Page 5 of Kameer's Mate
The youngest of the crew, Ensign Harrek, goes pale and peers at me in shock. “We set the blasters to incapacitate the rebels so the security officers could safely take them into custody. Please tell me you didn’t actually kill any human males, Chief Kameer. I fear such behavior might jeopardize the alliance.” He makes a sweeping gesture with his hand to indicate the other ten engineers in the group. “Emperor Radakk has promised all of us human females as a reward for our service on theJansonna. If you do something to break the treaty?—”
“Ensign Harrek, you blubbering fool,” Officer Gorrsum interrupts with a dramatic sigh. “Chief Kameer was joking. If you’re going to be part of our team, you must learn to adapt to the chief’s unique humor.”
The tips of Ensign Harrek’s ears darken, and he appears taken aback. Then he forces out the fakest laugh in the history of the Darrvason Empire. “Of course, of course! I too was… joking.”
Four human security officers rush down the corridor in our direction. I exchange a look with Gorrsum and we begin to collect the blasters from our comrades, knowing the security officers will want the pilfered weapons back.
After we return the weapons to the officers and inform them where the incapacitated rebels on Deck Twenty are located, as well as the locations of the dead security officers we encountered, the human males depart to deal with the cleanup.
I turn to my crew. “Resume work on the environmental controls on this deck. Once you’re finished, send a message to my wrist comm. I’ll be on Deck Twenty-One. I’m late for a meeting with one of the human engineers.” It’s a lie. I actually have a video comm call scheduled with Admiral Tornn concerning several recent attempts on my life, but I don’t wish to admit this to my crew, as the admiral has advised me to keep quiet on the matter while an investigation is conducted.
I spin on my heel and head for the elevator, though my mind isn’t on my work or the impending meeting or the recent attempts on my life.
All I can think about is Mandy Benton, the beautiful golden-haired creature who claims she’s not on the list of two thousand, the final wave of females who are scheduled to be handed over to my people in a moon cycle.
Is she truly not on the list? Why not? Is it due to her age or another reason?
As I board the elevator, I pull up the list that Captain Warren just released on the info screens that are spread throughout the ship, scrolling rapidly as I search for Mandy’s name. But she truly isn’t there.
Fluxx. I run a hand through my hair and curse again.
But I know her name. I also know where she works and what deck she calls home. I can easily track her down, which I fully intend to do. I also plan to look her up inJansonna’sdatabase. I will learn everything I can about the pretty little human who incites my desires.
Then I will develop a plan.
A plan that will allow me to claim her as my mate.
I’ve smelled her. I’ve touched her. My ancestral markings tingled in her presence. Though I’m owed a human bride from the group of two thousand, I cannot fathom taking any other female as my own.
I want Mandy, and I won’t rest until I have her trembling and writhing beneath me. I won’t rest until she’smine, until a traditional Darrvason mating bond has formed between us.
Chapter 3
MANDY
I watchas two of Ned’s grandsons, both of whom are older than me, carry his unconscious form out of the beauty salon. Relief fills me to have him removed from my presence. I sink down in the waiting area, unable to cease shaking.
I can’t stop thinking about the huge Darrvason male who harassed me, as well as my curious physical reaction to him.
Thank the heavens I’m not onthe list. I won’t have to worry about marrying one of the domineering aliens, especially not one as infuriating as Chief Kameer. I still can’t believe he’d touched me and smelled me.
Warmth suffuses my entire body as I recall how he’d pressed himself against me. Something massive and hard in his pants had nudged my stomach. A shiver rushes through me even as heat pulses in my core, that same strange pleasurable sensation I’d experienced in Chief Kameer’s presence, particularly when his deep voice had vibrated through my insides, rousing something delicious and forbidden to which I’m unable to put a name.
But he’d also frightened me. Very much so. I can’t fathom being married, or mated, to a male who unsettles me in such a visceral way. The truth is, despite the excitement I felt in his presence, I find Chief Kameer to be downright terrifying. The thought of becoming his mate, or the mate of another Darrvason male, causes me to tremble harder.
I take a series of deep breaths as I try to calm myself.
In one week, I’ll be married to Ned.
Married to a ninety-two-year-old man who wants me to leave my profession because it embarrasses him. He’s a wealthy Founder and there’s no doubt that he thinks he’saboveme. And while I would never wish death on him or anyone else, I can’t deny it’s unnerving to know the men in his family have a habit of living beyond one hundred.
Will the years we share be tolerable or miserable? I won’t delude myself into thinking we’ll be happy together, but I would be fine with tolerable.
My parents and Tasha rush into the salon with a sense of urgency, but relief crosses their faces when they see I’m unharmed. Well, Mom and Tasha appear relieved. My father simply stares at me with an impassive expression.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I stand up and accept a hug from my sister.
“The workers locked Deck Fifteen’s mess hall down when the fighting broke out in the corridors,” Mom says. “We weren’t able to leave until a few minutes ago.”
