Chapter Three

SILENCE FOLLOWED that remark, and Ti cast around, looking for something to say.

“Would you like to come to our quarters and have a meal with us?”

If Ti thought the silence was bad before, that was nothing compared to then. Surprised, he glanced at the human with brown hair. Well, he presumed the male had once been human since he now wore a pendant that matched Captain Shou’s. The other two males had pendants too, so Ti assumed they were claimed.

An educated guess said this was the captain’s mate. Once more Ti was surprised that he and his crew had been allowed near the Tah’Narian mates.

The Tah’Narian doctor froze, another human with red hair looked confused, the captain shot his mate an uncomfortable look, and yet another mate with yellow hair goggled at the one who spoke—apparently that one had some inkling of what was offered. Even the security officers of both species looked at the male in shocked amazement.

And for good reason. If I was a betting man, I would bet the male had no idea what he’d just offered.

“This is my impulsive, headstrong mate, Dale.”

Captain Shou sighed deeply as he introduced the human.

Just as I thought. “Ah.”

Ti looked at the male. He contemplated letting the matter go, but his instincts said not to. “Tell me, Dale, do you know the history between our two peoples?”

“Let’s see.”

Dale pursed his lips. “The Tah’Narians attacked you guys, and then you guys attacked them. Which, to make a long story short, ends with me standing here, now able to bear young. So yeah, I know the whole deal. The invitation still stands.”

Captain Shou pinched the bridge of his nose, mumbling something that sounded like “Dammit, Dale”

under his breath.

Ti smiled slightly. There was no mistaking the sound of an annoyed male who was also smitten with his mate. Ti’s respect rose a notch for Captain Shou.

The Tah’Narian doctor was still gazing at Dale in amazement. The yellow headed one eased over next to Dale, shaking his head.

“What?”

Dale crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at his mate.

“Dale….”

“Whaaaaat, dammit? Did I say something funny?”

Unable to help himself, Ti threw back his head and laughed loudly. The tension in the room immediately broke. His security officers grinned at the Tah’Narian captain.

The situation was absurdly funny when Ti took a second to look at it from the outside. The Onfre and the Tah’Narians may have bad blood between them, but a mate who had been put on the spot by his spouse—well, they could all relate to that. Ti was unmated, but when he put himself into Captain Shou’s shoes, he could sympathize with the uncomfortable position the captain found himself in.

Yet this small human offered care, acceptance, and hospitality with his offer of food to Ti. Something that neither species had done until Captain Shou answered Ti’s distress call.

Ti didn’t know much about humans, but the one who stood in front of him was definitely a warrior in his own right, even if he didn’t look like it.

And, apparently he also did not hold a grudge against Ti’s people because Dale was partially right—he was standing there because of what Ti’s people had done to the Tah’Narians. But the Tah’Narians had started it, although Ti had privately questioned if the Onfre’s response had been too much.

There was a snort from the human who was restrained on the medibed in the back.

Ti finally smiled at Dale. “I would be honored to join you and your mate. Let me contact my ship and inform them I’ll be having a meal with Captain Shou.”

It was time he met Captain Shou’s bravery with some of his own.

“Call me Keyno. If you’re ready to deal with repairs, I can send some of my crew now,”

Keyno offered.

“I would like that. And call me Ti,”

Ti replied. “I will make sure our leadership knows what has happened here today. Maybe there is a possibility of true peace, thanks to your impulsive mate. May I say that you are very lucky in your choice?”

“Dale is... work,”

Keyno said, grinning at Dale.

Dale laughed. “I could say the same, my mate.”

“And may I say that anything worth having is worth working for. I hope to find such a challenging mate for myself one day.”

Ti’s eyes wandered to the back of Medical.

There was something about the darkness and violence that hung around the human who kept drawing Ti’s attention. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to get involved in such a situation, but he was unable to ignore his instincts.

“Speaking of mates, why don’t I introduce you to some of the ‘cargo’ that’s on board?”

Dale asked.

