To say that I was freaking out qualified as the understatement of the year. This had not gone down at all as I had hoped. What a fucking nightmare. At least, three things gave me hope. Number one, the two brothers, Szaro and Mandha seemed determined to save me. Second, the Elders didn’t seem in a rush to kill me—although I had no doubt they would without hesitation if they failed to find a more acceptable solution for me. And third, the UPO…
When I’d sent that video to the Federation, I had genuinely believed I would have made it back out of the Ordosian territory without getting caught. There had been no warriors in sight. I hadn’t known for sure that they could track us, but it made sense in case one of us never returned, so that they could recover our remains—assuming there were any to be found. But that the United Planets Organization got involved spoke volumes about their desire to maintain a peaceful relationship with the Ordosians.
This intergalactic coalition regulated not only inter-planetary trading, but also diplomatic conflict. Planets considered primitive, like Trangor, fell under their protection. As the most advanced species on this planet had not yet achieved interstellar travel capacity, they never should have been exposed to our existence, as per the Prime Directive. A scientific expedition had discreetly come here to retrieve plant and animal samples for pharmaceutical research, discovering a treasure trove that would revolutionize the medical industry.
However, the scientists’ efforts at camouflage were easily thwarted by the Ordosians’ almost supernatural sensory abilities. Half of the crew was slaughtered, the others barely escaping with their lives. It took a few years of careful observation to learn their language, followed by even more cautious contacts that evolved into intense negotiations before the natives began opening up to possible collaborations with consortiums affiliated with the UPO.
And now, they’re coming here to negotiate my release.
There was something bigger at play here than met the eye. I didn’t know what it was, but I welcomed it all the same. If the UPO had wanted to sacrifice me for the greater good, I’d be dead already. They wouldn’t waste time and resources flying someone all the way here to Trangor.
After the Elders dismissed us, the Great Hunter took me to some kind of a house. Then again, studio would probably be more accurate as it only possessed a single room carved directly into the mountain that surrounded the village. In my distress, I’d failed to take a proper look at the village I’d landed in. The room had been barren aside from a table with a jug of water and an empty glass. In the back corner of the room, a large, square plate appeared embedded in the floor. A huge window let the daylight in but was positioned in such a way that it didn’t give me a proper view of any activity in the village.
“You will remain here until the Elders have conferred with your representative tomorrow,” Szaro said with his exotic voice. “Do not try to escape. If you require anything, wave your hand in front of that sensor by the door. Someone will come as quickly as possible.”
“Okay, but… hmm… any chance I could get a chair and a bed?” I asked.
“Oh yes! Humans require seating furniture,” Szaro nodded, looking a little embarrassed. He waved at his lower body and tail. “As you can guess, we do not have chairs. But we will bring you something that can serve that purpose. What is a bed?”
I recoiled. No chairs made sense, but no bed?
“The large, thick cushion you sleep on?” I said, as if it was self-evident.
His slitted eyes flitted to the plate on the floor in the corner of the room. “We sleep on heating plates,” he said.
“Right… Well, any chance I could recover some of the things in my backpack and in the storage of my speeder? I have food, an inflatable mattress, and my water purifying pills in there,” I said.
“The water provided is safe for you to drink,” Szaro said, indicating the pitcher on the table. “And yes, all non-weapon items can be brought to you. However, we will have to rummage through them to sort what you can and cannot have.”
I haaaated when people sifted through my shit. It made me feel violated. But under the circumstances, it made sense they would have to do so. I gave him a stiff nod.
“Very well. I will go take care of it,” Szaro said.
He turned and slithered towards the door.
“Szaro!” I called out as he reached for the door. He looked at me questioningly over his shoulder. “What’s going to happen to me?”
A strange expression flitted over his alien features. “I will not give you an answer that I do not possess, but I promise to make sure we will find an acceptable solution,” he answered.
The sincerity in his voice had a soothing effect that took me by surprise. I locked gazes with him, and he held mine unwaveringly. Something settled inside of me, and to my shock, a timid smile stretched my lips.
“Thank you for standing up for me out there,” I said in a soft voice.
The same odd expression flitted over his face.
