Chapter Five

They walked out and remained in a group with Yasku, a head taller than the tallest of them. The crowds melted out of their way. The ladies had voted, and a dessert shop had been selected. They were on their way.

Cassandra tried to interact with the others, but it was glaringly obvious that Yasku’s hand was wrapped around her waist.

Cassandra murmured, “Isn’t tomorrow the night of the big courtship thing?”

“Yes. However, as owner of this world, I am allowed and even encouraged to try and find a mate.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I can help you. I have an instinct for these things.”

“As do I. I am not letting go.”

“You had better when we get dessert.”

“Why? I don’t care about dessert. The curve of your waist is far more enjoyable.”

“So, when did the switch flip?”

“Pardon?”

“When did your attitude switch from wait and see to staking your territory?”

He paused. “When your cuff began to head toward the city.”

“Ah. Well, I only called two keffo this time.”

“Where did you get the saddle?”

“Saddle? Didn’t need one. I called him, he knelt, and I got on. Then he, me, and his buddy headed for the city. Next time, I will bring water.”

He muttered, “Next time, you will fly.”

“Next time is tomorrow, and I will check in exactly on time and leave as soon as I can.”

Yasku snorted. “You are struggling in my net.”

“I don’t do anything easily unless I can foresee the outcome. You? I have no idea what you will do next.”

“Excellent. That means you will keep your gaze on me. The moment you feel comfortable, I will know.”

“What happens then?”

He grinned. “There will be a contract, and then, you will be mine. The rest can be figured out.”

“By the rest, you mean sex.”

“Most definitely. I didn’t understand the draw for your species until I saw you on the ship. At that point, it was abundantly clear. Fortunately, I got to watch your body in action daily.”

She sighed. “You were perving on me in the gym?”

“Observing.”

“What’s the difference?”

“If I were perving on you, as you say, I would have seduced you in the gym.”

“That sounds so sinister but genteel.”

“I am a male of many moods.”

“Um. This is odd.”

“You knew, though.”

“I suspected. There wasn’t a way to confirm it without one of your kind or a full analysis. I wasn’t going to pay for that, so it was going to remain a mystery.”

He growled.

“What? If you have a bomb strapped to your back, would you rather that you detonate it or that you neutralize it?”

He blinked. “You think of me as an explosive device?”

“I think of me as an explosive device.”

There was a crowd in front of a well-lit shop, and a stack of Terrans were waiting for their turn. When they got close, Cassandra’s eyes widened. “Gelato?”

Nessa looked at her. “Gelato. The flavours are different, but it is still good. The thnikberry is lemony with raspberry overtones.”

Cassandra smiled. “Thank you.”

“We still remember the rationing of the treats, and those were two we left for you.”

“That was your choice.”

“That was all we could do to say thanks. Without you, we wouldn’t have lasted three months.”

“But we did. Now, we have a chance at life, and we are living it.”

The crowd started looking at them and parted to allow Yasku and Cassandra forward.

She looked at the crimson features of the vendor and smiled. “A scoop of thnikberry?”

The person nodded and got a scoop in a folded leaf with a small wooden spoon.

She went to pay, but Yasku gripped her waist to stop her. “My companion is unaware of the agreement I have with the shopkeepers. They send a bill to my city house once per month.”

The vendor smiled. “Of course, Master Yasku.”

She looked up at Yasku. “So, this is taking a weird turn.”

“Eat your dessert, Cassandra.” He caressed her cheek with his free hand.

Nessa muttered, “Whoa. That’s intense.”

Cassandra scooped her dessert with a crowd of twenty watching her. She tried it and blinked. She giggled. “Lemon raspberry.”

Yasku kissed her forehead then brushed her lips with his, and she felt the soft texture of the curve of his mouth. He leaned back and said, “It does taste good.”

The Terrans swooned, male and female. The other species bowed.

Cassandra looked around and avoided staring at Yasku. “What is going on?”

“I have chosen a companion. That has not happened before.”

She pointed at herself with her spoon. “Me?”

He chuckled and kissed her softly again. “You. Eat your dessert. We will discuss the details in the morning when I take you for your appointment.”

“Appointment?”

“Yes, you are seeing a physician to check your levels.”

Morna blinked and raised her hand. “I’m a doctor. I just graduated, but if you wanted a scan tonight, it could be done.”

