Alien Healer (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 2)

A Sci-Fi Alien Romance

Sue Mercury

Contents

About this book

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Also available from Sue Mercury

About Sue Mercury

Copyright 2019 by Sue Mercury

All rights reserved

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Sue Mercury. All names, brands, characters, and settings, etc. are purely from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people, real brands, and real locations is a coincidence. Contact: authorsuemercury@gmail.com

Editing by Celeste Jones

Published by Sweet Savage Press

About this book

The alien warrior found her first—and he’s keeping her.

On the run from her controlling fiancé, Mila makes a living as a pilot transporting goods in a dangerous part of space. When she’s accused of murder and sentenced to death on a backward planet, she believes it’s truly the end. That is…until she awakens to a handsome alien with glowing green eyes watching over her. The alien heals her wounds and promises to keep her safe. But can she trust the stranger who insists she’s coming back to his home planet as his mate?

Stax knows the little human has secrets, but he still wants her—even if she is guilty of some horrible crime. He’s taking her back to New Vaxx and that’s final. But first he has to claim her. When they arrive on his home planet, he wants his scent on her to ward off all other males, as human females are precious and the only alien race compatible with his. No matter what, he won’t risk losing the little human he’s grown to love. He’ll protect her, and he’ll fight for her. Always.

Excerpt

“Was your planet attacked?” he asked.

“An earthquake struck the human settlements there. My parents, siblings, and pretty much everyone I knew perished. Many of the survivors banded together to start over, but I couldn’t stay there.” Her gaze left his and her eyes danced around the room, as if she were hiding something, but he couldn’t discern what. Perhaps she had other reasons for leaving her home planet that she wasn’t yet ready to confess. He tucked this suspicion away, intent to get the full truth out of her at a later time, including the reason the Horsthans wanted to execute her.

He leaned his forehead against hers in a solemn act of comfort. To his relief, she didn’t resist his closeness, and her soft, warm exhales soon tickled his face.

Pulling away from her, he said, “Would you not have been safer with your people? Didn’t you know Horstha is a dangerous planet with a barbaric judicial system?”

“I wasn’t really concerned with my safety at the time. I had to get as far away from Yozovinla as I possibly could. I bought a refurbished trading vessel and traveled all over the sector, transporting goods between planets. I suppose the Horsthans have confiscated my ship by now, as well as my galactic credit account.”

“You will have no need to seek employment, Mila, for I will provide anything you need,” he promised. “The finest silks, the newest replicators, jewels and gold. Anything your heart desires.”

She smiled. “You’re sweet, Stax, but I’m not really into fancy clothing or jewels. I’m happy to have a warm, safe place to sleep, clean water, and ration packs.”

Joy resounded within him and he scooted closer to her, squeezing her hands in his. “I will provide all those things for you and more, my little beauty. I’m glad you are willing to become my mate.”

“Wait…what? I didn’t agree yet.” She inhaled a deep breath. “I know nothing of your people’s customs or the planet you now call home. And I-I don’t know you well enough yet, Stax, to make that kind of decision. Perhaps we can become better acquainted?” Her eyes twinkled with hope, but he needed her to understand the seriousness of the situation.

He could not allow her to believe he would ever set her free. Though they hadn’t mated yet, he considered the small female his possession in every sense of the word. He’d found her first, saved her life, and brought her onto his ship. They were headed for New Vaxx at this very moment, due to arrive in five short days.

She was his. His.

Chapter 1

The heavy manacles around Mila’s wrists and ankles made standing difficult. She shifted her weight and took a deep breath, only to cough on the dust kicked up by the swelling crowd. Severe fatigue, thirst, and hunger left her momentarily dizzy. Black spots dotted her vision and she fell to her knees, only for a soldier to prod her with a metal pole until she rose to her feet.

Somehow, she found the strength to rise, but her efforts left her bleeding wrists and ankles aching worse. The manacles were far too heavy for a human. She should have never, ever come to this horrid planet.

She took another long inhale and screamed, “I didn’t do it! It was the white-haired Corononzian female! I’m innocent!”

The roar of the crowd hurt her ears, her head ached terribly, and she couldn’t hear her voice over the increasing noise. No one seemed to hear her pleas, and even if they did she supposed it didn’t matter. She’d already been sentenced to death. Despite the heat of the midday sun beating down upon the village, a cold shudder ran through her.

She peered at the ocean of shouting aliens, their fists raised and their faces red, all of them hungry to see her blood spill. Her fear deepened and she swallowed past the burning in her throat. And hopelessness abounded within her, a deep sinking emotion that was worse than her fear. With trembling hands, she lifted her arms quickly in an attempt to break the manacles that linked her wrists to her ankles by a thick, weighted chain. It didn’t work.

This is it. This is how I die.

The soldier used the metal pole to push her into the pool of blood directly beneath the lifetaker, a large orange hovering mass that was alive, some kind of strange alien creature native to this planet. It looked like a giant orange cloud, but she knew it was no harmless cloud.

Mila tried to resist being pushed underneath the deadly creature, but the tip of the pole emitted an electric shock every time she didn’t obey. A second soldier appeared on her opposite side, also holding a pole, and between the two of them the aliens easily forced her under the orange mass. Her entire body shook with the violence of her deepening fear. She felt colder and colder, as if her veins were filling with ice. The scent of blood made her stomach turn.

Over the noise of the crowd, she heard the thunder-like sound of the lifetaker, rumbling down on her from above. At least no one would mourn her passing. Everyone she’d ever cared about, including her parents and siblings, had died in the earthquake that hit the human occupied continent on Yozovinla. Would that she had died with them.

The lifetaker’s rumbling grew louder. She braced herself for the pain. She’d witnessed five other convicted criminals die within the last hour. All of them had screamed and writhed around in their manacles as if the greatest of tortures were being inflicted upon them. Death hadn’t come quickly to any of those criminals either, each session taking several long minutes of agonizing pain before they finally perished as blood gushed from their ears, noses, and eyes.

Please, God. Let me pass out from the pain.

The others to die before her weren’t human. Maybe her physiology would react differently to the lifetaker. Perhaps she would die instantly. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and waited.

Then it hit her. The greatest pain she had ever experienced. It felt as if she were being ripped apart over and over again. She collapsed to the ground and screamed.

Her life flashed before her eyes in a series of happy images, which mercifully dulled the pain, if only a little. Clear as day, she saw her mother’s smiling face, her father laughing, and her sisters chasing each other in a flower-covered meadow. She even saw her sweet kitten, Adonis, rolling over and begging to have his tummy scratched.

The pain intensified, but then it stopped completely. She was still awake and aware of what was happening. She opened her eyes and saw the bloodthirsty crowd, but she no longer heard them. She also couldn’t hear the thundering of the lifetaker. But she smelled fresh blood. Was it hers?

The crowd faded and she found herself walking in the flower-covered meadow with her sisters, following their parents to a favorite picnic spot near the shores of a crystal clear Yozovinlan lake. Sleek Estriian sailboats glided across the water and large lentrivank birds soared through the cloudless blue skies. The day was serene and quiet, and Mila paused to gather a bouquet of the sweet-smelling blue flowers that covered the meadow.

“Race you to the lake!” Sherla, her youngest sister said.

“Eat my dust, short stuff!” Terena, the middle child of the family said.

Mila, being the oldest and having the longest legs, ran ahead of them, laughing as the wind whipped her long dark locks about her head. She clutched the flowers in one hand and held up her skirts with her other, taunting her sisters as she outpaced them by several feet.

The lake came into view and she ran faster and faster, anxious to dip her feet in the cool water. But before she could reach her destination, she awoke as if from a dream, gasping for air with jolts of pain afflicting her body.

Strong hands cupped her face, and the agony immediately ceased.

Someone was speaking to her in a strange language, but his words—it sounded like a male—were strangely soothing, despite her inability to discern his meaning. She blinked as her vision cleared, and she gasped at the sight of a huge man with glowing green eyes leaning over her.

Wasn’t she dead?

Confusion reigned. But before she could ask any questions, she collapsed into a black bottomless abyss, devoid of dreams or anything at all. She floated in the warm, dark space, feeling out of place but oddly safe, as if her very own guardian angel stood close by.

* * *

Stax studied the petite human female as he wiped the blood from her face. Poor little creature. He despised the dishonorable aliens who’d hurt her so badly. He hoped she wasn’t too frightened the next time she awoke. The urge to comfort her and heal her consumed him, and even though the nanobots were doing their job in her blood, he set the blood-soaked cloth aside and returned his hands to her head, hoping his own powers as a touch healer would hasten her recovery.

A glance out the medical bay’s viewscreen showed a small group of Horsthan Defenders approaching. He paid them no mind, even when they opened fire on his vessel. Their technology and weapons were no match for that of a Vaxxlian ship. His vessel barely shuddered under their firepower, even as bright orange blasts detonated outside the viewscreen.

Let them fire their weapons. They couldn’t hurt this little human anymore. He wouldn’t let them. She had suffered enough and he planned to do whatever it took to help her recover from her painful ordeal on this horrible planet.

But rage filled him when he recalled how much blood had covered the human female when he’d found her lying in a pile of bodies outside the city, discarded as if her life meant nothing. Beneath her bruises and angry wounds, she’d been barely recognizable as human. His blood heated with violence, and before he realized what he was doing, he grabbed his battle sword from the bridge and charged off his ship.

The first Defender came at him, shooting orange rays of light from his weapon, but Stax dodged each blast and soon found himself face to face with the stunned alien. He sliced the Horsthan’s head off and moved on to the next Defender, and the next one, until each and every one of them lay dead. A loud growl rumbled from his throat and he held his battle sword high, satisfied and victorious that he’d vanquished some of those who had made the little human suffer.

He could have aimed weapons from his ship at them, but he’d wanted to kill them by hand. Wanted to see the look of fear in their beady black eyes just before he ended their lives. The filthy scuhumas. May they rot in despair for all eternity.

Grasping his sword, he made his way back onto the Yeronna. He headed straight for the medical bay and was pleased to find his little human still resting. Good. The longer she slept, the more healed she would be once she finally awoke. He’d given her a sleeping aide when she woke up the first time, but he didn’t wish to administer it a second time, as too much of the drug might hinder the nanobots’ progress.

He moved to her side and clasped her hand. A deep sense of protectiveness for the female moved through him, nearly taking his breath away. It was as if he’d met her before, perhaps in a long-forgotten dream. Or maybe it was the recognition of his fate resting on the table before him, his absolute certainty that she was meant to be his for all time.

Her chest rose and fell slowly, and he glanced at the discarded clothing he’d cut off her body. The pants and shirt were soaked with blood, and he quickly picked them up and tossed them into a recycler. He’d put her in a long blue medical gown after washing all the blood from her body, and he was pleased to see the cuts on her wrists and ankles had already healed. All the bruises and tiny cuts that had covered her petite form were now healed as well.

But he worried over the wounds that weren’t physical. The poor human female had likely endured great suffering and trauma. Unfortunately, the nanobots couldn’t help in that regard.

How would she react when she awoke the next time? Would she be frightened? Would she be grateful he’d saved her life? Having never met a human before—he had only seen pictures of them—he did not know and the uncertainty weighed on his heart.

He touched one dark lock of hair, mesmerized by her beauty. He’d never seen a female with hair so thick and long. And her skin was smooth and creamy white, so much lighter than his own bronze color.

After checking the progress of the nanobots one last time, he placed a warm blanket overtop her and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering on her soft flesh. He wanted to stand there and give her a thousand such kisses. But, stepping back, he was satisfied that her expression no longer seemed pained. She looked at peace, as if lost in pleasant dreams.

Eager to depart this wretched backward planet, Stax hurried down the corridor to the bridge. He powered the ship on and began setting a course for home. A glance out the main viewscreen showed another troop of Defenders rushing from the city’s edge.

Let them find their dead comrades, he thought. Let them see what happens to scum who kill a defenseless female.

While Stax had no idea why the little human had been sentenced to death, he doubted she had committed a grievous crime. But whatever her crime, albeit minor or serious, she was the human Stax planned to take back with him to New Vaxx.

He needed a mate and she would have to do, whether she wanted him or not.

The fate of the Vaxxlians hung in the balance and the males of his species needed to find compatible mates as quickly as possible. With most of the female Vaxxlians gone, the majority of them having perished during an Irrcon attack on Vaxxlia, Stax’s now destroyed home world, human females were beyond precious, as humans were the only alien race sexually compatible with his people.

Whoever she was, this little human female now belonged to him.

Chapter 2

Mila awoke with a start. She blinked against bright lights and slowly focused on her surroundings. Wasn’t she dead? She lifted one arm and looked at her hand, splaying her fingers apart. She wiggled her toes and shifted on the soft warm surface on which she rested. A thick blanket covered her, and she pushed it down to her waist and sat up, her eyes still adjusting to the strange room.

Her heart raced. When her gaze traveled further around the room and she spotted a viewscreen behind her, she gasped and jumped off the bed. She rushed to the window.

Planet Horstha filled the viewscreen against a backdrop of sparkling stars. She recognized the unique shape of the continents, one of them appearing as a perfect triangle—manmade, she had heard. She swallowed hard as horrid memories assailed her.

Her hands trembled and she backed away from the window.

Why was she aboard a spaceship? She looked down to find herself wearing a loose blue gown that tied around her waist. She wasn’t wearing anything else. No bra, no underwear. No shoes. Where were her clothes? She walked the perimeter of the room but couldn’t find them.

“Hello!” she called, glancing around the sterile looking room. A medical bay, she realized. She was in the medical bay of a strange ship.

How am I alive?

Am I really alive?

As fatigue and confusion whirled through her, she sank down on the floor, suddenly exhausted and devoid of enough strength to return to the bed. She pinched herself and winced at the pain. She wasn’t dreaming. She wasn’t dead.

But how was she alive?

She replayed everything that had happened since her arrival on Horstha. She’d landed on the platform near the market, delivered goods to the vendors she routinely supplied, and decided to grab something to eat while waiting for all the payments to deposit in her account. But while taking a shortcut through an alley, she’d witnessed a horrible crime—a white-haired Corononzian woman stabbing a Horsthan man to death. Calling for help had been the biggest mistake of her life. As the killer made her escape, several bystanders mistook Mila for the criminal. It hadn’t helped that she was covered in the man’s blood, or that he turned out to be an important government official.

Defenders arrested her and dragged her in front of a judge. Minutes later she’d been found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, and the next day—was that still today?—she had been hauled in front of a bloodthirsty crowd and made to wait her turn to stand under the lifetaker.

Other pilots had warned her to stay away from Horstha, but she hadn’t listened. She took any job offered to her, having grown almost careless with her safety since losing everyone and everything she’d ever cared about. As far as she was concerned, the further her transport jobs brought her from her home planet of Yozovinla, the better.

She took a steadying breath, forced herself to her feet, and started searching the medical bay for something to use as a weapon. She had no idea who’d taken her away on a ship. Knowing her luck, they probably had nefarious intentions. A cold shudder ran through her.

What if she’d been taken by slavers?

Inside a cabinet, she found hyposprays filled with sedatives, clearly labeled in Galactic Common, as well as in another language she didn’t recognize. Her heart racing, she grabbed one and positioned herself near the door. The first person to enter the medical bay would enjoy a nice long nap, and then she would hopefully gain the upper hand after she escaped this room.

