Bound: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance, page 2
“You can’t force me to marry someone.” Can you? The final question echoed in her mind. This wasn’t America. Arranged marriages might be the norm on Altor. Her research hadn’t contained a lot of specifics about how triads were formed.
“‘Marry’ is a human term. Contracts for the services of a conduit are negotiated by her parents. The conduit’s approval is not necessary. Your cousin Flora was bound by such a contract. You were contracted also, but your betrothed mates chose to claim another female because they believed you were dead.”
“What about Raina?” She was almost afraid to ask. “Is she bound by a contract?”
“I would be shocked if that family had been able to attract a top-level team.”
His voice took on a condescending coldness that made Cara ask, “Why is that?”
Grinnel shot him a warning look and Lezod smirked. “We do not socialize with the Borak family. That is all I will say on the subject.”
His evasion required no explanation. She could read between the lines. Her parents were rich, like billionaire rich. Their sprawling estate and elaborate mansion made that much obvious. Apparently, Lezod considered the Borak family beneath him. She shifted her attention to Grinnel. “Isn’t Raina’s mother your sister? Are you too good to ‘socialize’ with your own flesh and blood?”
“I will always love Settari, but her choice in mates was… unfortunate.”
Cara didn’t even know how to address such snobbery, so she just shook her head and looked out the viewport. The Citadel loomed before them, the shape strangely familiar. The top section spiraled into three wide, rotating rings. Docking and loading bays dotted the smaller ring at the bottom of the structure. Suddenly she realized where she had seen the shape before. “My grandmother has a Christmas ornament that is shaped just like that.”
“Each trainee is given a miniature of the Citadel when they complete their studies,” Grinnel explained. “Odd that Iris wanted to commemorate an institution she claims to despise.”
Most of Cara’s interaction had been with Grinnel or staff members. She was finding Lezod’s personality abrasive. Rather than responding to his attitude, she looked at Grinnel. “What happens when we get there? Is this like speed dating or will we interview each team separately?”
“It is more accurate to say that they will be interviewing you,” Lezod answered for his mate. “These teams have applied to be considered for the power triad program, but they must officially submit an offer for you. At that point, I will approve, reject, or make a counter offer.”
He would make the decision, not her. Was this a hint of things to come? If all Altorian males were this sanctimonious, she was doomed. Then a thought occurred to her. If no one had offered for her yet, maybe she could behave so badly that no one would. Before she traveled down that road, she needed more information. “What happens if all three teams decide that I’m more trouble than I’m worth?”
Lezod rolled his eyes and sneered in Altorian, “She will be face down over someone’s lap before we make it to our room.”
“What the hell does that mean?” she demanded without thinking about the fact that she wasn’t supposed to understand Altorian.
His head whipped around toward his mate. “When was she injected with translation nanites?”
“This morning, dear,” Grinnel admitted with a smile. “Ephrod Laeth insisted that she be the one to conform to his needs, not the other way around.”
Lezod chuckled. “Sounds like Ephrod.”
And that was one strike against Ephrod before she even set eyes on him. Not a good start.
They were cleared for approach a short time later and Cara tried to calm herself as the transport maneuvered into a landing bay. Her pulse raced and her mouth went dry. She suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.
“Come,” Lezod ordered as he moved toward the front of the small ship. The cockpit was enclosed, so Cara had never seen the pilot, but the rest was one open space. “We are late. They are waiting for you.”
Refusing now served no purpose. They would simply drag her there kicking and screaming, which would likely amuse her prospective mates. She decided to conduct herself as if she deserved respect, hoping that at least one of the teams would respond accordingly.
She climbed down from the transport and smoothed her too-short skirt into place before crossed the landing bay. Everything seemed cramped and dingy. Everyone spoke of the Citadel with such reverence. She’d expected something more impressive. She emerged into the corridor and her feet refused to move. The long, narrow corridor with its exposed utilities and rust-stained joints gave her a profound sense of déjà vu. “I’ve been here before,” she muttered as her steps began to drag. This was where she had been moved from one ship to another on her way to Altor. She reached out and touched Grinnel’s arm. “Is Flora at the Citadel?”
“Yes, dear,” she admitted without breaking stride.
“What about Raina? Is she here too?”
“Raina is with her parents and will remain there until her mates are chosen and her training begins,” Grinnel explained in the same casual tone.
“I know you don’t like Raina’s parents, but I happen to love my cousins very much. Can I speak with her, maybe visit her?”
“Her name is Luna, not Raina,” Grinnel reminded with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Incensed by her mother’s nonchalance, Cara dug in her heels and put her hands on her hips. “If Flora is here, I want to see her. Now.” She didn’t yell, at least not yet, but she made it obvious that she wouldn’t let the matter drop.
Lezod turned to face her, his features tense with annoyance. “Flora is in training. Trainees are not allowed visitors. It would be too distracting.”
Altorians and their ridiculous rules. Cara took a deep breath, determined to remain calm and respectful. “If I could speak with her for just a few moments, see that she is unharmed, and—”
“I said no.” His gaze narrowed and his chin lifted. “You must stop arguing every time you do not get your way.”
