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  Cora wasn’t appalled, she was curious. A hand curled around her waist, and when she realized that she had climbed into Lero’s lap to hush him, she turned hot pink and tried to get to her feet. She was pulled firmly back against his thighs and the hot ridge that pressed against her flesh.

  The memory of his mention of Relak being inside her made her shiver, but she tried to maintain an aura of dignity as she perched on him. He looped his arms around her waist and held her to him.

  Cora asked, “Why autumn?”

  “We run harvests in sync with the seasons of the above world. We hold festivals in spring and fall. One before the work and one after. Would you like to hear of our traditions?”

  Cora nodded. “If it won’t bore everyone, I would like very much to know.”

  Darmath sat back and took on the air of lecturers around the universe. “When Lero provided us with everything we needed, our people flourished. This caused a problem with the imminent spectre of inbreeding, so our cities communicated and an arrangement was reached. It was fine at first, our young people would meet and mate, but no one was keeping track of who had fathered what, we ended up with a series of very attractive but not too bright individuals. DNA studies were undertaken and it was decided that it was an inefficient method of advancing our populations.

  “An experiment was selected for the next three generations. Women from one city who wished to interbreed would wear masks of the colour of their city. The men would do the same. The women would go to one city the first season and the next city in the second season if they did not breed in the first.”

  Cora frowned. “How did that work?”

  “The men and women meet in the open air, they wear masks and do not speak. Music plays to cease their ability to listen to their other senses, and they can only rely on smell and touch. Anyone found breaking the rules is removed from the meeting.”

  “So, the Leroans dance?”

  “Dance?” The men looked bewildered and Sox looked as appalled as Cora felt.

  “Rhythmic movement to the music usually executed in prescribed patterns. It tests memory and dexterity.” Cora’s family had drilled her on court dances for Cotillion. She had never been very good due to her reluctance to be touched, but she did know the steps.

  Lero shook his head. “My people do not dance. There is no space for the types of manoeuvres you are showing me. Not in the cities anyway. By the time they get up to the surface, they are so eager to rut that they don’t bother with the niceties.”

  She blinked and realized that he had touched her mind and she hadn’t even felt it.

  “Well, it was a thought. So, how do they pick their…uh…rutting partner?”

  Darmath continued. “The participants are only allowed to choose a member of the opposite or same sex from another city. Once they have mated, the male gives the female an ID chip that will identify him on the following day, and she does the same. Once they have made contact with each other, they can pursue a relationship or she can simply record him as the father of her child so that her child will never be sent to his city. This separation will continue for four generations, and after that, it will be safe for the descendant of the initial union to return to the first city. It is convoluted but we like it.”

  Cora blinked, “So, all relationships on Lero start with…”

  “The mating night, or with a visit to a distant city, but usually, it is mating night.”

  “So, is your population out of control?”

  Darmath looked confused. “Why would it be? Those who mate on mating night and do not pursue another night merely have their one child and that is the end of it. We have stronger immune systems, are taller, have increased dexterity and imagination, all within the last two thousand years. Our technology is sought after and our power source is limitless.”

  Pride was stamped on the face of every Leroan in the room.

  “What about those who pursue a relationship?”

  “The average size of a family is three children. Their increase is compensated for by the single children in the population.”

  “So, what about single mothers, how do they manage with one income?” It was a problem still facing her home world. Men could start children and leave them without any thought while their governments punished the women who raised and loved those children financially.

  “The Leroans have a support system in place. This is our way. We grow our population this way, train scientists, work out new systems to feed the underground cities, we use this system to increase our comfort and satisfaction in our way of life.” Darmath smiled.

  Cora rubbed her forehead. “I am guessing that I will have a lot of questions for Lero about why you do the things you do.”

  Lero leaned down until his breath warmed her ear. “I will enjoy answering each and every one of them.”

  Chapter Ten

  Learning to play checkers that zapped you when you made a wrong move took up the last three hours of the fading light. Cora’s hands tingled as she rubbed them on her thighs.

  “That hurts.”

  “I am sorry. I forgot about your sensitivities.” Relak paused in the hallway and lifted her fingers to his lips.

  He pressed kisses to each digit in turn, licking them gently. Cora’s knees buckled, and his grip on her hands kept her upright. He grinned and lifted her into his arms.

  “What are you…”

  He kissed her and she felt a whisper in her mind, I believe that no words being spoken is traditional.

  Isn’t a mask traditional as well?

  As her thought reached him, a dark mask covered his features. She shivered as the alien eyes stared into her own before he kissed her again. His mouth was the only part of his face uncovered, and she had to admit that it was a surprisingly hot look.

  Relak moved quickly, still kissing her as he carried her to his rooms.

  Her fingers clawed at his vest, parting it as she searched for contact with his skin. She found muscles, scars and a texture that was specific to him. Leather and velvet, smooth skin and rough ridges of scars enthralled her. She felt herself dip and her mind spun as the bed braced her body for his touch.

  The bodysuit she was wearing peeled open as he drew his fingertip across it, but she winced when she realized it was not along the closure lines. She was going to wake up butt naked in the morning with nothing to wear.

