Page 2 of Varro's Human Bride
“Yes.”
“Then make him love you.”
“That’s easier said than done. I-I don’t know how to make someone love me. Especially not a Tarrkuan. And I’m not even fluent in their language.” Panic swelled in her chest. Oh God. Was this a mistake? What if she reached Tarrkua, only to be discovered and sent back to Earth before she had a chance to see her sister? Would the Tarrkuans do that? Or would they allow her to stay on their planet, under certain conditions? She didn’t have a freaking clue. As far as she knew, no chosen Tarrkuan bride had ever switched places with another human.
“Relax, Julie. It’s going to work out, I promise.” Caylee squeezed her hand and gave her a comforting look. “First of all, we’ve been practicing your Tarrkuan together for weeks now and you’re actually pretty good. I think you can hold your own in conversation with the aliens. Second of all, just remember that Tarrkuan males are dominant. They like their females to be submissive and sweet. If you try your best to please Varro, I am sure he will come to love you.”
Julie gulped. “Speaking of dominant, every time I ask Nova if it’s true that some Tarrkuan males discipline their wives, she always changes the subject or plays it off as a joke. I-I think there might be something to that rumor. Do you, um, know anything about it?”
A shadow abruptly crossed Caylee’s face but she smiled a second later, though the grin didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve never heard anything about it. I doubt such a rumor is true,” she said with an enthusiasm that Julie found suspicious.
“I guess I’ll find out soon. You should probably leave for my house now.”
The women rose to their feet and enveloped one another in a fierce hug. Though they hadn’t known each other well before the accident at the factory, they’d become good friends since that fateful day.
During an evening vigil for the workers who died, they had looked at one another in the crowd and stared for a long time. Julie had recognized Caylee as the next human from the dome-city of New Leesburg who was set to leave for Tarrkua, and she was suddenly stricken by the realization that they looked very much alike. The two of them ended up walking beside each other on the way home from the vigil. Before Caylee had walked into her house, Julie had moved closer and whispered, “We could switch, you know.”
Now it was finally happening. They were switching. Caylee would remain on Earth and Julie would travel to Tarrkua in her place.Please let this work. She envisioned herself on theZenallia, the Tarrkuan spaceship that would depart Earth tomorrow with over three hundred human women and hoped it came to pass.
“It’s going to work,” Caylee whispered. “I promise.”
“I promise, too.”
Chapter 2
“You must take a wife.”
Varro glared at his father and hoped the pain squeezing his heart didn’t show on his face.
“I am serious, Varro. You’re a member of the ruling class and it’s expected. You must marry and have sons. Daughters, too, of course—but sons, most importantly. The power our house holds in government will fade if you fail to take a mate and procreate.”
“I know my responsibilities,” Varro growled, rising from the dinner table. “But what would you have me do? My betrothed has forsaken me and married another.” The pain of her rejection still burned white hot. He’d returned to planet Tarrkua two moon cycles ago, only to discover the half-human half-Tarrkuan female he’d been set to marry had betrayed him in the worst possible way.
“You should have married her years ago, rather than run off to the Feshinga Asteroid Belt. But no, you wasted time mining for TEC600 reactor material, even though you already had a female promised to you. Many males would have killed for the chance to marry without having to earn their bride in the mines, but you squandered your opportunity.”
Varro’s fists clenched and he repressed a snarl. He had known his father would push for him to marry soon, but he’d hoped he would be given adequate time to recover from the pain of Bersenna’s rejection. He supposed he was lucky the man had waited two full moon cycles before opening his mouth. “And who exactly do you suggest I marry, Father? The Allocators weren’t expecting me to need a bride upon my return. All the human females who are among the next wave of brides to arrive on our planet are likely already matched with returning asteroid miners.”
His father fell silent and stared out the window, and Varro waited impatiently for his response.
Though Varro had mined the same amount of reactor material as the returning miners who were being given human brides, he hadn’t done so out of a need for a female, as he’d intended to marry Bersenna upon his return to Tarrkua. However, years ago, a sense of honor had compelled him to join a group of departing miners. He hadn’t thought it right that he should remain on his planet and enjoy his family’s wealth while hardworking members of the lower classes risked their lives just for the chance to be given a female of their very own. So, he’d joined them, surprising everyone, especially his father, believing his actions would bring respect to his family’s house.
“You will marry a female from the Earth dome-city of New Leesburg,” his father finally said. “Her name is Caylee. That is all I know about her, but your names have been matched by the Allocators.”
“How is that possible?”
“One of the returning miners was gravely wounded. He died from his injuries three days ago.”
“Ah, father, and you swooped in to ensure I got his intended bride. How kind of you.” Varro’s voice dripped with bitterness. Though he knew he must eventually marry, he didn’t want Caylee or any other woman. How could he ever trust another female again? He had thought Bersenna the sweetest, loveliest female in all of existence. He had trusted her with his entire being, only for her to betray him just days before his return.
“Caylee has been told your name, as it is customary for Tarrkuan brides to learn their future husband’s name shortly before departing Earth. You will marry Caylee and impregnate her as soon as possible.” Araggos of House Rantholl rose from the table, placed his hands upon the surface, and leaned forward as he stared at Varro. “TheZenalliawill depart Earth tomorrow. When the ship finally arrives on Tarrkua, you will greet your bride at the mass nuptial ceremony and bring her home.”
“Yes, Father.” Varro stood taller and returned his father’s glare. He couldn’t refuse the order, though he still wished for more time. If only theZenalliawasn’t bringing the Earth brides to Tarrkua so soon. He didn’t think there was a smidge of kindness in his heart at the moment. Only darkness. His world had been shrouded in misery since the day he learned of Bersenna’s betrayal, when he arrived on Tarrkua after years away only to discover she’d married a male named Eirai. Yet now Varro had to marry another. A female with whom he would spend the rest of his life.
“I am glad we are in agreement on this matter.” Araggos gave Varro one last fierce look before exiting the dining room.
Varro stood still for several moments, digesting all that had just happened. He should have known his father would find a way to force him to marry soon. Varro’s two younger brothers had already married and had children, sons and daughters both. But his brothers hadn’t thought it necessary to toil in the mining operation with the lower classes of Tarrkuans. Instead, they’d started their lives with the half-human half-Tarrkuan females his father had arranged for them to marry.
Females on Tarrkua were scarce and Varro’s people were trying to rebuild their population. Many years ago, an illness swept over the whole planet and killed most of their females, leaving his people desperate and their entire society weakened as they searched for a solution. Eventually, a trade agreement was reached with Earth, a planet the Tarrkuans had come into contact with not long after the Dying Days ended.