“No, Serena. Thank you for saving my mating-sister and nephew,” Szaro said.
With a final smile, he exited the room that served me as a cell. Twenty minutes later, a knock on the door startled me. Two males entered carrying a square block of wood with a cushion on top that would serve me as a chair, my backpack, and my mattress. I muttered a thank you. They nodded and left without a word.
After I set up my mattress, snacked on an energy bar, and washed it down with some water, I began the long waiting game as the day stretched endlessly.
Ididn’t recall falling asleep, only that I performed a lot of tossing and turning. I woke up early, only to find quite a few people in the village had already stirred as well. I couldn’t see them, but I could hear some muffled sounds. As I’d realized last night, to my dismay, the room didn’t contain a hygiene room. Thankfully, I hadn’t drunk too much water. That didn’t mean my bladder wouldn’t complain at some point. With luck, the UPO representative would have me out of here long before it became a problem.
Being used to roughing it, I pulled out a piece of cloth from my backpack and poured some water from the pitcher to wash the sleep from my face. As the seconds stretched into minutes and then into hours, I fought the urge to call someone by waving my hand in front of the sensor. They’d come for me when they were ready. Still, it confused me that, after the relative kindness they had shown me under the circumstances, they utterly failed as hosts. Nobody came to ask me if I needed food, to use the bathroom, if I was bored—which I obviously was—or if I was simply doing okay. They had confiscated my bracer and datapad, which left me with nothing but my very worried thoughts.
Meditating only helped for so long, and pressing my ear to the door didn’t allow me to overhear anything intelligible. The Ordosians would likely speak in their own language anyway, which I obviously didn’t understand. After a bit of pacing, I finally settled onto the improvised chair they’d brought me and ate one of my energy bars, both to silence my burgeoning hunger, and to give myself something to do. I was chewing my fourth bite when a solid knock on the door scared the living daylights out of me. I nearly choked on my food, yet managed to bid them come in.
I jumped to my feet, still slightly coughing, my heart pounding as I gazed upon Szaro’s solemn face as he entered the room. He stared at me with a strange expression. I gave him a nervous smile to which he responded with a nod before waving someone in. I stretched my neck to look behind him. My jaw dropped at the sight of a Temern.
He resembled a humanoid bird of paradise, with golden feathers, maroon wings, and a long, fluffy white tail. The members of his species were highly respected empaths hired as moderators by major corporations, planetary governments and, of course, the United Planets Organization. Whatever was going on with my situation, it was bigger than I’d realized. You didn’t send a Temern to negotiate the release of a hunter of average fame.
“Hello, Ms. Bello. I am Kayog Voln, the negotiator sent by the UPO to handle your situation.”
“Hello, Master Voln. But please, call me Serena,” I said with a smile.
“Only if you call me Kayog,” he replied in the gentle, musical tone that was common to his people.
Although he returned my smile, his beak-like mouth gave it a stiffness that might have been unsettling if not for the kind glimmer in his eyes. Before I could answer, the same male that had brought me my belongings last night brought in a second makeshift chair, which he placed across the table from me.
“Thank you, Irco,” Kayog said to Irco, who nodded in response before leaving.
My brows shot up. Kayog had only gotten here and was already on a first name basis with the locals?
He must have been here before.
It would make sense for them to send someone who already had a good rapport with the Ordosians to help make the negotiations go more smoothly.
“I will leave you to discuss in private,” Szaro said, that same enigmatic expression on his face, giving me the heebie-jeebies. “I will be right outside when you are done.”
He exchanged a glance with Kayog, who raised his feathery eyebrows questioningly. Szaro nodded in the way one does to confirm that the plan, challenging though it may be, would proceed as agreed upon. He then left the room without another word. My head jerked towards the Temern, and I forced myself to silence my growing panic.
“Is this when I start freaking out?” I asked.
“No, Serena. There is no need for that,” Kayog said in a soothing voice while taking a seat. “Please,” he added, gesturing to my seat.
I sat down and clasped my hands on the table to keep them from shaking.
