Page 12 of Kazzon's Human Bride
“The treaty is being renegotiated? Why?”
“Tarrkua requires more human females. In the coming years, one female from each dome-city on Earth will not be enough to meet our demand from the Tarrkuan miners returning from the Feshinga Asteroid Belt.”
Her eyes widened. “How many more females do you need?”
“Eventually, we will require five females from each dome-city per year. At the next Selection, the dome-cities will be required to pick five female children who will grow up to become Tarrkuan brides, and so on every year after.”
“That’s heartbreaking,” Caylee said. “What you are planning will tear more families apart. Do you realize how devastated my parents were, knowing that one day they would have to say goodbye to me forever? My mother cried herself to sleep on Selection Day.”
“Would you prefer my people cease all contact and dealings with humans? Would you prefer to see your dome-cities plunged into darkness and death?”
“I would prefer you accept some other type of payment, something other than human females. What you do is barbaric. Forcing dome-cities to pay you with human females is cruel. Haven’t you taken enough women from us? Surely your people are no longer at risk of dying out, surely you have enough half-human half-Tarrkuans who can now help you keep growing your population.”
“Human females are Earth’s most valuable commodity,” Kazzon said, his frustration building. “And might I remind you that most Tarrkuans risk their lives in order to secure a human female as a mate.”
“Ah,” she said, her tone sarcastic, “and how many years did you spend in the space mines so that you might secure me as yourcommodity?”
“If you must know, I did not go to the space mines. I’ve been an ambassador since I came of age, as I possess special skills which allow me to negotiate better than most of my kind. The leaders of my world ordered me to become an ambassador. I was not given a choice.” To his surprise, he felt a bit defensive and didn’t wish her to think badly of him for not spending time in the space mines. He also had no wish to reveal that, despite his status as a member of the ruling class, his father had neglected to secure him a betrothal with one of the half-human half-Tarrkuan females, as was usually the custom among the ruling members of his society. He pushed down the wave of bitter memories that threatened to break over him.
“If you didn’t spend time in the mines, how are you legally permitted to take a human bride?”
“The Allocators were ordered to assign me a human female as a gift for my many years of service to my people,” he said. “Youare my reward, Caylee.”
She appeared confused for a moment, as if she was processing all that he’d just said. He remained quiet, allowing her time to think. He hoped she soon accepted her new place in life. Even if she continued resisting him, he would not let her go.
Kazzon’s people mated for life and Tarrkuan males legally owned their wives. Whether she wanted to or not, she would belong to him forever.
“You need not be afraid of me,” he found himself saying, the strange urge to comfort Caylee surging within him. For someone who’d spent his entire life pushing others away, it was an unfamiliar emotion, this compassion that was rising steadily in his chest.
She gave him a dubious look. “I need not be afraid of you? Might I point out—you’re holding me captive,” she said. “And you say you’re to be my husband? It’s long been my suspicion that many Tarrkuan males mistreat their human brides.” No black mist appeared around her face. She was telling the truth—she truly thought his people abused their females. It was no wonder she was trembling so hard.
“Tarrkuan males mate for life and we treasure our females,” Kazzon said.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” Her eyes glimmered with fear. “I know that Tarrkuan males physically punish their wives. I’ve spent my whole life learning that I must be subservient to my future Tarrkuan husband, learning that I must obey my mate in all things, lest I want to suffer a beating.”
“Is that why you switched places with Julie?” he asked. “Because you were afraid?”
“No.” She shook her head, a look of determination falling over her. “I did it because Julie lost everything, and I wanted to help her reach her sister. But yes, it also meant I could stay on Earth, which was a bonus. I spent my whole life dreading what was to happen to me. As I already told you, I never wanted to become a Tarrkuan bride.”
He grasped her hand and led her toward the bed. She tried to pull herself from his grasp, but he forced her to sit upon the mattress. As hard as she was shaking, he thought perhaps she might appreciate sitting down. He released her and backed away a few steps. Her hands fell into her lap, and she twisted her fingers together, as if to stop her hands from shaking. Her eyes were large and blue and clouded with suspicion as she gazed at him.
He silently thanked the Allocators for granting his request. The thought of any other male taking Caylee as his mate filled Kazzon with jealousy—yet another emotion that felt strange to him. This small human female had no idea, but she was causing a change within him.
“What’s going to happen now? Are you going to…claim me?” The last two words escaped her in a voice laced with fear.
“I intend to claim you as my bride before we sleep, yes. But first, we must receive the traditional marriage blessing from a group of Tarrkuan priests.”
“Well, there are no Tarrkuan priests in New Leesburg, so I don’t see how you can follow through with your plan to claim me tonight. I suppose you’ll have to wait until we reach your planet.” She jutted her chin out, and he thought she was trying to look brave. But her trembling hands betrayed her apprehension.
“The high priests of Ashorr are on standby at this moment, waiting for me to connect to them via a video comm. They will bestow a marriage blessing upon us as soon as I make the connection.”
Her face fell. “Must we do this now? Can’t we wait until tomorrow? Please?”
He came to stand directly in front of her, looming over her with his great height. She peered up at him, her face suddenly flushing and her chest rising and falling rapidly as her breaths increased. Once again, he scented her arousal, a sweet but pungent aroma that nearly drew a growl from him.
Gods, he couldn’t wait to mate with her for the first time. Before the night was over, there would be no doubt in her mind that she belonged to him.
He cupped her face in one hand, while he smoothed his other hand through her golden locks. Her hair was so soft compared to a Tarrkuan’s, as was her skin. Heat pummeled through him, his desire for her growing. Soon, she would belong to him.
