And we were moving, one at a time. We emerged from the house, receiving applause. The Vepar females waved, strolling with a swing in their hips, while me… I just wanted this over with.
I stepped outside, the clapping subsiding with my presence, and my breath caught in my lungs. It was one thing to walk out in a line on parade, but to be singled out and stared at like a freak was terrible. Following the others, I stood on the lawn facing the four Councilman. My three Vepar joined them. I did a double take, my eyes widening.
Derrial sported blood red horns like traditional devil one’s, a contrast against his light golden hair, and a tail that curled around his leg. Thane’s horns were black but merely stubs like they’d been snapped off, while iridescent looking scales ran down the sides of his face and neck. Black, cork-screw horns adorned Corran’s head, his caramel eyes glowing. Several months ago I might have been repelled by their Vepar appearances, now… there was something so sexy and masculine about their true forms. Unlike what everyone thought, the beauty of Vepar were their own but they simply concealed their additional features.
All three studied me, watched for my reaction, and my gaze swept from one to the other, with a smile stretching my lips. In response, Derrial’s tale unfurled from his leg, and slithered on the ground in my direction.. only a couple of feet forward.
“Welcome,” the one-horned Council Vepar announced, rising to his feet from his seat, tearing me away from Derrial’s stare.
“Today, we are blessed with a mating ritual to leave the heavenly gods envious. Three highly outstanding Vepar have come together and requested a mate to share. For the first time ever, we’ve received over eight-hundred entries.” Everyone broke out into oohs and ahhs while the crazy brunette next to me groaned under her breath.
But I was still stuck on the number of applicants. Holy crap! I thought Thane had said 50.
“Let’s give Derrial, Thane, and Corran recognition.”
The cheers rose into a deafening boom of applause and a weird clucking of their tongues.
I caught Derrial’s gaze, and his wink softened the nerves racing up my spine. No denying, he was hypnotizingly handsome... as were the other two.
“As is customary, the selected will now undergo three compatibility tests,” the Council Vepar stated. “First up is the Endurance challenge. Over two days, each participant must cross difficult terrain. This will reveal the strong from the weak, those who persevere when times grow hard, and we can evaluate their decision making skills.”
His words ran through my mind, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes because they were deciding who was good enough for mating based on being a freaking warrior, which I wasn’t.
“We live in a hostile world, and three powerful Vepar deserves only the best woman by their side.” He looked upward and I followed suit, spotting a small space vessel, not too different to the one Corran had used to fly us to Hawaii.
Everyone parted and the ship descended before landing on the lawn so gracefully and smoothly, no one batted an eye.
The side door opened and a set of steps slid out.
“Aery from house of Teaxer, do you accept this challenge?” The first in the line stepped closer to the Council member and stretched out her hand to him. He clasped her wrist, and she offered my Vepar her pearly whites. Then she spun and strolled toward the ship before climbing inside.
The rest were called in the same manner.
“Zeni from house of Julthorn, do you accept this challenge?”
The crazy one next to me sauntered over, her eyes glued to Derrial, even as she offered her arm to the Councilman. She blew him a kiss and twirled on the spot before lightly running to the ship.
“Ella from house of Monroe, will you accept this challenge?”
My legs wouldn’t move at first, but I pushed myself, to stop everyone from staring, to get out of the limelight. I lacked the enthusiasm the others carried.
“This will help us track your vitals,” the Councilman whispered.
He snapped my bracelet, and I turned away from him.
A quick look at my Vepar and their grins were filled with encouragement, I needed every inch of it. Without a word, I tracked my way to the vessel, keeping my head down to avoid the glares. Their snide remarks still found me though.
“She’s a human. Such a primitive race.”
"Disgraceful to be allowed in this ritual.”
I sped up and scrambled onto the plane to find a line of seats lining both sides of the ship. I slid into the last one available toward the rear. On a bright note, Zeni sat across from me and closer to the front.
The door shut and we lifted with barely a shudder or sound. I curled in on my seat.
Just two days of hiking. I’d keep to myself and get this done fast. How hard could it be to trek through the woods?
The brunette next to me with the whitest eyes I’d ever seen smiled at me and leaned closer. “So you came from your planet with Derrial, Thane and Corran. What are they like?”