Mama and the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #1) - Honey Phillips Page 0,34
he hissed. “She not only does not belong to either of you, but she is not a woman.”
They both gaped at him.
“What do you mean?” Ribel asked. “Of course she is a woman.”
“She is not of age in their society.”
Ribel paled, and Connep stepped back.
“I don’t understand. She is with child,” Ribel said. “She must be old enough to mate.”
“She is with child because someone took advantage of her innocence.”
As comprehension slid over Ribel’s face, it was rapidly replaced by rage. He turned and grabbed one of the massive weights they used in their training circuits, sending it flying across the room. It landed with a thunderous crash, immediately succeeded by four others. Hrebec didn’t try and stop him; he understood the young man’s rage.
The rest of the group looked equally appalled, although he suspected it was not as personal for them as it was for his ensign.
Connep turned to him and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Captain. I had no idea.”
“I understand. You did not know—none of you knew.” Looking up, he addressed the entire group. “But all of you must understand that these females are fragile. They were not treated well on their world. Fighting over them like a pack of vultar does nothing to make them feel safer in our presence. You must treat them with dignity and respect. Is that clear?”
A chorus of agreement filled the room, and looking around at their shamed faces, Hrebec thought that his message had been received. Ribel remained standing to one side, his head bowed and his tail lashing. Hrebec dismissed the rest of the crew and joined his young ensign.
“I am truly sorry, Ribel,” he said. “I know this comes as a shock to you.”
Ribel looked up at him, his face devastated. “But she’s my mate. I’m sure of it.”
“She is too young. I’m sorry.” Hrebec sighed. “I wish you had not given her your clothing.”
A puzzled look crossed Ribel’s face. “I didn’t give it to her. I was surprised—and delighted, of course—that she chose something of mine, but it was not of my doing.”
Since Ribel had never been dishonest, Hrebec decided that the girl must have chosen his clothing by chance. Still, it was an unusual coincidence and he resolved to ask Abigail if there was some way the girl could have identified the garments.
They stood in silence for a few minutes before Ribel looked up at Hrebec. “But I was right, wasn’t I? We can mate with them.”
“I do not know if that is true,” Hrebec said reluctantly.
Based on his encounters with Abigail so far, he had every expectation that they would be compatible and that he could knot inside her. Even the thought sent a rush of heat to his shaft, but at this point it was still conjecture. He had not verified their compatibility.
Ribel’s face was a mask of amazement. “You mean that you and Miss Abby…?”
“That is not something I will ever discuss with you or anyone else.”
“I’m sorry,” Ribel said hastily. “It’s just that the two of you appear to be a mated couple.”
“The females are returning to Earth,” he said, as much to remind himself as Ribel.
“I really thought… I hoped.”
“I know. And perhaps you were right and I was wrong. Perhaps there are females out there who can save our race.” The thought held no more than an abstract interest for him. Everything he wanted was upstairs in his cabin—and he couldn’t keep them.
He sighed and clapped Ribel on the shoulder. “Go on now. Make sure everyone understands what I said here tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” Ribel hesitated, wiping absently at the blood drying by his mouth. “And Molly?”
“I think it would be best for both of you if you stayed away from her, don’t you?”
“I… I am willing to wait for her, no matter how long it would take.”
For the impatient young officer, it was a surprising statement, but Hrebec saw only sincerity in his face.
“But she will not be here when she comes of age,” Hrebec said gently.
“Could she stay with us? If she wanted to?”
Hrebec’s thoughts went immediately to Abigail. Could she stay? Would she even choose to stay with him? No, it was a foolish thought.
“This is not their world,” he reminded Ribel. “They were taken without their permission.”
“From a world that did not appreciate them,” Ribel responded.
Hrebec couldn’t counter the argument. Instead, he shook his head. “They wish to return home.”
Ribel looked at him for a long minute, before ultimately bowing his head. “Yes, sir.”