Chapter Nine
Tark’s arm tightened around his mate as he stared at Prince Drexyl. The thought of never returning to Xpashta made his chest ache, but he would do whatever was necessary to keep his mate and child safe. They were his priority now.
“As I’ve mentioned previously,” Prince Drexyl said, “we have quite a few human females here who haven’t bonded with any of my males. If they haven’t by now, they aren’t going to. Unfortunately, the only way for my people to have children is if they are paired with their true mates. One of the females you brought with you has bonded with a Tourmalane warrior already. I’d like to make a suggestion.”
Tark and Norkov nodded, and the Zelthranite, Ryx, narrowed his eyes but waved a hand for the prince to continue.
“The females who aren’t bonded, those who were already here, can return with your people. Either of you,” he said looking at both the cyborgs and Zelthranites. “However, my sympathies lie with the cyborgs. The Zelthranites have a sure way of getting females to their world since they have an agreement with Earth. The cyborgs are like my people and will die out if something doesn’t change soon.”
“So all the human females should go home with the cyborgs?” Ryx asked.
“If that’s what they want,” Prince Drexyl said. “For those who wish to return to their world, I understand that you have a way to make that happen.”
Ryx nodded.
“Then I see no reason the females who want to return to Earth can’t go with the Zelthranites. As for Tark and his mate… The MECO is too dangerous for a pregnant female, according to Healer. They’re welcome to remain here, but I don’t think either would be happy with that scenario,” Prince Drexyl said.
“I’ve discussed the issue with my council,” Ryx said. “They found records of our people who did indeed leave and never return. We hadn’t realized that they’d crashed on Zelran or that they’d bonded with those already living on the world. Since the cyborgs’ ancestors are half-Zelthranite, and they carry our DNA, we see no reason that Tark and Suki can’t make their home on our world.”
Suki opened her mouth to respond, but Ryx held up a hand. Tark wasn’t certain what to think just yet. Leave his home?
“In exchange, Tark can lend his expertise as a warrior, but he can also pave the way for human females to find mates among the cyborgs. It seems there is a Keshpan on this world who is an inventor. He’s willing to discuss the creation of a portal from Zelthrane-3 to Xpashta, similar to the technology on their ships, but it would need to be stronger to cover a much larger distance.”
“You mean teleport?” Tark asked.
“Yes,” Ryx said. “It wouldn’t necessarily be safe for a pregnant female to teleport such a great distance, but those who wish to pair with a cyborg could make the journey. Or perhaps the cyborgs could come to our world for the pairing.”
“But if there’s a portal to Xpashta, why couldn’t we go home after the baby is born?” Suki asked.
The other Zelthranite, Malin, cleared his throat. “It isn’t that you wouldn’t be able to, but perhaps that it would be better if you didn’t. If his people only have two or three other mated pairs, then there won’t be a lot of children on that world, or an educational system in place for them. Your child would benefit greatly from remaining on our world. We’ve been mating with the humans for years now, and have children ranging from infants to those in their early teens. Your child would have others to play with, and you would have a larger support system from the other mates.”
Suki twisted so she could look at Tark, and he glanced at her. He could see the hesitation there, but he wasn’t sure if she hesitated over asking him to never return to Xpashta and his people, or if she wanted to go back to his world. It was a big decision to make, and not one that could be made overnight, nor made lightly. He would hate for his children to bond with those on Zelthrane-3, then uproot them to go back to Xpashta in the future.
“Our world has quite a few of the creature comforts of your Earth,” Malin said. “The human females who live there now have brought many of their customs with them, as well as made requests for some of your technology such as movies and music. Zelthrane-3 is a good blend of how things used to be on our world, and how things are now on your Earth. I think you would enjoy your time there, Suki, and there are many human females you could befriend.”
“The females willing to go to Xpashta won’t be harmed from the MECO?” Norkov asked. “As much as I would love to take them home with us, I don’t want to endanger them.”
“They’ll be fine since they aren’t expecting,” Prince Lyros said, speaking for the first time. “I understand this is a difficult decision for all of you. We not only need to consider what’s best for the unmated males, but also for the females. And in Tark’s case, his mate and unborn child. We know it’s a lot to take in, and much to think over. You’re welcome at the palace and on our world for however long you’d like to stay.”
Norkov looked at Tark.If you wish to go with the Zelthranites, it not only sounds like a good opportunity for your mate, but for our people as well. I know you feel like you’d be abandoning us, but you’d be helping. If the human females aren’t afraid of you, then they won’t fear the rest of us.
Tark didn’t take offense to the words, knowing they were true. He was the scariest-looking of the cyborgs. As much as he wanted to see his home again, raise his children alongside the others on Xpashta, Norkov was right. He could do much good for his people by living among the Zelthranites, and his Suki would have more opportunities to make friends and have access to things from her home. He didn’t know what a movie was, but he’d heard music at the different outposts. Perhaps not the same kind, but his people didn’t dance so music wasn’t part of his world. Though, if humans liked things like that… He glanced at Ryx.
“The technology you use to offer the human females things from their home, like music and whatever a movie is -- can be it shared with my people? Is there a way to bring those things to Xpashta so the mates there will be as comfortable as the ones on your world?” Tark asked.
Ryx nodded. “There is much we can share with your people.”
“Are you really thinking of going with them?” Suki asked. “Where would we live? All our things are on Xpashta. The home you built, your clothing and personal items.”
Tark’s lips twitched. “What personal items? You saw my home, mate. It was rather plain.”
“I like our home,” she grumbled.
“I will make sure a home is provided for you,” Ryx said. “If there isn’t one ready, you may stay in the tower, which I’ve been told is like a human apartment building. There are some larger suites there, but if you prefer having a yard or garden, a home would be better.”
“No one is living in Syl’s old quarters,” Malin said. “The lab was dismantled and moved elsewhere, but it would give them space for a growing family and it has a great view.”
Ryx nodded, and they looked at Tark expectantly.
