by Regine Abel
“A General!” Her eyes widened. “Wow,” she whispered. She chewed her lip, eyes cast down for a few seconds. An indefinable look crossed her features again – almost like a mix of hope and awe. “Please, go on.”
“A few months ago, both my parents and brother were killed in a shuttle accident.” I cleared my throat to silence the pain of their loss, creeping into my voice. “As the last male of my bloodline, I once again hold the family title and lands. But I’m a soldier, not a farmer. Luckily, my cousin has been there for me. Since my father had a seat on the Council, as his heir, my time is divided between running my family’s estate, my general duties, and my Council duties.” I tried to keep my voice matter-of-fact. I wanted to impress her but didn’t want to sound like a pompous, egotistical ass.
She gently put her hand over mine and gave it an electrifying squeeze. The unexpected contact delighted me. Xelixians didn’t touch in public, but I didn’t care. She touched me of her own free will and wasn’t repulsed by me. Amalia tilted her head and gave me an understanding smile.
“Family is everything in times of hardship. Like you, I’m the eldest of two. Both my mother and baby sister died. It was my Nana that helped me through the loss.”
Cautiously, I turned my hand over so her palm rested against mine. Her gaze flicked to our hands but she didn’t pull back. I carefully intertwined our fingers, studying her face as I did to see if she would object. When I stopped, she stared at our hands a second more before folding her fingers over mine.
“Why do you want a mate?” she whispered.
That hit me in the gut. This was the moment I would either win or lose her. Various scenarios of what I could say crossed my mind, but her unswerving stare told me she wouldn’t want flowery prose or flattering nonsense. However ugly or self-serving it may be, she would want the truth. I took a deep breath and took the plunge.
“There are many reasons I want a mate. The most obvious being that a mate would help stop or maybe even reverse my Taint.” I gestured at my body. “Instead of a forty year life expectancy, I could hope to go beyond a hundred and thirty. Another important reason concerns the Property Law. Unmated males must forfeit all lands and titles once they reach a certain age – which is only two months away for me. I’m also the last male of my house. I must mate and have heirs to continue our bloodline. So those are the practical reasons.”
I put my left hand over hers and gently caressed her knuckles with my thumb.
“Then there are the personal reasons. I want someone to cherish and who’ll love me in return; not because duty says so, but because she chooses to. I want a partner and a friend with whom I can be as I feel inside, not the stiff general or councilor I’m expected to be. I want to kiss her rounded belly as she swells with my unborn offspring. I want to hear the laughter of our children as she yells in outrage at their antics, demanding that I discipline them. Which I won’t, of course,” I amended with a naughty grin. “I want the same kind of happiness my parents had. I want to love my offspring as fiercely as my parents loved us and I want them to experience the same brotherly love I shared with Vahl. All of these reasons, Amalia, practical and personal, are why I want a mate.”
Of all the ways she could have reacted to my declaration, placing her hand against my cheek was the least expected. Closing my eyes, I leaned into her touch. I slowly opened my eyes as her thumb brushed my lips. I covered her hand with my own, pressing it more tightly against my face. I turned my face to kiss her palm. She stiffened. For a moment, I feared my boldness offended her, but she didn’t look upset. Her heated face and her shy smile spoke more of innocence.
Her features softened as she dropped her hand. “Do you wish to ask me any questions?”
All the unbidden questions bubbled inside me. “Those markings are amazing. I thought you were Terran at first. Would you tell me about yourself and your people? I don’t think I’ve ever encountered your species before.”
She opened her mouth to answer but gasped, startled by the bright chiming sound that resonated through the Hall. “What was that?”
“It’s the warning bell that the Selection concludes in the next fifteen minutes.”
Her eyes widened. Looking around the room, she noticed all the females gathered around the central altar with their chosen. Or rather, those that remained, since four of them left without selecting a mate once the Primes had pledged themselves to other females. She wrung her hands.
“But…but…are we…are we out of time?” she asked, her voice rising.
