Page 10 of Her Alien Delegate (Necia Alien Warriors)

Chapter five

Evie

I did it. I accepted a request. That should cover the time I was staying here for long enough to wait for the necia warrior to come get me, right?

"You have restricted the time request and added conditions.

A warning has been given to the unGor about the fragility of humans; for your safety.

Should you feel threatened by our guest, please use the extract code and the room will be fumigated with toxin to subdue all occupants.

Blue Official District prides itself on being a safe place to pursue all pleasures in life.

We thank you for choosing us to share your experiences. "

"Uh, thank you," I paused thinking about how to address the computer running this place, "Blue Official District?"

"I detect discomfort, how may I assist?"

"Is that what I should call you?"

"Your species values names, a very trillian trait. The trill who frequent here call me BOD. It sounds different in trill tongue, but that would be the equivalent in your language."

"Bode..." That was oddly fitting for a place like this.

Abode was a place to stay and bode was a predicted event.

A place of predictable events of dubious nature, both the safest and most dangerous place on Trillume.

Just accepting a request was a risk, but at least it was a calculated one with the protection of Bode.

"Are there any other requests for the day?" I asked Bode. I was expecting much more activity for a human when the news stated human contracts were suspended.

"Just the three provided. The third request included a clause to suspend requests until your time with them is completed."

"Oh." I wasn't sure what that meant to have someone pay to not allow other people to send requests to me, but it was clear from my credit balance that I wasn't paid for anything right away.

"I've sent your denial to the first request for observing your activities. The second request has been sent for and will arrive shortly. They have accepted your conditions to have their eyes covered in sap."

"Sap?"

"Yes, there is a krelin sap procured especially for sensory deprivation. It is a common request to blind guests."

I suppose I couldn't argue with that, considering I had asked for it myself.

"Right," I said mostly to hype myself up for what I was agreeing to.

The room was much bigger than what I was in before, and a door from behind me wheezed open as the suction of the airlock released. I whirled around, thankful that they were blinded and unable to see my shock.

Ter-ak?

The hood of his robes was down, and he sniffed the air as the door closed behind him.

I said nothing.

"It is you," he said finally, "Little viper. I can smell you."

I backed up and stumbled over the edge of the large bed, making me scramble back on the bedding.

"You—you—" I stuttered.

"Having a human mate is a diplomatic disadvantage if I wished to keep my position at the palace.

I've been waiting for you to stop hiding, so we may return to my den.

BOD has told me that I'm the first accepted request, and it is time we leave before you're damaged by the kind of beings that frequent the Blue District. "

"You sold me," I stuttered, barely above a whisper.

"It was necessary," he dismissed.

"You said I was a demon," I said while backing away. He thought I was more interested in books than preparing food together, which was apparently a big deal for trill intimacy. If I was given a bit more time, I would have found that out eventually and made more of an effort to help.

"Is that not what your kind calls beings that are fierce in their activities?

Your face was deeply captivated by the tablet of tomes.

To seek one source is to know nothing, but a moon set as another rises," he spoke in a trill proverb at the end that gave me pause.

He was waiting for me to understand his words, and I sighed.

"You're saying there are more ways to seek knowledge than from books. Are you saying you wanted me to ask you?"

"Is that not what being mated means? To rely on one another?"

He could have said that—before he sold my contract. Ter-ak took a slow step closer, like stalking a frightened animal. My back pressed against the wall, reaching the limit of how far I could get away without changing directions.

The spikes on his head flexed, and a spray misted in the room. Fuck, that was something I read about. Was he trying to poison me? The trill were capable of killing their prey by spraying them.

"What did you do?" I squeaked.

"This is how a trill mates. I should have done this sooner to bond us appropriately. You are inhaling my poison, and my mark will mean my poison will never harm you." He smiled, showing off a row of razor-sharp teeth.

I pressed my lips together, hoping I didn't inhale too much, but knowing all it took was one whiff. It was mate with him or die...

"No," I mumbled through my fingers as I covered a gasp. The sound of the vents spinning to life and a beeping distracted me from keeping my eyes on Ter-ak.

"Violation detected," BOD, the AI of the Blue District, spoke.

"Trill poison is prohibited on the premises.

