Alien Hunter (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 5)

A Sci-Fi Alien Romance

Sue Mercury

Contents

About this book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Other books in the Vaxxlian Mates series

Also by 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

He’ll protect her, claim her, and hunt her enemies down.

The time has come for Zann, the most skilled operative the Vaxxlian military has ever known, to settle down and claim a human female as his own. But in the aftermath of the long, bloody war against the Irrcons, is he capable of showing his mate proper affection and tenderness? For too long he’s been shrouded in darkness, violent urges, and vengeful thoughts. He’s spent years hunting Vaxxlian enemies down, savoring the sound of their cries, and dispatching them without mercy.

One look at the human called Sasha, however, and Zann’s heart warms for the first time in ages. She’s the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen, and her gentle but resilient spirit captivates him. Perhaps he isn’t as cold and dark-hearted as he once believed. When convincing her to mate with him proves a challenge, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse. He might be buying her surrender, but he cannot imagine ever letting the precious female go.

Disgraced former Ambassador Sasha Embers only wants one thing—to clear her name and to mend relations between planets Tarrkollia and Earth after she’s caught up in an intergalactic incident involving a sleazy prince. But proving her innocence will be difficult when there’s a bounty on her head and her own people have turned against her.

When a huge Vaxxlian warrior offers to protect her and help clear her name, she hastily accepts his help—even though doing so means she must become his mate. She doesn’t plan on falling in love, but the darkly mysterious warrior’s kisses make her melt and his masterful touch ignites a firestorm of passion within her. Can a mating match that started out as a business deal lead to true love?

Chapter 1

The crashing of glass sent cold fear through Sasha. She gasped and looked around, only to see one of the servants had dropped a crystal wine goblet. Her heart racing, she swallowed hard and tried to will the rising panic away. Even after one month spent safely on planet Hoshhha and the natives’ insistence that she would remain protected on their world, she still couldn’t shake the terror of knowing the Tarrkollian Empire was likely still searching for her.

“Relax, Ambassador Embers.” Princess Alisss smiled as she stirred sugar into her tea. “Even if the Tarrkollians suspect you are here, they will never manage to penetrate our planetary shield. You are safe on Hoshhha and my father will never send you away.”

Sasha looked at Princess Alisss, tried to force a smile, and failed miserably. “I hear the Tarrkollians keep increasing the bounty on my head. What if someone on Hoshhha decides to—”

“That will never happen,” the princess said, interrupting. “The guards will keep you safe, even when you leave the walls of the palace.”

“I appreciate all your family has done for me. Truly,” Sasha said. “But I hate that my name has been sullied. My reputation…” Her throat closed up for a moment. “Everything I’ve worked for has been ruined. I still dream of clearing my name and returning to Earth one day.”

“Hoshhha is a beautiful planet, Ambassador. You could make it your permanent home. Perhaps even marry. My father could arrange a match for you with one of my brothers or uncles.”

Sasha felt her eyes widen at the mention of marriage. Been there. Done that. Never again. She inhaled a deep breath and stared out the window at the impressive landscape of Shhhini, the capital city of Hoshhha. “Please, Princess Alisss, I wish you would call me Sasha,” she said, changing the subject. She most certainly didn’t want to talk about marriage. “I’m not an ambassador anymore.” Disgraced former ambassador. That’s what the headlines about her said.

“Very well, but only if you call me Alisss.”

“It’s a deal.”

They finished their midday meal in relative silence. Sasha appreciated that Princess Alisss had taken a liking to her. It was nice to have a real friend. After years of working as an ambassador, attending countless political banquets, social functions, and hosting an array of universal leaders at the Earth embassy on Tarrkollia, Sasha could still only count the number of real friends she had on one hand. Those friends were on Earth, but she wouldn’t dare risk their safety by contacting them until she cleared her name.

If she cleared her name.

Even if she proved Tarrkollian prince Galik O’Rinn had indeed physically attacked her, she couldn’t dispute the fact that she’d murdered the royal. How was she to have known hitting him over the head with a vase would kill him? She’d only meant to knock the man out and prevent him from violating her—not kill him and create an intergalactic incident.

At least she could count on the Hoshhhans to protect her. They’d bestowed her with a Citizenship and Eternal Friendship Award several years ago after she’d hosted one of their ambassadors on Tarrkollia. After the incident with Prince Galik, she’d been lucky to run into a Hoshhhan trader willing to smuggle her off Tarrkollia.

Hoshhha was a beautiful and peaceful planet. Anyone would be lucky to call this place home, let alone have a spacious room in the palace that overlooked the capital city and the countryside beyond. But despite the emperor’s continued promises to keep her safe, Sasha would never truly be able to stop looking over her shoulder unless the bounty on her head was lifted and the charges against her were dropped. She also hated that everyone on Tarrkollia and Earth thought her a murderous traitor. She wished the real reason she wanted to see herself exonerated was because she sought justice—Prince Galik had been in the wrong that night, not her—but the truth was that she couldn’t help but care what people thought of her. It hurt knowing that everyone, aside from her royal Hoshhhan hosts, thought her a criminal. She couldn’t simply kick back and enjoy a life of abundance on a breathtaking planet as if she had not a single care in the universe.

She had a responsibility to her world and herself to set the record straight. Human-Tarrkollian relations had suffered since her escape from the alien planet. The last she’d heard, the Earth embassy she’d called home for four years sat empty and all trade between the two planets had ceased. She’d worked hard to bring the two planets and their people together and it had all gone to hell because of a sleazy prince who wouldn’t take no for an answer. She repressed a shudder as she recalled the moment she’d awoken in the middle of the night to the naked royal pressing himself against her. He was the criminal—not her.

Proof. She needed proof that he was the guilty one. Problem was, she didn’t know how to go about proving her innocence. The only other witness—Prince Galik himself—was dead.

But she likely wasn’t the first female he’d attacked or harassed. If only she could interview the palace workers and other foreign dignitaries who’d worked with the prince. Setting foot on Tarrkollia would be next to impossible, though, let alone finding a way into the palace without being recognized. She wanted to prove her innocence, but she didn’t want to get killed in the process.

Her other option would be to travel to the Universal Alliance Headquarters on Rossina and request an audience with a truth panel, a group of psychic Commoxan judges who could exonerate her. But the chances of reaching the planet without running into a bounty hunter were slim, so slim and dangerous that the emperor of Hoshhha had refused to allow her to attempt the trip.

“Sasha? Sasha. Sasha,” the princess said, pulling Sasha from her thoughts.

“I’m sorry? Did you say something, Alisss?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to join me for a walk in the gardens in an hour.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll have to invite my sisters too, or Father will accuse me of not being polite. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I would like that. Thank you. Excuse me.” Finished with her meal, Sasha rose to her feet, gave Alisss a polite smile, and exited the private dining room.

Once back in her room, she strode to the window that overlooked the city. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine making this planet her permanent home. She even imagined marrying one of Princess Alisss’ brothers or uncles. They wouldn’t be able to have children—Hoshhhans and humans could have sex easily enough, or so she’d heard, but they were not able to conceive children together—but perhaps they could adopt. She’d sworn off men and marriage years ago, but Hoshhhan marriages were different than human marriages. Hoshhhan males became bonded to their females and never strayed. A warm glow started to fill her.

But no. She shook her head to dispel the tempting thoughts, even if all of Princess Alisss’ brothers and uncles were exceedingly handsome and kind. She could not become complacent and give up on her quest to prove her innocence and mend the relations between Earth and Tarrkollia, not to mention give up hope of eventually repairing her tattered reputation.

One day, Sasha wouldn’t be afraid bounty hunters were coming for her. One day, everyone would know the truth about Prince Galik. And one day, she would be able to travel back to Earth or anywhere else in the universe she wanted with her head held high. Her heart clenched.

One day.

* * *

Vaxxlian warrior Zann wiped the blood from his knife and put it in a holster next to his blaster. He stood above the lifeless body of Freuth, the former warrior who had betrayed their people and helped the Irrcons during the great war, repeatedly transmitting battle plans and other vital information to the enemy. If not for Freuth’s interference, Vaxxlian forces might have been able to prevent the annihilation of Vaxxlia.

Rage filled Zann when he recalled the fateful hour his home planet of Vaxxlia had been destroyed by a powerful weapon the Irrcons had just developed. He wished he could revive Freuth only to kill him all over again. Nearly every Vaxxlian female had perished during the attack, as well as countless warriors and other Vaxxlian citizens. It was the greatest tragedy his people had ever known.

As his heart rate returned to normal, Zann sent an encrypted message from his wrist comm to any remaining Vaxxlian hunters who might still be searching for Freuth, though the criminal had boasted that he’d killed nine hunters who’d come for him. If that was true, it meant Zann was the last hunter alive from his unit.

Next, he sent his commander a message that only contained three words:

FREUTH IS DEAD.

His wrist comm flashed with multiple unread messages from his brothers, but Zann would check them and respond to his brothers at a later time. He had gone dark for nearly a year while he hunted the greatest traitor his people had ever known, not wanting any distractions as he sought to bring Freuth to justice.

He moved to the mouth of the cave where he’d found Freuth hiding and eyed the sunset. Rays of orange glittered across the ice ponds and the snow-covered treetops. Days on this unnamed planet were short and cold and he looked forward to finally leaving. He zipped up his coat and trudged out into the evening air, heading for his ship, the Yossa, which was hidden on the other side of the nearest mountain.

If he ran through the night, he would reach his vessel come morning and depart this wretched planet once and for all. He’d been here tracking Freuth for four days, and though the days were short, the bitter cold had made them feel longer than the longest summer day on Vaxxlia used to last.

His thoughts soon turned to his younger brothers—Deza, Stax, Kirn, and Fynd. He wondered if they had already returned to their new planet, New Vaxx, with the human females who would be their mates. Now that the war was over and the Irrcons defeated, all Vaxxlian warriors had been tasked with finding a human female to claim as a mate, as humans were the only known species compatible with Vaxxlians. He’d departed New Vaxx at the same time as his brothers to search for a mate, only he’d had a top-secret mission to complete before he could begin his quest to find a female.

His boots crunched in the snow as he raced up the mountain, his limbs aching from his fight with Freuth. He could have killed the disgraced former warrior with a blaster and easily vanquished him, but Zann had wanted to kill Freuth slowly and painfully. The traitor hadn’t deserved a quick death.

Dark images and memories spiraled through Zann’s mind. The look of fear in Freuth’s eyes as Zann had slashed the blade across his stomach. The frantic gurgling sounds the traitor had made as he eventually choked on his own blood. The sight of Freuth sprawled out on the cold floor of the cave, bleeding from multiple wounds while several of his fingers lay next to him.

Zann had butchered the male over the period of an entire day. Wounding him and waiting until he had the strength to rise to his feet again for another round of fighting. Cutting off a finger here and there, and at one point, even taking off an ear and a large chunk of his nose.

And now…now that the mission was complete Zann still had important business to take care of before returning to New Vaxx. Like all other Vaxxlian warriors, he was supposed to find an unclaimed human female to call his. A human woman to become his mate and bear his children.

After almost a year of tracking Freuth and imagining a thousand different ways to kill the traitorous male and then finally doing so, Zann worried he didn’t possess the patience and gentleness he would need to deal with a female. He’d spent a long time dwelling in darkness and death, savoring violent thoughts, and behaving more like a predator than a sentient being. Was he still capable of tenderness and compassion? He feared that despite his best efforts, he might treat any female he claimed with coldness and indifference.

Perhaps he shouldn’t search for a human woman. Perhaps he ought to go straight back to New Vaxx.

He cursed under his breath.

No. That wasn’t an option. He had to find a mate, even if everything inside him screamed that he had nothing to offer a female. His people were starting over and trying to rebuild their population.

Well, he still cared about his people, so maybe he hadn’t become as coldhearted as he feared.

Clinging to this last thought, he continued running through the snow as the moon rose high in the sky and the stars sparkled in the vast blackness of space above him.

Chapter 2

Zann surveyed the massive palace that rested on a mountain above Shhhini, the capital city of planet Hoshhha. Hundreds of guards were stationed around the perimeter of the palace, though none of the guards so much as glanced up at his vessel as he flew closer and hovered above the palace grounds. He’d cloaked his ship not long after entering the atmosphere, making the Yossa invisible to both sensors and the naked eye.

Stealing his human female would be easy.

He checked his readings to discover her life signs were still coming from the west wing. Once he pinpointed her exact location, he moved his ship in front of what he assumed was her bedroom window, angling the cargo door to line up with the opening. He would be in and out with her as quickly as possible. Before anyone noticed her missing, they would already be on their way to New Vaxx.

Why was she here? He wondered what a lone human female was doing on Hoshhha, so far away from Earth and other known human outposts and settlements. But he supposed he would learn the answer to this question and many more once he had her secured on his ship.

Guilt pierced him as he trudged into the depths of his ship, opened the cargo door, and peered through her window. She likely wouldn’t come with him willingly. But as long as he didn’t detect the scent of another male on her, she was coming with him no matter what. He’d been away from his people for long enough. It was time to go home. Time to take a mate and begin a family. Time to start over. Or time to at least try.

He jumped through her window, landing quietly on the polished marble floor, and scanned the room. He walked further inside and heard running water. His gaze zeroed in on a closed door, presumably the bathroom. Swallowing hard, he paused mid-step. Was she in there naked, taking a shower? The sudden mental image of an unclothed human female made him hot all over, and he fought to maintain his composure and his concentration.

After a few moments, the sound of running water ceased. He stood still, waiting for the female to emerge from the bathroom. Anticipation built within him, as the need to set his eyes on her for the first time became overwhelming. Perhaps his eagerness meant he wasn’t as cold and dark-hearted as he had feared. Perhaps he had something to offer a female, after all.

He inhaled a deep breath and his pulse spiked. He could already smell her sweet, feminine fragrance through the closed door. His cock hardened and his blood heated further.

The door opened and she strolled into the open room, a huge white towel wrapped around her body. Another towel was twisted around her hair. The instant she saw him, her pretty blue eyes widened and her lips parted, as if she were about to scream. But no sound issued forth and all the blood drained from her face.

She straightened and a look of resignation fell over her.

“I suppose even if I call for help, you’ll kill me before the guards can reach me.”

“I mean you no harm, human,” he said in as gentle a voice as he could muster. But the fear didn’t dim from her expressive blue gaze and her hands trembled.

“Could I at least get dressed first?” she asked. “Please?” The surprise in her gaze was still darkened with resignation, as if she’d been expecting him all along. But how could she have anticipated his arrival? Why had she believed he intended to kill her? Zann didn’t understand her odd behavior, though he reminded himself that she was the first human female with whom he’d interacted. He was a complete stranger to her, trespassing in her room, so perhaps she only assumed he meant to hurt her. He hoped to soon calm her worries, for the fear in her eyes unsettled him.

“You may dress,” he finally answered with a nod, “and then we will talk.”