  Sighing and lifting herself to catch the caress of his fingers where she most wanted it, she parted her thighs as her suit gave way.

  No talking.

  She hadn’t spoken, had she? Lero pressed his hands to her face and a mask formed. It was light, and she could breathe easily, but it covered her mouth quite handily. Even a muffled moan was unlikely.

  There. Lovely. Simply lovely with those eyes glaring daggers at me. He chuckled but tugged her suit free and tossed it aside. He leaned over her and pressed kisses to her eyelids, one at a time, the briefest caress.

  She closed her eyes and let her body feel without restriction. The rough pads of his fingers woke her in slow, sensory layers. His kisses on her neck and shoulder spurred a moan, but her voice was trapped.

  When his fingers caressed her, Lero was in his touch. With her eyes closed, she could feel his energy signature in every caress as he lifted her breasts, thumbing her nipples until they were hard and aching, sucking each into the hot, wet recesses of his mouth in turn. He shifted from the left to the right and back again, and she clutched at his shoulders, pulling at his clothing.

  She felt the smile in his lips against the underside of her breast where he was licking and sucking his way back to the peak once again.

  In silence, he left her, and when he returned after soft rustling, her skin delighted to the feel of his against her.

  Relak-Lero parted her thighs and settled between them, continuing his kisses down her ribs and belly while he stroked between her thighs, drawing out her slick moisture with a few strokes. The hard slide of his fingers sent an electric jolt of sen
sation through her. She bucked against his hand, silently begging for more.

  He tortured her for an hour, or it could have been minutes, but she was moving with each thrust of his fingers and rapidly approaching release when he pulled his digits out of her and the blunt heat of his cock pressed against her.

  Relak’s first thrust was not precisely on target. Her body winced as it struggled to accommodate him. His second thrust was easier as her slick heat prepared the way. Cora stopped counting after that, simply clutching at him and holding tight as he worked his way inside, her channel snuggly wrapping him in welcome.

  Lero touched her mind, and as Relak thrust into her, Lero spilled through her mind and body. Cora opened her eyes to see the light that was writhing around them as they rocked together and got closer and closer to culmination.

  Memories of millions of years spilled into her, drawing her to the edge, Relak reached between them and stroked her clit slowly and as her body shuddered, Lero and Relak came in her completely. Three became one in that moment, and Cora passed out from the effort not to scream.

  * * * *

  Relak eased from his companion’s body. Her eyes were closed and her mind was sated but quiet.

  We have her.

  Lero was smug, Yes, we do. She is strong. Her mind takes mine easily.

  Relak removed the mask from her with a few slow gestures. His own faded into his flesh easily. A nice, traditional Leoran mating.

  Just what your mother wanted for you, if you will recall.

  I recall. So, what is your opinion on offspring?

  No. You will have enough losses in your life. Outliving a child is never a good thing. The grief in Lero’s mental voice spoke of eternal suffering.

  Relak thought of Dahla. If she had not died seven hundred years ago, she would have been dead for several centuries by now. The pain would be different but still there. I agree. Do you think she will agree?

  I believe that she will understand and accept. For now, she is capable of bringing the satellites online whenever the Vahsh arrive.

  Good to know. What is her mind asking?

  Lero paused. I think that should remain between Cora and me until she chooses to share it with you.

  Relak remembered his first few days with Lero. He had wanted to know each and every one of his people and Lero had granted him that. Each petty thought, each minor evil as well as the soaring good was all spilled into Relak in one moment. He had not spoken for six months. Knowing too much about those around you coloured the way you acted, and few, if any, people had pure and serene minds all the time.

  Dahla had been the exception. She had been everything that was serene and pure, the innocence of a child that had remained after she had been bought and sold. It had been that innocence that had led to her death, but in her life, she had been a shining beacon for him and Lero both.

  He had made her a better man, a better Avatar, in those few years that he had with her as she learned to laugh, to love and to enjoy every moment of life. It was the more precious for how short a time she had been with him.

  Relak shook off the cobwebs of the past and curled around the woman in his bed. She was still glowing with power, when she climaxed with him and Lero inside her, her eyes had turned the same blood red as her hair. It was a striking combination with her pale skin and he wanted to see her eyes widen in surprise as her skin flushed hot pink and her body arched against his again. He wanted to hear her moan, wanted to know everything she liked, every touch that she wanted, and he wanted to introduce her to a few of his favourites.

  That would wait for another day. Tonight, her mind was dealing with Lero, so tomorrow her body could start adapting to his.

  He used his second set of vocals and sent a message to Laveen. He had been thorough in destroying the bodysuit that Cora enjoyed, so she would need some more Leroan clothing.

  Chapter Eleven

  Wide-legged, loose trousers, a white wrap shirt and a wide cincher were her Leroan uniform. Her shoes were small, black and circumspect. All in all, she was comfortable if exposed to a few breezes.

  She wanted to be able to look at Relak without blushing, but the absorbed and knowing look in his eyes was enough to send her blood rushing through her cheeks.

