Summary

When Lily’s uncle works for the military and gifts her an alien that they have captured, she knows that she can’t stand by and do nothing. She has to help him escape. There’s just one problem. The alien identifies Lily as his mate and he wants her to return to his planet with him. With his all-black eyes, horns, fangs and claws, he and his kind are very different to humans, but he wants Lily. Time to bring a whole new meaning to the word ‘horny’…

Chapter One

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Lily.

“Lily? Come out here.”

I hear my uncle’s voice calling through my open window and I scowl. I’m right in the middle of a painting. I’m wearing a paint-splattered white t-shirt and pyjama shorts. I can’t help what I’m wearing when inspiration strikes, I usually just grab my things and start without giving much thought to my clothes.

“I’ll be out in a minute!” I call back.

If my uncle is calling, it is no doubt because he wants me to meet someone. I put my brushes in a cup of water and quickly wash my hands. I swap my t-shirt for a clean cropped one and change my shorts into actual denim ones. As I’m walking out of my bedroom, I pull out the bobble keeping my hair in a bun and let the long dark tresses fall down my back. I comb my fingers through them to make myself look somewhat presentable as I shove my feet in flipflops and head outside.

I walk across to the main house, heading towards the patio, knowing that it is most likely where my uncle is. He loves doing business at the large outdoor table, it’s right next to the pool and he can perve on all his politician friends’ wives. I plaster a fake smile on my face as I reach the patio, but it drops as soon as I see who is gathered there.

My uncle, the Minister of Defence for the UK, is standing next to the MOD permanent secretary, the Shadow minister and two other people I recognise to be part of the Defence Ministerial team. If they’re all here and wanting me to join them, something big is going on. I swallow hard and approach them hesitantly.

“Hey…what’s going on?”

Uncle Ron is all pink in the face, clearly worked up about something. “We have a surprise for you. A raid was carried out this morning when we detected a portal in the national park.”

My stomach drops. A portal. This is the new normal for our world now and you’d think, after a year, I would have gotten used to it. Just over a year ago, the first portal known to man opened in Japan. It led to another world, another planet, another galaxy entirely separate from ours. One portal and everything as we knew it detonated and fell apart.

It turns out, humans really aren’t the only higher species in the universe. Over the course of a few months, with more portals opening across the globe, we learned of the Jalix. They are most similar to vampires for us due to their reliance on blood to survive, although they are very different to the monsters we write about in fantasies and fairytales.

Jalexus, the name of the planet they inhabit, is only accessible through portals. Humans have not yet discovered how to create portals, but some of the Jalix have the ability and that’s how they come to our world. It became clear after a few months that they were taken humans. The Government set about capturing Jalix to learn about their planet. They are taking humans to be their life partners -their mates- as our fertility is higher than theirs. They are trying to use our species to increase their numbers.

To most of the country, Jalix are something you hear about on the news and never meet. But to me, with my uncle and guardian being the Minster of Defence, I hear about them far too often.

“What surprise?” I ask cautiously.

“Bring him out,” Uncle Ron orders a few Army guards.

I gasp as a full-size Jalix is carried out of a reinforced prison van and shoved to his knees before us. I have never seen one in person before, I’ve only seen pictures and videos online. It is terrifying to see one in person.

Jalix are around six to seven foot tall on average. This male is enormous despite being on his knees. Their bodies are built much larger than ours and packed with muscle, they have very little body fat, probably due to the fact their only food source is blood. They have two sharp fangs like vampires, but do not have any aversion to sunlight.

Their hair is usually dark and kept long. This Jalix has his braided back, although some strands have come loose in the struggle. Their skin is the deepest golden, like at golden hour during a striking sunset. They have small pointed black horns that sit just back from their foreheads, nestled in their hair. The tips of their ears are pointed. They have no nipples, their chests smooth and free of hair. The black designs that weave across their chests indicate their rank, family and clan. All Jalix live in clans across their world, although I have heard that there is bad blood between clans and they rarely socialise with one another.

Due to the warm temperature of their planet, they wear nothing but loin cloths and this Jalix is no different. A simple leather-looking skirt protects his modesty between his legs. His body is covered in dried blood from the fight, their blood is dark blue in colour, but his wounds have already healed. Around his abnormally thick neck is a bulky silver band, like a collar.

“Uncle…what is the meaning of this?” I murmur, sounding horrified to my own ears.

The Jalix raises its head at my voice, its eyes meeting mine. They have very human-like faces, with noses and mouths and cheek structure similar to ours. Their jaws are sharper though and their eyes have no irises, just black pupils. I am struck by how handsome this Jalix is.

“This Jalix is to be the first protector of its kind,” Ron says proudly. “The collar around its neck has been specially designed for this purpose and we have been chosen to trial it.”

“I don’t understand,” I mumble, not taking my eyes off the Jalix, who is still staring at me.

“The collar will pass an electric current through the alien, shocking it if it tries to harm so much as a hair on your head, or any other humans. We are to monitor it for two weeks, then once we have confirmed that they are good protectors, we can capture more of their kind, collar them and use them for the army. They will be the newest soldiers in our arsenal.”

My mouth drops open in horror. They wish to enslave these aliens and use them for warfare?

“That is sick,” I blurt. “It’s barbaric! How could you agree to this?”

I’m met with disapproving murmurs from the Government officials but I ignore them. My Uncle frowns at me.

“This is why you are not involved in politics, Lily. You are simply to go about your usual daily routine, but you are to report back on anything you find out about the Jalix. He is your new bodyguard.”

I tear my eyes away from my sick uncle and turn back to the alien, shackled and collared at our feet. His eyes are narrowed on my uncle, although they relax a fraction when they turn back to me.

“And if I refuse?”

“You live in my home, under my roof,” Ron snaps. “You don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“Does he…” I hesitate. “Does he speak English?”

“All Jalix speak English and Mandarin fluently,” Ron says matter-of-factly. “They have eidetic memories and learned the most-spoken languages when they first infiltrated Earth.”

I did not know this. This information is clearly kept from the general public. I look down at the alien that can understand every word that we say and resolve to apologise the moment I am alone with him.

“He will stay in the guest house with you. They need only a few hours’ sleep so he will make a good guard. For the first few days, I will have patrols guard your house to ensure you are safe. You have the alarm on your phone to use should you need it.” My uncle frowns at me, his expression solemn. “They are the future of England, Lily. We are the first country to successful tame one of these beasts.”

From where I’m standing, it looks like we are the beasts.

“Uncle? A word alone,” I hiss.

He scowls and follows me to the side of the house, out of view of everyone else.

“What the fuck? This is sick, it’s torture,” I shout at him. “What about his rights?”

“What rights? He’s an animal, Lily.”

“No, he’s a sentient creature! You cannot treat the Jalix like this, we have so much to learn from them. From what I hear, they are a peaceful species.”

“What you hear comes from misinformed press, they are savages. They use swords to cut down each other during clan fights. That Jalix back there? He’s a warrior, he is trained to cause damage. We need to harness those skills to use them against our enemies.”

“You are disgusting, how can you justify using someone’s life like that? If my parents were alive, they would be ashamed to-”

“They’re gone, Lily,” he says coldly. “This is nothing to do with you. Do as I say or I will have you arrested for directly disobeying a Government order.”

That makes me snap my mouth shut. I have known for years that my uncle is a terrible person. He would have me arrested without blinking an eye. He only lets me live here to keep his conscience clear, he thinks my parents won’t haunt him if he ‘looks after’ their only daughter.

My stomach is roiling with nausea as the Jalix is heaved to his feet and ordered to follow. I cannot change my uncle’s mind, but I will find a way to help this alien. I lead them over to my guest house, a two-bed bungalow that sits a hundred yards from my uncle’s mansion, safely situated in his gated compound. I have lived here since I was seventeen, when my parents were killed in a boating accident and Uncle Ron became my legal guardian.

The Jalix doesn’t say anything, it merely follows us all into my house and looks around, taking in its surroundings. I wonder if it is studying them for escape, that’s what I would do in his position.

“We will bring blood bags for the Jalix twice a day at twelve and then at six. Tell us if you are going to be out and we will arrange a time,” one of the guards says.

The other adds, “We will also file down its fangs each day to ensure it cannot bite.”

“What?!” I shake my head. “This is barbaric.”

Both of them ignore my response. I rub my arms as I watch the guards release its shackles, leaving the collar intact. One of them raises a remote and presses a button. An electric current flashes between the collar and the Jalix’s neck with a crackling sound and I hear the deep grunt of pain from the alien as his back goes rigid and its muscles tense up.

“It’s working,” one of the guards says to the other.

He holds out the device to me. I glare at him and he grabs my hand, forcefully placing it in my palm. “Use this whenever you need to. We have not found an upper limit yet.”

This is torture.

“Leave,” I spit the word, anger burning through my veins.

They walk out of my house, seemingly unbothered by their own lack of mercy. I stare at them, my mouth hanging open as they leave me alone with a completely alien creature that has been tortured and abused simply for existing.

“I…” The words die on my lips the moment I turn back to the Jalix and find it glaring at me.

I resist the shiver of fear that threatens to rock me and rub my lips together. I look down at the device in my hand. There is no way in hell I am using it on him, I’d rather he kill me. I storm over to the bin and throw the remote in it before slamming the lid closed. I turn back to find the Jalix watching me with curiosity. I don’t think he was expecting me to do that.

“I-I’m so sorry,” I begin and grimace at how those words don’t do this justice. “I cannot begin to describe how much this disgusts me, how heinous this treatment of you is.” I take a shuddering breath. “What I can do is promise you that I will do everything to make this…easier for you. I will try and help you as best I can.”

His black eyes settle on me and don’t move. I don’t know what I’m expecting from him, maybe for him to shout or show some kind of hatred towards me. Instead, he just stares at me.

“Um, forgive me but I don’t know what your requirements are from a living space. This is the spare bedroom.” I open the door so he can see inside. “You are welcome to it. There is a bathroom at the end of the hall.” My words feel pathetic as I say them out loud. “The TV has lots of subscription channels so you can watch whatever you want, and I read a lot of books so there are loads of the shelves there.”

I try to point out anything he might need. It is difficult because he is giving nothing away with his stoic expression.

“If you need clothes, I can get you some. I know that our planet is colder than yours…” I trail off, wondering if there is anything else. “Oh, do you have a name? Something you’d prefer I call you? I’m Lily.”

He looks back at me, staring for the longest time. I shift awkwardly from one foot to the other, wondering if he does indeed understand me.

“Well, okay, no problem, we’ll think of something. I, um, I paint, so I’m going to return to my canvas because in all honesty, I’m freaking out and need to calm the hell down,” I tell him and point at my open door so that he can see the canvas I am working on.

He follows me into my bedroom. I clip my hair up as he watches. I feel his gaze on me as I pick up the brushes I was using, dab them and start painting again, my mind a mess.

Through my concentration haze, I hear one word. It makes me freeze. The soft rasp of his voice moves through me, bringing hairs up on my arms as he tells me his name.

“Zenaxor.”

Chapter Two

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Lily.

I can’t sleep. At around midnight, I give up and sit up in my bed. With my back against the headboard, I bring my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on them.

Today has been crazy.

I don’t know how to cope with the thought of having an alien slave as my bodyguard. Things have been getting progressively worse in the last year. Politicians, greedy and heartless as they can be, see the Jalix as a commodity to be used and exploited. I don’t want any part of it, yet I cannot consciously sit by and do nothing. I don’t know what to do, though.

Grabbing my phone, I bring up the banking app and look at my savings account. I’m twenty-one. For the last few years, I’ve been saving every penny I can that I make from selling my paintings. My uncle doesn’t charge me rent or utilities, but in return he controls my finances. He controls my trust fund, and it won’t be accessible to me until I turn 25. He wants me under his thumb because that’s what the man thrives off, control.

I need to move out. Once I’ve got enough money to afford rent or a deposit on a place, and to pay for utilities and food and everything else I need, I’m leaving here. I don’t care about the trust fund. I’ll hate knowing that my uncle will get the money, and that some of it came from my parents, but most of it is his money, which is tainted. It’s nothing more than blood money in my opinion.

I put the phone down and swing my legs off the bed. My mouth is dry and I want a glass of water. I pad through to the kitchen, wearing only an oversized t-shirt. I pour myself a glass of water and turn to look out of the window. I jump as I realise the Jalix is in here. Zenaxor is sitting on the floor in front of the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks my ‘back garden’. My uncle’s compound is five acres of woodland. A small lake is just behind the house, filled with bullrushes.

