by Regine Abel
At the sight of the feast, I knew without a doubt that Khel had called in ahead to warn Jhola of my arrival. That slow flight and guided tour had also been an excuse to give her time to prepare this. I stole another glance at Khel, deeply moved by his thoughtfulness. For a male to show such kindness was something I had never experienced. I was disappointed that the elder couple didn’t join us for the meal, but I would question this another time.
The food tasted divine. I was quite relieved that Xelixian dishes were both pleasing to the eye and delectable to the palate. Avean cuisine looked like regurgitated mush and half the time smelled and tasted like it too. The blue wine though, I would reserve judgment for later. I never had alcohol before so I wasn’t sure how I felt about the tartness. It wasn’t unpleasant but it didn’t make me jump for joy either. However, the dizziness that struck me out of nowhere made me think I should go easy on the treacherous beverage.
Khel and Lhor proved quite the entertaining conversationalists, telling me about the estate and family business, weaving in various anecdotes where they affectionately poked fun at each other or revealed embarrassing secrets. The meal eventually concluded and Lhor excused himself, leaving me alone with my mate’s penetrating gaze.
CHAPTER 6
Amalia
My mind told me that Khel’s stare should make me uncomfortable, but instead, it caused a diffused heat to pleasantly spread in my nether region. His face was long with prominent cheekbones and a strong jaw. The chevron-shaped ridges scaling up his forehead were more pronounced than Lhor’s, and disappeared beneath short raven hair. I kept wondering how the ridges would feel beneath my fingers. The white of his eyes was barely visible, swallowed up by his dark purple, almost black irises. His sensual lips were full and revealed straight white teeth when he smiled. Xelixian males had retractable fangs, but I had yet to see his.
I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear before folding my hands over the dining table. The law stated I had to mate with him today and every day for the next week. He could demand it right this minute and expect me to comply. The thought didn’t repulse me since, thank the Goddess, he was attractive. I just wasn’t quite ready.
Despite being a virgin, I wasn’t clueless or naïve. Over the years, I had reluctantly witnessed too many forced matings not to understand the mechanics. Sex between consenting partners could be a pleasurable, beautiful thing – I had seen a rare few instances of those and my body yearned to experience this too. That it had always been between female captives seeking a bit of comfort didn’t help. But it was hard for me to block out the countless memories of terrified, struggling females as the crew violated them.
As if sensing my building tension, Khel relaxed his own stance. He looked out the windows to the pool and the green Xelixian sky, which was a lighter shade than the green pond. It was late afternoon, but the suns hung high. It would be a couple more hours before the light faded. Looking back at me, he stood, offering a hand to help me up.
“Let me give you a tour of your new home, Amalia. I hope you’ll find it adequate. You’re the new lady here. Any changes you desire, you only have to ask.”
I stood up promptly, relieved by the temporary reprieve. I cast a guilty look at the empty dishes on the table but he dragged me away. The house seemed even more spacious on the inside. Khel walked me through five main rooms which he explained were normally reserved for formal occasions and entertaining guests. The dining room where we ate was one. They usually ate in a more intimate dinette adjacent to the kitchen. A sizeable sitting area faced the front of the house. Beside it, there was a vast ballroom and an imposing office for more official events. In the back, there were five guest rooms with terraced access to the backyard and pool. And across from them, an impressive high-tech training room.
The entire ground floor was in the usual shades of white and greys, so I was baffled when the family second floor exploded with dark browns, deep reds and vibrant blues. The walls and floor, still in monochromatic hues, were covered with colorful carpets and artistic pieces. I ogled the inviting rooms. Khel proudly dragged me from room to room, pleased by my reaction.
He showed me his office located to the right of the family living area. I expected something rather austere for his general’s work, but family portraits and eclectic mementos gave it warmth and character. Khel explained this was where he spent most of his time. Lhor’s office sat across the hallway from his. On the opposite side of the living area, a beautiful three room suite was mine to do with as I pleased.
“These rooms are wonderful, but why is most of Xelix Prime so colorless?” I asked, no longer able to keep my curiosity at bay.
“It’s because of the Taint. As you probably know, the Taint was caused by a toxic reaction between bio-engineered ryspak seeds and the careless use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Wind drift, rain, and groundwater all spread the toxins to our flora, fauna and even minerals. Some plants and animals were naturally immune and didn’t absorb it. They’ve become our main source of food. The majority of our dyes were made of plants, roots and berries. Some synthetic dyes were made with minerals, all of which contained excessive amounts of toxins which we couldn’t remove. Since the original strain of the Taint could be transmitted even through crafted goods, dyes of any type were banned.”
Khel led me by the hand to the third floor.
“Every piece of furniture, clothing, decoration and even whole houses made during that era were destroyed. This land has been in my family for twelve generations. Four generations ago, it was razed to the ground as per the law, even though my family never used bio-engineered ryspak or toxic pesticides. Our land is one of the few that are still clean. Everything was rebuilt with safe materials and without dyes. Over the years, people forgot we didn’t choose this monochromatic world. While a large number of ryspak orchards sit on recovering lands, most of the flora and fauna has healed. We could dye things again, and craft furniture with organic materials. But we’ve convinced ourselves that our world’s lack of color is a symbol of our aspirations toward purity, embodied by the Primes, attempted by the Norms, and failed by the Tainted.”
