Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (48 page)

While the Hunters were paid well by their clans to hunt fresh meat, commercial flocks were maintained as secondary provisions.

These farmed droves were cultivated for emergencies.

The Rä learned from their ancestors the adverse effects animal and crop monoculture caused their planet.

It had endangered their survival as a species.

So the Senate only allowed access to the herds in the direst of need, such as a plague in the undomesticated animals, or when the sandstorms that passed were so fierce, they disrupted the migratory habits of the wild game.

I found the agricultural practice fascinating.

As my new life had become about experiencing life to its fullest, and not taking anything for granted, I ventured farther from the safety of our district into the rural areas to learn more firsthand.

Second moon waning, I observed friendly a’Rä shepherds as they drove a groaning herd of goodbeasts to a waterhole before being put out to pasture for the night.

I trotted behind to watch the process from beginning to end, and decided it was too much physical labour to be suitable for me, but found it interesting nonetheless.

Humming a tune I’d heard at a recent festival, I picked wild flowers growing from tufted blue grass.

Dusk fell, casting purple shadows over the sand.

Engrossed in the plants, and lulled by the sounds of nature, I didn’t see how dark it had become.

Third moon crested the inky horizon before I took in my environs, and realised I needed to head home.

I was put out to realise I’d lost track of the herd, and hadn’t a clue where they’d disappeared to.

There were tracks in the sand, but they told me nothing about what direction they went in; not that I’d ever learned to read animal tracks.

Which direction is homebound?

Stalking forward, heedless, I near tumbled down a hundred foot dune then off a cliff that opened into an underground cave.

Ironically, the cave was the location of the waterhole and my missing herd.

So, I would have found them.

I’d just would have been broken, bleeding and clinging to life when I did.

Now, I appreciated that if I had been Rä
,
I would have felt the earth move different as I approached the crest of the mound.

I’d have taken more care with my footing, known not to trust my eyes in the moonlight.

But I was human, clumsy and distracted.

Stood at the edge of the precipice, my arms pin wheeled as I squeaked.

I tried to throw my weight backwards, but my centre of balance had changed.

Gravity took hold, tugging me forward as the sand gave way under my feet.

I skipped back trying to outrun the slippage, but it was a losing battle.

A wedge of bank gave, and I careened forward with a panicked scream.

Fiercely swooped in to save me.

He snagged my waist, hauled me into him then lunged free of the slippage as the ridge of sediment crumbled to avalanche down the chasm.

Fiercely landed sure footed on solid earth with me tucked to his armoured side.

He adjusted me into the pannier-like hold of his arms. “
My Rä’Na
.” He searched my face, brushed shaking claws over my flushed cheekbone. “You are unharmed?”

“Y-Yes.” I clutched his shoulders fighting to draw a full breath. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Thank you.” My heartbeat slowed, and my quivering eased. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m not freaking stoked to see you. Your timing is
flawless
.”

“I returned to the lair, found you gone then set out after you.”

Steadying, I gazed at him with admiration. “How did you find me all the way out here?”

“Warriors spend a solar with the Hunters Caste learning how to track.”

I studied the tick in his rigid jaw. “You seem angry.”

“Thsst!” was the beginning of a cutting lecture that turned the tips of my ears red, and had my eyes swimming with tears.

He carried me the whole way home, refusing to put me down when I struggled.

Embarrassing me in front of our gawking neighbours, he gave me such a stern talking to, I threatened I wouldn’t talk to him for a whole cycle.

Being towed around like a naughty child infuriated me.

“Let me go,” I cried. “Stop and let me walk.”

He did put me down when we passed through
the haze
, only to haul me through the lair, so fast, my toes barely touched the ground.

“Fool,” he barked keeping his hold firm and moving faster. “You never listen. Stubborn. Wilful.
Stupid
.” Holding onto my arm firmly, but not hurting, he pushed me down onto the soft bundle of the nest. He thrust his furious face in mine. “If I had not checked on you, we would be scraping your pulverised corpse off the bottom of the gorge.”

Don’t get me wrong, I was downright grateful he’d saved me.