His wings shifted as he, too, crossed his hands on the table. “I know you’re extremely stressed out over this situation, so I’m going to get straight to the point,” Kayog said in a calm voice. “There is a single way out of your current predicament. Unfortunately, it will not be negotiable. While they wish you no harm, the Ordosian leaders are adamant that this one rule be upheld. Any stranger who enters their forbidden lands without express consent forfeits their life. But there is a loophole. If you become Ordosian, you’re no longer a trespasser.”
My jaw dropped, and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Oh, my God! That’s so fucking simple!” I exclaimed with a nervous laughter. “So… what do I have to do? Study their culture, their language, their national anthem, and then pass a test? I can do that! I’m a quick study.”
Kayog gave me an indulgent smile, although this time it didn’t reach his silver eyes.
“I guess not,” I said, my shoulders slouching.
“Unfortunately not,” he concurred. “There are only two ways to become Ordosian. You must either have one parent who is Ordosian or marry one.”
The Temern let the words hang between us. My brain froze, refusing to process their meaning.
“Marriage? Are you serious?” I finally asked.
“I’m afraid so, Serena,” he said in a sympathetic voice.
“I’m a human with legs and a womb!” I exclaimed. “They’re some kind of Nagas with snake tails who lay eggs.”
“Actually, the Ordosians are viviparous,” Kayog countered. “Their females carry their offspring to term and give birth to live young.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that one,” I said, waving a dismissive hand. “But we’re still not compatible! I mean, for fucks sake, don’t snakes have two dicks covered with spikes? I’ll be freaking torn to shreds!”
The Temern shifted in his seat. Despite the feathers covering his face, I could tell he was blushing. I almost felt guilty for being so crude to the older male. Despite his youthful appearance, the color of his feathers indicated he was no spring chicken.
“Truth be told, Serena, I do not know what their reproductive organs look like,” he confessed. “I have no clue if your species are compatible, but I know that this is the only way we can save your life.”
I swallowed hard and ran a nervous hand over my braided hair. I sure as hell wasn’t ready to be executed so the Ordosians could make a point. But was being trapped for the rest of my life in a loveless marriage with an incompatible mate any better?
“I know you’re overwhelmed. I can feel your distress, but things aren’t all that dark,” Kayog said. He raised an appeasing hand when I gave him a disbelieving look. “I do not normally handle this type of diplomatic issue. However, after studying your case, my kin and I all agreed this would be the only way to save you, and the Elders said as much when I came to meet them. I am the lead agent of the Prime Mating Agency and an expert in interspecies unions. Szaro is a good male. As an empath, I can tell you that, personality-wise, you two are a perfect match. I had not expected that.”
“Szaro? He would be my husband?” I asked.
While still freaked out about this whole mess, that news appeased me far more than I’d thought possible.
“Yes,” Kayog said with a nod. “Understand that he is making a great sacrifice to save you. Only a small percentage of Ordosians actually marry. Most of them are happy to partner with someone for however long that relationship lasts or simply to have offspring. But marriage is exclusive and for life. As the Great Hunter of the Krada tribe, he is a prime male, highly sought after. By marrying, he forfeits any hope of ever having offspring of his own.”
“That’s fucked up,” I said, my frustration and anger rising. “Why should he make that sacrifice over a blood debt that’s not even his own. I saved his sister-in-law and nephew.”
“But he is a male of honor and principle, and he happens to care for you,” Kayog said.
I snorted. “Please, he doesn’t know jack shit about me. We talked a couple of times for a hot minute.”
“And yet, you fascinate him,” Kayog said, matter-of-factly. “And I’ve felt your response to him when he entered the room. You are not indifferent to Szaro. Speaking with you now, sensing your personality, I can reaffirm that you are a perfect personality match.”
“Be that as it may, we’re probably not physically compatible. And even if we are, I have a life that does not involve settling on a primitive planet. This is a life sentence!”
A frown marred the Temern’s brow, and he gave me an intense stare that made me want to squirm in my seat. “While Ordosians marry for life, divorces have occurred in the past, usually because one of the two partners committed a serious offense that got them banned from the tribe. So, if it comes to that, you can divorce him and leave. BUT, as per the Prime Mating Agency rules, if you accept this union, you must remain married for at least six months. Normally, we also demand that the marriage be consummated on the wedding night, but in your case, that requirement is permanently waived.”
