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Movement behind him had me focusing on the triangular point at the end of his tail as it swished from side to side. The tail reached forward and stroked the thigh exposed by the high slit of my dress. My skin tingled everywhere he touched.
I closed my eyes, confused by my body's strange reaction.
It didn't make sense. Had they drugged us all while in transit with something that made us horny? That had to be it. There was no way I felt attraction to this monster.
With my eyes closed, I noticed how good he smelled: a delicious earthy, spicy, masculine scent that every cologne maker tried but failed to produce. I crossed my legs at the sudden need that overcame my senses.
“Open your eyes, little human.”
I did, just as his tongue darted out to lick his lips, and I gasped. It was forked!
Then our eyes met, his turning into swirls of dancing flame. My arms, all I could move while strapped to the wall, reached out toward him automatically, and when my fingertips touched his shoulder, the terrifying monster froze.
Then, in slow motion, he sank to his knees.
Chapter 4: Krxare
My mate!I froze and dropped to my knees.
“Krxare!” Vostak started toward me but stopped when he realized the significance.
Leaning in to bury my face against her belly, I took a few deep breaths, inhaling the female’s scent. She smelled divine. I knelt there, unable to move as the universe continued without me.
My warriors filed out from the stronghold, eager to meet the new arrivals. I heard their voices but could not turn my head to greet them. I was focused solely on the being of perfection in front of me.
There were three ways for Kadrixan males to recognize our mates. The first was to slowly build a bond during the rutting season with a suitable female. During the rut, males of my species released pheromones for all compatible females. The main reason was to soothe the females so they wouldn’t fear us. Female Kadrixans were much like the humans we now relied on: small, wingless, and mostly helpless.
Our pheromones encouraged the production of oxytocin, while touch multiplied its effects. While many mate bonds started during ruts, most pairings did not form any bond at all. Still, it was common for a male to fly a female to his aerie for the rut and try to force a bond, especially if he was sure in his heart that she was his mate and that he could convince her to stay with him.
The second way to recognize a mate was for a male’s body to create these pheromones in the presence of a female outside the rutting season. For most of the year, our bodies only produced these calming and love-inducing hormones when in the presence of someone mate-worthy.
In these cases, it was rumored it was possible to resist the bond if one was strong enough, though it rarely happened. I had not once witnessed such a resisted bond in my entire life.
The last way was to fall on our knees at the first connection. This seemed to be the way many of my army had found their females. We'd never quite figured out how our bodies chose our mates, but this outcome was most common close to or during a rut when our hormones were hard to control.
The fear that had emanated so strongly from the female just moments ago calmed when she realized I meant her no harm. Then slowly, insidiously, something else replaced the acrid scent of fear. Arousal.
My pheromones were working on her already.
After a few minutes, which felt like a near-eternity, I was finally given back control of my legs.
I paused, not knowing what to do. I needed to organize my warriors so that each ship, and therefore each sector of the stronghold, would have enough females for the upcoming rut. But the need to claim my mate, the drive to hide her away and get to know her, was overwhelming, so I hesitated, stuck between duty and need.
“Go, Krxare. Go get to know your mate. You can meet us again for the evening meal,” Vostak urged me. “We can handle a rut on our own. Congratulations.”
I’d bring my female to my quarters here in the stronghold first. The rut wasn't upon me yet, which meant I still had a few days to prepare a proper nest for her. I thought of the nearly barren nest that awaited us at the top of the highest peak. It would not do. She deserved so much more, and I wanted to do this right.
I released her from the wall, and she tumbled down over my shoulder. I trapped her in place with my arm and started back toward the stronghold.
My mate started struggling over my shoulder. “Let me down! I can walk on my own.”
Several warriors turned to watch.
“Quiet,” I warned. I gave her a smack across the buttocks, but instead of stilling, she struggled more, slapping at my folded wings ineffectively.
Delightful! I tightened my arms over her legs and stomped to my quarters. I reached over with my other hand to massage the full bottom of her ass, my fingers just inches from her pussy.
She immediately stilled as arousal thickened the air.