Ti clearly heard the insult Dale felt at being called “cargo”

and respected that. Dragging his attention away from the human in the back, he made eye contact with Dale. “I apologize, Dale, for my choice of words. I truly meant no offense to you. My species is partly responsible for your standing here.”

“It’s just a sensitive subject for me.”

Ti didn’t know how to respond without possibly causing more insult, so he didn’t.

Keyno huffed, then massaged his temples. “Dale….”

Dale spoke over Keyno. “Let’s go on back there.”

Ti followed the little human, Keyno between him and Dale. Of course Ti understood. He wouldn’t want an unknown danger close to his mate either, and Ti was just that. An unknown, although he wasn’t a danger to Dale. He liked the outspoken male.

Dale led them to the back of Medical. “Captain Ti, this is Colt, a potential mate.”

Potential? As in unclaimed? It was surprising that no Tah’Narian had snapped this one up already. Once more Ti was struck with the astounding differences between the humans in the room. The Onfre tended to all look similar with their white skin, thick tails, bald heads, and red eyes.

Even the Tah’Narians had more differentiating characteristics than the Onfre. Still, they all had tanned skin, tails, ears on the tops of their heads, and long hair, along with being tall and muscular.

But the humans. There were four of them in Medical, and they were each so very unique. But the one in the bed, who Ti noticed was injured now that he was closer—was nothing like the other three.

For one thing, his skin was a much darker color, and his hair was as black as space. He was as different from Ti as day was to night, and Ti was absolutely captivated.

“Hola, Captain Ti,”

Colt said. “You the one who fucked up their world?”

“My species, yes.”

Ti looked at Colt, tied to the bed. Why was he restrained?

“So they fucked with you and then you fucked with them—hard, eh?”

Colt gave Ti a once-over.

What an interesting and very blunt way of putting exactly what had happened. And he was right. That was exactly what they had done. Ti also did not miss the blatant appraisal Colt just gave him.

“I’m down with that, man.”

Ti’s translator was working, he knew that, but still, he was having trouble following the human’s speech.

“Why are you restrained?”

Ti asked finally.

Keyno answered before Colt could open his mouth. “He and several others who followed him attempted to escape, and they attacked several of my crew. He also threatened Dale.”

They attacked a Tah’Narian crew? It had to have been recently, going by Colt’s injuries. Maybe while the Tah’Narians were taking mates from Earth? Despite himself, Ti was impressed that Colt had managed such a feat.

“They think I’m dangerous.”

Colt’s voice had a strange pride in it.

They were not wrong.

“That’s what’s up with the bondage.”

Interesting choice of words too.

Keyno crossed his arms over his chest. “You are dangerous, and I’m taking no chances with Dale this close—”

“I won’t hurt your mate,”

Colt rasped softly. “You have my word.”

Oddly enough, Ti believed Colt, but he couldn’t say why. Keyno, on the other hand, definitely did not.

“Keyno.”

Dale grabbed Keyno’s hand. “It’s okay. He’s different now, I think. He’ll never be harmless, but he’s not the threat he was before.”

What did that mean? Why was he different now? What had happened? And whatever had happened, was it why this young human looked like he had been beaten? And by whom?

“Have you been injected with Tah’Narian DNA yet?”

Ti asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, papi, they did their freaky stuff to me,”

Colt said.

Papi? His translator gave him the meaning, but Ti wasn’t sure what to make of Colt calling him daddy. It did make him feel… odd, but he liked it. He eyed the restraints. He also liked seeing this human in them. Heat flashed through Ti’s body. He wanted to hear the human cry. Something told him he would have to work for that.

Colt met Ti’s gaze—which impressed Ti—and smirked.

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

A hiss from the machine by the bed signaled Colt had received another pain medication injection. He swallowed once and licked his full, lush lips as the medication swept through his bruised body. Even hurt and restrained, though, Ti could see that there was no hiding the strength in Colt’s build.

Ti eyed Colt, whose eyes drifted closed again. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. One I hope to have again.”

Unfortunately, the human didn’t answer him, and Ti missed hearing his voice.

“Shall we eat?”

Keyno asked finally.

