by Sue Lyndon
At the thought of an enclosed space, he shuddered and tried not to think of the asteroid mining operation. Living on a crowded mining ship for years had left him greatly appreciative of large, open spaces. He reminded himself that his time as a miner was finally over. Now he could move on to the second stage of his life, claim his mate, start a family, and contribute to the welfare of his people by working in a defense laboratory on the other side of the city.
He’d recently accepted a position working on a planetary defense system. Tomorrow was his first day on the job and he hoped it proved a challenge so as to distract him from constantly thinking of Nova. Perhaps his new job would help the next ten days pass quickly. He could only hope.
He wondered more and more about her as the evening progressed, unable to chase thoughts of this human female called Nova from his mind. He kept trying to conjure images of what she might look like and became frustrated because he didn’t even know her hair or eye color. Tarkkuan-human matches were randomly paired and detailed information was never exchanged. Though she would be told his name, she would have no idea what he looked like either. Still, he kept thinking about her and trying to guess whether she had brown eyes or blue eyes, golden hair or dark locks.
And what about family? Did she have a family on Earth? This sudden thought struck him, leaving him slightly conflicted. He still mourned the loss of his parents and younger brother, all of whom had died in a transport accident shortly before he’d joined the mining mission.
Grief visited him as he remembered his family. His mother had been one of the few Tarkkuan females to survive the Dying Days as a small child. She’d always been doting and kind to Zylonn, much more so than he had deserved growing up. His father had been strict and quite hard on him at times, but now that Zylonn was older he respected him for it. And his younger brother, Ronnas, had been his constant companion for so many years. He missed them and would give anything to bring them back. But he couldn’t. They were long gone, buried in the catacombs beneath the Hashronn Mountains.
Part of him hoped Nova had a family, but another part of him hoped she wasn’t leaving anyone important behind. If she was leaving a great number of loved ones on Earth, she would probably be all the more reluctant about traveling to Tarkkua where she would spend the rest of her life.
A sinking feeling came over him, because Nova’s losses would be his gain. He had no family left and felt quite alone most of the time. Having a wife and starting a family would change all that and he looked forward to it more than he had originally expected.
He had to remind himself that he’d incurred losses too. He’d lost friends in mining accidents, including his partner, all for the chance at one day having a human bride. If his people didn’t mine enough materials from the asteroid belt for the TEC600 reactors the humans used to power their dome-cities, the Tarkkuans wouldn’t receive yearly shipments of human females from Earth and their population would drastically decline. A reduced population would leave them weakened and vulnerable to other alien races. It was a necessary arrangement and he hoped Nova was appreciative of the help his people provided hers.
He thought again of the tense Tarkkuan-human couple he’d passed in the streets and prayed Nova did not resent him or blame him for tearing her away from Earth. He wasn’t sorry for it. He needed a mate. And he’d earned her. Thank the Gods he’d finally mined his quota of materials from the asteroid belt and had been able to return to his home planet.
Standing at the window that overlooked the city, he stared in the direction of the landing platform from which he’d just walked. For the briefest moment, he thought he saw a shadow in the shape of a man standing near a row of bushes below his house, but when he looked down, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. He shook his head to clear his mind and focused on the landscape beyond the city.
The setting sun dipped below the mountains, bathing the horizon in a thousand shades of orange and gold. He loved this house for its spectacular views and extra privacy.
Would Nova like it?
He imagined her standing at the window, wearing nothing but a bedsheet which she had draped around her shoulders after a long session of mating, and his cock went rock hard. Soon. He would have his female—his human bride—soon.
He would claim her, tame her, and make her his in every possible way.
Chapter 3
The twin moons rested high in the star-encrusted sky, casting an ethereal white glow over the mountainous landscape of Tarkkua. Nighttime insects hummed and screeched against the backdrop of a breeze whistling through the trees. After weeks spent aboard the relatively quiet interstellar alien ship, the Zenallia, the swell of noise overwhelmed Nova. She paused on the walkway that led away from the landing platform, taking in her new surroundings. Her heart skittered and flutters climbed in her stomach as reality began to set in.
This strange planet was to be her home. For the rest of her life. She had known, ever since she was a small child, that she would journey here shortly after her twentieth birthday, but despite an entire lifetime of preparation, she had never truly felt ready to face the future that had been chosen for her.
Someone behind her cleared their throat, prompting Nova to continue down the sloping stone path to a set of stairs that descended to the capital city. Clutching her suitcase, she caught up with the line of women in front of her. Including Nova, three hundred and fifty-two women, one from each dome-city on Earth, walked in silence through the night, flanked by over three dozen burly Tarkkuan guards.
Setting foot on this world and finally breathing in its humid but fragrant air left Nova with a stark sense of finality, but the beauty of this planet buoyed her spirits somewhat. If the world was this breathtaking during the nighttime hours, she supposed it would be more magnificent by the light of day.
You’re going on an adventure, Maggie had said six weeks ago. I will miss you, terribly so, but you must not dwell on the past. You must focus on your new life and all the joy that comes with marriage and starting a family.
