Bait

Billie has worked for peace and harmony as an Enforcer, but she wants to kick the butt of the man who has the nerve to demand her as his own.

Billie first met the love of her life when she was working for the Alliance, but he transferred from her unit, and he was out of her life. Two years later, she is on an assignment to recruit more Enforcers of the Oefric species. Their instincts, shifting abilities and love of order make them ideal officers. Arcros knew that he could not remain in the same unit as his Terran. He wouldn’t be able to control himself if she was near him and that was a dereliction of duty he was not going to court. Three years later, his people finally admit that he has already chosen his mate and he is allowed to send for her. The Alliance wants twenty warriors in exchange for the woman, and Arcros believes that he is getting the best part of that deal.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Bait Copyright © 2012 Viola Grace ISBN: 978-1-77111-257-4 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Bait A Terran Times Tale By Viola Grace

Prologue

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he volcanic explosions rocked the entire planet. Billie Praco held onto the defensive screen in her suit and screamed at her superior officer. “Get your ass out of here, Captain Dlenner! I am stuck, but you have a clear run to the shuttle.” Billie was stuck, pinned beneath a chunk of rock that had tumbled down the hill. Her suit was taking the pressure, but there was no way for her to get out from under it. The researchers that they were evacuating had made it past, but bringing up the rear, Billie hadn’t had a chance. “Officer Praco, you are going to leave this world with us before it shakes apart. Whatever you do, don’t move.” Captain Dlenner approached and waved the other officers and the researchers onto the shuttlecraft. She watched him get nearer, and as he leaned toward the rock, he shifted. His form slid between feline and canine, while his body remained that of a biped. The captain crouched, braced himself and shoved at the rock. It crackled, pieces cracked away and finally, under his clawed grip, it rolled off her leg and hip. The moment she was free, she tried to rise to her feet, but a dark growl got her attention. 1

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Hands lifted her and cradled her against a massive chest as her Oefric captain carried her past the evacuees and into the shuttle. He settled her carefully on the medical bed, paused to inhale deeply of her hair and skin before shifting back into the normally rugged features she was used to and pretended not to notice every day. “You should have been leading our escape, not following. You know you are prone to getting trapped and tangled.” His voice was a growl, but she could hear the gruff concern. “I had to keep an eye on the stragglers. Some of those researchers wanted to record every piece of this planet’s death.” He sighed and smiled as the readouts were displayed. “You are fine. Your suit took the damage…again.” She grinned and sat up. “Thank you. I will help settle the researchers and get back to my duties.” Captain Dlenner helped her to her feet. “I have some paperwork to do. I will re-join the unit on the station.” His hand caressed her cheek softly, and her eyes went wide. Billie had had a crush on her captain since she had been assigned to his unit of Enforcers, but the flaring fantasy that the feeling was mutual had never solidified until now. Captain Dlenner went into his private office on the shuttle and Billie joined the researchers, taking head counts and making sure that they buckled in. Leaving an unstable world was not going to be comfortable, so the tighter they were tucked in, the better. As Billie took her own seat and clicked her harness, 2

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she smiled at the good-natured ribbing of her unit but couldn’t help but send longing glances to the captain’s office. She was a screw up, everyone in her unit knew it, but she meant well and usually her body was the only one harmed. Something was telling her that Captain Dlenner was about to pay the price for something she did.

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Chapter One

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illie sat and watched her superiors fidget. “You want me to what?” The Dhemon at the head of the table was wearing the uniform of an Enforcer detachment commander. He sighed and scratched his chin. “We want you to help in negotiating with the Oefric colony for more personnel.” She drummed her fingers on the arms of her chair. “Why me?” Billie rarely questioned orders, but the blushing nervousness with which the table of superiors was looking at her had her suspicious. Her commanders were trying to look at anything but her, and in a group of men and women who faced uncertain political climates every day, it was not a good sign. Commander Geering smiled hopefully. “You are uniquely qualified for this assignment.” Billie glared at the only other female in the room until she squirmed. “Why? Why are you sending me to Chysan for this negotiation? I am a horrible negotiator. I tend to start shooting when I lose my temper. You all should know that. I have been written up more than once.” 4

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High Commander Afloss inclined his horned head. “You are the only one that the ruler of Chysan will listen to. He has refused all of us entry to their colony. He will not refuse you, and you will get his agreement for twenty Enforcers.” “High Commander, you still have not answered the question, why me?” The High Commander blushed, “He has a penchant for Terrans.” She opened her eyes wide in surprise. “Well, hell.” That explained quite a bit. Billie had seen the Oefric fascination with her species first hand, three years earlier, but his self-control and her reluctance squelched the blossoming romance before it got started. “So, I am bait or a bribe to get his agreement.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned at those assembled. Commander Geering leaned forward and tried to be helpful, “You are an enticement for him to see things our way. Once you have his agreement, you will return and resume your duties.” Billie fidgeted a little, “Twenty Oefric?” It would be a coup for the Enforcers. No one was as adept at crowd control or sensing the dangers in a situation as an Oefric was. Their ability to shift into any form while retaining their intelligence made them an asset worth pursuing. “Twenty. Their population has more than enough of a male-to-female ratio to spare a few men.” “What if women want to enter as Enforcers?” She had to ask. “They will have to take it up with their community. 5

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We cannot train them if their world is not willing, but if they are willing and free, they can join.” Commander Geering nodded. “Fair enough. Do I get a dossier about the man I am meeting with?” It was customary for them to provide information for their operatives. “No. We do have some data scans on Chysan though. They are three generations into colonization and doing very well.” High Commander Afloss nodded encouragingly. She sighed. “Fine. I get it. You are sending me in blind. Oefric are all about the instincts, and you don’t want to wreck my reactions.” Commander Geering looked uncomfortable. “Something like that.” High Commander Afloss nodded decisively. “You will go, and the Oefric will be recruited. Dismissed.” She got to her feet, nodded to those assembled and left the room. Her wristband quivered, and to her surprise, there was already a departure booked. She had three hours to get her kit and report to the shuttle port. There was a warship connection, and she needed to catch it. Billie shook her head and grimaced. She had better get moving. “You do not resemble any Enforcer I have ever seen.” Billie was eating at the captain’s table on the Heko Mor. She paused and looked at her dinner partner, a water-breathing emissary from a world whose name even Alliance Common could not manage. 6

Bait “I look like at least five others that I am aware of, two males and three females of the Terran species.” “Peculiar. Why do you put yourself in harm’s way?” She blushed when she realized that other folk nearby were listening. “It isn’t what I want to do, it is what I was trained to do. Instinct drives me to help folk when they panic, and the result is that I am an Enforcer.” The emissary inclined its head. “I can understand that. Instinct drives my kind to spawn and die in our ninety-third year. We do not have a choice. We do it, or we live knowing that we are incomplete. Our lives hold no meaning without passing our knowledge to the next generation.” “So, you give your memories when you spawn?” It had gone from uncomfortable to fascinating in a moment. “We do. Each generation is a true copy of the previous one. When my time comes, I will lay thirty eggs, and one will be my true inheritor, and the others who survive to adulthood will serve my people.” The gills fluttered at the emissary’s neck. Billie smiled, not showing teeth. It was a skill she had learned in her years as an Enforcer. Many races took the baring of teeth as a threat display. “I wish you a good journey when your time comes.” “Thank you. Why do you find yourself here this evening?” Billie cocked her head while she contemplated her answer. “I have been sent on a recruiting assignment. It is not a comfortable thing for me, but it is my duty, and I will see it through.” “Do you have a mate?” 7

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More gazes from those at the captain’s table eyed her speculatively. She cleared her throat. “I do not. It is not practical for an Enforcer to have a spouse. We travel extensively and are often in danger. It is not fair for our loved ones to wonder if we are coming home.” The emissary accepted the answer and turned conversation to a more neutral topic. Billie welcomed the discussion of the funding of the Sector Guard, counting the days until she could get off the Heko Mor and onto Chysan. One could only stand so many formal dinners after all.

