by Viola Grace
“I see. So, you did not pine for him?”
She paused and stared at him in surprise. “Um, no. He was never in my future.”
“Good.” Banor smiled. “I am very happy to hear that.”
She swallowed and went back to slowly swinging. “So, why did you decide to take me on?”
“I had a plan to turn you into an ambassador for the Others as you know the beings we are dealing with better than we ever could. I don’t have the patience for the colonists, but you could simply tell them that we are fine to share the worlds, and we simply need time to relocate to a more distant location.”
She blinked. “You want me to be a negotiator?”
“If you would enjoy the posting. It might assist in some of the conflicts that the colonists have been having. Save lives. But... it is up to you.”
She stopped her swinging. “So, you are saying I am turning into an Other.”
“You are about seventy-five percent there. I am very pleased with your progress.” He smiled.
“So, what—exactly—is the treatment for the blast that I got?”
He stood and walked over to her, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her. “Your burned-out structure needed to be replaced with Other material. So, it began with the food and water, the contact increased the transfer.”
She shivered. “So, you are putting yourself into me?”
“Yes.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Every chance I get.”
She blushed crimson, but his hand on her jaw was relaxed, and his touch gentle. “Why me? I mean, there must have been additional humans that were in a similar situation.”
He chuckled, stroking her cheek. “No, you are the first to have survived the primer strike. There hasn’t been an issue like this before. The Others are usually very careful and get full agreement from their lovers before attempting anything like this.”
“But, I have heard of strikes and others dying from Other radiation.”
“Ah, those were defensive strikes. Like this.” He turned and extended his hand, sending a pulse of white light out, heading to a stone wall and absorbing into it. There was a hum, a sound that she could feel rather than hear, and then the wall exploded.
She swallowed. “Oh. Yeah. That is more what I was expecting.”
He waved his hand, and the wall built itself back up.
“How are you doing that?”
Banor crouched next to her. “I am of this world, and it is me, so as I summon the matter of this world, it answers.”
“Ah. So, all Others are living where they were born?”
“Usually. They change worlds for mating if they feel a call, but that is rare. Born of a world, there is no genetic issue as your people experience.”
She nodded. “Right. Sure. You wouldn’t have that kind of a cross-breeding problem.”
He was looking at her with patience in his gaze.
“Have you ever... uh... reproduced?”
He smiled. “No. It is different for us. Simpler. Faster. We combine a portion of ourselves and form the child. It takes at least two Others to manage it.”
She paused and gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Why do I get the feeling that you could manage it just fine alone if you wanted to?”
He grinned. “Where is the fun in that?”
She snorted and stood, stretching some of her aching muscles. “I am going for a walk.”
He stood. “Would you like company?”
She turned and hugged him. “You have given me plenty of your time. Just do what you would normally do if I wasn’t here.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to. You are far more fun to observe.”
Allura grinned. “Go and play that instrument you were playing yesterday. It sounded lovely.”
He nodded. “I will. I have some contacts to make first, but when you hear the music, lunch will be ready.”
“Right. Lunch.” She leaned her head against his chest. “That is going to be a little awkward, now that I know I am consuming you. I have issues against cannibalism.”
“Ah, but I am not human, so it isn’t quite the same thing.”
Allura nodded. It also explained why the food didn’t go anywhere. It was absorbing directly into her. It was disturbing, but she wasn’t feeling weak with sparks of pain anymore, so it was a trade-off. She was alive, and she had a future, even if she had no idea where she would go and what she would do after her transformation was complete. The offer to be a negotiator for the Others was tempting, but she didn’t have a ship or any communications systems at her disposal. She couldn’t even monitor the defender movements. She would depend on others to send her to the Others. She laughed. So, the same position she had been in with the defenders.
Allura snorted. Who was she kidding? Her life had never been her own. She didn’t resent her family, but she felt the heavy burden of them every time she breathed. Somehow, she had been a guard dog born into a family of sheep.
What she needed was a way to keep them safe and set them up without being exposed to her again. Now that she was not only fraternizing with the enemy but turning into one, she wasn’t safe to be near her family.
She paced back and forth through the gardens. When Banor started playing the instrument again, she exhaled and forced herself to relax. The music was fun, bubbly, and lifted her mood. She was still pacing but dancing a little as the music twisted and swung. There was a distinct cadence that reminded her of her childhood dance classes. She slowly started to dance and twist, spinning a little and laughing as her skirt flared up and out. When the music stopped, she stood with her chest heaving and the glow of sweat on her skin. It had been a fun moment, and when she looked up, she couldn’t see him but knew he had been watching.
She walked back toward the castle and went inside for lunch. Her body was telling her that it was time to consume whatever part of Banor she would be eating today. It sounded horrible to her own mind, but her body wasn’t fussy. If she could get what she needed from him, she was willing to do whatever it took.