She disappeared into a closet, shutting the door behind her, and emerged soon after wearing a long red gown. She’d taken the towel off her head, too, and damp dark locks cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. She was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen, so enchantingly lovely that Zann momentarily forgot all his reasons for wanting to return home without finding a mate first.

His heart racing, he reached her in four large strides, then took her in his arms. He held her close and pressed his face into her damp hair, drawing in a long inhale as he searched for the scent of another male. Relief filled him when he realized she was indeed an unclaimed female. That meant she would soon belong to him. His cock hardened further and he suddenly felt as if he were sweltering in his clothing.

She shifted quickly in his arms and a sharp pain pierced his stomach. Holding her out by her shoulders, he looked down to see she’d stabbed him in the stomach. Blood oozed from the wound, pouring out in rivulets, a testament to her strength. She extracted the long knife from him and made to stab him again, but he caught her hand and squeezed until she dropped the weapon.

Stunned, he stared at her as the pain in his stomach lessened with each breath. The nanobots in his bloodstream were already working fast to repair the damage she’d inflicted. She fought to escape his grasp, but he drew her closer and threw her over his shoulder.

He couldn’t believe she’d tried to kill him. He’d worried she might not wish to become his mate, but he hadn’t expected her to stab him in the stomach. Of course, he hadn’t actually told her of his plans yet. She’d at first thought he’d entered her room to cause her harm, but perhaps she would soften toward him once he explained his intention to make her his mate and bring her back to New Vaxx.

“Put me down!” She continued her fierce struggles. “I’m not going back to Tarrkollia, dead or alive, damn it!”

“I am not taking you to Tarrkollia, human female,” he replied as they reached the window. “I’m taking you to New Vaxx. You will become my mate.”

* * *

Disbelief swirled through Sasha. Was it true? Was the huge Vaxxlian not a bounty hunter? She’d recognized his race at once, having seen several Vaxxlian warriors at trading outposts during her travels throughout the years, but she had assumed he’d come to drag her back to Tarrkollia and collect the bounty on her head. For one heart stopping moment, when his glowing green gaze landed on her and his muscles had tensed, she had worried he meant to kill her first. She was wanted dead or alive by the Tarrkollian Empire.

“Wait…New Vaxx?”

He tried to push her through the window, but she grasped onto the sturdy curtains and thrust her feet in front of the ledge. Directly before her, she saw a flat surface shimmering in the air and realized he was attempting to shove her onto a cloaked ship. Well, at least he wasn’t pushing her out the window to her death.

“Yes, human female. New Vaxx. Now, as I said earlier, I mean you no harm. Please proceed onto my ship and I will get you settled in your quarters.”

He spoke in a business-like tone that riled her. As if he expected her to readily agree to return to his planet with him and become his mate. A glance at his stomach showed the flow of blood had stopped. Though she’d stabbed him with all her strength, he had barely flinched and he didn’t seem concerned with the wound. Had she stabbed a human man in the same manner, he would be on the floor writhing in agony as he bled out.

The Vaxxlian’s otherworldly eyes bored into hers, his gaze softening the slightest bit, just enough to give him an air of warmth. She stared into his luminous green depths, unable to look away—at least until she saw movement in her peripheral vision. Without warning, he grabbed her away from the window and thrust her behind him, as if trying to shield her from something. Confused and dazed, she peered around him at the Hoshhhan guard who had a weapon aimed directly at the Vaxxlian’s chest.

Relief filled her. A guard was here to save her.

But then coldness gripped her a moment later, because she hadn’t seen this guard enter her room just now. She would have heard the door opening, as there was a security bell that sounded each time anyone so much as touched the door—a precaution Princess Alisss had insisted on in order to help Sasha feel safer. Her stomach dropped to her feet as she stared at the Hoshhhan male, taking note of his ill-fitting, wrinkled uniform. All the palace guards took pride in their appearance and wore perfectly fitted uniforms, always clean and neatly pressed. She had the sinking feeling that the male holding the blaster wasn’t actually a guard.

Her heart raced. How long had he been hiding in her room?

“Leave,” the Hoshhhan said as he looked at the Vaxxlian. “Leave now, or die. I’ve been attempting to get into the palace for days. The human female is mine. The bounty is mine.”

The Vaxxlian widened his stance in front of Sasha and the Hoshhhan lifted his blaster higher, aiming it for her protector’s face. A knife to the stomach hadn’t fazed him. Would a blaster shot to the head have any impact upon him? Though she’d wanted nothing more than to escape this Vaxxlian moments ago, she was now very much grateful for his presence, even if he did wish to claim her as his mate.

A growl rumbled from the Vaxxlian’s throat, a menacing sound that vibrated through her. Fear flashed in the Hoshhhan’s eyes, but he didn’t retreat or lower his weapon.

“Correction—the human female is mine,” the Vaxxlian said, his voice taking on a deep, dangerous note. “Put the blaster down. Now.”

The Hoshhhan scowled and tightened his hold on the weapon. “I don’t think so. The little murderer is worth one million galactic credits. You’ll have to fight me for her. A pity you have a blaster aimed at your face.”

A blast rang out as a flash of red filled the room. The Vaxxlian reared back under the impact of gunfire. But to Sasha’s astonishment, he didn’t fall to the floor. Instead, he lunged forward and wrenched the blaster from the Hoshhhan’s grip. The surprised alien scrambled to take back his weapon, but the Vaxxlian punched him in the face, a quick but bone-crunching hard blow, sending him hurling backward to the marble floor with a heavy thud.

A gasp left Sasha when she looked down at the alien. There was a dent—an actual fist-sized dent—in the front of his face. He wasn’t moving. Upon further inspection, his chest wasn’t even rising and falling. The Vaxxlian had killed him with a single blow.

Shouts sounded in the hallway outside her room, causing cold fear to shoot through her. A bounty hunter—and a Hoshhhan one, no less—had infiltrated the palace. What if there were others hidden among the guards? Panic clenched her heart.

The Vaxxlian turned to face her. Redness marred his forehead, but he appeared alert. The blaster shot should’ve killed him, but he was still standing tall.

“We must hurry, human female.” He stepped closer and once again tossed her over his shoulder. This time, he didn’t attempt to make her walk over the shimmering entrance of his ship, but instead leapt up onto the windowsill while holding her as if she weighed nothing.

Too stunned by what had just happened, as well as afraid of who might be outside her door, she didn’t struggle as he carried her out the window and onto his vessel. She blinked and the shimmering surface was replaced by the interior of a ship’s cargo hold. A second later, he called out what sounded like a verbal command in his native tongue and the door shut behind them, plunging the cargo into virtual darkness. He didn’t seem to have trouble seeing in the faint light, however, as he walked with a purposeful stride up a steep flight of stairs.

They emerged into a brightly lit corridor and he finally set her on her feet. She took several deep breaths. As she glanced down at her hands, she realized she was trembling. If not for this strange Vaxxlian who’d appeared out of nowhere, the Hoshhhan bounty hunter would have taken her. If that had happened, at worst she would be dead right now. At best, she would be en route for Tarrkollia, where she would have been found guilty of murdering the prince and sentenced to a public execution. She would never have gotten a fair trial on Tarrkollia, which was why she fled after the incident with Prince Galik.

The Vaxxlian cupped her face, forcing her gaze to his. Her heart hammered in her chest. He towered over her by more than two heads and was apparently impervious to knives and blasters. If a blaster shot to the head couldn’t harm him, she had no hope of defending herself against him, should he decide to hurt her.

“What is your name, human female?” His green eyes flickered with interest and warmth.

“Sasha.” She stood taller, trying to summon her bravery. “Ambassador Sasha Embers from Earth.” So what if the title of ambassador had been stripped from her? It helped her sound important and maybe this huge alien wouldn’t cross her if he thought her an important person.

“Sasha,” he said, leaning closer as he took a deep inhale. “That is a beautiful name. I am Zann, a Vaxxlian warrior.”

She swallowed hard, past the sudden dryness in her throat.

“We will talk soon, Sasha from Earth,” he said, leading her down the corridor. “But first I must pilot my ship off Hoshhha as quickly as possible. Though the Yossa is still cloaked, I prefer not to risk attack. I must get you to safety.”

She opened her mouth, preparing to refuse to leave Hoshhha with him, but then she realized the planet that had been her home for the last month was no longer a safe haven. If one bounty hunter had managed to track her down, she had no doubt more would soon follow.

“Come, human female,” he said, grasping her hand.

As he led her to the bridge, she felt as if she were lost in a dream. Zann guided her into a chair and she sat still and watched as he piloted his ship out of Hoshhhan airspace, through the atmosphere, and into the stars without any difficulty. Reality seemed to be fading and her world narrowed to the flashing dashboard in front of her seat. Her trembling increased and she felt cold, so cold as she grew more distant from herself and her current environment. Shock, she realized, a stray thought in the back of her mind. I’m going into shock.

Chapter 3

Once Zann navigated the Yossa far enough away from Hoshhha, he set course for New Vaxx and launched the ship into hyperdrive. Now that they were out of harm’s way and the vessel was on autopilot, he turned his attention to his little human mate. Sasha.

But her appearance startled him. She’d grown pale and was shaking hard, a look of fright filling her light blue eyes. Concerned, he lifted her in his arms and hurried for the medical bay. She buried her head against his chest and he felt the warmth of her rapid breaths through the material of his shirt, but he ignored the unexpected pleasure he derived from their closeness. He had to make sure she was healthy. The bounty hunter hadn’t touched her, but perhaps she was ill.

He set her on a narrow hospital bed and reached for a large, thick blanket in a nearby drawer, worried that she might be cold. He gave a verbal command to increase the temperature ship-wide as he wrapped the blanket around her. She drew in a deep breath and peered up at him, the alarm in her gaze causing an uncomfortable tightness within him. He hadn’t expected his female to affect him on so deep an emotional level, but he realized he would give anything in this moment to see the fear fade from her gaze and for her shaking to cease.

He placed a pillow behind her and urged her to lay back. She obeyed, settling back on the bed, her unblinking stare fixed on him.

“Are you in any pain, Sasha?” He leaned over her and ran his hands up and down her sides, trying to warm her further with the friction of his touch outside the blanket.

She shook her head. “I-I…” Her voice trailed off and she took another deep breath.

Zann fetched a medical scanner from a cabinet and ran it over the length of her body, searching for injuries or illness. Her heartbeat was faster than normal and her blood pressure was low, but to his relief, he detected no illness or other injuries.

“I’m starting to feel better,” she said, surprising him. “I-I was just shocked, I think, by all that has happened. I don’t feel so dizzy anymore, at least, or so cold.”

He cupped the side of her face with one hand. “I am glad you are starting to feel better, my little mate,” he replied in a warm tone, and the sudden endearment he used stunned him to his very core. Zann was a ruthless operative and one of the deadliest warriors his people had ever known. He enjoyed torturing and killing Vaxxlian enemies. This warmth filling his chest was foreign, but he couldn’t deny that he liked it. Sasha’s simple presence not only calmed him, but shined a light into the darkest corners of his soul.

“I stabbed you in the stomach and the Hoshhhan shot you in the head. How are you still alive? And why isn’t your head still red from the blaster?” She looked him up and down with a look of awe. “Do Vaxxlians heal super-fast, or something?”

“Nanobots,” he answered. “There are nanobots in my bloodstream that work quickly to repair any damage to my body.” He lifted his bloodied shirt up and showed her his stomach, revealing smooth, unmarred skin without the slightest scar remaining.

“Now that you know there’s a bounty on my head—one million galactic credits—are you going to turn me in to the Tarrkollian Empire and collect the reward yourself?”

“No, Sasha, and I will kill anyone who tries to harm you. You belong to me now.”

“I stabbed you,” she said slowly. “I tried to kill you and you still want me as your—”

“My mate. Yes, I still want you.” He released his shirt and sat on the bed next to her, trailing his fingers through her dark silken locks.

Her breath caught, a sexy noise in her throat, and his desire for her swelled hot and dangerous. He had to force himself not to start ripping her clothes off in order to claim her right on the hospital bed. Taking a few deep breaths, he leaned away from her so the enticing scent of her femininity wasn’t so strong. She was a small human female and they’d just met, he reminded himself.

“How did you find me? As far as I know, I was the only human on Hoshhha.”

“I have been scanning every planet I come across during my travels for human female life signs. As soon as I detected you were on this planet, I knew I had to come find you. It would appear I arrived just in time.”

“I appreciate that you saved me from the bounty hunter, Zann, but I cannot become your mate.”

Her rejection confused him. Leaning closer, he inhaled her scent once again, just to be certain. “You are an unmated female, are you not?” He smelled her again. “I do not detect the scent of a male on you.”

“You can’t just grab any unmated woman you find and declare yourself her mate. It doesn’t work that way. Besides, I thought all Vaxxlian mating pairs were arranged? I don’t know much about your people, but I recall learning that tidbit. Hey, stop sniffing me!”

He jerked backward, but still kept a hand on her head, unable to stop touching her hair. If he stroked her locks over and over again, as gently as he could, perhaps she would learn to trust him and feel safer in his presence. He craved her trust more than he craved her affection, a realization that stunned him.

“Most of our females perished during a great war,” he said, sadness filling him. “For now, mating pairs are no longer being arranged. All able-bodied Vaxxlian warriors are expected to search the planets and outposts in the sectors surrounding New Vaxx to find a compatible mate. Humans are the only race known to be compatible with mine.”

“So the Vaxxlians are just going around taking any human females they come across?”

“That is correct, as long as they are unmated.”

She clutched the blanket around her and shook her head. “I-I won’t become your mate, Zann. Take me back to Hoshhha. Now. I demand it.”

His hands started to tighten in her hair, but he caught himself before he hurt her. Withdrawing from her, he rose from the bed and stared down at the beautiful human who incited his desires. The angrier and more reluctant she became, the more he wanted her. He wanted to kiss her and tame her and make her quiver beneath him.

Star God, help him, even though they hadn’t known each other long, he was already falling for the fierce little human called Sasha.

* * *

“Even if Hoshhha was a safe place for you to return, I would not take you back,” Zann said quietly as he rummaged through the cabinets. He turned with an injector in his hand and approached her.

“I told you I was feeling better,” she said, putting her hands up. “Whatever that is, I don’t need it or want it.”

Ignoring her wishes, he grasped her and placed the injector to her upper arm. She heard a whooshing sound as he pressed it against her skin, but she felt no pain even as she struggled for her freedom. When he finally let her go, she lifted her hand to slap him in the face, but he easily caught her wrist, subduing her with both his physical strength and a stern look. The air in the room crackled with tension as he held her gaze, his luminous green eyes unblinking as they seemed to stare to the very depths of her soul. She relaxed her body and he loosened his grip on her, though he didn’t back away or release her just yet.

“I’ve just injected you with nanobots, little human,” he said. “You should be thanking me.”

Her mind reeled. “Nanobots? The same kind that helped you survive a stabbing and being shot?”

“Yes, the very same kind. My brother, Stax, developed them. Every warrior is given a batch to give their human mates.”