I set my glass down and wonder if I should say something, whether I should acknowledge his presence. He must have heard me come in and get a glass, yet he hasn’t said anything. He’s only said one word to me since arriving. His name.

Earlier on, the guards brought a blood bag for him to drink from. It was labelled pig’s blood and although his nose was upturned in distaste, he drank it all. I guess they don’t want to give him human blood in case he gets a taste for it. I’ve heard they drink the sap of a tree on their planet, the sap is akin to our blood.

I don’t want to just ignore him, so I quietly walk over. He looks up at me, takes in my outfit with a near-expressionless face. I catch a slight flare in his eyes before he turns back to the window. No lights are on, meaning our reflections barely show in the window. I cross my legs and sit down next to him in the darkness. His knees are pulled up, his arms resting on top of them as he stares out to the lake. I believe that Jalix only need about five hours sleep a night. For a few minutes, I just sit beside him, listening to our steady breathing.

“Zenaxor,” I say his name softly. “Does anyone call you anything else? A nickname perhaps?”

He takes so long to reply, I start to think he isn’t going to. Eventually, he rasps, “Ax. My people call me Ax.”

My people.

I have read that Jalix have a hierarchy in their world too. Only the leaders, the ones that hold power, are able to open portals.

“What is your rank?” I ask quietly, scared to break the bubble we’re in.

It feels like, if I talk to loud or too fast, I will scare him away and he won’t talk to me.

“I am the leader of my clan,” he says slowly, pausing before adding, “Lorsett.”

“Lorsett,” I repeat.

“It means clan leader in my tongue.”

It goes quiet and I decide to ask him a question while I’m feeling brave. For some reason, it’s easier to talk to him in the dark like this, when we’re not looking at each other. Even sitting down though, our size difference is obvious. He is so broad and just bulky.

“Do you want to ask me anything? I promise to answer honestly.”

He is silent for a long time and I tell myself to hold my tongue, to be patient and wait, because he might ask a question eventually. I’m starting to recognise that he is quiet and purposeful, I cannot picture him acting recklessly or speaking hastily.

“Who is that man to you? The balding krisnot with a moustache.”

My lips twitch ever so slightly at the description of my uncle. I do not know what krisnot means, but something tells me it is a not a complimentary word in Jalix language.

“He is my uncle.”

“Your parents?” He asks, still looking ahead.

“Dead.”

He pauses and then says lowly, “I am sorry.”

“Thank you,” I reply, taken aback by his sympathy. “It was a long time ago.”

It wasn’t. Four years isn’t long enough.

Zenaxor slowly turns his head to look at me. “No, it wasn’t.”

I gulp as I realise this alien can recognise lies. I grimace and shake my head.

“No, it wasn’t. It was four years ago.”

“I do not entirely understand the human concept of years, as we work with moon cycles, but I believe I can estimate how long it is and no, it’s not a long time.”

“Moon cycles?” I press, wanting to change the subject and keep him talking.

“We have three moons and they have a cycle that lasts forty-two human days from what I’m told.” He looks sideways at me, his expression intrigued. “Jalix age slower than humans. We have a lifespan of 120-150 human years.”

My eyes nearly bug out. I didn’t know this about them. “Do you mind me asking how old you are?”

“I am roughly thirty in human years. How old are you?”

“I am twenty-one,” I answer him.

He nods and tells me more, “On my planet, we come to maturity at the same age as eighteen or nineteen for you, or so I’m told. There is still much we do not know about humans and I’m still learning from the information brought back to my planet. All clan leaders must know their enemies.”

My face drops at the word ‘enemies’. I look away from him, embarrassed for my part in the shitty world he’s dropped into.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’ve already said that.”

“Because I mean it. And I meant it when I said I would help you. Just give me some time to work out a plan.”

He nods slowly, I can’t tell whether he trusts me or not. Silence falls again but it is more comfortable this time. I feel better having had an actual conversation with him. Eventually, I feel tiredness creeping in. I get to my feet.

“It was nice talking to you. Goodnight, Zenaxor.”

He doesn’t say anything as I walk back to my bedroom.

---

The following morning, I eat breakfast while Zenaxor looks out of the window. He is a quiet but powerful presence. My eyes keep going back to him even though I try to stop myself from staring. It is so strange to have an alien in my home. Especially one so damn good-looking. It is impossible not to notice his handsomeness.

He watches me as I do a few house chores. I feel his eyes on me as I mop the kitchen floor. When I am done, he is sitting and looking out of the window. I study him as I finish my mug of tea. I find myself admiring his beautiful face again. He is strange-looking in our human world, but unquestionably handsome. Before I can say anything, Zenaxor’s nostrils flare and his head snaps towards me. I startle, not knowing what caused such a reaction. I recover quickly and smile.

“Do you want to go on a walk with me?” I offer.

I figure he might want to get outside and see it in person. His eyes go up and down my body, taking me in with his stoic face.

“Yes.”

Pleased that I’ve offered the right thing, I walk out of the house with him in tow. I don’t bother locking up, we’re on the compound, there’s security everywhere. I head for the path that I usually follow. It winds past the lake and into the trees. The temperature is mild and there’s a warm breeze in the air. Zenaxor falls into step next to me, deliberately shortening his strides to match my slower pace. It’s not my fault I don’t have long alien legs.

As we reach the lake, I stop to let Zenaxor take it all in. He leans over the water and stares down into the depths, studying the fish and tadpoles swimming around.

“Strange,” he muses. “The water on my planet is similar to yours, but it is green. This water is brown.” He turns to me. “Not potable?”

“No, it’s not safe to drink. Clear water only and even then, not from a river or stream unless there is no other option.”

He nods, frowning as though deep in thought. Satisfied that he has seen enough, we keep walking. A little ways into the tree, a female roe deer comes onto the path ahead, unaware of us. Zenaxor immediately tenses up, I yelp as he shoves me behind him with a powerful arm. The deer looks up, startled, and Zenaxor growls at it. I watch it dart into the trees, fear in its eyes. Without thinking, I place my hand on Zenaxor’s bare bicep. His skin is hot to the touch, another difference from vampire lore. He jumps at my touch and I pull my hand away quickly.

“Sorry,” I murmur and come to step out to his side, so that he can see me.

“Touch me again,” he demands with a confused look on his face.

I’m also confused, but I reach out and place my hand back on his upper arm. He looks down at it, his frown fading. Feeling awkward, I pull my hand back.

“I apologise for jumping, I was not expecting your touch,” he says. “You did not hurt me. Your touch feels…” He frowns again. “Good.”

I don’t know what to make of that. I clear my throat and gesture ahead of us. “That was a deer.”

“Deer,” he repeats, looking unsure.

“It is a herbivore, not dangerous. Prey,” I explain.

“Okay. I have not yet learned all of Earth’s animals, we have so few on my planet.”

“What animals do you have?”

“Mostly the calpits. They are hard to describe, but I suppose they are most similar to the pets you keep. Cats. Except they smell like skunks,” he says the word carefully, as if checking he is pronouncing it carefully, “They are irritating because they bite and their bites itch. They are not dangerous but are vermin to us.”

It’s weird to think of a cat-like animal being vermin. We talk some more and then turn back to the house. I find it really interesting to talk to Zenaxor. I think he is becoming more relaxed with me, his conversation is more easy-flowing and less stunted.

When we get back, I set him up with the TV by showing him how to use the remote, and I start painting again, a new canvas. This time, the shape that takes form is very much like a Jalix.

Chapter Three

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Lily.

I forgot about the fang filing. The guards didn’t do it yesterday, I guess they either forgot too or didn’t have the equipment they need yet. But today, they’re here to file down the Jalix’s fangs. The blood bag they’ve brought for him is sitting on the side table. Zenaxor has barely looked at it, he doesn’t appear to have the same blood thirst shown of vampires in movies and books. I don’t know whether that it is because we’re feeding him enough or because the pig blood tastes bad.

They make the Jalix sit down on my armchair, then one of them holds his head back while the other pulls a heavy-duty pair of pliers from a case.

Fuck no!

I grab his wrist, stopping him as he steps closer. “You can’t be serious? You’re not plying his teeth out!”

The guard sneers and pulls his arm free. “No, we’re not. Stand back woman or I’ll have you removed.”

I almost want to be removed. The coward in me wants to run and hide, but I tell myself that I need to know what is happening. Ignorance does not mean excusable. The guard behind Zenaxor takes the device that sets off his collar and holds it in one hand.

“I will press this if you do not open your mouth and keep it open,” he warns.

I glare at his ID. Officer Richards. I’m not going to forget that. I look at the other’s. Officer Houghton.

Good to know.

The Jalix glares up at Officer Richards and opens his mouth. His fangs extend about an inch downwards, past his other teeth. I notice that all his other teeth are sharper than human ones too, they’re more like canines than molars. Officer Houghton positions the pliers around the end of one fang and snips it without hesitation. The snap of the tooth makes my stomach churn, but the groan of pain from Zenaxor has me rushing forwards.

“Stop! You’re hurting him!” I shout.

Officer Houghton shoves me in the chest. His large palm makes contact with my sternum and forces me backwards a few steps. He pulls up his radio and asks for a guard to escort me of my premises until they’re finished. Still watching me warily, he takes what looks like a small drill out of the case. He attaches a sandpaper roll to the end and tests the speed. It’s similar to what they use to file and buff acrylic nails. They’re going to file down his broken fang with this.

Tears roll down my face as they hold his mouth open and press the drill to the broken fang, filing the jagged end down to a safe, rounded end. A guard comes in and takes me firmly by the arm, he pulls me out of my own house as tears run down my face.

“You’re all bastards! How can you sleep at night? You’re so fucking heartless!”

The guard shoves me to the ground. “Sort yourself out. Calm down,” he hisses and stands with his back to me.

I wipe the tears from my face but more keep coming. I hear Zenaxor’s grunt when they snip his other fang. When they’re done, they come out of my house with hard faces. They glare at me and the feeling is mutual.

“You cannot cause a scene like that every day, you’re going to have to get used to it,” Officer Houghton warns before walking off.

I give his retreating back the finger and get to my feet. Ignoring the guard that has been assigned to watch me, I go back into my house. Zenaxor is on his feet, looking at his lack of fangs in the mirror and scowling. I have no words of comfort for him. Instinctively, I reach out and place my hand on his upper back, near his shoulder. He tenses up and his eyes flicker to mine. They narrow as they look at my tear-streaked face. My tears are no good to him. He needs my help.

“I’m going to get you out of here,” I tell him firmly.

He turns and takes my hand as it falls off his back. He doesn’t say anything but he squeezes it. His skin is smoother than I am expecting and warm like mine. We look at each other before he nods and lets go of my hand.

I turn and go to my bedroom to paint. I’m pissed off and I need to channel my emotions into something.

---

I can’t sleep. The rest of the day was weird. Zenaxor had to pierce his blood bag with a straw and drink it that way because he has no fangs. He was even quieter than usual. He didn’t watch TV, just stared out of the window. I can see how badly he wants to go back to his planet and I don’t blame him. His life is full of pain and servitude here.

I head to the kitchen for water and a hope to see my alien roommate. As I’m hoping, he is sitting in the same spot as two nights earlier. I get myself a drink and then sit down next to him. It’s quiet between us for a few minutes.

“Did you sleep last night?” Zenaxor asks softly. “You did not come out to the kitchen.”

“I wasn’t aware you were waiting for me,” I reply, frowning when I realise how teasing my voice sounded.

“I was not waiting,” he says quickly, but his anxious tone only makes me more curious.

“I didn’t sleep better, no. I just didn’t want to bother you out here, I thought you might like this time to yourself.”

“I don’t mind you being here.”

Simple words, but comforting ones for me. I smile and nod, turning back to the window. His handsomeness is distracting, it’s easier not to look at him while we talk.

“What other animals are on your planet?” I ask, distracting him from the shit day we’ve had with thoughts of home.

“Not many, really. Most are vermin as we don’t need them for food. We don’t have fish or birds.”

“That’s mad. What about plants?”

“We have lots of plants, not as many as Earth. Our main plant is the Vivex tree. Its sap is similar to blood, it is what we live off. We grow many of them to feed our clans.”

“That’s so interesting that you drink tree blood, it’s like you’re vegetarians after all.”

He frowns at this. “In your definition of vegetarian, I guess so. But we drink each other’s blood too.”