Cassandra started to say that she could wait a day, but Yasku said, “Now.”

Morna nodded. “Yes, Overseer.”

Cassandra ate her gelato as she was escorted and occasionally shoved toward a clinic that still had its lights on. Nessa and the girls remained in the courtyard while Morna walked inside, scanning in at the front desk.

She smiled at the clerk. “Yavara, this is my Auntie Cassandra, and you know the overseer, right?”

The clerk stood up and bowed from the waist. “Overseer. You can count on our discretion for any of your needs.”

Cassandra finished her gelato and sighed. “Yeah, you know. Hangnail, erectile dysfunction, dwindling libido in your old age.”

He grabbed her, lifted her, and turned her to face him. He pressed her against the wall and kissed her. The pressure of his mouth on hers parted her lips, and then, his teeth were against her, long and pointed. She clenched her thighs, and he wedged his leg between them. She was suspended in his grip and on the receiving end of a sudden seduction. Cassandra was wrapped in heat and darkness. She smelled leather, her body, his body, and gelato.

He rocked his thigh against her sex, and she gripped his shoulders as the kiss went on and on. When the building tension inside her released in a burst of heat, she gasped and nipped Yasku’s lower lip. He jolted in surprise. She thought it was surprise. He leaned back and stared at her, his eyes glowing, and a constellation was in those pupils.

“If you start to play in public, I will answer.”

She kept her eyes locked to his. “Noted.”

They were in a warm, dark cave, and when he shifted, his fuzzy wings folded back to expose her.

The light was harsh, and she squinted as her eyes adapted.

He helped her straighten up and stroked her neck. “Ready to continue?”

She swallowed and nodded, then said, “Wait. With what?”

He grinned and bent to press his forehead to hers. “Everything in time. For now, you are getting your mandatory scan.”

She grimaced. “Right.”

He turned her to face her astonished family, and Nessa smiled. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

The young ladies were staring, and they parted as Yasku escorted her into the exam room. He calmly closed the door for privacy, and Morna was busy prepping a scanner.

Cassandra disarmed herself, and when Morna asked, “What levels are we looking for?”

“Khimerion.”

Morna paused, “Oh my god.”

“Yeah. The pay was good, though, and I had the temperament for it.” She put her foot on the edge of the table and removed the thigh knife and harness.

She checked her boots, and Morna said, “There are metal shanks in the boots.”

“Right.” She yanked her boots off and set them near the weapons.

Morna looked her over. “No metal?”

“No. Just leather and fabric.”

“Step into my parlour.” Morna smiled, and when Cassandra was in place, she focused and held her breath when requested.

The thumping of the scanner and light that pierced her was something she had gotten used to. When it went silence, and she heard the door open, she opened her eyes and put her hand in Yasku’s. He helped her out of the scanner while Morna stared at the readouts.

“Auntie. Oh my god. You were nearly cut in half.”

Cassandra bent to pull her boots on. “Yeah, it wasn’t a great day. The rescue call cost me three weeks of profits. The medical treatment cost two months more.” She chuckled. “Of course, I sued the miner ahead of me, so I recouped most of the costs. It took a while, though.”

She straightened and looked toward the monitor where the conclusions were displayed. Well, she would have if Yasku’s wings weren’t blocking her.

Yasku pointed at something, and Morna said, “It is one hundred fifty times what is considered acceptable, but she is at seventy-five percent of her tolerance.”

“What is this? Your species is not standard like this?”

“No. Those are replacement organs. Backups. I have never seen anything like this before. It’s odd. We are born with all the eggs we can ever use, but she has an extra ovary right here. Extra tube and everything. If this were back on earth, I would be submitting her for study.”

Yasku chuckled. “I am going to study carefully.”

“Can you let me know your findings?”

“Certainly.”

Cassandra said, “Hey! What do you mean extra ovary?”

Morna said, “You have grown an extra ovary and an extra kidney. Congratulations.”

“Are my others damaged?”

“No. They are fine. This is just an addition.” Morna murmured, “They seem to be operating just fine.”

“Well, that is just perplexing. I didn’t have extras when I left Earth.”

Morna looked at her tablet, and Yasku took it and tapped with his fingers. “There. Now I can peruse the results.”

Morna looked at Cassandra. “What happened?”

“A roof collapsed on me in a zero-atmosphere mining facility. I was lucky I had grabbed an extra oxygen source before I was pinned. It took an hour before the emergency crew arrived.”

