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York shoved him, putting him back on his ass.
Nodo’s dad rolled over and got up, attempting once more to tackle York. Her bond mate didn’t even try to avoid the large body coming at him, but instead kind of side-stepped, grabbed the man, and changed his direction. He released him fast, making him stumble into the still-downed second man. Their bodies tangled and both grunted, staying on the ground.
York crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you done? I have a shuttle to catch.”
“You ohlta!” The one with the broken nose spit blood out of his mouth. “No honor!”
Part of the insult didn’t translate to Sara’s implant. It was probably for the best. The men stayed down, nursing their wounds, but shot vicious glowers at York. Sara approached, keeping a wide berth of the injured Parri to move to York’s side.
“Nice work.” She smiled at him. “You know what? Now I’m getting hungry. It’s about lunchtime. Ready to go to your ship? I am.”
He wiped his hands on his black uniform pants and took the bags from her. “Sounds good. I apologize for that, Sara.”
“For what? You didn’t lose.” She winked.
He grinned back at her.
“You chose that ugly creature over my beautiful Nodo?”
York’s face darkened a deep shade of blue, and he growled. “She is not ugly!”
Sara put her hand on his arm and faced the elder Parri. “Here’s some advice. Maybe if your daughter could actually remember a guy’s name and not treat him like shit, he’d be more inclined to bond with her. Good luck finding some idiot to take her off your hands. I think you’re stuck with Nodo for life.” She glared at the one with the broken nose. “And you have a lot of nerve accusing York of having no honor. The three of you jumped him. Ever heard of a fair fight? Look that up so you don’t sound so stupid the next time you make wild accusations.”
York smiled at her gently. “Let’s go, Sara.”
She nodded. York moved her ahead of him, his touch comforting, and put his big body between her and the males on the ground. It was a courteous, protective thing to do. It made her like York even more.
They didn’t speak again until they’d reached an alien standing in front of a small shuttle.
He smiled and opened the door. “The Vorge, right?”
“Yes.”
“I recognized the uniform. I took another party up hours ago.”
York ushered her into the shuttle and got her seated, putting her bags on the floor. She remembered something then. “We forgot to pick up your things.”
“I had my friend Dovis do that this morning. He and his mate stayed at the same hotel as I did last night.”
“Oh.” She belted in and York took a seat next to her. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, examining his hands quietly.
“Are you hurt?” She leaned forward, seeing some darker marks on his knuckles but no bleeding or torn skin.
“No. Embarrassed.”
“For what? You totally handled those three men well.”
“Parri have a reputation for being violent, and it makes females leery of us. Males tend to use fists to work out their differences with each other. We’re barely bonded and already you’ve seen me in a fight.” His gaze locked with hers. “You’ve been very nice and understanding about this, Sara. I appreciate it.”
“Nice has nothing to do with it. Those guys were asking for trouble. Your restraint was amazing. You put them on the ground quickly instead of toying with them. I have a feeling you could have inflicted a lot of pain and damage if you’d wanted to. I’m not afraid of you, or put off by what just happened, York. I’m glad you can defend yourself.”
A small smile curved his lips as the shuttle engines came on. They were loud enough to make talking impossible unless they wanted to shout. The craft lifted off the ground with astounding speed, and Sara reached over, clutching his thigh in fear.
York leaned close and put his arm around her, bending enough to press his lips to her ear. “It’s fine. I forgot you aren’t used to this.”
She felt comforted by his hold and turned her head, putting her face against his chest. The shuttle shook a little and she turned toward him, latching on to his arm, too. It was a scary ride. They were hurtling into the sky at an alarming rate of speed.
York pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her more firmly. She dared to stare at the front, spotting the pilot and, beyond him, the open sky through the view windows. They were leaving Relon and heading into space.
When she’d been taken from Earth, the trip hadn’t been pleasant. Of course, she’d been in a cage and the cargo hold hadn’t had any windows. There’d just been a lot of motion, sound, and hanging on to bars for dear life. A padded seat with belts was a lot more comfortable.
