Trian's Spark

by T. Cobbin

  “Where did you put him?” Trian asked even though he could already guess. Koop had a warped mind sometimes; he wasn’t a male to get on the bad side of. If you did, one way or another Koop got even.

  “He’ll be sharing quarters with me for the time being.”

  Trian nodded as he tried hard to hide his smile. Pausey was about to meet his worst nightmare.

  Trian turned his attention to his security officer. “Ausk, do you have two security teams ready?”

  “Yes, sir. Two rotations. The females will be protected, sir.”

  “Basup, I want to send out a Gracian-wide message to the other ships. I should have it ready in about a hiln,” Trian said. His navigation officer nodded. “Being Iryano and Sharpie have found their sparks, they will be off duty for a good few cycles until their females’ mating heat ends. I need you all to step up and make sure their duties are covered.” He waited for confirmation from each of his officers.

  A sadness crept into Trian’s heart. He longed to touch that wonderful, purple-haired female in medical to find out if she was his spark, but at the moment, doing so would be problematic. If she was meant for him, then touching her would set off the mating heat. That would mean not only his second-in-command being out of action, but himself as well. Could he take the risk of doing that while trying to run a ship at the same time?

  Trian sighed and thought briefly of zapping himself to his office to start on the Gracian-wide message, but instead he found himself zapping to the medical bay. Frinx! What was he doing?

  He stared around the large, dim room. The staff weren’t milling around as they had been earlier, instead it was quiet, and relief soared through him when no one seemed to realize he was standing there. He decided to take a quick peek at the lovely Amelia before he zapped to his office. Perhaps that would make him feel better and settle his energy.

  There were four side rooms to the medical bay—Hover’s office and three private medical rooms. He’d already been informed as to where Iryano and Sharpie’s mates were so Trian strolled to the one remaining room. Trian was surprised at his reaction at seeing Amelia again. He nearly choked on the air that suddenly left his lungs as the door whooshed open to reveal her sleeping peacefully. She was beautifully serene.

  Amelia’s long, purple hair spilled over her pillow. She didn’t stir when he stepped inside the room and the door quietly whooshed shut behind him. The strain he’d seen on her face earlier was gone. Trian stood at the end of the female’s bed. He felt like a stalker, but despite that, he didn’t zap out of the room. He was transfixed on the luxurious curves of the female he felt drawn to. All he had to do was reach out and touch her. He wanted so desperately to see that thin stream of energy leave his body and enter hers.

  The longer he stood and watched Amelia, the more the urge to touch her intensified. One single touch was all it would take to know if she was meant for him. He drew his hand back that he’d stretched out toward her. Who would run the ship while they were both in mating heat? Would learning this female wasn’t his send him into his final flare? Pain tore at his insides.

  A noise on the other side of the door had him thinking more clearly. As the door whooshed open, Trian zapped to his office. He didn’t want anyone to know he’d been in Amelia’s room.

  Frinx! Trian growled as he paced his office. He’d nearly been caught. His energy was dangerously bubbling inside him. Standing still, he drew in a long, deep breath. He had to find a way of calming.

  “Captain.” Hover’s voice came through his communicator.

  “Yes, Hover. Report,” he snapped.

  “Permission to enter your office?”

  Trian growled again. He didn’t want to be disturbed. He needed to calm.

  “Granted,” he replied. Quickly, he strode to his desk.

  Hover appeared in the corner as he sat in his chair.

  “What is it that demands a face-to-face at this time?” Trian picked up a chrono screen and tried to look nonchalant.

  “May I speak candidly, sir?”

  Trian placed the screen back on his desk rather too harshly and looked up at his head medical officer. “Granted.”

  Hover sat in the opposite chair. “I have been your head medic and have known you many yarns now, and I know your energy pattern. Do you think she is your spark?”

  He knew! “You were entering her room as I left,” Trian stated rather than asking. “I don’t know, Hover. I don’t know.”

