Torkel's Chosen: A World Beyond Book 1

by Michelle Howard

  At first, Torkel had not let the process upset him. Many males left the sands with no female but when five years had gone by and he still had not been selected, the rejection had started to bother Torkel. He had a proud name, fought as a Jutak warrior and had no stains on his honor.

  None of that mattered. Torkel knew the true reason women walked past him to choose his brethren. He was of Marenian origin. A world of known slavers. It didn’t matter that the gentle Enotians, Shaya and Marlin Alonson, had found him as an abandoned baby and raised him. It didn’t matter that he didn’t have the distinctive horns protruding from his forehead as a typical Marenian would.

  What mattered was that each woman who arrived on Enotia received a bio on all participants. Inside, the bio detailed information about his birth planet and the women feared he’d make them his slave.

  Never.

  Torkel spent his life fighting the slave trades. He and his unit ran into Marenians often and made every effort to stop or kill the violent slavers.

  Shaya sighed. “You are such a handsome warrior. Any female would be happy to have you in her bed.”

  Torkel flushed at her blatant comment but his papan laughed and rolled his eyes.

  “Our son has the right to make up his mind about this. We can’t continue to expect him to subject himself to the presentations if he won’t get chosen.”

  Torkel held his hurt in. He wanted a Chosen, children and all that came with it more than anything. Every Enotian did. He’d protect his family with his dying breath and make sure his Chosen never wanted for anything. Yet year after year the humiliation of being passed over wore on him. Three years ago when several worlds had been added to the SP, Torkel thought he’d finally stood a chance.

  Earth had an abundance of females and many of them flocked to Enotia. The more Earth women joined the more the rumors flew fast and free. They were full of laughter and love these humans. Males lucky enough to have one boasted of their sensual nature and their capacity for great warmth toward their men and children.

  Their hair, eyes and skin came in every color imaginable with no two females alike.

  Unheard of. It was every male’s dream woman wrapped in one. Yet, Torkel had not managed to entice one of them either. Though it pained him greatly, he had to give up walking the sands. If he wasn’t Chosen, he would be condemned to life as a loner. Males were not allowed to form permanent bonds outside of the official Chosen process which meant he’d be forced to rely on Enotian sex servers and none of them wanted a Marenian in their bed. He’d tried that route once and been forced to find pleasure off world.

  Shaya grabbed his jaw in both hands and leaned toward him. “You are worthy. A female would be lucky to have you. Don’t ever doubt it.”

  Her blue eyes blazed with passion and all the love Torkel felt for the woman who’d raised him rose to the forefront. He cupped her hands over his face. “I thank you, maman. For everything.”

  For taking in a Marenian baby. For raising him to be the honorable man he was today. Most of all for not holding his birth against him and loving him unconditionally.

  Blinking back his own tears, his papan interrupted the moment. “When does the ship arrive for the presentation?”

  Torkel straightened to his full height, dwarfing both his parents. The Alonsons’ were true Enotians with their slight stature and bright blond hair.

  “Shortly. I’m heading over now. The teams understand my decision. I wanted to meet with you and maman, as well, to give you my decision.” It was important he share his news with them to avoid getting their hopes up further.

  He knew how much they longed for him to settle with a female and begin a family. His sister Lissi had two little ones with her Chosen and Torkel couldn’t love his niece and nephew more.

  “Do you want us to go?” His maman asked.

  Torkel shook his head. They’d gone to the previous seven and each time he walked away from the sands alone, their disappointment tore at his heart. They grieved for him and it ripped him to shreds. Today if he was once more bypassed, he only had room to deal with his own hurt feelings.

  Her voice trembled when she asked, “Will you at least let me prepare you?”

  Torkel didn’t have the heart to refuse. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  It was an honor to a maman to brush her son’s hair, scent his body with oil and sew his ceremonial loitte. All to attract a female. Torkel planned to wear the same loitte his mother made for him originally. The simple clothing would be destroyed after tonight.