And this time, her future looked better. She had York.
The rattling and shaking grew worse as they transitioned from the planet’s atmosphere into space. The sky turned black and the interior lights automatically kicked on to keep them from sitting in the dark. She heard the pilot speaking but couldn’t make out his words. Minutes later, she spotted a huge vessel.
York pointed to it, and then the insignia on his chest. She understood. That was The Vorge. It was huge and nice-looking, almost big enough to be considered one of those luxury cruise ships on Earth, only it flew in space.
And that would be her new home.
The pilot docked and shut down the engines. He rose from the front. “We’re here. Thank you for flying with me.”
York released her and they unbelted. He offered her a hand to help her up, and she was grateful for it, feeling oddly off balance. It was probably the difference between the gravity on the shuttle versus a planet. It had made her sick on the transport from Earth for the first hour.
“Are you well? You’re pale.”
“I’m not used to going from a planet and then not being on one.”
“I understand. I’ve been traveling for three years now. You adjust to it.” He got the bags and firmly took her arm. “Just lean on me, Sara. Do you want me to carry you?”
It was a sweet offer but she didn’t want him to see her as totally weak. “I’ll be fine.”
The pilot let them out of the shuttle. She figured he’d already been pre-paid, since York didn’t have to give him creds or place his hand on a pad. They entered a docking sleeve and stepped into a corridor on The Vorge. York led her through the ship to a lift, and then they got out on one of the floors.
She couldn’t help but stare. The last transport she’d been on hadn’t been nearly as nice. At least, not the part of it she’d gotten to see from the jail-like cage she’d been kept in.
York stopped at a door, released her, and pressed his hand to the surface. It opened, showing her a nice room that reminded her of a hotel suite. It had a small living area and a huge bed in the far corner. An open doorway revealed a bathroom.
“It’s not much but it’s ours,” York murmured.
“It’s really nice!” She’d lived in a hovel on Earth. Her apartment had been a third of the size and not nearly as clean or updated. The ceiling was a good ten feet high, too. Bright lighting showed off every inch. Not just two bulbs that tended to burn out often and need replacing—when she could afford it.
“Please, go in first.”
She did, figuring he didn’t know about the wedding custom on Earth of carrying his bride over the threshold, which was fine with her.
The furniture was modern, looked new, and appeared comfortable. She gawked a bit, taking in every inch of space. Not once did she ever think she’d get to live somewhere that big or clean. There weren’t water stains on the walls or ceiling. No faint scent of mold. Her new home made her smile.
York drew her attention when the door sealed them inside, and he put down her bags. “I wish it was better for you.”
She turned to him. “This is amazing, York.”
He looked surprised.
“This is the nicest
place I’ve ever been in. Trust me. My apartment building on Earth was hundreds of years old, and they didn’t often do many repairs or upgrades on it. It was tiny and cramped. There were cracks in the walls from age. I love this!”
“I’m glad.” His skin darkened. “I mean, not glad that you lived in such a place, but that you like our cabin.”
She drew closer to him and put her hands on his chest. “I wasn’t understating that I was very poor, York. All my life. I never had nice things or…well, many possessions at all. I think you bought me more new clothes today than I’ve been able to buy in my lifetime. I mostly got used things, since they were more affordable. I want you to know where I’m coming from. This,” she paused to remember what he’d called it, “cabin, is a huge upgrade for me. I really love it. I’m not just being polite. I’m easy to impress.” She winked. “Just so you know. Stop worrying so much.”
He smiled, gently putting his hands on her hips. “I’m glad you’re my bond mate.”
“I am too.”
He gently caressed her hips, and then cleared his throat. “Food. Right. Do you wish to eat here or with the crew? I don’t want to overwhelm you, but they are going to want to meet you soon.”
What if they hated her? She was human, and aliens didn’t seem to like them.