  “Are you worried that she is or isn’t?”

  “I don’t need questions at the moment!” Trian snapped. “I have a ship to run.”

  Trian didn’t need this right now. He glanced down at the reports in front of him. If he was honest, not one of them made a single iota of sense to him. All he could think about was Amelia. A stream of blue energy left his right hand and struck one of the screens on his desk. Trian watched a thin wisp of blue smoke rise into the air from the ruined device. Shock had his anger doused immediately. Worry and despair his life could soon be over replaced it.

  “Captain,” Hover gasped.

  Trian was sure the look on Hover’s face matched his own.

  Hover stood, withdrawing a medical scanner from his pocket, and walked over to Trian, scanning him. “Is this the first time you have flared?”

  “Yes,” Trian snapped. He sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his face again. “Go sit down, Hover. Don’t bother scanning me. I already know.” Trian looked up at his medic and watched as the male retook his seat.

  Trian picked up the chrono screen and threw it into a recycling chute behind his desk. The thing was ruined beyond repair. Shame flooded his system. He couldn’t believe he had allowed his anger and lust for a human female to get the better of him.

  “I’m sorry,” Trian said. “You’re right, you and I have known each other for many yarns, and although we don’t mix in the same circle, I do class you as a friend.”

  “I cannot help you once you start flaring, you know that.” Hover’s eyes didn’t stray from Trian’s. They held sorrow in them.

  Trian had been with Hover each time a male on the Gemorph had flared and either taken their own life or succumbed to being locked up. They both knew what was to come.

  “But just talking about it might help you come to terms with your feelings,” Hover said.

  “I can’t stop thinking about her. It’s the first time in a long time since... Well, since I haven’t needed medicinal help.”

  Hover nodded. He had been supplying Trian quietly with a stimulant for the last few morns.

  “It’s as if I know her. I feel drawn to her,” Trian admitted. Just saying those words had him feeling a tad more relaxed. “I want to touch her to find out if she is mine.”

  “Why don’t you?” Both Hover’s face and voice held concern.

  “What if she isn’t? I can’t take that risk. It would send me over the edge.” Trian lifted his hand and stared at it, the one the thin, blue stream of energy had just left. “I have to get things in order. I have to make sure the Gemorph will be left in good hands when—”

  “What if she is?” Hover interrupted. “Amelia could be the one who holds your future.”

  “You know as well as I do that the odds of that happening are astronomical.” He could see Hover was going to say something, but Trian held up a hand, silently ordering him to stop. “Leave it. Go deal with the females. They will be moving to their temporary quarters soon, until I can talk to our people and figure out what we’re going to do with them.”

  Again, Hover looked like he was about to argue his point.

  “Leave it,” Trian said. “Please. There are many things that need to be sorted out, including informing our people about these human females, before I can even consider finding out if she is mine or not. Because if she is, and mating heat happens…or even if she isn’t and it…” Trian shook his head, not wanting to think about either option. “I’m the highest-ranking Gracian in the area, and it’s my responsibility to make
sure these women and their planet are protected. They are the key to our salvation.”

  “How long are you willing to wait, Captain? You know as well as I do, now that you have flared there isn’t much time.”

  “I know.” Trian sighed. “But I can’t put myself before everyone else.” He wouldn’t do that.

  Hover stood, his slow-swirling eyes a picture of the sorrow Trian felt. “Please comm me if you need me. Will you be informing Iryano?”

  Trian nodded. “When the time is near. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our people, Hover. Many wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for your hard work.”

  Hover gritted his teeth before leaving Trian to his thoughts.

  He had flared, and it was going to get worse, but he knew he had time to get things in order for Iryano to be made captain, and his people to be informed. He didn’t know how long he had left, but he was going to make it worthwhile. He set to work, with Amelia still in his thoughts.