I tried to sound reassuring. “There is still time Amalia if you wish to make a selection.”
“I do! I do! But… I didn’t even answer any of your questions. You don’t know anything about me.” She glanced around the room again, agitated.
Did she think I might not accept her over that? It would have been endearing was I not panicking too and struggling to hide it. I needed, more than anything, for her to speak those blessed words. Even though it wasn’t our way, I took both her hands in mine and stared into her eyes, willing her to calm.
“I know quite a few things about you actually,” I said with conviction. “I know that you’re not materialistic or power hungry, because such a beautiful, exotic Pearl as you would have had her first pick of the Primes. Yet you didn’t even spare them a glance. I know that you are compassionate because you didn’t avert your eyes or slink away in disgust as Tainted males paraded before you. And when you look at me, I know that you see a male, not a walking disease. I know that you share some of my dreams by the way your eyes lit up when I told you of my personal reasons to want a mate. I don’t know all of you, Amalia, but I love what I know so far. Anything else you want me to know, you can have a lifetime to show me if you wish it.”
For a moment, her eyes filled with tears that she quickly blinked away. Her lips quivered before blossoming into a trembling smile.
“I do wish it,” she said shakily before taking a deep breath. “Khel of House Praghan, I would fasten with you if you would have me. Do you consent?”
I almost swallowed my tongue, hearing the words I thought would never be spoken to me, least of all, by such a beauty. I didn’t bother hiding from my voice the emotion that threatened to choke me.
“Amalia, I would fasten with you and claim you as my mate, from this day until my last.”
CHAPTER 5
Amalia
When I first entered the Fastening Hall, I didn’t know if I could go through with this. Seeing Khel and speaking with him changed that. I felt an instant connection and loved the careful way he turned my comforting gesture into an intimate moment of holding hands. I felt safe with him. It also blew my mind that he was a General. It felt like a sign from the Goddess. His candor when I asked him why he wanted a mate, ultimately convinced me. He needed me for his personal benefit, just like I needed him for my own. However, we both also wanted something deeper; friendship, love and family. My gut told me we could have that together. So I claimed him, then walked in a daze back to the central altar.
The Fastening Ceremony was disappointing. I didn’t expect this expedited formality. All couples faced each other in a semi-circle on the central altar around Magister Zhef who presided over the ceremony. Next, we simultaneously repeated a series of insipid lines about commitment, duty and loyalty. Finally, he approached each couple and had us repeat the Fastening claim. He wrapped a silver cloth over our joined hands symbolizing the binding of our lives.
The end.
Xelixians should learn from the Terrans. Their weddings looked awesome.
The males were ushered back to the antechamber where the unchosen males had already left to dress. In the meantime, Magister Zhef went to great lengths explaining the laws and rights of mated females. It took all my willpower to focus on his words, dazed as I was by my new circumstances.
The gist: once mated, males could never repudiate the female except if she endangered his life by refusing to mate with him at least once a week. He also had to
provide for all the basic necessities, whether or not she earned professional income on her own. I felt a little bad for the males. It seemed pretty one-sided, but it worked for me.
The female was obligated to remain with the male for a two month Trial. She was expected to consummate their union once a day for the first week, then at least once a week thereafter. However, she could leave her mate after the Trial for whatever reason, forfeiting any rights to his estate. That said, if the female was abused, the Trial could be immediately voided.
This all sounded great in theory, but the bit about consummating the union kicked me in the gut. I had deliberately ignored that part of the Fastening because I wasn’t ready to deal with it. Reality had other ideas, though, and it was catching up to me, big time.
At last, the males returned to us for the final step: signing the Fastening Contract for the Hall of Records. Khel and I waited our turn when I noticed the persistent way one of the Primes eyed me. His mate was the Xelixian Prime female. When our eyes met, his expression turned leering. That little prick! I glared, lifting my chin defiantly and pressed myself against Khel’s side. His arm instantly wrapped around me, pulling me closer.
“Lost something, Dervhen?” Khel snarled, leveling the leering asshole with a murderous stare.