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Chapter Two

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er feet touched the tarmac of the Chysan spaceport with relief. A man was there to greet her, and he smiled with similar relief. “Enforcer Praco. Thank goodness you arrived on time. Our leader has been most eager to meet with you.” She inclined her head. “That is why I am here. Is there somewhere I can freshen up?” He grinned, and she looked up at his ridiculously handsome face. Her brain sighed happily, but she throttled down her hormones. It wasn’t her job to seduce twenty Oefric, just recruit them. He took her duffel and led the way through the spaceport, standing by while she was checked through customs and biologic-import control. Billie stood still while the scanners ran over her from head to toe, recording her biological processes and making sure that she wasn’t carrying any infectious agents. The agent administering the test was precise and thorough. A few UV flashes and she was good to go. Her escort loaded her into a skimmer and sealed the 9

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top a moment before the skies clouded over and opened up. Billie smiled out the window at the natural rain. It had a different scent than the precipitation manufactured by machine and chemistry. “We are very excited to have you here, Officer Praco.” She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really?” He coloured, and she took in how very young he seemed. His body was adult by any stretch of the imagination, but he had the behaviour markings of a teen. “Really. We were worried you would not be here in time for the reception.” “We?” “The support staff for the clan chief.” His lips tightened as if he had said something he shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t imagine what it had been. Nothing in his words sent off warning bells in her mind. The rain was heavy, and it kept her from seeing the view, but her ears popping told her she was heading uphill. Absently, Billie adjusted her uniform collar and touched the coil of blonde braid that she had fiercely confined. If she was here as bait for the Oefric to find working with the Alliance enticing, she wasn’t going to make it obvious. Her escort hadn’t introduced himself, but she had bigger things to worry about as they slowed in front of a huge building, parking under a canopy that led to the interior of the archway. He lifted the duffel and helped her from the 10

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skimmer. Her hands were slightly clammy when she realized that her assignment was about to kick into high gear. Billie’s talent for being attracted to danger had gotten her this far, but she knew that eventually her luck was going to run out. As she walked into the shadows of the huge building, she had the suspicion that that moment might have come. A mature woman stepped out to block her path. “Officer Praco. I am Kadahr, the clan chief’s event organizer. Please come with me.” Surprised, she looked to her escort, and he bowed shortly. “Your bag will be in your room. You will be in good hands with Kadahr.” Billie followed the woman through a back hallway, up two flights of stairs and into a brightly lit room where three other women waited for them. Kadahr turned to her with a smile. “The event you will be attending is formal dress and your uniform is not suitable. The clan chief has made arrangements for you to blend into the crowd. He does not want you to feel singled out.” It was thoughtful, but the pink gown that was brought forward did not leave a lot to the imagination. It did allow her full range of movement, and the lemon yellow silk pashmina went well with it. Two women sat her down and unfastened her hair, straightening the ripples left by the braiding. Billie wanted to ask what the heck was going on, but the third woman swiftly and deftly applied makeup on her face. Dressed, coifed and made up, Kadahr pronounced 11

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her ready, and the woman took her by the hand to lead her further into the enormous edifice. “There will be a contract at the door. It stipulates that you agree to abide by the laws of Chysan while you are here.” Kadahr was speaking in low tones. “Thank you for the warning.” “There is more. There is food, but only take the food which appeals to your senses. It is important. Your acceptance by this community depends on it.” Billie was getting that feeling again. The sensation that she was entering a very dangerous situation was overwhelming. As she and Kadahr were approaching a well-lit area full of noise and the scents of food and perfumed women. At the door, the contract was proffered to her, and she gave it a cursory reading before pressing her thumb to it. The attendant smiled, “A signature too, please.” Surprised, she took the pen he held and signed a print copy for the first time in years. Officer Wilhelmena Praco, Enforcer, born of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra. It was nice to see her whole name in print even if there was a lot more of it now than she had been born with. Once she handed over the document, she was waved inside what appeared to be a large ballroom filled with women and men. The odd part to her was that the genders were split fairly evenly down the middle, the men on one side and the women on the other. Not one to mix it up, Billie moved over to the 12

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women’s side of the room as music began to play. The men moved forward in a slow surge, and one by one, ladies took to the dance floor. Billie kept back and hid behind the crowd of women who were eyeing the dancers wistfully. The dance seemed oddly formal and everyone knew the steps. It was enough to keep Billie firmly at the back of the gathered females. A voice brought her out of her study with a jolt. “You always did like to hang back.” She turned and her mouth opened in an unladylike gawp. “Captain Dlenner!” He was dressed in elaborate clothing that suited him far better than the Enforcer uniform ever had. Rich black fabric covered with intricate gold embroidery encased his massive chest and left his arms bare to the embrace of several detailed metal cuffs. He was wearing more jewellery than she was, and the thought made her smile as she met his coal dark gaze. “Officer Praco, I am glad to see you here. Will you dance?” He held out his hand and raised a brow as he bowed slightly. “Um, I don’t know how to do this. It seems pretty involved.” Despite her words, she placed her hand in his. “Follow my lead.” The captain led her to the dance floor, took her in his arms, and with delicate pressure on her back, she swayed back as he stepped forward, and they were off. They moved together for a minute before she asked, “So this is where you were posted?” He grinned, “Something like that. I was experiencing 13

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a certain difficulty that my own people tried to resolve. After all this time, they decided that the only thing to do was to find the source of my difficulty to resolve the issue.” “Oh. Are you doing all right? That problem doesn’t sound pleasant.” She held tight as he whirled her in a circle before setting her on her feet and stepping with her again. “It is manageable. Why have you come to Chysan?” She bit her lip and blushed when she realized that he was focused on her mouth. “I have been sent here as bait to entice the clan chief into allowing twenty Oefric from the colony to enter service as Enforcers.” He frowned, “Bait?” “Apparently, the clan chief has a fascination with Terrans, so I was tapped and sent here. I have no idea why. You know that my negotiating skills suck.” She twisted her lips in a smile. His face remained sober. “I am familiar with your tactics, Praco. They are burned in my memory.” The music stopped. Billie stood in his arms and looked around. “Captain Dlenner, you might want to release me. The music has stopped.” He nodded and reluctantly let her go. “Don’t go far, Praco. This night has only just begun.” Bemused, she made her way back to the women and their group surrounded her on all sides. One of the women glared at her, “So, what have you done to get the attention of the clan chief?” Billie’s eyes went wide, and she looked for the captain through the press of bodies. Men who were in 14

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slightly subservient postures and obviously holding court surrounded him. She stared into his eyes across the crowded room, and the heat in them translated to her in that instant. “I don’t know what I did tonight, but in the past, I have been a complete disaster. I am guessing that being a klutz must turn him on.” She ignored the women around her and inclined her head slowly. His nod of acknowledgement sent a shiver of unease through her. They both knew why she was here, but what was he going to do about it?

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Chapter Three

W

hile three of the women were hostile, the rest of the crowd was more curious than anything else. Billie looked at the women who were glaring at her and simply stared them down. Sure, these women were Oefric and could probably tear her throat out, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. Her instincts may be to court disaster at all times, but for this one night, she wasn’t going to put up with bullying. There was no reason to let these women cow her. She was going to be here for an undisclosed amount of time, and setting the ground rules for not backing down was an important step. The next round of music went into its beginning strains, and the men surged toward the women once again. Billie hung back and looked for Captain Dlenner, but he had disappeared. “Perhaps he wasn’t as enthralled with you as he appeared.” The woman with the disappointed twist to her lips swanned off on the arm of her dance partner. Billie sat back and watched the men and women dance. While Dlenner was nowhere to be seen, she bit 16

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her lip. Perhaps her words had disturbed him, and he was about to send her packing. She sighed and smiled vaguely at the women near her. Time would tell what the hell was going on. **** “She doesn’t know why she is here.” Arcros Dlenner was furious. The council of commanders stared at him and several blushed furiously. “We couldn’t tell her. You know how she is.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. His body had been insistent that he got as close to his mate as possible. It had been the reason for his leaving the Enforcer service. There was no place in the Enforcers for a mated couple. Their active duties were dangerous at the best of times and deadly at the worst. Billie Praco was indeed headstrong and would not take kindly to finding out that she had been sent to him to ease the symptoms of his rut. The Oefric medics and healers had been unable to change the direction of his affections, and it was finally agreed on that his Terran mate would be sent for. Unfortunately, no one told her why she was delivered to Chysan and that unpleasant conversation was going to fall to the one person who needed to stay on her good side. He glared at the commanders. “She is an officer, you are her commanders. You know that she would follow orders.” Commander Geering winced. “You know as well as 17

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we do that she finds ways around orders that she disagrees with. Her creativity is truly amazing.” Arcros clenched his fists. “Are you so certain that she would have found her way out of this assignment if she knew who was waiting for her at the end of it?” Geering shrugged, “We were cowardly and didn’t take a chance. You have her there now. The Alliance has signed her over. Her Enforcer pension is already in her account, so she is all set. You merely need to tell her why she is really there. No harm, no foul.” Arcros smiled uncontrollably, the phrase was one of Officer Praco’s. She had infected them all in one way or another, and right now he had to find out if her scent was everything he remembered. He ended the call and returned to the ballroom in time to stop one of the guild masters from taking his mate for a spin around the dance floor. No one was touching his Terran but him. **** Two dances later, one of the other men finally got close enough to offer her his hand. “I am really not sure that this will end well. I don’t know the steps.” She pursed her lips. “You danced gracefully with the clan chief. I am sure that you can manage a few turns around the floor.” She was about to explain that Dlenner had done all the work when the devil she was thinking of appeared. “Find another partner, Roccol. This lady is spoken for.” He extended his hand, and she took it based solely on the command in his tone. 18

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Billie blushed as they took to the dance floor. He was the only superior she had ever had that she obeyed directly when he gave her an order. Something about him made her nervous and filled her with an urge to impress him. It was a girlish crush backed up by a woman’s hormones and nothing more. It was the only reason that she could come up with. The dances were becoming progressively more intimate. Dlenner wrapped an arm around her waist, and they slowly circled left while their free arms met over her head. At a break in the music, they switched their hands and circled right. With the slow stride with her arm touching his waist and his around hers, she felt that low shimmy in her belly that she had come to associate with being around him and him alone. When the music changed again, their bodies slid from one side to the other, the contact in between them made a few things obvious to Billie. The first thing she noticed was that the fabric that made up her gown was no barrier against the heat blazing off every portion of his anatomy, the second thing was that his trousers were in danger of losing structural integrity as something was pressing for freedom from within. Her cheeks heated, and she kept her gaze fixed and forward as his arousal became clear to her. Out of the nine thousand fantasies she had had about men since she joined the Volunteers and left the Earth, he had featured in ninety-five percent of them. She shivered slightly as the music halted, and they were plastered together for an eternity of enjoyment before he let her go. 19