  * * * *

  Amelia stood staring out the large window of the cabin she’d been assigned. The cabin was huge. It had three separate rooms—the main room, a bedroom, and a bathroom The cabin was about the size of her apartment at home, but the bed was double the size of hers.

  As the time went on, she kinda knew the chances of her ever seeing home again were slim. The Gracians had been nothing but gracious. They’d supplied a chef on the floor who’d sought out human recipes and contents to make them feel more at home. He also cooked an assortment of Gracian food too, which Amelia found herself drawn to. Their fruits were rich in flavor and made her dream of other worlds.

  All the women had been given their own room on the same floor, and each one had a wardrobe of Gracian-style clothes. There were two styles—the tight, black uniform the men wore, or flowing, lacy gowns. Amelia loved the gowns. She felt like a princess in a fairy-tale when she wore them. She swore she saw lust burning in Trian’s eyes when he’d spotted her while visiting the women to see how they were settling in. His eyes had run over her clothed body with such fire, Amelia thought he’d burn the fine material off her body with his intense look.

  Even with Trian sleeping in the cabin next to hers, Amelia hadn’t seen much of him until yesterday when another Gracian ship had arrived, the Hanja. Since then she had seen him many times in meetings and such, informing Captain Fortua—the Hanja’s captain—about her people. Each time she laid eyes on Trian, her panties grew damp, and her nipples tightened and became overly sensitive. Something about the man drove her body wild. He was so handsome. She would catch him looking at her with such hunger in his eyes, it made her feel good. No male on Earth had looked at her like he did. Not even her previous boyfriends.

  Looking out of the window, Amelia could see her planet, the moon, and numerous stars. What she couldn’t see was the other Gracian ship that was cloaked beside the Gemorph.

  “Amelia?” The communicator bracelet she and each of the women had been supplied with rang out with Trian’s deep, chocolaty voice.

  She pressed the button on her wrist. “Yes, Captain?”

  “Captain Fortua would like you to grace us with your company for the evening meal.”

  Amelia shivered and grimaced inwardly. As far as she was concerned, Captain Fortua was a little too friendly with her. The only thing she liked about being around the man was the fact that she got to see more of Trian.

  “I’ll be ready,” she replied, adding a little pep to her words although she didn’t feel it.

  “Trian out.” He ended the communication before she could respond.

  If Fortua wanted to see her, Trian would be there too. Each time Amelia saw Trian, her heart kicked up a beat and her pussy slickened. It had been over a year since she’d had sex, or even thought about it. Her lousy ex had put her off men…until now. Amelia could see how much she affected Trian when they were together. His eyes would swirl faster and the bulge in his pants grew to a substantial size. Did it ever! She inhaled deeply. If dinner involved sitting with Fortua, then she’d do it as long as Trian was there.

  “Amelia?” Hover’s voice came through her communicator.

  “Yes, Hover. How may I help?” she asked in confusion. She didn’t think any of the women were in medical since the last two of their group had left with Iryano and Sharpie. The couples were still having a few problems, but from what Rosie, who was Iryano’s mate, had said the sex between her and the second-in-command was out of this world. Pun not intended.

  “I have just received an urgent call to Bell’s cabin. Would it be possible for you to meet me there please?”

  “Of course,” Amelia replied, running for the door.

  She ran down the plain, gray corridor until she reached the cabin assigned to Bell. She pressed her hand over the door bell, and a second later the door opened. Hover stood there with a grim look on his face.

  “What is it?” Amelia asked, stepping into the cabin and looking around.

  She gasped when Trian suddenly zapped into the room beside them both. That was another thing she’d learned about the Gracians over the last few days—they could disappear and reappear at will as long as they knew the layout for where they wanted to go. Although she’d seen it a fair bit, she knew it would take time to get used to it.

  “I heard,” Trian said rather gruffly. He peered down at Amelia with fast-swirling eyes.

  “Heard what?” she asked, looking between the two men.

