by L. A. Casey
I frowned. “Can they come see me in the palace then?”
“Of course.”
“Perfect,” I chirped. “Someone will escort you to the palace tomorrow once you’ve had the day to settle in and a good night’s rest.”
“You will see them this evening,” Surkah commented. “It is morning time, not yet midday, and we have a welcoming feast for all humans before dusk. All human females are being brought to their homesteads, so they become familiar with their new homesteads and get some rest before being brought back to the city for the great feast in seven or so hours.”
I looked at the twins. “Are you okay with all that?”
They nodded, and this prompted Alri and Avri to step forward.
“If you join us, we will bring you to your homestead. A ground vehicle is being brought for our use.”
Though they were nervous, Envi took Arli’s offered arm with a timid smile while Echo was content to simply walk by Avri’s side. We all watched them leave in silence, but I jumped when Surkah squealed.
“They will mate those females. I would bet all my rubies on it.”
Rubies?
Nero shook his head, and to Kol, he said, “You have started a mating effect, cousin.”
Kol grinned. “Shall we find you a nice female to—”
“No,” Nero cut Kol off hastily. “No, thank you. I am enjoying being a single male.”
Kol snickered, and absentmindedly put an arm around me when I came to his side. Though I was enjoying the playful family bickering, my attention drifted back to the grass. It was so shiny, so green, and so freaking pretty.
“If you like the grass so much, you will enjoy flowers even more,” Surkah said. “They come in all shapes, sizes, and colours.”
I hummed. “I can’t wait to see them all.”
“Would you like a garden?” Kol asked me, his thumb brushing over my shoulder. “That way you can plant and grow whatever you wish.”
My breath caught. “I can have my own garden?”
“You can have whatever you want, my princess,” Kol said, stroking his hand over my shoulder.
“Yes, please.” I beamed.
“It is settled.” Kol nodded. “We can pick a spot once you’re settled into our wing of the palace.”
That surprised me.
“We have a whole wing?” I asked.
Kol snorted. “We all have our own wing. It is made for our future families.”
“Wow,” I murmured. “How big is the palace?”
“Three times bigger than the Ebony.”
I gasped. “Holy shit.”
Everyone laughed, and before we could speak further, another group of women got our attention. Only this time, it was a Maji female who got my attention as she stalked towards another Ebony ramp to the right where some humans were still exiting. I watched with wide eyes as the tall female with jet black waist-length hair picked up what appeared to be a blue rock, and she lobbed it at a male Maji who was laughing with a redheaded human and helping her down the steps at the end of the ramp. The blue rock hit the male in the back of the head, and he spun around almost instantly. I gasped when I saw the male’s face. It was Dash, Vorah’s friend, and he looked pissed until he saw the Maji who threw the rock at him.
“My Isa—”
“Don’t you dare call me ‘your’ Isa,” the female bellowed, her growl loud and menacing. “I saw you with… with… it.”
Dash continued to carefully approach her with his hands raised in surrender, and I could have sworn he wasn’t even blinking as he kept his eyes trained on her.
“I was only talking with the human female, that is all—”
“Liar!” Isa shouted.
I felt sorry for her when I saw she was now crying. Many of the female Maji came to her side, and nearly all of them hissed at Dash who looked distraught himself. He came to a stop when it was obvious the other females weren’t going to let him get close to her. If I had to put credits on it, I’d say he knew they’d attack him if he moved any closer.
“What is going on?”
I didn’t have to look to know it was Mikoh who spoke. He rounded Nero and stepped in front of Surkah in a defensive stance.
“Brother,” Isa cried and reached for him, her arms fully extended.
Mikoh was lightning quick as he rushed to Isa’s side.
“What has happened?” Mikoh asked Isa, placing his hands on her shoulders and scanning her from head to toe for signs of injury.
“It’s Dash,” Isa cried, latching onto Mikoh’s arms. “He was with a human female. Laughing and smiling, he had his hand in hers. I saw it.”
I heard a terrifying growl come from Mikoh, and it sent the nearby female Maji scattering.
“I was helping her off the craft, Commander,” Dash explained with his hands still raised in front of his chest. “The Shipmaster ordered us to be kind to the humans. I was just following orders. I would never dishonour your sister. I swear on my honour.”
I looked at Mikoh’s sister who was behind her brother with her face pressed between his shoulder blades as if she was hiding from Dash’s view and finding comfort from her brother at the same time.
“Did you tell her so?” Mikoh asked Dash as he used one arm to reach behind him and pat Isa’s back.
Dash lowered his hands when he realised Mikoh was no longer a threat.
“She didn’t give me the chance.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “She threw a rock piece at my head.”
My lips twitched when Mikoh laughed.
“Act first, ask questions later. I fear I taught her that.”
“I am not surprised.” Dash grinned.
Mikoh turned and placed his hands on his sister’s shoulders once more. Isa wasn’t as tall as Surkah was, so the top of her head only came to Mikoh’s shoulders.
“I believe him,” he said, softly.
Isa sniffled. “Of course, you do. He is in your unit.”
