Mating Spark (Praesidio Book 1)

by Ava Ryant

  “Oh, and why is that?” Principal Devin said condescendingly. Alexa shot him her best evil-villain smile.

  “On Earth we have a saying Principal Devin - sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Suffice it to say, I do not care what you call me, as I’m sure you won’t care what I call you.” She said in a tone full of arrogance. Alexa fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him and say nanana-nana. But it was enough to see his honey-brown Metallics flash in agitation and his face turn flabbergasted. Seriously, the only way to stop a bully was to stand up to one. Ryhs’s chest was shaking as he fought back a laugh, his anger dissipating like smoke and she smiled at him in amusement.

  “Ambassador Alexa, let me introduce our other guests.” Ambassador Lyric jumped in during the awkward silence that followed.

  “This is Principal Loridanna and Principal Wyll.” He said introducing the other Conclave members with a graceful smile.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Alexa said politely, if not truthfully.

  “We are pleased to meet you as well. We have read Ambassador Lyric’s reports and are impressed with your character and credentials.” Principal Devin snorted at that and the other Conclave members shot him a glare.

  “We are pleased that Earth agreed with our Alliance proposal and are eager to work with you.” Principal Wyll said, ignoring Devin.

  “As am I.” Alexa said.

  “I want to know how you two Mated!” Principal Devin interrupted loudly and very rudely.

  “Oh..well...you see, when a male loves a female…” She began and started a hilarious sex speech that all teenagers dreaded receiving from their parents.

  “And the male’s penis or annex as I’m told you call it enters the…” Principal Devin’s face went slack and his Metallics flashed on and off quickly as she expounded on the joys of sex.

  “Then there is well...thrusting until…” She emphasized thrusting with a crude display of her hands mimicking the motion, just to see his face. It was frozen in horror. She bit back a laugh. Seriously it was too easy to mess with him. The others were giving her...shocked looks then they all started laughing. He jumped up and stormed off in a huff.

  “I thought you wanted to know how we mated! Honestly, you asked!” She yelled after him, much to the amusement of the others.

  “I think I am going to like Humans.” Principal Loridanna said in tone filled with amusement. Alexa smiled back. Of course she was, what was there not to like.

  The rest of the introduction went well. Alexa liked the other two Conclave members and they all began to make plans for future meetings and such. Everyone wanted to get the Embassy set up and ready as soon as possible, she in turn wanted to get the Earth trans-gate in the works. Everything was working out...pretty...well. She honestly thought she could do this. Be Ambassador. Anabel, Ryker and Justine would be here soon, Owen was spending time with his Mate’s Ainm and she was...happy. Ryhs was a big part of that happiness. She couldn’t imagine her life without him.

  Afterwards, she convinced Ryhs to go running with her, not that it took much convincing. He honestly didn’t like to be apart from her for even a minute and she liked it when he was with her. But Alexa wanted to explore the neighborhood and she was itching to get outside. So she dragged him upstairs and donned her work-out clothes, ignoring his suggestive perusal. Later, she would take him up on that look. She caused a bit of a stir in her workout gear when the others in the family saw them, his La’Ra’s eyes bugged out as they passed right by her in the hallway and Alexa bit back a grin.

  Ryhs took her around their Ainm’s territory. It was a truly awe-inspiring sight. The homes were a weird mix of Tuscan-villa and Persian palace. And the Laren truly loved nature, plants and trees and flowers were everywhere, interwoven throughout all their homes and walkways. Children played in water fountains and parks and gave her odd looks as they ran passed but she always smiled at them and waved. They usually got over their shock and gave her happy smiles and cheerful waves back. She could feel Ryhs’s joy at that. He liked that she was being accepted and was...being accepting back. She looked over at him and grinned. A little pin-prick stung her neck and she hit it, thinking she got stung by a bug but her head went dizzy and...

  Chapter 23

  Alexa’s head was throbbing. She moaned a little and the pain spread throughout her body violently. Nausea and tremors threatened to have her vomiting and Alexa tried to breathe through the agony. She went to move her hands and legs but...she was strapped down, unable to move at all. That had her eyes popping open and looking around urgently.

  She was on a metal slab in a white, sterile room. Instruments and medical equipment all around. It looked like a research lab. The glaring, bright light had her wincing in pain as it hit her eyes and she took another deep breath to try and ease it. Where was she? What happened? Where was Ryhs and why was she strapped down? None of these questions gave her a good feeling. The last thing she remembered was running through the territory, Ryhs at her side. They had been getting a lot of looks but nothing could bother her. Anabel had been found and was on her way to Sarienne, Ryhs was with her and she was happy. Everything was right in her world.

  Now, well, not so much. Her head was killing her, the pounding relentless. Alexa heard a shuffling sound and saw a Laren come into the room. She didn’t recognize him.

  “Who are you? Where am I? Why am I strapped down?” She asked in a gasping breath. He ignored her as he moved around the room, doing things on the machines and pulling over a hover-stand with weird tools on it.

