by Olivia Black
Shaking his head, Auden focused on the meal in front of him. There would be plenty of time to think later.
* * * *
“Are you okay?” Aaron asked.
“What’s going on? What happened? Who’s Jason?” Georgie questioned rapidly.
Sebastian sat between Aaron and Georgie with his hands folded in his lap. The servers were still delivering the dinner plates, filled with traditional Glecerian food. Once a plate was placed in front of him, Sebastian grabbed his utensil and started eating. He ate quickly, shoveling the food into his mouth without tasting a single bite so that he wouldn’t have to answer any questions. Sebastian didn’t know how to respond.
He’d acted without thought or consequence. The desperation to see his brother had been overwhelming, and the outcome wasn’t what he envisioned. He thought Jason might welcome him with a hug or, at the very least say, hello. But the other man had just stood there. The attention from the High King was unexpected.
One question kept swimming around inside Sebastian’s head. Which male would Auden have chosen to be Sebastian’s mate?
Looking at Georgie, Sebastian asked, “Does the High King have a mate?”
“Some of the Glecerus history was in the manual. It’s said that the High King was mated to a great warrior. The male died in battle when the Glecerians went to war against Plion. The people of Plion initiated the war because they believed that Glecerus was weak. They didn’t know that the Glecerians lived inside the ice planet.”
“Oh.”
“Why do you ask?”
Sebastian shrugged, trying to appear as if he really didn’t care. “I was just curious.”
Georgie shot him a pointed look. “What’s really going on?”
Aaron placed a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “We’re friends. You can trust us.”
Sebastian sighed heavily. “When I was fifteen, my mom was really sick, and my dad was working himself to death. We were really poor, and there was barely enough food for all of us. My brother, Jason, he was eighteen at the time. He volunteered to come to Glecerus to save us.”
“Jason,” Georgie whispered.
“He’s sitting at the royal table. He’s mated to Jett Q’Tal, the High King’s son.”
“Then why are you sitting here with us?” Aaron asked. “You should be over there spending time with your brother.”
“It’s against the rules,” Georgie answered. “Sebastian is an unmated male from Earth. He can’t spend time with his brother until he’s wearing his mate’s mark.”
Sebastian nodded.
“You’ll only have to wait six more days,” Aaron told him, trying to sound hopeful.
“There’s more,” Sebastian said. He took a deep breath before continuing. “Since Jason is now considered royalty, my bidding number was removed from the auction. The High King has decided that there will be a competition for me instead.”
“What kind of competition?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you might remember something from the manual that could help me to prepare.”
“I’m sorry.” Georgie shook his head. “There wasn’t anything about a competition in the manual. It was written for the humans who would be auctioned.”
“Well then, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.”
Sebastian finished eating in silence. He zoned out as the other men talked around him. His mind was filled with images of the High King and the way he’d gently touched Sebastian’s face.
Why had the male touched him? Why did he whisper? Was he flirting with Sebastian? Was he thinking of becoming Sebastian’s mate? Question after question filled his mind, but there were no answers in sight.
When Sebastian was finished eating, he wiped the cloth napkin over his mouth before placing it on his empty plate.
“Look,” Aaron said, pointing across the great hall.
Sebastian turned his head and watched as several rows of tables were cleared out of the way. A few couples moved toward the open space and wrapped their arms around each other, dancing. Their movements couldn’t really be called dancing though. They swayed to the music, their bodies rubbing against one another. It was sensual in nature. Soon, the music changed from relaxing background instrumental sounds to something with a beat.
Sebastian couldn’t help but stare. The couples, human and Glecerian, were beautiful as they moved together.
“Aaron,” Mark said. “I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
Sebastian took his eyes off the dancers and glanced over his shoulder at Mark. Their tour guide was standing beside a Glecerian male with short snow-white hair. He was wearing brown leather pants, slip-on shoes, and a loose-fitting white shirt.
“Oh, okay.” Aaron pushed his chair back and stood up.
He turned his body to move around the chair but ended up tripping. Sebastian tried to reach out, but there wasn’t anything he could do from his seated position. Aaron let out a shriek as he fell, but he didn’t touch the ground. The Glecerian male caught him.
“I’m so sorry.” Aaron said, righting himself.
“I’m just glad I could be here to help.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Aaron smiled. “Or that could’ve been really embarrassing.”
“This is Trygg Ja’Dar. He’s a teacher and a scholar.”
“Hello, Aaron.” The Glecerian male held out his hand, and Aaron took it.
“Hello, Trygg, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Since you stated that you cannot read, Trygg has offered to spend some time with you so that he can teach you.”
“Oh my God,” Aaron whispered.
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed,” Mark told him. “Trygg wants to help. In fact, he’s the one who brought it to my attention.”
“I really appreciate that, but you don’t need to help me. I’m fine.”