“Pardon? You feed off each other?” I blurt.

“Only mates,” he says. His eyes are intense as he looks at me, showing more emotion than ever although I can’t read it. “All Jalix have a fated one, one that they are destined to be with. When a Jalix finds their mate and bonds with them, they can feed off each other for the rest of their lives, they don’t need the Vivex sap anymore.”

“That’s so interesting,” I murmur, lost in thought.

“It is how I was captured,” he goes on to explain. “I lead three of my warriors here to look for our mates. The portal opened here near the compound and that’s when I was captured.”

“What happened to the other warriors?”

“I pushed them through the portal and closed it before the humans could follow them through it.”

“You sacrificed yourself,” I say incredulously.

He shrugs. “I am Lorsett. I must look after my clan.”

“Excuse me for asking, but why can’t you just open another portal and leave?”

“Portals require a great amount of energy, and the moment I was captured, the humans put a chip in my wrist. I don’t understand how it works, but there is some kind of technology in this device that stops me from opening portals.”

I look down at the dark scar on his wrist. They’ve chipped him. “I’m so sorry.”

“This is not your fault,” he says gently. “I consider myself lucky to have been assigned a human with a conscience.”

“Not all of my kind are this horrible,” I tell him quickly.

“I know. We have had many human females come back to Jalexus. None have acted like this.”

“Can you still feed off each other if your mates are human?” I ask curiously.

“Yes. After the bonding, the human’s body will work much the same as Jalix, but they will still look human. Oh, the only difference is that their canines will grow to be able to feed off their mate.”

Absentmindedly, I run my tongue over my canines, trying to picture them long like his.

“Are they still susceptible to human diseases? Do they age the same?”

“No, not at all. They are in all ways but physical appearance, the same as Jalix. They age slower and are only susceptible to the same diseases we Jalix are, which are the summer sleeping sickness and the winter sleeping sickness and we have preventatives for those.”

I’d heard that Jalix have many less diseases and infections than us, it’s so interesting that they only have two on their entire planet.

“How do you know where to open the portal?”

“A Jalix can sense their mate when the time is right. We have to wait for fate to intervene,” he tells me. “I could sense that my mate was in this area so I opened a portal here. I took my warriors with me for protection, but they may also have been able to sense their mates if they were closer.”

“How do you sense your mate?”

He looks at me and smiles softly. “We have a very strong sense of smell, I suppose like your vampire stories with blood. The blood of our mate smells sweeter to us, we can smell it from miles away.”

“Like a shark,” I murmur and stifle a yawn. I get to my feet and look down at Zenaxor. “I’m sorry that you didn’t find your mate.”

He doesn’t say anything as I walk back to my bedroom.

---

The following morning, I take a shower and make breakfast. Zenaxor takes one too and comes out with towel-dried hair. He turns to look out of the window and I catch sight of his braided hair. It is clean but looks matted, he has not taken the braid out since arriving and lots of strands of hair have come loose. I open my mouth before I can stop myself.

“Zenaxor?” He turns to me and I gulp, summoning my courage. “Do you want me to do your hair?”

“Do my hair?” He repeats, confused.

“Uh, brush it and braid it,” I offer. “I’m afraid I can’t do nearly as intricate a braid as you’ve got now, but I can do a simple plait.”

He pulls his long hair over his shoulder and looks down at the messy braid. “Yes, I would like that.”

Pleased that he has agreed, I retrieve my hairbrush from the bathroom, then I walk over and sit on the sofa. I point to the carpet between my legs. “Do you want to sit here?”

He gracefully lowers his huge body onto the floor. I have to spread my legs wider to accommodate his broad shoulders. I untie the piece of rope holding the end of his braid together and lay it on the sofa by my thigh. I start untying the bottom first, pulling all of the strands free. His hair is very similar to ours, but I’m startled to find it drying before my eyes. There is so much to learn about the Jalix.

I work my way up his braid. Neither of us talk and when I glance down at Zenaxor, his eyes are closed. I think he’s enjoying this but I can’t be sure. His hair is silky and soft between my fingers. I reach his scalp and my fingers catch his left horn, protruding out of his hair. He groans and I freeze, worried that I’ve done something wrong.

“Did I hurt you?” I ask concernedly.

“Sorry,” he whispers. “That felt good.”

“Your horns are sensitive to touch?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me as I run my fingers up the side to the point.

He moans and clenches his hands into fists. “They are very sensitive,” he says lowly, his voice thick with…arousal?

Holy shit.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, blushing my head off.

I can’t believe I just touched them, twice.

“It’s okay,” he says, sounding…different.

His voice is all husky and deep, it makes me blush. I’m so glad he’s facing away from me and can’t see how flushed I am right now. I focus on his hair instead. I gently brush through it, getting out all of the knots. Some of them I have to pick apart with my fingers and I find it oddly satisfying when the brush goes all the way through without resistance. His hair is so thick and healthy, I’m jealous.

I get to work on braiding his hair. I start at the top, adding strands from his scalp while being very careful to avoid his horns. I pull the strands tight, creating a neat braid. Each of the strands is included, I use all of his hair to create a thick braid that, when I’ve finished, comes down to the middle of his back. I tie the ends with the piece of rope he used.

“Okay, turn around for me please,” I tell him.

He gets up onto his knees, turns around and faces me. I swallow hard, unprepared for the eye contact. I force my eyes up to his hairline and check for any stray hairs that I’ve missed. I tuck a few of them back into the braid. The others that are baby hairs and are too short, I brush down with my fingers so they’re not sticking up in all directions. My finger accidently brushes over one of his horns and his eyes close tightly. I watch his hands fist on his lap again.

“Sorry,” I whisper.

His eyes fly open and meet mine. My mouth goes dry at the sight of unadulterated lust blazing in his eyes. Something passes between us, I can’t identify it but we’re both feeling it. I gulp and manage a weak smile. “Looks good.”

He studies my face and then gives me a small smile. “Thank you.”

Chapter Four

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Lily.

The next morning, Zenaxor and I go on the walk around the lake and through the trees again. Like always, he is mostly lost in thought and we don’t talk much. Zenaxor is the only Jalix I have met so I don’t know whether his reserved nature is unique to him or a common trait in his species. It feels rude to ask so I don’t.

The guards arrive at twelve on the dot. They have the drill with them and the lunch blood bag. Zenaxor’s fangs have started to regrow but are not so long as to need the pliers. I wait until the guards have him sitting down then I step forwards.

“Show me how?” I ask, keeping me expression curious as I lean in closer.

Officer Houghton looks at me suspiciously. “Why?”

“I want to know how to do this so I can do it myself,” I snap. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, I don’t particularly enjoy having members of the military traipsing in and out of my house twice a day.” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “I want you to teach me how to do this so I can do it instead and you can drop the blood bags through the letter box or something.”

He narrows his eyes at me and I glare right back, hoping that he buys it. “You are going to shave the Jalix’s fangs every day?” He says dubiously.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, that’s what I’ve just said. You can watch through the window when I do it tomorrow if you’re so bothered by it.”

“I will,” he says tersely but steps aside to let me closer. “You need to press this button and hold it right against the tooth until it files down. Like this.”

I glance down and flinch. There is so much anger in Zenaxor’s eyes as he glares up at me. I can see hurt alongside his fury and my heart tugs in response. I check that neither of the guards are looking directly at me and then look back at Zenaxor.

“Trust me,” I mouth to him.

He narrows his eyes and watches me carefully. I nod to Officer Houghton, frowning and pretending to look interested.

“This hurts him, is it really necessary with the collar?” I ask.

“It stops him from biting you. If he bit you, the collar would go off but he still would have been able to get a bite in first and hurt you. This removes that chance,” he explains.

I flick my eyes over to Zenaxor and then back at Officer Houghton. “I…didn’t realise that. Thank you, that makes me feel safer,” I tell him, hamming it up.

“Want to try on the other fang?” He says and offers out the drill.

“Please,” I reply and take it from him, even as my stomach roils.

I give him an apologetic look and then press the drill to his other fang. He squeezes his eyes shut as I file the tooth down until it is the same length as his others. When I’m done, I take a deep, steadying breath and hand the drill back to the officer. I force a smile.

“Thank you, if you leave the drill here, I’ll do it every day at twelve.”

He looks wary for a moment before nodding. “Very well. We’ll swing by at twelve tomorrow and check you’re doing it.”

“Sure thing.”

I lead them out and shut the door firmly behind them. I spin back around to Zenaxor, who is watching me curiously.

“I’m sorry about that,” I tell him in a rush. “I wanted to get them to stop, this is the only thing I could think of. Tomorrow, when they look through the window, we’ll pretend I’m doing it but I promise I won’t.”

His face softens and he glances at the closed door and then back at me. “Thank you, Lily.”

It’s the first time he’s said my name and the way he pronounces it and the soft tone he uses makes my face heat up for some reason. He says it like it’s something precious.

“Why are you helping me?” He asks when I turn away.

I look back at him over my shoulder. “Because you don’t deserve to be treated like this. No one does.”

---

The following day, right on the dot, the same two officers go past my window. I make sure that they can get a good view of us through the patio doors.

“Okay, lean back and grimace for me,” I guide Zenaxor. “Look like you’re in pain.”

I keep a look of concentration and disgust on my face as I hold the drill as close I can to his tooth without touching it. The sound of the drill is loud between us. Zenaxor squeezes his eyes shut and grips the armrests until his veins pop in his arms. He’s doing a good job acting. The officers say something to each other, nod and move on. I breathe a sigh of relief and pull the drill back.

“They’re gone,” I say and smile at Zenaxor. “They’re looking good,” I add, gesturing to his fangs.

He reaches up and presses one against his thumb. “They’ll be back to their normal length by tomorrow,” he notes and nods gratefully at me. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do,” I reply and put the drill away.

“Can we go on a walk this afternoon?” He asks, surprising me.

I never really know what Zenaxor wants. I want to ask him what makes him happy, but it feels like a cruel question to ask a prisoner.

“Of course. Do you want to go the usual route?”

He nods. “I like the forest.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll just grab a bobble.”

I tie my hair up in a bun and freeze as Zenaxor’s eyes lock onto my neck. My heart beats a little faster.

Perhaps I’m wrong to let his fangs grow out.

As if realising that he is staring, he flicks his gaze back up to my eyes and gives me a reassuring smile. He opens the front door for me and I nod at him in thanks. We fall into step with each other, walking the route that has become our thing.

We loop around the lake, through the forest and back again. As we’re rounding the last bit of the lake, my cottage in view, I spot a guard patrolling. My stomach sinks.

He’s not meant to be here. He was posted at the embassy.

“You’re tense, what is it?” Zenaxor asks, showing off his uncanny ability to detect even the slightest change in my mood.

“Uh, nothing,” I reply quickly and avert my eyes to the trees instead.

“Lily?”

Fuck.

I give a quick, awkward smile to James and pick up my pace. Zenaxor speeds up with me, staying close to my side. So close in fact that are hands brush against each other. Unfortunately, James is set on talking to me and walks up to me, smiling widely.

“You look great,” he says and eyes me up, slowly dragging his gaze up and down my body until I feel uncomfortable. I don’t miss the way Zenaxor takes a small step closer to me, the back of his hand brushing mine.

“Hi, James,” I reply casually, keeping my voice neutral.

I move to step forwards and he steps with me, blocking the path again. “How are you doing? I haven’t seen you in months.”

For good reason.

“I’m good.”

My reply is blunt and doesn’t incite further conversation. James has never been one to take a hint though.

“I’ve been great. I enjoyed working at the embassy but they’ve got us on patrol now because of the portal opening.” His eyes move to Zenaxor. “I’ll be honest, I was worried about you when I first heard it had been assigned to you, but that collar is some heavy duty shit.”

I don’t like the way he’s looking at Zenaxor. I don’t like his tone and I don’t like the way he has referred to him as ‘it’.

“We’re good, we need to get home now. Bye,” I tell him and side-step him.

“Wait,” he reaches out and grabs my arm.

I tense up at his touch and Zenaxor growls. It’s an animalistic noise that sounds more like a dog than anything else. He presses me to his side and glares at James.

“Don’t touch her,” he snarls.

I’ve never seen him like this. I thought at first he hated me, but he never looked at me like this, with pure rage in his eyes. I feel oddly flattered that he is so protective of me.

“I don’t take orders from a mutation,” James says in a venomous voice. “Don’t forget yourself, you are nothing. Stand down.”

