DRAEK

The golden glow emitted from my ship makes Miranda's pink skin turn a soft amber shade. It is quite becoming. Her head will not stop turning, eager eyes taking in everything.

"So do your doors have pressure sensors in the ground to know what you're approaching?" she asks me as I lead her toward the heart of the ship.

"No. The material you see is organic and has many senses in it. The doors have thermal receptors and will only open to beings of sufficient heat and mass. It is one reason we have trouble with robots. They don't produce the right heat signature."

Miranda stops to peer out a view port. "And this isn't glass, then?"

"It is made of a thick membrane that reflects the light from outside onto this side."

"That's amazing!"

I smile at her wonderment. "I am pleased you enjoy it. This way. I think you will like this."

I lead her through the final set of doors.

The room is far smaller than the "engine room" of the human vessel. It is clean, with the freshest air pumping from the large structure in the center. A green-blue orb hangs in suspension at the center of the room with vines of various color wrapped around it.

"What is this place?" she asks me, a note of excitement in her voice.

I clasp my hands behind my back. "This is the heart of the ship; it is what powers this vessel. I thought, since you are an engineer, you would wish to see how our structures differ from yours."

"It's so quiet. Our engines rattle your teeth but this is..." She turns shining eyes to me. "Can I touch it?"

I nod toward the heart. "You may study it as much as you wish."

She wavers for a moment, then rushes to the heart. Her face lights up as she inspects it and, with one glance back at me, she starts to probe the tissues. I walk around the heart to stand on the other side.

The fascination on her face makes warmth swell in my chest. She circles the heart, peering at it from every angle.

"The organics have neurons that only react to Schovali DNA, right?" she asks, touching one of the thin veins that snakes around the heart.

"Yes. It is my hope that with your help, we will be able to combine our organics and your metallics." I clear my throat and reach into the pouch at my waist. "As is our custom, I have gifts for you."

Miranda squints her beautiful brown eyes at me, the freckles on her nose scrunching together. "What for?"

I pull a small orb from the pouch. It pulses with soft lights, growing brighter as I turn it one way, then changing color as I turn it the other way. As Miranda takes it from me, her fingers brush against mine.

Her skin is warm. I'm not sure why I expected her to be cold, but perhaps it is because she is so pale. I step closer, letting my fingers linger against her skin. She appears pleased with the gift, so perhaps the humans' customary resistance is coming to an end.

I can't invite her back to my chambers, not when Dr. Mitchell informed me that I must claim her before speaking openly of such things. Am I supposed to take her into my arms right here and now?

My blood pulses as my gaze sweeps down her. Too much clothing. We both wear too much clothing. I want to see what her pleasure looks like.

But even as I step forward to take her into my arms, she suddenly drops the orb again. It drops to the floor and flares with a rainbow of colors before turning dark.

Surprised, I step back, then stoop to pick up the orb. "You do not wish to keep your gift?"

"It's not that. But what strings come with it?"

"I do not understand."

"You invited me to the treaty signing and then threatened to take it away. So are you going to give me this and then change your mind too?"

Is this part of her test? She appears to be genuine, so I rub my eyebrows. "Schovali women are trained to be quiet and reserved."

She bristles visibly. "Yeah, I got that."

"When Dr. Mitchell indicated you were not meant to be at the treaty, you responded with aggression and rudeness. These actions are intolerable in our culture. Regardless of how you react to your superiors in human culture, I cannot allow such insolence before my men."

"We weren't anywhere near your men."

"Nevertheless, I have to put a stop to behavior before it becomes a problem. I have a certain image that I must maintain for the proper function of my crew. If you were to act that way toward me in front of them, I would have to discipline you."

"Discipline me?" Miranda toys with the small charm hanging from a chain on her neck. "You're disgusting."

I clasp my hands behind my back again, but this time it's so I can needle my fingers into the small of my back. My face remains expressionless. "Your language is permittable when it is you and I alone, but you must bite your tongue when we are with my men."

Even if they do not understand her language, her tone speaks volumes.

"Do I? I have to be quiet and not rock the boat, right?" She throws her hands into the air. "Why do you even want me around if you don't want me around? Is this a big joke to you?"

What is she going on about now? Is this her way of saying that I need to bend her over here and now? I will not do that. As much as I yearn for her, I have not and will not ever touch a woman without knowing that they wish for my touch.

"Quit being so illogical," I snap at her. "Nobody thinks this is a joke. This is about the future of my people. I will not allow a rude, ignorant woman-child to risk everything!"

I turn away from her, attempting to calm myself. I cannot be so emotional! A leader must always remain in control, of himself especially. Letting anyone, let alone a breeding-female, under my skin is a sign of a weak mind.

Silence falls around us. At first, I think she must be thinking about my statement and regret her outburst.

But then, I'm proven wrong.

"And just how is lying to us about the Ghengors being wiped out going to help you with your future?"

My muscles seize as my heart gives a lurch. I whirl, lifting my hand as though to strike her. She doesn't flinch, her jaw lifted, her warm eyes hard and glittering. She stares me in the eye as my hand remains in the air.