“I’m not going to thank you for injecting me with something against my will, especially when I have no intention of becoming your mate. You should have kept that injection for a woman who agrees to mate with you, Zann.” She lifted her chin, her bravery returning in slow measures. Now that she realized he didn’t intend to hurt her or turn her over to the Tarrkollian Empire, she could breathe much easier and she was returning to her usual, objective self. Except her heart raced faster each time he drew closer to her or pinned her with a serious look. She brushed aside the heated tingles that swept through her, telling herself it was a perfectly natural reaction to experience in the aftermath of having a huge, muscular, incredibly handsome alien warrior rescue her from a bounty hunter—never mind the fact that he’d shown up to stake claim to her in the first place.

“What about a mating arrangement?” Zann asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter next to her bed. “Perhaps we can make a deal. I need you, a human female, and you seem to be in a precarious situation with the Tarrkollian Empire. I will offer you my protection and in return, you will become my mate.” His eyes darkened, causing further tingles to assail her, some hot and some cold, a mixture of sensuous delight she was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore.

“You don’t understand,” she said, trying to keep her voice level even as emotion tightened in her throat. “I’m wanted for murdering a Tarrkollian Prince. I need to clear my name and mend relations between Earth and Tarrkollia, even if I must risk my life in the process. I sincerely thank you for saving me from the bounty hunter and I appreciate your offer of protection, but I can’t simply go into hiding while you protect me from bounty hunters for the rest of my life.” Determination flowed through her, even as she tried to ignore the secret part of her that was tempted to accept his offer. No matter what, she had to somehow reach the Universal Alliance Headquarters. The UA was her only hope at clearing her name and repairing relations between her home planet and Tarrkollia. But she couldn’t do that if she was stuck on New Vaxx popping out babies for a Vaxxlian warrior. Besides, from what she’d heard, Vaxxlians, like the Hoshhhans, mated for life. How could she possibly make such a serious commitment?

“If you agree to become my mate, Sasha, I will not only protect you from bounty hunters and the Tarrkollian Empire, I will help you clear your name and prove your innocence.”

“Oh, I did it,” she blurted, hoping to shock him. “I killed a Tarrkollian prince.”

He scowled at her, but he didn’t appear surprised. Of course, he didn’t. She had stabbed him in the stomach, after all. “If you indeed killed the prince, how will you clear your name?”

“It was self-defense. He tried to force himself on me.”

He moved from the counter and took her hands in his, gently running his thumbs over the undersides of her wrists. The deep concern in his eyes touched her. But even though he was offering to help her, she had sworn off all men a long time ago. After living in heartbreak for years, watching the husband she loved cheat on her time and time again, she couldn’t imagine ever trusting another male. Love was too risky. Even more so since Vaxxlians mated for life.

He’s not promising you love. He’s promising you protection.

He’s offering to help.

And all she had to do was become his mate. Her breath came in short, faint gasps, her dizziness from earlier returning, only to fade away a few seconds later. His nearness served to comfort her, and there was something about his eyes that drew her in and made her curious about him. Was he an honorable man? Could she really trust him?

“I am so sorry that happened to you,” he finally said. “I vow that I will never force myself upon you, Sasha. May the Star God strike me down if I ever harm you in any way. But my offer stands. If you agree to become my mate, I will help you fix your troubles with the Tarrkollian Empire. I realize that means we wouldn’t be returning to New Vaxx at once, and I am willing to take you wherever you need to go in the universe to set about clearing your name.”

“Would you take me to the Universal Alliance Headquarters on Rossina?” She wasn’t saying yes. She wasn’t. She simply wished to know how far he would go to help her. There was no way in hell she could make it to Rossina on her own. The Tarrkollian Empire and every bounty hunter who was looking for her would be searching near the UA Headquarters, knowing that if she reached the planet of Rossina, she would be safe while a fair investigation was conducted. She trusted the UA more than she trusted her own people, as Tarrkollia would attempt to coerce Earth into handing her over to face charges of murder the instant she reached her home planet.

“I will adjust course for Rossina right now, Sasha,” he said, squeezing her hands, “but in return, I will expect you to become my mate.”

A business deal. He was offering her a business deal of sorts.

Dare she accept?

“I need time to think about it,” she said.

His grip on her hands tightened. “No. I want an answer now.” His gaze darkened further and his spicy masculine scent surrounded her, beckoning her to lean closer to him, though she forced herself to remain in place.

She wasn’t attracted to this huge Vaxxlian warrior. Not at all. She was only tempted to accept his offer for other, more practical reasons. The thought of clearing her name made her feel like weeping for joy. There had been days recently when she was so depressed over the prospect of never repairing her reputation and fixing the issues between Earth and Tarrkollia that it had taken all her strength to get out of bed in the morning.

She was willing to make sacrifices to clear her name—she realized doing so wouldn’t be easy—but was she willing to sacrifice her future and become the mate of an alien warrior she’d just met? She didn’t want to be reinstated as the Earth ambassador to Tarrkollia, as she didn’t wish to set foot on the planet again if she could help it, but whenever she envisioned herself emerging victoriously from this mess, she had imagined being named the ambassador to another planet as a reward for all her suffering.

But maybe she daydreamed too much. Maybe the best she could hope for was redemption followed by a quiet life on an alien planet far from Earth.

“What will you do if I say no deal? Will you return me to Hoshhha if I ask you to?”

His eyes narrowed. “The Hoshhhans offered you their protection?”

“Yes, that’s why I was in the palace. The emperor said I was welcome to stay as long as I wished and promised the palace guards would protect me.”

“Very well,” he said after a long pause. “If you don’t agree to the deal, I will take you back to Hoshhha, but know that I will personally install a security system in your quarters there and brief the palace guards about the bounty hunter who entered your room.” He clenched his jaw and his face reddened slightly, as if he were angry over the prospect of parting with her. “I will not leave you there until I am assured that you will be better protected.”

His response stunned her. Why did he care so much? Wasn’t she just a female to him? Someone he desired only because he needed a mate? Someone to bear his children? His people were trying to regrow their population, and she had a feeling most of the Vaxxlian warriors were trying to have as many offspring as possible in the aftermath of war and heartache. She tried to put herself in his shoes, something she did often during her work as an ambassador when she met aliens from vastly different cultures, and sadness filled her at the deep loss his people had endured.

“Know that if you say yes, Sasha, we must mate properly. Though we are striking a deal, we will still repeat mating vows and consummate our union.”

Heat flared within her and she lowered her face, hoping he didn’t notice her blushing. An unexpected ache pulsed between her thighs at the thought of consummating a mating union with Zann. What would it be like to make love to such an alien? Her face burned hotter and she resisted the urge to squirm on the bed.

She straightened and met his eyes, hoping and praying she could trust him. They’d just met, but he hadn’t hurt her or even retaliated after she tried to kill him. He’d also injected her with nanobots, which she had a feeling were virtually priceless. He’d had one batch intended for his mate and he’d given it to her already, even before she’d agreed to stay with him. As far as she knew, no other species who were part of the Universal Alliance possessed such technology, not even humans.

“Yes,” she found herself saying. “I-I agree. It’s a deal. But I want it in writing. We’ll draw up a contract and both sign it.”

He leaned so near she felt the warmth of his breath on her face. For the first time since she’d met him, she thought he looked truly happy. The ghost of a smile danced across his lips and his eyes twinkled. “It’s a deal, my little mate.”

Chapter 4

Zann leaned over the screen and stared at the mating contract Sasha had written in Galactic Common. He scanned the contents of the agreement with as much care as she’d put into drafting it. If he failed to protect her or help her reach the Universal Alliance Headquarters, their contract would become void and she would no longer be required to stay with him as his mate. Resolve surged within him as he vowed to protect her with his life. He would honor this contract to his very last breath, if only she would remain his forever.

He glanced at her, admiring the look of concentration in her blue gaze. She was beautiful, intelligent, and completely alluring, this tiny female who would soon be his. A sense of possession flared inside him, igniting his desire for her as his groin tightened and his blood heated.

“According to this contract, we will not consummate our mating until after you’ve reached the UA Headquarters,” Zann said with a frown. “Even traveling at hyperdrive and taking shortcuts through wormholes, the journey there will take approximately twenty days. I would like us to be mated before we arrive, Sasha. I want my scent on you so all other males know you are mine. I will not risk another trying to claim you. By claiming you, I will also be protecting you.”

Her head swiveled to the side and she stared at him in open shock. “But I thought…”

He placed his hand atop hers and moved it over the section of the contract he wished to amend. “We will have to stop at several outposts along the way for fuel, human female. Though I will restrict you to my ship during those stops, I do not wish to take any unnecessary risks. Furthermore, it will be in your benefit to have my scent on you while you’re on Rossina. Dozens of different races visit the planet and though it’s supposed to be a relatively safe world, I’ve heard stories of females being claimed when a male goes into rut, as the males of many alien races do. My claim on you is part of keeping you safe. Change this section right here.” He stroked her fingers and gave her a pointed look, unwilling to compromise this part of the contract.

She exhaled a long breath. “Very well,” she finally said, “but this doesn’t change the fact that if you fail to get me to the UA Headquarters our contract will become void. I will legally be able to leave you.” She paused and scrutinized the screen once more. “There’s one more thing I want to add.”

“What is that?”

“If you ever become verbally or physically abusive to me or any children we might have, or you fail to provide for our family adequately, I will be permitted to return to Earth with our children.”

He bristled at the thought of any Vaxxlian male hurting his female or not providing for her. The mere suggestion was an insult, but he kept his expression calm and nodded. “Of course, I will agree to that. Anything else?”

“I was thinking about adding a no cheating clause, but I don’t think that would be fair to you. After all, this isn’t a love match. It’s a business arrangement. As long as you don’t harm our family or leave us to fend for ourselves on your planet, I suppose it doesn’t matter if you spend time in the company of other females.” She spoke in a logical tone that almost sounded forced, and he sensed a maelstrom of long-buried pain in her words.

“A Vaxxlian male would never cheat on his mate, Sasha. It simply is not done. We honor the vows we repeat before our first mating for the rest of our days. However, I want you to include this bit in the contract anyway. If it brings you extra peace, knowing I cannot wound you in this way, then I want you to include it.” Another thought struck him suddenly and he resisted the urge to grab her roughly. Fury heated his blood as he considered another reason she might have mentioned this clause. Perhaps she wanted the option of sharing her bed with another male. That was something he could not allow. Not in a million years.

But Sasha noticed the change in his mood and she straightened, meeting his eye with a knowing look. “Of course, the stipulation would be for both of us. I cannot cheat on you and you cannot cheat on me. I wouldn’t write it in one-sided. If we do this and you fulfill your promises, I will uphold my part of this contract to the best of my ability, Zann.”

Relief flowed through him and he felt his muscles relaxing. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d become at the thought of her taking another male into her bed. Violent images sped through his mind. Any male who dared to look upon her with lust, let alone touch her, would be torn to shreds and given a more gruesome death than Freuth.

“Agreed, Sasha. Write it in.” He stepped back and watched as she made the discussed changes in the contract. Afterward, she read it aloud slowly, pausing now and then, to give them both time to digest the importance of each sentence.

“I must inform you, Zann, that this contract is not legally binding unless we take it to a notary and get it signed. If you would like to wait until we reach the next outpost, we could sign it then. Most outposts have notaries.”

His finger itched to make the sign for his name upon the screen, but she had a valid point. And he very much wanted this contract to be legally binding, as he intended to fulfill his promises and keep Sasha as his mate forever. His need for her stunned him to near breathlessness. Just a day ago, he wouldn’t have imagined wanting a female as fiercely as he wanted her. Not just wanted, but craved. Deep down, to the very depths of his soul, he burned for her. Longed to take her into his bed and claim her in every way possible, to leave no doubt in her mind that she belonged to him. To spill his seed inside her over and over again, leaving her drenched in his scent.

“The Grexik Outpost is a half-day’s journey away. We will go there, take on fuel, and get our mating contract notarized.” He lifted her from her seat in front of the screen, taking her in his arms and reveling in the feel of her small, curvy body pressed to his. His cock thickened, and, judging by her quick intake of breath, he knew she could feel his arousal pushing against her stomach. “You will soon belong to me, Sasha, and I plan for us to consummate our mating immediately.”

Chapter 5

Sasha stared out the viewscreen of her temporary quarters aboard the Yossa, while the stars streamed by in the vast blackness of space. She’d taken a bath and was once again dressed in the long, flowing Hoshhhan gown, a deep red garment that accentuated her dark hair and light blue eyes. She chided herself for worrying about her appearance, but she still felt pretty and couldn’t help but hope Zann found her pleasing upon his return.

Less than an hour ago, they’d departed the Grexik Outpost with their notarized contract, the union between them now legally binding. If he upheld his end of the contract and she still tried to leave him, he would be within his rights to force her to remain on New Vaxx with him. A spasm of fear tightened in her stomach and she forced in a few deep breaths.

Part of her couldn’t believe she’d just agreed to become the forever mate of a Vaxxlian warrior she’d just met, but on the other hand she was both relieved and excited over the prospect of finally clearing her name and fixing the mess between Tarrkollia and Earth. There were several types of plants in Tarrkollian rainforests that Earth scientists were currently using to develop a cure for the Urholan plague, among other important scientific and business endeavors that had suddenly been put on hold during the crisis between the two planets. She longed for the truth about Prince Galik to emerge, for the Tarrkollian Empire to cancel the bounty on her head, and for the two planets to become important allies again. If Zann could get her to the UA Headquarters and help make all this happen, she would gladly become his mate. Well, maybe not too gladly, as it meant giving up on some of her dreams, but she considered it an even enough trade.

How soon would Zann arrive? He’d said he planned for them to consummate their mating immediately, and a heated flush rushed through her and everything between her thighs pulsed and ached. She couldn’t deny he was a handsome alien. Mating with him wouldn’t exactly be a hardship, but she was still a bit nervous. She hadn’t been with a man in years. Not since her divorce from Allen. There was also the fact that Zann was HUGE. If she had to guess, she would say he was over seven feet tall and four hundred pounds of pure, lethal muscle. Despite his size, he moved with the grace of a skilled predator, and sometimes when he looked at her she felt like a trembling lamb being circled by a hungry lion.

She knew next to nothing about him, but she reminded herself that in many parts of the known universe, arranged marriages between virtual strangers were common, even in human settlements on planets far from Earth. I’m brave. I can do this. At least she had a fair mating contract with Zann. If he mistreated her, she would be free to leave him. Many other women didn’t have such a choice.

The door zipped open and she spun around to face her soon-to-be mate. Her heart pounded faster with each rapid breath and her palms broke into a sweat. Nerves assailed her and she experienced a flash of self-consciousness. It had been so long since she’d been with a man…what if he didn’t find her pleasing? She despaired over the thought, even though she ought not care so much. The contract had been his idea. He’d been the one to instigate the deal between them.

