He nods. “We can. Today, we are in a transport ship, so there is room. They will have to live with our horses, descended from earthly horses and dragons that went extinct on our planet. How will we get them to the ship?” he asks me.
“They’ll follow me,” I say.
Chapter Two
ROMI
Months later
I don’t dare talk about my fear now that I’m here. It’s been months since I arrived, and I have yet to meet a mate. I’m one of the original four women who traveled to this planet with Jane.
Nadine and Melody are happily married. Like Jane, they have the infinity pulse, this mythical thing where they’re supposed to feel so connected to someone that it’s instant and overpowering. Every time I think of it, I mentally scoff. Mostly because the idea of it frightens me a little.
Meanwhile, even though Jane assures me they will never send me back to Earth, I’m afraid. The alien cowboys from this planet did me a huge favor and let me bring the horses here. I worry they will banish me back to Earth. If that happens, I’ll lose everything, even my horses.
Kicking those thoughts away, I walk out to the pasture. I care for the horses from this planet now, along with the horses from Earth. I’m so grateful they gave me this job. My favorite horse, Fury, comes racing over. He stops in front of me, dipping his head to press it against my chest. He lets out a snorting sound as I stroke behind his ears. Even though we don’t speak the samelanguage, I swear we’re communicating. I believe he’s telling me that he likes it here, that they all like it here.
“I do too,” I whisper before dropping my forehead to his and breathing in the scent of hay and grass. This planet might be entirely different from Earth, but it shares many characteristics with how it was before humans nearly destroyed it. I suppose that’s why humans originally came here centuries earlier. Our ancient cowboys, known for their love of travel, came here and stayed. It’s why they can mate with us, why we can live here, and why the animals from Earth can also survive here.
My efforts to keep my anxieties at bay are failing. I’m afraid to talk about so many things right now, so they spin like annoying bees in my thoughts. A ship from Earth came here and is shaking things up because the planet is recruiting human women for mates. Of course, the men from Earth are idiots and don’t even understand why women would jump at the chance to move to a new planet. Earth is a miserable place to be, and it relies on this planet and many other planets for food and supplies. That’s the only leverage the leadership here has over the people from Earth.
“They won’t take you back,” I say to Fury.
Fury lifts his head and nudges me with his velvety-soft nose. This horse understands me. He knows I’m worried, and his affection eases my tension. After one more nudge, he twitches his tail and canters off. I’m walking back toward the stables when a prickle races down my spine, and I feel as if someone is watching me. I spin around, carefully scanning the area. Having been born and raised on Earth and having my parents identified as part of the resistance when I was a young girl, my instinct is to constantly be on guard.
While I feel much safer here, I don’t believe anywhere is completely safe. They treat women amazingly well here. In fact, they worship them. But there is no perfect world, and our veryprincess, the one who has become a friend to me and is so incredibly kind, was kidnapped. She’s been rescued and is safe again, but that event is a rupture in the fabric of kindness here. A small contingent of men would like this planet to be more like Earth. They want to rule over women. So I keep an eye out even though they swear a shield over this entire town protects us. I figure one can’t be too careful.
As I turn back toward the stables, I see a horse approaching with his rider. The horse’s name is Silver to match his coat, and he’s gorgeous. I adore him. He only allows one alien cowboy to ride him, but I’ve never seen the man who rides him. I haven't been here whenever he has come to take Silver for a ride. I feel this alien cowboy watching me as I walk. On his own, Silver is imposing, and his rider sits tall, his tail draped along Silver’s flank.
I feel a tug in my body, the sensation powerful in my heart and my belly. It feels as if a cord connects me to this alien cowboy. As he approaches, the cord feels as if it’s literally tightening. All I want is to get closer. I shake the feeling away. I don’t want to experience an infinity pulse. Its power frightens me. I don’t want to be that connected to someone.
I’ll be worried about being vulnerable, and I don’t need that. I just need to marry and be treated decently. That’s all I ask.
Chapter Three
THORNE
Silver snorts, bowing his head and ruffling his large wings slightly. Our horses here are similar to earthly horses, but they also have wings. I stroke a palm down the side of his neck. “Thank you for today,” I say.
He curves his neck toward me, his eye meeting mine before he twitches his tail. I leave him in his spacious stall, where he will rest and eat like the spoiled creature he is. Only then do I give in to the urge humming inside me. I follow the tug I feel into the barn. Romi is there.
Moments later, I can still taste her on my mouth as she holds my gaze, lifting her chin. One kiss nearly brings me to my knees. As strong and stubborn as she tries to appear, I can feel her vulnerability shimmering under the surface. I feel her fear and almost disbelief that anyone can protect her.
“I promise I will protect you. Always. You must believe me,” I say, my voice low.
A pink flush stains her cheeks, and her tongue darts out to slide across her bottom lip. The sight of it buries the claws of need even deeper into me. I never doubted the existence of the infinity pulse, but even then, its power takes me by surprise.
My parents loved each other deeply. When we lost my father, my mother grieved so powerfully that I feared for her. She has recovered but insists she can be with no other man. Yet I hear the subtle shake in her voice and see the tremble in her hands when she speaks of my father. I worry for her often. It’s only her strength that lets me know she will be okay.
“Who hurt you?” I ask Romi.
While I do not know who hurt her, I know she has been hurt deeply. A single tear slides down her cheek. I step closer, wrapping her in my embrace. I hope my touch conveys what I know in my heart and soul, that she will always be safe with me. “I will keep you safe,” I rasp.
Romi stiffens for a beat before she softens against me, one arm sliding around my waist while the other palm presses against my heart. After a long moment, she lifts her head. I want to kiss away the tears streaked on her cheeks.
“You will, won’t you?” she asks.
“Always,” I promise.