She only wished she knew how large the crew of this ship was.

Her head spun and she leaned against the wall, hoping someone entered before she passed out again. But as she clutched the hypospray, she suddenly remembered awakening in this very room before. She gasped as the rest of the memory fell into place. A man had been hovering over her, speaking to her in an alien tongue. He’d had human features but clearly wasn’t human, for his eyes had glowed bright green.

She also remembered awakening another time to find herself alone. She’d sat up on the table briefly, only to catch a glimpse of a huge muscular alien singlehandedly fighting off a troop of Horsthan Defenders outside the viewscreen. Had that been real?

Her vision swam and her knees buckled. She started sliding to the floor and heard the click of the hypospray hitting the ground. When the door zipped open and the same alien with glowing green eyes entered, she scrambled to retrieve the hypospray.

She jumped to her feet and swung the sedative at the large alien, but he grabbed both her wrists and shook his head, his green eyes filled with disapproval.

“You should be resting, my little beauty,” he said in Galactic Common, squeezing her wrist until she dropped the hypospray. “However, perhaps it is best you awoke. You need nourishment.”

He stared at her for a long moment, then led her back to the bed where he helped her to sit atop the covers. He pulled a canteen of water from a belt on his waist and pressed it to her lips, urging her to drink. She drank the cool water greedily, and after she passed it back to him her stomach gave a loud rumble. He immediately produced what appeared to be a ration pack from his pocket, unwrapped the item, and passed it to her.

Eyeing him warily, Mila took a bite and nearly groaned as the rich flavors exploded inside her mouth. She’d never tasted anything so delicious before. The plain looking beige bar tasted like berries mixed with something similar to chocolate. She ate the entire thing, grateful for the alien’s kindness. She hadn’t eaten since before her arrest on Horstha.

“Who are you?” she finally asked, after swallowing the last bite.

“My name is Stax.” His nostrils flared as he stared down at her, and she felt small and vulnerable under his assessing gaze.

“What happened? Why am I here?” Are you a slaver? rested on the tip of her tongue, but she held off on asking this particular question just yet.

“If you promise to rest, I will tell you everything you wish to know.” He touched her hair, running his fingers through it as a look of reverence gleamed in his otherworldly eyes. For a reason she couldn’t explain, a sense of safety suddenly fell over her.

This alien didn’t give her the creeps or strike her as a criminal, let alone a slaver. And he’d called her my little beauty. Her head tingled where he stroked her hair.

He helped her under the covers and pressed a button that made the bed recline, propping her upward so she could stare directly into his eyes. He sat next to her and his abrupt nearness affected her, causing her face to flush with warmth and the back of her neck to prickle with sensation.

“Please,” she said. “Please tell me what’s happened.”

“I found you on the outskirts of the city near death. I brought you back to my ship and healed your wounds, which were quite extensive.”

She touched her head, recalling the excruciating pain she’d endured during her execution. Or rather, her botched execution. “What-what is your species? I am sorry but I do not recognize your kind.”

He grasped her hand and held it in his, rubbing his thumb along the underside of her wrist. She was too stunned by his action to pull away, and after a few moments the contact started to feel nice.

“I am a Vaxxlian.” He stroked her hair again and she found herself leaning into his touch. What was wrong with her? It was as if she was losing control of her senses. This alien had clearly saved her life, and she found herself feeling grateful, despite having believed she was ready to die and join her family as she stood before the roaring crowd.

“It’s nice to meet you, Stax. Thank you for saving my life.”

“I am only sorry I did not arrive on Horstha before they hurt you.” His gaze darkened. “I should have killed dozens more of them for how they treated you.” He inhaled deeply and stiffened.

“I saw you killing them through the viewscreen,” she said. “I suppose that wasn’t a dream.”

“I will vanquish anyone who dares to harm you in any way, my little beauty.” He leaned closer and his masculine scent filled her nostrils, immersing her in the intoxicating scent of him. “Tell me, what is your name?”

“Mila,” she replied. “And I’m a human.”

“I know you’re a human. That is why I came to Horstha. A Vaxxlian probe alerted me to your presence on the planet and I set course for Horstha once I received the signal. You see, my people need human females.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Wh-why?”

“Humans are the only species known to be sexually compatible with Vaxxlians.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “You will become my mate, Mila, and return to New Vaxx with me. We will spend the rest of our lives caring for one another. We will have many children and be happy.”

* * *

Stax didn’t understand why the little human was glaring at him. Why did she appear so displeased? He reached for her hair, attempting to stroke his fingers through the soft dark locks, only for her to move away from him and hug her knees to her chest.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Most of the females of my kind perished during an attack on Vaxxlia—our home planet that was recently destroyed. All Vaxxlian males who were off planet during the attack are expected to find human females to bring back to our settlement on New Vaxx. We must procreate and become as strong as we once were.”

Her eyes suddenly gleamed with compassion. “Oh. I’m sorry about what happened to your planet. Did you lose a lot of family and friends?” To his surprise, she reached for him, albeit tentatively, and clasped his hand in a show of comfort. What a sweet little creature this human was. He planned to take good care of her.

“My parents, some other relatives, countless friends, and…my mate.”

“I’m truly sorry for your loss, Stax.” She gave him a comforting smile and continued holding his hand. “I’m especially sorry to hear you lost your mate. Did you have children together?” she asked in a gentle tone.

“Not yet, but we dreamed of starting a family as soon as the war ended.”

“I recently lost everyone dear to me, as well. Have you heard of a planet called Yozovinla?”

“Yes, though I’ve never been there,” he said, growing concerned. “Was your planet attacked?”

“An earthquake struck the human settlements there. My parents, siblings, and pretty much everyone I knew perished. Many of the survivors banded together to start over, but I couldn’t stay there.” Her gaze left his and her eyes danced around the room, as if she were hiding something, but he couldn’t discern what. Perhaps she had other reasons for leaving her home planet that she wasn’t yet ready to confess. He tucked this suspicion away, intent to get the full truth out of her at a later time, including the reason the Horsthans wanted to execute her.

He leaned his forehead against hers in a solemn act of comfort. To his relief, she didn’t resist his closeness, and her soft, warm exhales soon tickled his face.

Pulling away from her, he said, “Would you not have been safer with your people? Didn’t you know Horstha is a dangerous planet with a barbaric judicial system?”

“I wasn’t really concerned with my safety at the time. I had to get as far away from Yozovinla as I possibly could. I bought a refurbished trading vessel and traveled all over the sector, transporting goods between planets. I suppose the Horsthans have confiscated my ship by now, as well as my galactic credit account.”

“You will have no need to seek employment, Mila, for I will provide anything you need,” he promised. “The finest silks, the newest replicators, jewels and gold. Anything your heart desires.”

She smiled. “You’re sweet, Stax, but I’m not really into fancy clothing or jewels. I’m happy to have a warm, safe place to sleep, clean water, and ration packs.”

Joy resounded within him and he scooted closer to her, squeezing her hands in his. “I will provide all those things for you and more, my little beauty. I’m glad you are willing to become my mate.”

“Wait…what? I didn’t agree yet.” She inhaled a deep breath. “I know nothing of your people’s customs or the planet you now call home. And I-I don’t know you well enough yet, Stax, to make that kind of decision. Perhaps we can become better acquainted?” Her eyes twinkled with hope, but he needed her to understand the seriousness of the situation.

He could not allow her to believe he would ever set her free. Though they hadn’t mated yet, he considered the small female his possession in every sense of the word. He’d found her first, saved her life, and brought her onto his ship. They were headed for New Vaxx at this very moment, due to arrive in five short days.

She was his. His.

“Stax?”

“You do not have a mate already, do you?” he asked, holding his breath. She’d claimed to have lost all those she cared for on Yozovinla, but he had to be certain. Though he couldn’t detect the scent of a male on her, he supposed it was possible, though he raged inside at the thought.

“No, I don’t have a mate. I-I was betrothed to a man from Yozovinla once, but no more.” Her eyes suddenly appeared so haunted that he hesitated to ask her to explain further. He supposed the man had perished during the earthquake. Perhaps she’d liked the man and his passing saddened her.

But despite the possible loss, relief filled him to hear she wasn’t yet mated. Now she could truly belong to him. She would belong to him. And soon. Once she fully regained her strength, he would bed her. His blood heated and his cock stiffened at the prospect of officially making her his during the primal act of mating.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, letting his lips linger on her soft skin. “Most Vaxxlian marriages are also arranged. I am pleased to find we have something in common.”

“Yeah, well, humans from Yozovinla are nothing like the humans from Earth, in case you were wondering. Those who’ve visited us from Earth were always shocked by our ways, oftentimes calling us backward. But we had a peaceful human settlement on my home planet, consisting of five large cities and ten smaller villages. It was home.” Sadness filled her gaze. “I miss it. And I miss my family.”

“You aren’t alone anymore, Mila.” He touched his forehead to hers again. “I want you to sleep for longer, if you can.” He sat back and tapped on the nano-monitor beside the bed, examining her numbers. “Your internal repairs are almost complete, but patients are almost always exhausted after an injection of nanobots.”

“Nanobots?” She touched her arms and peered down her body. “I figured you had extremely advanced medical technology—I don’t have a single bruise left—but I never imagined you used nanobots. Will they…stay inside me forever?”

He nodded. “Yes. In the future, should you become ill or wounded, the nanobots will immediately activate and make repairs.” His throat tightened at the memory of how bloodied and bruised Mila had been when he brought her aboard his ship. “Sleep now, my little beauty. Once the nanobots finish their repairs and I no longer need to look at the monitor, I will move you to a more comfortable bed.” A bed in my quarters, to be precise.

She turned on her side and curled up under the blanket. “Thank you, Stax. Goodnight.”

He stroked her hair until she fell asleep.

Chapter 3

Mila awoke in the medical bay, feeling stronger and healthier than ever. She couldn’t recall a time in recent history when she’d felt so filled with energy and hope. It was as if she’d been given a new life. She got out of bed and walked to the viewscreen, peering out at the endless expanse of stars moving rapidly by. She still had many questions for Stax. He hadn’t even told her where they were heading, but she assumed they were en route for his planet.

All Vaxxlian males who were off planet during the attack are expected to find human females to bring back to our settlement on New Vaxx. We must procreate and become as strong as we once were.

His words returned and for a reason she couldn’t fathom, she couldn’t wait for Stax to walk through the door. Her body hummed with pleasure at the prospect of seeing him again.

Could she really have a future with him and his people?

After being on her own for a long time, the idea of belonging to a family made her heart sing. She hadn’t been able to remain on Yozovinla with the surviving humans, as the pain of losing all her family and friends cut too deep. The daily reminders would have plunged her into an even deeper despair.

That’s not the only reason and you know it.

Her stomach tightened with nerves. She tried not to think of the other reason she’d left her home planet, but sometimes she couldn’t help it.

She’d also left Yozovinla because the man to whom she was betrothed made her skin crawl. As soon as Evan sent word he was coming to collect her after the death of her family, she’d started making plans to escape. Though she’d only met Evan once, during that interaction he’d leered at her in an almost cruel manner. When she’d called him out for his rudeness, he promptly informed her that once they were married, she would no longer be allowed to associate with her lowborn family and friends, nor would she be permitted to keep her job as a transport pilot.

At the time, she had been working for a transport company that moved traded goods between the human settlements on Yozovinla—the same company that sold her a trading vessel for dirt cheap when she’d needed to make her escape. Though she hadn’t particularly loved the job, she had been proud to find employment and help her family out, and Evan’s disdain for her work hurt.

He came from a wealthy, prominent family that owned most of the mines on Yozovinla. Eventually, Mila had realized the only reason Evan wanted to wed her in the first place was to help his family survive the latest in a string of safety scandals plaguing their mining business. If he married a lowborn girl, then in appearances at least, his family must truly care about their workers’ safety.

But she refused to be a pawn in a rich man’s game.

Technically, she’d broken a legal contract by leaving Yozovinla and not marrying Evan. She frequently worried he might find her, which was one of the reasons why she kept taking shipping jobs in faraway and dangerous areas of space. The further she went from her home planet, the safer she felt, even in places like Horstha. If Evan ever found her, he might drag her back to Yozovinla and force her into marriage. She shuddered at the thought.

Was Stax different? Was he a good man?

Would she find acceptance among his people?

He’d mentioned them having children together and she couldn’t help but smile.

Once, a long time ago, she had dreamed of having children with Evan. That is, until she met him and all those dreams died in an instant. After she realized what kind of person Evan was and his real reasons for wanting to marry her, she’d mourned the loss of the future she’d always envisioned for herself—a happy marriage like her parents and a houseful of rambunctious but loveable children.

But Stax was offering her all she’d lost.

Could she find happiness with not only a stranger, but an alien? She’d never once considered making a life with a non-human. Until today, she hadn’t known of any alien races compatible with humans. Sure, she’d heard of humans having sex with various alien species, but none of them had been truly sexually compatible—able to conceive children together.

She glanced at the monitors near the bed and wondered if the nanobots had finished their work. As good as she felt, she thought they must have. She hoped when Stax returned, he would permit her free roam of the ship and allow her to sleep in a normal bedroom.

As if reading her mind, the door zipped open and Stax—all seven feet of him—entered the medical bay. His gaze immediately sought hers and he gave her a warm smile. She smiled back and walked to him, her entire body buzzing with the need to be near him.

He cupped her face in his hands and then ran his fingers through her hair, his green otherworldly eyes glowing brighter as he stared down at her. “You look well rested, my little beauty. How are you feeling?”

“I feel wonderful, actually. I feel as if I could climb a mountain.”

His large warm hand brushed over her cheek, and she found herself leaning into his touch. Her heart raced at the physical contact. Stranger though he was, Mila could very well imagine herself spending the rest of her life with this huge Vaxxlian male who had saved her life.

“That’s the nanobots you’re feeling.” He leaned down to kiss her forehead. Her heart fluttered. “They’ve regulated all your body’s systems.”

“Can I leave this room yet?” she asked with a glance at the monitors.

“Let me take a look.” He guided her in front of the screens, keeping his arm wrapped around her shoulders as he examined the data.

She couldn’t read his native tongue and had no idea what any of the strange looking letters meant. Holding her breath, she prayed for good news. He shifted beside her and rubbed her back, as if sensing her abrupt nervousness and wishing to calm her. It worked. Her anxiety lessened in seconds and she gazed up at him with a growing sense of awe. It was as if his touch was magic.

“The nanobots have finished repairing all your injuries, Mila. Come, I will take you to my quarters and get you something more appropriate to wear. I have a replicator in my quarters and you can request any type of clothing you would like.” His eyes darkened with what she suspected was lust, and excitement unexpectedly surged within her.

“I-I would like that, Stax. Thank you.”

With her heart racing, she allowed him to guide her out of the medical bay into a narrow gray corridor lined with multiple doors on each side. Small circular lights were spaced throughout the corridor, attached to the walls in swirling patterns. To her surprise, he took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze, smiling down at her.