His massive form filled the doorway. He stood there for several seconds, staring at her, his expression intense and his green eyes glowing unnervingly bright. She swallowed hard and pressed her thighs together, standing taller in an effort to summon her bravery.

He approached her and the door slid shut behind him, sealing them in the bedroom together. He was still wearing his black Vaxxlian warrior’s uniform, and her face flushed as she wondered what he’d look like without his clothes on. Especially his pants. Her cheeks flamed hotter.

“Is it time?” she asked, feeling awash in awkwardness. She could count the number of men she’d slept with during her entire lifetime on one hand, and she’d certainly known all of them for more than a day before jumping into bed with them. The whole concept of sleeping with a stranger, even a dangerously sexy one like Zann who was about to become her mate, was foreign to her and downright frightening.

He reached her and placed his hands on her shoulders, his touch gentle and somehow comforting, despite her increasing anxiety at his nearness. “It is time, human female, though you need not be afraid of me. You are trembling. I promise not to hurt you.”

His reassurances washed over her, the deep rumbling of his voice bringing her the slightest amount of security. She inhaled his masculine scent and peered up at him, marveling at his great size. “I-I am nervous,” she admitted. “It’s been a while since I…”

“Shared your bed with a male?”

“Yes. And-and you’re pretty much a stranger.”

He shifted his hold on her, now cupping her face as he lowered his head and stared directly into her eyes. His gaze softened and for several heart-stopping moments, he looked less like a predator and more like a gentle lover. But the intensity of what she supposed was his passion for her soon darkened his green stare once again, and soon she detected the hardness of his manhood pressing against her through the barrier of their clothing. He felt huge and a shudder ran through her. His thumb trailed a slow path over her cheek and her lips parted instinctively as he leaned down to kiss her.

Her pulse spiked and she inhaled a quick breath the moment before he pressed his mouth to hers. He coaxed her lips open wider and delved his tongue inside, and she couldn’t help the moan that escaped her. Her mind whirled and then turned to mush. All she could think about was tasting him, running her tongue along his, and pressing her center more strongly against his to better feel the hardness of his ready cock.

“You are mine, Sasha from Earth,” he said once he finally broke the kiss. “After tonight, we will no longer be strangers.”

* * *

There was a dark part of Zann that reveled in Sasha’s nervousness and her incessant trembling, though when he searched his lustful cravings, he realized with a bit of relief that he had no desire to hurt her. If he had, he would have fled her quarters and backed out of their mating contract himself. Instead, he found he wanted to possess her, body and soul. He wanted to worship every little part of her and give her a thousand times more pleasure than he took.

In the wake of this realization, he was utterly stunned. He had arrived in her room, expecting to go through the act of mating and repeating the mating vows, without the accompaniment of raw, unbridled passion heating his blood so fervently.

Tension swelled between them as he stared down at her and stroked his fingers through her silken locks. Yet when she trembled harder, a sense of power surged through him, stoking the flames of his intense need for her. She was his. His. He wouldn’t hurt her, but by the time he was finished with her tonight, she would understand that she truly belonged to him.

Slowly, he lifted her dress over her head, pulling the garment off and tossing it to the floor. He gazed upon her thin white undergarments and cupped her breast through her bra. A breathy moan left her. Though she continued shaking, she leaned into his touch and her eyes fluttered shut.

Desire surged through his veins, heating his blood further as he tilted her head to the side in order to trail kisses up and down her neckline. She shuddered and grabbed onto his arms, her nails digging into his flesh. A growl rumbled from his throat and he grasped her chin in one hand, forcing her gaze to his.

“Who do you belong to, Sasha?”

Surprise, followed by fear and a hint of defiance flared in her eyes. “I…”

He tightened his hold on her. “Tell me, human female. I want to hear you say it.” Soon, she would repeat the mating vows of his people, but he wanted to hear her pledge herself to him now, before they finished undressing. “Say it.”

“You,” she blurted on a fast exhale. “I-I belong to you, Zann.”

“Yes, my human,” he said, still holding her chin firmly in place while he stroked her hair. “You belong to me. And I take care of what’s mine. You have nothing to fear when you are with me, Sasha. I will protect you, always, even with my life.”

Though her nervousness aroused him, he wouldn’t consummate their mating until she felt more comfortable with him. He wasn’t a monster. Well, not that big of a monster. Violent images from the last year flashed in his mind as his subconscious conspired to trick him into thinking he couldn’t ever treat his female with the gentleness and kindness she deserved. He’d vanquished countless enemies over the years using harsh methods that would make even the most seasoned Vaxxlian warrior uneasy. Who was he to think he could actually settle down and take a mate, let alone deserve one?

He gave himself a mental shake, dashing the dark memories away as he focused on the sweet female in his arms. He owed her his full attention during their mating and resolved not to let his mind wander into dark territory again.

To his relief, the fear in her eyes dimmed and her breaths began to steady. Her shaking lessened, as well. He gave her an encouraging nod and what was probably the merest hint of a smile. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d laughed or smiled and the sensation felt like an odd strain on his face.

“I-I hope you don’t think I’m a whore for doing this,” she said, suddenly tensing as he moved to cup her other breast.

“What do you mean?” He didn’t like hearing her talk about herself in such a crass manner. She was his female and he planned to revere her above all others.

“Well, I’m basically selling myself to you, in exchange for protection and the prospect of redemption.” Tears glittered in her eyes, taking him aback. He hadn’t expected her to cry and the sadness in her gaze affected him more than he would care to admit.

“You are not a whore, Sasha,” he said firmly. “You are my mate and I will treasure you until the end of my days.” The words flowed out of him naturally, as if spurned from the depths of his heart. Perhaps he was speaking from the heart. His chest felt tight and his throat burned, as if he shared in her upset. “We are both desperate,” he continued. “I am desperate for a human female, and you are desperate to clear your name. You can give me what I need, and in return I can give you what you seek.”

She blinked rapidly a few times, and the tears in her eyes faded. She gulped and took several deep breaths, seemingly taking time to digest what he’d just said. Hope flickered in her blue depths and she finally nodded. “I suppose you’re right. I-I’m glad you don’t think badly of me for accepting your offer, Zann. Thank you.”

“The contract has already been signed, sweet female. All that’s left is for us to consummate our mating.” He proceeded to unclasp her bra, allowing it to fall to her feet. Cupping her now bared breasts, he leaned down to kiss her again and again, tasting her and savoring the vibrations of her increasing moans. He lowered his hands to her waist, pushed her panties down, then grabbed one of her bottom cheeks, giving it a firm squeeze that made her whimper into his mouth as he delved his tongue deeper and deeper.

His cock thickened in his pants, swelling so hard he lost his concentration for an instant. But he soon recovered his senses and withdrew from Sasha only long enough to lift her up in his arms. He carried her to the bed and placed her down atop the covers, his heart swelling with a warmth that could only be affection as he gazed into her beautiful eyes that were now gleaming with trust. The warmth in his chest spread through his entire body, enveloping him in heat and light, purpose and hope.

Chapter 6

Sasha watched with bated breath as Zann undressed before her, removing every last stitch of his black Vaxxlian warrior’s uniform to reveal massive, muscular perfection. She’d never seen a male alien of any race built so powerfully and beautifully. He was a work of art, this huge warrior who was about to become her mate.

Her gaze soon fell to his impressive manhood, which jutted out long and hard from his body. Precum glistened on the bulbous purplish tip and as she stared at the mighty appendage, it grew even larger still. Spasms of heat affected her, making her breath come faster as her arousal built and built. Achiness surged between her legs, and as she squirmed on the bed she felt the slickness of her womanly essence coating her inner thighs. His nostrils flared wide as he settled himself atop her on the bed, as if he could smell the evidence of her mounting desire.

This was really about to happen. Her heart skipped a beat. She was actually about to mate with an alien. She’d already pledged herself to him—for life. What if this was a mistake? What if she never loved him? Or worse—what if she eventually grew to love him, only for him to never return the intensity of her affections? Allen hadn’t loved her. Not really. If he had, she didn’t think he would have cheated on her with dozens of women—that she knew about—during their five years together. Yet she’d stayed with him, stupidly forgiving him and believing his hollow apologies time and again—until she’d snapped one day and walked out, even as her heart ached for still loving the awful bastard.

Vaxxlian males don’t cheat. She kept reminding herself of this important little fact over and over again. No matter how they felt about one another, whether they even liked each other or not, Zann would never betray her in the way Allen had. Hope bloomed in her chest and she felt her eyes burning with emotion.

Zann cupped her face and kissed her, but the sensation was different this time. This time…his tongue vibrated against hers in a most delicious manner. She froze for a moment in surprise, then commenced returning his kisses and running her hands up and down his sturdy, muscular back.

Holy stars. His tongue vibrates. I think I’m in love.

Naughty thoughts sped through her mind and she flushed red hot at the images that accompanied such ideas. As if sensing her thoughts, he began kissing his way down her body, slow and sensually, his warm tongue vibrating along her flesh and leaving goosebumps behind. She’d never known such pleasure and she hadn’t even come yet. He hadn’t even entered her yet. The heat of his hard cock trailed along her leg as he moved further and further down her body, until he settled his face between her legs and forced her to spread wider.

He darted his tongue out and she gasped as he touched it to her pulsing clit. He circled her nubbin with precise movements and delved two fingers inside her, all the while keeping his tongue on a slow vibrate. She grasped his head and undulated her center in tune with the steady thrusts of his thick digits inside her.

Oh God.

Sensation built and built, an erotic and blissful euphoria taking over her whole body. She teetered on the edge of oblivion, moans and whimpers escaping her as Zann increased the pressure of his tongue on her clit. He also pumped his fingers faster and deeper inside her. She closed her eyes and lost all sense of time and place. She reveled in every little warm pulse of his tongue on her most sensitive spot and every plunge of his digits into her aching pussy. Yes yes yes. She was so close…almost there. Her pulse quickened and she could scarcely take in air.

“Zann,” she breathed. “Oh my God, Zann, I—” She cried out as a powerful release swept over her, sweeping her out into the stars as she became weightless amidst the greatest pleasure she’d ever experienced. She’d never come so hard or for so long in her entire life, the orgasm seemed to go on forever, and when the last pulsing remnant faded, she felt as if all the energy had been drained from her body. She couldn’t even open her eyes just yet, let alone move.

As she drifted back to reality, she became aware of Zann nudging himself between her thighs, though he didn’t push his cock into her. But the huge tip of his erection poked at her entrance, teasing her with the slightest amount of pressure. She instinctively spread her legs wider, inviting him to complete the mating act.

“Not yet, my eager female,” he said. “We must repeat the mating vows of my people first.”

She opened her eyes and met his green gaze, her future flashing in her mind in a series of strange images. Strange because she was seeing things, even hoping for things, that she’d thought she would never have. A cozy home and a husband—or mate, in this case. A newborn baby in her arms, eyes as green and glowing as his father’s. Children running around the house, singing and laughing. All the hopes and dreams she’d once had for her marriage with Allen carried over to Zann and she fought to swallow against the sudden burning in her throat. She had given up on some dreams because she’d had no choice, and then she had followed others, the dreams about interstellar travel and working on an alien planet that Allen had teased her for having. She’d left Earth and become an ambassador and she’d been damn good at her job—at least until that fucking sleazy ass prince had ruined everything.

Zann stared at her for what felt like forever, as if trying to read her thoughts. He looked upon her with a reverence that stunned her. They barely knew each other but there were times that she could almost pretend he cared about her, maybe even loved her.

Don’t be greedy. He’s helping you repair the fallout from the incident with the prince. Isn’t that enough? And he only needs a mate because he must procreate and help the Vaxxlian race grow strong and prosper once again.

But damn it she couldn’t stop the hope from rising in her heart as she held his gaze, mesmerized by his luminous green eyes and the intensity within his otherworldly depths. Perhaps for now, just this one night, she would throw caution to the wind and allow herself to pretend he truly cared about her. She pushed all thoughts of their mating contract from her mind and told herself a fanciful story of how they’d met, a story that would help her better live with herself and what she was about to do.

We met while I was on an exotic vacation on a tourist planet. He swept me off my feet, and we fell in love hard and fast and got married after only knowing each other for a few weeks.

What a fairytale. If only it were true.

If only.

Finally, he drew in a deep breath and said, “Repeat after me, Sasha.” He paused for another deep breath before continuing, his rigid cock pushing at her opening the whole time, a physical reminder of what was about to happen. “Sasha from Earth, I give you my soul, my body, and my heart. Upon this mating, I am yours and you are mine. May the Star God bless our union.”

She blinked rapidly to still the tears she felt burning in her eyes. Why did she suddenly feel like crying? This whole arrangement was a business deal. And beyond that…she’d known him for less than a full day.

“Sasha?”

She fumbled to remember the exact words. “Zann from Vaxxlia,” she said, happy she remembered the name of his destroyed home planet, “I give you my soul, my body, and my heart. Upon-upon this mating, I am yours and you are mine.” What beautiful words. What a beautiful promise. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and quickly dashed it away. “May the Star God bless our union.”

A pleased look fell upon him and he stroked her hair in a gentle manner, his touch causing endorphins to prickle all over her head, causing goosebumps to rise as sensation and need consumed her. She needed him now, more than anything she’d ever needed.

Without warning, he gripped her hips and surged forward, plunging hilt-deep in one hard, rapid drive. She gasped at the fullness of him. How he’d managed to fit his huge cock into her, she would never know. There was the slightest amount of pain, even though she wasn’t a virgin, but it paled in comparison to the pleasure that soon followed as he commenced slowly thrusting in and out of her pussy.

A deep growl sounded from him, his nostrils flared wider, and his muscles tensed. His eyes darkened, until they were nearly black and he bared his teeth, looking more animal than man as he increased the pace of their mating, slamming into her so hard his balls impacted heavily upon her with each rapid thrust. The scent of sex filled the air and the sound of flesh slapping flesh resounded throughout the room. Her pussy clenched around his massive girth and he growled again.

Not slowing in his movements, he released one of her hips and reached for her head. He laced his fingers through her locks and gave her hair a slight tug. He could be so much rougher with her if he wanted to, and this realization added a layer of dark eroticism to their mating. As large and powerful as he was, he was being relatively gentle with her.

“Now you are mine, Sasha.” His voice sounded deeper than ever before. “My female. My mate.”

* * *

Zann was lost in Sasha. It was as if his life consisted of two distinct phases—before he met her, and after, and the before faded further from his memory as he continued driving into her exquisite tightness. He felt like an entirely different person in her presence. And mating with her? Now that he knew the soul-deep satisfaction of possessing her, he couldn’t imagine a day passing without him joining her in bed and having his way with her, making her quiver and cry out his name in the throes of passion.

She clutched onto him and a surprised look entered her gaze. Then the walls of her sex clamped down around his cock and her eyes fluttered shut as she undulated against him, coming for the second time. He was glad to bring her so much pleasure. Perhaps if there was a spark between them in the bedroom it would carry over to their days together.

