Chapter 31
“She got a full dose?” I nod.
Why was he staring at me in awe?
“Is that a bad thing?” I ask unsurely.
“No, it’s great. Adair and Aaron had a higher dose than the rest of us, but still more than half diluted.
If it wasn’t for their partners dying, there is no saying how long they would have lived.
“As you probably know, it slows down aging. Well, the higher the dose, the longer it lengthens it. There are lots of other effects including perfect health, ability to stand pain better, increase in muscle mass. It is said that they both also had strange abilities to connect with their mates.”
I remember the incident when I first attempted to meet the family.
“So, God only knows what your dose has done.”
“But nothing bad happened to them?” Lenime worries.
“No, they were perfect until their mates deaths and same goes children and children’s children. Like their parents, they only died because their mates did.” I feel my mates worry instantly melt away.
“I know this isn’t the most comfortable place. Why don’t I take you all to my home?” Dallas offers.
“Hmm, how about we go to the ship first?” I suggest and Kiy sends me a smile as though to say ‘Thank you. You read my mind.’
“They still have a few hours left, but Poyun…” I tell him about the cream they needed. “Plus, I can get a copy of the files and other things for you and you can meet the others.”
I could tell he wanted to say yes but knew it wasn’t the best action to go with someone he just met on a space ship.
“You may bring along as many guards as you like,” Kiy interrupts my thoughts.
“We have been told of your trouble with the Trenks and Casiu. We assure you we have no ulterior motives. We will give your people who are coming aboard the translator Nanite and let them remain armed. When we have spoken in more detail we will allow some of your other people to visit, your family included. We have enough Nanite injections for a dozen people, if you need any more men than that, they can be injected on board.”
“That would be great. Twelve is enough. I’ll have my men rejoin us.” Dallas stood up, went to the door and called the people in.
Whilst his back was turned Lenime’s hand shot under the table and between my legs.
“I missed you,” He whispered rubbing me, I bit my lip to fight back an embarrassing moan.
“Lenime!” Kiy scolded knowing his promise to behave and Phe slapped his hand away.
Dax sat fighting back a laugh, he had become used to my clever, but weird mate’s behavior.
“No more!” Phe warned in a low, deep voice. I guess it is scary to anyone else, but to me… It makes my insides quiver.
Lenime pouted when I leaned over and kissed Phe, but not him.
“I’ll be good,” He whispered against his face pressed against my cheek.
It was impossible not to give in. I face to him and give him a quick kiss and he licked my cheek.
A moment later the several men from before appeared. They all seemed relieved to see him alright and Dallas walked up behind where I was sat and placed his hands on my shoulders.
“I’ll like to introduce you to Amber Kara Vanderveer. She is my aunt and the great Aaron Vanderveer’s sister we sent a search out for.
“She also happens to be the first infected. The only one to get the full dose and also the future queen of the Poyun people and mate to these two fine gentlemen,” He indicated to Lenime and Phe, who were still sat beside me. Their hands on my lower back and expressions blank, but none threatening. “Lenime and Phe.”
They stared at me as if he had just said I am God reincarnated.
“Hello?” I said uncomfortably and they all quickly replied making Dax chuckle.
“Guys, stop the staring at her. It’s creepy.” I forgot for a moment that he knew all these guys. They were all around six foot, a couple is slightly over and well built, but none as big as the Poyun men.
Dax introduced the other men and Dallas told them about visiting the ship, the Nanite and being able to keep their weapons.
After Dax singing the Pogun’s praise no one argued. I think that was partly to do with the big ass guns they were allowed to take on board.
If one did get trigger happy, the ships built in defenses would disable the man and gun both, so I wasn’t worried.
“If this goes well they will allow others to visit and them, the same,” Dallas told the men as they got their injections.
I can just imagine Koya and Kraysa coming outside. They would love that.
Speaking of Koya, the baby is due to hatch soon. I can’t wait to see a baby Poyun, the youngest on the ship is two. They seem to age like unchanged Humans until they reach puberty. Then it slows down. But they are still bigger than Human children.
“What is that smell?” I ask. “I smelt it when the guards came in a few minutes ago, but not before.”
They all look at me curiously. “It smells like chocolate and cinnamon cake.”
The guards exchange a look and one asked, “You can smell that?”
“Yes, really strongly.”
“There is a woman in the crowd outside selling dozens of cakes. We ate some just before coming in here.”
“I’ll buy what is left,” Dax said standing up. “Amber loves chocolate,” He tells the guards who have questioning looks.
“So do these,” I point to my mates. “And they end ten times more food than I do.”
Dallas gives him a nod and smiles, “Get them whatever they want.”
