Page 3 of Varro's Human Bride
Tarrkua now provided Earth with a power supply for their dome-cities and Earth gave them fertile human females in return. Any Tarrkuan male who wished for a chance at a human bride was required to spend years in the Feshinga Asteroid Belt, mining for the TEC600 reactor material needed to power Earth’s dome-cities, a dangerous but necessary undertaking. Not all asteroid miners returned from space—many died in accidents, as the mining conditions were hazardous.
A sense of responsibility settled upon Varro. Despite his distrust of the opposite sex, he had no choice. He would have to marry Caylee and impregnate her as many times as possible. He resolved to do his duty and he felt a sudden pity for the human female from New Leesburg. Would he be able to make her happy? Probably not. There was a deep rage festering within him. He couldn’t imagine ever experiencing even the slightest amount of contentment himself, let alone bringing happiness to his human bride.
His mood darkening further, he stalked out of his father’s house and headed for his home on the outskirts of the Rantholl family compound. The twin moons beamed down upon the mountainous countryside and reflected off the solar rooftops in the capital city of Ashorr below. Nighttime insects buzzed and screeched, and a wildcat snarled in the distance, far beyond the safety of the compound’s fortified walls. A slight breeze jostled the leaves of nearby trees and brought with it the sweet scent of freshly bloomed flowers.
As he walked past his brothers’ houses, the laughter of children drifted out the open windows, joining with the familiar sounds of the night. His heart spasmed with pain. Though his betrothal with Bersenna had been arranged by his father, he had gotten to know the female and developed tender feelings for her. He’d imagined spending the rest of his life with her and that they would have many children together. Now it would never come to pass.
Instead, Varro would marry a stranger. A full-blooded human female.
Would Caylee be trustworthy?
He resolved to keep a close eye on her. In fact, he would not permit her to leave the compound by herself. Would she feel like a prisoner? He dashed the thought from his mind. It didn’t matter. They were getting married no matter what.
Neither of them had a choice.
Chapter 3
Julie straightened her dress as she looked in the mirror. Her roommate, Beth, had already left their shared quarters to join the women gathering in the common room. TheZenalliahad landed on the outskirts of the capital city a few minutes ago. Soon, all three hundred and sixty women would walk into the city together and meet their Tarrkuan husbands for the first time.
Her stomach flipped. What would Varro be like? Would she be able to cause him to fall in love with her? Her entire plan hinged on making him like her enough that he wouldn’t attempt to return her to Earth once he discovered she wasn’t actually his intended bride.
Guilt filled her. She felt bad about deceiving a complete stranger. The Tarrkuans needed human females because they were trying to regrow their population after many of their own females had perished. How would Varro react when he learned she wasn’t really Caylee and her DNA hadn’t been modified to allow her to conceive children with him?
If he loves you, he’ll forgive you.
If he loves you, he won’t send you back to Earth.
She smoothed her hands over the skirt of her dress, her heart pounding faster and faster. She would have to do everything in her power to earn Varro’s affections. She would be submissive and sweet and obedient, all that Tarrkuan males desired in a mate.
Worry clenched inside her when she recalled the rumors she’d heard from the other women aboard theZenalliaabout wifely discipline. Several women aboard had claimed their Tarrkuan instructors on Earth told them their new husbands would not hesitate to physically punish them if they proved disobedient. She couldn’t fathom what she might do to displease her new husband, but she resolved that if he decided to punish her, she would attempt to accept his discipline as gracefully as possible.
As she exited her quarters and headed for the common room, she prayed Varro lived in Ashorr or at least nearby. If he lived in another city entirely, or, God forbid, on another continent, finding a way to see Nova would be difficult. Julie knew her sister was probably worried sick over not being in contact with her for over six weeks now, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d had no way to communicate with Nova while aboard theZenallia, and even if she had been able to she would not have risked discovery. As far as everyone aboard this ship was concerned—the Tarrkuan guards and the human females alike—Julie’s real name was Caylee and she’d been preparing for life on this planet ever since she was a little girl.
At least she’d been able to further her studies of the Tarrkuan language by practicing with her roommate. She’d fibbed to Beth, telling the young woman she’d always had a difficult time grasping the tongue. Beth had graciously agreed to help her and now Julie was confident she could probably get by enough that she wouldn’t arouse Varro’s suspicions. And, hopefully, she would become fluent in the language within a few weeks of calling this planet home.
Inside the common room, the women chattered amongst themselves, while the Tarrkuan guards stood on either side of the doorway. Julie made her way over to Beth and they exchanged a nervous glance.
“I can’t believe this day has finally come,” Beth said. “When I was a young girl, I used to feel like I had forever to go until I actually had to leave Earth. Time seemed to pass so slowly, at least when I was a child. I used to imagine I’d never really grow up and have to come here.”
“I know what you mean,” Julie replied, and though she hadn’t been chosen as a Tarrkuan bride at a young age, as all the other women in this room had, she was close enough to Nova to know what Beth meant. When Julie was still a young girl, she used to feel like the day of her sister’s departure would never come. Until Nova reached adulthood, with Julie only four years behind, and time suddenly sped up, as if overnight.
Julie blinked back tears. Would she actually see Nova soon? The knowledge that they were so close right now made her anxious to run off the ship and head for the hills surrounding the city. Based on her conversations with Nova, Julie knew she lived on the outskirts of the capital city.
Four years. It had been four long years since she’d seen her sister in person. She was grateful she’d been able to speak with Nova at least once a week—until her recent silence, anyway—via a video comm, but seeing Nova in person and finally being able to hug her would be so much better.
Especially now that their parents were gone.
The burning in Julie’s eyes intensified and she blinked rapidly, not wanting to break down in front of all the other women. Some of them looked worried, but none were crying.
Oh, Mom and Dad. How I miss you.She blinked faster and ducked her head down, hoping Beth didn’t ask her what was wrong. Thankfully, the young woman didn’t say anything.
Nova would be devastated when Julie broke the news. But at least it would come in person. At least Nova wouldn’t have to grieve their parents’ death alone. After the initial disbelief had worn off, Julie had plunged into a deep, heavy sadness in the days after her parents’ passing. She’d had the comfort of friends and neighbors during that time, but she’d longed for Nova’s company more than anything. During the vigil for the factory workers who’d died in the explosion, it had seemed like fate when Julie had glanced up and met Caylee’s gaze.
And, now, Julie had taken the boldest action she’d ever taken in her whole life. Never in a thousand years did she ever suspect she might leave Earth one day. But her parents’ death had changed everything.
The large doors that led from the common room to the exit corridor opened with a shudder.
It was time.
