Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Z ade

Zade stared through the glass at the female on the other side; willed her to maintain eye contact. See only him. Ashlyn.

He would never enslave a living being or force himself on an unwilling female, but that didn’t stop him from imagining Ashlyn’s active consent to let him play master in their sleeping quarters. The obedience chains she held were, after all, originally designed as sex toys. He would command her to open her legs and then feast on her sweet nectar until she was out of her mind, pulling at his hair, chanting his name over and over again as she came in his mouth, begging him to bury his cock deep inside her, fill her.

She was stunning. Feisty. Human. Delicate in comparison to Caldorian women, with cornflower blue eyes designed to hold her mate captive.

The Council would never believe a woman so beautiful, so vibrant, would marry a monster like C’bor Ubrion. This was a fool’s errand likely to get everyone killed. Not that it mattered. He was now honor bound to play his part, take the Council seat if necessary. But fake a claiming with this woman? He would never allow her to fake anything between them.

He devoured her with his eyes, making no attempt to hide his desire. He wanted her with an intensity he’d never felt before. After seeing Ashlyn, after watching her with the infant that looked so much like her, all he wanted to do was take her back to his ship, claim her, bury his cock so deep inside her she couldn't remember her own name, fill her with his seed and watch her belly grow. He knew his desire was primitive. He didn't care.

Despite King Dagan warning them not to get any ideas about keeping Ashlyn, despite her apparent unwillingness to consider any of them as potential mates in truth, or her insistence their match would be temporary, the others wanted to claim the beautiful female as well, that much was obvious. They were going to do everything in their power to convince her to give them a real chance. Tempt her into allowing a genuine claiming. By law, she could end the claim before a permanent binding ceremony took place, as was her right, so convincing her that she didn't want to do that would be her mate's top priority after seeing to her safety. My top priority .

He had no idea what the previous female had been like, or what his brother might have done in this situation and didn't care. Fate was clearly at work. Ashlyn was meant to be his .

His hands pressed against the clear glass, framing her. He hadn’t missed her very feminine dismissal of him earlier. Threw down a gauntlet with your scent all over it and then ran, is what you did, but I accept your challenge. I’m an expert hunter. You will be mine.

He waited patiently until her eyes strayed back to him, then gave the command to store his weapons and remove the top portion of his uniform. He stood proudly, chest bare. He was like all Caldorians. He knew exactly what she would see; the raised swirls and whorls on his skin blazed with so much fiery opalescence she would be hard pressed to identify the dark, underlying blue as the primary color. He enjoyed showing off his markings for the pleasure of the opposite sex as much as the next warrior, but today was the first time he cared if the female in question liked what she saw. No. Not the female. Ashlyn.

He watched her closely, eager to see her initial reaction. Every Caldorian's markings were unique, and his had drawn more than his fair share of female interest. And yet for all that, his remained unlit, a clear signal that he was still available. Ashlyn would have to light his markings before they met any of the Council members. Any deviation from the well-known tradition would be met with suspicion.

His cock twitched at the thought of her rubbing maju paste all over his body, causing the markings to light up from within, declaring him one half of a claimed pair, untouchable to other females. Ashlyn had no markings, but that wouldn't stop him from spreading the paste all over her. He wanted to learn every curve of her body, how she liked to be touched, where she was most sensitive.

He stood proudly in front of her, allowing her to look her fill. His markings covered one arm and half of his chest, then tapered down to a point that disappeared beneath his belt, luring the eye. She gave in, much to his delight. He was ready for her. Take a good look. I am all that you named me. Dominant. Primitive. Possessive. Imagine my tongue, my mouth, every part of me dedicated to your pleasure, driving you over the edge.

For a moment Ashlyn swayed closer, a hitch in her breath. The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Pure torture. Her gaze drifted back up to his chest, stroked over every marking, sinew and muscle. He was in his prime and thanks to his lineage, even larger than many other Caldorians.

Ashlyn's lips stayed slightly parted. Unless humans had different signals, she wanted him. He stood even straighter, directly across from her, using his body to communicate. You can dismiss me, but you can’t hide what you really want. Your body does not lie.