“Me? Not at all Praghan,” he responded with a smirk. “But I bet you will once your Trial is over. Enjoy it while you can,” he added, giving me one last glance before moving up to the altar to answer the clerk’s questions.
His mate threw a venomous look at me before strutting after him. The anger on Khel’s face scared me and I instinctively pressed a calming hand over his chest. He clenched his teeth, but to my relief, he let it go. I didn’t want to cause a scene. We approached the clerk after Dervhen. I noticed he lingered within hearing range. A sense of unease caused my stomach to flutter.
“State your full name and lineage,” the clerk asked without looking up from his desk.
“Khel Praghan, first born son of Dhak Praghan my Xelixian father, and Vhena Trebahn, my Xelixian mother.”
“Thank you. Please state your full name and lineage,” the clerk asked me.
For a moment, I thought of lying. But I knew of no other species with my markings. It would only be a matter of hours, at best days, before I was found out. I didn’t want to risk my Fastening being invalidated on a technicality.
“Amalia Valis, first born daughter of Sevina Fein, my Veredian mother, and Eryon Valis, my Korlethean father.”
The clerk blinked and stared at me in an uncomfortable silence. I noticed Dervhen also stared with a shocked expression that quickly turned speculative. This didn’t bode well. The clerk cleared his throat, dragging my attention back to him.
“Did you say Veredian?” he asked, his voice a smidge too polite. His eyes paused on my markings. “I thought that species extinct over two generations ago.”
“My mate said Veredian. You heard correctly,” Khel said in a clipped tone. “Is there a problem? Are you questioning her statement?” He leaned on his fists over the clerk’s desk.
I could imagine Khel looking this way during his duties as General. His brawny shoulders towered over the clerk who shrank back in fear. Stuttering an apology, he quickly entered the information on the form for us to sign. I felt a twinge of pride as I stole a glance at Khel. Part of me thought I should be intimidated but instead, a pleasant warmth spread in the pit of my stomach with a strange tingle in my girly bits. I schooled my features so I didn’t come across as smug, but Khel’s instinctive display of ‘don’t mess with my female’ had touched something vulnerable in me that hungered for a champion.
Khel put his hand on the small of my back to guide me toward the exit. The whole time, Prime Dervhen’s eyes followed us. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed aspirant Kirnhan standing at the entrance, visibly waiting for someone. He was covered with a Tainted cloak but the hood was down. He would never know how close I had come to picking him. Watching him standing on his pedestal, I’d been floored by his breathtaking beauty and how utterly broken he seemed. Something about him called to my soul. He had that look I had seen so many times before in The Revenant’s captives. A look that says you are trapped, yet have no choice but to endure. The one when you beg the Goddess to give you the strength to withstand the cruelty of a master, the bite of his whip, or the abuse of a taskmaster because soon it would be over, at least for today.
It saddened me to see him standing alone. I didn’t regret choosing Khel. My conversation with him and his protectiveness had reinforced my conviction that I had made the right choice. Yet, looking at aspirant Kirnhan, I wished that… I’m not sure what I wished.
I paused as Fihn returned my coat. While thanking him, I was surprised to see aspirant Kirnhan approach us with an affectionate smile. Khel’s hand fell away from my back as he marched toward him. My jaw dropped when they hugged each other in a fierce, powerful embrace. Others frowned at the physical display. Was it not okay to show affection in public?
“Congratulations, cousin!” aspirant Kirnhan said. “No other male deserves this happiness as much as you.”
“Thank you, brother. Thank you for everything.” Khel turned toward me, extending me a hand. “Amalia, please meet Lhor. He’s my cousin by blood, but the brother of my heart.”
“Seha Amalia, it’s an honor.” Lhor placed his right hand over his heart and slightly bowed his head. “Long life and the blessing of the Goddess upon you.”