“I am glad you have recovered from your injuries. In the future when you become wounded, the nanobots will heal you quite rapidly. Much more rapidly than this time, as they will now be more familiar with your body’s unique systems. You will live much longer than the average human now as well.”

His pronouncement stunned her. “I’ll live longer? How-how much longer?”

He led her into an expansive room with a wide viewscreen and large bed. “Well, I am not certain yet. I developed the nanobots only recently, during the war against the Irrcons, and so far, only a handful of those who have been injected with the nanobots—human or Vaxxlian—have died. And in those rare cases, the subjects sustained grievous injuries. The Vaxxlians who were injected thus far show no signs of aging. Since humans are so similar to our kind, I believe the nanobots will have the same effect.”

“Wow, you invented the nanobots?” She’d read about human scientists who were attempting to create such a lifechanging medical treatment, but as far as she knew the invention hadn’t yet been achieved.

A troubled look entered his eyes. “I-I was fortunate to make a breakthrough in my research during the war. If I had not been able to create the nanobots, many more of our warriors would have perished.”

“So, you were a scientist during the war?” She stared at the stars as they stood at the viewscreen, drinking in the beauty of open space.

“Yes, I was.” He paused as the haunted look in his eyes deepened. “But, like all able-bodied Vaxxlian males, I was also trained as a warrior and I fought the loathsome Irrcons during the war.” He motioned around the room. “This is the Yeronna, and she served as my warcraft during the great battles. Most Vaxxlian warriors have their own smaller ships, rather than larger ones. It helps us to seemingly outnumber the enemy in battle, even if their numbers are truly greater. Most alien races attempt to build huge warships, some of them almost as large as generational ships. But we discovered the strategic advantage of thousands upon thousands of smaller, but equally deadly, ships a long, long time ago. Long before we ever heard of the Irrcons.”

“Are the Irrcons gone?” she asked with a tremor.

“Yes, they have been vanquished from the surrounding sectors, and the same probes we recently deployed to search for female human life will also alert us to the presence of any rogue Irrcon vessels. Don’t worry, my little beauty, you are safe now.” He gathered her closer and she inhaled his spicy, masculine scent, wishing she could bury her face in his shirt and take a long inhale. “As your mate, Mila, I vow to keep you safe from any harm. Protecting you and our future children will be my most sacred and important duty until the end of my days.”

* * *

Stax watched as Mila checked the navigation controls on the bridge, her face lit with joy. She’d already successfully plotted an efficient route around an asteroid field they’d come across, and he was highly impressed with her skill. Despite not being able to read his language, she hadn’t had any problems thus far on the bridge.

He studied her petite form and lust surged through him. He’d replicated a pair of black, form-fitting pants and a purple sweater for her, as she claimed purple was her favorite color. He mused that he would paint their entire house on New Vaxx purple, if only to see her smile. When she smiled, it was as if all the tragedies in the universe never happened. She brought joy to him in a way no one else ever had—including his mate, Sesonia.

Though he’d cared for Sesonia, they were only mated for a few days before the war with the Irrcons tore him and the rest of the Vaxxlian warriors away from his home planet. Since they hadn’t met before their first mating, as their match had been arranged by their fathers, they were still getting to know one another when the Irrcons destroyed Vaxxlia.

Mila spun around in her chair and stifled a yawn. “It’s set on autopilot and we won’t need to worry about any readjustments to our course for the next two days. There’s a chance we’ll run into a fleet of Eeasian trading vessels after that, but I set a ship wide alarm that will remind us to check.” She stifled another yawn.

He pulled her up into his arms and inhaled the lovely scent of her, musing that she smelled like a meadow after a light rain. Her hair was damp from her recent shower, and the reminder that she’d recently been naked while torrents of water rushed over her body incited his libido. Star God, he couldn’t wait to have her.

“It’s time for bed, my sweet.” His cock hardened against her stomach as he held her, but he made no move to hide it. He desired her and wanted to mate her for the first time tonight. There was no sense waiting. Even if she had reservations about becoming his mate, he still planned to bring her back to New Vaxx with him and present her as his mate. But the sooner he actually mated her, the better.

He wanted his scent on her when they arrived on New Vaxx so all other males knew she belonged to him. He did not want to risk her being claimed by another, though he would fight to the death if his possession of her was challenged by another male.

She was his. His mate. His little human.

Soon they would repeat the sacred mating vows of his people. Then he would spill his seed inside her, marking her as his for all time.

“Are-are we sleeping in the same room?”

“Yes, my little beauty.” He gathered her closer and pressed his cock harder against her, drawing a delicate gasp from her throat. “From this day forward, you will always sleep by my side.”

He swept her up in his arms and carried her off the bridge.

She buried her face in his chest as a slight shiver ran through her. She squirmed in his arms and the enticing scent of her arousal reached him. A primal growl built in his throat and he walked faster, his blood heating with the yearning to spread her thighs apart and sink into her feminine sweetness.

Once they reached his quarters, he brought her to the bed and laid her atop the covers. Her dark locks spread around her head on the pillow, framing her pretty, flushed face. Her chest began to rise and fall more rapidly, and the scent of her desire heightened in the air. His nostrils flared and he took a deep inhale, savoring the delicious aroma of her slickness.

His little human was getting wet just for him.

Her dark brown eyes glimmered with lust, but she also appeared nervous as she peered up at him, her lips parted as if she were about to say something. But she soon pressed her mouth in a firm line and swallowed hard.

“Do not be frightened, my beautiful human.” He joined her on the bed, wedging his legs between hers.

Her breath caught in her throat and the lust faded from her gaze. Uncertainty gleamed in her dark depths. “Stax, I—”

“Are you a virgin, Mila?” he asked gently. Though most Vaxxlian females waited to have sex until joining with their betrothed mate, he knew of many alien species who did not. “If you are not a virgin, it is all right,” he added, hoping she didn’t think he would look down upon her for having enjoyed intercourse outside the sanctity of a mating union. The past didn’t matter in this moment—not hers or his. All that mattered was their future and the life they would create together. “But from this day forward, I am the only male you will ever sleep with, Mila. You will be mine and mine alone.”

Chapter 4

Should she tell the truth?

Mila stared up at Stax, indecision weighing her down. His eyes gleamed with kindness as he awaited her response. She already felt guilty for not telling him the full truth about Evan—that the awful man could appear at any time and try to claim her. Evan had signed documents he could bring before the Universal Court and have her forcibly brought back to Yozovinla.

But her home planet was far, far away. She’d examined the distance between Yozovinla and New Vaxx—her main reason for asking to pilot the Yeronna for a while—and doubted Evan would ever venture so far from his home. Besides, he might believe her long dead. In his arrogance, he might assume she couldn’t survive on her own off planet.

She almost hadn’t survived. But thanks to Stax, she was still breathing, and for the first time in forever her future didn’t seem so bleak.

“Mila? If you are a virgin, I will be as gentle as possible this first time. Please, I would like to know, and I would like there to be nothing but truth between us. I vow to always be honest with you, my little beauty.”

Nothing but truth between us. His words made her stomach flip. She couldn’t be entirely honest. How would he react if she informed him that she was technically on the run from Yozovinlan authorities, having left her homeworld without proper clearance at the same time she broke a marriage contract to one of the wealthiest, most powerful men on the planet?

“I’m not a virgin,” she finally said, her mind racing as she tried to decide how much of the truth to tell and how much to leave in vagueness. “I, um, had a one-night stand with another pilot once. But we weren’t married or anything serious.”

“What is a one-night stand?”

Her face heated. “Um…it’s when you have sex with someone one time and then never again. We had drinks after work…and one thing led to another.”

“I see,” he said, his gaze turning curious. But he didn’t appear angry or disappointed by her answer, and relief flooded through her.

She could only imagine how Evan would have reacted to discover she’d slept with another man before their wedding. Suddenly, she liked Stax all the more, particularly when he leaned down to kiss her forehead. The sweet action warmed her heart and made her soul dance. Even if premarital sex wasn’t typically accepted in his culture, he wasn’t judging her or accusing her of wrongdoing.

“Though we have not yet joined our bodies as one, my little beauty, I cannot fathom how any man in his right mind could have you and then let you go. I already want you over and over and over again.” The hardness of his cock pressed more fervently against her. Even through the barrier of their clothing, she felt the immense heat and pulsing of his rigid member. Her thighs quivered and her sex throbbed with need.

When he trailed kisses down her neck, she emitted a soft sigh and surrendered herself to his ministrations. He touched her all over, stroking her arms, stomach, and even between her legs. His sensual caresses made her body come alive and she soon forgot all her worries about Evan and the life she had run away from. There was only Stax and the wondrous, euphoric sensations he was drawing from within her.

He pulled her sweater off her and made quick work of removing her bra, leaving her naked from the waist up. His gaze darkened as he looked upon her bosom, and before she had time to inhale the next breath, he bent down to capture one nipple in his mouth.

She moaned at the contact of his tongue sliding over her hardened peak. He alternated licking and gentle biting. Each tug of his teeth caused an intense spasm of heat to erupt in her womanly core. She was on fire for him, breathless and wanton and ready to be his, this intriguing stranger she had met but today.

And they were about to become mates. For life. Her heart warmed at the knowledge. Despite not knowing Stax for long, she wanted this. Wanted to be his for all time. She was tired of being alone and with each passing second, her heart opened to him more and more, like petals unfurling in the sun. She could very easily envision herself growing to love him, and she vowed to try her best to be a good mate to him.

As he shifted and paid her other nipple the same attention, he reached for the front of her pants and opened the fastenings. His hand delved inside her panties and he cupped her aching pussy, giving it a firm squeeze. He lifted his head and met her eyes.

“So wet and so warm, Mila. I think we need to get these pants off.”

She lifted her hips to help him pull them off, only to hear a ripping sound moments later as he tore the garment off her. Her panties came next. He tossed the shreds of fabric to the floor and stood up, shedding his black and gray warrior’s uniform.

She propped herself up on her elbows and gazed at Stax in all his naked glory. She’d never seen a man so powerfully built, his bulging biceps revealing his brute strength. No wonder he’d had no trouble defeating the Defenders who had outnumbered him. His thighs were like tree trunks, so thick and muscular. Her eyes soon drifted to another part of his anatomy though, to the massive hard cock jutting out.

Oh God. She swallowed hard and found she couldn’t look away. She supposed his manhood was in proportion to the rest of his large body, but she suddenly had doubts that they could actually mate. What if it didn’t fit?

He must have noticed her fear, because he walked closer and put a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be afraid, Mila. I promise we are compatible.”

“But you’re so-so huge, Stax.” Even as her pussy ached to be filled up with his massive girth, she still had reservations. “I-I’m worried it won’t quite fit.” She pressed her thighs together and stared at him.

He grasped her face in his hands. “I assure you, it will fit, and you will take every inch, little human.”

* * *

“First, we must repeat the blessed vows of Vaxxlian life mates, my little beauty. Repeat after me. I give you my soul, my body, and heart. Upon this mating, I am yours and you are mine. May the Star God bless our union.”

With moisture gleaming in her eyes, she repeated every word and gave him a gentle smile once she finished.

Her beauty mesmerized him.

Stax couldn’t kiss her enough, couldn’t touch her enough. He drank her in, all of her, and still he thirsted for more. He settled himself atop her on the bed and nudged her thighs apart. She gave a sweet moan and lifted her center against his length, as if inviting his entrance despite the small glimmer of uncertainty that remained in her eyes.

She still worried over the size of his cock, and he endeavored to drive into her slowly at first and be patient while she became accustomed to his girth. Reaching for her pussy, he probed her wetness, delving between her nether lips to spread moisture outward and over her clit. She shuddered and cried out, her back arching as he continued rubbing circles over her engorged nubbin.

Perhaps he ought to make her come before he surged into her. When she emitted another sexy moan, he decided just that and persisted in caressing her clit while she writhed beneath him. The scent of her arousal hung heavy in the air, making his cock stiffen further, until he was painfully hard and eager to drive into her tightness. But he refrained from satisfying his own pleasure just yet and circled her nubbin faster, until she convulsed and a look of sheer bliss entered her eyes before she closed them.

She groaned and undulated her center against his hand for several long moments, and when she stopped she was breathless and flushed. She blinked up at him, a fatigued smile dancing across her features. Reaching for him, she trailed her fingers over his chest and downward, until she tentatively grasped his throbbing manhood.

He growled at the contact and fought to maintain control, lest he hold her down and rut into her like a beast. This first time, he would be somewhat gentle with her, if only to prove they were compatible in every way. He had no wish to cause her pain and he wanted her to enjoy the entirety of their mating.

A shy look crossed her face and she released his cock. He immediately positioned his length at her slick entrance and began pushing inside. Slowly, ever so slowly. She closed her eyes and her head fell back on the pillow, her mouth parting as she gave a gasp of pleasure. She didn’t tense or wince once as he finished driving fully inside her. Star God, she was tight, so tight he had to pause in his movements and draw a deep, steadying breath.

She finally opened her eyes and met his, her gaze revealing her longing. She also peered at him with trust gleaming in her depths, and his heart filled with tenderness for her. He vowed to never break the trust they were building.

Sweet little Mila was the most precious thing in the universe to him and would be for all time. When he looked in her eyes, he felt complete, as if he’d been waiting his entire life for her. Vaxxlian males were never fated to mate with a particular female, as other races sometimes were, but he still could not shake the feeling that their union was meant to be.

A shudder ran through her and she shifted her center slightly, as if encouraging him to move within her tightness. Wanting to please her, he withdrew partially from her pussy only to drive straight back inside, much faster than he had intended. She rewarded him by grabbing onto his hips and digging her fingers into his flesh with a hoarse moan.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please.”

He withdrew again and plunged inside of her, then paused for several moments, only to witness a look of impatience mingled with agony cross her face. She dug her fingers deeper into his skin and lifted her center against his cock as she widened her legs further, taking his length deeper than before. Realizing she wanted it faster and harder, he set a rapid pace of driving in and out of her, though he watched her carefully, lest she experience any sudden pain from taking his size.

Not pausing in his thrusts, he leaned down to capture her lips, probing and demanding as he tasted her. He growled into her mouth and savored the slight vibrations of the little whimpers escaping her throat. He soon lost himself in the rhythm of their mating, pounding into her as he kissed her almost savagely, ruled by his instincts and his all-consuming passion for the little human who would be his forever.

When her inner walls clamped down around his cock as she found another release in his arms, he fell into a seemingly endless abyss of pulsing sensation, blinding ecstasy sweeping over him in countless waves. The purely primal act of spurting his seed into her drew a fierce growl from him that made her gasp, but once she realized what was happening, the look of alarm faded from her eyes and she held onto him while he panted in the wake of his pleasure.

He pulled his cock from her and settled beside her atop the covers. Feeling more content than he could ever recall, he gathered her to his chest and stroked her hair. Holding her in his arms after claiming her was pure bliss. Despite having just had her, his cock started to harden again, his muscles clenching as desire burned through him anew.

He would claim her again. Very soon.

Chapter 5

Mila awoke in Stax’s arms.

As gently as possible, she shifted in his hold to peer up at him. His eyes remained shut and his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. She took the opportunity to watch him sleep and admire his masculine features. Short dark hair framed his broad face. He had a strong square jaw and a prominent nose, as well as several days’ growth of facial hair. His eyelashes were thick and black as the night.

