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Together they watched over their mate, bathing her heated body with cooling, wet cloths. When she thrashed so violently they feared she would injure herself, they held her down. When her orifices leaked waste material and blood, they cleaned her and disposed of the ruined sheets and blankets. They watched in horror as her skin sloughed off in ragged strips, revealing moist new skin that soon dried into a finely scaled hide, a delicately wrought combination between their tough hides and fragile human skin.
At the end of the three days, both males were grateful she survived the transition and looked little different from her original human self. She did not grow a tail or claws like a pure Ahn’hudi, although her body lost all hair except for that crowning her head and those curiously human eyebrows that added so much expression to her face. Her bone structure remained the same. Her cuspids fell out and the points of new fangs poked through her pink gums.
Sarus noted that they would have to be sure to purchase vegetables for their omnivorous mate, as her teeth indicated her proper nourishment would continue to depend on plant-based food. Horas looked up sources for readily available food suitable for human consumption; there weren’t many on Ahn’hudin. But then, the planet imported most of its food anyway.
Their mate’s cat meowed to announce a visitor. Horas, being the ranking male, answered the door while Sarus remained with Evangeline.
“Colonel Horas mek Ul’Sinha,” the petty functionary at the door said when the imperial guard opened it. “You and Commander Sarus mek Orsai’To have missed a mandated appearance with Earth Ambassador Miller. You are required to withdraw from the bride games.”
“We were caring for our mate and unable to attend,” Horas replied, his crest flattening in annoyance, not bothering to explain that he and Sarus had received the summons and decided to ignore it.
“Mate?” the official echoed in surprise.
“Yes, we rescued her from the Sivuul invasion. She was injured. The healer’s guild will have records.”
The official frowned and began to key queries into the handheld electronic tablet. After a moment, it chimed with multiple responses. The official scanned the information, then lifted his head to meet the older male’s hard gaze and said, “You mated the human.”
“Barbed and mated. She is ours,” Horas said.
“This is most irregular.”
“We have some information that will be of interest to the organizers of the bride games and to the authorities who maintain the treaty with Earth,” Horas said.
“Oh?”
“The human females are not informed.”
“What do you mean,not informed,Commander?”
“I will speak with the director in charge of Earth relations.”
“You should tell me now,” the official insisted.
“No. I’ll speak with the director.”
“You have no authority—”
Horas’ hand shot out and wrapped around the official’s throat. The government functionary’s eyes widened in surprise, then fear as he realized he’d triggered the primal instincts of a warrior male to defend and protect his mate. He lowered his gaze in submission and went still beneath the larger male’s crushing grip. Nothing but submission would stay his death.
The big hand slowly released him. He took a deep, shivering breath and whispered, “My apologies, Colonel.”
A low growl rumbled from the imperial guard’s thick throat.
“What is this?” Sarus demanded as he ventured into the main room to see the standoff. The device-wielding male, obviously an officious bureaucrat, stood in a submissive posture near Horas whose body was locked into combat readiness.
The bureaucrat’s eyes flickered up to acknowledge him, then looked down. “Bridal games administration sent me to inform you of your removal from eligibility.”
“And to return our little flame to the traitors,” Horas growled.
“Um … yes, sir … that, too.”
Sarus’ eyes glowed with sudden rage. “No one touches our mate.”
“This is most irregular,” the male muttered again, keying the update into his device. “I shall inform the organizers that you have mated and bonded the human female named Evangeline Antonia Donal.” He glanced upward. “I would like to speak with her to assure the directors she is in good health and was not coerced.”
Sarus hissed in outrage. A gurgle in his throat forewarned the official that the warrior was ready to spit fire.
“I must fulfill my duties, Commander.”