I grabbed Khel’s hand. “The honor is mine, Lhor.” I was grateful that he didn’t make me feel awkward because I hadn’t chosen him. So Lhor was his first name. Beautiful name for a beautiful male. Why didn’t they also put the first names above the pedestals? We weren’t only choosing a bloodline, we were choosing a male. My stomach fluttered when our eyes met, so I quickly averted mine. My mind reeled at the realization he was Khel’s kin.
Lhor gave Khel an inquisitive look. “If you’re both ready, I can fly us home.”
“Yes, let’s go. I cannot wait to show you your new home, Amalia.”
* * *
Lhor piloted the sleek private shuttle that flew us to Khel’s estate in the Xelhan District. It took an hour to reach our destination. Lhor flew slowly and took detours so Khel could show me different landmarks. When the estate came into view, my jaw dropped in awe. It was massive! Tall, light grey fences surrounded the vast property. The estate itself was an elegant, three-story mansion with gleaming white walls and huge, dark grey windows. Beyond it, as far as the eye could see, endless rows of red fruit trees rustled in the wind.
When we landed, three dozen warriors wearing form-fitting dark uniforms greeted us on the landing pad. For the first time, I felt intimidated and out of place. On Gruuk’s ship, on the various space stations we visited and even in Capital District, there was a great variety of aliens. For the first time, I was the only one different. Here I was, mated to a stranger, on a foreign planet, in a fenced estate in the middle of Goddess only knew where, and surrounded by a squadron of fierce looking aliens with grey skin. My throat felt too dry to swallow.
“Come, my Amalia,” Khel said softly, sensing my mounting distress. “There’s nothing to fear. This is your new home.” Turning to his warriors, he raised his voice. “These males are the finest among the Xelixian army and every last one of them would give their life to keep you safe. Warriors, meet my mate, Amalia Praghan!”
The warriors erupted in a loud roar, startling me. The group of warriors parted, opening a path for Khel to walk me through their ranks and up to the mansion. The door slid open and an older Xelixian couple welcomed us with a deferential bow.
Khel pointed to the older couple. “Amalia, please meet Jhola, our housekeeper, and her mate Sivh, our groundskeeper. Jhola, Sivh, please welcome my mate, Amalia.”
“Seha Praghan, it’s delightful to meet you.” Jhola’s dark green eyes misted with joy. Her thin, wizened face turned to Khel with a proud, motherly expression. “Oh General, she’s incredibly
lovely.”
My cheeks heated at the compliment and I bit my lips in embarrassment. Khel beamed at the praise and cast a proud, possessive look on me. I felt my throat tighten with emotion at the intensity of his stare. Striding into the house, Lhor saluted the older couple.
“Jhola, something smells amazing! Please say you have something for us poor souls.”
“I most certainly do!” she said with a smug grin. “You must all be famished after such an eventful day! Seha Praghan, I hope you’ll enjoy the meal.”
I scrunched my face. “Please, call me Amalia. I’m not much for formality and I’m sure whatever you prepared will be delicious.” I didn’t like being deferred to. It made me feel too much like the masters. “Lhor is right, something smells good.”
My stomach chose that moment to growl in agreement. We all laughed—me with a smidge of embarrassment—and followed Jhola to the dining area. I took an instant liking to her. The warmth of her welcome, her motherly affection toward Khel and Lhor, and her playfulness reminded me of my Nana. My chest tightened, wishing she was with me as I started this new life.
The entrance hall was a spacious, circular room flooded with light. Like in the seamstress’ apartment, the furniture and decorations were sparse but refined. As expected, everything from walls to floors and furnishing was a greyish hue, from very light to semi-dark. I needed to ask Khel about the Xelixians’ obsession with monochrome.
A wide hallway led us to a large formal dining room. An immense table that could easily seat twenty guests occupied the center of the room. Ceiling-high windows revealed a breathtaking natural pond-swimming-pool that ran the length of the house. Clear green water cascaded down massive rocks bleached by the suns and provided a nice splash of color against the light beige grass. I didn’t know how to swim, but one look at that pool convinced me I needed to learn.