He’d doubted his ability to show affection and gentleness to a female, but now he couldn’t fathom a circumstance during which he would show Sasha anything but tenderness. She was tiny and delicate, though her spirit rivaled that of a fierce hursa beast. Surrendering to him and agreeing to become his mate had cost her a bit of pride, but he sensed her strength and her resolve to not only better her circumstances, but to help others as well. Zann knew firsthand that many souls were often affected when tensions arose between two once-friendly planets. If she helped mend relations between Earth and Tarrkollia, she wouldn’t be the only person to benefit. Admiration for the sweet human flowed through him.

In the wake of her release, he felt the waves of his own pleasure rushing toward him. His muscles tensed and heat enveloped him, his balls tightening as his seed spurted into her depths. Momentarily dizzy, he fought to keep pumping into her until the last pulsing rush of his essence filled her. He gathered her in his arms and held her tight, though he was careful not to put the brunt of his weight on her. When she laced her arms around his waist and returned his embrace with a soft, contented sigh, it felt as if all his broken pieces suddenly fell back into place.

He withdrew from her center, kissed her forehead, and tucked her against his side. No words passed between them and he wondered if she was as affected by their mating as him. He stayed with her until she fell asleep, then he spread the covers over her and stood above her for several moments, staring down at her slumbering form and wondering if perhaps she would conceive a child soon. The very prospect filled him with an oddly warm sensation.

He picked up his clothing off the floor, intending to return to his own quarters to spend the rest of the night. As they’d negotiated their mating contract, he had assumed she wouldn’t want him sleeping beside her and he’d informed her that she would always have her own bedroom, even in their house on New Vaxx. He started to walk toward the door but soon halted mid-step.

With a curse, he tossed his clothing back on the floor and confidently strode back to the bed. Star God help him, but he couldn’t bear the idea of sleeping apart from her. He told himself it was simply because they’d just repeated their mating vows and joined their bodies for the first time. He crawled under the covers and pulled her snug against his body, wrapping one arm around her and tangling his legs with hers. When her eyes fluttered open for the briefest moment and she smiled, he knew he’d made the right choice. As he watched her drift back into a deep sleep, the warmth in his chest only grew.

He had never had time for females until now, as he’d dedicated his life up until this point to serving as a hunter in the Vaxxlian military. He’d been betrothed to a female named Yuritha on Vaxxlia, a mating match arranged by his father shortly before the war broke out, but he had never actually met her before she perished in the attack by the Irrcons. Having never been in a relationship with a female, he wasn’t certain what the love for one’s mate would feel like. He would say he had loved his parents, even his brothers. But was the love for a mate different?

As he stroked Sasha’s hair, he decided the affection he was increasingly harboring for her was vastly different than the love he felt for his family members. The warmth he felt for her was all-consuming. Even when his eyelids grew heavy, he didn’t wish to succumb to sleep just yet, for he wanted to stare at her for longer. He memorized her lovely features one by one, from her thick dark eyelashes to her tiny nose to her smooth skin and the light freckles on her shoulders.

His cock hardened and he longed to sink into her sweetness yet again, but he knew she’d had a long, difficult day, and he did not wish to disturb her. Especially not when she appeared so peaceful in sleep. He pressed his lips to her cheek and tightened his arms around her.

Chapter 7

Seated on the bridge of the Yossa, Zann stared at his commander on the video comm. He hadn’t seen or heard from the wise, elderly warrior in quite some time, and it pleased Zann that the older male looked well.

“I am glad we are finally able to communicate,” Zann said. He hadn’t spoken directly to the commander since he’d left New Vaxx on his mission to track down and kill Freuth. During an active mission, only vital information was transmitted between members of a unit, to prevent Vaxxlian enemies from intercepting confidential messages.

“It is good to see your face,” Commander Vikkor said.

“What is the status of the other hunters in my unit?” Zann asked. “Freuth claimed he killed all nine of my comrades.” Each hunter unit was made of up of ten of the strongest, most skilled Vaxxlian warriors, and though they often worked alone, there were times in the past when the ten of them had assembled to work together. He respected the nine hunters from his unit and prayed Freuth had been lying, but the dark look in Commander Vikkor’s eyes put him on edge.

“Unfortunately, five of their bodies have been recovered. The other four are missing and presumed dead.”

Zann cursed under his breath and his hands curled into fists. Freuth’s exact location hadn’t been known at the time his unit was dispatched to track the traitor down, or the ten of them would’ve confronted the former warrior together. The life expectancy of a hunter wasn’t long and each male on his unit knew and agreed to the risks before accepting a mission, but Zann still mourned the loss of his comrades.

“It is my hope that the skills of the hunters are not needed for a long time,” the commander said. “The war is over. All our enemies are dead or driven to the far reaches of known space. Once you return to New Vaxx, you will help me select nine males to replace those we have lost. We will rebuild our unit of hunters, while praying to the Star God the day never comes when such skills are needed again.”

“It would be my honor to assist you in rebuilding our unit, Commander,” Zann said, though he would never forget the nine skilled hunters who were lost. If only Zann had reached Freuth first. But the traitor had been good at hiding, quick to move from place to place, and had sent out decoy transmissions to Irrcons from several different locations, making it impossible to guess where he really was at any given time. But at least he was dead now. At least he couldn’t do anything more to hurt the Vaxxlian people, the very people the disgraced warrior turned traitor should have given his life to protect.

“When you find a mate and return to New Vaxx, we will begin immediately.”

“I have found a human female and we’ve already mated,” Zann said, “however, we are not headed straight back to New Vaxx. The Tarrkollians have placed a bounty on her head and I intend to help her clear her name. It is a long story, but we are traveling to the Universal Alliance Headquarters on Rossina before I bring her home.”

The commander grinned. “You found yourself a female with a bounty on her head? Ah, Zann, you always liked a challenge.”

Zann felt the tips of his ears redden, but he didn’t return his superior’s smile. He was too haunted by the deaths of his comrades at the moment. He had hoped that when he finally spoke to Commander Vikkor, the male would have good news about the other members of his unit. Their loss was a blow not only to him, but to the Vaxxlians as a whole. The skills of one hunter equaled that of twenty regular warriors. In fact, to be considered for recruitment as a hunter, a warrior was required to defeat twenty fellow warriors in hand-to-hand combat, one after the other in a ceremony called xiddonnis.

“I will contact you when I return to New Vaxx with my mate,” Zann finally said, and he ended the call once the commander wished him good luck.

He sat back in his chair. Dead. All nine of his comrades. Anger surged through him, calming only when he recalled how long and brutally he’d tortured Freuth before finally killing him. At least the traitor had endured the violent death he deserved for all the harm he’d caused to the Vaxxlians.

Zann ran a hand through his hair and rose to his feet. Was Sasha awake yet? She’d been sleeping when he left her room this morning and it was already nearly evening. He hadn’t locked her in her quarters but was surprised she hadn’t ventured to the bridge yet. Was she intentionally avoiding him? He suddenly wished he’d spent more time in the company of females so he would better be able to understand her wishes and her motivations.

Perhaps, after their mating last night, she wished for some time alone. Was she worried he would mate with her again the moment he saw her next? They hadn’t specified anything about the frequency of mating in their contract. A dark thought struck him. Did she regret mating with him? Was she now second guessing her choice?

With a frustrated growl, he departed the bridge and strode down the corridor, heading for her room as his mood darkened further.

* * *

Sasha sat at a table near the viewscreen in her quarters, gazing at the stars as she picked at her dinner. She was saddened Zann hadn’t been here when she’d woken up this morning and even more so that he hadn’t been to visit her yet today. But a mix of nerves and pride had kept her from leaving her room and exploring the ship in search of him.

Luckily, she had everything she needed to survive in this room—a huge luxurious bathroom, a clothing refresher, and a food replicator. She had even found several books in a drawer, all written in Galactic Common. She hadn’t gotten bored today, but she’d been unable to shake her pervasive loneliness. She had spent hours each day alone in the palace on Hoshhha, often preferring the solitude of her room until Princess Alisss insisted she join her for a meal or for a walk in the gardens. Why was she so lonely now?

She glanced at the bed and her face flushed as she recalled all that had happened between her and Zann last night. His kisses and his touch had set her aflame with desire. She’d even come, twice. She smiled as she remembered his vibrating tongue, which had caught her by surprise. She hadn’t made a big deal about it at the time or even asked him about it, as she was used to interacting with many different cultures and alien species, but what a wondrous shock. His tongue on her clit had driven her wild. Just the memory of it caused a spasm of heat to affect her now, quaking between her thighs as she squirmed in her seat.

She set her utensil down and put her mostly untouched meal into the recycler, then stared at the door as she struggled with the decision over what to do next. Should she leave her quarters and go in search of Zann? What would she do or say when she found him? What if he’d already gone to bed? Maybe he didn’t plan to join her this evening and she felt another stab of loneliness and chided herself for the emotion. She’d just met Zann and theirs wasn’t a traditional mating. They had a notarized contract, for goodness’ sake.

The door zipped open and she stepped back in surprise. Zann entered her quarters and looked around. “Have you eaten today?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, I know how to work a food replicator.”

He looked her up and down, as if examining her dress. “I will replicate you new clothing tomorrow in the Vaxxlian style. You are my mate and I expect you to dress as a Vaxxlian.”

“That wasn’t in the contract,” she said, crossing her arms. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her Hoshhhan dress. While she appreciated the offer of new clothing—she couldn’t wear the same dress forever—it riled her that he was telling her how to dress. Allen had done that, always asking her to wear tighter, sexier clothes. In her desperation to please her ex-husband, she had complied, hoping that if she looked perfect he might finally stop seeking out the company of other women. But it hadn’t worked. The day she’d left him she’d started dressing how she damn well pleased.

Zann’s eyes flickered darker, but he didn’t appear angry. “You are correct, Sasha, it wasn’t in the contract. Very well. I will allow you to select the styles you prefer from the replicator yourself.”

“Thank you. I-I appreciate that, more than you could know.”

He tilted his head to the side, as if thinking, while still holding her gaze. “You don’t like being told what to do, do you, human female?”

His assessment of her personality was so spot-on that she almost laughed. “You could say that. My ex-husband was a bossy son-of-a-bitch. I spent years doing every little thing he asked. After our divorce, I enjoyed my newfound freedom very much.”

“You used to be married?” His whole body tensed and she instantly regretted letting this information slip.

“Yes, when I still lived on Earth,” she replied, lifting her head high and refusing to cower under his judgmental glare. “Mating matches don’t happen on Earth the same way they do in your culture. We get married, instead of calling it mating, and sometimes married couples will decide to split up, for one reason or another. Well, usually it’s a whole bunch of reasons.”

Curiosity filled his gaze and to her relief, he no longer appeared to be judging her. She didn’t like that sort of look. Her mother had given her a similar look when she’d announced her separation from Allen. “Why did you get divorced?” he asked. “Did your ex-husband mistreat you? Did he fail to protect and provide for you?”

“It’s complicated.” She gestured to the replicator. “How about I order us a big piece of chocolate cake to share while I tell you all about my failed marriage?”

He nodded and took a seat at the table, and she busied herself with finding a recipe in the replicator that was similar to chocolate cake. Once she found one, she selected an extra-large serving and grabbed two utensils. Seconds later, the replicator beeped and she opened the door to the device and pulled out the dessert. She hoped it was as delicious as it looked. If she was going to talk about Allen, she fucking deserved cake.

She placed the cake in the middle of the table, handed Zann a utensil, and sat in the chair opposite of him.

“If your husband hurt you, Sasha, you need only tell me his name and I will travel to Earth to make him pay for what he did to you. I will even torture him before killing him. I can slice him apart slowly, piece by piece, and leave him bleeding in agony over a period of several days. Or I can pummel him to death quickly, if that is your wish.” Zann’s muscles tensed and he gripped his utensil so hard, it bent in his hand.

“Um, thanks for the offer, but he didn’t do anything to warrant death,” Sasha said, making a mental note to never reveal Allen’s full name to her mate. There might’ve been days where she’d cursed Allen to the depths of hell and envisioned him getting run over by a garbage truck, but she didn’t seriously wish him dead. Especially not the kind of dead Zann was offering, with torture and maiming.

“Tell me what happened then, my mate.” The murderous look remained in his eyes as he stared across the table at Sasha. Whether it was because he didn’t like the idea of her with another man, or because believed Allen had indeed hurt her, she couldn’t help but smile inwardly that he cared so much. While she would never take Zann up on his offer to kill her ex-husband, she appreciated his gesture. Maybe it meant he was starting to care about her. Warmth rushed her at the prospect.

“Okay, well, it’s like this,” she said, taking a small bite of cake and swallowing before she continued. It didn’t taste like the chocolate she was used to, but it was still quite delicious. “I got married right after college when I was only twenty-one. That’s pretty young to get married on Earth these days. Anyway, Allen, my ex-husband, had a problem remaining faithful. Only a few months after our wedding, I started to suspect he was cheating on me. I followed him one day and saw him go into a hotel room with another woman.”

Zann banged his fist on the table. “That dishonorable sucruma,” he said, growling.

“I don’t know what a sucruma is, but you’re probably right.”

“A sucruma is a rodent native to Vaxxlia that eats garbage and spreads disease.”

“He was the biggest sucruma I ever knew,” she replied with a chuckle. “Anyway, that sort of thing kept happening, over and over, during the five years we were married. Sometimes I confronted him about it and he would promise to never cheat again, but other times I didn’t say a word and tried to change myself to make him want me more. He was always telling me what to do, how to dress, where I should and shouldn’t go, and where I was allowed to work. He convinced me to quit my job once because he didn’t like my boss. Things like that.”

Zann put his bent utensil down and reached for her hand. He laced his fingers through hers and she nearly gasped at the understanding that was reflecting in his gaze.

“So, after five years, I woke up one day and looked in the mirror and couldn’t stand my own reflection. I hated what I had become—this man-pleasing pushover who was way too forgiving—and I packed up all my belongings and left him. Our divorce was finalized a few months later and I’ve never looked back.”

“I am sorry for what he did to you,” Zann said after a moment. He squeezed her hand. “I vow to never treat you in such a disgraceful manner, my human female. Do you remember the mating vows we said last night?”

She nodded, her throat suddenly tight with emotion.

“I would die before I broke those vows.” He rose from his seat, still holding her hand, and knelt before her. “On my honor as a Vaxxlian warrior, I promise to always remain faithful to you, Sasha from Earth. Always.”

Chapter 8

The next few days passed pleasantly enough aboard the Yossa. Zann spent his nights with Sasha, not leaving her bed until early morning. His need for her didn’t diminish no matter how many times he mated with her. If anything, his desire for her kept increasing.

She spent her days reading, learning the controls on the bridge, and jogging up and down the corridors of the ship, claiming it was her favorite form of exercise. He’d provided her with a new wardrobe, which mostly consisted of casual shirts and comfortable pants, though she’d asked for several more fashionable items to wear once they reached the UA Headquarters.