Ashlyn crossed her arms and turned away, but not quickly enough to hide her desire. Her nipples were pebbled. She was flushed and breathing faster. He smiled. You offer a feast, and I am ravenous.

Ashlyn and the others continued their conversation for several minutes before exiting the room, giving Zade time to calm his body and reflect on how he ended up in his current position. He was not on the original, pre-approved list of candidates. Like Ashlyn, he was a replacement, and nothing like his older half-brother.

Zedrick was eight when their father’s first mate, Zedrick’s mother, died in a tragic accident. His father found and bound himself to Zade’s mother, a Saltrec princess, only a few weeks later. People immediately began to whisper. Zade’s birth less than a year after that still raised eyebrows. He spent his childhood defending his mother and himself against the worst sort of royal gossip and had since refused to attend royal functions where people whispered behind his back.

Eventually he’d found an outlet for his pain and anger through training with his father’s legendary Lumerian Knights and spent more than one human lifetime proving his worthiness on the battlefield. He was not ashamed of his heritage. On the contrary, most Saltrec were highly regarded as elite fighters. Once trained, they were almost impossible to kill on the battlefield.

If injured, the best Saltrec could enter into a state of near death––lay inert like stone, immune to hot and cold, for several hours––long enough to survive until help arrived. He, of course, had never been properly trained, being raised as a prince of the Northern Sector instead, and because of the way his parents had found each other, he’d had to fight for everything he had. His instinct was to crush his enemies, not play political games with them.

Zade’s musings abruptly ceased as the door slid open and Ashlyn walked through, the delicate chains of obedience tinkling with each step she took. His first sight of her without the glass between them was like a punch to the gut. He couldn’t breathe. Mine.

As she moved gracefully toward them, the scent of a rare flower on Caldor drifted through the air, tantalizing his ultra keen senses. Sweet and spicy. Memories of a summer long forgotten rose to the surface. He breathed slowly, deeply, memorizing every detail, savoring this first contact.

He spread his legs slightly to give himself some small relief from the confines of his uniform.

“Um, hello,” Ashlyn began nervously, addressing the five of them together. “Welcome to Earth?”

He couldn’t look away as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat, his focus so intense he barely noticed when her sister joined her. And they were sisters, there was no mistaking the similarities.

“Apparently, I’m the reason you’re all here. Well, sort of, anyway. I guess you’re actually the reason I’m here.” She laughed weakly. No one was fooled. “So, my name is Ashlyn Faro. I guess you know that, too. My sister, Rachel, is mated to Ambassador Shronti. She and Cam, uh, I mean the ambassador, asked me to meet with you all. To..to..uh..”

The warrior from the Southern Sector smiled, stepped forward and took her hand in his own. “There is nothing to fear, my Ashlyn. You have only to choose one of us this day. The rest we can work out together. I am Prince Antonelius.”

“ Fulack .” Zade swore quietly under his breath. Ashlyn might not know that Caldorians didn’t touch each other casually, but the rest of the warriors in the room knew. Antonelius was staking a claim on her. Zade saw red, only years of practicing restraint kept him from lashing out at the prince and giving him a beating he would not soon forget. His Ashlyn? His Ashlyn?

Zade knew he had no right to feel possessive of her. He didn’t care. There would only be one name on her lips as she cried out, and it was not going to be Antonelius, that hole of a viderbeast . In a register too low for a human to hear, Zade growled in warning, “ Hands off or lose them.”

Antonelius wisely released Ashlyn and took a small step back.

“Nice to meet you, Antonelius,” Ashlyn continued, completely unaware of the territorial exchange. “As I explained to my sister, I would like to meet with each of you privately. Talk. Get to know you, even if just a little. I know we don’t have a lot of time.”

She looked around, at a loss for words. Did they really expect her to choose a complete stranger, then pretend she was madly in love with him and planning a wedding? What was the term the Caldorians used? Binding ceremony? First, they claim you and then bind you to them forever, like getting engaged and then married, and they live a really long time.

Her heart thundered in her chest. She wasn’t prepared for this. She was tough. She could handle difficult directors and choreographers. She could dance until her feet were bloody, then get up and do it again the next day. This was different. She had no skill set for this.

