Venan: A Paranormal Sci-Fi Alien Romance: Albaterra Mates Book 7 (The End)

by Ashley L. Hunt

  Edie crossed her arms and glared at me defiantly. “I'm not going to let you think like that,” she said sternly. “You're psyching yourself out. He's a completely different species, Octavia. What they normally do at the end of a date could be completely different than what we do at the end of a date. Hell, I don't even know if A’li-uud do dates. Maybe to them everything starts with a friendship.”

  I frowned. Venan was nice enough, but I didn't want a friendship with him. I had a crush on him; I wanted to try for more.

  “I guess I got my hopes up after he'd leaned in at the table,” I acknowledged woefully.

  The petite girl curled her legs beneath her body and sat upon her knees. She grabbed my shoulders, shook me slightly, and said, “You need to ask him out.”

  “What?” I explained, pulling back from her a bit. “I can't do that!”

  “Sure you can. Just ask him to take a walk or something.”

  “Edie, he's an Elder. I'm pretty sure that would be stepping over some kind of boundary.” I hesitated before adding, “And, to be honest, I'm kind of an old-fashioned girl. I like when the guy does the asking out. I don't think I'd be comfortable doing it.”

  She tilted her head, considered me, and then said pointedly, “Well, you have two choices. You can sit in this house and wonder until you're old and gray if he's interested, or you can take a chance and ask him out and find out once and for all if he likes you or not.”

  As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Venan

  Had Sevani failed to offer a forewarning, I would have found myself extraordinarily alarmed to witness the sight I encountered upon entering the Novai camp. No longer were the beings of a sickly-white hue with no eyes to be seen and ribbons of lank, inky hair. Their gaits had transformed from slinky and stealthy to powerful and confident, and even their posture had changed into straight-backed assertiveness. Eyes of scarlet, rose, amber, and even gold met the other Elders and me as we stepped through the colony entrance. I found my gaze drawn to bits of skin ranging in color from rich browns to ashen grays to pitch black and featuring patches of scale-like growths.

  These were not the Novai with whom I had become familiar. As strands of silken hair streaked with any color the imagination could create whipped to and fro as heads turned to greet us, I felt as if I had stepped into a den of strange alien creatures on an entirely different planet. If not for the muggy Pentaban air, I likely could have been convinced I had been transported out of my galaxy.

  Even their faces no longer bore the expressions of sinister evil. They still looked just as fearsome as always, and they still possessed their unique facial ridges that led many to appear angry or disgruntled, but the inherent malice I had once observed on their visages was completely absent. I did not feel threatened in their lair, but I did feel enough intimidation from their numbers to mind my behavior.

  As the thought of their numbers crossed my mind, I swung my glances from side to side and silently counted every colonist I could see. When the Novai had first established their temporary settlement, there had been approximately a hundred of them to populate the camp. Based on my observations now, however, I deduced the sun-sickness had eliminated over three-quarters of their group. Only a measly seventeen were within my range of sight, and, as Sevani was a thorough leader, I could not imagine there were many more—if any—who were not present for this Council update. It also did not escape my notice that every survivor before me was male, and I allowed myself to revisit the memory of venturing into space to board the Novai mothership only to realize I had seen very few females onboard. For the first time, it occurred to me that the Novain interest in making Albaterra their permanent home may not have been for the land alone; perhaps they were seeking to make with our kind as well, to perpetuate their species before utter extinction took them.

  “You can see the Novai have undergone some extreme changes to their physique,” Sevani said, sweeping an arm behind him toward the alien standers-by. “We have known for some time they indeed have eyes after assuming for so long they were a blind race, but we have also come to discover their skin is pigmented and they are both haired and scaled.” He motioned with a single finger for the nearest Novai to approach our group. “Cosmetic details, you might assume, but the impact of these discoveries leads to something much greater. If there are no objections, I would like to alter this meeting to the Novai language, as I wish them to understand what follows.”

  No objections arose, and I clenched my teeth in anticipation of the horrible screeching sound that made up the Novain language. Sevani turned to the roan male who had drawn up beside him, opened his mouth, and I braced myself.

  What I heard stunned me into gaping blankly at the Elder and the Novai.

  No screeches poured from Sevani’s throat like the raw shrieks of impending death. Not even the highest-pitched noise he made was of an octave to tingle the hairs on my neck. Instead, the sound I heard was deep, raw, and almost pleasant. It was like a series of hums, low intonations, and growls. I could have easily fallen asleep to the gentle lullaby of what had apparently become the Novain language.

  “I would like you to exhibit your transformation to the Council,” Sevani told the alien.

  He looked back at Sevani a little begrudgingly, cast an equally begrudging glance in the direction of myself and the other Elders, and said coolly, “I have not yet mastered the control to change on a whim.”

  “What do you need to change?” came Sevani’s diplomatic reply.

  “The only trigger I have identified is anger,” the Novai told him. “And I do not wish to become angry solely to appease your curiosity.”

  “It is imperative the Council witness your transformation,” Sevani said firmly. “If you would like a moment to compose yourself, I am happy to grant you such, but the Council will not leave here today without fully understanding the new developments of yourself and your people.”

