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“Your companion attended to your wound?”

I nod. I don’t know what to say, not wanting to get Lumina into trouble.

“She did an excellent job. I’m going to clean it, re-dress it and give you oral antibiotics. It should be fine. You carried her out of the canyon? No more heavy lifting,” she scolds.

Later, she enters to tell me, “You’re all patched up.

Nothing a few more good meals and a good rest won’t fix.

” She glances at the tray of empty dishes by my bedside.

The person who delivered the food told me the meat was bovine.

Some was cooked, some raw, all of it delicious, although I would have eaten it even if it ‘tasted like ass’ as Lumina would say.

The corners of my mouth tip slightly as I remember Lumina describing the minten that way. If she was awake now and had a working translator I would tease her about it. My guts squeeze in worry as I pray she wakes up.

“I’d like your permission to put you into a medically-induced coma just until tomorrow. I just read several research papers indicating the best way to recover from torpor and starvation is to put you out, hydrate you, and let you rest. What do you say?”

She’s asking me to trust her? To put me into a coma?

“What about Lumina?”

“She’s also out of it because of her concussion. Don’t worry; she’s going to be fine. How about this? I promise to wake you if she comes out of it. That way, you won’t miss anything. Fair enough? You’ll be much stronger and healthier by tomorrow.”

I roll it around in my head for a minute, thinking of every eventuality, but I think if the doctor meant to harm me she would have done so already.

“Okay.”

She injects me with something, and I fall asleep within seconds.

When I awaken the next day, I feel better than I have since I came to Earth. Strong. The doctor is standing in the doorway.

“These nice peacekeepers are going to get you to the Newcomer center,” she says as five females dressed in combat uniforms file around her to enter my room. Their postures are on alert. They’re all armed and seem to be taking their jobs very seriously.

“Have I been charged with a crime?” I sit up straighter, ready to jump out of bed and engage them in hand-to-hand combat if necessary. These females might be at the ready, but so am I. I’ve been fed, I’m warm, and they’re not going to take me without a fight.

“No, Sir,” the one in the lead says. She’s all business, no smile on her face.

“It has come to our attention that you’re an unattended male.

We’ve attempted to match your retinal scan with all legal newcomers, but find that you’re off the books.

Did you come here legally or were you brought against your will? ”

I don’t know enough about this planet. If I did, I’d be able to lie. As it is, I have to admit the truth. They clearly know I’m illegal if they cross-referenced their databases.

“Against my will.”

“I regret any trouble this may have caused, Sir. Let me assure you that whoever did this has done so against planetary law. We’re going to bring you to a Newcomer facility, give you a safe place to recuperate, and introduce you to Earth society.”

I’m relieved to hear from these officials that stealing Draals is illegal here. Lumina wasn’t lying, and perhaps the females of this planet aren’t all as despicable as I thought.

“You’ll be sent back to Draal at our expense when the next transport is ready to leave.

In the meantime, you’ll be treated as a valued guest and offered all the comforts we can provide.

Should you wish to stay on this planet, we will welcome you and help you find a suitable mate—unless you fail our psychological tests.

I’ve been told your body will mend fine and you have already met our physical requirements. ”

“I want to stay with Lumina.” They’re welcoming me? Offering all the comforts they can provide? This almost sounds too easy.

“I’m afraid that’s not an option, Sir.”

She offered and then rescinded? My brow lowers as I realize I don’t like this female.

“Of course it’s an option. You promised all the comforts, right? I’ve spent the last week with Lumina. She provides me comfort. No need to trouble yourself to take me to a facility.”

“That’s not the way it works, Sir.”

“All the comforts,” I prompt, my voice harsher. “I was brought to this planet illegally. You owe me this.”

“First, we need to complete your psychological testing. Then your compatibility tests. Then, if you want a mate, you can choose from a list that your facility has properly vetted and will provide to you. All of that will be done at the closest Newcomer facility.”

I sit straight up in bed, my eyes darting to all four corners of the room, wondering how I can manage an escape around the five females at the door—six if you count the doctor.

I consider using my chameleon abilities.

I could blend in with the bed or walls, but I still have body mass and couldn’t sneak through the wall of flesh they present at the doorway.

“Where’s Lumina? Is she okay? Is this a trick to keep me from finding out she’s . . .?” I stare at the doctor, wordlessly challenging her to answer.

“Lumina is fine,” the doctor reassures me. “She has a concussion and is still unconscious. We’re attending to her and she’ll recover fully.”

“She can’t be your mate, Sir,” the military female continues.

“She would have to go through all the proper channels to then be placed in line for a chance at obtaining a mate. We have many women who are eager to meet you, who have jumped through all the hoops and haven’t pressed to the front of the line—”

“You can’t do this!”

“Yes, Sir. We can and we will.”

“I’m a captain in the Draalian army. What is your rank? I demand to speak to your superior.”

“I’m a captain as well, Sir. I’m the ranking officer here. I’m following protocol.”

“Your protocol is wrong!” I thunder. I look at the doctor. “Please. I need to see Lumina.”

“Let me speak to the captain,” is her answer. Am I reading her wrong? The warm look in her eyes shows compassion.

They go into the hallway and a few minutes later they return to the room.

“We’ll allow you to see your companion if you follow our rules,” the captain says.

“Since you’ve indicated your reluctance to come with us, we’ll only allow you to see her if you let us cuff your hands behind your back and agree to accompany us to our van afterward—without argument.

” Her chin is firm, her mouth forms a hard line, and she spears me with a challenging gaze.

I have no intention of getting into their van without argument, but I stand and put my hands behind my back. After I see Lumina and ensure she’s safe, I’ll make my escape.

“Here are some scrubs, Zoriss,” the doctor says as she hands me a pale blue set of pants and shirt. “The waistband has a tie, but I imagine the legs will be far too short.”

It’s the first time I’ve worn anything resembling pants in days, so I don’t complain. I think of all the time I was naked in the cave, and all the affectionate pleasure I could have shared with Lumina if I hadn’t been so stupid. A pang of remorse forms a lump in my throat.

“Hands behind your back,” the captain prompts after I’m dressed. I don’t believe she’s taking joy from this, although by the scent in the room, they all took joy from my display of naked skin as I dressed.

They secure me with a laser binding that’s surprisingly strong. I’m not sure how I’ll get out of this.

Two females flank me, with two in back and one in front. They’re all well-armed, weapons drawn.

I don’t know how to disarm them with my wrists tied tightly behind my back.

“We’ve set the weapons on stun, Sir. Believe me,” the captain says, “I do not want to use them on you. We are very sorry you were brought here against your will and we’d like to make it up to you.”

I consider telling her she can make it up to me by allowing me to stay with Lumina, but we’ve already exhausted that avenue.

I’m led into a room where my Lumina is hooked up to machines. How did I fail to notice how totally fucking beautiful she is? She’s so pale, though.

I squat next to her, nestle my nose against her throat, and breathe in her essence.

“Here,” one of them says as she pushes a chair under my ass so I can sit comfortably.

“Lumina,” I whisper into her ear, “get a translator so when I return for you you can hear my words when I tell you how much I care about you and how sincerely I apologize. I’d stay if I could, but they’re forcing me away at gunpoint. I’ll come back for you.”

“Sorry, Sir. We have to go.”

“Doctor.” I pierce her with my gaze. “Tell her how much I care about her. I fucked up and didn’t tell her. Tell her I’m coming back for her.”

“I will, Draalian.”

“Tell her,” I yell over my shoulder as they drag me from the room.