Zenaxor clenches his jaw and places his hand on my lower back. Where our skin touches, even over my clothes, my body feels warm. His touch is comforting.

“Don’t touch her,” he warns lowly.

“What the fuck is going on here? It shouldn’t be touching you,” James says, turning his anger towards me.

“He is assigned to protect me,” I respond tartly. “He is allowed to touch me. You’re not.”

“The fuck I’m not,” James spits. “You were more than willing last summer.”

I feel Zenaxor tense against me, clearly realising that something happened between us from what James just insinuated. I glare at him and clench my fists.

“Until I wasn’t,” I retort. “Don’t come near me again, James.”

“Or what? Your alien boyfriend will stop me? How’s he going to do that when I’ve got one of these?” He sneers and pulls out one of the devices for the collar.

Does every motherfucking guard have one?

“You press that button and I’ll tell my uncle that you laid your hands on me,” I threaten him. “Walk away, James or I’ll have you sent away again.”

For a second, I think he’s going to press the button. His thin lips are pressed together as he stares me down. Eventually, he scoffs and shoves the device back in his pocket.

“Fucking bitch,” he mutters and strides away.

Zenaxor steps forwards to go after him, his expression furious. I reach out and grab his giant bicep with both hands. “Don’t,” I beg. “Please. He’s not worth it.”

He glares at James’ retreating form, relaxing only when he disappears out of sight around the corner. He turns back to me slowly, his nostrils flared.

“What happened with him?” He asks, his voice demanding.

For some reason, I decide to tell him the truth. “Last summer, we dated for a bit. I ended things when I found him too controlling and he didn’t like it. I told my uncle he was making me uncomfortable and he had him posted somewhere else. I didn’t know he would be back. I’m sorry he threatened you.”

“He is nothing,” Zenaxor says. “I should have ripped his hand off.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” I reply gently. “But thank you for sticking up for me.”

He looks down at me, his expression pensive but I have no idea what he’s thinking in this moment. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I give him a sad smile. “I’ll try my best to do the same.”

Chapter Five

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Lily.

“They’re coming, get ready.”

Zenaxor dutifully opens his mouth and scrunches his face up in a pained wince. I hold the drill near his fangs, which are now normal length and sharp as a razor. I make sure my frown is in place as the guards pause by the window, watching us. I move to the other tooth, making sure I’m not actually touching it, and Zenaxor curls his hands into fists.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the guards move on. We stay in our positions a moment longer in case they come back. Zenaxor is in his usual attire, he’s shirtless again but now he’s wearing a pair of short black shorts. His body is incredible, he is pure muscle. He smells really good, like something woodsy and slightly warm like cinnamon. I wasn’t expecting him to smell so…tantalising. I thought he would smell more, well, alien. Maybe clinical or something foreign that I couldn’t identify. But no, his smell is…comforting.

I make the mistake of looking in his eyes. We’re so close that I can feel the heat radiating off him. His big black pupils are staring right at me, I feel as though they can see through me. He takes a deep inhale, his nostrils flaring. I watch as his pupils dilate, becoming bigger than before. A low rumble sounds in his chest.

What is happening?

I turn off the drill and pull it back so that he can talk. “What are you thinking?” I whisper, desperate for an insight to his mind.

His eyes search my face before he gives me a half-smile. “That you smell really good.”

“What do I smell like?” I ask to hide my surprise at his answer.

“Like the ubeetus flower from my planet. I have been told it is like jasmine for you.”

I smell like jasmine? Nice.

“But when you look at me for a long time, you start to smell sweeter, like honey.”

My face heats up and I both want to ask and not ask at the same time. I sort of know what he’s getting at but I’m scared of the answer.

“Why…why is that?”

He narrows his eyes on me and smirks. “Because you’re aroused.”

Heaven help me.

I quickly look away from him and clear my throat. I need to change the subject like right now. The alien knows I fancy him, just great. I check the patio doors and sigh with relief.

“All good.” I straighten up and put the drill away.

“Thank you,” he says gratefully.

Thankfully, it seems we’re both pretending that he didn’t just say what he said. He reaches for the blood bag, his face still contorted in a grimace.

“Does it taste bad?”

“It’s unpleasant yes, but I need it.”

“What happens if you don’t feed daily?”

“Same as with humans. We starve and then die. It takes about a week.”

The craziest idea comes over me as I watch him pierce the bag with a straw. I want to know what it is like to have him bite me.

“What if…never mind.”

His curious eyes flicker to mine. “What?”

“Nothing,” I reply quickly and turn away.

In a flash, he is on his feet and standing in front of me. He looks down at me, his eyes studying me carefully. “What were you going to say?”

I feel embarrassed and look down at my feet. “I was going to offer…” I trail off.

“For me to feed from you?” He finishes softly, his tone questioning.

Hesitantly, I look back up at him. His eyes are blazing with emotion, he looks turned on by the idea. My nipples harden and press against my bra. I guess I am too.

Great, now I probably smell like honey to him.

“Yeah. Silly, I know. I don’t know what came over me,” I ramble.

He reaches out and gently takes my wrist, stopping me from turning away. “It’s not silly. I’m very flattered, Lily,” he says gently. “But you should know the facts first.”

“Facts?” I repeat, my eyebrows drawing together.

“It is painful for humans if a Jalix feeds on them,” he begins. My frown deepens, I thought he said that Jalix feed on their mates and vice versa. Sensing my confusion, he continues, “If they are mates, it is an erotic experience, similar to having sex. Often, mates will feed off each other during intercourse.”

My face heats up even more. I feel so embarrassed about bringing this up, I should have let him have his pig blood in peace.

Why do I always open my big mouth?

“I don’t want you to feed off me if it’s going to be painful, my pain will set off the collar and I don’t want you getting zapped,” I tell him, not meeting his eyes.

“It will not be painful for you.”

I open my mouth and close it again, my brows drawing closer than ever as I frown deeply, confused as hell by what he is saying. Zenaxor gently places his finger under my chin and slowly tilts my head back so that my eyes meet his.

“It will not hurt you if I feed on you Lily because you are my mate.”

Say what now?

I gape at him in the most unattractive manner. Several times my mouth opens and closes but I can’t get my brain to work long enough to actual put words together in a sentence.

“What?” I eventually blurt.

“You are my mate,” he says solemnly, letting the words sink in. “When I came through the portal, it was for you. I knew where to open it because I could sense you nearby.”

“I-I…you…what?”

Zenaxor is thankfully much more cognisant than me and guides me over to sit down on the sofa. I stare at him, trying to process his words. This man, this alien sitting next to me, is fated to be my soulmate. I feel like my brain might explode.

“I don’t understand,” I breathe. “You…you’ve known all this time? Why haven’t you told me?”

Guilt crosses his handsome face. “I had to be certain. The first day, I was just trying to work out how I was going to survive. Although you showed me kindness that the others did not, I had no way of knowing if you were a part of this, if I could trust you. You have shown yourself to be true the last few days.” He looks away guiltily. “I wasn’t even sure if you would find me attractive, although your scent has been telling me otherwise. I have been trying to find the right time to tell you. I didn’t want to scare you.”

His words hurt but I can understand them. He didn’t know whether he could trust me or not, maybe he still doesn’t. I can’t blame him with the way he’s been treated and is still being treated.

“I will never hurt you,” I promise sincerely.

He reaches out and takes my hand. I look down at his golden skin against mine. Even though I am tanned, I don’t have the same rich skin tone as he does. There is more yellow in his colour and more brown in mine. His skin is warm and comforting against mine.

“Feel that? That safe, warm feeling. Like home?” He says gently, as if trying not to scare me. “That means we belong together.”

I stare at our intertwined fingers. His nails look pretty normal, except for the fact they are dark gold, but I know for a fact that they can turn into claws when he is fighting. I’ve seen the pictures, I’ve watched them extend when he has been threatened or angry.

“I am your mate,” I repeat slowly.

“Yes.”

I look up and meet his eyes. “So…you can feed from me and it won’t hurt?”

“It will feel the exact opposite,” he replies, amusement making his lips twitch.

My face heats and I look back down at our hands again. He gently cups my cheek and makes me look up at him once more.

“Knowing what you know now…are you still offering for me to feed from you?” He asks, hope shining in his eyes.

“Will you feel better if you do?” I ask nervously.

“The pig’s blood is not high in nutrition. I am weaker on it. If I were to feed from you, I would regain my strength. But I do not want you to offer your blood unless you truly mean it. Feeding for mates is a very intimate and erotic experience. You have to be sure you will be comfortable with that.”

My cheeks are on fire. We haven’t even kissed yet and we’re skipping straight to erotic feeding.

“H-how do I know it won’t hurt?”

His eyes darken and he gets to his feet. I watch as he goes into the kitchen, my eyes widen as he comes back with a knife in his hand. He sits down next to me and opens his palm. For the first time, I notice two faint scars across his palm.

“I will make you a blood oath, kisera.”

“Kisera?” I ask.

“It means loved one in my language. It is a…” he searches for the words and pronounces them carefully, “A term of endearment.”

“Oh.” My cheeks are seriously burning up right now. “What is a blood oath?”

“Exactly like it sounds. I promise you something and bind it in my blood. If I break the oath, I suffer great pain.”

“No, I don’t want-”

“It won’t kill me,” he reassures me. “It will just hurt for a while. I have made two blood oaths before.”

“What were they?” I ask before I realise that’s probably a personal question.

“The first was the one I made when I became Lorsett. I swore to protect my clan.” His jaw clenches. “The second was to my brother, Nexor, to bring him safely home from a war we waged against another clan. I have not broken either of them.”

I watch as he presses the tip of the knife to his palm. It cuts through his skin and the blue droplets bubble to the surface. I forgot that their blood is blue.

“I swear to not intentionally hurt my mate unless the pain is part of a punishment. I vow to protect her from harm at all costs.”

My eyes widen and my eyebrows drop at his words. He closes his fist and lets the blood drop onto the knife.

Unless the pain is part of a punishment?

“What do you mean by punishment?”

“Punishments are carried out on my planet with spankings and paddling’s,” he says casually, like he hasn’t just dropped a massive BDSM bomb.

“Sorry, what?” I blurt. “You’re all into BDSM or something?”

“I don’t know what that is,” he says carefully. “Hold on, I’m going to clean up.”

I watch his retreating back, a million questions floating around my head. Does that mean if someone kills someone on Jalexus that they get paddled as a consequence? I’m so confused.

Zenaxor returns without the knife and with a clean hand. He sits down next to me and I stare at him for a moment, lost in thought. My eyes land on the blood bag sitting discarded on my coffee table and I remember how this conversation first came about.

“Um, where should I be for you to bite me? Do I just sit like this next to you?” I ask shyly.

His eyes narrow and he subconsciously licks his lips. “You can sit on my lap,” he offers and sits back on the sofa, pressing his back to it.

I take a fortifying breath and lift myself up to sit side-saddle on him. He gently cups one thigh and lifts it. “It might be easier if you sat like this,” he says and places my thigh on the other side of him.

I shift so that I am straddling him, my thighs outside his. I automatically reach out and put my hands on his big shoulders to steady myself. Our faces are so close together, I can feel his cool breath on me. His eyes lock onto mine. I’m so conscious of the heat coming off my pelvis. In this position, our crotches are pressed together and it is getting seriously warm down there.

Zenaxor gently pushes my hair back from my neck. I take the cue to pile it up on top of my head and use a bobble to hold it in place as a bun. My neck is completely exposed and Zenaxor stares at it hungrily. His hands land on my hips and squeeze.

“You have…no idea how much I want you…” he says slowly, through gritted teeth, as though it is a struggle to get the words out.

I realise that he is trying to hold himself back, to not just grab me and bite me. I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly feels very dry.

“You can bite me,” I whisper, feeling self-conscious.

His dark pupils flicker up to me. “You are certain? You understand that this will feel very intense for you? That it will start the link between us?”

“Link?”

“Our mating bond. We are bonded together by fate, but the bond grows stronger with feeding and fucking. They are the two ways to strengthen it. When we carry out both at the same time, we are bonded for life.”

Oh, sweet Jesus.

Chapter Six

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Lily.

My mouth is now like a desert. I think all moisture has gone to between my legs. This giant brute of a man has just said fucking and I’m losing my mind like I’m an inexperienced virgin. Never has a word sounded so hot and so crude. Images of me on my back with him pounding me while biting down on my neck fill my brain, sending my temperature up another few degrees. I’m on fire.

