She left Earth to survive as a labourer, but things changed, and she was swept up in finding a new life that made her old one look like purgatory.

Getting herself and her sister through the end of the world would have been a lot easier if Lily hadn’t been at her high school reunion. Taking care of over a dozen whining women had grated on her nerves. Getting to the rescue vessels had been a relief.

Iris breezed through the training and learned as many languages as possible. She made some friends outside her collected group, but none of that meant anything when she was bundled into a sleeping pod and launched into space with the rest.

She woke up with her sister nearby, and the rest of her arrival day went in a blur. There was a rushed landing, a sandstorm, and then a man, who smelled like summer, rescued her from the new world that was trying to kill her.

She was given a few scans, and he insisted she gets medical treatment for old injuries. Time went by, and when she was discharged from the med centre, she had an interesting diagnosis for her current status. She was a companion class Terran, and Yavor was a Hmrain in search of a companion. It was like he had this planned all along.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Tearing the Sky

Copyright © 2022 by Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-990635-17-5

©Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

Published by Viola Grace

Look for me online at violagrace.com.

Tearing the Sky

Shattered Stars Book 11

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One

“They told us to stay in the shuttle!” Iris yelled at her teacher over the roar of the wind. The sandstorm was coming up on them quickly. The two-hundred-foot walls of the stronghold loomed ahead of them, but it was over a kilometre away, and they weren’t going to make it before the sand tore them apart.

“We can make it.” Madame Wellington huffed.

Iris looked behind her, grabbed Ally around the back, and hauled her toward the gate with her cloak flapping wildly. Ally looked behind them and screamed, locking up.

Iris cursed and yelled, “Keep going, you idiot! I have a plan.”

A few of the faster girls had already reached the gate and jumped through a small hole in the tremendous wall.

Iris listened to the wind getting louder, and when the sand started to sting them, she pulled Ally down and yelled, “Cup your hands over your face to filter the sand. I am going to be on top of you. Don’t let the sand get into your nose and mouth. Use your tunic if you have to.”

Ally whimpered. Iris tucked her cloak around them and held onto Ally as the wind roared and screamed around them. Based on projections, they were in for twenty minutes of hell. She pulled her tunic up and over her head and focused on breathing. Breathing was everything.

* * * *

Yavor looked at the Namu, the head of the city guard. “What do you mean they left their shuttle?”

“We have most of them inside, but the stragglers are out and facing the storm.”

“Why did I offer to host these idiots?”

“They are all female and compatible with us Vor.” Namu smiled.

“But, they are stupid if they are facing the storms.”

“Yeah, but from the ones I have seen come in through the hatch, they are a very attractive species.”

Yavor nodded and flexed his wings, looking back at his flight warriors. They got onto their storm riders, and he powered upward. Time to find the new citizens of Avor.

* * * *

Iris sang to Ally to keep her spirits up as well as keep her breathing going. There was a thud that was nearly lost in the roaring and then more, and the wind stopped pushing.

A hand pulled her upright, and she kept her grip on Ally so they both came out of the sand in one move.

She heard the alien speech and swallowed when someone pulled her in close and said, “My, my. I have never found this in the sand before.”

“Thank you for your assistance, sir. Ally is not fast.”

“Oh, you have sand in your eyes. Let go of your little friend.”

Ally shrieked and shook her head. “No. I don’t want her to.” Ally had shouted in English.

Iris dropped her and lightly brushed the sand away before something super-soft and silky took over the job.

What felt like wide, soft fingers were stroking her features. Soft breath blew over her cheekbones and eyelids, and when the male voice whispered, “There you are. All clear.”

Iris blinked, slowly opened her eyes, and found herself way too close to a Hmrain. He was still holding her like a kitten at the scruff of her neck.

Dark blue skin, black mask, and markings on his face were accented by the woven marks that denoted his name in ancient Hmrain script. His torso was covered in leather strapping and two huge black angel-type wings, one of which was caressing her cheek with the feathers of one edge.

“Lord Yavor, we apologize for the effort you had to engage in to retrieve us.”

“Oh, you are a quick thing.”

Iris growled at being called a thing.

He laughed. “You know who I am?”

Ally was pulling at her and crying.

“Uh, yes, my lord. I do.” She tried to brace herself on Ally, but the tugging continued pulling her down.

“Your young friend is panicked.”

“She is not my friend, my lord, and panicked is her natural state.” The cloak started to strangle her, and she reached up to grip his wrist to hold herself up.

When she touched his arm, she heard a gasp, and she looked around to see that they weren’t alone. Women in uniform were standing in front of huge eagles that had their wings outstretched to hold back the storm. Each of the riders had short-cropped hair. The women were all staring at her. They were staring at her hand on his wrist.

“Don’t worry, little new arrival. We are leaving. You. Crying woman. Go to the woman with the blue lacing on her tunic.”

Ally clung to Iris and sobbed. Iris finally whispered, “Go, Ally. We aren’t going to get out of here, and I don’t know how long those birds can hold the storm. I am not going to die because of your attachment issues.”

Ally blinked and straightened. “You’re mean.”

“And you’re twenty-eight. Go. Get on the bird, so we can get out of here.” When Ally turned, Iris let her grip relax and gave in to being strangled by her cloak. The compression around her neck was insistent.

Lord Yavor grunted and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You could have mentioned it.”

Her voice croaked. “And critique the rescue? Never.”

He pulled her to him in a bridal carry and looked left and right before he launched skyward.

Her head snapped back at the final insult, and she fainted.

* * * *

Yavor looked at his little prize and smiled. The rough takeoff had been on purpose. He didn’t want to shock his guard any more than necessary. He had been promised a Hmrain-compatible mate in the thirty young women, and he was fairly sure he was holding her. Mind you, they had mentioned golden hair, and this female had no hair at all. Her scalp had nearly invisible stubble, but he wanted to know why she had been shorn.

He flew her over the top of the protective wall and dropped down to the courtyard within.

The flight of his guard landed behind him, and the weepy one ran to the older female who was waiting with the other members of the bond imports. The ladies would be given aptitude testing, and their usefulness would be determined.

He looked at the women who were staring at him, and a smaller creature with familiar features stalked over to him. “Lord Yavor, what are you doing with my sister.”

“She fainted. Who are you, little one?”

“I am Lily. She’s Iris. We are sisters. Genetic relations.”

He looked at the creature, who was genuinely worried. “I will bring her to our medical facility. I knocked her out. I will oversee her restoration.”

“May I come with you, my lord? Iris hasn’t had a particularly easy time of it.”

“Of course, Lily. Come with me.”

He nodded to his guard, and they fell in behind him as he and Lily walked past the other Terrans and into the expansive and beautiful city.

Lily sighed. “It looks like a resort city. Or a theme park.”

“I don’t know what a theme park is, but it was designed to be safe, beautiful, and comfortable.” He paused. “Are all Terrans so thin?”

“We were scooped up after two years of survival. We only got basic training at the education station before we were shipped here. There was one Terran sold to bond as companion class, but we were processed as a group.”

He smiled. “That’s interesting. Do you have a point to that mention?”

“Madame is going to try and state that Ally is companion class, but she isn’t. She lies. A lot. Once she knows what you are looking for, she will show it to you. Just warning you.”

He saw the med centre and kept walking. “So, there are no companion class females among your group?”

Lily blushed. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“You?”

“Oh, god, no. My sister. I am pretty sure that Iris meets all the criteria. She’s bold, strong, and guys follow her around all the time. She said she shaved her head to keep her admirers away.”

He looked down. “What colour is her hair normally?”

“A gleaming gold. It used to go down her back to her hips.”

“She is physically mature?”

“She’s thirty-one, so yes.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” He set his burden down on a scanner, and the medics took over.

“Because she is never going to do anything for her own interests. She is going to let everyone else go ahead, and she isn’t going to rest until we are all settled. It’s just the way she is. She needs someone to champion her now and then.” Lily shrugged and watched her sister, wincing at all of the red indicators that flashed up on the screen. “She always puts herself between me and danger. She does that with everyone she thinks needs protection.”

“Which is why she was out there in the sandstorm.” He nodded in understanding.

“She was leading us and nearly to the door when she looked back and saw Madame and Ally straggling behind. She turned around and ran back to them, which is typical.”

“So, she has no sense of self-preservation and has sustained a dozen broken bones in the last year.”

Lily twisted her lips. “Mainly ribs. A roof collapsed on her.”

“How did she survive?” He looked at the sleeping woman slowly from head to toe.

“She wouldn’t let herself die.” Lily smiled softly. “Not while I was alive to protect.”

“Interesting.” Yavor looked at the medics. “Start repairs. Her tolerance for pain is admirable but should not be necessary.”

Lily looked at him with wide eyes that were mostly blue but purple when she got intense. “Wait. You are going to fix her? How much will that cost her?”

Yavor shrugged. “One or two years of service.”

The door opened, and a sobbing female stumbled in with Rey of his guards and the older woman. Rey snorted. “This one claims injury from when her companion saved her from the storm.”

Lily sighed. “Ally. Knock it off. You are not getting into his pants.”

Yavor watched the anger flare in the sobbing woman’s eyes. Ah, one of those.

“Lily, why does she think it would be a good idea to be under a Hmrain?”

“My lord, she was told that companion class females would live in luxury and only have to work at pleasing you.” Lily curled her lip. “She has survived by being helpless if that makes sense.”

Yavor nodded and then heard the medics stirring behind him. He turned his head, and a silent Iris was fighting her medics. He looked at her sister. “Will she listen to you?”

“Not if she just woke up. The terrifying stuff always happened when we woke up.”

Yavor walked over to the treatment bed that Iris had been moved to. He clamped a hand around her throat and held her down. “Quiet, Iris. You will not come to harm. They are setting the units to repair your old injuries. You seem to charge into danger, Irith.”

She squirmed against his hand, and the same blue-purple eyes were staring at him. Rey chuckled behind him.

With her throat compressed, Iris hissed, “It’s Iris.”

Rey laughed. “Irith means fledgling.”

Lily walked up next to Yavor and said, “Iris, you nearly did it again. Next time, just fucking run.”

Iris looked at her sibling, and her gaze softened. The residual fury and panic faded. She looked up at him, and Yavor felt the flicker of recognition. He leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft, but her energy was wild and crackling. The moment his lips touched hers, pleasure stirred. In direct contact, he pulled on her energy and nearly fell on his ass. He wanted to keep consuming, but she was weak and tried to turn her head. He chuckled. “Well, look at that. Free gift with purchase.”

She stared at him and muttered, “That is a Terran phrase.”

He nodded. “You are not the first Terrans here. I have bought the bond on four batches of females. You are the only companion class in the bunch.”

The weeping woman gasped behind him.

Yavor stroked Irith’s cheek, and he smiled. “Heal well. We need to speak when you are well.”

The medics nodded, and Yavor kissed the slightly sandy cheek of his new companion and nodded.

A medic was scanning the weeping woman and frowning. “There is nothing wrong with you.”

“She hurt my wrist!”

Lily growled. “She had to grab you to get you going. You froze.”

Ally sniffed. “I have delicate sensibilities.”

Yavor snorted. “Lily, Rey, stay with Irith. Ally, Madame, go back to the intake processing. You are here to work, not bawl and simper. I can always send you back or sell your bond to a less appealing species. Keep that in mind.”

Rey lunged as the woman reached for Yavor. “Do not touch him! It can be a death sentence to touch him without permission.”

“Iris did! She touched him.”

Yavor laughed and showed his teeth. It was not something he normally did with the new species, but he did not like this whining woman. “She’s companion class. I am hoping she wants to do more than just touch my wrist. In fact, I will insist on it.”

The older woman held the younger, and he snorted. “You have given into her ideas and weakness. It is not admirable.”

He looked at Lily and smiled. “Determine where you would like to train.”

Rey chuckled and handed her a tablet. “The newcomer options for education and training are on this page.”

Yavor watched the woman look at the tablet with a smile.

Lily looked at him suddenly. “Can I pick for Iris as well?”

He shook his head. “Irith will have to make her own choices and make her own contracts.”

“But, can I look for her?”

Yavor laughed. “No. All your choices are your own, and hers are her own, but certain aspects have been made for her. Why, what do you think she would like to do?”

Lily looked at him seriously. “Fly. I think she would want to fly one of those large birds.”

Rey snorted. “There is more to it than that. We have a duty to the people here.”

Lily looked at her. “That wouldn’t be a problem for Iris.”

Yavor looked at the medics taking care of the injuries, removing the burring on the bones and reinforcing her arm. “No, I don’t suppose it would be. Rey, see that she is introduced to the Korik when she is awake.”

Rey frowned. “But... if she is your... companion, isn’t that against the rules?”

“She isn’t yet. I have to leave here for a few days to work on the walls of the eastern city. Keep her and the others safe and out of trouble.” His body was humming with proximity to Irith and the energy she was producing. “Her status will be settled when I return.”

He looked at the young woman who was standing next to her elder with her fists clenched. “Do not cause trouble for her or any member of your party, either of you.”

The women flinched but nodded.

Yavor smiled and spoke to the medics before he kissed Irith’s forehead. She may have been a flower on her world, but she was a fledgling now. His Irith.

The storm was over, and he had work to do to build his new world. He needed to get going so he could return and draw up a companion contract with Irith.

He hadn’t been this excited in decades.

Chapter Two

Iris came awake with a jolt, and Lily’s voice was calm. “Easy, sis. You are alive, you are healthy, and you are on Avor.”

“Avor. Bad wind, nice city. Right.” Iris leaned back, then looked down. “What am I wearing?”

“Bondservant wear. Stylish, right?” Lily smiled and got up and twirled.

The tunic wrap went to the knees. Tight leggings were under it, with the fabric clinging to Lily as she moved.

“Underwear?”

“Breast bands and a g-string and wrap combo for panties.”

“Delightful.”

A doctor walked up with a smile. “Miss Irith, you are cleared to resume your orientation. Your sibling has been here every day this week, reading and taking care of you.”

Iris looked at the male with pale blue skin and light markings, and she chuckled. “Iris. The last sound is a sibilant.”

He chuckled. “According to the overseer, your name is now Irith.”

Lily smiled. “It means fledgeling in Vor.”

Iris sighed. “Right. I should get used to that, then. I can go now?”

He nodded. “Come back anytime. The overseer has declared you a priority case.”

Iris put her feet over the edge of the bed, and Lily helped her get to her feet. She swayed but felt different. Lighter. “I was out for a week? What happened?”

“You passed out when the overseer rescued you. He had them scan you from top to bottom and found some old breaks that weren’t set. They fixed them. You also have two inches of hair, so now you look like one of the storm riders.”

“The storm riders?”

“Yeah, the women who fly the giant birds. You remember.”

“Oh. Right. They were in the briefing.”

“Right. Come on, it’s a great day out.” Lily opened the door.

Iris inhaled the scent of the alien world. Spices, food cooking, livestock, and green and growing scents all assailed her. There was the tinge of animals and fuel.

Iris straightened and walked next to her sister. “Have you chosen your bond yet?”

Lily smiled. “I have. I am going into medicine. Again. Seeing those medics working on you made me wish I could help you myself but my current skills don’t cover this equipment. My studies will start after you are settled.”

She felt a pang of guilt. “You have been holding back for me?”

“It has only been a week. It has also let me learn about the city and find my way around.”

“Right, little sis. So, where are we going?”

“The bond house. That is where we live until you get your assessments and assignment to your position. The bond agreement has to work both ways. Remember that.”

Iris glanced at her sibling. “What are you saying?”

“All that I am allowed to unless I want to get kicked off Avor like Madam and Ally did.”

“They what?”

“Oh, yeah. Ally was telling the locals that she was the companion, and Madame was backing her up. Technically they aren’t off-world yet, but they are on the next shuttle back to a bond auction. They won’t interfere with you.”

“Interfere with? What would they have to do with me now that they can cause havoc here?” Iris looked around as they walked between buildings.

Shadows cruised overhead, and Lily chuckled. “The guard is back. They go out and hunt for most of the meat this settlement consumes.”

Iris nodded. “That was in the file.”

“I am guessing you were the only one that read it.” Lily hugged her suddenly. “I was really worried about you.”

Iris hugged her back. “Never worry about me. You know the rules.”

“I grew up a lot during this, so now I can worry about you. You do a lot of stupid shit, Iris.”

Iris laughed, and they separated. “Yeah, you did grow up at some point. I should have been paying closer attention.”

“You should have, but I now have a whole week of experience here, and I am going to show you what is what and introduce you to the bond placement director.”

“Oh. Nice. I can walk now. I have gotten my legs back and am feeling better. We can move faster.”

“Things here move at their own pace. There are fourteen species here that support and are compatible with the Vor. We are the most recent. There have been two other bond transports from Earth, each with fifty people. We were brought in because... uh...”

“We were all girls in a contained group.”

“Yup. And a large quantity of a specific age.”

“All of breeding age.”

“Right. Wait. You knew that we were mail-order brides?” Lily was shocked.

“Of course. If you read the Hmrain details on our shipping manifest, it was right there. All of us were in a mate classification for a variety of species.” She nudged her sister. “If we want any part of Terra to survive after we are gone, it is going to be in our genes.”

“Yeah, but why weren’t you companion class?”

“I got into a fight that day. They assessed me as physically compatible with the Vor, and I completed the set.”