After seeing that he had dispensed with all the extra chairs, she smirked. “Oh, no. Am I going to have to eat standing up?”
He smiled slightly and patted his knee. “I prefer you close to me.”
She paused in front of him. “Do you just enjoy watching me eat, or do you want me close?”
“Well, there is a rather arousing way that you eat, but I believe that I just want you close.”
She cocked her head. “Is there any other way for you to get the same mass inside me?”
He gave her a slow smile. “There are a few, but I believe the one that would enable you to have a relaxing afternoon and wouldn’t stress you too greatly would be a kiss.”
Allura gave him a challenging look. “A kiss?”
“Well, it isn’t as efficient as you simply consuming your meal, but it is an alternative.”
She asked him point-blank. “What would you prefer?”
His answer was a tendril of shadow wrapping around her waist and pulling her to him. When she was held against his chest, he lowered his head for an answer, and the kiss commenced.
Her lips were numb, her blood was hot, and her thighs were slick when the all-consuming kiss was brought to a halt. She blinked at him in a bright haze, her body demanding an end to the promise that the kiss had offered.
She looked down at her hands, clenched on his shoulders, her knees on his thighs, and she was quivering. “Right. I think tomorrow I might opt for the salad.” She muttered softly.
He laughed and stroked a hand through her hair. “It did take four times as long, but I enjoyed it.”
“Um. I did, as well.”
He cocked his head. “Would you like me to assist you in pursuing satisfaction?”
She shook her head. “No, I can manage that myself.”
He blinked. “May I watch?”
She was surprised by her blurted answer and his quick rep
ly.
“Um... No.” She knew she was being watched wherever she was, but the thought of his hot eyes on her as she got herself off was the line to an afternoon of sore muscles and sweat.
He opened his eyes, and his head went up. “Someone is coming. They just exited the gate.”
She was tense immediately. “How long until they are here?”
He looked down at her and gave her a slow smile. “Six hours. If you won’t let me watch, will you let me help?”
Just like that, it was back to sex. “Um, yes, but nothing stressful. I am still recovering, I think.”
He slid his hands up and down the back of her thighs, and he kissed her slowly. She shivered and crowded close. She felt the light touches against her sex, and then, she stopped analyzing what was going on. Her body rose quickly to the edge of release, and with a little coaxing, Banor sent her over that edge.
She came out of her daze cuddled against him, and he was holding her tightly. “The muscle fatigue should be dealt with.”
She gave him what felt like a sexy glare but was probably a drunken leer. “Why is that?”
“I put a little more of me into you.” His lips were twisted with amusement.
“Yeah, but what did that have to do with it? Wait, won’t I just turn into you at some point?”
He snorted. “That would be terrifying. No. The primer charge made room for Other energy, and when I slid the first dose into you, it began to be tuned to your own thoughts and personality. It washes off the trace of the Other who provided it as it enters you.”
“Well, then, how would it turn the human into a mate?”
He chuckled and hugged her carefully. “That is what courtship is for.”
“So, the Other who did this is a real asshole.”
“Yes. They will be found, and they will be punished.”
She nodded and looked toward the window. “So, who do you think is on the way here?”
He chuckled. “A real asshole who does not have a sense of self-preservation.”
That fit the description of someone she knew.
Chapter Nine
Because of the situation, Allura went for another shower, and this time, she came out right away and let Banor dry and dress her. She was dressed in red and would be hard to miss. “Are you sure that they are coming for me?”
Banor snorted. “No one visits me. My people can contact me by other means.”
“So, you are just here with no one around?”
“Yes.”
She gave him a wry look. “Then why do you wear pants?”
He laughed. “They are for you. I don’t normally wear this form, but my first form is not one that you would be comfortable with.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“Oh, it can be.” He chuckled. “I would never harm you, no matter the form I wear.”
She checked the slight draping on her arms and smiled at him. “As long as you don’t change form and take my clothing with you, I will be fine.”
He walked up to her and stroked her cheek, silent for a moment. Then, he winked. “I make no promises.”
She snorted. “So, what will we do for the rest of the afternoon?”
“The library?”
She smiled. “Good answer.”
They walked to the library, and she picked a few books about ancient heroes and monsters. She sat next to his chair and leaned against his legs, the contact comforting. After an hour, he pulled her up and into his lap, and he continued to read tales of men and monsters from the world of Palenna.
She listened to the slow thudding of his heart in his chest as he read, the tone of his voice relaxing and soothing. She fought napping, but it was like she was being hypnotized into doing something that her body desperately wanted.
She fell asleep.
She was being carried, and the wind was ruffling through her hair. Allura slowly opened her eyes, and she froze. Based on the angle of the castle, they were over a hundred feet off the ground and slowly descending as they moved forward at an astonishing pace.
“Our guest has arrived.”
Allura stifled the surge of emotion she felt at the word our. “Oh. Great. Am I still dressed?”