I nodded in silent understanding. Sadness and anger warred within me as I thought about how the lives of an entire species had been dramatically derailed by the greed of a few. All these males were denied a future, a family, or even a modicum of respect. Walking down the line in the Fastening Hall had been torture. Each time I made eye contact with one of the Tainted, I saw the same desperate hope, hunger and pain.
A quick peek out the window told me the tour had taken much longer than I realized. The suns were setting. Khel had told various humorous anecdotes about each room, many of them about his antics with Lhor and Vahl in their juvenile years. Though he tried hard to hide it, Khel’s pain over the loss of his brother sometimes showed in his voice or on his face. I wanted to hug his sadness away but felt too intimidated, not knowing how he would respond to such contact. Vahl sounded like a wonderful young male.
We were now in the family sleeping quarters. There were six bedrooms, four of them vacant. The far right one belonged to Lhor. Until this morning, the central bedroom belonged to Khel. After the Fastening, Jhola transferred his personal items to the master bedroom that occupied a quarter of the west wing. A gigantic bed was situated next to the wall. An imposing set of double doors led to a balcony overlooking the pool. The doors stood between the bed and a comfortable seating area. An elegant breakfast table sat by ceiling-high-windows facing a garden.
I heard the bedroom door close. Khel’s soft footsteps stopped right behind me, close enough to feel his warmth on my back, though he didn’t touch me. I swallowed, took a deep shuddering breath and slowly turned to face him.
“Well then, here we are,” I whispered with a shaky voice.
“Here we are,” he repeated, his voice soft and gravelly. “Jhola prepared some refreshments for us if you’re hungry.” He pointed at the breakfast table laden with a bottle of Xelixian wine, fruits,
cheeses and crispy breads.
Overwhelmed, I hadn’t registered their presence when I first looked at the table. My stomach knotted.
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
I took another fortifying breath, then exhaled slowly. Averting my eyes, I started shedding my clothes. Hearing him gasp, I paused and peeked at his face, uncertain. I swallowed, confused at his frown.
“What are you doing, Falihna?”
“I… We… The law says we have to…”
“Fuck the law,” he interrupted sharply, his frown deepening.
Startled by the strong reaction, I slinked the shoulder of my dress up and wrapped my arms around my midsection. Confused, I shook with the sting of rejection.
Didn’t he want me? Had I so badly misread him?
He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Reopening them, he unwrapped my arms and tenderly held my hands in his.
“Falihna,” he articulated carefully as if speaking to a frightened animal, “I’m sorry if I scared you. I’m not mad at you. But the law has no place in this room or in our bond. You’re my mate because you chose me and I accepted. No one, not the Magister, not the law, not the Council gets to dictate what does or doesn’t happen between us.”
He lifted one of my hands to his lip and placed a soft kiss on it before releasing me.
“Do not doubt for a moment that I want you, Falihna,” he said with a rasping voice. “I ache with desire for you. But your happiness is more important to me than anything else. Forget the law. We make our own rules, you and I. Nothing will ever happen between us that you don’t want or haven’t freely agreed to. You only have to say no and whatever it is will stop, instantly. You’ll always be safe with me. This, I swear to you.”
“What does Falina mean?” I asked, fighting the urge to hug him in gratitude for his understanding.
He chuckled softly. I knew it was because I had messed up the h again. That damn letter would be the death of me. It was impossible to pronounce. In Jhola and Lhor’s names, it was a breeze. Before an O, the h was pronounced like an E, so it was Jeola and Leor. Easy-peasy. But not my mate’s name. No! He needed to have the one with the funky pronunciation that I would wreck for years to come. Right now though, I just hoped my mispronunciation hadn’t turned the term of endearment into some horrible swear word.
“Falihna,” he said with a slight emphasis on the h, “means treasured one or precious one.”
“Oh…” My face heated. “That’s really sweet.”
I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt like a shit for denying him what he was entitled to. He was giving me everything; safety, food, shelter, more wealth than I could ever dream of. And here I was, refusing him the only thing he could ask in return, that would also save his life.
As if sensing my internal turmoil, he smiled and said, “Stop worrying, my mate. Everything is fine. You must be tired after this crazy day. I will run you a warm bath. It will help you relax.”
He walked to the first set of doors which opened onto the fresher. I followed behind him, leaning on the doorway as I watched him. A long vanity stood on the wall with a sink and motion triggered waterfall running its entire length. Above it, a massive mirror reflected Khel as he entered the room. An impressive tub, large enough to accommodate four adult Xelixian males was set into the floor. Across from it, a set of tactile controls rested against the wall surrounding the shower area.
Khel tapped the controls by the tub and water poured into it. Simultaneously, a tile on the wall slid open, revealing a recessed shelf with bathing products. He picked a couple of pearls from the shelf and dropped them in the water. Seconds later, an amazing flowery fragrance filled the room. He grabbed a large, fluffy towel from the linen closet and placed it on the counter.