  ***

  “All participants assigned to Enotia, please prepare to disembark in five.”

  Faye rushed through the corridors, apologizing as she bumped several women in the hall. She’d almost missed the announcement and was now running late to leave the ship because Lindsey had wanted to say goodbye while shoving a lacy bra and panty set in her hand.

  “I can’t,” Faye had protested as the pink silk slid through her fingers.

  Lindsey waved it off. “Look,” she tilted her duffle for Faye to see. Bright colors of silk and lace spilled out. “I only packed brand new sexy undies. I figure my new husbands will buy me new clothes based on their style anyway. What would I do with Earth jeans and shirts?”

  True.

  “Plus,” Lindsey added with a smirk and a wink. “I’ll have two husbands and I doubt they’ll let me wear much in the beginning.”

  Lindsey had decided on Garulax and would be the last stop their ship made. Faye had selected Enotia with fingers crossed that she met someone as handsome as the men in the brochure she’d studied. She wished her friend good luck and left.

  Her headlong flight blinded her to the man in the hall she hit full on. Faye bounced off a firm chest and gasped. Her palms burned from where they’d made contact. “Sorry, sorry.”

  The hood he wore covered most of his face. “No problem. I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

  “What?” Faye folded her arms over her chest to hide the lingerie in her grasp. Her suitcase had been in storage and staff promised it would be delivered to the residence wherever her new husband lived. She only had enough time to shove the items in her bag if she rushed.

  Faye caught the flash of white teeth in what she assumed to be a smile. “I notice you selected Enotia and I have a friend I’m hoping to help.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m new and I couldn’t help anyone with this Chosen thing.”

  The voice laughed but Faye found no humor in the eerie sound. She tried to ease around his bulk in the narrow corridor.

  He touched her shoulder to stop her, pulling back when she stiffened. “I extend you my apologies. You misunderstand. I want to help you help me. My friend is in the selection process. He’s been rejected seven times and I’m hoping you would do him a favor and pick him.”

  “Look, I don’t know your friend.”

  “I’ll pay you twenty thousand dollars. That’s how much you spent for the application correct?”

  Holy!! Faye was broke. Twenty thousand just to pick his friend when she was going to pick someone anyway. Unless his friend was an ogre. “I’m not sure. I mean…I sorta decided already.”

  Faye had spent half the night reading the bios on all the participants, though there wasn’t much information on what she was supposed to do. She narrowed her choice to a blond man not much taller than her own five-five with bright green eyes and a friendly smile. From what she could tell, his sleek body was fit and firm. Not as muscled as the men in the ad but enough that she would enjoy a physical relationship with him.

  “Here.” The man shoved a small video screen in her face. “Here’s my friend. Please consider it. He’s a Jutak warrior so you don’t have to worry he’s dangerous.”

  Faye couldn’t help her indrawn breath. Dark shoulder length hair, warm brown eyes and a chest to rival any model or heavy weight boxer she’d ever seen. She’d eliminated him as too serious when she glanced over the bio.

  “His name is Torkel Al
onson.”

  “I don’t know what a Jutak warrior is.” The title warrior implied roughing it. What if he expected her to cook his meals over a fire pit?

  The man huffed out a breath. “It’s a soldier. An elite warrior. We don’t have much time. Will you do it?”

  “I don’t know.” Faye hesitated. It didn’t seem fair to take money.

  “What do you have to lose?” The man pressed.

  “Fine.” She’d have money in case of an emergency and one stranger was as good as another. “Wait. Why does he need help?”

  “Because this is his last year. He’s getting older and no longer interested in fighting to attract a female.”

  Faye’s heart softened. She sympathized with their similar circumstances. “Alright.”

  “Thank you. Hold out your wrist.”

  Faye held up her arm with the fancy watch gadget she’d been issued. It was used for currency and tracked her finances. He hit several buttons and the numbers appeared on the screen followed by several zeroes. Faye smiled.

  “It’s done.”

  “Okay. I need to leave now.”

