Page 25 of Her Alien Delegate (Necia Alien Warriors)

"I'm scared," I admitted. "What if I don't like the warrior that agreed to mate with me?

" What if he tries to hurt me? I thought about Ter-ak.

Then I thought about the unGor that I'd never see again.

I couldn't tell her how sad I was when Medic Ul-Ro had told me I wasn't pregnant.

It was only one night, and he was gone, but there was this pain in my gut when we launched into space that didn't feel like travel sickness.

I wasn't sure, even with alien medical advancements, I was capable of having a child. The thought was devastating.

"I think it's entirely possible, and I look forward to being an aunty one day," Violet said while giving me a squeeze.

Was she saying what I thought she was saying? Being an aunty one day would mean that she'd be around long enough to see me find my own mate.

"Really?"

"You weren't planning on ditching me, were you?" she teased.

"I just didn't think..."

"You didn't think," she cut me off, "is right. I'm not going anywhere. It's you and me together, and I can't wait to see you get fat and plump with an alien spawn."

I chuckled and wiped at my eyes. She had a way of making me smile. "Thank you."

"We are family now, and I'll make sure you find your baby daddy, or protect you from one you don't want. Either way, I got your back, and I hope Roe-el has mine," she said with an exhausted sigh.

"You're going to tell him how you feel?" I asked.

"I'll sneak out after I take a nap. I'm exhausted. Who knew orgasms took so much energy?" she joked, like she usually did when she was avoiding something serious.

"Violet..."

"Yeah?"

"I look forward to being an aunty for you one day too," I confessed and squeaked as she pulled me into her chest to fall asleep.

Violet yawned and snuggled in. "We'll get fat together," she agreed. "That way, our kids won't be alone either."

"You think so?" It was a strange concept to think we could be moms together. Given all the evidence to the contrary about my fertility, her words made me hopeful in spite of it all.

"Only one way to find out, and the ride is worth the try," she joked, and I smiled, thinking about the one night I did try.

Soft breathing told me Violet was already asleep. I cringed as my stomach grumbled. I'd been avoiding leaving my room for the most part, and I'd probably already have starved if it weren't for Chief Wren-Kal dropping off food.

It was disappointing to force myself to extract myself from the tangle of Violet's arms and legs, but she was out cold, and I needed something to stop the gurgling in my gut. I didn't have to go far. Chief Wren-Kal was already waiting for me outside the room.

I shifted uncomfortably and turned my face away from him, but that didn't stop him from noticing the little things I tried to hide.

"You've been crying," he stated bluntly. A tray of food this time, instead of a squeezable mystery taffy.

"Is that real food?" I questioned with excitement.

"You've finished the microbe treatment, so your body should handle the change in food for common parasites in Necias Prime's offerings.

" But he wasn't deterred by my fascination with the food; he pulled it back before I could grab for the tray.

My mouth was salivating for something that didn't taste like cardboard.

"What has upset you? Were you told of the unGor boarding our ship?" he seemed upset himself with even asking the question.

"I was told," I confessed, but that didn't have anything to do with the emotions I was feeling.

"And you still came out of your room with no escort? Have you no instinct for your life?" he demanded, making his shoulder spikes flex with agitation.

"I don't see how that's any—”

"Concern of mine?" he finished for me. This was the first time I've ever seen him lose his composure.

I took a step back, not from fear of him, but from realizing that if he was upset, then whoever was boarding our ship concerned him greatly.

"As Chief of Security, anything on this ship is my concern.

Do you see me delivering food to every warrior on this ship, Evie? Am I Chief of the Food Dispensary?"

"No..." I replied back with a tremble, still feeling emotionally charged from my chat with Violet. My eyes welled up again at being yelled at. I felt like such a child.

"You are a concern of mine," Wren-Kal said more gently, seeing how vulnerable I was. "I admit, I'm not used to struggling for someone's approval."

"My approval?" I squeaked, wiping at my eyes.

"I see no other female in the hall, My Evie."

Yours, I thought with a blush, before I cleared my throat to avoid acknowledging what he was saying.

"I've submitted a request with Medic Ul-Ro to stop my inhibitors and offer you my blood."

"You what?"

"I will rut for you. I request an offering of your blood or ellopul, so that I may hunt for you."

I coughed on my own spit at his directness. This whole time he had been so respectful of giving me space, and this was a drastic shift.

"Why now?"

"The unGor do not respect contracts that are not made in action.

A contract is simply a document of intentions.

Our mating arrangement would not be seen as binding by their species unless we establish a bond.

With them going out of their way to track down our ship and board us, I do not believe it is without an intention to take what is not theirs.

"I was hoping to give you plenty of time to get to know me outside of the tribe and do a proper Rakture Ceremony when you were ready.”

"I don't understand..." What was he saying?

"I am your intended mate," he clarified.

"But your brother..."

"We call many of our tribe brothers, regardless of ancestry, but I was speaking of myself. I am the second to the king and previous Commander of the House of Nel. And you, Evie of Earth, are my mate."

"Oh," I squeaked and rushed back into my room with my heart hammering in my chest. This was the opposite of keeping a low profile.

Chief Wren-Kal was very considerate, I thought with confusion. He was attractive, smart, kind, and just told me to give him a sample of my blood so he could hunt me down to… fuck me.

Oh, fuck...