Just A Bit Of Trust (Constel·lación #1)

by Noma-Tee Thompson

  “Don’t intervene.”

  “People are looking at us.” Agusti’s firmer voice hit him like a cold bucket, and he instantly calmed. ”Human females do not know about our mating customs. Do you want to go over there and spoil your chances of ever mating with her?”

  Agusti was right. If it had been a female of his species, she would have known how to handle it because they were familiar with the custom of mating. Human women were different. They wanted to be lured and romanced. A warrior showed that he cared by providing and protecting his mate.

  “Maybe we can change the terms of my surrender.” Bradford didn’t have to explain himself; both men knew what he was offering. The female who Didac had already concluded was Bradford's daughter to guarantee his security. Naturally, his species DNA was far stronger than human so their offspring would be hardly considered human.

  Even if Didac wanted her, he was also disgusted by Bradford’s willingness to trade his daughter for his freedom. How could you give your daughter away without a fight, especially to an enemy who was likely to treat her bad if they chose to? That alone was an insight into the man’s character.

  Very smart Bradford. Killing one’s wife’s father did not inspire any love or affection. Who did he think he was? He could take whatever he wanted without asking. “’I’m a soldier, not a diplomat, I will take what I want, and I do not have to say please. The victorious don’t need consent to possess what they desire.”

  Didac never took his eyes off the redhead. She appeared to be listening and caught on the innuendo of the conversation.

  Her voice trembled as she stared at her father, “Please don’t make me do this. I would rather die than be with him.”

  Vivian took her father’s decision to marry her off to not only a human but an alien as a personal affront. Her father controlled every aspect of her life. Any acts of defiance resulted in a beating and hurtful words. Her father made laws that made people love him and was not sincere enough to follow those rules. Arranged or forced marriages were a violation of human rights that destroyed girls’ childhoods and women’s lives. She had heard stories about this before but never thought she would find herself on the receiving end.

  “You are my daughter; you will do as you are told. “Bradford put in.

  “What if I refuse? This is no better than a forced marriage.” The red head voice shook.

  “Shut up, Vivian the men are talking." Bradford elbowed her face in annoyance, and she sank to the floor with a thud.

  Didac’s body tightened. No one dared to touch what was his in such a fashion. He nodded to his soldiers to stay calm.

  None of his warriors would stand by and watch anyone more vulnerable than they abused. It was a capital crime in his planet to harm children and women. If that was a custom on earth, he was disgusted. They called their planet Mother Earth, a personification of nature that focused on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. And yet they did nothing to protect their abused women and children. He had read reports on how this was common on earth. Constel·lació did not populate their prison vessels with abusers, and it was instant expulsion if found guilty after being beaten up by a real male.

  A warrior’s job was to protect. Every male on his planet, in any profession, was a warrior. No male, graduated without serving in the army first. Except if they had an ailment that prevented them from doing so which was rare. His kind did not contract any diseases, so easily. Once mated to a Constel·lación, any species would have a stronger immune system and be immortal like them. His men understood what being a male was before committing to a mate. Commitment, honor and discipline and endurance were his creeds, and his warriors shared them with him. A creed that no soldier dared to violate.

  He stilled his features to remain expressionless, but the smell coming from him left no doubt to his people how he felt about the president. Contempt. He despised everything the president did and stood for. From what he understood, Martin Bradford was the Chief Executive of the human race and the commander in chief of the army on Mother Earth under whom all world leaders took their instructions from. This was Ludicrous. How could a male be expected to lead males to war when he himself had never known how it was like to fight and kill for survival? The pain. The smell of death and the machines that caused it, it assaulted all your senses. Noises so loud you felt like an ant under a lawnmower. Most of the humans did not have any idea how long his species lived. It was a long life. He had known war, and he vowed that he would never send his males who were fathers, brothers, mates to war without a cause.

  Didac kicked Bradford on the calf, and he fell to the floor. “I could kill you right now.” Swiftly, Didac brought the point of his blade against his throat. "I won’t kill you because I do not want to repulse my mate before we start our new life together.”

  Vivian knew that as long as she was on Mother Earth and her father still alive, she would never be free. She knew too much. Her father had caught her eavesdropping on his meetings before. And Didac looked intent on having his way with her. What choice did she have?

  All of a sudden Vivian said with a vehemence that stunned Didac. “What do you expect from me? Love?”

  Didac’s plans had been simple. Attack Mother Earth and take over. Kill those who didn’t want to follow him. Leave it to a woman to complicate things. He was never letting her go whether he liked it or not he knew with a conviction that both enraged and stupefied him. ”You won’t believe this now, but I promise you would never feel any hurt with me like you do now. You will be adored, loved like a queen.”

  "Your words or your promises mean nothing. What guarantee do I have?"

  "You can trust me." Didac offered his hand to her to lift her up and to reassure her that he was a male of his word, and she flinched. "You don't want me to touch you; you don't trust me?"

  Yes, I want you to touch me and yes, I trust you, but I have no idea why.

