Chapter 4
4
RYZ
“B rother? We need to talk,” Xi says, the moment we’re in the hallway.
“Can it wait? I need to brief Zadren about all this.”
She shakes her head. “No, it can’t.”
I press my lips together and pull her into a quiet place nearby. Gwen’s put me in a surly mood. “What is it?”
“It’s about Gwen,” Xi says, biting her lip.
“What about her?”
“She’s your”…Xi cringes as if anticipating my response…“mate.”
I rear back as if I’ve been punched. “ What ?”
“The feelings, Ryz. They’re telling me she’s your fated mate.”
I shake my head. “Nonsense.”
“No. From the moment I walked into the room and saw her, the knowledge came crashing over me.”
I roll my eyes. “You know I don’t believe in that foolishness.”
She huffs. “I know you don’t, but the people of Ydris do, and I have… an idea.”
There’s a gleam in her yellow eyes, and despite my feelings concerning her so-called oracular gifts, her “ideas” have never steered the Urralix family wrong up till now.
“Okay. How about you tell me and Zadren this idea?”
She smiles, and we head to the control room where Zadren is monitoring the screens.
“Commander,” he says, his blue fist going to his chest in a Ydris warrior greeting. “Xi,” he continues, bowing low to her, his tall onyx horns nearly touching us. So often I forget he’s an Ocrevv, a species notorious for their nefarious dealings. He came to me long ago, renouncing the ways of his people and wanting a position. I took a chance on him and have never regretted it. I would trust him with my life.
I quickly update him with the information Gwen gave us.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” he says. “The dealings of the dark markets usually stay hidden. Whoever is behind it is getting much too bold.”
“Agreed,” I admit. “Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to do anything about it.”
Zadren’s chest rises and falls. “I know.”
“Also, Xi has told me the Earth female, Gwen, is my fated mate.”
His eyes go wide, and he turns to her. “Truly?”
She nods. “I haven’t been able to feel anything else since the moment I saw her. There’s something about her. I’m positive.”
“Fascinating,” he says, and glances at me. “I’m assuming you don’t agree, Commander.”
“Not in the least,” I answer with a sigh. “But she insists she has an idea .”
Zadren rests his hands on the console beside him. “I do love Xi’s ideas.” He smiles her way and my sister blushes, her cheeks taking on a dark blue hue.
She’s had a crush on him forever.
“You won’t like it,” she finally says to me.
“I’m still willing to hear you out.” I turn to gaze out the large window to the valley beyond. The planet’s in bloom and the flowers are striking.
“Marry Gwen,” she says quickly.
I choke and start to cough. Zadren pats me on the back.
“Have you lost your mind, sister? We know nothing of her species, nor her planet, nor even galaxy. For all we know this could be one big ruse to infiltrate and invade us.”
“Ryz, come on. There is zero evidence to suggest she’s involved in anything underhanded. She’s a victim here.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Why would you suggest such a thing?”
“If we have a public ceremony, you’ll get Ydris and our allies to rally behind you. Support you. It would demonstrate our strength to those seeking to attack us,” Xi says, clasping her hands together. “Especially if they know I divined the marriage.”
I run a hand over my face. “But…marrying an unknown species?”
Zadren chimes in. “That could be beneficial. Public opinion will be solely based on what they see of her in the here and now. No preconceptions.”
“New blood,” Xi continues, warming to her subject. “It’s the perfect time for something fresh and innovative.”
I rub my jaw. “This is absolute madness. Even if I went along with this insanity, the woman is not fond of me. Why would she ever agree to marry me?”
Xi grabs hold of my arm. “She’s been ripped from her home planet, never knowing there was life outside it. Give her a moment. She’s trying to process everything around her. How could she have known we weren’t trying to harm her? She’s in pure survival mode.”
I don’t know what to think anymore.
“And as for agreeing to such a match…” Xi looks up at me. “She’s desperate. Once she has some time to think, she’ll come to realize that she needs you. She’s all alone and you’re the only one she knows that can give her the resources to find her friends.”
“Xi, I cannot help her right now,” I say. “Ydris needs us. I need to be ready in case...”
“The Outside Forces make a move, yes, yes,” Zadren finishes.
Xi nods. “Exactly. But you can make her a deal. As soon as the wedding ceremony is over, things will calm down again. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to make good on your promise to your people. Besides, we need to find out who’s behind these human exchanges. It’s our duty as seekers of justice.”
“It could also help us find more allies. Imagine opening up an entirely new part of the universe, Commander,” Zadren adds, his eyes blazing.
I want to tell Xi this is outrageous. But she’s always had our father’s cleverness. And Ydris cannot stand by and let others wreak havoc on lesser beings or bully planets into submission. We have principles and a moral code to uphold. If only the timing wasn’t so horrible.
