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  He grinned, “You can sleep.”

  She didn’t know how to take that, so she got to her feet, checked her com devices and stowed them in the pouches on the side of her thighs. She winced when she checked her stun gloves. They were smashed, the electronics mashed by the contact with the Keymin.

  Once she was dressed and all her bits were accounted for, she smiled brightly at the Alpha. “Shall we go?”

  He raised one midnight brow and nodded. “Please. Come this way.”

  Lee followed him as he walked out of the medical clinic. She kept her shoulders back, head high and her stride purposeful.

  “My home is this way.” He held out his arm and showed her a charming building across the open area of a courtyard filled with tables and ravenous young men tearing through piles of food.

  “Are those…”

  “The males that tried to take over the colony festival? Yes. Their shapeshifting leaves them hungry. It is necessary to replace the energy that we use to increase our mass. Also, they are growing still, they need to eat.”

  She nodded. “How long do the Keymin continue to grow?”

  He looked down at her. “Until our twenty-fifth year. At that point, we are physically mature and can begin to look into courting a mate. The women mature at twenty, so we have to keep them apart until the men have caught up.”

  She smiled slightly with understanding. “It was that frustration that sent the men out to find willing women at the festival. They probably would have too, but there was the little matter of getting past the drunken men, and they would not have been too appreciative of an influx of fur and fangs.”

  He nodded. “It was why we sent you the alert. You did more than we had imagined you could. We certainly never thought that you would have a badge to send out in defense of your colony.”

  “I was the only officer on duty. It was my responsibility to keep everyone safe and to stop your people with a minimum of fuss. I was amazed that my talent works on your folk, but it did seem to catch them by surprise.” She smiled happily.

  He gave her a sharp look. “A talent?”

  “A talent for command. It was why I became a badge when I left my world. It seemed the best of the options offered to me.” She shrugged and winced at the tug along her ribs.

  He opened the door to a large structure and shepherded her inside. “Welcome to my home.”

  “Wow, right on the main square.”

  “I need to be near my people and they near me. It makes it easier to put out any fires that erupt.” He grimaced. “Like the one tonight.”

  “How did that happen?” She took a few steps and paused. “I have been wondering about that all night.”

  He pressed a hand to her back and prodded her up the stairs. “The seasons have been accelerated and so were the females. No one was ready when three young women went into heat the first day and six the next. By the end of the week, the women’s quarters were full, and the young men were suffering. The harvest celebration is common knowledge, and one of them must have planted the idea for the others to follow. In five minutes, the bachelors’ quarters went from contained to empty and an alarm went up.”

  “And you were on your way to restore order.”

  “And stop them from tearing their way into a party uninvited.” His lips quirked in a smile, and she was hypnotized. She couldn’t stop staring at him.

  Lee tried to avert her gaze, but she only succeeded in dropping her eye-line to his chest. “You seem to have the nanite-embedded fabric.”

  He pressed his hand to his chest as if surprised. “Yes. We all wear it. It saves on replacing fabric every day.”

  “Very practical. Do you think I will be able to shift?” The idea was slowly seeping into her mind. She had been clawed by a werewolf and now was infected by the same mechanism that enabled them to shift. It was likely that this would take shape in her body.

  “I believe you will be, but we are not allowing you to leave until we are sure that you are not a danger to yourself or others.” His tone was stern, and it had an immediate effect.

  Lee stood glaring at him with the hair on the back of her neck literally standing up. A low growl built in her throat.

  He made an answering growl, wrapped his hand around her throat and pressed her to the wall. His growl vibrated through her until she grudgingly relaxed.

  “I will leave when I am fit and not later.”

  “You will leave when I tell you you can leave.”

  She could tell that she had struck a nerve with him. He seemed genuinely surprised she wasn’t giving in.

  With gritted teeth, she compromised. “We will discuss it in the morning.”

  He leaned back, allowing her to move away from the wall. “A sound compromise.”

  “I despise compromise, but I am at a disadvantage…for now.”

  He inclined his head, and she thought she saw a smile. “This is your room.”

  She opened the door that he was pointing at and saw a plain and serviceable guest room. “Thank you. I am a little tired after the evening I have had. Is there a lav attached?”

  “The door next to the bureau. Will you be all right?”

  She nodded. “I will, but one thing.”

  He paused and raised his dark brows against his sun-kissed skin. “Yes?”

  “What is your name?”

  He blinked rapidly. “Alpha Ozwin Napoliac.”

  She grinned. “Thank you, Alpha Napoliac.”

  “Ozwin. Please. Just Ozwin.”

  She inclined her head. “Very well, Ozwin. I am Badge Leeahan Ryan, but you can call me Lee.”

  “Leeahan.” The words came out on a low growl that sent her enhanced hearing into riot. She was hearing things that were not in the words but under them, and those undertones were fascinating.

  He smiled. “Goodnight, Leeahan.”

  “Goodnight, Ozwin.”

  She turned and entered her plain room and closed the door behind her. There were no locks, but she was sure that he didn’t need them. Such tiny little things as locks wouldn’t hold back a male with muscles like that.