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Her stomach gurgled in protest, and Billie realized that it had been quite a long time since her meal on the warship. As they parted, his lips quirked at the sound. “Hungry?” She let out an unladylike snort. “Have you ever known me when I wasn’t?” Captain Dlenner grinned and offered her his arm. They passed several women who were returning to the ladies’ side of the ballroom and followed a few others who were on their way to a buffet that had escaped her notice. “How could I have not noticed that?” “Perhaps you found something else to gain your attention. By the way, the colours you are wearing look lovely.” His amusement was palpable. “You picked these?” “I have never seen you in anything other than smoke and charcoal. I confess to curiosity as to why you are wearing them without protest.” She snickered as his step slowed them to keep them out of earshot of the other couples. “I was under the idea that I was on a diplomatic mission. With you being the man I was to negotiate with, there is no point in pretending to be something I am not. It will be uniforms from now on.” Billie watched the men ahead of her lead the women to a selection of pastries. A few of the women laughed nervously but took the food that the men offered them with a blush. “Okay, what is going on with the snacks?” They stepped forward one place, each of the couples 20

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seemed to be granting plenty of room to the ones at the table. “It is a tradition here on Chysan. We have herbs and such that are baked into pastries with traces of the scent that is from one male alone. If the woman responds favourably to the pastry, he can then move on to a more intimate courtship.” Her mind spun as they took another step forward, and the woman took the pastry, raised it to her nose and then shook her head sadly at her companion. His shoulders slumped, but he offered her his arm and took her back to the ballroom. “What happened there?” “His scent is not attractive to her. He will seek another and so will she.” Captain Dlenner reached out and took a small pastry on a silvery tray. She eyed the small confection carefully, scented it and fought the way her mouth watered as vanilla, spice, musk and cream struck her all at once. There was some chocolate in there as well, she was sure of it. Looking up into his focused gaze, she had to ask, “Can I keep the pastry and ditch the courtship?” He wrapped an arm around her waist, held the confection to one side and laughed as they walked out through a curtained alcove and into the house of the clan chief.

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Chapter Four

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illie knew that her assignment was not as simple as what had been described to her initially. Captain Dlenner’s presence was proof of that. They had been careful not to mention that he was the man she needed to speak to. That in itself was suspicious. “Where are we going?” She could hear giggles and soft words from dark alcoves off the hallway. It seemed that phase two was first to third base. “Unlike the others here for the first evening, I actually live here. While the alcoves are equipped with every comfort, I prefer my own space.” Captain Dlenner smiled as they climbed stairway after stairway. Billie sighed and lifted the hem of her dress yet again. Boots and trousers were definitely preferable to slippers and a gown. She didn’t know how ladies could stand to be this awkward and helpless most of the time. When they finally reached the fourth floor, there was only one door at the top of the steps. He released her arm and swung the door open, “Welcome to my home.” Billie stepped into his personal space carefully. The feeling of entering the gates of hell rippled through her. 22

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Once she passed the threshold, she was unsure if he would let her out again. The shiver of anticipation that the thought sponsored was probably visible to him, but he didn’t say anything. The front room seemed to be a study. There was a desk of extreme magnitude, a com unit, a chair upholstered in leather and a plain, closed box on the leather desktop. Curiosity got a hold of her, and she walked to the desk, opening the box to see a dozen Alliance commendations as well as several that had Oefric markings. Enthralled by the intricate medals, she smiled. “I remember this one. It was the strike break of Therenor.” He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You would have earned a commendation that day as well if you hadn’t assaulted the leader of the strike.” Billie chuckled and closed the box. “It was worth it. He was insufferable.” The heat from his hands warmed her in places that had nothing to do with the direct contact. “Um, Captain Dlenner…” She trailed off as his lips touched her neck, the reaction of her body was as violent as it was liquid. “Arcros.” “What?” Distracted by the insistent touches on the column of her throat, she fought to remember what had caused him to comment. “My name is Arcros. Dlenner is my family name.” His words were a distant roar in her ears. Her blood left her brain in a rush and pounded between her thighs and in her breasts. His name came out from between 23

Viola Grace her lips in a whisper, “Arcros.” He turned her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. In the instant before he got too close, she noted that his appearance had slipped into something more feral. His eyes had slanted, nose flattened and his ears pointed upward from beneath his dark hair. She would have asked him about the change in his appearance, but her lips were busy. The scents that she had been tempted by in the pastry turned into tastes that swamped her senses. His tongue had a rough texture as it worked past her teeth and explored her mouth. She gasped back a moan, surrendering to him as she had in her dreams. He lifted her onto the desk and stepped forward, parting her knees. She flailed back with her left hand and something clattered. Arcros lifted from her immediately. “I am getting ahead of myself. I apologize.” He backed away, and she was left cold and confused. Arcros quickly helped her back to her feet and led her through an ornate door. It was then that it was confirmed that his rooms covered the entire upper floor. It was large enough to pass for the ballroom below, but the bed gave the room one purpose only. “I know it is ostentatious, but the room comes with the job.” Arcros shrugged. She looked out at the balcony and watched lightning dance across the sky. “This is quite the view.” “Nothing like the storms of Cerengathai, but it is fairly impressive nonetheless.” He disappeared for a 24

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moment and then approached her with the dessert in his hand. “What is so special about this pastry?” He thought about whether to answer her, she recognized the look on his handsome features. “It not only tests whether we are chemically compatible, but it synchs your body to mine for a time.” “And the other women knew this?” “Of course, it is a Chysan tradition. The herbs here act on the pheromone systems to accentuate our normal senses. Traits that we would normally subdue or try to hide are available in the scents and herbs of this cake. I made this one myself with you in mind.” Billie brightened. “Really?” “Really.” Captain Dlenner’s baking skills had been legendary. He had once offered to make them a batch of cookies, and it kept her unit motivated through a hurricane. The memory of those treats made her smile. She held out her hand for the pastry, and he handed it over with great formality. Billie tried to figure out where to start and then said, “To hell with it,” diving in with gusto. The flakes of pastry dissolved as they touched her tongue, and sweet, heavy custard surged to the fore. She wanted to comment, but shoving another bite into her mouth was too tempting. A surge of dizziness ran through her, and she swayed. Something was happening and it wasn’t a bad thing. Her hormones were being turned to eleven, and it was a novel experience. A third bite demolished the last of the pastry, and 25

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she looked down at her empty hand with disappointment. “It’s gone.” Arcros laughed in surprise. “I am amazed that you still have a hand. You really were hungry, weren’t you?” She carefully licked her lips, ignoring his heated look. “I was. The last meal I had was on board the warship. I didn’t think to bring rations in the shuttle.” With attention to getting every crumb, she licked the palm of her hand. He groaned, and she felt a surge of heat run through her clit. “What did you mean when you said that it synched us?” “I give off pheromones, and you respond.” “Have you ever tested this on one of my species?” She was biting her lip as riots of unfamiliar sensations overwhelmed her. He frowned. “I was assured it wouldn’t harm you.” She looked up at him, sure that her eyes were glowing with the fire in her blood. “I wasn’t worried about it harming me.” Billie walked up to him, slid her hands through his hair and drew his mouth down to hers in an eating kiss that let him know exactly what was going through her mind while her hips arched toward his, rubbing from side to side. In an instant, he caught on, gripped the shoulders of her gown and tore straight down. The closures of his shirt flew with a dozen tiny patters as she returned the favour. She drew her nails down the plane of his chest and growled happily. This was going to be quite the evening. 26

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Chapter Five

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illie snarled, arched and twisted against him as Arcros tackled the dual tasks of holding her down as well as caressing her with his hands and mouth. His features shifted into a more feral form, and when he held her so that his roughened tongue could taste her, she cried out. His fingers dug into the skin of her thighs and belly while his tongue parted her, lapped at her, then delved deep. Billie screamed and arched against his grip when an orgasm roared through her. Arcros moved away and flipped her to her belly before her body had ceased to spasm, and his cock prodded for entry, sliding in inch by inch. He was inside her completely after several hard thrusts, and she mewled into the sheets when he started to move in earnest. Arcros grabbed her waist while he moved and lifted her until she was balancing on her elbows with her knees wide, his access to her unrestricted. With every thrust, her breasts scraped the bedding, so she cupped them in her hands to stop the delicate 27

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torture. It became awkward after only a few seconds, so she shifted and let them continue to add a level of sensation to the moment. Arcros’s hands moved to take over, and his fingers stroked, squeezed and flicked at her sensitive nipples. Inside her, his cock was pressing against all the right places as he surged forward and dragged back. Billie leaned forward and lunged back as he stroked into her over and over. The hard smack of their bodies made her self-conscious, but she would deal with it after the tight spiral of pleasure broke. It could have been minutes or hours that they moved together, but the moment that she screamed, it was echoed by his roar and the spiral of pleasure exploded behind her eyes. Gasping and lying under the weight of his body, she smiled. The sweat on her back was slick between them, and when he groaned, a laugh squeezed out of her lungs. She could feel the muscles of her sex fluttering and clasping him followed by a slight jerk every time. “Gods, what are you doing to me?” She snickered, “It could be a Terran-female peculiarity, but I think that you just led a sheltered life.” He laughed and slid a hand down her damp flank, slapping her lightly. “I believe that taking shelter within you is just the thing.” Billie tried to push herself up, but he let more of his bodyweight rest on her. “Cheater.” “I like you right where you are.” She shifted slightly so that her breasts were no longer directly crushed beneath her. The feel of him inside her was strange—a fantasy made real, but the 28

