waited for a kiss. The voluminous gown she wore had settled over her, revealing a slight body, its angles somewhat severe in contrast to the curvier prisoners. She might be the type of person who stayed on the move, seldom to lie about in indulgence. Someone like himself.
Enough. He needed to remove himself from her presence. He would go to the other wing and get his thoughts in order. He had a job to do.
Commander Lidon and the captain were moving on to the other wing. Osopa followed his superiors, glancing at the beauty with the hair of fire before she fell out of sight. A strange ache throbbed in his chest.
Captain Tranis spoke to him. “Report.”
Osopa did so, providing the information that there were nearly a hundred and twenty females available for clans. Despite his earlier misgivings, excitement filled him.
One hundred twenty to add to the nearly two thousand Earther Mataras already on Kalquor. It wasn’t a lot to save a species, but it was a start.
They entered the other wing. Women lined up alongside each wall, two rows of them. So many in a single space. It boggled the mind.
And wrenched at the heart. When they discovered their fate, that they would be taken from the lives they’d known—
They’ll be treated well. Doted on by the three men in their future clans, wanting for nothing for the rest of their lives. Clans were centered around their life-bearing Mataras. What brought fear now would offer joy later. They’d be fine.
Keep telling yourself that. Especially when you try to sleep later.
“Let the seven male-completed clans of our ship choose their Mataras in order of seniority.”
Osopa started at Captain Tranis’s statement to his clanmates. Fortunately, Commander Lidon and Dr. Degorsk were too intent on their clan leader to notice.
My clan gets a Matara? A lifebringer to love? Osopa’s thoughts immediately went to the pale redhead.
Commander Lidon wasn’t a man to exude delight, but his satisfaction was palpable. “They’ll be pleased with that, Captain. What are your orders as far as the rest are concerned?”
Tranis turned to Degorsk. “You’re the lead on that, Doctor.”
“The protocols from the empire’s psychiatric board recommends positive sexual immersion to fight the effects of lifelong repression. Apparently, most Earther women regard themselves as evil, unworthy of passionate regard.”
“Really?” Osopa was too shocked to remain quiet. Lifebringers who couldn’t recognize their value? How was that possible?
“Really. They’ve been taught to loathe their own bodies. When appropriate enemy females are captured, we’re to awaken their sexual cravings and prove how desirable we find them. They’ll return our regard and admiration, or so I’ve been told.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult,” Osopa muttered. “They’re beautiful.” Again, his thoughts flashed to the redhead.
My clan could select her.
Pick a mate based on her appearance? Hardly a basis for a lifelong commitment. Especially since he’d met spoiled, gorgeous women on Kalquor. Females were in short supply, but the stunning ones were often courted by the vid-show industry. His Dramok father had been a vid star and had dealt with his share of self-absorbed divas. It was no wonder Osopa’s mother had come from the fine art community. She’d been lovely before the shuttle accident had left her scarred, but she’d been modest and undemanding.
Beauties who’d been fawned over until they believed they deserved whatever they desired were usually more trouble than they were worth. Osopa needed to forget the redhead. Someone else. Someone less than breathtaking.
Perhaps the first female he’d seen, the girl who’d raised the alarm that an invasion was in progress. Pretty enough, but a far curvier, indolent-appearing young woman, dressed from top to toe in white. A woman of ice, instead of the slender woman of fire.
She’d been nowhere to be seen in the other corridor. He searched the unconscious faces surrounding him.
Commander Lidon walked with him as his clanmates drifted away, also inspecting the females lying in the hall. “Did you suspect when you woke this morning that we’d be choosing mates?”
“No, Commander. Who could have imagined such an event?”
Captain Tranis called to him. “Where’s the girl we saw outside?”
“We haven’t found her.” Osopa flushed to have considered the ice woman, whom his superior was apparently intent on. “I looked for her myself.”
Lidon smirked before moving off to join his clanmates. “My apologies, Osopa, but your clan will have to choose someone else. It seems my Dramok and Imdiko have made their selection.”
Osopa tried to deny the image of the fire woman drifting through his mind. It didn’t have to