Page 4 of Brute's Mate

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Tim mutters with a frown. “There are six continents on 58-Z, and the Darrvasons have told Captain Warren they don’t plan to settle near us. It’s my understanding that after they receive the final payment of human females they were promised, they plan to live in complete isolation from the rest of humankind.”

And just like that, my heart plummets to the floor.

“How long?” I ask. “How long until we reach 58-Z?”

“About six moon cycles.”

Six months. My heart skitters. That’s cutting it close, but I’ll still be eighteen when the final wave of brides—the group of two thousand—is given to the Darrvasons. I pray we don’t run into any issues during our travels to 58-Z. If the journey is delayed for any reason, I’ll be at risk. I watch my mother as she wipes away another tear. Being claimed by a Darrvason male is my greatest fear. I can’t leave Mom. Losing both her daughters to the aliens would destroy her.

A group of Darrvason engineers enter the mess hall, and all conversation halts. I tense and try not to stare at the seven-foot-tall creatures as they’re given platters of what appears to be raw meat. I suppose it’s been transported from one of their ships since we don’t keep livestock on theJansonna.

Tim follows my gaze. “They have excellent hearing,” he whispers, then says no more. He focuses on eating his dinner and doesn’t pay any further attention to the Darrvasons.

But I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at them.

I also peer around the mess hall at the younger women who might have the misfortune of being selected. The aliens specifically asked for human females between the ages of nineteen and twenty-five. My heart breaks for all the families that will soon be ripped apart.

I’ll never recover from the heartbreak of losing Ellie, though I pray Tim is wrong about the aliens wanting to live in isolation from the rest of us. I pray there’s a chance I’ll see my sister again.

I also selfishly pray we’ll reach planet 58-Z within six moon cycles. Because I cannot imagine a worse fate than becoming a Darrvason bride.

No one in the mess hall is speaking, aside from the alien engineers who are seated at a table near the viewscreen. Tim’s warning that they possess excellent hearing sends another chill through me, and my fear deepens as I watch them tear off huge chunks of raw meat from the larger slabs with their sharp, pointed teeth. I watch their hands, which they use frequently to gesticulate while speaking, a bit mesmerized by the six long digits on each hand. Most of the aliens have glowing purple eyes, though a few have red eyes. They wear black, form-fitting uniforms that cling to their muscular physiques.

A huge, bearded Darrvason male suddenly enters the mess hall, and all the air whooshes from my chest when his sharp purple gaze lands on me.

Chapter3

JENNY

Fear pangs in my heart.

Why is the bearded Darrvason looking at me?

His nostrils flare and his muscles tense, and there’s a split second during which I fear he’s about to launch himself at me. For what reason, I can’t imagine. But he appears angry as he stares me down.

It takes me a few seconds to place him. I don’t know his name, but I’ve seen him around. He spends most of his time at Captain Warren’s side, though I don’t get the sense he’s an engineer like the other Darrvasons who are temporarily staying on theJansonna. Perhaps he’s an advisor.

I open my mouth, ready to ask Tim if he knows anything about this particular Darrvason, but then I recall his warning about their exceptional hearing, and I just as quickly press my lips together.

I tear my gaze from the alien and hold my breath, praying he’ll keep walking. The way he looked at me… I can’t explain it. Only that it felt primal and possessive, as though he was marking me. I shiver at the thought.

From the corner of my eye, I can tell he’s still focused on me, and I can’t suppress another shiver.

When I glance his way again, his eyes narrow as though in warning. A few seconds later, the stern-faced Darrvason finally turns and joins his comrades, taking a seat as they push a platter of raw meat in front of him.

My heart won’t cease racing, and a strange tingling sensation sweeps up and down my arms. As I scratch at my arms, I dare another glance at the bearded alien.

Oh God. My stomach flips. He’s peering over his shoulder, looking straight at me. Again.

Though I’ve seen him around the ship a few times, we’ve never made eye contact before. In fact, I’ve never looked any of the Darrvasons in the eye.

Until now.

What the hell is happening?

Why won’t he turn around?

And why can’tIstop looking at him?

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