He’d also given her the code needed to work the materials replicator and told her to replicate any items she wished in the future. This had pleased her, for she had smiled and kissed him on the cheek before thanking him. His heart warmed at the memory.

He looked up as she entered the bridge, wearing snug pants that hugged her curves and a loose-fitting shirt that showed an alluring hint of cleavage, just enough to tease. He stared at her appreciatively and smiled.

“Good morning, my mate.”

“Good morning, Zann.” She sat in the co-pilot’s chair and gave him a pointed look. “I have a request.”

“You may ask anything of me, Sasha.”

“While I sincerely appreciate all you’ve done for me, I’ve been feeling cooped up on this ship the last few days. I never did handle space travel very well. When we reach the Mullak Outpost later today, I’d like to walk around a little. I’ve never been to the Mullak Outpost and I’ve heard it’s beautiful with indoor rainforests and—”

“No,” he said, cutting her off. “I will not allow you to risk your safety.”

“The outpost will be crowded. I’ll wear a hat and no one will pay me any attention. I’ll be quick. Please.”

Anger and grief filled Zann at the very thought of harm falling upon her. “No,” he said in a stern voice. “Absolutely not. You will remain aboard while the Yossa takes on fuel and I visit the market quickly for other supplies. If you would like to visit the Mullak Outpost after our business on Rossina is completed, I will bring you back so you can see the rainforests and anything else you wish.”

“Don’t be silly. The Mullak Outpost won’t be on our direct route to New Vaxx. I’ve studied your flight plans. That would add another ten days to our journey on the way back to your planet.”

No one had ever called Zann silly before. At first, he didn’t know how to respond. He settled for glaring at Sasha, unhappy that she would not readily accept his decision. He did not like being questioned or engaging in arguments when he knew his viewpoint was the correct, most logical one. A growl rumbled from him and Sasha sat back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest as she shot him a frustrated look.

“I already replicated my disguise,” she said. “A short blond wig, a large hat, and men’s clothing. That’s right, I’ll be dressed as a man. No one will ever guess it’s me.”

“The viewscreen in your room can display an image of a rainforest if you wish, Sasha. I will program the viewscreen controls when I visit your room tonight to include many different scenes of nature. But my decision is final—I will not permit you to set foot on the outpost under any circumstances.”

“Fine.” She rose and headed for the exit. The door zipped open upon her approach and she entered the corridor.

Zann breathed a sigh of relief that she’d finally accepted his decision. Perhaps he would search for a present for her in the market at the outpost later today.

He scanned the sector for unknown vessels that might belong to bounty hunters, only locating several that were too far away to pose a threat. As the Yossa approached the Mullak Outpost, he scanned and rescanned all the docked vessels again and again, but all of them were declared by various governments, established traders, and travel companies. None were independently owned, as most bounty hunter ships were, but he still would not allow Sasha to leave the ship. In fact, he planned to lock his vessel down on its highest security setting while at the outpost.

He wouldn’t risk anyone trying to board his ship. His need to protect Sasha reverberated in his chest, filling him with purpose. Until he’d met her, his only purpose had been protecting the interests of his people and hunting down the most dangerous Vaxxlian enemies. But now he had a new purpose—protecting Sasha and being a good mate to her.

Guilt stabbed at him when he finished docking the Yossa at the outpost. He stood at the ship’s exit, debating whether or not to say goodbye to her before he departed his vessel. He decided to leave his ship without seeking her out first, in case she tried to convince him to allow her to leave the safety of the Yossa. Once he disembarked his vessel, he locked it down using the controls on his wrist comm, telling himself he would not be gone for long.

He transferred the requested amount of galactic credits to the blue-skinned Thexxian worker servicing the incoming vessels and set off into the depths of the outpost.

* * *

Dressed in her disguise as a blond male, Sasha worked to bypass the security settings on the Yossa. The security panel next to the ship’s exit didn’t prove as challenging as she’d expected and she soon emerged into the open space of the Mullak Outpost. She spied green in the distance and smiled. At least the indoor rainforest was close. She would visit it quickly and be back on the ship before Zann returned and discovered her absence.

She felt a bit guilty for going against his wishes, but she sincerely believed she would be safe on the outpost. Sure, it was on the way to Rossina, but between the crowds of aliens and her disguise, she didn’t think she could possibly run into any danger. Besides all that, there were guards stationed on almost every street of the outpost. Yes, she would be perfectly safe.

With a spring in her step, she headed toward the greenery of the renowned rainforest, giddy over the prospect of walking the paths through the tourist attraction. Not only had she been feeling cooped up on the ship, but Zann’s refusal to allow her to walk around the outpost had left her inflamed and feeling rebellious. She’d vowed to never again let a man control her in any way. She might’ve signed a mating contract with Zann, but she wouldn’t allow him to boss her around.

Then why do you plan to return to the ship before he does?

She cursed under her breath. Maybe she ought to take her time and enjoy walking every single path inside the rainforest. Then she would return to the Yossa and boldly inform Zann that she had gone out in her disguise and nothing bad had happened.

Yes, that’s exactly what she would do. Then he would learn he couldn’t control her. Even though he behaved nothing like Allen, at least thus far, she thought it smart to set him straight about the kind of treatment she would and would not accept. She’d made it clear that she wouldn’t allow him to dictate the way she dressed and he’d conceded. Likewise, he would have to concede that she was right about the trip into the outpost not being dangerous.

She navigated through the crowds, keeping her gaze down as much as possible and endeavoring not to make eye contact with anyone. She reached the rainforest after a few minutes of fast walking and breathed in the fragrant air of the exotic flora.

Taking her time, she strolled down one of the least crowded paths, gawking at all the colorful flowers and beautiful green plants, as well as the tall trees and the forest creatures that were scampering through them. She saw only small, furry animals and birds, as this indoor rainforest didn’t contain any dangerous animals.

The ceiling above the forest was blue with the occasional cloud, giving Sasha the illusion that she was walking through a real rainforest on a beautiful planet. She stopped to look at a bird perched on a branch high above that caught her notice. It was as large as a turkey, but bright blue with a yellow stomach. How extraordinary.

She’d heard that the animals in the outpost’s forest were all native to a planet called Corronnias 2. Perhaps one day she would visit the planet with Zann. The idea of traveling somewhere exotic with her mate for pleasure made her warm all over. Did Vaxxlians ever go on vacation? She made a mental note to ask him.

As she came to a turn in the path, she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her and spun around, expecting to see more of the furry creatures that resembled squirrels. But it wasn’t an animal lurking in the underbrush. It was a huge Tarrkollian male.

She suppressed a gasp and turned around, trying to behave as casually as possible, as if she had not a single care in the galaxy, as she continued down the curving trail. She suddenly wished she had walked down one of the more crowded paths, as she would have felt safer had she run into a Tarrkollian. When his footsteps sounded on the trail behind her, she had to force herself to breathe deeply and remain calm, even though her instinct was to break into a run. But running might arouse his suspicions, and though she had no idea if he was a bounty hunter, she didn’t want to do anything to cause him to take notice of her.

You’re dressed as a man. He has no idea you’re Sasha Embers.

But when his hand clamped down on her arm and he spun her around to face him, all her bravery fled and she started struggling against his firm hold. “Excuse me,” she said, in her best imitation of a man’s deep voice. “I insist you unhand me.”

The Tarrkollian chuckled and ripped her hat off, followed by her wig, causing her long dark hair to spill down her back. “I thought I smelled a human female,” he said. “And you’re just the human female I’m after. You’re going to make me a very, very rich male.”

She made to scream, but he clamped his hand over her mouth and dragged her into the lush rainforest, far away from the safety of the path she’d been walking along. Her heart raced and fear turned her guts to water. Oh God. What was she going to do?

Did the Tarrkollian plan to turn her over to Prince Galik’s family dead or alive? She kept struggling and tried to force his hand from her mouth. Zann’s handsome face flashed in her mind. What would he think if he returned to the Yossa and didn’t find her? What if he thought she was backing out of the contract and leaving him? What if he left the outpost without her?

She thrashed around in the Tarrkollian’s arms, managing to elbow him in the stomach several times. He kept his hand over her mouth and reached in his pocket for something. She tried desperately to escape when she noticed a needle in his hand.

“Hold still, human,” he snarled. “This will only hurt a moment, then you will fall fast asleep.”

A deep growl suddenly echoed through the forest, surprising the Tarrkollian enough that he dropped the needle. The growl resounded again, this time closer, and Sasha shuddered as she wondered what kind of creature it might be. Maybe there were dangerous animals in the indoor rainforest, after all. It growled again, so loud the leaves of the nearby trees shook. Whatever this was, it sounded deadly.

Then Sasha saw it racing out of the trees.

But it wasn’t an animal.

It was Zann.

Chapter 9

It happened fast.

One second the bounty hunter was holding her, and in the next second Zann had the male on the ground. She watched as her mate punched the Tarrkollian in the throat, causing him to gasp and gurgle as his fearful eyes bulged from his head. Zann cast her a brief glance, looking her up and down quickly as if checking to make sure she was unharmed, then refocused his attention on the Tarrkollian.

“You touched my female,” Zann said in a cold, deadly voice that sent a chill down Sasha’s back. “You dared to touch what belongs to me, and now you will die, filthy sucruma.”

Zann punched the male repeatedly in the face and throat, hard blows that landed in quick succession. The Tarrkollian flailed beneath him on the ground, unable to throw Zann off or slow him down as he delivered the brutal beating. The bounty hunter’s face swelled up and blood flowed from his mouth and his eyes. The sight was so violent that Sasha had to look away.

Tremors racked her and she crossed her arms in an effort to stop shaking. She heard the sickening crunch of bones as Zann kept hitting the Tarrkollian. When she dared another glance at the scene, she gasped and recoiled. Zann had punched the bounty hunter so hard the front of his face was dented. The male who’d attacked her wasn’t moving anymore, and she suspected he was finally dead, yet Zann kept punching him over and over again.

She didn’t know what to think, but she dared not speak to her mate just yet. Not when he was so angry. And all because of her. She’d caused this. He’d ordered her to stay on the Yossa for her safety, but she’d thought she knew better than him and she’d done as she pleased.

For what? To prove she wouldn’t put up with a man like Allen again? Her reasoning now seemed stupid and guilt settled heavily upon her shoulders.

When Zann finally ceased hitting the Tarrkollian, he wiped his bloody hands on the dead male’s shirt and looked up at her, his jaw clenched and his eyes nearly black. Her legs turned to jelly and she almost collapsed on the forest floor, but somehow, she managed to remain upright.

Zann rose to his feet and approached her. He grasped her chin and moved her head from left to right, scrutinizing her closely. “Did he hurt you? Are you in any pain?”

“He didn’t hurt me,” she whispered. “No pain.” She tried to lower her gaze, but he held fast to her chin, not allowing her to look away.

“I am glad you are unharmed, my Sasha.”

The sudden gentleness in his voice, along with a look of intense regard in his glowing green eyes, was enough to break her. She burst into tears and backed away from him, covering her face in her hands. Regret and relief whirled through her. She felt like the biggest idiot in the universe for risking her safety the way she had. Another ten days and they would be on Rossina. She should have happily made due with a scene of a rainforest on the viewscreen in her quarters.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her through the trees. She buried her face against his chest, reveling in the safety of his embrace. He’d just pummeled a huge Tarrkollian bounty hunter to death with his bare hands, and all to protect her, but now he was treating her with the utmost of gentleness. Would he yell at her later? Confine her to her quarters until they reached Rossina? She really hoped not. She supposed she deserved a scolding, but she hoped that if he was mad at her that his anger didn’t last for long.

Once they boarded the Yossa, he didn’t put her down as he walked through the bridge. Instead, he carried her to her quarters and placed her down on the bed.

“You will stay here, Sasha, while I pilot the ship away from the outpost. The bounty hunter’s body will be discovered eventually, but I don’t wish to speak to the authorities about what happened if we’re still around when he’s found. If anyone, even a guard on the Mullak Outpost learns of your identity, it might make our travels more difficult. I fear the bounty on your head is substantial enough to tempt even the most honorable of men. I will fly with the ship cloaked, as I always do, but I intend to take every safety precaution possible.”

She sniffled and met his gaze. “Zann, I want you to know how sorry I am.”

“We will talk soon,” he said, stroking her cheek. “Stay here.” He spun on his heel and exited her quarters.

He could’ve locked her in her quarters, but she didn’t hear the telltale clicking of a locking mechanism and she appreciated that he hadn’t locked her in to punish her for disobeying him. Sure, he’d told her to stay in her room, but at least he wasn’t locking her in. After he’d rescued her from the clutches of the Tarrkollian, she would gladly stay put until his return.

She sat up in bed and slipped her boots off. She decided to change out of her male clothes as well and rummaged around in a dresser for a pair of form-fitting black pants and a purple t-shirt. Once dressed, she hopped back onto the bed and stared out the viewscreen as the Mullak Outpost faded in the distance.

Zann had wasted no time in leaving the place and she appreciated that he was keeping the ship cloaked, even though they’d be jumping to hyperdrive soon and difficult to track without the added safety feature.

Anticipation curled inside her as she awaited her mate’s return.

She glanced at the male clothing she’d replicated and another wave of guilt crashed over her. She’d already apologized to Zann once, but she still felt horrible about what she’d done. By risking her safety, she had in turn put him in danger, too. What if the bounty hunter had been a better fighter?

The door opened with a whoosh and Zann entered her room. His green gaze fixed on her and she swallowed hard. He said they would talk upon his return and suddenly she feared the conversation they were about to have. Were Vaxxlians quick to forgive? Did they hold grudges long? She supposed she was about to find out.

* * *

“Where did you learn how to bypass a Vaxxlian security system?” Zann asked.

She shrugged. “It wasn’t difficult. Most war-class vessels have similar security systems. It was part of my training as an ambassador, in case I ever needed to escape an alien ship. During interstellar travel, ambassadors from wealthy planets are often targeted for ransom money, so it’s a skill we’re required to learn.”

“Later, you will show me exactly what you did on the panel,” he said.

“Okay.” She lowered her head for a moment, then peered up at him with tears shining in her eyes.

Star God, he felt gutted when she appeared upset, especially whenever she looked on the verge of crying. He had entered her quarters intending to scold her for disobeying him and thereby risking her safety, but all the stern words he had for her died in his throat. He also suddenly realized that when a human female seemingly agreed with you by saying fine and quickly exiting the room, it wasn’t quite an agreement at all, and he tucked this bit of knowledge away for future use.

“Zann, I am truly sorry. Please believe me when I say how sorry I am.” Her words sounded heartfelt and emotion tinged her voice.

“I believe that you are sorry, Sasha,” he said, sitting next to her on the bed. He grasped her hands in his and stared into her pretty blue gaze, anger surging through him once again as he recalled the moment he’d glimpsed the bounty hunter preparing to stab her with a sedative. But he wasn’t angry with her, only frustrated and hurt that she hadn’t trusted him enough to follow his command. Then he remembered her ex-husband and how controlling the dishonorable male had been and his heart softened toward her in understanding. “Human female, did you disobey me because of what happened with your ex-husband?”