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resurgence of his erection caught her by surprise. “That’s cheating too.” His chuckle rippled through her as he pressed a kiss to her ear. “It isn’t cheating if we both win.” His slight shift pushed him further into her, and she grunted. To her relief and disappointment, he withdrew entirely. Arcros pulled her up and turned her, arranging her limbs so that her arms were looped around his neck and she straddled his hips. He slid into her again and cupped her buttocks, lifting and dropping her in a slow rhythm. Her thighs flexed and trembled as she caught onto his pattern, but when he kissed her, she forgot the minor aches and discomforts and simply concentrated on being with him. She reached around his chest, her nails dug into his back as a shivering orgasm swept through her. He took her soft whimper into his mouth and gave her a groan in return as short, sharp pulses inside her indicated his own release. Billie pulled away from his kiss and rested her head on his chest. There was the coppery tang of blood in the air. Her fingertips were stained. “I am sorry. I got a little carried away.” His chest was still heaving in an effort to regain his breath. Arcros chuckled softly, stroking her hair and back in slow even movements. Surprised by the soft motion, she looked up at him an instant before a dizzy darkness struck her. She tried to ask him what was happening, but he caught her as she dropped. 29

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“Wake up, child. You have a busy day ahead of you, and it is best that we get started.” The voice was female and definitely not Arcros. Billie sat up and looked around her. The bedding was mussed, and when she slyly slid her leg to one side, it was warm where Arcros had been sleeping. The Oefric woman had dark hair liberally peppered with snow white strands. She had a bundle of fabric over one arm and the same dark eyes as Arcros. “Who are you, madam?” “Aciel Dlenner. You are being courted by my son.” The woman was definitely amused. “Courted?” “It sounds so much better than banged. Now, come along, we have a lot to do today. Planning a bonding ceremony on such short notice is not easy.” Billie blinked as she tried to wake up. “Bonding ceremony?” “He did say that you don’t wake up easily.” Aciel smiled and draped the clothing at the foot of the bed. Her next step was to flip the sheets off Billie and help her to her feet. Swaying, naked and surprisingly covered with bite marks, Billie stumbled toward the lav with Aciel’s help. A brisk shower, the use of the facilities and a hair brush later, Billie was almost awake. Aciel brought in the clothing, and in a few minutes, Billie was wearing loose trousers, a tunic that fell to mid-knee and undergarments that wrapped and supported her lightly bruised breasts. “Arcros insisted that you be given boots to wear.” 30

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Aciel smiled and retrieved the articles from the foot of the bed. “That was very nice of him. Is there a sash for this tunic?” Aciel looked around and picked up the fabric that had colour matched the bedding perfectly. “There you go.” Dressed and moderately more alert, Billie bowed in the Enforcer fashion. “I am pleased to meet you, Aciel. Call me Billie.” “Billie. We have an entire day to get through. Will you come with me?” “Of course. Is there somewhere along the way that we can get something to eat?” Aciel smiled and nodded her head. “I now owe Arcros five credits. I was sure that a woman who had just been told that she was to wed the Clan Chief of Chysan would be more interested in planning than in food. He disagreed.” Billie shrugged. “He has known me for quite some time. I am predictable. I don’t wake up easily, and I am usually hungry.” Aciel waved for her to precede her, so Billie headed for the office door. Three men stopped what they were discussing to look at her, but she was interested in only one. Arcros left his conversational companions and came directly to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her possessively. Aciel cleared her throat. “There is enough time for that later, son. For now, I need to take your woman to get properly outfitted as well as settled at our home for the duration.” 31

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Billie felt his hands clench on her waist. “She stays with me.” Looking up at him, she saw a belligerent determination. His mother ignored that and reached up to feel his forehead. “Your temperature is down. She has taken the edge off your rut. You can wait a few days.” Arcros kissed her again. “A few days only. If she is not back here by the weekend, I will come to get her. Are you fine staying with my parents, Billie?” She winked, “I can sleep anywhere.” He sighed. “True, at the most inconvenient times. Mother, don’t let her dangle off any bridges, she will pass right out and then ask you what the problem is.” Aciel frowned, “I doubt it will come up, son. Now, out of our way, I have to get your lady fed and clothed before we do anything else.” Aciel pried her out of Arcros’s grip and shooed her out the door and down the hallway. Instead of the stairs, Aciel pushed on a brick, entering the door that opened to the elevator. “He didn’t mention the elevator last night.” “He wouldn’t mention the lift. Any chance he had to hold onto you is one he would take.” Aciel’s lips were curved in a smile. As the lift took them down to the main floor, Billie began to wake up. “Where are you taking me?” “First, some breakfast, then a dressmaker and a trip to the Matchmaker will be our final stop.” Aciel led the way to a small skimmer. The moment that Billie was tucked in, she hit the air jets, and they were off. Chysan in daylight was different than the wild 32

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gloom of the evening. The sky was pale. It was streaked with lavender and blue. Billie stared up while Aciel steered the skimmer, and her gaze caught something incredible. Huge beasts flew in the sky, their wings covering more than twenty feet from tip to tip. Their bodies were long, slim rectangles with no distinct markings and a tail that stretched into the distance. From nose to tip, they would be close to forty feet. Their colouring graded from dark at the wingtip, paler on the body and darker at the tip of the tail. Each creature sported a different colour, making the flock of them a graceful rainbow. “What are those?” Aciel didn’t even look up. “The fliers. We haven’t been able to stick on a name. Some have suggested the Chysan Angels, but it doesn’t suit.” Billie looked skyward again and sent the thought, What are you? When a series of images began to pour through her thoughts, she almost fell out of the skimmer. Swallowing nervously, she looked to Aciel and then back to the sky. Her entire life she had spoken to animals in her mind, but the result had only vaguely been understandable. This communication she could understand, they were fliers and nothing more. They were also glad that she was there. Talking to the Oefric was not within their abilities. “Billie, I asked if you had any questions about the city.” Aciel was frowning as they approached a large collection of buildings in a neat and orderly 33

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arrangement. “Uh. No. Not about that.” Suddenly confused, she sat back in her seat and waited for her sanity to return.

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Chapter Six

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reakfast was a quick affair. Tea, biscuits and some thin, cured meat stood in for actual food. Billie knew that she would be hungry within an hour, but she smiled at Aciel, and they walked to the dressmaker. “I am still not sure as to why there is all this fuss. I am not sure how long the Alliance is going to let me stay here.” Aciel gave her a serious look. “They have handed you completely over to my son, and since you are his choice, I am trying to make you comfortable, but if you don’t stop fidgeting, Zeela will stick you with a pin.” Billie put her hands out at her sides and assumed a resting attention. The seamstress sighed in relief and quickly pinned the skirt of the garment into place. It was relatively simple, a long dress with a huge swath of fabric for the skirt and a long dark velvet vest that covered her to her knees and hugged her body faithfully before opening at mid-thigh. Her cleavage would be front and centre in the tight vest, but the thin silk of the gown would cover most of it. 35

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The communication with the fliers still baffled her. She remembered something about her induction into the Volunteers mentioning that she was a low-level communicator but nothing else. She was going to have to look into her records when she got the chance. If there was something underlying her normal penchant for beasts, she really needed to know it before she married a guy who could go fuzzy at will. The seamstress asked, “What was your occupation?” Billie smiled, “I met Arcros at work, does that answer your question?” Zeela shook her head, “I don’t understand. Are you a dispatcher for the Enforcers?” Aciel crossed her arms over her chest and answered for her, “No, Zeela. Wilhelmina is an Enforcer. She can use forty-nine weapons common in the Alliance, hike, fight and rescue just as well as the men can. Her species does not have as many gender restrictions as ours does.” Zeela whistled softly. “That is either a good or a bad thing. I can’t decide.” Billie grinned, “You don’t have to decide, it is what it is.” With the pinning finished, Zeela stood back, “What is your family crest?” Billie paused for a moment, then smiled, “Do you have a com unit or a data display?” Zeela nodded. “This way. Move carefully, we don’t want you bleeding on that gown.” She gathered the gown in her hands and carefully moved off the podium. Aciel watched from the seat near the fitting station 36

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as Billie made her way to the data station. A few keystrokes brought up her family crest. It was the crossed staff and dagger of the Enforcers over a stylized version of the Terran solar system. “That is your family crest?” Zeela was surprised. “It is as close as I get. My family doesn’t have a crest, and since Terra is a protectorate, we are not officially part of the Alliance even though the councils have approved our Champions. So, that is my home and the Enforcers are my people, ergo it is my crest.” Zeela nodded. “I can work with it. Now, for the rest of your clothing, what are your preferences?” “Tunics and trousers with vests that allow me freedom from the fabric.” Zeela touched the screen and brought up samples of clothing. They swiftly ran through the selections until the seamstress had a good idea of what Billie wanted. Aciel spoke from behind them. “She will need gowns too, though she doesn’t like them much. Arcros is still clan chief, and she needs to dress accordingly for events, bonding ceremonies and the like.” Billie had jumped when she first spoke, but she surrendered to the logic of the gowns in her wardrobe. “Another fitting in a week for the formal gowns, and I will have the bonding gown ready by tomorrow evening.” Zeela smiled. “The trousers and tunics will be made from the measurements I have taken today. The vests will be modeled on this one.” Billie sighed happily. “Wonderful, now, where do I pay?” The two older women looked at each other. Aciel sighed, “Arcros is paying for it all. It is 37

