Rä females didn’t have live births.
They laid eggs.
Struggling to come to terms with this, instead of shuddering in prejudice and freaking out, I missed how uncomfortable my silence made Fiercely Comes the Night.
“I apologise for the grub.” Its rumbling voice, baritone to Venomous’ bass, broke into my thoughts. “I feared for your health. I wanted to ensure your meal included meat, to rebuild your strength. Venomous One will want you well cared for. As do I.”
Talking of my future with my mate while looking me in the eye, a good sign, and it was sweet to mention my health was important to it too.
Calmed by reason, and its matter-of-fact demeanour, my terror abated to nothing more than wary concern they kept us apart.
Obviously seclusion was standard procedure for an alien life form on their vessel.
Or they kept me isolated for an equally innocuous reason.
“Thank you. Just know I don’t eat creatures that are alive. At least, I try not to. I suppose I’ve never been given the choice. There are places on Earth where food is eaten alive and considered a delicacy. Still, it’s not for me. Please don’t do something like that again. I won’t react well.”
“Will you eat more if it is cooked? You refused previous dishes.”
“You speak as if I did something wrong.”
“Thsst! You threw food at the Sylphs.”
“Sylphs? You mean that pale, skinny creature that moved like a spider?” They looked identical to me. I was flabbergasted. “There was more than one?”
“I do not understand spydur. Why do you shudder?”
“Never mind.”
“Explain.”
“Look, strange creatures took my clothes, dumped me in a cold room then tried to force feed me weird food that smelt funky. Of course I threw it at them.”
“We made a mistake in how we escorted you to the Trekker,” he construed. “I was under orders to keep you separated from Venomous for his safety, and ours, until a full scan and analysis was completed.”
“Are you going to let me go to him now?”
Fiercely’s head tilted. His tongue flickered. “You are anxious. You care for him?”
I ignored the question, wanting mine answered. “Do you need something from me? Is this some kind of experiment that has yet to finish? Are you interested in studying Earth now?”
“No.” Fiercely’s expression lightened. “I am pleased.”
“Okay.” I gave it a second. When it didn’t elaborate, I asked, “Um, why?”
“This extended communication is encouraging. You ask practical questions that are not a waste of my time, an endearing quality.”
“Because I live to please.”
“You will make a good life mate.” Fiercely drummed claws against the table top. “There is a scholar aboard, Nāga’s Rä’Na, but the primary designation of this vessel is trade. We have no scientific, or political interest in the planet you call Earth.”
“If that’s true what possible explanation do you have for taking me from Venom?”
“I note the strained tenor in your voice. Your breathing has accelerated. Tell me why you ready for battle.”
“Listen,” I clipped losing my temper. “I’m scared. I may not fear you’ll take my life, but there are worse things than death.”
“It was not our intention to frighten you.”
“You failed.”
“Indeed. We have ascertained you are no threat. Be calm.”
My eyes circled the metallic enclosure. “Then why am I imprisoned?” I glanced down at my crossed legs. Grimaced. “Why am I naked?”
“These accommodations were meant to allow you a tranquil space to meditate. You were supposed to adapt, so we could move you to private quarters. Do you understand we would have done this rotations ago if you had demonstrated a single act of acceptance to our hospitality?”
My expression was as dubious as my voice. “Like?”
Flat, black orbs latched onto me. “Not throwing the food prepared for your enjoyment.”
I snorted and broke eye contact to glare at his freakishly wide, sculpted chest, and the rigid, deep indentations of his abdominals.
Flushing, I shifted and tore my gaze away only to hitch on his broad thighs exaggerated by the muscle-hugging bodysuit.
“And you are bare because the rags you wore were contaminated with over eighteen alien viruses out of good fortune alone you and Venomous One did not contract. Furthermore, we decided it was a security risk to provide you with fabric in case you used it to do harm.”
My gaze whipped up and I blinked.
I understood its point of view, but there was mine to consider. “You say things as if I’ve been offensive. Do you understand from my perspective what you’ve done is offensive and frightening?”
“Past transgressions between interplanetary species make us reluctant to tamper with the minds of sentient life without consent.”
“What happened?”
“It is past. Rä are sensitive to such things. Nāga would have fitted you with a communicator without delay if you had not reacted so adversely to our presence.”
“You’re making out like the inhospitality was my fault.”
Fiercely leaned forward, jaw clenching. “In no way did you indicate–”
“I didn’t understand you.”
“Understood. In no way did you indicate nonverbally that you were open to our handling. That you trusted us, and would not attack making yourself vulnerable.”
“You’re not getting me. Remember the moment we met? You looked at me with disgust. Then you drugged me. It was you that did that to me, wasn’t it?”
“I carried you from the landing bay to this enclosure, yesss.”
“Thought so. You do that, and I’m supposed to turn around and trust you? Please.” He was lucky my injured hand rested on my lap because he would so be getting palm right now.
Pain radiated through my wrist scattering my thoughts.
Frustrated, I tried to put my point into a context he’d relate to. “You removed me from my protector then placed me in a bright room devoid of anything. Do you know what that’s like? To be displaced and isolated after trauma? It’s torture.”
