by Octavia Kore
“I’m pretty sure there’s nothing there.”
He lifted her foot, marveling at how small it seemed in his hands. Where he expected to find a cut or a puncture, there was only a tiny red indentation on her skin. “There is nothing.” The disbelief in his voice seemed to amuse her.
“I told you as much.” Oshen looked up at her, taking a moment to watch a grin crawl across her face as she wiggled her toes. “I just stepped on a piece of the bed.”
Guilt assailed him and he rubbed the spot in the middle of her foot, frowning up at her. “I apologize for destroying your bed… and your couch,” he added, eyeing the stain.
“And my phone?” Amanda asked, groaning as he squeezed her heel slightly.
Oshen smiled, laughter bubbling up from his chest. “I am not sorry for that one.” A growl rumbled from her and he cocked his head to the side.
“I’m sorry.” She laughed, her hand flying to her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
“You growl when you’re hungry?”
“My stomach does.” He released her foot when she tugged it back and moved to the side as she stood. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I ate. I can make us a little something if you want.”
The data from the Grutex hadn’t contained much about human diets so he had no idea what passed as food on this planet, but his empty stomach was becoming hard to ignore. At this point, he was willing to try whatever she had. If they were compatible enough to be mates, surely he could consume the same things she did.
“I would appreciate anything you are able to offer.”
When she slipped into the other room, Oshen made his way back into the one they had slept in, gathering up as many pieces of the broken frame as he could and piling them on top of the blanket. He could hear Amanda singing as she worked, her voice low and smooth. The temptation to become lost in her, to ignore everything around them was strong, but Oshen knew he needed to try reaching Brin again.
“Mouni, ping Brin.” The AI projected across his arm, the screen flashing momentarily as if the call had been received and disconnected. With a frustrated growl, Oshen repeated the command and waited.
“Bruto—” Brin’s voice cut off, followed by a loud and unpleasant crackling.
“Brin?” Oshen called. Only static answered him. The signal was lost a moment later, and he mumbled a curse under his breath, dropping his arm to his side.
“Alien technology was discovered floating in the waters off the coast of a Tampa beach yesterday,” an unfamiliar female voice stated.
“Oshen?”
“Authorities haven’t released many details, but witnesses on the scene described the mangled wreckage as looking like nothing they had ever seen before.” The other female continued as he rushed from the room, following Amanda’s shout. He found her standing in front of a small screen, her eyes tracking the blurred image of something he recognized as a panel of the hull from the shuttle he and Brin had taken. “Many are wondering if this new tech could mean the Grutex have brought in allies to aid them in the fight for Earth, and what exactly this may mean for humanity.”
Oshen growled low in his throat. “Allies with the Grutex? Ridiculous!”
“Is that your ship?” Amanda asked quietly.
“It was,” he answered. “The Grutex destroyed it after they discovered us in Earth’s atmosphere.”
“Local government officials are asking anyone with more information concerning the wreckage to come forward and to report any suspicious activity.”
Brax it all.
“Thanks, Diana,” A man appeared on screen as Oshen stepped closer. “As we approach the official six-year anniversary of the start of the war against the Grutex, humanity is left asking itself what has changed? The One World Council reports that teams of scientists and engineers from all over the globe are working tirelessly in the pursuit of answers and solutions to end what feels like a waking nightmare, but what exactly is being done? Hundreds of thousands of men and women worldwide have gone missing over the course of this conflict, and many claim these numbers are inaccurate. They accuse politicians and government leaders of keeping the true count of those missing secret in an attempt to maintain order.”
Amanda shifted beside him, her arms crossing over her chest as she frowned. “Informants within TOWC have expressed concern over the amount of funds redirected from research projects meant to help find ways to aid humanity’s survival to projects specializing in what they believe to be dangerous chemical weaponry.”
“Idiots,” Amanda hissed, shaking her head. “We’ve already used chemicals against them, and humans were the only ones hurt by it.”
If what the human male on the screen said was correct, the Grutex had been here far longer than they had told the Venium. Although the fact that they had lied to them wasn’t surprising, it was worrying.
Oshen glanced sideways at Amanda and fear spiked within him as something new occurred to him. The Grutex must know about the compatibility of the Venium and humans. Why else would they dangle the promise of a solution in front of them if they didn’t? His gynaika was not safe here. No human was safe here as long as the Grutex remained.
“Why exactly are you here, Oshen?” His female turned her face toward him, her blue eyes more cautious than before as she studied him. “What do your people want with us?”
He wasn’t exactly sure how to respond. When the council back home found out humans were compatible, there was going to be mixed emotions. Some would insist on protecting the species that could be the answer to the dwindling population, but there would be those who found the idea of breeding with outsiders to be repulsive.
“I don’t know.” He sighed, his jaw clenching as he watched pictures of battles flash across the screen. In many of them, Grutex males held terrified humans in their grasps, their faces contorted with their fear. What was happening here was far worse than they had thought.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I have no idea what will happen now.”
“Are you working with them?” she asked, her voice low and guarded as she stared up at him.