Lily looked at her. “You are really calm about this.”

“Of course, I am. Yavor isn’t here today.”

“How do you know that?”

Iris shrugged. “The air kind of hums when he’s there. The city hums.”

Lily blinked. “Wow. Okay. It’s down here and to the left.”

Iris looked at the signage that stated it was a bond-training house. “That looks like it.”

“I keep forgetting that you had the language installed.”

“I had everything installed. My bond debt is huge.”

Lily laughed as they walked through the stone streets and to the steps of the bond house. “The coordinator is named Arluth. He’s pretty nice.”

“Helpful?”

“Oh, very.”

“Good.” The doors opened as they approached, and Lily smiled at the talking creature made of shadows.

“Welcome. Is this the one missing from the manifest?” There was a sibilant hissing from the being.

Iris inclined her head. “I am. I have received medical treatment and am now ready to resume my path to my bond.”

“I am Arluth, and I will assist you. Would you come with me? We will begin the cognitive scanning.”

“May my sister accompany me?”

“You are truly siblings?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Of course. Lily, please, come with. It will help you gain more knowledge of the equipment.”

They followed Arluth deeper into the building. It was time for intake to Avor.

Iris lay in the first machine. Arluth tweaked it, and she answered the questions in all the languages of Avor.

“Interesting. You paid for extra education?”

“Yes, sir. I thought it would gain me a pricier bond, and since I am not planning on travelling, a few extra years of work won’t be an issue.”

Arluth spoke in Vor. “Very practical. Few beings from dying worlds think that far ahead.”

“I had a choice between a life with minimal ignorance or disabling my own mind and skills by refusing the opportunity of an education. It has never been freely offered before, so I took it.”

He chuckled. “It was not free. You added two years to your bond in languages alone.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I know.”

He was lifting the unit when she did that, and he paused. “What is that? Lily does that as well. Do you have more olfactory receptors than it appears?”

“No. In our family, we do it for surrender to an absolute.” She smiled. “It is an acknowledgement of action not in our best interest in the short term.”

“Ah. Self-deprecation. I understand. It does indicate that you were raised in the same manner as your sibling.”

Iris looked at Lily. “You could say that.”

Lily smiled. “You could definitely say that.”

Their father died when Iris was six and Lily was two. Their mother struggled until Iris was twelve, and then Iris took care of Lily, her homework, and afterschool interests. When she was eighteen, Iris’s mother checked herself into a mental facility and left Iris and Lily alone.

Lily had her mannerisms because Iris raised her.

Iris got into the physical-tolerance machine, and she grinned at the lack of aches and pains. Physical labour didn’t pay well, but there was always plenty of it, and her body had had plenty of proof of her efforts. All those aches and pains were now gone.

Arluth chuckled happily. “Very strong. Good.”

The reflex test was fun, and she was sweating when she was done.

“Your endurance is down, but that is to be expected since you were asleep so long.”

“How long were we out?”

He paused. “Two years?” He checked a data pad that one of his shoulders was holding. “Yes. Two years after the bond auction. We are a distance from the main population hubs of this sector.”

“Right.” Iris stepped free of the reflex machine, and Arluth wrapped his shadows around her wrist.

Her pulse started slow, and then it was racing through her limbs. She swayed, pressed her thighs together as her sex throbbed, and gasped. She whined when he started again, and this time, she came faster.

He caught her. “Huh. I thought Lily was trying to get you an easy posting, but it seems you have the aptitude for the toughest one of all.”

Iris blinked and rubbed her palms on her thighs, ignoring the fluttering and twitching inside her. “Yeah, he mentioned something about that, but then he left town for a bit, and I am guessing he changed his mind.”

Arluth shivered, his shadows going everywhere. “Changed. His. Mind?” He straightened. “That does not seem likely. Lord Yavor is not known for whimsy.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I do know that he said one of his riders would be watching out for Lily and me, and she wasn’t there when I woke up. So, that feels like a changed mind to me. Either way, what am I suited for?”

“Companion.”

She batted that idea away. “Aside from that. What else?”

He tilted what she assumed was his head. “Storm rider.”

Iris shook her head. “High profile. Not my style.”

“It is the most suitable for your mind and physiology. You have no fear and quick reflexes. If one of the birds wants to bond with you, there is no reason why you could not be a storm rider. I will call their captain and have you brought to the aerie.”

Iris looked to Lily as Arluth went to the communication unit.

Iris wrinkled her nose. “Did I just put my foot in it?”

“I think you will make an excellent storm rider, and there isn’t an overseer to stop you... yet.” Lily grinned.

“Do you think he will have an opinion on it?”

Lily nodded. “Pretty sure he will have an opinion, but go for it. I think a bit of rebellion would look good on you.”

Arluth came back to them and bowed. “You can wait in the main hall. Rey is on her way.”

Iris smiled weakly. “Oh. Good. This will be interesting. Thank you for your assessment, Coordinator Arluth.”

“Oh, I am coming with you. Rey seemed strangely excited that you were mobile.”

“Oh. Goody.”

Lily bowed to Arluth and cackled as they returned to the main hall. Iris started pacing slowly while keeping a nervous eye on the door. When Rey came through the door, she bowed low. “Apologies, my lady. I left you unattended.”

Iris blushed. “I don’t need attending. I need a job for the colony so that I can earn my keep.”

Rey cocked her head. “He will be back in a few days. You can begin earning your keep then.”

Iris fisted her hands. “Can I at least learn what you do?”

Rey looked at her and nodded. “Of course, my lady.”

Iris whispered, “Please, don’t call me that. I haven’t taken on the position.”

Rey snorted. “You are stuck on his world and the only companion class female here. It is going to be assigned to you.”

Arluth chuckled. “It already has been. She refused it.”

“I didn’t refuse it... specifically. I just know he isn’t here, so there is no sense in me waiting for him.”

Rey chuckled. “I hope you are good at climbing stairs. It is the first thing we learn.”

Arluth paused and darted behind a desk. “She doesn’t have her ration ticket or her dorm registration.”

Lily smiled. “You are in my dorm room. We are on the fourth level here in the bond house. You just have to be in by eight. Miss Rey, may I accompany you?”

“You can if you can.”

Arluth clipped a tight band on Iris’s wrist. “There. That will entitle you to basic rations in the city. Any inn or food vendor will supply you with the designated calorie count.”

“Thank you.” She inclined her head and then turned to Rey. “Shall we?”

Rey grinned. “Of course, my lady.”

Lily nodded. “Wait for me.”

Rey snorted and started to walk toward the door. “Storm riders don’t wait. Lives are usually at stake.”

Iris nodded, and they left the bond house and followed the woman to a narrow set of stairs that hugged the inner wall of the barricade that protected the city. Rey started to take the steps two at a time, but Iris took each step as she climbed upward. The city wall was enormous, so it was quite the climb. She was coated with sweat by the time she got to the top, but the view was incredible.

“Oh, wow.”

Rey looked at her and smiled with satisfaction. “I thought that you would enjoy the view.”

Iris looked down the steps, and Lily was only halfway up. “She’s been on restricted motion for a few years.”

“Haven’t you?”

Iris paused. “Yeah. But... I’m different.”

Rey laughed. “Come on. Your sibling can catch up. Aybee, we have a straggler coming up the steps. Can you help her hydrate?”

Aybee laughed. “Of course. You need water for that one you have?”

“She looks fine.”

Iris steeled herself. “I do require water.”

A water bag came flying at her, and she took a few sips. “Thank you.”

The woman nodded. “You know there is a lift, right?”

“I guessed there was, but as storms tend to affect power, it is wise to maintain basic physical fitness.”

Rey laughed. “You call that basic?”

“It is running up stairs. My thighs are going to hate me when I try and go downstairs, but it isn’t the end of the world.”

Rey chuckled. “Come with me, my lady.”

Iris nodded and waved at Lily. Lily waved back and kept coming.

Rey took her away from the steps, and they headed toward the area where the birds perched and rubbed against each other.

The Korik were gorgeous, and they were huge. Gold, silver, and pearl were the colour of the feathers.

“Are they all female?”

“Yeah. We leave them with the males for breeding season, and when they lay their eggs, the males care for them so that the females can hunt. Their bipedal partners help where they can, but waiting out the breeding season is rough on us all.”

“Why?”

“We are linked to our partners on a very basic level, and each of the riders has a ground-bound mate. When our birds are driven to mate, so are we. Things get a little rough, so we try to go in shifts.”

The birds extended their deadly beaks toward Iris, and she remained still until they started rubbing their heads against her. “Wow, they are really friendly.”

Rey blinked in confusion. “Yeah, they seem to be. Normally they would be flapping and screaming right now.”

Iris chuckled and stroked the two heads she could reach. “They know a fellow hunter.”

Rey stepped back and said, “They will let you know if they aren’t happy.”

Iris dug her fingers into the feathers and touched all three birds in turn. “I bet you were the first inhabitants on Avor.”

The chirp in her ear confirmed it.

A giant shadow crossed over her, and there was a rumble in the air. Iris’s skin started to tingle, and her belly felt electric.

Rey chuckled. “Oh, good. Lord Yavor is back. That’s his long-range transport. One of the males.”

Iris stood with her feet rooted to the stone as the midnight form settled a few metres from the others.

To her astonishment, the birds tucked her away against their chests like a chick.

Heavy feet thudded to the stone, and Yavor walked toward her. She held her breath and saw his dark shape pass her. When she heard Lily speaking to him, the birds caught on, and they moved her further down the row until she was on the far side of them and toward the large male.

A huge purple eye looked down at her, and she looked up at him. She smiled and heard his name in her mind. He reached out with his hooked beak and nudged her under him. Iris was pushed under the fluffy warmth of his body, and he settled around her.

It was less than a minute in warm comfort until a concerned chirp sounded and was met by low murmurs. A hand closed around her arm, and Yavor pulled her out from under his mount.

He was grinning when he pulled her free. “You are very nervous, Irith. They are trying to soothe you.”

She swallowed. “I can’t imagine why.”

He cupped the back of her head in his hand. His eyes looked over her. “You are well?”

She could feel the vibration in her body at his touch. “Yes, my lord.”

“The birds have taken to you.”

She had no comment on that. It was hard to comment while staring into the eyes of the person who had saved her from a life of servitude, only to tuck her into a life of the same. She had avoided the auction, but the result was the same, with the exception of her sister remaining with her. That was worth the world to her.

Now, she wasn’t so sure that she wanted her sister to watch what would happen to her.

He smiled. “You are thinking quickly, but your thoughts are not of me. Let’s change that.”

He kissed her, and she gripped the hand that cupped her jaw. The other held her head and kept her from backing away. She was his, and he was starting to prove it. This was the moment that their connection would begin.

Chapter Three

The first brush of his lips against hers made her freeze. The second and third brushes made her less wary. Yavor was being very careful. Very deliberate.

Iris was held between his hands, and he licked at her lips before he parted them. His tongue swept in to taste. He stroked his tongue against hers and paused. He lifted his head and thumbed tears from her cheeks. He dragged his tongue across her cheeks, the tip a delicate point. “You are frightened and hungry. They did not feed you.”

“I got a ration cuff.” She looked at him, memorizing his features. She wanted to do a thousand things with him, and only fifty could be managed on the wall.

She could count the number of sexual encounters she had had in her life on one hand. Just his kiss was more than she had felt in any of those moments. That was what spurred the tears.

He nuzzled her neck. “They didn’t feed you. You are hungry.”

She whined softly, and her knees buckled.

“And weak but responsive.”

She trembled.

“What were you doing up here?”

She swallowed and whispered, “I need to pick a bond. I have already been here seven days. I only have three more before I pick a bond or get stuck with grunt work. I have done a lot of basic work in my life. The assessor said I was suited to be a storm rider.”

Yavor smiled. “Of course, you are. You have met my mount.”

“Abet.” As she said the name, the beast chortled and rocked back and forth.

“Ah, he shared his name. He’s taken with you.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “As am I, but I will have a better chance of mating with you than he will. But you were right about your bond. That needs to be settled.”

He kissed her again, pulling her up and against him, so they were face to face. He turned his face toward Rey and Aybee. “Let Lily use the lift. Irith will never forgive me if her sister takes a tumble down the steps.”

Lily stared with her eyes wide. “Where are you going?”

“My home. We will formalize the bond and contract there.”

Iris turned to her sister. “You really don’t want to watch any of that.”

She wrapped her arms around Yavor’s neck. He kissed her temple, and they launched skyward. Iris pressed her face to his neck, and he flew them toward his home. He had not changed his mind about the contract.

His arms held her, her legs tangled a little with his, and she realized he had six limbs. All the Hmrain did. It was something she hadn’t noticed before. How could they be compatible when they didn’t have the same number of limbs?

He swept and soared across the city and climbed upward to tuck them behind more walls before landing in front of a very large building.

She swallowed as he set her down and took her by the hand. “Come, Irith, let’s formalize things so that you have the protections of the law.”

“Oh, against the Vor?”

“Them and the two other half-Hmrain who are serving their apprenticeship here.”

She looked around. “Here?” She got very nervous very quickly. The warnings against adolescent Hmrain were plentiful, and that included any of them under the age of seventy-five.

“No. They are at the new city, overseeing construction.” He glanced down at her. “You are tense at the thought of others of my kind?”

“In the language lessons, it has words for young male Hmrain, and none of them are flattering.”

He snorted. “I suppose they would not be. It is a difficult time for most species, and we were designed and enter the universe wide awake and adults. When we manage to reproduce, the children are exposed to evolving hormones that we never experienced in underdeveloped bodies with minds that have limited self-control. It takes years to gain control of what they are. Bodies that can fly from star to star.”

They were walking into the structure through doors that were wide enough for his wings.

She asked, “Are there Terran women at the other city?”

“Just the two that are being held for off-world transport. Neither of the males there has an interest in them. I must say, we rarely throw things back, but those two are poison. They will go to a spaceport where their bonds can be sold off, and they might bring themselves happiness.”

“Or get out of your space and stop spewing poison.”

He chuckled as his staff assembled. “Definitely that.”

The staff were from seven different species that Vor hosted. Two of the members were elderly Terrans. Four were from the species that now identified as Vor, and the others were all in pairs and looked to be couples.

“They are all mated pairs?” she whispered to him.

“Yes. I find them more settled when they have mates who are compatible.”

The servants chuckled.

She was introduced to the housekeepers, Uthan and Illia. They were Vor and had medium blue skin, grey markings, and long dark hair.

Yavor smiled. “This is your mistress, Lady Irith. Well, Iris to her people. Irith to me.”

Iris inclined her head to the people who were gathered. “I am pleased to meet you.”

The Terrans had pitying expressions as they inclined their heads where the others gave full bows. Hina and Ren were calm, and they were a reminder that it wasn’t just her own continent that had been wrecked by the asteroid. Her entire world had shattered in one cataclysmic thud, leaving it to bleed from lifegiving greens, animals for meat, and the very air itself. It might be over already, and if Terra was dead, she hoped that those who wished to live were living out in space and those who wanted to die with their world had a swift end.

She had not understood how heavy her will to live was until she had watched the last footage of the asteroid impact and the reports of death and destruction, then silence. The girls’ school didn’t have any ham radio equipment, and they didn’t develop the skills to make one until just before the landing. The girls at the school for their ten-year reunion had been scrabbling for everything they could get.

The Terrans looked back at her with sombre expressions. There was nothing like losing everything to give one perspective.

She looked to the staff. “When possible, and when Lord Yavor allows, my sister will be visiting.”

The Terrans were shocked.

Illia smiled. “Excellent. We look forward to hosting her at the soonest opportunity. Hina and Ren have told us of their society and the rules and patterns.”

“My culture is different but interesting in its own way, and aside from that, my culture is dead now, so it matters little.” Iris shrugged. “I will adapt to Avor.”

Yavor pulled her close. “I do not wish you to lose all of yourself, little Irith.”

“The rock falling from the sky did that. It lost me my home, my people, and everything I knew except for one thing. I got to keep Lily.” She smiled up at him. Her body suddenly felt hollow, and she squeezed his hand.

His eyes flickered with acknowledgement. “Ah, Illia, our lady is hungry.”

Illia nodded and glanced at Hina and Ren. They smiled slightly and headed for the kitchen.

Yavor tucked her in close, gave a dismissing nod to those gathered, and took her on a tour of the place he called home. Servants’ quarters were in a separate building. The kitchens were bustling, and the cooks were whirring away. The smells were unfamiliar but not a turnoff. The nice thing was that everyone was talking quietly and joking. Even if they were laughing at her, they were having a good time. That gave her hope that it would be possible for her.

Entertainment rooms, a pool for swimming or reflection. Guest quarters, libraries, studies, and hobby rooms all went by as he showed her each one. It was more than she had seen in years.

The upper level was Yavor’s or, rather, theirs. “These are our private quarters. Anything in them is yours to have or toy with.”

Desks, wide windows, table, and chairs. An entertainment unit and plush couch took up one area. A set of wardrobes rested against a wall. A discrete door was next to them. The shower and bath were out in the open. That was a little nerve-wracking.

Iris looked around and muttered, “There aren’t a lot of walls.”

“Ah, you noticed that. I am glad your time in medical didn’t damage your vision. When I am dealing with particularly aggressive appetites, it would be best that you not be hidden from me. It is a startling reality, but it will happen. I am trying to keep things honest.”