Mark looked toward Trygg, and the male took over.
“I’m sorry for bringing this up at the welcoming feast. It was incredibly rude of me. I shouldn’t have brought up something so personal. Why don’t we talk on the dance floor?” Trygg held out his hand. “It will give us a little bit of privacy.”
“Um…” Aaron looked toward Sebastian, his eyes pleading.
Sebastian’s mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out. He didn’t know what to say.
“I guess.” Aaron took Trygg’s hand, and the two walked toward the dance floor.
When they were out of earshot, Sebastian looked at Georgie. “Shit,” he whispered.
“I never thought.” Georgie shook his head. “When I told the groomer Aaron couldn’t read, I thought I was helping. I didn’t…”
“It’s okay, Georgie. It’s not your fault. He was scared, and you were trying to help.”
“What do you think we should do?”
“We aren’t going to do anything,” he said. “What happens next is up to Aaron.” Sebastian pushed his chair back and stood up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to ask someone to dance.”
Georgie grinned. “Have fun.”
“That’s the plan.”
Sebastian left Georgie sitting at the table.
With his shoulders back and his head held high, Sebastian walked straight toward the royal table. His gaze clashed with Auden’s, and Sebastian made his intentions clear.
I’m coming for you.
Chapter Eight
Auden smiled as he watched Sebastian from across the room. The young man’s gaze caught his and held it. Sebastian stared at him with an intensity that sent a blast of arousal through Auden’s system. The young man’s intent was clearly written on his face. He was on a mission. Sebastian made his way through the crowd, passing the other guests. If it was possible, Sebastian looked different. He appeared confident.
“Your Majesty,” Sebastian said clearly. He bowed in front of Auden before once again rising to his full height. “Would you care to dance?”
Sebastian’s bold approach drew a lot of attention. And now that he’
d asked Auden to dance, even more people were watching.
“It would be my pleasure.” Auden rose from his seat.
He stepped away from the table and off the raised platform. Auden walked to Sebastian. He held out his hand, and the young man took it, allowing Auden to lead him to the dance floor. He spun Sebastian around, under his arm, before pulling him into a close embrace. Holding Sebastian and having him close did funny things to Auden’s heart. And he knew, without a doubt, that he would fight for Sebastian. He would join the competition and win.
“Thank you for asking me to dance,” Auden murmured.
“I asked for a specific reason.”
“Oh?” Auden asked. “What would that reason be?”
“I need you to answer some questions for me.”
“Okay.”
“If I had agreed to let you pick my mate, who would you have chosen?”
Auden didn’t answer right away. When he’d initially made the offer, he was thinking only about himself. For some reason, when it came to Sebastian, all logical thought disappeared.
“When I made the offer, I was being selfish. I wanted to keep you for myself.”
Sebastian’s head jerked back. He looked at Auden, clearly stunned by his answer.
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“You’re the High King. You could have anyone you want. Why would you even consider making me your mate?”
“I’m no different than any other Glecerian male. I want a mate by my side and a lover to warm my bed. There are times when I’m lonely, and I dream of companionship. Why would I consider making you my mate? I read through your documents, and I believe that we are compatible. And perhaps we could even grow to love each other.”
“If a mate is chosen because of their documents, then what would happen if someone lied when filling out the paperwork?”
Auden stopped swaying. He looked down at Sebastian and asked, “Did you lie?”
“No.” Sebastian shook his head.
He started moving once more, relieved by Sebastian’s answer. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
“Just tell me what would happen.”
“It would be bad,” Auden told him. “We match humans and Glecerians together, one human to a small group of males. We are hoping for a good match. If someone lies and misrepresents themselves, the mating could be an unhappy one.”
“What if the mated pair is unhappy? What then?”
“It’s rare, but it does happen,” Auden told him, thinking of his son Lef. “If they are both unsatisfied and agree to dissolve the mating, then the human’s documents are transferred back to single status. The Glecerian male will stay in the dwelling that they shared, and the human male can go to the singles dormitory or off planet. In the few cases it has happened, the humans have gone off planet since it’s impossible for them to find another Glecerian male who is willing to become their mate.”
“Why is it impossible?”
“The markings that will be put on your skin are permeant. They cannot be erased. They cannot be removed. No other Glecerian male wants to have a mate who wears another’s mark. I know that may seem harsh, but it is the way things are.”
Sebastian looked as if he wanted to say something, but he just pressed his lips together and nodded.
“Of course, the circumstances are different if there are children involved.”
Sebastian’s brows furrowed. “How is it different?” He seemed confused, as if he didn’t understand why a child would change the circumstance of a mating.
“A child should be raised with both of its parents.”
“Of course,” Sebastian agreed.
“We encourage the mates to live together in the same dwelling. If they can have a friendship, without animosity, it creates a positive environment for the child.”
“And if they still don’t want to be together?”
