“Are you lost, female?”
I spun around when a deep voice addressed me. When I saw two males walking towards me, I almost swallowed my tongue. Like every other Maji male I saw, they were suited up in the black armoured uniform that Mikoh and the shipmaster wore. They were big boys in both height and girth. I wondered if being muscular was a Maji gene trait because they were all in shape; even Surkah had a killer body.
“Hi.” I awkwardly waved to the males who stopped a few feet away from me. “I am lost, actually. I’m looking for the bridge.”
The male with the tight haircut raised a thick black eyebrow. “Why do you want to go to the bridge?”
“To speak to the shipmaster,” I explained. “I kind of had a fight with him, and I need to apologise.”
The males shared a look before returning their gazes to me.
“You fought the shipmaster?” the male on the right asked as his eyes scanned me. “I don’t believe it. The shipmaster would never harm a female, not even if she attacked him.”
At that, I laughed.
“I don’t mean a physical fight. I mean a verbal one. We had an argument.”
The male with a silver toned hair and blue skin grinned. “That I believe. Females have a sharp tongue in every species.”
“What are your names?” I asked, chuckling.
The black-haired male put his hand against his chest and said, “I am Dash.” He jabbed his thumb at his silver-haired friend. “And this is Vorah.”
Dash was clearly the older of the two. In human years, he looked thirty years old while Vorah looked like he could be on the right side of eighteen.
“It’s lovely to meet you both,” I said and bowed my head a little. “I’m Nova.”
“That is a strange name,” Vorah commented.
Dash forcibly elbowed him in the ribs and said, “That is disheartening for a female to hear. How are you going to get an intended if you continue to insult every female we encounter?”
Vorah growled at Dash, but his cheeks did flare with a tinge of purple as he glanced at me through his silver eyelashes. His eyes were the lightest shade of blue I had ever seen, and when he was bashful, like he was now, they looked huge.
“Forgive me, Nova. I spoke out of turn.”
I eyed him. “It’s okay. I’m sure many human names are strange to Maji.”
“Are Maji names strange to you?” Vorah asked, still blushing.
“Very much so, your name is very unusual.” Vorah frowned, so I quickly added, “But I like it a lot. It is a strong name.”
His chest puffed out, and he said, “I am a strong male who will produce very strong offspring, and bring my intended great pleasure. I will care for her, feed her, and put my family above all else.”
Oooookay.
Dash seemed to be proud of Vorah’s declaration and looked at me, along with Vorah, as they awaited my response.
“Um, I’m sure you will. You seem like a very strong capable male.”
Vorah stepped forward and said, “May we see if we’re suitable?”
I froze because I instantly understood his meaning. He used different words, but the meaning was still the same. He wanted to see if we could have sex and, in turn, possibly become a mated couple. My instinct was to reject him, but my conversation with Echo stopped me from doing so. I once wanted to be off the Ebony, but remaining on the spacecraft was the only way I got to remain alive.
My escape plan had turned into a survival plan.
If I was to truly accept that being with the Maji was my life now, then I had to realise that eventually, I would have to take a husband. Kol himself said it was one of the requirements in return for rescue. The Maji seemed to be patient when it came to women, and Vorah was young. If I accepted his offer and did things in baby steps, he would surely not know any differently as he was probably a virgin like me. We could make a deal about getting to know one another before we make a full commitment.
He wanted an intended, and I could offer that to him.
“You need to clarify that for me, Vorah,” I said, nervously. “Just to be sure, you want to see if we could be the other’s… intended, right?”
“Yes,” Vorah answered so fast it prompted Dash to slap him across the back of the head.
“Relax,” he murmured to his friend. “Females don’t want such eagerness.”
Vorah barely paid him any attention as his focus was entirely on me.
“Would you be willing to take things slow?” I asked Vorah, a wariness to my tone. “I can’t believe I’m considering this, let alone saying this two minutes after meeting you, but I know that eventually, all my women must take a husband, but I’ve been on my own for so long that I don’t want to rush anything. Is that okay?”
