Chapter 12
Survii
That had nearly gone very wrong.
Survii wasn’t capable of understanding the human language beyond a few simple words, but even he realized something had soured very quickly.
It all started with that human male that Tuvo and Atem couldn’t stop glaring at.
He kept trying to get close to Hattie, and she kept trying to brush him off, but he wasn’t accepting her clear unease as rejection.
It was enough to irritate even him, and Hattie was neither his mate nor his sister. But he could hardly threaten the male – not unless he did something worse. A shame. Or, perhaps, fortunate for the small male. If they were on domini, Atem would already have beaten him back.
It was dishonorable to attack a weaker opponent, but that wasn’t a rule when it came to guardians protecting their clan from unwelcome attention.
But they weren’t on Turv, and they couldn’t start this interspecies relationship with violence.
And, luckily, the public scrutiny lasted only until they were behind doors and away from cameras.
The change that came over the human representatives was immediate.
A wave of relief washed over them as they eased out of the practiced act of a politician and Hattie could finally pull away from the male without embarrassing him.
She was a much kinder female than he would have been.
And in privacy, the families were free to truly greet and speak to their lost females. Hattie was enveloped by her parents who were both crying as Tuvo looked on. He didn't watch Hattie, however. He was glaring at the human male, Keith, who looked so out of place.
Scarlet’s mother was clearly upset about something.
Alanna helpfully informed Survii that she had just seen Scarlet’s mating ring and was upset that her daughter had gotten married without her, and she hadn’t been able to throw her a party.
But that upset paled to the fuss she began to make that Scarlet would dare present herself to the world not dressed in her absolute best.
Scarlet took her nagging with a grin that told Survii she didn't mind. It must be nice to just see her again at this moment. Plenty of time to be annoyed later.
Peony’s cousins, who apparently weren’t close, were just standing there awkwardly as Peony introduced Atem instead to some of the world leaders. They were eager to make his acquaintance.
It was really Holly’s family that were the loudest and happiest bunch.
After the surprise of finding their daughter was now mated, her parents had quickly settled into eagerness to meet Romival.
His rudimentary language skills were already improving as he answered their questions and they learned more about him and his job. They seemed proud.
Most of Survii’s attention, however, was on Alanna. She was still standing near him, talking to her family and only occasionally translating for him. Not like she was trying to exclude him, but they were asking her so many questions that were clearly aimed only at her, she didn't have the chance.
Then, he heard her father mention his name and he tried to decipher their words. It was a pointless exercise, but reading their body language, he could see they were tense.
“What is it?” He asked Alanna when a break in the conversation presented itself.
She sent him a quick smile. “They’re asking if I’m really mated as well.”
His heart clutched uneasily. “And what did you tell them?”
“The truth.” She took hold of his arm again. “That you’ve recognized me as your mate but that you’re courting me slowly since I’m human and we aren’t anything official yet.”
“I see.” He wasn’t sure he liked that answer. Because he didn't want to believe she was his mate? Or because she hadn’t proudly announced that she was?
“They’re not sure they like it,” she continued, making him start.
“They don’t know you, but they’re willing to be open minded.
Holly’s family and Scarlet’s mom are doing well, so they’re going to put in effort too.
Don’t worry though. In public, they’re never going to let it be known that they aren’t completely on board yet. ”
They knew how to maintain appearances. At least, better than Keith. He should be grateful that they were being so accommodating and open, but all he could think was that this was wrong. All of this just felt completely wrong.
John said something and Alanna helpfully translated-
“He wants to know if you need anything specifically. Like, diet wise and everything.”
That was a problem they had already addressed.
The humans had informed them, in no uncertain terms, that seeing aliens drink raw blood was not going to be a good look.
Raw meat, they could likely get away with, but not raw blood.
And it would have to be fresh as there was no hepari fruit on Earth to prevent it from clotting in a cup.
Instead, the males were all carrying supplement pills in their hip pouches. Enough to last them for about three Earth months. Taking them was not as good for their health as drinking blood itself, but it was sustainable and would serve their purpose just fine.
