Loxo chimed in, “Maybe they will be placed in the pleasure zone of the planet? Or become breeders or donors?”
Xefe felt the slightest flare of disquiet, the emotion quickly smothered. The pleasure zone was almost worse than working in the mines, and these small bodies could never carry warrior young.
“It depends,” Veras continued. The three of them circled the room. “But many along the back here are missing one of their reproductive organs. They will not work in the breeding program.”
“No reproductive organs? Why?” Loxo recoiled.
“The organ they use to carry young has been removed. I have yet to discover why. But they are quite resourceful. Come… look.”
Xefe’s gaze immediately zeroed in on one of the earthers. Her skin was unusual—a glowing shade of bronze he’d only seen once before. While exploring the numerous portals on Nozaroc, he’d found the elusivehojaflower, its petals the same vibrant color as this earther’s. Xefe sniffed the air and sacrificed a few precious seconds to study her. He told himself it was because they had never dealt with earthers before. But a small ache he couldn’t place bloomed in his chest. It started the minute he set eyes on this particular being.
Xefe rubbed his chest and watched.
She had chaotic hair, long, tangled spirals a richer brown than her skin. Stripes of hair slashed above her eyes and lined her lids. Her lips looked too full, and her teeth gleamed flat and useless. Her nose was straight, flaring at the tips. Her wide eyes blinked too slowly and without rhythm. That seemedwrong.
But her scent… for the briefest of seconds, something soared within him, leaped and built until it quickly faded to nothing.
That aroma.
“Tell me about this one.” Xefe widened his stance and crossed his arms.
Veras’ unblinking gaze was too assessing, too knowledgeable. He didn’t answer right away.
Xefe growled a warning, but the scientist simply chuckled before speaking, “She, along with others”—he gestured toward two other females, one with red hair and the other a dark brown—“are fierce competitors on Earth. They have been captured to compete in the Great Race.”
“These puny aliens? Impossible.”
“I disagree.” Veras studied their nude forms. “They are quite fierce. For example, this one outwitted the sedative and has been awake the entire time.”
The being watched him closely. Her eyes, upon closer inspection, had three colors. A large brown circle surrounded a smaller black one. But unlike other earthers, the sides of her eyes glowed a familiar gold, as vibrant as the flora and fauna of this planet.
Breathless squeaks and lilting sounds fell past plump lips. She kept repeating the word,Heeere, kiteee kiteee.
“What is wrong with her?” Xefe asked. “She sounds defective.”
“Maybe it is part of a mating ritual. If so, count me in.” Loxo slapped him on the back.
“You would mate her?” Xefe scowled at his brother warrior. None of them were allowed to exhibit a mating urge. But Xefe had long known Loxo had defects—Glrtsstlllloroggg, the golden liquid used to control the mating urge in all warriors somehow had no effect on Loxo’s need for copulation. “Why do I even ask? You would hump a rock.”
“A rock? Only if I’m desperate enough. But not the Aavvee females. They are too unappealing, even for me.” Loxoshuddered, his calm facade breaking as he flashed his pointed incisors. “But these earthers? Oh yes.” He elbowed Xefe. “Wouldn’t you? Look at them. They’re like us.”
“In what way?”
“Their mouths. They have lips and a tongue—they must have reproductive organs like us. The Aavvee mate with their tongues. Receive pleasure with their mouths. But these humans… They are different. Maybe they are meantfor us.”
“We are warriors. Sworn to protect the supreme.” Xefe pounded his chest and swore the oath to his Aavvee leader. “Till death. Supreme first!”
Loxo echoed his cry. “Supreme first!”
“Nothing else should snare our attention. We keephimsafe. And when we are rewarded for our devotion, then we will return home to our true mates.”
“Youralmax.” Veras nodded.
“Yes. How do you know this word?” Xefe asked. How could Veras, an Aavvee, know about true mates?
Veras cleared his throat and waved toward the earthers. “I have studied many alien species and know everything about their mates and mating rituals. That’s why I work here, isn’t it?”
Xefe stared him down, but the scientist wouldn’t meet his eye.Strange Aavvee.Nonetheless, he kicked his chin up in thanks. “Appreciated.”