  “Come with me please,” Hover said and led the way into the bedroom.

  Another gasp left Amelia when she saw the pale-faced, young woman lying in her bed. Seeing Bell so lifeless, Amelia didn’t give Trian or Hover a chance to explain what was going on. She ran over to the large bed and immediately felt for a pulse. As she did she caught sight of movement in the corner of the room. Two men in black security uniforms were holding back another male who was dressed similar. The look in his gray-blue, tornado-swirling eyes told her if she was to hurt Bell, there would be nothing the other men in the room could do to stop him from killing her.

  Chapter 9

  Amelia released a sigh of relief upon feeling the thrum of Bell’s pulse under her fingertips. “What’s going on?” she finally asked, although she had an inkling already.

  “She’s my spark!” the male being held back spat out. “Release me, you fools. She’s mine.”

  Amelia’s ire rose. She and the other women were not anyone’s unless they chose to be. Who cared if these males wouldn’t touch another once mated? Who gave a shit if human females could save these Gracian aliens’ futures?

  “We have a fucking choice if we choose to be yours or not.” Amelia’s anger burst. She let rip at all the men in the room, but mainly it was directed toward the male being held back. “I know for a fact this poor, young girl is grieving for a lost love. Did you ask her first if you could touch her? Did you do this to her without informing her she might be your fucking mate? Do you even know she is pregnant?”

  The three men looked surprised at her outburst. An oppressive silence filled the room. The male being held back seem to deflate.

  “She will need him.” Hover spoke up. “Her iungo is already growing, Amelia. She’s also developing one on her central finger too, although it won’t be needed at this point.”

  “So just because this jerk...” She pointed to the male being held. “...felt…knew…thought, or whatever, that Bell was his spark and touched her, he has the right to spend the rest of his life with her? What if she doesn’t want to be with him? And what about the baby?”

  “The baby will be ours! I will love her for the rest of our lives. She’s the one who is meant for me.”

  Amelia stared at the male and screamed, “Did you ask her before you touched her?”

  Silence again loomed. The male dropped his head onto his chest.

  “Knut, answer her,” Trian ordered, stepping forward.

  Knut raised his head and looked at his captain. “No. But we have never had to before, so why now?�
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  Trian frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but before he got the chance Amelia’s anger again got the better of her.

  “We aren’t your fucking species, you wanker. Your women may know what to expect, but we don’t.”

  She turned her attention to Trian. His eyes met her. Although his face showed no emotion, his swirling eyes did. So many rolled into one, it was hard to read them all. But at the moment she didn’t care how he felt. Bell was lying in a bed unconscious and pregnant and still grieving for a boyfriend that she cared for.

  “Is this how your people will treat their future sparks?” she asked. “Because to me this is similar to rape.”

  Trian looked toward Hover before his confused face stared back at her. “What is this rape?” he asked in his deep, silky, chocolaty voice. This man was definitely a dessert she’d like to… Nope, do not go there.

  Amelia turned her head and gazed at Bell. At the sight of the unconscious, young woman, Amelia’s arousal dropped away instantly. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside Bell. She’d been through so much already. Would she want this Knut when she woke? Would the Gracian heat take away all her inhibitions?

  “Amelia?” Trian said, his voice harsh and gruff. “What is this rape?”

  Amelia ignored him for a few more seconds and moved a stray curl away from Bell’s face.

  “When one is raped, they are violated without their consent,” she finally replied.

  She didn’t dare look at the men, she continued to stare at Bell. She briefly wondered if she had this all wrong. Jane and Rosie seemed happy with Sharpie and Iryano even though they were having a few problems. She raised her eyes toward the silent men who were all looking at her.

  It was Hover who spoke up. “It’s the way the Gracians have always found their spark, Amelia. When we feel incredibly drawn to a female we touch them to see if they’re our mate—”

  “You just touch? You don’t ask their permission or talk to them?” Amelia interrupted the medic.