“This is ridiculous,” she flared. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
“Is there a problem?”
The sharp, authoritative voice made Cara snap her head to the side. A middle-aged female with dark brown hair and amber-colored eyes stood a short distance down the corridor. She was dressed in the same matte black uniform that Cara had seen others wearing. Were they all Citadel employees? The female’s hands were clasped behind her back, giving her a militant bearing.
“A simple misunderstanding,” Lezod assured the newcomer. “We will be with you momentarily.”
Pausing to glare at her father, Cara strode past him and approached the female. Clearly her father had no intention of taking her to Flora. Maybe this person would be more reasonable. “Do you work here?”
“I am Supervisor Winlos,” the female informed. Her tone implied that Cara should understand what that meant.
“My cousin Flora is here somewhere.” Cara used the same even tone she had employed earlier, hoping it would be more effective now. Surely, someone in this star system would respond to politeness and logic. “I have not been allowed to see her since we were taken from Earth. I am concerned about her wellbeing. Can you please arrange for a quick meeting or even a holo-comm?”
“Your concern is a serious insult to her mates, and your father explained why you cannot see her.”
Trepidation closed around Cara’s belly, squeezing like a fist. If Flora was really fine, why wouldn’t they allow a quick meeting? She had been worried about both her cousins, but Flora in particular. Flora had seemed so different the last time Cara had seen her. It was as if her will had been sucked out, or crushed by her two ruthless males.
Apparently, it was time for a little human stubbornness. “Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll find her myself.”
Sidestepping the scowling supervisor, Cara took off down the corridor. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but she had to start somewhere. Someone knew where Flora was, and Cara didn’t care if she had to pound on every door in the place, she would see for herself if her cousin was being abused.
She turned a corner and darted down an adjacent hallway. After passing several shuttle bays, she came to a massive cargo area. She needed to get off this level, maybe ask someone where the training took place.
The rhythmic pounding of booted feet drew her attention to the corridor behind her. Two uniformed guards came into view and ran directly toward her. Damn it. Supervisor Whatshername must have summoned help.
This is foolish. You have no idea where to look.
Ignoring her rational inner voice, she continued to indulge the rebellious impulse. She ran faster, looking for a stairwell or ladder. Flora had to be on another level. There was nothing but empty ships and storerooms down here.
“Stop her,” one of the guards called out as she approached a team of workers.
She turned and headed down an adjacent hallway. The guards were gaining on her, but it didn’t matter. She was tired of being good, of doing what her captors said and accepting all the changes without argument or struggle. No one gave a shit what she wanted or thought, so why should she cooperate?
A hand closed around her upper arm and Cara cried out. “Let go!”
“Sorry, mistress,” the guard said softly in Altorian.
She yanked against his hold, fighting back tears as he pulled her back the way they’d come. “I just want to see my cousins.” Emotion burned the back of her throat and tears blurred her vision. She wanted to see Flora and Raina, but she also wanted to return to the life she had known with them. Being dragged along by an armed guard was more proof that her wishes and her opinions no longer mattered. She was a commodity, an empowered vessel others wanted to possess.
Her parents were nowhere in sight when they reached the original hallway, but Supervisor Winlos was waiting. The guard positioned Cara to face the supervisor and then stepped back.
“Such shows of defiance will not be tolerated by your potential mates,” Winlos said firmly. “You will learn that lesson very quickly if you do not take my warning seriously.”
Using anger to drive back her self-pity, Cara just glared, but her father’s prediction echoed through Cara’s mind. She will be face down over someone’s lap before we make it to our room. Cara could only think of one reason a woman would be placed face down over a man’s lap. Did these Neanderthals spank their females? The idea was too preposterous to take seriously, so she disregarded it.
“Where did Grinnel and Lezod go?” She was furious with both of them, but she was curious why they’d deserted her.
“Parents are not allowed to watch the assessment.”
Assessment? She didn’t like the sound of that. Would the males be assessing her or would she assess them? Somehow, she doubted it would be the latter. “I’d rather not go in there alone.”
“The males are held to very strict standards of behavior,” Winlos explained. “If any of them violates the rules, they will be escorted from the room immediately.”
She probably meant the statement to reassure Cara, but all she could think about was how different Altorian standards of behavior were from human. “Will you please answer one last question?”
Winlos triggered the door as she said, “It depends on the question.” She motioned for Cara to enter the room.
Cara stepped inside, but looked back as she asked, “If nothing is wrong with Flora, why won’t my parents let me see her?”
Winlos remained in the hallway. “You know the answer. Do not ask about her again.”
“I don’t know!” Cara yelled as the door slid shut between them. “I honestly don’t understand!” She kicked the door in frustration then turned around. Six sets of eyes stared back at her curiously. “Sorry.”
The room wasn’t large or impressive, much like the rest of the Citadel. The perimeter walls were lined with armless chairs and padded benches, but everyone was standing. The males congregated in groups of two, as if they didn’t want to get too close to the competition. Cara knew all their names from studying the dossiers but she was anxious to actually meet them. In the dossiers, the teams had been numbered. She hoped the numbers didn’t indicate priority for her parents. If that were true, her preferences were reversed from theirs.
