by Lynnea Lee
This meant that the Dominion had their eyes on Reka 5, even if they had sent their worst ship. Reka 5 needed to take any interest from the Dominion seriously.
The human offenders were not much of a threat once bested, but Calix would recommend the colony expel them to avoid future problems. The older male was a religious fanatic. His pious nonsense reminded Cal too much of the Favored ramblings. The one claiming to be a doctor would not stop whining about how unfair everything was and how he had just wanted to help everyone get back to Earth. That must be the one Trenton had wanted to throw out the airlock. He understood why.
Cal punched in the icons to Arus’s comm.
Arus was a mess. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair looked like it had been finger combed repeatedly in all directions. His jaw clenched and unclenched as if he was chewing the inside of his cheek. It appeared the wait for Arus was harder than the actual rescue. Was this how it was to face the possibility of losing a mate?
“Hello, Chef!” That usually got a rise out of Arus. No reaction.
Instead, Vore poked his head into the frame.
“I recognize that look,” he said. “That’s the look you get after dealing with idiots. You must have met our troublemakers!”
“Do you know why you recognized this look, Vore? Because I get this look every time I have to deal with you.”
“Nah, you love me! Right, Boss?”
“Ugh! I’m not your boss, Zey is.” Cal rubbed a finger on the gleaming metal of the ship’s dash. This was technically Zeylum’s ship, which was fine by Cal. He preferred to stand second behind his captain.
“Well, technically, you are the ship’s interim captain, so you are my interim boss, Boss. Or do you prefer ‘the man’? It’s a human word for boss.”
Calix rubbed at his forehead. “How the fuck do you spend so much time with Vore and not feel the need to strangle him?” he asked Arus.
Arus had no response. At least the bantering seemed to have distracted him slightly—time to get down to business.
“We intercepted the Dominion ship two galactic hours ago. They were easy to board and didn’t put up much of a fight. Two of the Talleans surrendered, the rest died in the firefight. The human males responsible are in the brig. There are some injuries, but nothing major.”
“Did you find out who was messing with the cameras?” Vore had his serious face on now.
“We got the name of the corrupt guard on the security team. They were bribing him to turn off the cameras. Director Ryek will want to take care of that.”
“Good! The traitor deserves what’s coming.”
“We are just waiting for clearance to land.” Calix looked Arus straight in the eyes. “Mia is safe.” His friend relaxed. “She asked for you the moment she found out she was on the Defiant.”
“She did?”
“Of course she did. She’s your mate.”
“I was not there for her rescue.”
“No, but you sent us to her. You did all you could. You saved her.”
Calix had never seen his friend so insecure. The big male usually did everything with purpose and surety. Was this what a mate did to a male? Still, Calix would give everything he owned for a mate. He had always been on the lookout for a female. First, Zeylum had found Ashe, and now Arus had Mia. He was happy for his friends but wished his turn was soon.
He thought of the conversation between the two human females and focused his gaze on Vore.
“I met a female named Scarlet. Tiny thing. Apparently, she’s ready to look for a mate. I heard she’s looking for a Tallean male.”
Vore tensed. This was too easy!
“I think I’ll go spend some time with her while I wait for the all-clear to land.”
Vore growled. Cal waved casually before turning off the comm. Cal had no intention of spending time with Vore’s female. But it sure felt good to get him back for the time he defiled Cal’s antique collector-edition gun catalog!
Arus paced in front of the Defiant. Why was everything taking so long? The ship landed what seemed like hours ago, and he was impatient to see Mia. He growled.
“Stop pacing, Arus,” Vore demanded. “It’s making everyone nervous.”
Arus growled again.
“They are safe,” Vore assured him. “When she comes out, you can tell her she’s your mate. She will agree to it. I know it. Whatever you do after, just know that you can always call on me.”
His friend gripped his arm firmly. It helped calm him down.
“Who knows, I might even stay here with you for a while. See if I can get Scarlet over her fear of me. I will convince her I’m her type.”