  He stepped to the side and Faye brushed off her unease.

  Chapter 3

  “You are not to leave the order of the line. Each of you will reach the sands at the same time. The available males will be waiting. Do not leave the sands until the male has accepted the medallion. Do not approach more than one male,” instructed the smartly dressed man as he paced in front of their group of twenty women. His black suit was crisp and close enough to what someone on Earth would wear for dinner. “The first one you reach and stop is the one you select. If you lose the medallions you were issued, you lose your right to choose.”

  Anticipation raced through Faye’s veins. A husband, children and family. All of her dreams were almost within reach. She breathed in and out and tried to stay calm. She wasn’t the only antsy one. Other women craned their necks to see beyond the black curtain blocking the entrance to the ‘sands’.

  The crew had lined them up to disembark single file and led them down to this place. They’d followed a narrow passageway that curved underground then opened to this small staging area. The man instructing them had also passed out a necklace for them to use. The brochure detailed that the women would meet all available men during a ‘presentation’ once through the door.

  Faye didn’t fully like that part. From what she gathered, there would be a small arena behind the curtain with their potential husbands waiting. First come, first serve. Faye rubbed her hands down the blue, woven cloak they’d been issued. She studied the leather necklace with a gold medallion on the end. She had to give it to her Chosen.

  Faye chewed her bottom lip and checked her competition. Behind her stood a woman with purple skin. Deep green eyes constantly moved. To her left, a small woman with a single blonde braid waited with a nervous glance at Faye. When she smiled her fangs flashed and her eyes turned red.

  Aliens. But women united in the common goal of looking for something they hoped to find behind the curtained doorway. There were two other humans. A mocha-skinned woman with short curls highlighted with blonde on the tips. Her make-up was flawless highlighting her cheekbones and full lips to their best advantage. Faye suddenly wished she wore more than peach gloss. The other human was a red head with a deep southern accent and not even a cloak could hide her full bust.

  “Last thing. We have more females in this presentation than males. Be respectful as there will likely be one unhappy male when he is not selected.”

  Faye blew out a breath and shook her arms at her side to rid them of their tremors.

  “Blessings upon you,” he finished and pulled back the curtain.

  The women stampeded the sands, knocking the poor man to the side. Faye would have laughed if she hadn’t realized she was the last to get through the doorway. Without further thought, she rushed forward and came to an abrupt halt.

  Her feet slipped on the sand beneath her soft-soled shoes. A chanting crowd screamed at the women’s entrance. It reminded her of an arena from old gladiator vids. Though not as big. Maybe forty feet across and twenty feet wide, a stone wall at least four feet high blocked off the sand pit from a crowd of hundreds.

  None of that compared to the men. Dozens of men spread out, blond hair gleaming and bare chests displayed prominently. They stood motionless, some with arms crossed over their muscled chests and others with their arms clasped behind their heads, elbows out. Faye choked, unable to look away from all the male flesh. The brochure hadn’t come close to describing this.

  A woman squealed, jumping around a man who smiled down at her. The crowd roared. None of the men moved as the women wove through them and quickly made their choices. Faye jolted into motion and hurried along, remembering her agreement with the stranger. It shouldn’t be hard to find a dark-haired man since, all of the men she passed were blond.

  Now she understood the excitement in the line. These men were gorgeous and their dress or lack of was enough to rouse any woman’s blood pressure. Their bodies glistened in the late evening sun and not from heat she realized. Someone had taken the time to oil every inch of their exposed skin.

  And there was a lot of exposed skin. Arms, chest and legs shifted when a few of the women touched or stroked body parts. Faye’s eyes bugged as she wondered if she’d died and gone to some alternate form of heaven. The men wore ancient versions of a kilt. It was the closest analogy for the short leather skirts around their waist. Colored stones or silver and gold metal embellished the material. Across the hip, down the sides or along the hem. A hem that stopped mid-thigh to flash coiled legs and knotted calves. Faye swallowed to keep her drool in check.

