by Sue Mercury
What kind of home had she lived in? Had she lived in a safe location? Had she ever gone hungry?
With a sinking heart, he recalled her reaction to the simple midday meal he’d served her and how her face had lit up as he carried it into the sitting room. Her eyes had gone wide and she’d appeared in awe of the meal, as if she had never seen anything like it before. Perhaps she hadn’t.
She would never go hungry again, he vowed, nor would she go without proper clothing and shoes. As her mate, it was his duty to take care of her needs and provide for her, and he would gladly do so. Though he felt honor-bound to care for his female, he also truly wished to see Tyra happy, especially considering that he was starting to suspect she’d had good reasons for leaving Earth.
As the sun shifted higher in the sky and better illuminated the room, he caught sight of three tall stacks of books resting upon the bedside table that he hadn’t noticed earlier. He moved closer to the books and picked one up. They must be written in English, for he couldn’t read the titles or the words within them. His home library contained thousands of books written in the Marttiaxoxalian tongue, as well as some in Galactic Common, but he didn’t own any books penned in any of the Earth languages. So, this was why her suitcase had been so heavy.
An idea began to form as he stared at his mate, still sleeping peacefully by the window, her long dark tresses ruffling in the breeze.
She needed new clothing and shoes, as well as undergarments. That meant a trip to the shopping district in Ressiktron. This area of the capital city contained over a dozen bookstores, some of which offered books written in various Earth tongues, catering to the human females who now called Mars home. He smiled to himself when he imagined her reaction to the bookstores and clothing shops. He had a feeling she would enjoy such an excursion deeper into the capital city.
She stirred in her sleep, releasing a soft sigh that floated away on the breeze. He approached her and carefully lifted her in his arms. If it was just after midnight in Zone 15, she would probably want to sleep for a bit longer and might be more comfortable in bed. He placed her upon his large bed and tucked the blanket around her again. After sitting on the bed beside her, he studied her features and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the softness of her cheek.
He liked the sight of her in his bed.
Gods, she was beautiful, and she was all his.
Chapter 8
The bus swayed as it rounded a turn. Tyra shivered and peered at the sunrise. Her stomach flipped. Uncle Sebastian would be awake by now.
Had he discovered her missing yet?
She repressed a shudder as she considered his reaction, but she also tried to convince herself that all would be well. She was safe now, finally out of his reach.
And soon, she wouldn’t even be on Earth anymore.
But the bus came to a sudden stop, and she braced her hands on the seat in front of her. Once she recovered her senses, she peered out the window. This wasn’t a bus stop and they weren’t even passing through a town at the moment, but traveling in between cities out in the wide-open countryside.
Why had the bus stopped?
An uneasy feeling spread through her when the bus driver opened the door. Tyra glanced at the other women aboard the bus, all of them mail order brides like her, but none of them appeared concerned. They were all reading, sleeping, or quietly conversing with their seatmates.
Why didn’t anyone else think this was strange?
Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps as someone approached the bus, though she couldn’t see the person as she scanned the roadside. When she returned her attention to the front of the bus, horror filled her as she made eye contact with her uncle, who was now standing at the front of the aisle. Fury glinted in the depths of his dark eyes and she felt abruptly cold, chilled to the bone.
As he approached her, she tried to will herself to move, to bolt out of her seat and take the emergency exit in the back, but she couldn’t make her legs work. She couldn’t even stand up.
He approached her, a menacing smile upon his face. Once he reached her, he offered her his hand, nodding for her to take it. She managed to shake her head, but even that brief movement left her exhausted.
“Happy Birthday, niece.” His grin widened, revealing several gold-capped teeth.
Panic gripped her. It was indeed her birthday—her twenty-first, to be precise. The birthday she’d been simultaneously dreading and looking forward to for years.
It signaled the age at which her uncle’s nefarious scheme for her would come to fruition, but it also heralded the age at which she could legally apply to become a Martian’s bride.
It was the magic age that would allow her to leave forever.
But now he was here and her plan was ruined. Tears burned in her eyes but she blinked rapidly, not wishing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her tears. Even when she’d been a little girl, he had usually laughed at her or belittled her whenever she cried.
“Take my hand. You’re coming with me.” His jaw tightened.
“No, Uncle. I’m no-not going an-anywhere with you.”
“You don’t have a choice.” He sneered. “The auction takes place this evening and the event has already sold out.”
She shook her head again and pushed herself against the window. This couldn’t be happening. She had been so careful. Except, maybe she hadn’t. She’d revealed to her friends on more than one occasion that she planned to apply to become a mail order bride.
Had one of her friends betrayed her?
This thought caused a tear to cascade down her cheek. Before she could wipe it away, her uncle chuckled and his eyes lit up with glee.
There was something seriously wrong with him, for him to enjoy the suffering of others. She had always thought so, had even hinted of her worries to her aunt on numerous occasions, only for her aunt to plaster a smile on her face and dismiss her worries. Aunt Tammy always dismissed Tyra’s worries and turned a back on her husband’s reprehensible dealings. The only time Tyra ever saw a glint of emotion in the older woman’s eyes was when she was faced with evidence of Uncle Sebastian’s cheating—namely, when he came home late reeking of perfume.
