Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (44 page)

This spurred Venomous to snatch me up and plunder my mouth, leaving me light-headed and stumbling as they strutted off.

Unpredictably, they showed an eager enthusiasm as we shopped, and when I hesitated to buy, fretting over cost, they chided me before purchasing the style I wanted, in several shades with matching accessories.

Venomous’ explanation had been simple. “On the slave planet, you wore rags, the best I could provide. Now you wear riches, the best I can provide.”

I had a whole trunk of gorgeous softsuits and hooded robes, but no underwear, as trying to explain a bra had caused an awkward silence, so even thinking of describing a thong made me uncomfortable.

Boots were on order, and a downy mountain of adorable, hatchling rompers being hand sewn.

Spotting an Artisan working her craft, I’d gone nuts for her designs.

Holding the wee bodysuits had reminded me how much my life had changed, and was going to change.

Now, we headed to a festival Venomous had belatedly accepted an invitation to, thinking it a good idea for me to see a bonding ceremony.

Afterwards, we had a private audience with the Senate to discuss my arrival, and what was ‘required’ of me to become a citizen.

Stabling our mounts, we meandered inside arm in arm.

Fiercely peeled off at the entrance with a promise he’d return.

“I hope you meet my life giver this moon,” Venomous muttered his gaze roaming.

I made a noise I hoped sounded like a murmur of agreement rather than a doubtful snort.

Judging by the look he dropped me, I didn’t carry it off, so avoided his eyes to focus on the decorations.

Spiral streamers made a canopy under glowing glister creep, and a light, sugary musk wafted from white and silver flower arrangements.

Water features gurgled, and stone tables piled with cold ore and refreshments dotted the crammed room.

Luxurious robes rustled, fang-filled smiles were broad, and laughter filled the air over a rhythmic drumbeat.

My arrival heralded stares and whispers, but I shrugged them off and tried to look welcoming should anyone want to come over and say hello to my life mate, as I knew before his slavery, he’d been well-liked.

Venomous turned us, and from a break in the crowd came Fiercely, three people following behind.

Smiling, my gaze skipped past him.

I stilled.

My heart skipped then broke out in a sprint.

Plainly, I’d grown too used to aliens tossing me over their shoulders, or hauling me in to declare their intentions.

I’d forgotten the primal surge of attraction I might feel watching a male prowl towards me.

Fiercely reached my side then gestured to the male. “Lumen, this is He, Cobra that Strikes, Master of the Northern Hunters Caste, and my good friend. Cobra, you remember my nest mate, Venomous One. This is our Rä’Na, She Lumen of the Stars.”

Venomous and Cobra exchanged greetings, but it was so much white noise.

The male before me needed to carry a warning sign.

‘Beware, glorious face alert, please take care not to trip, walk into walls or swallow your own tongue.’

A face of deep hollows under sharp cheekbones, severe brow shadowing slanted, onyx eyes of bespoken storms, and features brutal in their quest for perfection.

Cobra smelt of freshly split wood and clean burning smoke.

Air around him was crisp with ether, as if he’d run a misty, moonlit forest.

Sooty, slinky quills were pulled into a topknot at the back of his head and secured by a leather thong.

A shorter length fell free of the binding to run the hard angle of his jaw, his squared chin an arrogant jut.

The thick, lustrous lock was pierced by silver hooks tipped with engraved beads.

The silver snagged my attention utterly.

Rä were all about gold, and his boldness in breaking the mould impressed me.

A row of silver studs lined his ears, and ivory teeth speared both lobes.

Cobra was not as giant as Fiercely, nor as brawny, but a rousing balance of tall stature and wiry strength, hinting stealth and whispering power, rather than roaring it, as Venomous’ musculature did.

His hardsuit was not black, but dark grey, and sleeveless leaving his strong, blue arms bared, a band of silver coiled around his lower left one.

Arresting was the wild beauty I sensed within him, an aura that made a female long to touch, long to shelter within its feral energy.

Someone nudged me.

“Good greetings,” I blurted and stuck out my hand forgetting Rä didn’t use the custom.

I went to pull back when he just stared and stared with a closed expression.

He caught my hand between the lower two of his, and his upper hands reached as if to hold on as well.