  Lero was humming quietly in her mind, providing her with information and images the moment that she thought of them. She knew what the defence system looked like, knew how to activate it and was amazed that it had not been designed for Relak to use.

  Too much power in his hands would not be a good thing, and he was chosen to be my eyes and ears abroad. You were chosen to defend my world, Cora.

  It had sounded so reasonable that she had accepted it. The control staff was always at hand, and with the Vahsh approaching, it was time to trigger the core stone and from there, she would activate the satellites.

  The orbital station had been warned, and it had edged away from the danger zone. As long as it did not approach at a high speed, it would not even register on her sensors.

  The satellites were still in the planning stages when Relak went to sleep, but they were now floating around Lero in a loose and haphazard belt of defence. If the Vahsh passed the beacons, she would trigger the defences in a matter of minutes.

  “You look…different.” Sox came up to stand next to her and smiled brightly at some of the folks working on the Avatar’s residence.

  “It is the clothing. I always look different out of uniform.”

  Sox looked at her and tilted her eyes. “No, I am pretty sure it is the red eyes.”

  “Ah. That.” Cora snorted. “Lero is still downloading everything I want to know about this world, and he thinks that changing my eye colour should make it more obvious that he is in here and working.”

  “Well, Laveen told me I have to start dressing like your guard, so I am trying to design a uniform. I think something in black and crimson. What do you think?”

  Cora tilted her head. “I am fairly sure that it will look very nice on you, Sox. Everything looks nice on you.”

  “Tell my mother that. She is convinced that I need to go through life dressing like a lady. Bleah. Ladies are boring with only a few exceptions.” Sox smiled, “You are now one of them.”

  “Why thank you, bodyguard. I will keep that attitude in mind around bonus time. Now, do you want to do some sparring? I am feeling kinda twitchy today.”

  Sox grinned. “Do you want to get your pretty clothes all dirty?”

  Cora smirked. “I am sure I can get some more, and if not, Relak doesn’t have any objection to my running around naked.”

  Cora walked into the garden and stood in the centre of the open green space. She looked at the staff, and with a swift move, it was hovering ten feet above her, out of the way.

  Sox paused mid-stretch. “How are you doing that?”

  “Ah, mere mortal, the power of the planet to hover a stick along a ley line is truly a mystery to you.” Cora laughed as Sox lunged and the game was on.

  They fought for hours, Cora never got tired and Sox had to pull out moves that she would never have dared try before Lero’s intercession in Cora’s reflexes.

  Cora finally flipped her friend to her back and pinned her there with one foot. “I surrender, Sox. You are the better fighter.”

  Sox growled. “Traditionally, the winner does not surrender.”

  “I am a big fan of breaking tradition. Now, get up and get a shower. You stink.”

  Cora pulled Sox to her feet and applause surrounded them. “Oh, dear.” Cora winced.

  “You didn’t notice the audience?”

  “I didn’t notice a lot of things, and Lero already scrubbed out the sweat and grass stains, so I am good.” Cora smiled brightly.

  Sox grumbled, “There was no grass and sweat. I didn’t manage one flip.”

  “Well, I am part planet now, unfortunately I think it is my ass.” Cora started walking toward the residence, and the crowd dispersed. “That reminds me. When are you and Borik going to ta
ke the next step?”

  “Mating night. He’s old fashioned.” Sox smiled. “I believe it is scheduled for next week.”

  “They are serious about keeping your mouth shut. Just a head’s up on that one.” Cora snorted.

  “I have seen the masks. I did my research. They are a little more intense than a Nyal mating mask, but not too bad.”

  Cora snorted. “You have always been more adventurous than I have, having you at my side means more than you know.”

  “Whoa, why so serious all of a sudden? You are never this serious unless you are flying and about to throw up.”

  “Lero has been showing me things. Thousands of years of Avatars, all working to improve his world, all outliving those that they love.” Cora paused at the entrance to the Avatar’s chambers. “It’s a sobering realization. Unless I really, really screw up, I am in this for aeons.”

  Sox paused, “And I am not. Don’t worry about it. I intend to live my life, love, laugh and enjoy every moment I can with you, the moments without you should be even more fun.” She waggled her brows suggestively.

  Cora laughed. “Fine. Go take your shower. I wasn’t kidding when I said that you stink. My delicate sensibilities can’t stand it.”

  Sox chuckled and wandered down the hall to the room that had been set aside for her.

  Cora watched her until Sox was out of her view, and then, she grabbed the staff and went for a walk.

  Relak was at a prefect meeting in Ix. A gathering had been called to welcome him back. Cora had declined to attend in light of the incoming Vahsh armada.

  Images were coming to her through the beacons. It seemed that the Vahsh had purchased every available junker and slapped weapons stations on them.

  A broadcast was coming from the ships, and it made her smile. This is the Vahsh armada. We claim the planet Lero and all its abandoned cities in the name of our world.

  She did not have the ability to respond with a message without tipping off Relak or Sox, but she did what she could. With long strides, she reached the nearest vein of core stone and placed the end of the staff on it.