Dax laughed and disappeared out of the room with a guard.
“Last one done,” Ty said after giving the seventh and final guard the injection.
“Can I ask a question?” One of the men asked looking at me.
I nod. “Do you have any idea what Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi is?”
Dallas laughed and the other guards looked at the man who asked as if he was insane.
“You had a chance to ask anything and that’s what you ask?! You are such an idiot,” A man, who looked like him and could be the man’s brother said.
“I saw that one,” Lenime said getting the men’s attention. Yes, I had watched all the Star Wars movies with them. What can I say, I am a SciFi nut.
“You have a copy?”
“Aaron left me data devices full of everything from medical text and video games to television dramas and movies. I am giving a copy of it all to Dallas.”
“Ronan, I will allow you first viewing. Blake, please keep your brother calm. We don’t need him embarrassing himself,” Dallas tells the second man about the first and the other men snigger.
“Sorry, Ronan like many of our other people love that franchise. But the original sixth movie was lost.” He went on to tell me again about the many lost films and thanking me. I, again told him it was no trouble.
Another guard asked, “Lenime, Phe and you are all mates?”
Cue an explanation. “They were mine but not each others. Poyun only ever has one mate, but like you know humans can have a couple. So they are my mates, but each others, they are brothers only.”
When Dax returned with the other guard he rolled his eyes hearing Ronan speaking excitedly about you know what. It was amusing to see how quiet all the Poyun were, even when someone was talking rubbish to them they sat and listened, politely.
“Leave you alone for one minute…” He teased. Both men carrying a couple of large boxes each, both filled with cakes and sweets.
Dallas cleared his throat, the men instantly stopped speaking. “Thank you.” He turned to me and smiled again. “Ready to go?”
I smile back and go to stand up, but Lenime is up first and lifting me from my seat as if I weight nothing.
Holding me against him a little longer than needed, he looks at me longingly, before reluctantly putting me down. I took his and Phe’s hand and kissed the back of them both because they were too tall to lean up and kiss.
Both smiled and leaned down at the same time and licked my cheeks.
When turned to face the others, not surprisingly the Poyun were smiling. Dax looked amused (As he always did) and the others looked like they were trying to keep blank expressions, but they couldn’t hide their shock. I do not know if it was because of the two tongues or lick, but I decided to speak up anyway.
“It is their way of saying ‘I love you.’ And yes they have two tongues.” I gave Dax a warning glare as I spoke telling him not to say anything dirty.
“Wasn’t gonna say ’ot,” He said still smirking.
“Yeah, right.”
No one said anything, but Dallas looked happy to see I get on so well with his friend.
A minute later we were exiting the building.
I, like before, was in the middle, stood between my mates and the other Poyun around us.
We walked ahead of Dallas and his men, who were in a similar but more spaced out formation, with Dallas in the middle.
“Can we not go to our room? I want to feel your skin,” Phe’s – not Lenime – asked – but he agreed with his older brother excited.
“That is a great idea. Father and Ty can show them around.”
I want to laugh, how could two such intimating men be so cute.
“Phe, Lenime, you know you can not do that. But if Amber is tired she can rest.”
“We can’t leave her alone Father,” Lenime tried to argue and Kiy looked to our wrists, the bracelets I made. “We will not leave her alone,” Phe said definitely.
“Do not worry, father, I am fine. A little stiff from sitting on their hard chairs, but alright apart from that.”
“As long as you are sure? Do not let the boys need make you overexert you.”
As I said, Poyun people are sweethearts.
“I’m sure. But I really want to eat one of those cakes.”
As if on cue, a large black hand passed something to Lenime.
“Give this to Ann,” The voice I recognized as Dax said using the nickname he gave me.
Instead of handing it to me, Lenime took a small bite.
“All food giving to a royal on an unknown planet has to be taste tested by an official tester first. To make sure it is not poisoned,” Lenime said noticing my glare.
“But you aren’t a taste tester and you are royal too,” I take the medium sized slab cake from him. It was chocolate and cinnamon with a cherry coating.
“And if it were you would have died, so would me and our baby and then Phe. Is that what you want?” I scold to make him realize.
His lips turn into a frown and he looked at me worried.
“You need to be more careful in the future,” Kiy scolded and Phe looked like he might hit his brother.
I knew that the food here was probably safe, but you can never be certain.
The screams, cheers and cries of the crowd outside my bubble of men. Many were exclaiming the love to the emperor and some even to the ‘aliens.’
“I’m sorry. I did not think,” Lenime looked at me sadly. “I would never hurt any of you,” He reached down and touched my stomach. We were still walking this whole time.