Mikoh clicked his tongue. “You’re my darling sister, Isa, and there is next to nothing I would not do for you, but harming your intended for following orders from our prince will not happen.”
Dash is Isa’s intended?
“I have never touched another male out of respect for Dash,” Isa shouted at Mikoh and shoved his chest with both of her hands. “And I never would, not even if it was a direct order from the Revered Father!”
Gasps were heard, though I had no idea what was so shocking about her exclamation.
“I know that, my Isa,” Dash said as he moved closer with tentative steps. “I was only being friendly to the human female.”
“He was,” the redhead said from behind Dash with a shaky breath. “He was just helping me down the steps, ma’am.”
Isa peeked around her brother and growled viciously at the woman, and it caused the woman to gasp with fright and stumble backwards until she was within the safety of her group.
“Isa,” Mikoh and Dash said in unison while I said, “Hey!”
All eyes landed on me, and I could have sworn Mikoh rolled his.
“Don’t scare her, you big bully!” I said to Isa, marching over to her and ignoring Kol’s groan from behind me. “Your intended said he was helping her, and the woman backed him up on it. Don’t get pissy with her because you’re insecure about your relationship with Dash.”
“Nova,” Dash groaned. “You’re not helping.”
“I don’t care,” I stated. “Your female had better learn that us human women are on a new planet with another species and that we are very scared. Having her and any other scare us further is not cool! We’re making the best out of a very shitty situation, so give us a damn break!”
I wondered why the human women looked past me and every Maji in sight bowed … until I heard a familiar growl.
“I thought I told you to be nice, shiva.”
Without turning around, I pointed at Isa. “She started it by throwing a rock at Dash and growling at my fellow human. You heard it just as well as I did.”
> Isa gasped and looked at Mikoh, who shook his head as if to say “It’s not worth going there.”
I turned to face Kol, who was staring down at me. I smiled up at him, but his face remained stone like. I raised a brow and smiled wider until my cheeks started to hurt, and when his lips twitched, I relaxed my face.
“You smiled so you can’t be mad at me,” I stated.
His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “Is it.”
“I shall remember that.”
I snorted and turned when I heard murmurs. Some of the human women were muttering amongst themselves while nearly all the Maji females were whispering and staring at me like I was on display. I turned back to Kol.
“Do I have something on my face?” I asked him.
His eyes scanned my face.
“No,” he replied.
“They why are your people looking at me and whispering?”
He snorted. “The people are looking at you because you’re talking to me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Nova.” He chuckled. “I am a prince, and to speak to me, you need permission from me.”
I stared at him blankly, and he laughed, loudly.
“I know you’d talk to me with or without permission, but my people will not. It is a sign of respect, just like the bowing.”
I scratched my neck. “I bet you think I’m pretty disrespectful, huh?”
“No,” he said. “I think you’re human and do not know the Maji way, but you and the other humans will learn in time.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you’ll love whipping us into shape.”
Kol raised his brows.
I waved my hand. “Never mind.”
“Your words hurt my head sometimes,” he said and rubbed his right temple.
I snorted. “That’s nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“I’m sure.”
I stuck my tongue out at Kol and laughed when he made a play to grab me. I jumped away from him, but he caught me around the waist and pulled me back against him, moulding the front of his body to my back. I was about to pinch him to let me go when I felt the burn of eyes on us.
“They’re still watching us,” I murmured, knowing Kol could hear.
He cleared his throat and shouted, “Back to work.”
Everyone got moving almost instantly, and I smiled and patted the back of his hand that was rested on my stomach.
“Nice job.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
I looked at the group of women to my right. “What do they do now?”
“When they reach their homestead, they will bathe and possibly sleep before the feast this evening. Tomorrow, they can choose their form of work and then explore the city with their assigned guide.”
I licked my lips. “This sounds like camp.”
“What is camp?”
“Just a place my father’s father used to attend when he was smaller. It sounds just like you described it.”
“We want to make this transition as easy as possible, Nova.”
I nodded. “I know, and I’m not going to fight anymore.”
Kol looked down at me with suspicion, and it made me laugh. He leaned down, and kiss my cheek before he straightened. We then returned our attention to Isa and Dash, who were still at odds with one another. Mikoh backed up and took his place by Surkah’s side, next to me. I hid a grin when Surkah stepped closer to Mikoh; he glanced down at her and stared at her face as her eyes were trained on his sister and her intended. Even though he annoyed me to murder sometimes, I loved the way he looked at her. His emotion for her was pure and played out on his face.
It was cute, and I wanted to tell him so, but commotion brought my attention back to his sister. I looked forward and widened my eyes when Isa slapped Dash’s hands away and bared her teeth at him when he reached for her.
“She’s definitely your sister,” I told Mikoh. “Your tempers match.”
Mikoh’s lips twitched. “Isa can be a lot meaner; I have the scars to prove it.”
“Why do you say that like it’s a good thing?”
“She is female,” he said as if that was the answer to life.
“So?” I pressed.