Yasku glanced at her. “That was where we picked you up?”

“Correct.”

“I will gain all of your records from there as well.”

“Why?”

Yasku smiled. “You are my new hobby, kit. I want to learn everything about you.”

“How long do your hobbies last?”

He handed the tablet to Morna and cupped Cassandra’s hips in his palms. “Centuries.”

He pulled her against him, and she stared up at him, setting down the dagger she had been lashing to her forearm. “I thought you had patience, and you were waiting?”

“That was before I tasted you, and there was no fear but rich curls of pleasure. You taste wonderful, and you feel even better.”

She frowned. “You are taller from this angle.”

He grinned and lifted her to sit on the exam table.

Morna said, “I will be outside with the others.”

She slipped out, and Yasku looked remarkably unperturbed as he leaned his palms on either side of Cassandra’s hips. He leaned in and cocked his head. “Did you die?”

“What?”

“After the accident. Did you die?” He sniffed the left side of her neck, his lips caressing her skin.

“Um, yes. A few times. My files indicate it took three attempts before I decided to remain alive.”

“Stubborn, kit.” He licked softly at her neck, and his tongue was rough. She shivered.

She tilted her head to let him continue but muttered, “They are all waiting outside.”

“Yes, but you depressingly don’t have my scent on you.” He licked slowly. “I am trying to fix that.”

“I thought you had patience.”

He smiled and switched sides. “I believe I said I was willing to wait as long as it would take. Running into your family has softened you, and I am easing into the gap.”

“This feels like wedging, not easing.”

“You only have to take what fits. It is up to me to encourage you as time goes on.”

“Hmm. There are eight curious people and a baby waiting for us.”

“Ah. Right. We will continue this at a later time.”

“And you have already put your scent on me.”

“It’s a start.” He smiled and leaned back. “I will work on it later.”

She looked up at him, and he gave her a light kiss.

He stroked her cheek and stared at her. “There is something about you that is very familiar.”

“Well, you saw me on the ship.”

“No, this goes deeper.” He looked at her. “What do you see when you look at me?”

She smiled. “Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“My favourite cuddly toy when I was a kid. Not directly, but the pointed ears, the focused eyes, and the fuzzy aspect of your skin. It is elements that set me at ease.”

He blinked. “You see a cuddly toy when you look at me?”

“Not exactly. I seek out elements of you that I find comforting. I didn’t realize I was doing it until you asked. I guess I do it with all around me. I rarely find it.”

He picked her up and held her cuddled against him. “That is the strangest compliment I have ever gotten.”

“Um, your earrings are shiny?”

He chuckled. “That one I have not heard either.”

She breathed him in and hugged him.

He moved in surprise for a moment and then just rubbed her shoulders.

“Okay, we can go face my family again.”

Yasku released her and backed away. “This is certainly an interesting day. When I saw your tracker moving, I wanted to sweep you up and haul you back to my home, fucking you until you were limp.”

“Oh. I am glad you went with cuddling.”

He offered his arm to her, she put her hand on his wrist, and he opened the door of the exam room, walking out with her and her family staring at them all with wide eyes.

Morna cleared her throat. “I didn’t say anything.”

Cassandra shrugged. “I am fine. I had heavy metal contamination from my previous occupation and suffered a work injury that is stable.”

Morna relaxed.

Cassandra smiled. “Little sissy, I would never put that kind of pressure on you. I don’t have secrets that need to be kept.”

Morna smiled. “Thank you. I was getting looks.”

Nessa walked to her and hugged her. “Aw, sweetie. Are you going to be okay?”

Yasku said, “She will be fine. She just needs to focus on relaxing and making this world her home.”

Cassandra went to the counter to pay for the scan, but an arm around her waist spun her around, and she was standing clamped in the two soft wings.

“Hey!”

She heard him speaking to the receptionist, and when the wings tightened, she was lifted off her feet.

He spoke to her family. “She will be back tomorrow night for the gathering.”

She heard folks calling good night to her and some giggles, but she was trapped in his wings until they walked out of the gateway.

Cassandra was perfectly warm and cozy until he bent his knees and set her on her feet by opening his wings. She stumbled, but he whirled to hold her. “That was sneaky.”

“You are tired; you need to rest under your own roof. Or my roof. My roof has snacks.” He gave her a coaxing look.