  She took a quick shower, wrapped herself in a towel and let her hair down. It was time to call it a night, and she knew when she was out manoeuvred. For better or worse, she was at the mercy of the Alpha, she was simply surprised that she wasn’t upset. Being at his mercy held a certain appeal.

  Chapter Four

  Lee sat up and ran her hands through her hair before she froze in surprise. “What the hell?”

  Her normal brown locks had been replaced with platinum blonde.

  She scented Ozwin a moment before he spoke.

  “The nanites change you based on your standing in the scheme of Keymin society. Your eyes have also changed, by the way.” He was sitting in the corner of the guestroom, reading a data pad.

  “Why are you in my bedroom?”

  He sat up and arched his brow at her tone. “This is my home, all the rooms here are mine by that very fact. I was checking up on you. The data on your species does not indicate any difficulty on taking on the nano machines, so what is your plan for your change in status?”

  Lee tucked her sheet under her arms, keeping herself covered. “I don’t see why this should impact my status. I am the lead badge of the colony. I don’t need to change my occupation, this might, in fact make it easier.”

  “You will have to check with the ruling council. They are not too keen on Keymin in the city proper, and you are now definitely Keymin.”

  He got to his feet. “If you will come along, breakfast is ready in the dining room. My housekeeper is eager to be working for more than one person today.”

  Lee looked around, “I would love to, but I don’t see my clothing here.”

  “There is a gown at the edge of the bed. It will suit you, I think.”

  He waited. “Well?”

  “Aren’t you going to give me privacy?” She normally wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but there was something in
his eyes that made the idea of changing in front of him slightly unnerving.

  “I don’t think so. With your body shifting, you shouldn’t really be left alone.” He crossed his arms and leaned back on the door.

  “Fine.” It was a grunt as she lunged forward, caught the pale blue fabric and hauled it toward her.

  It took a few tries, but she managed to pull it over her arms and ribs before she slid off the bed to shake the folds of the gown out. It was tight but it fit. The gown was pale blue in soft folds that formed a low-cowled neck before turning into a tight column around her ribs, which turned to more soft, draping layers down to her ankles.

  She tugged at the gown before turning to Ozwin. “There. I believe you mentioned breakfast?”

  He laughed and opened the door, gesturing for her to precede him.

  “No shoes for me?”

  “They will have to be created later today. We didn’t have anything in your size.”

  Lee looked up at him and frowned. “I am not that much bigger than a Keymin woman.”

  “You think so?” He chuckled. “How many have you seen?”

  Her frown deepened, aside from the doctor of the night before, she didn’t remember ever having seen a Keymin woman. “One. She was a little petite but not abnormally so.”

  “Dr. Nalura is not an example of the ladies of the settlement. She is an Azon physician who has decided to join our little endeavour. Her family is worlds away and visit occasionally.”

  Lee wasn’t sure what she was going to be facing until he seated her at a long dining table, took the position immediately to her right and tapped his fingers on the polished wood.

  A charming woman bustled out, no more than five feet tall to Lee’s five foot ten inches. The cook was in late middle age.

  “Badge Ryan, this is Ona. She is the grandmother of one of the betas and has the dubious honour of working as my cook since no one trusts me to fend for myself.” Ozwin grinned.

  Ona blushed and bobbed a quick curtsy. “It is good to be looking after someone who will eat my cooking. With all my boys mated, there is no one to need my care anymore.”

  Lee got to her feet and walked to face the woman. She extended her hand in formal greeting, and Ona nervously took it. “Thank you for your hospitality. It may be the Alpha’s house, but it takes a woman to make it a home.”

  Ona blushed again, pleased and smiling. “Well, now, have a seat, Badge Ryan. Breakfast is on the way.”

  “Call me Lee.”

  “Alpha Lee. Please be seated.”

  Lee quirked her lips at Ona’s insistence on an honorific. Inclining her head, she returned to her seat.

  As soon as Ona was back behind the swinging door, Ozwin leaned forward. “She likes you. I don’t think I have ever seen her take to a woman in my house with that enthusiasm.”

  “It must be my height.” Lee snorted.

  He looked at her with a focus that made her uncomfortable. “No, I don’t think that is it.”

  Lee’s stomach rumbled alarmingly, breaking the staring contest.

  Ona bustled in with a huge tray and set a plate down in front of Ozwin and another in front of Lee. Cutlery, teacups and tea all came in on the second relay.

  “Thank you, Ona. It looks…like a good start to the day.” The mountain of food in front of her made her blink, but Ozwin grinned and started in on his meal. Apparently, this was the size of breakfast that the men of the Keymin enjoyed.

  Sighing and taking up her implements, Lee ploughed through her breakfast.

  Ozwin finished his meal and sat back with his cup of exceptionally strong tea. “I cannot believe that you are still going.”

  “She made this for me, and I find that I am still rather hungry.” The fifth sausage disappeared between her teeth as her knife worked on the bread to parcel it into edible pieces.

  “Who does your cooking in the colony?”

  “I get ration packs from the Alliance. Four a day. I pop them in a heater and just eat.” She finished the last crumb off her plate and gave a delicate burp before reaching for her cup.