Scowling, Fiercely stiffened. “This enclosure is designed–”
“We’re veering off topic.” Mouth tight with annoyance, I gave him the hand in spite of the pain because he was trippin’. “Regardless of where you put me and how you got me there it is now the why I’m concerned with.” I shifted on my cushion, wondering how something so simple could be so comfortable. Then again anything would be more comfortable than the cold, hard floor. “Where is Venom? I’m going crazy not knowing.”
“You are not mentally deficient. You are being extensively monitored to ensure you are not adversely affected during space travel.”
“Lucky me, I can now say I’m not crazy because I’ve been tested. Where did you say Venom was again?”
“Honoured Rä’Na, I assure you, you are safe with me.”
Not appeased by his cordiality at all, I tried a different tactic. “My name is Lumen.”
“Loo-ma.”
“No.” I was not dealing with a mispronunciation of my name. “Listen.” Tugging on my ear, I puckered my lips and drew the sounds out for him to emulate.
“Loo-mah,” he repeated shifting closer.
“Luummeenn.”
Black eyes twinkled. “Luh’men.”
“Fine,” I snapped, jerking back. “That’ll have to do.”
Fiercely bowed, a hand placed over where Venomous told me lay a Rä’s primary heart.
Odd.
I’d gotten the impression it was an intimate gesture for spouses. “You honour me, She, Lumen of the Stars.”
“What did you just call me?”
“Venomous One told me your name words. He made clear your importance to him. I am Warrior He, Fiercely Comes the Night of the Eastern province, and guild kin to Venomous One.”
“Oh, you’re a He? Male?”
“This distresses you?”
Discomfited by my mistake, I gave him a sheepish look. “No, I’m sorry, I thought ... I heard wrong. The translator was fuzzy when I first woke, and I must not have been paying attention the second time.”
Knowing he was a male made being naked awkward, but Fiercely was so polite it didn’t bother me too much.
I clumped my limbs together tighter. “It was Venom who called me Lumen of Stars?”
“Lumen of the Stars.”
Arguing I had a last name that served me well for twenty-five years seemed pointless.
My alien gave it to me, it wasn’t a presumptuous decision on Fiercely’s part, so I accepted it.
And it was kind of cute.
It made me feel a smidgen closer to being accepted by the Rä.
“May I have ice for my wrist?”
“Nāga will finish analysing your scans soon. I will see what can be done to make you comfortable before he heals you.” Fiercely’s gaze travelled to my mouth again. It wandered over my face then back to my eyes. “Then you will be returned to your Rä’Vek.”
I simply nodded, withholding any telling reaction in case they plotted to use the relationship against me.
Better safe than sorry.
“Why isn’t he here? He’d never leave if he were able to stay and protect me himself.”
“I sedated him,” Fiercely admitted, “then put him in immobilising restraints that act as a portable stasis unit. I did not want to panic you by informing you your Rä’Vek was unconscious. You were already suspicious of me.”
Trust had to begin somewhere, so I took him at his word. “When will he wake?”
“We have removed the device, so within a span.”
It made it better to know Venomous kicked up a fuss when they took me.
Feeling more at ease, I nodded in understanding.
They hadn’t hurt me; only wanted to make sure I wasn’t a threat to their rescued countryman.
I understood their reservations, Venomous had made it clear mating offworlders was not done on Rök.
Until they got to know me, they’d be leery, and treat me as an outsider.
“May I go to him after we finish eating?”
“Why?”
“I’d like to hold him as he sleeps, be at his side when he wakes.”
Fiercely’s chin lowered. “I am confused as to why you want to comfort your male when it is his duty to comfort you.”
“Seriously?”
“Are you not upset Venomous was not strong enough to stay at your side?”
“Well, no. You made it so he couldn’t. Why would I blame him for something you did?”
The baffled look showed he didn’t get it.
“Can I go to him?”
“As you wish.” He remained seated assessing me.
“Now?”
“Soon.”
Holding back a stream of profanity, I studied my surroundings. “The Trekker is this ship?”
“Yesss. We are on a deep space vessel we use for planetary defence and offworld trade.” Fiercely motioned around us. “Trekker.”
“How long until–”
An explosion shook the walls, and the lights cut as an alarm bleated.
The room fell into darkness and quaked.
Flashes of white light blinded me, the hallucinogenic effect causing me to scuttle on all fours.
I wrenched my mouth open to scream as Fiercely dove over the table to scoop me up.
Stumbling when I sucked in a breath then screamed again, he slapped a hand over my mouth.
“We are under attack,” he announced.
Dragging his hand away from where it engulfed the lower half of my face, I shrilled, “No shit.”
A bluish screen appeared out of thin air to hover in front of us.
Hieroglyphs and rectangular sequences of data scrolled across the flickering display in a jumble of information.
Whatever it revealed made Fiercely spit a low curse. “The Trekker is breached. We must evacuate.”
“Who the hell is attacking us?” The wailing alarm almost drowned my words.
“Raiders.”
“What?”
Though his voice remained calm, his expression was alarmed as he sprinted at the silver wall.
I clutched him desperately, bug-eyed, and braced for impact.
