“You’re doing so much for me... I’m not sure how I’ll be able to repay you.”
“I’m just doing what comes naturally to me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing that two helpless females had crashed and were stranded in the middle of the dangerous jungle during a storm.” His amber eyes were piercing as they swept over my body, and for some reason, I felt a bubbling heat just underneath my skin wherever his gaze traveled. “Females, regardless of species, are precious and should be worshiped and treasured. Without them, the future of their species and the contributions they make to society would be lost forever.”
“Do you mean you’re only helping me because you think I’m some feeble female who crashed nearby?” I narrowed my eyes as I took in his emerald feather mohawk and golden accent feathers. They sparkled among his raven-black feathers that glistened in the natural light. There was something lovely about the way they framed his face, making his sharp golden beak and piercing amber eyes even more lethal. “What if I were a man in need of assistance? Would you have left me to fend for myself?”
“That’s ridiculous, and I’m offended that you think so little of me.” He made the same clicking noise with his beak as his emerald feather mohawk expanded, shooting itself tall like a flag in full display on top of his head. “I would have helped whoever was in your escape pod, regardless of gender or species. It would have been easier for me to find someone else to care for you if you were male—”
“I am not some damsel in distress.” I growled, tightening my fists and locking my gaze with his. “Just because I’m a female doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself if given the chance—”
“Do you want to be like your companion?” He squawked, grabbing my forearms with his soft—yet strong and powerful—dawn-feather covered hands. “Being claimed by a stranger of a species unknown to you, who believes you are their fated one? The Calyzis, the planet’s native species, are attempting to rebuild their population after a plague nearly wiped out not only their hometrees but also their females.
“If they found a female alone in their jungle, they would keep her locked up safely within their walls in the hopes of discovering who she is meant for. Is that what you want?
“If you were male, they would not have shown such interest and would have handed you over to their representatives to notify the council of their discovery, making the entire rescue process easier for everyone involved.”
“What are your intentions with me?” I spewed while refusing to back away from his unexpected grasp. I wasn’t afraid of him, and I knew deep down that he didn’t want to hurt me. He wouldn’t have gone out of his way to show me around his villa and lend me his fancy, exotic robes if he wasn’t interested in something other than caring for me until he was told what to do with me. “Are you going to hand me over right away? Or will I be able to choose what I want to do with my life?”
“It’s entirely up to you.” He shook his head, his eyes widening as he let go of me and jerked away. “I apologize. I should not have done that.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered, my hands uncoiling as my rage faded. “Things got a little heated, but everything is fine. You’re correct. I’d rather be here with you, given the chance to choose my own future, than trapped with some desperate male, hoping I’d have all the answers to their species’ population problems.” I shuddered at the prospect of becoming a breeding mare for not only a stranger, but also someone of another species, which could lead to pregnancy complications. “However, I need to know what your plans are for me.”
“I gather from your line of questioning that you do not want to be transported to the human sanctuary.” As he watched me, his feathered mohawk lowered like a deflating balloon and lay pulled back like a ponytail on top of his head. “What would you like me to do to help you with your plans?”
“How difficult would it be for me to use my bartending experience to train to become a galactic mixologist?” I took his hand, enclosing it between both of mine, and forced myself to remain calm. “I don’t want to become reliant on a system that could be taken away from us in the future. I’d rather use what I have to carve a place for myself in the galaxy because I believe returning to Earth will be nearly impossible for the time being.”
“It shouldn’t be that difficult once I am able to install your written language into the communications vidscreen. By then, I should be able to find an expert who is willing and capable of virtually teaching you, as well as a supplier for all the ingredients you require for your lessons.” He ruffled his feathers, puffing himself nearly twice his size as a growling purr rolled through his chest and he peered out the window behind me. “You are correct in that you and the other human refugees will have a difficult time returning to your home planet. Before the council even considers transporting everyone home, your government must be contacted and an introduction into the IPA must occur.”
“And even if all of that happens in my lifetime, it doesn’t mean they’ll welcome us back with open arms.” I frowned as I realized I wouldn’t be able to see my friends and family for the rest of my life. “Even if I returned to Earth, I know how interested the government and private specialized sectors are in studying us and learning about everything that happened to us. There is no way they will let me live in society right away without conducting a thorough investigation. I'd rather stay here with you and learn to survive in the galaxy with what little knowledge I have than be forced to be under scrutiny and not be able to return to the life I once had.”
He jerked his head in my direction, his piercing amber eyes staring down at me. “You want to stay with me?”
“If you would allow me,” I said slowly, studying his reaction—or lack thereof. “You were the one who told me how much my profession was respected and how much you valued a good mixologist. If you are willing to invest in my future, I will repay you once I have a job.”
“You must accompany me on missions and travel throughout the galaxy if you want me to be in charge of your education, protection, and well-being.” He slowly lifted his free wing and waved it, as if painting the wall with the tips of his feathers. “While I would love to be able to work remotely and live in this villa permanently, I am only here on vacation. Hopefully, when things settle down within the IPA, I will be able to fulfill my dream, but for the time being, the future is unknown, and I must do what is expected of me.
“If everything I’ve said sounds good to you, I have no objections to your wish.” He reached the strap of my dress, the back of his dawn-feathered hand brushing against my shoulder, sending a shiver down my spine as our gazes remained locked. “I’m wealthy and haven’t invested any of my credits in anything. Spending what I have in your future would be beneficial once you achieve your goals—not only for you, but also for other humans. You will become an example of what your species can offer the galaxy and demonstrate that humans are capable of coexisting with other species within the IPA.”
“When I was on my home planet, I never traveled much because I lived in the city and spent most of my time between work and my apartment. I’d be a fool to turn down the opportunity you’re offering me. I know that becoming a specialized mixologist will take a lot of time and effort, but I’m excited to be able to learn more about my craft and travel the galaxy by your side.”
“Then it’s settled.” He let go of my strap and looked toward the door panel, where we had hung the robes in the closet system. “Change into something more comfortable. I’ll begin preparing our evening meal. I haven’t fed you yet, and I know you’re still hungry. We can discuss the details over some food and drink before going to bed. Hopefully, Lyave will keep his promise and contact me while we are still awake, so you can speak with your companion.”
6
Ixik’tryl
What had I gotten myself into?
Something about Ni-O-Me, the female human, awoke an instinctual need deep within me—something I hadn’t dared to do anything other than fantasize about. It was unusual for another individual, especially a female, to challenge me and my decisions, but my guest had done so effortlessly and without hesitation.
It was a commendable trait that I had no idea I was drawn to until it happened.
She was everything I wanted in a mate—a life partner—and for some reason, I wasn’t bothered that she wasn’t an Ekoiskra. There were numerous interspecies relationships among members of the IPA’s species.
The problem was that she was human, from a planet that had only recently taken its first major steps in space travel outside their sol system, which had resulted in their unwelcome demise and had put the crew in their current situation.
The majority of the population mistakenly believed they were the superior species in the galaxy, when in fact they were the polar opposite on the space faring scale. If they had to learn anything from their ship being attacked, I hoped it would be their true place in the universe.
The Interstellar Protections Agency—IPA—had had its eye on them for a long time. It was hard to witness an intelligent species continuously struggle to advance beyond their own planet. It’d been so painful at times when my fellow elders in the council would place an order to interfere, nudging their most advanced civilization forward with a solution to their problems about every one thousand human years.