“Zeylum won’t take it well if we both leave.”
“That sucks for Calix then, because he would have to be the one breaking the news. Maybe Zey would be so mellow after his honeymoon with Ashe that he won’t care.”
“I doubt it.”
The door to the Defiant opened, and the gangplank lowered. Calix and a few of the crew came out first. Then the culprits responsible for the fiasco. The kidnapped humans came out next, followed by the rest of the crew.
When Mia finally walked out, Arus’s world slowed to a standstill. She looked tired but happy.
Without thinking, he strode towards her. When she saw him, her eyes perked up, and a smile lit her gorgeous face. A few more steps and Arus was in front of her. She launched herself at him, latching onto his neck. Arus lifted her up to his chest and burrowed his face into her neck. He inhaled her scent as if he needed it as much as air itself.
After a long moment, he finally put her down.
“Mia, I need to tell you something.” Arus decided to be blunt. Unlike Vore, he wasn’t good with words, and he knew it. “You are my mate.”
Mia just blinked at him. Beside them, someone gasped.
“I know you weren’t looking for a mate. But it was already too late the second I laid eyes on you. You are my mate. There can be no other for me.” He took another breath and continued, not wanting to give himself too much time to think. “I know life on a ship isn’t what you wanted. You want to make a life here. But I can’t live without you. If that means giving up my job on the Defiant and finding a new one here to stay with you, I will do it in a heartbeat.” Arus looked into the eyes of the female who owned his heart. Then he turned to Calix, but before he could say a word, Mia stopped him.
“There’s no need for that,” she said.
Was it because she did not want him? Was Mia telling him not to bother because he had been just a fling? He couldn’t breathe. This was his biggest fear coming to life.
“I understand,” he said, his eyes downcast. The words were as heavy as lead. “It was just a fling for you, nothing serious. I won’t push a mating on you. You deserve to have your freedom.”
Arus didn’t want Mia to see his heart breaking. He turned away and started towards the ship. Fuck! This hurt so bad.
“Stop,” Mia shouted, and as if she alone controlled his feet, they froze. “You’ve got it wrong, Arus. You don’t need to leave the Defiant because I’m going to join you there instead.” She walked to him and took his hands in her tiny ones. She turned him around to face her. “You offered to show me the galaxy. I’m taking your offer. You better not be going back on your words.”
She smiled at him with tears in her eyes.
“You will be my mate?” Arus was afraid to believe it.
“Are you asking? Because, yes. Yes! Yes! Yes! Forever yes!” She was half laughing and half crying now. “I was so afraid I would never see you again, never be able to tell you I love you.”
“You love me?” He could hardly believe it. Where had she been his entire life?
“Yes, I do. I was stupid, pretending to myself that I didn’t. I love you, Arus.”
Arus didn’t hesitate. “I love you too. You are my mate, Mia.”
He gathered her into his arms and lifted her off the ground. Mia responded
by wrapping herself around him. Finally, eye to eye, he continued, “Anywhere in the galaxy you wish to go, I will take you.”
Mia put a hand on each side of his cheeks, pulled him close, and gave him a human-style kiss.
A throat cleared, and Arus remembered that they were in the middle of the gangplank.
“Why don’t you start by taking her over there?” Calix suggested with a smirk. “You know, so I can retract the gangplank and close the ship’s door?” And then, more seriously to Arus, “Congratulations, my friend. May the Stars look kindly on your mating.” His friend looked wistful.
Arus nodded solemnly.
A middle-aged human female he didn’t recognize waved them over. Mia pulled him to meet her. Mia introduced her as Isabella.
“I’m so happy for you, Mia!” Isabella squealed. “Congratulations, you two! A mating is like getting married, no?”
“Yes, from what I understand of your culture,” confirmed Arus.
Isabella turned to the one Arus recognized as Mia’s mother, the one who had been so terrified of him when they first met.