“I don’t mean to hurry you,” Rachel whispered next to her, “but Cam just called. A few of the Council members have arrived ahead of schedule, as well as the Ubrion family and their entourage.”

Ashlyn gave a very unladylike snort. She tended to get snarky when she was scared. “I think you’re trying to say we just lost home court advantage, but since we don’t even know the rules of the game, I’m not sure how much of an advantage that would have been. Just the fate of the planet hanging in the balance. No pressure.”

“More like three hundred thousand,” Rachel corrected, her eyes and nose scrunched like she was sucking on something sour. “Every planet that trades with Cappra will be affected. But, hey, like I already said, you can handle it. No need to panic. You said it yourself. You’re a dancer. That takes major commitment. Discipline. A high pain tolerance. And you know about stuff.”

“Stuff? You mean I know a bunch of secrets and haven’t told anyone, so I’m the next logical choice? I actually hope that’s the real reason you chose me, and not the other things you just mentioned, because if you think a high pain tolerance is going to be needed, I have to say I’m not into torture. Find someone else or let the Council seat go.”

Zade stepped forward, edging Antonelius out of the way, staking his own claim and daring the others to protest with a fierce glare before focusing on Ashlyn. He gave her a small bow and held out his hand, palm up, hoping she would place her own tiny hand in his. Caldorians weren’t wired for casual touching; they were far too territorial. If she were to touch him first, not only would it be a sign of her interest in him, it would also demonstrate that interest to the others. “Ashlyn Faro of Earth, I am Commander Zade Miralos, Prince of Caldor’s Northern Sector. Your sister has put fear in your mind that need not be there.”

She placed her hand in his and he worked diligently to hide the primal desire her touch ignited within him as she spoke. “I didn’t mean to imply anything, and Rachel hasn’t put anything in my mind that wasn’t already there. I’ll do this, but for the record, I want to say again that I think you should hire a professional. To be honest...” she gave an adorable shrug of her shoulders, “well, I can’t understand why your people would leave a decision like this up to someone like me. I have no experience in politics. I’ve never met anyone from the Council.”

“Contrary to appearances, our planet is not without political differences. The only way to satisfy all Sectors is to have you alone do the choosing. Only you are without bias, and it is you who must challenge the Ubrion family. You must decide who you believe is most capable of protecting you, the one you wish to stand by your side.”

“I don’t know any of you. I’m scared, which is kind of the opposite of happily engaged to the man of my dreams. If you heard everything, you know I’m not good at lying. This might not work.”

Zade spoke so Ashlyn would continue looking at him again, not her sister. Not any other male in the room. “The Council seat is a powerful weapon. Our Sectors may not always see eye to eye in all things, but we are Caldorians first and foremost. We are united in this. You must choose, Ashlyn.”

At her look of protest, he continued in a lower, more intimate tone as he stepped closer and leaned down to murmur in her ear, “You must choose the warrior most capable of convincing everyone that you have been truly claimed.”

“Everyone.” She blinked, slightly dazed, her gaze never leaving his. “Except me.”

“Especially you.” Zade’s voice deepened to an impossibly low pitch. Masculine. Sexy. Intimate. “For who will be convinced if you are not?”

She shivered, the tone vibrating through her body as his eyes devoured her. Even the tips of her breasts tingled. Tingled and ached. She wanted more. She wanted...

“Agreed.” Antonelius chimed in, breaking the spell. “You said you want to meet with each of us privately. I volunteer to be first.”

Ashlyn was slow to respond. She blinked. Prince Zade was still holding her hand. He was an alpha male. Powerful. Commanding. Her pulse raced as his thumb stroked over her knuckles, slowly, intimately. She imagined how his fingers would feel stroking other parts. Her lips parted in anticipation.

Antonelius cleared his throat. “I believe the Ubrion family will demand an audience soon. If you would like time to meet with each of us, we should find a better location. Did you have one in mind, my lady?”

She pulled her hand free of Zade’s and stepped back. Turning toward Antonelius, she smiled. He was just as good looking as Zade in his own way and equally muscled, with lavender eyes and blond hair. “Actually, yes, I do.”