by Erin Raegan
“Why. Is. My. Pythe, running from me, Yilt?” Tahk thundered darkly. “And to you?”
“Uh, well,” Yilt cleared his throat awkwardly, “Fihk?”
“Pehytohn is frightened,” Fihk said plainly.
“And so, she runs―to him?” Tahk heaved heavily through his nose.
“Perhaps, feeling too much, yes?” Yilt shook me gently. I shook my head and looked away. I needed alone time, right now, and a bath.
“Come to me mate,” Tahk growled. I turned further into Yilt. Tahk growled louder.
“Pehytohn?” Fihk hesitantly took a step toward me but stopped at Tahk’s glower. Fihk sighed impatiently. He called me again.
I peeked at him from beneath my tangled hair. “What?”
“Are you well?” He asked me with arms held out at his sides. He looked stiff and uncomfortable. I suspected it was from the menace emanating from my Pythen, I thought sarcastically.
“No, I want Vivian,” I sniffled. I needed girl time, stat.
“What does she say?” Tahk spat, rage I was familiar with coating his words. Guess he didn’t have a translator.
“She wants her Veeveen,” Yilt patted my back absently, and then shuddered taking a large step from me. I looked at him with hurt eyes. “Do not turn sad eyes to me, Pehytohn, Tahk is ready to tear out my spine,” he cringed. I looked to the big man in accusation.
Tahk pinched the ridges on his brows. “What is a Veeveen?”
“My friend, and I want her now!” I shouted and then tripped backwards over my robe as he advanced on me. I landed heavily on my behind, but he didn’t stop, he kept coming and I threw my hands over my head. Tahk hadn’t hurt me, and I knew on some level I was acting ridiculous, but he bit me. I just had sex with an alien, and I had a bottle of emotions I didn’t know what to do with that was going to blow. I did not want any alien witnesses for that explosion.
Tahk dropped on his heels and reached for me. I kicked and threw my fist at him screaming at the top of my lungs, but as Fihk and Yilt reacted accordingly to my high shriek, Tahk ground his teeth and held on. I was exhausted and couldn’t fight for long. I was limp in his arms all too soon. He cradled me to his chest and stood.
“I cannot understand her, but I assume you did the language transference as you can. I want it, now.” Tahk pushed my head into his chest as I sniffled, trying desperately to hold onto my tears. I hugged my middle and gritted my teeth.
Yilt sighed and left the room. Fihk took a hesitant step forward, his hands aloft as if he’d be shot. “Veeveen is her friend, I believe the females presence may comfort her.”
“Take me there,” Tahk rumbled and squeezed my thigh lightly.
Fihk released a gust of breath. “I will tell Yilt to meet us at the transport ship.”
Tahk must have nodded because we were moving. I hid my face in his neck from any spectators. I was too raw to deal with the hostility and disgust of the Dahk. I heard not a sound though, I guess no one dare insult the human around big, bad Tahk.
“I will learn your words, my yula. You have nothing to fear from me, this I vow,” he said gravely and licked my bare shoulder. I shivered and loosened my arms to grip around his shoulders. He rumbled approvingly.
Maybe I had a shot at getting him to help me after all.
Chapter 18
Tahk
My Pythe was exquisite. Our mating a thing of beauty. I had not wanted to harm her, but somehow in my rage I held back, thank the stars. At my heightened rage it was very dangerous for her. Our success was a gift from the ancestors themselves that our mating was blessed and divine.
The odds of her coming through so unharmed were remarkable. I would pay thanks at temple the moment we reached home world. Unfortunately, that would not be for some time, instead I sent a silent prayer, humbled I would be chosen for my beautiful Pythe.
It was a true shame we did not get the ceremony my Dahk would have gifted to us, First Mother would be truly distraught. She was very attached to the old King’s ruling. Her Great, Great, Great, First Mother was the last in our line to go through a true Pythen mating. It was barbaric, and she barely survived the act. First Mother was raised with the horrific telling’s of that day, her line praised the Old King’s decision to change the ways. The Old King had lost his Pythe during the mating, he was truly gracious to learn from his loss and help his people instead of turning into his grief.