Please say yes.
Vorah was almost bouncing with excitement, and I knew I could use his eagerness to my advantage. His age was already proving useful, I just had to play his strings right, and I could possibly have a really good arrangement with him.
“Nova, I will wait until you’re ready to seal our bond. I swear on my honour.”
Dash’s chest puffed out with pride, so I guessed whatever Vorah just promised was respected amongst the Maji.
I licked my lips. “Then yes, we can see if we’re suitable.”
“Thanas blesses me,” Vorah said and looked at Dash with so much happiness it warmed my heart. “I have possibly found my intended, Dash.”
“I am glad for you, my friend. You’re a deserving male.”
Vorah smiled widely and looked back at me.
“It will take four days to reach Ealra, so we can meet daily to talk, walk, and get to know each other if that is okay with you?”
I felt a breath of relief rush from me.
“That sounds great, Vorah.”
We were all smiling then, and it almost made me forget that I needed to apologise to Kol. At the reminder of him, my gut told me that my deal with Vorah wouldn’t be well received, but I blinked the thought away. Surely, Kol would be delighted that I was accepting my situation and practically throwing myself into it… so to speak.
I thought of the intimate moment Kol and I shared, but I reminded myself he only touched me because I challenged him. He said so himself. He wanted me to heel to him like a dog. I had to shake off the stupid butterflies and growing interest I had in him, and I reminded myself that I was reacting to him like a love-struck fool because he was the only single male I had encountered. Besides, he wasn’t just the shipmaster, he was a prince to his people, and there was no way he would slum it with a common human girl like me.
Not that I want him to.
I refocused on the males before me and smiled because Vorah seemed really pleased with my response. Dash appeared pleased as well because he kept patting his friend silently on the back.
“I really have to speak with the shipmaster before he throws me off the craft,” I added with nervous laughter after a few moments.
“I will escort you to the bridge,” Vorah offered.
I blushed. “Thank you.” I looked at Dash and said, “It was great to meet you.”
“And you, Nova.”
When Vorah and I turned, and began walking away, I glanced back and found Dash watching us like he was a proud father or big brother or something. I shook my head clear and focused on Vorah as we walked.
“So, is this your first time to Earth?” I asked him.
He smiled down at me, and it was then that I realised he had dimples. That shocked me. I never imagined aliens could look like humans, so seeing one of them with dimples almost floored me. Vorah was cute, and I couldn’t believe I noticed that about him. I couldn’t believe that his bluish coloured skin went unregistered in my mind until that very moment.
I think I’m getting used to the Maji.
“Yes,” Vorah answered me, regaining my attention. “This is my first mission, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”
“I bet you are,” I teased. “All the females aboard must be strange to you.”
“Very much so. There are so few of them on my home world, and fewer who are unmated.”
“I’ve never thought of it, but I think it’s like that on Earth, too. I come across more men than woman, and when I do, the woman is owned.”
“Owned?” Vorah repeated.
I looked down and nodded.
“I am sorry for your people’s suffering, Nova. I want to kill every human male that has brought harm to a female.”
That sounded very violent, but I appreciated the kindness behind it.
I looked up at Vorah and said, “Thank you.”
He nodded once, and from then on, we walked in a comfortable silence. I lost count of how many hallways we walked down and corners we had turned before we reached the bridge, but when he did, I gave Vorah a hearty laugh.
“Thank you. I’d have never made it here if you didn’t help me.”
He licked his lips. “You’re welcome.”
He stood waiting for something, and the only thing I could think of was the suitability thing.
“We can have dinner together this evening in the mess hall… if you like?”
Vorah’s eyes practically popped out of his head as he said, “Yes, please.”
“Great.” I smiled. “You’ll have to check with who oversees the housing because I’m not sure what number my room is.”
I wasn’t even sure how I’d get back to my room.
“I will find that information and seek you out when my shift ends.”
