as he seated her, bending low to say something in her ear, his hands resting on her shoulders and briefly squeezing before taking his leave.
Mai, who was even more reserved than Lana, was also assisted to her place by a warrior: tall, dark-haired, and handsome, like all the others. He was also demonstrative in his affection, running his hand the length of her long hair and brushing his lips against her temple before he also departed, following Lana’s escort to a table on the other side of the room.
Maggie blinked, staring at the obvious change that had come over the microbiologist. Formerly with honey-blonde hair and pretty sky-blue eyes, she now had streaks of jet black interspersed amidst the fair strands, and her irises had acquired flecks of gold that hadn’t been there before. She appeared more Primarian than human now, and that wasn’t the only change. She seemed to sit taller, with more confidence, where she had been timid and quiet in the past.
She found herself staring, unable to pull her gaze from the woman who she had known for years and was now barely recognizable. “Those are your mates, the males best suited to your chemistry?” Maggie posed this, trying not to be rude, yet the change was so drastic, she couldn’t keep from gawking.
As Mai gazed at her captain, Lana answered her question. “She went through the proper channels, but technically, Trask chose me before any testing was done.”
“I didn’t think that was allowed,” Maggie replied, turning to the other pretty blonde.
“Oh, he didn’t, um, you know, not until after the tests, yet, uh…” Tongue-tied and ill at ease, she glanced over at Mai to help with the explanation.
“He chased her through the jungle, threw her over his shoulder, and declared her his before the other warriors had a chance. I’d call that choosing, wouldn’t you?”
Maggie couldn’t squelch her gasp of surprise. It was partly because Mai, now appearing more goth than scientist nerd, had strung more words together than she had heard her speak at one time—ever. It was also because of the memories of Roth her description invoked.
“It’s disturbing, I know,” Lana murmured softly, only half understanding her captain’s reaction. “It’s happening to us and we still can’t believe it.”
She met her gaze head on for the first time and Maggie understood the “us” she was referring to, because her brown eyes were now a stunning shade of teal.
“How is this even possible?” Maggie breathed.
“I’m a geologist, so I can’t begin to explain it. We need a geneticist, or perhaps a chemist, since they are always talking about the breaching causing a chemical reaction.” Lana looked at Mai. “What do you think? You’re the microbiologist.”
“Yes, which is not a geneticist. Cell mutation is the best I can come up with, which is changing DNA itself, and for that to be brought about by sperm, is beyond me.” Apparently puzzled, she shook her head. “It would be fascinating in a lab setting; however, when it’s your own body that is the petri dish, it kind of freaks you out.”
“Wait, so the man’s sperm is what, a catalyst?” By no means shy about voicing an opinion, Nala appeared ready to let one fly now. “Simple enough to avoid,” she concluded, “say no and tell him to keep it in his pants.”
“You obviously haven’t been up close and personal with one of these warriors yet,” Mai countered.
The entire conversation brought thoughts of Roth to the forefront of her mind. She had wanted to say no to him, except after that first kiss, she’d been the one who wanted him out of his pants and into hers. However, she kept that to herself.
“None of the women have been forced, have they?” With all the commander’s talk about it not being necessary appearing to be true, Maggie wanted to make sure.
“They took us from our ship, inserted alien devices in our heads, and have subjected us to testing, all without consent. I don’t imagine they would have qualms about forcing sex when breeding is their ultimate goal.” This came from Rebecca, who until now had been sitting beside Maggie quietly taking it all in.
Lana shook her head. “I really don’t think any of them would force themselves upon us. They are
gentle.”
“Yeah, like a bulldozer,” Mai put in. “Still, I agree. Krager didn’t use force.” She flushed crimson as she added, “He didn’t have to.”
“And I have refused the tests and wasn’t forced,” Maggie stated.
“But for how long?” Nala shot back.
“They likely moved you down the list to #300. All the uncooperative females will be dealt with later, after we’ve had more time to acclimate.” She glanced at Mai and Lana. “Isn’t that why they sent you to us, to help convince us how happy you are to be sex slaves?”