  “Test Subject A20101 - Human Female. Status - Biologically mated to Laren male without any coercion factors. Condition - Awake after ten hours of unconsciousness, most likely affected from the sedative administered during transport. I have implanted the neuro-block and finished with scans and removals. I am now conducting initial testing.” He spoke aloud in a monotone voice, looking at a datapad as if he was recording this like some lab experiment. What the fuck? Test subject? Neuro-block? Scans and what was removals?

  “What are you saying? What have you done to me?” She yelled, struggling to move her arms and legs in panic.

  “Subject seems to be exhibiting signs of agitation and distress.” He said looking at her with complete detachment. Like a bug. Panic and horror had her straining against her restraints and Alexa reached out with her Tk and screamed. Pain unlike anything she had ever felt before crashed into her skull with a violent tremor. Her Tk reverberated in her head and was pummeling against...something. Her guess would be the neuro-block. She panted in heavy gasps trying to ease the intense pain. As it cleared a bit another thing became blaringly obvious and had her panicking. She couldn’t feel Ryhs. The place in her head or heart or wherever, that normally hosted his presence was absent. Dread and horror pierced through her as she tried to connect but...couldn’t. Please, please, please let this be because of the neuro-block and not...anything else.

  “I believe the Subject tried to use her psychic ability and is experiencing the effects of the neuro-block. Timestamp: Hour 6 and 14 minutes. I will question her now as to its effects.” He said as she continued to gasp in pain. Rage at her captor had her longing to strike out. She could still feel her Tk fighting against something and it was extremely painful. Black spots erupted in her vision and Alexa suspected she was moments away from blacking out. She fought against that with everything in her. She did not want to be at the mercy of this...robotic male if she lost consciousness. Once was already one time too many.

  “Describe the effects you are experiencing in detail please.” The male said as he tapped on his datapad. Alexa glared at him hatefully.

  “Is the pain sharp? Dull? Throbbing? Centralized?” He questioned her when she didn’t answer. No way was she going to chat with this creepy asshole. Did he honestly expect her too? He was holding her hostage and he had done something to her. Something that blocked her bond with Ryhs. That was unforgivable. If...when...she got free...


  “Subject seems unable to answer. Maybe the vocal chords have been damaged or mental facilities have been affected.” He said and moved away as Alexa just focused on taking one breath in and one breath out. It was helping...a little. The pressure building in her head was...excruciating. The Laren male came back and picked up another tool. With dread she watched him as he scanned her...vagina? Was he really scanning her there? Sicko! She struggled against her bonds but her limbs felt like loose noodles. Not good.

  “How often do you and your mate copulate? The scan shows recent sexual activity has been performed in the last revolution. Would you say you enjoy the encounters?” He asked, his voice that same flat tone, it totally freaked her out. She didn’t answer but it seemed he didn’t care, because he went on talking to his datapad as if she wasn’t even there.

  “Test subject A20101 scans show excess sexual encounters. After initial testing I will stimulate arousal to scan again and procure vaginal fluids for testing then bring the subject to climax to determine if has any effect on egg release.” He said and Alexa freaked. Fuck, no!

  Her Tk was thrashing ever harder now with her panic. The pressure in her head was building and building until a loud…pop. A splinter of pain at the base of her skull had her groaning as her Tk blasted out all around her in a concussive wave. Immediately the endless throbbing pain in her head halted and she knew her telekinesis had won over the neuro-block. Thank-fucking-god. Alexa looked to her right and for the first time saw shock and horror on the Laren male’s face. Yeah, that’s right. You should be scared.

  Using her Tk she ripped off her restraints and sat up. The Laren lunged at her but it was almost too easy to lift him up and pin him to the wall. He opened his mouth to yell but she smashed his mouth closed and all that came out was garbled mumbling. Her hand reached up to the sore spot at the base of her head and her fingers came away with a little blood on them. Owww, that hurt. She looked down at the metal slab and saw something sitting there. Alexa reached out to pick it up but stopped about an inch above it, she didn’t want to touch it. Using her Tk she lifted it and brought it close to her eyes. It was a grey-metal color, about the size of her thumb-nail with tiny prongs sticking out on one side. It had her blood on it. This must be the neuro-block and it had been stuck in her head. That little bastard. She looked up at the pinned Laren and glared.

  But then...something wonderful happened. A rush of emotion hit her and had her gasping forward. Her hand coming over her chest as she drew breath in heavy pants. The bond between her and Ryhs snapped into place and she could feel him...his abject terror, his panic and furious rage then...utter relief as he too felt their connection return. It all hit her at once and was...a bit overwhelming. Immediately a soothing balm flooded her and she knew he was sending it to her, feeling her distress. Alexa knew he was already on his way to her, their bond acting as a homing beacon. She had no idea how long it would take since she had no idea where she was. She looked to the Laren male.

  “Where are we?” She demanded. Another garbled mumbling sound and she realized she still had his mouth clamped firmly shut. Alexa released his mouth but kept him pressed against the wall.

  “Release me at once!” He shouted and Alexa crossed her arms and...smirked. She was sure she looked a bit like a evil-villain just then, but this male...he was totally a mad scientist.