I worried how First Mother would look upon me when she found out how I had taken my mate. But I could not regret it, for she was now mine. There would no doubt be a great celebration when we returned home world. I would have to prepare my Pythe for the attention and stares she would receive. It had been too long since a Dahk mated outside of the species. It had been done before, but hundreds of sunrings ago. No one knew why the Pythen matings stopped. Our race died out too slowly as female and male alike waited to meet their mate. A decade past, before many were forced to choose a mate solely to procreate. Now there was courting and matches to build a House.
My Pythe may be human, but she was a true miracle. Our offspring would be powerful and revered across the land.
I had not released her since her tears coated my chest. I kept her locked in my embrace during the flight to my ship. Dahk One was my warship, but I often took our smaller battleship out for missions. I almost passed off the task of capturing humans to one of my lieutenants but did not want to risk them botching the mission and enlightening the Vitat to our presence. I was a hands-on leader, much to their dismay. They would rather have me stay on the warship ordering everyone about. That was not how I was built. I joined the King’s army the moment I reached of age, my blood called to battle and always would.
Saving the humans had been the King’s doing, he insisted. I was now ashamed of my words to him at the time. I told him we had much graver enemies to take on. We were on the cusp of war with the Juldo. I felt my presence was more needed there than to save a primitive species. My gut clenched at the thought of my little human weak and unable to defend herself from the Vitat.
I did not deserve her. The moment I knew what she was to me, I was shocked yes, but also disgusted. How could I have been chosen for such a weak species? But gazing down into her large amber sparkled eyes, I was not deserving of such an exotic female. She may be weak, but she was fierce of heart. She took me inside her female canal. I, an alien in her eyes. She saved me from the rage, all for her people. The humans did not deserve her courage. Their leaders hid from me and refused to accept our constant attempts to communicate. They were like young heetbulls, biting the hand that aided them.
I traced soothing circles along her bumpy spine. She was thin, lacking the musculature build of the Dahk. Humans built up fat stores on their bodies. If I could not build upon her muscle, I would need to fatten her up. She was much too brittle and tiny in my arms.
Her canal was tight and hot and wet. I would need to take her hard and often. I could already feel my body heat with the mating rage. I could now control it, but my beautiful Pehytohn tempted me fiercely. She would need more strength to handle my urges. Even now my shaft thickened against her rump. She shifted anxiously, her eyes wide and shocked.
“Apologies, my yula, you are soft and warm against me.”
She squeaked and shifted, pulling a groan from me.
“Your wet warmth drives me near mad with want, but I will not mount you now, your soft canal needs time to heal.”
“Kp tn u pnts, nt dong tht gn!”
“What does she say?” I growled not taking my eyes off her pale face.
“She says she cannot wait.” Fihk grinned at her. My eyes narrowed.
“I dd nt!” She glared at him. Fihk chuckled and turned back to the flight controls. “Wnc ws nff!”
“Is this so?” I asked her in disbelief. She ran from me mere moments from pulling from her warmth. “I pleased you greatly,” I grinned smugly. She may be frightened of my form and superior strength, but she knows I will make her body sing like the most beau
tiful of dia birds.
She flushed a strange shade of pink along her cheeks and long neck. “Jst bcs yu hv bg dck dsnt mn yu cn shv t nsd m whnvr yu wnt.”
I tilted my head, she seemed angry. At my assumption? Or that we could not mate again sooner?
“Hush now, I will take care of you when we reach my quarters. I long to explore you in all ways.” I ran one long claw up her silky thigh beneath her robe.
She smacked at my hand and shoved her palm in my face. “m nt tlkng t yu nymr.”
“Where is my translator?” I growled and bared my teeth at Yilt. She was angry, and I did not know why.
He held a slim disk. “Gryo will meet us on the ship and remove your current chip before implanting the new one.”
I sighed. Very well, not much longer and I will understand her sweet words. She had her arms crossed along her middle and glared at her lap. I missed her small hands on my hide. I ran my palms along her back and thigh, but she did not soften.