"If you're going to hit me, go ahead and try. See where you end up," she breathes, her voice containing nothing but contempt.

I lower my hand as my fingers tingle and my heart thuds against my ribs. My reaction unnerves me more than her revelation. "I will never strike you, Miranda. I will never use physical punishment against you or any other female under my command."

She narrows her eyes at me.

"If any of the humans are struck by a Schovali, make sure it is reported to me. That man will be punished harshly."

She opens her mouth, then seems to change her mind about what she is going to ask. She shrugs. "And lying to us about the Ghengors?"

"It was agreed between my government and yours that the Ghengors are to be kept a secret from your population."

"They attacked you a few months ago."

I pinch my eyes shut. "I will not ask how you know that. We evaded them with minimal damage at that time and have not had a sighting since. It must remain a secret, Miranda. The Ghengors will go after humans soon enough, and your people must have ways to defend yourselves before that happens."

"What makes you think they'll attack us?"

"Because everything they hold to is built for war. They have waged war against the Schovalis and every other species in the galaxy for so many generations, we have forgotten how it started. It's all they want, to kill and plunder and siphon the energy from their victims."

I open my eyes again. Miranda is still on the other side of the heart. It pulses faster now, beams of light shooting from its center along the vines, reacting to my emotions. I attempt to rein them back in.

The suspicion remains in her eyes. Will she change her mind about us if I tell her of the heartbreak we have faced for the past twenty years?

No. I will not open such vulnerability to her.

"They hate the Schovalis more than others, it is true," I continue, needing her to understand just what is at stake. "Since we have the ability to give life, not only is our energy more addictive to them than that of other lifeforms, but they also consider us a perversion of the demon they worship."

Miranda touches a bead of light as it leaves the heart, tracing it until it disappears. "I wonder what the Ghengors would say if I asked them about this."

My chest tightens. "You would be a fool to try—but I ought to have known better than to explain such things to you. You cannot possibly understand what you speak of."

"And there you are, sexist again!" She folds her arms. "Why do I even bother trying to talk to you?"

"Sexist?"

"What else would you call it."

I grind my teeth together. "Miranda Chase. I do not know what 'sexist' means. I was informed that speaking of sex and breeding to the females was offensive—is this not the case?"

"Sexism means you think you're better than me because I'm a woman and you're a man."

"That is not true."

She tucks her red-brown hair behind her small, round ear and glares at me as though she wishes she had a knife to put in my heart.

"I have long challenged the treatment of women in my society," I tell her. I should not have to explain myself to her. She's meant to be my breeding-mate, not someone who challenges me at every turn—but is the challenge not exactly what draws me to her? "I have even insisted my wife-to-be receive a comprehensive education, despite the protests of her family."

"Oh, how lucky you granted her permission," Miranda sneers.

"She is lucky. As you are lucky," I explain.

She sticks a blunt finger into my face. "Sexist."

"I—"

"I'll see myself out." She gives me a mocking bow and strides away as through storm clouds have gathered around her.

Why is she angry with me?

Women are perplexing enough but these human women are even worse. Are the rest of my men having such difficulties, or is it easier for them since they do not speak the human language?

All the same...her attitude, her strength, and the fight that blazes within Miranda Chase is exactly what I want for my children—especially my daughters—to have.

It may put me at odds with my breeding-mate. We may never get along, but anger is a sort of passion as well. So long as she agrees to bear my children, I will endure her strangeness and annoying behavior. Just as I learned to challenge society through my mother, so will my children.

A smile crosses my face as I imagine them. Strong sons who grow, thrive, and take this fight against the Ghengors to their secret cities. Beautiful daughters who will stand tall and proud as they learn and teach their own children one day.

The only thing left to do is to claim her.

I search out the human males. They are in conference with one another, looking over the treaty once more.

"Miranda Chase will be my breeding-mate," I tell them before they have a chance to greet me.

Captain Cole smiles but Dr. Mitchell's hands fall to his sides and a look of shock crosses his face.

"Is there a problem?" I ask him.

"Certainly not," Cole replies. "Miranda was selected as one of the women in the trade. I'm pleased that her hot temper hasn't made you reject her. She can be ignorant but I'm certain a strong hand will tame her."

Mitchell looks less than pleased. "I wasn't aware Miranda was part of the trade. She's not suitable."

I hold up a hand toward him. "She is mine. Inform her that I wish to breed her immediately."

"There are more customs that have to be observed," Mitchell quickly says.

"Understood. I do not wish for her to breed against her will. If she has decided against me, let her say so, and I will find a new mate. If she wishes to bear my children, she is the one who will make it known to me when she wishes to be bred. Regardless of your customs."

Mitchell bows. "I will inform her of the good news, then."

"Good." I turn to Cole. "And you and I will make arrangements for you to take the Schovali females to Earth for their breeding."

"Of course." He rolls the signed treaty. "The sooner I get going, the better."