His big hands cup my face, bringing me back to the present moment. My eyes lock with his. “You have to be sure, kisera.”

Like I would say no to a man being fated to me.

I gulp and nod. “I’m sure.”

Instead of lowering his head to my neck like I’m expecting, he leans in and presses his lips to mine. It’s a sweet and gentle kiss at first. My eyes close and I wrap my arms around his neck, ignoring the cold sensation of the collar. His hands tilt my head for a better angle and he moulds his lips to mine. We fit perfectly together.

The kiss becomes more heated as he moves his mouth against mine. He nudges my lips apart with his tongue and pushes inside to taste me. He tastes strangely sweet, like honey, it’s kind of addictive. I explore his mouth with my tongue, eager to taste more. He does the same, rubbing his tongue against mine. My pussy is clenching around air, aching to be filled. Without really intending to, I rock my hips. He groans into the kiss and my heart beats faster at the feel of something very large, very hard and very hot underneath me.

Heaven help me.

By the time he pulls back, I’m as wet as the ocean and breathing heavily. I’m sitting on an alien dick. My lips are swollen and my cheeks flushed. I feel like he’s done so much more than kiss me.

“See what it could be like?” He whispers, a smile spreading over his lips.

His smile flashes his fangs and I shudder with delight at the thought of him biting me. I nod at him.

“I want it,” I whisper back. “Bite me, please Zee.”

His eyes darken and he grabs my hips. “Say that again.”

“Zee?” I repeat, frowning in confusion.

“I love it,” he growls and kisses me quickly. “Your own nickname for me.”

My chest rises and falls with each laboured breath as he kisses down my cheek, along my jaw and to my neck. My breath hitches as he reaches the junction between my shoulder and my neck. His mouth opens against the artery pulsing with my rapidly-moving blood and he sucks. I moan and rock my hips again. He growls against my skin and I feel the scrape of his fangs.

“Oh, God,” I cry out as the scrape goes directly to my clit and makes it throb.

He licks my skin, finding the right spot. I feel the moment that he takes a deep breath. I squeeze my eyes shut and yelp as I feel his impossibly-sharp fangs break my skin. It stings for all of two seconds before a rush of pleasure hits me like a freight truck. My fingers dig into his bare skin and he doesn’t even flinch.

The growling groan of pleasure that comes from his chest makes his entire body vibrate. I tremble on his lap, pleasure radiating out from my neck where he is biting me and down to my clit. I grind and rub myself against his erection and the friction is all I need to send me over the edge. I come hard on his lap, a euphoric feeling rushing through me.

I’m a bit dazed as Zenaxor pulls his fangs out and licks my neck. He looks up at me, his eyes bright with lust. I blink at him, trying to get my brain to function normally.

“That…that was…wow,” I blurt.

He chuckles and kisses my jaw. “Yes, it was.” He smirks at me. “You came on me.”

I look down and grimace at the sight of the large wet patch in the centre of my leggings. Zenaxor stares at it heatedly and then looks back up at me. He strokes over my hot cheek.

“Don’t be embarrassed, I live to satisfy you,” he murmurs. “I almost found my release too. Your blood is exquisite, like nothing I have ever tasted before.”

I feel strangely flattered by that.

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Zenaxor.

Drinking my mate’s blood has restored my strength. I had been weakened by that bland pig’s blood and now, having fed from my mate, I feel myself again. I feel energised. I watch her paint, her hands moving quickly as she smears paint in targeted areas on the canvas. We do not have art on Jalexus, we are not a creative species. The clothes makers weave sixnas into cloth, the carpenters and joiners make furniture and other items. We do not have painters.

I picture Lily painting in the chamber of my castle. The tower has glass panes on five sides, she could set up her easel there. I am learning so many English words during my time here. I had never heard of an easel before. A strange word, like so many others on this strange planet.

Her hair is tied up in what she refers to as a messy bun. I like the look on her, lots of strands have fallen free and frame her beautiful face. She is incredibly beautiful. Jalix females have rounder eyes and narrower faces than humans, I like the almond-shape of Lily’s eyes and the way her cheekbones are more pronounced.

She bends over to pick up a new tube of paint and my cock twitches in my shorts. She has the most amazing ass. I’ve seen her in tight leggings that hug every inch, and she’s wearing a pair of shorts that barely cover the curve of her butt. Each time she bends over, I get a glimpse of the pale pink underwear she has on underneath. I want to bury my face between her legs from behind. I want to worship her with my tongue.

Ever since she reached her orgasm on my lap with my fangs in her neck, I can’t stop thinking about making her come again. I loved the way she moaned and rubbed herself against me. I’m desperate for more. When I get her back to my home, I am going to spend my days making her come. Perhaps I will start my day by bringing her to climax, that would be the perfect way for us to both start our days.

Two guards walk past the window, looking in with frowns. They’re constantly on patrol, every hour they pass by her house and check in on us. I glare at them and make sure my fangs are tucked inside my mouth. I can’t have them seen, Lily would get into trouble and I refuse to let that happen.

I hate the guards with the fire of the Jalexus sun. I want to rip apart the guard that touched her on our walk. He was arrogant and he touched what belongs to me. The thought of killing him makes my hands clench into fists. Lily will be safe from krisnots like him when we are back on my planet.

“What are you thinking about?” Lily asks softly.

Her words are muffled by the paintbrush between her teeth but I can understand her. She glances over at me and then returns to adding some blue to her canvas. I have never seen art before this trip so I do not have any expertise, but I think her paintings are incredible. I want to hang them in my castle.

“I was thinking about what it will be like to take you back to Jalexus.”

She drops the paintbrush she’s holding and the second one falls from her mouth. She curses as she scoops them up from the floor. I can see now why she works on a tarpaulin. Her eyes are wide as she turns to me.

“You want to take me with you to your planet?”

I frown, confused by her statement. “Of course I do. You’re my mate, you belong with me.”

She opens and closes her mouth. I have learned that she does this when she doesn’t know what to say, she calls it being ‘at a loss for words’. I realise that she might need some more encouragement. I know there are things she loves about Earth, but surely she knows that the more logical option is for her to return to Jalexus with me.

“You will be safer on Jalexus,” I tell her. “I will look after you. You will live in my castle and want for nothing.” I can see from her panicked expression that I’m not convincing her, I don’t know why. I try to play into what she enjoys, “I have the perfect place for you to paint. It is in the tower with glass panes on five sides, you will receive much natural light.”

Her eyes soften ever so slightly and she takes a deep breath. “If I went back to Jalexus with you…I would never come back to Earth again?”

I shake my head. “No. But you don’t belong here, your home is with me now.”

Confusion and hurt sits in me as I watch her roll her lips between her teeth. She turns back to the painting and quietly continues. I don’t understand why she is upset. Jalexus has so much to offer that Earth does not. Although, I will miss the walks with the wildlife. I can understand why she will miss the deer and the squirrels. They are amusing animals with bushy tails.

“If I were to go with you to Jalexus…” she begins and trails off. I bite my tongue from correcting her. She will be going back with me, there is no question. “What would my life look like? What do you do on a day-to-day basis?”

My eyebrows pull together as I think of my answer to her question. “As Larsett, you will not have many responsibilities except to attend events as my mate.”

“Larsett?” She asks.

“The female counterpart to Lorsett,” I explain. “I am Lorsett of the clan, I both lead and protect my clan. As Larsett, you are my partner and mother to our children.”

The mention of children makes her face turn red. Jalix do not blush and I find the human reaction to be very endearing. It is also very useful for me. I do not always understand what Lily’s facial expressions mean and it can be difficult to guess what she is thinking, her blushes always give her away. My mate is embarrassed by the idea of us procreating. Instead of teasing her about it, I change the subject.

“I imagine most days will be the same as they are here. You can paint, go on walks, meet with any friends you make. Lots of women learn to weave sixnas cloth.”

“Sixnas?”

“It is like a silkworm. Worms that live underground produce fibres that we weave into our clothes. We also make clothes out of some plants too.” I shrug. “You could learn to make clothes, or perhaps you could read? Since we first travelled to Earth, we have had many English books made to help other Jalix learn the language.”

“And what will you do?”

I can tell she is interested now because she has put down her paintbrush and turned towards me to give me her full attention.

“I spend most of my time with my court of advisors, the elders, making sure the clan runs smoothly. We control market days when people trade goods, we ensure that the town limits are well-patrolled and not breached by rival clans. I am different from other Lorsett’s in that I prefer to keep good relations with the clans around us. It means we are less prone to attacks.”

“That sounds like heavy stuff,” she murmurs and when she notices my frown, puts it into more simple terms, “It sounds like you have a lot of responsibility.”

“It is expected when you are Lorsett.”

“How long have you been Lorsett?”

“A decade in human years.”

“You have had that responsibility since you were twenty?” She says, surprised. “That it is a lot.”

I shrug. “It is a role I was destined to take. When my father died, I inherited the clan. It was always his intention for me to take over.”

I study her face and notice some tells. Her eyes are tight and she is chewing on her bottom lip. She is anxious for some reason.

“What is it?”

“I um…you mentioned the spankings, can you explain more about that?”

Chapter Seven

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Zenaxor.

Ah, my little mate wants to talk punishment.

“In our society, males are the protectors,” I explain to her. “They are expected to provide for, support and protect their mates. In addition, they are also expected to discipline and guide their mates in the correct behaviour.”

She frowns and crosses her arms over her chest, a naturally-defensive position. “Are Jalix females particularly disobedient?”

I nod. “They are wilful and have a natural instinct to challenge their mates. They like to push rules and see how much they can test their mates. A sign of a strong male is his ability to discipline his mate. A sign of a strong female is her ability to both obey him and defy him.”

“So, let me get this straight. The females break the rules to see how the males punish them and if they spank them hard enough, they’re a good male?”

I frown at her oversimplified description. “That is a very simplistic summary, but it is at heart correct, yes.”

“What if your mate doesn’t push it? Doesn’t break the rules?”

I give her a smug smile that makes her eyes narrow. “They always do eventually, it’s in their nature. The spankings can be pleasurable, too. I know plenty of females who have purposefully misbehaved to receive a spanking. I have been told that humans refer to that behaviour as being ‘brats’.”

Her face flushes pink again and she looks away from me. I decide to continue, seeing as she asked. I want her to know everything about my world because it will one day be hers, too.

“The punishments can be pleasurable or painful, depending on the level of discipline involved. If the infringement is very bad, the female will be placed in a cell in public so that others can see she has misbehaved. It is a temporary punishment intended to make them think twice before doing it again. Part of protecting our mates and keeping them safe requires them to do as they’re told.”

She frowns, facing her painting but not yet moving her brush. “I don’t know that all sounds a bit chauvinistic to me.”

“It is how things have always been done,” I reply firmly.

Lily presses her lips together and doesn’t say anything more. She resumes painting and I consider the matter done with. She really is talented.

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Lily.

“To get you out of here, we’ll need to find out where the tech room is,” I tell Zenaxor as he nods at me. “I have no idea where it is on the compound, my uncle is very secretive.”

I always thought it was because he works for the government, but now I am realising that he is into some questionable and shady shit -like enslaving an alien race- and needs to keep that secret.

“I will go over to the main house under the guise of needing Sellotape.” Zenaxor pulls a confused face. “I need a convincing excuse for being in my uncle’s study,” I explain. “There is CCTV everywhere, so I need you create a distraction for the guards to watch on the surveillance screens.”

“A distraction,” he repeats, sounding reluctant.

I give him a sheepish smile. “I’m thinking yoga…or jumping jacks.”

He gives me a blank look. “I have no idea what either of those are, but I don’t think I’m going to like this.”

“Probably not,” I admit. “But I’ll be quick. I’ll find the layout of this compound so we know where the tech room is.”

“Where will the layout be?”

“Either printed out or on my uncle’s computer.”

“Why would it be printed out?”

“This is still an active work area. We have this thing called ‘Health and Safety’, where you have to legally have emergency exits labelled in case of stuff like fires. There are employees all over the compound, there must be some kind of map of the area.”

“How will you get into the office? Is it not locked?”

“I have a key card that I swiped last year,” I tell him, reluctant to tell him that I pinched the card so that I could sneak out of the compound using the back gates. It was the only way I could go out without an escort and it was also how I met up with James sometimes.

“Very well. I will distract them. What should I do if someone asks what I am doing?”