She swallowed. “Right. Thanks for that.”

He chuckled. “One of my brothers has taken on one of your kind. She has been considered the first companion out of Terra, but you were the first unofficial one. The first one suspected but bundled in with your group.”

“Two years to get here?”

“Well, you have been in orbit for six months, so I could finish this place. A proper home for a companion is important.”

She blinked. “Like a cage for a pet?”

“More like a setting for a precious jewel. It makes the stone more brilliant, and the worth is apparent at first glance.”

She swallowed. “Oh. Right.”

He chuckled. “The expression on your face is priceless.”

There was a knock on the doorframe.

“Come in, Uthan.”

Uthan came in with two tablets. “My lord, I have the original drafts of the companion bond contract with your stipulations.”

Yavor held his hand out, and one of the tablets was placed in his hand. Uthan handed the second tablet to Iris, and she read the contract slowly. It was standard room and board, year-by-year bonuses, and a hundred-year contract. The paragraph about an heir made her blush, and the heat only increased when the stipulation that she would not withhold her body from him was mentioned.

She blinked. “Whoa.”

Yavor looked up from his copy, and a few notes he was making showed up on her copy. He got to pick her outfits, and no dangerous behaviour would be tolerated. It was punishable by a non-damaging discipline of his choosing.

Iris looked at him. “Why is that clause necessary?”

He smiled and stroked her cheek with the back of his index finger. “Because you have a penchant for charging out on impulse. You are now transformed into something rare and precious. No one can raise a hand to you or injure you, not even yourself.”

“What about injury in the course of playing games? What about tripping over my own feet and bruising my knees?”

He scowled. “What kind of games cause injury?”

She explained the basics of soccer to him, and his eyes went wide.

He was focused. “Irith, can you and the others demonstrate?”

She paused. “If the others are interested, sure. We have enough for two teams in a pinch. Wait. We need a ball. Tell Lily. She used to repair them. She will know how to do it.”

Uthan made a note.

Iris shrugged. “But it is a lot of running, kicking, and sliding on the ground. Blood is likely to happen. As are dislocations and a lot of bruising.”

Yavor shook his head. “You cannot play.”

Iris paused. “What?”

“You cannot play. It sounds dangerous and painful, not to mention disfiguring. From how you describe it, you could easily catch a kick to the jaw.” He shook his head. “There are games that can be played with the storm riders. You can play those if you gain a steed.”

She looked at him, and he cocked his head. She nodded. “Fine.”

He wrote it into the contract, and she then added a mention of restricting intimate activities during her period.

He looked at that, snorted, and crossed it out. “I can not guarantee being able to comply.”

“Fine, but don’t blame me if the housekeeper thinks you murdered me.”

He looked at her and then laughed. “Noted. Uthan, warn Illia. Irith, how long is that portion of your cycle?”

“Four days? It depends on my physical activity.”

“Noted. If you are uncomfortable, let me know, and our interactions will be modified.”

She swallowed as he wrote that into the very public companion contract.

The final document was mortifying in excruciating detail, but they had come to agreements on most of the subjects. Others Iris couldn’t object to considering the nature of the contract. She was taking on the role of lover and hostess. If she acquired the role of breeder, the contract was complete, and a ridiculous payout was offered. She could go anywhere that space travel would let her go, as long as she left her child behind.

Iris signed and did an ocular scan and a thumbprint. Yavor did the same. Uthan smiled in relief and took the tablets away.

Iris ran her hands down the hips of her tunic, and she got wildly nervous. “I am going to check out the view from the window.”

He snorted with laughter and picked her up with an arm around the waist. “Your meal has arrived, so we will be sitting and having a nice meal.”

“Wait. So the contract is starting now?”

He grinned and walked to the table with her. “Of course. That is the only reason to enact it so rapidly. I need you to start getting used to me.”

“Because once I am used to you, there won’t be much slowing down?”

“Correct. I need you to get aroused fast and climax hard. I am hungry. I haven’t had a lover of compatible energy output in years.”

She blushed. “We haven’t proved that yet.”

“I am quietly confident.”

He sat in the chair, and Illia brought in the first tray, with Hina carrying the second. He pulled her onto his lap with a thud. He started to kiss her neck while she washed her hands in the bowl and dried her palms with a towel. Illia smiled, and Hina blushed and looked away.

Sexual energy wasn’t something that she considered to be edible, but the Hmrain used it to power some of their other skills like telekinesis and telepathy. Enhanced cognition was also part of the effect when the feeding schedule resulted in a sated Hmrain.

He murmured against her neck, “Eat.”

She leaned forward, and he unfastened the closures on her tunic. His hand slid into the opening near her breasts, and his fingers moved the breast band aside. She moaned when he teased her nipple, and then he paused his lips and hand. “Eat, Irith.”

The ladies were standing against the wall, and Iris shoved one of the small items into her mouth and chewed. He chuckled and muttered, “Good girl. You go, and I will continue. If you stop, I will stop.”

She chewed and swallowed. “That’s not much of a threat.”

Hina gasped. Illia elbowed her.

He tugged her head back and placed his teeth on her neck. He growled, and to her astonishment, she whined. The teeth on her neck had caused a surge between her thighs. Now he could smell her heat.

He paused, and she felt his head move slightly. There was the soft scuffle of feet, and they were alone.

“Keep eating. We have privacy now, and I believe that is important to you.”

There were some small buns, and she grabbed one. Before she ate, she asked, “How did you know?”

“You mentioned public displays twice in negotiations, and your body cooled slightly every time you glanced at the servers.” He mouthed her neck. “You don’t like being watched.”

She nibbled and then bit into the bun. “Why did you put punishment into the contract?”

“You charge into danger often. Rey interviewed your sister, and she passed the information along. You will do anything to protect those in your care, and until I tell you otherwise, I am the only one in your care.”

She was enjoying the filling in the bun. “Yes, Lord Yavor.”

He unfastened the tunic and spread it wide open. Cool air rushed in and stroked her skin. She felt his fingers tug at the band around her chest. The breast band slithered loose.

He sighed and nuzzled her breast. “Well, since you stop eating whenever I touch you, and you are still weak, let’s get some food in you.”

She frowned, and he reached out and got a few items from the tray. She watched his hands tear the food into small pieces, and then he held one set of pieces to her lips. “Open.”

“Why are you obsessed with foo—” The mouthful was stuffed into her. She chewed quickly.

He chuckled and prepared for the next one. “You have been getting the food via injection for a week, and prior to that, you were in cold sleep. Your body has to relearn food. Everything here is easy to digest. I spoke with the kitchen staff earlier.”

She swallowed, and this time, he let her take the food on her own. So, she sat there being handfed like a pet. When she was full, she gripped his wrist. “I’m full.”

“Last one then. We will try again later.” He held the last bite up, and she took it in her teeth while her lips closed over his fingers.

She wasn’t sure what her tongue had just done against his fingers, but something was wearing off, and something else was waking up.

Yavor ate some of the food while she settled back against him. “Will you tell me how you got here?”

“Not quite yet. Things are still raw. I know you have my file.”

He grunted and kept eating. “It is surprisingly unhelpful.”

“Sorry. I can answer specifics if you like.”

He wiped his hand clean on the napkin she had used and smiled. “I have a better idea. There is a game to let you get used to me. It is called, Are you sensitive here? Admittedly, it will take a while, but I think it will be informative.”

“G-game?” She tensed up.

He pushed the dishes clear of them and chuckled. “Yes. Now would you prefer it here or on the bed?”

“Thirty kilometres away in separate rooms?” She muttered it.

He snorted, lifted her, and set her up on her knees facing him. “Your species is rather small.”

“Well, you take up too much space,” she muttered.

She looked at his eyes, and now that they were close up, she could see the darkness of space with purple nebulas that gave them their colour. “Oh my.”

He smiled and looked at her. “Now, where to start? You look very tasty.”

She thought he would touch her, and he did with his mouth. Oh my.

Chapter Four

Iris knew her neck was sensitive. She knew it. She couldn’t even have a massage without yelping. Yavor’s mouth and tongue moving on her neck sent a signal to her body that he was going down on her. She moaned before he lifted his head and chuckled. “There’s one.”

“One?”

“Sensitive spot. I am keeping track.” He moved his head to the left side of her neck, and she let out a squeak and tried to slam her thighs shut. She felt his lips tense against her in a smile. “That’s two, and that one is stronger.”

She felt the wet heat on her underwear and closed her eyes. She felt fingers on her chin, his tongue caressed hers, and her mouth was the next site explored. The thrust and retreat had her sighing, and she sat down on his thighs while swirls of pleasure were moving through her system. His warm hand slid behind her back under the open tunic, and he pulled her against him with a sharp move that kept her close so he could ravage her mouth.

Despite his dagger-like teeth, he didn’t draw blood. Iris gripped his shoulders, and her breathing was hard and rapid. She felt the table pressing against her shoulders as he bent her with his hand on her back. Yavor pressed harder, and she let out a sad mewl. He paused and lifted his head. “You are hurt?”

“The table is digging in.”

He grunted and got to his feet, his wings flicking in irritation. He held her and walked over to the bed, stripping off her tunic completely and then sliding his fingers to one side of her hip under the fabric. A tug and she felt air against her skin, and then the same thing happened to the other side.

He flicked off her footwear, then eased her to the bed. He flipped her to her belly and growled. “Apologies. I did not know you were taking so much of my weight.”

“It was mostly fine.” Iris lay there as he trailed fingers over what had to be a welt that would become a bruise. She knew the feeling.

The feeling of his tongue on her back had her rising against him. “You don’t have to...”

He gently held her down. “This is still part of the exploration. Your shoulder blades are not sensitive, so we have three things so far. I will continue from here.”

The long, slow drag of his tongue and the way she grabbed and twisted the bedding suggested that he might have been mistaken. Her body didn’t throb at the touch, but it did shiver.

He started at her neck and trailed his tongue down to the base of her spine. He chuckled as she shivered, then moved to one of her hips and trailed upward.

She twisted in a panic, and Iris felt her hand slam into his forehead to stop him. Cold terror spilled through her as she realized what she had done. She had just smacked the owner of the world she was on... in the forehead. She stared at him as she panted.

His voice was amused. “Something wrong?”

“Uh. I am very sorry. I am ticklish. I laugh. Hard. I didn’t want you to take it the wrong way.”

Yavor nodded. “Oh, yes, striking me in the forehead was so much better.”

She was mortified. “I panicked.”

“And this is why your impulsive actions lead you into injury. Of course, I am endeavouring not to injure you, so what can we do when you have just courted danger?”

He trailed his fingers over her ribs, and she twitched and tried to hold her breath. He reversed the direction, trailing lightly, and she let out a burst of tense giggles.

Yavor was fascinated, and he did it again. She was laughing, contorting, and then he expanded his exploration and torture to the other side, and she squirmed, trying to get away from him. Tears were in her eyes, and she gasped for breath when she got out of his grasp.

He looked at her with amusement that faded when he saw her distress. “There is pain?”

“No. Discomfort. The reflex is out of my control. Muscles clench, lungs fight for air, and the laughter sound is a side effect of the reaction.”

He cocked his head and nodded. “It’s a good punishment. Where else elicits this response?”

She looked at his serious expression, his wings sliding from side to side, rubbing against each other. “You aren’t joking.”

“I am not. It seems you have come to me with a built-in system for something you don’t enjoy but does not harm you, so I will use it. Where. Else.” He tapped her leg. “Your eyes have already indicated that your ribs are not the only spot.”

She mumbled. “The arches of my feet.”

He caressed her left foot, and the reflexive kick was obvious. “Anywhere else?”

“Thankfully, that is it.”

He nodded, and his eyes gleamed. “Now, I believe we were up to four. Let me refresh my memory on the first three.” He pinned her between his hands and kissed her, eliciting a soft moan.

She slid her fingers through the silk of his hair and felt his smirk as the kiss ended. His kiss to the left of her neck had her legs shifting, and her right side convinced her that sliding her legs was the thing to do now that they had been slicked.

He moved down to her breasts and licked carefully before he used a stronger move, and then he lifted his head before meeting her gaze and engulfing a third of her breast in his mouth, and he sucked strongly. Iris felt her soul try to leave her body and enter his mouth. Her body pulsed. Her thighs clenched, and she came. Yavor lifted his head and released her breast, looking down where she was still clenching around nothing. He looked at Iris, and his eyes glowed. “That is lovely. You taste so fresh and green.”

She blinked. “Green?”

“Your energy is green and blue, but you taste green. Mossy streams and still lakes in a quiet forest.” He stroked her right breast and said, “I wonder if this one tastes blue.”

He sucked hard once again, and she arched up toward him, and her sex took on aftershocks which had the deep pulsing continuing with every draw. Iris tried to focus, but she got a little bright and blurry.

He left her breast to her disappointed moan and moved down her body. He must have enjoyed salt because sweat was coating her. Catching her breath was hard when his tongue flicked into her navel, and then he settled between her thighs and went exploring.

Yavor investigated thoroughly, using his fingertips to hold her folds aside as he tasted, teased, and hung on as she gave him two more releases back to back.

He moved up her body and grinned. “Did I miss anywhere?”

She was sweaty and limp. “Nowhere you would normally be in contact with.”

He lay next to her and cuddled her. “Where?”

“Between the fingers and the toes. The toes are more sensitive because they are not out on their own. But, it’s pretty much a jump-start kit, which I am guessing is what you are after.”

“What is a jump start?”

“A rapid ramp to arousal.”

“Ah.”

She muttered, “Why do the Hmrain need companions?”

“We were given the need to have extra energy to become more than we originally were. We just had to find companions who could help us. It keeps us social and reduces the rampages on folks in the towns of our worlds.”

Iris nodded. “Right. So, it’s like low blood sugar. It is just better for everyone around if you keep things balanced.”

“Precisely. An overseer who wants the best for their people is a far better example of balance. So, we try to find species that can produce a companion or, at least, accommodate us in the short term. Those unions rarely last more than a few years. We wear out the energy of those who are not companion class. They have nothing left to give.”

She shivered.

“Don’t worry. You are not in that classification.” His hands slowly moved over her breasts, kneading gently and pinching at her nipples.

“I have to ask. Did I come with a manual?”

He nuzzled her ear. “Of course. There are downloads available for any members of your species who wish to mate or enjoy themselves with another species.”

She licked her lips. “Is there a file for Hmrain?”

He chuckled. “No. I am more than willing to tell you what you need to know.”

“Fine. How do I please you?”

His whisper rippled through her soul. “Stand in front of me and be naked. I will draw what I need from you.”

She swallowed. “Right. When the first disbursement comes out, it will go to Lily?”

“Of course. I am covering your expenses for the first decade until we settle into a more comfortable existence with each other.”

She blinked. “I thought that was just room and board.”

“Also medical, clothing, adornment, transport. When we go off-world, we will use my ship at my expense.”

She turned to look at him. “Off-world?”

“I have to pick up plants and soil samples to copy to cover the surface of this world. Most have already been acquired, but I have a shipment to pick up in a month or so.” His hand lazily stroked her belly.

She blinked. “A ship?”

He smiled. “A ship. A new Hmrain is sent into the universe with funds and a ship. My ship has functioned for five hundred years. There are three worlds in my star system. We will visit them all eventually. The other two are already populated and functioning well. They are a few days’ travel away.”

Iris waited for a few heartbeats, and then she said, “So, what happens next?”

“We get you comfortable with my body, you get some more food into you, and then we sleep.”

She nodded. “Can I get something to drink first?”

He sat up with her in his arms. “Of course.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean for you to get up.”

Yavor chuckled. “You are very polite, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “It seems a safer course of action.”

He caressed her cheek, and she caught her scent on his fingers. She quivered in response and tried not to look as mortified as she felt. He was still in study mode because he murmured, “You do not care for your own scent? That is where I found the rivers and lakes.”

She shrugged. “I don’t get down there that often.”

He threaded his fingers through her short hair. “I will verify your situation often. Hourly when we start and then daily at least after that.”

She swallowed. “That seems... excessive.”

His kiss was soft, and she leaned into him. “How else will I know when you are in heat?”

She paused. “They suspended it while I was at the station. I know that we were sent with shots, but I think they are still in the shuttle.”

“I know. They were retrieved and given to medical. You are not the first humans that I have had here. You are simply the first one in my bed. Well, not that I need to sleep much.”

She was still dazed from the kiss. Something about the taste of him made her move in close. The scent from his skin got her hot, and that heat increased when he went down on her. To find out that it was going to be a regular thing caused her to slick up again. “Uh, so was it neutralized when I arrived?”

“Oh, no. I give the females a chance to acclimate before they choose a mate, but do not get me wrong, they have two years to choose, or then I choose for them. It is the same for all species here.”

“Do the ratios all work out? I mean, the storm riders are all single.”

He snorted. “They all have mates. They need them for breeding season. When their beast is receptive, they feel it.”

“And Abet is yours?” She didn’t mean it to be so obvious, but he caught on immediately.

He snorted softly. “He is, but he has not been allowed to breed yet. You don’t need to worry that I will fall on you. That will happen regardless of Abet’s mating situation.”

Iris cleared her throat softly. “Thank you for the clarification.”

He slid his hand down to her butt. “It is my pleasure. Now, let’s get you hydrated. It wouldn’t do for your spring to dry up.”

