“She’s arriving in transport within the hour. She’s human. Like me.”
“No.”
“No? What do you mean no? You can’t just send her back.”
“Match her to another.”
“Doesn’t work that way. She has thirty days to accept or reject you, Commander.”
“No. Send her back. Match her to another.” I would not further dishonor my family by losing control and hurting a female. Never. I would not repeat my ancestor’s mistakes. “I refuse the match.”
“You don’t have that right. You have to at least give her a chance.”
“No. Where is Varin? I will speak to him now. I cannot accept a mate. I will not.”
The tiny female walked toward me and dared place her small hand on my shoulder. She was either very brave or very stupid. The slight touch made me recoil. I was truly a monster, a creature the Hive had worked so hard to break. To create. To rule. No female of worth should lay a hand on me. If her mates were here, they would have every right to kill me for defiling her. “Do not touch me.”
“Thomar, right? May I call you Thomar? Commander seems so boring and official.”
“Yes.”
“Earth girls are tough. Trust me. And the doc is very good at getting as many Hive implants out of warriors like you as he possibly can. You can have a life here. A happy life.”
Such heartfelt and naive words. Truly females were the embodiment of hope for all warriors. But there was no reason for her to hold on to hope for me. “I can hear them, even now. The buzzing of the Hive collective fills my mind. They are everywhere and nowhere. I cannot control my thoughts. My actions. I am not capable of caring for a mate. I could lose control at any moment. Do you understand? I must not go near her.”
In my mind, a blend of excitement and dread stirred. Neither emotion was mine. “Varin approaches.”
“He does?”
No sooner had she spoken than my second, my oldest and most loyal friend, entered the medical station and walked to stand next to my bed. “Thomar. You are finally awake.”
“I am. But I hear them still. Do you understand?”
Varin nodded. “I do.” He looked across the bed and down at the small female standing next to me. ”Lady Rone, we cannot accept a mate. You must contact the processing center on Earth and have the female matched to another.”
Rachel stuttered as she glanced back at the screen where my image remained clearly visible. “I can’t. I can’t do that. It’s too late.”
Varin scowled and glanced at the screen. “Fuck. They have initiated final transport. She arrives shortly.”
Rachel glanced from Varin to me. “Well, someone better go claim her or there is going to be World War III when the rest of the guys find out there’s an unmated female up for grabs. And if I remember correctly, you Prillon warriors like them to arrive naked.”
Varin groaned and our minds synced with the need to protect the unknown female. The unknown, naked female. “How many unmated males are on this base?” Varin asked.
Rachel grinned. “Hundreds. Better hurry.” Was this Earth female enjoying our dilemma? Surely not.
“Go,” I ordered. “Protect her until we can find another. Or claim her for yourself. Choose a second. Do not leave her unprotected.”
“I cannot. We are bound.”
“By the gods. I am sorry it is so.”
“I am not.” He looked at Rachel. “I will go to her and make sure no others challenge to claim an unprotected female. But Thomar speaks truth. We cannot claim her.”
“As I told him, you don’t have a choice. She will decide who keeps who.”
Varin looked from the stubborn female to me. “Is this how she has spoken to you as well?”
“Yes.” Indeed, I had never had a female be so…direct. Most warriors were terrified of me. Females generally avoided me at all costs—unless they wanted to bed a monster. After a while I’d taken what companionship I could get, knew it would never last. Hated myself for being weak.