We passed straight through and stood in a deserted hallway.
Nothing but lights blinking, alarms blaring, and an eerie barrenness that sent chills down my spine.
Breathing hard, Fiercely spun as if shocked.
A worried noise broke from the warrior’s chest, a cross between a hiss and a growl.
I gleaned the lack of other Rä was not good.
Peeking over his shoulder, I saw back into the enclosure that was my prison.
I’d dreamed of the moment I no longer had to look at those blank walls, but now, I wanted nothing more than to curl up in one of the corners and hide.
Fiercely took off down the empty corridor.
He leapt through the apparently solid wall at the end causing me to have another minor cardiac event.
We exited into chaos.
The air was rank with the tinny stench of blood and sweaty male, the usually cool battleship muggy, a crush of bodies flooding the junction with heat.
Strobe light made the gruesome scene worse by cutting it to black then throwing it into stark relief.
Warriors seemingly froze in mid battle, grotesque spectacles of destruction before the lack of light cloaked the mayhem.
Crouching, moving side to side as if ready to pounce, Fiercely hissed, “Dei San.”
A memory unravelled, but I lost the thread. “Who?”
“Space pirates. Backstabbing thieves that prey on unsuspecting vessels.”
“Do we have things to steal?”
Grim, he held me tighter. “Yesss. And Rä fetch a high price on the black market.”
Sold at auction a-fucking-gain?
No, not sold, tossed in as a free damn purchase.
I gaped in horror as I realised my mate was somewhere on the ship unconscious and vulnerable because they’d made him easy prey.
“Don’t just stand there,” I raged. “Do something.”
A slathering Dei San lumbered our direction with a piercing screech.
I recoiled at the monstrous, bulging muscles and blistering red skin covering its cadaverous body under dented, tarnished armour.
The Dei San’s prehensile tail cracked side to side, sharp tip scratching a groove into the floor.
A mouth full of needle thin teeth gnashed, and notched bones running its elongated spine snapped erect.
A rotten, pungent stench wafted from the creature, and a pronged cock engorged as it thrust out its snout and sniffed the air, scenting female.
“Don’t let it get me,” I whispered huddling.
It would hurt me, damage me in some screwed up way to add to the never ending pile of fucked up shit I needed therapy for since I’d been abducted.
Snuffling as it stalked my scent, the Dei San grew close enough to spot me.
It threw back its bony skull with a guttural shriek then charged, a lumbering giant possessing the power to crush me with a single blow.
Hand on heart, my life flashed before my eyes.
It was a pitiful flickering I swore to change if fate intervened.
Never again would I trudge aimlessly through life, I’d do better, I’d make something of myself.
My death scream was strangled when the world upended.
Fiercely somersaulted in a feat of gravity defying acrobatics.
We went up, twisted, rolled over, and landed with him on the balls of his feet, five paces back from where we’d been, facing the opposite direction.
With me clutched to his chest, I thought he’d run, but no, the tumble gave him enough space to jump over a swinging blade, and deliver an airborne butterfly k
ick to the Dei San’s head.
Lurching to avoid another slash of the toothed blade, Fiercely flipped me over his shoulder, and I ended up attached to his broad back, the breath knocked from me, tangled hair obscuring my vision.
I scrambled to grab hold, sinking my fingers into his rubbery bodysuit, and wondering just what the fuck he thought he was doing.
Free to advance a frontal attack, Fiercely lashed out, grabbing the thick neck of our aggressor to hold him fast.
Using his talons, he gouged into the spaces between its metal armour, drawing a viscous spurt of blood, and hit a lumpy swelling that popped then splashed the wall with acid puss that ate through the metal.
The Dei San keened, crashing to its knees.
Snarling, Fiercely didn’t stop.
Claws embedded deep, he used the others to shred the breastplate from our assailant.
He plunged his fists into its chest.
Bones shattered as he punched past a fused ribcage, and dug into the Dei San’s steaming innards, macerating them to mush before wrenching back his gore-slicked hands, pulsating viscera clinging to his claw tips.
The pirate gurgled, mucus dripping from its serrated teeth.
Bowels loosening, it keeled over dead.
Rattled by the viciousness and gagging at the rancid stink, I stifled a scream.
It was the slave planet all over again, but in outer space, on a spaceship with a pressurised hull that might get punctured by one of the brainless uglies shooting lasers.
We’d be sucked out into the airless void.
If I didn’t breathe out, I’d have nine seconds of agony where the liquid in my mouth and eyes evaporated with frostbite, my lungs ruptured, and my flesh swelled with water even as the outer layers of my skin flayed from extreme heat caused by radiation.
The agony would end as I passed out from the eye rolling convulsions.
Oh, wait, no eye rolling because my eyeballs will be sightless lumps of ice.
Should I, of course, have enough wits to exhale as my limp body whiplashed out of the jagged tear in the ship, and I hurtled through the black nothing at incalculable speeds, unable to breathe, unable to move, I might even last up to half a minute, and experience the excruciating torment of the bends multiplied by a trillion, as my paralytic husk shattered to fragments when it finally collided with a speck of cosmic dust, but really, why bother?
Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) Page 19