“Tell them that you’re sick of being cooped up in the house and wanted to burn off some energy. But make sure to talk with your mouth mostly closed because they’ll see your fangs.”

He takes a deep breath and nods. “I don’t like this but there is no other option.”

“Come on, it’ll be over before you know it.”

I explain to him briefly what yoga is and show him some basic poses. Zee and I walk casually from my cottage towards the main house. I have specifically chosen Sunday afternoon because that is when there are less staff around and my uncle is out playing golf. Middle-aged men can be so predictable sometimes.

Leaving Zee to start with some warm-up stretches in clear view of the cameras, I take the back door into the house. I nod and smile at Cynthia and Roland, the housekeepers, as they bundle various loads of washing into the machines in the large utility room. Both of them know me well, they smile back and nod.

I hurry down the corridor, keeping my expression neutral in case the guards see me on the CCTV. My uncle’s office is locked as usual, but I’m ready for that. There is a keycard panel on the door and I pull the card out of my pocket and press it to the sensor. It beeps, flashes a green light and opens.

I’m expecting to have to crack the password on his laptop, but the fire escape route is laid out there as clear as day, laminated and everything. I love legal H&S bullshit sometimes. I study the layout of the ground floor of the compound. The tech room is towards the back left of the main house, an area I’ve never been in. I try to stay as far away from my uncle as possible so I’ve never really roamed around this house.

Having got what I need, I step out and shut the door behind me. I casually follow the floor plan in my mind, going to the back corner of the house to find the right corridor. At the end of the hall, I see it. It’s a nondescript black door, but it has another one of those card-sensor locks. My uncle’s card should work on this door too, he is the owner of the compound after all.

Pleased that I’ve found it, I head back outside. Zee is in warrior pose, a look of concentration on his face. I put my hand over my mouth to stop from laughing. Zee looks at me expectantly and I nod, confirming I’ve got what we need.

“What now?”

“Back to the house,” I tell him.

I get the feeling he doesn’t like me taking the lead here. As a leader who is used to dishing out orders, it must be strange to be the one taking instructions for the first time. When we get in, I turn to him.

“Now, we’ve got to come up with a plan.”

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I lay in bed later that night, unable to sleep because my mind is racing. Zee and I spent the evening coming up with a plan. I can sense his excitement to get back to his planet, it’s really very sweet. I am glad that he is getting what he deserves, which is to go home.

My head is all over the place at the thought of these being my last few days on Earth. My uncle is going with the Prime Minister to visit Germany in two days. That will be our chance to get out of here, there will be less security with him not around.

There’s a soft knock at my door, making me jump as it intrudes my thoughts. I roll onto my side in time to see Zee step into the room.

“I thought I could hear you moving around,” he says quietly. “Can I join you?”

I’m a little surprised by his request, but I move over to leave room beside me. His huge form bends gracefully as he climbs onto the bed. I lift the covers over him and he tucks himself up against my body. He feels even bigger when I’m lying down next to him, there’s just so much of him.

His huge arm comes around my shoulders and pulls me against his chest. Despite all his hard edges and unrelenting muscles, he’s actually very comfortable to cuddle. I breathe in his scent and sigh happily, immediately feeling better than I did a minute ago.

This is the closest we have come to affection. The kiss and the bite, that was all lust. This is deeper somehow. I close my eyes and rest my cheek on his pectoral. His big hand rubs up and down my back.

“I could sense your distress from next door,” he murmurs, his breath tickling the top of my head. “I wanted to comfort you.”

“Thank you. I’m not stressed, I’m just…trying to process the thought of leaving.”

“It is a lot to ask of you,” he agrees. “But Jalexus will be a better place for you. You will be happy there.”

I can hear the conviction in his voice. He believes that he is doing the right thing by taking me back with him. I can only trust him. I have only known this alien a few days and he has already cared more for me than anyone in my life has in years. Since my parents, really.

I’m warm and safe. It’s easy to fall asleep in Zee’s arms.

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I’m standing at the end of my bed, staring at the bag sitting open, waiting to be packed. Zenaxor is firm with conviction that I’m coming with him. I look out of the window and back around my room, wondering to myself what really is keeping me here.

What will I miss?

With a sad heart, I realise that the view is what I’ll miss. This forest and the lake. Not the people as I have no friends or close family to speak of, and I will certainly not miss my uncle.

“Bring anything that holds emotional value for you.”

Zee’s rasping voice makes me jump. I glance over my shoulder and find him standing in the doorway, blocking it with his ginormous build.

One of the guards is taking me into town later. As agreed with Zee, I will go to the bank and withdraw my savings, all the money I’ve earned through painting. I won’t need the money on Jalexus and that way, it will look more convincing that I’ve run away. I don’t want my uncle getting any more of my money, he’s already going to get my trust fund. Hopefully, they will think that I’ve released the Jalix and run away to another country, not another planet. I suppose it doesn’t matter either way, they can’t come looking for me on Jalexus.

I make myself start packing. I fill my large duffel with everything I hold dear, including my jewellery, some of which I inherited from my mother, my best paintbrushes and paints. I don’t bother with my phone or my laptop, it’s not like they’ll have plug sockets on Jalexus. They have energy capsules that power everything.

I pack clothes too. Even though most Jalix don’t cover up, I will feel more comfortable having my jumpers and leggings with me. I also pack period products because I’m too shy to ask Zee whether the Jalix have similar menstrual cycles to humans. I pack my birth control too so I don’t have to worry about having shark week on an alien planet anytime soon.

The duffel is bulging by the time I have finished. It’s rather sad that everything I want most can be reduced to a bag, albeit a stuffed one. I sink down to the floor and sit with my back against the wall, staring at the bag.

I have never really felt like I know what I’m doing in my life. To be honest, does anyone? I’ve never felt that I’m carrying out my life’s purpose, or that I’m where I’m meant to be. I have no idea if leaving this planet for another one will change that. It will change things, that’s for sure, but for better or worse, I don’t know. I can only try.

The thought of never seeing Zenaxor again hurts me. It makes my chest tight and my heart aches at the thought of him being with someone else. In a very short space of time, I’ve grown to care for him. I could see myself developing real feelings for him in the long run. He doesn’t seem to be keen on the idea of us being split up. He has been protective and caring towards me. All I can hope is that he will keep being the same guy he is on Earth when we get to Jalexus.

Chapter Eight

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Lily.

I meet Zee by the front door. He doesn’t have anything to take back with him. I have my duffel bag and nothing else. I leave my phone on my bed because I have no need for it now. Looking around my house for the last time, I feel a sort of tug on my heart. I’m going to miss this little cottage, it’s been my safe space for the last few years.

I look down at Zee’s arm, where a small cut is already healing. He cut out the chip in his wrist earlier. He hasn’t fed on me since that first time, apparently human blood sates him for longer than animal blood.

Zee puts his hand on my lower back and rubs soothingly. I loved falling asleep in his arms, it feels surreal to think that I could be doing that for the rest of my life.

“Are you ready, kisera?”

The cute nickname makes me smile. I nod, looking up at him. “I’m ready, let’s do this.”

I drop my bag around the back of my cottage, then Zee and I walk casually over to the main house, acting like nothing is amiss. Zee follows me down to the tech room. I look at him for confirmation and he nods. We’ve been through this plan over and over again together.

I press the keycard gently to the reader. It clicks to unlock the door and I step inside. The room is very small, with only two desks in the space. Monitors cover one wall with various angled views of the compound from different camera feeds. There are two guys sitting at the desks, one is wearing headphones. I have never been inside this room, so I take in the layout quickly.

The one without headphones turns around, surprise on his face. I step inside and smile warmly.

“Hey! I don’t know if you’ve seen me around, I’m Lily and I live in the cottage outside.”

The guy stands up and my eyes immediately drop to the gun holstered on his belt. He frowns as he takes me in.

“How did you get in here? You can’t be in here without access clearing.”

“Oh, I’m sorry my uncle gave me his card,” I reply, holding up the card to distract him as I take another step closer.

“Your uncle?”

“Yes, the Minister of Defence,” I answer, still smiling.

I take another step forwards and the poor guy doesn’t even see it coming as I snatch the gun out of his belt. I spin it around in my hands to point it at him, then I take off the safety. His eyes widen and he immediately puts his hands up in surrender.

“Zee? Come in here.”

Zenaxor steps into the room and the tech guy almost trembles. His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “W-what is going on?”

Zee ignores him and walks around me, over to the guy who is still watching something on his screen with his headphones on. He hits the side of his hand against the guy’s neck, basically a karate chop, and the guy’s head instantly drops forwards, his headphones sliding off onto his lap.

“What the fuck did you just do?” The other tech guy blurts.

“Don’t worry, he’ll wake up in a few minutes,” Zee says casually. He walks up to the tech guy. “I need you to take this collar off.”

The tech guy gulps and shakes his head. “No way, man.”

“You must, or she will shoot you.”

Zee points at me and I straighten my shoulders and do my best to look threatening. I hold the gun a little higher. The tech guy looks back and forth between us, his eyes comically wide. With a shaking hand, he reaches back onto the desk and picks up a small silver box that looks like a remote. He holds it up and I step forwards, bringing the gun closer to him. He stares at it in horror as it points at his head.

“You do anything to hurt him and you’ll regret it,” I warn him.

My voice sounds different than usual. Cold, aggressive. I don’t like it but I also can’t bear the thought of seeing those electric shocks go through Zee’s neck again. The tech guy shakes his head, his hands trembling.

“It won’t hurt him,” he blurts. “This button releases the mechanical lock on the back of it.”

Zee glares at the guy and turns his head so that he can hold the remote against the seam at the back of the collar. He presses the button and the collar pops open. It falls to the ground with a clank. The tech guy yelps as Zee does the karate chop thing on him too. He falls to the floor in an unconscious heap.

“We need to disable the gate,” I tell him.

I take hold of the mouse and move it around the screen on the computer. Everything is automated on the compound. It’s easy enough to select the side gate on the screen and press the ‘unlock’ button.

“That should have worked. Let’s get out of here.”

We both rush out of the room and back outside. I snatch up my bag from where I stashed it and then I show Zee to the side gate that only the gardeners use. Sure enough, it’s slightly ajar from where it has popped open when the electromagnet was deactivated. We slip out into the forest.

Adrenaline bursts through me as we get deeper into the trees. I can’t believe this is actually happening. I’ve just helped an alien break out of the compound. I’m committing a felony right now. I will be arrested if we’re caught. We slow to a stop in an open clearing.

“I will not let anything happen to you,” Zee promises next to me, as if sensing my thoughts.

I nod and take a deep breath. “What now? Are you able to open it here?”

Zee looks around and nods. “Step back, I’ll create a portal.”

I watch as he spins his hands in a specific motion. On the second rotation, a burst of blue light appears in the middle of the air. It grows outwards as he widens the space between his hands. It looks like a star, the edges constantly move. As it gets larger, it shines so bright I can’t look directly at it. I squint and shield my eyes with my hand. When it is taller than Zee and about 2 metres wide, he turns back to me and holds out his hand.

I take his hand, fear coursing through me. He squeezes tightly and lifts his boot. I watch it disappear into the portal. Scared out of my mind but unwilling to stay here, I grip his hand and the handle of my duffel, and I follow him through.

There’s a loud whooshing noise that roars in my ears as everything drops away around me. It’s black at first and I feel a horrible dropping sensation in my stomach, like being on a rollercoaster. Seconds later, it becomes a little lighter, then the smell hits me. It smells like the air after rain. I blink and the darkness clears just as the ground becomes firm beneath my feet.

My mouth drops open. Around me is an entirely different planet, unlike anything I have seen before.

Jalexus.

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Zenaxor.

Not letting go of Lily’s hand, I use my free hand to close the portal behind us. A feeling of relief fills me as it snaps closed, cutting off her awful world and signalling our safety. We’re here. I’m home and I’ve got my mate with me. This could not have gone any better.

I glance over at my mate and find her looking around in awe. I step back and let her look around. My world looks very different to hers, from the sky to the ground. Her sky has a few stars and one moon. Ours is filled with stars, including our neighbouring galaxy, and our three moons. Our soil is a deep purple rather than brown and our water is green, although very similar in molecular make-up to earth’s water.

It is hard to gauge my mate’s reaction. Her eyes are wide as she takes everything in, but her hands are clutched together, as though she is trying to draw strength from them. This must be very overwhelming for her.

