Page 21 of Zalis
The warlord had been firm in his stance of not allowing unmated females onboard theJudgment. Emmarae and Ren had pleaded for Gemma to remain. The warlord’s mate had pointed out a few exceptions, but Zalis agreed with the warlord.
This was not a pleasure vessel. It was a warship. Suhlik aggression was increasing. What had been the occasional skirmish would now become frequent conflict. Keeping everyone safe and fed would be difficult enough without adding extraneous people.
No matter how he personally felt about that extraneous person.
Gemma would return to Earth. Zalis would miss his bright spot of sunlight. Their fate was unavoidable.
Then Gemma spoke and changed their fate.
She took her sister’s hand and said, “It’s okay. What if I pick someone? Can I pick the guy, or does it have to be random?”
The warlord paused to contemplate. “If a male would volunteer to be your mate, yes.”
Gemma said, “Zalis. I want Zalis.”
Him. She chose him. Zalis had always known he would be assigned a mate, selected based on genetic compatibility. He dreamed of having a loving relationship like his parents shared. A real mating of affection and regard, not obligation and base instinct. Perhaps one day, he and his match could grow into a real mating, but they would start as strangers to each other.
Except they weren’t strangers. Not entirely.
A single conversation did not make for anything more than acquaintances. Yes, he held her hand to make her feel safe. Thisoutburst was nothing more than a frightened female wanting security. Zalis stood taller than most of the other warriors in the hangar. He was larger than most as well. He was the logical choice. He should not read anything more into a very pragmatic decision.
Refusing her meant her return to Earth. Had the Earth authorities arrested her abductors? Unlikely. They failed to investigate when she went missing. Returning to Earth without protection was a bleak prospect.
Yes, this was a purely logical request on her part.
“Gemma, you don’t have to do this,” Emmarae protested. She clutched her twin sister’s hand.
“No, I do, and it’s fine,” Gemma said. Then, to his amazement, added, “I like Zalis.”
“You don’t know him.”
Completely valid.
“He’s sweet. Goofy,” Gemma said, which was less valid. Zalis did not consider himselfgoofy.
“This is stress talking. You don’t mean this. She doesn’t mean this,” Emry repeated in a louder tone, speaking to all present.
“Emry, enough.” Gemma moved to Zalis’ side. “Those assholes sold me. Sold. Me. Like a piece of meat. I’d be lucky if I ended up in a brothel, but we both know I’d likely end up dead. I know Zalis. I like him. He won’t hurt me, and this way we’ll get to be together.”
She liked him. Her choice was more than cold logic. There was some hope for a real mating, and that filled him with ahyperkinetic sensation, strong enough to rattle his horns and vibrate out of his skin.
“Zalis? What do you think?” Gemma asked.
“So much.”
For no rational reason—not fear nor a need for comfort—he reached for her hand. She was small compared to him, but he felt the strength in her.
A discreet cough pulled him back to himself. All eyes were on him.
“The decision is yours,” the warlord said.
GEMMA
Gemma panicked. She could accept that. She refused to go back to Earth and grabbed onto the nearest thing that looked like a life preserver.
Zalis. The poor guy stood there, stunned.
And yes, the irony of volunteering to marry an alien when she had so desperately railed against exactly that wasn’t lost on her. Except she picked the guy, which meant she hadsomecontrol in an otherwise out-of-control situation.