“You’re saying that, if I marry him, I don’t ever have to sleep with him, and I can divorce him in six months?” I asked, my heart soaring.
By the way the muscles of his jaw tensed, I believed that Kayog was pinching his beak in displeasure, the presumption further confirmed by the lack of warmth in his eyes.
“I’m saying that you will marry a good male who is upending his life to save yours. He will not demand any marital privileges from you. And should both of you truly be miserable in this union, it can be terminated only after a period of at least six months,” Kayog said.
“And Szaro agreed to this?” I insisted.
Kayog heaved a sigh. “Yes, he did. But I must caution you. To the entire village, and to the other Ordosian tribes, your union to Szaro will be a real one. Even if you’re going into this already planning on leaving in six months, you must play the game until then, and not let it slip in any way. You do not have to pretend to have feelings for him—everyone knows it’s not a marriage of love—but you have to act like it’s a true union. I cannot predict what backlash may stem from your failure to do so. Can you handle it?”
I nodded. “Yes. Yes, I can do that. But… Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me? What’s in it for the UPO?”
Kayog smiled and tilted his head to the side in a way typical of birds. “It has taken years to finally get the Ordosians to warm up to strangers—if we can even call it that,” the Temern explained. “The flora and fauna of Trangor is a treasure trove for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. And the Ordosians are their guardians. This is a wild and savage planet. Without the constant vigilance and efforts of these tribes to maintain the balance, swarming beasts like the Flayers would wipe out entire species on this planet, species that can help us produce the cure or treatments for some of the worst diseases in the galaxy. We need to maintain a good rapport with the locals and even strengthen that bond. And you can greatly help in that.”
“Me?!” I exclaimed, baffled. “I’m just an ex-gymnast turned monster hunter. I’m not a diplomat.”
“No, but you have a beautiful soul, great moral values, and a selfless personality,” Kayog countered. “That makes you the perfect ambassador to show the Ordosians that off-worlders are not so bad.”
“I see,” I said, embarrassed by the flurry of compliments. “So… what happens now?”
“Now, I will let you confirm your consent to Szaro. Then we will have an expedited human wedding so that your union can be formally recorded in the galactic registry,” Kayog explained. “We will have all of your personal effects currently at the Federation base camp transferred here, and you can provide me with instructions on getting whatever belongings off-world you would like transported here.”
I felt dizzy. This was happening way too fast.
“You are distressed, which is perfectly understandable. But take heart, Serena,” Kayog said in a paternal voice that made my throat tighten. “Either way, everything will work out for you in the end. Szaro is a good male. If your union doesn’t work out, consider it as you having enjoyed a six-month vacation in the most exclusive resort in the world. No other off-worlder will experience the depth of beauty and wealth of Trangor and its inhabitants.”
“True, but that’s six months without work or income that I will have to make up for once I’m free,” I mumbled, immediately feeling snotty for it.
Yeah, it would make a dent in my nest egg, but it wouldn’t put me out on the street. And the thought of truly exploring Trangor in a way no one else ever could held an undeniable appeal. This planet was the Australia of the galaxy. They had the weirdest, most bizarre fauna ever seen, and most of it wanted to kill you just for fun.
The Temern grinned, his silver eyes lighting up. “Actually, you shouldn’t be hurting too badly,” he said. “You will still be compensated for all the kills you have performed so far as part of the First Hunt. Furthermore, as punishment for luring Flayers, endangering the local population, and indirectly causing your current predicament, the Zamorian name Bayrohnziyiek Skortheatis has been stripped of all of his claimed ‘kills’ alongside the Krada tribe’s border. Instead, they have been attributed to you and added to your personal score, which puts you squarely in the lead at the present time. On top of that, once your situation here has been ironed out with the Elders of the tribe, you are free to resume the hunt.”
“Are you serious?!” I exclaimed, my mind reeling. Even if I ended up being knocked from first place, that would still put me in a very comfortable financial situation once I regained my freedom.