Nova thought back on her dear friend’s comforting words and hoped she was able to at least find some measure of happiness on this world. Perhaps her chosen mate, Zylonn, would not be as rough mannered as most Tarkkuans. She could only pray. Swallowing hard, she entered the alien city with the rest of the human women. There were no streetlamps, but the moons, along with the brilliantly shining stars, provided more than adequate lighting. The houses were large with huge arching doorways, and vines blooming with tiny, glimmering blue flowers covered the sides of many structures. Though the streets were cleared of trees, the spaces between houses and other buildings remained thick with vegetation.
The din of the nighttime insects buzzed as loud inside the city as near the landing platform, making it difficult for Nova to sort out her thoughts. She gazed at each house they passed, wondering if she would end up calling Ashorr her permanent home. Or did her intended mate live in another city entirely? It was possible he did and they would travel there after the mass nuptial ceremony.
Her breath caught in her chest, and her stomach did a little flip. She also couldn’t help but ponder what Zylonn would be like. That he would be tall, muscular, and dark-haired with blue skin was a given, as most Tarkkuan males looked similar in appearance, but would he be kind and patient?
Though she had studied this world her whole life, even learning the native language, she felt a stab of self-consciousness knowing she wouldn’t likely acclimate to the Tarkkuan way of life overnight. Their culture was vastly different from Earth’s. Females on Tarkkua didn’t work outside the home, and to even walk out the front door, whether on an errand or to visit a friend, she would need to obtain permission from her mate. The very idea of requesting permission for such a simple thing already riled her.
In her dome-city back on Earth, Nova had had much freedom. She’d gone wherever she pleased, no matter the time of day, without worry. Of course, dome-cities were safe—free from crime and any dangerous predators. But here on
Tarkkua, there wasn’t a dome to keep the scary things out. This world was wide open, intimidating, and there were rules and customs to adhere to that would take some getting used to.
The guards directed the women to turn left, down a wide street lined with more houses and trees, until they came to a massive building decorated with glowing purple lanterns. Music spilled out from within. It was tradition that all the Earth women were married to their new mates immediately upon arrival, and with her pulse jumping, Nova realized this was the venue for the ceremony.
Her mouth went dry and she placed her suitcase down outside the doors, as directed by the guards, and tried to will her nerves to calm. But it was no use. In mere moments, she would meet Zylonn, and not long after making his acquaintance, she would become his wife. His mate. She gulped and exchanged a worried look with Meris, the petite redhead she’d shared her quarters with during the last six weeks as they journeyed through the stars.
Despite her obvious anxiety, Meris flashed Nova a smile. “Come on, then. We mustn’t keep our new husbands waiting.”
“Right,” Nova said, rolling her eyes. “Somebody has to pay for all the energy it takes to run Earth’s booming dome-cities. Too bad the Tarkkuans won’t accept universal credits in exchange for their TEC600 reactors. We could still be on Earth, with our families. But instead, here we are. Bought and paid for by a race of barbarians.”
“Females are worth more than universal credits,” said a tall alien, in perfect English, as he emerged from the shadows.
Meris gasped and hurried into the building, but Nova froze and stared at the large Tarkkuan who was walking closer and closer. He came to stand directly in front of her and gave her a stern look of disapproval, making her instantly regret her words.
What had she been thinking, speaking so freely about her feelings regarding the arrangement Earth’s dome-cities had with the Tarkkuans? One of the first things she’d learned in school was that speaking against the trade agreement in any way was strictly forbidden. She hoped this alien didn’t seek out Zylonn and inform him of her lapse in judgment.
He leaned down, until his face was level with hers. “I suggest you keep your opinion on the Earth–Tarkkua trade agreement to yourself, little human, unless you want to endure the strap on your wedding night. If I heard my mate speaking as you just did, I would punish her severely for disrespect. If not for the Tarkkuans’ assistance, your dome-cities on Earth would have perished long ago.”
Taken aback by his great size, she studied him for a moment. God, he was huge and muscular—intimidatingly so. Having glimpsed plenty of Tarkkuans before, when they came to visit her dome-city on official business, she had not expected to see an alien this large here in Ashorr, and she felt a stab of pity for whichever human woman found herself mated to this male. He was easily more than two heads taller than her, and aside from his size, this particular Tarkkuan seemed overly stern.
An involuntary tingle raced across her bottom at the thought of enduring a punishment from the no-nonsense male who was glaring down at her. Despite her fear, her face heated and a sudden ache throbbed between her thighs. She quickly lowered her head, hoping he did not notice her blushing.
What was wrong with her? How could she experience such a visceral reaction in the presence of one of these savages? She lifted her chin, reminding herself of why she was on Tarkkua in the first place. Not of her own free will, that was for certain.
She resented having to leave her home and spend the rest of her life here, and she’d promised herself she wouldn’t become attracted to her mate, or worse—develop tender feelings for him. But the odd tremors racing through her left her shaken, and she tried to push her sudden uncertainties away.