“Yes. Let me comm my ship.”

Ti allowed his attention to be drawn away from Colt. He contacted his ship, informed them of his plans, and made arrangements for Keyno’s crew members to transport over.

Once that was taken care of, he followed Keyno and Dale to their quarters. After a meal, and engaging conversation, Ti finally brought up the subject that had been preying on his mind.

“This mate called Colt—do you think you’ll find a Tah’Narian who will want him?” Ti asked.

“I am worried, to be honest. He’s being counseled, but the attack will work against him.”

“What attack?” Ti asked.

Keyno quickly explained what exactly had happened during Colt’s escape attempt, and also how Earth had unloaded death row prisoners on the Tah’Narians. Then Dale had to explain the meaning behind death row prisoners.

“I see.”

“He’s what we called on Earth a gangbanger,”

Dale said.

“He’s violent,”

Keyno added. “And most Tah’Narians want a more... complaisant mate, one who won’t be as defiant as Colt is sure to be.”

Ti considered that a point in Colt’s favor, as well as something he would need in order to survive on Onfre. Which gave Ti pause. Was he seriously considering taking a hybrid as a mate? One with Tah’Narian DNA? From what little bit he had learned, Colt was a killer and unafraid of violence. But those were characteristics Ti could mold to his favor.

“At the very least, a Tah’Narian doesn’t want to have to worry about hiding all the gods-be-damned weapons in the house.”

Again, something Ti wouldn’t concern himself with. If he took Colt as his mate, the human would learn who was the most dominant of the two—something Ti didn’t think was going to be a problem, not if he read Colt right.

“Colt still insists on going by his gang handle, not his real name, even after multiple counseling sessions. I have my doubts whether Colt will ever fully submit to someone.”

Ty didn’t want Colt to fully submit, but he would learn who his master was.

“He’s too strong-willed and aggressive. There is a good possibility he’ll end up being sold as a slave,”

Keyno finally admitted.

“The hell he will, Keyno!”

Outrage poured from Dale. “He can’t help what he’s been through. He should’ve never been harvested in the first place. You know how I feel about this, and—”

“Dammit, Dale—”

“Oh, no, don’t you ‘dammit, Dale’ me.”

“I’m interested in buying him.”

Ti interrupted the fight that was fast getting out of hand between Keyno and Dale. “Stop the counseling. I want him how he is now: wild and unbroken.”

“What?”

Keyno and Dale exclaimed at once.

“You mean as a slave? Hell no, Colt is not going to be sold as a slave.”

“Dale,”

Keyno said quietly, the authority in his voice shutting Dale down completely. “Ti, what are you saying? I need to understand what you are asking for.”

“I want him as my mate, not a slave,”

Ti said. “And I know what he needs. I want him tied to my bed, screaming in pleasure while I fuck him over and over until he passes out. Then I want to wake him up and do him again while he begs for more. Is that clear enough?”

Dale’s mouth hung open as he stared in shock at Ti. Keyno snickered as he slipped a finger under Dale’s chin and closed his mouth.

“I would say that was pretty clear. In that case, I’ll talk to our king for permission for you to request a mate.”

Keyno grinned. “What a subspace message that’ll be.”

Ti could only imagine. The leaders of his planet were going to have something to say about this too, he was sure.

“Anyway, you’ll go through the usual process all other Tah’Narians go through with our new mates, but we can do it here on my ship, not Tah’Nar. I’ll stop the counseling. Get to know Colt and spend some time with him. He has to be in agreement with this arrangement, you understand?”

“He’ll agree,”

Ti replied, very sure of himself. “I can give him what he needs, and he knows that.” Ti knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“I’ll make the necessary arrangements with King Duran then.”

“Good. Please do so.”

Ti couldn’t wait. If someone had told him this would be the result of a Tah’Narian ship answering his distress call, he probably would have beaten them senseless.

But Fate was a funny thing, and this could be nothing more than Fate.

Jolak’s POV of his mating to King Duran

Thank you, Alaina Egger, for finding the name of Jolak’s home planet for me!