“I can’t believe I’m even considering this,” I say.
Xi claps her hands and bounces up and down. “Does this mean you will ask her to be your bride?”
I look out into the vast sky and take a deep breath.
“Yes, I’ll do it. For the good people of Ydris, and for those suffering at the hands of cruel masters.”
Zadren pounds his chest with his fist. “I am behind you all the way.”
I smile. “Of course you are. Now, how do I convince her to accept?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, I can help with that,” Xi says, grinning. “Now go clean yourself up. This isn’t going to be easy, and it will help if you were presentable.”
What is she talking about? I look fine. Besides, how does she know what human women find pleasing? Gwen didn’t exactly seem repulsed by me earlier. Just angry. So much anger .
“I wish you luck, Commander,” Zadren says, as we turn to go.
“I’ll need every bit of it,” I reply.
Quorr help me.
* * *
Standing outside Gwen’s room in some of my finest robes, my gut churns.
I feel like I’m about to be put in a cage with a wild animal. I’ve been face to face with a fully grown Gardyuk before and hadn’t felt nerves like this. Maybe because I’m beginning to believe my sister when she says Gwen and I…
No. That’s impossible.
That pale-skinned, dark-haired, shapely human with the supple flesh and amber eyes merely triggers a physical response in my body.
That’s all.
I press the comm on the door. “Gwen, may I please speak with you?”
“Uh… okay. Come in.”
The door slides open and I walk in. She’s sitting by the window in a rich green tunic and flowing pants. I can’t look away as she picks food from a bowl, her jaw working the food, her throat bobbing as she swallows, her hands and fingers moving delicately as she shells the padgral nuts and eats them one by one.
“Commander?” she prompts, and I realize I've been staring.
“Call me Ryz.”
“Ryz, then,” she says, her voice making a shiver run down my spine. She can’t form the Ydrin sounds like native speakers, but I like hearing my name from her plump, pink lips. Her amber eyes scan me from head to toe. “You’re all dressed up.”
I try to ignore the ache in my cock as she studies me. “Yes. Do you like it?”
She blinks. “Um… I guess it’s nice.”
“Good.” I pause, then swallow. “How is the testing going?”
She shrugs. “Fine, I suppose. I think I’m learning as much about Chom and Ferg as they are about me. It’s a whole new world. I feel like I don’t know anything.”
“Give yourself time. You’ll be fine.”
She tips her head to the side and narrows her eyes. “Why are you here, Ryz?”
I sit down next to her. Her hair is still damp from being washed and smells like Kaliki soap. I want to touch it. Vrek , I want to touch any part of her.
She eyes me and pushes the bowl of nuts toward me. “You look hungry. Want some?”
I’m hungry, but not for padgrals. I shake my head.
I clear my throat. “I have a proposal for you.”
Zadren, Xi, and I had decided exactly how I’d say this, but being here next to her it all vanishes from my mind.
“Marry me and I’ll help you find your friends,” I blurt.
She’s obviously stunned, staring straight ahead. “Are you…for real right now?” she finally says.
I want to reach out and take her hand in mine to show her how real I am.
“It’s…a dire situation. My father recently passed after many moons of rule. The Outside Forces are looking for reasons to strike, thinking us weak in our time of grief and transition. A marriage would gain more support from our allies and help rally our people.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she says. “But why me? There’s got to be an infinite number of women better qualified for the job.”
I glance out the window. “The people of Ydris will be more supportive of a mate my sister has prophesied.”
“Wait… Say that again.” Gwen’s hand lands on my knee. Heat ignites where she touches me, and I hold back a groan.
“Sorry.” She pulls her hand back quickly.
I clear my throat. “Xi is known as an oracle. She told us earlier that… You are my fated mate.”
Gwen’s brow furrows and then she bursts out laughing.
“Oh my god, this is insane!” she says. “I’m your fated mate …” She shakes her head, still giggling. “You actually believe in that stuff?”
Okay, I know it’s ridiculous, but is it really that funny? “Personally, no. Oracles and fate and true love…” I roll my eyes. “It’s all a fairy tale. Yes, my sister may be able to pick up on things not obvious to the rest of us, but she’s also biased.”
“Then why…?”
“Many people—both from Ydris and beyond— do still believe such things. And we need to leverage that. It’s the only way we’ll be able to fight against those who wish to conquer us.”
Gwen gets up and begins to pace the room. “But you said you didn’t have the resources to help me.”
“We don’t, right now. But after the wedding ceremony, once our allies are in place and the Outside Forces have backed off, I can launch a proper search with my best team.”
She huffs. “But my friends could be in danger now . Waiting could mean…” Her eyes fill with tears. The need to soothe her makes my chest ache.