“Thank you,” he said, as Alanna quietly translated. “Hattie will be in charge of working on our menu, and we have everything we need that you might not be able to provide. I appreciate your consideration, however.”
Her family smiled as Halvdan, once again, inserted himself.
“We have prepared accommodations for your party at a trusted hotel nearby that we use for important visitors. They are highly professional and discreet. They will take the utmost care of you.”
“You’re very kind. I look forward to availing myself to your human comforts.
And to seeing more of your culture and planet.
” Survii was under no delusions that this was about kindness.
It might, partially, be to show them respect and offer protection, but it was primarily about control.
Both those who could see the contact party, and those who the contact party could see in turn.
After all, the humans would want to present their planet to its best. If that meant they had to pay for the absolute best accommodations, then it was worth it. There was too much for them to gain to mess up.
“Are we under any sort of time constraint?” Halvdan asked. Very little had been communicated to the humans before this point, so they had only a general idea of what to expect.
“Not at all. Our only concern is that we do this correctly. However long the negotiations need to take, whatever cultural niceties must be attended to, we will be honored to indulge.”
“Are you willing to tour the planet then?”
“Of course! We have all looked forward to seeing the place that our mates and sisters are from. I leave us completely in your capable hands, secretary general.” Survii saluted him, having no problems at all simpering to his pride.
It worked perfectly. Halvdan’s head was held high as his chest puffed out. It was rather adorable. Like a pup being entrusted with responsibility they held to higher importance than it actually had. Which was a very bad thought.
But he couldn’t help it!
The human males were not only small and soft, but they were closer to androgenous than masculine.
It lent them a very adorable appearance.
The males were just as delicate and fragile as their females – maybe slightly less but they were so close in appearance, it was negligible.
The result was that the males seemed just as cute and helpless as their female counterparts.
If the human females were going to be known for their sensuality, the males were going to be known for their cuteness. They could very well end up just as popular among males interested in other males as the females were with males interested in females.
So adorable.
“What are you thinking about?” Alanna asked softly.
“Naughty thoughts,” he admitted, snickering.
Her head cocked curiously, but before he could share in the joke, Halvdan was speaking again, and she had to translate. He was asking about the flight to their planet, subtly pumping him for information in the guise of a polite inquiry.
And though there would be a trade ban on any advanced technology that the humans hadn’t already invented, that didn’t mean he couldn’t describe things they had. A proper starship couldn’t be built just by talking about how smoothly it traveled, after all.
Then, the conversation changed to plans that they had for taking the contact party on a tour of the Earth.
To the capitals of their countries, to some of the wondrous sights that they were the proudest of – both natural and artificial.
Such things also weren’t uncommon during first contact.
The new species was eager to both show off and make friends.
And Survii could admit that he was excited to see it all, but his excitement was more derived from the light that came into Alanna’s eyes as she translated.
She clearly loved the idea of going around and seeing everything her planet had to offer. He could tell just by the look on her face. And he found himself not wanting to see those things himself so much, but to see her seeing those things.
As they were chatting, he put a hand to her lower back.
A move she didn’t acknowledge, though her family certainly noticed.
He merely smiled as he continued to converse, trying to pick up their language as Alanna translated it, but more focused on her body as his thumb swept over the skin of her back under her sheer poncho.
So soft. So warm.
His. All his.
He was finding it harder and harder to resist his own, possessive thoughts. He was eager to reach this hotel so he could make sure his room was near hers. Somewhere that he could easily sneak into without catching Atem’s watchful eye.
They couldn’t exactly fight in front of the humans, which would make Survii flicking his tail towards Alanna that much more infuriating to him.
And, somehow, that only made it better. It was a chance to bait his Dominani as he courted the prettiest, most capable human on a brand new planet he had never seen before.
It was like the entire situation had been made just for him. To tempt him in with all of his favorite things – new cultures, flaunting authority, and the most beautiful female possible.
If only he had actually wanted a mate!
The conflicting desires were ripping him apart. He needed to do something about this, or it was going to drive him mad. Maybe he should just fuck her? That could get her out of his system. Or force his focus on her completely.
Either way, it would be an answer.