Not saying anything I take a bite of my cake and moan, “So good.” I hold it out to Phe making his glare turn into a smile.
He took a big bite and with a chocolatey smile said “Thank you.”
I push the last of it in my mouth making him chuckle and turning to Lenime I stick my sticky fingers in his mouth and say, “I forgive you.”
He grinned and started nibbling on my fingers. It was making it very hard to walk. Thankfully, Phe saw this and picked me up. He wrapped his arms around my waist, I wrapped my legs around his waist and rested my head on his shoulder.
Looking at Lenime, I removed my fingers from his mouth. But he took my hand in his own and started drawing patterns on the back with his own fingers.
I knew the moment his arms circled my body that he wasn’t going to let me go anytime willingly soon. Kind of funny considering him was just telling Lenime off.
But he didn’t seem to mind, he was holding one of my hands in his and holding it to his nose as if smelling me.
Still no one outside our circle could see me. I was still hidden by everyone. The crowd may have been able to see Phe carrying someone, but not who.
I didn’t realize how far we had gone until I heard a gasp. Lifting my head up, I pushing myself up slightly. Phe automatically placed one arm under my backside and his grip tightened.
Peeking behind us, I realized we had entered the ship.
How the hell did I miss that?
“This is amazing,” Ronan said what the other men were thinking.
The Poyun spread out after the door closes.
“We aren’t even inside properly,” I say chuckling and let my body slip back down against Phe. His hand began rubbing my naked back making me want to purr.
Kiy turned to us and smirked, “Made it all of an hour,” He teased.
Everyone was looking at us, Phe holding me tightly against him, almost like I was a child and Lenime still playing with my hand.
“We are back on board,” Phe said as if that made it alright. Lenime’s lips quirk into a smile, the door opened which led to the main corridor and his hand slipped to my lower back. We walked like that and I heard Dax whisper, “They are normally a lot worst.”
“This way,” Kiy walked leading us to a room at the end of the corridor. Surprisingly, Lenime’s hand didn’t move any lower.
The door revealed what I now recognized as the children’s playroom. I had been here a once before, but seen the children here and around the ship.
Sat with the children were Ren, Koya. Kraysa and Xuina were here too. She is Kraysa friend, sixteen-years-old and Phem, the ships pilots daughter.
Her mother is Clevon, she works as an Incubator/Gestation Nurse. Both girls treated me like I was their best friend, probably because we were similar height.
There were a several other girls and boys, all between the ages of five and sixteen, but I couldn’t remember their names.
They were all friends, unlike many human children, it is normal for teens to hang out and play with younger children.
After all they do not have any sexual urges until they meet their mates. Most of the time that isn’t until their in the early twenties but can happen before that.
In short, they are completely innocent until then and even after that are still innocent in a sense.
The younger children tend to stay with a parent until they are older, but do still play with the older ones.
Entering the room, Phe reluctantly puts me down. But both he and Lenime keep me close between them.
He only did it because he knew the children would come over and want me to play and he didn’t want to risk me getting hurt when they came over.
“This is the children’s play area,” Kiy told the group. Dallas walked and stopped close to me.
“Amber, Ty,” Koya noticed me and then the others.
She walked over and Ty hugged her and Kiy did the same with Ren.
So sweet.
“This is my mate, Ren, my youngest daughter, Ty’s mate Koya and their daughter, Kraysa,” Kiy introduced.
The women smiled politely and the human men were all looking over the children and women.
“This is Emperor Dallas, one of Aaron’s grandchildren.” He didn’t have to add the greats or explain who Aaron was because they both already knew.
“Good to meet you,” Dallas said nodding his head politely.
“Oh, you look like Amber and you are so short,” Koya touched Dallas’s combed ash blonde colored hair.
I heard Dax chuckle. Kraysa and Xuina walked over and sent me a smile.
“The Poyun all so tall?” He asks professionally. I heard one of the guards whisper to another, “She’s cute, can I have one?” And another, “Or maybe the queen.”
“Koya is the shortest of the grown females,” Lenime answers but not before sending the guards a warning look, same as Phe and Ty.
“What about…?” Dallas indicates to Xuina, obviously not hearing or seeing the tension.
I grinned looking at her than him. She stood at the exact same height as him. She is absolutely beautiful and looked more like a twenty-year-old than her real age.
“She’s not full grown. She is still a child,” Ren answers this time.
“She is only sixteen, she won’t stop growing until she is in her twenties.”
“Oh crap,” I hear Dax mumble. I turned my head to see him looking at Blake, who’s eyes had turned from a Matt Green to a metallic color and staring in the young girls direction.
“What’s happening?” I asked confused.
“Blake is….”
