by Sue Mercury
Possessive Alien Mate
Savage Martians, Book Two
Sue Mercury
Contents
About this book
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
The Savage Martians series
Also by Sue Mercury
About Sue Mercury
Possessive Alien Mate
Copyright © 2020 by Sue Mercury
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All rights reserved
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No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Sue Mercury. All names, brands, characters, and settings are purely from the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to real people, real brands, and real locations is a coincidence. Contact: [email protected]
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Editing by Celeste Jones
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Cover design by Melody Simmons
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Published in the United States of America
Sue Mercury, Sue Lyndon
http://www.suelyndon.com
About this book
The bossy, possessive alien will never let her go…
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Rem is completely taken by the beautiful dark-haired human who steps off the spacecraft from Earth. Tyra. His Tyra. After many years of solitude, he finally has a female to call his own. But he carries a dark secret, one which deeply affects his budding relationship with Tyra. She hasn’t given him any reason not to trust her, but as he tries to outrun the secrets that are haunting him, he finds himself restricting her freedom more and more, always on the premise of keeping her safe. Her furious response stuns him, but he refuses to back down—he’s determined to keep the female as his.
Tyra has spent her whole life looking to the stars and dreaming of leaving Earth. The prospect of becoming an alien mail order bride excites her and she signs up as soon as she reaches the minimum required age of twenty-one. But she’s in for a rude awakening when she meets her betrothed, a huge bossy Martian named Rem. He won’t let her out of his sight…in fact, he won’t let her do much, at all. His passionate kisses drive her wild, but he’s far too overprotective and prone to jealousy for her liking. Has she made a terrible mistake, or will the sexy green alien eventually come to his senses?
Chapter 1
Rem navigated the corridors of the palace, his mood darkening with each step. A growl built in his throat when he reached the golden double doors of the royal receiving chamber. He didn’t know why the king had requested his presence, though he hoped the chamber wasn’t filled with dozens of dignitaries and royal advisors. Rem didn’t enjoy large gatherings and preferred to keep to himself as much as possible, thus the reason for his preemptive dark mood.
The golden doors zipped open upon his approach and he strode into the chamber. To his surprise, he found King Vaath of Mars standing alone near a window that overlooked the capital city of Ressiktron. Perhaps the king had a personal favor to ask of him. Something he wished to keep private. Rem cleared his throat and waited for the royal to acknowledge his arrival.
As King Vaath turned around, the sunlight pouring through the window glowed against his blue horns, accentuating the darker markings upon them. The royal shot Rem a polite smile and crossed the room to greet him with a foot tap. Rem tapped one foot to the king’s in return, trying not to allow his shock over the friendly greeting to show on his face. Marttiaxoxalian royals did not greet acquaintances in such a way, which likely meant the king was starting to view Rem as not only an asset to the palace, but maybe even a friend.
“Thank you for meeting with me today,” the king said.
Rem inclined his head briefly. “I am at your service, King Vaath.”
“It has come to my attention that you have not signed up to receive a human mate, though shipments of the females from Earth arrive on Mars frequently and palace guards are given top priority.” The king leaned back on a table, crossed his arms over his chest, and gazed at Rem expectantly.
“I have no need for a female,” Rem said, biting back another growl. His mood darkened further, until he felt his hands curl into fists at his sides. He wanted to punch something, the sudden desire to cause damage rushing through him in a violent red wave. After taking a deep breath and trying to calm himself, lest he launch himself upon the royal leader, Rem met King Vaath’s eyes.
“Your service during recent events was much appreciated,” the king said, obviously referring to the events that had led to his recent rise to power, which had included banishing Vaath’s traitorous father from the Marttiaxoxalian Empire. “To thank you for helping justice prevail, I would like to offer you a human female.”
“Thank you for the offer, but it is not necessary. As I’ve already said, I have no need of a mate.”
The king’s dark eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you misunderstood, Rem. I am ordering you to take a human female as a mate.”
Rem’s entire body tensed. He visualized smashing a fist into the king’s nose repeatedly, until it shattered and left the royal a disfigured, bloody mess. But he kept his fists at his sides, not daring to raise a hand to the king he had vowed to protect. Furthermore, it was Rem’s duty as a royal guard to obey King Vaath’s every command. But while Rem had taken vows to protect and obey the king, he had not imagined the king would order him, or anyone else, to take a human female as a mate.
“Is my order unclear in any way?” King Vaath asked, annoyance threading his words.
“Not at all, my king,” Rem replied.