  “Where are we?” She asked again but he didn’t answer...oh no he started ranting in the Laren language and she was sure it was not nice. Alexa pulled him forward a few feet and then slammed him back again and again and again. Until he stopped ranting and started to realize...she was not messing around.

  “Where. Are. We?” She said each word with a corresponding thunk against the wall.

  “In an underground Lab.” He finally answered with a pained noise.

  “Who else is here?” She demanded. He paused and she bashed him back again.

  “The security team and the other subjects.” He gasped out. Other subjects? What other subjects?

  “What other subjects?” She gritted out in a feral voice.

  “There are nine others in lab rooms.”

  She looked to the door and went over to it. It slid open, she carried the Laren out, pushing him ahead of her. If security was out there they might hesitate to fire with him in the middle. But no one was out there. It was just a long empty hallway that led to a T-intersection. Only the hallway had other doors and there were vis screens next to those doors and you could look inside without the inhabitant knowing. Since her room had the same feature.

  Across from her she saw a Laren male also strapped down but...something was obviously wrong. He looked...ill. She went over to the door and it slid open, carrying the mad scientist behind her. Alexa went over to the strapped down male, examining him closely and horror filled her. His Metallics were flashing on and off brilliantly every few seconds and his body was...shaking. He looked like he was having a seizure.

  “What’s wrong with him?” She gasped out to the crazy scientist, who she was sure was responsible for this.

  “He is responding to the experimental drug therapy I injected him with yesterday.” He answered in that serial-killer voice and his face looked interested as he examined the seizing male and rage ripped at her insides. This male was a sick, twisted monster. How could he do this? Alexa carefully opened the restraints but the seizing male didn’t appear to notice, she turned him gently and saw that chip embedded into his skull. The neuro-block.

  “What will happen if I remove this?” Alexa asked, hating that she had to ask the sicko for anything but she didn’t want to hurt the male anymore than he already was.

  “His familial bonds will snap back into place.” He answered quickly when she gave him a threatening look and lifted her hand as if to bash him against the wall again. Truly, it was a struggle not to do it anyway but Alexa feared she might need him later. She nodded and using her Tk, gently, very gently, pulled the little chip away from the base of his skull. After experiencing the neuro-block herself, she knew that no one should have to live like that. For a Laren it would be like...a living death. They relied on their familial bonds since birth. How could he do this to his own people? It was anathema to her.

  The Laren male jerked even worse after she removed the chip and she hoped it was because his familial bonds were being reestablished and not because he was getting worse. Alexa held onto him as he shook and prayed she’d done the right thing. Finally, after what felt like endless minutes he calmed and his body relaxed but he didn’t wake. Maybe that was a good thing. She left him and went to the next room. Each was a new kind of horror, there were four females and five males. All had various things wrong with them, the worst was one male at the end, his Metallics had...fallen out. Raw bone exposed and his skin was a sickly white. It was truly...horrifying. There was no other word for it. In each Laren she removed the neuro-block, hoping for the best.

  “How could you do this?” She asked in disgust.

  “Answer me!” Alexa roared out when he said nothing. Her temper racing through her and her Tk snapping on its leash.

  “You would not understand Human. We are searching for a way to coerce a Mating. There are biological factors we are trying to understand and overcome.”

  “Why? I thought the Laren believed in fated mates?”

  “You are a ignorant lunet!” He yelled out in agitation.

  “Our species is dying! Mating’s are fewer and fewer every year. A biological virus introduced over a century ago has contaminated our genetic code and it has resulted in less and less Matings and offspring. And now...now humans are being haled as a potential cure! Your inferior genetics could hold the key to our survival!” He ranted and Alexa’s mind was blown. Was this true? Or was this the mad rantings of a crazy scientist? She snapped his mouth closed with unnecessary force. She didn’t care right now and really didn’t want to hear his voice anymore.

  Alexa exited the last room and looked down the hall, a new Laren male was walking with his he
ad down, examining a data pad and her eyes widened in surprise just as he looked up. He let out a loud shout as she thrust her hand out and blasted him back down the long hall. But it was too late, his shout set off a chain reaction.

  Another voice yelled from down the intersected hallway and she saw five Laren males - cleary hired goons - come running, weapons drawn. They shot at her but she dodged and thrust the Laren scientist in front of her. The electric-pulse shots zapped him and she saw his body shudder and go limp and unconscious.

  Alexa was afraid the goons would go into the patient rooms for cover and knew she couldn’t allow that. Those Laren were too hurt to defend themselves. She needed to drive the security guards back but she could feel her Tk starting to weaken. Her body had been put through the wringer and she didn’t think she could keep up a sustained fight, especially since she needed to protect nine hurt victims. If she was at full strength then no problem, but who knew what those sedatives and the damn neuro-block had done to her. More guards were still coming and she had no idea how many more there were or how long it would be till help came. Alexa glanced around hurriedly and saw the sliding metal doors on the patient rooms and ripped them off, forming a shielded barricade and pushed it down the hallway towards the goons, blocking them from coming any closer.