DRAEK

The men I previously hand-picked as the warriors assigned human breeding-mates stand on the bridge, watching through the shimmering viewers as we leave the Ether continuum. The brilliance around us, hues of purple and blue, fade to the dullness of stars against a black backdrop.

I press my fingertips against the arm of my chair and the viewer sizzles for a second before the human vessel comes into focus. It's a bastardization of various species' travel vehicles, as though it was cobbled together from a waste field.

"We have a request for visual contact," my communications officer calls.

I nod at him. The viewer directly ahead of me shifts and soon a human comes into focus.

I sense the revulsion in my men as they see the human for the first time. I work hard to contain my own reaction. This one has pink skin, mottled with red on his cheeks and nose. Short, rounded ears sit on either side of his head. He barely has any hair at all.

"Captain Draek." He places a hand over his heart. "I'm pleased to see you have arrived. My name is Captain Cole, and I have been designated to facilitate this transition."

"Hello," I say carefully, the word strange in my mouth.

There are no pleasant clicks or whirls to the human language that I can wrap my tongue around. It is a failing of their anatomy, I suppose. After all, a human tongue is only two-thirds the size of a Schovali tongue.

"I am pleased to begin the arrangement between our people," I say. The horizontal slits of Captain Cole's eyes are unnerving. These creatures are so outlandish...perhaps I should worry about whether I will be repulsed by my breeding-mate, rather than the other way around. "We eagerly await our breeding-mates."

Captain Cole smiles. Finally, something that seems more familiar. It makes the strange alien creature a little more familiar. "We've prepared a roster of the females aboard. As you requested, there are no pictures attached. Physical and intellectual attributes have been listed."

"Thank you. We will review before my men board your ship."

I glance at my communications officer. He nods, indicating we have the roster. I cut communication with the human and pull the roster up. I send a pulse through the ship, calling for Eildan to join me.

One of my men breaks the silence. "Will their women look like that? How are we meant to fuck something that looks like that?"

"Put a bag over her head?" another one chuckles.

"Enough," I snap. "You will treat these females with the same courtesy as you wish your sisters to be treated with."

The men sober.

This is why these are the men who will receive human breeding-mates. They all have sisters, and none have betrothed or wives. Their sisters have been selected for the other half of this trade agreement. It's my hope that by giving their sisters to the humans, these men will be more genteel with the human females.

The door that leads to my private chambers slides open and Eildan steps in. She wears a full dress, her hair in intricate braids before being piled on her head.

Some of the men give her surprised looks, but I smile at her. "Ah, Eildan. You were quick to come at my summons."

She takes delicate steps to my side, her head lowered as is proper in such a situation.

"These are our breeding-mates," I tell her, nodding to the screen. I put an arm around her, pleased as she melts into my side. "If you see anything that interests you, whisper in my ear."

The screen scrolls and I send various profiles to my personal viewer for further exploration. Eildan squints and squirms as she reads. I can sense her agitation. We are moving too quickly.

Miranda Chase, Technical Engineer.

I pull up the first profile, reading through the attributes listed. She is described as intelligent, hard-working, with excellent problem-solving skills, and in peak physical health.

I tug Eildan closer. "What do you think of this one? She's educated in technological equipment and will prove an asset in combining Schovali and human technology. Apparently, she is intelligent enough to be placed in a position where she works unassisted."

Eildan's lips tighten. "I see not why that matters. More important is the state of her womb. Are her hips wide enough to birth a child?"

"I don't want my children to have a stupid mother."

Eildan scoffs as her eyes run up and down the words, clearly not taking in anything. "If these humans are even capable of producing Schovali young. I have seen images of the females. Such a delicate species will never please our men."

More than one of my men glances our way. Their eyes say everything. What did this woman think she was doing, defying me so openly?

Irritation spikes through me, and I drop my arm from Eildan's waist. Her eyes widen as I do so, her tongue flicking out to touch her lips. She understands she has gone too far.

"Mind your position, Eildan," I say, keeping my tone hard. "The human is for breeding. You are for pleasing. That is all you need to concern yourself with."

I make no attempt to soften my words. I am giving her the honor and respect above that any other man would offer by allowing her on the bridge to view these profiles. Then she has the audacity to challenge me in front of my men?

Had she brought up a legitimate concern it would be one thing...for her to be so flippant with my choice is another.

I close my viewer and stand. With one look at Eildan, silently commanding her to follow, I stride off the bridge. As we leave, a few of the men snicker behind my back. I clench my fists, breathing through my nostrils to calm myself.

Eildan will be suitably chastised for her breach. But right now, I have other concerns.

She trails behind me by several feet, her fear obvious. I let her stew in it; while I won't physically reprimand her, it's good for her to understand the seriousness of her behavior. In private I would not think much of it but in front of my men?

She cannot act this way. For both our sakes.

Soon, we come to where the Schovali females wait. I am not permitted into the area of the ship designated for their use, as it is only for women, so I turn to Eildan.

"Tell the women I wish to speak with them."

She bows and hurries through the holographic curtains that allow the women to see out of their area while preventing the men from seeing in.