Then she remembered what York had told her about his friends. They had chosen her kind to marry. Other humans would be onboard.
On the heels of that thought, new fears worried her. York had told her that Nara, the captain’s woman, had left Earth and had owned a trade vessel. That must mean she’d come from money to be able to afford to that. What if she hated Sara for having been born in the slums? Thought she wasn’t good enough for York? Mari might be more accepting, since she’d been a slave.
She wasn’t ready to find out how the other two humans would react to her.
“Could we eat here for today? Maybe tomorrow you could introduce me to your crew?”
“Whatever makes you feel at ease, Sara. I want you to be happy with me.”
“I am.” He was such a sweetheart. She’d really lucked out. “On Earth, we have what’s called a honeymoon. It’s where the couple that gets married spends some days alone, kind of getting to know each other.” She didn’t mention the tons of sex, not sure she was ready to go there yet with York.
“I like that. We can bond and learn more about each other. I need to speak to my captain, though, and I’ll bring us food. Will you be fine alone? Otherwise, I could call him to come here and ask Midgel to deliver lunch.”
“You can go. I’ll be fine on my own. Just tell me where to unpack the things you bought me and that’ll keep me busy.”
He released her hips and inched away. She dropped her hands from his chest and followed him across the room to the bed. There were hidden drawers and storage in the wall next to it. All the ones lower than York’s waist were empty. That amused her. He probably didn’t want to crouch down to get his underwear. She didn’t mind.
The tour of the bathroom came next. He made sure she knew how to use everything in there and showed her where storage was located.
He hesitated before leaving. “Are you certain you will be fine alone? I won’t be gone long.”
He’s so thoughtful. “I’m good, York. Promise.”
He nodded. “I’ll show you around The Vorge when you’re ready. It’s large.”
That was probably a hint for her not to go snooping around on her own. “Maybe tomorrow. Today, I have no plans to leave our cabin.”
He nodded. “I’ll hurry.” He stepped out of the bathroom and she trailed behind, watching as he left.
She walked over to the bags and picked them up, grinning as she once again admired her new living situation. There were even port windows, but they were currently closed. She’d have to figure out how to open them later. For a girl who never thought she’d see space, that would actually be her everyday view from now on.
York had focused his thoughts to the Pods, the trio of aliens who could read his mind, and asked them to have the crew meet him in the dining hall when he’d first come onboard The Vorge. He also asked them not to tell anyone that he’d taken a bond mate. That was news he wanted to share himself. He made his way there and found that they’d done as he’d asked. The crew was assembled, waiting for him.
“What’s going on?” Cathian’s nostrils flared as he sniffed. “I smell blood.”
“He’s been fighting again,” Dovis snorted. “Nothing new, but this time I don’t see him busted up any. It must not have been a brawl. Tell us if Relon has an arrest warrant out for you or if one is coming. We’ll deal with it.”
“Diplomatic immunity again?” Nara chuckled. “That’s always a good excuse to keep you guys out of jail.”
One of the three Pods giggled. Midgel, their timid cook, startled over the sound, and inched away from the trio.
Mari glanced at the others. “Is that really a thing?”
“Sure is,” Marrow informed her. “We’ve had to clean up plenty of messes left behind by Raff. He tends to leave bodies, though, instead of just beaten-up adversaries.”
Raff crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.
“I have an announcement.” York stood straighter, staring at his crew and friends at their seated positions at the tables. “I have a bond mate.”
They looked surprised. Cathian rose slowly to his feet. “What?”
“She’s human.” York grinned. “I met her on Relon. Her name is Sara.”
Nara stood next. “Someone from Earth? Where is she?”
“In my cabin. She’s shy, and said we should have a honeymoon before she meets all of you. I’ll introduce you to her tomorrow.”
One of the Pods giggled again. “She’s willing. He did not buy her. And the blood isn’t hers. He was in a fight with males who were angry he didn’t choose a Parri female, instead.”