  Vi’den took a step forward, and, though I could not see his face, I was certain he wore an expression of calm understanding and gentle acceptance. “What is your name?” he asked the Novai respectfully.

  A pair of eyes as red as his lips turned from Sevani to Vi’den, and a moment of silence passed before the Novai replied, “Balor.”

  “Thank you for meeting with us, Balor,” Vi’den expressed. “I understand it may not be easy for you to do what Elder Sevani is requesting, but I would be deeply grateful if you would oblige us to the best of your ability. The Council's only interest is the well-being of our citizens and our colonists alike, and that includes you and your campmates.”

  Balor frowned, but he nodded in understanding and stepped back. I stared at him, prepared to see anything and nothing at once, entirely uncertain what I was to witness. He looked out into oblivion, his eyes unfocusing and becoming blurry, either with rapid vibration or visual detachment. He began to swell, his chest puffing out and his shoulders rolling back. It was as if he was studying himself for a fight. Then, he bent at the knees just as Elders did prior to leaping into the wind and traveling across thousands of miles in an instant. While travel was a gift bestowed only upon A’li-uud Elders, his stance was so identical I almost believed he was to demonstrate his own ability to wind travel. His mouth opened wide, revealing his blindingly-white teeth, and for the first time, I realized just how sharp Novai teeth actually were. A roar rolled from his throat, tumbling over his tongue and into the air to pummel my eardrums. The deep cry was met with an inexplicable tearing sound, a noise of ripping flesh and separating bone.

  Without warning, massive wings burst from his shoulder blades, and his skin erupted into the very same patches of scales randomly patterning his complexion. His eyes blazed, his snout lengthened, and I realized I was staring into the face of a dragon.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Octavia

  Even though it was my day off, after Edie left, I felt a need to get out of my house. She gave me a lot to think a
bout with her suggestion to ask Venan out on a date, but I was beginning to obsess just like I had after being abandoned on the dance floor at the wedding. So, in an effort to avoid spending my entire day off thinking about if I should ask Venan out or just wait around to see if he asked me, I decided I wouldn't have a day off at all and headed to my salon.

  The other two girls were there, as there were always two available during the day hours. When they saw me enter, they greeted me, but there was little in the way of chatty conversation. I liked my co-workers, but we weren't what I would consider friends the way I considered Edie a friend. Usually, our interactions were limited to hello, goodbye, and discussions about clients; they certainly weren't people I would go to when I needed to vent.

  Since it was my day off, I didn't have any clients booked, but I went to my chair anyway and began preparing my supplies as if I was about to have a very busy day. It was already halfway through the workday, and the salon closed when the night fell, but I couldn't help myself. I didn't want to sit in my house alone mulling over every possible detail of whatever my thing was with Venan, and Edie had left an hour ago because her Corporal was supposedly finished with his shift. As I set out my various combs and brushes, I realized with a wry smile that I didn't actually know his name. She never said it; she merely referred to him as her Corporal. I stifled a chuckle of amusement as I wondered if she even knew his name herself.

  The door opened, and I looked up, hoping to see a walk-in without an appointment. I recognized the entrant at once. It was Phoebe, the bride at the wedding I'd attended with Edie. And, following closely behind her, was the groom, the A’li-uud whose face was identical to Venan’s.

  My heart leaped into my throat. I might have left my house and come to work because I didn't want to think about Venan, but to see his brother come into my salon gave me a speck of hope I didn't realize I even had that he had a message for me from his twin. After all, the last time an A’li-uud had come in, it had been to tell me that Venan wanted me to come over for dinner.

  “I don't have an appointment,” Phoebe said. Immediately, just as quickly as my heart had left, it sank. They weren't here with a message. “Would I still be able to get a cut today?”

  The other two stylists were already working on clients, so I stepped forward to address the question. “Sure,” I told her. “Come on over.”

  She walked to my chair, and I waited until she sat to flap the wrinkles from the cape and drape it across her torso. I tried to keep my attention on her, but I found myself desperately wanting to look at her husband in hopes of seeing recognition in his eyes. Even if they hadn’t come to tell me Venan wanted to see me again, it still would have been amazing to know he had talked to his brother about me. Luckily, Zuran rounded the chair in which Phoebe sat and leaned against my table of supplies. His arms were crossed across his chest, and a cocky grin lingered on his lips even though he had not spoken a word.

  “It's been so long, I probably have a million split ends,” Phoebe said apologetically. “I don't know why, but ever since being on Albaterra, I just haven't made my hair a priority.”

  “Well, I can take care of that for you,” I reassured her. I could feel Zuran’s stare on me even though I was looking down at Phoebe’s scalp as I combed my fingers through her hair and tugged on the ends to determine what I was working with.

  “You’re Octavia, right?” Phoebe asked.

  I flicked my eyes up to the mirror in front of her to see her looking back at me through it. “Yes,” I affirmed, my pulse quickening despite my better efforts. “How did you know?”

  “You were at our wedding,” was her simple reply. “You came with Edie.”