He pointed at the controls. “Press here to adjust the temperature, and there to stop the water at the level you like.” Heading for the door, he said, “I’ll be right back.” A few seconds later, he returned with a shimmering nightgown which he placed on top of the towel. “There, you should be all set. Take all the time you need.”
My throat tightened. “Thank you, Khel.”
“Any time, my mate.” Khel smiled, then walked out, closing the door behind him.
I itched to go lock the door, but it felt disrespectful in light of his understanding. With my clothes discarded in the basket, I sank into the warm water. I couldn’t keep the moan of pleasure from escaping my lips. I fucking loved the feel of real, warm, silken water on my skin. After closing the water flow, I leisured in the bath far too long. Once the water got cold and my fingers were pruned beyond recognition, I gave up dallying and got out. The nightgown was amazing. I didn’t know what fabric it was, but it too made me moan at its softness. There were no undies to go with it. My face flushed.
Steeling myself, I opened the door and peeked into the bedroom through the narrow slit. Khel’s eyes zeroed in on me and I blushed again at getting caught. I pushed the door open and walked into the room, twisting a strand of hair. He sat on the bed, working on a datapad. He wore a dark t-shirt, the rest of him hidden under the covers. I assumed he had showered and changed in his former bedroom since I had hogged the fresher for so long.
“Did you enjoy your bath?” he asked with a knowing smile.
I nodded, feeling self-conscious. The covers on the other side of the bed – my side of the bed – were pulled down. I should get in, but I couldn’t seem to get my feet to move.
“The gown looks lovely on you, Amalia.” Khel placed his datapad on the nightstand.
He got out of bed and walked toward me. To my relief, he was wearing shorts. I should thank him for the compliment but my tongue was tied.
“Come.” He led me to the bed by the hand.
My heart hammered in my chest when he coaxed me to lie down. I expected him to try to cop a feel or force himself on me. Instead, he pulled the covers over me, tucking me in. I stared at him, wide-eyed as he brushed my hair aside and leaned forward. I thought he was going to kiss me but he stopped at a non-threatening distance and gave me a serious look.
“Remember what I said; nothing will ever happen between us that you don’t want or haven’t freely agreed to. Sleep, my mate. You’ll always be safe with me.”
Without waiting for my response, he straightened and went to his side of the bed. He slipped under the covers, lying on his back and said, “Lights off.”
I turned to face him in the darkness. Like all Veredians, I had perfect night vision. Staring at his noble profile, I found my voice again. “Sweet dreams, Khel.”
He smiled. “Sweet dreams, Amalia.”
Khel closed his eyes, and I smiled too before closing mine.
You were right, Nana. Thank the Goddess, I’ve found my protector.
CHAPTER 7
Khel
I woke up first and spent an unhealthy amount of time staring at Amalia, so peaceful in her sleep. She looked so innocent and vulnerable, my every protective instinct surged forward. Her beauty left me breathless; I still couldn’t believe she had chosen me. Not wanting her to think me a creep if she caught me, I forced myself out of bed and used the fresher. She would be less intimidated if she found me already dressed when she woke. Though I understood her nervousness, I didn’t like her feeling skittish around me like she had last night. When I got out, Amalia was up and fixing the bed.
“Good morning, my mate.”
“Good morning, Khel.” She tucked her hair behind her ear with a shy smile.
I pointed at the bed. “You don’t have to do that, you know.”
She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
“Here, this is for you.” I gave her a Xelixian dress Jhola provided for her. Amalia took it gratefully before going to the fresher. To my disappointment, she didn’t comment about not having any personal belongings.
After we left the Fastening Hall yesterday, she kept looking over her shoulders, only relaxing once we were safely in flight. I had hoped Amalia would open up of her ow
n free will, tell me what secret haunted her; but she hadn’t. We needed to talk. My instincts told me she was in some sort of danger. She owned nothing, not even a travel bag. Amalia was also the first any of us had seen of a species presumed to be extinct for over fifty years. Where did she come from?
I didn’t think she was a criminal, but I believed someone might be hunting her. No one would harm my mate. She needed to know that there was no reason to hide anything from me. I would stand by her no matter what and keep her safe from anyone and anything. It was my duty as her mate.
Jhola prepared breakfast for us and laid it outside on the table by the pool. Amalia and I tucked into the food, making light conversation. Belly full, I pushed back my plate and leaned back against my chair with a contented sigh. I waited until she finished eating to broach the subject burning my tongue.
“I have some meetings to attend. In my absence, Jhola will take you to Capital District to shop for clothes and anything you require. She has a credit chip with all the funds you could need. You should be fine until I have an account setup for you.” As suspected, she tensed at the mention of going back to Capital District.
She frowned. “That’s very generous of you, but wouldn’t that inconvenience Jhola? I’m sure she has plenty of other tasks to do.”
“I’ve yet to meet a female who wouldn’t choose shopping over chores,” I said flatly.