York scowled, glaring at his crew. “Who thought that?”
No one admitted it.
“Whoever thought the blood was my Sara’s, or thought I bought her at a slave house, is a shaft-head,” York grumbled. “I feel insulted.”
Cathian turned and stared at the Pods. They immediately sat straighter in their seats and locked their gazes on him. Long seconds ticked by as York waited. He wondered what his captain was saying to them, since he wasn’t using words.
The Pod known as One spoke. “She’s from Earth, is no threat, and she was the one to ask York to be her bond mate. She didn’t like it on Relon. She thought York was a very nice male. He had picked a ‘raging bitch’ to be his bond mate at first—that’s the phrase Sara uses when thinking of the female Parri—and she wanted to save York from being miserable.”
York growled and stormed forward. “Stop. Don’t read her mind or share her thoughts, One. It’s rude! I haven’t even told her about your kind yet, or that you can do that.”
Cathian turned to face him. “Blame me. You went down to the surface during our time off and returned with a human. It makes me wary. I didn’t even know you were looking for a bond mate.”
“There’s no need to be wary. I’ve been lonely. I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t certain if any female would be willing to accept me,” York admitted. “Sara is a good human.”
Cathian turned to stare at the pods.
“She is a good one,” Two agreed. “Her thoughts are pleasant.” He stared at York. “We can’t help hearing what we do. Your Sara has good intentions, and she wishes for you to be happy together.”
York couldn’t be angry at that. It was actually a relief to know Sara hadn’t just fooled him to get off Relon. The Pods would have told him if she’d deceived him. He nodded his thanks.
Three spoke next. “Sara has had a difficult time. She thinks often of how Earth betrayed and sold her. She believes York is her hero for saving her from the unpleasantness she dealt with on Relon. Not many aliens were kind to her, because she’s human. She longs for a home and for someone to care about her.
She hopes that male will be York, as she’s already beginning to have strong feelings for him.”
That news had warmth spreading through York’s chest, and he grinned.
“Congratulations.” Cathian came forward and embraced him. “We’re happy for you.”
“Only if she’s not annoying,” Dovis grumbled.
Mari shook her head at her mate. “Don’t be grumpy.”
“He’s talking about me,” Nara chuckled. “I hope she gives you hell, too, Dovis. You are a grumpy ass. It’s good for you to have people call you on your bullshit.”
Dovis growled. “You’ve called me fur face under your breath dozens of times. And muzzle mouth.”
Nara just grinned. “Well, it’s sometimes true.”
York walked over to Midgel. “I don’t plan to stay to watch them argue and tease each other. Can you prepare a meal for two that I can take to my quarters? Something a human would enjoy?”
The cook dipped her head in agreement. “Give me twenty minutes. I’ll drop it off at your cabin. No need to wait. Be with your bond mate. I’m happy for you, York. I don’t know why anyone would live with someone on purpose, but some aliens are weird.”
He hid his smile. The cook wasn’t one to be social. “Thank you.” He fled before anyone could stop him.
Chapter Five
Sara finished her meal slowly. York ate faster than her, but he’d been attentive to her during lunch. He’d shared some boyhood stories of the trouble he and his friends had gotten into. She’d laughed plenty at their antics. He was funny as well as kind.
“Did you ever get into trouble as a child?” He peered at her curiously.
“All the time,” she admitted. “Only I didn’t pull funny pranks the way you and your friends did. It was more about revenge.”
He smiled. “Tell me.”
“You might not like me if I do.”
“I doubt that’s true. Test me, Sara. Have faith in your bond mate to be understanding.”
“Okay.” She used a cloth napkin to wipe her lips and put down her fork and knife. “My mom used to date his guy who hated me. He was horrible. I overheard him talking on his phone to a friend, saying he would convince my mother to abandon me. There was no way was he going to marry her if he had to take on her kid, too. All I could think about was how this jerk planned to steal my mom and I’d be homeless, starving on the streets.”