He could smell her fear and it made him sick. “No, my heart.”
“So it’s just a coincidence that you guys show up now?” Amanda stepped away from him, arms still crossed over her chest.
“We came because the Grutex sent word to our council that they had found a possible solution to a problem our species is facing. That many species are facing.”
“Not sure if you noticed, but we happen to be facing a problem too.” Her eyes rolled toward the ceiling as she gestured at the screen.
“We had no idea this was going on, or that the Grutex had been here so long already.” Oshen frowned as he eyed the screen. “The Grutex are not a species we can trust, and it was important to gain an understanding of what was happening here.” Oshen turned to Amanda. “Were humans made aware of Galactic Law when the Grutex made first contact?”
His female huffed, her eyes rolling upward. “First contact consisted of them abducting people. There were no peaceful talks, no negotiations, only violence and intimidation.”
That was no surprise. “We were given an order to refrain from interfering until Galactic Law was broken or until humans reached out to us for help. Brin and I disobeyed.”
The pink tip of her tongue swiping across her lips distracted him, but he heard her question. “Why did you disobey?”
“Because of you.”
Amanda’s brows drew together and she frowned up at him. “Me?” When he nodded, she snorted softly, shifting from one foot to the other. “We didn’t meet until after you crash landed. How am I the reason you left the ship?”
He took a cautious step toward her, his fushori pulsing as he reached out to slide a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up to his. “I felt you.”
“I’m not following.”
“My sire described the pull to me when I came of age, but I had no idea it would be like this,” he whis
pered, more to himself than to Amanda. “It’s so strong that it is impossible to ignore. You have to follow it.” Oshen’s other hand came up to caress her cheek and his body went tight when her eyes turned glossy, fluttering closed for a moment before she focused on him again. “I’m not sure what I expected to find, but it wasn’t a human mate.”
“Mate?” Her breath warmed his skin as he stepped closer, his fingers moving up to tangle in her dark hair. “I told you humans don’t have mates.”
“There is not a single doubt in my mind that you are my mate, my bonded.” The faintest groan fell from her lips as his fingers worked through the strands. “You are my gynaika, my entire world.”
“How can you be sure?” came her soft whisper.
“Earlier, after you woke from your dream, my mating glands swelled for you.”
“You say that like I’m going to understand what that means.” Amanda pressed her hand against his abdomen, the tips of her fingers brushing his skin as she leaned back. She opened her mouth for a second before closing it again as if she were considering her words. “You were right to slow things down earlier. I think we both need some time to figure out what this is.” She gestured between them with her free hand.
Oshen sighed and then nodded, his hands slipping from her hair. “I’ve had an entire lifetime to prepare for you. Take all the time you need.”
Chapter 8
Amanda
“You believe him?”
Amanda eyed Jun sleepily over the rim of her favorite coffee cup before setting it down on the table in front of her. Jun might be used to waking up at ungodly hours of the morning, but she wasn’t. Her fingers slid lightly over the ceramic tentacle that served as the handle as she considered the question.
Did she believe that this alien from another planet, from some place lightyears away from her, was somehow destined to be hers? Did she believe that they had been created for one another? That the gods had specifically brought them together?
“Maybe?” Amanda shrugged. “Who wouldn’t want to believe that?”
“Me?” Her best friend snorted, leaning back in her chair with her arms folded over her chest.
With a laugh, Amanda stood, washing her cup out before setting it on the drying mat next to the sink. “It just… I know it’s crazy, but I feel something.”
“Horny?”
“You are so very funny,” she drawled, propping herself up against the counter. “I just mean that I haven’t felt this sort of connection to someone since…” Zar. Amanda frowned. Was she really about to confess her love for her imaginary friend out loud?
“Since…?” Jun’s brow arched as she leaned forward, resting her arms on the table.
Amanda shook her head. “You’ll just think I’m crazy.”
“I already do. That hasn’t stopped me from being your friend so far.” When Amanda stuck her tongue out, Jun laughed and waved her over. “Come on, tell me.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Amanda took her seat at the table, staring down at the dark wood. “I had this friend when I was a kid. His name was Zar and we spent a lot of time together.” An image of him danced through her mind and she shivered as his eyes sparkled back at her. The joy he felt had radiated through her that day. It was the first time she had said his name, or at least enough of it that he was able to recognize it. She could still hear his rough, gritty voice as he attempted her name, but he never seemed to be able to get it right.
“You’ve never mentioned him before. What happened to him?”
“He wasn’t real,” she whispered, rubbing at a mark on the table with her finger. “Or at least I didn’t think he was.”
“So this was an imaginary friend?” Jun’s face pinched in confusion.
“I thought he was until I saw the Grutex.”
“He’s Grutex?” Jun’s mouth dropped open. “What is it with you and aliens?”
“I’m not sure he’s actually Grutex.” Amanda ignored the last question. “He doesn’t look exactly like them doesn’t behave like them either. He’s sweet and gentle. He’s never tried to hurt me.”
Jun shook her head as she frowned. “I don’t get it. You’re saying this like you still see him.”
