My parents' hands landed on my shoulders as they joined to stand beside me.
“Your sacrifice is appreciated,” my mother said.Sacrifice. Yes, it had started that way. Now it did not feel like one.
“Remember what the humans said,” my father continued as I stayed silent. “You only have to keep her here for one year or until your baby is born. The faster she is pregnant, the faster you will be free of her and available for more acceptable females.”
I held a groan. I did not want to be free of her. Did not want another female. She already haunted my dreams and I had woken up in soiled pants the last three mornings. She had stood her ground in that room, expressing her displeasure at the human male—and me—trying to control her. It had aroused me more than I thought possible. I looked forward to us butting heads, fighting for dominance and resolving our issues naked in our mating bed or in the tall grass under the stars.
My parents would see her and understand. They would greet and welcome her like the future co-leader that she was.
They had to, because I did not plan on letting her go.
My tail slithered anxiously behind me as the engine stopped, a few heartbeats feeling like ages. Thanato moved forward until he stopped in front of the shut door, waiting to greet her and our sister to escort them to me.
“Why would he want to take a more acceptable female?” my oldest brother—Khaju—asked from behind us. “They cannot give him heirs.”
The sound of a loud slap echoed and he cursed. “Watch how you speak,” his mate, Eletie, hissed. “Would you trademe for a human female just because she can give you children?”
Khaju groaned. “Maybe a human female would not have such a bad temper…” She gasped in outrage. “Come on,assa bara. You know I amjoking.”
He was, and she knew it. They were more than happy with their own children, even if they had been made inside the humans’ artificial wombs up in their sky-base, like most of the mated pairs of each species in our system.
“Ghauro is a leader,” my mother clipped. “This experiment he agreed to do places him at risk of being seen as weak and challenged by another male.”
“How so?” Khaju asked. “He is bringing hope to our people. If he does manage to impregnate the human female, he will be seen as a hero and her as a blessing.”
Why were they taking so much time to get out of the damn thing? Was something wrong? Did they come without her to tell me she had gone to the Canco instead?
“Some might not share our open-mindedness,” Eletie said, and my brother sighed at his mate’s words. “It will be our duty to ensure she is safe. Protected from the potential jealous females who want Ghauro for themselves. Fromthe males who might want to try and breed her if it does not take at first.”
“Stop talking between yourselves like I am not here,” I gritted out, feeling murderous at the idea of another male trying to get close. “I will protect her. Take care and look after her.”
She took a step forward, sliding between my mother and I to catch my gaze. “I know.Weknow. But it is unprecedented. We will assist if more protection is needed. We willsupport” —Eletie glared at my mother—“both of you. During the whole year andmoreif you wish for her to stay by your side.”
Sometimes I wondered if Khaju knew how lucky he was. He had found himself one of the best our kind had to offer. I wished Thanato was as lucky, but he only seemed to attract psychotic females and his relationship never lasted long enough for him to officially mate.
Maybe he would take on a human bride too, once we will know if the pairing worked.It will.It has to, because I will not let go of Melanie.
The door opened and my heart stopped beating in my chest when two human males—the old one leading the project and a younger one I have never seen before—got down first. I straightened up, dusting my ceremonial pants off discreetly.
I hoped the fear I saw in her eyes three days ago would be gone and not replaced by disgust or displeasure. I looked nothing like the human males I’d seen so far…Maybetheywere what was considered attractive to her and other human females. But I found her insanely beautiful. Maybe it was not so far-fetched to hope she enjoyed the sight of me too.
A hint of the strange color of her hair caught my eyes just before she appeared fully, holding my sister’s hand as they both stepped out of the metal box. Her small naked foot landed on the soft grass, the pale pink of her skin contrasting against the vibrant green that also covered me. The golden jewelry glinted in the light as they circled herleg from her delicate ankle to her thigh. My sister must have adjusted the length of the long two pieces of fabric because it barely touched the ground despite her smaller frame.
She looked like a goddess.
Mygoddess.
The markings painted on her arm were the exact shade of my skin. All the golden jewelry and pieces were a reminder of the colors of my natural markings. The fabric was draped in a way that enhanced each and every one of her luscious curves, the front and back attached together at her hips by two delicate gold chains, revealing her smooth naked thighs and legs.
It also left little to the imagination when it came to her damn breasts. The confusion on all members of my family’s faces mirrored my own when I first saw her.I will have to explain to them about the breast thing.
I forced my gaze up to her face and the clear sky that were her eyes, now framed by drawn green and golden vines that climbed to her forehead. Her hair was pulled back in an elaborate style, with just a few wild strands falling on the sides while the rest was partly braided behind her head.
Eletie gave an appreciative nod—even my mother seemed impressed.
“Not bad, brother,” Khaju said, leaning close enough to whisper in my ear.
“I cannot even argue with that,” Eletie agreed. “I think I want a human bride too, now.”
