by Pearl Tate
Of course, no one compares to Bren, which makes me start worrying about him all over again.
I’m led out onto a stage that opens up into an amphitheater, the size I’ve never seen before. It’s huge! I’ve been to concerts in stadiums and this is a lot bigger. What look like tiny drones, the size of a hummingbird, buzz around coming within ten feet or so, silently zooming in and out.
“As you can see, this is an excessively big event. Please sit. Bren will be here shortly.” She sits as if to show me how, waving her hand to the seat next to her. Even as she led me out onto the stage, I could still see people moving in and out of the seating but it’s eerily quiet. I only hear my own ragged breathing and the fine shuffle of her robe material. Lowering myself into the chair she gestured to, it takes me a minute to realize there is some kind of a barrier between me and the audience.
“No one can see you until the event starts, but don’t be fooled. Some of the more sophisticated drones can pierce the shielding and what happens here on stage will eventually come out. Technology, you know?” She grimaces and settles back with a placid look on her face.
I laugh sounding like a hyena to even my own ears. My nerves are wound tight and I can’t believe how many people are out there! It’s a zoo already and more seem to keep filing in. I don’t know how they will all fit.
“There he comes.” Following where she is looking, I look to the right and see Bren being led out from the other side of the stage by three other males with one female. He’s been changed into what I think of as a male costume. It’s a pale blue and he looks fucking great except everyone can see his—no my cock! The same barrier that divides me from the audience, keeps us apart.
“Can he see me? Like I can see him.” I’m automatically waving but he isn’t responding.
“No, not yet. One of the mating tests will be him identifying where you are in this theater.”
What? “One of the tests?” I try to keep me voice light as I start to panic. From the way Bren is frantically starting to look around, I know I need to cool it. He obviously has a much better handle on feeling which emotions are his versus mine. He can feel my distress. I knew I should have worked on that more!
“Yes. Relax. It’s all very standard. More for show really. And it’s best to make sure everyone believes this actually occurred. You are an anomaly. And different. This is the best way to make sure you are accepted long term into our society.”
Fucking hell. As if I give a shit about that. What I’m more worried about is failing. It’s no secret that I don’t have a handle on the whole mating thing like Bren does. What happens if I fail?
What would happen to both of us?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
- Bren
I am panicking as they pull Hannah from my arms and they tell me that there must be a mating challenge. I have no fucking idea what that is. If it wasn’t for my brother being there, which I’m sure they knew, I would have killed them right then. What I do know is that I would be within my rights.
“Bren, listen to my words. You must do this now. If not, the challenge will always have to happen. They won’t let this go.” Matthias’s familiar voice breaks through my haze of anger and panic and the relief that he is alright and there to help, makes me hesitate.
Everything was going well until we landed. Not a hint of any issues and I thought we were just going to meet my brother. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. “It will be fine, Bren. He says it won’t be long.” Hannah’s voice is growing faint and my brother grabs my arm and pulls me into a room to make me focus.
“Here, Bren. Right here. On me.” Grabbing my head, he tries to pull me down to his height and lock our eyes. “Damn, you’ve gotten taller. That’s impressive. Breathe.”
Focusing on his voice, I breathe in fast before exhaling heavily. “What is it? What is the mate challenge?”
“Vina Likana’s last ditch attempt to prove this is not real. She’s extremely angry.”
Now I am too. “Well it’s real but I want to know what they plan for us to do for the challenge.” Matthias is still pulling me towards him, making me maintain eye contact and taking long, deep, slow breaths, trying to get me to do the same.
He pauses as I start to echo his behavior. “I’ve managed to find most of the archives but haven’t read everything yet. In the past, if there was a question about the pairing or a dispute in the family, they could issue a mate challenge to test the bond. I honestly hadn’t gotten into it enough to find out exactly what they may do to you. But it’s fine. Right?”
“Yes, of course the bond is good. But she’s human and doesn’t have the same instincts and she can be hurt. She’s small and defenseless.” Running my hands through my wild hair, that’s now floating all around my head, I try to smooth it as I breath off my tension. Matthias keeps breathing with me for a few more inhales, trying to slow me down.
“We will deal with it as it comes. I’ll help you. Don’t panic yet. That’s what they want. The more you panic, the more you won’t think straight and can potentially be tricked.”
Handing me a glass of water, he settles into a chair in the small room he’s pulled me into. “Sit. Try to relax. You don’t want her freaking out where ever she is—which is probably right next door.”
As I take the glass and sit down, I realize that this has all been very carefully choreographed. Before I can think too much about what that might mean, the door swings open and Vina walks in. She’s livid. Red faced, she glances around the room stiffly before her eyes land on me.
“Matthias, leave us.” My obedient brother doesn’t question her. I’m sure she has her way of punishing her committed who step out of line. He’s never talked about it, but I know he’s very unhappy.
