by Maia Starr
We kissed again. We kissed over and over until I felt like I was going to pass out.
“Let me see to that arm now,” I said pulling away.
He groaned. “Do we have to now? I have other needs, you know,” he said looking down at his crotch.
“Yes, now. We don't want it to get infected. Follow me to the washroom,” I said.
I cleaned his wound and bandaged it and prepared a bath for him. I washed the dirt and blood of war off of him. I realize that some of this blood was not only his own, but it was also the blood of the father of my child. I felt some guilt in depriving Jenku Vade of his child, but I knew it was the best for the child. Being raised by a monster, he would only turn my child into a monster as well. That would be something that would break my heart and that I could not be strong enough for. I knew that this was for the best.
The next day after the aftermath of the battle was in control, and the wounded were being treated, I was called in front of the leaders with Trent. I was worried. Something told me they knew.
“Ambassador Gaines, it has come to our attention that you were the slave of Jenku Vade. That his raid yesterday was in order to get you back,” Leader Nizok said.
I took a deep breath. I had to come clean and tell them everything.
“It is true. I was the slave of Jenku Vade, but I did not know that he would launch such a raid in order to get me back. I apologize, and I am ready to receive whatever punishment you see fit to give me.”
“Leaders, if I may. This is not the ambassador's fault. It is an act of treason by one of our own.”
There was a commotion over the audience as well as the leaders. I looked at Trent in shock. What was he doing?
“This is an act of treason from a female Zenkian that has been scorned, and because of that she betrayed us,” Trent went on.
“This female was the one that informed the Waysaw scouts that the human was among us. She told the scouts that the human had become an ambassador and was the reason that we had a new agreement with Earth. That was why they came for her. They thought that if they could take her back that it would break our agreement with Earth. The ambassador would be seen as a traitor and a Waysaw spy to the humans on Earth. That was why they launched such a raid.”
“I understand, Commander, and who is this female Zenkian that you speak of?” Leader Nizok said. I suddenly felt very sorry for Malaya, but what she had done was treachery, and it cost lives.”
“Malaya. I caught her myself after we chased that patrol the other day back over to the Waysaw lines. I went to the place where that patrol was parked and found her leaving the area. She then informed me that she had told the Waysaw about the human.”
There was commotion and shock once again.
“And why would she do such a thing? Malaya has always been a loyal Grantsion. She is a true rebel. She has treated many wounded before.”
“There was a reason that made her turn,” Trent said as he looked at me. I realized what he was about to do, and I braced myself.
“It was out of jealousy. Malaya had her heart set on me, to my surprise. I did not feel the same way about her. When she found out that my heart was set on this human, she turned on me. This was an act of vengeance against this human because I am in love with her.”
There was commotion again.
“And where is Malaya now?”
“I have searched the village for her. I have not been able to locate her. My guess is that she vacated the village after I discovered what she had done.”
“Send out an alert for all those on the lookout for Malaya. She is a wanted criminal now. Her acts were selfish and cost many lives. She must be brought before us,” leader Nizok said to the advisors near him. They nodded in agreement and began to type some things into a tablet.
“As for you, Commander, you have also broken the rules,” leader Nizok said.
“I am aware of my actions. I am ready to take the consequences. But this is no fault of the ambassador's. It was all my doing. She was not the reason for this raid, other than the betrayal of Malaya letting them know that she had become an ambassador negotiating this pact between Earth and us. She is free of any guilt. She is very important here. She is the bond that holds this agreement with Earth together. It is important that she continue in her position. As far as my punishment, let it be known that I am aware that I broke the rules and the punishment you give me, whatever it may be, is just,” Trent said.
The leaders looked at themselves. Then Nizok said, “You know that the punishment for interactions of intimacy with humans is banishment. We have no choice but to also offer you this punishment.”
“I understand,” Trent said.
“No!” I shouted. I did not plan on it, but I could not help myself. I would not watch them banish him.
“Let it be known that I am with child. Trent is the father of this child. If you are going to banish him, then I will go with him. Your agreement with Earth will be void.”
“You are putting us in an unusual circumstance, Ambassador,” Nizok said.
“Changes must happen when change is happening,” I said.
The leaders looked at each other and then Marca said, “You must excuse us while we convene on this. This session will resume tomorrow morning.”
Trent and I look at each other as the leaders left the chamber. Then we turned and walked out. All eyes were on us. We were like circus freaks because we were suddenly seen differently. We were romantically connected, and it was forbidden among the Zenkians.
We finally made it to his dwelling and did not leave again.
“Why did you say those things?” I asked him.