A haze began to hover around Tyra. She felt as if she were growing weaker, as if she were about to fall asleep. She still couldn’t force herself to stand up. Her uncle hovered above her, his head now thrown back as he laughed at her. When he finally quieted, he sat next to her and roughly grabbed her thigh, digging his fingers deep into her flesh. She winced in pain and tried to escape his hold, only for him to grip her more harshly. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes.
“You’re good for one thing only, niece, and that’s the prize between your legs.” He flashed her another broad smile. “You knew this day would come. I’ve raised you since your daddy passed away, took you under my roof and kept you fed and clothed. Times are tough, and this is what you owe me, girl.”
“No-no,” she stammered. “No, I don’t owe you anything. I-I worked every day. I waitressed in your bar without pay and gave you all my tips, and I also—”
She heard the slap before she felt it. She lowered her head and touched her stinging cheek, unable to help another tear from falling. It wasn’t the first time he’d struck her, but it still came as a surprise.
“I won’t do it!” she screeched as Uncle Sebastian proceeded to drag her off the bus. “I won’t do it! I won’t do it! I won’t do it! No!”
Somehow, she managed to push him down and she started running, though after a few seconds she could no longer find any traction upon the ground. She frantically treaded air as her uncle’s footsteps came closer.
* * *
“Tyra, my sweet mate. Tyra.”
She heard a familiar voice in the background, but try as she might she couldn’t place it. She drifted in a sea of confusion and pain, tossing and turning and trying to get away from the monster she was certain was at her heels. She needed to run faster. She needed to get away.
“Tyr
a,” the voice came louder. “Tyra, you’re dreaming. Wake up.”
A pair of strong hands shook her and suddenly her eyes sprang open.
For a moment, she stared at the concerned looking face of a green Martian, still uncertain of her surroundings and what was happening to her. A second later, her memories returned to her and relief filled her to overflowing.
It was only a dream. A nightmare.
Thank God.
Her uncle hadn’t actually tracked her down and prevented her from leaving Earth. She was currently on Mars, lying in bed next to Rem, her new mate. A shuddering breath left her, and then her eyes started burning and she couldn’t hold back any longer.
She burst into tears and tried to cover her face, but Rem lifted her onto his lap and cradled her face in his hands, wiping at her tears with his thumbs as he continued gazing upon her with worry.
“Tyra? What is wrong?”
Oh God. She couldn’t believe she was crying in front of Rem. But she couldn’t seem to stop the flood of emotions that were taking over her mental processes. She’d been so certain her uncle was about to drag her to the secret room in the back of his seedy bar and force her to stand on stage. She’d been certain she was about to be sold to the highest bidder, forced to surrender her virginity to a stranger.
Thank God her application to become a Martian’s bride had been accepted. Thank God the Martian Affairs building in Bismarck had had a bus waiting to take prospective brides to Zone 15’s departure site in Fargo, and that in real life the bus hadn’t stopped in the middle of the countryside to allow her uncle to drag her away.
“It was just a bad dream,” she finally said, praying he didn’t ask for details.
In all honesty, it was the most frightening dream she had ever had. She didn’t want to have to describe it to Rem. Besides, what would he think of her if he knew her own uncle had planned to auction her virginity on her twenty-first birthday? That he’d been planning it and advertising the event for years as a way to drum up business in his bar? Most of the residents of Bismarck thought she was trash just because she’d worked at the seedy bar owned by her disreputable uncle. She didn’t want Rem thinking badly of her too.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to his chest. He rested his chin atop her head and stroked her hair. When he began murmuring softly to her in his native tongue, she felt herself calming further as she settled deeper into his embrace.
Maybe Rem’s jealousy wasn’t such a bad thing. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about him putting her on display to other men. He would keep her for himself.
He would keep her safe.
She only hoped she didn’t end up feeling as trapped on Mars as she’d felt on Earth. Was the freedom to be her own person too much to ask for?
Back in Bismarck, there weren’t many options for women. Most of the factories in town employed only men and other jobs were scarce. Most women in Bismarck got married at a young age and depended solely upon their husbands for support. While she’d watched many of her friends and acquaintances get married, often to men who didn’t treat them with very much kindness or respect, she had been making secret plans to leave.
And, over the years, she had grown more and more excited about the idea of traveling to another planet, especially one as beautiful as this one. Every time she gazed at the sky, she had imagined the brand-new life that was waiting for her on Mars.
She had spent her free time in the library, looking up images of the terraformed planet and dreaming of the day she would finally set foot on another world. The past few years had indeed been a mix of dread and excitement for her, though she had often strived to focus on the latter, telling herself that she would eventually find the happiness and the adventure she was seeking.
“Tell me of your dream,” Rem said quietly.
Her spirits sank. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she also didn’t wish to tell the truth. After a long moment, she opted to be as honest as possible without revealing too much. She didn’t want him asking questions about her uncle. “I-I dreamt I was back in Zone 15 and a monster was trying to drag me off a bus.”
