DRAEK

"Okay, Miranda."

I repeat her name in my mind as I make a mental note to research what this "okay" means.

I am pleased that human females look different from human males. Like our women, they have breasts and hips which create a pleasant, soft curve to their bodies.

Miranda is pink like the two men, but her hair is much longer. She also has constellations of freckles scattered over her cheeks and nose. The unique pattern will easily help me distinguish her in future.

Most fascinating are her eyes. Despite the horizontal slits, they are the most beautiful shade I have ever seen. So deep and dark. Brown as the human delight known as "chocolate."

The dress she wears clings to her womanly figure, showing more collarbone and arms than what we consider appropriate, but I enjoy the way her skirt swishes on the ground. It makes those incessant sparkles tolerable.

I hope that, when I see the other females, they are easier to tell apart than the males.

"I wish to see your nurseries, if you will not show me to the breeding rooms," I say, looking at her expectantly.

Her hair, which has the red-brown tint of iron-rich earth, is loose and flips about her shoulders as she shakes her head. "We don't have nurseries on board. We didn't bring any kids."

I frown at her, trying to place this new word. "From what I have studied of your language, 'kid' refers to the infant of an ungulate species that includes both domesticated and wild creatures, used for fiber, milk, and meat. Then what do such creatures have to do with nurseries?"

Miranda's mouth opens and then snaps shut suddenly. She turns away as her shoulders start to shake.

"Are you laughing at me?" My hackles raise.

"N-no," she says. Obviously lying. I fold my arms as I wait for her to bring herself back under control. She clears her throat but still does not turn to me. "We use 'kids' as slang for human children too. I'm sure you're going to find a hell of a lot more confuses you than just that."

I sigh as I stride past her. "Then let us start this tour, Miranda. And I hope you will better control yourself during the treaty signing. I will offend enough of my men just by permitting you to be there."

I will also allow Eildan to choose to attend or not. The females should be part of the signing, as it's only through their services this treaty will go forward. But if Miranda Chase does not prove herself to be more contained, I will have to remove her from the females being traded.

Regardless of her qualifications, I will not be made a fool of in my own city.

Her back stiffens as she turns once more, facing me. "Excuse me?"

Is this her apology? I hope for more than that but perhaps it is too early yet. Just like I will not shake the hand of any human until they have proven their worthiness of my respect, I will not hold these lapses in protocol against Miranda. She simply does not know better.

I nod at her. "You are forgiven."

"What the hell do I need to be forgiven for?" she snarls at me, sounding just like the apex predator species from Regnal Four. All claws and teeth those creatures are. She even seems to puff up as they do.

However, the species of Regnal Four are so little they may curl into the palm of my hand. They are appealing as pets. Miranda's anger, too, holds no threat in it.

"You were very rude to laugh," I tell her. "Is that not why you asked to be excused?"

"I was being polite—"

"I do not believe you were."

"What the fuck do you mean by your men being offended by my presence?" she says, ignoring my concerns entirely.

I scrutinize her. Her lips are pulled tight, thinning them. Wrinkles appear between her eyebrows and her hands clench to fists on her hips. "You are angered by this?"

"You bet your ass I am!"

"And yet you are aware that the men among my people see themselves as being greater than women; this is why they will be offended. To them, no woman can understand the importance of this treaty. I disagree. The females of both our species ought to be represented at this signing."

She throws her hands into the air. "Fine. Let's just get this damn tour done with, then. I mean—" She rubs her oddly short fingers across her forehead. "I mean, thank you for the opportunity. Now, if you'll come this way, I will be happy to show you our engine rooms."

My frown deepens as I view her. Perhaps she is not what I want for my breeding-mate after all. I will have to spend more time with the human females to learn if all of them are this mercurial.

"Yes. Let us proceed. I am interested in how you constructed this vessel."

Miranda smiles, though she looks to be in pain as she does so. As she leads me through the corridors, I am impressed with how the humans have constructed the vessel.

Everything is metal and cold. The Schovali have built their ships and cities from living matter, which renders us vulnerable to Ghengor attacks. If Miranda is as intelligent as her file claims, she will be able to provide a secondary service to my people—by combining our organic technologies with their metallic ones.

"You seem well versed in cobbling together various other technologies into a cohesive whole," I say once we are in the engine room. It's a loud, dirty place smelling of bodily sweat and grease.

Miranda, holding her skirt up so it doesn't drag on the floor, puffs out her chest. I like the way the dress looks on her as she makes her breasts appear larger. "I am. I've studied my whole life to be an engineer and worked hard to get to where I am now."

I nod, pleased to hear it. "You are to be commended, then. Hard work should always receive praise."

I step closer, wanting to better see her reaction to my words. She glances from the corner of her eye—disturbing in those horizontal slits. But her cheeks darken as blood flows to them. Is it a blush, the same which I would see on our own females?

I hope so, for if it is, perhaps this means she is pleased by my words.

Before I can ask her more, however, there is the sound of a throat clearing behind us. I turn to find a human male striding toward us. It takes me a moment, but I soon recognize him as Dr. Mitchell.

"Pardon me for the interruption," he says as he bows. "The delegations are ready to transfer to your ship and sign the treaty documents."