  “Oh.” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep the disappointment out of my voice. I tried to perk up, though, and added a little more cheerfully, “Yeah, I was her stand-in date until her real date got there.”

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you,” Phoebe went on.

  Again, my pulse quickened, and I allowed myself a split-second glance at Zuran before looking back to Phoebe. “What about?” I asked. I was definitely hoping she had something to say regarding Venan because apparently, I was utterly obsessed with the Elder.

  “I wanted to apologize,” she said. For the second time in less than a few minutes, my heart sank into my stomach, and I had to force myself to keep the smile on my face.

  “Apologize? For what?” I hadn’t even formally met this woman in my life; what on Earth - or Albaterra - could she possibly have to apologize about?

  “I should’ve asked you to do my hair for the wedding,” Phoebe explained, her reflection looking a little sheepish. “I was going to, but Edie griped about the Corporal not being able to come for the ceremony and that if I had you doing my hair, she’d be completely alone, so I didn’t. I should have, though. I couldn’t get the curls right.”

  It was a far cry from anything I would’ve expected, but I couldn’t help myself from laughing. “Curls are tough here,” I agreed, drizzling a bit of water on her tresses. “Without curling irons, it can feel like being back in the Renaissance period or something.”

  “Yeah, and they all had curls!” she exclaimed good-naturedly.

  I laughed again, and she joined me. Still, I felt Zuran’s eyes on me, and a flick in his direction revealed his arrogant smirk had spread to a grin of smug pleasure. I couldn’t hold myself back anymore from addressing him so, as I ran a comb through Phoebe’s hair, I asked him casually, “How does it feel to be married?”

  He didn’t blink or tilt his head or in any way indicate he’d heard me, let alone intended to answer me, and I felt a whiff of awkwardness suddenly develop. Then, without preface, he said, “I trust you will find out for yourself soon enough.”

  Phoebe’s foot swung out from under the poncho and made contact with his shin, but he didn’t flinch. His phantasm eyes were glittering, though whether it was with malice or amusement, I couldn’t tell.

  “What?” I croaked, my voice going hoarse in my startled state.

  “Don’t mind him,” Phoebe hurriedly interjected, shaking her head and slipping the hairs I’d delicately pinched between my fingers from my hold. “He likes to say things to get under people’s skin.”

  If it hadn’t been for the glare of warning I saw her cast him through the mirror, I probably would’ve been able to let it go. After seeing her sharp look, however, I was more engrossed than ever. “But why would I know what married life is like soon?” I insisted.

  “Did you not have dinner with my dear brother?” Zuran asked, quirking a pale brow.

  I flushed again, this time with a surprising amount of embarrassment. As much as I’d hoped he’d have come in to tell me Venan wanted to see me again, my old-fashioned ways were still very much present, and I wasn’t the type of girl who generally wanted the world to know my private life. Basically, I was contradicting and confusing myself for no reason at all.

  “Yeah, I did,” I said. “But that was a week ago. How’d you know about that, anyway?”

  “Warriors talk,” he replied with a grin.

  I tried to hide my frown. It would’ve been a thrill to know Venan talked to his brother about me, especially as they were twins and so close, but, at the same time, maybe Venan was like me in the sense that he didn’t broadcast his personal life to the world. Then again, as a new Elder, maybe it was in his best interest to keep his personal life…well, personal.

  “Dinner isn’t a proposal,” Phoebe pointed out. She said it to Zuran, but I had a sneaking suspicion she intended the message for me.

  “No, but my brother has never had dinner with any female, unless you count my mother and sister,” Zuran argued.

  This grabbed my attention. “Never?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine that. Venan didn’t strike me as a womanizing type of male, but most A’li-uud adults were over a hundred years old, and it seemed impossible to me that at no time over the course of a century he’d engaged in relations, casually or otherwise.


  “Never,” Zuran reiterated. The humor was still present in his face, but his voice became slightly more serious as he continued, “You are the first, and, when Venan decides he likes something, he does not sway.”

  And, just like that, I was on Cloud Nine.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Venan

  I stared at the beast, frankly shocked by the vision before me. He was a formidable creature, standing nearly double his original size and breathing puffs of steamy smoke from large, rotund nostrils. Scales peppered his body where normal—albeit, strangely-colored—skin was mere moments before, and his vivid crimson irises had expanded to the circumference of my palm. Every breath he took was accompanied by a heaving huff that hinted at a growl. Movement behind him caught my attention, and I realized that in addition to the wings he had sprouted, a tail had also grown, thick at the base and receding to thinness until, at the very end, a large triangular fin came to a sharp point. It whipped back and forth to either side of his massive body as if waving at us, and I found myself entranced with its grace.

  Though this was the last thing I had ever expected to see, I was not frightened. I was certainly startled, but I was far from afraid. The animalistic alien stood before us on two clawed feet despite his arms having transformed into additional legs with equally deadly talons, and the black slits that served as pupils flicked from Elder to Elder almost challengingly. He was intriguing and intimidating and awe-striking, but I felt no semblance of threat from him.