  When Didac had looked at her, she had felt something, alright. Feelings were fickle emotions. She didn’t trust in them at all. ”I don’t know you, why would I?” She answered carelessly. Her words seemed to stun him. Confusion echoed in his features.

  Was this guy for real? On Mother Earth, trust was not given so quickly.

  Silence in the room stretched as the seconds ticked by. She felt so uncomfortable trying to look anywhere but at his groin and lean thighs, uncertainty in her features.

  Everything would be different. Would Constel·lació be similar to Mother Earth? Anxiety set in.

  All sorts of questions bombarded her mind. What was she going to do? If she ran, her mother, brother, sisters, and friends were going to meet their end. She wasn’t willing to take the chance to find out. If she went ahead and married him, was she ever going to see her family again? What was going to happen to her? Would the people of Constel·lació accept her? Was she going to be the only human in Constel·lació? How were his people going to view their marriage? What if they had any children? What were they going to look like? Would they be accepted in any society? Was she willing to let go of her traditions and celebrations?

  “My word is my bond. I am not a human male; I would sacrifice everything for you.”

  “I demand that you marry my daughter here on Mother Earth first as our customs command.”

  The statement from the president proved he was dense and self-righteous. What he should have been doing was kissing his feet. Thanking his daughter that she happened to be his mate and sparing the life he so much loved. Better yet, it was evident that Bradford was an abusive father so he could just ask her daughter if she wanted him dead but he didn’t. Didac felt annoyed.

  “You have no right to make any demands from me.” Didac was in no mood for Bradford’s games. ’What matters is what Vivian desires.”

  Didac offered his hand to lift her up and this time, she accepted. He didn’t let go once she was on her two feet, but lifted her other hand to envelope them in his big ones. ”What do you
want?” He didn’t mince words.

  The question seemed to stun her. ‘Why would you care about what I want?”

  A Constel·lación female would have never questioned him. ”Because I have never been called selfish before.”

  “Wouldn’t you consider forcing a woman to marry you because you want them selfish?”

  ”Vivian, I know you have had no reason to trust, and I think you know deep down that I would never force you to do something you didn’t want to do. You have freedom to make a choice.”

  Vivian’s face softened. He could have just taken her by force. Didac wanted her, but at what price. ”What is the price you are willing to pay for a woman who doesn’t want to be with you?”

  “My heart and my dignity.”

  She found it hard to believe it. ”You don’t strike me as a man who is willing to lose anything.”

  Didac lips pursed in thought, and he finally replied.” You are right. I am not a man who is accustomed to losing, but I am willing to surrender that to you.”

  “Surrendering yourself to anyone is dangerous.How do you know that I would never abuse your heart?”

  “Something tells me that your experiences would ever permit you to do that to another. I have faith that once you see what kind of male I am, it would never occur to you to abuse it.”

  It was foreign to Vivian for someone so powerful to bare their emotions.No one voiced their thoughts and opinions in her father’s house. ”The apple does not fall far from the tree. Your faith in me is misplaced.”

  “Then help me. Restore my faith in the human species.”

  Vivian was speechless. Very few people rarely managed that. Life as Martin Bradford’s daughter guaranteed it.

  She stuttered, “I would prefer just my family and your people to bear witness to our wedding.”

  Didac exhaled, elated by the pact. He had expected more resistance than this. He was going to grant her her request, even if Constel·lacións did not find a formal wedding necessary. Their sense of smell was enhanced, the minute they mated, they smelled like their significant other, and everyone else knew. An elder administered a reception to honor the mating.

  “So be it.” The sooner he got out of this lousy planet, the better. ”My sister will accompany you ladies while you get ready.”

  Vivian laughed mockingly. “What? You think I’m going to run.”

  The female was trying his patience. Her face, eyes and smile transformed under his gaze at that mocking laugh.The way her features sort of lit up was promising. A promise of pleasure. His eyes scanned her up and down. The women in his planet were slender. While she, on the other hand, was bigger bodied but looked fit. Her weight hugged her body in all the right places. It was different. Something he looked forward to exploring.

  The sound of her laughter turned into groans. Tears fell from her face, washing her face like rain water. She cried until it was impossible to stop. Annais stood behind his brother and observed the young female cry. She identified her hysteria for what it was, having gone through the same feelings once. Laughing or crying, it made no difference whether it was from pain or outrage. Her deepest emotions which had been suppressed for so long desperately needed to be released. As a great Empath, the magnificence of the manifestation of the feelings coming from the younger earthling was breathtaking. She was embracing the beauty of her tears, sniffling and choking on her tears for all to see, tears that were rich with despair and utter hopelessness. It was therapeutic. She would feel better afterward.

  The older female who resembled Vivian stepped forward. She was Bradford’s mate and Vivian’s mother by the smell of things. It was clear that the woman was demoralized when her eyes didn’t meet Didac’s. She had purple marks on her face, which could not be disguised by the heavy painting on her face; a clear indication that Bradford’s cruelty was not only limited to his children. Bradford touched her neck in a way that appeared loving but the blanch color on her face indicated otherwise.