She would do her duty and marry the Tarkkuan that she’d been assigned to, but she would not develop tender feelings of any sort for her mate. Her marriage to Zylonn was a business arrangement and nothing more. Hopefully her mate wouldn’t stare at her with the same feral intensity as this alien, and hopefully he wouldn’t be as large and strict, either. Or as ruggedly handsome, she thought, fighting back another flush as she helplessly admired the way the lantern light danced over his blue skin.
“Excuse me,” she said, trying to walk around him. “I must get inside. My mate will be waiting.” The rest of the women were inside the building now, as were all the guards, leaving Nova alone with this fierce-looking alien. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
The Tarkkuan stepped aside, though he held her gaze the entire time. As she walked by him and entered the building, Nova felt his eyes hot upon her back. But at least she’d managed to get past him, and hopefully he wouldn’t tell her new husband what she’d done.
With a sigh, she searched for the official crest of her dome-city, New Leesburg, painted on the floor. It wasn’t difficult to locate, as the cities were placed in alphabetical order, and she rushed to stand at the base of the painting that depicted a sun rising over a lush green valley. She tried to shake off the pang of homesickness that resonated in her chest.
This is home now. Stop thinking of Earth.
Glancing around, she found it curious that a Tarkkuan male already stood next to each woman, but her mate hadn’t yet approached her dome-city’s crest. She waited, alone, as the crowd around her murmured, and on a dais high above the gathering, five males in red robes stared down. From her studies of this culture, Nova knew they were the priests that would perform the wedding ceremony. Her gaze traveled higher to a balcony section where dozens of Tarkkuan males and females were seated, the latter being a mix of full humans and half-bloods. Some of the males were probably half-bloods too, but she’d heard such men usually didn’t differ in appearance from a full-blooded Tarquan. The trade agreement had been in effect long enough for the children born of the first Tarkkuan–human matches to have reached adulthood already. The number of males, though, vastly exceeded the number of females.
Where was her mate? Had Zylonn changed his mind? Or was he simply running late?
Her mind spun as she considered all the possibilities for his absence, but before she could worry herself any further, a tall male came to stand beside her. His muscular blue arm brushed against hers, and she glanced up, ready to greet him, but only a gasp escaped her lips.
Oh, God. It was the same Tarkkuan who’d scolded her outside.
“Zylonn?”
“Hello, Nova.”
“You-you’re my mate?”
“Yes. I am. You would do well to keep that in mind before you make any more brazen comments about the arrangement my people have with yours.”
Before she could think of a response, the music ceased playing and the crowd quieted. The wedding ceremony was about to begin.
Chapter 4
Zylonn inhaled the sweet, feminine scent of his new mate, Nova. She was a small creature, but quite pleasing to the eye. In fact, he found her to be the loveliest female he’d ever seen, with luminous blue eyes and wavy golden hair that swept down past her shoulders. His pulse raced and his blood heated as he stood beside her, watching as she trembled and stared at the floor while the priests bestowed a blessing on the mass of gathered couples.
When he’d overheard Nova’s rude remarks outside, he hadn’t known she was his mate, as the only thing he’d known of his mate beforehand was her dome-city and her name. However, when he’d overheard her rude comments about his people, he’d been enraged. She ought to be grateful his people were helping hers survive.
Outside of the climate-controlled dome-cities, Earth was a dangerously hot barren wasteland. Without the Tarkkuan’s technology, humans might have had to abandon their planet entirely, and millions, if not billions, of souls would have perished. All that the Tarkkuans asked for in exchange for the use of their TEC600 reactors and a continuous supply of reactor material was the gift of a female from each dome-city every year.
The sound of a horn being blown by the oldest priest indicated the ceremony was over, and all the human females had officially become the property o
f their Tarkkuan mates. Eager to escape the crowd, Zylonn grabbed Nova’s arm and guided her outside into the humid night air.
“Where are your belongings, little human?”
She glanced at him, wide-eyed, before nodding at a small black suitcase with a purple ribbon tied to the zipper. He released her arm only long enough to pick up her luggage, then continued leading her away from the building.
He couldn’t wait to get her home, alone, this little human female who was now all his.
Of course, there was the matter of her disrespect to address first. He couldn’t ignore her earlier comments, nor the irritated tone in which she’d spoken them. He couldn’t risk her speaking in such a rude manner again, particularly in public.
If others heard her, it might cause discord among the human females. His people would not tolerate any form of rebellion from their otherworldly mates, thus any females who spoke out against the arranged marriages must always be dealt with firmly.
Judging by her rapid breaths and her incessant shaking, Nova likely realized he hadn’t forgotten about their earlier conversation. She knew she was in trouble.
They continued walking through the streets in silence, the rest of the crowd already dispersed. The breeze picked up, blowing Nova’s golden locks about her shoulders, and bringing the sweet scent of her directly to his nostrils.
Gods, she smelled like the rare lunar flowers that bloomed on the Gerrona Mountains. His gaze swept over her luscious curves, and he appreciated that she’d worn a form-fitting dress that hugged her in all the right places. She had ripe, full breasts, and though she was a slender girl, her hips and bottom flared out nicely. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her, couldn’t wait to strip her clothes off and claim her as his.