I understood why he was angry.

I’d risked my life by being scatter-brained, and come close to having a seriously bad accident.

I wasn’t grateful for how he scolded me in front of the whole bloody world then forbid me from leaving the nest until I learnt to pay attention.

I was new to the planet, and needed time to adjust.

I was never going to familiarize myself with my new home, my way of life, hiding inside the lair all rotation, every rotation.

“
Do not
,” I spat, “treat me like that again. Do not speak to me like that.” I rose up on my knees then shoved his granite shoulder. “
Ever
.”

“How many times must I say, for you, it is dangerous out there.” He flung out two muscled arms, claws scratching an unseen jeopardy. “You are too weak to wander alone.”

Feeling imprisoned in what was supposed to be my sanctuary, pissed at the derogatory manner in which he spoke, and how he viewed me as weak, I refused to back down or apologise for exploring.

We had a yelling match that shook the walls.

When we didn’t come to a peaceful solution, or at least a compromise well into the night, Venomous intervened.

He asked me to take one of them with me the next time I felt the need to explore.

I grudgingly agreed.

He also demanded Fiercely back off, which put the other male in a vile mood.

That awful fight had been the night before, and Fiercely left before I apologised for my part.

I lay in the nest, courting a headache as my mind refused to quiet.

I replayed the ferocious argument over and over, wondering if we’d ever reach a truce.

Teary, I cuddled into a fur that held Venomous’ wood and ginger scent.

Another smelt peppery, of Fiercely, so I grabbed that too because as much as he pissed me off, I cared for him.

I rubbed my face against the musky fuzz, the texture caressing my cheek almost as soft as my males’ touch.

I had to make this work with Fiercely, and I had to shake off my reservations about the lesser mating.

The last thing I wanted was for Venomous and Fiercely to be seen in a negative light.

Talk and exaggerated rumours already circulated the entire freaking planet because they brought home an ‘ugly’ offworlder.

Taking part in the bonding ceremony not only solidified my place in their lives, but would prove to my doubters I was determined not only to survive on Rök, but thrive.

I’d been given time to acclimatise because I was pregnant and my mates didn’t want to stress me, but I knew each day that passed where I didn’t vocalise my readiness to become theirs in the eyes of their kindred wounded them.

Fiercely already felt unsure of his welcome with me.

That in itself caused me constant worry.

With him everything was tumultuous.

If he’d been the first Rä to claim me, we’d have been perfectly happy, I’m sure.

Upon meeting Venomous, it all would have gone to shit, because he was
meant to be
my primary mate.

There was room in my heart to love Fiercely, of course there was, but it pained me that as I originally suspected, he expected me to act as I did with Venomous, with him.

His expectations were wrong.

The idea he would never accept, and appreciate what we did have scared me.

I could see the lines of tension between him and Venomous when we were in the same room and I did something affectionate for one and not the other, which made me hesitant to offer anyone affection at all.

The last thing I wanted to do was pit them against each other, but I refused to divvy out touches and kisses just to keep things equal.

I needed to be free to express my love as and when the desire moved me.

I had yet to make love to Fiercely, and I didn’t see it happening anytime in the near future until he got over his jealousy.

Our first kiss set me afire, and I wanted him, badly, but I simply wasn’t ready to go there until I knew we connected as we should.

Speaking of not ready....

He, Cobra that Strikes’ face floated into my mind’s eye.

Huddling into the furs, I shuddered.

Fiercely mentioned the hunter would view me in a possessive light, as it was to be his duty to guard me, and care for me if my mates perished, but the way he acted when around me seemed too uncomfortable.

Yet instead of avoiding me, I had an inkling he sought me out....

He has a Rä’Na.

I kept this in mind whilst dealing with him, to soothe my fears, and keep my shameless ogling in line.

The whole thing was going to be a disaster.

I felt it, but no one believed me.

I sensed a hovering presence, and my eyes fluttered open, brows pulling together as my head lifted, so I could look around.

Gasping then recoiling, I peered into She, Venin Stings the Sweetest’s face.