She blinked rapidly and nodded. “Sort of. I-I didn’t like when you tried to tell me how to dress. I thought this was sort of the same thing, but I was wrong. Very wrong.” She squeezed his hand. “How did you find me?”

“I received an alert on my wrist comm that the security system failed,” he said, tapping the device, “and on my way back to the ship, as I passed the rainforest, I thought I scented you in the air, far in the distance. I entered the forest and followed your scent until I found you and the bounty hunter.”

“Thank you for saving me. I am glad the Tarrkollian didn’t hurt you. If anything would’ve happened to you…” Her voice trailed off and a fresh sheen of tears gleamed in her eyes. “If anything would’ve happened to you,” she finally continued, “I would be devastated. I’m starting to-to really like you. You’re a good man, and I realize you’re nothing like my ex-husband.”

“I understand why you did what you did, Sasha, but I am still displeased that you did it.”

A look of immense guilt crossed her face. “I know and I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize any further, my mate, as I forgive you, but I want you to understand that when I give an order concerning your safety, I expect you to obey me. You cannot ignore rules and commands that are well-intentioned and meant to keep you safe, especially when there’s a bounty on your head.”

“Of course,” she replied, giving him a small smile that warmed him all over.

Thank the Star God she was safe. If the bounty hunter had managed to get her onto a ship and departed the outpost before Zann realized she was missing from the Yossa, he would have been sick with worry. Though they hadn’t known each other for long, she had grown on him in a very short time. He loved waking up each day to find her sleeping peacefully in his arms, and while he spent his days monitoring his ship’s systems, he went about his usual work while anticipating the evening to come.

She probably didn’t realize it, but she had changed him in a matter of days. Now that he had something else to live for aside from vengeance, she’d brought hope to his life. She’d shined her natural light into the dark corners of his psyche. She’d shown him that he wasn’t a monster. He could be ruthless when he needed to be, but he could just as easily switch to being her gentle mate. He was capable of affection, too, and right now, he could think of nothing better to do than to kiss her.

And so he did. He pressed his lips to hers and the whole universe melted away.

He took her fully into his arms, lifting her and settling her atop his lap. Deepening the kiss and increasing its intensity, he savored her moans and her whimpers. He vibrated his tongue against hers and spread her out on the bed, laying her atop the covers. When he finally broke their kiss, she was panting breathlessly with her long dark locks spread upon the pillow in beautiful disarray.

With a growl, he reached for the front of her shirt and tore it open, then pulled it off her before doing the same to her pants and thin white undergarments. Her face flushed prettily, her chest rose and fell rapidly and the sweet, tempting scent of her nectar reached him. He removed his own clothing and boots, aching to sink himself inside her now. His cock hardened further and his blood heated.

He crawled back on her, parted her thighs, and nudged his length through her wet folds. She lifted her center, inviting his entrance, but he didn’t sink into her just yet. Instead, he withdrew and shifted back on the bed, giving her ample room to get into the position he now desired.

“You’ll take it from behind tonight, Sasha. Get on your hands and knees.”

Her breath caught in her throat and for the first time in days, she appeared nervous during a mating session. As always, her nervousness prompted his shaft to swell harder and his balls to tighten. He waited and watched to see if she would obey him despite her obvious hesitation. He had never taken her from behind before, nor had he ever pounded into her in an overly rough manner.

Tonight would be different. He needed her to feel what it meant to truly belong to him. He wanted to possess her in a primal way, a way that would leave no doubt in her mind that she was his. And he was hers.

Sasha bit her bottom lip, looking even more nervous than before, but she slowly began to turn around. His cock throbbed in anticipation as she settled on her hands and knees. She peered over her shoulder at him and arched her back, which caused her buttocks and her pussy to rise higher. He felt another growl building in his throat. Though he wasn’t touching her yet, he could feel the heat of her pussy from an arm’s length away. 

“Like this?”

“Perfect.” He moved closer to her and groaned as his cock rubbed through her immense wetness. He positioned himself directly at her welcoming entrance and grabbed ahold of her hips. “Now tell me who you belong to, human female.”

She turned around and clutched the covers, bracing herself for what was to come. “You, Zann. I belong to you.”

“And will you ever risk your safety again?”

“No, I promise.”

“Good female,” he said, tightening his hold on her hips. Then he surged into her and immediately set a fast rhythm with full, deep strokes.

Later, after their rough joining, he cradled her on his lap and combed his fingers through her hair. He placed soft kisses to her forehead and her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly, and he commenced rubbing her back while her faint breaths tickled his chest.

“You have become precious to me, Sasha from Earth.” I love you rested on the tip of his tongue, but fear kept him from saying anything more. He thought of their contract and despite the sweet moment they were sharing, he wasn’t brave enough to risk her rejection.

The stars sped by outside the viewscreen, and he stared at the vastness of open space and prayed she could at least find some small measures of happiness with him. Star God help him, but he didn’t think he could let her go even if she was miserable in their mating match.

Please let me make her happy, please let her grow to care for me one day, and please help me to protect her always.

Chapter 10

A mixture of relief and excitement filled Sasha as she stared at planet Rossina growing larger and larger in the viewscreen. She sat next to Zann on the bridge, thankful they would reach the UA Headquarters in less than an hour. They’d already received clearance to enter the planet’s atmosphere. Once she’d given the authorities her ambassador ID number and requested asylum, permission had been granted immediately.

She hoped a panel of Commoxan judges would grant her an audience soon. Almost all truth panels consisted of Commoxan judges, as the species were renowned for their wisdom and psychic abilities. The judges operated on several other planets aside from Rossina, including Earth, but it was a shame Commoxan judges weren’t welcome on Tarrkollia, otherwise she wouldn’t have had to flee the planet in the first place after the incident with the prince. At least she was here now. Soon, the terror she’d felt in the wake of the bounty being placed on her head would be but a fading memory.

She couldn’t wait for the truth to come out. Her good reputation would be restored. She would be able to safely contact her friends and family on Earth. And the Tarrkollian Empire would be forced to lift the bounty and her life would no longer be in danger.

“Thank you for getting me here safely, Zann,” she said with a smile.

“I always honor my promises, my mate,” he replied with a smirk and she flushed.

Last night, he had promised to give her at least four orgasms before he allowed her to sleep. In the end, he’d given her six. Six mind-blowing, earthshattering releases, all within a short period of time.

“If it wasn’t for the nanobots, Sasha, I doubt you would be able to walk today.”

“You aren’t as funny as you think,” she said as he guided the Yossa down through the clouds. Though she’d tried to sound serious, she ended up cracking another smile. When she first met Zann twenty days ago, she would have never guessed the oh-so-serious alien possessed a sense of humor. But he told jokes on occasion—or at least his sometimes-alien version of them—and she was glad for the change in him.

She had a feeling that now that he finally had a mate, his outlook on life was starting to change. Her own outlook on life was changing too, and rapidly so. Just three weeks ago she would have never imagined she would agree to become a stranger’s mate, but here she was, twenty full days into her relationship with Zann, a Vaxxlian warrior she had barely known the first time she accepted him into her bed.

Zann landed the Yossa on a platform near the large AU Headquarters. Sasha stared at the massive structure, which was an otherworldly architectural wonder itself, with towering majestic white arches that touched the sky and tall thick columns circling the entire building. Air vessels dotted the skies, small ships flying along the skyways of the safest planet in the known universe.

She gave Zann a nervous smile and hoped she could articulate herself adequately enough in front of the judges. Sure, they would be able to read her mind—and they would eventually do so in order to verify her version of events—but she hoped to make a good, professional impression. She was a former ambassador, after all, and a video of her time before the truth panel would likely be sent to both Earth and Tarrkollia.

He powered the ship down, stood up, and offered her his hand. She accepted and rose to her feet with his assistance, grateful to have him with her during the hearing. He’d promised not to leave her side during their stay on Rossina, no matter how long they must remain on the planet. Typically, an individual didn’t have to wait long for an audience with a truth panel, and though this was a beautiful enough world, she found herself thinking more and more about New Vaxx and the brand-new life that awaited her.

“Come, my mate, and we will get you scheduled for a hearing. It is my hope that by this time tomorrow, we will be on our way back to my planet.”

She smiled up at him, taking comfort in his familiar green eyes, eyes that had once looked so strange to her but now they were simply him. Her mate. Her protector. The strange male who’d appeared in her room in Hoshhha with the intention of kidnapping her, only to save her from bounty hunters and offer her a deal, a mating contract. It didn’t feel like their union was a business deal anymore. At least to her. Did he feel the same? She could only hope and pray, because while she was grateful Zann was nothing like Allen, she still couldn’t help wishing for the happily-ever-after she’d dreamed of as a younger woman. All those forgotten dreams were resurfacing now and Zann had the starring role as her very own Prince Charming.

She exhaled a long breath and stood taller. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

* * *

To Zann’s astonishment, they didn’t have to wait long for a truth panel to convene on Sasha’s behalf. A guard escorted them into the spacious courtroom. He grasped her hand and gave it a playful squeeze as they stood before the group of twelve judges. The white-robed judges were seated on a dais high above them, all of them from the Commoxan race, their purple skin shimmering under the overhead lights.

“Sasha Embers, welcome to Rossina,” a judge in the center of the group said, an elderly female with long white hair. Even from this distance, Zann could tell she had kind eyes and a calm demeanor that put him at ease. He noticed Sasha relaxing beside him and was relieved she didn’t appear as nervous as she’d been during their approach of the planet.

“Thank you for receiving me so quickly,” Sasha said, bowing her head slightly in respect to the judges. “We have traveled a long way seeking the wisdom and justice only a Commoxan truth panel can bring.”

“There is a bounty on your head,” the male seated next to the white-haired female said, “but you believe it has been unfairly placed.”

“Yes, that is correct.” Sasha dropped Zann’s hand and moved to the center of the courtroom, standing on a blue circle painted on the floor. She’d told him those who came before a truth panel must stand close enough for the Commoxan judges to be able to hear their thoughts and search their minds for truth and lies.

“Please, state your truths, Sasha Embers,” the white-haired female said, “and then we will search your mind once you have spoken.” The Commoxan woman gestured to the cameras hanging down from the ceiling, which were undoubtedly recording this session.

“I am a citizen of Earth and I was appointed as ambassador to Tarrkollia approximately four years ago. After my appointment, I moved into the Earth embassy on Tarrkollia, which is located near the palace. I enjoyed my work as an ambassador and I was good at my job. The people there as a whole are kind and welcoming, though the royals are prone to corruption and the legal system is most unjust. Nevertheless, I remained on the planet because I felt my work was important, particularly since I was able to help establish vital trade between Earth and Tarrkollia. But, unfortunately, after four years on the planet, I fell victim to the royals’ corruption and the unjust legal system.

“On the night of the Tarrkollian New Year, I awoke to discover Prince Galik in my bed, completely naked, and pressing himself against me. I pushed him away and ordered him out of my room, but he did not heed my wishes. He tried to force himself on me, so I fought back. At one point, I managed to escape the bed and I grabbed a large vase and smashed it over his head. The prince fell to the floor, unmoving. I stared at him for several minutes, waiting for him to move, but when I finally knelt to check his pulse, he was dead. I did not intend to kill him when I struck him with the vase, however I don’t believe I did anything wrong, as I was defending myself against an attacker. I reported the incident to authorities and palace workers came to take the body away. In the early morning, I received an anonymous tip that I would soon be arrested and sentenced to death.” She cleared her throat and continued. “Though the Tarrkollians are not legally entitled to enter the embassy without permission, as I snuck away under the cover of darkness, I witnessed dozens of armed palace guards marching toward the Earth embassy. I fled the planet with the help of a Hoshhhan trader, and within a day of my leaving, an enormous bounty had been placed on my head by the Tarrkollian Empire. I stand before you today in the hopes that you will see truth in my statement and right the wrongs committed by the Tarrkollians.”

Compassion flickered in the white-haired female’s eyes. The man beside her stared at the table in front of him, nodding with a faraway look, as if digesting all Sasha had just said. Zann stared at his mate with pride. She had given her statement in a strong, confident voice, not stumbling over her words once as she told the difficult story of what had happened on Tarrkollia.

“Thank you for giving us your statement, Ms. Embers.”

The twelve judges rose from their seats in unison and clasped hands.

“We are entering your mind now, Ms. Embers. Please try to remain calm and allow us to access your thoughts.”

Sasha nodded and lowered her head slightly. He wished he were standing with her now, holding her in his arms, but he knew this was something she needed to do on her own. He admired her bravery and fortitude.

The judges began humming while still clasping hands. Sasha remained frozen in place, her hands clasped in front of her. He wondered what it felt like to have a Commoxan search your mind. He hoped it didn’t cause her any discomfort as they prodded her psyche for the truths that would hopefully set her free. The longer the judges hummed and stood holding hands, the more unease began to unfold within Zann. Why was it taking so long? Was Sasha unintentionally resisting their intrusion into her mind?

Finally, after the sun had risen noticeably higher outside the windows that overlooked the city, the humming ceased and the judges returned to their seats. The white-haired female stared at Zann with a displeased look that startled him, the kindness he’d glimpsed earlier in her eyes now completely absent.

“Ms. Embers,” the female said, “this panel has found complete truth in the statement you provided us. The UA will order the Tarrkollian Empire to drop the bounty on your head immediately. Furthermore, the UA will place sanctions on planet Tarrkollia requiring them to include Commoxan judges in their courtrooms. If Tarrkollia wishes to remain part of the UA, they will be expected to reform their justice system.”

“Thank you, judges,” Sasha said.

“There is one more matter to discuss,” the female Commoxan said, once again glaring at Zann. “The mating contract you signed, Ms. Embers, is not legally binding, as you signed it while you were under duress.”

Fear and anger took root in Zann as the doors to the courtroom suddenly opened and twenty armed guards poured inside, all of them quick to surround him and prevent him from reaching Sasha. She turned and gave him a frightened look. When he made to move through the guards, they raised their hands at once and their gloves flickered with light as a small forcefield was erected around him. No matter which direction he turned, he hit the solid clear wall of the enclosure. Spinning in a slow circle, he made eye contact with each guard as he growled low in his throat. How dare the judges declare the mating contract void? How dare anyone try to come between him and Sasha?

“Please, judge,” she said with another worried glance at Zann. “This Vaxxlian has treated me with kindness. He protected me. He saved me from two bounty hunters and brought me here so I could stand before the truth panel and clear my name. He is a good man.”

“Good men can still make mistakes,” the white-haired female said. “He coerced you into signing your life away. Vaxxlian mating matches last a lifetime, Ms. Embers. I admire your intent to honor the contract because the Vaxxlian kept his end of the bargain, however, at the time of the signing you were desperate and felt you had no other choice.”

“Wait, please,” Sasha said. “I-I…”

“Take the Vaxxlian away and send him away from Rossina. He may return to his planet after being escorted out of our solar system.”

