Page 7 of Ravenous Alien Mate

Occasionally, there was a break in the trees, allowing the sunlight to pour over their bodies. She wished she wasn’t wearing such stifling clothing at the moment, as Mars was hot and humid during the daytime. Several of the women aboard the spaceship had given her a strange look when they noticed her attire, but she was still grateful she wasn’t wearing the normal bright orange that prisoners were required to wear. It would’ve been beyond humiliating to face the other mail order brides while wearing a prison uniform.

A few minutes later, the path widened and they walked into a clearing near the palace. Jav ushered her through a small door that opened upon their approach. She got the sense it was a side entrance of sorts and not the main entrance. After they entered the palace grounds, which were lush and sprawling, the door shut behind them with a slight thud.

“Thank you, Rem,” Jav called out.

Leah noticed a large green male standing near what appeared to be a security console. There were screens inside a small enclosed area. The green male walked closer, a serious look upon his face.

“Well, this must be the unfortunate human female who will have to suffer your company for the rest of her life. Hello,” Rem said, looking in her direction. He wasn’t smiling and she didn’t know if he meant it as a joke or if he truly didn’t like Jav.

But relief spread through her when Jav chuckled, and the two males soon exchanged the traditional Marttiaxoxalian foot tap greeting.

“Rem, I would like you to meet Leah,” Jav said. “Leah, this is my friend, Rem.”

“I’m pleased to meet any friend of my mate’s,” Leah said, forcing a smile. It felt strange to smile at a male who didn’t appear friendly in the least. Perhaps he simply had a very dry sense of humor. She wondered if he had a human mate of his own.

Jav and Rem spoke briefly in their native language. She didn’t speak a single word of Martian and had no idea what they were talking about. Thank goodness Jav spoke Galactic Common. Most humans learned the language at a very early age. She felt suddenly wistful as she recalled practicing the universal tongue with her parents. As soon as she’d started school at the age of five, they had informed her that only Galactic Common would be spoken at the dinner table, to help her better practice the language.

She recalled a humorous incident when she had tried to ask her father to pass the water pitcher, but instead of “pass the water pitcher,” she’d actually said, “pour water on your head.” Her parents and brother had exchanged a funny look, then her father had shrugged, grabbed his glass of water, and dumped it over his head.

Oh how she missed them. She hoped her brother was all right, wherever he was. She supposed he’d been too ashamed to attend her trial or write to her in prison. His silent rejection had been a knife to the heart.

Jav and Rem finished speaking and said their goodbyes. Rem turned back to the security console while Jav escorted Leah toward the palace. Toward her new home.

Chapter 6

Wyvonus was waiting in the middle of the temple when Jav guided Leah inside. She glanced around, her eyes growing wider as she peered at the large statues filling the room, all of which represented the most revered Wise Ones among his people. There were also thousands of glimmering prayer lights floating in the air above her, which also caught her attention.

“I had heard you were taking a mate today, Jav,” Wyvonus said in Galactic Common. “I am honored you would seek me out to perform a blessing upon your mating union.”

“The honor is mine,” Jav replied. He quickly introduced the holy man to Leah, then the three of them walked deeper into the temple, closer to a wall where more prayer lights were glimmering.

“Do I need to do anything special?” Leah whispered to Jav. “Do I have to say anything? I fear I don’t speak a word of your language, so if I must repeat vows or something, I’m worried I’ll get it wrong.”

He cupped her face, thrilling at the softness of her cheeks beneath the pads of his thumbs as he stroked her delicate flesh. “Most humans can’t speak any Marttiaxoxalian. Even the king’s human wife can only speak a few words. Most words in our language are physically impossible for a human to copy.”

“Well, that’s a relief, I guess.”

He smiled at her. “You needn’t say a word, sweet Leah. Just hold my hands and stare into my eyes while Wyvonus bestows the blessing. And don’t be alarmed if you see the lights moving around us.”

She sucked in a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”

He held her hands in his, marveling at how small they were. He lifted his eyes to hers and waited for the holy man to begin his chanting. When Wyvonus’ deep voice suddenly filled the temple, Leah flinched. Jav gave her a small, apologetic smile, which she returned. He ought to have warned her how loud Wyvonus could be.

The floating prayer lights drifted down from the ceiling and started circling them as the holy man’s chanting continued. Leah cast a brief, surprised look around herself before refocusing her gaze on Jav’s.

A short time later, the temple was blanketed in abrupt silence. Wyvonus had stopped chanting. The lights swirled around them once more before returning to float along the walls and the ceiling.

He had the sudden urge to move closer to Leah and he followed his instinct. He leaned down and touched his forehead to hers, bringing his hands up to cup the back of her head. “Leah from Earth,” he said. “Now you belong to me, in the eyes of the Gods.”

A slight quiver affected her, causing her petite body to shift forward against him. The feel of her body pressing to his made his blood heat to scorching levels. He needed to get her alone in his quarters before he lost control.

He breathed in slow and deep, then released the breath just as gradually, before he forced himself to pull away from her. He reached for her hand again, though, unable to stop touching her.

After thanking Wyvonus, he guided Leah back into the halls of the palace, keeping a firm grip on her hand. He became acutely aware of her every movement next to him, her rapid footsteps, her quick intakes of breath, and the nervous manner in which she repeatedly tucked the same strand of hair behind her left ear.

“How long have you lived in the palace?” Her eyes drifted up to his as they rounded a corner.

“Not long, however, before I was given rooms in the palace, I lived in a dormitory on the palace grounds just beyond the gardens.”

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