Possessive Alien Mate(Savage Martians #2) - Sue Mercury
Chapter 1
Rem navigated the corridors of the palace, his mood darkening with each step. A growl built in his throat when he reached the golden double doors of the royal receiving chamber. He didn’t know why the king had requested his presence, though he hoped the chamber wasn’t filled with dozens of dignitaries and royal advisors. Rem didn’t enjoy large gatherings and preferred to keep to himself as much as possible, thus the reason for his preemptive dark mood.
The golden doors zipped open upon his approach and he strode into the chamber. To his surprise, he found King Vaath of Mars standing alone near a window that overlooked the capital city of Ressiktron. Perhaps the king had a personal favor to ask of him. Something he wished to keep private. Rem cleared his throat and waited for the royal to acknowledge his arrival.
As King Vaath turned around, the sunlight pouring through the window glowed against his blue horns, accentuating the darker markings upon them. The royal shot Rem a polite smile and crossed the room to greet him with a foot tap. Rem tapped one foot to the king’s in return, trying not to allow his shock over the friendly greeting to show on his face. Marttiaxoxalian royals did not greet acquaintances in such a way, which likely meant the king was starting to view Rem as not only an asset to the palace, but maybe even a friend.
“Thank you for meeting with me today,” the king said.
Rem inclined his head briefly. “I am at your service, King Vaath.”
“It has come to my attention that you have not signed up to receive a human mate, though shipments of the females from Earth arrive on Mars frequently and palace guards are given top priority.” The king leaned back on a table, crossed his arms over his chest, and gazed at Rem expectantly.
“I have no need for a female,” Rem said, biting back another growl. His mood darkened further, until he felt his hands curl into fists at his sides. He wanted to punch something, the sudden desire to cause damage rushing through him in a violent red wave. After taking a deep breath and trying to calm himself, lest he launch himself upon the royal leader, Rem met King Vaath’s eyes.
“Your service during recent events was much appreciated,” the king said, obviously referring to the events that had led to his recent rise to power, which had included banishing Vaath’s traitorous father from the Marttiaxoxalian Empire. “To thank you for helping justice prevail, I would like to offer you a human female.”
“Thank you for the offer, but it is not necessary. As I’ve already said, I have no need of a mate.”
The king’s dark eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you misunderstood, Rem. I am ordering you to take a human female as a mate.”
Rem’s entire body tensed. He visualized smashing a fist into the king’s nose repeatedly, until it shattered and left the royal a disfigured, bloody mess. But he kept his fists at his sides, not daring to raise a hand to the king he had vowed to protect. Furthermore, it was Rem’s duty as a royal guard to obey King Vaath’s every command. But while Rem had taken vows to protect and obey the king, he had not imagined the king would order him, or anyone else, to take a human female as a mate.
“Is my order unclear in any way?” King Vaath asked, annoyance threading his words.
“Not at all, my king,” Rem replied.
“Good. A shipment of human females from Zone 15 is expected tomorrow morning. Your mate will be among them. By this evening, someone from Martian Affairs on Earth will send you a message informing you of your mate’s name.”
Rem nodded. “Thank you, King Vaath.” He fought the urge to fidget in front of the royal, but the need to depart this room was making him unusually restless. A human female. His heart pounded violently in his chest. He was being forced to take a human female as his mate. But how could he refuse an order from the king? Fluxx. He couldn’t.
“It is my pleasure.” The king gestured toward the golden double doors. “You may return to your duties now.”
Rem exited the royal receiving chamber, his footsteps echoing against the walls. Once he stepped out into the corridor, he released a low growl as he looked around, as if hoping to glimpse an enemy intruder he could pummel. But the corridor was empty, and even as Rem headed for