“No!” Zann bellowed as disbelief overcame him. This couldn’t be happening. He’d kept Sasha safe and brought her here, helped clear her name, and Star God he’d fallen in love with her during the process. Of course, he hadn’t confessed the true depth of his feelings to her yet.

The last thing he saw as the guards moved the forcefield containing him out of the courtroom was Sasha’s tearful blue gaze. The greatest darkness he’d ever known swallowed him and he raged at the guards who held him captive, wearing himself out as he beat his fists against the forcefield with all his might, spilling out his anger and his devastation over being separated from his sweet mate.

Chapter 11

Sasha stared out the window of her temporary apartment on Rossina. Fifteen days had passed since she’d seen Zann and she missed him with every fiber of her being. The judges had ordered her to undergo counseling to come to terms with what had happened between her and Zann, but it wasn’t helping. The therapist thought the same of Zann as the white-haired judge—that she’d been coerced into signing the mating contract and that she shouldn’t have to spend the rest of her life with a Vaxxlian just because she’d been desperate to clear her name.

Where was Zann now? Had he made it back to New Vaxx yet?

A stray dark thought occurred to her and she became consumed with hurt and jealousy.

What if he’d decided to find another mate before he returned to his planet? His people needed human females and now he suddenly didn’t have one. It would make sense. But, oh God, she wanted that female to be her.

She couldn’t leave Rossina just yet, as no passenger vessels were scheduled to leave for Earth for another twenty-eight days. She started pacing the floor of her apartment, frustration at this whole situation leaving her overwhelmed. She didn’t need therapy.

She needed Zann.

Would she ever see him again? She racked her brain, trying to think of a way to contact him. She remembered seeing a video comm on the bridge of his ship, but she had never thought to ask him for the number.

How could this have happened? She’d come to Rossina seeking justice, but the judges had taken things a bit too far. She had petitioned them to read her mind again to prove her affection for Zann was real, even if she hadn’t really known him when she’d signed the mating contract, but they had refused and insisted she continue seeing a therapist. So, once a day, she sat in a room with a Bertuan counselor, trying to convince the female that there was nothing wrong with her and all she wanted was to be reunited with her mate.

“He’s not your mate,” the therapist had said during this morning’s session. “The judges voided your mating contract. You are a free woman now, Ms. Embers, and you will be able to return to Earth soon. Now that the truth has come out about Prince Galik, you’ll receive a hero’s welcome. Trade between Earth and Tarrkollia has resumed and the people of Tarrkollia will be safer now that Commoxan judges have been installed in every courtroom on the planet. Besides, don’t you wish to return home and see your friends and family again?”

The Bertuan woman had it all wrong. It still felt as if Zann was Sasha’s mate. In her heart, she still belonged to him, and he still belonged to her. But a great distance separated them and the thought of never seeing him again made her eyes well up with tears.

While she was smart enough to realize she had indeed been under duress when she decided to sign the mating contract, it didn’t fucking matter anymore. All that mattered were her current feelings for Zann. She had grown to love him, truly and deeply.

She ran a hand through her hair and cursed under her breath.

But a sound near the window caused her to freeze. Holding her breath, she turned around slowly, her heart pounding faster by the second. The bounty on her head had been long canceled, but she still couldn’t shake the fear that filled her whenever she thought she heard a strange noise in her apartment.

When she finished turning, she didn’t see anything, but she heard another soft thud and immediately scanned the curtains for the shadow of an intruder. When a familiar male appeared as if standing in the air and stepped through the window, she almost fainted from the sheer surprise of it.

* * *

Zann stood inside Sasha’s room, musing to himself that history was repeating itself. The last time he’d shown up with the intention of kidnapping her, he’d set his cloaked ship to hover just outside her window.

Was she happy to see him?

He stared at her, longing to close the distance between them but not wishing to scare her. They’d been apart for some time and perhaps she had decided the white-haired female judge was right. Perhaps Sasha didn’t wish to come with him. His heart sank at the prospect of her rejection, and he had to force himself to approach her. He’d never told her of his true feelings, had never confessed his deep love for her, and he would never recover if she did not share in his devotion.

“Sasha,” he said, enjoying the sound of her name on his lips after so many days apart.

“Zann.” She peered up at him with an increasingly startled and confused expression. “How did you make it past UA security forces? This planet is well-guarded.”

“After UA forces escorted me outside the solar system, I waited a half-day before re-entering this solar system from a different location. Luckily, I was able to cloak my ship and hide amongst a fleet of trading vessels headed for Rossina. Once I reached this planet, I kept my ship cloaked and flew directly underneath a large trading vessel as I entered the atmosphere, making it impossible for UA security forces to detect the Yossa. They could not keep me away from you. No one can keep me away from you, human female. No matter where you are in the universe, I will always find you and I will always come for you.” Emotion clogged his throat and he swallowed hard and took several deep breaths to steady his nerves. He was a skilled Vaxxlian warrior, a renowned hunter, no less, yet before this tiny human female he’d become nervous and unsure of himself. She was his only weakness, but she was also his reason for living and his greatest strength.

“You know,” Sasha said with a sudden, playful smile, “in some cultures, that would be considered stalking.”

He stepped forward, unable to allow another moment to pass without touching her, and grasped her hands in his. He met her sparkling blue gaze. “Sasha from Earth, I love you. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Her smile was like the brightest sun in all of existence, and her eyes glistened under the tears that spilled out as she laughed and cried at the same time. “Oh, Zann,” she said, her voice tight. “I love you, too. And I would be honored to call you my mate and spend the rest of my life with you.”

Joy resounded within Zann and he released her hands, only to wrap his arms around her and embrace her tightly against his chest. He stroked her hair and inhaled the sweet scent of the female who was meant to be his.

He lifted her up and carried her toward the window, nuzzling his forehead to hers as he continued breathing her in and filling his senses with her life force. Star God, he had missed her. The past fifteen days had been agony. But he’d had no choice but to travel slowly with the trading fleet to prevent the UA from detecting the Yossa approaching Rossina, as UA forces possessed the technology to detect cloaked ships. Leaving would be easier. He would zip upward through the planet’s atmosphere and go to hyperdrive immediately. By the time the UA realized Sasha was missing, even their fastest ships wouldn’t be able to track them down.

“Take me to New Vaxx,” she said softly. “Take me to my new home.”

“Gladly.” He leaned down to kiss her. “My sweet mate.”

Epilogue

Three and a half years later…

Sasha entered the Earth embassy and headed for her office that overlooked the snow-capped mountains of New Vaxx. Though the embassy had been built over two years ago, she still couldn’t believe she was once again an ambassador to an alien planet. She’d thought those days had ended when she decided to remain with Zann, but after they returned to New Vaxx, with the influx of human women settling on the planet and their families often arriving for prolonged visits, the need for an embassy had soon become apparent.

Zann and his brothers had drawn up plans for the building and did most of the construction themselves, just the five of them after Earth appointed her as its official ambassador to New Vaxx. She smiled at the memory, recalling the great celebration they’d held after the last heavy white stone had been laid.

She placed a hand on her swollen stomach and admired the beauty of the alien landscape. Her baby—a girl, she’d been told—kicked her hand with a force that made her gasp.

“Settle down, little one. Mama has work to do today.” She patted her stomach lovingly. “I recommend taking a nap.”

She sat at her desk and started checking her messages, but a new call soon flashed across her video comm. She clicked the button to answer and smiled into the screen when Annika’s face appeared. Annika was mated to Zann’s youngest brother, Deza, and the couple had two children already. The younger woman had welcomed Sasha to New Vaxx with open arms and always made sure Sasha was included during sister-in-law get togethers. Sasha had a feeling Annika was calling to invite her somewhere and she brightened at the prospect. Once she completed her work at the embassy every day, she always had a couple of hours to kill before Zann returned home from training, as his daily training as a hunter lasted longer than regular warrior training.

“Good morning!” Sasha said with a smile.

“Hey!” Annika waved into the screen. “Do you have lunch plans yet?”

“Not yet,” Sasha replied, sitting back in her chair with a hand on her stomach. “But you know me, I’m always up for food.”

“Great. Meet me at the library. I’ll be there helping Lucy with story time, then we’ll go grab something.”

“Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the invite.”

Annika grinned and waved goodbye. “Awesome. See you soon.”

Once she ended the call, Sasha got back to work. She spent a few hours replying to messages, mostly inquiries from Earth—there was a lot of interest in New Vaxx now that Vaxxlian males were regularly traveling to Earth in search of their mates. The trip was a long one but necessary, as many Vaxxlian males hadn’t been able to find mates in any of the nearby sectors. The closest outposts and settlements where humans were known to live had already been picked over, and a mail order bride service had been set up on Earth to assist the Vaxxlians in finding willing human females to bring back to New Vaxx as their mates.

Sasha eyed the sun at its highest point in the sky and her stomach growled. Time for lunch. She departed her office and couldn’t help but peek into the empty rooms on her way out the building. Work was getting to be so demanding that soon she would have to hire more people to work in the embassy with her. She currently had two women in her employ, but one had taken a personal day and the other was currently on maternity leave, leaving the building strangely empty today.

She headed outside and made her way through the bustling streets of Starzzia, which was the capital city on New Vaxx. Well, at the moment it was also the only city on this planet, but it was getting larger by the day and she had a feeling that soon some of its inhabitants would break away and found another city somewhere else on the planet.

Sasha entered the library and looked around in confusion. Where was everyone? Normally the library was busy at this time of day, but she didn’t even see Lucy, the main librarian and mate of Zann’s brother Fynd anywhere in the large building.

“Hello,” she called, looking around.

She walked upstairs, to the children’s section, and still didn’t see anyone. Hm. Just when she was about to turn around and go back downstairs, she heard giggling from behind one of the bookshelves.

“Surprise!” a multitude of people yelled in unison as they jumped out from behind chairs and other pieces of furniture. Confetti shot through the air and pink streamers dropped down from the ceiling. Mila, who was mated to another of Zann’s brothers, pulled on a string and a banner that read “OH, BABY!” fell down across one of the tall bookshelves.

“What in the world…” Her voice trailed off and she grinned at Annika. “Aw, you guys, you shouldn’t have. Oh no, I think I’m going to cry now. Damn pregnancy hormones.”

Strong arms enveloped Sasha from behind and she peered back to find Zann was embracing her. She leaned into his touch, happy to see him during the middle of the day. What a wonderful surprise that her sisters-in-law had made the baby shower a co-ed one. As she glanced at Zann’s brothers’ mates—Annika, Mila, Diana, and Lucy—she realized the four of them must have been planning this party for a while. Several times recently, she had witnessed them whispering to one another and had found it strange when they fell suspiciously silent the second she approached. She smiled when she spotted Erin, the embassy employee who had taken a personal day, straightening some of the decorations on the far side of the room.

“Hey,” Annika said, with a stern look at Zann and his four brothers as they entered the room behind him, dozens of colorfully wrapped presents in their arms. “You guys are all late! And you were supposed to bring the presents over earlier today, not when you picked up Zann. So much for keeping secrets.”

Deza placed his armful of presents on a table and approached Annika with an apologetic look, then playfully swept her up in his arms for a moment to plant a loud kiss to her lips.

Sasha turned in Zann’s arms. “You knew about this?”

“No, but I suspected my brothers were up to something when they made a strange excuse to call me away from training today.” He kissed her forehead. “I have never been to a baby shower before.”

Sasha gazed around at all the people who’d gathered, her heart brimming with happiness. It had taken a lot longer for her to become pregnant than she’d expected, and now that the birth of their baby neared, the thoughtfulness of her sisters-in-law meant the world to her. “This was very sweet of your brothers’ mates.” She felt tears burning in her eyes and blinked rapidly as Annika, Mila, Diana, and Lucy all hurried to set out food, drinks, and the most delicious looking chocolate cake she’d ever seen, while their children scampered around them wearing party hats.

Zann laced his fingers through hers and leaned down until his lips grazed her ear. “I love you, my sweet mate,” he whispered in his sexy, deep voice. He placed a hand on her stomach. “And I know you’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

“Thanks, Zann. I know you’ll be a wonderful father, as well. And I love you, too, by the way. Very much.”

~THE END~

Other books in the Vaxxlian Mates series

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

* * *

Alien Healer (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 2)

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

On the run from her controlling fiancé, Mila makes a living as a transport pilot 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 warn 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.

Available on Amazon

* * *

Alien Giant (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 3)

A nine-foot-tall alien warrior just kidnapped me.

How’s your day going?

Diana is a survivor. It’s all she knows. But she has big plans once she escapes the dangerous outpost where she’s been stranded for the last ten years. Plans that involve buying a ship of her very own and traveling to a sparsely populated planet to live out the rest of her days in the sun. No more crowds, no more recirculated air, and no more cage fights. She certainly doesn’t plan on being “rescued” by a sexy alien giant with glowing green eyes who wants to make babies with her.

Kirn is enchanted by the fierce little human he’s stolen away from the outpost. Ah, what a beauty she is—and strong. She resists his advances at first, but he’s confident she will agree to become his mate soon. He’s a highly respected Vaxxlian warrior. How could she not want him? Mindful of his enormous size, he promises to be as gentle as possible when he finally mates with her. But as he’s about to discover, claiming a human female never goes as planned.

Available on Amazon

* * *

Alien Brute (Vaxxlian Mates, Book 4)

The alien warrior bought me.

But he doesn’t want a slave.

He wants me as his mate.

The brutal scars covering Fynd’s face are nothing compared to the wounds that have festered in his heart. After the bitter, public rejection by his intended mate a long time ago, he doubts any female will wish to become his…so he purchases a small human female named Lucy from a slave market. She’ll bear him a few children and he’ll provide for her in return, but he will not expect her to harbor any amount of affection for him. How could she? He’s a monster.

He wishes she weren’t so sweet and beautiful. He also wishes his heart didn’t fill with warmth in her presence. She’ll likely never return his affections, but he cannot let her go. Ever. A Vaxxlian warrior always mates for life.

Life hasn’t been easy for Lucy. She prays her next master will be kind, and she’s terrified when the new alien who buys her looks like an angry bull with glowing green eyes. After she attempts escape, she’s certain he’ll punish her severely. Her old master would have. But the alien warrior named Fynd kisses her instead—a shockingly tender kiss that makes her all tingly inside—and she starts to wonder if perhaps there’s more to the unsmiling alien warrior than meets the eye.

There’s a gentleness beneath his hardened exterior, but breaking his defenses down won’t be easy. As far as alien warriors go, he’s as stubborn and proud as they come. Can they both find healing in one another’s arms, or will a new threat tear them apart forever?

Available on Amazon

Also by Sue Mercury

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

* * *

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 Mercury’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 **

If you like naughty, heartfelt romance filled with sexy discipline, breathless surrender, and scorching hot passion, you might enjoy these kinkier 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)

Sold into Marriage

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

Visit Sue Lyndon’s Amazon Author Page

www.suelyndon.com