In sleep, he looked younger, without worry lines marring his brow. She stared at him in awe, not quite believing that he was now her mate.

But her stomach flipped when she considered her predicament with Evan, who may or may not be searching for her. His family had lots of money and he could have very well sent a bride hunter after her. She’d heard of bride hunters being hired to bring errant brides back to their future husbands on Yozovinla. Before the earthquake, it had been a growing business.

Did a Vaxxlian male claiming a betrothed human female take precedence over a Yozovinlan marriage contract in the Universal Court? She had never heard of Vaxxlians until meeting Stax yesterday and had no idea if his race was part of the Universal Alliance. She prayed his kind were not affiliated with the UA, or he might be legally required to turn her over to Evan if she was found out.

She berated herself for not thinking her predicament through better before she gave Stax her real name. Perhaps she should’ve lied to better cover her trail and make it harder for Evan to find her. She stared at her alien mate, her heart aching at the thought of having to leave him, even though in truth she didn’t know him well yet.

But she knew him well enough to realize he was a far better man than Evan. Stax wasn’t cruel or misogynistic. Yesterday, he was excited to watch her fly his craft and alter the flight path around the asteroid field. In fact, he’d seemed most impressed by her knowledge. Evan had made it clear she would never fly again once they were married. She had a feeling he would’ve been exceedingly controlling and heartless, especially in his desire to keep her away from her lowborn family and friends. She most certainly couldn’t envision having children with a man like Evan.

Stax was different. Whenever he spoke of having a family with her, his green gaze lit up with joy. After the third time they made love last night, he’d held her in his arms and told her he hoped they had many children together, both boys and girls. Tears brimmed in her eyes when he even said, “I think you’ll be a fine mother, my little beauty.”

He didn’t know her well either, yet he kept bestowing the most wonderful compliments upon her. Guilt crept into her conscious. She wasn’t telling him the whole truth about her reasons for leaving Yozovinla. But she feared what would happen if she confessed she had signed a legally binding marriage contract with Evan. Would he be angry?

Her stomach dropped.

What if he decided to abide by the law and return her to her home planet and the man she despised? She couldn’t fathom it and she resolved to do whatever it took to keep her secrets safe. She would pretend all was well and strive to make a happy life on New Vaxx with Stax. Perhaps after a few years she would be able to relax more. Surely Evan wouldn’t search for her for long—if he was even bothering to search.

No, he was looking for her. She felt certain of it. He was still living in his massive house in the richest neighborhood on Yozovinla, but his pride would demand he hire a bride hunter. At least for appearances. It would become public knowledge that he’d hired a bride hunter and he’d done everything in his power to bring his betrothed back to Yozovinla, but once enough time passed he would hopefully give up the search and take another wife.

As his family was wealthy, he would have no trouble finding another prospective bride. She still couldn’t believe her father had managed to arrange for her marriage to Evan in the first place. Her father claimed he simply showed Evan a picture of her and just like that the wedding date was set. She wondered how many pictures of lowborn women he’d been shown before deciding on her and mused how different her life would’ve turned out if he’d selected another as his bride. But then she wouldn’t have met the handsome alien healer who kept vowing to always keep her safe.

Stax stirred and opened his eyes. When he saw her staring at him, he smiled and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

“Good morning, my mate.” He stroked her hair. “Did you sleep well?”

“Never better.” It was the truth. In the aftermath of their exertions, sleep had come easily, and feeling protected and cherished had certainly helped. In Stax’s presence, she felt as if nothing could harm her.

“Come, and we’ll have breakfast. I’ll replicate whatever you’d like.”

“Sounds good.” After last night’s activities, she was positively famished.

They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the ship’s dining room, with a view of the stars as they exchanged stories from their childhood. Stax kept asking her questions about Yozovinla and her life there, and she did her best to respond without revealing anything more about Evan. She prayed he didn’t ask.

When she inquired about his life on New Vaxx, he told her of growing up in a huge extended family, surrounded by his parents, four brothers, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Sadly, all but a few of his warrior cousins perished during the attack on his home planet. But he shared happy stories from his childhood and painted a beautiful picture for her as he spoke of the new Vaxxlian civilization being built on New Vaxx.

“Our first school is under construction, as well as various community buildings. Many houses have already been built. My brothers and I helped each other build houses on the same street before we all left to find our mates. We are all to be neighbors.” He smiled. “We want our human females to adore New Vaxx as much as we are coming to adore it. I hope you will find yourself at home there.” He reached for her and squeezed her hand from across the table.

“It sounds wonderful, Stax, and I cannot wait until we arrive.” She paused, emotion rolling through her. Her throat burned and so did her eyes. “I-I never thought I’d be part of a family again. I’m glad you found me, Stax. I’m truly grateful.”

He rose from the table and moved to her side. Staring down at her, he caressed her shoulder and took a deep breath. “I have enjoyed speaking with you this morning, my little beauty.” He drew her up into his arms and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “My heart is yours, Mila. Always.”

* * *

Stax guided Mila down the ramp of the Yeronna.

“Welcome to New Vaxx.” He smiled at her. “Our new home.”

“It’s beautiful. So lush and green.” Her eyes rounded and she stood on her tiptoes, trying to get a better view of the distant snowcapped mountains. “Is that really snow?”

“It is. If you would like, we can visit the mountain tops one day.”

She beamed up at him. “I would like that. It’s been ages since I made a snowball. It rarely snowed in my city on Yozovinla, only a handful of times that I can remember.”

He looked at her with curiosity. “What is…a snowball?”

Before she could answer, several warriors rushed out of their houses to greet them. His younger brother, Deza, was among them and holding a female human’s hand. Deza had contacted Stax to inform him he’d found a human mate on a planet called Wavarnn. They looked happy together and the sight warmed Stax’s heart. He hoped his older brothers—Kirn, Fynd, and Zann—soon returned to New Vaxx with human females of their own.

Stax greeted various warriors who approached them, introducing Mila as his mate, while Deza and his female stood behind the crowd, allowing the others to greet them first. Mila smiled as she met each warrior, including a few of their human mates. Many of the human females hugged her and welcomed her to New Vaxx, and it pleased Stax to see her being welcomed so eagerly.

Finally, once the crowd dispersed, Deza walked up to them with his dark-haired human mate at his side.

“Hello,” the woman said, looking from Stax to Mila. “I’m Annika. Welcome to New Vaxx.”

“Thanks,” Mila said, accepting Annika’s hug. “I’m Mila.”

“I can’t place your accent,” Annika said with interest. “You’re not from Earth, are you?”

“Nope, I’m from Yozovinla. Born and raised. Have you heard of it?”

Annika gasped. “Oh! I studied the planet in school. Your culture is much different from most human cultures on Earth. Is it true that you often had arranged marriages there? And that women aren’t permitted to go off planet without the permission of their fathers or husbands? And that—”

“Yes, yes,” Mila said with a laugh, cutting her off. “It’s all true. Compared to Earth, our ways were quite backward.”

“Sorry,” Annika replied quickly. “I hope I didn’t offend you. I’m simply curious.”

“Oh, no offense taken,” Mila said with a grin. “I’ll be happy to tell you all about Yozovinla, and I hope you’ll tell me more about Earth.”

“It’s a deal,” Annika said.

“Our house is next to yours,” Stax said, gazing at Annika, “and I hope the two of you will be great friends.” He gathered Mila closer and introduced her to Deza. His brother shook her hand in the human fashion and welcomed her to New Vaxx.

“Oh, that’s wonderful news!” Annika said.

When the four of them started to walk down the street toward their homes, Stax noticed Annika kept placing her hand on her stomach. He exchanged a questioning look with Deza and he nodded, confirming Stax’s suspicions. Stax was pleased his brother’s mate was already with child. As he imagined Mila’s stomach swelling with their child one day, hopefully in the near future, his heart filled with pride and joy.

To ensure they accomplished the task soon, he resolved to claim his little beauty multiple times a day. For the foreseeable future, she would be sore, but satisfied, between her thighs. And dripping with his seed.

Deza and Annika said their goodbyes quickly once they arrived in front of their house, as if sensing Stax would appreciate some alone time with his mate. Though he was happy to see his younger brother again and meet Annika, he appreciated that they were now making themselves scarce. Not only did he wish for privacy as he gave Mila a tour, he didn’t know how much longer he could go without ripping her clothes off again. He wanted her beneath him, naked and panting and begging to be taken.

“Is this where you live?” she asked, pointing at the two-story white stone house with a lush, rooftop garden.

He grasped her hand and led her closer to the house. “It’s where we live, Mila. Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”

With wide eyes, she followed him inside and gawked at every room he showed her, from the kitchen to the sitting room to the many bedrooms. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, relieved Mila liked the home he’d built with the help of his brothers. The décor in the house was simple but elegant, but she loved all the artwork and furniture, as well as the open floor plan and white stone walls.

“Oh, Stax, this is the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe I’m going to live here.” She smiled at him and added, “With you.”

“There’s one last room I need to show you, my little beauty.” His cock thickened, his blood heating with desire. He needed her. Now.

“Wh-what room is that?”

“Our bedroom.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the wide hallway, to the large master bedroom that faced the eastern sunrises.

She laced her arms around his neck and leaned her cheek against his chest, as if trying to listen to the beating of his heart. He brought her into the room and placed her on the bed, atop the soft, thick covers that would keep them warm during the cold evenings on New Vaxx. The days were warm and beautiful, but when the sun went down it often nearly reached freezing. He wanted to keep her safe and warm and comfortable always.

Star God, sometimes he felt guilty for loving her so much and so quickly, given that he’d once been mated. He’d cared for Sesonia and during their short time together he’d tried to be a good mate to her, but the feelings he’d experienced for his first mate paled in comparison to the intensity of his feelings for Mila. The five days spent with her on the Yeronna were the happiest of his life thus far. Her mere presence calmed him, and he felt as if he were finally starting to heal from the atrocities of the war.

Settling himself atop her, he cupped her pussy over her clothes and put his mouth to her ear. “I intend to give you a proper welcome to New Vaxx, Mila. I’m going to claim you over and over again, until you’re so sore between your thighs that you can’t make it down the stairs.”

He swallowed the tiny gasp she emitted with a hard, passionate kiss that left him nearly senseless with yearning.

Mine, he thought. You’re mine forever, little human.

Chapter 6

Mila stood on the back porch, gazing at yet another brilliant New Vaxx sunrise. The horizon glowed pink and orange behind the tree-covered mountains. The white ghosts of the twin moons hovered high in the sky, near the last glimmering star of the night that would dim once the sun finally peeked over the mountains. She still couldn’t believe this beautiful planet was now her home, or that she was mated to a Vaxxlian male named Stax.

“Are you ready yet, Mila?”

She turned at the sound of her mate’s voice and smiled at him. He stood in their bedroom doorway, wearing his usual black and gray warrior’s uniform. Even on the days he worked in the medical research laboratory or made house calls as a healer, he wore the warrior’s uniform, which fit him like a glove, molding to his muscular physique and accentuating his strength.

“Mila?” he asked again with an amused glint in his dark eyes.

“Oh, yes, I’m all ready,” she answered quickly, embarrassed that she’d once again been caught staring wordlessly at him. She couldn’t help it. She admired everything about him, from his work ethic to his brawny muscles to his remarkable intelligence.

“The ships should be landing soon.”

“I’ll do my best to make the human women feel at home.” She smoothed her hands through her hair and walked to Stax’s side.

“I appreciate all the efforts you’ve made to help the newcomers become accustomed to New Vaxx, my little beauty.” He grasped her hand and they ventured outside.

They followed the procession of the crowd to the landing platform and waited for the ships to appear in the sky. Mila hoped none of the human females who arrived on New Vaxx today had been taken against their will. It wasn’t uncommon to witness a Vaxxlian male carrying his kicking and screaming mate off a ship. Stax always reassured her that his people would never treat a female with cruelty or steal her away from an already consummated marriage to another man, but that didn’t mean all the women to arrive on New Vaxx came here willingly. Most were at the very least, reluctant.

She counted her blessings for having Stax as her mate. He was patient and kind and she couldn’t imagine being paired with any other male of his kind. He smiled more than most Vaxxlian males and he possessed a deep throaty laugh that warmed her insides whenever she heard it.

Deza and Annika appeared in the gathered crowd and greeted them. Mila exchanged a nervous look with Annika. Neither of them liked to see an unwilling human woman being carried off a ship, but the Vaxxlian probes were detecting more and more humans in the surrounding sectors every day. Any single adult human female was considered theirs for the taking, as far as Stax’s people were concerned.

“I’ve just heard some news you might wish to know, Mila,” Deza said.

“Oh, what is it?” she asked with a glance at the sky. Four sleek, disc-shaped ships slowly descended from the clouds.

“Two of the vessels arriving today contain humans from Yozovinla. Both females and some males, as apparently some of the females insisted on bringing some of their fathers and brothers with them.”

Mila’s stomach dropped to the ground. She struggled to form a response but no words issued from her throat. Suddenly, dark spots clouded her vision and her legs wobbled.

Stax caught her and lifted her in his arms. His green eyes glowed with concern as she blinked up at him. “Mila? Are you all right? You have grown pale.”

After a few moments, she felt physically better. Her vision cleared and she no longer felt weak and as if she were about to pass out. But her stomach still twisted with nerves.

Human men from Yozovinla were about to step off two of the ships. What if…no, she couldn’t allow herself to complete the thought. She was just being paranoid. That was all. Evan didn’t have a sister or a daughter, so there was no logical reason to believe he was aboard one of the ships.

“I-I’m okay. Sorry, it must be the sun. It’s hotter than usual this morning, don’t you think?” The lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m taking you home, Mila.”

She didn’t protest. She was in no shape mentally to welcome the newly arrived humans, particularly those from her home planet. Though they would all be strangers, they would still recognize her as Yozovinlan from her accent and no doubt pepper her with questions. Guilt racked her conscious. She felt like she was letting Stax down. Once she recovered her senses, she would personally visit and welcome each of the new arrivals.

Once they returned home, Stax carried her to the small medical room where patients sometimes visited him. She wiggled in his arms, not wishing to be examined.

“I’m fine! Please, Stax.” She shot him a pleading look. “I just need to sit down for a moment, that’s all.”

His jaw set in a resolute line and he carried her into the medical room, ignoring her wishes. “I need to make sure the nanobots aren’t malfunctioning. You shouldn’t have nearly fainted. They should have regulated your body’s systems long before you reached that point. Unless…” He set her on the exam table and stared down at her, a suspicious look entering his gaze. “Unless you experienced a visceral reaction to a sudden, intense emotion. Like fear.”

Mila lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes. She didn’t want to keep lying to him, but what choice did she have? The two weeks she’d spent on New Vaxx had been the happiest of her life. She couldn’t imagine leaving. She’d do anything to remain with Stax. Even lie. She swallowed hard, past the burning in her throat, and took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

Stax set about checking her over, hovering a small device over her with a flashing blue light. “Your heart is racing,” he said. “But your nanobots are functioning properly, they simply cannot keep up with your emotional response to…to what, Mila? What has you so upset?” He grasped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me.” His voice was firm and his eyes darkened.