She blinked, caught on, and gasped. Yavor walked with her back to the table and handed her a filled cup. He settled in the chair that was designed to accommodate his wings, and he watched her.

When she was on her third cup, he chuckled. “Enough. Come here. You will drown.”

Iris set the cup down. She walked around the table toward him, and he directed her with a few slight motions of his hands, and she sat facing him on his thighs.

“This is your opportunity to learn me. As my companion, you are the only one with full access to me. Your hands and body are my only windows to pleasure, Irith.”

“That is a heavy responsibility.”

“And yet, I think you will wear it well.” He leaned forward and nuzzled her neck. She tried to close her legs, but his hips were in the way. He chuckled. “I have learned. Your turn.”

Iris flexed her fingers, and then she touched his chest. Yavor was warm and smooth and a lovely, rich blue. She leaned up, and her nipples were in contact with his warmth. The scent he was giving off got heavier, and she leaned in and let her inhibitions slip away as she pressed her lips to his skin.

His skin had the same texture as saddle leather but a more yielding texture. He was warm, and she stroked his arms, chest, belly, and neck. He seemed to get most excited when she pressed her skin against his. When she met his strange gaze, he smiled. “Done exploring?”

“As much as I am up for today.”

He kissed her with a smile. “You are doing very well. I don’t require anything from you today, but I do intend on getting you over some of your hesitance.”

She understood what he meant when he opened his leathers, and his cock emerged. She swallowed when it kept coming. “Uh, I think we have a problem.”

He chuckled. “We do not. You will see.”

She wrapped her fingers around the base of his erection and stroked upward slowly. She repeated the gesture, and he nuzzled at her neck. The contact caused her fingers to clench, and he chuckled.

“Try it. It will not go in any further than you can take.” He nuzzled her neck again. “I will not hurt you.”

He cupped her hips and lifted her up, positioning her above his cock. She stared at it, and it started gleaming. It was making its own lube. How clever.

He lined their bodies up and lodged into her entrance. “Up to you, companion.”

She gripped his shoulders and started sinking onto him. The blunt, wide head pushed into her, and then the increasing width of the long column began stretching her. Iris whimpered as things went too fast. He caught her weight and held her while he worked on arranging her legs so she could brace on him. When her legs were bent and she could keep him from sinking in any further, she was still gasping to adapt.

He held her against him and stroked her back. She didn’t feel a burn or a split, but there was a heavy ache inside and at her entrance. She swallowed while she panted. “Well, that was sudden.”

“You are gripping me so tight. Are you all right?” His hand went up and down her back.

She swallowed again as if that would help to push it out. “I think I am okay. What now?”

“Do what you wish to.”

She rose up on her knees and sank slowly onto him. His scent surrounded her, and she got excited. She moved again, lunging toward him, pressing her body against his. She fucked herself on him like a huge blue dildo and moved one hand to stroke her clit until she moaned and fluttered around him.

He took the hand that had just rocked her clit and slid his tongue around her fingers before he pulled her hand out and pressed the base of her fingers against his lips. The tongue slid between her fingers, and she moaned and jerked her hips while her inner muscles flexed and fluttered.

The big blue bastard did it again, and so did she.

Iris shivered and tried to catch her breath, but Yavor had a new, fun thing to practice, and she would have to wait him out.

Chapter Five

She didn’t groan when she woke up, but her body was cursing whatever had designed him. His dick went in easily, but it just kept going. Her navel was laughing at her because that was the end game for his cock, and she hadn’t let him get that deep. She wanted to kick the scientists in the nuts who crafted Yavor. She knew they had to be guys.

Iris pushed herself upright and sat back against the headboard. She looked around and jolted when Yavor was found at a desk, working on a large screen and speaking quietly in a language that wasn’t on her list.

She pulled the sheet to her breasts, and he nodded to her while he continued to speak to whoever was on the other side of that call. Iris eased out of bed and crossed the room to the wardrobe. It was her sole focus, and she recognized that the other one was Yavor’s. His was black and blue with silver accents. Hers was green and blue with silver accents. She opened the box and saw a lot of very pretty clothing. Everything was buttery leather, metal work, and fluttering silks. She grabbed for soft boots, and then she was stumped.

A large hand reached past her and pulled out an outfit that shared space on a hanger. She nodded and put on the cross wrap that would act as her breast support, and then she put on the skirt with the matching wrap for a cinching belt. Sci-fi princesses were modest in comparison.

He concluded his call and chuckled. “Well, the captain of my vessel believes you have an excellent body.”

She paused. “The lens was pointed this way?”

“It was.”

“Oh, shit.”

He grinned. “The Vyrellan language was chosen because it was not on your list.”

She stared, then turned to walk to the table and get some more water. She poured a cup full and didn’t hear him approaching. A hand ran through her short hair, and he tutted. “We will have to get up to my ship to complete your repair here. The facility on the surface is insufficient for the task, and I am impatient.”

“You were talking about my hair?”

He pressed a warm hand over her belly. “Among other things. Would you like to visit with your sister?”

She jolted and looked at the bed with wide eyes, but the bots had already tidied it. She exhaled. “Yeah. I think I would. I don’t know if she is worried, but she’s probably curious.”

“She is both. She’s downstairs in your study.”

Iris looked up at him. “I have a study?”

“Of course. You aren’t a prisoner here; you are a companion. The only true restriction on your time here is that you come when I call.”

She looked up at him, and his expression was calm. He was always calm. Even when she was fucking herself unconscious against him, he was calm.

A tingle ran through her sex, and she tried to stiffen her spine so he wouldn’t see how she wanted to sway toward him.

He smiled slightly and caressed her cheek. “Shall we? A meal is being prepared for you two.”

She wrapped her arms around her abdomen. “Like this?”

“Like that. The summers here are harsh, and you may enjoy wearing even less.” He put a hand over her back. “I know I would prefer it.”

He steered her out of his—or rather their—quarters and down the steps to the main level, where the staff smiled brightly at her clothing and Yavor’s hand at her back.

The room he led her too had walls full of windows and a desk, an entertainment centre, and Lily sitting and reading from a data pad. Lily shot to her feet when Iris came in. Yavor inclined his head. “You ladies enjoy your visit. You are both about to be very busy.”

Lily stared at the door until it closed, then looked at Iris. “Oh my god. Are you hurt? You look pale. Well, you always look pale.”

“Not hurt. Just nervous about the response to this outfit.”

Lily shrugged. “It is no more or less than some of the other species here. You get used to it really quickly. Your eyes can bug out only so long.”

“So, who would be wearing an outfit like this?”

“Ladies. Upper-class females. Females who have males with a lot of money.” Lily winced. “I am not making this better.”

Iris smiled and poured a glass of water from a pitcher before passing one to her sister. “It’s fine. There wasn’t much on Hmrain companions, but they were all part of the description of an expensive, treasured pet. That’s me now.”

Lily’s expression crumpled. “Oh, Iris. Is it... horrible?”

Iris rubbed the side of her neck and jerked her hand away. “No. He is very careful and very thorough. Oh, but you have two years to pick your own guy at the colony and deactivate your birth control. I would start shopping now to see which species you are attracted to or can at least live with.”

Lily’s cheeks got pink. Iris smiled. “Nice to see your hormones survived.”

Lily paused. “You aren’t going to ask me?”

“Nope. Just like I don’t want you to ask me.” She rubbed her forehead and shrugged.

“Well, I can guess a bit of yours. Your skin still turns pink at every abrasion, and there are a lot of stripes on your skin.” She swallowed. “Teeth?”

“Erm. Yes. I suppose there are.” Iris glanced down and saw some of the red marks still rising on her breasts and below her navel. “And yeah, just scraping when he got enthusiastic.”

“Wow. How hard is it to satisfy him?” Lily sipped at her water.

Iris covered her eyes. “We weren’t going to discuss this.”

“That was your rule, not mine.”

Iris sighed and mumbled, “I just have to show up naked and rub against him. He does the rest. And naked isn’t even necessary.”

Lily laughed and snorted. “The look on your face. If Madame could see you, she would explode.”

“Why?”

“You look embarrassed and smug all at the same time.”

Iris gulped some more water. “So, you really want to go into medical training?”

“I already got the download. I just have to apply it via simulations before I can start on live people.”

“Oh. Wow. Well, we do respond well to the downloads.”

“That is what Arluth said.” Lily pinked up when she said his name.

Iris blinked. “Wow. You like Arluth.”

“He’s nice and smart and is very good at his job.”

“He’s a detector. An assessor. He can literally see into your soul.”

Lily shrugged. “I don’t have anything to hide. I am just super nervous to try anything with him.”

“Sure. He will know you are up to something the moment that you make contact. How do you even find his face? Do you have species specs?”

Lily grimaced. “No. I don’t know how to ask him so I can look it up.”

Iris nodded. “I can find out.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I can just ask Lord Yavor. He will tell me.”

Her sister muttered, “He won’t get jealous that you are asking about another guy?”

“Um, no. The contract wasn’t like that. It was very matter-of-fact.”

“Wait. So, you already signed the contract? I thought they only did that after they had taken their candidate for a spin.”

“I tasted like he thought, so we signed a contract. It lasts as long as I do.”

Lily drew back as the door opened. “That sounds kind of grim.”

Iris stayed still as the server entered behind her. “I heard a bit of gossip while I was in medical. Most of the companions he has had don’t last longer than a decade. I doubt I will be different.”

Lily’s eyes were huge as Yavor brought in their meal. He rumbled, “If you want to last longer, you should eat, Irith. Lily, Arluth is a Bilothen. They are known as Mind’s Darkness.” He looked at Lily. “Should I tell him you would like to explore an interest?”

Lily shook her head. “No, my lord. That won’t be necessary. He is an excellent tutor, and I don’t want to confuse anything.”

Yavor chuckled. “Timid little thing. Just like your sibling. Speaking of your sibling...” He turned to face Iris and kissed her, cupping the back of her head until she was limp in his grasp. His mouth on her neck had her quivering, but then he grazed his fingers over her ribs, and she yelped. She was breathing heavily, and he took her hand, flicking his tongue between her fingers before he gave her her hand back. “Eat, Irith. You are going to have a tiring evening.”

He kissed her lips softly and left the room.

Lily poured some tea, and Iris picked her cup up. Lily sighed. “Wow. That was... intense. He was all light and flirty before.”

Iris sipped her tea. “Yeah, that’s over. He’s taken inventory.”

“He knows you are ticklish.” Lily’s eyes widened. “So, he made notes.”

“Yup.” Iris leaned forward and washed her fingers before picking up a few pieces and nibbling on the meat-filled pastries.

“Wow. You are eating before I am. That’s new.”

Iris mumbled, “Do you want Yavor coming in and sitting me on his lap to feed me?”

“Uh, no.”

“Then shut up and get your own food. There is plenty.”

Lily laughed and looked intrigued. “Would he really?”

“He has once already, so I don’t want to put on a show.” She ate neatly and went through half of the food on the tray.

Lily grinned. “I think I am going to like having him as a brother-in-law.”

Iris paused. “Uh, that isn’t what he is. He’s my bond holder. He’s responsible for making sure I carry out my duties—such as they are—for the remainder of my contract.”

“How long is your contract?”

She mumbled into her teacup, “A hundred years.”

Lily blinked. “What?”

“A hundred years.” She smiled. “But I can buy out your bond and education if you want.”

“How?”

“What?”

“How can you pay off what amounts to medical school?” Lily narrowed her eyes.

“Um, I get paid more than you. My job dangers involved being bitten at regular intervals and outputting a frequency of energy that Yavor can eat.”

Iris was suddenly hugged, and Lily whispered, “There has to be a way to get you out of here.”

“Lily, don’t be stupid. We got off a dying world, and now there is nowhere to run. Be happy that we have food and the possibility of a future.” Iris stroked her sister’s hair. “The bond was entered into voluntarily. There are a few ways for it to end, and they aren’t under my control.”

Lily started crying, and Iris held her as she had a hundred times since the end of the world. Her sister was tough, but when she cracked, it lasted.

A soft knock at the door preceded shadows walking in. “Lily? Are you upset?”

Lily tried to suck back her tears, and Iris murmured, “Idiot.”

Lily started laughing and wiped her cheeks. “Sorry, Arluth. I didn’t mean for anyone to see that.”

“Shedding tears is stress relief for your species. If you require stress relief, you may come to me.”

Lily went scarlet. Iris laughed as she could almost see the thought processes in her sister’s head.

Arluth asked, “Companion Irith, why has she changed colour?”

“There is a dual meaning to stress relief. Comfort or sexual activity. Which were you offering my sibling?”

Arluth turned toward her, and his shadows flared and snapped. “Whichever she wishes. I offer my assistance in either capacity.”

Lily went white, and Iris caught her as her knees buckled. Iris smiled. “She was not expecting that answer.”

“I will assist her and give her an exam. She looks ill.”

Iris smiled. “Interesting. Please, give her a dissertation on your people.”

Arluth chuckled. “It will not take long. I am the only one of my kind. I am the original inhabitant of Avor.”

He took custody of Lily, and Iris kissed her cheek. “I hope it is informative. Thank you, Arluth.”

He bowed slightly, and a wave of amusement came from him. “My pleasure, Lady Irith. She will come to no harm in my care.”

Lily’s eyes widened as she was led out of the room by the man made of flowing shadow. Iris thought it was a male anyway.

She sighed and sat down, pouring more tea and nibbling at the snacks. She was unsurprised to feel Yavor enter the room, pick her up off the chair she was on, and walk with her to the couch. He sat down and curled his wings around her. “I did not say anything to Arluth.”

She chuckled. “I know. He is an empath. He already knew. So, he offered to help Lily with stress relief because she was crying.”

He rubbed his chin on her head. “I heard. You are amused by it.”

“Stress relief is sex. Was sex. Meant sex.” She leaned against him. “I need a nap.”

He clucked to her. “You will not hide in sleep. Would you like to see the gardens?”

“Sure.”

Yavor nodded and said, “In a moment. It is very nice to feel you against me.”

Iris nodded. “Your wings are super soft.”

He wrapped his wings around her into a silky cocoon. She curled up against his chest and pressed her lips against his skin. He growled lightly. “Your sibling was upset.”

“She was dealing with instinct versus reality.”

“Explain.”

“Her instinct was to try and get me away from you and hidden away, but I reminded her that there was nowhere to run.”

“If you wanted to run, I could hunt you.” He sounded so helpful.

“Do you want to hunt me?”

“Perhaps when the idea doesn’t make my blood race as it does now.”

She paused with her tongue a few millimetres from his collarbone, shrugged, and kept going. Iris lapped at him softly, enjoying the taste of him on her tongue.

He moved his hands on her under the cover of his folded wings. “You are teasing.”

“I am exploring.” She bit his chest slowly, and his hands gripped her waist and breast. She felt the tension in him and released him, asking, “Did you not want me to?”

He sighed. “After all the meetings and meals, when we are alone and you can relax fully, I am at your disposal. Right now, there is a scheduling conflict.”

She giggled. There was no other thing to do. She began to laugh, and he held onto her as she snorted and chuckled, and her tears came. He opened his wings and lifted her up, frowning. “You are crying.”

“I am laughing. The chemicals in the tears would tell you the difference under analysis.”

He dragged the tip of his tongue across her cheek. He blinked. “It is different.”

She smiled. “See?”

He licked the other cheek. “Emotional discharge with a chemical trace. Interesting.” She made a small squeak, and he chuckled. “It is interesting to taste your joy.”

She leaned as far back as she could, but he held her close until he had removed all traces of her tears.

When the tears were gone, he looked at her. “Now, why did you laugh?”

“Scheduling conflict.” She giggled. “It was a phrase used back home, and it filled my mind with a thousand thoughts.”

He kissed her, and she tasted salt. “How did you come to be with your sister during the disaster on your home world?”

“It is a long story.”

He nodded. “Fine, then tell me tonight before you sleep.”

She paused and then nodded.

He got to his feet with her in his arms. “In that case, we shall tire you out so that you seek our bed early.”

“With a walk in the gardens?”

He chuckled. “And that.”

She poked him in the arm as they left her study. “I will tire out more easily if I am walking.”

“Soon. I am making a point.”

She looked around and let her arms move, so she was wrapped around his neck.

He chuckled. “And now you are making one. The staff is going to have it brought home that you are mine.”

She grinned at him. “Subtle is not my strong suit.”

He chuckled. “Noted.”

When they walked outside, he swung her into his arms and took off.

“This isn’t a walk.” Her voice was wobbly.

“You are right, but if you look down, you will see the gardens.”

She looked down, and instead of ornamental gardens, she saw orchards, berry bushes, and organized agriculture. She grinned at her stupid idea of a garden next to a big house.

“You are laughing again,” he whispered in her ear.

“Oh, I am just comparing expectations and reality.”

“What do you think of this reality?”

“It blows expectations out of the water.”

“You will have to explain that phrase.”

They flew over acres of land, food, and herbs while she explained ocean warfare.

When he finished the overview, they went for a walk in the orchard, her hand in his.

“So this is where the city started.”

“Not quite in this form, but yes. The garden is the heart of the city, and the gardeners are those with the right to come and harvest. They know when food is ready and will benefit the most. Two of the females in your drop have agricultural leanings. They are doing their apprenticeship today.”

She saw figures up ahead. “In the orchard?”

“Correct.”

“You are giving me a weird set of stresses and rewards.”