“No,” he murmured. “This is ... good.” His mouth twitched. “Honoured Rä’Na.”

Nostrils flaring, Venomous glanced at Fiercely and a silent communication passed between them.

At their self-satisfied exchange, the name of the male before me knocked loose a memory.

I wanted to snatch my hand back.

This is who they want for my lesser mate?

“Thsst!” Sapphire scales shimmered a faint, darker blue. “I am He, Cobra that Strikes.”

I bit my lip on a smile. “I know.”

“Forgive my foolishness. It is just.... You are not what I expected.” His fingers shifted over mine, the movement ever so slight, but a definite rub. Tingles jumped from his palm. “You are so–”

“
Puny
,” one of the females flanking him declared. “The extremist matrix feeds have you seeming as fierce as a razorbeast in heat.” She honked laughter. “I could crush you with one hand.”

I half laughed and fought the urge to run.

She was
massive.

“Good greetings,” I said.

“And to you. I am She, Deathly as It Goes. Huntress, and soon to be Master Hunter for my Caste.”

I looked a question at Cobra, who retained hold of my hand. “I got the impression there’s only one Master Hunter?”

“There is,” he replied, expression and tone wry. “She has been after my place for over a solar now.”

“Bold as ever,” Fiercely smirked at the broad-shouldered Rä’Na. “You could not wait for an introduction? Most improper.”

“Thsst! What?” She tossed her quills and snorted. “You take too long, and I want to get a good cushion near the nest.”

“You know your Rä’Vek will save you a seat.”

She crossed her arms, biceps bulging. “Do not tell me what my mate will or will not do, runtling. I will break your fangs.”

Fiercely, grinning, turned to me. “We should head to the front, so you can see.”

A throat was mellifluously cleared.

We all turned.

The second female waited to be introduced.

Her gaze landed on my hand enfolded in Cobra’s then flicked to my face.

Cobra let my hand go, keeping contact until our fingertips slipped apart.

He stepped back. “Lumen, this is my Rä’Na, She, Singing Water.” His tone had changed, hardened, but No one else noticed, or cared enough to take heed of it, so I didn’t react either.

Singing Water inclined her bald, near smooth head.

She was the daintiest Rä I’d seen, features small, her softsuit mauve, a flattering contrast against her green scales. “An honour, Rä’Na.”

“Good greetings,” I murmured with my own head bob.

Cupping the side of my throat, my gaze hit the floor.

I’d checked out the female’s life mate.

Is she okay with the lesser mate idea?

I sure as shit wouldn’t be if it was me in her position.

“It is starting, I think.” Taking my hand, Venomous guided me forward. “Come.”

Deathly as It Goes peeled off, but the rest followed behind us.

Greeting people he knew, Venomous sat on a cushion in the front row then pulled me onto his lap.

There were blatant stares and clicked teeth at this move, but he ignored them.

Fiercely sat beside us then took hold of my hand.

Cobra and his Rä’Na dropped down on the other side of Venomous.

They sat apart, chilly air between them.

I ventured a hesitant smile at Singing Water, which she returned, then leaned to ask if we could speak in private afterward, but a Rä’Na was ushered to soft furs bundled before us, so I snapped straight.

She was coaxed into removing the sheer fabric covering her body.

Eyes wide, I took in the naked Rä female who looked indistinguishable in shape to a Rä male, except she didn’t have a penis, or ribbed testes, but a puffy-lipped vent at her groin.

She bore no breasts, no curved hips, no indented waist, nothing I, as a human, considered feminine.

No wonder Venomous was freaked out.

I must have looked flabby and fleshy and gross in comparison
.

The female was agitated, and it took persuasion by the older Rä’Na to get her onto her hands and knees.

The old female gripped the younger Rä’Na’s wrists, half chanting, half singing soothing words and noises until the newly matured Rä quieted.

I whispered in Venomous’ ear. “I don’t know their names.”

“She, Glorious Stars at Dusk, and He, Killer of Black Omens.” he murmured.

An aroused and erect Rä’Vek, Killer of Black Omens, broke free of his kindred to hurry forward then dropped to his knees.

He crawled over her, covering her back, then bumped his face against the slope of her nape.

Her response was to whimper, and deeply arch her spine.