Incompatible with Earthlings. If the human is harmed, your account will be charged for the inconvenience, and you will be required to fight for your freedom in the arena against our champion.

Air filtering in process, a bounty has been issued to nearby guests to ensure your cooperation. "

"Cancel bounty and violation," Ter-ak ordered BOD without any change to his tone.

He was unworried about the reaction the AI was giving.

"Command override initiated, clearance in accordance with trill mating rights of palace officials.

This human is my mate, and my poison will not harm her once I mark her. "

"Trill mating rituals accepted, contract confirmed with your ID. Please proceed to mark your mate before the poison can harm the Earthling."

"No," I objected, but my voice was nothing more than a gasp as I felt my knees give way, my back sliding down the wall.

Ter-ak towered over me, his tail grazed the floor, closing in toward my feet. This wasn't how I imagined bonding with an alien mate, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to accept it, but knowing what was coming.

His tail lifted my chin up, and I opened my eyes to him glaring at me, having removed the resin from his eyes. "Look at me when I give you my mark. Mates are not prey, human; they face their bonded."

Then I watched in horror as blood poured out of his mouth. Ter-ak's throat had grey ropes wrapped around it with sharp bones piercing into his soft flesh not covered by scales.

"Where I come from," a deep voice whispered, "a female has the right to kill anyone who tries to force their way into her delegation."

"Bounty fulfilled," BOD's announcement echoed in my mind. "Please insert both female and trill into the lav station for health scans."

Ter-ak's body was tossed to the side, and a large grey alien sniffed the air and then crouched down, cocking his head to the side as if listening for my breathing.

His eyes were covered in a black sap that looked like plastic wax.

His silvery grey hair was braided in ropes that fell over his shoulder, adorned with sharp bones, carved into unique shapes.

He had a bone pierced through his ear pointed towards me.

"I don't smell blood from you, but it is best to be safe and have you scanned by the AI," he said while offering me his hand.

"Ter-ak?"

"If that is the trill's name, then he should be fine after he hibernates.

They are a rather resilient species. I do apologize if you had wanted to mate with him.

I had fully intended on being your only suitor, but the AI had told me while I was on my way that you were in need of assistance.

To my surprise the bounty was the same room I was heading to. Shall we?"

It was strange hearing the translation in my implant sound so formal when his voice was deep and throaty.

"Thank you," I whispered and watched as a shiver started in his offered hand and seemed to travel up to his shoulder, making him stretch out his neck.

"What a pleasant sound you make," he admitted when my hand slipped into his.

I blushed; not that he could see that. "Are you able to lead me to where the lav station is?

I can request our host to dissolve the sap from my eyes, but I fear I'd be in breach of contract and another bounty will be sent for me this time. "

"Oh," I tried to scramble from the floor, but my legs were heavy and I tumbled into his arms. "Sorry." I tried to push away, but his arms wrapped around me as his chin rubbed through my hair. He breathed in deeply with a groan, before swooping me up to carry me.

"You can be my eyes, and I can be your legs," he said while I felt his chest puff out a bit under his cloak.

"Behind you," I whispered. "The lav station.

Y-you take five steps to the right and it's beside the bed.

" Right, he couldn't see the bed, or anything.

I was about to explain further, but noticed his steps were much larger than mine, and I had to squeak for him to stop.

I needed to do it one step at a time. "You have to open the door first. Here, let me.

" I unwrapped one arm from around his neck to press my hand on the scanner to open the door.

The lav station was open, and with one step at a time, the large alien placed me gently inside. The door slid shut around me, lasers scanned over me, and something shot out to pricked me on the back of my arm.

"Hey?" I clipped as I rubbed my arm.

"Trill poison detected. Please retrieve the trill for antidote," BOD requested.

I heard the alien grunt outside the lav station. "There are two ways to cure trill poisoning. Take the mate mark, or drink their venom. The mate mark is simply a way of retrieving the venom. Which do you prefer?" he asked me.

"I can just drink venom and be cured?" Then I remembered that he couldn't see. "But your eyes?"

"I can easily find the trill by his blood. It will be my honor to prove my usefulness, little mate."

"Mate?" I squeaked, but he was already gone to retrieve the venom.