“I am keeping you off balance.” He chuckled.

She snorted, and they walked toward the figures who were learning the ins and outs of the orchard and new species of fruits. The talk came to a halt when they stepped up to the group.

Stephy and Leena stared at her as she walked up to them with Yavor.

The instructor and other student, who wasn’t human, both bowed. “Lord Yavor. Your ladyship.” The two girls stood still.

“Danmoth. How are the new students?”

“Doing well, my lord. The aptitude screening is working very well. Arluth should be proud of himself.”

Yavor smiled. “I am fairly sure that is not what he is feeling right now.”

Iris’s eyes opened wide. “Rude.” He turned his head to her. “Uh, my lord.”

He smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Yes, my lady?”

The two Terrans stared at each other.

“I assumed you were making a reference to sexual interaction. Apologies.”

He ran a finger down her cheek and tapped her lips. “That is the reference I intended.”

“Fine. Then it is rude that you refer to Arluth thus, as I doubt you believe he’s alone.”

“Oh, I am sure he is not.” He lazily trailed a finger down her neck.

Iris swallowed, and her neck flexed under his finger. He grinned with his teeth showing.

His head snapped forward, and he gripped her throat in his jaws. His tongue stroked her neck, and she shuddered. His teeth pricked her skin, and he chuckled, then let her neck go before he licked at the pinpricks.

She shivered, and it wasn’t from the cold. He licked slowly at her neck, and Iris flicked a glance to the ladies who were staring in shock. The instructor and other student were grinning.

When Yavor stopped licking her neck, he chuckled and pulled her tight. “There is nothing like the first year with a new companion.”

Iris blurted out, “A year? Good grief.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth as his arm tightened.

“You wanted to speak, my lady?” He arced a brow at her.

“Um, no, my lord. I’m good.”

“Are you sure? You always have my ear.”

“No, my lord. I like your ear where it is.”

He laughed, and the instructor looked delighted. The instructor spoke, “It seems a good match, my lord. She is neither weeping nor cringing.”

Leena laughed. “Iris doesn’t cringe. She just gets on with things.”

Yavor looked at her, and her laughter faded. “You and the others in your group have known her through your cataclysm?”

“Yes, Lord Yavor. Well, at least until she took the horse to the mountain. She was gone for a month at that point.”

“Irith, did you abandon those in your charge?”

“Yes, Lord Yavor.” She looked at him calmly.

“Why?”

“We had no way of making a signal when the collection ships began arriving. I had to go to them before they would come to us.”

He smiled and stroked her neck. “I suspected it was something like that. You would not leave your sibling, and they made certain to state you went alone.”

“They wouldn’t let Lily come. They held her hostage against my return.” She frowned at the memory.

He kissed her softly. “You are both safe now.”

She looked at him, and laughter cascaded from her. He grinned and lifted her up for a more thorough kiss, chuckling. “Relatively safe.”

Iris ignored the eyes watching them, and she returned the kiss with as much enthusiasm as she could. It sounded distinctly wet, but when they parted, there was a hum of energy from Yavor.

He set her on her feet and kept her close. His wing curled around her.

Steffy stared. “So, you two are a couple?”

Iris nodded. “Until the end of the contract, at least.”

Leena asked, “How long is the contract? Ours is five years.”

Iris bit her lip. “More than that.”

The instructor laughed, and the other student mentioned, “Ten decades is standard.”

Leena stared. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but Terrans don’t last that long.”

Yavor chuckled. “It is a good thing that we are bonding, then. Her lifespan will be greatly expanded. The oldest companion on record has been over two hundred years, in the same condition as the day she bonded with her Hmrain. I am sure that Irith can do better.”

Steffy cleared her throat. “Um, Lord Yavor?”

“Yes, Terran?”

“You are mispronouncing her name.”

He nodded. “I am aware. The Vor have another word which is similar to her name, and that is what I have chosen to call her.”

Iris smiled. “You know. Like a pet.”

His fingers clenched on her. “Like an honoured member of a new species. A name to adapt to new surroundings. A name that you can use to fly.”

She sighed and wrapped an arm around his back, under his wings. She stroked him slowly. “I know, Yavor, but it will take me more than a day to get used to it.”

He smiled at her. “We have time. Now, where is that new fruit? I want my Irith to try it.”

The instructor went to one of the trees and reached up. He pulled a fruit down and handed it to Yavor with a bow. Yavor smiled, and a razor-thin claw flicked out of his index finger. He carved it and handed it to Iris. “Try it.”

She took the slice and bit into it. It was sweet and exploded in juice. It was like the sweetest apple crossed with a pear. “Oh, wow. That is really good.”

He chuckled and leaned in. “Let me see.”

He tasted the item via her, and she blushed.

Steffy muttered, “Really? Stop showing off, Iris.”

Iris didn’t see the movement, but she felt a puff of air on her face. Steffy was lying on the ground twenty feet away. Leena was staring.

Yavor tutted. “No disrespect to my companion. Her acquiescence purchased you two years to find a mate. I could make a mate auction for you next week, and you would go to the highest bidder like she did. You are here and have the freedom to choose a career because she was with you. I purchased your bond because she was with you. The rest of you were originally slated for a brothel as your skill sets are minimal.” He looked at Leena. “Your gathering had nothing to offer me but the one person who would not be parted from her sibling, so you are here and expected to be useful citizens. If you aren’t on the way to it in the next twenty-four months. You go back to the bond auction at the nearest base, and that is the end of you. I have other Terrans here who are happy to be safe with a future.”

Iris took another bite of the slice that he held out to her. For Lily’s sake, she was glad that they had been sold as a batch in that case. The others had been less than pleasant to both her and Lily after the event, so Iris’s heart didn’t go out to them. She bit down on the apple slice and chewed slowly. She looked at the instructor. “This is really good.”

He smiled. “It has taken years of engineering. We are very pleased with the results.”

The younger male swallowed. “My lady, is it similar to something from your world?”

“Yes. Very much so. This is an odd occupation for a Keh-hel. You don’t have taste buds.”

He grinned. “I am half Keh-hel but excellently observed, my lady.” His lizard skin flashed emerald with pleasure.

“I only had a few weeks to learn, so I learned all I could to get ready for whatever came next. I didn’t want to be stuck at the bottom of the job pool again.”

Yavor wrapped both arms around her. “And now she pays the price.”

Steffy and Leena were standing together, and Leena asked calmly. “My lady, how many languages do you speak?”

Surprised, Iris looked over. “Four from Terra and fourteen from out here, including Hmrain and Vor. My bond was huge because of it.”

Yavor looked at the women who were staring with understanding. “You and the others were the free gifts with purchase. Irith’s bond is the one I was after.”

The instructor chuckled, and Iris got another slice of apple. She felt like a pet that had just learned a trick.

Chapter Six

She was flown back to the manor and didn’t know what to think. Yavor cradled her carefully, and when they were back in his quarters, she asked him warily, “That wasn’t true, was it?”

He poured himself a glass of water. “What wasn’t?”

“About purchasing the bond on the bulk of us.”

Yavor looked at her with surprised eyes. “Of course. I suspected from some of your readouts that you were companion class, but I was too far away to send you to auction, so I insisted that you would suffer mental anguish if you were separated from your sibling and that I would take the lot at a higher than usual fee.” He chuckled. “They were delighted to take the chance of losing a diamond to get rid of the river stones.”

She stared at him.

“Of course, once a few companions were found in your species, they tried to recall you, but you had already signed on for assessment after arrival and were on your way to me.” He chuckled with a wicked tone.

She swallowed. He had suddenly gone from being the large, affable male constantly touching her to something a little more brutal than she had expected. She thought about what to do, looked at him, and walked toward him, putting her arms around his waist and her head against his chest. “Why did Steffy have to go through the air like that?”

“Because she disrespected you, and now that will be whispered through the rest of the Terran community. The bondservants often get contemptuous of one of their own kind who is in the position of Hmrain companion. I had to make things clear the moment that they began to show aggression toward you.” He tilted her head up. “Disrespect aimed at you will not be tolerated. I am guessing she was used to it.”

Iris nodded. “I didn’t mind as long as they did what I said. It was never my intention to take control over them, but that is what happened.”

He stroked her cheek. “Will you tell me how you got to the extraction team?”

She nodded. “Sure. When do you want me to start?”

“Now.”

She chuckled. “When in the span of the journey?”

“Begin with the disaster.”

She was about to speak when a soft knock at the door got their attention. “My lord. You asked us to notify you when dinner was ready.” It was Ren’s voice.

Yavor said, “We will be down in a moment.” He focused on her. “You are going to tell me all about you.”

“I thought you just wanted to know about my last year and a bit on Terra.”

He chuckled. “That too. Are you hungry?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

She nodded, and he swept her with him, his wing at her back. They walked across the gallery and down the large staircase. The huge empty space in the centre of the manor made sense when she thought about Yavor’s wingspan.

They walked down the steps, and he held her carefully as they entered the private dining room. A butler-style attendant held her chair out, but Yavor pulled the chair around next to his larger one at the head of the table. The server paused, nodded, and then went to get their meals.

“I didn’t have to sit next to you.”

Yavor nodded. “I am aware. But, until you and I are a mated pair, I am not letting you out of my sight.”

“Mated pair?” She whispered it.

“Yes, once you have settled and we deactivate your population control, we are going to be trying for offspring. If it happens, it happens. Some Hmrain are with their companions for a century before they quicken. We can wait.”

There was a smile in his voice, and she looked at him. Yeah, he was smiling.

“How exactly is that achieved? That is something no language is privy to. There is no word for what happens.”

He leaned in, pressed his lips to his ear, and told her how it would work. She saw his gleaming teeth and shivered. “So, that’s the primer?”

“It is. The material that will do its work on your body will have to be earned via exertion.”

She shivered. “Oh. That.”

He chuckled. “Now, tell me how you came to be here. I am eager to know all about you.”

He took a small object out of his pocket. “Begin your tale, and do not stint on the details. I will hold most of my questions until the end.”

She nodded. “Right. Okay. I had taken my sister to the private school where she had completed her high school education, and it was a reunion for their tenth anniversary. Lily was there to celebrate, and I was there as her plus one for the evening event. That got Lily a lot of teasing, but she was fine with it. She’s tough.”

She sighed. “We were packing to leave when the world broke. I got alerts on my phone. Lily and I looked at each other and started making plans to head to higher ground. I knew of a few homes with solar power, and they would suit us fine. That is when Madame looked at us and asked what we were going to do. I told her we were figuring it out.” She sighed. “She begged for my help, so I helped.”

“I organized rationing as the sky darkened with the thick clouds. We took inventory and got the generators organized. I quickly drove into town and got as much fuel as I could, then returned to the school and started to organize the food for the animals. Then came the hard part. Most of the animals were riding animals and were not practical. So, they had to go.

“I couldn’t kill them, so I took them to the fence and let all of them out, but one small pony kept coming back, so I let him back in and fed him. I kept the food going at the house. A lot of the girls left to return to family or husbands. I have no idea if they made it. We passed each day in low-energy exercises so that no one burned too many calories. There was a cellar, and I did kill and butcher some wild meat. I just can’t eat something that comes when you call it.”

She tangled her fingers as dinner was delivered. “We went along, not in the greatest health, but better off than most. I watched the skies and finally saw the ship that landed one valley over. I wanted Lily to come with me, but Madame said she couldn’t, that if Lily came along, I might not come back for them. She probably wasn’t wrong. It was a rough year and a bit.

“Well, I got on the pony that wouldn’t go. Piled up as much food for it as I could and then headed for the hills and the pass that would close with snow if I hesitated. The pony was happy. His name was Alfred. When we got to the extraction point, he was happy, and they were ecstatic. There were few, if any, large animals on the land. He was taken for processing, and then they remembered I was there. I gave them as much information on his food and watering habits, as well as his digestive remains.”

She smiled and looked at him. “After that, they processed me, and I told them about the others. I had been gone three weeks or more, so they did the intake for me and got me cleaned up and fed, and then a hopper shuttle came along, and I took the shuttle pilot over to the school. He took batches to the extraction point and then came back. I waited with Lily, and we didn’t fit on the second run. I shrugged and looked at Lily, offering to help her walk there, but the snow had started. The pass was closed. The pilot said he would be back that day, but he wasn’t. He came back two days later, apologizing. Madame had faked a medical issue, and in the confusion, she wrecked wiring in his shuttle.”

Yavor tensed.

Iris continued. “But he fixed his ship and came to get us. We owe him our lives. I don’t think we had enough to get us through until the next hopper arrived.”

She shrugged. “From there, we got into the extraction shuttle, and then it was up to the education station.”

“When did you lose your hair?”

“Ah, it was actually sliced off while I was in the dorms, and shaving it off improved the appearance. The educators freaked out and dumped me into the batch with the school survivors.” She smiled. “And then you saw what you saw in the file and ordered all of us, so here we are.”

He sighed, his shoulders shaking. “It always astonishes me that folks can survive that kind of destruction without going mad.”

“It was a near thing. May I eat?”

He blinked. “Oh, of course.”

She dove into the plate of stew, bread, vegetables, and the cup of juice. It was alien and familiar at the same time, but she was hungry. Talking about that time made her feel like she was starving again.

She sat back when it was done, and Yavor rubbed her back. She smiled and sighed. His plate was empty as well.

He scooped her up and cuddled her on his lap. “The memories are bad?”

“Not all but most. Constantly doing the math on supplies and making sure that we got what we needed. Creating high protein snacks to keep the nibblers happy.”

“Nibblers?”

“The ladies who are constantly grazing instead of having larger meals.”

He chuckled and kept smoothing his hands over her body.

The server came in and removed the plates and utensils. He refilled Iris’s cup and put it closer, so she could reach it.

“Thank you.”

He smiled, and his third eye crinkled with his smile. She leaned against Yavor as the server left and said, “Any other questions?”

He nodded. “What is a dancer? Tribal? Celebratory? Formal?”

“Uh... pole. I was a stripper. I removed my clothing for money and danced to music while I did it.”

She glanced at him, and his eyes were gleaming. “What?”

“I would like to see that.”

Iris grinned. “I am retired, and I only did it because it paid well.”

“I would still like to see it.”

She shrugged. “The music I danced to is long gone. I haven’t heard any of the local music.”

He nodded. “I understand. I will work something out.”

She sighed in relief. “It was just one of a hundred jobs to support Lily and me and keep her in school. Our mother had a number of issues, so I raised her and made sure things were paid for. It didn’t feel right to stop just because she went to school, so I kept paying for things because I knew how to do the work.”

“Once you started with filling all waking hours, you could not stop.”

“Right.”

“You did not pursue additional education?”

“No. I couldn’t study and work at the same time. Plus, Lily is very smart, and she needed her chance. Mind you, if I knew that the world was going to end, I might not have taken up stripping.”

He stroked her back. “Whether it ends in war, disaster, or disease, no one is prepared for their world to end. I am here to start new ones.”

She froze as his words sank in. She looked up at him. “That is the purpose of the Hmrain, isn’t it? It isn’t just starting new worlds in empty spaces; it is to recover populations and mix them with other survivors who are compatible.”

He smiled. “Of course. The education station was started by the Hmrain. We endeavoured to create a place for other species to get interesting servants who would grow into interesting citizens.”

She smiled. “Do I get citizenship?”

“Irith, you can have one of my worlds if we manage to create a child.”

The server made a startled sound as he set down the desserts.

She shrugged. “That’s why I am here.”

Yavor nuzzled her neck. “Not just that.”

“Oh, right. That.”

She reached out and got what looked like a frozen berry smoothie. She took a few spoonfuls, then yelped when brain freeze struck. She put the bowl down and pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth while a large blue head tilted toward her. “You are in distress?”

She felt the pain subsiding. “I ate the cold stuff so fast and had discomfort due to a nerve and sinus issue.”

“You are no longer in pain?”

She squinted up at him. “I think I got most of it.”

“What was the treatment?”

“Pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth.”

“Ah, what is this called?”

“Brain freeze.” She chuckled. “That is what it feels like.”

“Does it happen often?”

“Only when I eat frozen things too fast.”

He nodded with a thoughtful expression on his features.

She grinned and went back in for more.

She felt the pain building and slowed down.

He stroked her cheek. “Brain freeze?”

She nodded slightly, and her head was tilted back as his tongue pushed in and took over, warming the roof of her mouth. She was going to struggle, but it had been over an hour since he had engaged in foreplay. The poor guy must have been jonesing for contact.

His hands surrounded her head, and the slow stroking was distracting.

Ice struck her leg, and she yelped as well as she could. He slowly withdrew and asked, “Another issue?”

She looked to where she had dumped the dessert. “I spilled.”

He lifted her to the table and licked her cold thigh. “You are sweet and sticky.”

“I am sorry about the carpet.”

He looked at her and grinned. “It’s fine. The rest of the ice landed on me.”

She blushed. “Sorry.”

“My clothing can be cleaned.” He moved her skirt to one side and kept licking.

Uh-oh.

“Uh, Yavor, is this appropriate?”

The server came back and paused.

“My house, my rules.” He nosed his way between her thighs and splayed her knees wide.

She gripped the edge of the tabletop and bit her lip as he licked at her clit until she was curled over him. He chuckled against her and grabbed his dessert. She screamed when he drizzled the icy substance over her and quickly warmed her with his tongue.