“I can’t tell you the truth, Stax. I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

* * *

Despite her insistence that she wanted to be left alone, Stax carried Mila to their bedroom and shut the door. He also called out a vocal command for the security system to lock it. His little mate wasn’t going anywhere until she told him the truth.

He set her on her feet and she immediately put space between them, hurrying to the other side of the bed, her hair flailing wildly with her rapid movements. Her face was flushed and her chest rose and fell quickly, drawing his gaze to the low neckline of her flowing purple dress. He’d replicated almost all of her clothing in purple, delighting in filling her closet in varying shades of her favorite color. The color suited her, brought out the gold flecks in her otherwise dark eyes, and complemented her light complexion.

He stood with his arms crossed, waiting for her to speak and praying she didn’t continue refusing to answer his questions. Or worse—lie to him. Something had frightened her suddenly while they waited for the ships to land. He doubted it was Deza’s announcement that some of the arriving humans were from Yozovinla. Surely such news would make her joyous, even if they were strangers. What else could’ve upset her? He racked his brain and then it came to him.

The crowd. As the population of their settlement on New Vaxx slowly grew, so did the size of the crowds that welcomed the landing ships. Perhaps she didn’t like crowds. Though he hadn’t reached Horstha before her failed execution, he was starting to suspect it had happened in front of a large crowd. His heart ached for all she’d been through and he softened his stance, unfolding his arms as he gave her what he hoped was a comforting look.

“We don’t have to stand with the crowds when the ships land anymore, Mila, if that is what has you so frightened.”

A pained expression flitted over her face. She parted her lips and drew a deep breath. “Are Vaxxlians members of the Universal Alliance?” she blurted, tears filling her eyes.

Slowly, he rounded the bed and approached her, the need to have her in his arms overwhelming. He longed to soothe her pain and see her smile again. He shook his head. “No, we are not. We are regularly invited to join the UA, but our leaders do not feel it’s in the best interest of our race. There are many laws we would be expected to abide by that we do not agree with. Why do you ask?”

A shudder ran through her and her face crumpled. Tears ran down her cheeks and she gasped as she tried to breathe through her crying. He hugged her to his chest and caressed her back.

“So you and your leaders don’t care about breaking Universal Law?”

“Mila,” he said, stroking her hair, “is this about your crimes on Horstha?” He had never asked her why she’d been sentenced to death. The fact that she hadn’t opened up on her own and told him made him suspicious that she’d indeed been guilty of some crime. He had long sensed she harbored secrets but hoped that as they became better acquainted and learned to trust one another, she would eventually confide in him.

“My crimes on Horstha?” She pulled back and stared at him. “I-what do you think I did?”

He drew a deep breath. “You were sentenced to death, though from what I’ve heard the Horsthan judicial system is harsh. Did you steal something, perhaps?”

“Is that what you think of me?” she asked, pushing away from him as tears still streamed down her face. “That I’m a thief? That I deserved what happened to me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. “I only want you to understand that if you indeed committed a crime, I will not hold it against you. I will still love you, Mila. I will still want you as my mate. And I would never turn you over to UA authorities, even if my people were members of the alliance. I killed over a dozen Horthan Defenders for you. What do you think I would do if the UA came for you? I would slaughter every last one of them.” His blood heated with the violence of prospective battle.

Her bottom lip quivered and she wiped at her tears. She remained silent for a long while, as the tension between them began to calm. He sensed the anger draining out of her and soon felt his own rage subsiding. She sank down on the bed and peered up at him, her large brown eyes calling to his soul.

“I-I didn’t commit a crime. At least not on Horstha,” she finally said. “I witnessed a murder and when I tried to help the victim and called for help—well, the Horsthans thought I was the murderer. I was immediately tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death.”

Stax sat next to her and wrapped her in his arms. To his relief, she didn’t push away from him this time. He held her, wishing he could erase all the horrible memories that haunted her. Would that he could take them upon himself. He would gladly suffer for her, if only her burdens were eased but a little.

“I do not think you are poor in character, Mila,” he said gently. “I simply meant to use the example of thieving to help you realize I would still want you no matter what happened in your past. I am sorry if I offended you, but I have sensed that you’re keeping a secret, though now that you’ve told me what happened on Horstha I cannot guess what it might be.”

“I-I’ll tell you everything, Stax,” she said, “if you promise not to let him take me, if he ever comes looking for me.”

“Who?” He grasped her by her shoulders, his alarm growing. “Who, Mila?”

A fresh sheen of tears glittered in her eyes. “Promise, Stax. Please. Promise that—”

“I will not let anyone take you away from me, my little beauty. Ever. I give you my word and I swear on the spirits of my ancestors. You are my mate, Mila, for all time, and I will never, ever let you go. Now tell me—who are you talking about? Who might come looking for you?”

“Evan,” she whispered, her gaze filling with fear. “My betrothed from Yozovinla. He’s the real reason I left my home planet. I-I left the planet without clearance and broke a marriage contract. He’s a cruel man and I didn’t wish to marry him. There’s a chance he’s looking for me, or that he’s sent bride hunters out looking for me. I-I’m sorry I wasn’t entirely honest with you, Stax. Please, forgive me.”

Full understanding dawned. Now he realized why Mila had nearly fainted when she learned human males would also be arriving on the ships today. He held her tight and put his mouth to her ear. “Had I known about Evan and your reasons for leaving Yozovinla, I would have still brought you back to New Vaxx as my mate. So, you see, there is nothing to forgive. And if Evan comes looking for you, I will stop him. I swear it.”

Chapter 7

The weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

Not only had she finally told Stax the whole truth about her reasons for leaving Yozovinla, but he wasn’t angry with her for withholding the information from him. He settled her on his lap and held her tighter, stroking her hair as he murmured to her in his native tongue. Though she couldn’t discern his meaning, she derived comfort from softly spoken but unfamiliar words.

“Stax, I hope you don’t think I mated with you just for protection. That’s not it at all.”

He lifted an eyebrow at her. “I would not mind if that was your reason for agreeing to mate with me, little human. But, since we’re on the subject, why did you agree to mate with me?”

She smiled and touched his jaw, tracing her fingers over his facial hair. “I liked you, Stax, and though I didn’t know you well, I wanted the future you kept describing to me. A happy life with lots of children on the beautiful planet of New Vaxx. I daresay I long for a family as much as you. And from the first time we spoke, I could tell you were a kind and honorable man. Not only did you save my life, but you saved me from the loneliness I thought I’d never escape, and for that I will be eternally grateful to you.” She took a deep breath and snuggled deeper into his embrace. “I-I love you, Stax.”

“Oh, my sweet human, I love you, too.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “And I’ll make sure the human named Evan does not come near you. He will be forbidden from setting foot on New Vaxx, and we will vet all other males who arrive to ensure they are not so-called bride hunters.”

“Thank you, Stax.” She sighed and watched as the sunlight glinted off his dark locks. The warmth of the day entered through an open window, a welcome feeling after the uncertainty and fear she’d experienced. It felt like a new day was dawning, a time in her life when she no longer had to live in dread. Even if Evan or a bride hunter came for her, she had faith that Stax could stop them.

They spent the rest of the day at home. Stax requested a passenger list from ships that had come from Yozovinla today, and with Deza’s help they verified that all the human males who’d arrived were indeed the fathers or brothers of one of the newly claimed females. However, Stax and the other warriors would still keep a close watch on the human males during the coming weeks.

As the days passed by without incidence, Mila found herself relaxing more and more. She enjoyed trips to the market with Annika, where the two frequently shopped together and socialized with the other human females. She also volunteered to transport building materials from the northern part of the settlement, where the quarry was located, to the southern border where the final houses were being constructed. Annika also accompanied her on many of those trips, as Deza had been teaching her how to pilot a ship.

“How many months until your parents arrive?” Mila asked Annika as she landed the ship in front of a half-built house.

“About five more months. It’s a three-month journey one way and the Rethrna departed just a month ago.” Annika grinned wide. “Hopefully, the group of Vaxxlian males who offered to travel all the way to Earth to fetch my parents will be able to quickly find some willing mates. I asked my mother to help them out once they reach my home planet.”

“How many males left on the Rethrna?”

“Twelve,” Annika said with a laugh. “And you know how moderately sized the average Vaxxlian ship is. It’s going to be crowded upon their return to New Vaxx, but the long trip requires so much fuel that the elected leaders believed it best for a large group of males to join together on one ship.”

“Do you think the human females from Earth will come willingly?”

“Well, it might take some convincing.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “I just hope they return to New Vaxx with my parents before the baby is born.”

“You’re pregnant?” Mila reached for Annika and squeezed her hand. “Congratulations. I am so happy for you and Deza. You will make great parents.”

“Thank you.” Annika gave her an inquisitive look as she pressed the button to open the cargo hatch. The sound of huge Vaxxlian males grunting as they retrieved the heavy white stones one by one could be heard from the bridge. “Are you and Stax expecting yet?”

“I don’t think so, but I hope it happens soon.” Mila’s eyes misted over. “If we have daughters, I want to name them after my sisters, Sherla and Terena.”

Annika smiled. “That’s so sweet. We’re planning to name our first girl after my sister, Marie. She’s…gone.” She gave Mila a compassionate look. “Are they gone, your sisters?”

“Yes, my parents, too.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry about your sister, too.” Mila patted Annika’s arm.

When the all clear signal came from the Vaxxlian builders, Annika closed the cargo hatch and Mila guided the ship into the air. They had four more trips from the quarry scheduled for today and Mila couldn’t be happier. It felt good to contribute to something that mattered. The Vaxxlians were resilient and admirable people. She was glad to have made her home here and happy that she could help them as they built their settlement.

Every other day, as long as it didn’t rain, she transported loads of the white stone to the southern border. On her days off, she went to the market with Annika and visited with the other human women, particularly those who’d most recently arrived on New Vaxx. She fell into a rhythm as the days blended together, and every evening she returned home to Stax.

He completed warrior training on most mornings, practicing hand-to-hand combat with his fellow warriors in the fields below the settlement. Sometimes the warriors went into a large building nearby and took part in virtual reality battle scenarios. Stax had taken her once and allowed her to practice on one of the devices.

When he wasn’t honing his battle skills, Stax oversaw the production of nanobots in the laboratory. Almost all the inhabitants of New Vaxx had now received an injection of the lifesaving invention. She beamed with pride whenever she glimpsed him out in the settlement, seeing to his patients and making sure their newly injected nanobots were functioning properly.

“Oh, crap. Look, it’s starting to rain,” Annika said, interrupting Mila’s thoughts. “I was hoping those clouds would pass by, but apparently not.”

“I’ll take the ship back to the hangar. If the skies clear up later, maybe we can finish our transports.” The adhesive used to layer the stones together didn’t work well in the rain, and the rainstorms on New Vaxx were often fierce and it wasn’t considered safe to pilot ships loaded heavily with the white stones during such weather.

“Sounds like a plan.” Annika stretched in her seat. “I could use a nap, anyway.”

Once they landed the ship and propelled it gently into the hangar, both their mates appeared on the walkway between the stored ships. Mila’s heart commenced pounding and her sex immediately clenched when she met Stax’s gaze. His body was tensed and his eyes glowed the same dark shade of green they always did when he desired her. She had no doubts about how they would spend the rainy afternoon.

* * *

Stax carried Mila into the house, both of them soaking wet. The hangar was only a short walk from their home, but the storm was proving fiercer than usual. Rain pounded the roof and the wind howled. Mila shivered in his arms and the abrupt movement released the scent of her arousal as her thighs spread ever so slightly. His nostrils flared and he took the steps leading to the second floor two at a time, anxious to have her naked and panting beneath him.

Lightning flashed in the distance and the wind entered through the semi-permeable force field shielding the open windows, but the rain didn’t whoosh into the room and the bedcovers were dry when he laid Mila down. He opened his mouth to give the command for the windows to fully close, but one glance at her lying on the bedcovers with her wild hair blowing in the wind stilled his speech. With a growl he ripped at her clothes, tearing off her shirt and pants. She wasn’t wearing any undergarments today and he groaned when her bare bosom greeted him. He cupped one breast, then the other, and leaned down to kiss her soundly.

He delighted in her little moans and whimpers. She reached for him, wrapping her arms around him and dragging her nails down his back. The lightning flashed closer and the wind picked up, ruffling the bedcovers and making further mess of her hair. Naked and still wet from their walk in the rain, he thought she’d never looked more beautiful.

He got up only long enough to shed his boots and his clothing. Then he was back on her, kissing her and caressing her, worshipping every little part of her body. He spread her legs wide and lowered his mouth to her pussy, inhaling the heady scent of her arousal.

“Stax, I—oh!”

He darted his tongue out, grazing over her clit and cutting off her words. He vibrated his tongue over her delicate flesh, almost grinning as he recalled how surprised she’d been the first time he vibrated his tongue on her clit. He shoved three fingers into her tightness and commenced pumping in and out while he increased the vibrating swirls of his tongue against her swollen nubbin. She tasted divine, like the honey from a ghenala hive.

She undulated against his mouth and soon shattered, her moans joining the roaring wind. He withdrew his fingers from her pussy, turned her over on her stomach, and helped her rise to her hands and knees. His cock throbbed and he rubbed it through her slickness.

He leaned over her, placing his mouth to her ear. “I’m going to take you from behind, little human.”

Slight shudders moved through her and the scent of her arousal heightened in the air. He sensed her eagerness to be taken in this fashion and grabbed ahold of her hips, guiding her back onto his cock. He drove into her with one rapid plunge, filling her up and making her scream. Desire burned hot, making him perspire as he claimed her during the fierce storm. Harder and faster, and harder still. She was his, all his for the taking, the little human who had become his whole world.

A harsh gust of wind caused the nearby curtains to trail over their bodies as he continued claiming her, shoving into her with rapid, harsh drives. The sound of flesh slapping flesh competed with the howling wind and the roaring cracks of thunder that made the house shake. The air smelled like ozone and sex.

Her inner walls clenched around his cock and he growled with the pleasure of it. He normally took Mila much more gently, but today he couldn’t contain the full force of his passions. He’d spent most of his time during the last few days trying to track down Evan and any bride hunters who’d recently left Yozolinva, using modified probes that had been deployed in all the surrounding sectors. Thus far, none of the registered bride hunters had ventured anywhere near New Vaxx, and according to all outgoing ship manifests from her home planet, Evan hadn’t left Yozolinva either. Having spent every hour of every day concerned for Mila’s safety, his fierce sense of possession of her had only grown. He plunged in and out of her tightness, as if the primal act of claiming her as his over and over again might keep all other males away.

If and when Evan or his bride hunters came for Mila, Stax would be ready. He would vanquish every last one of them with his bare hands. His blood heated further and he tightened his hold on her hips, fucking her faster and harder than ever before.

Her cries mingled with his deep, guttural growls. His vision clouded as his release approached, but he held it off for as long as he could, never wanting this moment to end. Each drive into her was a promise to always protect her, to love her with his whole heart until his dying breath.

He finally came inside her, filling her with gushing torrents of his seed.

Marking her as his.

Chapter 8

Mila awoke in the middle of the night to find herself alone. She stretched in bed, finding Stax’s side long cold, and peered through the darkness.