He pulled back slightly to stare into her eyes. His gaze was filled with so much warmth that her eyes began to burn again. She was thankful Rem had a tender, compassionate side. He was comforting her and he seemed to genuinely care about her well-being in this moment. Hope rose within her.
The women aboard the spacecraft had been wrong. Marttiaxoxalians weren’t unfeeling brutes. At least this one wasn’t.
“I’m sorry you had a nightmare, my sweet mate,” he said in a gentle tone. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes, I am.” She felt a flush rising in her cheeks. She was starting to feel embarrassed by what had happened. But perhaps her nightmare had occurred for a reason. This interaction they were sharing felt special and intimate. Whether he intended it or not, Rem was revealing his true character to her right now, the Marttiaxoxalian behind the mask.
She glanced out the window to find the sky was dimming. Had she really slept for most of the day? She straightened in Rem’s arms and gave him an apologetic look.
“I’m so sorry I slept all day.” Her flush deepened. “I-I know you meant for us to consummate our union earlier.”
“We will consummate our mating union tomorrow,” he said. “For now, I want you to rest and recuperate from the ordeal of your nightmare.” He looked her over and wiped his thumbs over the tear tracks on her cheeks once more, even though she hadn’t released any fresh tears since he’d last brushed them away.
A shock of orange filtering through the trees caught her attention. The sunset had grown even more magnificent than when she’d looked outside but seconds ago. She stared at the breathtaking sight, spellbound by her first sunset on this planet.
Rem wrapped the blanket more tightly around her and hugged her to his chest. Her eyes soon grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep once again.
This time, the monsters didn’t touch her.
Chapter 9
Rem found he couldn’t bear to leave Tyra alone, even if she was sound asleep. The description of her nightmare troubled him and reinforced his belief that she’d had a good reason to leave Earth.
A reason she hadn’t yet divulged to him.
He was starting to suspect something more sinister than poverty and lack of food and other resources. A monster had been tormenting her, and he very much wanted to know who this monster was.
Marttiaxoxalians dreamed just as humans did, and his people believed dreams were a reflection of the waking life. Dreams held symbolism and private meaning for each individual. He always paid attention to his dreams.
Before King Vaath had ordered Rem to take a human mate, Rem had dreamed he was standing alone on a dock, watching the ocean water ripple as he awaited the arrival of a ship. In his dream, he hadn’t known who he was waiting for, he simply knew he must wait until the ship arrived, as someone important to him was aboard.
But just as the ship had appeared on the horizon, the sky darkened and a storm swept in. He had awoken just as the thunder and lightning intensified and the waves lashed violently at the ship.
He peered down at Tyra. Was a storm coming?
Not for the first time since he’d met her, the need to protect her surged through him. He vowed to keep her safe, always, and he was now starting to reconsider his plans to take her into the shopping district. Perhaps they ought to remain closer to home and the palace until his dreams provided more clarity.
By the time Tyra awoke, it was nearly midnight. She blinked up at him and looked around, appearing a bit confused. The sound of nocturnal animals and insects echoed in the darkness outside, and she peered toward the window and then returned her gaze to him.
“I didn’t mean to sleep for so long. I’m sorry.”
“You need not apologize.”
“Have you been to sleep yet?” she asked.
“Not yet, but I wil
l be fine. We’ll both try to stay up all night and as late as we can tomorrow. Hopefully that will help you adjust to the time difference and a new sleep schedule.”
She nodded and her attention was soon drawn outside again. He grasped her hand as he rose to his feet. The sound of the nighttime insects seemed to grow louder as he stared down at her, admiring the pretty sight of his mate with her disheveled hair and her sleep-clouded eyes.
“Would you like to see the stars?” he asked. “And the moons?”
Her mouth dropped open. “The-the moons? Oh, that’s right. Mars has two moons. Ph-Phobos and Deimos,” she said carefully, as if trying hard to recall the names. “I’d almost forgotten.”
“The night air is cool,” he said. “Let’s get you dressed in some warmer clothing before we venture out on the balcony.”
He grasped her hand and guided her to his closet. He knew she had some of her own clothing in the top dresser drawer, but he didn’t want to see her wearing the tattered clothing she’d packed away. He would dress her in something from his own closet for now.
He opened the door and guided her into the small room that contained his clothing. There were several empty racks, which he hoped to soon fill with new gowns in the Marttiaxoxalian fashion just for Tyra. He searched for a jacket he’d worn long ago when his father had taken him ice fishing on the northernmost continent of his home planet. Once he found it, he turned and gestured for Tyra to turn around so he might help her into the garment.
“I-I brought a jacket of my own,” she said, “as well as some sweaters and some pants.”
“I want you to wear this,” he said, his voice coming out a bit sharp. He offered her a smile to soothe any offence he’d just caused her with the bite of his tongue. He wasn’t used to his orders being challenged, but he reminded himself he wasn’t just speaking to a female, but he was conversing with his female. The mate he wished to keep safe. The human his dreams had apparently warned him about, though at the time he hadn’t realized the meaning of the ship attempting to sail into the bay during a fierce storm.