Banor laughed. “You are.”
He landed lightly on the ground and set her on her feet. She leaned back against him and exhaled then inhaled sharply. “That’s a defender ship!”
“Yes.” He was calm about it.
The door to the shuttle opened, and the ramp descended.
“I do not think you are going to be that surprised.” Banor was amused.
Allura had it all make sense the moment that Lexo stepped out of the ship and stretched. He spotted her and grinned, loping toward her.
“Allura! You are here!”
He then slowed as he seemed to realize that the wall of shadows behind her was alive and focused on him.
“Lexo Caddil! Explain yourself!” Banor’s voice rang out over the space between them and resonated in the soil under their feet.
Lexo stumbled to a halt, swallowed, and bowed. “Banor Lemian, please forgive my lack of manners. I have been seeking my mate for days. I was worried for her safety.”
That cinched it. “It was you.”
She didn’t step forward, so he stepped toward her.
“I always wanted you, Allura. I am sorry that I had to strike you when you were carrying me, but I didn’t know how else to start the process.”
She leaned more heavily into Banor. He wrapped an arm around her when he caught on that she wanted him to hold her back. He obliged.
Lexo looked at her and then Banor’s hand. “What is this?”
Banor answered. “You left her to die. You burned a hole in her very being without her consent and then watched as they sent her off to die. You didn’t want a mate, you wanted a pet who was dependent on you.”
Lexo cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon, Banor Lemian, but this is between Allura and me.”
She swallowed and tapped Banor’s hand. He let her walk toward Lexo, but she saw the flicker of shadows on either side of her.
“So, Lexo. You have three other women, but you wanted one more?”
He waved that off. “They are just to maintain my image. No one can know what I am.”
“So, you shot me in the back while I was hauling you to safety?”
He blushed, his golden good looks appearing somewhat embarrassed. “You kept saying no.”
Allura smiled brightly as she got close. “I am still saying no. Not. A. Fucking. Chance. No. Way. In. Hell. Would. I. Let. You. Near. Me.” Each word was punctuated with a prod to the solar plexus.
“You don’t want to do that, Allura. I am not restricted to this form.”
She balled up her fist and hit him, sending him stumbling back. He didn’t bleed. There was no reason to pretend to.
She looked at her hand and shrugged. Huh. No damage.
He let out a guttural noise and looked at her in amazement. “You struck me.”
“Yes, and I will do it again and again until I get bored or you give up.”
He stalked up to her with menace, golden strands of energy coming off him.
“You will die without me. You will beg me to grant you survival.”
Allura shook her head. “I will die knowing that I made a choice to live with myself for the rest of my time in this universe. But, oh, yeah. I am not dying.”
He paused. “What? I gave you the priming charge.”
“That? Oh, Banor dealt with the priming charge. He filled that hole and a couple of others, actually.” Her words made Lexo go white.
Banor wrapped his tendrils around her and pulled her back as Lexo changed shape completely.
She watched and nodded. “Oh. Terrifying.” She snorted.
He was a spiky ball of gold, rather like a burnt sugar dessert she had once. Probably just as filling.
Banor stepped toward him
. “Lexo, you have attacked a human without provocation, attempted a mating without consent, and have come here and disrespected my home and my guest. You know that your elders are not going to give you a pass on this one. Your usefulness as a spy has now run its course.”
The golden ball paused, and the word, “What?” could clearly be heard.
Allura stood aside. This was about Banor and Lexo. This was an Other thing.
Lexo was bound in black and compressed until he was back in his human body. Banor never altered his form. He did the whole thing with spare energy.
Allura’s stomach gurgled violently, and she blushed. Banor looked at her and chuckled. “Ah, it is that time, is it not?”
Lexo struggled. “What?”
Banor looked at him and smiled slowly. “She’s hungry. She needs Other matter to convert so that her transformation can continue. This is standard for transforming a mate. How do you not know this?”
Lexo paled. “What do you mean, she needs Other matter?”
“You have to give her enough mass to make up for what the primer took from her. Her body burns part of it, but she is near to the completion point. A few more days and she will be able to consider her next form.”
Lexo shook his head. “Out of species mates can’t change form.”
Allura turned and started stalking back toward the castle. “Then why would you want one if it can’t be a partner?”
Banor wrapped his arm around her, and they were propelled toward the castle. His tendrils were acting as a multitude of stilts to push them neatly across the landscape. They covered miles in seconds.
He put them in the dining room, and the chairs were thankfully back.
Lexo was set in one chair, and Allura sat across from him, next to Banor.
Lexo hissed, “Do you know what he is?”
She looked blandly at him. “No. But, this is the fun part, it doesn’t matter.”
Banor chuckled, took her hand, and kissed the back of it.
The meal appeared in front of her, and she started to eat.
Lexo hissed, “Do you know what you are eating?”