What the Rä’Na was doing in my nest, I did not know.

I did
not
like it.

It was rude, and totally out of order.

Who marched into someone’s bedroom then boggled at them sleeping until they woke?

It was creepy and disrespectful, and something the majority of Rä would never entertain even if they didn’t like me.

But she was Venomous’ mother.

I felt obligated to carve out some semblance of a familial relationship.

Stifling a yawn with the back of my hand, I managed a tight smile that failed to reach my eyes.

“You will get up and come.” The older female stripped back the warm furs. “We will go now.”

Be the bigger person, turn the other cheek.

“Good morning.” At her contemptuous look, I revised that to, “Good rising.”

I coughed to clear my croaky voice, rubbed crusts of sleep from the innermost corners of my hooded eyes.

All that sand.

I often woke with dry eyes and a sore throat.

“I didn’t expect you,” I said.

Hazy from sleep, I took a moment to move my thoughts beyond my dislike of her.

“Did Venom or Fiercely leave me a message before they left?” I asked.

“Up.” She slapped at my legs, stinging them. “Up.”

Rubbing the abused area, I gritted my teeth.

Wanting to please my mate by getting his mother onboard with our relationship, I did as asked, without cursing, and unpacked the softsuits Venomous bought me at the market from the trunk at the foot of the nest.

I asked, “Would you mind if I bathed?”

“There is no time. You are going to make me late. Get dressed.”

“Want to get out?”

“Do you have something to hide? More disfigurements? Is your body as unsightly bare as it is clothed?”

Counting to ten to give a violent wave of anger a chance to diminish, I dragged the shift I slept in off then chucked it to the floor at her feet.

A flattering shade of taupe, the softsuit I donned, made in the clinging fabric the Rä preferred for casual wear, accentuated my creamy brown skin.

The simple lines and colour really worked for me.

The design and fabric were practical in nature, yet I looked curvaceous and elegant.

I fluffed my springy hair, hoping it didn’t look too wild then glanced at Venin Stings the Sweetest.

She hadn’t spoken in a full minute, so unlike her.

She loved the sound of her own voice.

The older Rä’Na stared, dark gaze crawling up and down me.

As we were alone, she didn’t bother hide her disdain. “My son says you are beautiful to his brille. He calls you exotic.” She spat the word, as if it tasted foul. “You are attractive to your species?”

I thought about that.

Be honest, or exaggerate in hopes of impressing her?
“I’m average.”
And happy with myself fuck you very much.

I’d never felt self conscious about my big hair, curvy body and skin colour.

I wasn’t about to start, no matter how strange these people found me.

Venomous and Fiercely saw something in me they considered beautiful.

That was all I cared about.

“Rä look identical to the human eye at first,” I said hoping to steer the conversation in a less antagonistic direction.
This female will not break me.
“There are differences obvious to you that weren’t to me. It’s becoming easier for me to recognise people at a glance. Human skin tones are much more, uh, divergent in shade, but less in colour. Same with our hair, eyes, body shapes.”

“You are fat heavy.”

One could never accuse her of not speaking her mind.

“I suppose, to you, I am. Humans can be very fat or thin. Females carry extra weight on their breasts, thighs, hips and bottom.” Basking in the growing warmth I felt while thinking of the miracle Venomous and I created against the odds, my hand fluttered up to rest on my middle. “Because we carry children.”

Following the motion of my hand, Venin’s face curdled.

She shuddered. “Your skin is sticky to touch and colours oddly.”

“I sweat,” I replied my face tight.

It gladdened me she skipped saying anything derogatory about my baby.

I wouldn’t hold back if she went there.

It’d be awkward for Venomous to come home, and find his mother passed out on the floor because I’d screamed in her ear.

“I know that’s bizarre to you,” I said, “but it’s how my body works. It’s how I don’t overheat in the sun. As for my skin.” I shrugged. “Again, humans come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Most are a nice mix, and fall somewhere in-between each end of the scale. We don’t all look muscled as Rä do. In fact, few do. We’re predisposed to carry fat from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.”