Page 11 of My Alien Pirate

I pulled her closer, my senses filled with her. Her scent, her warmth, the feel of her body pressed against mine. It was intoxicating, overwhelming. I felt a surge of something primal, something possessive. She was mine, my mate. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning, sudden and undeniable.

But how could that be? She was a different species, a different world. And yet, the feeling was there, strong and unyielding. I wanted to claim her, to make her mine in every way possible. But I couldn't, not yet. Not until I knew she felt it too, not until I knew she understood what it meant.

Reluctantly, I pulled away, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted. She looked as affected as I felt, but I couldn't be sure. Not yet.

I stood up, my body trembling with the effort of restraint. Her eyes followed me, a question in their depths. I wanted to stay, to explore this connection further, but I knew I had to go. I had to think, to process what this meant.

"I... have to go," I said, knowing she couldn't understand me. I pointed to the door, then to myself. "I'll be back."

She watched me, her eyes filled with questions. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her what I was feeling, but I couldn't. Not yet. I turned and left the room, the door sliding shut behind me with a finality that felt like a physical blow.

I leaned against the wall outside her quarters, my body shaking with the force of my emotions. What had just happened? I'd never felt anything like this before, never experienced this kind of connection, this kind of need. It was overwhelming, terrifying, exhilarating.

I made my way back to my quarters, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I needed time to process, to think. But every time I tried to focus, my mind filled with images of Nova. Her eyes, her smile, her touch. I could still feel her, still smell her, still taste her on my lips.

I paced the length of my room, my tentacles writhing with agitation. What was I going to do? I couldn't sell her, not now. The thought of anyone else touching her, owning her, sent a surge of rage through me. She was mine, my mate. But how could I claim her? How could I make her understand?

Frustration built within me, a growl rumbling in my chest. I lashed out, my tentacle striking the wall with a resounding thud. The impact left a dent in the metal—proof of the force of my emotions.

I sank down onto my bed, my head in my hands. I needed to calm down, to think rationally. But all I could think about was Nova. Her touch, her scent, her taste. I needed her, needed to be with her, to make her mine.

But I couldn't, not until I knew she felt the same. Not until I knew she understood what it meant to be mates. Kraxing Hells! Not until I knew it was even possible between our kinds. Maybe it had simply been too long since we'd made a stop at a pleasure planet. Even as the words danced across my mind however, I knew they rang false. Every instinct I had screamed 'Mate'. But I had to figure out the hows and whys and, I had to find a way to communicate with the little human. Truly communicate.

Determination filled me, a resolve growing stronger in my chest than anything I'd ever felt before. I would find a way to communicate with her, to make her understand. I would claim her as my mate, and I would never let her go.

I needed to understand this bond between us. Mating bonds were the stuff of legends with my people. They were rare and I've never heard of an inter-species bond. Our people had few couples in general. We were raised in groups of hatchlings by caregivers, most of us having little contact with the 'mother' and 'father' that conceived us. The few exceptions were the fated mates who raised their young together in nuclear family households.

On the surface, these families were derided as weird and old-fashioned, however, if pressed, many of us had to admit that it was a fantasy we held. My own parents had not been mates, and I'd had only minimal contact with them—mostly on high holidays—so I had no reference of knowledge to draw on personally. Thinking about it further, no one on my ship had parental units that were bonded mates. And that meant seeking answers that could only be found in one place.

I stood up, steely resolve firming my backbone. I would go to see Zalira, a Xialith priestess who had stowed away on my ship one day and never left. And what could I do? One didn't naysay someone as ancient and powerful as she was.

I knew if anyone could explain what was happening between Nova and myself, it would be Zalira. Now I just had to find her. Grixxa and I often joked she could render herself invisible because if she wasn't in the mood to be found, she wouldn't be.

Somehow, though, the ancient priestess always showed up when you were in real need of her counsel, so I could hope I would be able to find her soon. I didn't want to wait much longer, however, so I needed some help. Grixxa was the only one I could think that I could trust with this information.

I blew out a large breath. Grixxa was one of my oldest friends but I knew I was going to have to deal with her smart mouth when she heard why we needed to seek out Zalira.

I left my quarters, making my way to the bridge, determined to get the ribbing over with as soon as possible so we could begin the hunt. As I expected, Grixxa was there, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she saw me approach. She knew something was up, she always did.

"Grixxa," I said, my voice steady with resolve. "I need you to help me with something."

She cocked her head, her crystalline eyes reflecting the glow of the console lights. "Of course, Captain."

"Lyra, you have the bridge," I commanded as I motioned for Grixxa to join me in a small anteroom off the bridge for some privacy. Grixxa's ridges flashed a purple of surprise but she quickly rose from her station to follow me.

"What's happening, Zhar?" she asked as soon as the door had slid shut.

"I need you to help me find Zalira." I leaned against the edge of the desk in the room, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to project nonchalance.

Grixxa's mouth opened, snapped shut, then opened again. "Why do we need to find Zalira?"

I scuffed a boot along the metallic floor. "I have some questions."

My friend rolled her eyes and her ridges flared an irritated orange. "Yes, Zharrox. I gathered that. But what questions?"

"About the bond."

Grixxa's forehead ridges deepened in confusion. "What bond?"