Possessive Alien Mate(Savage Martians #2) - Sue Mercury Page 0,1

the palace’s main exit, the only Marttiaxoxalians he ran into were the Wise Ones, the holy men whose spiritual guidance his people depended upon. He couldn’t very well beat a Wise One to a pulp, so he departed the palace and returned to his post at the gates.

The other guards on duty backed away, as if sensing the fury building within him. Rem tried to focus on his duties and proceeded to check the palace’s security system, as well as the protective measures that were in place around the gates. He stood at the security console, his thoughts in turmoil.

Why had King Vaath ordered Rem to take a mate?

Despite the friendly foot tap greeting, Rem did not feel as though the king knew him well. How did the royal justify inserting himself into Rem’s private life?

What private life?

He pushed the stray thought away and stared at the security screens. Memories rushed back, haunting images of the life he had almost embarked upon back on Marttiaxoxalia. Before their females had begun dying off, Rem was betrothed to a beautiful Marttiaxoxalian female called Bethamma. But the female had betrayed him, leaving him for another male.

In the end, Bethamma perished, along with millions of other females, after the Xieandans poisoned the water supplies on Marttiaxoxalia. Thoughts of the female always drew up conflicted feelings within Rem. He had been furious when she broke their betrothal, but even worse than his anger had been the utter humiliation of her refusal to mate with him. And yet, he also harbored sadness in his heart whenever he thought of her. She was gone forever, her life taken by cowardly enemies who had used poison as warfare—a dishonorable method of fighting, in Rem’s opinion.

Many years had passed since the war against the Xieandans. Not long after this war had ended, his people had then gone to war against the humans, in retaliation for the humans’ surprise attack on their first settlement on Mars. Rem had reveled in every battle, fighting with all his might and not caring if he perished in the process. But he had survived the two wars and after the last war had ended, he’d been appointed as a palace guard, one of the highest honors a male in the Brotherhood of Warriors could receive.

Rem was proud to dedicate his life to serving his people, as well as his king, though he still raged at the fact that he’d been ordered—ordered—to take a human female. If King Vaath believed he was rewarding Rem by gifting him with a human woman, he was profoundly mistaken.

Rem had no need for a mate.

After what Bethamma had done to him, how could he possibly trust another female?

He couldn’t, and his heart hardened with each breath. But he would not be made a fool of again, and he resolved that he would keep his mate under control.

“I came to wish you many blessings from the Gods,” came a familiar voice, “upon the occasion of your impending mating union.”

Rem turned as his friend, Jav, approached the security console. Annoyance flared within him, hot and all-consuming, as the tall purple male walked closer. The knowing look in the warrior’s eyes filled Rem with suspicion and he pushed away from the console, coming face to face with his so-called friend.

“You ought to take a mate, Rem. It would be good for you. And taking a human female would help King Vaath’s cause. Many of our males are hesitant to claim a human female as a mate, for they have been too influenced by the lingering propaganda of the anti-Earthers.”

As Jav’s words, spoken only days ago, returned to him, Rem released a deep, menacing growl, though it didn’t even cause Jav to blink. “You,” he said in an accusing tone. “You had something to do with King Vaath’s order. I ought to rip your horns from your skull.”

Jav had the decency to appear guilty, though only for a brief moment. He stood taller and glared at Rem. “I believe we must all fulfill our duties to the empire, as faithfully as possible. Every able-bodied young Marttiaxoxalian male should take a human female and procreate with her, even those of us who are haunted by the past.”

Rem growled again and Jav held up his hands in a gesture of truce.

“You are my friend, Rem, and I am leaving soon.” Jav cleared his throat, and it was at this point Rem noticed the purple male was wearing a backpack. “I wished to ensure your wellbeing