“Lights on,” she called, and the room instantly illuminated in soft yellow hues.

The wind was no longer howling, though the windows were fully closed to keep out the nighttime chill. After donning a warm robe, she walked to the large window that faced the snow-capped mountains, though in the night she couldn’t see them. But she saw the twin moons, full and orange and so large in the sky she felt as if she could reach out and touch them.

Thinking perhaps Stax needed a midnight snack, she walked to the door, but it didn’t open upon her approach. A sense of trepidation grew and her stomach clenched. Had Stax intentionally locked her in their room? Why would he do that?

She pushed on the door but it wouldn’t budge or slide open. “Door open,” she called, but still nothing happened. Frowning, she paced the room and hoped he returned soon. As the minutes passed, her frustration grew. When he walked through the door, she planned to give him a piece of her mind.

She ran a hand through her hair. They’d spent quite the day together, making love countless times and in a variety of interesting positions, until they’d collapsed in fatigue and fallen asleep in one another’s arms. They hadn’t had any disagreements at all recently and she couldn’t imagine him locking her in their room even if they had.

When footsteps sounded on the stairs, she stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. But when the door opened and she saw the blood covering Stax, all her anger fled as worry consumed her. His uniform was torn in several places and a large, half-healed gash marred the side of his face. She rushed to him, but he held his hands out, preventing her from getting too close.

“All is well, my little beauty. I had hoped you were still sleeping.”

“Where have you been? What happened? Oh, Stax, are you all right?”

“I assure you, I am fine. By the time I take a shower, all my wounds will be healed.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “An unauthorized vessel landed outside the settlement. Somehow, it evaded our probes and took us by surprise. All warriors were dispatched to take care of the threat.”

“I-I didn’t hear an alarm or anything.” Her anxiety increased and she had a very, very bad feeling about the occupants of the vessel. Her heart raced. Was Evan looking for her?

He tapped his head. “I have an implant that rouses me to full wakefulness in the event of an emergency. All Vaxxlian warriors have them. The warriors on night watch detected the ship landing and sent out a warning.”

“I see.” Mila exhaled a shaky breath, and all her previous frustration over being locked in the bedroom evaporated. She now understood that he’d locked her in for her safety. “Who-who was on the vessel?”

Stax stiffened and a murderous look entered his glowing green eyes. “Three bride hunters from Yozovinla.”

Her stomach dropped and her mouth went dry. Evan likely knew where she was. Somehow, someway, he had discovered her location.

“Oh God. I-I’m so sorry, Stax. It’s my fault. They’re here because of me.” She hated knowing she’d put the settlement in danger.

He cupped her face. “Shh, Mila.” His gaze turned tender. “There is nothing to fear. I will keep you safe.” As he spoke, the gash on his cheek faded further, until it was nothing but a thin pink line. Seconds later, it vanished completely, as if he hadn’t been wounded in battle at all.

“But I’ve brought danger to your beautiful, peaceful settlement, Stax.” When she’d been on the run, constantly venturing from planet to planet as she transported goods, she’d been harder to find. A moving target. And she’d been alone on her transport ship. She never put anyone else in danger. Until today. Guilt settled upon her shoulders and tears burned in her eyes.

“Mila, it is not your fault a dishonorable man is hunting for you. The fault lies on him. On Evan. And when I find him, I will kill him.”

She shuddered, a chill hitting her. She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply nodded and watched silently as Stax went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Sinking down on the bed, she covered her face in her hands and wept. People had died because of her. Sure, they were bride hunters, but she couldn’t help but wonder if they had families, hopes, and dreams. Times had been tough on Yozovinla before the earthquake, but now they were even worse. A job was a job, and she couldn’t blame the bride hunters for coming after her—they’d likely been desperate for the money.

But though she despaired over anyone else dying, even Evan, she knew deep in her heart that he probably wouldn’t stop until he found her. Their wedding date had been set and all of society had been invited. When she’d left Yozovinla, she’d likely created an embarrassing scandal for him. She could only imagine the headlines. He’d wanted to marry her because he needed a lowborn wife to combat the safety scandals involving his family’s mines, and then she’d run off all by herself to avoid marriage to him.

She recalled the one and only time they’d met in person. His eyes had been dark and cold. Calculating, even. Tremors assailed her and she felt colder than before. Perhaps he didn’t mean to drag her back to her home planet to marry her. Perhaps he only meant to exact revenge.

She sniffled and tried to compose herself before Stax exited the bathroom. He shouldn’t have to comfort her after he returned from what appeared to be a bloody battle.

If only there was something she could do. If only she could find a way to diffuse this situation without anyone else dying.

A plan started to form in her mind, but before she could figure out all the details, Stax emerged from his shower, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. She rushed to him, inspecting every inch of his body for injuries, but not a single bruise or small cut could be found.

“The nanobots,” he explained, “have already healed me. My injuries were not very extensive and I lost very little blood. The blood on my clothes did not belong to me.”

“If all the warriors in the settlement were alerted to the unauthorized vessel’s landing, why is it you seemed to take the brunt of the battle? Did only a few of the warriors respond to the alarm?”

“Every warrior left his house and converged on the field where the ship landed. But once the human males were identified as Yozovinlan natives, one of them confessed all. Apparently, they followed your trail to Horstha and after interviewing Horsthan Defenders they suspected you’d been taken by a Vaxxlian as a mate, which led them to New Vaxx. And yes, they informed Evan of your location.”

“I see, but that doesn’t explain why you were covered in so much blood.”

“I told the bride hunters I was your mate and that Evan has no claim to you.” He shrugged. “Then they challenged me to a fight for you, the foolish theronizas. I had no doubt I would win, my little beauty, please do not fret or think that I risked your freedom. They were fools to challenge me, though their fate would have been death no matter what. By challenging me, they simply hastened their own demise.”

“What about a shield?” she asked. “A planetary shield to keep unwanted vessels from entering New Vaxx’s atmosphere? Then no one else would have to die because of me. No one might get hurt.”

“Our scientists are in the process of developing such a shield, Mila, however it won’t be completed for some time.” He gave her a serious look. “Until Evan is no more, you will not be permitted to leave our home unless you’re in my company. I’ll let Annika and the builders know you won’t be piloting the transports of stone until further notice.”

“But it could be months or even years before another bride hunter comes this way. Or Evan might decide to give up,” she said, though she doubted the horrid man would ever stop searching for her. The possession of vast wealth and the burning need for revenge made for a terrible combination. “Please, Stax. I will be careful. I will go crazy if I’m kept cooped up.”

“You won’t go crazy,” he said, cupping her face with such gentleness that she found it difficult to remain frustrated over his declaration. “My decision is final, Mila, and I expect you to obey.”

Chapter 9

Three days later…

Technically, Mila wasn’t breaking the rules. She wasn’t leaving the house and venturing off without Stax by her side. But she couldn’t help the guilt that surged through her as she sat in front of the comm system located in a corner of the sitting room and prepared to record a message to be sent to Yozovinla.

Her heart raced and her mouth went dry. She inhaled several deep breaths in an attempt to calm her nerves. She wasn’t even planning to speak with Evan face to face and she was nervous as hell. She only intended to record a message—a warning—and send it to him through an encrypted channel. That way he’d receive the message but wouldn’t be able to send a reply.

You can do this.

She clicked on the record button and stared at the screen.

“Hello, Evan. The three bride hunters you deployed to search for me are dead. I have no doubt that any further hunters who follow them will meet the same fate. I am mated to a powerful Vaxxlian who will kill anyone who attempts to take me away from New Vaxx. You must stop this madness. Please, before more people die. Vaxxlians are not members of the Universal Alliance and therefore are not bound by the same laws as Yozovinlans. The Vaxxlians are a fierce people and have technology far superior to humans. You cannot win. I ask that you see reason and send a message to Vaxxlian leaders accepting your defeat and declaring our marriage contract void. The comm number on New Vaxx where you can send the message is 8632-728-22-1. Good-bye, Evan.”

She stopped recording and sent the message while her courage remained strong. As soon as she pressed send, she started shaking and she prayed she wasn’t making a mistake. She hated keeping secrets from Stax and prayed if he found out what she’d done that he wouldn’t be cross with her. Her guilt increased when she erased the outgoing messages, hiding her tracks.

Please let Evan see reason, she thought. Please let him end the search so no one else dies.

She had faith that Stax could defend himself and keep her safe—his power and his intelligence astonished her on a daily basis. But what if someone else in the settlement died the next time more bride hunters arrived? A human or a Vaxxlian? She couldn’t bear the thought of it and hoped Evan sent a message to Vaxxlian leaders soon.

Suddenly queasy, she rushed for the bathroom and lost her breakfast.

* * *

“You’re with child,” Stax said, placing the medical scanner down. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and gathered her close. “My sweet mate, you are carrying our child.”

Mila hugged him back but said nothing. He’d come home to find her pale and discovered the nanobots’ function had slowed, no doubt as they adjusted to the new life growing inside her. He had faith that they would soon readjust to her changing body and she would feel back to her normal self soon. Deza had reported Annika experiencing something similar during her early stages of pregnancy.

“Are you all right, my little beauty?” He cupped her face and stared into her tear-filled gaze.

“Of course, I’m all right. I’m simply stunned.” She smiled through her tears. “It took my parents years of trying before they got pregnant with me. I always feared the same would happen to me.”

He clasped her hand and kissed it.

“The nanobots should regulate soon and you shouldn’t feel nauseous anymore. But I’m giving you a vitamin infusion that should take the edge off.”

She nodded and held out her arm. Once he administered the infusion, he carried her out of the medical room and upstairs. His need to protect her surged. He hated keeping her locked up in the house, but until the situation with Evan was resolved, there was no other option. All the windows and doors were fortified with impenetrable shields. Even if Evan and his bride hunters somehow managed to defeat an entire army of Vaxxlian warriors, they would not be able to reach Mila, nor would she be able to venture outside on her own accord.

He set her on the bed and sat beside her, immediately placing his hand on her stomach.

“I’m feeling better already,” she said. “Thank you for the vitamin infusion.”

“You’re very welcome. If you feel sick again, even slightly, I want you to tell me right away.”

“Okay.”

“Now, would you like to know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, please.”

“It’s a boy. We’re having a son.” He kissed her lips and wiped at her freshly fallen tears.

“Oh, Stax, I’m so sorry for how I’ve been treating you these last few days. I’m sorry I was so angry about being kept inside. I know you are only trying to protect me, and I haven’t acted very grateful.”

Her apology touched him. He wrapped her in his arms and held her while a gentle warm breeze filled the bedroom, ruffling the curtains and her hair. “All is forgiven. And I’m sorry too.”

“Whatever for?” She pulled back and stared up at him. “You have nothing to apologize for, Stax. Not a single thing.”

“I believe I was a bit too…stern with you.”

His lips met with hers and he kissed her softly at first, tasting her and showing her the depths of his devotion. Slowly, he built the intensity of the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth and delving deeper and deeper. When at last he pulled away, they were both panting breathlessly.

“I love you, Stax. So much,” she breathed.

“And I love you, my little beauty.”

* * *

When Mila walked downstairs with Stax for breakfast, the comm system in the sitting room was beeping. Her stomach flipped as she watched him move toward the device to check the waiting message.

“Hmm,” he said. “It appears this message was sent to all comm systems on New Vaxx.”

Shit shit shit. Mila had a very, very bad feeling about this.

“How about we have breakfast first?” She grasped Stax’s hand and tried to pull him away from the comm system, but he wouldn’t budge. “I’m starving. How about I make pancakes?” Replicated pancakes were one of his favorite foods, but his curiosity over the message won out. She watched in horror as he pressed play.

A white-haired man Mila didn’t recognize flashed on the screen. “Good day. I am Alexandi Smith and I am an ambassador from Yozovinla.”

Oh God. She stood frozen, her blood running colder by the second.

“I am contacting all of New Vaxx—a planet I hope will join the Universal Alliance one day—because you are housing a criminal by the name of Mila Williams.”

“Williams?” Stax asked, looking over his shoulder at her.

“That’s my last name,” she explained.

The white-haired man continued. “Several months ago, Ms. Williams left Yozovinla without proper clearance, endangering lives as our air traffic controllers rushed to ensure she didn’t cause any accidents.”

“That’s a lie! I’m a good pilot!” Mila was aghast. “I didn’t even come close to crashing into any other vessels.”

“Not only did Ms. Williams leave Yozovinla illegally, but she broke a marriage contract to a respected businessman by the name of Evan Mistocov. It has come to our attention, based on a confession given by Ms. Williams herself, that she has mated with a Vaxxlian.”

At this moment, a recording of Mila flashed on the screen. “I am mated to a powerful Vaxxlian who will kill anyone who attempts to take me away from New Vaxx,” she watched herself say. Her horror deepened. This couldn’t be happening.

“Despite Ms. Williams conduct,” the ambassador continued, “Mr. Mistocov is a forgiving man and still wishes to honor the marriage contract. In four days, a delegation from Yozovinla will arrive and Mr. Mistocov will be among them. We are aware that as non-members of the UA, you are not legally bound to follow our laws. However, upon landing, Mr. Mistocov plans to invoke the ancient Vaxxlian tradition of uhomanoi. Mr. Mistocov is bringing a replacement Urronnian to fight on his behalf, as a fight between a lone human man and a Vaxxlian warrior is obviously not fair. The male who is mated to Ms. Williams will be expected to show himself and battle the Urronnian replacement for Mr. Mistocov immediately upon landing. I wish you a pleasant day.”

The screen went blank.

Chapter 10

Mila sat on a chair in the sitting room while Stax paced the floor. Agitation rippled off his huge form and he kept running his hands through his hair. He hadn’t said a word to her since the message ended, but she knew her interference angered him.

She was deeply and uttered ashamed. But worse than her humiliation was her fear.

Uhomanoi.

What did it mean? She prayed it didn’t mean what she thought it did. She shuddered. Urronnians were renowned for their skill in battle. She’d seen one at an outpost once, a tall and muscular creature with four legs that moved quickly, like spider legs, as he’d rushed at his opponent during a bar fight. They also had teeth like fangs and claws the size of a Yozovinlan northern bear.

Please please please let uhomanoi mean something different.

Stax stopped pacing and glared down at her. “Did you not believe I would protect you?” he asked in a harsh tone he’d never used with her before.

“Yes, I did, Stax, but I worried about more people dying because of me.”

“When did you send the message?”

“Yesterday. I’m sorry, please don’t be angry.”

His nostrils flared and his muscles tensed. She didn’t think he would hurt her, but she despaired over being the cause of his anger. What did the rest of the settlement think? She was starting to understand that she had likely embarrassed Stax by sending the message to Evan. Vaxxlian males had their pride, yet she’d made it appear that she was trying to fight one of his battles for him. The protection of a female mate was considered a sacred duty among his people. Guilt and regret welled in her heart.

What had she done?

Evan already knew she was on New Vaxx and must have already been en route to the planet before she sent her message, as it took much longer than four days to travel from Yozovinla to New Vaxx.

Someone pounded on the front door, but Stax made no move to answer it. Mila suspected it was Deza, come to offer his brother support. She shrank small in the chair, hating that she’d caused Stax embarrassment and despairing over the impending arrival of the delegation from Yozovinla.