“The same reason you declared the child inside of you was mine. It is us against everything else now. We have to do whatever we can to stay together, and I did not want them to punish you, even if it meant that I would be punished,” he said.
“Yes, but your punishment was them taking you away from me,” I said.
“I know, and that is something I was not prepared to endure, but the most important thing was your safety and the agreement with Earth,” he said.
“I understand, but I don’t want to be here without you,” I said.
“Which is why you said what you said to the leaders. That was a ballsy thing to say,” he said.
“I meant every word. If they banish you, I will go with you, and they would have to deal with the Earth agreement on their own and their sudden loss of the human ambassador,” I said.
“Which we both know they are not going to let happen,” he said.
“Precisely,” I said with a grin.
“You are very clever, aren’t you?” he said.
“I try to be,” I said. “Now, no more talk of this. If this is our last night in the village before we are banished like outlaws, then let us make the most of this time with your bed,” I said.
“That sounds like a good plan to me. Though I am injured,” he said, grabbing his arm. “So you are going to have to be on top, I am afraid.”
I laughed. “I think I can manage that,” I said as I untied the dress from around my neck and let it slip off of me to the floor.
He sighed. “I think I am going to need help with this uniform, too.”
“Yes, Commander; is that an order?” I asked playfully.
“Yes, it is,” he said.
I smiled and then got on my tiptoes to reach the zipper on this chest. I pulled it down and helped him out of the top, and then I took off his boots and trousers. I led him over to the bed.
We made love that night, with me on top, as he wished. But it was different this time. This time there were no secrets between us. This time the whole village knew that we were together.
The next morning we stood in front of the leaders again. We would now know our fate.
“Commander Trent Qoln, you have put us in a position that does not allow us to give you the standard punishment for the rules that you have broken. In fact, this is new territory for us Grantsi
ons. We have never had a human living among us and we have never had one that was pregnant by a Grantsion Zenkian either. Therefore, in light of this news and the unique position that the human Samantha Gaines has as Earth ambassador, we are going to allow you to stay here in the Grantsion village,” Leader Nizok said.
I was so relieved and a big smile came upon my face.
“You have proven yourself an excellent commander and you took down the Commander Jenku Vade, who has led many raids on us. You found out the treachery of Malaya on your own, and therefore you are a valuable soldier to this military. You shall stay on as Commander,” Leader Marca added.
“Thank you, Leaders. I will not fail you. I will protect Grantsion and I will protect the ambassador. As you said, she is important to this pact with Earth. I would give my life to protect her,” Trent said.
His words warmed my heart. I wanted to kiss him right then and there.
“And as to protecting Ambassador Gaines, and that she is with child, we see fit that you should claim her, if she will have you. We do not deal in human slavery the ways the Waysaw do. If she will have you then you two have permission to be joined in a marital union,” Leader Nizok said.
“Yes, I do accept,” I blurted out. Everyone seemed to restrain a chuckle at my eagerness but I could not help it.
“You heard the Ambassador. We accept your blessing and wished to be joined as soon as possible,” Trent said, clearing his throat.
“That is understood. Now everyone is dismissed and let us salute the commander for his bravery on the battlefield,” Leader Marca said.
Trent stood proudly as all around him saluted him. I was so impressed with him. He was truly a hero; my alien hero.
A week later, we were married in the Grantsion marital ceremony. A week after that, the first Grantsion Zenkian battalion left for Earth where they would begin the fight against the invading Waysaw.
It was more than I could have imagined. Not only did I have a child on the way that would be the first Zenkian hybrid the Grantsions had ever seen, but I also had a loving husband that would accept this child as his own and raise him in goodness, kindness, and honor. Then I also had my important position as Ambassador for Earth and was getting Earth the help it needed to begin an even fight against the Waysaw. It was a long road ahead but I would be walking down that road with my alien lover, Commander Trent Qoln.
The End
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Jaize-Verian Mates
(Verian Mates)
By Stella Sky
Chapter 1
Commander Jaize Lorna
“It would have been a beautiful baby girl,” Doctor Trelas said, shaking his head sadly. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
I could feel my heart constrict tightly, and I almost didn’t dare to look at my wife. This was the third child we’d lost in four years, and yet Malnia insisted on continuing to try.
It was not an uncommon thing these days, to lose a child, and many speculated that it was something in the air that made the Verian babies susceptible to premature death. But Malnia was convinced that it had everything to do with me and blamed me mercilessly for the loss of our children.
“Thank you, doctor,” Malnia said, her voice cool and composed. It was a tone that scared me. She was furious, not distraught, about the loss of her child. And I knew exactly where she was going to turn that vengeance when the doors were closed and the doctor was out of sight.