“I felt overwhelmed too,” I try to reassure her. “When I first stepped through the portal and saw Earth, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I promise, it will feel like home here, in time.”

Her smile is tight around the edges but she nods. “Okay.”

Jalexus is a few degrees warmer than Earth and we do not have such drastic seasons. The majority of our year, the weather is mild with little rain. It only snows on the mountains.

“Come, I will show you to our castle.”

Lily falls into step beside me, her little legs moving faster mine. “As Larsett, you will be given armlets to wear. These will tell others of your status. I will make an announcement to our clan tomorrow that I have found my mate, but you will need to wear the armlets in case we have visitors from other clans.”

“Armlets?”

“Thick bracelets made of gold. Precious gems and metals are very rare on our planet so wearing gold is a symbol of high status. The Jalix will know you are Larsett if you wear them.”

She presses her lips together but doesn’t say anything else. I purposefully opened the portal in the grove of my own garden. The winding path of glowing pale yellow stones leads out of the trees and towards the building. I watch Lily’s reaction carefully as she finally sees my castle. It is only two floors high but is very wide and takes up a large area.

The walls are curved, the building is made of our version of hard stone and smoothed over with a kind of plaster we make using clay from the rivers. I have had the castle painted a deep blue to symbolise the colour of Jalix blood. The windows are arched and there are several huge domes to make up the roof. It was very strange for me to see so many pointed roofs on Earth.

“Wow,” she says quietly. “It’s beautiful.”

My chest fills with pride. My mate likes our home. “It is yours now, too.”

She gives me a shy smile. I reach out and take her hand. Jalix do not hold hands the way that humans do as we often have our claws out and I have to concentrate on retracting them, but it is worth it to feel her small, warm palm against mine.

I take her inside and Lily’s head turns in every direction, trying to take in every inch. I hire staff to keep the place clean and the garden tidy, but they work normal hours so the castle is empty at the moment other than my brother and his mate.

“My brother Nexor and his mate Tahy, live in that wing over there,” I point to a door to the right. “I will introduce you tomorrow. Up these stairs is our wing.”

I show Lily our chambers. She looks at the round bed with interest and runs her hand over the thin blanket.

“I take it you don’t get cold?” She asks.

“Not the same way humans do,” I reply.

I haven’t told her that the duvet she uses feels like an oppressive heat to me. It is far too thick and I have slept with it off me every night I was on Earth.

“Jalix use only one of those when it is cold. If you are cold, I can have a thicker blanket made for you.”

“Thank you. I think I’ll be alright for now.”

“Very well. This is the cleaning room,” I tell her and place my hand on her lower back. I guide her towards the other door. “You call it the bathroom.”

“Wow!”

I smile to myself. I knew she would like it. The shower is against a wall studded with lapis lazuli. I am not usually an indulgent male, but even I could not resist having something decadent in my castle.

“That must have been very expensive if precious stones are as rare as you say they are.”

“It was,” I admit. “Although some of the lower pieces are imitations.” I point to the bottom of the wall that meets the shower tray and drain. “I wanted to indulge myself a little but I still have a great deal of wealth.”

She gives me a coy smile. “Humble, aren’t you?”

I feel embarrassed by her teasing and my nostrils flare. “I only mean to inform you that I can provide for you, kisera. I will take care of you as my mate.”

Her face softens. “I’m sorry, I was only teasing. From the size of this place, I don’t doubt that you are well-off.”

“Good. Now, I will let you get settled and meet you in bed.”

Her eyes widen again and I step out of the cleaning room. My stomach tightens in anticipation as I strip out of my clothes and climb onto my raised bed. Tonight, my mate shall share my bed for the first time. Soon, I will mark her and show everyone that she is my mate and my Larsett. Then in time, but hopefully sooner rather than later, she will bear my children. I close my eyes and smile to myself. This is all I have ever wanted.

Chapter Nine

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Lily.

I take a little longer than needed in the cleaning room. Nerves keep me loitering, spending time brushing my hair and washing my face. When I’m finally ready, I step out. My stomach flips at the sight of Zenaxor waiting for me in bed. One of his hands is behind his head, the other is resting on his chest as he stares up at the ceiling. I take a moment to look at him, appreciating the view.

I’m on an alien planet and I’m about to share a bed with one of them.

Zenaxor’s head whips to watch me as I start walking towards the bed. I swapped my clothes for an oversized t-shirt to sleep in. His eyes roam over me hungrily and my stomach flips for a whole different reason. He lifts the blanket and I carefully slide under at the initiation. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me up against him. I cuddle into his side, feeding off his heat. He really is so warm, I think this thin blanket will be enough.

“How are you feeling?” He asks lowly.

“Overwhelmed,” I reply honestly. “But also a little excited. Part of me can’t believe we actually left. I can’t believe I’ll never see my uncle again.”

Zee tenses up next to me. “Are you sad about that?”

“No, I’m not. And I’m questioning what that says about me. Shouldn’t I be more upset?”

“Having met your uncle, I can confidently say no, you shouldn’t be.”

His words, along with his hand trailing up and down my arm, reassure me. I close my eyes and listen to his steady breathing. I wait for him to make a move or initiate further touching but instead, I fall asleep.

I wake up in the middle of night, completely disorientated. My legs are tangled with his, his heavy breathing fills the room. I’m comfy and toasty, just lost. I take a few deep breaths, grounding myself and reminding myself where I am. I lay awake for a while, my mind racing with all the craziness of being on an alien planet. Eventually, I fall back asleep.

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The next time I wake, it’s light out. Zee is on his side, his broad back facing me. I lay on my back, staring up at the weird ceiling. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it last night. It’s curved and yet dimpled, like someone has gone to great lengths to add texture to the ceiling. It’s a lot of detail on something as simple as the ceiling. Zenaxor’s castle really is something and I’ve barely seen any of it. Smiling to myself, I stretch my arms out over the comfy bed. It’s my first day in a castle. In a way, I’m sort of like a princess. Well, not really, but I can pretend.

Zee rolls over and throws his arm over my waist. I rub my eyes and smile sleepily at him. He squeezes my hip and leans in. My breath catches as he presses his lips to mine. I clamp my mouth closed to stop him smelling my morning breath. He tries to deepen the kiss, his tongue probing at the seam of my lips. I pull back and shake my head.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth!”

He growls and presses his lips to mine again. He kisses me and I let him, but when his tongue swipes at my lips again, I pull away once more. Zenaxor frowns in frustration.

“I do not care about your teeth,” he says and I giggle.

“It’s not my teeth!” I tell him from behind my mouth. “It’s my breath. Morning breath.”

Zenaxor keeps frowning. “I don’t care about ‘morning breath’,” he says it carefully, like he’s trying to pronounce it correctly in his accented voice. “You are my mate.”

When he leans in once more, I push back on his chest. “No, Zee!”

I roll away and fall out of the bed. Getting to my feet, I rush into the cleaning room before he can stop me. I hear his growl of frustration as I shut the door behind me. I brush my teeth quickly, returning only when my mouth is clean.

Zenaxor is sitting up in bed, the frown still on his face when I come back in. He looks at me as I sit down and smile sheepishly.

“All clean now,” I say softly.

“You wouldn’t let me kiss you. You are my mate. We are allowed to kiss each other.”

I can’t help but smile. The way he is talking makes him sound like a pouting child.

“Not when I’ve got bad breath!” I grin and poke his bare chest, making his peck flex. “I’m not going to budge on this, Zee. You can take me over your knee and dish out one of your punishments, but I still won’t let you kiss me like that when I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

His frown deepens and he rubs his jaw. It strikes me as a very human action. His eyes flicker to mine.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says lowly. “You’ve never been over my knee.”

Feeling playful, I give him a coy smile. “No, I haven’t.”

Quick as a flash, he’s reaching out and grabbing my waist. I squeal as he brings me towards his chest and pushes me down so that I am horizontal. He shifts his legs to the side and plants his feet on the floor. Another strong move of his hands and I’m over his lap, my arms and legs hanging over either sides of his.

“Look at this,” he murmurs.

His big hand slides up one of my thighs. He teases the skin near the hem of my t-shirt.

“Are you going to spank me?” I ask breathily.

My heart is racing. I’m excited by this. His leg is pressing against my bladder and I need a wee, but right now, my mind is on his hand. It slides higher, under the t-shirt.

“Do you want me to?”

Yes.

“Yes,” I whisper.

Another growling sound comes from Zee, but this one is softer, more like approval. He pushes my t-shirt up, exposing my butt. My heart beats faster as I feel him grab a handful of my ass and squeeze. He lifts his hand up and I hold my breath, waiting for it inevitably to come down again. The slap lands and I flinch at the cracking noise that echoes around the room. The pain actually isn’t that bad, it’s the suddenness of it, the surprise. He soothes the blow and then lifts his hand to give me another. This time, it hurts more but I’m ready for the noise.

He moves to the other cheek for the next one. He hits harder and then lighter, alternating the harshness of the hits. The harder ones make tears pool in my eyes. I whimper as one lands in the same place as before, stinging the tender flesh.

“How are you doing, Lily?”

I swallow thickly and find my voice. “I’m okay.”

“Okay? I need more than that. Should I continue?”

“Yes.”

I hear him huff out a breath. “Good answer, you didn’t have a choice. This is a punishment and you will take it as one, whether you like it or not.”

I don’t know how to react to his statement. I’m conflicted inside, a mix of being turned on by the submission he demands from me, and outraged by him thinking he has a say in what happens to my body. Unsure of what to do, I lay limp on his lap and let him rain down smacks on my ass. The endorphins that follow each hit are addictive, I’ll admit.

He pauses for a moment and I wriggle on his lap. I rub my thighs together, finding them sticky near my underwear. Zee rubs my bottom. The way he caresses my skin tenderly is so different to how he was spanking me moments ago.

“Only a few left,” he says softly. “Can you take them?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. Zee gently slaps my butt.

“Tell me out loud, Lily.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Brace yourself, this is what a punishment spanking feels like.”

Then he rains hell on my ass. I flinch at each hit. The endorphins come eventually, but it’s hard to separate them from the pain that is coming in hard and fast. The slaps come every other second. He moves around, never letting me get used to a pattern so I can’t predict where the next one will be. My butt feels like it has swollen up to twice its normal size.

When it finally stops, I breathe out a sigh of relief and sag over his lap. The endorphins hit fast, in a rush that leaves me a little dizzy. I take some deep, steadying breaths and ground myself. If that is the worst a spanking can be, I can survive it. It wasn’t that bad, which is good to know. Although I don’t intend on getting into trouble.

Zee’s big hands caress my sore butt, massaging the tender flesh. “How are you feeling now, little mate?”

Warmth spreads through my chest at the endearment. I try to turn my head to look up at him but the angle is wrong.

“I’m okay.”

“How was it?”

“Painful but not too bad. I could handle it.”

His fingers brush over the seam of my underwear and I tense up. He purposefully traces my labia over the fabric.

“Do you think you can handle more?”

I don’t miss the way his voice has taken on a deeper tone.

“More punishment?”

“No,” he rasps. “Something else. Pleasure.”

As he says the word, he presses the fabric directly over my hole. It dips inside the tiniest bit inside me and the fabric turns damp.

“You are aroused.”

His observation makes my face go hot. I don’t say anything but he chuckles in amusement.

“I think you liked that punishment more than you admit, Lily.”

When I don’t comment, he pushes my thong to the side and rubs his finger over my bare lips. I gasp as he pushes one finger inside me, all the way in to the knuckle.

“So wet,” he growls and I clench around his finger on reflex.

He adds another and moans quietly. “You are so tight around my fingers, kisera. I cannot wait to be inside you.”

His words and his sexy rasp are like an aphrodisiac. He begins to move his fingers inside me, pumping them in and out. The noises my pussy makes are embarrassing, the wet squelches so loud.

“Listen to that,” he groans. “So fucking inviting.”

Hearing his accent wrap around the word has me moaning. He freezes at the sound and then moves his fingers faster. He seems determined to make me come. His thumb finds my clit and he presses hard against it. I buck my hips and roll into his thumb as he circles it. Once he has found a rhythm that has me gasping, he sticks to it. It doesn’t take long because I’m already so wound up.

As I start to orgasm, my pussy clenches around his fingers. He grabs a handful of my sensitive ass and squeezes it harshly. The bite of pain is enough to send me over the edge with a cry. He fingers me through the pleasure, his thumb never relenting on my clit as I moan and ride the blissful waves.