She glanced to where the server had been standing, but he was gone. Iris let her senses be scattered by Yavor’s tongue, and she whined as he cupped her butt in his palms and his tongue went deep! The sound and her soul left her body at the same time. He lifted her and carried her back to their room, or she assumed he did. The world was warm and blue around her. Her body was throbbing, and she knew that her skin was blue.

Yavor was tense as he carried her up the steps and to their room. She didn’t say anything.

Inside his room, she was set on her feet next to the bed, her clothing and boots were removed, and she was lifted to stand on the bed platform.

She cocked her head, and he grinned and removed everything. Ah. There was more to him than she had guessed. His cock was still a tall cone with a helmet, but now there were banded ridges. “Where did those come from?”

“When I want to spill inside you and have it stay, the bands rise.”

She blushed, and he walked up to her, latching onto her breasts, kissing and biting her neck, drawing his nails down her back, and generally dumping her into a frenzy.

Iris clawed her fingers against his scalp, and he chuckled before he tipped her to the bed and came down on her belly. That was when she appreciated how strong his wings were. He was heavy as hell. He kissed her, and she felt pressure trying to get into her, and then he popped in past the first band, and she panted as she tried to decide whether it felt good or not.

He nuzzled at her neck again, sucked, licked, and used his teeth. She felt her body relax, and he slid in two more bands. She gasped and panted again. There was no pain, but she could barely fit the head of him. Why had his designers made him so wide?

He worked on the other side of her neck and lifted his head. She saw a blue substance coming out from behind his teeth, and his tongue smoothed the substance over them. He looked at her, smiled, and then got her moving against him while his lips teased and aroused. He went in two more bands, and then he bit her neck. It was not gentle, and she smelled blood before there was a warming tingle that reminded her of contrast fluid for a CT scan. Her body felt warm and relaxed, and a lot of heat was focused between her thighs. She felt like she was melting, and he thrust into her. There was a soft growl that came from him as more heat built up inside her, but this time, there was pressure.

Yavor licked her neck and said, “I haven’t done that in decades.”

“What?”

“Ejaculated. I had forgotten how freeing it can be.”

She felt the pressure lessening. “Is that what that was?”

He smiled and kissed her softly. “It was.”

“What was the bite?”

“Venom as a primer so that it can use the semen to rebuild you for my needs. When the nanites have combined with the genetic donation, it will begin to graft it to your genetic superstructure until you are a human-shaped half-Hmrain. There are not many of you. Being able to craft a true companion does not happen often. You won’t share my entire life span, but you will live several times beyond your own.” He kissed her again. “And if we are very compatible, we will have children who will be better behaved than those two idiots at the new city.”

She tried to imagine a child. “What if it’s a girl?”

“She still won’t be an idiot. There are female Hmrain, you know.” He rubbed his nose to hers.

“So, um. What happened to taking our time with this?”

He chuckled. “My body has been urging me to take you since the moment I wrapped my wings around you in that storm. That I have not is down to good manners.”

She checked, and the pressure had decreased. “I have been out of medical for less than a day.”

He smiled. “I know. I even left for the other city to keep from hurrying your healing along. And now, my consuming your energy will be far more efficient.”

Iris nodded. “Which was the end game here.”

Yavor nodded and flexed his hips.

There was extreme pressure, and then the band popped past the resistance. Iris’s breath left her lungs, and she panted. “Seriously. There is no more room in there.”

He chuckled. “Did it hurt?”

“No.”

“Then the nanites are at work, but I need to show them how far I need to go.”

Iris felt shock roll through her. “How much more is there?”

“Just two more bands. Now I convince your body to help.”

He flexed his wings out to either side, and they acted as support and left his hands free. She felt his caresses, his mouth. She relaxed around him. That was when he struck, and another ring surged into her. She mewled, and he comforted her without words. A hand stroked down her belly and rubbed her clit, which was nearly in contact with his erection. He caressed it gently, and she began squirming her hips against him. She hissed. “Stop that.”

He kissed her and kept stroking her until she moaned and shook against him. He kept his lips and tongue distracting her, and she still felt stretched when her body stopped pulsing, but he was flat against her while her nerves let her know that he was further inside than he had any right to be.

“How—” His mouth silenced her.

He stroked her breasts, drew his fingernails down the sides of her neck, and gradually got her body to cooperate with him. He worked her clit again, and when the pulsing tension built up and released, she moaned. He held himself against her, and she felt the pressure building up to a distressing degree. She turned her head and hit him in the shoulder. “Stop doing that!”

He blinked in surprise, and there was a golden trace in his eyes. “You hit me.”

“You are inflating me. You didn’t even warn me.”

He cocked his head. “You would have been scared.”

“Now I am irritated. Don’t you start to move!” She hit him again.

He started laughing. “I am not. The absorbing is increasing pace. You are simply settling back into a more useful configuration. When you are snug around me, I will withdraw.”

She pouted, and he smiled and kissed her. “If we are lucky, we will eventually tell our children how you struck me on our first full night together.”

“The night isn’t over. I get the feeling that I might hit you again.”

He laughed.

“Stop moving your giant tree stump!” She gripped his shoulders with her nails.

He chuckled, and there was a sly grin on his expression. He gripped her hips, walked up to the headboard with the tips of his feathered wings, then flipped them so he was under her and she was sitting on his cock. Tears started to track down her cheeks.

He brought her in and licked her cheeks. “Frustrated tears?”

She nodded and felt like a disgruntled toddler. He hugged her, and this position gave him the ability to grip her and hold her against his chest.

She relaxed against him while her body did whatever the hell it was supposed to do, and then he started to slide out of her.

When the first band withdrew, she looked at his smug expression as her opening flexed and contracted to let him go. Pleasure had shot through her as he pulled through, and it was unmistakable. It was different, but just one had her on the edge of sanity.

He withdrew another one, and she clutched at his chest and shuddered. She held her breath as her body fluttered and clutched at him. “How many were there again?”

“More than I told you, I got the last five in during your climax.”

She bit him. He laughed.

He pulled out three more bands, and she shrieked as she came again.

“Ah, my little fledgling is getting louder.” He was grinning as he licked her ear.

She muttered, “Shut up, feathers for brains.”

He withdrew in a rush, and she screamed, saw stars, and blacked out, dropping against him.

She heard the distant beep of a med scanner and then a relieved sigh before he curled her against him, and the soft warmth said that his wing was around her.

She hoped he got a cramp in that wing. Asshole. She hated surprises.

Chapter Seven

Iris sat in the tub, and she stretched and twisted. Yavor was sitting at his desk and watching. Every time she tried to get up, he looked up and tapped his finger on the wood. “The bath is medicinal, and you need to soak for at least an hour. It will help the changes, and it makes you a delightful pink colour.”

She flipped him off under the water. The biological lock on the wardrobe had caused her to freeze, and he explained that she was to get in the tub and not in a change of clothes because he had added nutrients to the bath that would help ease some of her soreness. What she also figured out was that it would help spread whatever kind of venom he had around her body. She had some blue markings moving around her neck, and the longer she soaked in the warm water, the faster the progression went.

“AmIdoneyet, amIdoneyet, amIdoneyet?” She patted the surface of the blue water. A knock on the door heralded breakfast, but surprisingly, it was Arluth that came in with food. She waved. “Morning.”

“Good morning, Lady Irith. You look... mated.” His shadows writhed around in amusement.

“Is that what happened? Huh.” She sighed and kicked her feet under the blue water.

“Irith. Stop sulking just because I didn’t warn you every step along the way.”

“No. And I am sulking because parts of me are turning blue, and you know very well which parts.” His cum was blue. Vivid blue, and now her sex was blue. The sheets looked like she banged a smurf.

He laughed. “I have never had a proper companion before. I didn’t know that it was going to happen.”

“But you have cum before. You know that it’s blue.”

He snorted. “I was by myself when I did that. I did not experience the dying effect.” He held up his blue hands.

She sighed. “Stop puncturing my irritation with logic. Can I come out now?”

“All the way down and all the way up.”

Iris sank under the water, and then she floated to the steps of the pool and walked out. Her skin was pale blue all over. “Delightful.”

He brought a towel to her. “It makes your eyes green.” He wrapped his arms and the towel around her and kissed her.

“Is it permanent?”

He stroked her neck and the new marks. “I love the new mark.”

“Love?”

“It makes me happy. Very little makes me happy.”

Arluth put the tray on the table. “Lord Yavor, the orbital station needs your attention.”

He was drying her slowly, and he nodded. “So, they sent you so I would answer the call?”

“Correct.”

Iris took over the towel and let Yavor walk back to his desk. She walked over to the table, and she smiled at Arluth. “So, have you seen Lily since yesterday?”

“She is at her studies.” He bowed. “She wishes me to ask about your status.”

“Tell her I am fine.” She uncovered the food that was obviously intended for Yavor. She sectioned off some for herself and started eating while the overseer spoke to the commander of the space station.

“The station travels from world to world, taking items and personnel. They were the vessel that transported and woke you.”

“Oh. I never really thought about how we woke up. I just remember being bustled into a shuttle, and then we had to deal with the landing and the run to the city gates.” She sat back after she had finished her portion and covered the rest of the food with the lid.

Yavor paused his conversation and looked at her. “Eat it all. I am full.”

She looked at him, and her cheeks heated. “Fine.”

She uncovered the food, and Arluth chuckled. “It seems you have satisfied his appetite, Lady Irith.”

She just ate. Her body felt hollow, so she worked through the meal and drank the juice provided.

She finished, and Yavor came up behind her to rub her back. “How was it?”

“Filling.” She put the cover back on.

“I have to go to the station for a bit. Would you like to go with me?”

“You want me to leave the atmosphere on a full belly?” She turned her head toward him. “Are you going to unlock my clothes?”

“Of course, Irith.” He walked over to the wardrobe and unlocked it.

Arluth looked at him. “Lord Yavor, may I have a word?”

“Certainly.”

“May I pursue the Terran, Lily?”

Iris wanted to go and find her sister to warn her that Arluth had his eyes on her. If he had eyes. With those shifting shadows, it was hard to tell. His body might be similar to Yavor’s, but no wings. Wait, did he have a body?

Arluth looked at her and snorted. “You and your sibling have much in common. You keep your questions to yourself, but try to lead me into speaking.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

He laughed. “I know. She does not ask either. I have to guess at what she wants to know as she doesn’t have my particular skills.”

“Will that be a problem?”

“Not if I can take her as a mate. I have never had a mate before, but I think Lily is delightful.”

Iris paused and looked at Yavor. “What do I say here?”

“Either deny him or welcome him to court your sister. There is no guarantee that she will take him on.”

Iris pressed her hand to her forehead. “Right, no guarantee.”

Yavor laughed. “You have my authorization.”

“Lady Irith?”

She looked at his flaring shadows. “Go for it. Just make sure she understands your work assessing new arrivals and how, in the case of someone companion class, the assessment gets specific.”

Arluth bowed. “Thank you, Lady Irith. I will. She is aware, but I will make sure she fully understands.”

“May I ask, why did you wait?”

Arluth’s head turned toward Yavor and back to her. “I was informed by Lily that the eldest sibling had to be settled. Your marks are strong and bright, so you are settled.”

She grimaced. “So it would seem.”

He chuckled, and it echoed. “You will learn each other in time. I have watched it in endless new colonists.”

Iris nodded. “Keep that in mind when you start courting Lily. She likes math and science. Biology and chemistry. I wish that didn’t sound flirty, but she was nearly a doctor at home, and with all the new species here to treat and research, she wants to let her mind go crazy and learn all she can.”

Arluth nodded. “That can be arranged.”

“Good. When you jostle her out of her studies, and she looks at you with a bright smile, you will know there is affection. As for lust, I have no idea.”

Arluth chuckled. “I can detect lust. Affection is tricky. I want both.”

“Then, ask her for them, or earn them. Your choice. You have my blessing.” She got up and headed to the wardrobe. She pulled out something black and blue and dropped the towel before getting dressed. She smirked when Arluth left after a short growl from Yavor.

“He’s already seen me, as much as anyone has.”

“He has brought you to release. Twice.”

She put the embroidered band around her breasts and pulled the diagonal strap from the left back to the front right. The breast band had Yavor’s mark, as did the waistband of the skirt. The boots were silky black. She kept sighing as she looked at her pale blue skin.

Yavor wrapped his arms around her. “You look lovely.”

“You are turning me blue.”

He chuckled, and he stroked his hands over her bare abdomen. “Would you like to know more?”

“Yes.”

“When a pattern blooms under where my hand is, our efforts will have been successful.”

“Our efforts? I recall doing most of the work, Yavor.”

He chuckled. “Things will become more equal over time. You need to build up stamina, Irith.”

She gasped and turned to look at him. “What do you mean by that?”

“You fainted when I pulled out of you. Yes, you blacked out with pleasure. I checked to make sure you were all right.”

Iris looked at him and sighed. “I know. I heard you.”

He looked at her and cocked his head. “By the contract you signed, you are my companion for the next century.”

He had put on some loose trousers, and that was it. She looked him up and down, and part of her brain was wondering if he liked conflict sex.

“What are you thinking, Irith?”

“What is your schedule like, Yavor?”

He leaned back and looked a little wary. “Why?”

“Well, I thought we might try it again with you doing all the work.”

His smile was toothy. “Is that what you thought?”

He put his hands on her waist and lifted her to face him. He tilted his head. “I suppose I could be persuaded to exert myself on your behalf.”

“Well, not if you have something else to do.”

“Oh, I have cleared my schedule. It is the polite thing to do after one has mated.”

“Ah. I didn’t know that.”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “You will learn.”

She kissed him and drew him along to give her what her body demanded. This time, no bands, and she was relieved and a little disappointed at the same time.

She walked out onto the roof, and he walked behind her, keeping the wind from her with his wings. “How often do the sandstorms come?”

“They are nearly over. The ground and wild grasses will be here in a few weeks. This world is almost ready for mass colonists.”

“Wait. How many is mass?”

He rubbed his chin on top of her head. “One and a half million. About thirty-five thousand of your people.”

“Are they all at the station?”

“No. Some are being held at other stations until we can make room. The essential workers are going to be the first down. Their homes and our food system are already in place. It will be an even mix, and everyone will be housed together. There will be some attempts to create individual nations, but those areas will be divided and destroyed. Mated pairs remain together, and everyone else is shuffled through the world. This is not the first time I have done this.”

She laughed at his amused tone. “Of course. Can I get a tour of the city?”

He sighed. “I was hoping to take you up to the station.”

“Oh, right. We can do that, too.”

He rubbed her belly. “Not sore?”

“No. Apparently, I am building stamina.”

He chuckled and pressed his lips to her neck. She sighed and went limp in his arms as her body warmed up. She reached up and slid her fingers into his hair.

He growled against her neck. “That sounds like a challenge.”

She chuckled. “Maybe a light taunt. So, when did you want to go?”

A shadow flew over them, and Abet settled near the house. “Now. Come along, Irith.”

“Where are we leaving from?”

“The transport hub.”

“Wait. What?”

“Certainly. The first city is very advanced. This city is for agricultural development.” He straightened and picked her up, beating his wings and lifting her into the air.

Abet was waiting with his wings out for balance, and Yavor settled on his neck while the huge head lifted. “Irith, press your face into his feathers if the wind is too much.”

She nodded, and Abet walked to the edge of the house, spread his wings, and glided before he started beating his wings to lift them up and into the sky.

Yavor wrapped his wings around them both, and she was now in a soft and warm cocoon as they flew to the other city. It took an hour, and she hid her face when her eyes started tearing up.

The Hmrain kept her warm, and his body warmed the space he had created for her.

“Irith, look up. We are at the first city.”

She lifted her head, and her eyes widened. It looked like a fantasy city with tall spires, and in a distant area, shuttles landed and lifted off. There were huge birds landing on some of the buildings, and it was amazing to look at.

“Oh, wow.”

He whispered in her ear, “It was the jewel of this world until you arrived.”

“I am not a jewel. I am a piece of granite. Sturdy but with a thousand uses.”

Yavor wrapped his arms around her. “A polished piece of granite can be a jewel.”

He nibbled at her ear as they circled the city and then came in for a landing near the spaceport. Abet landed on a scarred-up landing area that showed dozens of claw marks.

Yavor lifted her and slid off Abet’s neck. She patted the bird, and they walked toward a shuttle with two officers waiting in a black and blue livery with purple metallic trim, similar to the outfit Iris was wearing but with more fabric.

A man came out, and there were a lot of ranking markings, but military designations were not something she had been interested in. She was surprised that he was Terran.

“Captain. Are we ready?”

“Yes, Lord Yavor.”

“This is my mate and companion, Lady Irith.” He kept his arm around her. “Irith, this is Captain Arthur.”

The captain bowed. “My lady.”

She inclined her head. “Captain.”

“The shuttle is ready. Please, come on board.”

Yavor kept his arm around her and escorted her onto the shuttle. She was ushered into a private room and settled into a seat with safety strapping and a viewscreen of the outside world.

“I will be right back, Irith.” He kissed her forehead before he left her alone.

She didn’t fidget, but she watched for him, and when he returned, he settled into his specially made seat. He offered his hand, and she clutched at his arm as they started tilting upward and heading skyward.

“You don’t like flying?”

“With you and Abet, fine. The last time I was in a shuttle, it was dropping into a storm, and the one before that was me seeing my broken home for the first time.”