The trip was mere spins but felt like dimtides. I twitched anxiously to get back to the ship. I wanted clear communication with my mate. I wanted to build on our bond and explore her exotic body.
We docked, and my mate squirmed anxiously. She tried several times to flee from me, but I kept hold of her. Once the doors opened I stood and departed cradling her softness against me. She huffed but settled and seemed equally as anxious.
Gryo waited at the docking door and escorted us to the lab room. Once the doors opened, sobs and shrieks greeted us from the golden furred female I vaguely recalled. She jumped from the floor and nearly tackled my mate, but I held her aloft and the female could only grab at her thighs and arms.
I growled low, my mate was delicate and just experienced a physically challenging mating ritual. I would have no harm come to her. Pehytohn cried and reached for the female. When it was clear I would not release her, she smacked and shouted at me. She had tried to strike me upon our first meeting and I shamefully thought of how I would have retaliated before learning who she was to be to me. As my mate, my body and all that belonged to me was now hers. Besides, her hits were light and barely caused a sting, but her shouts were high, and I itched to rub at my hima.
“Pt m dwn!”
“Relax my mate, I will have you checked for injury first.” I licked at her elegant neckline. She squealed and squirmed.
“Ack, H lckd yu!” The golden furred, Veeveen scrunched her pale face.
“I knw! Veeveen t was s bd! I had six with hm!”
“Yu what?! Ohmigod! That ash red you?!” Veeveen shrieked and flew herself at me. I turned just in time to protect my mate from harm, the female clawed uselessly at my back and wings. My wings were sensitive but curled around to protect the delicate inside membrane. Now this female was not mine and committed a grave offence. I tempered the urge to retaliate. My mate clearly held feelings for the human, I wished not to enrage her during the beginnings of our new mating.
“Fihk, contain the female, NOW!” I roared. He shook off his shock of the violent humans’ offence and jumped forward. He too suffered from instinct. As my second, he would want to punish the human for striking his Commander. Thankfully Fihk was a shrewd Dahk and followed my lead.
“Gt ff hr yu bg fck trd!”
“Veeveen, calm, Pehytohn is unharmed.” Yilt patted her golden fur.
My mate snorted. “My grl prts dsagre wth yu.”
“lrght snfbtch, im gnna skn yu alve.” The aged human male rumbled low and threateningly from the back of the lab. He was red faced and shaking. He looked as harmless as my mate with his small stature and thin hide. I sighed.
He bared stubby teeth and pulled the correlator from the wall, holding it like a blaster the Juldo often used. “I dnt knw wht ths s, bt yhav fve scnds to pt hr dwn or well fnd ot!”
Everyone froze, the females in horror, and the Dahk in confusion. It was not much threat. I was stumped, he seemed very angry, but I could not figure out his actions.
“I ws in N’M, I ant afrd of no ovr grwn bts!” He bellowed and shook the tube threateningly. The booboo barked and guarded its owner.
“Bats? We are Dahk,” Fihk murmured. “Cohlt, I ask you to calm.”
“Fve scnds r up!” He engaged the correlator and the humans squawked as the low timber sucked the mule booboo’s fur into the device.
“Sht t off! OFF!” Veeveen and my mate screamed together. The correlator was a very large sucking machine to clean the floors. It was often used by the healers to clean up after heavy spills and gore from grievous wounds. The Booboo whined and flopped on its side as the machine pulled its heavy fur through the front end.
“Dgnt! Hw d yu trn t off?” Cohlt yelled and shook the machine, dragging the booboo across the floor.
“Ts gongto eet hm!” Pehytohn cried and twisted in my arms.
Veeveen ran over and held onto the booboo as Cohlt pulled from the other end. It was no use; the machine was very powerful. The booboo would not be injured but may lose quite a bit of fur.
I sighed and motioned for the chuckling Yilt to aid the humans. He did so reluctantly, and the booboo flopped down whining.
“Ohno! He hs a bld spt!” Veeveen rubbed and calmed the mule. Strange. I thought it was food, but they treated it more like a House companion.
“Arggg!” Cohlt snarled and launched his frail body at Yilt.
“Nono! Cohlt yll hrt yrslf!” Veeveen grabbed the old human by the back of his trousers and yanked him off Yilt.