“Great.”
Vorah smiled widely then he turned and walked away with a spring in his step. I smiled too, knowing that that male could very well be someone I spend a lot of time with in the future. I forgot about Vorah when I turned to face the door before me. Without giving it too much thought, I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. Seconds ticked by before the large door slide opened and revealed… Mikoh.
“You’re everywhere,” I said to him.
He grinned down at me. “Remember that.”
I playfully rolled my eyes. “Can I speak to His Highness?”
“Who?”
“Kol.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I did.”
“No, you said His Highness.”
“It was a joke.”
“I didn’t laugh.”
“Because you’re incapable of the action, you statue.”
Mikoh’s grin made me laugh.
“You’re insufferable,” I said with a shake of my head.
He winked. “So I’ve heard.”
“Why aren’t you with Surkah?” I asked him.
“She ordered me away.” He shrugged. “She does that a lot, so my friend Nero is guarding her for me.”
I nodded, so he turned to the side and gestured for me to enter the room. I did and came to a stop almost instantly. The room was… huge. Maji males were everywhere, and they all looked like they had important jobs. There was high-tech equipment, chairs, flashing lights, and a huge… window. It was overlooking the Earth.
I was no longer on Earth; I was looking at it.
“When did we leave?” I asked aloud as I stared at the dying planet that I called home.
“An hour or so ago,” Mikoh replied to me. “After the Vaneer disembarked.”
“I didn’t feel a thing,” I murmured.
“You wouldn’t. The Ebony is virtually silent in takeoff, in flight, and when descending and landing. It is the perfect craft.”
That was the perfect word to describe the Ebony: perfect. The entire spacecraft was truly something to behold. From an outsider’s view, it was marvellously big, futuristic, and definitely not of Earth. The advancements from within the ship were simply incredible. The cleanliness of it caught me off guard when I looked around, but when I looked past that, I saw the technological gems for what they were—simply mesmerising.
Nothing was plain on the bridge of the Ebony. From a few feet away, a white wall looked simply like a white wall, but then when you got closer, you could see zips of light, the outline of digital handprint panels that were used to open doors, codes to lock and unlock them also, as well as a written language that I could not decipher. The more I looked, the more I saw; it was like the ship was alive, and it was—it was alive with technology.
I made a mental note to examine the walls of my quarters and those in the hallways to see if I missed the digital delight that was hidden in plain view all around me.
I returned my focus to the gigantic window and stared at my home world, noticing how defeated it looked. I had seen pictures of the Earth in its heyday on one of the many televised screens that littered the main cities on the surface. The oceans were once large, a deep blue, and they all connected. The land mass was just as big, and it was green and rich with life. The Earth that I gazed upon now was none of those things. Only patches of water remained, but the blue hue was not as vibrant. The land mass was a sickly brown and cancelled out any green that tried to thrive.
I knew my planet was dying, but looking at it first-hand caused the realisation to slam into me with a force that pulled a strangled cry from my throat. I hadn’t realised there was talking and movement around me until I cried out, and all that noise stopped. I covered my mouth with my hands and cried into them as I looked at the Earth. My entire life was on that planet. My father, mother, aunt, uncle, cousins… they were all down on the surface. And I would be leaving all them behind. That knowledge hurt just as much as the realisation that soon their bodies, and the Earth itself, would be no more.
“My home,” I whimpered.
I didn’t flinch when I felt hands on my shoulders, and I found a surprising amount of comfort in them. I turned to the male who rested his hands on me, and I hugged myself against his broad chest. For a moment, I thought the male was Mikoh, but then I inhaled, and the scent of rain filled me, and I was shocked that my subconscious had noted that it belonged to one being.
Kol.
“I’m sorry, shiva,” he murmured and folded his arms around me.
He held me for a few moments then released me when I turned in his arms and leaned my back against his chest as I stared at the Earth once more.
“I knew it was dying.” I sniffled. “I knew it had gotten bad, but I never imagined it got to… this.”
