“Just be aware, it’ll take work to win any of these Mataras.” Osopa continued to caution them. It gave Yorso another momentary pang of indecision.
“Did any in particular catch your fancy, my Nobek?”
Osopa hesitated, an uncommon occurrence for the no-nonsense warrior. Just as Yorso was about to ask if they’d lost the connection, Osopa spoke. “There’s one. She’s—let me send you the file I requested from Imdiko Vadef.”
A holo vid popped up in the air over Tukui’s com. Yorso gaped at the still photo of a stunning redhead with hazel eyes. The picture was part of a formal record, but Yorso couldn’t read the particulars despite his excellent grasp of English. He was too mesmerized by the fresh-faced beauty with the spatter of spots over her nose and cheeks.
Freckles. They call those freckles.
“Beautiful,” he murmured.
His voice choked, Tukui stumbled over the name at the top of the record. “Val-een-tie-na No-vak?”
“More likely pronounced ‘Valentina Novak’.” Yorso couldn’t do more than whisper. He could be the clanmate to this goddess?
“I overheard someone call her Tina.” The gruff quality to Osopa’s already deep voice was a subtle but definite sign of her effect on him. “The picture does her no justice. She’s far more gorgeous.”
“Is that possible?”
Osopa’s chuckle was cut short. He hated to display emotion when on duty. Too unprofessional, both for his breed and his rank. “Examine the rest of the file on your way down. I’ve included other profiles for you to view as well, so it doesn’t have to be her. The captain’s and first officer’s clans have chosen their Mataras, so we have our pick.”
Tukui drew a ragged breath as he paged through the file, scanning the information. “We’ll check, but this Tina—she’s spectacular. There’s quite a long list of commendations for her caring and helpful behavior since coming to the moon too. I can’t imagine we’ll find a better candidate for our clan.”
“Catch the next shuttle. I’m impatient to get away from all these upset faces staring at me.”
“We’re on our way.” Tukui clicked the com off and started for the door. Typical Tukui, ready to run to the next project without a second thought.
“Tukui?”
The Dramok halted and turned. He blinked in surprise that Yorso hadn’t followed. “Yes?”
“Earther culture…well, I doubt the women are upset just because we invaded. They’ve been told we want to make them sex slaves. They’re expecting the worst.” Forced unions. Yorso’s stomach churned.
For a moment, the Dramok’s brows drew together, and he wavered with indecision. Worry pinched his handsome features.
It cleared. “She’ll figure out quickly that we’d never harm a Matara, my Imdiko. The sooner we show Tina—if she’s who we decide on—that she’s the center of the clan, she’ll adore us. Especially you, with your ridiculously pretty self. I’m still having to warn Zevs off, the stubborn jerk.”
He’s not thinking this through. He’s being impetuous again. On the heels of that came the reminder that this could be their only chance to have a lifebringer.
And Tina was beautiful. How could they say no?
“We’re a good clan. We can make a Matara happy.” Yorso spoke again, this time with conviction. “We will make her happy.”
Tukui grinned and slung his arm around Yorso’s shoulders. “Yes, we will.”
They hurried to the shuttle bay.
Chapter Two
Tina did her best to stop crying. She hated to be a burden on her fellow aspirants and particularly Sister Katherine. But the tears kept falling, and she felt vulnerable as Katherine walked away from the huddled group of girls, heading towards one of the fiercer-looking Kalquorians guarding them.
Waking up in the convent’s dining hall, in a space cleared of tables and chairs, had been disconcerting. Seeing many of Europa’s women unconscious on the floor had brought terror to the fore. Then when Sister Bernadette had stood up, shouting at the Kalquorians and brandishing a knife—Tina had kept from screaming only because she didn’t want the aliens to notice her too.
She couldn’t stop weeping, though. Under the strange, cat-slitted gazes of the muscled behemoths, the tears had streamed without end. At least it wasn’t only her being emotional. Someone else had screamed upon awakening, though Sister Bernadette had been taken out by then—Mary Anderson, who was the same age as Tina.
When Mary’s terrified shriek rang out, Tina hadn’t known what to expect from the Kalquorians. They wore blasters. She saw the handles of knives sheathed in their belts. Not that they would have needed weapons against captives in their nightgowns. A single slap would have broken Mary’s face.
They offered no violence. The dark-skinned men darted glances at each other. They shifted, like nervous horses scenting danger. Their expressions spoke of discomfort, as if they found Mary’s distress upsetting. As the other girl burst into loud sobs and several joined in, the dark-skinned men grew more unsettled.
Such big, terrifying brutes. Yet they seemed unhappy to be viewed as the monsters they were supposed to be.
They don’t look like monsters. Tina would even qualify a few as handsome. Their bodies—
She cut that thought off with a silent prayer for forgiveness. She forced herself to concentrate on the situation.
Many of the enemy glanced at a particular Kalquorian. Tina recognized him as the brute who’d caught and sedated her. He was impressive, and if she were to be honest, far more than handsome. He had a strong jaw and pointed chin. His beard shadow was dense enough that she’d almost missed the dimple in his chin. His nose was slightly crooked, evidence of a past break. His gaze was clear, unwavering. His physique—Tina flushed and glanced away only seconds after noticing him. However, his pronounced musculature, a framework of carved strength, had been burned in her retinas. She remembered all too well how he’d felt against her, holding her prisoner against himself. Warmth filled her, making it hard to breathe.
Why was such a monster so beautiful?
Of them all, he’d appeared unaffected by the sobs and moans of the waking women. He stood motionless, his gaze sweeping over the gathered prisoners, betraying no emotion. No mercy. Tina’s heart raced at the idea of his gaze settling on her for longer than an instant.
It was this beast Sister Katherine had approached, to beg for answers as to why the convent had been attacked and its nuns and aspirants taken prisoner. In the voluminous nightgown she wore, she appeared little more than a child. Katherine was impossibly fragile compared to the staring Kalquorian. Why would she talk to such a fearsome example of the aliens? Then Tina noticed the four silver bars on the upper left chest of his black uniform, more than any of the other guards wore. Naturally, the scariest of the group would be in charge.
Tina was terrified. She couldn’t stop weeping. Yet she gathered her legs beneath her, crouching in readiness to spring to Sister Katherine’s aid should she need it.
What am I going to do against him?
Nothing that would help, not against such a brute. No matter. Tina wouldn’t watch the convent’s kindest nun be abused by the demon.