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traditional for the female’s family to pay, but considering that you are alone, it is our honour to provide for you before the bonding.” Billie shrugged. “Whatever. Now, please help me out of this, I don’t want to ruin the gown before the big event.” As the women helped her, Billie noted that her mind was refusing to acknowledge that she was actually on Chysan and that Arcros Dlenner wanted her forever. He said it, his mother said it and it seemed that everyone else accepted it as a reality. After all the things she had seen since she left the Earth, this was the most unbelievable and that was saying something. With the clasps freed and the silk eased from her shoulders, she quickly got back into the clothing she had arrived in. Her feet sighed happily in the boots, and by the time she completed tugging everything into place, Aciel was looking her over with satisfaction. “I hate to ask this, Aciel, but why are you smiling?” “I thought you might have a clotting disorder this morning, but your bruises are moving toward healing at a satisfactory pace.” Billie paused and thought about it. Bruises, oh god. A blush filled her cheeks as she realized that Arcros’s mother was referring to the finger and teeth marks left on her body from the night before. “Ah, well, no one with a compromised immune system would be allowed into the Enforcers. We have enough anti-virals zipping through our systems to deflect most standard infections, but physical repair is a primary concern.” She tried to be nonchalant, but her 38

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cheeks were scarlet. Aciel laughed and took her hand. “It was not meant to offend. It is just good to know that my son’s common sense did not abandon him. A male in rut cannot be trusted to know what is suitable. Many couples have started in the heat of hormones and ended up bonded to a male or female they would not normally consort with.” “I see. Well, as I met your son on the job, we were consorting for a few years before this came up.” She followed Aciel, but she felt that she had a six-year-old’s pout on her face. “Yes, but he only went into rut immediately before he was forced to resign. He could not work with you on a daily basis without acting on his impulses, and at the time, our physicians were sure that we could cure him.” Her soon-to-be mother-in-law walked back to the skimmer with her, and Billie was having a hard time being polite. Instead, she opted for amused. “You tried to cure him of his attraction to me?” “Three years. We tried everything, but in the end, nothing would do but to have you at his side and in his bed.” Billie sat to one side and contemplated the fifteen methods in which she could incapacitate Aciel at that moment. The com in the skimmer beeped, and when she answered it, Aciel was surprised. “Stop taunting her, Mother. You are irritating her, and she is not one to hold onto her temper past a certain point.” Arcros’s voice was amused and a little wary. “What are you talking about, how can you know 39

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what I am saying to her?” “We are linked mates, Mother. I can get hints of her rage from here. Talk about the weather. It will be a much safer topic, or ask her about herself. That might distract her from contemplating smashing your head into the console.” Arcros chuckled, “Have a good day, Billie, and remember she is my mother. We need her alive.” Billie grinned. “Of course, Captain Dlenner. I will return her breathing, as ordered.” “Thank you, Officer Praco.” He disconnected with a click, leaving Billie with a nervous Aciel. Billie sighed, “No woman wants to hear that her soon-to-be in-laws tried to cure her prospective mate. Now, I still don’t believe that he is going to go through with it, but I am willing to suspend disbelief for the moment and go along with you.” Aciel nodded. “I do understand. Were you really contemplating harming me?” “Well, I was checking off techniques to silence you in an effort to calm myself. We all fall back on our original training, I suppose. What did you do before bonding to Arcros’s father?” “I am a physician. The herbs on Chysan have many differing properties, and I was sure that one of them would be a cure for rut. It wasn’t you that I was trying to break him of, per se. Simply freeing our males from the locked-in reactions that come along with their mating urges is a pursuit that many physicians have engaged in.” “It sounds like a great goal. Our physicians only got 40

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a grip on female reproduction in the last century. We are still pretty new at this.” Billie smiled brightly. “You are from a young species?” “Very young. We made it into space less than five decades ago and would never have gotten to the stars this early without the intervention of the Alliance.” Aciel pulled the skimmer to one side outside a gorgeous temple surrounded by mint and lavender grass. “Why did they choose to invite your species?” Billie laughed lightly as she exited the skimmer. “Races have been using ours as slaves, breeding stock and experimental subjects for thousands of years. The Dhemons and Enjel carried out part of their war on our world; The Admaryn almost killed all of us because some of theirs were muddying their genetic waters. We are a popular species, and we became more so when our Champions were tapped.” Aciel paused, “You are in your first generation off your world, and you already have a Champion?” “Five of them, a Seeker, Archivist, Hunter, Reader and a Negotiator.” Billie walked up the pathway past a stunned Aciel. She turned when she realized the older woman was not moving. “Is something wrong?” Aciel shook herself and straightened with a smile. “No, nothing is wrong. I am just beginning to think that my son is far more intelligent than I gave him credit for.” Billie snickered as Aciel came even with her, “Considering that you thought he had flung himself away on a worthless tart, this must be a bit of a relief.” “I never thought you were a tart, Wilhelmina.” 41

Viola Grace “Billie, please. Wilhelmina was my grandmother.” “Billie then. We are meeting with the Matchmaker, and she will give confirmation or denial of your link.” Aciel smiled and inclined her head with respect. Billie straightened in her best formal Enforcer pose and inclined her head, “Let’s get this over with then.”

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Chapter Seven

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he interior of the space was cool, bright and had tables set along all the walls leaving the centre clear. A woman in the robes of the Citadel stood and waited calmly for them to enter. The Matchmaker was wearing a hood that obscured her face, but there was something familiar in her stance. It was the stance of an Enforcer, and as far as Billie knew, there was only one Enforcer who had ever turned Matchmaker. “Gwen Steryio?” The Matchmaker casually dropped her hood. “It is Gwen Mathijen of Raxos now, but hello, Billie. Good to see you again.” The women cried out and hugged tightly. Billie’s heart swelled. It was so good to see another Terran, and to have one who used to be an Enforcer was like a dream come true. Billie paused and held Gwen at arm’s length. “Are you a dream?” “No, Billie, you are not dreaming. This is very real, and you are about to go through a bonding ceremony here on Chysan.” Gwen’s features were sober, and she 43

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took Billie by the arm, guiding her to a table that was hosting a tea service. Aciel trailed after them, confused. “You are of the same species as Billie?” Gwen inclined her head to the older woman. “I am.” “But you are wed to the Alpha of the Raxos colony.” “And Billie is about to be wed to the Clan Chief of Chysan. There is little difference, madam. We came from the same world and appeal to the Oefric. We are not the first nor will we be the last. The Oefric are returning to the Alliance, and they are seeking mates of an adaptable species. The Terrans qualify.” Aciel sat heavily and looked as if she had just been told that there was no Santa Claus. Billie smiled as Gwen turned back to her. “It takes them some time to adjust. Now, hold still for a moment, and I will just verify something.” Gwen’s mental touch was light and left Billie feeling that her mind had been brushed with mint. When she figured it out, she giggled, “Really? Mental floss?” Gwen grinned, “It took me a while to learn how to do that. Don’t insult my talents.” “I wouldn’t dream of it. Now what?” “Pour yourself some tea, this will take a moment.” Gwen closed her eyes and concentrated. Shrugging, Billie poured a cup for Aciel and herself, then Gwen. They sipped at the brew and Aciel asked quietly, “Have you known her long?” “We left our world on the same transport, went through basic training together and finally both were assigned to the Enforcers.” 44

Bait “But she is a Matchmaker.” “Well, she is now, but years ago her talent hadn’t bloomed. It apparently is common in my species. Traces were identified in the Volunteers, but the exact nature of the psychic talent that had not yet manifested was not known. I am a communicator of sorts, but there is no discernible detail on it.” Aciel rubbed her forehead. “I see. I had no idea.” Gwen straightened and fumbled for her teacup. “Thanks for this. Well, good news, you are a perfect match for Captain Dlenner.” Billie had to ask, “What is the bad news?” “I won’t be here for the wedding. Etien’s mom is looking after our daughter, and we have to be getting home.” Gwen smiled. “You have a daughter?” Aciel seemed impressed. Billie recalled that the Oefric birthrate was skewed toward the male gender. “One born and one on the way. I am barely able to hold my own child. Etien’s family dotes on her.” Gwen patted the front of her robes where the folds hid all visible signs. “You could hide a howitzer in those, couldn’t you? Congratulations.” Billie grinned. “The robes have their advantages.” Gwen giggled and looked to Aciel. “Don’t worry, if a man is attracted to a Terran, the chance of daughters goes up dramatically.” “Thank you, Matchmaker, it is a relief. I have five sons, and to have a girl in the family would be a blessing.” The relief and sudden friendliness was all over Aciel’s face. 45

