Alien's Curvy Mate by Juno Wells

Author:Juno Wells [Wells, Juno]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter One

Michael

The door to my suite chimes and flashes interrupting the holo-vid I'm watching. My father doesn't bother waiting for me to speak before overriding the lock codes and entering.

“Mi'val we need to talk,” he says pulling a chair over beside my couch.

I sit up pulling the vid plug out of its port. Running over the past few days in my mind, I try to figure out what I could've done that would bring Father to my rooms with such a cryptic opening. Nothing comes to mind.

“Sure, what's up?” Keep it cheerful, always the best approach with Father.

“I've just returned from the Council meeting.”

“Yeah? How'd that go?”

My stomach clenches as fear leaks into me. If the Dark Nebulans have crossed the Therian line, an arbitrary line in space sure but one that would put them within a day’s flight or our outer most colonies, then we'll have to declare war. If we declare war my largely ceremonial role as Admiral of the Sixth Armada will be all too real. Sure I trained for it and I know, in theory, what to do. I also know that simulations and training are nothing like the reality of being at war.

There hasn't been a war for at least twelve generations. The Dark Nebulans have kept their distance so to speak. Almost they've become fairy tales to scare children with. Until recently when colonies of the Astrian Federation started going dark. Then they started attacking trade ships. Then they became all too real.

Father reaches out and touches my knee. His sadness is palpable. Our race is highly empathic, a trait which has led to our culture developing very strict rituals about the displaying of emotions. When your emotions can affect everyone around you so strongly you have to learn to control what you're projecting.

“There's a planet,” he begins patting my knee but not looking in my eyes. “It's an important planet, strategically. They're not ready to be brought into the Federation yet. They've only just started space travel.”

He's projecting his regrets and upset so hard I know where this is going. I shake my head.

“Father, no,” I say.

Finally he looks me in my eyes. “I'm sorry son.”

“But...”

He nods understanding as I trail off. I'm sixth in line and the only one of my siblings not already married or engaged in some alliance or the other. It's the duty of a royal family member to strengthen our ties and alliances to the other members of the Federation planets.

“It is a bit ... barbaric,” he continues. “But the people there are capable of great things. Their potential, given time, is remarkable.”

“But marry one of them? I mean, seriously!”

“I know son. I don't have to remind you this is your duty. It's important.”

“But, are we even... compatible? What do they look like? How barbaric are they?”

My mind is spinning with all the negatives. A dark depression yawns under my feet making me feel like I'm scrambling to not fall into darkness.

“I'm not going to lie to you son.

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