“I wish I could do something sooner.” I watch as she chews her lip. “But if your friends are anything like you, I’m sure they are surviving.”
She smiles at that, and I take it as a small win. “I’m guessing I don’t have much of a choice but to agree to this?”
She’s right, but for some reason it hurts to hear her put it that way.
She sits back down in front of me. “Okay. I’ll marry you, as long as everything gets put in writing.”
My heart beats faster. “Done.”
She sits up taller. “And I’d like to set a few ground rules, too.”
“Ground…rules?” The two words together don’t make sense in Ydrin.
“You know, stipulations. Conditions. Terms,” she says.
“Of course, but we usually go over those at the signing before the official ceremony.”
She levels her gaze at me. “And I want to go over them with you now.”
“Very well,” I grumble.
“I don’t want children.”
If my body hadn’t been completely supported by the chair, I would’ve fallen out of it.
I have thought about having children in the future, although any wife is not required to birth them—surrogates and adoption are both acceptable ways to pass leadership lines. Still, something akin to disappointment churns inside me, though I have no idea why.
“No, that will not be necessary.”
“And there will be no forced sexual relations.”
Again, I’m dumbfounded by her request. “Is that a common practice in your world? It’s considered barbaric by any advanced species.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Of course not. It’s against the law. But it still happens. And a wife may feel obligated to give into sexual advances from her husband.”
I shake my head. “You are under no obligation. Ever.”
She nods firmly. “Good.”
“Besides, I have plenty of other options,” I say, hoping to ease her worry. “The Palace has females that cater to those needs.”
Her head snaps up. “What?”
“Both of us are free to pursue sexual gratification elsewhere.” Though I’ll admit, the thought of her with another male stirs up a sick feeling in my gut.
“Oh.” She licks her lips. “So… Love is not part of marriage here?”
“A pointless endeavor. Respect is all that matters.”
“I like that,” she says, nodding, and I get an odd sense of satisfaction from pleasing her in some small way.
“Anything else?” I ask.
She inhales a deep breath. “You must promise to begin searching for my friends the moment Ydris is safe. And that you’ll continue until they are found, whether alive”…she pauses and gulps…“or dead.”
“You have my word.” I put my fist to my heart.
“What does that mean?” she asks, mimicking the gesture.
“It’s an old warrior sign of respect. It means "in honor.”
“That’s beautiful,” she says. “Funny, it reminds me of a gang sign back home.”
“What are gangs ?”
“Groups of people who commit crimes, usually in the name of some adopted family unit.”
“Ah, we have those in our galaxy as well. Pirates.”
“Yes! We have those, too, but they stick to the oceans.”
“Fascinating.” I stare off, considering what her world must be like. “This sign’s roots are only tied to positive acts. One day, I’ll tell you the history of it.” It’s strange to think Gwen will be here long enough for there to be a “one day”.
She mimics the sign again but keeps her fist flat. I move her hand, sliding it gently to the correct position.
She inhales sharply.
“Apologies. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
“It’s okay,” she replies. “You’re just lucky I didn’t react with another pop to your nose.” She chuckles and runs her hand through her hair. I try not to stare.
“So… What’s next?” she says. “Do you formally ask me?”
“No. We meet with the legal advisors together, read the contract, make any adjustments, then sign it.”
“That’s it?”
I nod. “How do proposals go on Earth?”
“Traditionally, in my culture anyway, the one proposing gets down on one knee and offers an engagement ring when they asks their partner to marry them.”
“That sounds like a good way to get kneed in the face,” I say.
She laughs. “Usually the couple is in love when this happens, so that would be unlikely.”
“ Love as a basis for marriage?”
“Yeah. Dumb, right?. I like the Ydris way much better. Leave love out of it.”
She understands. “I believe we’ll get along just fine, Gwen.”
She bites her lip again and once again I’m drawn to her sensual mouth.
Quorr…
“You’ll receive a wedding ring at the ceremony tomorrow. The event will be broadcast across the galaxy. Xi will give you the details.”
She blinks. “Wow, tomorrow?—”
“You only have to stand there and follow the officiant’s instructions.”
She nods. “Okay.”
We both rise. I can’t help ogling her figure. Lean and firm, with breasts reminding me of juicy jnera fruit—large, round, fleshy?—
“Ryz…” Gwen says warningly.
Vrek. What is wrong with me? I never gawk at females. “I’m merely fascinated by your form…you being a completely new species…” I omit that my groin has taken a keen interest, too. “I should go,” I say.
“So that’s it? We have a deal?” She asks as I turn to leave.
“Yes. We have a deal.”
“Good,” she smiles. “Nice doing business with you.”
I bow. “Likewise.”