Page 2 of Kazzon's Human Bride
Both possessed wavy golden hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and freckles. They were the same height and of the same slight build. The only real difference was that Julie’s hair was a bit longer than Caylee’s.
What if…
No, Caylee wouldn’t allow herself to complete the thought.
But as the vigil continued, neither girl looked away. Their eyes remained locked as a strange sense of companionship seemingly built between them, though up until this point, they had been nothing but acquaintances.
Finally, as curfew grew nearer, the crowd began to disperse as the vigil came to an end. Caylee started walking home, following her parents and her brother, though she gradually found herself walking closer and closer to Julie along the street.
Caylee slowed in her steps as her house appeared and the two girls moved even nearer, still glancing at one another every few seconds.
They really could be twins.
Her heart beat faster, nervous excitement building.
Is Julie thinking what I’m thinking?
Just before Caylee turned to follow her family inside, Julie reached for her arm and whispered, “We could switch, you know. You could stay on Earth with your family, and I could travel to Tarrkua so I can find my sister, the only family I have left.”
“Yes,” Caylee said slowly, turning to stare at her doppelganger. “Yes, we could.”
Chapter 1
Six months later…
Ambassador Kazzon stoodon the bridge of theCorrannelia, staring out the viewscreen as the dome-city of New Leesburg appeared on the horizon, the human settlement barely visible amidst the massive dust storm that raged across the barren land.
Relief filled him, knowing this dome-city was his last stop on Earth before he could return to Tarrkua. He was anxious to complete his diplomatic mission and return to his home planet as soon as possible.
He eyed the dome-city, annoyed that he had to travel here in the first place. The human Leaders of New Leesburg had refused to accept the new Earth-Tarrkua trade agreement. He was determined to make the humans submit, just as he’d forced the other resisting dome-cities to accept the new treaty.
In the end, he knew the humans of New Leesburg would have no choice, and a sense of power flowed through him.
To refuse his offer would be to condemn their entire settlement to death. Perhaps these particular humans did not realize how serious the Tarrkuans were. If the Leaders tested Kazzon, it would be their undoing.
“Please sit down and buckle up, Ambassador,” the pilot said with a brief glance over his shoulder at Kazzon. “The wind gusts are brutal on this part of Earth and it’s possible we could experience some turbulence during landing.”
Kazzon sank into a seat behind the pilot’s and buckled up. As the ship approached the large hangar that was attached to the dome-city, his mind wandered as he considered the future and how his life would change once he completed this diplomatic mission.
As a member of the ruling class who had served his people for many years, he had been promised a human bride by the Allocators soon, and the next shipment of human females was due to arrive on his planet in several moon cycles. While he hadn’t made a request to obtain a bride, the Allocators had simply informed him that he would receive one—an order that had come from a prominent Tarrkuan leader who’d wished to reward Kazzon for his service.
While he had mixed feelings about marrying a human female, he could not refuse such a gift, and he was also determined to fulfill his duties to his people—he would claim his bride and procreate with her as many times as possible. As his people recovered from the Dying Days, it was necessary that each mated Tarrkuan-human couple produce as many offspring as they could.
His mood darkened when he considered the strained relationship he had with his family members, particularly his father. He had pushed them all away over the years.
Would he do the same with his wife? And what about his future children?
He bit back a growl of frustration.
Once the ship was successfully docked in the hangar, Kazzon unbuckled and rose to his feet. He peered at the pilot and co-pilot. “It is my hope that we will not be here for long,” he said. “I am prepared to shut the TEC600 reactor down and plunge this dome-city into darkness if the humans test me.”
“There is no rush, Ambassador,” the pilot said. “Please take however long you need.” A black mist briefly appeared around the pilot’s head, only to fade into the air a moment later. The mist, a fleeting aura of darkness only visible to Kazzon, was evidence of the pilot’s lie.
Kazzon’s jaw clenched and displeasure rolled through him, but he quickly reminded himself that the pilot was probably eager to return home to his mate and offspring. The male had likely meant no harm or disrespect while telling the untruth. Furthermore, the pilot had no clue that Kazzon saw a black mist when others lied—such a power wasn’t typical of a Tarrkuan, but for a reason Kazzon still didn’t understand, the Gods had given him this unusual but often infuriating talent.
A large door at the end of the dock opened to reveal five uniformed humans. Kazzon stared out the viewscreen at the Leaders of New Leesburg who waited to greet him. As they spoke amongst themselves, black mist appeared several times. The Leaders could not even be honest with one another, yet this group of humans apparently governed this dome-city.
Lies. Everywhere Kazzon looked, there was dishonesty. On Earth as much as on Tarrkua. Lies and treachery and betrayal. Logically, he understood why people were not always honest with their comrades, but it was still a disturbing sight whenever he was confronted with it. Which was why he preferred to keep to himself as much as possible.
