Page 44 of Her Alien Warrior
"So,this could just be some random warrior's blood I'm injecting into myself?"
He nodded.
Fuck, I thought. This was very unsanitary, and against everything I was taught about preventing diseases. There were tons of viruses in history born from humans stupidly messing around with bodily fluids of other species. Plague, Ebola, Rabies, Bird Flu, Mad Cow Disease… to only name a few. Should have thought of that before I licked Sou-el's blood from his knuckles and had him lick and plunge those bloody fingers into my traitorous vagina as I came all over his face. I flushed at the thought and pulled the trigger on the injection stinging my forearm.
Guess we were doing this?
"Do you have some clothes?"
He handed me some white flowing dress that was no more than a gauzy see-through drape.
"Uh… what is this?"
"The traditional garb of the final mating duel of Rakturan. The whole tribe has been awaiting your consciousness. The facility has cameras everywhere, and many of us have been watching when we are not on duty to celebrate your union or share this experiment's results with other research teams. The only one who knows Sou-el's location is the one running the Blue District labs, and Sou-el himself. Ah, see for yourself," he tapped his implant, and motioned for me to do the same.Right, I thought, they gave me upgraded eye implants while I was coming out of stasis.
Tapping the back of my ear, a screen appeared in front of my eyes. It was me, and Cenkal. My eyes widened and I turned to stare at him, and the screen moved with me, staying in the same spot within my sight. I could see him like the screen was a phantom overlay over his body and face. No wonder he wouldn't tell me which vial of blood I had, he was being watched. I was being watched, and I couldn't do anything about it. My mind whirred. This was all within the rights of my contract with the Blue District. They weren't forcing me to do anything, but I was being observed regardless.
The screen switched views like I was watching a tv broadcasting of a live-action drama. It was Sou-el! He was strapped to a chair in a room with his eyes covered.
"Why is he bound?" I demanded.
"Sensory deprivation is normal for warriors in rut. It is for his own safety," Cenkal explained and held out the clothes again.
"Those aren't clothes."
He averted his eyes in embarrassment as he tried to explain, "I'm growing more accustomed to humans over the last few months, and I'm aware that humans find displaying themselves to be uncomfortable, but should you successfully find Sou-el, you would be walking into a room with a warrior in rut. He will claim you, and the tribe will watch as he bathes in his victory, and reclaims his mate, title, and honor. There will be no placefor your human… uh," he was trying to think of the word to use, "modesty. These robes are traditional of our mating ceremonies, and as you can see, he is not with any himself…"
He was right, now that I passed the shock of seeing him restrained, it was clear he was naked… and ready. I gulped. He was covered last time, and though I saw an outline, I hadn't truly taken in that he was alien in all ways. It was tinted the same coloring as his scales, and there were… nodules pulsing in and out of his shaft. A few of them were protruded more like a tuning fork at his base… where was that going? I licked my lips and tapped the implant to remove the display from my eye. My legs were clenching together, and I was already hot all over. A tingling ran down my legs, and I rubbed my arms just to feel the pressure on my skin.
"You're showing elevated signs of response to the blood. Your eyes are dilating appropriately. If you'll let me approach, I'd like to do a scan to be sure you're not in distress."
I didn't move, or agree, but he placed a finger on my arm and swiped gently. His eyes moved back and forth, reading his screen only he could see in his eye implant.
"Very good," he approved of whatever he saw. "You're responding nicely. Our blood is known to increase mating interest. The increase in temperature your experiencing is a defensive mechanism to prevent infection when you mate with a warrior. Just so that there is no confusion about your consent, please state for the tribe that you are offering your blood to thewarrior you find freely. We have laws against influencing and forcing bonds with beings that do not have natural defenses of a warrior's glands or epul."
"I…" What was I doing? Was I doing this? Breathing deeply, my whole body buzzed with heat and an itch I realized could only be scratched by Sou-el. What was the harm in giving him a mate, and returning his honor? I'd still return to Earth and he could return to his life after, right? This was just one night… "I consent." I wanted him, even if it was only one night. What was it like to feel something more than obligation? I needed to experience whatever this was before I returned to my life on Earth.
"Very good. It is an honor to be given the rights to hunt in a Rakture Ceremony. Not even the Queen of Necias Prime was the hunter, though I heard when I arrived on Trillume that she did pounce on the king from a tree after she ran. So, perhaps you are the second human to be the hunter?"
It took a bit to process his words, my thoughts still consumed with the way Sou-el made me feel with his fingers inside me. After a long pause I finally asked, "The queen is human?"
"A great honor," he agreed without fully confirming anything. "Oh, I almost forgot. Your," he caught himself from saying spawnling again and added, "Becky, said it would be important for you to be told that she would not be watching the experiment. Should she not be here to tell you herself, she wished for you to know this, and I had warned her that sayingso would be considered a mark of disapproval in our culture, but she assured me that it would make you more comfortable."
I smiled and nodded. "She is giving me privacy, and her approval in our own way. Humans do not want their close family to see such things."
"Strange, but I cannot give you the same assurances. It would be a great dishonor for me to not watch my brother claim a mate. Even Commander Rokva delayed her next mission to be here for him."
No longer looking at Medic Cenkal, I snatched the useless garment from his hands, and couldn't even think about how many people were going to be watching me do this. They were all strangers, I kept repeating to myself. I wouldn't see them again when I left Trillume. I was one of many matings these researchers have seen, easily forgotten among the memories. I could do this.
The door slid open as I approached, and my limbs shook with nerves. The gown draped over my breasts but hid nothing. My sides were open to the curve of my waist with a few flimsy bit of layered flaps at my ass and front. All my flaws were on display for the whole facility, including my stretch marks that Sou-el had licked as he caressed my stomach. He didn't seem to care about any of that while waiting for me to be his mate. He was risking everything for me to find him. He was that certain I was his mate that he gave up everything for me.
I choked on a sob as I stepped out of the room and into the hall. All of my emotions were so raw on the surface. When had someone given up anything for me? My daughters aside, I'd never felt like this, and I hardly knew him…
How could I trust this?
The injection could have been some random warrior's blood into my veins that wasn't his at all. I'd see how I felt when I found him. If I found him. Commander Rokva was waiting for me.
"Renee," she addressed with a bow. A commander bowing to a human… "This way to the Blue District rooms. There are masks and sensory deprivation tools for various species to enter the halls. As you pass the rooms there are filtration vents that allow for the scent in the rooms to permeate the air around them. Human noses are not as sensitive, but with his blood in you, you should be able to find him. I have tried myself, so I could speak with him, but I was told that until you enter the hall his room would not be filtered into the hall. It is traditional for mates to have exchanged offerings, so I will give this to you now."