“By law, the child will stay on Glecerus since he is a Glecerian.”
“He? Are all the children are boys?”
A thought suddenly occurred to Auden. Sebastian should know the answers to his own questions. He stopped moving once more and stared down at the human.
“All of this information is inside the manual. When you volunteered, you should have received a copy. Did you read it?”
“No,” Sebastian sighed. “I didn’t read it.”
“Why would you volunteer to come to Glecerus and not be prepared? What to Expect from Your New Home World: Rules, Customs, Policies, Expectations, and Information. The title alone should’ve told you that it was important.”
“The manual is ridiculously long.” Sebastian took a step back, putting space between their bodies. “It’s three inches thick, and the wording is incredibly boring.”
Auden could barely believe what he was hearing. “I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened to you if you had ended up on another planet.”
“What are you talking about?”
Auden grabbed ahold of Sebastian’s bicep and pulled him off the dance floor. He marched out of the dining hall and found a secluded corner where they could talk without anyone else overhearing their conversation.
“The information inside the manual wasn’t just for Glecerus. It also provided details of the other planets we have an open trade agreement with. Some of those planets are less civilized than ours.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Noglion is a desert planet. They require their human pets to be naked at all times and wear a collar and leash. In Vupriri, the government matches three males, from different tribes, to one human. Sweshan is a planet covered in water. The inhabitants live beneath the sea. They are fish people. They keep a human for a week and have sex constantly. If the human becomes pregnant, then the pair can become mates. If not, the human is sent to another.”
“Oh God.” Sebastian paled. “I didn’t know.”
“That’s my point,” Auden told him. “We wrote the manual so that there wouldn’t be any surprises. It’s an educational tool that helps the human’s transition. This isn’t Earth. Our way of life is different, as are other planets. Knowing the customs and rules of other worlds is important.”
“Can I have another copy of the manual?”
Auden blew out a heavy breath. “I’ll have one sent over to the dormitory.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he grumbled.
“Are there a lot of humans on those other planets?”
“There are humans all over the universe,” Auden told him. “I’m sorry if I scared you. That wasn’t my intention. Those other planets, the ones we have an open trade agreement with, they treat their human mates with great respect even if their traditions are different.”
“What’s going to happen to me?”
“You’re going to stay in the dormitory with the other human males for the rest of the week. There are scheduled events that all the humans will attend, and during those events, each human will meet a few potential mates. At the end of the week, the other humans will be taken to the treatment center where they will receive their mate’s mark. There will be a competition for you. And the winner, whoever it is, will be your mate.”
“Are you going to be part of the competition?”
“Do you want me to?” Auden asked.
He kept his face carefully blank, refusing to show any emotion. Auden wanted to know Sebastian’s answer, but in truth, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to hear.
After a moment of silence, Sebastian said, “Yes.”
“Well then.” Auden smiled. “I’ll compete.”
“The welcoming dinner…” Sebastian gestured toward the dining hall. “Is this an event to meet potential mates?”
“Yes. There are unmated males in attendance. By now, I’m sure introductions have been made and the dance floor is full.”
“Is Trygg Ja’Dar an unmated male?”
“Yes, he’s a scholar and a teacher. In fact, he’s one of the ma
les who helped to write the manual.”
“What’s the point of us meeting potential mates? I mean, if the highest bid wins at auction, isn’t meeting the unmated males kind of pointless?”
“There is another document that the humans will fill out at the end of the week. The answers given can change the outcome of the auction. Sometimes, but not often, the winning bid isn’t the highest amount offered for the human.”
“Really?”
Auden gave him a pointed look.
“I know, I know.” Sebastian rolled his eyes heavenward. “I should’ve read the damn manual.”
“In a few cases, if a Glecerian male is of a certain rank, he can give a large bid and win the auction before it even begins.”
“Why is that allowed?”
“We have Glecerian Ambassadors who do a lot of traveling. They spend most of their time dealing with dignitaries from other planets. Since their job requires them to stay away from Glecerus for long periods of time, they are given special privileges.”
“And all this information is in the manual?”
“Of course.” Auden nodded. “Everything is outlined in the manual. There are no secrets or hidden agendas. When a human volunteers, they are given all the information.”
“Oh.”
* * * *
Sebastian rubbed his tired eyes. After a full day, he was exhausted, and his head was starting to ache. With each new piece of information, more questions formed inside his mind. He was glad that Auden had agreed to send a copy of the manual to the dormitory. Sebastian knew he didn’t have any more excuses. He needed to read it, and he planned on sharing his newfound knowledge with the other men because he was almost positive that most of them hadn’t read the manual either.
Shaking his head, Sebastian cleared his head. He decided to focus on the present. Auden, a gorgeous Glecerian male, was standing before him. There was no need to waste the rest of the night outside the dining hall while there was a party happening inside.
“Do you want to dance?”