  “This is unworthy of a leader, Bradford. Don’t try my patience. You know it’s a good thing that I am a peace loving male. If this were another time, you would know and feel my wrath and wish you were born an animal.” Didac’s eyes never left the older woman’s face. Bradford’s fingers untangled from her neck, the threat unspoken.

  The older women’s eyes glistened with tears. ”I have heard of your reputation as a people. Is it a myth that your people are incapable of cruelty?”

  Didac bowed his head; her regal posture demanded respect. “It is not a myth, my lady, but every species has it’s bad people, in ours less than others.”

  “Swear on your honor as a Constel·lación that you will not harm my daughter.” The older woman sounded desperate.

  “To ask a Constel·lación male, such a request is an insult, my lady.” Annais interrupted, “Harming younglings and females go against the nature of our males.”

  “Then I welcome you to dine with me before you take my daughter away.”

  Didac looked at the female’s face and saw more than she said. She wanted her daughter protected.

  ”Today we feast your welcome and tomorrow we celebrate the wedding to join our two planets together.” Bradford’s voice annoyed Didac. Did the man never know when just to keep his mouth closed?

  Didac mocking laugh filled the room. Why would he spend a night on a planet he barely was familiar with, with a man who had planned his demise? He felt like he owed the woman an explanation. ”With all due respect, my lady, you would understand if I didn’t want to spend the night on your planet.”

  “Of course.”

  “My home is open to you anytime you wish to visit.” Didac held out his arm.” I am not opposed to a drink if my lady wishes.” The lady wrapped her arm around his and led him to the open door of the Whitehouse.

  “I would like that.” She smiled. ”My given name is Michelle, but you can call me mom, after all, you will be my son-in-law.”

  Didac laugh echoed in the atmosphere. Why the woman mated Bradford, he would never understand.

  Chapter 5

  He cares what I think. Vivian’s heart burst with relief when Didac turned to her to ask what she wanted. Everyone knew that this was not a love match. To have everyone watch and gossip was not something she wanted. It was shameful. She couldn’t imagine herself married to a man who didn’t care about how she felt or about her thoughts. A man like her father. Everyone believed that the aliens initiated the attack, but those who intimately knew her father knew better. Martin Bradford was two faced.

  Vivian craned her neck to look up at him. He was tall compared to her five foot frame. James had been tall, but not this tall, being in Didac’s presence made her feel feminine and delicate. His eyes were green; a dazzling, crystal green. It was the depth within them that made them unique. She blinked a few times trying to adjust to the handsomeness of the alien before her.

  Her eyes lowered to his shoulders. They were vigorous and extensive. It made her immediately think protection. Were other parts of his body as big? Her freckled face turned red.

  Being married to him wouldn’t be so bad after all. He had defended her when her father had slapped her, which made him a good man. She wasn’t repulsed by his appearance that could count for something.

  James became a dim memory in the presence of such power. A few weeks earlier, James had taken her to Paris to Ceil De Paris, a high rise restaurant on the fifty-six floor with a magnificent view. They had enjoyed some fine French cuisine with an elegant bottle of champagne. He had blindfolded her and taken her to the balcony for her to see Paris at night. It had all been romantic. He had handed her a bag with a box thinking it was a marriage ring, only to be presented with a box of expensive candy for an anniversary present.

  Seriously. Candy?

  She had given James an ultimatum. Marry her or it was over. She had told James that fantastic sex and romantic getaways were nice, but she wanted to grow up.

  He had seen the disappointment on her face. He ha
d told her he would never propose until he got money for a down payment for a house and promotion. The reasons why they had broken up didn’t seem to matter anymore. In retrospect, financial stability could have taken years or forever. Most people would never marry if they waited for financial stability! She had already given five years of her life to him. She realized he wanted to be responsible about this, but she knew plenty of people that were married and rented an apartment. They budgeted their finances, and they did just fine. Financial stability was an entirely legitimate concern and goal, but she thought he was using it as an excuse. She knew that many divorces happened because of money, but being poor didn’t cause divorces. It tested your mettle, and only healthy, stable marriages survived. Besides, even if you were financially stable, nothing was saying you were going to stay that way. There was a reason the vows said “for richer and for poorer” — you just never knew what was going to happen.

  Vivian shook herself out of her dreamy state.

  She was leaving the only planet she had ever known and the only people she had ever loved. Memories were all she will ever have. She had to be strong.

  What do I call him? “Um. My lord, I have a few requests before we marry.”

  “Vivian, you are not allowed to say anything.” Her father put in.

  Didac fixed him with an icy stare. ”From now on, you do not have any say on what she does or says. She is only accountable to me.”

  A man like Bradford would never appreciate being spoken to like that. But then he had no choice. Okay, he had one, speak or die. He kept his mouth zipped.

  “Just make it fast. I want to be out of here before sundown.” Didac’s curt reply almost made her back down.

  “I would like to bring my sister and brother along.”

  “That’s it.” Didac looked at the female and the male standing with her mother. The young female had a really strange color. “Yes.”