“Nala,” Maggie snapped. “They were captured, the same as us.”
“And then cozied up to the enemy pretty damn quick.”
With a sad smile and cheeks that glowed a fiery red, Lana gave them another piece of this Primarian mating puzzle. “That’s the other part that is tough to explain. There is an overwhelming sexual attraction. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. And they can be very persuasive. Believe me, what you’re thinking is not in their vocabulary.”
“No,” Mai agreed, “but seduction is way up front. Krager pretty much blew me away.”
“You’re horny. They’re hot,” Nala concluded succinctly. “It’s not a stretch to believe you’d want some, badly, especially after three years of abstinence.” Crudely put, however that made sense too.
“You don’t understand. They feel it too, both the male and the female do. We’re like supercharged magnets drawn together, which according to Trask, only happens this way with mates.”
“I guess so, since they don’t have sex until they’re mated,” Rebecca observed.
“Who said that?” Mai stared at her, seeming baffled.
“I assumed they, uh, transformed during the first encounter.”
“No, that only happens with a matched pair.”
“What the fuck is that?” Nala cut in.
“That’s the purpose of their testing. Only a pair with a high biocellular match in the mid- to upper nineties will bond and become mates.”
“So they can freely have sex with 50- and 60-percenters? How nice for them,” Nala commented dryly. “And even above 90, all they’d need to do is wear a rubber.”
“I asked about that,” Lana answered with a small laugh, “and Trask was appalled. They have no concept of contraception. Their whole purpose for twenty years has been procreation. Besides, they made mention of a drawback for promiscuity and cheating.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s actually a perk, if you ask me,” Lana replied. “It burns.”
“Come again?”
“After the transformation, when the mate bonding is complete, the body fluids of another Primarian burn them.”
“You mean?”
“Yes, if they cheat, his dick and her hoo-ha blister like they came in contact with acid.”
Rebecca laughed. “At last, a man with a built-in cheating deterrent system. If it weren’t so bizarre it would be applaudable.”
“This is ridiculous.” Nala barked. “And I’m not buying any of it.”
“It’s science, Nala. You’re in security so that’s not your thing, but the rest of us have made it our life’s pursuit and swear by it. Plus, these Primarians have proven the success of it. They have no divorce here, and little strife. The family unit is the cornerstone of their society and they protect it.”
“That raises another question.” This came from Rebecca. “If they’re so pure and better than the rest of us, why allow outsiders to infiltrate.”
Nala, also a skeptic, added her voice to the dissent. “And with all their science and technology, how come they can’t find a solution?”
Mailynn replied, “Krager says the birth rate is stagnant. What’s more, the babies born are mostly boys. At this pace, any population growth is so negligible, it is practically non-existent. An outbreak of illness, war with their enemies, or another disaster could wipe out their numbers further. They had no choice but to go beyond their planet. And finding a compatible race has been a long, frustrating search, until we came along.”
“Yes, and it happens to be with Earth women from the other side of the universe.” Nala scoffed. “Bull-freakin’-shit! It’s the implants. That’s the explanation, it’s a combination translator, mind control device, that probably secretes alien hormones of some kind, and God knows what else. That’s why this is happening.”
“I’ve considered that myself,” Maggie replied.
Lana and Mai both wore stricken expressions.
“Trask swears it was only a simple translating device,” Lana whispered, then bit her lip in obvious uncertainty. “It would explain a lot, but I can’t believe they would do something like that.”
Nala leaned forward and answered in a hushed voice. “The only way to find out is to get the fuck off this planet and have them removed and analyzed. What can you tell us about that? Have you seen any weaknesses?”
“We haven’t had time,” Mai replied, her cheeks pinking up. “Krager has kept me busy with other things.”
“They’ve turned you into sex slaves,” Nala spat. “I knew it.”
“We’re not slaves,” Lana protested. “I come and go freely now. Mai and I went to the street fair just the other day.”
“Alone?” Maggie challenged.
The two mates shared a look, but only Mai shook her head. “There were guards, but they were for our protection. It’s a new city, and whole new world.”
“Yeah, that’s the same line of bull we’ve been handed,” Nala quipped.