“See, Bianca, I told you not to worry. Mia found someone to love her. She won’t be alone now.” Then she eyed Arus’s form with appreciation. “And what a strapping young man he is too!”
Bianca relaxed and gave Mia a tentative smile. She was still looked nervous around Talleans. Arus wished to fix that.
“Mom, you’ve met Arus before,” Mia started. “I know he’s not what you wanted for me, but I love him. I am happy when I’m with him. And I want you to be happy for me too.”
“Oh Mia, I meant what I said, I just want you to be happy.” She sounded honest. “It will be hard to get used to, but I will try.”
Now it was Arus’s turn. He angled his head to the female and spoke, “I am not Mia’s bodyguard, but I will do anything in my power to guard her from all harm. I will love her and care for her until my last breath.”
Bianca found her courage and spoke to him. “I was wrong about you Talleans. I’m happy Mia found you. I know she will go with you, regardless of what I say. So please keep her safe and bring her back often to visit.”
“We will come back whenever we can, between missions. And you can keep contact through comms,” Arus assured her. “I will not keep her from her family and her friends. I know you are important to Mia. And so, you are important to me.”
A happy, bubbling sound came from Isabella. “Wow, he’s a sweetie too! Did I tell you how much I love a good love story?” She nudged Mia. “You know any older single Tallean men you can introduce me to? If I’m going to be stuck here, I might as well enjoy myself.”
“I might just know a guy. How much do you like pastries?” she said cheerily. Then she sobered. “I need to go check up on Sala. They told me she’s doing fine, but she got hurt because of me. I need to make sure she’s okay before I leave.”
“You have time.” Calix joined them as they left the hangar. “The Defiant is staying for a few days. We are meeting with the Second Chance after their first mission.”
Good. That gave Mia the opportunity to tie up some loose ends and spend time with her mom before they left. Arus was glad the two had reconciled during their ordeal; he knew how much Mia’s mother meant to her, despite their differences.
He grabbed his mate by the hand as they made their way towards the new colonist area. Ahead of them, the smallest female Arus had ever seen pretended to ignore a much too attentive Vore. That must be Scarlet. While the female tried not to show any interest in Vore, she didn’t move away to join the main group of humans, either. She also seemed extremely aware of his friend. Maybe Holden was right. Maybe the female played the game humans called hard to get.
Beside him, his own female, his mate, walked holding his hand. And everything felt right in the galaxy.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Arus thought he wouldn’t be nervous. But as he stood at the front of the alter waiting for his mate to arrive, his palms sweated. He wiped them awkwardly on his pants and refrained from tapping his talons nervously on the floor.
“Relax, you look like you’re being thrown into a brig, and not in a mating ceremony.” Vore would tease him about this in the future, Arus knew. Naturally, Vore was the best male.
Bianca had insisted on an Earth-style wedding before Mia stayed with him on the Defiant. Eager to have his mate join him in his quarters, Arus had called in a favor from the colony director. Ryek arranged everything for them the next day. Pastor Jim was one of Reka 5’s first human settlers. He had already married many couples on Reka 5, including a few mixed species unions. He was more than happy to officiate.
Calix owned a set of formal military garb close to Arus’s size. He had used it during past missions to sneak into several formal functions. It was a little tight in the chest, but it did the job. Arus hated wearing such restrictive clothing and couldn’t wait to get out of it.
Sitting in the front row, Calix held up a comm. Zeylum, Sidas, and their mates watched the proceeding from their hideaway on the lush little moon, a skip and a swing from the alliance compound. Beside him, Tanith, the ship’s communications specialist, placed his fist on his chest, pinky side out. He nodded solemnly to Arus. Arus returned the gesture. Holden and Ryek were deep in discussion. They were most likely talking about the new info they’d gleaned from the Talleans who had surrendered. Behind them, the rest of the crew sat ready to lend their support.