Soon, Eildan returns, guiding the women chosen for this mission. They all stand quietly in a line before me, heads bowed. They are the ones I wish to be part of this alliance because each has previously expressed excitement at the prospect of having children of their own.

"Once again, I wish to thank you for volunteering yourselves for your part in restoring our people," I say as Eildan takes a spot at the end of the line. "If any of you wish to change your minds, you will not be punished for doing so. Please inform Eildan if this is the case before we leave."

My gaze moves over them again, checking each expression. Some clearly fight back excitement while others are more subdued. In the faces of the handful of women chosen to stay on the ship to help the humans acclimate, I see hints of jealousy.

On Eildan's face as well. Or perhaps she still stings from my earlier harsh tone.

"Prepare yourselves," I order, then turn to my betrothed. "Eildan. With me."

I turn on my heel once more, leading her away. This time, instead of taking the main halls, I slip into the narrow corridors that only she and I have access to.

She trembles as the doors behind us slide shut. Only dim lights come from below our feet in this narrow space which forces us close together. Even though I know this is for her good as well as mine, I can't help but wince at her fear.

"Eildan. Until now, I have had no cause to punish you," I start.

She nods. Her trembling increases.

Perhaps I have too soft a heart...my father and my men certainly would think so. But all the same, I find I can't be too harsh with her. Not when she is so obviously terrified. I do not want my wife to fear me.

I do not want her to be repulsed by my touch.

"As such," I continue, softening my tone now, "I will not punish you this time. The chastisement before my men stands but I will let the matter rest now. Only know I am disappointed in this jealousy you are showing."

Her muscles seem to relax. "Thank you, my lord."

"You will remain on this ship to help the human women adapt to our customs," I continue. "You will be responsible for their behavior."

"Of course, my lord. Thank you for this great honor."

"It is not an honor. It is a responsibility as my future queen." I harden my tone once more. "Now look at me."

Seemingly reluctant, Eildan raises her eyes to me.

"You will never speak against me in public again. Understood?"

She nods once.

"I have encouraged you to speak your mind, and I still wish for you to speak freely with me when you and I are alone. However, I will not tolerate backtalk in front of my men."

"Of course, my Lord."

I cup her cheek with my hand, pleased when she remains still. "Now then. Since we have settled this matter, let us put it in the past. I and my men are going to the human vessel, and I wish for you to ensure preparations for the humans."

"Yes, my lord."

"Go, now. Attend to your duties, as I attend to mine."

I leave her in the corridor as I return to the bridge. The length of our absence will be enough for the men to assume I have punished her. I order them to ready themselves to go to the human ship.

Two human males wait for us. I view the two of them, searching for the differences which will allow me to tell them apart. It seems that humans sometimes have dramatic differences in their colorings and patterns, but these two are so similar I have a difficult time seeing which is which.

One of them may be Captain Cole. Or perhaps only a human who looks like him.

One of them steps forward and bows. "Welcome to my ship."

So this one is Cole. He has a dark mole above his right eye. I memorize it as I bow in turn. "Thank you for having us."

Cole straightens. "This is my associate, Dr. Mitchell."

Mitchell has a hard bone structure beneath his flesh. The shape of his jaw is oddly squared, much like my warriors. I memorize that detail. "Greetings. Let us proceed with the exchange quickly. I have no desire to stay from my ship any longer than necessary."

In truth, the Ghengors will attack if they learn of this trade. It is one reason why we have been so secretive about it. The humans, however, have been told the Ghengors were wiped out long ago.

A necessary lie. Too many species have backed out from trade with us when they learn who our mortal enemies are.

Only the highest authorities of Earth know the Ghengors still live. Captain Cole is among them, but the others on this ship mustn't find out.

"I have prepared an itinerary for a tour," Dr. Mitchell starts.

I hold up a hand, stopping him. "I wish for the females to meet our males at once. My men do not speak your language, but they will mingle with your females for the chance to view them unobtrusively. And as for this tour, my potential breeding-mate will guide me."

Dr. Mitchell's expression turns to one that, on a Schovali, I would say is disappointment.

Cole, however, smiles pleasantly. "Of course. Which female did you have in mind?"

"Miranda Chase. She is the one who will guide me."

Dr. Mitchell's strange horizontal eyes narrow. "Miranda?"

He seems startled, though I have not an idea as to why. "And I wish to meet her immediately."

"Prince Draek—" Cole starts.

"Do not use my title. I wish to get to know my breeding-mate without her knowing the prestige of my position."

Cole clears his throat. "Draek, then. Miranda was recently injured. I'm not certain she can—"

"She will be my guide. If you do not have accommodations for her injury, figure it out. I will not have any other." I lift my chin and stare at him. These negotiations will not start with the humans thinking they can make decisions for me.

The mole above Cole's eye wiggles up and down as his facial muscles contract. He smooths them soon enough and smiles once more. "Very well. This way."

He starts off and I follow, leading my men. My heart thuds a little harder as I match his pace, but I do not allow my nerves to show.

The sooner we can get this over with, the better.