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Billie blinked when it came to her that Aciel’s main objection, aside from her being an alien, was the uncertainty of the gender of the offspring. To know that the chances for a girl were dramatically increased seemed to have set her at ease. Billie, however, was taking a bit of a breather as she realized that if they were talking about babies, she might be a little more stuck than she wanted to be. Her tension caused her to hyperventilate, and for the first time in her life, she came near to fainting because of something someone said. “Calm down, Billie. The child isn’t going to rip out of you sci-fi style. It will come in its own time. If you aren’t up for being a full-time mom, I am sure that Aciel will be happy to help.” Aciel sat up eagerly. “I would be only too happy to help you with any childcare needs. It has been decades since my boys were little ones, but I still have the prams and beds.” Billie leaned down, and put her head between her knees. “I am not into the reproducing frame of mind.” Gwen rubbed Billie’s back. “Then you just relax and wait until after the bonding ceremony. No sense in worrying about something until you are bonded. Also, be aware that the Oefric men are hands-on fathers. Etien held little Eva for hours after she made her arrival. No problem with the midnight feedings either. Half the time, I would wake up and she would be attached to me without me waking up. Never neglect the Oefric sense of hearing and scent. They change diapers out of sheer desperation.” Billie barked a laugh and slowly sat up. 46

Bait Aciel was watching her with concern. “Are you all right, Billie?” “I will be fine. I just need to adjust to my reality. Do you mind if I walk the grounds a bit?” “No, of course not. I will be discussing the details with the Matchmaker.” Aciel was all helpfulness. Billie got to her feet and walked out the door onto the expansive lawn. The fliers lazily passed overhead, and she looked up, sending out a question with her mind. Is this the right thing to do? The five fliers slowed and circled the field she was walking through. They spiralled toward her with slow, lazy movements. Images came to her of Billie standing next to Arcros, taking his hands in hers. From there, they flashed to Arcros and Billie standing back to back while a brawl swirled around them. The next image was of Billie with a swollen belly and Arcros rubbing her back, the final image was of her smiling down at the bundle in her arms and there was definite love on her face. She blinked, and the wings of the fliers pushed air against her face. They hovered around her, giant feathery butterflies with long tails. “Thank you. That was what I needed to know.” She followed it with a mental warmth of thanks, and the fliers took to the skies once again. Billie breathed deeply of the clear air of Chysan before she turned to re-join the others. Gwen and Aciel were in the doorway, mouths open in surprise. “Billie, what were you doing?” “Asking the fliers a question. They gave me an 47

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answer I can look forward to, so it will be easier for me not to panic now.” Aciel looked positively pale. “You asked them a question?” “Sure. Just ask Arcros, I talk to everything, but I rarely get an answer. In this case, they replied right away. They are very friendly and just happy that someone is here to listen.” Aciel looked faint. “I see. Well, that is something extraordinary.” Gwen grinned, “Isn’t it just.”

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Chapter Eight

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he Dlenner family home was large, well appointed and full of curious relatives. The Mathijens joined them for dinner, and it was their last meal on Chysan before they had to return to Raxos. Etien Mathijen had been one of the men that Arcros had been speaking to in the morning. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Billie.” “And you, Etien. It takes a man with patience and will to manage not only an Enforcer, but a Matchmaker as well.” “I pride myself on being serene, but every now and then, my composure cracks and hand-to-hand combat ensues. I will confess to enjoying the inevitable victory and her very pleasant surrender.” Billie blushed as his heavy-lidded gaze was directed to his wife on the other side of the table. Billie and Arcros were separated by his brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. There was no chance of a quiet moment alone, but when their gazes met across the table, she felt the heat of his touch start in her mind and creep down under her shirt. 49

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Her shivers started and kept going throughout course after course of food. Her dining companion looked at her sympathetically and smiled. “The first days of the mental connection can be the worst.” “So I have been given to understand. When the herbs wear off, it should fade, or so I am told.” Etien smiled, “For some it fades, for others, it grows stronger. It depends on the structure of your mind. The Oefric are not commonly telepathic, but since I bonded to Gwen, it is something I cannot escape.” “How do you deal with it?” “She keeps her mind separated from mine for most of the day, and we come together when we are alone. The luxury of knowing what your partner is thinking and what they enjoy is quite the compensation for the breach of privacy.” Billie blushed hotly. “I suppose that would be a bonus.” “It would have been handier when we were on assignments together, but it is still useful on occasion.” His grin was pure enjoyment. “How did you know that she was the one?” The words were almost soundless, but Billie couldn’t hold them in. Etien pressed a hand to the back of her wrist. “Because there was no one else from the moment that I saw her. She called to me in a thousand ways, and I yearned for her. It took a while before I could get authorization from the Alliance, and she had to undergo her training in the Citadel, but everything worked out in the end, and after the butterflies stopped showing up on our roof, even Gwen calmed down.” His chuckle was 50

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deeply amused. “Butterflies?” “On Raxos, we have a species of butterflies that is attracted to women in love. At a wedding, a batch is released, and they seek out the most likely woman to find a mate. They haunted Gwen. No one on my world had ever seen such a butterfly cloud. She wanted me badly, and she had only to give in to my charms to have her world right itself.” He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. Billie looked over at Gwen, and her expression was amused and exasperated in one. She obviously knew the topic, so Billie mouthed butterflies, and Gwen nodded. Giggles started in Billie’s belly and worked their way out. It seemed that being seduced by cake was far easier on the nerves. Arcros laughed and coughed on the cup of wine he had been drinking. He gave her a rueful look and raised the cup. “To Billie, the most impulsive Enforcer I ever met.” The crowd raised their glasses, “To Billie.” Billie blushed and accepted the skewed compliment. He was right. She had never been one to hold back when she sensed that something needed to be done. “Officer Praco, what are your findings?” Captain Dlenner was at the com unit and the commanders were on the other side of the conversation. “The natural inhabitants of Yelish have no interest in having a resort, visitors or a colony on their soil.” Captain Dlenner turned toward her and raised a brow, “You questioned a sampling of the population?” 51

Viola Grace “I did. Nine different species were questioned, and six conclusively indicated that they were not interested in having the Alliance put in roots.” Billie had tried to keep a sober expression, but it was horribly difficult. The commander of the council nodded grimly. “Understood. Thank you for your efforts on our behalf, Officer Praco.” “It is my honour to serve, Commander.” She stood at attention until the screen cleared and then let her breath out on a long whoosh. Captain Dlenner pivoted in his seat. “Who, precisely, did you speak to?” “Do you doubt my word?” She fought a grin. “No, Officer, but I do know that you have a certain slavish fascination with the literal interpretation of orders when it suits you.” She grinned outright. “Well, Captain, I spoke to a bush, a tree, three birds, two crabs and a pair of rodents. I tried to speak to the rocks but that ended up just being silly.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “They will find out, you know.” “What? I questioned the animals and vegetation, and they were not amenable to being eaten or trampled. I simply indicated their opinion. Well, the birds didn’t really care what happened, they feel they can always bugger off.” He stared at her for a moment before cracking up with laughter. “Fair enough. Well, it is in your file, so it must be true.” Billie sighed and sat back as she remembered that 52

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moment. It was her favourite memory of her time as an Enforcer. She had been able to do something good and no one was really endangered, plus she had heard Captain Dlenner laugh for the first time. Further investigation had determined that Yelish was a sentient planet just waking and that had changed everything for the research teams who wanted to settle there. Five hundred years of silence was ended with occasional forays and visitations by the Avatars of other worlds. Yelish would be carefully coached into sentience, and the Alliance was content to watch. The memory warmed her as she sat at the table full of new people who would soon be related to her via marriage. Aciel’s spouse, Coros Dlenner was a striking man. He had bequeathed his startling bone structure to his sons while they obtained their colouration from their mother. Arcros was the eldest, Byral was next, Coriantho, Erican, and Fender rounded out their offspring. It was certainly a full house when everyone was there, but the camaraderie between the brothers was comforting. She had seen hostility in families that had run so deep, it caused the local authorities to call in the Enforcers. Stomping into domestic situations to part two people who claimed to love each other had always struck her as incredibly odd. With dinner over, the men of the family got to their feet and left the room. The women removed the dishes, cleared them and set them aside. As Aciel put it, “It is their turn to do the dishes, so 53

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let’s make sure that they don’t forget.” The women chuckled and left the kitchen, wandering out into the expanse of the backyard. Billie held her breath as she took in the sight of all of the Dlenner men and Etien stripped to the waist and shifted into a half-form that allowed them to engage in very violent martial combat. Aciel came up next to Billie and threaded her arm through the Terran’s. “This is how they work off a good meal.” Billie licked her lips as the shifted form of Arcros flipped one of his brothers and sent him skidding for twenty feet before he threw his head back and howled. She cleared her throat, “Yes, I can see how it would help to burn off some excess energy.” Images of the night before flickered through her mind, and she tried to squelch them, she really did, but when Arcros turned his head toward her and his nostrils flared rhythmically, she knew that she had dismally failed. Oh darn. Here he comes.