“This is your home now.”

She smiled. “I know, but I lived my life there, and now I have to start over. It is a lot to deal with.”

“The life with me will be bright and long.”

“And you will live happily far after I am gone.”

He sighed. “I will, but if we have children, I will watch them grow and change and have their own children, and they will all know about you.”

“And my world? It may be broken by now, but it is still important.”

“They will know about your world. And it is likely that I will never find another companion. At least not one of your calibre.”

She sighed. “I don’t mean to be heavy, but nothing makes me feel emotionally vulnerable like passing through the troposphere. We are going to be going back, right?”

“Yes. We are. But your home is now at my side. I will be here when you call, no matter which world we are on.” He lifted their hands and kissed the back of her fingers.

There was a chime, and he undid her harness. “Let’s take a tour of the shuttle.”

She stood up, and he pulled her to her feet. “You just want to show me off to the crew.”

He sighed. “Is that a problem?”

“No. I just like to keep things out in the open. That way, there are no surprises.”

He chuckled. “No more surprises. Aside from half of the crew on this vessel being from the first shipment off your world.”

She stared at him. “How big was the first shipment?”

“Four hundred beings. Males and females alike.”

“Wow.”

He smiled. “Come on, let’s see them. They might not recognize you, though.”

“Ah. Right. My people are in many colours, but blue isn’t one of them.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked out of the door and into the ship. It was far larger than she had appreciated on the ground. Yavor guided her around the ship and introduced her to the engineer and other officers of the vessel, all of whom were Terran.

She nodded and was introduced as Irith of Avor. She smiled and spoke to the men in Vor as Yavor’s companion. They looked her over with interest but kept their comments polite.

They were invited to the captain’s table for tea and snacks. Yavor accepted on her behalf, and they walked to the private dining area, where the captain met them and smiled.

“So, Irith, how are you enjoying the trip to the station?”

She smiled. “It is very pleasant. It is far less jarring than the arrival.”

“Have you been on Avor long?” He poured tea for her and then for Yavor.

“It seems like no time at all, and it seems like forever. I have only been with Yavor for a few days.”

The captain took his own cup and smiled. “He let a companion class female run around loose on his world?”

Yavor chuckled. “She never said that. I have had her in my sites since before she landed. She slipped through the cracks of the education station.”

Iris nodded. “I really did.”

Captain Arthur rubbed the back of his neck. “May I ask your world of origin?”

Iris looked to Yavor, and he nodded. “Right. Terra.”

Arthur stared at her. “You look...”

“I had a makeover from the inside out. Stop laughing.” She elbowed Yavor.

The Hmrain chortled, stroked her neck, and said, “She is the one for me. She slipped through before the station caught on that there could be a companion class person in their midst. I wasn’t ready for her, so she remained sleeping until everything was prepared.”

The captain was staring. Iris sipped her tea and then murmured, “I was not prepared.”

Yavor put her tea down and scooped her onto his lap. “You are doing very well, Irith.”

“That isn’t a Terran name, is it?” The captain was wary.

Yavor said, “Irith means fledgling.”

“Ah.”

She nodded to him with a smile. “My name is also Iris.”

The captain smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Iris.”

“Perhaps it is better that you call me Irith to avoid confusion.”

He looked to Yavor. “Is it all right if this is known?”

Yavor cuddled her close and pressed a kiss to her temple. “What do you think? I just wanted you to know as she uses Terran phrasing that would eventually be noticed.”

Arthur’s eyes lit with understanding. “Got it. And the blue?”

“Is a very embarrassing situation, so let’s just consider this one of the effects of mating with this particular Hmrain.”

Teeth scraped along her neck, and she shivered.

She swallowed and ignored her body’s response.

Captain Arthur smiled. “How was the bond negotiation?”

“A little acrimonious, but we got it hammered out.”

“What did you argue about?” He grinned and ate a cookie.

Iris grimaced. “Punishment.”

“What?”

“We argued about the terms for punishment. I am a bit impulsive and now have to treat myself like an asset belonging to Yavor.”

The captain leaned back. “What kind of impulsive?”

“Fought a bear. Fought a Mnemack. Charged into a conclave and got some kidnapped girls out with an empty gun. Jumped a ravine. Fell off a cliff. Took a pony through the mountains.” She sat and ticked them off on her fingers.

Yavor murmured, “Shaved her head to make herself less attractive.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s really pissed about that one.” She smirked.

Yavor ran his fingers through her hair and tightened his grip. His fingers slipped out. “You see the problem?”

Captain Arthur looked a little uncomfortable. “Uh, yes, I think I do.”

She looked at Yavor. “You are creeping him out.”

“So?”

She paused. “Right. Not an issue for you.”

He gave a dark chuckle. “Absolutely not. It is my duty to creep out the species in bond to me. It maintains the balance of power.”

A chime rang. Arthur smiled. “We are docking.”

Yavor ran his hand along her scalp again, and he muttered. “Good. We are fixing this right away.”

Chapter Eight

They walked through the space station, and Iris stared at the unfamiliar species, some familiar ones, and some that considered Terrans as food. She was sticking close to Yavor for safety’s sake, but her eyes were taking in everything.

They must have covered over two kilometres when two females in dark smocks came out of a business entry and bowed. “Lord Yavor, welcome back to the station.”

“The unit is prepared?”

“Yes, Lord Yavor.” The woman had dark green skin, gold eyes, and polished talons.

“Good. Take care of her. I will be back in four hours. Irith, just take a nap if you can. They will offer you a tablet, and you can look up what you will.” He leaned down and whispered an access code into her ear.

Iris nodded and turned her head to kiss him quickly. “Don’t forget me here.”

He smiled. “I wouldn’t dare. Behave, and I will take you for a more thorough tour of the station.”

“Fine. Go do overseer things. I will get my hair done. Oh, can I pick a colour?”

He looked at the ladies. “Dark blue and black.”

“Yes, Lord Yavor.”

Iris walked into the clutches of the salon staff and was urged to use the restroom before they started. Iris was shocked when she bumped into a familiar face in the hall. “Janessa!”

The woman with long brown hair grinned. “Iris! I heard you were out this way. How are you keeping?”

Iris hugged her friend from the education station. Another Terran in the middle of a station full of other species.

“Janessa, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Uh, I am getting my nails done.” Janessa’s green eyes were amused. “My bond holder likes his back scratched.”

“Bond...” She felt her eyes get wide. “You have a Hmrain.”

“Yeah, he’s banged to hell and back, but I have one. Or he has me. Or something. I got to spend some time as a pirate, so that was fun.”

“So, all that in two years?”

Janessa grinned. “Yeah. Sorry that you got frozen. Based on your hair, I am guessing you have been out less than a month?”

“Just over a week.”

“Ah, and based on the salon staff glaring at me, you are getting hair extensions?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, blue looks good on you, and your mark is coming along nicely.”

Iris blushed. “The blue is unexpected.”

“Oh, ho. It’s a side effect.” She paused and looked up. “We are on Yavor’s station. Is he your fly-boy?”

“Wow. I would not have put it that way.”

“Come on. Let’s get your head in the machine. If you let them clamp you in, we can keep chatting, and I can get my nails done at the same time.”

The salon staff smiled and nodded.

Iris and Janessa talked for an hour while her hair was slowly grafted, smoothed, and extruded into long, shining locks.

A growling shout got their attention. “Janessa!”

“Kethen! Stop yelling, you big twit!” Janessa snarled and flexed her fingers.

“Wow. You don’t seem timid anymore.” Iris observed. The mountain of a Hmrain came into the room and walked up to his bondservant.

Kethen was shades of gold and brown and had about a foot in height over Yavor. He had to duck to get through the doorway before he clutched Janessa in his arms. His wings and body were scarred and leathery.

Iris muttered, “How did he find you so fast, Jan?”

The Hmrain looked at her. “Scent. I can find her anywhere. Also, anyone calling me a big twit narrows down the options considerably.”

Janessa laughed. “Kethen, this is my friend and Yavor’s bonded mate, Iris. Though he pronounces it Irith.”

He chuckled. “Fledgling. Yes, that sounds like my little brother.”

Iris grunted. “Please, tell me they don’t get bigger as they age.”

The bot continued to whir on her hair.

Janessa snorted. “They don’t. They are as they were designed to be. Kethen was designed to be... whatever the hell this is.”

A sharp smack on her ass made Jan jump, and Iris giggled.

Jan asked, “How much longer until you are out of there?”

“About three hours?”

“Have Yavor call us, and we can meet for tea or something. Damn, I miss coffee.”

Iris looked at Jan, appearing tiny in the arms of her Hmrain. Jan was not a petite woman. She had been looking at a life as administration or a labourer. Her tale of how she came to be with Kethen was horrific, but they both looked happy now.

Kethen tutted. “I am working on the coffee, pet. Now, let’s get you that medical workup that you need. If you need any supplements, this is the place to find them before we keep going.”

Janessa grinned. “Iris, just have Yavor call Kethen. I should be nearby. If not, he can find me.”

Iris chuckled. “Okay, and you have to tell me where you get your clothing. I love the leather trench-coat look with the side button overtones.”

Kethen snorted. “Yavor likes a warmer climate than I do. He dresses you accordingly.”

Iris leaned back. “I will definitely see you later, Janessa. Thank you for timing your visit accordingly, Lord Kethen.”

He set Janessa on her feet. “It was Janessa that said we had to be here, and it had to be now. I am glad she made contact with you, and now I can get my back clawed up the way I like. It’s a good day.”

Jan chuckled. “Stay still, Iris. The bot is doing a great job.”

Iris smiled and said, “Fine. See you later.”

They left, and Kethen’s wings were the last thing she could see.

Janessa had survived. It was a miracle. She had been going out on a grunt transport when Iris was sent to the freezer. They had met in processing, and Iris had enjoyed being with another woman her own age. They both had given everything for family, but Iris still had family to show for it. Janessa had lost it all, and Iris had spent hours talking to her about their love of music and disdain for the newest phones.

Iris hadn’t gotten a very good look at Kethen, but if he was good enough for Janessa, he was good enough for her.

She wondered how well Yavor knew Kethen.

Iris had forgotten how heavy long hair was. She would need to exercise her neck to keep on top of it. The black and blue were mixed and formed a cape around her. She sat in the waiting room with a cup of tea, and an attendant was nearby to keep her from going exploring without her handler.

When Yavor came in, it was a relief. He glanced at her, focused, and she could see that he was tense, and it was a very particular type of tension.

She opened her mouth, but he pulled her to her feet and made fists in her hair.

“You look lovely, Irith.”

She looked at him with a wry smile. “Are you going to make a wish?”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Terran tradition of pulling the specific bone of one type of bird after it has been cooked and consumed, and the person who gets the larger portion gets to make a wish.” She chuckled. “I have never had a wish come true.”

He brushed his lips against hers. “We will get into that later because you are already my wish, and I want to return the favour.”

His hands relaxed, and he let his digits trail through the silky locks before he settled the bill with the desk.

He returned to her side, and she said, “Hey, one of my friends from my world is here.”

“Are they? Male or female?” His tone was calm, but she heard the undertone that surprised her.

“Female. She has a Hmrain with her. Kethen.”

He paused. “Kethen is here?”

“He is. With Janessa. They seem close, though I am pretty sure she isn’t companion class.”

He smiled. “How can you be sure? No one was sure of you.”

“She just wasn’t. It is hard to explain. She’s different now. The way she and Kethen are with each other... there is something there.”

Absently he said, “Kethen is a blood drinker. That is how he forms his link.”

Iris blinked. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

“There were six Hmrain built that way. It was considered a little too aggressive.”

“But the biting is still there.” She said it with a wry tone.

They had already walked into the mall area of the station and were slowly heading for an area with restaurants.

He chuckled. “The biting is vital. But, I give with my bite, and I only have to do it once. Kethen gives and takes.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Oh. Is he hurting her?”

“We will have to ask them.”

Iris frowned. “How do we find them?”

He chuckled. “They are over there, at the jeweller. I am assuming that that is your friend?”

Janessa was prodding Kethen in the chest with one hand on her hip, and Kethen had a calm expression on his face. When he reached down and stroked Janessa’s belly, Iris jolted. There was usually only one reason for that particular move. Janessa’s expression softened, and she put her hand on Kethen’s for a moment, then scowled and continued chewing him out.

“She... didn’t say anything.”

“I do not think she had time.”

Kethen shrugged and continued talking to the shop owner.

Yavor and Iris walked across the concourse, and Janessa smiled at her. “Hey, Iris, you look great.”

Iris actually was able to look her up and down, and she said, “I didn’t see the hair banding or that your hair was butt length or that you are housing another person.”

Janessa paused, and she slumped. Kethen caught her with one arm and finished his transaction.

“Yup. We are doing our final rounds before we settle back at home, and I am swarmed by the staff again. They are very intense, and I just wanted some fresh air before I ended up locked up. So, Kethen agreed to not chuck me out of his ship when I stowed away.”

Kethen snorted. “As if I would pitch you out, pet.”

Janessa yawned. “I had no idea I would be so sleepy.”

He slipped the object he had just purchased around her neck. Iris smiled as Janessa’s expression flickered through irritation. That was the woman she had met on the station. Janessa was scrappy and up for a fight. She turned her grief at her loss into fury and used it to keep others from her. Iris had made it into her sphere because they both knew what it was to fight for survival and to come up short.

Yavor nodded to Kethen. “Come on, brother, let’s sit and let our mates discuss whatever they wish to discuss.”

Kethen nodded. “Beware. My pet’s appetites have doubled.”

Janessa punched her mate. “Overshare! What did we say about that?”

“That I thought your reactions were funny?” He took her fist and lifted it for a kiss.

She growled and stomped on his foot.

Iris blinked.

Yavor grinned. “We will be over at Markethen’s when you are finished molesting each other.”

They walked up a level, and Yavor warned the host of the restaurant that they were expecting guests, and they were escorted to a private dining room.

Once inside and settled, he held his hand out to her, and she moved over and onto his lap. His hand moved smoothly through her hair, and she smiled. “So, that is an obvious fetish.”

“I like long hair. It probably saved you from getting pounced on or brought down far earlier than you were. I could see what you would become, but you weren’t that yet, so it reduced the urgency.”

“And once we were... uh... together?”

“Then I wanted all of you, all at once, and that included the hair, so now the urgency is very much with me.” He brushed her hair to one side, and his lips caressed his mark. “But you are still changing and becoming more every time I see you move. And I will be there for it.”

Her fingers and toes curled as she shivered. He wrapped her hair around his fist and tugged her head back. She felt her lips open and her eyes droop. “Oh, yes. That’s my mate.”

The growling worship in his tone cascaded over her skin, and she looked up at him, seeing the golden constellations swirling in the black and purple of his eyes. It was amazing how rapidly she had gotten used to looking at those eyes with no pupils and centuries of vision behind them.

Their kiss was hot, intense. Her body was desperate for more, and then... Janessa and Kethen walked in.

Yavor lifted his head. “I am willing to continue if you are.”

“Nope. That is a step too far.”

Janessa chuckled and sat next to Kethen.

Kethen shrugged. “She will get over that. It took my pet two months to get through that issue. Though we still coupled in front of others, she just got flustered.”

Iris was slowly righted, and she looked at Jan. “Doesn’t it bug you when he calls you pet?”

Janessa laughed, took a cup of water, held it to Kethen’s nose, and when he nodded, she drank. “Not really. He can’t pronounce my name.”

Kethen grunted. “I can speak over two hundred and ninety-three languages.”

Janessa reached up and patted his cheek. “Say my name in Hmrain.”

“Yahn-eth-etha.” He grimaced. “Pet.”

Janessa giggled.

Iris realized that she had been saying Jan’s name in English every time she spoke it. She tried to find the pronunciations in Hmrain, and it was just as Kethen had said.

Janessa smirked. “He calls me a bunch of things, but pet is fit for public consumption.”

Iris needed to know. “Did you actually get markings when you got pregnant?”

Jan blushed. “Yeah. I have those.”

Kethen chuckled. “Oh, yeah. She got them.”

Kethen prodded at a pad on the table, and Yavor did the same.

Iris asked, “What’s that?”

“I am ordering for us. Kethen is ordering for what he and Janessa require.”

Kethen looked at him. “How can you say her name?”

Yavor grinned. “Learn her language. From what I have listened to, she switches her language automatically for you.”

Kethen cocked his head. “You have the files?”

“Of course. I will trade them for one of those crystals.”

Kethen grinned. “Janessa said you might want one.”

Janessa reached into the leather coat that Kethen wore, and she handed him a small box. “There you go, you big twit.”

Kethen chuckled and passed the box to Yavor.

Yavor took it, and then he looked at it. “Well, Iris, this is for you.”

She stared at it and glanced at Janessa. “What is it?”

Iris held out her hands, and Yavor put the box in it. “Thank you.”

When she opened the box and saw the long data crystal inside, Janessa said, “It is the Terran archive. Every book, movie, show, and music that could be saved is on that crystal.”

Iris’s hands shook. “You are kidding.”

“Nope. Insert the crystal into that slot for portable music or other audio. Once you are at your home with your system, you can upload it all, but when you travel, you can keep it with you.” Janessa grinned. “I dance around all the time while Kethen tries to figure out the lyrics.”

