Page 15 of Her Alien Delegate (Necia Alien Warriors)

"You have some explaining to do," Pheyal demanded with force, until his eyes reached mine and his shoulders visibly relaxed.

"I expected you both to go offline by destroying your communicators, but there was a report of an unGor violating treaties by aiding a garrant in attempting to kill a trill.

You weren't officially in the Blue District and I've been pushing through diplomatic muck to make sure they don't delay your title acceptance. Where's Vaquel?"

That was the question I was expecting from Romek, but I wasn't sure I should answer over a communication with a trill escort in attendance. With the garrant dead, there was no threat to Vaquel. He would be released from his isolation soon enough. Sooner than me it would seem.

"We are all in isolation," I answered as honestly as I could. "I've been exposed to a virus, but you must retrieve my mate and offer her a contract of delegation."

"You've found a human?"

"Yes," I replied and watched as Romek flinched.

"What search parameters do I have to find her for a contract offer? If you're in isolation, then I'll make sure to get things settled here at the palace."

"She'll be searchable based on contracts made to mate with a trill diplomat; there can't be many of those." I was sure there would only be the one.

"I'll send word to her of your intention to make her a delegate of AsunGor," Pheyal said with resolve before the line cut off. Did we lose connection?

"Must be interference in the atmosphere today," Romek dismissed before I could ask.

I didn't trust it.

My hand launched at him and squeezed around his throat, throwing him against the wall.

Keeping my voice calm and detached, I asked casually, "Romek, I am beginning to suspect you are not favoring AsunGor's goals to name me the Commissioner of our planet.

As it is our planet, not Trillume, that we should be concerned with.

" He gurgled against my hold, yet did not make a move to resist. Smart warrior.

He has heard the rumors of my lack of concern for my own well-being if it means winning.

My calm tone added to the false assumptions that I was a dangerous, unpredictable male.

I was predictable. I had no intentions of killing him here.

His fingers held onto my own to ease the pressure I was asserting, but he would still have trouble speaking without easing my grip.

"For someone concerned about their commissioner being held hostage, you did not seem phased or concerned about why I had sap on my eyes.

Nor were you curious as to where my guard was.

You led me to a room with the very garrant that threatened my life.

And you seemed relieved to have me stuck in this isolation unit, delaying my title, and more relaxed than one should be when facing two red stars of being unable to leave.

Then, you ended my communication with Pheyal before I could give further instruction.

Tell me, Romek, do you have a new allegiance? "

I eased my grip to allow him to speak.

He choked out, "AsunGor." His eyes were steely as he answered my accusations. "My loyalty is to AsunGor, you are merely a vessel. You weaken our future by mating with a human when it is the trill that we should be bonding with. Why choose such a fragile mate?"

Ah, it made sense now.

"You are part of the anti-Earthlings," I said with boredom and released him with a shove. "What is your plan then? Hold me here until the Galactic Authority issues me as derelict in my duties and not recognize me as the Commissioner of AsunGor?"

It wouldn't work. I shook my head in disappointment.

"You really have lost yourself here on Trillume.

The unGor have chosen me, and I have the support of the largest commissions marked on my skin.

All you have done is make another story for the universe to spread about Commissioner Broma, a leader who has killed their captor, and uncovered corruption, all while finding a mate in the dangerous bowels of the Blue District.

It will add to my honored title, not damage it. "

He coughed out a laugh, but I maintained my stoic appearance, though his response made my skin crawl.

"Your mate won't be allowed to stay on Trillume.

All humans are being directed to other planets.

The Galactic Authority has been banning contracts on Trillume, or with diplomats with direct connection with Trillume.

They don't want them infecting our population.

Even if the trill don't find her, she'll be stolen by an outlaw and the council won't flex a scale at the loss of a transferred contract.

They are only held liable for direct contracts. "

"You sound like them," I said with a tut. "Contracts mean nothing to us. They are simply a way to force others to comply without a duel, but I will fight for my mate, if needed, or did you forget where you came from?"

