Chapter 2

ZAHHN

Agitation gnaws at me as I peer around the inadequate, painfully low-tech medical bay of the human worldship. I don't want to be here. I long to be back in my private laboratory aboard the Haxxal , conducting important research that will better the lives of my people. Any Darrvason physician capable of holding a medical scanner could've come in my place. Yet Emperor Radakk had ordered me to join the team of doctors who are scheduled to examine a small group of human females.

I suppress a growl. Even though I'm sterile, an unfortunate effect of the Haflassan Flu, the high-handed emperor believes I should take a mate from among the humans. That's why he ordered me to come here. To tempt me into accepting a human female. He thinks my scientific achievements warrant a reward. He believes I deserve a human female solely for companionship and pleasure, never mind that the entire purpose of the Darrvason-human alliance is to prevent the extinction of our race.

My blood heats with anger. The emperor is perhaps the closest thing I have to a friend, yet there are times I want to pummel him bloody. Would I like to possess a human female? Of course I would. But it wouldn't be logical when I cannot impregnate a woman. As I've already told him numerous times, a female would be wasted on me.

Though the terms of the alliance have already been settled, the exams are necessary so we might discover the full extent of our intimate compatibility with the humans.

In a matter of days, the first wave of human females will be handed over to my people. A group of thirty. After the handover, a team of our most skilled engineers will board the Jansonna and begin repairs on the dilapidated worldship.

Once repairs are complete, the humans will give us one hundred additional females.

Eventually, after my people help locate and guide humankind to a habitable planet, a final wave of two thousand human women will be surrendered.

I have no intention of claiming a female from any of the waves. The emperor can attempt to meddle in my life all he wants, but I will never accept a mate. I might endure a lonely existence, and I suspect I'll experience jealousy toward my peers who do claim females from among the humans, but I have my research to keep me busy.

It's a great shame of mine that I've never succeeded in curing my own sterility, nor the sterility of the other Darrvason males who suffered from the Haflassan Flu. Despite the illogicalness of my claiming a mate, perhaps this failure of mine is an indication that I don't deserve a female. Or maybe it's a sign from the Star Gods that I should focus on my research. If I took a mate, surely the female would be a distraction.

I glance at the four Darrvason doctors who accompanied me today. All appear eager and impatient for the arrival of the human females. They keep glancing toward the door and fidgeting with their medical bags.

The five of us will each be given one patient to examine, a female between the ages of nineteen to twenty-five, the age range at which we believe the women will be most fertile. DNA samples we received in advance already confirmed that Darrvasons and humans can propagate, in theory, but we aren't yet sure if we'll be able to physically copulate with the females to accomplish pregnancy. If our sexual organs aren't compatible, conception will have to be achieved in a laboratory.

Several human doctors huddle on the other side of the medical bay, whispering amongst themselves and occasionally glancing our way. I try but fail to keep from staring at the female doctors as I wonder how many orifices they have for claiming. Do they have two slick holes to accommodate the dual appendages our males possess?

At last, the main door zips open. I watch as security officers escort five trembling human females into the medical bay. Our patients have arrived. It's my understanding that the women were taken from the brig, and I can't help but wonder about their crimes, especially when I notice one woman's wrists are bound behind her back.

I study the petite dark-haired female who's wearing manacles, my curiosity growing. Her curvy form is pleasing, and her bosom is enticingly plump. My scrotum commences a slight vibration, and my dual shafts harden as I imagine taking her to an exam room and stripping her naked.

When our gazes collide from across the medical bay, a fierce sense of ownership for the small female steals through me.

Mine mine mine .

Her dark eyes are enchanting and soulful, and no matter how hard I try to tear my gaze from hers, I'm unable to look away.

For the first time in my life, I find myself utterly entranced by a female. I take a deep breath and filter out the various scents in the room until I detect hers. Star Gods, how her sweet scent calls to me.

To my utter shock, the ancestral markings that cover my chest begin to tingle. It's an odd sensation, one I've never experienced before. Mine. My female.

More than getting her alone in an examination room, I want to abscond with her back to the Haxxal . I want to keep her away from all other males. I want to rut her and make her mine. Though I know I cannot impregnate her, I still want to pump her full of my seed. I want to erupt in her nether orifices, however many she has, as well as in her mouth.

Fluxx . It's preposterous, these urges I'm having. Not to mention, highly illogical.

Focus, I tell myself. I must focus on the task assigned to me and try not to derive any pleasure from the experience. Perhaps it would be best if I selected a different woman to examine. Taking the beautiful female into a room alone might be a bad idea. My shafts are already so engorged that I suspect I'll have trouble walking. And I haven't even touched her yet.