“I do,” Amanda whispered. “Not as often as I used to, but I do still see him, hear him, feel him.”
“So, what? You feel the same way about both of these aliens? Are they both made for you?”
Jun’s tone wasn’t harsh or sarcastic, but Amanda felt herself bristle all the same. “I don’t know.”
Her friend sighed loudly as she turned to look out the window. “What the hell?”
Amanda flinched when Jun jumped up and pried the cheap plastic blinds apart with her fingers, searching the small expanse of yard outside the window. “What?”
“You didn’t see that light?”
“A light?”
Jun rushed to one of the other windows. “It was so blue. I swear it looked just like …” She trailed off, pulling back with a frown before mumbling, “Must have just been headlights.” But as Jun sat back down, Amanda could tell something was distracting her. “Look, I don’t care if you want to believe that one alien or both are meant for you. I just want you to be safe, okay? We don’t know much about the Grutex, and if this guy, assuming he isn’t just inside your head, has been talking to you for so long, they might have abilities we never thought were possible.”
They sat in silence, both seeming to be caught up in their own thoughts before Jun raked a hand through her hair.
“I need to run home and grab some clothes if I’m going to stay longer.”
Amanda watched as Jun pushed back and stood. “Right now?”
“I’ve been wearing the same clothes for the last couple of days while I stayed with you guys. I’ll just grab the essentials and be back in a little while.”
“You’re leaving?” The deep voice sent a tingle of pleasure skittering over her skin.
Amanda watched from the corner of her eye as Oshen propped himself against the frame of the door, the muscles in his arms and shoulders bunching as he crossed them over his broad chest. The clenching of her stomach and thighs had her face flushing, and with the way he turned to look at her, Amanda knew he could smell the way her body reacted to him.
“You wish, Fishboy.” Rolling her eyes, Jun walked into the kitchen, rummaging around in one of the drawers before coming out with the handgun she had left with Amanda a couple days earlier. “Keep this on you.”
“How did you know it was in there?” Amanda frowned as Jun laid the gun down on the table in front of her. “And don’t you need protection?”
“You hide everything in the junk drawer, and don’t worry about me.” She winked, tapping her hip softly. As she walked by Oshen, Jun jabbed her finger into his chest. “Keep your hands and tail to yourself. Got it?”
A slow smile crept across Oshen’s face as he looked down at her friend. “I will do my very best.”
His eyes swept over Amanda, and the heat returned to her cheeks, her neck—hell, her whole body was on fire. “Don’t be long,” she said, forcing her gaze back to Jun. “I’ll be waiting.”
Anxiety curled in her stomach as she checked the clock again. It shouldn’t have taken this long to pack a bag of essentials. Hours? Yes. Days? No. Maybe she got called into work, Amanda tried to rationalize. It wasn’t like Jun could call and let her know what was going on, and she couldn’t call Jun unless she ventured next door.
“I’m giving you until tomorrow,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Giving who until tomorrow?” Oshen’s voice glided along her skin, raising goosebumps in its invisible wake.
“Jun.” She turned to see him watching her, his bright yellow gaze tracking her movements.
“I can’t imagine anyone would be foolish enough to threaten her. She is a force.” He rubbed his hand absently over the scar on his side, which had healed phenomenally fast. Even Jun had been amazed that the deep gash she had stitched was now only a s
lightly discolored, raised line. “Maybe cooking something will help take your mind off of Jun?”
A grin tugged at her lips and she rolled her eyes. This guy ate more than anyone she had ever met. “As it turns out, I already made something.” The excitement she saw flash across his features made her laugh. “Hopefully you like it.”
“I’m positive it can’t be worse than the slop you tried to kill me with the other morning.”
“It wasn’t slop!” She laughed, shoving him away as he followed her into the kitchen. “Grits are delicious.”
“It felt and tasted like sand from the deepest trenches on Venora.” He cringed like the memory alone was enough to make him sick.
“Not my fault you have horrible taste.” With a hand over her chest, she gave him a look of mock offense and rolled her eyes. Scooping up a single pancake, Amanda turned slowly toward him. “I present to you: a pancake.”
“A pancake?” Eyes narrowed, Oshen poked at the food with a clawed finger. “Where is your pancake?”
“I’m waiting to see if you like this one.” She wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice and make a bunch of food he hated.
“I knew it. You’re trying to kill me.”
“Gods, you’re impossible.” She swiped a healthy amount of butter over the smooth top and raised a brow. “Come and sit.” He followed her to the dining table, taking a seat before she set the plate down in front of him. “Oh, wait!” Amanda rushed back into the kitchen, snagging the warmed-up bottle. “Can’t have a pancake without syrup.” She nearly laughed at the over the hesitation in his eyes as he watched her pouring the syrup . “Enjoy.”
With a deep breath, Oshen cut into the fluffy cake, frowning as the syrup dripped down onto the plate. He popped the moist lump into his mouth and chewed quietly for a moment before setting the fork down and turning to look at her. “You will teach me how to make these?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Good,” He grabbed the fork and scooped the entire pancake into his mouth. “We need more.”