  The selections happened quickly as the women began to pair off with their selected man. Then Faye saw him. She choked on her breath as the distance shortened between them. The video image didn’t do him justice. He had to be at least six and a half feet of brawn. Taller than any other man in the arena. Older too. The maturity in his features appealed to her. Maybe mid-thirties if they aged like humans on Earth.

  His bare chest was broader and tighter than the others. She stared at his oiled body designed as if for a woman’s pleasure. His muscles had muscles. A row of ridges lined his torso in the best six pack she’d ever seen. His narrow torso was lean enough to allow the waist of his kilt to dip slightly and reveal a very thin line of dark hair which disappeared beneath the edge of the leather.

  Faye’s steps slowed as she neared him. Square shaped silver buckles adorned one side of the simple, black leather around his hips. He looked at home in the ancient kilt. Faye’s eyes followed the buckles. She counted four. Only four hooks keeping him covered. Not as elaborate as the others but enough to send shivers of arousal down Faye’s spine.

  Rippling thighs bunched as he shifted on bare feet. Bare manly feet. Faye blushed as she came to a stop in front of him. She lifted her head to meet his gaze and was blown away by the fire burning in his brown eyes. Full lips, dark lashes and a square jaw that jutted with defiance. His nose was wider than she expected but everything else about his face looked remarkably human.

  ***

  Torkel bit back his frustration as the females ran past his position in the sands. One after another they squealed and laughed as they selected his brethren. True Enotians with their blond hair and light-colored eyes. Through it all he maintained his stance with his hands clasped behind his back, legs spread wide. Another year, his last in the sands.

  The ache in his chest caught him off guard. No matter how much he thought he’d prepared, disappointment coiled its way through his heart. To make matters worse, there was one more male in the numbers than females so he’d walk from the sands alone. His shame to bear in stoic silence.

  “I’m not sure how this works. Do I just hand you the necklace or put it on your neck?”

  Torkel jerked and glanced down at the short woman standing in front of him. He’d tried to ignore her presence when her footsteps slowed in
front of him. “Pardon?”

  She tipped her head to the side and smiled but the rapid pulse beating in her neck betrayed her nerves. She held up the gold Chosen medallion. “I want to give this to you.”

  His world tilted. It could not be. After all these years a woman wanted to choose him. Disbelief colored his words when he cautiously asked, “Are you certain?”

  She blushed. A pretty spark of color on her round cheeks.

  “Yes, unless…” She looked at the sand. “Unless you want someone else.”

  Want someone else? Torkel stared at her bowed head. Dark hair, straight with only a slight wave brushed the top of her shoulder. She wore a traditional robe of the Chosen in blue. The long sleeve caftan reached her feet and hid her figure.

  Torkel mentally urged her to look up. He wanted to see her face again but a male wasn’t allowed to touch any of the females until after they were chosen. He cleared his throat. “I’m honored, if you would have me.”

  Her head snapped up and her smile blinded. Pearly white teeth in neat rows flashed him. Brown. Her eyes were brown and shined with a light that tugged at his hardened emotions.

  “Um…so do I just give you this?” Once more she lifted the medallion but her arms would never reach.

  She was a small thing. Maybe five and half feet. Torkel bent at the waist and lowered his head. “Slide it over my neck,” he murmured for they were attracting stares. Partly because they were the last couple on the sands and partly because of the momentous occasion. Torkel, the unwanted, was being chosen.

  Pride lifted his spirits as the heavy weight of the chain draped over his head. The woman twisted her hands together and shifted from one foot to the other. “Did I do it right?”

  Torkel straightened to his full height. She sucked in a breath and stumbled back. Torkel caught her wrist until she regained her balance and released her immediately.

  Unable to believe he finally had a woman of his own, Torkel asked. “What’s your name, Chosen?”

  “Faith Reid but I prefer Faye.”

  “Faye,” he repeated, savoring the name of his Chosen. No longer held back by rules, his arms curved around her as he pulled her into his arms.