As soon as the door shuts, she crosses the room quickly to rip at my shirt. “Let me see these markings that make you mated!” Tearing the neckline, she rubs her fingers across one of my mating marks and down my chest, trying to see if they will come off. Her touch makes my skin crawl as her aggressive hands stroke over me, rubbing and touching. The markings deepen, some blacken and red rises up next to them. A sure sign that they aren’t just some coloring in my skin, chemically altered as Hannah originally thought and called tattoos.
She isn’t deterred. “What game is this you are trying to play. Why?” Her hands continue traveling down my chest, and she quickly grasps my manhood and strokes me. All my life I’ve been groomed to please her, but now I can confidently claim she will never have me. As I step away from her grasping reach, she continues to rail, almost screaming. “Am I so hateful? So horrible and ugly? What does this human have that I don’t?”
I laugh with derision in my tone. For the first time, I realize I’m now her height. She no longer towers over me. She isn’t stronger than me or larger than me. I can defend myself. “She’s kind and loving. Gentle and she’s mine. Mine and mine alone. You wouldn’t understand and I’m not going to bother to explain any more.” She doesn’t follow me as I move further away from her.
I think she’s shocked that I answered and didn’t just defer to her. As she starts to visibly shake, her hands curl into fists. “Well, we’ll see! I’ll see if this is actually a true mating, and so will the rest of the planet. It may be a mating on your side but she doesn’t know how to make it a mating that will help you both survive. So, we’ll see!”
Vina practically runs to the door and flings it open, yelling, “Change and let’s go!” Waving to a pile of clothes on a small table near the entrance, she adds, “You better hurry because I’ll be back shortly to get you and we will leave whether you are ready or not.”
Even though I hate the promised garb I see sitting in her colors near the door for me, I realize it is better than having Hannah see me in this torn flight suit. I change quickly and am relieved to see that the ceremonial sash is missing. My mating marks are prominently displayed and are deep with color from my anger.
Matthias pops his head in and waves me out with one arm. H
is eyebrows are raised, questioningly even as his eyes look over my mating marks. Mouthing, “What did you do?” He smirks as I walk past him and out. There are a couple other males on each side of us. Not that they could stop me if I really wanted to get away. But the point is, I need to just get this over with.
The fact that Vina could punish Matthias for the rest of his life over this isn’t lost on me. He deserves to live in some peace, even if he’ll never be happy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- Bren
I hear the dull roar of the crowd as we get close to the amphitheater. It sounds like half the planet is there and it wouldn’t be shocking if a large majority of them are. As we file in to a small area, there are five chairs waiting for us. We can’t see anything but black beyond that.
“Sit. This will start shortly.” All of us obediently drop into chairs and as I settle my breathing, I realize that Hannah is quite close.
Yes! But she is starting to panic. What could be going on?
“Ladies and Gentlemen. Please take your seats quickly. You have three minutes.” The speaker’s announcement area lights up and I listen carefully while the noise dies down and a hush falls over the massive audience that I still can’t see.
Hannah’s presence drops to a low throb in my heart although she is still worrying about something. I can relate.
“Remember brother, no matter what. I am here and with you. You can do this.” Clenching my jaw in anger, I nod briefly to Matthias, thankful for his support, even if it’s just to have someone with me.
Relaxing into Hannah’s familiar and comforting heartbeat, I let my own match hers and try to relax so she can feel me too. It’s less than a minute later that I notice her heart beat pick up with anxiety before a spike of fear travels through our connection. What could be going on?
Instantly, I know where she is in the darkened area across from me and I stare, trying to penetrate the cloud they put between us on the barrier. It’s frustrating to be so close and I wish that we could just communicate through our bond.
Of course, I can. Deliberately, I relax more instead of letting her fear affect me and then us both. I slow my breathing more and imagine reaching out to her through the darkness I know she is in. We don’t have long to wait. Once this is over, Matthias thinks they will let us be. I have to assume he’s correct and think positive.
The speaker announcement comes on giving us a one minute warning and the crowd becomes even quieter. Ignoring the distraction, I continue to dwell upon Hannah. Her soft skin and warm embrace and how loving she is. It calms me, and I can feel her settle down as I stare into the darkness. She needs me and right now this is all I can give her. It has to be enough until we are reunited.
If this doesn’t go well tonight, I won’t let them keep us apart. But for my brother and everyone’s else’s sake, I’d like to get through this and prove without a doubt that she is mine. Truly and in every way mine. It will give hope to so many.
Without any preamble, the stage lights up.
“Bren Khar, we are gathered here today to review the filed complaint from Vina Likana and the Likana Lineage, that you have defaulted on the Familial Commitment to her Line. As you are claiming that you now have taken a mate, and are now bound by a Mating Unit Lead, the classic trial by location will be used to test this bond. As the accused party, it will be up to you to locate your mate to show your tie.”
A low murmur goes through the crowd and I’m sure they are all wondering what the hell is the plan here. I’m actually curious myself. If my brother wasn’t here I would have been totally in the dark. “In order to continue,” her gaze turns directly to me, “Please point out the location in the amphitheater that your mate now occupies.”