Excellent. Though I wish to learn more about Miranda, there will be time for that later. The sooner we sign the treaty and part ways, the better. It has only been a few months since our city-ship was attacked by the Ghengors. I have no wish to leave it vulnerable now.

I turn to Miranda. "Go put on something less childish before you come to the treaty."

Her jaw clenches.

"She isn't coming," Dr. Mitchell says, his tone oily.

"Yes, she is. She has had the good fortune to impress me, and I have invited her to the signing, to stand in as representative for the human females."

Dr. Mitchell frowns over my shoulder at Miranda. "I don't think that is a good idea."

"And why not?" Miranda's tone is full of aggression. "I have more reason than any of the men on this ship other than you and Cole. I belong there."

"You belong there?" I repeat.

Her anger and laughter from before come back to me, and I draw myself up. Cultural differences are one thing, but if she can speak this way to one of her leaders in front of a visiting dignitary such as me? If this is the sort of behavior I can expect from my breeding-female, I will have to put her aside.

"You are permitted to attend the signing because I deign it reasonable to tolerate your presence, despite the objections of my men." I will not allow this female to embarrass me, nor will I allow her arrogance to grow any further. "I can revoke the invitation if I so choose."

Her face turns red. Her nostrils flare, eyes narrow, and her hands clench even tighter. She opens her mouth as though about to say something, but then her gaze flickers to Dr. Mitchell. I glance at him as well, but his expression seems blank to me.

When I look back at Miranda, she seems to be chewing on her tongue. I wait.

"I apologize for my outburst," she says, her teeth gritted.

I fold my arms and wait. She will have to do better than that.

Her hands loosen slightly only to clench again. Her back straightens, and she lifts her chin, looking me in the eye. "I only meant that since you invited me, Dr. Mitchell doesn't have the authority to say I can't be there. It's your choice, not his."

I am still uncertain as to whether she can be trusted to be at the signing after all. I have seen for myself that females tend to be volatile.

"The females in my species are not afforded such education as you have been granted," I say, staring into her eyes so she understands the weight of my words.

A thrill goes through me as she stares back. No shuddering, no repulsion. Even though my eyes must be glowing at this time, her face contains no fear.

For a moment, I am at a loss for words. Despite her attitude, I want her as my breeding-mate for this exact reason. She does not look away, does not look at me as though she wishes to flee from my presence.

"I am hoping that the interactions with your species, and to see how it benefits the females individually and society as a whole, will help to change the way things are done among my people," I tell her quietly. It is more than I have admitted even to Eildan. "By having you at the treaty, it gives my men their first glimpse of this. So you must understand the importance of your actions."

Something changes in Miranda's eyes. I'm not certain what it is, but some of the anger seems to deflate from her body.

"I'm sorry for my outburst," she repeats. "Don't worry, I won't do anything like that at the signing."

"Good. Now. Something less..." I wave my hand at her attire. "Something less like what a toddler would wear, please."

She turns on her heel and stomps away.

Dr. Mitchell shook his head and gestured for me to follow him. "I must apologize for her behavior. Miranda can be awfully childish at times."

He leads me back through the shiny metal corridors, chattering away. I try to parse out any useful information, but it seems to me that the man just likes to hear his own voice. From past experience, the best way to deal with such a man is to let him talk himself out.

It is not until we are in the holding area, waiting for the rest of my men to gather, that Dr. Mitchell says anything of note.

"I do need to apologize for Miranda's behavior." He folds his arms and grimaces. "It's partly my fault. You see, I failed to warn you about our human customs. I assumed Captain Cole had done so, but with the recent...resurgences, he's been busy keeping the women from knowing about the threat we face."

My shoulders tense. He knows about the Ghengors? Captain Cole was meant to keep it a secret, none of his crew should know. Have the humans broken this treaty, even before they've signed it?

"In human culture, you can't talk about breeding or babies or make any advances until you officially own the female," Mitchell continues, his expression one of apology. "It's incredibly rude and offensive."

Ah. So when I asked Miranda to show me the breeding rooms, it was culturally offensive. Now that I think about it, that is when she started to become prickly with me. The tension eases once more.

"I will have to apologize and explain I was unaware of this custom," I say.

Mitchell shakes his head. The motion makes me draw back—is he diseased?

"No, that would be seen as even worse. It's best if you pretend as though nothing is amiss. I will explain my mistake to Miranda." He holds up a hand. "And it is also important to note that you must not speak with the women until they are on your ship. Since they don't yet belong to you, speaking to them is an egregious offense."

I'm annoyed that they have taken so long to tell me these things, but I nod in acceptance.

The females are providing a necessary service. I do not wish to offend them or make them change their minds. With Miranda's education levels, there is no doubt in my mind that all of these women are volunteers for the trade.

Mitchell clears his throat. "One last thing. Don't be surprised if the women resist being on the ship at first. We have a very important custom in our culture, to ensure only the strongest men breed. The women will resist, even try to escape. They will be impressed by a firm hand."

Another reason why Miranda was so aggressive with me. I head for my ship. "Very well. But this resistance cannot last long...we have children waiting to be born."