She took a deep breath and asked, “What is the ancient Vaxxlian tradition of uhomanoi?”

He met her gaze, and his reply confirmed her worst fears.

“A fight to the death,” he said. “And you are the prize.”

“Oh my God.” Tears burned in her eyes. “Have you ever fought a Urronnian?”

“No, but my brother Fynd has. He was victorious, though the battle left him permanently scarred. He fought the Urronnian before I invented the nanobots. The Urronnians have poison in their claws that can leave a person disfigured. I tried my best to heal my brother after the fight, but even an injection of enhanced nanobots wouldn’t heal his scars. But, the important thing—Fynd was victorious.” He drew himself up tall. “And I intend to do the same. I will not allow Evan to have you, Mila. You are mine and mine alone.”

He knelt before her and grasped her hands, all the fury gone from his eyes. She sniffled and cupped his handsome face. “I believe in you, Stax. I know you will win.” Her heart ached as she said it, because while she believed in him, believed he would fight with all his might to defeat the Urronnian, and in turn, Evan, she couldn’t help but worry. But she resolved not to voice such concerns, not with the battle looming over him. From what she’d learned of Vaxxlian females—from the few females of his kind who hadn’t perished during the war—they always supported their mates. He had no choice but to fight and she had no choice but to offer encouragement.

“I must spend every day before the battle training,” he said, giving her a quick kiss. “I must begin now. I will return at nightfall. Stay. Inside. Just in case the message was a ruse to get you to leave the house.”

She nodded her understanding and watched as he departed the house. She heard Deza’s voice drifting in as the door zipped shut.

Once she was alone, she tried to think of a way out of this mess that didn’t involve Stax fighting and risking his life on her behalf. But she couldn’t figure out a solution that didn’t involve her willing surrender to Evan, and she knew Stax would never allow her to do such a thing. Especially not when she was carrying their son.

She knew only two things for certain: Evan was a monster, worse than she had ever imagined. And her heart would belong to Stax for all time, no matter what happened.

She placed a hand on her stomach and prayed.

* * *

Stax lost himself in a routine of battle practice—hand to hand combat, to be precise. During an invocation of uhomanoi, each man was permitted the choice of one primitive weapon, such as a knife or a sword or an ax. Stax had already decided on his sword. He’d vanquished the Horsthan Defenders and the bride hunters with his sword alone, and he would do the same to the Urronnian mercenary who would fight in Evan’s place.

He wished he had more time to prepare for the impending battle, but he’d learned that several of the Vaxxlian probes they’d calibrated to watch the ships coming and going from Yozovinla, as well as their occupants, had been mysteriously destroyed. Stax suspected Evan or the bride hunters he’d hired had something to do with it, and scientists from New Vaxx had recently deployed more probes into the surrounding sectors to replace the demolished ones.

He swung his sword again and again, practicing his aim against a life-size replica of a Urronnian that Deza had quickly constructed. Most Urronnians were taller than the average Vaxxlian and they were fast. Very fast. Fynd’s victory over one of the deadly creatures was a testament to his great strength. Stax found himself wishing his older brother were here in this moment, but he was still off planet searching for a human female.

Warrior after warrior lined up to practice fighting against Stax. The entire settlement had banded together to help him train, for which he was eternally grateful. He would not fail them, or Mila. He would kill the Urronnian and anyone else who got in his way. Evan would never, ever get his hands on his beloved mate.

Stax paused training only long enough to eat and sleep. He fell into bed each night utterly exhausted, unable to keep his eyes open for more than the few moments it took to wish Mila pleasant dreams. But on the night before the great battle, he pulled her to his side and kissed her. She gave him a profound look of affection and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her body to his.

They made love slowly, tenderly, without exchanging a single word. But the looks they exchanged throughout the night were enough. They loved one another. No matter what happened, their love would transcend this life.

After Mila shuddered her release, Stax spilled his seed inside her, then gathered her close to his heart. They fell asleep in one another’s arms, but he prayed and prayed and prayed it wasn’t for the last time.

* * *

A makeshift arena had been constructed in a field outside the settlement.

Mila sat next to Annika in the stands, her heart in her throat. The delegation had landed early this morning and the fight was about to begin. Rows of Vaxxlian warriors stood behind Stax, though they were not permitted to help him during the battle. They were simply there to show their support. Only the older Vaxxlians—retired warriors—and the female mates sat in the stands. During uhomanoi, it was tradition for an entire city to watch the fight. Stax had explained all this to her, but told her there was no shame in closing her eyes if she could not stand the violence.

She had wished him good luck, kissed him good-bye, and told him that she would scarcely blink during the battle, let alone close her eyes. He’d smiled at her and looked proud and now her eyes burned as she recalled their last interaction.

“Hey, you okay?” Annika asked. She squeezed Mila’s hand.

“I’m okay,” she replied. “Just anxious for this to get started.”

“There’s the Urronnian. I think it’s time.”

He wasn’t taller than Stax, and a glance across the arena showed the displeasure on Evan’s face. Clearly, Evan hadn’t realized just how huge Vaxxlians were and hadn’t selected the best specimen of Urronnian to fight on his behalf. The stupid coward. But Mila wasn’t foolish enough to think the battle already won. Urronnians, no matter their size, were deadly, bloodthirsty creatures.

The mercenary approached Stax, it’s four legs moving quickly. He said something to Stax and laughed, drool running out of his mouth. The creature’s skin was slimy and green and in his right hand he held an ax.

Stax held the same sword he’d used against the Horsthan Defenders. It seemed like such a long time ago that he’d killed dozens of them after rescuing her and healing her wounds, yet it had only been several weeks. So much had happened since then. She’d fallen in love with the stranger who’d insisted she would become his mate, and now she was carrying his son. She placed a hand on her stomach and waited for the battle to commence.

The members of the delegation sat in their own section of the stands behind Evan and several of them stood up when a horn sounded, the sudden noise making Mila wince.

Stax gave a fierce battle cry and ran at the Urronnian, only to side step at the last moment, avoiding a blow from the replacement fighter. As he side stepped, he delivered a blow with his sword to one of the Urronnian’s legs. The replacement cried out and launched himself at Stax, hurling his ax toward Stax’s neck.

Mila gasped and watched with bated breath as Stax narrowly dodged the blow.

The Vaxxlian warriors standing behind Stax cheered and shouted encouragements. Mila gulped hard and watched as the battle continued. Stax and the Urronnian traded several blows, kicking up dust from the field as they moved around.

Evan jumped up and down in the stands, his face red as he shouted angrily at his replacement. Mila couldn’t help it—when Evan glanced straight across the small arena and their eyes met, she smirked at him and gave him the finger. His face reddened further and he resumed shouting at the mercenary.

The sun beamed down, hotter than usual at this time of morning, as the fighting surged on. Stax managed to hit another of the Urronnian’s legs with his sword, drawing more agonizing cries from the replacement. The Urronnian turned and hurled his ax directly at Stax’s midsection. Stax turned and jumped, taking the brunt of the impact on his arm. Blood oozed through the shirt sleeve of his uniform.

Mila prayed the nanobots repaired the damage quickly and that he didn’t lose too much blood beforehand. Please please please. She had never prayed so hard in her life.

Stax kicked the ax far away from the Urronnian and gave the creature a mocking look. The Vaxxlian warriors standing behind him roared their approval. But then the replacement protracted his long, deadly claws that contained poison. Mila’s heart beat an erratic rhythm in her chest and she clutched Annika’s hand harder.

She was wrong. An Urronnian’s claws weren’t the size of a Yozovinlan northern bear. They were twice the size. And when the mercenary growled at Stax, revealing long fangs, a chill went through Mila. Oh God. Oh God oh God oh God.

Stax spread his feet, taking a firm stance as he lifted his sword while the Urronnian scrambled rapidly toward him on his four legs. But when Stax swung his sword at the replacement’s neck, the creature reared back and swept him off his feet using one of his legs, which apparently were very bendy. Mila watched in horror. No no no.

The Urronnian climbed atop Stax, holding him down with his many feet. Though Stax was the taller of the two, the replacement was heavier and had no trouble holding him down. The creature revealed his fangs again, growling as he looked to and fro at the crowd. He met Mila’s eyes, as if knowing Stax was her mate, and gave her a cruel, toothy smile as he protracted his claws even further and lifted one arm, preparing to swing down.

Mila screamed and shot to her feet, watching in terror. But just before the Urronnian’s claws reached Stax’s stomach, Stax managed to roll rapidly and cause the creature to lose his balance. The Urronnian’s legs became tangled just long enough for Stax to rise up, sword in hand, and slice the replacement’s throat.

Green blood gushed outward. The creature froze and emitted a sickening gurgling noise.

Mila heard someone screaming “Nooooo!” and thought it must be Evan, though she couldn’t look away from the battle to check. She had to watch the finish. She’d promised Stax she would watch and not close her eyes and she wouldn’t break that promise. Not now. Not when Stax was so close to winning, so close to ending the nightmare that had plagued her for so long.

Stax swung his sword again and again, slicing at the Urronnian’s neck until the horrid creature’s head toppled to the ground. The crowd went wild—both the Vaxxlian warriors on the field and the women in the stands.

Despite the violence she’d just witnessed, Mila joined them in cheering for her mate.

Relief filled her. It was over. She belonged to Stax and no one could ever challenge their union again. Evan would have to return to Yozovinla in disgrace, taking the delegation with him.

Annika hugged her and urged her to go to Stax. Mila moved through the women in the stands, working her way down to the field as quickly as possible.

Once she reached the grass, she started running toward Stax. He dropped his sword and opened his arms, beckoning her to him. But a sudden pain hit her, doubling her over. She fell flat on her face and then rolled, only to see Evan rushing out of the stands holding a blaster.

He aimed the weapon at Stax, who picked up his sword and rushed at Evan. It happened in a split second. One moment Evan was aiming the blaster at Stax, and the next moment Stax had reached him and cut off his head in one fell swoop. It joined the Urronnian’s head on the ground nearby.

As the pain of the blast started to subside, Stax reached her and immediately placed a hand upon her shoulder, where the blast had struck her. To her astonishment, the pain dispersed and she only felt out of breath from her fall.

“What-what did you do?” she asked, panting.

“I took your pain away.” He stared at her as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to touch someone and take their pain away.

“But…how?”

“I am a healer,” he replied, gathering her in his arms and carrying her away from the gathering crowd.

Deza appeared and helped carve a path for them through the mass of people.

“I know you’re a healer, but you’re a doctor, right? You heal your patients with medicine and vitamin infusions and nanobot injections.”

“All Vaxxlian doctors are also touch healers,” he explained. “Forgive me, I did not think to tell you before now. When you were aboard my ship on Horstha, I used my powers to help ease your pain. But I cannot be everywhere at once, nor can any other healer among us. The deaths of our warriors during the war against the Irrcons haunted me and that’s what led me to develop the nanobots. The impact of the blaster would’ve killed you if not for the nanobots.” He held her closer and kissed her forehead.

“The delegation is leaving,” Deza shouted over the noise of the crowd. “Look!”

Sure enough, their ship rose in the sky. Mila couldn’t help but chuckle. After witnessing the power of a single Vaxxlian male, she couldn’t blame them for fleeing New Vaxx the moment the battle ended. She shifted in Stax’s arms.

“I can walk now,” she said.

“I know you can, but I cannot bear to put you down just yet,” he replied, carrying her down the street where they lived.

Annika caught up to them and fawned over Mila, making sure she was unharmed.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I promise,” Mila said, “thanks to Stax. Hey, did you know all Vaxxlian healers could also heal by touch?”

“Yep, they all can. Before my injection of nanobots, Stax touched my head once and made a migraine go away completely. I was stunned,” Annika replied.

“Are there any more secrets you’ve been hiding from me?” Mila asked, staring up at Stax.

He opened his mouth to reply, only for Deza and Annika to cut him off as they said their goodbyes. Stax carried her into their home and into the medical room.

“Oh, I’m fine. Really. I feel great,” she said once he placed her on the exam table. “You’re the one who needs doctoring. Has the gash in your arm healed yet?”

“I want to make sure the baby is unharmed, my little beauty. You took quite a fall.”

If she’d been sore and bruised, perhaps she would’ve been more worried about the baby, but since she now felt completely well, it hadn’t occurred to her that their son could’ve been injuired during Evan’s attack. Her heart raced as Stax moved a medical scanner over her stomach.

She stared at him as he examined her and was relieved to see the gash on his arm appeared almost healed. His uniform was torn away from his arm, revealing only a slight pink line from the impact of the ax.

“If-if something’s wrong with the baby, can you touch my stomach and make it better?”

“Not precisely. Unfortunately, it would require emergency surgery, but I do not believe that will be the case. Just a few more moments.”

“But my nanobots—”

“Your nanobots won’t enter the baby’s blood stream until you’re further along in your pregnancy. But you can relax, my sweet, all is well.” He set the scanner aside. “Our son is perfectly healthy.”

Mila breathed a sigh of relief. Then she turned her attention to Stax and hopped off the table, intent on removing his tattered uniform to make sure he didn’t have any unhealed wounds. Biting back a smile, he indulged her and allowed her to undress him fully.

“I don’t see any more cuts or bruises, but you are absolutely filthy,” she said with a giggle.

His eyes darkened. “Perhaps you can help me clean up, my little beauty.”

“Perhaps.”

Chapter 11

Stax stood in the shower with Mila while she helped wash the blood and dirt from his body. He thanked the Star God over and over again for his victory over the Urronnian and Evan, as well as Mila’s well-being and that of their son. If something had happened to her…he couldn’t complete the thought.

His heart belonged to her and no other. He was proud of the way she’d comported herself today, and he told her as much while she ran a washcloth over his back. She blushed and stammered, looking adorable as the warm water streamed down upon their bodies. She was so beautiful and she’d been so brave today when she’d watched the battle. Many females would’ve broken down in tears or averted their eyes, unable to watch. But he’d heard remarks from many of those in the crowd as he carried her away about how she’d watched the entire battle.

She was a strong woman and would make a wonderful mother, he thought as he turned and placed a hand upon her stomach. She smiled up at him, her face flushed as she moved the washcloth over his chest.

“I-I think you’re all clean now, Stax.”

“Thanks to you,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her.

Without pausing, he reached between her thighs and stroked her wetness. The exquisite aroma of her arousal mingled with the scent of soap and shampoo, driving him wild with need for her. His cock thickened and pulsed, eager to sink into her sweetness. She moaned and leaned into him, seeking his touch.

Her little hand gripped his length and he emitted a deep growl. When she started sinking to her knees, he didn’t stop her. She parted her lips and tentatively licked the tip of his manhood. He shifted their position so the water didn’t cascade down directly upon her head. The only thing he wanted her choking on was his cock.

His desire swelled as she took him in her mouth, her head bobbing forward and back as she proceeded to take him deeper and deeper, swirling her tongue around the tip of his cock whenever she reared backward. More growls left him and he gripped her head, twisting his hands in her hair as he took control and guided her movements. When she moaned around his length, the vibrations drove him to thrust faster into her mouth.

In and out and in and out.

Faster. Harder. Deeper.