Kol remained silent.
“My home is really dying, Kol.” I hiccupped. “And there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”
He turned my body back to face him, placed his fingers under my chin, and tilted my head up, so I was looking at him. His violet eyes were glowing once more, and his expression was softer than I had ever seen it before.
“You’re with the people,” he said. “You’re ensuring the continuation of your people by being here.”
At that moment, I understood why they were here. It was more than looking for mates to continue their species; it was a last attempt at survival. The Maji were survivalists too, and they were doing everything they could to save their species.
“Kol,” I said, my lower lip wobbling. “I’m so sorry about everything. I’ve been beyond difficult for you to deal with and very childish and… ungrateful. You were right. I apologise profusely. Please, forgive me.”
I didn’t know why, but I needed him to forgive me. Not to keep my place on the Ebony but to dull an ache that had arisen in my chest that I was failing him. He stared at me for a long moment then nodded once.
“I accept your apology, and I forgive you.”
My shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you.”
His vibrant eyes flicked over my face. “I admire you, Nova. I know it wasn’t easy for you to apologise to me, nor for you to accept this change in your life.”
I sniffled. “Echo pointed out how much of a bitch I have been and threatened me a time or two that she’d beat me up if I didn’t change my attitude. Since I’m stuck with her and her sister until we get to your home world, I figured I’d better get real nice real fast.”
Kol suddenly laughed, and I found myself smiling up at him, too.
“She will not harm you,” he said, still chuckling. “Do not fear her.”
“I don’t, but she was right. I have been everything she accused me of, and I want to make it right.”
“How?” Kol asked, his expression turning dark. “Do you wish to seek out a unit member to mate with?”
I felt my cheeks stain with heat, so I looked down at my bare feet
“Mating right away is not my intention, but Vorah did ask me out earlier.”
“Vorah?” Kol repeated. “That young silver-haired tail chaser?”
Tail chaser?
“I guess,” I replied, looking up at him once more.
Kol growled to himself then to me he said, “He is not a good match for you. He is too young to be searching for an intended. He is only forty years old! A single moon cycle older than Surkah.”
“You do realise that forty years is a lot to humans, right?” I quizzed. “I’m only twenty-three.”
“Yes, but we have a longer lifespan than humans. Vorah is barely out of his minor years. He is three moon cycles shy of becoming a grown male.”
“Well, he wants to see if we’re suitable.”
Sharp intakes of breaths were taken around the room, and I thought something was wrong with the Ebony until I looked around Kol and realised all eyes were on us… or him. I looked at Mikoh when he slowly approached us. I hadn’t realised Kol’s arms went around me, but they did, and they were squeezing me tightly.
“I’ll kill him,” Kol growled, his voice sounding so unlike himself that I wouldn’t have believed it came from his lips had I not been looking at him when he said it.
“Who?” I asked, unsure of what was happening.
“Vorah,” Kol snarled and stretched out the ‘rah’ on Vorah’s name.
“What did he do?” I asked, confused and a little frightened.
“He’d dare present himself to you as a mate when I—”
“Easy, my friend,” Mikoh said softly, cutting Kol off. “Vorah is young, and he did not know Nova was… unavailable.”
I’m unavailable?
“Is it because I’ve been difficult?” I frowned. “Am I un… mateable or something now?”
I didn’t think I truly wanted to mate with a Maji but being told I wasn’t allowed didn’t seem very fair. I behaved wrongly, like a real bitch, but my emotions fuelled my anger and the whole being kidnapped by aliens thing really freaked me out. Surely, I couldn’t have been the only human woman to act out?
“Kol,” Mikoh said firmly, ignoring me completely. “Remember what we said? Offspring steps for the human females so we don’t scare them with their transition to the Maji way.”
Kol growled at Mikoh, but then he looked down at me, and his features softened once more.
“Vorah wants to… share sex with you to see if you desire him as a mate.”