On the other side, Bianca sat dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Next to her was Isabella. But Isabella’s attention was on the Tallean male behind her. Crox had his chest puffed out and was preening like a young male in front of his first crush. Arus recognized Angie and Scarlet at the back, whispering conspiratorially. Occasionally, the pair sent glances towards Vore.
A hush fell over the room as Mia appeared in the doorway. She was beautiful in a simple white dress with thin straps and a soft, floaty hem. With her father still on Earth, Mia eschewed tradition and walked down the aisle with Sala, her maid of honor. Still recovering from her injury, Sala rolled forward in a wheelchair. The two females proceeded down the aisle, each step bringing the love of Arus’s life closer to him.
Finally, at the front, Sala left Mia beside Arus and went to take her place across from Vore.
The human male behind the alter spoke, but Arus couldn’t pay attention to a single word with Mia standing so close. The ceremony, already cut shorter than those on Earth, flew by. She was his favorite distraction.
Mia gestured at him, and he realized it was his turn to say his well-rehearsed words, “I do.”
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Arus turned and gripped her by the hip, lifting her off the floor. They had such a height difference she would not have reached him any other way. She grinned, eyes sparkling, and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. She closed her eyes and tilted her head as he leaned in. He captured her mouth with his. He knew it was traditionally a short, simple kiss. But couldn’t stop himself from tasting her a little longer. She moaned softly into his mouth. The surrounding applause drowned out the sound. When their lips parted, Mia’s cheeks were flushed with heat.
With their heads still together, Arus whispered, “I love you, Dumpling. You are my Stars.”
“I love you too.” Then a twinkle of mischief sparked in her eyes. “Beefcake.”
Vore snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. “Beefcake?” he mouthed, his eyes full of mirth. He exchanged glances with Sala as the two tried not to laugh and failed miserably. The other guests sent them questioning looks, which went unnoticed.
Damn, that good Tallean hearing! Luckily, Vore and Sala had been the only ones to hear it.
Mia clung onto Arus’s thick neck as he carried her through the hallways of the Defiant towards his quarters, their quarters. They decided to stay on the ship rather than rent a room for the next few days while the Defiant was in port. Arus was more comfortable in his own space. And wherever Arus
was, Mia wanted to be.
Pleased to have a few more days on Reka 5 to spend with her mom and her friends, Mia intended to spend it well. Isabella offered to take her place at the Daily Dose, and Crox was more than eager for the exchange. Sala still needed rest, and Mia planned on visiting her friend tomorrow. As for her mom, Angie convinced Bianca to join her at a book club run by a few ladies from Earth. Everything had fallen into place.
Arus lightly kneed the access panel, and the door to his quarters slid open. He deposited her onto their bed.
“Home sweet home,” she said as she removed her shoes.
They were the only pair of cream-colored kitten heels they found on such short notice, and they pinched like a mofo. She wiggled her toes, glad to be free of the awful devices. Though she admitted, her legs looked stunning in them.
Arus must have been even more uncomfortable because he had already stripped off most of his formal attire by the time she looked up.
She looked around the room and was pleasantly surprised. It more than exceeded her expectations. She had expected dingy and cramped. Instead, the well-lit space boasted a large bed, a built-in closet on one side, and a clutter-free desk and a cabinet on the other. A door led into their private lavatory. A pile of clothes sat folded neatly on a chair.
Arus frowned, and his forehead wrinkled. “I hope this is enough for you. I can’t offer you much, just everything I have.”
Mia reached for him, and he sat next to her on the bed so they would be level. She pressed her weight against him as he wrapped a heavy arm around her shoulders. His warmth enveloped her.
“This is plenty, Arus. As long as we are together, you’re all I need.” She took his free hand in hers and wove their fingers together. “You and me, side by side. We are partners.” She took his hand to her chest and pressed it over her beating heart. “I once believed that to be independent, I had to solve my own problems, by myself, alone. I was wrong. I realized I could do things for myself without doing it alone. I have you!”