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They all laughed, knowing exactly what she meant. Poor Lorik didn’t stand a chance.

Neither, Mia decided, her eyes narrowing dangerously, did Zoran. So what if he’d forced her hand with the whole mating thing? There was absolutely no reason she had to play his game.

“Uh oh,” Kira said. “I know that look.”

Leona crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze raking Mia from head to toe. “Oh, yes. That’s Mia’s inner mischief coming out to play. Zoran’s in for an interesting week.”

Mia grinned at them, not even bothering to hide her glee.

Chapter Seven

Zoran marched stiffly down the concourse, Mia at his side. As soon as they’d exited the ship, she’d tucked her hand trustingly into his and allowed him to lead her through hisjutji’s spaceport. He held her gently, keenly aware of the delicacy of her bones, the softness of her skin, the drape of his colors across her lush feminine body.

That she wore his colors baffled him as much as the way she held him. What had happened to her anger at beingforced, as she put it, to take and receive the mating mark? His jaw clamped down on a vicious snarl. Confusing, infuriating, delectable female.

His mother stood at the end of the concourse at the edge of the crowd gathered there to greet the human females. It was a quiet crowd, respectful in their curiosity. Even the females seemed hopeful, though these humans would supplant some of them, the ones not already bound, as mates.

Zoran nearly stopped midstride. The jealousy and resentment of Xeruvian females had not been a consideration when the Warlord Council considered options for rebuilding. They hadn’t the option of emotional indulgence. Had he not set aside his own contempt for the frailty of humans when he’d accepted Mia as his mate?

And his mother had said nothing on this matter, as she should have. If any Xeruvians had such a complaint, they should have stepped forward immediately. Not that their concerns would have stopped the implementation of this last, desperate plan to take human females as mates. But airing such concerns beforehand would have helped them all accept the humans now.

These new females were tiny miracles, each and every one. Hopefully his people would come to see them in that light.

Zoran drew Mia to a stop before his mother and sketched a respectful bow, only dimly aware of the other warlords shepherding their mates and the unmated human females forward. “Mother, my mate, Mia, late of San Francisco.”

Alara eyed his mate for a brief moment, her piercing gaze measuring the human dispassionately. Her eyes were the same bright green as his own, her skin a shade lighter, her features stern, yet beautiful, the mating marks on her throat proudly displayed. Alara had retained the warrior-like grace of her youth. Her strength had wobbled when her mate and daughter had died. Zoran knew she mourned their loss still, as they all did. And yet her courage had never faltered. His mother’s vocal support had been instrumental in his own success in formulating a plan to find a compatible species. Without her, his people might have been lost.

Mia, for her part, returned his mother’s gaze with the steady curiosity he had come to expect from her. She waited patiently for Alara to speak, her expression openly welcoming.

At last, Alara gently disentangled Mia’s hands from his own and pressed them to her forehead. “Daughter, it is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you.”

Mia’s smile warmed him to his core. “Thank you. It’s so lovely to meet you. Should I greet you the same way?”

Sly humor sparked in his mother’s eyes, and she slid her gaze to him before answering. “My son has not taught you the traditional greetings?”

“We haven’t had a lot of time to work on that.”

“I see.”

Zoran rumbled a warning. “Have quarters been arranged for the unmated humans?”

A smile lingered on Alara’s mouth, though she had the grace to contain her amusement. “We have set aside a compound for their use, very near the science center.”

Mia cocked her head, her eyes alight with curiosity. “The science center?”

“Our clan’s research facility,” Alara said. “We have made room there for any human who wishes to join our research staff.”

“Me!” Mia said, laughing. “Zoran gave me access to part of your culture’s database on the trip here. I’m very interested in integrating our research with yours to see if we can’t solve problems we both face.”

Alara’s expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on Zoran’s arm. “Ah, my son. What a beautiful gift you have brought into our clan.”

Mia’s cheeks pinkened as her smile turned shy. Zoran clenched his hands into fists, firmly controlling the emotions sweeping over him. She was not ready for his touch, though he’d tried to gentle her to him, and he would notforceher again unless she asked it of him.

“Mother,” he said abruptly, “would you escort Mia to the science center? I have matters to attend to.”

Alara nodded once. Zoran bowed to them both and left, fighting the need to treat Mia as a Xeruvian warlord treated his mate. Something inside him roared a silent fury. Mia washis. How could he leave her there without even a proper farewell?

Yet, he could not bring himself to touch her as he should, to openly claim her so that no one would ever doubt what she was to him.