warm out tonight and we could eat our ice cream out there with the warm breeze.”
“I would love to.” Rose stood and picked up her ice cream bowl, following Lindsey out onto the balcony and leaving the men alone. She could smell the ocean; it wasn’t too far from the main building, but it was too dark for her to see it. The breeze was warm but when she ate the ice cream, she soon found her body cooling. She felt relaxed for once.
*****
As soon as the females were out of sight, KadEN turned angry eyes on the two males sitting at his table. “How dare you come to my dinner table and attempt to start a fight. I will not have my mate upset by either of you. What is your problem?”
“My apologies, Prime Leader. I’m not used to feeling these protective emotions for a female.” JadEN admitted.
“It didn’t take you long to mark her and mate her. The images I picked up from her indicate this was a total shock to her. Does she understand what it means that you mated her?” StrykER demanded.
“Stay out of her head. She has been with the Katierans for long enough to know how the mating works.”
“Did you ask her before you claimed her with your seed?” StrykER was pushing JadEN. Part of him wanted a fight. He didn’t understand it himself, except that he had been overwhelmed lately with emotions and images from everyone around him. His mutation had been affecting him more and more since he had left the Colonial planet to seek out family he once had on Kiljor. The Colony was more remote area and he easily found quiet and peace there. But it was difficult on Kiljor. There so many people, crowded in smaller locations. His abilities were overworked. A physical outlet like fighting helped get him out of his own head and temporarily relieve the pain he was feeling.
JadEN moved forward towards StrykER. “It’s none of your business.”
“StrykER, perhaps you should cut the evening short, tensions are running high and I want this situation neutralized,” KadEN dismissed the other male.
“I agree Prime Leader. I will go out and say my goodbyes to Prima Lindsey.” StrykER was relieved to be able to leave. He walked out onto the balcony. The Prima was heading towards him. “Prima, I came to thank you for inviting me to dinner. I’m going to leave early.”
“Oh, I’m glad you came. I hope you will come again. I’m sorry, I must excuse myself; the baby is pushing on my bladder.” She wobbled quickly inside the suite leaving StrykER and Rose alone.
StrykER watch Rose. She was leaning against the balcony railing. She glanced over at StrykER. He could see why JadEN mated her. She was a beautiful female, smart and sexy. He could imagine waking up to her every morning. The thought made his body react. He needed to leave.
“I’m sorry we didn’t have more time. I was hoping to ask more questions about your abilities,” Rose told him.
“Perhaps another time.” He stepped closer to her. She had the most kissable lips he had seen; too bad she belonged to another male. “May I be frank with you?”
“Of course,” she answered curiously.
“Our males, Katierans and Kiljorns and Colonists alike, are all very physical. Sometimes we don’t say what we feel, but we show it in our actions. But one thing is absolutely true: when we claim our mate, we never let them go.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because whether you realize it yet, JadEN has claimed you. The question is whether you will claim him as well.”
“The best way to clear up confusion is to be direct and talk about it.”
She looked at him in surprise. “I thought you could only see images, not read minds.”
He laughed. “That’s true, but you have a very expressive face and I could see the conflict there. You should talk to JadEN and get this cleared up. Thank you for a very interesting evening.” He bowed and headed back into the suite.
Rose looked up at the moon and sighed. StrykER was right; she needed answers, and the
C. J. Cherryh
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