“I am. BUT, keep in mind that your freedom of movement will likely be restricted for the first few weeks,” Kayog warned. “Everyone knows you’re not happily entering into this union. They will not give you an easy way to flee, or be tempted to do so. It would create a very difficult diplomatic situation for us.”
“Don’t worry,” I said with a stiff nod. “I will hold my end of the deal. Anyway, if I ran, the UPO and the Federation would make me rue the day I reneged on the agreement.”
“I’m glad we understand each other,” Kayog said with an approving nod. “Do you have any other questions?”
“Oh, I’m sure there are a million more that will pop up once you’re gone, but for now, I really just want to get this thing done,” I said honestly, feeling a little dejected. “I’ll remain stressed as hell until that scary Elder Krathi says that I’m a member of the tribe and that the threat hanging over my head has been lifted.”
“Very well,” the Temern responded. “While they may seem primitive on the surface, and technically are by galactic standards, the Ordosians possess a great deal of technology, including long-range com systems. You will be able to contact me if you need anything, although there may be a few hours of delay before I receive your message and before my answer reaches you.”
“Thank you, Kayog,” I said with genuine gratitude. “Thanks for saving my ass.”
“Remember to thank Szaro, as well,” the agent said in a soft voice. “Without him, we could not have saved you.”
“I will not forget,” I assured him.
He smiled, rose to his feet, and went to knock on the door. It opened almost instantly. Szaro glanced at me before looking at Kayog inquisitively. The agent nodded in response to his unspoken question. To my shock, the Ordosian’s shoulders almost imperceptibly relaxed with what I could only interpret as relief. Had he feared I would refuse?
Kayog left the room and Szaro glided in, coming to a stop in front of me. I made to stand up, but he gestured for me to remain seated. His tail wrapped behind him neatly in a tight S and he lowered himself onto it, in the equivalent of a sitting position that put him almost at eye-level with me. We stared at each other quietly for a few seconds. He seemed to be searching for what to say just like I was.
“Thank you for volunteering for this to save my life,” I said at last.
“I promised we would find a solution,” he replied gently.
“But at what cost to you?” I asked.
He didn’t respond at first, his reptilian eyes studying my features. “Time will tell. We are not a traditional couple, but stranger things have happened.”
I stiffened upon hearing those words. Although Kayog had hinted at this, Szaro’s underlying meaning made it clear we needed to openly express our mutual expectations before entering into any of this. However, even as that thought crossed my mind, a sliver of fear blossomed inside of me. I didn’t want to mislead him about the fact I intended to haul ass out of here the minute the six months were up. But what if that made him rescind his offer to marry me?
Kayog said he agreed…
His tongue flicked, and his eyes narrowed, making my anxiety go up a notch.
“I can taste the worry my words have stirred in you,” Szaro said. “I am taking you as my mate, Serena Bello. Ordosians bind for life. I have no control over what you will do, only over my own actions. Therefore, I will endeavor to be the best possible mate for you for as long as I draw breath, or until such time as you decide I’m not worthy.”
“It has nothing to do with your worth,” I argued softly. “By your actions so far, you’ve proven to be an upstanding male. But we are completely different species and probably not compatible.”
“I believe that we are far more compatible than you think, Serena,” Szaro said with that sexy underlying rattling sound in his voice. “There will be plenty of time for us to discover it. As odd as I may look to you, I know that you do not find me repulsive. I find you pleasing to the eye, and your unusual hunter nature for a female intrigues me. I expect nothing from you that you are unwilling to give. I only ask that you keep an open mind, be loyal to your new people, and adapt to our ways. And if you do not find happiness here, I will not hold you against your will.”
“That’s… that’s more than fair. And yes, I can do that,” I said, my cheeks burning to learn that he’d realized I had enjoyed the view.
“Then we are in agreement. Come, my mate,” Szaro said, straightening up. “Let us get you out of this room and finalize the binding ritual of your people. Tonight, we will be bound according to the Ordosian ways.”
My stomach quivered upon hearing the possessive way in which he called me his mate. It should freak me out. This entire mess of a situation should have me running around screaming like a madwoman. And yet, Szaro had an uncanny way of making me feel safe, like everything would be just fine. Rising from my chair, I followed him out towards the crazy destiny that awaited us.