They fell quiet, each lost in thought, all likely absorbing the enormity of their situation.
“Why is Mai’s change so drastic, and yours isn’t,” Maggie pressed Lana.
“She and Krager are what they call fated mates, an almost identical match. They say this is extremely rare, and they are shocked that two different species can be fated.” Beside her Mai nodded, evidently surprised by it too. “Because they are so similar, the transformation is more drastic. They even take on the identical marking of the male.”
All heads swung to Mai as she slid up the wide sleeve of her gauzy dress to reveal a colorful tattoo that started on her upper arm slightly above her elbow.
“I thought he had a tattoo when I first saw it,” Mai explained. “But Primarian males are born with a distinctive marking, passed on through their line. And once mated, if the couple are fated, she will take on the identical mark.”
She pulled aside the neck of her dress and showed them that the tattoo ran over her shoulder. “When it’s complete, it will cover half of my back as well.
“Holy crap,” Nala breathed.
“Does it hurt?” Rebecca asked.
“Not now, although at first it burned like a mother.” Mai answered.
“You don’t have one, Lana?” Maggie watched as the woman’s face fell with her question.
“No, we are matched, but only in the mid-90s, which isn’t high enough to make us fated.”
“And that is bad, how?”
When Lana looked away, Maggie arched a brow at Mai in question. “I’m not really sure, other than chances of conception are better the higher the compatibility rating.”
“And if you can’t breed,” Nala proposed baldly, “what does the general do with you?”
Lana’s mouth fell open, apparently not having considered that. Her gaze shifted to her untouched supper for a moment, then she suddenly stood up. “Excuse me, please.”
As she ran out, they watched her, as did a tall dark man across the room. Almost as quickly, he got up and went after her, pausing only briefly to excuse himself to the other bearded, robed men at his table.
“For God’s sake, Nala, did you have to be so harsh?” Rebecca hissed.
Maggie would have challenged her too, if not for the shooting pain that suddenly stabbed her in the side. It had been a dull ache all day, but she’d tried to ignore it. She should have taken Rebecca’s advice of a week ago and had it seen to.
&
nbsp; While the argument continued around her, the wave of pain worsened. With her fingers, she pressed into the worst of it, centered in the right lower portion of her belly, and it eased somewhat.
“I’m sorry if she was upset, but should we sugarcoat our new reality? No matter the clothes, the plush apartments, and all the crap they spew about mates and destiny, we are prisoners here, Lieutenant Commander. I’m only trying to help us consider all the possibilities.”
“And being unnecessarily cruel while doing so,” Mai shot back.
Another pang hit, and Maggie couldn’t keep from jerking in reaction, curling forward and guarding her right side. The motion drew Rebecca’s attention.
“Mags?” she tentatively asked, but it was barely audible over Nala’s continued tirade.
“Why the hell not?” she demanded loudly, while Mai and several others tried to hush her. “I won’t be quiet, not when the answers to my questions determine our fate. What happens if we can’t breed, what becomes of us? They can’t release a few of us and let news of this get back to Earth who might perhaps mount a rescue, or a retaliation. The other options are keep us here as servants, or to sell us. None of those options, or any of this for that matter, is acceptable, so excuse me for not painting sunshine and daisies all over our fucking new reality.”
“Is there a problem here?” The question was posed by a tall man who had come to stand behind Mai’s chair, but before she could begin to explain, Maggie bent in half, a loud moan escaping from deep in her chest as another pain, this one sharp and cutting like a butcher knife, seared into her belly.
“Captain!” Mai cried.
“She’s been ill,” Rebecca revealed while coming to her feet, “and is too damn stubborn to go to the doctor. Her symptoms, in addition to this pain, are night sweats, poor appetite, and not sleeping. She needs to see someone right now.”
In full agreement, Mai’s mate rounded the table. As he did, he barked an order to a nearby warrior guard. “Alert Jarlan one of the females is ill.”
Once at her side, she tried to wave him off, but he slid her chair out and with the utmost care, lifted her into his arms.
His By Command (Primarian Mates Book 2) Page 11