I was mortified for so many males to be listening in on our conversation.
“Yes, I know. He told me so, but he also said he would take baby steps with me.”
Kol’s hold on me went extremely tight.
“You wish to… mate with him?”
I didn’t know whether he sounded mad, disgusted, or disheartened.
I cleared my throat. “You were the one who told me I’d have to take a husband.”
“I never said you were to go out and seek a mate straight away!”
That was true.
“Look, I’m just as surprised as you that this is going down,” I expressed. “Vorah surprised me. I mean, who comes out and asks someone they just met if they want to have sex?”
“We shouldn’t do that?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.
I looked around Kol to the orange-haired male that spoke to me, but before I answered him, Kol let out a vicious snarl.
“I beg your forgiveness, my prince,” the male suddenly said and dropped to his knees with his head bowed.
I looked at Kol. “Stop that. He did nothing wrong.”
“He spoke to you,” Kol growled, his body shaking.
“I’m not Surkah,” I informed him. “I’m not a princess. I’m just me. He can ask a question if he wants to. How will Maji and humans learn about one another if we don’t ask questions?”
“He can ask another human, not you.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Wow,” I said with a shake of my head. “That’s really mature.”
“Being mature is not something a male remembers when his—”
“When his what?” I cut him off.
Kol looked like he was fighting an internal battle.
“Nothing,” he eventually said.
I raised a brow. “For someone who wants me to accept that you’re saving my people and that mating with your people is a good idea, you aren’t very happy that one of your males wants to see if I could be his wife.”
“We will discuss this later,” Kol said, the muscle in his jaw rolling back and forth.
He turned to Mikoh and said something in his own language. I gasped when the translator didn’t give it to me in English, and I knew straight away that Kol disconnected my translator with his comm again.
“Hey!” I said, frowning. “It’s rude to talk in front of me in words I don’t understand.”
Kol ignored me as he continued to speak back and forth with Mikoh in a heated tone until Mikoh grunted and nodded once. Kol turned backed to me then, and he looked mad. No, scratch that, he looked pained.
“You’re dismissed, Nova.”
I blinked. “I’m dismissed?”
Kol nodded. “You sought out my forgiveness, and you now have it.”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“But what?”
I swallowed. “You’re one of three Maji who I’m comfortable with being around.”
“Four if you include Vorah, which you have,” Kol responded.
I flinched. “Don’t be mad at me, Kol. I’m trying to fall in line and do what’s expected of me.”
“I’m not mad,” he replied. “I’m happy you agreed to Maji terms for sanctuary.”
He didn’t look like he was happy.
“It’s not like that, though,” I explained. “Vorah understands that I—”
“I don’t want to speak of this anymore, Nova,” he clipped. “Vorah is not going to be your intended.”
I leaned back.
“Why the hell not?” I demanded.
“Because I have declared it!”
I jumped at the volume of Kol’s voice, but instead of leaning into him for the comfort he provided before, I stepped away from him.
“You’re to return to your quarters and meet with no males unless it is myself, Mikoh, or Nero.”
I felt my lower lip wobble, but I refused to cry.
“What did I do wrong that Vorah—”
“Nova, enough!”
Kol was spitting mad. I could practically feel the anger radiate from him in waves. I took a hearty step backwards and swallowed. I didn’t know him enough—virtually at all—to reassure myself that he wouldn’t attack me no matter how much I was told that Maji didn’t harm women.
“Yes, sir,” I said, trying my best to keep my voice even. “Thanks for your time. I won’t bother you again.”
I turned away from him and walked towards the exit of the bridge. I didn’t dare look at Mikoh or anyone else, for that matter. I kept my eyes straight ahead until the doorway opened and gave me a view of the hallway. The empty hallway.
“Nova,” Kol’s said from behind me, his voice still thick with anger. “Mikoh will escort you back to your quarters… I will speak to you later about this matter.”
He wasn’t threatening me; he was promising me … and I’d be damned if it didn’t have the same effect.