ASHTAR

I knew it. The moment I scented Veronica, I knew she was mine. That I resonate for her is only logical. If it is my khui that chooses, it knows what I want—and I want her. I wait for her to show me her battle form, but she does not. I have forgotten—human females have no battle form. Perhaps we just go straight to the mating, then. With a fierce growl of pleasure as I look into her eyes, I strip off my loincloth and bend down over her.

"Wait," Veronica says, breathless with shock. Her eyes—blue and glowing with the light of her khui—go wide. It doesn't matter what color they are, because I like her no matter what. But now that we resonate, I find her even more appealing. Her scent is like nothing I have ever experienced before, and I can smell the arousal blooming between the folds of her cunt as she gazes up at me.

No waiting is needed. She is mine. She knows that just as her khui knows it. I will make this so good for her that she will brag to all the others about her virile mate. "Come, my fires," I purr to her as I get down on my knees. "On your belly so I can mount you properly—"

Someone tackles me from behind. With a snarl, I fling the warrior—for it must be one of the blue sa-khui—off my back and move to shield my mate from their attacks. A swift moment later, another tackles me. Then another. I am pushed to the ground beneath three big sa-khui males, their weight pinning me to the ground. Still, I struggle to get up. "If you do not let me up in this next moment," I warn ominously, "it will go badly for you."

I can shift to my drakoni battle form at any moment and tear them limb from limb. The idea of doing that is incredibly appealing, and I want to show off for my female. I glance over at her—

And stop.

Veronica's eyes are wide with fear. Her mating scent is still there, but fear-scent is seeping in. She scuttles backward, collapsing onto the snow. Another female comes to her side—the ferocious Liz—and puts an arm around Veronica's shoulders, frowning at me as if I have done something wrong.

Perhaps I have. They said I could mate when I resonated…but they also said it was complicated. I see what they mean now. I do not like the way my mate is looking at me in this moment, and I feel shame that I have frightened her. I need to learn more about females. Even though my cock is throbbing with need and my khui is telling me to mate, I will not frighten her.

So I raise a hand to indicate I am done struggling. "I will stop."

A blue hand shoves a loincloth under my nose. "Put this back on. "

I take it and stand, and as I do, I see Liz help Veronica to her feet. As I watch, she puts a protective arm around my mate, glares at me, and leads my mate toward the fire, where Harlow and her mate are sitting. Scowling to myself, I put the loincloth back on and tie it, then rub at my chest where the khui thrums and thrums.

A hand claps me on the shoulder. I immediately stiffen, my battle senses rearing. But when I turn, it is only one of the blue males, smiling broadly at me. "Come. Let us take a walk, you and I."

"Why?"

The smile does not waver from his face. "Because your mate needs time to talk to other females to figure out her thoughts, and I thought you might appreciate talking to other males." He gestures at another, a big hulking blue who has an easy grin. "I am Salukh. This is Hassen. We are both mated and can give you advice on how human females act, if you like. You look as if you could use a friend."

I hesitate for a moment. In the slave pits, other males never worked together save to bring down a rival. I have never had a “friend” or felt the need for one.

But I do wish to know more about human females. "Very well." I glance back toward the fire.

Hassen puts a hand on my other shoulder. "We will not go far."

I stab at them angrily with my thoughts, but when they simply blink at me, waiting, I sigh. "Fine. Speak to me of your mates."

The one called Salukh offers me a pair of boots and then waits as I shove them onto my feet. My foot-claws dig into the leather, but I put them on anyhow and then wait. They walk away, steps crunching in the snow, and I follow.

Hassen claps his hand on my shoulder again. "Ah, I remember first resonance. It is a good thing. It may seem like your female is frightened, but she will come around. This is all very new for her."

I grunt.

"What do you know of your mate?" Salukh asks, looking over at me as we walk. "Do you know her past?"

I scowl at him. "I thought you were to tell me how to learn humans."

He gives me a solemn look, unaffected by my anger. He walks calmly at my side, using a spear as a walking stick. "I am getting there. With humans, there are many things to consider."

"Such as?"

"Such as their pasts." Salukh eyes me. "Your Vuh-ron-ca was captured from her planet and enslaved."

Who wasn't? "And?"

"Were you around female slaves?"

"No, they were sold for breeding or for pleasure." Recognition dawns on me. "You think my Veronica has been used by others?"

"It is possible. My mate was. When she first arrived, she was very frightened. She hid it well, but she did not want any mating. It took her a long time to welcome my touch. Are you sure this is not the case with Vuh-ron-ca?"

My nostrils flare and I think back to the fear-scent covering her just moments ago. Oh no, she'd said. My heart hurts at the thought of slavers touching her. Hurting her. How many slavelords have I seen with a pretty female in chains at their feet? Females who had no use except to be a welcome cunt for their owner?

Murderous rage flares through me. I clench my fists, my claws digging into my hands. Has my Veronica been touched like this? Is that why she is afraid to mate? Last night she slept in my arms…but last night she was freezing cold and she would not touch me until her friend did. "I will speak to her," I say thickly. "I want to know if she has been harmed."

"Sometimes human females are bold," Hassen offers. "My Mah-dee ignored me for a long time because she imagined herself angry at me."

"I do not think she imagined it," Salukh says dryly. "You stole her sister."

Hassen grunts. "She did not stay mad for long. But when she got over her anger, she was the one that approached me for mating."

Salukh looks thoughtful. "My Tee-fah-ni approached me, as well."

Now this is interesting. "So human females like to be in control of a mating?" It reminds me of drakoni courtships. "When does she indicate she wishes to battle?"

"Battle?" Salukh shakes his head. "Mine did not battle."

"Mine did," Hassen says, a pleased smile on his face. He gazes off into the distance, no doubt imagining his human female. "She is fierce, my Mah-dee. She takes no crap, as the humans say. I enjoy that very much."

"We know," Salukh comments. "We hear you mating in your hut all the time. You are both very loud."

I am fascinated by their conversation. If another male spoke to me as Salukh speaks to Hassen, I would have him by the throat. But they are both amused by the other's comments. It is as if they acknowledge each other's flaws and still decide to be companions. Interesting. Still, my khui is rumbling in my chest and I would rather discuss my mate than theirs. "So I should wait for Veronica to choose to battle me? What if she does not battle? What if she is weak, like your mate?"

Salukh goes very still. His jaw clenched. "My mate is not weak."

His tone is dangerous, and I realize I have offended him somehow. It should not matter to me that he is angry, but I am yet new here. "In my culture, females that do not battle for a male's attention are considered weak. It is different with humans, it seems."

"Very much. Humans are as varied as each crystal of snow." Hassen puts out a hand and a few flakes melt on his skin. "You would do well to remember that, my golden friend."

"I am called Ashtar. And I will think on what you have said."

Hassen grins at me and claps a hand on my shoulder. "Good. Because we are all going to be watching you to ensure that you do not push Ron-ka to do something she does not wish to do."

My temper flares again despite his friendly attitude. I flick his hand off my arm. "Your chief said the khui has chosen. Now you both come to me and say my mate must choose. Which is it?"

Salukh snorts quietly. "You will learn soon enough that it is both."