Our area must be the only block that can’t see her. I can only imagine all eyes are locked on me. Standing, I point directly to where I know Hannah is located. The murmur grows into full out talking and a few indignant voices make comments about how this is all a trick, scam or some magic show for the public.
I really couldn’t care less if they think that. I just keep staring at where I know Hannah is. The lights snap on in the entire amphitheater and the thousands and thousands of spectators are revealed. Matthias stands up next to me as Hannah rises in her seat too. She’s less than a room away from us across the stage and she takes a step forward before the council member Marquel Sune, who she’s sitting next to, grabs her arm and pulls her back. Marquel leans over and whispers in her ear. Hannah’s mouth firms in displeasure but she turns back to her chair.
“Hannah obviously doesn’t understand our technology. She believes she could just come over to you.” Matthias’s sad voice is in my ear.
“Yes, and we’re showing her such a great side of our society.” My voice is a growl. “I promised her she would like it here. It isn’t beautiful any longer, but it’s our home. I thought we could be happy, but everyone views this as entertainment. And as if I’m a charlatan, conjuring up a trick. This is no joke, it’s my life.”
Matthias grabs my arm as council member Kirley Pelack, the commentator speaks again. “As the challenge has been accepted, there will be a two-hour head start for Bren Khar’s mate, known to be Hannah Becker from Earth, to be taken to the Malakin catacombs. Bren Khar will have an added two hours to locate her. If he fails, they will go their separate ways and Bren Khar will be obligated to fulfill his Familial Obligations to Vina Likana and the Likana Lineage and Hannah Becker of Earth will be escorted off planet. If he succeeds, there will be no other contesting to the bond. Hannah Becker from Earth will be bestowed all rights as a female of Quasar and Unit Lead.”
The murmuring starts again as everyone lets the repercussions of the situation sink in.
It’s bad enough that the Mate Trial seeking is in the Malakin catacombs. It’s a dangerous place and my gaze swings to my Matthias. “The Malakin catacombs? Must it be there? There is much Hannah does not know. We don’t know how any of our wildlife will effect her.”
“Bren, we must follow the old law.” It’s council member Kirley Pelack who answers my questions, even as she moves closer to our barrier and within feet of us. “It’s been two thousand, three hundred fifty two years since the last mate pairing. The laws still exist and we must follow them. The trials were done in the Malakin catacombs and in the tradition of our elders before us, we will follow them.”
She pauses as she looks down at me. Her eyes trace the mating marks on my neck that trail into my waistband. “This is a monumental day for us all. You give many hope. Best luck to you both.”
Spinning around, she strides quickly from the room. All the lights disappear in the other areas and it’s like we are back in our own small box of a room.
“It’s fine. She will be fine.” Matthias’s nonsense starts again and I try to pick up the chant in my head. I realize I am shaking, and it dawns on me why.
I fall into the chair as I notice Hannah moving away, our connection thinning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
- Hannah
I marvel at the technology like the geek that I am. I’m trying really hard not to panic about this whole situation. For all I know, they could be taking me to some remote prison, never to be found again.
Even though Marquel Sune seems on the up and up, Vina Likana is a horrible person and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. It seems that all the women here treat the men like slaves or the hired help. Even the one who is mostly just sitting in the front while he “drives” this car. I’m not sure why we need him. Maybe in case it breaks down? Because he isn’t doing much. But you still don’t have to be rude.
The hover type car we are in is super tiny and there was a bit of a question about this as we climb in and situate ourselves. I’m happy to be crammed in the back with Marquel Sune and Vina Likana is in the front. I wouldn’t want to be sitting that close to her. I have a really terrible gut feeling and I don’t think it’s just because she wanted my man.
I definite
ly don’t feel Bren any longer. It’s terrible. When we were in the amphitheater, it felt like I was sitting right next to him. All I want right now is to curl up in his lap and have him stroke my hair and back. I think I’m addicted to his touch.
They talk around me about where we’re going and the spot that’s been picked in the catacombs for leaving me. The map comes up in the air around us, and everyone’s seats swivel to face each other although the guy driving doesn’t bother to turn except briefly, as if noting where we should be heading.
It looks pretty standard to me but what do I know. I just want to have this all over with. Just a few more hours… I keep chanting that in my head, a soothing melody to drown out my nerves.
“This is the locking mechanism you will be tied into the chamber with.” Marquel picks something up off the floor by her feet. It looks like a metal collar attached to a chain! The horror must show on my face. “I know.” Her face is apologetic. “It’s really old technology but remember our laws for this are ancient and they were made and developed over time. The last time they were updated was over three thousand years ago. They were considered traditional and served the purpose.”
“So that gets put around my neck and then you drill the end into the rock or something? I’m getting collared like a dog?” What the fuck is up with these guys? This whole situation is pretty weird and I’m just trying to keep in mind that when this is over, I’ll be accepted. We can be happy and hopefully be left alone. By everyone!