“Qt grbbn me!” He yelled back at her.
“Enough!” I thundered. My mate needed care, and I needed a translator. Beyond that there were more pressing matters to attend to. The humans flushed and settled. Pehytohn glared at me. Huktbores, this day was to be the greatest of all my days having had my Pythe’s sweet canal. I had no patience for these other humans. “Gryo, you will check my mate, and then fix my implant. Humans, you will remain quiet or I will lock you in the waste room.”
My mate smacked me and then paled. She would learn soon enough her ire only fueled my want of her. She was gorgeous in her fury. She would make me a fine First Mate for my House. Any other I took would pale in comparison.
Chapter 19
Peyton
Tahk stood above me as the other alien, who I was guessing was a healer, poked and prodded my nether regions. I glared at them both.
He was thinner than most of the Dahk I had seen so far, lankier. He wore long golden robes like the others, but his hood was pushed back from his head. His face was flushed and scrunched in concentration as he studied me down below. He mumbled to himself in growls too low for me to understand, then sighed and wandered around the room looking for different random items.
“Human structure is very new to me my lord, but I do believe the damage is minimal,” the healer sighed again and dabbed a thick cream on the claw marks on my thighs. I winced from the cold, and his words. Minimal, hah! Tahk shoved his giant eggplant inside me, minimal was not the word I would use. I was aching and sore all over. I felt like I just fought off a mob of penii and barely survived.
Tahk scowled at the healer and growled every time the alien touched me. Kind of hard to get a medical exam with that guy leaking so much testosterone.
“It is a true blessing the female has not suffered more grievous injuries,” the healer with a death wish, scolded Tahk with clear scorn. He washed his hands and helped me sit back up on the exam table.
Vivian and Colt waited just outside the doors. I could hear them arguing on the other side. I wanted Vivian back, but was glad there weren’t more eyes on me at the moment. I was feeling a mixture of sad and mad, forlorn and furious. Feelings mixed with my vulnerable state only escalated every breath in the room.
The healer walked back to his table of instruments and lifted the translation machine that they used to implant me. I jumped off the table, wincing over my tenderized flesh. That thing hurt, he wasn’t coming anywhere near me with that again.
“Calm, my yula, Gryo will implant me so I
may understand your words.” Tahk rested a meaty hand along my spine and rubbed. I shuddered. I remembered clearly what those hands felt like on my naked flesh, the robe did very little to mute its warmth.
Tahk stepped away and sat on a low stool so the smaller healer could reach his neck. After fussing with it a few moments he placed it on the side of Tahk’s neck and then pulled it away. I could see a small chip come out of his neck with it. Fiddling with it again, he placed it back on his neck and hit a button before pulling away. Tahk did not wince, he kept avid golden eyes on my face the whole time.
“It is done.” Gryo bowed and left the room quickly before I could catch a glimpse of Vivian.
“Come here my mate,” Tahk rumbled and patted his thick thigh. I shook my head and glanced back at the door. He patted again. When I refused to move he sighed loudly. “I wish to speak a moment with you, then we will see your Veeveen.”
Biting my lip, I looked back at the door longingly before hesitantly plodding over to him. He carefully reached out and guided me onto his thigh. I winced from the pressure and soreness as I sat. He rumbled regrettably and nipped at my chin.
“Don’t bite me,” I snipped and carefully pushed his cheek away.
“I would not harm you.” He scowled and nipped my fingers. “It is a physical way to show sweetness of feeling in the Dahk.”
“Biting is?” I watched his sharp teeth and leaned back.
“Ah, yes, your humans do not do this?” He nuzzled my hand.
“No, we hug and kiss.” My toes curled as he licked between my fingers.
“What is hoog and kyss?” He sucked at the tender flesh between my fingers. My thighs tensed, and I yanked my hand away. This guy. Oh man.
“Nope, no hugging or kissing.” I crossed my arms against my chest.
Tahk chuckled low. “Okay my mate. It is enough to hear your human words for now.” He licked and nipped at my exposed shoulder where my robe gaped down. I shivered.