“Good. A shipment of human females from Zone 15 is expected tomorrow morning. Your mate will be among them. By this evening, someone from Martian Affairs on Earth will send you a message informing you of your mate’s name.”
Rem nodded. “Thank you, King Vaath.” He fought the urge to fidget in front of the royal, but the need to depart this room was making him unusually restless. A human female. His heart pounded violently in his chest. He was being forced to take a human female as his mate. But how could he refuse an order from the king? Fluxx. He couldn’t.
“It is my pleasure.” The king gestured toward the golden double doors. “You may return to your duties now.”
Rem exited the royal receiving chamber, his footsteps echoing against the walls. Once he stepped out into the corridor, he released a low growl as he looked around, as if hoping to glimpse an enemy intruder he could pummel. But the corridor was empty, and even as Rem headed for the palace’s main exit, the only Marttiaxoxalians he ran into were the Wise Ones, the holy men whose spiritual guidance his people depended upon. He couldn’t very well beat a Wise One to a pulp, so he departed the palace and returned to his post at the gates.
The other guards on duty backed away, as if sensing the fury building within him. Rem tried to focus on his duties and proceeded to check the palace’s security system, as well as the protective measures that were in place around the gates. He stood at the security console, his thoughts in turmoil.
/> Why had King Vaath ordered Rem to take a mate?
Despite the friendly foot tap greeting, Rem did not feel as though the king knew him well. How did the royal justify inserting himself into Rem’s private life?
What private life?
He pushed the stray thought away and stared at the security screens. Memories rushed back, haunting images of the life he had almost embarked upon back on Marttiaxoxalia. Before their females had begun dying off, Rem was betrothed to a beautiful Marttiaxoxalian female called Bethamma. But the female had betrayed him, leaving him for another male.
In the end, Bethamma perished, along with millions of other females, after the Xieandans poisoned the water supplies on Marttiaxoxalia. Thoughts of the female always drew up conflicted feelings within Rem. He had been furious when she broke their betrothal, but even worse than his anger had been the utter humiliation of her refusal to mate with him. And yet, he also harbored sadness in his heart whenever he thought of her. She was gone forever, her life taken by cowardly enemies who had used poison as warfare—a dishonorable method of fighting, in Rem’s opinion.
Many years had passed since the war against the Xieandans. Not long after this war had ended, his people had then gone to war against the humans, in retaliation for the humans’ surprise attack on their first settlement on Mars. Rem had reveled in every battle, fighting with all his might and not caring if he perished in the process. But he had survived the two wars and after the last war had ended, he’d been appointed as a palace guard, one of the highest honors a male in the Brotherhood of Warriors could receive.
Rem was proud to dedicate his life to serving his people, as well as his king, though he still raged at the fact that he’d been ordered—ordered—to take a human female. If King Vaath believed he was rewarding Rem by gifting him with a human woman, he was profoundly mistaken.
Rem had no need for a mate.
After what Bethamma had done to him, how could he possibly trust another female?
He couldn’t, and his heart hardened with each breath. But he would not be made a fool of again, and he resolved that he would keep his mate under control.
“I came to wish you many blessings from the Gods,” came a familiar voice, “upon the occasion of your impending mating union.”
Rem turned as his friend, Jav, approached the security console. Annoyance flared within him, hot and all-consuming, as the tall purple male walked closer. The knowing look in the warrior’s eyes filled Rem with suspicion and he pushed away from the console, coming face to face with his so-called friend.
“You ought to take a mate, Rem. It would be good for you. And taking a human female would help King Vaath’s cause. Many of our males are hesitant to claim a human female as a mate, for they have been too influenced by the lingering propaganda of the anti-Earthers.”
As Jav’s words, spoken only days ago, returned to him, Rem released a deep, menacing growl, though it didn’t even cause Jav to blink. “You,” he said in an accusing tone. “You had something to do with King Vaath’s order. I ought to rip your horns from your skull.”
Jav had the decency to appear guilty, though only for a brief moment. He stood taller and glared at Rem. “I believe we must all fulfill our duties to the empire, as faithfully as possible. Every able-bodied young Marttiaxoxalian male should take a human female and procreate with her, even those of us who are haunted by the past.”
Rem growled again and Jav held up his hands in a gesture of truce.
“You are my friend, Rem, and I am leaving soon.” Jav cleared his throat, and it was at this point Rem noticed the purple male was wearing a backpack. “I wished to ensure your wellbeing before my departure. It may be a while before I’m able to return. Classified mission.”