“Well done,” he murmurs and pulls his fingers out of me.

I feel oddly soothed by the praise. Zee rights my underwear and helps me to a sitting position. I wince as I sit down on the bed next to him.

“I have some cream that will help.”

He stands up and goes into the cleaning room, completely uncaring of the raging erection that is tenting his loin cloth from his body. My mouth hangs open at the sight of it.

He comes back with a pot of cream and gestures to the bed. “Roll onto your front.”

I do as he asks and try not to feel embarrassed as he rubs the cooling cream into my heated skin. When I’m done, he puts the lid on the pot and stands up.

“I need to wash. You are welcome to use the cleaning room while I am in it,” he says simply and goes back through the door.

I can’t bring myself to follow him inside. I’m still living off the high of my orgasm. Instead, I remain seated on the bed and braid my hair. I try to make sense of my thoughts as I sit there, reflecting on the craziness that is moving to another planet.

Zenaxor appears from the cleaning room and walks across the room. I gasp at the sight of his bare bottom. I only see the back of him as he disappears into the walk-in wardrobe. Hot-faced, I rush into the cleaning room and go through my morning routine.

When I’m done, Zee is wearing a loin cloth, covering himself. His eyes roam my body up and down, I haven’t changed out of my t-shirt yet.

“What should I wear?” I ask him.

He frowns as he thinks about it. “I assume you want to cover your chest like you did on Earth?”

My mouth drops open in surprise. “Uh, yes! Definitely.”

“I ask because no Jalix will wear coverings like yours. The females don’t have breasts like yours, they don’t feel the need to cover them like you do.”

“Well, I want to cover mine,” I retort indignantly.

“Very well,” he nods. “Our women wear a wrap made of sixnas instead of a loin cloth. I will have some brought in for you. For today, you can wear your own clothes.”

Seeing as the weather is much warmer than it was back in England, I choose a sundress that shows off my legs and some of my chest. Surely it can’t be considered as too conservative, I haven’t covered much, just the important bits.

“I will get you some food first, then I will give you a tour.”

For some reason, I forgot about the food problem completely. The Jalix feed off the Vivex tree, they don’t eat solid food.

“Is there anything I can eat on Jalexus?”

Chapter Ten

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Lily.

It turns out that there is a lot I can eat on Jalexus. Most of their world is covered in plants and the majority are edible for humans. Thankfully, I’m not the first human here so Zenaxor already knows which ones I can have. He gives me a selection of Jalix fruits. None of them are exactly like the ones I know, but they are similar and tasty enough that I clear the bowl.

“Now, a tour.”

He reaches for my hand and I smile at the gesture. He was stiff and seemed uncomfortable when we first held hands, but he retracts his claws and walks beside me as though it is natural now.

“Up these stairs is the tower, the room I told you about. I will have an easel made and put in this room for you.”

As he described, there are windows on five sides of the tower, allowing lots of sunlight in.

“It’s perfect,” I tell him and he smiles widely, pleased with himself.

He walks me around the whole castle. It takes a while seeing as it is so large. Luckily, it is early in the morning and not many people are about. We only see two other Jalix and they manage not to stare too much. I don’t blame them for being curious, I am the alien on this planet.

“When greeting each other, we rub our faces on each other’s necks. The person who greets the other first rubs their face first, then they swap.” He stands in front of me and turns my chin to the side so that he can rub his nose against the junction where my shoulder meets my neck. It sort of tickles. “Like this. Now, you do it to me.”

“What if the other person is shorter?” I ask as I lift up onto my tiptoes.

“They may lower themselves for you.”

He smells so good as I rub his neck. A thought strikes me and I pull back with a frown.

“This is very intimate. Do you do this to other Jalix’s mates?”

He frowns. “It is not considered an intimate act in our world. A Jalix would have no problem with me greeting their mate that way.”

Weird.

“Um, okay. I don’t love it but I’ll do it if I have to.”

“Good. We are going to meet my brother and his mate now, so you can practice.”

“This rubby-neck thing,” I begin and Zee frowns in confusion. “Do I have to do it to everyone? What if I go into a room and there’s like sixty people in there? Why the neck, too?”

“There are scent glands on our neck. By rubbing against them, you scent the person. Either they are familiar to you, or you will be able to recognise them next time,” he explains. “And no, you are not expected to greet everyone this way, only the ones you are specifically talking to. Think of it like shaking hands. You don’t shake the hand of every person in a room full of people, but when you introduce yourself to one of them alone, you can do it.”

“Okay, that actually makes sense.”

“Ah, brother, there you are.”

Zee rounds the corner and steps towards a male who looks very similar to him. He is not as handsome as Zenaxor, his face is more round and boyish. His horns are darker and larger, though. He has the same markings on his chest as Zee, just less of them. This indicates they are part of the same clan, I think. Next to him is a female Jalix. I assume this is his mate. The two brothers speak in Jalix to each other before turning to me. The proud smile Zenaxor gives makes my heart beat faster.

“This is my mate, Lily.”

“Hello, Lily,” his brother says with a stilted accent. “I am Nexor.”

He steps forwards and I realise this is my cue. Nexor leans forward, lowering his head. I turn my face to the side, exposing my neck. He presses his nose to my skin and rubs it back and forth, similar to what I called Inuit kisses as a child. I remain tense until he leans back. He turns his head to the side and I bite my lip, realising it is my turn. Lifting onto my tiptoes, I gently push my face into the junction between his neck and shoulder and do the same. He smells oddly refreshing, like cucumber. With relief, I pull back.

His mate steps forward. She has dark swirling hair that is tied up in plaits around her horns. She is not wearing anything on her upper body, but there are no nipples on the mounds of her breasts so it is sort of like she’s wearing a wetsuit or something. There is a wrap around her waist made of hot pink fabric.

“Hello Lily, I am Tahy. My mate is Nexor.”

Her voice has a kind of musical quality, like chimes. I smile shyly.

“Nice to meet you, Tahy.”

We do the nose-rubby thing and I smell her. She smells like what can only be described as fresh linen.

“I enjoy making Sixnas cloth,” she says and lifts a piece of her wrap. “I made this. I can show you how to make it.”

Her wording is a little stiff, but I can appreciate that they’re both trying to speak English for me. I really need to learn Jalix.

“I’d like that, thank you.”

Tahy steps forward and greets my mate. I feel an unwelcome surge of jealousy at the sight of her pushing her face into my mate’s neck. His expression is neutral, reassuring me that he is taking no pleasure in the act.

Why can’t they just shake hands here?

Tahy says something in Jalix to Zenaxor and then turns back to me.

“Zenaxor says I am to tell you about the ceremony tomorrow,” she tells me, clearly unused to the word ceremony. “You will become Larsett.”

Zenaxor and Nexor start talking in fast Jalix and Tahy takes me to one side.

“What does the ceremony involve?” I ask and she frowns, looking like she doesn’t understand. “What do I do? What happens?” I clarify in simpler words.

“Ah, I understand. It is where you will go into water and go under. When you get out, you will be Larsett.”

It’s a bit vague, but it sounds like a baptism of sorts.

“Okay. Do I need to say anything?”

“It will be said to you what to say.”

“Okay.”

I feel really nervous about it for some reason. This ceremony sounds like it is a big deal. I’m effectively being crowned as their leader’s mate and I have no idea what to expect other than I’ll be dripping wet by the end of it. I wonder if I should bring a change of clothes.

“Come on Lily, I will take you outside,” Zee says.

I say goodbye to his brother and Tahy and then take Zee’s offered hand. Tahy and Nexor both stare at our linked hands.

“Jalix really don’t hold hands, do they?”

“It is because of our claws,” he explains.

“Oh! I didn’t think about that. Do you find it uncomfortable?”

“It is not bad, I like holding your hand.”

His confession makes me smile. We step outside and it is even warmer than in the coolness of the castle. It feels so strange to look around and find nothing familiar.

“What are those?” I ask, gesturing to the large shining flakes of what looks like crystals sticking out of the ground.

“They are to scare the calpits. They do not like the light.”

Light bounces off the shining edges, like CD’s used to scare off birds I guess.

As Zee takes me through their version of gardens, we see some of the gardeners. They all stare at us, only looking away when Zee gives them a pointed look.

“I’m sorry, the looking will stop as they get used to you. We have not had a human in my clan. Although Jalix with human mates have visited from other clans, it is still not the usual here.”

“It’s okay, I get it.”

I’m staring wide-eyed at everything I see, so I can understand the interest.

“We can get you your armlets now, I think they will be ready.”

Zenaxor takes me to one of the many rooms in the castle. A Jalix is waiting for us, wearing what I’ve learned is the castle staff uniform. The loin cloths and wraps are a dark grey in colour. I’m glad that my dress doesn’t have sleeves because the gold bands are fitted to around my upper arms, just below my armpits. I am not expecting them to be comfortable, but surprisingly they are. I look at my reflection in the mirror and then to Zee, who is watching me with pride on his face.

“Perfect,” he says to me and then says something similar in Jalix to the staff member.

It feels odd to have the metal rubbing against my skin as we walk out, but I suppose I will get used to it.

“I am making an announcement later about finding my mate,” Zee informs me. “I will need you to stand next to me but that will be all you have to do, do not worry.”

I can see now why he wanted the armlets fitted. He told me that wearing gold is a symbol of status.

“What kind of announcement? You guys don’t have radio, do you?”

He shakes his head. “No. A fire is lit on the castle roof. It burns with a red flame and tells everyone to come to the square at midday. You and I will address them from the balcony.”

I gulp at the idea. It sounds very…official. I didn’t realise that, in getting an alien mate, I would also be crowned as a sort of leader.

Zee picks up on my nerves and leans down to kiss me. It’s only a quick kiss, soft and sweet, but I know he is trying to reassure me.

“Would you like something to eat first?”

He takes me through to the room where we ate this morning. Lunch is a collection of more fruits, this time with some edible leaves that taste remarkably like a mixture of bread and cake.

“One of the staff is going to cook you some more plants for dinner. I have been told that the ones chosen are very alike to some of your vegetables.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

He shakes his head. “You do not need to thank me, as your mate it is my duty to take care of you. Until we are bonded, you will need solid food.”

His comment renders me silent. Somehow, caught up in all of this, I forgot that when we complete our mating, I will be able to feed on him the way he can on me. I won’t need plants anymore.

“Can I still eat even when we’re bonded?”

“Of course. You can get your sustenance either way.”

I find that reassuring. I’m not sure if I will like drinking blood. It felt really good when Zee fed from me, but I don’t know how I feel about the one doing the drinking.

“Can you tell me more about this ceremony tomorrow? Tahy said that I will get into water.”

“Yes, there is a sacred bathing pool that you will be…what is the word? Submerged into.”

I raise my eyebrows. “How long does this submerging last?”

“Seconds.”

“Oh, that’s good. What else happens?”

“The elders of the clan will be there. These are the oldest Jalix in the clan and are a sort of council for me, the Lorsett. They will say a lot of words in Jalix and get you to repeat some of it. Do not worry, it will be easy to pronounce. Then they will unite our hands and tie them together and it will be over.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“No, it won’t be. Tomorrow morning, I will have to go to the sacred room first as Lorsett. There will be a meeting before the ceremony. You will be brought down later. You must wear no shoes and tie your hair up. It does not matter how, just make sure your neck is bare so that you can greet the elders. You can wear a sixnas wrap. I am having one made for you now.”

“Okay, thank you.”

He sits with me as I eat the strange food. Like breakfast, it is all so good that I clear my plate. I feel a little better about the ceremony tomorrow but I am still nervous. It all sounds a bit confusing, I will be relieved when it is over.

“After the ceremony tomorrow, my duties as Lorsett will resume. I will have breakfast with you each morning, then I must meet with the court for most of the morning. There will be a market day tomorrow and I can take you in the afternoon so that you can see some of the town. For the rest of the day, I will be patrolling the town limits with the guards.”

“You have quite an active role as leader, don’t you?”

He nods, his face serious. “A good Lorsett knows his people and works with them.”

“What would you like me to do?”

“You will be with Tahy to begin with. She said she would show you how to make sixnas cloth. An easel is being made for you and should be ready soon, then you can paint.”

The thought of picking up a paintbrush again fills me with excitement. There is so much new content here, I can’t wait to start. Everything is so new to me but hopefully it will become normal with time. It is not like I have any choice but to fit in. Jalexus is my home now.