  “I am both impressed and afraid. A woman with an appetite like yours will be hard to satisfy.”

  She choked slightly as she tried not to spit tea on her plate. “I beg your pardon?”

  He leaned back and grinned at her, his icy eyes alive with speculation. “Food, Badge Ryan, I was talking about food.”

  Her blush started beneath her neckline and surged up to the crown of her hair. Even her ears were hot. She pressed her hands to her ears and paused. “What the hell?”

  “Keymin have pointed ears. Your species does not. I also have never seen a female blush that bright in years.”

  She muttered, “Pale skin shows it better.”

  “Your kind doesn’t tan?”

  “I turn red, peel and darken one shade. It is why I chose the night shift.” She twisted her lips and shifted into a smile as an eager Ona reappeared. “Everything was wonderful. Thank you, Ona.”

  The woman beamed as she bustled about, refreshing the tea and collecting the plates.

  Ozwin leaned forward and set his cup down. “Well, Badge Ryan, I believe that you should see the physician again and get a status update, and after that, we will find you some shoes.”

  “Call me Lee.”

  “Why do you shorten your name? Leeahan is a lovely name?”

  “Lee is pronounceable in every language I have come across. It is simply a matter of being called by my name no matter where I am. A little bit of personal arrogance.” She shrugged.

  “Well then, Lee. Shall we be going?”

  She slugged down the bracing tea and nodded. “Ready when you are.”

  He got to his feet, and together, they left his home, and she saw the settlement of the Keymin for the first time.

  Chapter Five

  It was bustling, active and all the adults visible were definitely beyond the age of the men she had seen the night before.

  “Where did you stash your bachelors?” she had to ask.

  “They are out turning the soil in preparation for the winter season. They will lay down manure and compost, working it into the soil.”

  She caught on immediately. “And the scent blocks their receptors to the women’s scent.”

  He smiled, “Very good. We have to adapt our lifestyles to living free, and it has been difficult for some of us. Being able to hunt in packs has been a relief, but the hunts cannot be embarked on with the bachelors. We have to find other ways to keep them busy.”

  “I suppose it is either the fields or having them chop wood.”

  “We have cleared enough land already. What forests remain, we need for a wind break and hunting grounds.”

  It was understandable. Lee winced as her feet found and enjoyed every pebble in the courtyard. “Ow. Ow. Ow.”

  He looked over at her and finally realized that her feet were unshod. “Come on. I will carry you.”

  “Only if it doesn’t—” The last was said on a yelp as he swung her into his arms.

  “Despite your length, you weigh almost nothing.” He strode past his people at a good speed, ignoring their morning greetings.

  “Thanks for that.” She knew that she was denser than most females. It was a side effect of the increased gravity of Decallock that she appeared larger but had less density than the locals.

  The doctor pronounced her fit, healthy and fully Keymin. The nanites had rewritten her while she slept.

  “Alpha Ozwin, where is my communications equipment?”

  He smiled innocently. “In storage. Why?”

  “I need to keep my dispatcher informed of my status so she can advise the colony council.”

  Dr. Nalura smiled, “I have a unit here. You can send a message to the badge offices from here.”

  Shrugging, Lee took a seat at the unit and keyed in the code for the dispatch office.

  “Badge dispatch, how can I direct your call?”

  “Anadora, don’t you ever
sleep?” It was rhetorical, Anadora’s species never slept. They had a life span of ten years but spent eight of them as adults. Anadora was five.

  “Oh, Badge Ryan. I am so relieve to hear from you. How have you been?”

  Lee rubbed the back of her neck. “I have been transformed into a Keymin.”

  “What?”

  “Long story short, my people are malleable. A little exposure can shift our basic makeup. I am a Keymin, so you can alert the council and let me know what I am supposed to do next. I will still be here for a few days, making sure that I am stable, but if I need to find a new job, now is the time to find out.”

  A low, long whistle came through the com unit. “Understood, take care. Talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.”

  The call disconnected, and Lee turned in her chair. “How long was I out?”

  Ozwin and Nalura looked at each other for a moment before the Doctor answered. “You have been out for two days. We kept your dispatcher informed as to your progress, but she held back on any final comments until she could speak to you again.”

  Lee patted her stomach under the gown. “Well, that explains my appetite. Now, what can I do about the sensitive skin and the intense heat in my limbs?”

  Nalura winced. “Heat? Is it starting low in your belly and moving outward?”

  Lee analyzed her body quickly. “Belly, breasts and neck are the worst areas. What is going on there?”

  Ozwin’s gaze went from interested to hot. “That is fascinating.”

  “Alpha! She will have to stay with the women.”

  Ozwin looked like he was going to argue, but he nodded. “It is understandable, and it is protocol.”

  “What is?” Lee rubbed at the back of her neck again, lifting her hair out of the way.

  Dr. Nalura smiled. “You are going into season in Keymin fashion. If you are around any unattached males, you will begin to trigger their more competitive instincts and that leads to bloodshed. We want to avoid that.”

  Ozwin scowled. “She can remain with me. I can protect her against all comers.”