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Chapter Nine

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aving a charging Oefric coming at you when you were not carrying a weapon was awkward. Billie pushed Aciel aside and crouched down, the moment that Arcros reached a distance of five feet, she propelled herself up and over his charge. She landed flat-footed and made a beeline for his brothers and father. They scattered, but not soon enough. She could feel Arcros’s approach behind her, and when his claws grazed her tunic, she dropped like a stone. Her clothing would be stained with grass, but the sound of Arcros thudding into his siblings had her cackling with amusement. Brushing at her clothing, Billie got to her feet and returned to where the women were huddled. Aciel was standing next to a grinning Gwen. Her fellow Terran complimented her, “Up and over, very well done.” The sounds of fists and feet, growling and clawing gradually dwindled. Billie looked behind her and sighed happily. The boys were still busy. They were pinning Arcros 55

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down. Aciel blinked, “I have never seen a woman do that before.” Gwen patted her shoulder. “You can’t say that again. I read Billie’s file. She is perfectly competent at handto-hand combat and rarely gets caught by her attacker.” Aciel defended her son, “He wasn’t attacking her.” Billie grinned. “No, he was going to haul me back to his house for the night, and he knew that it wouldn’t make you very happy. I simply acted to keep everyone on a quiet and respectable keel.” The women within earshot laughed and applauded lightly. They took a seat on folding chairs and watched the men resume their exercise. It seemed that when Billie calmed down, so did Arcros. She enjoyed talking with the ladies. After they finished discussing her defense techniques, they spoke about the clothing that she had ordered. And in an hour, the men were exhausted and back in their daily forms. As they approached, Aciel smiled, “Your turn to do the dishes.” Coros nodded and walked toward the interior of the house. His sons followed with the exception of Arcros. Billie smiled as Arcros crooked his finger at her, his lips twisted in a smirk. “That was a charming display of technique, Billie.” “Thank you, Arcros.” She gave him a bow, and the instant that she straightened, she was in his arms. Images of her pale skin under his hands filled her thoughts. He kissed her as he filled her head with memories of his body on hers, inside hers. 56

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When he raised his head, she was trembling and her body ached restlessly. Her lips throbbed from his kiss, and he seemed satisfied with whatever he saw in her eyes. “It was unorthodox but a good call. My mother would not forgive me if I ruined her plans.” “It is the same all over the universe. The ceremony is for the parents, the children simply want to be with the one they have chosen.” “Now that she has agreed to you, there is nothing to hold her back. Once we are together, there will be nothing to hold me back, and if you think you can dodge me again, you are woefully mistaken.” He reached out and slapped her ass before joining the others inside. With his threat ringing in her ears, she turned back to see Etien and Gwen standing and talking quietly to Aciel. “Are you leaving?” Billie was sorry to see her go. Gwen was apologetic. “We have to. Another few days and I won’t be able to jump safely. I want to get home in the next year.” Billie hugged the other Terran. “Take care and enjoy your trip.” When the ladies parted, Etien bowed low over her hand and pressed a light kiss to her skin. “Arcros will make a good spouse. He has a sense of humour and has lived away from home. Those are both key aspects as far as Gwen is concerned. She would not have given her blessing if it wasn’t a good match.” She grinned, “Thank you. It means a lot that you get good reviews from your wife.” 57

Viola Grace He smiled, “You have no idea.” With a lascivious wink, he wrapped an arm around Gwen’s waist, and they went inside the house to make their goodbyes. Aciel came up next to Billie and smiled, “I think we should get you tucked away before my son plans any more mischief.” Billie made her good evenings to the aunts and cousins’ wives that had attended before Aciel whisked her up the back stairs and into a bedroom that was familiar to Billie on a basic level. “You put me in his room?” Aciel grinned, “Yes. Two nights of frustration won’t kill you, and it will make the bonding ceremony much more entertaining.” With that last shot, her upcoming mother-in-law closed the door, leaving Billie surrounded by the scent of Arcros soaked into the very wood of the bed. Her duffel was waiting at the foot of the bed, and she took comfort in her own scent, keeping her hormones from stampeding. With effort, she opened the window and looked out at a beautiful sight. The three moons of Chysan were rising, and her window gave her an ideal view of the hills with the huge orbs between them. In the distance, fliers passed between her and the moons, making her smile. She asked them if they liked the evening, but there was no reply. After airing out the room a little, she changed into a light shift and settled down to read from her data pad. It was a romance set in the ancient city of Mir. Hopelessly romantic, once Billie got into it, she couldn’t put it down. Images filled her mind of the house and the night 58

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sky. They did not have the tone of Arcros’s thoughts, so she got out of his bed and walked to the window. Her eyes went wide at the sight of a flier in the garden, hovering slowly near the window. An image of her on its back struck her, and her body moved automatically, perching in the window frame before she leapt out to land on the soft, warm back. The flier took off the moment she had a grip, and the enormous wings stroked calmly through the skies. She had seen images like this back on Earth, but there, the creatures were underwater and giving divers rides. Billie hung on for dear life, eventually comfortable enough with the slow pace of the flier to look up and around her. A rainbow of the creatures, some small, some large, surrounded Billie and several were obviously babies. Their flapping was faster, less rhythmic, and when they grew tired, they found their parent and hitched a ride, much as she was doing. When Billie looked back, the Oefric settlement was far away, and she sent her unease to the creature she was riding. The translation was that they needed her. They needed her hands, and they were taking her to where she was needed, whether she was interested or not. Billie was being kidnapped by fluffy and airborne devilfish, her lips quirked as part of her panicked, but the rest of her geared up for whatever challenge was on the other end of the flight.

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Chapter Ten

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he reason for the fliers needing hands was obvious once she was in their aerie. A hugely pregnant female was stuck in labour. Images of a little one coming out easily tail first were prevalent. Billie shivered in the cool evening air. She touched the large female and communicated what she was about to do. Carefully, remembering everything she had ever read about animals and breech births, she stroked her way down the labouring female and lifted her tail. A wing protruded slightly out of a wide opening. Billie saw the muscles contract, and she flattened herself as the tail whipped through the air where her head had been. She wiggled close to the emerging flier, sliding her hands along the opening and inside. Billie kept thinking to herself, It’s like working on a car. When she had a good idea of the width and position of the baby, she turned and braced her bare feet on the mother’s body, hauling away when the contraction hit. The mother lifted away from her, and Billie grinned at the worried male that was supporting his mate’s tail. 60

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She grunted and pulled carefully, easing the little one from her mother. When the baby was free, a surge of fluid emerged, dousing Billie and making her grimace. The small flier flapped around and worked toward its mother’s head. The mother sent Billie an image of her climbing back on another flier, returning to the village. Billie didn’t argue. She wanted a shower in the worst way. The male stayed with his mate and watched his little one to make sure it didn’t flap off their rocky outcropping. The collected inhabitants of the aerie gathered, and a huge flier offered its back to her. She jumped on and watched as close to a thousand of the creatures escorted her back to the village. When they got close enough, she heard an alarm sound. The Oefric were not used to swarms of fliers covering their small town, and this definitely qualified as a swarm. Billie gave the flier she was riding a mental image of the Dlenner home, hanging on as it banked over the town before beating its huge wings lazily to take her back where she had started. It let her off in the yard, its huge bulk hovering with a slow grace that took her breath away. Covered in goo, she walked back toward the house, facing the entire Dlenner contingent. She held up a hand. “I promise to tell you in the morning. For now, I need a shower.” She sprinted up the stairs, grabbed some clothing from her duffel and walked to the bathroom, smiling at 61

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the Dlenners lining the halls. “In the morning, people. The fliers have gone home now.” With the door of the bathing room closed and locked, Billie washed herself and then her shift. The liquid stained the fabric with gradations of muted rainbows. She checked her hair, and it was still its normal blonde. Sighing, she slipped into loose trousers and a tunic. With her hair wrapped in a towel, she pattered back down the now-empty hall. The bedroom was welcome, and she closed the window with a sense of relief. One adventure per night was enough. “I am glad you feel that way. My mother was out of her mind when you jumped on a flier and took off.” Arcros was behind her, and she turned slowly to watch his scowl. “I am sorry she saw it. I had hoped to be back before anyone missed me.” He came to her and removed the towel on her hair, tugging the strands straight with his fingers. “Are you all right?” “I helped bring a new life into the world in a manner I didn’t think possible, so yes, pretty good.” She grinned and hugged him, burying her head against his chest. “Did you call them?” “No. They came for me.” “Why?” “They needed hands. A female was in labour, but the baby was backward. Now that they have one of my kind that can understand them, they intend to make use 62

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of me when they need to. Tonight, they needed me, or rather, my hands.” She yawned into his chest and sagged slightly against him. His hands rubbed her back slowly, up and down. She leaned back and blinked, “I am fairly sure that I need a nap.” He laughed and helped her to the bed, tucked her in and curled against her, the covers between them. “Sleep. I might not be with you when you wake, but I will not be far.” She settled in and let his presence and the scent of him lull her into dreams that warmed her soul. Breakfast was a peculiar affair. Her in-laws were staring at her as if she had grown another head. “I am a communicator. That is it. The fliers just needed some help from a pair of hands. Nothing fancy. I just reached in and pulled, then they brought me home.” She forked up some of the cured meat on offer and put it on her bread. Billie took a big bite to reduce the chances of her being asked another question. Arcros’s brothers were fascinated, his father was impressed, but his mother seemed queasy. “Is something wrong, Aciel?” She blinked, “For years we have been trying to get close to the fliers. They are aggressive when we get near their nesting site, and they simply invite you in. It is unbelievable.” Billie grimaced, “Not completely unbelievable. I did come home covered in flier goo if you will recall.” Aciel’s face went from grim to elated in an instant. 63

Viola Grace “You truly think of this as home?” “Home is where Arcros is, or where his family is in this case. I knew the day that I left that the Earth was barred from me, so this is the day that I pick a new family, a new home.” She winked, “The fliers have made me welcome, but I do not consider the aerie home.” The men laughed, and Aciel brushed a tear from her eye. “A daughter at last, I only had to wait fifty years.” Billie got up and gave Aciel a hug. She seemed to need it. “So, what is on the agenda today?” “Final fittings and meeting the women’s council. I think a trip to the vet and zoologist might be in order as well. You might be able to assist in speaking with their animals when needed.” Billie frowned, “That might not work, a dumb animal is still a dumb animal. The fliers are highly intelligent. They were able to tell me what was wrong. I have talked to farm animals before. Most are not too bright. They are raised to be food after all.” “Well, we will go and introduce you. It can’t hurt.” The militant cheer in Aciel’s eyes told Billie that her mother-in-law was out to show her off, and there was nothing she could do about it. It was best to just lie back and think of England.

