Page 6 of Royal Alien Mate

“The anti-Earthers haven’t proven violent thus far,” Vaath replied.

“Yes, but if they are aware that the great Prince Vaath is expecting a human bride today, they might be moved to do more than shout their disapproval of Martian-human mating unions.”

“Martian?” Vaath scoffed at his friend’s use of the shortened version of Marttiaxoxalian typically utilized by the humans.

Jav shrugged. “Well, the humans refer to this planet as Mars and we’ve taken to calling it Mars as well, rather than giving it a new name as your father originally wished to do. Your father is the King of Mars, not Marttiaxoxalia 2 or New Marttiaxoxalia. Besides, I like the way it sounds.Martian. It’s exotic sounding and makes me feel like a savage, just as the humans say we are.” He chuckled as they neared the landing platform.

“You’re a member of the Vash’arr,” Vaath reminded him, keeping his tone humorous. “You are very much a savage and I pity any human female who ends up married to you.”

Jav smiled. “Speaking of human females, I have signed up to receive one.”

“Have you? Well, I will see that you’re moved to the top of the waiting list.” Though Vaath truly did worry for any female matched to Jav, as he knew that members of Vash’arr were positively ravenous and insatiable in the bedroom, he trusted his friend would not truly harm a female. He would simply need to learn to control himself, so as not to damage his human bride. If anyone was capable of such control, it was Jav.

“Thank you, Prince Vaath, I truly appreciate it. Speaking of favors, I do have a request for you. It’s about Rem.”

“Speak your request.” Though Vaath didn’t think Rem had friends, he recalled that Jav had fought alongside Rem in several battles against Earth, and even though Rem wasn’t a member of the Vash’arr, Jav claimed the guard had fought admirably and had personally disabled a nuclear weapon the humans were attempting to release upon a fleet of Marttiaxoxalian warships.

“He’s lonely. I think he would benefit from a bride. As you might have heard, he lost his betrothed mate many years before the war against Earth—she died when the Xieandans poisoned our water supplies—though what you might not know is that before the female perished, she had broken their betrothal and left him for another.”

“And you want me to…what? Order him to take a human bride?”

“Precisely. He is like a brother to me,” Jav said, surprising Vaath, who hadn’t realized how close the two males were, and he resolved to pay better attention to the goings on and interpersonal relationships in the palace. “I wish for him to find healing and peace.”

“I doubt he’ll be happy if I issue such an order,” Vaath replied in a wary tone.

“If you want me to beg,” Jav said with a small laugh, “I will get down on my knees and embarrass you during the next feast.”

“If you ever do such a thing,” Vaath said, “I will see you banished to the corners of the known universe. You know how I feel about such displays. When I am king, I will expect my subjects’ loyalty and respect, but I intend to earn it and I will not demand anyone kneel before me.” There was a bitterness to his tone and Vaath looked around to ensure no one had overheard him. He ought not to speak out against his father where anyone but his closest confidants might hear. His relationship with his father had only become more complicated since the Marttiaxoxalians had settled upon terraformed Mars and he didn’t wish for tensions between them to rise, not when he was about to meet his human bride.

Jav paused just before the landing platform and reached for Vaath’s arm. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. I see darkness in Rem’s eyes, a bleakness that I think only the sweetness and companionship of a female could cure.”

“Very well,” Vaath said, “I will grant your request. I hope you are correct that a bride is what Rem needs.”

“Thank you, Prince Vaath.”

“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Vaath said, gazing up at the ship, where several males were disembarking with their new females, “it is time I meet my bride.”

Chapter 5

Esmay stood in the women’s quarters alone, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm in her chest. A guard had informed her that he would personally escort her to the palace to meet her mate once all the other females had been claimed by their males. She didn’t understand why her future husband wasn’t meeting her at the ship and her spirits sank as she considered the possible reasons for his absence.

Perhaps he was coldhearted, or maybe he wasn’t anxious to meet her at all.

But the guard had specifically mentioned taking her to the palace. She wasn’t sure what that meant. She supposed it was possible she had been matched with a Martian who worked at the palace, a servant or mayhap a guard or a royal advisor. Her heart thumped faster. The idea of living in a luxurious palace—well, she assumed it would be luxurious, weren’t all palaces?—sent her nerves into overdrive.

She paced back and forth in front of the door. Though she was impatient to meet her mate, she was also growing increasingly anxious. She would soon meet the alien male with whom she would spend the rest of her life. Martians mated for life, or so she’d heard. They also lived a long time, much longer than humans, which meant her mate would probably outlive her.

What about their children? Would their children have the long lifespans of Martians, or something closer to a human’s lifespan? Before she could contemplate this further, the door zipped open and a huge blue Martian stood before her.

Her mouth went dry and she struggled for breath.

The male’s dark, unblinking gaze fixed on her and she got the sudden sense that he was sizing her up. He wasn’t dressed like the guards and she wondered about his identity. She took a step back and swallowed hard, then felt her face heating in embarrassment over her reaction.

Be brave, she told herself, and in the next moment she forced herself to take a step forward and lift her chin, despite the fact that her legs felt suddenly weak.

“Are you Esmay?” the huge Martian male asked, speaking in Galactic Common.

“I am.” She lifted her chin higher and studied his features. Like all Martian males, he had ridges on his forehead and long horns covered in dark markings that curved downward over his back. He wore tight, form-fitting black pants and a sleeveless white shirt that revealed his massive muscles. Her face heated further and this time it wasn’t due to embarrassment.

---