Page 5

As the appointed leader of our triad, it's my job to get us all to a meeting with our kruul.

I tuck my mate, so sweet and precious, between the other members of my triad, bending down to leave her with a too-short kiss before leading the way to our leader’s office. He'll be expecting us since he would have been notified that we were approaching, and we've been gone for several months, so he needs us to report.

I present my face to be scanned at the entryway, waiting for the screen to turn green and the door to swing open for us.

My triad members encourage our Margaret to come to my side, to be front and center so that she knows we are proud of her when we meet with our kruul.

He does not stoop to speaking the language of humans, as he has made it clear on several occasions they must rise to meet him. He has never been a big fan of the necessary mating program we have with earth, unwilling to travel and see the planet for himself. Why would he, when he is afforded, along with his triad, a perfect example of a rare Violetian female? There are only a couple other triads on the entire ship that can claim to have one as their mate.

“Welcome home, Triad. I see your mission was successful?”

Our kruul’s eyes don't waver from our mate, who's clearly trying very hard to not say anything that might come off as rude. But I know she has no idea what we're saying since she hasn't gotten her translation chip yet. This is intentional, so that our kruul can say whatever he needs to say now without having to speak directly to a human.

“Yes, your excellence,” I say with a bow. “We have brought home our mate.”

He stands from his throne and approaches us carefully, and I wrap my arm around Margaret to pull her into me. I give her a terse smile to let her know this is fine, and then he's circling her, and I don't like the way his eyes keep going to her breasts.

“Her chest is abnormal, no?”

“It is not, your excellence. This is her natural state.” He nods, then leans in to sniff her. “You have not exchanged much with her yet, why? Does she not meet our standards? Is she unwilling?”

“No, your excellency. We gathered her right before we were set to come back here, so we simply need a little more time.”

“I'll expect a report in one week.”

He dismisses us, returning to his throne and calling for his aid to bring his next meeting in.

I don't say anything as I rush us all to our quarters, waiting to be in the sanctity of our own home before we discuss anything else.

I believe Margaret understands my thoughts, or is picking up on my desires, because she is quiet as well as we walk. But that's not right. Why should she walk when I am here?

I sweep her into my arms against her protesting, reveling in the way her weight feels resting in my arms.

“What are you doing?” she asks, clearly uncomfortable. She's squirming, trying to get me to put her down, but that's not going to happen.

“Taking care of my mate,” I explain as I lick a stripe down her neck.

“Are you going to tell me what happened in there?”

Speaking of that, I make a harsh right turn and bring Margaret to the healer’s office so she can get her translation chip.

“He will not speak English, but that was the last time you will be in a room where you do not understand what is being said. Especially when it's concerning you. Will you accept a translation chip now? It's a little pinch in the back of your neck, and we have numbing spray.”

She nods and I tug her inside, getting it all over and done with very quickly.

“That is the healer,” I explain as we leave. “That is where you go if you need medicine or have health questions or anything of that nature. There is almost always availability to be seen if it's necessary.”

“How does your money system work here?”

“You will have access to our credits to purchase anything you need. We will get a wristband delivered that lets you do anything like that. Now, let's get home and have a meal together, and then you will sleep, because you look like you're about to pass out.”