“My condolences,” Doctor Trelas said with a deep bow. “I will have to take the child with me to prepare it for ceremony. Would you like a few moments?”
I opened my mouth – I would have very much liked to hold my child close for the first and last time – but before I could speak, Malnia’s cold voice pierced through the room.
“Please, just take her,” she said, casting an icy look upon me. “I’m tired of losing children.”
I cringed, feeling somehow solely to blame for this tragedy. I couldn’t blame my wife for being upset, of course, but if it truly was my seed that prevented any of our children from being born with breath in their bodies, then why would the same thing be happening to so many other Verians on our planet? It seemed unfair of her to blame me, but with the tragedies she had been forced to endure because of my physical interest in her, it was hardly my place to defend myself.
“Of course, Yula Lorna.”
The doctor carried the child away, and I watched helplessly as he disappeared from my home with the youngest of my stillborn children bundled in his arms.
“I would have liked to have seen her,” I said to Malnia.
“What is the point anymore? Another tragedy? Another child we will never watch grow into an adult?” Malnia’s voice was quaking with rage. “I should never have let you touch me again!”
“You wanted to try for another child,” I reminded my wife bitterly. “All of this was your own idea. You cannot possibly find blame in me.”
Malnia’s dark eyes fixed upon me, and a chill went down my spine. “It is our duty as Verians to provide children. Our population crisis demands it. And you know how we dreamed of starting a family when we were married.”
“That was six years ago,” I sighed. “We should know by now that it is nothing but heartache to continue trying.”
Malnia’s face was stony, and I felt my soul shrivel beneath her gaze. “I will serve my people. You answer to my father as much as I do, so you should know very well that failure is not an option. Not even in what used to be private family affairs. We need an heir.”
Malnia struggled to her feet, too proud to tell me to leave her be, and walked slowly, painfully, out the door. I watched her go, knowing better by now not to try to help her or tell her to lie back down in case she hurt herself. She was a stubborn Yula, raised by a man with a will of iron into a Yula who could bring any man to his knees. Sometimes I worried I might have forgotten what it was that I had seen in her. Time certainly had changed Malnia just as surely as it had changed the nature of our relationship. Perhaps we had only wanted to be together because, at the time, it was so forbidden.
I sighed heavily and glanced down at my watch. Malnia’s father would be expecting a report from me soon. As the Yul of the house, I was supposed to be the one less affected by the tragic state of our stillborn children, but lately it had seemed more and more to me that Malnia was more bothered by what she perceived to be my lack of fertility than the lives of the children that we lost together.
This thought left me feeling disturbed as I headed to the door and dressed myself for the gloomy trek. I wore the coat of my regimen – gold and silver – and the hood that covered my face as a sign of mourning.
Was Malnia mourning our children? Or was she simply angry that she had married a Yul who could not bear her children? What was it, exactly, that she expected of me? Perhaps I would never know.
***
“Jaize! It’s about time!”
The second in command stood upright at his desk as I entered his office. As usual, it smelled like the relics of the planet Earth that were displayed upon his walls. Like dirt.
“Greetings, Commander Karhal.”
Malnia’s father frowned and studied me closely. “I judge by your tone that it is not good news.”
“I would have guessed that you would judge by my hood.”
“Well, you’re meant to wear that out of grief for a good while after the loss of any child,” the commander said, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “It could have been on account of the last that was lost. Anyway, how is my Yula doing?”
“The same as she was the last time.”
The commander nodded. “She’s a fighter.”
“That’s the truth.”
I hoped that my bitterness wouldn’t show in my voice, and whether it did or not, the commander mercifully
ignored it.
“Well, I have some news that might cheer you up. I have a mission for you. It should be enough to take your mind off of the events of today.”
“A mission, sir?” I asked.
“We’ve heard rumors of a nuclear weapon on Earth that may be powerful enough to wipe out an entire fleet of our men. They’ve been searching, and we can’t stop sending troops in at this point. The battle has reached a critical stage. We need you to go down in stealth mode and locate the weapon. Disable it before it takes down more good men.”
“Of course, Yul Karhal. When will I be deployed?”
“Right now, if you wish. I can send the news to Malnia so you two can say a proper good bye.”
I frowned. “I don’t think she’s in the mood to talk right now, but please send her my best. I can leave right away.”
Commander Karhal nodded, and I sensed an unkind mirth in his eyes. “Trouble with the Yula?”
I knew the man had been angry that I’d bedded and wed his daughter. Being my boss, it had been quite the scandal at the time, but he liked to pretend that he was over his resentment toward me. Clearly, though, he wasn’t, and it seemed funny that the two of us could try to get along. He was my superior, and my father in law, and that was the end of it.