AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They literally chatted about the weather during the walk to the gym. She learned about the spring rains of Hebor that started all the food and flowers.
The next hour went by rapidly. The simulator that she boxed with turned up the difficulty with every round until she was covered with sweat and sitting next to the water dispenser. Her arms worked as they were supposed to, and the amount of force she could bring to bear was incredible.
The captain was working on his upper body, having done his leg workout earlier. She tried to hide her obvious drooling in her sippy cup. She had always preferred tigers over lions.
A crewman with leopard-style markings walked up to the captain and spoke quickly. Lily couldn’t hear them, but the captain got out of the machine and looked her way. He beckoned to her.
Lily grunted as she got to her feet.
She walked over, and the crewman’s nostrils flared. The captain’s did the same. He frowned. “Lily, are you in heat?”
“No. Well, maybe. You just mean, am I receptive, right?”
The captain blinked at her casual shrug. “No, that... does this happen often?”
Lily stared. “Every twenty-eight days, give or take.”
The crewman stared. “Everytwenty-eight days?”
“Uh, yeah. That is one of the reasons that my species is getting shuttled out of the education station as soon as we are trained and reasonably healthy.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Is something wrong?”
The captain shook his head. “No. I just have some administration to attend to before the overseer wakes. You are coming with me. Especially in light of this.”
“Uh. Okay.”
To her shock, he wrapped an arm around her waist, and they walked out of the gym at a quick pace. His fingers were warm, and his grip was determined. She wasn’t getting away.
They walked to the shuttle bay, where a gleaming golden ship settled into its berth. A gold angel exited, surrounded by several small drones that hummed and orbited the area around him.
He came toward them. “Captain Na’ith. You are looking well. I am here to apologize to my dear brother. What do we have here?”
She stared at him as he looked her over. He started grinning. “Oh, you have some of my creations. How delightful. Na’ith, did you bring her here as a present?”
Lily followed his gaze to her hands; she folded them behind her. She heard a light and laughing voice in her mind, and she jerked her head up, glaring at him.
The Hmrain looked at her with astonishment. “You heard that?”
She scowled. “You are laughing at me.” Her hands clenched into fists behind her back.
He walked up to her, using his wing to sweep Na’ith aside. A warm hand cupped her jaw, and he lifted her onto her toes. “You are one of the new species. The one that had Heboren in a twist.” He paused. “You are not Heboren’s consort?”
She tried to pull away from him, but his fingers held her. “No. I am not.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Lily was lost in his eyes as he moved in, and then she closed them as he wrapped his gold-feathered wings around her and held her against him. His kiss was sudden, and she gripped his forearm with her hands. She inhaled through her nose, and his scent made her body spark to life, but she was pissed. Lily started to crush his forearm in her grip with her artificial limbs, and he lifted his head,sniffingaround her. He grinned and slowly set her back on her heels. When she was down, she let his arm go and tried to step back. He chuckled and caressed her cheek. “That was unexpected, but I will have to negotiate with Heboren. You are tuned to me, little Terran.”
“What?” She tried to back up, but his wings held her in.
“You are aware of the situation, are you not?” He pulled her toward him with the hard flex of his wings. She slammed against him.
“What?”
“The Hmrain are always on the watch for consorts. You are setting my senses on high alert, so I believe you and I might be a match.” He stroked her cheek. “It means a high bond for you, but I believe I can make our time together enjoyable.”
She stared at him, and her body was humming softly. She heard Na’ith from the other side of the wings.
“Overseer Nebel, this is against protocol. Every one of them. Let her go.”