“What do you not understand?”
She wasn’t sure who had spoken, but it was unlikely that any of these males would react differently. Altorian customs might seem strange and unfair to her, but they were all well acquainted with them.
Not surprisingly, Chancellor Ephrod Laeth approached her first. He was one of the planetary leaders, so he likely felt it was his right to begin. He was the controller for team one. The male standing a step back from him was Boslit, team one’s source. Both wore dark blue business suits not unlike what one would find on Earth.
Was it coincidence that the dress her parents had chosen for her was also dark blue? The possibility made her intensely uncomfortable. Despite their wealth and authority, team one was by far her least favorite. “Chancellor Laeth,” she greeted with a tentative smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
His jaw worked and his eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. “It is customary for someone of my station to instigate the formal greeting. I will ignore the infraction because of your primitive upbringing.”
Wow, nice to meet you indeed. She lowered her gaze and took a deep breath. Less than a minute in his presence and he confirmed all of her misgivings. This jackass was even more of an arrogant prick than her father, and she hadn’t thought that was possible. “I apologize. The information I was given didn’t detail greeting protocols.”
“Ignore him,” someone advised, his voice much warmer than the chancellor’s. “We cannot expect you to follow our rules when you aren’t aware of them yet.”
Glancing up to locate the speaker, she found him standing to Ephrod’s left. He had reddish brown hair and amber-colored eyes. “My name is Skolat, and this is Idrix, my source.” Skolat was team two’s controller. Both males wore fitted blue uniforms edged in gold.
Maybe the color of her dress was coincidence after all. She dipped her head rather than sticking out her hand. Shaking hands was a human custom. Altorians seemed to love formality, so she said, “I’m honored to make your acquaintance.”
“You are a long way from home,” Idrix said with a friendly smile. “I hope your journey wasn’t too unpleasant.”
It wasn’t really a question, but his smile encouraged her to share. “The actual journey was over before I realized what was happening. The next two weeks were more challenging.”
“No doubt.” Merrik insinuated himself between Skolat and Ephrod. He was team three’s source and the best-looking male in the room. His size and muscular build had confused her when she’d studied his information. Judging strictly by appearance, she would have thought he was a controller. “It had to have been quite a shock to find out you were an alien.” His shoulder-length hair combined blue, gray, and white into a color Cara had never seen before. His eyes were deep red, like burgundy wine.
His teasing tone put her at ease while his sexy half-smile sent her pulse racing. “I’m still adjusting to all the changes.”
“I’m Merrik, by the way, and this is Tov Nee, commander of the Agitarri.” He motioned toward a dark-haired male with piercing ice-blue eyes. A close clipped beard framed his mouth and accented his strong jawline.
Tov ambled forward and held out his hand.
Surprised by the human gesture, she placed her hand on his. His long fingers closed and he raised her hand to his lips. Both Tov and Merrik wore snug synth-leather pants and loose-fitting shirts. They looked more like pirates than soldiers.
“You never answered the chancellor’s question.” His deep voice seemed to rumble through her entire body and then his lips brushed against her skin. Warmth cascaded through her torso and pooled between her legs. Her nipples hardened and her core clenched. Holy crap, she was in serious trouble if the faint brush of his lips could do that to her. “Why were you upset when you first entered the room?”
She hesitated. Altorian males preferred submissive, obedient females. It was unlikely any of them would have approved of her behavior in the corridor. “It was nothing. I will deal with it later.”
Tov’s brows drew together and his lips thinned. “Answer the question.” His tone became inflexible.
In her opinion, Tov and Merrik were the most interesting of the three teams. And it wasn’t just their handsome features. Their videos had been lively, their accomplishments more varied than the other teams. The chancellor bragged about his privileged upbringing and the generational wealth of his family. Skolat and Idrix were both career military and their attitudes reflected that fact. Tov didn’t just command the Agitarri, he owned it and fifteen other warships. He decided when and how his fleet would be used. Team three seemed independent, even a bit rebellious, and that appealed to Cara greatly. Why not tell Tov and see what he did with the information?
“I was taken from Earth with my two cousins. We were raised together so I think of them as sisters. I have not seen or spoken with either since our rescue and I am worried about both. When I realized that my older cousin, Flora, was here at the Citadel, I asked if I could speak with her. All I want is a quick interaction to be assured that she is not in danger or being abused.”
“Altorians do not abuse females,” Ephrod insisted, sounding insulted by the possibility. “Your concern is foolish.”
“She has only our word on that,” Skolat pointed out. “Is your cousin already in training?”
“She is,” Cara admitted with a sigh.
Skolat looked at his source then shrugged. “Trainees are not allowed visitors. However, you can rest assured that she is being provided for and protected. Every trainee is.”
“Oh, I think we can do better than that,” Tov said, his ice-blue gaze smoldering. He looked at Merrik and asked, “Is your aunt in residence?”
