sleep clothing and the odd shoes she’d been wearing. Some kind of furred, mammalian creature was depicted on top of her “slippers,” as she called them. The fabric tickled his chin, but he didn’t mind. These were her clothes, which held her scent. It was as close as he was getting to his female prior to their testing and claiming. And at this point, he’d take what he could get.
She was dressed now in typical Xylan clothing—a black shirt and pants and the same type of red shoes females sometimes liked to wear. She lacked the long, braided hair of his kind and had no ridges on her forehead or any claws and fangs. Her skin was basically colorless, but he was getting used to it and he liked how she looked, striding next to him down the street.
He had her clothes bundled in one arm, because his other gloved claw was still holding her bare hand. He’d sensed her fear of the unknown the moment they’d stepped out of the domicile. He could smell it—stronger than her arousal. So, he’d held her hand to give her strength. It seemed to work because she was striding down the street like she owned the planet.
He grinned, loving her determination. He was proud of this female for showing up on a planet illegally and coming straight for him. His Bride was tall and lithe and her proud nose was in the air. Despite the fact that every single Xylan they passed stared at them. Everyone. The entire colony knew he’d asked for her hand and that she’d rejected straight to his face. The other females in the room had heard everything and must’ve passed the news on faster than a bolt of lightning.
Yes, everyone on the colony knew he’d been rejected.
Fuck them to the final fires. He was still pissed at how few of his so-called “friends and coworkers” had stood at the Fever Brothers’ side and allowed Daxon to be banished. It was ridiculous. And he still had no idea who was behind the death of his parents. Sometimes he didn’t mind living on the edge of town because it meant he saw the assholes less often.
He should’ve waited to ask for her hand. This was true.
It wasn’t the smartest idea to blurt out his intentions the moment they were able to communicate, but he couldn’t change how he felt. Zayzon was always the Xylan who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. The Xylan who strode forward to offer himself as a test case. He was always chosen first for anything. The loudest, his voice always heard above all others. He was literally first in everything. And everything had always come easy when it came to mating. Of course, he’d ask her the moment he was able.
It never occurred to him that she’d decline. Plus, it only right to assist this female my vowing to place her honor before his. She was a human in need of help. Now all of the citizens on the colony knew he’d identified this female as his Bride and that he’d placed her honor before his. Leah of One didn’t realize it, but this meant they all knew she was his true Bride, it was just a matter of time. Her denial was simply a delay, but a delay he hated.
And why would this female reject him when so many had asked? Every single Manager on the colony with an unmated female in their line had requested his hand for testing at one time or another. Managers of ancient and acclaimed Margol lines on Chronos, who could trace their beginnings to the first fires, had contacted him for testing. He’d declined them all.
And yet this one human female, whom he’d bent down on one knee and personally asked, face to face, did not want to test with Zayzon of Forty-Five? It was wholly unexpected.
It was frustrating, being this close but not allowed to claim her. His Bride was finally here and sleeping in his bunk, but he was unable to unlock his own arousal. She wanted him, but he couldn’t touch her with passion until they clasped hands and their mating bond was initiated. He was dormant until she clasped his bare palm.
Palm to holy palm.
He wasn’t yet enflamed, but he felt a constant nagging need to remain by her side, and to protect her and keep her safe and happy.
She hadn’t said yes yet to their testing and the subsequent claiming, but it was just