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Chapter Eleven

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he bonding-day awakening was a harsh interruption to dreams that had Billie waking in a shivery sweat with wet heat between her thighs. If that was all her imagination’s doing, she needed a therapist. Aciel came in with a tray and watched while she ate. “Come along, we need to get you dressed and to the ceremony space before dawn.” Yawning, Billie let herself be dressed, made up, escorted down the steps and out the door to a skimmer. She propped her chin in her hand as they whipped past the scenery that she was becoming more familiar with each passing day. The ceremony space had a surprising amount of people waiting for her. Aciel and Coros walked her down to the dais, which had cushions on it. Billie mentally kicked herself because all she could think about was piling those cushions up and having a nap. Arcros looked good enough to eat in his formal clothing with the Dlenner crest crossed with the mark of the clan chief. A priest of the Serene temple was 65

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conducting the ceremony. It passed in a blur. Billie remembered nothing more than the warm darkness of Arcros’s eyes as they waited, meditated, sat, stood, ate, meditated again and finally exchanged promises to bind their lives as one until their natural deaths. Aciel was sobbing happily and noisily. Arcros bent down to kiss Billie after the ceremony was final, and she leaned up to meet him halfway. His arms wrapped around her, and he bounded off to the amusement and enthusiastic cries of the witnesses. When Billie broke the kiss, she was being carried in the arms of a feline centaur. His upper torso was all Arcros, but his back end was a huge cat. He chuckled, “If you would care to ride in back, I have no objection.” It took some manoeuvring in the long gown, but she managed it. “Heeyah. Move it.” He laughed outright and put on the speed. They sprinted through the village, past several startled folk who laughed at their appearance. A few lights flashed, and Billie grinned. A girl wanted pictures of her wedding day and candids were the best. The home of the clan chief was festooned with flowered garlands. “Aw, you made it pretty for me.” “Anything I can do to make it a special day for you.” While he was speaking, his paws were taking the steps four per bound. Joyful laughter spilled out of her when they made it up to his chambers in under a minute. He bolted through his office, into the bedroom and swiftly locked 66

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the door. Flowers and flower petals were everywhere. The combination of flowers was giving her the same heady, out-of-control feeling as the cake the first night. “These are the same herbs that I baked into that cake.” His hands were busy on her vest, unclasping the awkward closures that had baffled her during the dressing. Her personal icon was impressive, the marks of an Enforcer over the spiral of her solar system. The seamstress had done a magnificent job. She had admired it, and now, it was being carefully set on the back of the dressing-table chair. Her gown glowed with its silky texture and caressed her skin like a rose petal. She nervously ran her hands down the surface and looked up at Arcros as he stared down at her, memorizing every inch. “Do you like what you see?” She slowly turned to let him get a good look. The fabric was nearly transparent in certain lights and daylight qualified. He grinned and removed his own tunic with the same slow and deliberate movements he had used on her. “Do you?” She swallowed at the exposed expanse of chest and shoulder. Her tongue licked her lips, and she heard a low growl. “I do.” He followed it with, “I do as well.” Billie shivered when he kissed the side of her neck. His teeth were sharp as he scraped them along her skin. Her neck flexed, her body quivered and she clung to him for dear life. While he aroused her with the simple caress, his 67

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fingers worked on the back of her gown until it slid off her shoulders to puddle on the floor. The only thing she wore under it was a pair of soft leather slippers. Arcros ran his hands over her, but the slight trembling in his digits gave him away. She laughed and reached up to wrap her hand around the back of his neck. “Detail can wait for later. I want you now, husband.” He didn’t need to be told twice. His ornate trousers hit the floor next to her gown, but he had to pause to remove his boots. She stepped out of her gown and kicked off her slippers, watching the muscles in his back bunch and release as he worked to not fall on his ass while he removed his footwear. Aroused, focused, he stood and lifted her in the air, bringing her slowly down his body. He groaned, and she sighed at the friction. Her legs wrapped around him reflexively, allowing her wet heat to engulf the tip of his cock. Arcros stepped wide and pulled her onto him with small, punching thrusts. She shivered, moaned and dug her nails into his back as the sensations took her over. When he was fully inside her, his hands gripped her buttocks, and he lifted and dropped her in a fast, sharp movement, their bodies slapping together with force. Her vocalizations got higher and took on a pleading whine. He pulled her hard and fast, the friction heating her skin until her nerves overloaded and she shrieked, holding him tight. He howled, throwing his head back and announcing 68

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his triumph while his cock pulsed within her. They panted in unison. Billie clung to him in desperation. Her legs would not have held her if he had put her down at that moment. Arcros recovered faster than she did, walking them over to the bed with him still inside her. She felt his return to girth and rigidity. She also tried to ignore the slight shiver of her hips in a small circle to churn him within her. The moment he pressed her to her back, the scents of the herbs and flowers swamped them both. For a moment, she was in his body and he in hers. The sensations were wild, and she tested his body by shifting his hips slightly, pushing into the wet, slick heat that gloved him. When her body clasped his, she groaned and felt his cock jump. In an instant, she was back behind her own eyes, the peculiar feeling of having testicles fading rapidly. He shook his head and looked down at her. “Did we just…” “I think we did.” “Let’s not do that again. It was odd.” “I would have to agree. It was fascinating but definitely odd. I much prefer you in charge of your bits.” She grinned and stroked her hands down his belly and back up again. Arcros moved within her, his pleasure spilling into her mind, and she let her pleasure fill his. It was odd that she was in control of the mental communication, but a girl had to have her talents, and since she couldn’t cook, she may as well speak to the beast within him. 69

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She chuckled and held on as he rocked into her faster and faster. Pleasure spiked, receded and wound tight again with the drag and thrust of the ridge of his cock. He was sweating, so was she when they finally cried out together. Arcros dropped onto her, his body limp, warm and hers in every way. She stroked the slick ridges of his back, chuckling at an image in her mind. “It is a good thing that you waited. I can’t imagine doing Enforcer work once we let this genie out of the bottle.” She knew that genie wouldn’t translate, but it still made her smile. “I had to resign my commission, because one more assignment where I had to rescue you and I would have cracked your survival suit in two with my cock. I love that you charge to the rescue, and I love that you need to be rescued frequently even more.” He pressed soft kisses to her neck, and to her shock, she felt him surge awake within her once again. This time was soft, slow and infinitely intimate as he stared into her eyes with every thrust and retreat. When they shivered on the edge of release, he did what she had been dreading. He put a mating bite on her neck that would create a scar for life. Not all Oefric did that, but his fascination with her neck had shown his hand. The bite caused a ripple of hot pain that combined with the high pleasure, and in a moment, she bucked and screamed against him. The scent of his chemistry and the herbs of love, which also smelled like Arcros with a certain twist, surrounded her. “You are that twist. The flowers and vanilla are you. 70

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I am the herbs and musk. Together, we create this scent. Separated, this would be nothing more than a light cologne. Together it is the scent of love.” She held on, let him lick the wound on her neck, and finally, she looped her arms around his neck and sighed in a sated manner. “I love you, Arcros, I always have. Now, when is dinner?” He paused and pressed a kiss to her lips, her neck, her breasts and worked lower. “Covered dishes on the table. And I love you too. From the moment you brought me that report on Yelish, I knew that you would be my doom.” Doom and love were related in his mind, but as he kept working his way down her body, she was willing to overlook it. If he kept that motion up with his tongue, she was willing to overlook everything. As she spread her thighs and held her breath, yup, he can have anything he wants. Outside the home of the clan chief, crowds started to gather. No one had ever seen a flock of fliers slowly working in a spiral over a building before, but there was a first time for everything. When you brought a Terran on board, there were a lot of firsts.

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Author’s Note Having more Enforcers has been fun. The first time they showed up was in Enforce, where Gwen met the shapeshifter of her dreams. The next four books will all contain women in some kind of law enforcement in the Alliance. Seekers, Hunters, the Darkworld Stalkers and Restriction officers of the Citadel. Enjoy the upcoming books. Viola Grace [email protected] http://www.violagrace.com http://www.extasybooks.com http://www.devinedestinies.com

About the Author Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales. Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.