As a member of the Vash’arr, an elite group of genetically enhanced Marttiaxoxalian warriors, it wasn’t unusual for Jav to disappear from time to time, though he rarely informed Rem or anyone else when he must leave on a secret mission. “Classified mission?” Rem repeated. “Well, lucky for you. I won’t pummel your face until you return, then.”
Jav cracked a smile. “I’d be happy to meet you in the training ring when I get back,” he said, “just promise you’ll save your anger for me. Don’t take your frustrations out on your female.”
Before Rem could respond, a group of Vash’arr approached and one of the warriors called Jav’s name. The ground vibrated and Rem didn’t have to look at the security console to know a sleek Vash’arr ship had just descended to the landing platform that rested outside the palace gates.
Jav nodded at Rem and jogged over to join the group of Vash’arr warriors. Rem opened the gates and watched them exit the palace grounds, his fury growing with every breath. So, this was Jav’s doing. Jav was close to the king and had no doubt called in a favor.
Rem’s mood descended into pitch darkness. All the anger he’d felt toward Bethamma came rushing back, as well as the humiliation and heartbreak. He had foolishly believed he cared for the female and had allowed himself to develop tender feelings for her, only for her to betray him just days before their mating union was to take place.
What would it be like to mate with a human female?
Relations between Mars and Earth remained tense. Would his female view him as the enemy?
He glared at the sun, sitting low in the sky. It was late afternoon by now, and tomorrow would arrive soon enough. Fluxx. He went about his duties, unable to stop conjuring images in his mind of what his female might look like. As he completed a sweep of the palace grounds, he finally began to calm down somewhat. Reality soon started to set in, as well as reason.
Marttiaxoxalian numbers were not as strong as they once were. It was logical to take a human female as a mate, get her with child, and help his people grow their numbers, and many males of his kind had already done so. Not only was it logical, but the practice was encouraged by the king and other dignitaries who wished to strengthen their people. How could they remain strong if their numbers dwindled?
His wrist comm buzzed just as he returned to the security console. He looked down at the message from Martian Affairs, his heart suddenly racing.
Tyra. His female was called Tyra.
When he said her name aloud, in the privacy of the security console where no one would hear, a strange warmth flowed through him.
“Tyra.”
Gods help him, but he liked the way her name rolled off his tongue.
Chapter 2
“We’re finally landing.” Tyra stood at the large viewscreen, her heart racing with excitement as the spacecraft descended to the lush green surface of recently terraformed Mars. Hope swelled in her chest and she soon found herself blinking back tears.
Though she had pinned all her hopes and dreams on this planet, she hadn’t expected to become so emotional upon her arrival. She clasped her shaking hands together and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the doubts that were suddenly racing through her mind.
Please let me find what I’m looking for here.
She cast a quick glance around the women’s quarters, but none of her companions seemed pleased to have reached the planet that would be their new home. In fact, most of the women appeared frightened. To help ease their fears, and perhaps some of her own, she decided to spout some of the benefits of becoming the mail order bride of a Marttiaxoxalian, which humans usually called Martians for short.
“You know, there’s no pollution here,” she said. “The water is clean, the ground is fertile, and the capital city is warm year-round. Plus, there are already several thousand human women living on Mars. We’re going to be joining a Martian-human community and—”
“And live in subservience to our alien overlords,” a tall redhead interrupted.
Tyra frowned at the young woman, but she didn’t feel like getting into an argument, so she returned her gaze to the breathtaking planet below. The spacecraft landed gently upon a platform in the center of Ressiktron, the capital city of Mars.
A sense o
f giddiness spread through her, which helped chase away most of her doubts, at least for the moment. She would soon meet her mate, a Marttiaxoxalian male. She wondered what he would look like and where on Mars he lived. Would her new home be in the city or in a more rural location on this planet?
“Why is she so excited anyway?” someone whispered, just loud enough for Tyra to hear.
“I don’t know. She must be crazy. No one signs up to become a Martian’s bride unless they’re forced to,” another woman replied.
“Maybe she doesn’t have any family left on Earth,” said yet another woman in a sympathetic tone.
Tyra felt her face heat. During the ten-hour journey to Mars, she hadn’t confided in the women her reasons for leaving Earth and she wasn’t about to now. It was none of their business. Besides, this was her fresh start. A chance to be someone else, anyone but the person she had been on Earth.
“I can hear you, you know.” She spun around and placed her hands on her hips, then scanned the small crowd gathered around the viewscreen, though she wasn’t sure which of the women had been whispering about her. “I’m sorry if most of you are here because you feel you’ve been forced, but perhaps you should try to think of this as an adventure, or an opportunity for a better life.”