“So,” he continued, “she is spoiled. Not only mates spoil females, but brothers, fathers, uncles, and cousins do, too. Maji care deeply about our relations, and as females are so few, they’re greatly favoured. I’d do just about anything for my sister. She is a piece of my heart.”
Aww.
“That’s adorable.”
Mikoh grunted but suddenly groaned when a group of males and a lone female approached.
“Father!” Isa suddenly screeched when she noticed the group. “Send Dash away.”
Isa’s father, the male who led the group that approached Isa and Dash, laughed like she just said the funniest thing in the world. I wouldn’t believe he was her father or Mikoh’s either, but he looked just like Mikoh, just ten or so years older!
“He’s not going to help her, is he?” I asked Mikoh.
He snorted. “No. We don’t come between an intended couple unless there is concern a male cannot care for his female.”
“Mother,” Isa then shouted, her tone desperate. “He touched another female!”
Isa’s mother roared in outrage.
“I’ll have your head!” She swore and charged for Dash who, to be honest, looked like he was about to shit himself.
Mikoh had to scramble so he could run forward and grab his mother midair after she leaped for Dash when his brothers and father failed to restrain her in time. I watched the scene with wide eyes and made a note that a snack would only make it better. I was witnessing family drama … amongst aliens.
“This is fucking awesome.”
Kol, Surkah, Killi and Nero snickered, but none of them disagreed with me.
“No!” Isa cried when Dash approached her. “Stay away!
Dash took another step forward, and he growled. Isa whined in response, and I wondered if she was actually scared of Dash, or if she was just angry that she was losing this argument so epically. From the uncaring reaction of her family, I figured it was the latter.
“Mikoh, I need you,” Isa whimpered, but Mikoh turned his back on his sister as he returned back to Surkah’s side, and it caused her to wail. “Brother!”
She called for her other brothers who gave her the same reaction. I looked at Mikoh’s face, and the poor male was cut in two. He was respecting the right of Dash as Isa’s intended, but his obvious need to help his sister was proving difficult for him to fight. The longer she cried, the tenser he became. I jumped when Isa suddenly screamed, and when I looked back, it was because Dash now had hold of her.
“Do not be afraid,” Mikoh said, his eyes on me, and his back still to Isa. “She is not in pain or truly scared. She feels like Dash has disrespected her, and that is why she cries. She is trying to gain my brother’s and my favour by calling our names because she knows how deeply we care for her. She knows she can convince us to hurt him; she wants him to feel pain for hurting her.”
“She sounds mighty scared to me,” I said to Mikoh as Isa’s cries got louder.
“This is how our females express themselves,” Mikoh explained. “Do humans not behave this way?”
Like hyped-up drama queens?
“Not that I have seen,” I admitted.
“That’s odd,” Mikoh said, making me chuckle.
I looked back at Isa when I realised her cries had suddenly turned to snarls and growls, and I gasped when she suddenly struck out and hit Dash across the face. The impact of it sent a sickening noise through the air. I flung my hand over my mouth when I saw blood on his face.
“She’s injured him,” I said, stepping back into Kol’s embrace, my back pressing against his stomach.
Mikoh smirked and turned to watch the couple.
“Told you she wasn’t scared,” he said.
“Well”—I swallo
wed—“she’s a damn good actress because she looked and sounded terrified.”
“We can read females very well. We knew she was not truly worried, just angry and upset. Her scent reeked of anger, not fear, so her sounds did not have the desired effect.”
Isa lashed out at Dash once more, and he did nothing to stop it.
“Do you all allow females to abuse you?” I questioned.
Mikoh laughed. “Abuse? Nova, this is the Maji way. Females will strike any male or female who upsets them.”
“That’s physical assault, Mikoh.”
“Not with Maji,” he said, shaking his head. “Look at Dash. Does he look scared of Isa?”
“No, he looks like he wants to calm her,” I said, noting how the male looked at the female.
There was nothing but worry in his eyes.
“Which is why he allows her to strike him,” Mikoh explained. “Males will allow a female to express her anger when it’s deserved through striking, but when he has had enough, he will end it. Dash knows Isa is upset with him for touching the human female, so he allows her strikes to relieve herself of anger. It does not hurt him; our males are very tough. The scratch she inflicted is already healing.”
Isa wasn’t striking out anymore, so Dash let her go and took a step back. Both of their breathing was laboured.
“My female,” Dash rasped. “My reason for life is you.”
Isa looked up at him, and without warning, she jumped on him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his hips, and she placed her throat in front of his mouth.
“Uh, what’s she doing?” I asked.
Mikoh yawned. “Apologising.”
I blinked. “How?”
“By exposing her throat to Dash,” he said like it was obvious. “It is symbolism. She greatly regrets her actions, and the scene she has caused, knowing it could reflect badly on Dash’s reputation since I, his commander, and Kol and Killi, his princes, are present. She offers him her throat, giving him the option to kill her. It shows how much she trusts him, and how badly she feels for what she has done.”
I stared in horror. “She could have just said sorry.”
“She is,” Mikoh explained. “This is how our females do that.”
“Seems a bit drastic to me,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Everything seems drastic to you,” Mikoh joked.