Page 42 of Her Alien Delegate
"Oh," a voice squeaked. "I thought you would be... you know... in the claiming chambers now." Under her breath she grumbled about food, "It's probably cold now, and I'm so hungry. Awkward..."
I didn't dare turn around just yet. Warmth filled me at the sound of her voice. Roe-el turned with his epul surging with irritation at being interrupted again. I could understand that delaying a mating ceremony was difficult, but I felt the hairs on my skin prickle in an odd way that was uncomfortable. It was impossible that I was frightened of him. There were many other instances during our conversation where he was being much more intimidating. Violet smacked his stomach, and he retracted his epul, though I could tell that it was uncomfortable for him to do so.
I took Violet's other hand that was offered to me, hoping to feel the glow of our connection, but all I got was Roe-el's unpleasant territorial grunting.
I took a step to the side to make way for the new arrival and glanced between the two females with a smile. There was an affection there that warmed my heart.
"How pleasing to see you've chosen a sister delegate for yourself." I bowed to the other human, extending my hand. My breathing labored as I sniffed her skin, but I resolved to keep my composure. To hide my desire to lick her, exposing my tongue, Idiverted to kissing for perhaps a second longer than appropriate atop her hand before releasing her.
"Violet?" her sweet voice questioned.
Then a heaviness consumed me as I saw another guest from behind her, ever the present reminder of his diligence. Chief Wren-Kal. He said nothing, but he didn't have to. His sights were set on the black-ormete human before me. His epul spikes were displayed territorially along the crown of his head.
Straightening, I knew this human would bring my mate happiness, and my confidence rose as I watched her lick her lips, exposing her tongue to me. My chest warmed at the sight.
"I am Broma, Commissioner of AsunGor. You are exquisite. I look forward to sharing our home with you." My voice vibrated with a mating call, that I had intended to only use when Violet chose to accept me. It was unintentional, and probably a result of being so close to her. I could only hope that the commander did not take offense to a tactic that he would find unsuitable for negotiations. If Roe-el is to be a brother in my home, I must show him respect.
My ormete lifted from my shoulder, and I quickly guided it as an offering to hide its movement. It was only further proof that I had indeed made the correct decision to board the ship and pursue my mate.
I couldn't take my eyes off the human as she hesitated to touch my ormete braid.
"Your hair is..." I wished to correct her and say hair was a human term, but the way her breathing quickened around me had me distracted, waiting for her to feel the vibration of my ormete with those soft fingers. She pulled back—to my disappointment—and cleared her throat. "...fascinating, but uh..."
She glanced back to Violet, seeking approval to be interacting with me. A very diplomatic gesture when faced with theuncertainty of the situation. It was a sign that she cared deeply for Violet and did not wish to harm her with what I could smell on her as clear attraction to me. The smell was intoxicating.
Even Chief Wren-Kal's nostrils were flaring, and his muscles were straining to hold his position, guarding and watching the situation unfold.
"He's the one I signed a contract with," Violet explained, and I watched as the black-ormete silk shifted with the deflation of her shoulders. It was momentary, before she pepped up and smiled. A smile I knew all too well to tell the difference between happiness and obligation.
"Oh, right!" She chirped, before narrowing her eyes at me like I had done something in need of being reprimanded for. Even that look quickly adjusted to a widening of her eyes as they darted around the room with panicked anxiety. "Are you here to take Violet to AsunGor?" She was a human of many hidden emotions, I thought with curiosity. Was she upset with me, or excited that I was here?
Then suddenly, a surge of heat shocked through my system as her hands sprung to grasp my own. My ormete caressed the tops of her small hands with a slight glow.
"Please don't take her from me," she pleaded.
My heart swelled, and it was then that I realized my mistake. Violet was indeed important, and she had a lingering smell about her that spoke of close contact with my mate. It was this human's happiness that mattered most to me. I would do what I could to convince Violet to stay with my mate.
"I would never dream of separating you from someone that makes you happy," I assured her. Closing my hands around hers protectively, I lifted them to my cheek to feel the way she had touched me before, when I had no eyes to see her with. "What is your name, beautiful delegate?"
"Evie," she said with ragged breaths.
"I think that's enough, don't you?" Violet demanded. Reluctantly, I pulled away as Violet guided my mate from the room and past the looming presence of Chief Wren-Kal.
"Evie." I enjoyed the way her name flowed off my tongue and then smiled. She was hungry, and she came to this room for a reason. It might not have been for me, but it seemed everyone had not noticed the way she stared at the table with interest, or the way her stomach grumbled for sustenance.
"The food has grown cold," I motioned to the feast, wasted from Commander Roe-el's need to pretend he actually wanted either of the humans to meet with me. It was clear from the first words Violet spoke that she had only heard of the meeting because of the second in command, Mier-Lo. That information was curious, but not my priority at the moment.
"Shall we go fetch some more from the synthesizers?" I offered to Evie, and she stopped her strides in the hall.
This was a tricky situation I was in, politically. I had a contract with Violet, and it seemed my worst fear about Chief Wren-Kal was true. I had to navigate this with caution with a bit of misdirection, so it would be too late for them to avoid my new intentions.
"Violet," I addressed formally, "I will endeavor to bond with your sister while you take some time to think about our marriage."
It was not a lie. I did detest lying, but it wasn't entirely truthful, either. Diplomacy wasn't always a straight line.
"You don't have to do this," Violet held my mate protectively. This was a beautiful sight to me.
"Did you claim your mate yet?" Evie whispered, though she knew by the way her eyes assessed everyone, that it wasn't much of a secret with an unGor's hearing.