UnGor are a diplomatic species. We've been known to be ruthlessly strict about promises that have been agreed to, even if it meant leaving someone to die.

It was a choice they made, regardless if they were aware of the consequences of their agreements ahead of time.

But a promise needn't have a contract to be binding by unGor standards.

And some contracts meant nothing to us, if we believe that it wasn't a true promise.

I was giving Romek a chance to keep his own promise to AsunGor before he sealed his own fate. My title as commissioner was already a promise made as soon as the ink was placed on my skin, regardless of the Trillume Authority's paperwork.

Romek's eyes turned to steel as he understood my meaning. His trill documents meant nothing to me.

"You would have our species be defenseless?"

I laughed.

"It is you who weakens the unGor, not the Earthlings.

You know nothing of our ancestors. Our universe was created in a great explosion, allowing for the elements that make us to be created.

Earthlings are ninety-nine percent the same as us.

The only differences was what planet they were formed on to create the mutations we have become. "

"They are weak," he spouted digging into his beliefs.

"Weakness is isolating yourself from opportunities."

"Then you are the weakest of them all," he said while taking a step back. Brazen, he believed that I needed him alive to receive my title from the trill. There was no other explanation for his contradicting bravery of speech while his body retreated.

"I will grant you a thrall," I said giving him the opportunity to say his opinions about how things should be done.

"The trill have plenty of females, and they are strong with an ability to survive even after life-threatening damage."

"Yes, and their traits would certainly battle for dominance. Would they adapt to our planet? Or would you wish the unGor to populate Trillume instead?"

He sputtered for an answer that he already knew.

"Are you wishing to strengthen Trillume or AsunGor?"

Trillume would certainly benefit from diversifying their offspring with AsunGor if they wished to build more substructures beneath their planet's surface.

Wisely, Romek closed his mouth and brooded as he dragged the dead garrant into the lavatory. I may spare him yet.

An intercom beep sounded throughout the room. "Due to the anomaly detected, your privacy has been revoked. I will now connect you with the director," Bode said before a female voice picked up where they left off.

"May the light of the goddess guide you." A trill, I assumed, with such a greeting and the lack of including her name. They did not address names unless they believed you honorable enough to have use of it beyond the single interaction.

She continued, "You have been exposed to a virus, and the host you are in possession of can become deadly, even after apparent death."

"The garrant has been contained in the lavatory," I assured her.

"That is good news, Commissioner Broma." She gave honor and acceptance of my title by using my name.

Names were important to the trill. "This was not the kind of reception I wished for you upon your arrival.

I've secured a contract for you with a human named Violet.

Her contract was flagged for a trill mate match, but I've made sure to transfer it to AsunGor.

Many diplomats have shown they cannot be trusted with caring for the Earthlings. "

"Violet," I smiled at the name of my mate. It was goddess-willed that she would be under my care.

"And she has accepted the transfer of her contract?"

"Yes, it seems that Violet is especially motivated to leave for AsunGor immediately.

She appeared to be fearful, and understandably so after the anti-alliance groups that have sabotaged the last H.E.T.

shuttle. We'll be able to hide her transfer among the other contracts when they arrive in the next red star rotation. "

"The next red star?" That was so soon, perhaps sooner than I'd be cleared of the virus. "When did you arrange this?"

"I wasn't able to reach Commissioner Trema before you departed.

The human transport was added to a research vessel bringing medical supplies to Earth.

It isn't registered the same as other ships, so Trillume chanced that the anti-allegiance wouldn't have time to plan an attack.

There will be one more vessel arriving from Earth soon that is only known by a select few that your mating contract can be hidden among the other humans. "

"I'd like to speak with her once she wakes."

"We can't have any contact with humans until the transport is safe. She is safer not contacting you until you meet. Her contract is delicate."

I didn't like not being able to assure my mate that we were more than a contract.

"My bond requires contact with my mate, as I'm sure you're aware."