Iris smiled as she stared at the small unit. “Which he can’t because he doesn’t speak English.”

Yavor looked at Janessa. “You dance to this?”

“Not all of it, but a lot. Iris and I sang and danced to this when we were waiting for medical clearance.”

Yavor blinked. “You did this pole dancing?”

“Not for a living but for a hobby. But females of our species often dance together just to enjoy moving all around the globe. We cheer each other on with motion and expression.”

Iris smiled. “We aren’t dancing to seduce; we are dancing because, for that one moment, we are safe.”

Janessa smiled. “That’s it.”

Yavor nodded.

Iris asked, “Janessa, can I see your marks?”

Jan blinked. “You are serious?”

“Yeah, it has been on my mind... for reasons.”

“Oh, my pregnancy marks. Sure.”

Iris blinked. “What did you think I meant?”

Janessa got to her feet, and she winked. Kethen chuckled.

“No, Jan. Seriously.”

“Kethen drinks from me. It leaves a mark.” She opened her leather coat and unbuttoned a tight leather vest from the bottom up.

Iris stared with her mouth open. The marks were all over the torso, to her elbows, and just touching her collarbone. “How far along are you?”

“Six months. Only five more to go. It takes a while to grow a Hmrain.” She yelped as she was pulled into Kethen’s lap, and his huge hand covered her belly. He sighed happily.

“Janessa, I have another question for you, if I may?” Iris said quietly.

Bots came in at that moment and delivered their meals.

Once they were alone again, Janessa said, “Sure.”

“How are you with Kethen and so obviously strong? You weren’t a companion class when I met you.”

Janessa paused with what looked like a chicken wing halfway to her mouth. “Oh, that. I was put in a tank and tortured for two months. So, my emotional receptors were turned up high. Then, I was hauled into some super heavy cells and tossed to Kethen as food.”

Kethen stroked her cheek. “She was the most tempting of creatures.”

“I was black and blue and trying to negotiate with a starved Hmrain. A very big starved Hmrain.”

Kethen chuckled. “You dealt with me like a champion and got me strong enough to break out and take my ship back. They really regretted tossing you in my cage after that.”

Janessa resumed eating. “Not for long.”

The laughter was dark. “No, not for long.”

Iris was pretty sure what had happened.

Yavor hugged her, and they ate and chatted, and all too soon, Janessa was doing up her coat and kissing Iris’s cheek. A moment later, they were gone.

Chapter Nine

Hours later, they were back on Avor, and Iris still felt a loss for her friend. Yavor held her. “You miss your friend.”

“I do. We found companionship at the most dangerous times of our lives, or so I thought. I couldn’t have guessed at most of that.”

“Kethen being held in his ship for years is not something we could have guessed at. Hmrain don’t speak to each other often, so I didn’t know he was missing.” Yavor sighed. “Are you feeling well?”

They were sitting on the rooftop of the manor, and she nodded, smiling at the silhouette of Abet on his perch. “I am fine. That was good. How long were we gone?”

“Two days.”

“Oh. Good.” She looked at her pale blue hand. “Oh. Lily!”

“Arluth has helped her continue her studies. She has been kept busy.”

“When did you find that out?”

“You took a nap when we arrived.” He chuckled. “After dinner.”

“Oh. Right. I was really tired.”

“It is understandable. You didn’t rest the entire trip.” He stroked her arm.

“There was so much to see.”

“We can go back every sixty days or so. As long as you are up for it.”

Iris perked up. “Can I wear different clothing?”

“No. Consider this your uniform.” He stroked her bare ribs and the curve of her hip. He slid his fingers between her thighs and paused. “You were hiding this from me?”

“It isn’t what you think.”

“It’s your cycle.”

“Then, it’s exactly what you think.” She eased out of his arms. “Is there a provision for this?”

“There are supplies that your sibling insisted on in the necessary.”

She nodded and went to tidy up, but she froze and turned. “Why do I have a period?”

“Your body is going through normal cycles.” He stood up and walked over to her. “It might be your exposure to the nanites. They purge chemical interference from your body. It means you are whole and healthy.”

“You knew this would happen.”

“I haven’t had a proper mate before, so I guessed. I am very happy, though, Irith.”

She felt a twinge, opened her mouth, closed it, and then went into the restroom. Cleanup was easy, but the absorbent shield attached to her, and that was it. Closed for maintenance.

She was grumpy when she emerged and said, “I think I did it wrong.”

“May I check?”

She suffered the embarrassment of him verifying things.

“Nope. All good. Do you feel better?”

“Now that I am not leaking blood? A little.”

He tugged her back to the lounge and curled her against him.

Her back twinged, her belly cramped, and she didn’t say anything. He pressed his warm hands against her back and belly, massaging lightly.

She groaned softly and leaned against him, dropping her head to his chest. “I had forgotten how rotten this feels.”

“Ah, sorry. I would have arranged a mechanical control if you needed it. We will see to this as soon as you have run your cycle.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Rest now. You have had a big day.”

She nodded and let the scent of him ease her into sleep.

Iris woke up, and she was in bed with him. His hand was still on her belly, massaging gently. Light was creeping across the bed, and she felt better with none of the normal heaviness she associated with her period.

“How are you feeling, Irith?”

“Better. Well-rested anyway. I think I need to get up.”

He let her up, and she was naked except for the forcefield maxi pad, but there was nothing in it. She frowned and kept going. She removed the shield and checked, and there was... nothing. No trace of blood. She washed up and walked up to him. “What did that thing do?”

“The lining is shedding, yes?”

She frowned. “Yes.”

“It uses vibration to remove it all in hours instead of days.”

“Oh. Right. So, it’s done?”

“Yes. Many of the females here use the device. You will still have to deal with the fluid your body has retained, but no more blood. It is a handy thing when several local species are blood sensitive.”

She swallowed and looked at the sunrise.

He made a small noise and held out his hand. She climbed back into bed with him, and he started slowly kissing her neck and shoulders. Iris moaned and shivered. Her fingers flexed in the bedding, and when he wound her hair around his fist and pressed his teeth to her neck, she moaned. When he spread her thighs, she caught her weight on her hands and vibrated with tension. He eased into her with tiny thrusts, then withdrew and slid in to the base. She felt her body wrapped in heat, and he moved faster, slowly letting her head droop back to the bed while he lifted her hips and rested on her elbows.

He thudded into her, which always edged on pain, but then the rush of warmth soothed her. After more thrusts than she could count, she gasped as her body clenched on him, and he held himself deep while the pulsing continued.

He nuzzled his mark on her neck and whispered words that defied translation and settled into her soul. She needed to learn that language.

He dropped them both to their sides and wrapped his arms around her. “I am very glad that you made it here without any strange detours.”

She chuckled. “And two years asleep.”

“I visited you regularly and made sure you were kept safe.”

“Uh-huh. Considering you are still hard inside me, altruism was not your motive.”

He laughed, and his hands started moving. “I am hungry and haven’t gotten nearly enough from you now.”

He used all of the sensitive spots, including her fingers, before he stroked her clit and she bucked and rocked on his cock as her first climax hit her. He kept going into her fourth, fifth, and on his sixth, she shuddered. “Do you have enough?”

He kissed her jaw. “I had enough with the first.”

She gasped. “Greedy.”

He chuckled. “Happily greedy.”

He started withdrawing, and she gasped, “No, stay.”

He pushed back in deep.

She groaned and leaned back against him. “How long can we stay like this?”

“As long as you like, Irith.”

She smiled. “Good. You aren’t the only one who’s greedy.”

He laughed and held her close. “My perfect mate.”

“Yeah, It is early days, buddy.”

He chuckled. “And thousands more to come.”

Two weeks later, Lily snickered as she came into the room. “It seems your body has decided to settle on cyan. Nice.”

Iris sighed. “Yeah. At least the hair matches.”

“Which is good because it is nearly all that you are wearing.”

She flicked the thick braids back over her shoulders and flipped her sister off. “How are your studies?”

“Well, medical basics are pretty much the same around the universe. Get everything working again. The thing is to memorize the species-specific techniques. I am happy to tell you that I have passed!”

Iris lunged toward Lily, and they hugged. “Congratulations! You are a doctor. Again!”

Lily laughed. “Yeah. I am. I have to do a minor in obstetrics, just in case.”

“Why? Are the other Terrans all paired up?” Iris sat down and poured tea.

“Uh, no. I was thinking more about you.” Lily smiled. “You started showing yesterday.”

“I what now?”

“The Hmrain mark. It started just below the curve of your belly. You have a tiny swirl there in silver. It really stands out against your skin. I can’t believe that you didn’t notice.”

“There aren’t any mirrors in our bedroom, and I showered since he isn’t there to make me soak. Thankfully this is as dark as I will get.”

Lily laughed. “When will he be back?”

“A few days. He is watching the green progression. It will bring the storms down to almost nothing, and after that, the trees will come. In fifty years, this place will be a lush and green agricultural wonderland.” She said it dutifully.

Lily smiled. “And your child will be nearly an adult.”

“Oh, boy. The pregnancy is longer, did you know that?”

“How much longer?”

“Janessa said it would be eleven to thirteen months, and it depended on the child.”

“How long did you spend with her? Did she look healthy?”

“Very. I was surprised, and her Hmrain laughed. Apparently, we can become companion class with a bit of effort or torture.”

“Oh, no. So, Janessa...”

“Was the latter. I want to hear their whole story one day, but we didn’t have time, and they are travelling between satellites, so they aren’t communicating. That, or she mentioned that I needed to spend quiet time with Yavor, and she’s ignoring me.”

Her sister tilted her head. “That is plausible. She was a proponent of time and patience.”

“She looks so cute with him and happy. And looks like she nodded off at a tattoo convention. I am guessing I will look the same, which makes this outfit make a lot more sense.”

“Maybe not. The markings are specific to the Hmrain who knocked you up.” Lily smiled. “And no other can jump his claim. You and Yavor get along on a biological level.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” She quirked her lips.

Hina came in with a tray of snacks. “Lady, I must say that the outfit doesn’t suit you.”

“I know, but this is what Yavor authorized, so this is what I wear.”

“I could make you something more representative of you being a Terran if you like.”

“Lord Yavor might freak out.”

“Then, perhaps some sketches?”

“Definitely. I don’t mean to stress you, but as many as you can. I just have to keep everything clear between my ribs and four inches under my belly button.”

Hina blinked. “That is a lot.”

“I know, but if I get pregnant, his marks will spiral outward from that point. That is an important display.”

Hina nodded. “I understand. It does explain this particular style, but I think you suit something with a few more layers.”

Iris smiled. “Thank you, Hina. Also, consider something for the other Terrans to wear for festivals and such.”

Hina grinned. “That is an excellent idea, Lady Irith.”

Lily smiled. “It really is. There is a festival in six weeks to celebrate the greening of the wind-blown sands.”

Hina chuckled. “I was a designer on Earth. I will enjoy engaging in my old craft.”

Iris nodded. “Let me know if I can help.”

“I will, Lady. I wasn’t sure of you when your gathering was unleashed in this city, but now, I think you will be the first to anchor yourself to this world.”

Lily laughed. “You have no idea.”

Hina left, and Iris sighed. “It doesn’t seem real yet.”

Lily smirked. “It will when you tell Yavor.”

“He gets home in two days. I will tell him then.”

“Are you sure you want to wait?”

“No. Not really. Maybe when we video chat tonight.”

Lily laughed. “Coward.”

“Deferring coward.”

They giggled and then went for their walk through the city with a few of the accessories that Yavor had insisted on once she proved she could use them.

“So, how does Arluth like these visits?”

Lily blushed. “He’s good with them as long as I go back to him every night.”

“Have you two... uh...”

“No. He just holds me every night. We play a bit, but that’s it.” The blush remained. She remained pink until they got to the fruit stalls, and Iris picked a few pieces and handed Lily her favourite.

They walked to visit a few of the other Terrans from their group and even more from the previous gatherings. It was a nice walk, and she met a lot of new people who were enjoying the new world while still mourning their old one.

Iris and Lily headed back to the marketplace for lunch when there were two thuds right behind them. Iris turned and looked at the two new Hmrain. She cocked her head. “Good afternoon, sirs.”

“Finally, we have found the two pets out and about. Ladies, please join us for a remarkable evening.”

Iris looked at them. “Really? You are going to try that? We are both spoken for.”

She casually reached for the small tubes on her bracelets and thumbed her alert.

“It isn’t a true match. You are not his bond companion. She is pale with brown hair.”

“Who has said this?” Lily scowled.

“Madame and Ally.” They frowned. “We were assigned to their security.”

Iris chuckled. “Fine. If you want me, come and take me.”

Lily hissed, “Iris!”

There was a crowd gathering.

The pale yellow male stepped toward her, and the small tubes extended, and she pointed them at him and flexed her fingers. A blast hit him mid-chest, lifted him, and dropped him to the ground.

She looked at his sibling. “Yavor left these for me to make sure that nothing happened while he was out. His mark is on my neck, and another is below my navel. You don’t even want to know what colour my sex is. I was the same colour as my sibling. Now I am not. And Madame and Ally are in the other city to stop their poison from spreading here.”

He looked at his groaning sibling, and fury filled his features.

Iris aimed again. “Uh-oh.”

Shadows lifted the Hmrain up and slammed him to the ground. More tendrils were around the one on the ground.

Iris smiled, and Lily gasped. “Hey, Arluth.”

“Lady Iris. Lily. Are you both well?”

Iris collapsed her weapons. “We are. Someone called you?”

Arluth hauled these two males together, and a whistle preceded a set of metal ties that dropped from the sky. The shadow of the guard was swift.

Arluth tied them up with their hands behind them and said to Lily, “He has a burn on his chest. Assess him.”

Lily grinned and rushed toward him.

She prodded the wound and pulled a small med unit from her bag, and she was examining him when the shocked Hmrain said, “You smell like the shadow.”

Lily grinned. “Yup.”

“You are his.”

“He is mine, but yup.”

The young male groaned. “We were set up. You are with the shadow, and she is genuinely the compatible companion.”

Lily murmured where Iris couldn’t hear her, and the Hmrain got pale.

“So, we were deceived.”

“In human terms, you got played.”

Iris chuckled. “Their trip to the bond station is next week.”

The one Arluth was growling at hissed. “They tried to get us killed.”

Iris nodded. “Yes. They did.”

The city guards showed up and looked at the Hmrain on the ground.

Iris sighed. “Bring them to the manor, please, Arluth. I don’t want them freaking out the general population.”

“Yes, Lady.”

They formed a strange parade back to the manor, and the city guards walked them to the door, and she settled them in the visitor room. After getting assurance that they would behave, they were unbound, and snacks and beverages were served.

“Uh, Lady, why are we here?”

“Well, I thought Yavor would like to have a nice chat with you in a more private setting. The staff are watching closely and will keep the city folk informed.”

They looked at each other, their leathery wings rustling. “Lady, he won’t be home for days.”

She heard a distant avian shriek. “I think he took the express home.”

The refreshments were served, and a furious Yavor came down from the upper level. “Mako, Hellon, what the hell did you do to my mate?”

Lily looked at her brother-in-law. “They didn’t do anything but talk, but she shot that one, and Arluth tied this one up.”

Yavor walked up to Iris and ran his hands over her as he looked her up and down, and then his gaze dropped to the new mark below her navel. Joy flickered in his eyes, and the hug was unavoidable. He whispered in her ear about how he wanted to celebrate, and she blushed and turned her head for a kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and vaguely heard people talking, but she didn’t care, the kiss went on and on, and it was just the beginning.

* * * *

Lily looked at the fascinated Hmrain. “So, yeah. She’s companion class. No doubt. As for the other two, I think Yavor would allow us to shave their heads so that folks would think twice about believing them.”

She chuckled, and they nodded.

Arluth kept his arms around Lily. “I have passed along the order. You may witness it when you return.”

One of the Hmrain swallowed and looked at Lily. “And you are the shadow’s?”

Arluth covered all of her but her neck. “We have an understanding.” She looked at the Hmrain. “Understand?”

They nodded, and Yavor and Iris’s make-out session had escalated, and he simply walked away wearing her with her legs wrapped around his hips.

Lily was happy to see that Iris was settling in. She was also in storm rider training, though Abet wouldn’t let her ride anyone else. The riders were coming into the med centres for birth control as mating season was right around the corner.

She grinned. Mating season was always around the corner in this household. She couldn’t imagine it increasing. She was going to finish her internship and then think about her own mate. He was holding off until she was comfortable, but she was wearing him as a large coat right now, and she had never felt more at ease.

Life was certainly different now that they were starting over, but it was certainly interesting. Lily didn’t think that out of all possible outcomes, this was the worst thing that could have occurred.

Loud, bright laughter came from the upper level; it was Yavor’s. Lily grinned. Her sister finally had someone willing to take care of her and did a good job of it. Iris finally had time to start a family of her own. Lily knew she would be a great mom. She had already done the job once and done it really well. A niece or nephew with wings would be amazing and loved. She would see to it.

Author’s Note

I love getting into shattered stars. Not that I had fun destroying Earth, but... well, maybe a little.

Does anyone want to find out how Janessa ended up with Kethen? It wasn’t cute or romantic. So... just asking.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

About the Author

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

In real life, she is now engaged in beekeeping, and her adventures can be found on the YouTube channel, Mystery Bees Apiary. Just look for the cartoon kittens.