But when one of my colleagues, Doctor Ammdox, approaches the females and reaches for the dark-haired beauty, a snarl rips from my throat. I dart in front of the younger doctor and grab the object of my desires before he can dare touch her.

The female gasps, and terror brims in her eyes. But I don't release her. I won't risk another doctor trying to select her for the examination.

Doctor Ammdox gives me an annoyed look before choosing a different woman, but I barely spare him a glance.

My focus remains on the female I wish to claim. If only it were possible. But even though she can't become my mate, I can't fathom the prospect of another male touching her. Not even for a moment. I glare at the male human guard who'd escorted her into the medical bay, rage pumping through my veins as I imagine shattering his skull. The tiny man grows pale and takes several steps back.

From my peripheral vision, I'm vaguely aware of my colleagues selecting their respective females for the examinations. Am I the only one who feels so on edge and consumed with desire? Am I the only one ready to commit murder just to keep another male away from my patient?

I wrap an arm around the pretty creature and angle my nose closer to her neck, taking another deep inhale. Beneath the obvious coldness of her fear, I detect the floral fragrance of soap, as well as something pungent yet sweet and enticing to my libido. Desire? I remind myself that once I get her alone, I'll be able to discover if she's becoming wet between her thighs.

Her trembling increases. I give her a look of concern, then slowly move my hand up and down her back. For a reason I can't fathom, I long to bring her comfort.

"You needn't fear me, little human," I whisper in her ear, careful to speak in perfect Galactic Common, though it's been ages since I conversed in the universal language.

Her breath catches, and she turns her head to peer into my eyes. My male appendages throb harder as I study her features up close. She's achingly beautiful, and I can't help but count the flecks of gold in her otherwise dark brown eyes. I want to memorize everything about her so I might paint an accurate picture of her in my mind later.

A lock of hair has fallen across her forehead, and I'm about to brush it to the side when a voice booms through the medical bay, interrupting the intimate moment we're sharing. I glare in the direction of the voice.

"Welcome to the Jansonna , doctors," says a human man who emerges from behind the guards. He speaks in Galactic Common. "I'm Commander Hampton, Jansonna's first mate." He attempts a smile, though it doesn't reach his eyes. Duplicity emanates from him, and I instantly dislike the short puny human.

Being the most decorated physician in the Darrvason Empire, the duty of conversing with the commander unfortunately falls to me. I sigh inwardly as I recall Emperor Radakk's request that I attempt to be friendly.

"Thank you for the cordial welcome, Commander Hampton," I force out, though I don't bother to smile. "I'm Doctor Zahhn. My colleagues and I are eager to complete the examinations of the human females as quickly as possible. If you show us the way to the private exam rooms, we will get started."

A tiny, pained whimper escapes the dark-haired female, and I glance down at her bound hands. I frown as I realize the manacles are so tight they're cutting off her circulation, and I feel guilty for not having noticed sooner. Her hands are turning an alarming shade of purple compared to her otherwise light brown skin.

The commander makes a sweeping hand gesture and says, "Follow me," as he heads toward a narrow corridor within the medical bay, but I don't follow.

"Wait!" I glare at the guard who'd escorted my female into the medical bay. "You. Unlock these restraints immediately. And do it without touching the female."

The guard peers at me with wide eyes, then he looks to Commander Hampton as though for confirmation.

"I'm the doctor who'll be conducting her exam today. That makes her my patient, and it means her wellbeing is my responsibility. Unlock. The. Restraints. Do it fluxxing now." So much for friendliness.

"Do as the good doctor says," the commander barks with annoyance, and a moment later, the guard approaches and quickly removes the manacles from her wrists.

I immediately examine the red marks surrounding her wrists and gently massage the area to help her circulation. The rest of the group moves ahead of us down the corridor, giving us a small amount of privacy. I place a finger beneath the female's chin, forcing her gaze to mine. "I have a dermal regenerator in my bag, and I will use it to heal your wrists, as well as any other injuries you have."

Her eyes widen and fill with tears, then she blinks fast. I'm not an expert on human expressions, but I think she appears stunned, yet also emotional. Perhaps she thought me nothing but an unfeeling beast. I am, after all, about to violate her in ways she will no doubt find humiliating. The examination must be thorough.

"Thank you," she finally whispers, still blinking fast.

I place a hand at the small of her back and guide her toward the narrow corridor. "Come. Let's get you situated in a private room. There will be no witnesses to your exam. It'll be just the two of us."