She’d never swallowed his essence before, but as he stared at her on her knees, eagerly accepting his cock, he decided this time she would gulp down every last drop of his seed. He wanted to spill himself down her throat and then in her pussy, wanted to fill her up and leave her dripping with his seed. Wanted to mark her in every possible way as his.

He’d killed for her. And he’d do it again. He would kill a thousand times a thousand Urronnians or Horsthan Defenders just to keep her safe.

He paused in his thrusting and waited for her gaze to drift up to him. Her eyes collided with his and his heart beat faster and only for her. Always for her.

His vision clouded and pleasure cascaded down upon him, violent in its intensity as he came hard in her mouth. When she tried to pull back, he wouldn’t allow the movement.

She whimpered around his cock and peered at him, her dark brown eyes large and filled with surprise.

“Swallow,” he commanded. “All of it.”

Another whimper left her and he stroked her hair. For an instant, he thought she would disobey, but after she breathed deeply through her nose he felt her throat moving as she swallowed once, and then twice, and finally a third time.

“Good girl,” he found himself saying, and she flushed and melted under his praise.

He lifted her up and turned off the shower. Slowly, with reverence, he dried her body with a large, soft towel. She was quiet and shy in the aftermath of their newly shared intimacy. Each time she glanced at him, she blushed anew and fidgeted in place. He thought her behavior endearing and once she was dried off, he dried himself quickly and then scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

Sunlight spilled into the room, bathing the sheets with bright, warm rays. When he placed her down atop the covers, her hair spread out around her head, every strand catching a different angle of light. She was resplendent and glowing as she parted her thighs.

The scent of her increasing arousal beckoned him and he positioned her legs over his shoulders and began to feast on her. Teasingly, not quite grazing his tongue over her clit as often as she would’ve liked. Instead, he licked around her engorged nubbin, only to flick over her most sensitive spot every now and then. He also kept the vibrations of his tongue very, very low.

“Please, Stax.” She panted harder. “Please, I’m begging you.”

* * *

Mila was in agony. But also, in heaven.

But mostly, in agony.

If she didn’t come soon, she would burn up with a fever. She lifted her hips and pleaded with Stax over and over again. Please please please.

But he was relentless in his teasing, particularly when he began to thrust three large fingers in and out of her at a torturously slow pace. She hovered on the precipice of an intense release, but no matter how hard or often she lifted her center in an attempt to guide his movements, he wouldn’t grant her mercy. Nor would he vibrate his tongue as fast as she craved.

“You’re a sadist,” she said in between harsh breaths. She might very well pass out if he didn’t help her soon. When she struggled against his hold, he tightened his grip on her hips, forcing her to remain in place as he continued the delicious torment.

He chuckled and the vibrations of his laugh nearly sent her hurling into the abyss, but at that moment he also pulled his fingers from her pussy. By some miracle, he settled himself between her legs and his thick, long shaft prodded at her aching entrance.

He met her eyes. “You’re only allowed to come if my cock is inside you.”

His words sent a delightful shudder through her. Not only was he about to impale her with his length, but he was indeed planning to give her an orgasm. She cried out when he drove into her depths, filling her completely with one hard thrust. Briefly, she mused that she’d once feared he would be too huge for her. And now, weeks later, she couldn’t get enough of his cock. Well, not only his cock, but him.

Alive. He was alive. So was she. Their baby—their son—was healthy, too. All those who had threatened their union were gone, never to return. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was truly safe and the future had never looked so bright, so full of promise.

Happily-ever-after.

She reached for Stax and ran her hands up and down his chest, then over his back, memorizing the feel of each and every muscle.

The aching between her thighs built and built as he commenced plunging in and out of her, quick deep drives that made her quiver and whimper and beg for more.

When she finally came, she literally saw stars. Millions of them, sparkling in a vast, dark sky. She cried out Stax’s name repeatedly and clutched onto him as he found his own release, pumping her full of his seed. His cock pulsed so hard the sheer pleasure of it brought tears to her eyes.

As she floated down from the stars and the clouds, she became vaguely aware of him holding her. He always held her after they made love, no matter how rough or gentle he was during their exertions. In his arms, she felt safe and treasured.

She rested her head on his chest. The beating of his heart lulled her into a blissful trance. She thought she could listen to no other sound but the beating of his heart forever and be quite content. She sighed and peeked up at him, so handsome with his damp hair curling around his ears. He hadn’t had a haircut since she’d met him and she rather liked the look of him with long, disheveled locks. He looked savage and fierce and despite having just come, warmth pulsed in her sex anew, and she couldn’t help but press her legs together just to savor the achiness.

“My mate,” he whispered into her ear. “I love you.”

“Oh, Stax,” she said, propping her chin on his chest. She gazed into his eyes, those glowing green eyes that had been the first thing she saw when she awoke after her ordeal on Horstha. Those glowing green eyes that only ever looked at her with affection. “I love you, too, my alien healer.”

Pleasure reflected in his gaze and he embraced her tighter. He placed a kiss to her forehead and she smiled, running her fingers over his unshaven jaw. He’d been so busy training for his fight against the Urronnian that he hadn’t taken the time to shave in over a week. A Vaxxlian’s hair grew faster than a human’s and he already had the beginnings of a thick, full beard.

She loved the way it felt when it scratched between her thighs. A heated flush rippled through her and the aching in her core tightened.

He lifted an eyebrow at her, looking so cocky she almost smacked him. “Eager for more already?” he said, his voice deep and sensual.

She straddled him suddenly and reached for his wrists, pinning him down as best she could. He allowed her to take control, though the smugness didn’t leave his face. She put her lips to his ear and nibbled along the lobe.

“Yes, I’m eager for more already,” she said, “but this time, I’ll be the one teasing you.”

Epilogue

Three years later…

Stax dodged the snowball and tossed one at his son, but two-year-old Benn easily deflected the projectile with a stick. Benn laughed and ducked behind a bush, while his cousin Marie poked her head out from behind a tree and finally managed to hit Stax in the chest with a snowball. Only a few months older than Benn, she was growing like a leyana weed and had a strong arm.

“I’m hit!” Stax yelled in a dramatic fashion as he feigned dizziness and soon collapsed on the ground. He remained still while the two giggling children slowly approached him, their footsteps crunching in the snow. When they reached him, he peeked one eye open and then lunged at them, sweeping them off their feet. They erupted into laughter and immediately began making more snowballs.

Stax ran for the trees near the picnic Mila had recently spread out on the ramp of the Yeronna, only for her to give him a playful warning look when he came too close. “I’m freezing and I don’t want to get hit. Shoo! Playing in the snow was much more fun when I was a child,” she said with a smile as she motioned him away.

He chuckled and moved to the other side of the trees. Full blooded humans did not handle the cold as well as Vaxxlians or half-Vaxxlians, like Benn and Marie.

Benn and Marie had been begging to take a trip to the snowcapped mountains for some time. The children had jumped for joy when he’d announced they would finally visit and play in the snow today, and his heart warmed as he recalled the moment they’d both tackled him in a group hug. He loved being a father and an uncle.

Since Annika taught classes at the school every other day and Deza had been promoted to a commander, Mila often watched their daughter for them during the days, which was wonderful as Benn usually had a playmate to keep him occupied. Benn and Marie weren’t quite old enough to start school yet, but in only a few months they would match a five-year-old human child in size and in intelligence. Vaxxlian offspring grew faster than human children and reached adulthood at roughly ten years of age, and the half-Vaxxlian half-humans grew almost as fast.

“I think he went this way!” Benn called.

“You’re right. Look, I see his footprints!” Marie replied. “Let’s make stardust out of him!”

Stax scooped up a few snowballs and waited to be found.

Through the trees, he saw the children approaching, their bright red shirts giving away their location, as well as their continued laughter. But as he prepared to toss the first snowball, something big and wet splatted into the back of his head, causing him to lose his balance and drop his armful of projectiles. He turned to find Mila running at him, another snowball at the ready.

He scrambled to return fire, but in the end, she hit him again—this time on his forehead. He growled and started chasing her. She giggled and tried to outrun him, but he caught her quickly and lifted her off her feet, settling them both on the ground. He moved to lay beside her and pulled her close while she squealed. Then he pretended he was about to shove her face in the snow.

“I’m sorry!” she yelled. “Truce! Truce!”

He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “I’ll honor your truce, but only under one condition.”

“What condition is that?”

“Kiss me,” he commanded.

She blushed prettily but leaned in to kiss him. Her lips were warm and soft, as enticing as ever, and she smelled of the floral shampoo she always used in her hair. He dropped one hand from her face and rolled a dozen snowballs in secret behind his back, trying not to laugh as he did so.

The children finally arrived at the scene, but they didn’t throw any of their snowballs.

“Ew! Gross!” Marie cried.

“Yuck,” Benn agreed. “That’s not how you snowball fight.”

Stax pulled back from Mila and looked at the children. “You’re right. This is how you snowball fight.” With that, he began hurling snowball after snowball at them. In their surprise, Benn and Marie dropped their own snowy projectiles and ran for cover behind some nearby bushes.

Mila laced her gloved fingers through Stax’s and squeezed his hand. “Thanks for taking a day away from the laboratory to bring us up here. The kids are having so much fun, and so am I.” She peered around the snowy mountain. “Truly, it’s magical up here.”

He embraced her, holding her against his chest as he moved his hands up and down her back, trying to warm her up. “You’re very welcome.” He shifted and placed a hand on her growing stomach. “We’ll have to visit the mountain a few more times before our daughter is born.”

“Agreed.”

He helped her stand and they both called a truce with the children, promising to let them have extra cookies if Mila or Stax threw another snowball at them. Benn and Marie emerged from the bushes and they all ventured back to the Yeronna, where they enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch with a majestic view of the valley below, as well as the new Vaxxlian settlement now known as Starrzia.

Stax’s people had grown stronger since the war against the Irrcons. Most of the Vaxxlian warriors now had human mates, and the few who didn’t yet were planning a voyage to Earth in the near future. The valley was filled with white stone houses, all containing lush rooftop gardens.

Each house signified a family. He smiled at the sight.

“What are you smiling about now?” Mila asked. It was a private joke between them—how often he smiled, which was far more often than most males of his kind. But he couldn’t contain his joy at having a loving mate and a son, with a daughter on the way, and the evidence of other families in the valley only increased his happiness.

Stax met her eyes. “I’m smiling at the view,” he said, making a sweeping gesture at the brilliant landscape that rested before them, the ghosts of the twin moons resting high in the vast blue sky.

Mila pecked him on the cheek. “Keep smiling,” she said with a grin of her own. “Your eyes glow brighter every time, and I love to see you so happy.”

He kissed her again.

Also available from Sue Mercury

Alien Protector (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 1)

The little human is his perfect mate.

She just doesn't know it yet.

When Deza rescues a human female in peril, it's love at first sight and he immediately announces his desire to mate with her. The only problem? Annika refuses to mate with an alien she's only known for five seconds. Not easily deterred, he sets about wooing the adorable little human, eager to win her affections and finally claim her as his mate.

Annika plans to return to Earth ASAP and can't allow herself to develop feelings for the hunky Vaxxlian who saved her life...even if he is the hottest, kindest, and dreamiest alien male she's ever met. Despite her hesitation, his kisses make her melt and his arms are the sweetest refuge. When he makes a heartfelt gesture on Christmas Day to cheer her up, she starts to wonder if maybe, just maybe, mating with Deza isn't the most impulsive idea in the universe...

Available on Amazon

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Reestrian Mates: The Complete Series

Their mating urge has begun...

Not long after their final growth cycle completes, Reestrian males experience a powerful urge to mate. Penned by USA Today Bestselling Author Sue Lyndon writing as Sue Mercury, this collection features five sweet but steamy romantic stories of human women being courted (as best an alien can!) and claimed by the hunky Reestrian males who find them irresistible.

Featuring:

Step Alien

Sweet Alien

Double Alien

Boss Alien

Savage Alien

Available on Amazon

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Mail Order Human: The Complete Series

"My beloved human female. Now I will claim you as mine."

Desperate to escape war-torn Earth, young women are lining up in droves to submit applications to Mail Order Human. If chosen, they must journey to faraway planets to meet their new alien mates. Of course, when you combine space travel, nervous mail order brides, panty-melting alpha male aliens, and the occasional villain...something is bound to go wrong.

Cultures collide and passion burns hot as a supernova in this collection of five sci-fi alien romances penned by USA Today Bestselling Author Sue Lyndon writing as Sue Mercury.

Featuring:

Alien's Innocent Bride

Alien's Princess Bride

Alien's Reluctant Bride

Alien's Orphan Bride

Alien's Beloved Bride

Available on Amazon

About Sue Mercury

Sue Mercury writes sci-fi romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and children, where she hopes one day she'll turn on the television to find a breaking news report about hunky alien beings contacting Earth. She also writes romance of the much kinkier variety under the name Sue Lyndon.

Follow Sue on Twitter @SueMercury

‘Like’ Sue Mercury’s Facebook Page

Visit Sue’s Amazon Author Page

** Never miss a new release, sale, or freebie from Sue Mercury or Sue Lyndon! Sign up for Sue's newsletter & receive several FREE books: http://eepurl.com/bV2Ek5 **

Alien Protector (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 1)

Alien Healer (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 2)

Step Alien (Reestrian Mates, Book 1)

Sweet Alien (Reestrian Mates, Book 2)

Double Alien (Reestrian Mates, Book 3)

Boss Alien (Reestrian Mates, Book 4)

Savage Alien (Reestrian Mates, Book 5)

Reestrian Mates: The Complete Series

Alien’s Innocent Bride (Mail Order Human, Book 1)

Alien’s Princess Bride (Mail Order Human, Book 2)

Alien’s Reluctant Bride (Mail Order Human, Book 3)

Alien’s Orphan Bride (Mail Order Human, Book 4)

Alien’s Beloved Bride (Mail Order Human, Book 5)

Mail Order Human: The Complete Series

***

If you like BDSM erotica and spanking romance, you might enjoy these naughtier sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian titles by Sue Mercury writing as USA Today bestselling author Sue Lyndon:

Alien Daddies: A Sci-Fi Reverse Harem Romance

Kenan’s Mate (Kleaxian Warriors, Book 1)

Tavarr’s Mate (Kleaxian Warriors, Book 2)

The SEAL’s Captive Bride

His by Law (Dark Embrace, Book 1)

Saving His Runaway Bride (Dark Embrace, Book 2)

Papa’s Little Bride (Dark Embrace, Book 3)

Taken by the Admiral

Punished by the Admiral

Daman’s Ward (Jackson Settlement, Book 1)

Shana’s Guardian (Jackson Settlement, Book 2)

Taming Princess Anna

Claiming His Human Wife

Rules of War (Rules of War, Book 1)

Rules of Command (Rules of War, Book 2)

Owning His Bride

Claiming Their Maiden (Barbarian Mates, Book 1)

Claiming Their Princess (Barbarian Mates, Book 2)

Claiming Their Slave (Barbarian Mates, Book 3)

Big Blue Valentine

His to Educate

Surrender (Alien Warriors, Book 1)

Commander’s Slave (Alien Warriors, Book 2)

His Naughty Little Mate

www.suelyndon.com