“Do you have a guestroom?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. Can I sleep in one of them?”

“Of course.”

“Good. I haven’t shared a bed with anyone after the storms. It will be a hard habit to break.”

“I will work on it but not tonight.” He crouched and launched skyward.

She focused on relaxing and felt the air rush past her face. She glanced down at the ground and noticed that the sun was setting over the city. The colours defied description. Nothing looked the same as it had when she was on Earth. Her eyes now saw wavelengths that weren’t there for her before the accident.

They were at his home in six minutes.

She looked toward the house she had purchased and sighed. “I am going to sleep under my roof one day.”

“Yes, you will.” He walked into the manor, and Kiddel grinned.

“Good evening, Master Yasku. Have you had dinner?”

“I have. It was delightful. I had no idea that so many of the Urther females were underage when they arrived.”

“It was brought up, but there was a contract stipulation that meant we had to take them as a set.”

Mentally, she snickered. It had been a weird stipulation, but her insistence on them remaining together as a pack put them to the fore of this colony. The mine was owned by Yasku as well. Where she was attached, they had to go to a nice, blossoming colony. The placement directors had negotiated on her behalf, and the result was that Nessa and the girls were somewhere she could find them.

Yasku paused. “Cassandra, do you know anything about this?”

“Yes, of course. Hmrain were really bidding for miners, and you were the high bidder. I went to your mine, and they came here.”

Kiddel checked his tablet. “Oh, so you did. That was the criteria. You would take up a mining unit if they had a safe place to live. As there was only one other of your species suited for the mines, we bonded one of each sex.”

“Yeah, he didn’t make it. He got an infection due to poor maintenance of his equipment. It wasn’t one that could be treated.” She yawned.

Yasku snorted. “Are you faking being tired to get out of this conversation?”

“Maybe. It’s been an emotional day, but I have my family back, so I am pleased and stressed all in one. I am an auntie, though. That’s nice. I need to get the little one something.” She scowled. “Shoot, my tablet is at my house. I can’t get a hold of anyone.”

Yasku generously said, “The knowledge of my house is at your disposal, and you can file for a local com when you are in town tomorrow.”

“Oh. I am allowed to run errands during the party?”

“The gathering? No, but we can go during the afternoon, and you can rest in my city home.”

“Rest?”

“The gathering goes on all night. There is music and food for each of the four species, and you are not allowed to remain in your own for more than ten minutes. You can spend as long as you like in a different zone.”

“Oh, so I can go trolling for partners in other species?”

Yasku opened his mouth and then closed it with a snap. “No.”

He started to walk.

Kiddel snorted.

“What are you laughing at, Kiddel?” Yasku growled.

“She’s free. You are going to have to negotiate.”

She looked at Yasku. “I am good at negotiating.”

“Are you, kit?”

“I got you to take on six children and their guardian for the price of a miner. I am very impressed with myself.”

He blinked.

She smirked and crossed her arms across her chest, kicking her feet idly as he carried her to her room.

He walked into a huge chamber with a wide bed, and she mentioned, “This is a helluva guestroom.”

“You are tired. The sheets are being darned or something. I will carry you over there the moment that it’s ready.”

She looked at him. “You are going with that?”

“Yes. Yes, I am. You go to bed. I will leave you alone.” He set her on the bed and kissed her temple. “There isn’t nightwear, but I am guessing it is not a problem.”

Cassandra nodded, and she pulled her boots off. “You are correct. Not a problem.”

She set her boots down neatly, removed her weapons, and pulled off her leggings. “Are you staying to watch?”

“May I?”

She shrugged. “Sure.” She folded her leggings.

She pulled her tunic over her head and folded it. All she was wearing now was the tracking cuff.

She got up, turned, and flipped the bedding back. “What are you going to be doing while I am out?”

“Making grooming appointments for you.”

She tucked herself under the sheet and turned on her side to face him. “Why are you doing that? I am free, right?”

He crouched next to the bed and stroked her cheek. “Because I have designs on your body, and I want it in the best condition. So, a spa day with your friend will be just the thing, I think.”

“Nessa will enjoy that.”

“Why do you have so many weapons?”

“I am never going to be caught off guard again. The universe is a dangerous place. I need to be ready.”

He nodded. “You will be, kit. Get some rest.” He kissed her forehead and left her to rest in his bed.