Killer of Black Omens scooted closer.

Trembling, Glorious Stars at Dusk began to grow restless, inching forward, away from the male that mounted her.

The female holding onto her cajoled her into staying still.

“I wish you had had this,” Venomous whispered. “A trusted female to ease you. Our kindred to lend you strength.” He sighed, full of sorrow and apology. “You have been deprived of much. No more, my Lumen. No more.”

Killer of Black Omens thrust, and a piercing cry from the female made me cringe.

The male grimaced, rolling his hips, struggling to stay seated as the female beneath tried to throw him off.

It wasn’t sex as I knew it.

I had a flashback of Venomous pinning me down, and the pain as he forced himself inside me.

As much as I loved him, the memory hurt, and I stiffened.

He felt the change, and stroked my arms as Fiercely squeezed my hand.

Little by little, I relaxed then turned deeper into Venomous’ embrace.

My mind was chaotic, my heart hurting from what he’d done, yet so full of love. “Babe.” My voice was as shaky as my emotions.

“Easy. There is nothing to fear. She will find harmony with her male. You will see.”

He wasn’t wrong, for no sooner than he spoke the words, Glorious Stars at Dusk quieted.

She stopped fighting, letting the male rock them back and forth until he shuddered then tensed.

Glorious Stars at Dusk smiled, peeked shyly over her shoulder.

Killer of Black Omens hesitated, wanting to stay, but the older female shooed him off, waving another erect Rä’Vek forward.

I stifled a gasp, realising what was about to happen, and became aware Cobra that Strikes’ face had angled toward me.

Venomous bent to speak in my ear. “You remember how a lesser mating is done?” He jerked his chin at the female, bent over, presenting her opening. “Her pouch will only open for her mate’s seed, but the exchange of pheromones at this time allows them to align.”

“I remember.” My hands balled into fists on my lap. “I don’t need this, Venom.”

“Watch.”

Looking down with a sigh, the Rä’Vek knelt, then penetrated the newly mated Rä’Na.

They flinched, the act appearing less emotional, and as painful.

The Rä’Vek released, the blissful expression on his face celebrated by his kindred, but the Rä’Na looked in pain.

“I don’t like this,” I whispered averting my eyes.

The ordeal ended and the pair parted.

Glorious Stars at Dusk was embraced by birth kindred, then left them to join the relatives of her male.

“It is done. They are joined.” Venomous sounded pleased.

Grins and enthusiastic cries of best wishes spread through the gathering.

There was no inappropriate signs of arousal, just a sense of happiness another couple had been united, and the atmosphere gained a bubbly lightness.

The lesser mate tradition was an accepted,
necessary
custom for the Rä.

However, my reservations remained, and I didn’t understand why it was a requirement for
me
as I was human, and not biologically vulnerable in the manner the Rä females were.

Fiercely rubbed my hand between his and grinned.

Returning his smile, I looked away as my face fell and my expression grew haunted.

Why do I get the feeling I don’t have a choice in the matter?

A
s we got up to leave, a Rä’Vek approached us. Bowed. “Venomous One. It brings me joy to see you.”

“Murk of the Gloaming.” Venomous inclined his head. “I see you are Rä’Vek now. I too have changed since we last spoke. This is my Rä’Na and nest mate.”

After the introductions, Murk of the Gloaming faced Venomous. “May I speak with you in private?”

They moved aside, and Fiercely stared after them.

“Something wrong?” I twisted my head to watch the twosome converse.

Bowing, Venomous said something the other Rä’Vek reacted to disapprovingly.

He made hand gestures that grew forceful when my mate didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear.

“Think nothing of it. Venomous knows what he is doing.” Fiercely gripped my chin and turned my face away. He ducked until we were eyelevel. “Are you having a good time.”

I scrunched my nose. “Good and bad.” I beamed. “Mostly good because you and Venomous are with me.”

“You liked Cobra that Strikes?”

Knowing why he asked, I gave a noncommittal, “Hmm.”

He studied me then let my chin go with a click of his fangs. “Venomous told me you were resistant to the idea of a lesser mate. Why?”

“I feel as if my choice in the matter is being overlooked. After being a slave, my free will is precious to me.”